Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

Certainly over here at the hen coop it is.
I have an order for over 40 items from a lovely lady down under. Obviously I needed to make a start on those.
But you know me, dear blog, can't resist a good pattern.
My good friend Sandy of  http://www.ravelry.com/stores/phoenixknits  needed someone to test her latest pattern.

A family photo. The family is growing, I need to take more pics lol

My very own design. pattern available http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frosty-the-frostee-snowman

 Another Phoney pattern

A flurry of snowmen

Too many mincepies I think for this jolly fella.

Sandy's test knit..aren't they gorgeous

It gets very chilly standing out here in the cold.

Sock it to "em

We're gnomely having fun.

This is how I've spent the last couple of weeks, dear blog, I hope you approve of my little selection of goodies.
Feel free to check out www.nimbleneedles.org.uk  where I have more goodies on offer. REMEMBER ALL proceeds support Rich's memorial fund.  https://sunflower.tributefunds.com/fund/Richard+Meese/

Gruffalo story bag

As promised, here it is.

It even has a neat pocket for storing tissues, or sweets.

The book wont be included in the price, I dont think our local library would approve.

Gruffalo whats a gruffalo?

The Gruffalo 

(Written by Julia Donaldson)

He has terrible tusks,

and terrible toes, 

and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws

He has nobbly knees

and turn-out toes

and a poisonous wart at the end of this nose

 His eyes are orange, 

his tongue is black,

he has purple prickles all over his back

 I made the large Gruffalo following a Phoeny pattern,then I decided I needed to make the other characters in the book, so I've designed them to be finger puppets.

I am currently getting the patterns tested, (ooh listen to me lol) then I shall be offering my woodland friends patterns for sale.

Of course if you can't knit and would like a completed set, then let me know. £25 inc postage.

The little Gruffalo could be used as the gruffalo child.

I also intend to make a storybag for them all to be tidied away in, this will also be included in the price.
Buy them the book for Christmas , imagine the fun you will have: sharing the story and acting it out with these delightful finger puppets.

Are you a cardmaker?? You are??? READ ON!!

As you already know I make my crafts to sell and raise funds for epilepsy research via our sons memorial fund
Sunflower Fund
Do you remember the baby gift sets I showed you in a previous post??  Splendid.

Now what I am looking for, is any generous cardmakers who would like to support our charity and donate a card that I can include as part of my baby me gift sets

. This one  was donated by loobycrafts
You would get in return my undying love (OK MAYBE NOT THAT LOL) but certainly my appreciation.
You would get a thank you both on  my website and a small note added to the gift box ( you could send me some business cards if you liked)

I realise this is a big cheek, but  know there are some very generous crafters out there.

THANKS, please email me or leave a message here.
hennie@nimbleneedles.org.uk

Going to a Wedding??

After posting the picture of Emma, when she attended her future S.I.L wedding, I decided my theme for today would be weddings.
So here are a few of the items I like.
Some may have been made by me but not all.

Bride and Groom (Mine)  Dolls can be customised.

handmade Tiara

wedding horseshoes

civil ceremony

Cards and Favour boxes

and to end, another one of mine lol, which again can be customised.
Wedding bears

All of these gorgeous items can be found on the  Misi website

Marisol

Did you know the Filpino word for sunflower is MARISOL?  I thought it makes a cute name for this little bear. Do you like the little sunflower I added too??
Marisol is knitted from a Twins pattern.  http://twinsknit.blogspot.com/  Check out their patterns, see if I can make something else for you.

If you would like to buy Marisol she will be £15 including postage and of course all proceeds will go to Rich's fund.Buy Now  I would love to make you a diffferent coloured one, let me know.

Sunflowers

One of the sunflowers, we bought to mark Rich's Angel Day. Sunflowers have become Rich's flower, they are in the name of his memorial fund, and his favourite artist was Van Gogh.

To be honest, i don't know whether he liked them or not, but they are now his flowers lol.                        http://sunflower.tributefunds.com/fund/Richard++Meese

What beauties.

