tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50493579980735795812023-11-15T08:49:06.889-08:00Second Fiddle Crafts and Vintage♥ Crafting, thrifting and living the second-hand-life ♥Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.comBlogger366125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-55905745617118739142013-08-15T14:09:00.003-07:002013-08-15T14:09:38.057-07:00RedirectionRemember to add my new blog, <a href="http://craftandthrift.blogspot.co.uk/">Craft and Thrift</a>, on your blog reader to make sure you're getting the most up to date posts!<br />
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2 new posts up this week, read all about my <a href="http://craftandthrift.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/welcome-to-craft-and-thrift.html">plans for the new blog</a> and a <a href="http://craftandthrift.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/autumnal-hat.html">finished knitted hat for autumn</a>!<br />
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See you over there!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-56380746277505672482013-07-01T10:53:00.002-07:002013-07-01T10:53:55.020-07:00Hello and goodbyeHello dedicated Second Fiddle readers!<br />
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I feel I should explain my prolonged absence. After much deliberation, I've decided to close Second Fiddle's doors for good. It's taken me through the last 5 years of my life, through graduating from Zoology, vet school, moving in with Andrew, graduation again, getting engaged, moving away for my first job...so many major events in my life. I feel the time has come for a fresh start, a clean slate, for me to take the lessons I've learned from Second Fiddle and start again for this new, exciting period in my life.<br />
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I've never been entirely happy with the name 'Second Fiddle'. I chose it because my Mum came up with it and she seemed so delighted to
have helped me with my new hobby-business-venture that I just went with
it. To be fair, it's done me well, I've had a busy little Etsy shop that kept me in pocket money as a student under this name, and my wee corner of the blogosphere has thrived (over 23,000 page views! I know that's not much by bigger blogs' standards but I'm pleased with it!). I just feel that the time has come to move on. <br />
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But fear not! The blogging will still be continuing, under a new name. I've finally settled on the name <a href="http://craftandthrift.blogspot.co.uk/">Craft and Thrift</a> and have registered a new blogspot account with that title. I've started the process of setting up the new blog, it'll be pretty much the same layout as this one, right down to the same banner, but with new content and posting schedule. I'm going to do the next one right, more regular posting, no long gaps in between posts, better photos, more links. Basically amalgamating all the lessons I've picked up along the way to do it properly this time.<br />
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I very much hope you can all join me over at <a href="http://craftandthrift.blogspot.co.uk/">Craft and Thrift</a>. It'll be starting afresh very soon and I would love to see you all over there! Things to look forward to in the coming year include wedding related crafts, new house DIYs, knitted jumpers, thrifted clothes refashions, learning beadcraft...so many awesome things to share with you!<br />
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In the meantime however, goodnight Second Fiddle. You've served me well.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-50924082079333034652013-04-12T11:11:00.003-07:002013-04-12T11:11:34.145-07:00Thrifted sheets to cushion coversI made these for a colleague for her birthday. She is constantly helping me at work and she's just moved house so it seemed like the perfect moment to repay the favour! I've had the fabric for years, the continual stash busting continues, its really satisfying to see something that's been languishing in the cupboard for years turned into something pretty for a friend.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8642582779/" title="004 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="004" height="264" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8642582779_1333a0c900.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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The cushion inners were from Ikea, I know I shouldn't but I do love that place, the market place is especially brilliant for projects like this.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8643681210/" title="005 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="005" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8265/8643681210_2b2fc1e403.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Got to love the little Second Fiddle labels, they make them look so much more professional. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8642582103/" title="007 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="007" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8642582103_92d72a703e.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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The fabric scraps were useful to turn this White Company box into a hamper for another friend's birthday present. You could see the White Company logo through the fabric but I didn't have any plain cotton or interfacing to back the fabric, so I ended up backing it with kitchen roll! It worked a treat and made it stick really well onto the box.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8643680516/" title="019 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="019" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8643680516_223a832308.jpg" width="400" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-74526100544126134752013-04-02T13:55:00.000-07:002013-04-02T13:55:34.475-07:00Train craftingI've just come back from a lovely weekend in Devon with my two favourite lady friends. It was great to just relax, craft, eat, drink and chat about anything and everything. I came back feeling refreshed and keen to craft. In fact, on the train on the way back I whipped up this little number for <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/baby-wiebe-jumper.html">Isaac's</a> first birthday. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8613701623/" title="077 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="077" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8401/8613701623_0fc6cc72ea.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8614808540/" title="076 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="076" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/8614808540_07ec75a134.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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It's hard to model a kid's hat with ear flaps flat on the floor so here's a snapshot of a ball of wool modelling a small child's hat. This is what I do in my lunch hour. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8614807912/" title="078 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="078" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8404/8614807912_6c5a15ae73.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
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The grey band along the bottom involves picking up stitches and knitting 3 rows. It was probably my best attempt at picking up stitches to date but still not ideal, you can see that the band is tighter than the rest of the hat. I really hope this won't be a problem for Isaac! I didn't have a handy child to try it on so I had to send it off into the maw of Royal Mail and keep fingers crossed...<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-58223901920026813592013-03-18T15:45:00.001-07:002013-03-18T15:45:15.747-07:00Slowly regaining my craftinessI know I've been moaning a lot recently about my lack of crafty vibes. I've had a few mishaps on recent projects, coupled with my sewing machine being in Edinburgh and me being in York. The whole York-Edinburgh situation is getting me down and I've been losing my motivation to create. Plus between not finishing work until 7pm and fitting in running and job applications, I've not got a huge amount of time left to do fun stuff.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8569289287/" title="e2e0fc6c8f5a11e2881122000a9f12f2_7 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="e2e0fc6c8f5a11e2881122000a9f12f2_7" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8569289287_730b854dc6.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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But! No more moaning! I've decided to be proactive and bring my sewing machine down to York. I've got 2 sorbetto tops planned and since I entered Karen's (of <a href="http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/">Did you make that?