Dog basket upgrade

So I got this dog basket ages ago and he's never been keen on it. It came with a 2 inch thick pad - if you can call it that.   I had changed it to a foam cushion from our old couch, but that was still too firm for him, although it was handy for the midget to look out the window!

I had old pillows to use up rather than bin, so after washing and battering to get fluffed up and sort of even again, I found that it fits as is.  So that made life very easy.  With the fabric scraps from my stash I made a pillow slip, handy that the twill bit was already cut to size.  I used the left over fleece for the top part, because it's soft and cosy and he loves fleecy blankets.

Ten minutes later we have a comfy bed, that he actually likes to jump into.......... oh he doesn't sleep there, he's such a cling-on and lives the good life on the sofa/bed

50th Birthday Invitations

So my sister in law is having her big one this year.  Apparently she's getting ahead of herself and getting everything organised now for the event in September.  The number dwindled from her original order and I'm left with a load of 80% complete cards. (long story and the reason I'm not keen on custom orders).

So this is what my kitchen table looked like for a few days, getting all the bits ready to assemble.  Not that my desk was much better after, but we need to eat at the table sometimes.  Bearing in mind that I could only sit at the desk for up to half an hour before the pain kicked in, then had to take meds and forget about cards, or they'd turn out funny and maybe glue myself to them in the process.

I really like how they turned out in the end.  I had all the party details printed out on inserts. On the Front was her picture with ribbons, jute, tags and a Tibetan silver charm.

Frame upcycling

So I picked this up today for €1 in the charity shop and it's full of beans/peas/lentil.  However it is just what I need for my DIY project.  Currently it has zero appeal to me, although I can imagine it in somebodys kitchen.

So with all my beach walks with the dog, I'm forever picking up bits, shells, pebbles, seaweeds that catch my eye.  Not like there's a load of it on the sand, except kelp after a storm.

I gave it a blue card background and chose a selection of stones and shells that I had.  I glued them all into place in the end - I tried that double sided sticky foam, but they just fell off eventually.
I left it like that until Aldi got chalk paint in, which happened to be about 2 week after.  So then I had a mad frame painting session.  I had 4 frames from almost 2 decades ago, you know, when the brown ones with a gold inside edge was all the rage. 

So five frames to get a revamp, I finished them off with some lavender furniture wax that I have in.  Nice to see it finally came in useful.

Sorry it's a bit hazy, but it goes well in the bathroom with the puffins and the Kingfisher.  Both from EweSir.ie

Puffin hats

So after an eager wait for the Drops yarn to arrive, it was time to pattern draft.  I had made up the charts, but now had to put it all together for an earflap hat.  I wish I had the sense to write out the patterns as I go, but I just pop it onto the needles and off I go, always hoping for the best.

I wanted some waves around the bottom and had planned on some green grass too, but that couldn't fit into the design as it was, maybe I could have shrunk the puffins more.

I Swiss darned Puffin motifs, rather than try and carry all that yarn around the inside. Then lined with a lightweight fleece for added warmth and finished with multi coloured tassels.

Beautifully soft 4 ply yarn with a blend of 45% Alpaca, 30% Polyamide and 25% Wool.  I have plenty left over and can't decide whether to horde it or make socks.

These are currently listed in my Esty store, however I am planning a revamp later, the postal charges have risen yet again and it's not viable to run my store in the current format.