LucyKate Crafts...

'Countryside Softies' christmas offer,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:35:00 +0000

As it's christmas, I have 6 5 4 3 signed copies of 'Countryside Softies' on offer at the special price of $12.50 (that's about £8, cheaper than Amazon!). This offer will run until Friday 16th December, once they are gone, they are gone!

Foxy,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:57:00 +0000

As with last christmas, it seems my last Softie of the year is once again Mr Fox...

This one is a commission and is now going to get packaged up and go off to wrestle with Royal Mail.

Good luck Mr Fox!

Penguin pattern,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:38:00 +0000

Coming soon, a brand new Softie pattern for this whole family of Penguins...

where and when, will be revealed after christmas!

I'd like to dedicate this post to...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 10:16:00 +0000

my Mum!

She's having an upside down christmas this year having just moved house (during which, just about everything that could go wrong, did go wrong), and is still in the process of making the new house habitable. One of the positive sides to her downsizing, is that certain things have been passed on to me during the clear out. Things that remind me of my childhood, and that actually my keen interest in making things, has quite clearly come from her.

When my mum was a child, she knitted clothing for her dolls. I remember playing with all of these when I was little. I thought they were the most precious things in the world. And now they've been passed on to me.

They are even more precious now, and I'm reluctant to let my children play with them as I worry about causing damage, but today as I was photographing them for this post, it did occur to me that, yes they are precious, but not as precious as their creator.

my Mum!

Merry Christmas, see you in 2012!

p p p pick up a penguin,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0000

Here, it's the latest edition of the online magazine from Crafteroo,

as well as the pattern for the cutest amigurumi elephant ever, there's a pattern for the first in a series of Penguins,

the magazine is available from here and is only £1.50 (that's $2.34).

Start the year off with a bit of sewing!

I am still here!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:31:00 +0000

We've just taken a couple of weeks out to give the house a bit of a sort out. The loft (attic?, we call it a loft here in the UK) needed emptying as we're having new insulation fitted which will hopefully keep the house warmer. Bit nervous about it all though as we don't have a good track record when it comes to going in our loft...

due to Al having put his foot through the ceiling in my sewing room. His slipper landed on my desk!

Back soon with some actual sewing, I promise.

Oh blimey...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:15:00 +0000

It seems I have been nominated for a craft blog award by Company Magazine. The link to vote is here, scroll down to the 'crafty girls' section.

I'm finding it quite amusing that it's under the umbrella of 'style blogger'. Style is not a word I feel I associate with given the number of times I've done the school run with my PJ's under a big coat. Note to self, must make more effort!

Can you help?

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:22:00 +0000

In a break from normal posting, I feel compelled to mention this...

There is a little girl called Aillidh (pronounced Ay-lee) here in the UK. She is 8 years old and has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. Currently Aillidh is in hospital in Glasgow undergoing her third course of chemotherapy but she urgently needs a stem cell/bone marrow transplant. In a cruel twist of fate, neither of her siblings are a match. The reason I am posting about this is because Aillidh is an unusual tissue type as her Mother is of part native American Indian origin, and I know I have a lot of followers from the USA.

Please consider joining your countries bone marrow registry, the link for the USA is here, and also for the UK. Spread the word, tweet it, blog it, facebook it. There is also a Facebook page set up to link to.

Even if you are not a match for Aillidh, you could help save another life.

Thank you for reading.

Sometimes I wish...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:27:00 +0000

I could go along with the things I make.

This little guy has gone off to Texas. I'd love to go to Texas.

One day maybe.

Spotted this weekend,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:33:00 +0000

a very rare Snow Fox!

My newest piece of sewing equipment...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:05:00 +0000

Turns out, after years of intermittent pain which has slowly developed into near constant pain, I have tennis ~~embroiderers~~ elbow.

Hopefully the epicondylar clasp and a week of high dose ibuprofen will help!

Bounty,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:37:00 +0000

I might have a hurty elbow, but I am not one to be deterred. At least where shopping is concerned anyway. Last week I nipped out to do my monthly rounds of the local charity shops and actually managed to score pretty well this time,

woollens to felt and some shirts to chop up.

Although I do often peruse fabrics online, I still prefer to pillage my fabrics from old clothes. Many reasons why, cost is one as recycling is much cheaper. This horror story has also worried me from the perspective of using designer fabrics for commercial purposes like I (and indeed everyone on Etsy) do when making items to sell and patterns for publishing. That particular situation has now been resolved and agreements reached, but it does raise the question that when using fabrics, whose design actually is the finished piece? This is why I'm very aware how much the use of well known fabric ranges impacts on a design and can take over from the piece you are making.

My aim is for the focal point to be the item I've made, not the materials it's made from. Anyone else feel like that?

