Trying my hand at knitting

I’ve been meaning to have a go at knitting for ages and I mean ages. Its something that many people assume I’ll be good at. So far that has not been the case. Whether it is my lefthandedness or my lack of tension control I’m not sure but I’ve always wanted to have another go.

My mum taught me when I was little, yes back in the 80’s when it seemed everyone made everything. I had dresses sewn by my Nana, Cindy dresses made by my Auntie Jenny and knitted jumpers galore. My friend Jane’s mum was well into sewing, she had loads of liberty patterns and rag dolls but my mum was more of a knitter. Back then all I wanted was a batwing jumper, they were all the rage. My mum knitted me a smashing one. It was cream with a fancy pattern, oh how I loved it!

Maybe it was this nostalgia which prompted me to have a go, the memory of mum sitting watching Corrie with the rhythmic click and clack of the needles. It was this along with social distancing and the potential of lock down, I needed something to stop me spending my evenings eating everything in the fridge.

Luckily for me I have a learn to knit book. Hurrah! Its perfect, I think my mum bought it for Amber as it’s aimed a children – perfect for me!! I went to Button Knit in St Neots to see the ladies there. They are so nice and patient and their shop is a treasure trove of wool, patterns, buttons, ribbon and other things which I have no idea what they are for. They set me up with some big needles, some lovely teal wool and a crochet hook (another blog post when I get round to mastering that bad boy).

Now casting on. I really struggled to get that going. My brain just didn’t compute. Here I am, sitting here with two needles, some lovely wool, a book of instructions (aimed at children!) and boundless enthusiasm. I say boundless. Its so frustrating when you can’t even master the first basic instruction!! What a div! After much finger waggling, needle prodding and wool wrapping I actually cast on. I can almost hear the avid knitters laughing their heads off at my ineptitude! I was off!

First line cast on/ off whatever. Now what? I won’t bore you with the ins and outs but its fair to say my first few rows were rubbish and pure genius all rolled into one. The odd dropped stitch (check me out with the lingo!) problems with the tension and starting out with 20 stitches and ending up with 26, I’ve still no idea how I did that.

Its still very early doors but I can already tell this is definitely going to be yet another labour of love. My husband asked me what I was actually making. Is it a scarf? Well until I can work out how I actually stop knitting it’s going to have to be! I’ve added a few photos of my efforts so far. My cousin Rachael is a genius knitter and although she doesn’t know it yet, she is going to be my guru!

Watch this space for lots of brilliant knitted items! Well, one or two very long scarves…..

xx

All the gear, no idea.....

Knitting whilst watching the Crown 

Morphing into my lovely mum, knitting and watching Pointless 

The beauty of working alone

Being a crafty can be beautifully solitary, working alone to create pretty things is great. I have been known to have a little chat with myself, talk to my money plant to get ideas and to shout at Jeremy Vine (sorry Jeremy). My lovely little Radio 2 friends keep me company. My day begins with the lovely Zoe, a woman who makes me smile every morning, I really love how I feel by the end of her show and she makes sure the school run is music and chat rather than shouting and tears.

Then we have cuddly Ken, I used to think he was as daft as a brush but over the years I have found myself laughing at the silly jokes and of course trying my hand at Popmaster (highest score of 27 and I got the year right). It’s like have a dappy old uncle chatting away to me in the corner. 

Then the mighty Jeremy. Two hours of radio which demands all sorts of emotions. I’ve shouted, cried, turned the radio off (Nigel Farage), learnt and laughed. I am now a blood donor because of Jeremy, I often think I have the symptoms thanks to the lovely Doctor Sarah Jarvis and I love to hear about that allotment in Wales. Now when 2 o clock comes around I do struggle a little and have been known to go all modern and listen to an occasional Podcast. Steve Wright is reassuringly the same and it feels like it’s been the same since 1989.

From the travel reports of 60 mile diversions in Scotland to tracks of my years from random people. This all keeps me sane, helps me feel like I’m part of something and has been known to get me dancing around my workshop.

So while I say I am making alone, I honestly feel like I am part of the Radio 2 massive. With everything going on in the world, the threat of self isolation and the CoronaVirus, many more people will be looking to the radio to keep them company. Being isolated and being alone can be a bit frightening, I know its all very bleak. But I'm sure my airwaves friends will be great to keep me informed, enlightened and very entertained. 

Small beginings

When you are a crafty bod, the loveliest thing you can hear is people saying how good your work is. Its fab to hear the odd complement or two, whether it’s in real life or through good old social media.

