T-Shirt Rug Ta-dah!

Finally its finished! It wasn't a very long project to do, but i kept working on other things so something which should have taken a weekend has taken about a month.

I had seen T-Shirt and rag rugs on pintrest and have been desperate to make one for myself for a while especially since i am not all that fond of generic rugs that they sell just about everywhere and my lounge is a display room for a lot of the things i have made so i knew one of these rugs would be a great addition.

I had a massive clear out at the end of summer and found a pile of old tops that would do the trick- well i say old some still had tags in them, but doesn't everyone go overboard at Primark with tops in every color for a couple of quid each, i had to wonder what possessed me to buy an luminous green stripey top, it was not the most flattering thing i have ever brought!

This is what i ended up with a big pile of tops. I then had a quick look at you tube and found out roughly what i needed to do. Like everything i do a started to wing it!

Cutting the tops into strips and balling them up is possibly one of the most boring crafty things i have done, so i decided to cut a few up then start, and i would alternate cutting and crocheting the rug.

This bit i enjoyed, i loved the bright colours as i was starting to look rather gloomy outside.

I enjoyed watching it grow and develop.

Then finally 24 T-shirts later, i had no more tops and it was finished!

TA-DAH!!!!

To be honest its not really finished, just on hold, till i can get hold of some more t-shirts. I love the way it looks in my lounge but its far to small. I do wonder how many more it will take considering this took 24. Who knows? there is only one way to find out? .... more hooking!!!!

Bye xxx

Craft Selling!

What a busy week we have had. Two Weeks ago i decided to start selling my hats, something which i have been planning to do since this time last year, but i always manage to find a reason to put it off. After a bit of a push i have set up a Facebook account to show what i can do and got some new business cards and labels to go in the hats and have spent the last two weeks frantically making stock for my first ever stall. 

Finally the day came and i was really pleased with how it all came together unfortunately i forgot to take pictures but here are some of the things i made.

If you would like to look my Facebook Address is https://www.facebook.com/makingsfromthemadhouse

I have had my first few orders and i am really happy with that.

Last week was also Bonfire night, however this wasn't such a success. I was tired the kids were tired and it was cold and rainy all day so we were stood on a hill watching a firework display that had been organised by the council. It was really good but none of us was really in the mood. I took some sparklers and that was all the kids were interested in.. well until they were lit then they suddenly became scared of them and they definitely were not last year. Never mind, just let it be noted that next year we will do it my way and stay home and have some friends and family over for some nice food and watch the display put on by the local football club which can be seen from our garden.

As i have been busy with the hats, the only project i have managed to finish is Freds aran Jumper (pictures to follow), but after all those hats i was ready to start something new. I have decided to start a new blanket, it will be a bit smaller than the ones i have done before as i want it ti be part of a Christmas hamper i am making as a pressie for my mum and dad. Its a snowflake pattern and i am planning on 36 squares.

 I started on the 5th November and am doing one a day so that should give me enough time to put it together.

The next project i have started is another little warm jumper for Fred as he has worn the other non stop. I love the lime green wool that i have chosen.

Finally i still have the t-shirt rug to finish which i really want to complete this week, here is a sneaky peek of the start

Well i am off now to enjoy the lovely warm pancakes that i just had to have!!!!

Bye xxx

Trick and a lot of Treats!!

Halloween has finally arrived and the kids were super excitable all day, so as the weather was dry i sent them outside to play, with the other children that live on the street. However in the excitable mood they were in they were in and out all day which was very irritating considering that i had lots of calls to make so at 3pm i called them in to carve the pumpkin that we had brought and sent home there friend , promising him i would come and collect him at 6pm to go trick or treating, I don't think he got the message though and continued to knock on the door every 15 minutes each time i answered the door and repeated that i would collect him at 6pm. One of the downfalls to working at home especially during school holidays is trying to work with kids and there friends buzzing about.

Finally though we made a start on the pumpkin

They loved getting messy and pulling all the seeds out , little Fred just thought it was a ball and wanted to play with it!

Ewan drew the face on it and i cut it out and finally we had a ta-dah moment. as soon as it was dark we lit it and placed it on the step out side the front door.

I think Fred was a liitle concerned by the fact his "ball" now had a glowing face!

One hour to go and they kids were desperate to get ready, Ewan picked his outfit and dashed off outside to show his friends so i never managed to get a picture but molly loved putting on her new witches costume that i made last week and was more than happy to pose for photos

 6pm arrived and we were ready to leave, we opened the front door and whoosh .. the heavens opened and it was torrential rain, the children were not happy to be kept waiting but 15 mins later we were off.

An hour later we were back, wet and cold but with two buckets over flowing with sweets...

This picture was taken this morning at 11am!  (i forgot last night) The kids got up at 6am, had breakfast and were eating the sweets at 6.30am! I know that is extremely bad parenting but i decided to take the easy road. Last year i let the kids have a few sweets each evening after tea and homework, but they went on and on about the sweets every other moment of the day for two weeks "mum can i have have one.. Please Please" you get the idea, so this time i thought i would get it over with quickly and in one day, so despite my better judgement i said have whatever you want. By 2 pm the kids were so sugar high i went to the local soft play center for the rest of the afternoon to burn off the energy. This was followed by two very ratty children on a sugar low when we got home so a quick bath ( we had tea out) and straight to bed at  6pm. There is still some sweets left but i think they can just have a few after tea tomorrow and i will put up with the whinging. Unless i help them eat it all....mmmm.....

Bye x