</a> ) 2013 Sewlutions, I really need to get a move on. I pledged to make myself 6 items of clothing this year, with the thought that one item every other month would be manageable. Well, we're now halfway through March and I have made...zero items. But! In a positive light, I only need to make one item of clothing and I'll be back on track. Sorbetto top, here we come!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8569289469/" title="20130317_215555 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="20130317_215555" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8569289469_f6d1279c5f.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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These little guys had to be made for a guy at work who changed my flat tyre a few weeks back. I was going to bake him some pasties as a thank you, but then developed a stonking cold so didn't want to bake germ-riddled food items. In the spirit of rekindling creativity (and saving money and using up stash!) I went with the old Christmas favourite, the monsters. He's off on paternity leave after having his second baby so there's a bigger monster for his 2 year old and a smaller monster for the wee one. I can feel my crafting mojo slowing returning...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-20394214040733164302013-03-03T13:33:00.001-08:002013-03-03T13:33:09.357-08:00Thoughts on wedding dressesI haven't really started wedding planning yet, I occasionally browse pinterest, then get annoyed after 10 minutes when I can't find exactly what I'm looking for. We've (almost) settled on a date, looked at 1 venue (which wasn't quite right) and I've (kind of) picked a photographer. The one thing I do want to start shopping for though is my dress!<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/108367934755897066/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="867" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/550x/60/31/88/6031886d0bc6ab26acfebe2935c31d47.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.unique-vintage.com/forest-green-embroidered-neck-sleeve-long-flapper-gown-p-20157.html?nt_id=4" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">unique-vintage.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/secondfiddle/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Amy</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Love the dress, hate the expression</i> </span><br />
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I think at the moment that I want something green and vintage. I love the idea of making my own dress like Suzannah from <a href="http://www.adventuresindressmaking.com/search/label/wedding">Adventures in Dressmaking</a> or Zoe from <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.co.uk/">So Zo</a> but if I'm honest, I don't have the skillz. I don't want to look at photos of myself in the future and see how the zipper isn't lined up properly or the pleats are wonky. <br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/108367934755230711/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/a9/a1/2b/a9a12b51cd7cf1030eccd349cc8ec1e3.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.luckymag.com/blogs/luckyrightnow/2012/11/Keira-Knightley-Best-Looks-From-the-Anna-Karenina-Press-Tour" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">luckymag.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/secondfiddle/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Amy</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Love the colour</i></span><br />
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I've been browsing pinterest for inspiration, with the thought that when I do start vintage shopping, I'll have a vague idea in mind. I guess that could make it both easier and harder at the same time, since if you've already set your heart on something, invariably nothing lives up to it, but then equally when faced with a large volume of vintage to rifle through, it's definitely easier to be able to automatically filter on the basis of style or colour. <br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/108367934753082220/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec1.pinterest.com/550x/ea/e6/05/eae60536fcb6ac884fe22eaf1c507388.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/2011/04/daily-dress-keira-knightley-in-green.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">blogforbettersewing.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/secondfiddle/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Amy</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This is a beautiful but quite revealing dress. I'd rather not pop out a nipple in front of my Grandad to be honest</i> </span><br />
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I've tried a few actual wedding dress sites and holy cow wedding dresses are expensive. I want to look pretty but equally I want to buy a house and it would seem that you have to hand over a signficant chunk of a house deposit to buy some wisps of lace and silk you'll wear for approximately 12 hours. Fuck. That. Shit. I want to wear my wedding dress again so green vintage it shall be! I'll keep you guys posted...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-967643447086607702013-02-26T12:49:00.001-08:002013-02-26T12:49:21.090-08:00Crafting funk and failuresI've been in a bit of a crafting funk recently, I haven't really had the motivation to sew or knit. You know it's bad when I lose the will to knit, I think of knitting as like rumination in cows, once they stop ruminating its a serious situation that all too often leads to an intra-cranial lead injection. Or something like that. There's a reason I didn't go into farm medicine.<br />
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Here are a few recent failures that have brought my knitting to a standstill. Sewing, on the other hand, has halted almost entirely since moving to York and only having access to my sewing machine and stash 2 weekends a month. I had a grand plan to do loads of sewing this weekend past but ended up in the pub for lunch both days and going for a late afternoon/early evening nap so most of the day was wasted in a drunken, sleepy stupor. I'm not going to lie, it was most pleasant, curled up in bed with the dog in my nook and Outnumbered on catch up. Not terribly productive though.<br />
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This is a lovely pattern, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oaked">Oaked by Alicia Plummer</a>. The plan was to use up a gorgeous ball of alpaca silk DK by Debbie Bliss that has been languishing in my stash for years (the only posh ball of yarn in my stash right now). Unfortunately I ran out halfway through, as you can see in the photo. The maths was just too hard for me, having to look up the yardage requirement in the pattern and then compare it to the yardage of the skein. No wonder I got confused.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8510250679/" title="010 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="010" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8510250679_5fd46fcc85.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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That blue yarn is another one from my stash, not as nice but not bad and should be soft enough for a hat without being itchy. I'm going to frog the first one and try again with the second. I'm just worried the alpaca silk will fall to pieces as it unravels. I'm also at a bit of a loss to know what to do with it if there's not enough for a hat. It'll probably end up as a baby cardigan to be honest.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8510250875/" title="009 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="009" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8510250875_908bb76776.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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This next one is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/still-light-tunic">Still Light Tunic</a> that I started...lets see now...before finals so probably this time last year or thereabouts. I've got as far as splitting for the front pleats and realised that this pattern is going to look ridiculous on my short-and-slightly-dumpy frame, it's going to drown what little figure I have and make me look like I'm wearing a sack. Since the yarn is 4ply and so the thought of pulling it out is enough to make me want to give up knitting altogether and go back to World of Warcraft, I've decided instead to turn the nicely fitted bust I've knitted into a basic pullover. I need more of these in my wardrobe anyway, since all my jumpers seem to have comedy animals or wacky fairisle patterns. It'll involve a certain amount of winging it when it comes to increases/decreases around the hips and waist but I'm sure I'll muddle through somehow. The great thing about top-down knitting is I can try on as I go, then get too excited to put my clothes back on and end up knitting topless, standing up in my lounge. Which is what happened on Valentine's night.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8510251229/" title="008 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="008" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8510251229_fe65d4480f.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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This isn't knitting (obviously) but a rather frustrating lesson in WASHING TROUSERS BEFORE TURNING THEM UP. Turned them up, washed them, they shrank, turned them down, turned them back up again. Or at least I've done that with one pair, the second has been languishing on my coffee table for 2 weeks now.<br />
