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Emma Mitchell

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December 15, 2011 By silverpebble 20 Comments

Making Winter: doily bauble experiment

Firstly massive thanks for your contributions to Making Winter. I have definitely been enjoying myself more  due to making more and seeing the results of others’ making. This month’s blog hop is here at Thrifty Household if you fancy joining in. 
In the last few days I had a definite makey urge when I spotted two festive online projects in particular. My Star Wars nerdery is not something I mention much around here. Myself and Big Lad share a knowledge of the scripts of the original trilogy that is frankly a little embarrassing. That said, certain lines can be useful in a variety of everyday situations, in particular
‘I have a very bad feeling about this’, or perhaps, in the face of vegetable-eating reluctance:
‘This is the broccoli you are looking for.’
Imagine my excitement when I saw this Death Star lego bauble.  The Mr and I will be making one.

I spotted this beautiful doily lampshade tutorial too. I will be making one of these for our stairwell, but I thought it might translate to a small bauble version so I have given it a try with my ever growing stash of dolls house doilies and vintage lace (plus a small balloon and some wallpaper paste):

Imagine my delight when from a certain angle it resembles a slightly folksy vintage version of the lego creation above. Excellent!.

This is a work in progress. I shall pop the balloon tomorrow morning and report back on its success.

In other Making Winter news my favourite decoration of all, the bottlebrush Christmas Squirrel bought from Neal Street East donkeys years ago, has emerged from the cupboard. He’s looking wistfully at the village green as though he fancies a game of football.

I am knitting. Yes, knitting: a baktus scarf thanks to excellent advice from Ali and Tracy whilst in Loop recently.

I am crocheting too. Huge thanks to Not So Granny, who taught me how. So far I have only made a coaster/mug rug, but it has a picot edge, and it is my first successful project so I’m foolishly proud of it.
Gaining and using some yarn skills was part of my Making Winter wish list. I’m thrilled that I’ve managed it.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. kristina says

    December 15, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    Oh it was so lovely to see you at Selvedge, where I fell in love with your doily necklaces! Good to know the doily collection is still growing.

    And hooray for the baktus! Which yarn are you using? I was so sad to miss that day out.

    And very impressed with your crochet. I'm so completely hopeless with a hook.

    K x

    Reply
  2. Victoria says

    December 15, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    I could hardly drag my Mr away from the star wars lego display in John Lewis the other day. I think his dream Xmas pressie would be the lego Millennium Falcon.
    Looking forward to seeing how your doily bauble turns out. x

    Reply
  3. Tabiboo says

    December 15, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    It looks all very busy and crafty at your end.

    Love the doily decoration and crochet – I've been know to use such lines from Monty Python on occasion so not weird at all!!

    ……'what that, noooooooooo, it is merely a flesh wound!'

    Nina xxxxxxx

    ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉

    Reply
  4. Magic Cochin says

    December 15, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    Aaah, Neal Street East… those were the days 🙂

    I love your yarn colours, definitely the right way to start is something fairly simple using lovely gorgeous yarn, then the sense of achievement will be massive!

    … ahem… confession time… I've never seen Star Wars… there, I've said it and it's true.

    Celia
    xx

    Reply
  5. Thrifty Household says

    December 15, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    Aha, the cunning plan is working then…
    At this rate, you'll be willing the turn to Autumn/Winter 2012/13!

    Reply
  6. Little Explorers says

    December 15, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    I have Mr Squirrels relative and a rather prickly hedgehog hanging on our classroom christmas tree 🙂 I got them from anglesby abbey (there was a rabbit too) – the day I took the beautiful photo of Miss P2 through the trunk of a tree.

    Reply
  7. Paula says

    December 15, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    I do like your doily bauble, and the batkus scarf and really like the colours you're using both on the scarf and on the mug mat.

    Reply
  8. Scented Sweetpeas says

    December 15, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    Loving the bauble, I saw a string cersion of that that would be fab to make too 🙂 Wow your crochet is coming along really well, I really must start on the ripple blanket 🙁

    Reply
  9. Julie says

    December 15, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    Doily bauble and lamp shade are genius. I'd love to make a lamp shade – two problems tho', I don't have a doily collection (but may have to start working on that) and John would hate it, oh well!
    Well done with your knitting and crochet – I know just how pleased you can feel with fairly small makes! Juliex

    Reply
  10. Rachel says

    December 15, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    Looking forward to the finished bauble!

    Reply
  11. Floss says

    December 15, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    Both pretty and nerdy. Quite an impressive combination!

    Son 2 has his Starwars Lego Advent Calendar this year (bought with his own money, I hasten to add). It's led to a whole host of nerdy conversations, mostly along the lines of: 'What do you mean you don't remember this ship, mum? It's the one that… goes to… on in the …th film! Sorry. I remember the lines better than the ships.

    Reply
  12. dragonfly says

    December 16, 2011 at 8:04 am

    I'm hoping to start my baktus this weekend – the snow has just started to fall, so it will be a good reason to stay snug indoors. Yours is looking v.impressive.

    Reply
  13. greenrabbitdesigns says

    December 16, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    Well done with your crocheting, it looks great!
    Looking forward to seeing the doily bauble, I've been playing with doilies this week too!
    V x

    Reply
  14. Lynn says

    December 17, 2011 at 4:50 am

    That squirrel is the Most. And your yarn-y skills are flourishing most impressively!

    Reply
  15. The Coffee Lady says

    December 17, 2011 at 11:40 am

    I am so excited at the prospect of seeing your finished Death Star. So excited!

    Reply
  16. special 'k' says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    I really need to learn to crochet! I am so glad I found your special place here. Thanks for sharing. I will follow on my way out so as I would love to visit again. I hope you will find the time to come visit my place and do the same. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to engaging and supporting your blog in the New Year. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

    Reply
  17. Mrs. Micawber says

    December 17, 2011 at 10:15 pm

    I love Legos. (I rather covet the Millenium Falcon set myself.)

    The doily bauble will be lovely. And your crochet looks great! Picots are so much fun.

    Reply
  18. Planet Penny says

    December 18, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    I made the baktus scarf last year and I still love it. I'm going to to do it again very soon, only thicker, and wider and longer so I can really snuggle up! I love the doily bauble but would like it even more as a lampshade, it's on the to do list now.
    Keep up the good work, there are some lovely things going on…
    Penny xxx

    Reply
  19. Calico Kate says

    December 19, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    I have been planning to make one of those doillie balls, was wallpaper paste strong enough? will go and read the next blog to find out!
    CKx
    PS have emailed you tho not sure if I still have the right address, let me know if you haven't heard from me!

    Reply
  20. Thrifty Household says

    December 31, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    One of my aunts used to make doily bowls by soaking the doily in sugar water, wringing it out & leaving it to dry on an upturned bowl. She waited until it was dry & voila, like magic, a mini bowl! It worked every time…

    Reply

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