the Nest » corsages

“Kellys” Corsages

Emily — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:41:23 +0000

I’m basking in the glow of getting things done here: I finished the 50 crochet corsages for Kelly’s Bar-the launch was Friday night, and after a few mild anxiety attacks, I arrived in with the box of finished corsages with literally 2 minutes to spare (I like to keep myself on my toes, wouldn’t like to allow an air of complacency to filter through…)

They made a really lovely pattern when laid out, and I photographed each stage…-

The flat crochet backs…

…flowers added…

…buttons sewn on top… (Thank you dear friends, Bernadette and Barbara!)

…brooch pin and our “handmade” label attached to the back…

I then made some tags with the Kelly’s logo and attached with ribbon…

It was so lovely to see the first fifty customers come in wearing my creations!!!

I made more of these for our shop, and so
I’m hoping to upload some similiar images onto our shop website early this week (have to move a few things around there, be sure to check it out, we’ll have some gorgeous Easter gifts featured soon!)

Beautiful Blankets and Delightful Dolls

Emily — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:46:40 +0000

My mother still has a crochet blanket that was made for me when I was a baby- cream with coloured rose flower motifs. It was simply beautiful, in a way that crochet blankets are by their being.

This week I eventually uploaded the photos of the blankets we have in our shop (steep learning curve every time something goes “wrong”!!) as well as one or two doll ones that wouldn’t upload. I still have cushions, corsages and some GORGEOUS wooden toys- a motorhome, 4 x4 Jeep and red sportscar- I’ll try to get them up tonight.

I’m in the middle of finishing a doll for Jenny-from-Kildare, so I’m off to immerse myself in wool and body-parts!! Check out our blankets in the “handmade@theNest” section, simply lovely.

November Harvest and Crafting amidst the floods!

Emily — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:37:14 +0000

Well, wow, have we had Rain here over the past few days… so much so, that now we are somewhat stranded as all the roads to and from our house are flooded.

And, even though the weather is rather inclement, there is nothing nicer if, like me, snuggling down in a warm bed with a little nursling, with the rain is drumming on the roof, is your idea of heaven!

But… we have plenty of food and plenty to do, and this morning when the sun came out we had a wander around our sodden garden… and a splash in the puddles…

The polytunnel was warm, and I came in with my pockets bulging with tomatoes, courgettes, RASPBERRIES!! (in late November!!!) and a bunch of roses, geraniums and hebe for the table.

I have been trying to finish dolls and corsages for the “handmade weekend” next weekend; I have a commission for a doll so I’m presently making her a head of hair and want to make her clothes tomorrow. And I’ve been working on a pattern for a weighted baby doll, trying to co-ordinate what is in my head and put it down on paper (and fabric!) So there are bits of dolls all over the place: here is one of my boxes of body-bits!!

And so to tell you more about our “handmade weekend”: well! Next weekend (last weekend in November) and the following weekend (first weekend in December) we are showcasing beautiful, handmade crafts and gifts made here in Ireland by independent crafts people- and truly have we a feast in store: dolls, patchwork and crochet blankets, cushions, corsages, felt, cards, decorations, soaps… to name a few and whatever else we find between here and next week! My mincemeat is made, ready for mince-pies, and I’ll start the mulled wine later in the week to ensure the Christmas aroma in time!

Hope to see you here, or if not, online from Thursday when I hope to have uploaded most of the delights… and delights they really are, unfortunately I won’t be able to provide the mince pies over the ‘net, but I’ll post a few pictures instead!!

Crafting, de-crafting and Crunchy Leaves

Emily — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:01:54 +0000

My little one and I did some crafting recently… yes, you read the clock correctly, and it wasn’t early afternoon when that photo was taken let me tell you….

After being roused from my bed by a teething baby we decided to continue making the corsages and brooches for our shop. I crafted, she de-crafted… Note the scattering of pin backs… labels everywhere…. crochet flung…. ah, yes, we bonded.

Almost literally as I had to wrestle the strong adhesive from her steel grip….more than once…

We eventually retired back to bed at around 4.30 (AM!!) and were up again at the usual hour in the morning. I had a crafty plan (pardon the pun!!) to let her run around the garden and between fresh air and exercise she would become ultra-tired and go for a lovely long sleep… I would have a quick nap while I nursed her, and then do lots of all those things you can’t do with a (silent-but-deadly) baby running around. So out to the garden we went…

Stomping through crunchy leaves is so much fun when you are 1… or 101…!

Where ever are those cats???

On the trail of the cats… through the small woods… (a bit of an over-statement there)

Aha! Do we spot something?

Come on Tabby!! You are about to be dragged out from under the fushia!!

A little helping hand to get moving…

Down to Tabbys level for a quick rub…

…and a quick chat….

Okay, enough of that, off we go again…!

A quick spot of pruning… badly needed as you can see…

The last flowers of summer

Thank goodness geraniums are so hardy!!

Autumn leaves are beginning to fall….

The good news is, she slept after all that… whew!!!!

As an adjunct, a friend and Homeopathic colleague of mine, Joan, recently lost her husband, Dave. Dave, a diabetic, was to run the Dublin marathon later this month, and now as a tribute to him, his friends and family are to run it as a relay in his memory. You can read about it here : http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2009/1013/1224256500024.html.

Joan, you are an extraordinary woman xxxxx