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So, between these 3 failures, I've not been feeling much like crafting recently. I've even hit a roadbump on my new running regime, sore legs. I'm taking this week off to ease back into it and I'm going to start interspersing swimming with running. I feel like I'm failing at life at the moment, I can't even put one foot in front of the other successfully!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-83091742069957700092013-02-12T10:36:00.001-08:002013-02-12T10:41:59.678-08:00Last of the Christmas presentsHere we are finally, the last of the Christmas presents. This one was embarrassingly late because I ordered the second pair of needles (with plenty of time to spare, might I add)...then got them sent to Edinburgh instead of York. Suffice to say, by the time the needles arrived in the correct city Christmas had passed and since it was going to be late anyway, I figured I might as well go whole hog and keep it until my next Edinburgh weekend (when I have access to my sewing machine and fabric <strike>hoard</strike> stash) and sew up a lining. I'm getting really annoyed with this whole to-ing and fro-ing between Edinburgh and York, never having what I need where I need it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8428414856/" title="037 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="037" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8428414856_23c370620a.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The skirt in all its bad-winter-light-photo-hurry-up-and-take-a-picture-so-you-can-wrap-it-and-post-it glory</i> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8427324319/" title="038 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="038" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8427324319_ae87b255e0.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The back. Very dull to knit but actually a nice relief from the 'WTF<span style="font-size: x-small;">...</span>I swear<span style="font-size: x-small;"> I've alre<span style="font-size: x-small;">ad<span style="font-size: x-small;">y done this row<span style="font-size: x-small;">...</span>w<span style="font-size: x-small;">ait a second<span style="font-size: x-small;">...shit...</span>if only I wasn't watching New Girl <span style="font-size: x-small;">drinking wine whil<span style="font-size: x-small;">st knitting this very comp<span style="font-size: x-small;">licated pattern'</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> of the front panel</i> </span><br />
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Partly this is why it's taken me 2 weeks to blog again, I'm now officially job hunting back up north. Job applications take ages don't they? Even when you're sending pretty much the same letter to everyone. I've had one interview so far, which was a nice confidence boost, but in the wrong part of Scotland to be feasible with commuting so a no-go.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8427324011/" title="040 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="040" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8427324011_b57d021024.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8428414240/" title="041 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="041" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8428414240_f6c0624b21.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The lining was made from <span style="font-size: small;">s<span style="font-size: small;">ome red satin<span style="font-size: small;">-stuff lurking in my stash<span style="font-size: small;">. Ideally I wanted a pretty printed cotton to please small<span style="font-size: small;">-</span>child<span style="font-size: small;">-</span>Amy<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>but then sensible<span style="font-size: small;">-</span>adult<span style="font-size: small;">-</span>Amy decided to go for something</span></span></span></span></span> slippery to make the skirt easier to wear with tights. Because lets face it, if its cold enough for a wool skirt, its cold enough for tights, right? Cotton sitcks and catches on tights, satin slips on and off easily. Not that I'm implying that I designed this skirt to be easy to slip off...wait...hang on...I'm coming across all wrong....<br />
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I'm not much of a note-maker, but if you want to see my Ravelry post about this skirt, my username is Second Fiddle.<br />
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For some reason Flickr or Blogger has seen fit to alter the size of some of these photos, even though I altered them to be the correct size. If anyone knows why this might be, please feel free to drop me a line!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-41988109439112295632013-01-29T14:32:00.002-08:002013-01-29T14:32:22.417-08:00Handmade cardsI haven't made cards for a while but since I'm on a money saving kick at the moment, I thought I'd make the most of my crafty skillz and <strike>hoard</strike> collection of pretty collected scrap papers. I bought the plain card backs and matching envelopes off Ebay years ago now, for about £3 for 12 I seem to remember. Bargain!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8427323121/" title="092 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="092" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8427323121_0c3cf55a03.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
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Chicken from recycled wrapping paper for <a href="http://paperblossomstationery.blogspot.co.uk/">Mary Jane from Paper Blossom Stationary</a>. You should definitely check out <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperblossomcards?ref=top_trail">her Etsy shop</a>, she's got some super cute stationary over there!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8427323295/" title="091 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="091" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8427323295_37e5f2f8be.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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First birthday card from recycled Where's Wally books for <a href="http://www.heatherscakes.co.uk/">Heather's</a> baby, Alma. I sewed the balloon with wool from my stash.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8427322955/" title="093 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="093" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8427322955_0718b4b49f.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
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New home card for Victoria from work. Maybe it's a bit morbid using vintage Cluedo cards on a new home card? <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8427323599/" title="088 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="088" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8427323599_3954438055.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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And as always, my crafting buddy. Nothing gets done without his nose being involved.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-52538238674087294372013-01-20T10:34:00.002-08:002013-01-20T10:34:32.182-08:00Christmas presents - the penultimate chapterI think this is the second-to-last installment of the Christmas presents posts, the last one will be <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/planning-next-3-months-crafting.html">Vicky's skirt</a> but I can't do the big reveal until she's opened the parcel (it's winging it's way to you even as we speak love!). <br />
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These were made for 3 of my friends' babies, I managed to catch these little guys on camera before they flew the coop to meet their new little buddies. They were another stash make, which is always satisfying, though I think in the future using real felt, rather than felted jumpers, is the better option for the facial features. Real felt gives a much cleaner edge, you can see the first monster's features are a bit more 'fluffy' round the edges.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176679383/" title="075 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="075" height="392" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8176679383_05df3d7c99.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176710876/" title="076 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="076" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8176710876_7d687b65de.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176678693/" title="077 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="077" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8176678693_0648e201ee.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>See those fluffy edges?</i> </span><br />
