DIY Onbag




DIY OnbagOriginally uploaded by BobbinD


First of all I'd like to give all thanks to Sarah at Onbag for allowing her pattern to be used for personal use for those of us that are Sewing Machine inclined :)

I used the same fabric as I did on my DIY-tai and I love that they are all matchy matchy :D

All the hems are rolled, rolled hems are a new technique to me and it almost put me off starting it but after I'd done just the first couple of inches and got round my first corner I was really comfy with doing the rolled hem and even stopped pinning them after a while and just rolled on the stop/start instead (I hate pins anyway so any excuse really) It too me ages inbetween the kids and getting other stuff done but I still reckon I put about 25hours into it and every second was worth it and I'm now planning my next one... I think it might be purple :)

I love bags but I don't really DO bags lol all that having to hold on to something and remembering to pick it up if I put it down somewhere so I don't lose it :( (I've lost loads of stuff by leaving it at my bum :() anyway no probs there with this bag, it's really comfy on the shoulder, it can be a rucksac too if I wanted and the best thing is, I love it so much I could NEVER forget about it YAY!



The red bit is the original, bonafide, the real thing Onbag DIY label available from the lovely Sarah herself :)



This is the bottom of the bag, I put an extra hem that looks like a rolled hem between the bottom of the side pocket and edge of the bag bottom to add some extra  structure to the bottom of the bag :)



I made the front flap 3 inches wider and 3 inches longer to give better coverage to the front of the bag but also so I could get more of the lovely dolphins pattern in :D

DIY-tai




103_2793Originally uploaded by BobbinD


The blue splodge and I have been Babywearing since he was about 6 months old. We started with a Ring Sling that we got from a lovely mama on the Goddess Mums Forum, then at about 16 months old I moved on to wrapping and found a new Natural Parenting Forum, Natural Mamas

I love wearing my Kids as it gives me an amazing chance for bonding and also I get to have two hands to do other things with, not least holding the pink splodges hand and of course that of my Darling Luffly Husband ♥

Anyways, always believing that things are best when DIY'd I set about making myself a Mei-tai in fabrics of my choice and taking all the bits I liked best about all the other carriers I'd seen or tried.

The best part was the pattern designing, there are loads of tutes on the net and loads of people have already made they're own and have loads of advice to give. My biggest concern was with the hood, I was looking for something hood shaped and snuggly so I made mine so that it has drawstrings around the curve and some faux fur around the edge so when it's pulled up it forms around the head and is really cozy ♥

I ended up selling all the other carriers I had as now my Dolphin DIY-tai is my goto carrier and I love it so much I made a matching OnBag to go with it.



This is the first one I made just as I had to add an action pic but I don't have any yet of the Dolphin one :)

OMG what a weekend!!!




woolfish

Originally uploaded by BobbinD

Saturday stands out as one of the best days of the year so far.

A morning filled with the Woolfish Wool Festival at St Abbs where I met Natalie from the Yarn Yard, the Bordertart and many other s that I've only ever heard of or spoke to through Ravelry.

After I bought the cutest little felted Alpaca from Cairndinnis Alpacas and a Diddy Niddy Noddy we left and headed north to The Haddington Spinners Open Day.

I've never seen so many spinning wheels in one room before, the most I've ever seen is erm...? one...! mine! lol :D ScottishFibres were there with their stall and I wanted to buy the new Ashford book of Dyeing plus they had another diddy niddy noddy which I wanted to buy but I didn't have enough pennies on me so I'll have to be patient til the next time I see them.

All in all it was a fibery, yarnish, tactile, squooshy, amazing Saturday that will tide me over til WoolFest in June.... I'm counting the days and keeping my eyes and ears open for other opportunities to get my fibre fix.

Next on the calendar... the Edinburgh Spinners Guild met on the 21st May :D

New Colourways in Shop!




Shop Update


Originally uploaded by BobbinD

In the picture we have Chocolate Cherries, Pebbles, Refresh and Pink Shadows. These are a few of my favourites that are in my shop just now.