This is our gorgeous daughter (the one in the paler dress) taken a couple of hours ago. She is with her boyfriend's sister (he has 8) at the wedding of one of the other sisters. 

Don't they look amazing!!

I feel a name change is needed

Hello dear reader

I've been thinking lately, that maybe I need to revamp my website,www.nimbleneedles.moonfruit.com in particular it's name.(nimbleneedles )

I don't know why but i think it needs something.

I have been nimbleneedles since the beginning, probably because my after school club was called nimbleneedles, it seemed a natural progression, plus the children I was working with could remember it easily lol.

I'm now moving back down to work with 6 year olds, they're unlikely to be interested in my crafts, so do I need to stay as nimbleneedles??

I have a shop over on misi,  well 2 actually: hennies nimbleneedles, and bluesunflower. Plus I dabbled with etsy as hennies handicrafts!

Bluesunflower.co.uk is taken but THE bluesunflower.co.uk is available.

Or do I go for a complete name change that somehow somes up me, my crafts, my fundraising.

This is where you come in dear reader, tell me what you think?

It's never too early .. is it?????

I thought I'd make a start, by making some Christmas tree decorations.
These are from an Amygaines pattern,http://www.etsy.com/shop/AmyGaines"> who has also very kindly given me permission to sell items from her patterns for Rich's memorial fund

http://sunflower.tributefunds.com/fun/richard++Meese
If you would like to have a set : http://www.misi.co.uk/gifts/75577/Deck_the_Tree.html

If you have an idea for a Christmas gift, or any other thing else, please leave me a message or visit one of my websites.


Anyone know how I get the link button to work..
I only seem to get it to work once if I'm lucky!!!

THAT GREAT FIND

With one ball each of pink and white, I've made this sweet little gift set.
The card was one I was lucky enough to win on another blog: http://scraphappylou.blogspot.com

I thought it added a little extra to the gift set.

Set contains: Card, photoframe, bootees, 2 washcloths with footprints on, a rattle which is textured for babies curiosity, a soap bag complete with natural soap and finally a scrubbie.
Phew...now to start on a blue set me thinks!
The whole set will come in a tissue lined gift box for £15 plus postage.
What do you think??

Like a kid in a toy shop

Found this little lot in a local charity shop. 40p a ball which is about 65cents
All brand new as you can see.

I was smiling and looking in the bag all the way home, it doesn't take much to float my boat as they say!!!

Almost two years

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

I'm trying Rich...I'm trying

Richard Meese 20-5-84 - 31.8.09

Please consider making a donation to Rich's memorial fund to try and help others with this awful illness.
http://sunflower.tributefunds.com/fund/Richard++Meese

MISI NEWS

Hi all,
With all the changes to MIsi steaming ahead, we may ahve to lose the site for an hour or so in order for Emma to change the IP address.

PLEASE BEAR WITH HER, NORMAL SERVICE WILL BE RESUMED LOL

Day 2/365

I'm a member of the group Debi Birkin Pals on Ravelry. We are trying to make a different Bunty for each month of the year.
So please meet MISS JANUARY!!
I do need to decide how to make her a January Bunny. I think she might need some winter wear, after all, it can get awfully nippy down the rabbit hole.I mean do rabbitholes have central heating???? I DONT THINK SO!!



This little bear was out of the Sandra Polley Knitted Bears book. I asked Steve to call out a number then made the bear from the pattern nearest to that page.
I added the heart to brighten him up( the bear not Steve)
Now I need to decide what to make now.. I dont go back to school until Tuesday so I have tonight and tomorrow to have a real good blast with the needles.

Get a Minion for your home

I have designed these little fellas myself, you too can have an army of minions to do your bidding.Can't knit? Dont worry you can buy one here
http://www.nimbleneedles.co.uk/page1.html
and remember by buying one you also give to Richard's memorial fund

https://sunflower.tributefunds.com/fund/Richard+Derek+Meese
BUT BACK TO THE PATTERN. HERE YOU ARE>>


http://www.nimbleneedles.co.uk/6
Have a knitty new year

Happy New Year