People have been known to say, ‘oooh that bracelet is nice, you are good, I could never do that’. It’s taken a bit of time, well quite a bit of time to get here but I think that everyone has the potential to make something. Before I got the crafty bug I hadn’t done anything like it before. You’ll be surprised to know that a degree in hospitality, experience of running restaurants and working in recruitment doesn’t really set a person up for a life in craft.

I’ve seen it happen at my workshops and jewellery making parties. We are all really good at saying ‘I’m no good at making’ where really its down to having the time, the right idea and quite a bit of patience. At first I struggled to get ideas together and I see that it’s a bit overwhelming to get started. As I’ve found, there’s loads of resources out there whether it be on YouTube or Pinterest.

I started out 10 years ago with something that I thought I would like and I could use. I’ve always loved jewellery so it was a pretty good starting block. I especially got into costume jewellery when I was pregnant to dress up those massive dresses and I soon realised I wouldn’t grow out of a necklace.

The initial outlay wasn’t a lot, a couple of pairs of pliers, a box of beads and findings from hobbycraft and I was off. I think it all cost about £15.

I also started looking at the jewellery I had, how it was made, how bits were connected and what worked together. I also started pulling my jewellery apart, most of the time it was fine, but on more than one occasion I did manage to ruin a perfectly good necklace. I did go through a phase of trying to copy jewellery off the telly. I loved Toyah from Corrie’s earrings and tried to replicate them. I did draw the line at Liz McDonald’s necklaces though.

I learnt through a lot of trial and error, collecting ideas, trying my best and being patient, very patient. Go on, give it a go, you never know where it might just take you x

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a funny one. I'm sure when it first started life it was purely a celebration on love, a card sent from an admirer or a rose to say I love you. But as with everything else, its been taken over by the marketing money machine to sell chocolates, flowers, teddies, underwear (that's only if you're really lucky!) and even those huge padded cards that come in a box.

I've always wondered whether, as someone who makes and sells jewellery, I should jump on this flighty bandwagon. Have I sold my soul? Well it seems I may have, I'm not really on the level of Clintons or Interflora but I have tried to make it a bit funny and light. A little ditty written on Facebook with some pics and prices of my jewellery seemed to be a good way to enter the fray. Whether anyone sees it and thinks, I'll get her a bangle instead of a padded card remains to be seen.

Whatever you're doing for Valentine's Day, eating a meal together in an overcrowded restaurants full of people smiling lovingly at each other (whilst secretly thinking our relationship is better than yours). Or maybe you'll be heading to M&S for a cheeky meal deal for two, complete with Prosecco and chocolates so you can head home and get stuck into Netflix (The Stranger is brilliant btw).
Or maybe you'll be at home admiring your new Silver jewellery that you bought yourself because who needs this slushy piffle anyway.

Happy Valentine's Day xx

Novice blogger

So this little ole blog has been bubbling away in my mind for ooooh about 6 years. The reason its taken so long is that I've really wrestled with whether its useful or just plain indulgent (I'm hoping for the former). I've finally put pen to paper, well finger to keyboard after a chat with a friend who said just get on with it and have a go. So here we go!

My first steps into the world of craft came with having my children. They are now 13 and 11 so this all started many moons ago when I was still in my 30's, had hardly any wrinkles, could drink a bottle wine without having a week long hangover and a wardrobe full of suits and heels.
Having two little nippers under 3, my perspective changed. With the cost of childcare and my fading passion for recruitment, I started to look around for something to keep me busy, sane and challenged without having to travel into London. I always loved jewellery, especially while I was pregnant when I could wear costume jewellery that I couldn't grow out of and could dress up the elasticated trousers and those lovely voluminous smock tops.

I remember going to Hobbycraft and buying a starter kit of beads, findings (what?), pliers and letter beads. I'd never really done anything remotely crafty but i was like a kid in a sweet shop. As soon as the little loves were in bed I got going. Now I can't pretend the first creations were any good. I'm sure the friends who were early recipients must have wondered what on earth I was giving them!

Beading is still very close to my heart, starting with this has gone on to teaching, jewellery making parties and has given me the confidence to go on to making Silver Jewellery with Silver Fox but more on that later...

So I think that might help to explain a bit about me and where the Crafty Silver Fox name. Craft is where I started, Silver is where I am at, and well the Fox bit is just a bit of fun.

One of my first forays into beading, I still love that star x

I was so proud of these earring and bracelet.  love a bit of ribbon x