Tag: handmade

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Some Very Special Birthday Presents

Posted on by Jackie B

I just celebrated a special birthday – one with a zero in it. I had a lovely day, though our celebrations were a perhaps little more low key than they might have been if it hadn’t coincided with the pandemic. We plan to take a trip somewhere interesting when travel is safer and less prone to restrictions. I did get some lovely presents, including some totally unique ones that K commissioned especially from some very talented people we know.

This charm bracelet was made specially for me by Alison Rushbrooke of the Button Bothy. Alison is based in Poolewe, in scenic Wester Ross in North West Scotland. We’ve been spending holidays in that part of the world since the children were small and we love it there. Sadly we had to cancel this years trip but will return in 2021. Over the years we’ve seen Alison’s business grow, selling her unique button jewellery in local craft galleries and markets, then getting her own studio/shop in the village. We always call in in at the Button Bothy to stock up on buttons for projects (I’ve never seen such an amazing selection of buttons in one place) or to buy greetings cards or gifts. Her work is also available online at Highland Hiddle and Numonday

The bracelet includes beads and buttons in tartan colours to represent Scotland and the charms are all examples of the amazing wildlife we’ve seen while on holiday there, including otter, golden eagle, whales, dolphins and red deer. I love it .

I also got this abstract original art work by Laura Ella Kirk. We know Laura from Poolewe too. She sell her art, greetings cards from her original designs and items in resin, fused glass and wood at the local market in Poolewe and online on Etsy. I love the organic swirly design and the colours were picked to go with our lounge. It is perfect!

K really enjoyed the collaborative process. There were a lot of messages and photos going back and forward in the run up to my birthday to pick colours and check that he was happy with what they’d come up with. The painting even arrived with a birthday card from Laura. It is so special to have two totally unique pieces made just for me, to celebrate my milestone birthday.

This card from K is pretty special too. It’s from Elizabeth Chrisp Art – we’ve known this talented young artist and her family for many years and she’s recently started her own line of greetings cards using her wildlife designs…..and what’s not to love about this delightful puffin!

I love my presents!

Have you ever commissioned something to be specially made for yourself or as a gift?

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….and the Mystery Object is….

Posted on by Jackie B
My knitting bowl

Welcome back. The mystery object is a knitting bowl or yarn bowl.

I’d previously seen mass-produced ceramic ones in Flying Tiger and drooled over very nice, but expensive, hand turned wooden bowls at a wool festival before I became the proud owner of this beauty.

I was very lucky to get it. I’m not sure what kind of wood it’s made from, but it’s beautifully hand-made and very smooth, so my yarn will never snag on the inside. One of my lovely knitting friends very kindly asked her husband to make it – he has a woodworking shed in the garden. She jokes that she likes to give him things to do to keep him busy and stop him getting under her feet! I’m very grateful that he was able to do this. He’s very talented.

The idea is that the yarn you are working with sits in the bowl and feeds through the slot. The spiral stops it jumping out. This keeps the yarn clean, and stops the ball of yarn rolling on the floor, picking up dust and fluff. If you have a pet, it’s great for keeping their hair off your work (our dog moults a ridiculous amount of thick black hair that is impossible to avoid!) He has also been known to do this…..

Fortunately Buddy the labrador doesn’t steal yarn very often!

If your dog or cat steals balls of yarn for their own recreational use, the bowl really helps!

I find that it works best with round balls of yarn that have enough room to move freely and unwind within the bowl.

When I’m not knitting and the bowl is empty (It’s the only knitting accessory that stays out on display), it’s a useful place to put those random little items you find when tidying up, like pins and stitch markers.

Do you have a favourite knitting accessory?