Tag! You're it!

ally sez:

The rules are:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So...
Facts about me:

1. I teach English at a secondary school
2. I used to teach at a school that had horse-drawn school buses
3. I have recently developed a love of chutney
4. I do own a pair of cowboy boots
5. I think Shakespeare is the coolest dude of the 15th Century
6. I write haiku in my spare time
7. My name, spelt backward, is gibberish.

I'm tagging:
ally
Sudsmuffin
JellyBeans
Me Husband!
Carla
Sixth and Elm
Natural Historie

My best Rolf Harris impression...

Can you tell what it is yet??



Keep an eye out on DM!

Why I Craft - and why I get frustrated sometimes...

Well, I've been doing quite a lot of thinking about this recently, mostly because I've just spent two days crocheting a top for myself (shock horror - something that wasn't orginally destined for the shop or a present!). I was really excited about the project, as I've recently got a back issue of Interweave Crochet and fell in love with almost every pattern in it... And I'd also decided to make something for ME, like I said.

So Monday, I went to a local yarn shop (cum dry cleaners, oddly...) and found some LOVELY pale green Sirdar Baby Bamboo, and got lots in order to make this top. And I started well - the pattern is very simple, and lovely. And it was going very well until about lunchtime today, when, about 5 rows from finishing, I realised that once again I was deluding myself, and although the pattern itself is nice, and the yarn is very soft and drapey, and the colour is wunderbar, once again it's not for me.

So I come back to the question - why do I craft? Well, some of it definitely is that I enjoy the process, and having DM! also gives me the opportunity (and excuse!) to try different yarns and patterns and colours than I would usually. But I think some of it is trying to find something that I would like to make that actually looks good on me. I've made over 100 projects in the last 18 months, and I wear three of them. Now, I didn't make all of them for me; but still, many of them I did intend to keep for myself, but I can't seem to find something that I'm happy with for me. Now, I know I'm pretty picky as far as clothes go for myself, but I also think maybe I'm not being adventurous, or maybe advanced enough, for myself.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say this that yes, I craft because I love the process, I love the creativity, and I love the relaxation that it affords me after my day job, but also that I guess I'm on a quest for the perfect pattern...

I just hope I eventually figure out what I'm looking for...

If only I had a Welsh accent, ...

... I could say what's going round in my head in the moment - which is a Welsh voice (probably Rhys off of Torchwood) saying 'I love it!' And that would be in response to my new scarf, Ethnic Leaves, which was made from a pattern by Kathy Merrick.

This scarf is lovely to crochet - being fun and quirky, yet quick to do - but it's also gorgeous when it's finished. And it's also my first foray into sock yarn, which I've been dying to try because of all the fab colourways that are available. AND this is a new material, since the yarn - Regia sock yarn - is 45% bamboo! So, firsts all round for me today (including a massive forearm cramp - ouch...) but still, I'm bobbersome with the results...

(BTW: bobbersome = elated; full of joy. It's a Forgotten English Word, according to my page-a-day calendar of the things... Along with 'poosk'. Don't ask about that one...)

Just been browsing...

... and I've found some amazing stuff on Esty today which confirms that it's a community of incredibly talented people. Look at this incredible teapot from Natalya Sots, which looks incredible and also actually works!

There's also the recycled jewellry from 2ReVert, made using all sorts of source material.

And glasfaden has a new line of brooches, which look quite intruiging...

So have a look at the creativity exploding on Etsy!

Have you got the Winter Blues?

Well, DM! may have the cure!

This lovely hat and scarf are made from 100% wool to be snuggly and warm, while still looking fab. Wear with your fave jeans out to lunch, to the shops, or even to pick up the kids from school - everyone will want to know where you got it.

Woot! Woot!

Hey - nothing says 'I love ya!' like viewings - and hearts! - on Etsy! I posted this lovely number last night, about 11 pm: and today, about 6 pm I've already got 200 views and 5 hearts on it! How amazing is that! This may have been because of a certain forum posting I made about where I took the photos, but they have turned out amazingly well, better than any of my other photos so far, and so much so that I think I'll be working on re-photographing all my stock!

So thanks so much to all the viewers, and it's still available if anyone's in love with it!