Baby it's cold outside part 2

Oh my goodness, I have been busy. More stock added to my Folksy store and Etsy store.

Ho Ho Ho!

Hello!  Did you miss me? Just looked at the date on my blog and realised I haven't been around in a long time. I was going to write a post about it, but then I decided it was way too sad. So, I may save it for another day. Anyway, there is just too much excitement going on at my shop. 

Lots of new things happening in my Folksy Shop right now! These are just a few of the items (see photos) that will be appearing over the next hour, days and weeks.  I know Christmas I hear you saying, we haven't even had Halloween yet, but "if you're not fast you're last" as they say.  

The Christmas Decorations come in a set of 3 Christmas Baubles which are crocheted in coordinating colours using top of the range bright, luxurious cotton yarn. Each bauble comes with a glittery hanging loop and measures approximately 21cm in circumference. I would like to think these pretty decorations would look stunning on any Christmas Tree or equally dashing in a bowl or glass jar all year round. 

With thanks to Kaleidoscope City and AterGcrochet for their beautiful patterns.

A little pre-christmas treat anyone? From now until the 30th of November I am giving a cool 20% off to all customers who make a purchase from my store Made By Sun Rae. This offer includes bags, stitch markers and knitted items. 
Just use code Rebelstitcher16 at checkout.

                          xoxo  xoxo

Ways to Embrace Illness

 

 

 I'm slowly starting to feel a little Christmasy; the weather is getting colder, I've been making some cozy hats, wrapping up warm and drinking lots of piping hot chocolate.  I've also worn one of my Christmas jumpers for a special day at nursery.  But the one thing that is getting me excited about Christmas this year-I'm taking part in two swaps.  A Secret Santa Swap at work and a Stitching Santa Swap online.  I already know my work swap partner, and I've received my email from Sewchet telling me who my swap partner is online!! This is the first time I've taken part in this Stitching Santa Swap, and I'm so excited. I've been having a good look at all the blogs of the people participating and also stalking my swap partners blog to get some ideas.

What else have I been up to? I decided to subscribe to a craft box when I was off work poorly with an earache.  I had heard of the box a while back and did have a peek at it but never took the plunge.  Being ill kind of sealed the deal, you know needing a treat and a bit of cheering up.Lol! I initially thought I would just buy the Autumn Box and then cancel the direct debit, but this isn't going to happen now.  I was so impressed by the box contents (pattern book, crochet hook. yarn, sewing needle, ribbon, badge fittings, acorn stitch marker and squirrel badge) that I'm now thinking let's keep it up and see what the next few bring.  I was also quick of the mark and treated myself to the second book of Making called Fauna on the day it was released.  I missed the first books release and couldn't find a seller anywhere in the UK, so I made the decision to purchase it from abroad. The book arrived at the beginning of the week just past but I kept the viewing of it until this weekend; work was busy with a Care Inspectorate visit, and this was my treat for getting through it. I'm an oddball I know. 

I've also been busy, as I mentioned earlier, making hats.  Did you know Downton Abbey the TV series have their own yarn? I've never watched an episode even though I love period dramas and I'm probably way behind everyone else discovering the yarn.  I purchased a few different colours from Amazon, and I must say I'm pleasantly surprised.  The hat in the blog post is Hermione's Hat made in the Downton Abbey yarn named Matthew in the colourway Harvest Gold. This hat is going to be a firm favourite of mine for this winter; I can see me wearing it loads.  The second yarn I purchased at the same time is named Lady Mary; a gorgeous jewel red with silver strands running through it. This is also destined to be turned into a hat but nothing has jumped out at me pattern wise just yet.

Shop update:  Made by Sun Rae

I've added a few handknits for adults and children to my store and hope to add more in the following couple of days. Please pop over and have a look by clicking the link above or by using the Folksy button on the side-bar.

I will be back soon with some more goodies and news.  I'm going to go now and top up the bird feeders in the garden. Stay warm and be good to yourselves. 

Much love

xoxo xoxo

Shop Update and Competition

Another month and another post but this time one with a difference. As promised in my previous blog post I have been busy and have stocked up my Folksy store with some cracking bags; some old fabric designs and some new fabric designs. I'm not going to tell you how long it took me to photograph them (lying on my stomach in the garden) or how exasperated my other half got as I confessed that 'I like this one and this one and oh I like this one.'  Since the photos have been made public I've had a lot of interest on social media; The Brother Sewing machine company wanted to feature them on their Instagram site and friends have been oohing and ahhing over them on Facebook.  At the moment my Folksy site is stocking the pyramid bags and stitch markers, there are still more different designs to come and other products too (not just fabric makes).

So on with the competition.  To be in with a chance of winning one of these beautiful bags, there are more designs on my Folksy website just click the link or the colour banner above this text. Just leave a comment on my blog of what bag you would like, why you like the design (not a requirement) along with either your Ravelry ID or your email, in the format of  see example "username at ymail dotcom."  The competition is not just open to British visitors but overseas as well. The closing date for this competition will be midnight GMT on the 3rd of September 2016 and the winner will be announced on the 4th of September 2016.

 Goodluck and happy choosing.

xoxoxoxo

New for summer!

What have I been up to this week?

Well, I've been busy in my craft area making tonnes and tonnes of new bags to sell in my Folksy and  Etsy shop.  There is a cord turquoise pyramid bag (my favourite), a strawberry and two new floral ones.