I've set up a members only area,  that is quick and easy to register for, that will allow you to have sneak previews at any special colourways or updates on any new fibers that might be coming in. Members will also recieve the occasional newsletters by email and discount codes in the future.

On another side I'm love love love love loving this venture and I'm so glad that Jess at Dragonflair gave me the inspiration to get my bum moving and do something other than just thinking about it.

Many Thanks to all of the lovely ravellers and goddesses who have already signed up for my newsletter. Every time I get the email that says someone has signed up, I get a squishy feeling inside, kind of a combination of hugs and nerves :D huggy because somebody wants my newsletter and nervous because I'm not really sure what I'm gonna say in it yet :D

Anyway, back to the dye pots for me.

~~~ D skips off with glee into the steaminess~~~

I am addicted to Nav Ply!




pumpkinpie handspun


Originally uploaded by BobbinD

I find it almost meditative, I love the repetitive, smooth nature of it and also the way it allows the colour changes to maintain clarity.

I thought I'd use this picture just to show off one of my favourite colourways at the moment and also some of my more recent spinning, which is of course, Nav Plied!!! :)

Halona Yarns




halona yarns signatue


Originally uploaded by BobbinD

I have opened my own online shop selling my own hand-dyed and handspun fiber and yarns.

I had been toying with this idea for a good part of last year and it was only while chatting with a friend of mine on MSN that I realised that thinking about it wasn't getting it done!

I have got a few colourways up already and my darling luffly husband and I have been trying to get the website up and running as quickly as possible, there have been a few teething problems and I'm still trying to get it all organised to exactly how I want it but my DLH is a pooter whizz so he's on the case and making it all run smoothly for me which is great as it leaves me more time for Spinning and Dyeing instead of slogging at the pooter :D :)

Please come to HalonaYarns.co.uk and have a look around.

St Valentines Day




Valentines pressie


Originally uploaded by BobbinD

My Darling Luffly Husband bought me something for Valentines that wasn't flowers or chocolates or wine. It wasn't lacking in thought and it wasn't something I wanted to ask for the receipt for so I could return it.

This Valentines has excelled all other Valentines in our time together, it took real thought and it means he's been paying attention when I've been talking to him about spinning! ;)

My Darling Luffly Husband bought me the one, the only, the Brand New SLIDING HOOK FLYER from Ashford.

I'm such a lucky Girly
:) :) :)

Barber Poles




3rd skein


Originally uploaded by BobbinD

I've had this sitting as singles for ages on the bobbins as I'd already plied half of it and had never got around to plying the rest. so here it is.

This was 25g of pink and 25g of purple and 50g of white, I space spun the pink and purple onto one bobbin and then spun the white single on another and barberpoled them together, it gives it a self striping effect with a marl of white, pretty funky if I do say so myself :)

I have been emptying my bobbins as I have had to part ways with my lovely Halona. I have upgraded to a Brand New pre-laquered, double treadle, scotch-tension Ashford traveller who I have affectionately called 'Halona Too' in memorium to my first love who will be much missed, but I'm sure Lucy, her new owner will love her as much as I have.

Farewell Halona, teach Lucy well.

Booga Bag KAL




sunset colours for GM KAL


Originally uploaded by BobbinD

This is the wool I've bought for my first ever Knit A Long (KAL) It's called Icelandic Lopi Roving, it's an unspun yarn perfect for Felting and it's loads of fun to work with. The Pattern for the KAL is the Booga Bag, a FREE pattern by Black Sheep Bags.

The KAL has been organised on GoddessMums by WoolyWumpkins and there are about 6 or 7 of us who are taking part. This is my first KAL and I'm so excited, I can't wait to cast on.

I'm hoping to be able to create a slow blend of the colours all the way up the bag, I'll be working it double stranded so I'm hoping to work x amount of rows in the rust (the dark one) then x amount of rows in Rust and Yellow then x rows in just yellow then in yellow and white then just white, I'm hoping for a smooth transition effect after it's felted.. we'll see how it goes :)