Wednesday, April 01, 2015

WIP Wednesday update



Things have been a bit slow this week. I was exhausted at the end of last week - some bad nights, busy days, plus an all-day conference with a 5 am start and a late conference dinner on Friday meant that by Saturday morning I was feeling ill with exhaustion. As if the boys sensed that I desperately needed some rest, when we got back from their swimming lessons around lunchtime they all went upstairs and played happily for about an hour while I rested on the sofa. I even had a little nap! When I got up I felt marginally better and was able to admire the beautiful den they built together. :)

Still, being so busy all week and so exhausted at the weekend meant that I didn't get a lot done this week. There has been some gentle crocheting on the weekender blanket and I've made some progress on Totoro. Boy #3 was delighted when he realised what I was making and all three of them wanted to watch My Neighbour Totoro again on Sunday. I'm quite looking forward to finishing the little fella myself now!


I do have an almost-FO to show for though - the pegloom rug is off the loom! It's not quite finished because I have a bit of sewing in to do and I need to tidy up its overall appearance a bit. There are quite a few bits of fabric sticking out, plus all those loose threads, and I also need to trim the tassles, but otherwise it's all done. It weighs a ton!




As you can see, it's already been put to good use!


I've braided the ends to keep them neat, but it makes the fabric strips 'bulge' a bit in-between. I may sew them in to make the ends neater.






The boys really want to keep it in the living room, but I'm not sure yet. They like to sit there and play or watch TV and have a snack or they carry drinks through when I'm not looking, and unless they change their habits I really don't think they are ready for a rug - the last one we had was trashed after about a year!! Of course this one should be washeable, but that doesn't mean that it would easily wash. It's too big to fit into a washing machine, so I would have to bring it to the drycleaners.

I'm still pretty busy this week, but it's the Easter break now so there won't be any teaching, which is already a relief - just to have the chance to catch up a bit and work ahead to get things sorted for the remaining teaching weeks after the Easter break makes me feel a bit better. Still, it's been a hard term, this one...

I'm still feeling very tired, but hopefully I'll get round to some more crafting this week. I'm looking forward to it. For now, have some Easter craft to admire:

 Boy #2 made this card at school:


I've found a few minutes here and there to bring a bit of Easter spirit into the house too:



Some twigs from the garden - hopefully the flower buds will open. I have no idea what that shrub is called (we didn't plant it) but it has beautiful yellow blooms around Easter time). The picture of the flower (with written descriptions of the individual parts) was done by boy #1 at school.

Some Easter chicks - they don't look half as nice as in the magazine where I saw them, but I didn't have any round safety eyes to complete the look. Still, they are cute enough I suppose...







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33 comments:

  1. Your rug looks amazing! Hope you get some rest this week and feel a bit more refreshed! Happy Easter!

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  2. I am so impressed with the rug, it looks stunning on the wood floor. I really would like to give the weaving a go, when I have more time. Easter blessings.

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  3. that rug is really a masterpiece.....and those little chicks! too cute!!!

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  4. That rug! Wonderful job.
    I was borrowing a floor loom from a friend and had a rug like this on my list, but never made the time to actually do it.
    Ruing that decision now, I tell you!

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    1. Aww, what a shame! Can you borrow the loom again? It really didn't take all that long to make the rug, although it does take A LOT of fabric. I had friends and family donating their old bed linen to the project. :)

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  5. That rug is amazing, and it looks wonderfully squishy and comfy! I'm with the boys on this - it should definitely stay in a play area!

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    1. Thank you, and it really is very comfy. Maybe you are right and it should stay. I've decided to give it a try, at least until I've sewn the ends in and have tidied it up properly.

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  6. Anonymous2:42 pm

    That is a fantastic spring-y rug! :) So nice to get going with colours at this time of the year. And the little chick— the sweetest!

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  7. Absolutely amazing rug!

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  8. Oooh I hate days at conference like that. Or, even worse, overnight conferences where people insist on having intense discussions over breakfast. Breakfast?!?! Anyway, the rug is looking great. Does it slide on your floor or is it OK? We have parquet and is can be a bit of an issue with rugs... I think the chicks look rather nice!

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    1. These types of day are utterly exhausting, aren't they? Even if they are good, and interesting (and this one was) I usually feel completely drained afterwards. And it's so true about the over-night ones, and as I usually don't sleep well the first night somewhere else I am usually not in the mood for intense discussion over breakfast!! ;)

      Re. the rug - it doesn't actually slide much at all. I think it weighs so much that it pretty much stays put wherever you place it.

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  9. Oh my! Loving the chicks, and the rug is quite lovely. Way to go!

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  10. Echoing everyone else - the rug is gorgeous - well done!

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  11. love that rug, really nice mix of colours you've chosen.

    The Easter card with the rainbow egg is very sweet :)

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    1. Thank you, and thanks for stopping by! :)

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  12. I think your chicks are adorable. Your rug is gorgeous also. That is quite a large project. I agree with keeping it out of the living room, but then again it was made to be used.

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    1. Thank you. :)

      I'm really torn on what to do with the rug. For now it'll stay in the living room - at least until I've properly sewn all the ends in, so I guess this is a kind of trial period...

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  13. I like how your rug has been well received by your boys. I'm happy for you that you got in a nap. Maps can be such a healthy boost.

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    1. Thanks. And yes, it really did help to take that nap! :)

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  14. I love the rug! You've inspired me to make myself a peg loom!

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  15. I love how that rug turned out! Beautiful!! :)

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  16. Great article, Thanks for your great information, the content is quiet interesting. I will be waiting for your next post.

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  17. Debbie11:29 pm

    Can I ask about the fabric you used. Is it upcycled linenns? And if so how wide did you make the strips?

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    1. Hi Debbie, you mean for the rug? It's mainly old bedsheets, ripped into strips, but also some other fabric, whatever I had, really. If you use some fabric that is thicker (jeans fabric for example - there is some of that in there), just make the strips thinner. xx

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    2. Sorry, just realised I didn't reply to the 2nd part of your question. The strips were approximately 3" wide, but if the fabric was thinner I went down to 2". It doesn't matter too much, to be honest, because it all bunches up and I don't think it would show up particularly if you had strips in there that were wider because once it flattens out it would just come out as a slightly wider band of fabric if that makes sense? It's pretty forgiving as a project.

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    3. thicker, not thinner (re. the fabric) - sorry, it already feels like a long day!!

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  18. it is beautiful,also your ski cap ,would you be willing to share the pattern

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