“Thank you for being a great place for getting my cross-stitching supplies. I love receiving the magazines, flicking through and being inspired. I was thrilled to get my pack of Venus floss (it was about 18 months ago now – how time flies!), and it has been put to good use so far – but more about that in a moment.
"I have been sewing since I was about 10 or 11 - for some reason I fell in 
love with all the cross stitch patterns available at my local craft shop. My parents and my sister both thought it was a passing phase but humored me, giving me little projects to start with, and then later on slightly bigger ones. My early work is kind of messy as I am completely self-taught and only wanted to use 18 count Aida! I sewed all sorts of things at first, from animals, to flowers to a sampler and presents for people. Unfortunately I don't have photos of this early sewing however it is all safely stored away at my parents' house!
“One of my favourite projects was a cover for my sister's wedding album. I designed it myself. Since then I have only designed two other projects, although neither of these are quite finished yet.
“I had a five or so year break from sewing while I was at university and got back into stitching 
seriously in late 2007.
"I collect patterns, and I love the fact that you can personalize cross stitches kits by choosing different fabrics to what is recommended or by changing a colour here and there to make the design your own".
"One of the designers I love is ‘Mirabilia’ (Nora Corbett) – who in my opinion is the queen of designing mermaids, fairies and beautiful ladies! It is a Mirabilia design that I used the Venus floss I purchased on. The design is called ‘The Stargazer’. It took me about 14 months to stitch and bead her and another two months to get her framed! I must say, the Venus floss is beautiful and soft to stitch with. I stitched her on a custom dyed fabric to give the impression of the night sky and she is proudly displayed so that you see her as soon as you walk into my home.
"Thanks again for keeping such a lovely range of patterns and kits. It’s always fun to look through the website and magazine – and reading the crafty yarns newsletter!”
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Step-by-step: ‘Crochet Finger Puppets
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‘Crochet Finger Puppets’ (code 28854)
What is it about children and gifts? More often than not it is the cardboard box that the gift came in, rather than the expensive flashing gizmo inside, that they spend the rest of the afternoon playing with! Kids are so often attracted to the simplest of toys. They want things that can join in the game forming in their active little imaginations rather dictating what games they can play. The box becomes the rocket ship or the playhouse, the submarine or the casing for their home-made bomb – while the gizmo flashes forlornly in the corner.
This is what is so wonderful about this book of ‘Crocheted Finger Puppets’ (code 28854). There are patterns for 30 simple yet creative critters that will get even the most jaded of kids off the couch and back into the land of make-believe!
I decided to put the books claim to the test that by ‘following the basic techniques even beginners at crochet could make these playful puppets’. Mmmmm. We’ll see about that!
“S
tep 1: Work in spiral TBLs throughout body. Mk floop and 1 ch. 6dc into floop. 6 sts.
OK. May need a little help here... Luckily this book lives up to its claim of being easy to use! There is a full chapter at the back of the book with easy to follow diagrams and simple explanations of what floops and sts are – so before too long I was on my way.
My little bee design didn’t take me as long as I had feared it would to finish. Mind you, it is the simplest design in the book! It was really fun to see my puppet emerge from what had previously been a pile of left over yarn. The kids were rapt with the little bee and before long I had taken orders for a monkey each, aliens, a mermaid, two wonky robots and a ninja skeleton 
(which I thoughtfully passed on to Grandma as I figure this is her department).
‘Crochet Finger Puppets’ contains designs that would be fun for crochet-ers of every level from beginners (such as myself) right up to the real experts. If you had a little imagination you could go to town with this book and create some seriously fun little puppet people! It is a beautifully designed book with clearly written instructions, gorgeous full-colour photos and great page layout making it a joy to both read and use.
This little book gets the thumbs up from us!
‘Proud Peacock’ Jigsaw (code 28924)
I love peacocks – their colour, their incredible feathers, even the way they strut around place like they know they are the most beautiful creature in existence. So I was immediately drawn to this jigsaw. The level of detail in the gorgeous 69 x 89 cm, 1000-piece design is so lovely that I am simply itching to get to work on it!
‘Hana-Ami Flower Loom’ (code 28877
This is a lovely idea. The ‘Hana-Ami Flower Loom’ is an easy to use kit from the clever 
folk at Clover which allows you to make flowers using ribbon, yarn, twine, raffia, fabric and anything else you have to hand. The set includes 3 round, 2 square and 1 hexagonal shaped loom. You simply wind your yarn around the outer pegs and then weave the petals together. It’s lots of fun to use – and the gorgeous little flowers can be used in all sorts of decorative ways afterwards. A nifty little kit!
We hope you enjoyed this online edition of Crafty Yarns Online. Why not Email us with your story and photos - and win yourself a voucher? Also, don't forget to come and visit our website!!! Also remember to check out our new online community www.chatterfox.com.au/..... and until next time... keep crafting!