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You can tell the difference between photographs, I made the first guy back in September when the sun shone every so often! Also the difference between taking time to make and photograph presents when you're organised and starting months beforehand vs. rushing to photograph and wrap before instantly giving away when you leave it to the last minute.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278140329/" title="057 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="057" height="430" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8278140329_500edd48e3.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This little dude has a pocket, for all his monster possessions</i> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279197062/" title="054 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="054" height="430" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8279197062_a19b802309.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This guy's face looks a bit Clockwork Orange, don't you think?</i></span><br />
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So far I've had good feedback, apparently the babies like to rub their faces on them, which was kind of my idea, I thought they might appreciate the soft, fluffy fake fur. It made me want to rub my face on it to be honest!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-8009229894791758792013-01-13T14:31:00.002-08:002013-01-13T14:39:23.831-08:00Christmas presents part 5This was an upcycling make, turning a friend's final year vet jacket into a coat for her dog. Alison graduated and went back to the States, so was limited in what she could take back with her. I fished this jacket out of the charity shop pile, thinking it would be too sentimental to give away but with no fixed plan of what to do with it. After a month or two of pondering, I settled on a dog coat for <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/pickle-plushie.html">Pickle</a>. I already had a template I knew would fit her since I traced one of her coats to make <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/reginald-p-upsworth-gets-coat.html">Badger's rain jacket</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278139841/" title="059 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="059" height="253" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8278139841_7c8d5afbe8.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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I stupidly didn't take a 'before' picture, but the coat was almost identical to this one, with the logos and name tags across the chest.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8377394861/" title="Musto-Snug-Blouson-Jacket by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="Musto-Snug-Blouson-Jacket" height="455" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8377394861_72a7dac497.jpg" width="360" /></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279194928/" title="064 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="064" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8279194928_1f21310b9b.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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We each had the option to buy them in final year, it's sort of a badge of honour as only final years get them, but I'll be honest, I didn't like mine at all. It's that horrid blousy design that makes me look short and fat, it basically only looked good on tall slim guys so most of us looked ridiculous in them. I'm keeping mine because I'm silly and sentimental but it's definitely going to be a 'throw on to take the compost out' type jacket, I won't be wearing it outside of the house any time soon.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278140087/" title="058 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="058" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8278140087_f5a7ec8afc.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The dog helped by licking his wanger on top of the jacket while I was trying to cut it out</i> </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278139465/" title="061 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="061" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8278139465_22e1f06b04.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279195214/" title="063 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="063" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8279195214_0ddef4600b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I'm pleased with how this turned out, the waterproof material was a complete bitch to sew, it kept slipping around all over the place but at the same time, kept sticking to the needle and machine so it wouldn't go through smoothly. There are a few slightly bodged areas but nothing too horrendous and since it's for a dog, I'm sure Pickle won't notice!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-65404470066869704462013-01-08T14:09:00.004-08:002013-01-08T14:09:57.225-08:00Christmas presents part 4These are some terrible photos, so apologies, but I finished this one and had to instantly wrap it for Christmas. It's based on <a href="http://www.adventuresindressmaking.com/2012/11/fur-snood-cowl-tutorial.html#.UOyYc3ea_To">Adventures in Dressmaking's faux fur snood</a> tutorial, it's super simple to make and I'm pleased with the results!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279193482/" title="112 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="112" height="445" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8478/8279193482_2c2bc204a0.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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I made this one smaller than the original, with the thought that it could be worn as a snood or headband. I'm a bit worried it might be a bit small for the intended recepient, it was a bit snug on me but I think I have a reasonably chunky head. All those brains or something...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279193288/" title="113 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="113" height="478" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8279193288_eea7c17d7b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I'd like to make one for myself, it would be great for walking the dog in style. Especially since I got fancy Hunters for Christmas!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279193114/" title="114 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="114" height="470" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8279193114_bb839c0828.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I like that you could make this in a range of colours, I really liked Suzannah's original in leopard print!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-91208805970404121642013-01-06T08:00:00.001-08:002013-01-06T08:02:22.493-08:00We got engaged!Just a quick announcement as it's Andrew's last day in York for a little while...we got engaged! He proposed on New Year's Eve at midnight and I burst into tears and said yes before he even got the chance to get the words out. It was a lovely start to 2013.<br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.com/search/label/inspiration" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/secondfiddle/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Amy</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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Just so it's not a completely picture-less post (let's face it, none of you are here for the quality journalism), here are a few inspiration pictures I've been hoarding as potential wedding dresses. I'm hoping to buy something vintage so I'll be keeping my eyes peeled over the next 18 months or so, we're hoping to get married in autumn of 2014.<br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/108367934753350372/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/108367934753350372_JpalpHBf_c.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://jeweledelegance.blogspot.com/2011/03/downton-abbey-must-see-period-costume.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">jeweledelegance.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/secondfiddle/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Amy</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div>
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I'm so delighted! Although it's a strange thought to think I'll be Mrs Amy Dyce, 'Mrs Dyce' is his mum's name...<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-26611706864912190462012-12-31T12:00:00.000-08:002013-01-02T10:29:16.731-08:00Looking backwards and forwardsIt's the end of the year, the traditional time to reflect on the year past and look forward to the year ahead. When I read over <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/out-with-old.html">last year's end of year post</a> I realise how much I've achieved this year. Apologies for blowing my own trumpet for a second but vet school was a real slog to the bitter end and I'm so grateful it's over, I'm so much happier now than I was this time last year!<br />
