UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

Terrific Kay,do you have a particular design in mind?
How are you getting on with the new sewing machine?

Kerstie, the cross stitch is beautiful, love the colours!

Yay!, Pat on finishing the bedspread!! Any chance of a photo?

Hope you manage to get your knitting sorted, Jud.

I've just checked the freebie email, but there aren't any free craft books today...

Sarah ,not really got a particular design in mind but some ideas floating around ,do like machine and easy to use ,it's long time since I have done any sewing but thought it was time I got back into doing some hobbies,was becoming very stale in my old age,have also hunted out some cross stitch but mostly small stuff for possible cards,still looking for a decent priced craft lamp

I have one of the magnifiers that hang round your neck if it's any use to you Kay as I don't use it any more.It may work as a stop gap.I am keeping a look out for craft lamps for you:@)

Thanks Sarah but already have one of these and use it sometimes but don't find it very good ,thanks for looking out for lamps I have seen a few but just too dear especially as have had to get car sorted out ,my lovely boyfriend of daughters got me a new battery and got car going and is coming home again in couple weeks to do all the other things needing doing to it,but at least I am back on the road ,thanks Sarah x

If you are a fan of Annie's on facebook you can downloacd a free scrap quilt trio pattern

https://www.facebook.com/AnniesCatalo...

I am very into my knitting at the moment, so was very happy to find this thread. Haven't looked through all the posts yet but looking forward to new suggestions of projects.
I'm currently knitting Christmas tree decorations to sell at my schools fayre. I'm also in the middle of my first jumper in adult size, it's not going as well but it's just nice to be trying new things.

Welcome to the thread, Ruth. It's lovely to be able to chat about what we are working on!

:0)

Stunning x-stitch Kerstie.

Sarah there is a square each side and one down the end, each 14.5" so 5 rows of 7 squares.

Karen posted a photo before I finished the other day
http://d.gr-assets.com/photos/1351083...
Will post one of it finished and on the bed when the bed arrives early December.

Good luck with your quilt Kay. That something I never learnt to do.

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Oh no Jud! I so admire you're persistence I would have launched it by now.Could you perhaps knit 2 together at the start and end of alternating rows instead of having to rip it out?"

I guess I could. I am determined to finish it no matter how long it takes. I've left it for a couple of days hoping when I go back to it I'll see what went wrong

thanks for all the nice comments. sarah yes its evenweave its a hand dyed piece called dark goddess by a lady whose company is called sparklies.

I've just found this interesting article about making yarn from unwanted plastic bags

http://blog.makezine.com/craft/plasti...

Today's free craft book
Perfume making
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

:0)

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "Stunning x-stitch Kerstie.

Sarah there is a square each side and one down the end, each 14.5" so 5 rows of 7 squares.

Karen posted a photo before I finished the other day
http://d.gr-assets.com/p..."

That's a beauty, Pat. What a lot of work

Really lovely Pat.
Thanks Kerstie,the material is so unusual.
I really must get back to making some more christmas cards.I have been caught up with trying to finish off a tapestry that someone else started. They were left-handed so the stitches had been worked opposite to how I normally work. It has been really strange.I worked most of it upside down(the canvas,not me).

Philip (sarah) wrote: "Really lovely Pat.
Thanks Kerstie,the material is so unusual.
I really must get back to making some more christmas cards.I have been caught up with trying to finish off a tapestry that someone else..."

Teehee, I had visions there for a moment!

wow what an amazing bunch if creative people you all are.And I didn't realise you could get free craft books. I must look out for these. Juts to say after much deliberation, I've decided not to do punch needle and that I'd like to knit some bobbly hats for presents for xmas. I used to knit a wee bit - a very wee bit- years ago. Can anyone tell me if I am being too ambitious? And also can anyone recommend good patterns - or a pattern book? Thanks people. I feel a bit of a fraud because I am such a beginner and you are all so able but I seriously do want to start.

All sorts of hat patterns can be found here http://www.deramores.com/hat-knitting... , I've found this a really good site for patterns and wool. I think that's a good idea, knitting xmas presents. I haven't got time this year but I may do that for some people next year!!!!!