 Beautiful Meadow

Strawberry Fields

Daisy Chain

Plus squillions of pattern keepers in lovely new designs and one new needle case too.  Haven't I been busy?

Puss in Boots (magnetic) pattern keeper

Little Bird (magnetic) pattern keeper

Geisha (magnetic) pattern keeper

 

Flower (magnetic) pattern keeper

I've also started my Sweetheart cardigan, and   I have to say it's looking pretty good, pretty good.

 Neck detail (back)

I'm enjoying the way that it's knitting up in the yarn I've chosen (Rowan Calmer shade 495), although the yarn is now discontinued, cue,  a bit of a panic at the beginning of the week when I realised I was running out of yarn.  I was able to find some on sale at Cucumberpatch although not in the same dye lot, so I took a bit of a gamble and to be honest when it arrived I couldn't tell the difference,  it looks the same. 

Shoulder Stitches (join)

Look,  the coolest part is the sleeve seams.  I keep stopping to look at them as they are so neat and pretty.

Border Stitches

I think I'm going to enjoy wearing this cardi, and if it looks as good on me as it is on the needles I can see me making a second and maybe a third one. Yip, it's that good.


 Knitting Update
This is extremely difficult for me to confess, some of you may remember back in April I wrote a post with the title I'm an idiot about a large piece of knitting I had found stashed away and how I couldn't for the life of me remember what pattern it was from.  Well..... I was sitting the other night on Facebook, as you do,  and I saw a feed for Knitty, and I thought "Oooh www! They've got a new set of patterns, think I'll go take a look".  Half an hour into my browsing session I decided "wonder if they have anything good in their previous additions".  You all know what's coming next.  I'm sitting browse, browse, browse and then I stop dead and just stare at the screen, there staring back at me is the b*&^$y pattern I was using for the piece.  It was as though someone had switched a light bulb on in my head. "Oh yeah, I remember what pattern I was using now".   The pattern was Adeline by Heather Hoefle. The agony doesn't end there though,  oh no! Cause just three days earlier, I frogged the piece of knitting to start something new.  I could've head butted the image I was so gutted.  So now when I knit something new, I bag the knitting with the pattern, so I won't end up in this sorry mess again.

And The Winner Is........

First off, I'd like to thank all of you who have taken an interest in Shirley and her talents. What she does through her love of crafts is very genuine and the very likes of this wee competition is the kind of event that I hope should be one of many to kick-start a fledgling career in what takes her to a place she should probably have been a long time ago...

Okay, here we go.

I imagine a few of you will be disappointed but I thank all of you for taking part at least - that means a hell of a lot ! The entry I've chosen is fairly simple, but it's really because of how the the words run together and compliment one another... That being 'Daisy Haze' !

So congratulations to our winner and a very big thank you to all who took the time to post and show an interest. For what it's worth, I hope you all keep following Shir and who knows, you might just be the next person to pick up a future item that we need your input for.
Keep looking in and keep an eye open for forthcoming events i.e. Blogoversary!

Thanks y'all.

Paul x

Shirley pops in and pushes Paul out of the way!

Congratulations Polarpurplebear aka Loupylou on the Phoenix Knitting forum.  I'm glad I asked Paul to pick the winner as it would have been so hard for me to chose.  Some of the names where outstanding.  Paul spent a couple of hours looking at the bag and looking at the suggestions ummmming and aghhhing all the while.  It was a tough competition to call.
He's now sitting drinking a well earned beer and playing Red Dead Redemption on his PS3.
Lets leave him to do his killing, shall we.

Shirley xx

Made By Sun Rae *shop update* plus Competition!

Sewing needle case

Hi everyone, hope you are well! I've been very busy this  past week or so, making items for my Folksy shop and my website. I have now introduced Sewing Needle Cases and more Pyramid Knitting Project bags.  The new Pyramid Bags come as a standard size 7"high and 7"wide.  Heavier designer fabrics have been used in some and they are fully lined throughout. If these prove to be successful,  I will endeavour to produce more in other colour waves.

                    Sun Flower Passion

                       Watermelon

                         Sherbert

The Sewing Needle Cases are reinforced with interfacing and heavy duty wadding to stop needles protruding   out and also to help it maintain its shape.
*****Update***** Paul has just come up the stairs to spy on me and has also confessed my Sewing Cases are very cute-not me- the sewing cases Lol.
Pyramid Bags

Flower Power Love

          
 

Flower Patch

                             

Daisy Haze (name suggested by Loupylou)

                              

Sherbert Dib-Dab

Marshmallow

                            

The last Pyramid Bag is made in a lighter weight fabric i.e. cotton and fully lined.

On Safari

        

The heavier fabric pyramid bags cost £12.00 whilst the lighter fabric ones cost £10.00.  The Sewing Needle Cases cost £6.00 each.  All these items will be available from 6pm tonight  are now available on my Folksy page and website.

Competition
In this post you may have noticed one of the pyramid bag designs caption reads ??????
This pouch doesn't have a name :( .  To be in with a chance of winning the pouch, please just leave a comment with your suggestion of what I should call it.   I will leave this competition open until  8pm on Sunday 15th May.  Due to the maintenance glitch I will be extending the competition closing date and time until, Monday 16th of May at 7pm.  I will ask my O/H to pick the best name and he  will announce the winner on Tuesday 17th May at 7pm.

Goodluck!
Shirley xx