Crochet with dream yarns.

Whenever I complete a craft project I like to use the best materials I can. After all if I am going to spend a lot of time on a project why make something inferior. The time is after all the biggest cost.

As an example, I am making a crocheted jacket style cardigan. It would have been cheap to use a basic acrylic yarn that cost maybe £1 per hundred grammes, or about £8 for the whole project. It will take me about 20 hours altogether to make. At minimum wage that would be £130 worth of time. A total cost of £138. It won't wash well or wear well.

On the other hand, I could use a quality yarn with natural fibres that may cost £8 per hundred grammes or around £64 for the whole project. The total cost is now almost £200 but you have a truly unique item that washes and wears beautifully and will last for years.

In this case I am using a hand painted Alpaca and wool mix from Artesano. It is a dream to work with and the colours are stunning. This isn't the best photo as it was done on my camera phone so it's a bit dark. You get the idea of pools of colour though and great stitch definition.

This sample is treble crochet (English naming) and is completed on a 4.5mm hook.

What are your thoughts when choosing yarns? Cheap and cheerful as the time is not important? The best you can find for that little bit of luxury?

Relocating and Getting Married.

Dew on Red Rose in our garden

My blog is being ignored again.

But I am resolved to change that, even though life is going to get a little frantic in the forthcoming weeks.

Firstly, we are relocating - again!
It will be the third time in under 4 years but it should be the last for a while (famous last words) and opens up a host of new opportunities. The reason for my optimism is that we are moving to Sheffield where there seems to be a vibrant art and craft scene. I've already been looking at galleries in the area and have a couple in mind to approach.

Secondly, 20 years since I was divorced, I am getting married again. I always said I never would a second time, but I met the perfect person to share the rest of my life with and it just seems like the right thing.

And all this before the year moves into it's second half. Hopefully the latter part of the year will be less eventful :-)
( I'm crossing fingers and touching wood :-))

Of course, there will be quite a lot of crafting to do - jewellery, invites, buttonholes and even a little something for my granddaughter who will be just over a year old by then. Not to mention growing flowers for the bouquet.
I have lots of plans
but don't want to give too much away just yet :-)

Did you craft anything for your wedding? I'd love to hear about it.
Did you marry later in life or on a budget? Would love to hear your experiences as there is going to be quite a bit of that at our wedding ( you wouldn't believe how much my wedding dress has cost, but more of that later ;) )

People either love or hate abstract painting.

As an artist I find it very liberating. It's like music without words. The colours create harmonies, ebb and flow and can be very evocative.

They can convey an emotion without grounding it to a particular instance. Anger can be demonstrated without showing a particular face, serenity without a place. It allows the viewer to become engaged on a much more personal level without the artists reality getting in the way.

I like to think that there is an abstract painting out there that will speak to anyone who thinks they don't like abstract art and bring about that "eureka" moment.