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The only resolution I made last year was to craft more for me. I love crafting for friends and family so don't get me wrong, I don't resent it at all. Just sometimes I take on too much and end up having to put my own projects on hold for months at a time.<br />
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Let's see how I managed shall we?<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Projects for friends and family - 35</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279437004/" title="2012-12-161 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="2012-12-161" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8360/8279437004_e8db9ae37f.jpg" width="375" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Projects for me - 4 <span style="font-size: small;">(well 3, one is for the dog. Well, 2.5 as one was just changing the buttons on a cardigan...)</span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8284772421/" title="Pictures by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="Pictures" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8355/8284772421_90ea512164.jpg" width="375" /></a> </span></span><br />
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I think we could say that this resolution was an abject fail! I've loved the projects I've done this year, with personal favourites being <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/mini-maciver-knitted-goodies.html">mini Maciver's lamb cardigan</a>, <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/mushroom-cushions.html">Karen's mushroom cushions</a> and <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/frances-birthday-cushion.html">Frances' bow cushion</a>. On the other hand though, I had lots of projects for myself that never materialised (remember 5 tops in 10 days? My plans for Sorbetto tops? I even created a tag '<a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/inspiration">Inspiration</a>' to try and get the creative juices flowing!). Somehow it's always easier to justify spending the time if I'm crafting for other people and it's money saving if I'm using stash materials for presents - money has been tight this year after 8 years of university.<br />
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New year, new start and all that. Last year I only made one resolution, since with final year I didn't want to commit to more than one and fail (although I epically failed at just one so ho, hum!). This year I've got a few things I want to improve upon so I plan to make 2013 the best year yet!<br />
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1. Craft more for me! - this time I intend to make it happen! I'm going to enter <a href="http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is/%3Cb%3E"></a><br />
Karen's 'Put your money where your mouth is' post to make sure I stick to this one.<br />
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2. Start giving regularly to charity - I've got a wage now so no excuse of being a poverty stricken student anymore. I donate regularly to charity in the form of giving to and buying from charity shops but I want to start donating a portion of my income. I've yet to decide which charity but I'm thinking at the moment something linked to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, something involving health, education for women and vaccinations/contraceptives.<br />
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3. Start doing exercise. I come from a rather large (in kilos), rather unhealthy (in disease terms) family and would like to avoid this trend if possible. To this end I'm signing up for the Edinburgh half marathon. I'm doing it with my friend Karen as a means to motivate myself to exercise. We'll see how I go when it's 5 degrees and sleeting in February...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-85861681930079201442012-12-27T14:34:00.002-08:002012-12-27T14:37:55.599-08:00Christmas presents part 3<a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/almost-finished-project.html">Remember the almost-finished project?</a> Well, it's finally finished! It was my Mum's Christmas present and I'm really pleased with how it turned out, I'm planning on making one for me in 2013, now I've made one <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/owl-jumper.html">for Vicky</a> and one for Mum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8316209546/" title="024 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="024" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8316209546_a780520fb4.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
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Once again it's <a href="http://www.newlanark.org/">New Lanark</a> wool, I should be sponsored by them I think. I'm going to make myself one in either <a href="http://newlanarkshop.co.uk/shop.php?view=product&product=265">Sky</a>, <a href="http://newlanarkshop.co.uk/shop.php?view=product&product=260">Heather</a> or <a href="http://newlanarkshop.co.uk/shop.php?view=product&product=267">Woodland</a>. Decisions, descisions...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279192952/" title="115 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="115" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8279192952_dc16912b2c.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278136499/" title="116 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="116" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8278136499_080c0191d1.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Owls! All with mismatched stash button eyes</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278136201/" title="117 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="117" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8278136201_513075926f.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Back decreases, for the knitting nerds</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love giving handmade <span style="font-size: small;">gifts,<span style="font-size: small;"> though every year around this time I get burned out with making things for other people. I<span style="font-size: small;">'ve got 2 more to go before the end of the year and then I'm done <span style="font-size: small;">for a little while. Or at least, until the next baby <span style="font-size: small;">or wedding comes along!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-92000111307636799892012-12-21T13:20:00.004-08:002012-12-21T13:22:18.384-08:00Christmas presents part 2I made this scarf for my Grandad from a tartan ladies' kilt that was a relic of my old Etsy shop. I got the idea from a few pretty Pinterest finds (originally blogged about <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/planning-next-3-months-crafting.html">over here</a>), I don't know the official name for this kind of scarf but I think of it as a 'reading' scarf. The type a gentleman with a library would wear whilst smoking his pipe in front of the fire, sat in a leather chair with a beagle at his feet and a green reading lamp to light the room.<br />
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<a href="http://s26.beta.photobucket.com/user/Fortunesfoe/media/Etsy%20store/018-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c143/Fortunesfoe/Etsy%20store/018-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The original tartan skirt. 100% wool made in Scotland, the real thing</span></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278141995/" title="020 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="020" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8278141995_c8a7a598ea.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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It was really simple, I cut around a scarf of mine that I thought was the right size, cut out an identical piece from some satin I had in my stash, then sewed the two together. My sewing machine then proceeded to break halway through, so this project took 2 weeks when it could have taken 20 minutes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278142517/" title="019 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="019" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8355/8278142517_438380c663.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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I bought a plain box from Paperchase to present it in, make it look a bit more professional and all that. The fabric is lovely, it's the same material that I used for <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/tartan-tablet-case.html">Andrew's tartan tablet case</a>, I love real wool, it's probably my favourite type of fabric!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278141459/" title="021 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="021" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8278141459_fcfc73a2aa.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279198912/" title="018 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="018" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8279198912_8017dcdca2.jpg" width="400" /> </a><br />
