My first swap

November 25, 2006November 5, 2025 Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)9 Comments

Yesterday a package arrived for me and was eagerly torn open – to reveal…this lovely needlecase and great vintage buttons – the goodies from my very first swap with the charming Jackie of Wren’s Nest. I love the idea of swapping with a fellow crafter and am very lucky to score such beautiful things on my first swap. I’ve been gathering all my various boxes and tins of sewing stuff together and have started to put together a proper work box. I was lucky to inherit this wonderful wooden sewing box from my Great Granny but I don’t know how long she had it. As a student I used it as an art box and stored all my gouache paints and brushes in it but I’ve not painted for years and it’s been stuck in a forgotten corner of our attic. Now I have my needle-case and pincushion (from Raspberry) it seems appropriate to return the box to it’s original function. It makes me feel like a proper crafter – I just need a work room now!!

crafts & knitting

WIP of a seasonal nature

November 21, 2006November 5, 2025 Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)9 Comments

I know that nobody wants to be reminded how many shopping days left until Christmas – I’m no angel and am more disorganised with my pressie buying than usual. Still even I have succumbed to the impending season of cheer and have been trying to finish off stockings, Christmas cakes and bunnies.These two girlies are in a partially dressed state but I thought I’d share them with you anyway because I like their little fat tums over the tops of their tights!

I have however found what will be on my Christmas list this year. I always take A to see Father Christmas at a nearby Garden Centre – he arrived by Helicopter this last weekend (I don’t know what happened to the reindeer – not 21st century enough I s’pose). Anyway, maybe I’ll sit on his knee after A and ask him nicely for Ollie because I just love him so – check him out and his brothers & sisters too at Sweet Nellie – they are so gorgeous.

Monkey business

November 13, 2006November 5, 2025 Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)17 Comments

Had a nice family weekend – woodland walks, roast chicken & apple pie – that kind of old-fashioned spending time together kind of affair. It’s been wonderful to see Toby growing in confidence since he started school. A few months ago we would only take him out on walks where there was a good enough path for his special needs buggy. He’s always much preferred to ride than walk and as he can be very unpredictable and has no sense of danger with roads and rivers etc, I’ve been happy to let him sit in the buggy – it’s seemed safer. This weekend though we opted for a woodland wellie walk rather than our usual sojourn along the canal tow path and Toby did brilliantly. He seemed so grown up toddling along on his own and he was especially excited by the wind in the trees and the falling leaves.

On the knitting front I was suddenly seized by the desire to try something new. I’ve had a play with different animals before – sometimes with pretty disastrous results: poor old Charlie Cat – he’s never been quite right!

But at the end of last week I was inspired and thought monkey! I’m still working on tweaking the pattern and may have to make a few more prototypes but it’s getting there I think. Looking at it now this photo is a little gruesome looking – a row of decapitated heads! Sorry! I’ll be working on bodies and hopefully will have a finished monkey template by the end of the week.