Pauline wrote: "All sorts of hat patterns can be found here http://www.deramores.com/hat-knitting... , I've found this a really good site for patterns and wool. I think that's a good idea, knitting xmas pre..."

brilliant. thanks very much, will let you know hoe i gte on ..or not, as the case me be. ha! ;)

Today's free craft book

Quilting
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009BA69GE...

I hope you enjoy your knitting Marrianne!
Thanks for the links Pauline and Karen.
I managed to make 8 cards today so now feeling less guilty.

Today's free craft book (there weren't any yesterday..)

Candle making
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0... (but why would I want to make "grubby" candles...?)

:0)

Haven't started on Christmas cards yet, but I did have an idea... will try and cut one out so I can take a pic when it's light tomorrow. It's from a design I did a couple of years ago but 'recycled'. Am sure noone will remember if they get a similar card this year

thanks for links to books, Karen:) Sarah, by the next time I write I am determined to have cast on some stitches onto needles!!!! And well done making 8 cards! You are on a roll!!! ;o)

Yay for pinterest!

I'm going to try a bit of change of direction for crochet for a while. I haven't sold a bean through my Etsy shop (the only orders I've had have been private ones from supportive family members, which I've later photographed and put on my shop as examples) Thanks to them though, I am at least breaking even on the cost of materials. Etsy is so huge, I read an article today which said there were over 800,000 shops on there with more joining every day! In order to get anyone to notice you have to keep publicising all the time (I have even more sympathy for indies now!) Unless I facebook and twitter - no one looks at the shop (they produce stats for you to check) It seems that when I do fb and tweet, it also gets picked up by other search engines, so as well as the direct traffic I get a few other hits. None have lead to sales yet although I've had a few items "favourited" by people. With 800,000 shops there is a LOT of competition!

I'm hoping to get a few sales from people who see my brother-in-law's blanket, but in the mean time I am looking at other avenues. I've been a bit skeptical of craft fairs as Cornwall is a deprived area economically (not in beauty of surroundings though) with one of the lowest wage rates in the country - people aren't spending much and talking to people that I know who regularly frequent craft fairs, their takings are now extrememly low. After humming and haaing for a while, a friend of mine is thinking of hiring a room locally for a fair and has invited me to join in - if she hasn't left it too late that is...(to book the room I mean) So as the opportunity is there I will make a few little things and see how I get on, but with pessimism. This friend sews beautiful things but has problems selling them even though her prices aren't high.

The other avenue I've heard about, is that a friend's relative has a shop in a popular tourist spot, which only sells things made in Cornwall. I'm going to try making up a few things with a cornish or seaside theme to see how I get on there. I have heard of other similar shops - so if this is successful, I may show my work to other places. It is a bit depressing to work so hard for so little return, but with my health problems, this is one of the few forms of work that I can do - but popular opinion seems to be that you should sell it for peanuts because you've enjoyed making it (I've had that said to me a few times in different forms.)

I've just realised that I've rambled on with a Yay to pinterest without saying why! I've been saving patterns that I find, on that site - it's much better to organise things like that then using bookmarks on my netbook. Since I heard about the potential craft fair, I've created a secret board (new idea for pinterest, but seems great, a board only you can see) and repinned all the patterns and inspirations that I'm going to use to make the little things. It's a great resource!

:0)

So yesterday I was playing with a cutting machine, beads and wire - finished some ear-rings and part of one necklace, then played with inks and stamps. After our evening meal I started another necklace with Swarovski crystals and crocheted wire. Photos of two of the creations are going on here now - the jewellery will be photographed after it has been finished.
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/group/...
The camera doesn't do justice to the inky card - I'm actually quite impressed with the colour of it. The stamp isn't smudged - I thought it was, but the lady that created the stamps was teaching the workshop and she said it was made like that - distressed look.
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/group/...

Beautiful, Janet! You are so talented!

:0)

Good luck with your new endeavours Karen. Lovely work Janet. 8 cards Karen, well done indeed.

First square of second bedspread finished, hope the rest won't take as long as the first one did.
(first bedspread that is)

Today three projects but only one is completed - the card made with some colouring-in. http://www.goodreads.com/photo/group/... I've also got a part made stationery box and a part made wreath with paper cones and a robin. Tonight is quizzes and games, then tomorrow 6 shorter workshops.