Not going to link, not going to name names...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:22:00 +0000

...that would just be crass. Now, I know people are making items from my book and selling them. If you go to Etsy and search the term 'fox softie', a fair few of the front cover design pop up. Officially, you are not supposed to. It says so within the copyright section at the front of the book. But do you know what?, I actually don't really mind. Lets be honest here, I'm not made of money and I don't know anyone in the legal profession, so chasing down small independent sellers is not something I can afford to get into. That, however does not mean it is open season.

A few sellers have emailed to ask first. A few have gone ahead anyway, but have credited the book in the product description, and I appreciate the honesty in doing so.

A small few have claimed my designs to be their own.

Just bear in mind that I too, am a small independent seller. I still make things from my own patterns to sell. Any confusion over copyright can potentially impact on my business too, which, given how much I do already give away in the form of free tutorials, is frustrating.

I didn't make a huge amount from writing the book. Enough to buy a new washing machine after destroying my old one felting wool. The book was a labour of love so, please play nice.

Change of mind, change of policy...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:45:00 +0000

(picture of work in progress just to pretty up this post, more on the Foxes next time)

Since my previous post, I have given the whole selling from patterns a lot of thought, in addition to reading Abby's post and the comments made for her 'softie's for sale' series. It made me think back to my time working within the craft kit industry, marketing, added value and various other technicalities of running a business.

All of this has led me to a conclusion, and that is to have a change in policy.

I've amended the tutorial page on the blog, and also the sidebar, but in short, it means craft items made using any of my free tutorials and PDF patterns (which are coming soon!) can be made to sell.

There are a few stipulations noted within the new policy page, nothing too major though. Unfortunately, the new policy does not cover the patterns from the books, Countryside Softies, Little Birds and Countdown Calendars. Published books come under a different banner as the copyright restrictions are set by the publisher, not me.

My hope is that this is an enlightening decision, and also make future PDF patterns have a greater appeal to purchase. What do you reckon, good idea??

Foxy fox...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:06:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've offered a free project, but this is an idea which has been milling around since I first posted about these pendant blanks for cross stitch...

The finished counted cross stitch fox motif is only small, 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" (or 4 x 4 cm) and fits perfectly onto the laser cut disc (which is available from The Workroom) and works out at roughly 13 stitches to an inch (or 2.5 cm), but can also be stitched onto any aida or evenweave fabric. The finished size will change depending on what count fabric you use.

So, in addition to what you decide to stitch the design onto, you will also need, thread (I call it stranded cotton, is it embroidery floss in the USA?) in the following colours (I used Anchor thread and have added the shade numbers in brackets as a guide), dark brown (382), dark grey (400), mid brown (936), dark terracotta (884), terracotta (1003), beige (942) and cream (386), plus a fine embroidery needle and some small scissors.

Follow the chart below for your stitching.

(click on the chart to enlarge it to stitch from)

The surrounding circle is just a guide for the edge of the laser disc, and I split the stranded cotton and worked with 2 strands in the needle.

And there's more... As I bought 2 of the laser cut pendants (indecision as to which shape I wanted!), next week, I will be posting another cross stitch chart for the Owl.

Happy stitching!

Introducing...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:02:00 +0000

Project 3

Project 3 is my plan to stock the Lucykate Crafts... online shop on a more regular basis with something a little bit extra special. Every few weeks, there will be a range of 3 themed handmade items added.

The first will be the foxes. These are slightly different to the usual foxes I make, as they are smaller, more or less half sized, making them all the cuter!

~~The Foxes are in the Etsy shop now~~

All SOLD, thank you!

Owl,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:26:00 +0000

As promised, here is the chart for the Owl counted cross stitch motif.

As with the Fox, the finished counted cross stitch is only small, 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" (or 4 x 4 cm) and fits perfectly onto the laser cut disc (which is available from The Workroom) and works out at roughly 13 stitches to an inch (or 2.5 cm), but can also be stitched onto any aida or evenweave fabric. The finished size will change depending on what count fabric you use.

So, in addition to what you decide to stitch the design onto, you will also need, thread (I call it stranded cotton, is it embroidery floss in the USA?) in the following colours (I used Anchor thread and have added the shade numbers in brackets as a guide), dark brown (382), dark grey (400), mid brown (936), brown (379), blue grey (850) and cream (386), plus a fine embroidery needle and some small scissors.

Follow the chart below for your stitching.

(click on the chart to enlarge it to stitch from)

The surrounding circle is just a guide for the edge of the laser disc, and I split the stranded cotton and worked with 2 strands in the needle.

Happy stitching!

A wanderer returns,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:27:00 +0000

My husband was away last week with 30 (ish) students from where he teaches, and on this years global tour of new and interesting places he can find to loose his wallet and/or bank cards and/or keys, he found himself in San Francisco.

Before said bank cards went AWOL, he did manage to purchase a few little treats,

This book of postcards from the Museum of Modern Art and a stash of fabric,

from the Britex Fabric Store and Mendel's on Haight Street which I'm sure I'll have much fun sewing with.