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Hopefully Grandad will like it! The perfect stash bustin', thriftin' Christmas make! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-27167464661498353062012-12-18T14:34:00.002-08:002012-12-18T14:34:36.760-08:00Christmas presents part 1I think I'm safe to show off this present since its for a lady at work who doesn't know about the blog. Ever tried explaining blogs to folk at work who aren't into the nerdy world of the internets? Don't do it, you come away feeling even more of a dork than normal.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279196796/" title="055 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="055" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8279196796_52e33ef170.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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I've made loads of these bags in the past, especially when the Etsy shop was up and running. Having not made them in a while though, I've not practiced and so this bag was a tad wonky in places. The straps are uneven widths and the lining is too big, meaning there's an ugly pleat down one side. Hopefully she'll like it anyway, it's the same material as <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/sushi-amigurumi.html">Danica's bag</a>, it used to be a pair of curtains in a previous life. Gotta love a bit of 'upcycling'!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279196656/" title="056 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="056" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8279196656_1bff215e7f.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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These photos came out all blurry for some reason, they don't look blurry on my phone but sadly I'd wrapped and given it away before I realised! You'll have to squint a bit to compensate.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-53266292594940320442012-12-16T13:40:00.003-08:002012-12-16T13:43:17.039-08:00It's a very puppy ChristmasIt's been a week of Christmas festivities here at Chez Taylor-Dyce, York Division. Andrew came down last weekend and we bought my christmas tree, it's a little 5 footer and looks very cute under the sloping roof in my flat. The dog was very unimpressed by the whole process and probably ate about a kilo of pine needles over the course of the day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279191712/" title="121 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="121" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8279191712_44ee865f88.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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I've been doing a lot of Christmas crafting, most of which I can't share
until after Christmas, but I can certainly show off my amazing homemade
wreath, even though I do say so myself! It's made with real tree
branches so smells lovely and pine-y every time I open my front door. A
lady at work, Jackie, gave me a massive bag of cinnamon sticks to add
to it, I've got enough there for the next 5 years I think. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8279194220/" title="108 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="108" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8279194220_b286a7d152.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
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Unfortunately we're in that time of year where I'm going to be relying on photo editing tricks even more than normal, given the grey, dark weather. Instagram is going to come into its own I think!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278137807/" title="109 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="109" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8278137807_039edfa38f.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Quality Wilkinson's ribbon. I don't have any of my ribbon stash here in York so had to resort to Wilkinsons, they had lime green or grey, neither of which are particularly festive colours</span></i> <br />
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I bought the backing wreath off Ebay about 7 years ago and it's been brilliant, it's made of twigs so it looks quite natural so it doesn't matter if you don't manage to cover the whole thing, you've not got bits of bright green oasis poking through.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278137573/" title="110 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="110" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8278137573_88e29de39f.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Amazing cinnamon sticks. You can see the backing wreath in this photo, see how natural it looks? Good old Ebay</span></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278137397/" title="111 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="111" height="348" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8278137397_737a162b3a.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8278135825/" title="102 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="102" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8278135825_7aabab4ff9.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The dog helping Andrew straighten the tree. He was acting as a counterbalance - in his head at least...</span></i> <br />
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I love Christmas and can't wait for us to buy a house and be able to host our own Christmas. I'm going to attempt shortbread this week for Cake Friday so will hopefully have some lovely christmassy photos of beautiful shortbread to share soon. Not the burnt lumps of crumbly dough I can foresee really happening...<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-52506535454943773702012-12-12T13:49:00.003-08:002012-12-12T13:49:44.549-08:00Autumnal baby blanketI made this blanket for <a href="http://quidamela.blogspot.co.uk/">Elaine's</a> new baby, it started off with a cone of brown wool thrifted from a car boot sale, added some stash yarns that complemented and all came together with some amazing Donegal Tweed wool that was supposed to be for the <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/new-house-blanket.html">new house blanket</a> but was too lovely to keep for just one project. The keen eyed and memory'd of you will recall that I started this blanket <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/works-in-progress.html">back in February</a>, I can't believe how much has changed in the amount of time its taken me to finish.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176708236/" title="082 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="082" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8176708236_bc683a2d81.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Now, I know it's not your traditional baby blanket colours but Elaine and her husband aren't really traditional baby coloured people. Plus, as Elaine rightly pointed out, it'll last past babyhood! Though it is a bit on the small side for an adult...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176708740/" title="081 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="081" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8176708740_5cbdafd712.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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This was a lovely project to make, it started off quite organically, just growing and adding as I went without any clear idea of what it was going to turn into or who was going to be on the receiving end. Then about halfway through it just suddenly became Elaine's baby blanket. I think it's where the blanket wanted to go. Or something like that. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176709278/" title="080 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="080" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8176709278_730099e9f7.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Good luck for the 22nd m'dear!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-22881195355448813632012-12-06T14:43:00.002-08:002012-12-06T14:45:43.451-08:00Disasterous refashionOnce upon a time a girl had a pair of lovely green satin knickers. They were a Christmas gift from some friends and in the sales she stumbled upon the matching camisole. In a cruel twist of fate however, the camisole was only available in a size too small or several sizes too large.<br />
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"Oh no!" cried the girl. "Whatever shall I do?"<br />
