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by Lou 4 Comments

Tumblethumps Wool Tumble Dryer Balls

“What are Tumblethumps and what do they have to do with crafting?”

The answer is simple. Tumblethumps are dryer balls which are created using a process of wet felting and needle felting and as you may know, felting is a craft that’s currently growing in popularity. We handcraft every one of our Tumblethumps right here in Scotland using pure Shetland wool.

Whilst dryer balls may not seem to be particularly creative on the face of it, there isn’t actually any reason not to turn such a functional item into a decorative one too. In much the same way that a humble hand towel is often embroidered or cross stitched, making it pleasing to our eyes as well as of practical use, wool dryer balls can have any design felted onto it that your mind can think up. 🙂 And once you have decorated them, they can make lovely, safe, soft toys for kids and pets alike to play with! How’s that for versatile?

Tumblethumps Wool Dryer Balls

Tumblethumps wool dryer balls in white Shetland wool

 

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Filed Under: Eco Crafting, Local Scottish Craft, Tumblethumps Tagged With: eco crafting, green crafting, sustainable living, tumblethumps wool dryer balls, wool dryer balls

by Lou Leave a Comment

Craft Kit Review – Sheep Cushion

When I was at the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts show at the SECC in March this year, I picked up this adorable cushion kit from Fiddlesticks Fabrics of Ballyclare. I may have mentioned a penchant for sheep-ish items and this was one of them. Featuring 3 applique sheep in some very stylish black and white swirl fabrics, I was curious to see just how easy it would be to make.

On opening the kit I found

  • a set of instructions
  • 3 sets of applique fabric pieces to make the sheep
  • 6 white buttons for the eyes
  • fabric for making up the cushion front and back

The cushion fabric itself was generously cut with more than enough to make the 3 pieces and their respective seam allowances as required. I do recommend using dressmaking scissors for this to get the best and easiest cut through the fabric. I didn’t have any and waited till I’d bought some before attempting the job. The cushion is a very simple envelope style so it’s geared towards being a suitable starting point for beginners. No complicated sewing involved, just straightforward hemming.

 

IMG_0204 IMG_0205 IMG_0206

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Craft Events, Craft Kit Review, Craft Projects Tagged With: craft kit, craft kit review, cushion, sheep

by Lou Leave a Comment

Inspirational Craftsmanship Using Recycled Materials

I watched this video from the ever amazing Upworthy site a couple of days ago and simply had to share it. Having watched this, the reasons that I hear from people on a daily basis as to why they don’t recycle are shown up for what they truly are… excuses.

 

A Must Watch Video!!

 

The children themselves are wonderfully talented but I’m sure you’ll agree that those people who actually collect the materials and craft those stunning instruments are truly special. Eco crafting at its most extreme.

Filed Under: Eco Crafting

by Lou Leave a Comment

Product News – Scottish Place Name Map Pendants

Brand new in our Etsy shop in the last few days are our first batch of hand crafted antique silver plated pendants showing various maps of Scottish towns and cities in pretty heart shaped or round bezels. On this occasion we’ve added Kelso, Hawick, Stirling and Glasgow. More to follow in due course.

These make truly unique gifts for friends or loved ones to commemorate a variety of events from births to weddings to anniversaries. You can even treat yourself, perhaps as a memento of a great holiday spent in Scotland.

We’re also offering postage to the USA, Canada and the EU.

You can check out the current towns on offer HERE. We’re adding new stock all the time and you can of course request a custom order if you wish.

 

Kelso Map Pendant

Vintage Map Pendant of Kelso. Click to enlarge.

 

Filed Under: Our Scottish Crafts on Etsy

by Lou Leave a Comment

A Woolly Summer Craft Festival in Argyll

Don’t we all just love a summer craft festival? Well here’s a very special one for you. Argyll is set to host their Gaelic Wool Festival, Feis Cothlam 2013, from 18th to 20th July in Benderloch and around Oban. It promises to be a woolly spectacular with stalls, displays, workshops and demonstrations galore. Thursday will find the market in full swing, showcasing local produce at its best and the Friday will see the Festival playing host to a Mongolian Fibre Art Cultural visit with a talk and a film in Benderloch’s Victory Hall.

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Filed Under: Craft Events, Eco Crafting, Local Scottish Craft

by Lou Leave a Comment

Fair Trade In Scotland?

This may seem like an odd thing to post about on a craft blog but we all buy crafting materials right? How many of us take real responsibility for where those materials come from?