I love my husband dearly but if he looses one more thing, one more time.... grrrrrr!

wip,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:07:00 +0000

...in between the sneezing now it's that hayfever time of year, in progress is the next lot for Project 3. Am just deciding how big the ears should be.

Penguins the sequel...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:19:00 +0000

The latest issue of the online magazine from Crafteroo is out,

containing the next installment in the penguin family of softie patterns.

Click here for a taster of what's inside and also more information on how to purchase a copy, it's only £1.50 (that's about $2.35). Bargain for crafty ideas over the Easter break!

Embroidery resources,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:57:00 +0000

The other day on Pinterest, I came across this fantastic download. It's a whole embroidery book for alphabets that someone has scanned as a free resource. While I loved the designs in the book, alphabets are not something I'd personally have a great deal of use for. But after some additional googling of the author, I came across this little beauty...

The Handbook of Stitches by Grete Peterson and Elsie Svennas

Even though all the photography is in black and white, the charming appeal of the embroidery shines through,

due to the age of the book (circa 1970 for the english edition), all the designs have a real retro flavour,

embroidery for me has a timeless nature,

and this book makes me feel inspired to stitch!

I struck lucky and got my copy via Amazon Marketplace, and am very glad that on a dismal, grey and wet spring day this little ray of sunshine arrived in the post.

The English Monarchy,

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:20:00 +0000

It was only after I left high school that my interest in history began to develop. Doesn't say much for my old history teachers does it?!, and the fact I couldn't remember their names, makes me realise how much uninspiring teachers can affect your schooling.

We've just had two weeks off school here for the Easter holidays, during which, I went on a trip to Peterborough for the day and ended up in Peterborough Cathedral, stood before the grave of Katherine of Aragon. A few days later (and a long story!), I was also in the presence of the burial place of Oliver Cromwell's head, and the last surviving person to have seen it. Within history, it's always been the English monarchy in particular which has fascinated me, so I started to wonder how I could bring this into my design work.

Now, I'd previously started sewing some Softie bodies which were going to become dogs for the next installment of Project 3. I completed one, and while I was kind of happy with it, there was just a certain something missing. Cue, the train of thought beginning. Dogs. Dogs and English monarchy. Dogs and English monarchy = King Charles maybe?

King Charles Spaniels?

I think he looks quite regal,

and quite appropriate given it's the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year. In homage, here is me at our 1977 street party for the Silver one (I'm in the rather fetching yellow sunglasses!)

ps, and talking of Oliver Cromwell's head, eeeek!

Crowning glory...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:43:00 +0000

The King Charles Spaniels are nearing completion, finally! Lots been going on so they've been slipped in between other projects.

Other news is... my book won an award! Silver at the Pubwest Design Awards in the Craft Book category. Well done to C&T Publishing and Stash Books!

Bang, bang, bang...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:44:00 +0000

That was the noise my sewing machine was making last night while repairing jeans. After spotting this and this on Pinterest, it seemed the coolest way of mending the knee hole in Luke's favourite pair,

but given how much fluff there must be inside my machine, a hazard of sewing mainly with felted wool I guess, I think a service may well be in order.

Constant state of confusion...

noreply@blogger.com (Lucykate Crafts...) — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:22:00 +0000

This is probably going to sound daft coming from someone who has written a whole craft pattern book, but in the light of the recent 'things I'm afraid to tell you' meme that has been doing the rounds, sometimes I just need to say out loud, that when it comes to my designs, it's a constant state of confusion.

Working at home, for yourself, on your own, can lead to over thinking rather than more concise decision making. I also wonder if my background, having a degree in textile design and working in industry, is somewhat restrictive as it places my mindset within learned constraints. As Picasso once said, 'every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist as you grow'.

Things I do know are, I have developed a design style, and I do enjoy using recycled materials much more than buying new fabrics to a point where I am totally out of the loop when it comes to the latest fabric lines, and I'm ok with that. The indecision stems around this design style being too cute looking. I see what I design and make as soft sculpture, objects of art - not soft toys. The use of the word 'toy' scares me because of the health and safety issues. But legally, regardless of how I personally perceive my work, if it looks like a toy, it is a toy.

The conclusion I think I've reached is to split my design work. Some patterns are on their way to become available via PDF download. They will stay 'cute', but also probably not use felted wool. As much as I love that medium as it's easy to sew with and hugely forgiving when it comes to the odd mishap, I am lucky to have amassed a bit of a collection over the years in my stash. It does seem second hand, true woolens are becoming harder and harder to find. The patterns I'm going to keep to make myself will begin to go on a development journey. One which has already begun...

Last week I made a gift following the dog pattern I've used before, but as soon as I finished the face, I unpicked it all. Referring back to the changes I'd made with the King Charles Spaniels, I began reworking.

It's just a small change, and overall it's an ongoing process, but it's cathartic to be able to talk about this stuff rather than have it just swimming around in my head.

I don't know if the changes made it better or worse, but I did feel happier with the finished softie once it was done. Any suggestions on how to make a dog softie, more dog like are always welcome!