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She racked her brains and decided to buy the smaller top, thinking with her magic sewing skills she would be able to transform it into a camisole fit for a princess. But it was not in the stars for our young heroine, as we shall see if you turn the page...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176682357/" title="057 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="057" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8176682357_ce01918de8.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>It's so beautiful</i></span><br />
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By now you must have guessed that I am the fair maiden in the fairy story. I figured it would be a quick and simple refashion, unpick the side hems, insert some black lace and there we have it, a lovely matching cami for my french knickers. How wrong I was. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8241923447/" title="054 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="054" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8241923447_2b003d1e20.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
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My sewing machine HATED this fabric, even remembering to put on a fine needle didn't help. The thread kept getting snarled up, the fabric tore at the drop of a hat and an accident with the iron left one of the bottom lace panels a bit frazzled and holey. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8242990934/" title="055 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="055" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8242990934_b612e9a534.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.dafont.com/soymilk.font">Font credit</a></span><br />
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When I finally turned it right ways out, I realised that there were several gaping holes and the hems were misaligned. By this time I was too frustrated to continue so I threw it back into the pile of clothes to refashion (a sizeable pile) and swore loudly at the dog. Since then I haven't got the courage to pull it out again, it might have to be a bin job because every time I catch a glimpse of that lovely green fabric I feel this knot of burning frustration in my stomach and I'm forced (FORCED I tell you) to pour myself a large glass of wine. I hate throwing away fabric, even fabric scraps make me feel guilty since they'll just sit in a landfill site and rot away for the next thousand years. But it's even worse to throw away useable fabric, just because it upsets you so much to look at it.<br />
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Any suggestions folks? I'm going to hang onto it for a while and see if inspiratio strikes but I think this little guy's days as an item of clothing are numbered...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-46572496925397286282012-12-02T04:40:00.002-08:002012-12-02T04:40:58.497-08:00Musings on an Etsy shopLong time readers will know that in the recent past I used to run a little Etsy shop. It was also called Second Fiddle, you can check it out <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SecondFiddle">over here</a>. I originally started it with the intention of selling handmade things, but with vet school and real life getting in the way, I ended up selling mainly vintage. It was never hugely successful but then I never really wanted or needed it to be, I wanted a bit of extra cash to spend on presents and craft things and the satisfaction of knowing that somewhere out there someone is wearing something I sold them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176685955/" title="042 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="042" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8176685955_a14f44b6ef.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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Now that vet school is done and real life can begin in earnest, I'd planned to restart the shop, selling handmade things this time the way I'd always intended. I knocked up a few items as prototypes, to see what would sell, but now I've got a job and time is tight, I'm finding my interest in selling has waned. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8110125107/" title="045 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="045" height="444" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8187/8110125107_ac49639680.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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One of my friends, Frances of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LapinGrisCrafts?ref=shop_name_search_sugg">Lapin Gris Crafts</a> has had some success selling at crafts fairs, so I've been pondering trying some next year. To be honest though, the more I think about it, the more I want to just focus on crafting for me. I really want to learn how to make clothes and master the art of refashioning, I love making presents for people and I'm really enjoying the sudden arrival of multiple babies in my life, baby crafting is both adorable and super fast! What little time I have to craft, I want to be focusing on making things for myself, friends and family, not random strangers over the internet. I really admire people who sew or knit for a living and find the whole process of setting up your own craft business really fascinating but if I'm honest with myself, it's not one of my life goals any more. I used to dream of being a vet 4 days a week and running a successful Etsy shop 1 day a week but it would take far more than 1 day a week of work to make that dream a reality. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/7992873024/" title="012 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="012" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8174/7992873024_3b0103295d.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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At the point I'm at now, I want to settle down and make peace with what I have in life. I feel like I've spent the past 10 years of my life desperate for the next phase to begin; at school desperate to go to uni, at uni desperate to start vet school, at vet school desperate to have a job. Now I have a job and I'm desperate for the next phase to start, to be able to move back to Edinburgh and buy a house and get married and just generally take life a bit more slowly. It's silliness, I'm going to wake up one day 50 years old and wonder where my life went! <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/7992877866/" title="002 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="002" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7992877866_11f8ae19f3.jpg" width="375" /></a> <br />
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So I'm shutting up shop for the foreseeable future. Maybe at some point I'll get back into selling, if I can't work as a vet for whatever reason, but for the moment I want to concentrate on crafting for myself, friends and family ♥Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-61289609915822684422012-11-22T14:09:00.001-08:002012-11-22T14:09:41.505-08:00Sewing niggles...This is one of the many things that annoys me about sewing and it all comes back to the same point - I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know what I'm doing with the machine this time (as opposed to <a href="http://www.secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/getting-back-my-sewing-vibe.html">not knowing about patterns</a>) and so things like this happen. Can anyone out there shed any light? Or has anyone else had these problems?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176686363/" title="032 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="032" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8176686363_ae017b1f34.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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This first one was a good learning experience - the people in your local sewing machine shop are AMAZING. I had my machine serviced and about 2 weeks later this started happening. I don't know if you can tell from the photo but the end of the needle has broken off and when you lower the needle it hits the foot, hence why it broke in the first place. I was so annoyed at the time, thinking it was something to do with it being serviced, maybe they'd set the foot wrong or something. Nope, turns out I'm an idiot trying to do a zig zag stitch through a regular straight stitch foot. That's right folks - <i>there are different feet for different stitches</i>. Who knew?! Certainly not me, as the broken end of the needle went whizzing past, a hair's breadth from my cornea. I need goggles to sew, it's a high risk activity. The lady in the sewing machine shop spent a patient 20 minutes explaining this problem to me, my goodness I felt like an idiot...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176713842/" title="058 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="058" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8176713842_cf343f0167.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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This one I have yet to fathom. From time to time, apparently randomly, my machine decides it wants to cause this little mess at the back of my sewing. It's always where I've started sewing, there's a horrendous 'GNNNNN' sound, the needle refuses to move then all of a sudden it shoots away like the man Bolt, sewing every which way but the way you want and occasionally across my thumb in the process. When I finally get it under control and turn my work over, there's this nice little bird's nest awaiting me. Fun times. It's at this point that I pour myself a large glass of wine and take up my knitting instead.<br />
