For various reasons, we’ve delayed the installation of the coal reef in our shop window. This means we’ve got more time to make coral, but also that other fishy activities can go on. And so, the last week or two has found me making a new bollard cover from scraps. I toyed with the idea of more coral, but in the end I decided on a different sea creature.

The grey yarn is some ancient wool mix that’s been hanging around unloved for ages, and the cream belly/fins are made from a bit of West Yorkshire Spinners Colour Lab left over from a mosaic crochet class. The eyes are old buttons, the stuffing is recycled wool waste and the embroidery was done with a scrap of black left over from goodness knows what. The pattern is Shane the Shark from Little Green Bear, worked in DK rather than aran.

Of course a shark does need some sea to provide a home, so I’m currently working on the bollard cover, using scrap yarn – mainly acrylic, but the top is the same WYS wool as Shane’s belly and fins. It is an adaptation of Attic 24’s Neat Ripple pattern which I’ve used in various projects before.

Of course we also continue to make crochet corals with all sorts of scrap yarn… all will be revealed in a few weeks time.

-oOo-

I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate,  Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:

Kate,  Gun, Eva,  Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Edi,  Tracy, Jan (me), Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Jon, Dawn, Jule, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti, Viv, Lynn and Tierney

If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.

A small scrappy make to share this month (I’m still making crochet coral, but it does get a bit dull if I keep posting about that).

As mentioned a few weeks ago, we have been shortlisted for the Small Business Britain High Street Heroes award. The presentations are made at a black tie do in London, so we’ve had to sort out appropriate outfits. In the spirit of the our business, we’ve tried to avoid buying new things, so I’ve borrowed a dress, handbag and headband, bought shoes from Vinted and will be wearing jewellery that I already have. It turns out that Mr Snail can fit into my late dad’s DJ, so that’s what he’s wearing. However, he was very keen to fly the flag for Wales, and wanted a waistcoat made of some appropriate fabric that we sell in the shop. I didn’t have time to do the sewing, so we commissioned Emma, a local seamstress who has just started a business down the road. I was able to find some red pre-loved lining fabric for the back, so it’s a bit scrappy. However a DJ really needs a handkerchief peeking out of the pocket, so I rummaged through the scraps that Emma returned and managed to find a big enough section for the job. This I did have time to sew, and so I present this as my scrappy make for the month. It also gives me an excuse to share some pictures of Mr Snail looking dapper (although I’ve only just finished the hanky so it doesn’t appear in the picture of him in the suit).

So, wish us luck at the awards ceremony, where Mr Snail will be doing his best not to act like a complete fan boy when he meets the host, Sue Perkins.

-oOo-

I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate,  Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:

Kate,  Gun, Eva,  Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Edi,  Tracy, Jan (me), Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Jon, Dawn, Jule, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti, Viv, Lynn and Tierney

If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.