Who said string is evil !

Sorry I haven't blogged, Easter got the better of me , along with too much chocolate and a Star Wars film fest ! ( introducing Pumpkin to the delights of watching all the films in one day ! ). My time hasn't been spent entirely frivolously watching films and munching chocolate, I also managed to finished the bath mat I have been crocheting . I have used Nutscene sisal string in natural and blue colours? I have crocheted with other brands of sisal string but I find Nutscene to be the most consistent in thickness and without too many rough bits, they also make their string in funky colours, which are great for contrasting edging or stripes. I have become a bit addicted to crochet, I only learnt a couple of months ago, but I find it quite therapeutic, I use a 5mm crochet hook with the string which I think gives it a nice close weave, I' m really pleased how the baskets I have also crocheted using string have turned out, so much cheaper to make than buying similar from the shops, I use them for all sorts of things,


This cotton string basket I use for sewing bits.


This sisal basket I use for my string!


The smaller red edged basket we use for keys.


Finally the bath mat ! Not in situ, as the bath it will eventually reside in front of is still in our downstairs study, in front of the piano,waiting for Husband to lay the new floorboards in the bathroom!


I also used a slightly darker sisal for a contrasting stripe.
By the way for those of you that are wondering who did say string is evil it was the Goodies! ( a 1970's English comedy act, a bit like Monty Python, but not as good ! Easily findable on YouTube )

Egg-sasperating

Having decided to decorate my table for Easter,I looked to mollie makes - http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/ for an egg template, all was well , I found one in issue 1, I set to sewing,my first attempts seemed a little 'flat bottomed' ideal for displaying on a stand or even in an egg box,but not 'egg' shaped enough to hang, immediately I thought of my book crafting springtime gifts, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crafting-Springtime-Gifts-Featuring-Favourites/dp/0715322907/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333212035&sr=1-8 and so again i copied the template and set to sewing,although these eggs were egg shaped they were very large, even the small size was big,i ended up making my own template,which really i should have done straight away, but was enticed by all pretty pictures in both the magazine and book! Luckily I had Syd on hand ( or should I say table!) to make sure they passed the shape test!the template is really easy to make,mine is about 10cm long and 5cm wide at the widest bit(the bottom of the egg), make sure you match all 4 pieces,all the wider parts together,then sew 5mm in from the edge all down one side with right sides facing,add another segment and repeat.On the fourth segment sew all the way down one side ,then part way down the other side at the top and bottom leaving an opening in the middle, turn in the right way and stuff using soft toy wadding ,finally stitch up the opening.I find the eggs look better if you really stuff them well,sew a small loop of string to the top,find yourself some twigs or branches,preferably with blossom,an old vase/jug or vintage milk bottle and hang them up!