I’ll freely admit to being guilty of a lazy attitude in regards to this in the past and also, like many of you I suspect, aware of the extra cost incurred in adding Fair Trade or organic products to my basket. That cost is swiftly becoming less of an issue however and there isn’t really much excuse for not doing our part. It’s one of those areas where everyone could take some steps towards doing a little bit and being more aware of where and how our products and materials are sourced.

Which brings me neatly to the answer to the question this post is asking… and it’s a resounding yes!

Back in February at the beginning of 2013’s Fair Trade Fortnight, after a campaign led nationally by the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, Scotland was named as one of the world’s first Fair Trade Nations.

Absolutely awesome news.

Martin Rhodes, Director of the SFTF, is quoted as saying “Scotland achieving Fair Trade Nation status is the result of a grass roots campaign. People in all walks of life, across the country really are concerned about fairness in international trade and are prepared to act on that concern in their everyday purchasing decisions.”

Definitely something worth thinking on for small business owners when your customers make their opinions known so clearly. With our natural tendency towards upcycling, altered art and general recycling, using Fair Trade sourced materials shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for crafters!

Filed Under: Craft Business Concerns

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Louise at Thistle Dubh Ewe

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Louise Lockhart
Beautiful tartan on the cutting mat today, and not Beautiful tartan on the cutting mat today, and not just any tartan! Purple tartan! 😁 Pattern matching as best I can. I'll have 5 medium/sock size bags from this fabric, all going well, so a very limited run. #knittersofinstagram #britishknitters #tartanstyle #projectbags #knittingaccessories #etsyuk #sockknittingbag #knittingbags #igknitters
Last of the gnomes for now. They've been so popula Last of the gnomes for now. They've been so popular, thanks for all the orders folks! ☺️ This shawl bag is in a new colourway. A brighter blue on an ice blue background. Super winter-y. ❄️ It will be heading off to its forever home this weekend. Expect more spring appropriate fabrics in the coming weeks as I live in hope of warmer weather. 😁 #knittingbags #projectbag #knittingaccessories #knittersofinstagram #britishknitters #etsyselleruk #shoplocal
Another couple of custom bag orders that flew the Another couple of custom bag orders that flew the coop last weekend. 🥰😊 More gonks heading off to southern climes this weekend. Last posting date has now passed for this year but the Etsy shop will remain open (link in profile) through the holidays 🎄 for orders posting in January. #knittersofinstagram #knittingbags #knittingstorage #projectbag #gonksofinstagram #knittersofig #britishknitters  #shoplocaluk #etsyukseller
Latest custom order that went off to its new home Latest custom order that went off to its new home last week. 😍 A sweater size bag, perfect for those larger cold weather projects. #winterknitting #knittingaccessories #wipbags #projectbag #etsyukseller #smallbusinessuk #sweaterknitting #knittingstorage #gonks
It's a chilly night here in West Lothian, obviousl It's a chilly night here in West Lothian, obviously the perfect time for some therapeutic sock knitting. Especially since there's more sock yarn on the way! 😙 I started this beauty 3 years ago 😳 and have no idea why it's never been finished. The pattern is so easy to follow and I really like the contrasting colour and pattern in the panel below the cuff. Ruth, the designer behind the pattern, did a great job with this one. 👏🥰 I am going to have more actual pairs eventually. 😂 #socktawk #britishknitters #yarnink #womenwhomake #knitlife #socknittersofinstagram #mindfullymade
My lovely friend Lucy is hoping to re-open her LYS My lovely friend Lucy is hoping to re-open her LYS, Purl A Row, after a recent move from Cornwall to Lincolnshire. Under the current circumstances it's proving to be a bit of a struggle, so any and all support would be deeply appreciated. Even if it's just sharing the information with others! 😊
If you're looking for a knitty treat for yourself or even a gift for a knitting friend, do check out the luxury Christmas boxes that Lucy has available. Her Knit Lit box series has proven very popular, so you might also be interested in the new Woodland Box subscription boxes which start in January. 👏😉 All sign up links can be found on the website at the link below! #shoplocal #smallbusinessuk
Posted @withregram • @purl_a_row I'm so pleased to offer you all this luxury Christmas knit box. Numbers are limited and I will not be able to add more once they have sold. 
For all the exciting details follow the link or go to the website and sign up links page.
https://forms.gle/4MqJm7DggG4mTxEF7
#PURLAROW #LYS #WOOLSHOP #YARNSHOP #SUPPORTINGSMALLBUSINESSES #KNITBOX
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A Little History At the start of last month, Gilbert Baker died. He was just 65 years of age. The name may not mean anything to you but his legacy certainly will. Gilbert was the creator of the rainbow flag; a vibrant symbol for the LGBTQ community and one that is globally recognised. He said he wanted to […]

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