Wah... it hurts.

Wah - I bruised my ribs... squishing vacuum bags full o' yarn.  I really need to start making inroads into my stash.  Starting with a Hexagon Baby Sweater (for hexagon babies, obviously) which is an ingenious pattern.

Yesterday's find...

I had half an hour to spare (yes, a rarity indeed!) and popped into a charity shop in search of a handbag - one that had a strap long enough to go across the body, messenger-bag style, as I was fed up with having to haul the bag I was using back up my arm every few minutes.  I found that (a lovely squishy, copper brown one) and more. Nestling at the bottom of the 50p box was a flimsy, flung together calico handbag with an impractical magnetic fastening, and wooden hoops (bamboo?) for handles.

What caught my eye, however, was the delightful work on the front panel - a fantastic array of beads and sequins.

I literally couldn't wait to take this apart, and once I'd snapped up this bargain, I trotted (trotted? No, I don't do trotting), over to the haberdashery stall on Ashton Market and bought a seam ripper.   The New Find was in pieces by the time I was home, and I now had a lovely decorative panel, a lining (with zip), some foam, a magnetic clasp and two handles.  Now I'm planning how to use it all - probably a front pocket for a bigger bag.
Here's some more detail:

Beards...

Wow - I've just discovered there's a whole beardy-folky festival in Derbyshire in May http://www.beardedtheory.co.uk  I'll be making more beards in honour of the occasion.

Ooh...

So-ooo... I went with my friend to see about her craft class, and yes, folks, I'm in! Buzzin' with ideas, now. Watch this space - well, c'mon, it's better than watching paint dry...

Yay!

These yummy warm huggy socks will be winging their way to a new home today.

Hurrah!

Off to the post office today, with some socks and slippers, lovingly made by me :-)

Crumbs, I'm a little nervous...

I've been asked to meet a lady with a view to helping out with her new craft club - bringing something different to a bunch of people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.  Should be an experience!

Today's buy...

As I ended up with yet more beads yesterday (can't resist a bargain) I decided it was time to organise them a little better than the plastic takeaway trays that I have them in at the mo'.  Argos to the rescue.  I managed to track down and reserve the last two craft organiser boxes in the area - at under £7.00 each.  Hurrah.  Sorting that lot out should be fun...

Moo Mini Cards

Yay - my moo mini business cards have arrived.  So-ooo easy to do (but don't swan off and leave your computer half way thro' - their site doesn't like that), handy to carry and you can have both sides in colour.
They're only the size of a tube ticket (or a Newcastle Metro ticket if you're from up that way, pet) and I intend mine to double as labels.
Huzzah!

Charity Shop Trawling

I thought it was just me.  The charity shops I frequent are very busy, nowadays, but I have always been under the impression that everyone else was looking for shoes, clothes and handbags.  That was until I read an article about SewSister in Sewing World magazine.  She gets to shop there daily! Now, the mag managed to get her details mucho messed up, and she took a lot of tracking down (she ain't the only sewsister out there) but if you'd like to see her stuff it's http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/SewSister   

Well, here we are...

Welcome to my craft-and-randomness blog, where I plan to share all things crafty - with a thrifty and eco theme.  My 'serious' blog (as Astrojill) is all about reviews - of books, products and more.  Go look!