What’s in my yarn bag.

This week I have been so inspired by One Sheepish Girl’s “What’s in my yarn bag” posts by Meredith herself and also Alice from Little Llama. So I thought I would share my essentials that I carry around in my yarn bag..

1. Yarn.. I like to use organic cotton when I crochet for the shop.
2. A pin cushion with darning needles and various pins. (This pin cushion is one of my own designs.)
3. A notebook to write all my patterns in, with a pencil.
4. Scissors! I always lose my scissors, so it’s best to keep two sets in my bag just incase.
5. Measuring tape.
6. A little tin of buttons, pearls, stitch markers and safety pins.
7. Crochet hooks. I like to use colourful ones so I can remember what colour I used for each project.
8. I also keep anything that I have been working on recently like the little pansies above.

My yarn bag is an old Cath Kidston design.. it’s a great size and I love the circular handles. I think my favourite places to crochet are on the couch with my pjs on or in a comfy arm chair in my studio. Right now I am working on some crochet flower wreaths for local stockists and also some new cushion designs!x

 

Autumn Gift Guide

Autumn is my favourite time of year, which meant that designing items with the crisp leaves and chilly days in mind came easy to my budding fingertips. I have been inspired by my country garden – watching the weather change briskly and planning the activities I like to do in the winter seasons. So to give you a little selection of things that might suit any Autumny birthdays, gifts for yourself or just to treat a loved one..I have put together this little gift guide of whats new and available at Messyla this season.

Whether sending a present to a friend, hoarding cards for the future or getting ready to pickle some chillies..there is something for everyone in the ‘Cards, Tags and Wrap’ sections of Messyla.

Make some chilli jams this Autumn or even wrap a present for someone special using the Jar Tags!

Decorating your home, gathering things for a New Home gift or wanting to decorate your house to match the weather outdoors..I have a selection of housey goods that will light up any cold, dull and sometimes dreary days. (If you are from Glasgow..)

Decorate with some autumn colours..or even for a thanksgiving feast!

Miniature magnetic bunting for your fridge, radiator or any magnetic surface!

Curl up with a book and a blanket this season, using a crochet bookmark to keep your place as you run to make some hot chocolate..

Breakfast in Bed on a chilly Sunday Morning.

Layer up this season and add a touch of vintage to any outfit. Loved by grannies in years by gone and carefully sourced and selected for Messyla.com.

All are available at the Online Shoppe and more Autumny items are available there too.
You can view all items above, together, in my Autumn Treasury.
..stay tuned for another Christmas Gift Guide next month!xx

Knitting up a Storm.

Tonight, or should I say this morning, I have been knitting up a storm to finish some last minute Christmas presents. (I say this morning because my sleeping pattern is all crazy these days, so it is currently 2.20am and I am wide awake!). I thought i’d dedicate a little post to my love of knitting.

If you are looking for a new, creative resolution for 2012 then look no further. Learn to knit. If you are now thinking “pfft, no way. It’s too hard/grannyish/time consuming blah blah” then seriously think again! It is the most rewarding and enjoyable hobby of mine.

I will explain how I got into knitting, because it’s sort of a funny little story:
This time last year, I was having a bit of an identity crisis. I didn’t know who I was or what I liked and I couldn’t shake the feeling everyday that I was the only person who didn’t have a hobbie. My mum cooks and bakes, my dad and brother love bikes and cars, my sister loves fashion..but I didn’t have anything. What was I good at? So I went to John Lewis and picked up some needles and some balls of wool.

My mum was a knitter so she explained it a little to me, although I did find that my most valuable resource was YouTube! So I highly reccomend it. So I started to do some sort of knitting, making lots of mistakes and getting so frustrated I nearly snapped the needles. I stopped and started to cry! I thought I would never get good at anything and knitting was my last hope.

Long story short, with a little perseverance and some more YouTube watching, I am now a very competent knitter. I can knit without looking, I can knit really fast and I find myself a bit lost when watching TV if I don’t have a pair of needles in my hand! I really really really encourage everyone to pick up some needles and give it a try, because you will all love it in the end. You can also make the sweetest gifts like these little wine bottle scarves that I whipped up tonight!

Christmas is so soon! I hope you are all in the spirit.
With lots of christmassy love and cheer, La. xx