Wow - you have been busy, Janet!

Several free craft books today!

Fashion blogging
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Seasonal books
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Sword making (?!!!)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

:0)

Love your work Janet.
Sound like you are going to be very busy Karen,good luck with the new ventures.
Yay Pat!

Thanks, Karen - just grabbed two of those books! :)

Email notification in earlier than usual today (I've chosen just to get notifications of certain genres, can't be bothered to trawl through the whole list anymore!)

Seasonal
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Dye
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Pottery
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

:0)

I know how tough it is selling crafts, Karen. I've tried a few stalls over the years. Have now abandoned card making (to sell) as you can't cover your costs, though I still enjoy making cards. While it's very entertaining spending a day manning a craft stall, I usually end up spending more buying from other people's stalls. It's always been difficult getting people to buy things - books included!

But I have at last made my first Christmas card - in the photos gallery - tho not got as far as glittering it, my favourite job! It's a combination of a tree adapted from a Dover books image (hence I can show what I've made but not share the template) and a deer which I did a couple of years ago.
Well, it's a start.

PS thanks for the book links... got a few ideas

Wow!

Just had the longest list of notifications for free craft books, that I've ever seen!

Knitting
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...


Pottery
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Costumes
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Dye
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Drawing
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Seasonal
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Interviews with women crafters
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Amber
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Some of these have been mentioned in earlier posts already...

:0)

wow! fantastic. Hope to find some goodies in amongst that lot. Thanks

Brilliant. Thanks so much for these links :)

Thank you Karen,much appreciated.Will have a look later.

Thanks Karen - can't resist the Christmassy ones!

Do celebration cakes count as a craft? I can't knit or crochet, but I do make cakes for requests. Just finished another fancy handbag one, next it's half a dozen Christmas cakes!

Thanks for the links,Karen. Nicola, yes anything lovely and creative is a craft some decorated cakes are works of art. I love to see other peoples work. It inspires us to have a try at something different.

After my crafty weekend I have picked up a kumihimo disc and some cord, I've already made three braids, just need to put ends on to complete the bracelets. I haven't photographed them yet.

All my completed projects from the weekend are on my blog http://2pdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2012/...

just to let you know I have started knitting - my daughter thinks it's a joke - if she's not careful, she'll a wooly hat for xmas ;o)
To the knitting: I've knitted about 5 cms of a wooly hat - only two problems so far: I've managed to gain an extra stitch – gone from 89 to 90 stitches – and my knitting looks nothing like the picture! But it looks okay to me so I've double up the stich and got 89 again and am carrying on. Photo here ... http://www.goodreads.com/photo/author...

( ps - is this the best place to put photos?)

I'd say cake decorating is craft! It takes real skill!

Lovely photos, Janet - you are clever!

Way to go, Marianne! The yarn looks lovely. I can't help out with technical things on knitting as I don't knit - in fact the only thing that I do do is crochet - don't knit, sew, decorate cakes or make jewellry. Would like to try some of those though... so many crafts, so little time...

I'm making scarves at the mo, some for sale and some as anniversary presents (there are three wedding anniversaries for family and close friends within a few weeks of each other!) I've sent two off already, but I might take a group photo of the others to post on here..

:0)

I'd love to do cake decorating!

I'll try and put a couple of cake pictures up later, when I've figured out how!

Two free craft books today

Knitting
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Silk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

:0)

brilliant - thanks for the book links, Karen, I'm going to get them now. I had no idea there were quite so many freebies on Amazon! Wow!

There are litterally hundreds every day now, Marianne! The market is flooded with them. I used to get emailed a list of all new freebies each day, but the list got so long there wasn't time to look through them all! Now I get KUF's list which you can tailor to your interests, one of which is "hobbies and crafts", much easier to find what I want now..!

(I seem be to addicted to using elipses today, lots on my facebook posts too..)

;0)

... nothing wrong with elipses ... every now and then ... ;o)
and thanks x

Well done Marianne I look forward to seeing another photo when you finish.
Looking forward to seeing the cakes Nicola.
I left a comment on your blog Janet, I hope it registers as I am such a numpty with anything technical.

Three and a half squares done! Can't believe it. Sure to fall by the wayside soon.