Crochet Items for your home

This morning i have been busy listing some more items in my shop. I was overjoyed last week because I sold my first item - the lovely gloves. They are going to be a christmas present - wonderful!

I was very happy about it, but my shop was looking very bare, so i thought it was time to put some more things there. I had done some crochet a little while ago, but hadn't got around to taking some photos and writing some descriptions. I am finding it hard now the evenings are dark - I don't like to use the flash.

But here I just want to share some of the pictures of the finished items:

I love them all as they're so bright. The items are a set of greek cross square coasters, a set of granny square coasters and a popcorn stitch teacosy. The teacosy is so wonderful! I will be happy if no one buys it so i can keep it myself. Such a bobbly delight (but i will happy if they do as well as it is nice to share)

And here is another thing to tick off of my list. Now i just want to go back to crocheting squares, but i think i should wait until the new year before making more shop items as there is still much to do. I have started making some little christmas gifts too as inspired by this blog the Crafty Christmas Club blog. It's lovely to see all the handmade presents!

Yours busily,
Emilia. xxx

Photoshop.com

Today i had my first photoshop experience!

I signed up to use photoshop online, just for a little experiment really. I am not all that good with photos and technology, but really love all the great banners and pictures i see on blogs and online shops and thought it might be a good thing to look into.

The online version is really very basic i think, but still a bit better than the photo editor i have - i think because each option (things like exposure, saturation, enhance) gives about 6 different variations of the effect so it's really easy to just choose the one you think looks the best, even if you don't really know what it means (like me). There is also a retouch tool which was confusing me to begin with, but did start making a bit more sense.

Look what I managed to do for my etsy shop banner:

^ before and after v

This was just a photo of one of my labels but the retouching and brightening has made it much nicer- don't you think. I like how much more shiny the gold is - it's like it was washed!

Now i am playing with the colours too. lots of things i can do.

I am hoping it means i might be able to jazz up my blog too. that would be grand.

Wundar-bar.

Technologically yours,
Emilia

LOOK AT THESE!

I just really wanted to show and tell these gems i found on an etsy browse (/binge) Knitting needles! As bracelets!

I really love the vintage plastic knitting needles - i am always on the look out for them in the charity shops - they are so much nicer than the modern design and it does make a difference i'm sure. It's like my inability to knit anything black - just too dull.  I am not sure why so many knitting needles are grey? answers on a postcard.

I don't even know the name of the lady who makes them, but her shop is called sewnewthings so do have a look! I have no idea how she can make a knitting needle curl up like that! maybe some sort of magic?

Now I must get ready for ice cream for dinner in honour of Eleanor's Day of birth (maybe i will have a pizza for starters)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEARL! JOY TO YOU ON THIS DAY

Yours
Emilia. xxx

Little cakes

Oh my dears - the weather has turned and so have my spirits. I can not believe this summer is ending? However - I am working on many bright and beautiful things to help cheery up my days. They are for my shop - but as I keep starting things and not quite finishing them there's nothing to see here yet.

lots of ends to tie up! 

However, I am very much enjoying myself at etsy at the moment. Although i am not really being much of a salesman - i am enjoying some window shopping (and some just normal buying type shopping) and have found some beautiful shops and blogs because of it.

Today i am happy because i am learning french from Stephanie on her blog Petit Plat. She is an absolute genius (genie absolu) making tiny little foods. i love the tiny christmas cookies (although i know i need to quell my festive excitement for a little while yet - at least until after bonfire night)

mmm.

xxx

Lovely Gloves

In the summer I went to stay with my nanny and granddad in yorkshire. It was so lovely to spend time with them. I have a lot on common with my nanny as she also loves to make things. 

As a present, she said i could take some of her old knitting needles (i love the old coloured and plastic ones the best!) and also this book, Knitting for all (illustrated!)

 it's a little bit grubby on the cover - but it think it's in good condition for 66 years old

Inside is such a delight - so many vintage gems and so many great pictures  - the captions are amazing!

My first project from the book is a pair of gloves. I liked this pattern a lot because they were knitted on just two needles, and had a lovely pattern on them. I've never knitted gloves before so a good one to try.

I also chose these because they are made in a 4ply and I really love Rowan pure wool 4ply at the moment. I used it for my christmas moss detail jumper and also my raspberry cardigan and also the socks i made for mum. This time i used the same blue as the jumper again as it's such a lovely vintage shade.

And the result is most pleasant i would say. I have decided to put these ones for sale in my new shop (a new project for me!) but definitely want a pair of these for myself now so has gone on my list of projects. I am still working on my little shortie for myself at the moment. I have noticed that the season now is changing a little so i think the knitting pace will be picking up momentum very soon.

Yours cable hands,

Emilia. xxxxx