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Anyone else got sewing woes to share? <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-80442522110518954422012-11-18T13:14:00.004-08:002012-11-18T13:15:41.174-08:00(Almost) finished project!It's so nice to be able to post an (almost) finished project, I feel like I constantly have several large projects on the go that seem to go on and on forever (the <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/new-house-blanket.html">new house blanket</a> being a case in point) and the only things I ever finished are small projects that can be done in an evening. I have so many unfinished objects (or UFO's for the non-knitters out there) lying around the house, hopefully now I have a craft room I can start mopping them up a bit!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176706962/" title="068 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="068" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8197/8176706962_503be87c92.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
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This is my <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/owl-jumper.html">second owl jumper</a> and it was just as quick and simple to knit as the first. I finished it while I was on holiday last week and back in Edinburgh, so I blocked it and left it to dry on the floor in the box room. When I'm back up in 2 weeks time I plan to sew on the eye buttons and then that's one Christmas present ticked off! I'm pretty certain my Mum doesn't read my blog, otherwise I'm in trouble...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176675981/" title="083 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="083" height="457" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8176675981_0b45de82f2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Drying on the floor in the box room</span></i> <br />
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In other knitting news, I've started my next Christmas project, <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/planning-next-3-months-crafting.html">Vicky's cable knit skirt</a>. I'm actually further along than this photo implies so I'll be showing my work in progress soon. I love chunky yarn, it knits up so quickly!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176707122/" title="066 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="066" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8203/8176707122_903300950e.jpg" width="400" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-35152796898134412352012-11-13T13:57:00.001-08:002012-11-13T13:58:21.707-08:00Zippered pouch and a sneak preview!Remember the <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/dinosaurs.html">dinosaur zippered pouch</a> I made, way back in January? It's nothing special really, just a zippered pouch, though to me every zippered pouch is a MASSIVE TRIUMPH since I epically suck at putting in a zip. I don't know what it is about zips, I follow the instructions carefully and use the right sewing foot but somehow they always come out slightly wonky. This one didn't though, I'm very proud, it represents one small step for a sewing nerd, one giant leap for...hmm, well, me.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176709986/" title="078 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="078" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8176709986_364f444be9.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Does anyone else find that when they make photos smaller in Flickr, they somehow become less focused? Is that a thing? Or is it my crappy photography skills? It happened in the inside shot of the vest top in the post below, and just happened again with this shot. Weird stuffs.<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></i></span><br />
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This one I made for work, to hold all the kit needed for the blood machine. Sexy right? That 99p pillow case from the charity shop has served me well!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176677783/" title="079 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="079" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8176677783_f6b86f1d0f.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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This little dude is hiding away, I can't show you him until after Christmas but he's pretty damn adorable!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5049357998073579581.post-46553645361689640372012-11-11T14:40:00.001-08:002012-11-11T14:43:02.425-08:00Recycled t-shirt to vest I recently inherited a whole pile of t-shirts from a friend, each with an awesome print on the front. Since most of them were too big for me and some had stains in funny places, I thought it would be a good opportunity to finally have a bash at <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.co.uk/p/free-patterns.html">So Zo's free t-shirt to vest pattern</a>. I've been meaning to try this pattern for ages, since reading it on Zoe's blog and seeing successful 'upcycled' (to use the disgustingly trendy term) versions on <a href="http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/tag/so-zo-vest/">Did you make that?</a> and <a href="http://scruffybadgertime.co.uk/tag/sozo-camisole/">Scruffy Badger Time</a>'s blogs. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176713316/" title="059 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="059" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8176713316_deaf2b4df9.jpg" width="308" /></a> <br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please excuse the blotchiness, this was a straight-out-of-the-shower shot</span></i> <br />
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They were not lying when they said this pattern is easy! Zoe, I tip my hat to you, my fear of sewing patterns (recently mentioned <a href="http://secondfiddlecrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/getting-back-my-sewing-vibe.html">over here</a>) is somewhat abated, at least for the moment. I only managed one of these on my week off (so much for 5 tops in 10 days, ha!), I did lots of non-clothing sewing too.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176680011/" title="063 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="063" height="497" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8176680011_f92152cdcd.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Don't mess with those arms, BEEFY ARMS WILL EAT YOU!</span></i><br />
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I love the recycling aspect of this project, that I can now buy charity shop men's t-shirts and turn them into something I would wear on a daily basis. This one is going to be a sleeping vest, to go with a pair of pyjama bottoms I have yet to make. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176707446/" title="084 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="084" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8176707446_942f6104b0.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Look at that neat elastic sewing! I'm so proud</span></i><br />
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The elastic was the best of a bad bunch from my local fabric store so is sadly of the type that reminds me of old lady bra straps. You know the ones - functional, wide, comfortable but not at all sexy. I know I can get nicer, cheaper versions online but I wanted a quick fix, I wanted it in my sweaty little palm right then and there. I got duped, though it works for a sleeping vest. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40342583@N06/8176706740/" title="085 by SecondFiddleCrafts, on Flickr"><img alt="085" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8176706740_9327a43e92.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Obligatory inside shot. Sewing elastic is strangely satisfying</span></i> <br />
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Next time I'm going to grade up a size from below the bust downwards. Although this one technically fits me, it's a bit tight to wear outside (hence sleeping only). It's comfortable, don't get me wrong, it's just that it clings that bit too much to my muffin tops. Or after this week of holiday, cheese-take-out-and-wine-tops. I'm on a health food kick this week, I have no holiday regrets but feel my arteries and liver have taken a pounding...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12093691867181289432noreply@blogger.com3