A Mile of Mice...

There is currently a project aiming to create a mile of knitted mice to raise money for the Alzheimer's society.

You can find out more about the project on ravelry and facebook.  I've made ten for the cause.

As you can see, Mark the guinea pig was pretty unimpressed.  We are currently having a spell of glorious sunshine here in the UK.  Which is perfect for using my new sunglasses case, made by the very talented blupaisan as part of a Craftster swap.

Plus it is great weather for a cycle, and a chance to show off my new bike basket!

PS) These cute seagull chicks are on the roof opposite, they are getting bigger and stronger (and nosier) every day, and are sure to fledge soon!

I tawt I taw a puddy cat...

Collage cats.

Printed cats.

 

Stitched cats.

Cat cards galore for blupaisan as part of the June Birthday swap on Craftster. I especially like the collage cats sitting in the windowsill looking at the birds.  I always knew there was a reason why I keep scraps of paper!

Bunny!

Let me introduce you to Mr Rabbit!

This was made for jo_mama in the Craftster June Birthday Swap.  The pattern is Henry's Rabbit by Sara Elizabeth Kellner.  I used some aran wool in my stash, and it only took a couple of days to make.  Along with the knitted rabbit I printed on a tote bag, using a freezer paper stencil.

And off it went bunny hopping over the Atlantic!

Crafted Notecards Swap

I hadn't swapped for a while, and when I saw a crafted notecard swap on Craftster, I knew that would be a great stashbust.  It was a good challenge to try to create cards to match the themes given, and good fun to use some techniques I've not used in a while.  For gala_apples I made the following:  

A stitch apple.

Pizza base printed robots.

Lesbian pride card. 

Zombie collage.

Saltire (with my reflection in it!). 

And as an extra, some train ticket tags.  And for FairyHazeDesigns:

Unicorn pizza base prints.

Fabric paper textured cards (made from this tutorial).

Mushroom collage.

Silk painting, with salt added cards.

And with some extra silk, some gift tags.  I really enjoyed this swap, and have already signed up to another!

Put a Bird On It!

Have had a busy few weeks away, now to update this blog!  Just before my holidays I took part in another Craftster swap, this time 'Put a Bird On It'.  Not a Portlandia themed swap...

...but a swap celebrating our feathered friends.  My swap partner, Becky Button likes kakapos, so after finding this template, I set to work to make a journal.

 

 

I also made a embroidered felt budgie needle case and a crochet bird (using the great pattern from Attic24).

 

 

 

As an extra I also sent Go Wildlife comic, featuring a kakapo cover star.

In return, I received a bumper package.  Three adorable felt ornaments - a puffin, owl and robin.

These are going to look amazing with my felt guinea pigs! Two amazing tote bags, featuring a pied wagtail (my favourite bird ever!) and a cheeky seagull!

 

Plus buttons and all sorts of goodies!

 

This was a great swap to take part in, you can view all of the other swap packages on the Craftster thread.

Cute Beasts!

I received the most amazing alpaca bag from Loukr from the Craftster UK only swap.

 

It is fantastic! I can't wait to show it off at Woolfest this weekend!  I'd love an alpaca or two however, but as we live on the third floor that might not work.  Plus I'm not sure the guinea pigs would appreciate sharing their hay with anyone!  Yesterday we had a walk around Dean Castle Country Park, and got to see some other beautiful beasts.  Including some pretty deer and curious chickens.

 

A baby llama, sitting so uncomfortably!

 A pretty foal.

Why the long face?

A goat who so wanted to be petted.

Plus can you see who this is hiding in the bushes?

A bushy tailed grey squirrel!

The squirrel then sat and ate seeds along with a female mallard and her tiny chicks.

Adorable!  Now I must get back to my crafting!