Tutorial Thursday

Welcome back to Tutorial Thursdays on Marigolds' Loft.

Today I want to share a quick Key Ring Craft that you can whip up in a couple of minutes....

To create this key ring, you will need:

• A felted keyring, either bought or made
• some wool for felting
• a felting mat
• felting needles
• *Dekopointers for decoration

Place the keyring over the mat and form a small piece of wool into the beginnings of a heart form:

Using the felting needles, felt the wool into the key ring until you are happy with the heart.

Create as many hearts as you would like: (Trim the fuzzles now or when the project is dry)

And then round off by decorating with *Dekopointers to finish the project.

*I use Gonis Products as I am a distributor of these amazing crafty helpers. If you cannot find these products in your area, you will have to substitute them. Hence the descriptions in brackets. For more information on these products, please feel free to contact me.

Here is a video I created a while ago for another needle felted project, so that you can get the idea how it is done, incase you were asking :)

Now it is your turn-----

Are you ready to get your craft on?
I would love to see some Valentine Crafts, do you have any to share?

I hope so, I would love to be able to visit your Blogs and be in awe of your amazing handiwork.

Thank you to all of you who linked up last week.

These were my favourite "Hearty" Links from last week:

So Cute!: 

Paper Strip Hearts by Katie @ The Crafty Blog Stalker

Karen @Bridgit's Bell: I love these hearts - So sweet

And Linda @ With A Blast - This brilliant Smash Cake, so cool, a yummy lucky packet!

Thank you ladies, your crafts were super.
I have pinned them on the Pin Board :)

Please feel free to grab your button below if you haven't already.

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Please feel free to link up your crafts below.

They do not have to be tutorials or in the theme of Valentines Day, I would love to see any crafts.

I understand that the point of linking at a party is to gain exposure and share your goodies, but please stay a while and visit some of the other links available. 

I love hosting the Linky Party, but it would be so much more fun for everyone, if all of you, would take a couple of minutes to visit at least 2 other links below. 

We all appreciate visitors and comments, so please be so kind and do so.

Rules for the Linky Party:

• Be a Follower of Marigolds' Loft, this is not a MUST, but I would appreciate it :)
• Grab my button below and showcase it somewhere on your blog OR create a visible link.
• Do not Link if you are selling something. 
• Be sure to only link the relevant Blogpost and not your whole blog.
• Please be so kind and visit at least 2 other posts linked below, it is always nice to receive visitors, this is a linky party after all! :)
• In linking below you are giving me the permission to use of your image if it is being featured the following week. If I am unable to use your image I can unfortunately not feature you.
• Please note: I will remove content that does not abide by the rules mentioned above. 

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Wednesdays' Work or Lack Thereof....

This Wednesday I don't have as much to show you as I would have liked :(

I clamped a nerve in my neck on Sunday evening and eventually couldn't bare the discomfort anymore and went off to the Chiropractor yesterday for some relief.

Needless to say, I haven't been able to use my left arm very well over this time and so my knitting has had to sit, staring at me for the last couple of days.

I did manage to set up some Stitch-Tutorials over the weekend though and have posted them HERE

As you can see, the cap is knitted and waiting for the finishing touches. 

As soon as this occurs (I am hoping it will happen by tomorrow) I will take photos and post the pattern for you all to have :).

My Shawl/Scarf has not made any more progress either this week unfortunately, but it has been good to take a break I guess!

Reading:

I have finished Book one of the Book-Club choices and can't wait for the new book to be chosen.

It would be great if you also came by to vote for the new book choice :)

While I am waiting for the new book, I am reading Tree of Life by Christian Jacq.

I read his Ramses series a couple of years ago and loved them so I am hoping this will be of the same standard, I will keep you posted.

Do come by tomorrow for Tutorial Thursday, I am hoping I will have another Valentines' Craft to show you, if all things improve in the arm department :)

On another note entirely:

Would you be interested in sponsoring Marigolds' Loft?

I would be delighted to have some wonderful sponsors and would love to hear from you if you are interested.

You can find more information HERE

I wish you all lovely, creative Wednesday.

x

P.S. Do be sure to visit Tami and Ginny to see some amazing creative projects.

Stitches Explained: Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK)

Here is a Step-By-Step Tutorial on how to knit the stitch: Slip, Slip, Knit or SSK

You can find more Stitch Tutorials HERE

 If there is a stitch that you need explaining and you don't find it here, please let me know, I will add it to the collection asap :)

Online Book-Club Possible Choices for Book 2

I know that we have only just started with our first book in the online Book-Club, but there are some members who are already finished the book and are chewing at the bit to get the next book choice (including myself) LOL!

Our first book was an amazing read (Book Review to follow soon)

If you haven't had a chance to sign up yet, please feel free to come by and join in the fun, you are never too late :)

As we all have a different reading tempo, I would like the book-club to have a certain flow to it.

By that I mean that I would like to have the selections for the follow-up books to be available for all of those readers who read quite fast and would like to get their hands on the next book.

All follow-up book choices are selected from our Group Bookshelf, and will be left to the vote, which will run for a week.

To have your book included in the vote, please visit the Bookshelf and choose 2 books that you would like to be voted on.

Please leave a comment under the thread - Choices for Book 2 in the General Discussion section so that I can include them in the vote.

That said, if there are no books that you want to read on the bookshelf please feel free to add your choices to the bookshelf and put them in the shelf "to-read; New-possibilities".

I will be putting the choices listed in the comments below to the vote Next Saturday - 2nd February (which means you have until then to include your choices in the vote)

I can't wait to see the various options, and am excited to see the new book-choice!

x

Natalie 

Book Review - Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

Title: Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

ISBN: 978-1444729023

Book 3 that I have completed from Jodi Picoult.

I was a bit worried that I would be slightly disappointed by the end like I was with her other two books I have read so far, but this time it definitely was not the case. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from the beginning to the end.

In this book, Ms. Picoult attempts to bring us a little closer to understanding wolves, and definitely achieves her goal. After reading this book, I have a new found respect for these amazing creatures and will be researching them a little more as well as reading her recommended further reading.

Not only does this book allow us to appreciate these wondrous creatures, but Ms. Picoult also manages to intertwine a story highlighting the fine family connections and boundaries that we may all come to pass.

I think Jodi Picoult is a very talented author, and as I progress through her books, (I seem to be on a Jodi Picoult path right now), I appreciate her writing style all the more.

Stitches Explained: K2tog - Knit-2-Together

Here is a Step-By-Step Tutorial on how to Knit-2-Together (K2tog)

 You can find more Stitch Tutorials HERE

 If there is a stitch that you need explaining and you don't find it here, please let me know, I will add it to the collection asap :)

Calendar of the Soul - Week 43

Week 43:

Down in the wintery depths,

the true essence of spirit is seething---

it is endowing cosmic appearance

with powers existing

through forces of the heart.

The fire within the human being,

now growing strong,

defies cosmic cold.

-Rudolf Steiner

Are you my new Sponsor?

I am looking for some lovely new sponsors for Marigolds' Loft :)

My blog is growing from day-to-day and my page views have almost doubled from 36000 views in mid-December to almost 66000 this week.

My aim is to bring more variety into the blog by advertising various products and sponsors.

I am offering two options of sponsorship at the moment, a paid option at a very affordable price, or I am open to sponsorship through reviewing of products and/or sponsoring Give-Aways on My Blog. 

If you are looking for a great way to get your products out there, or to get new customers, please contact me, I would love to hear from you.

You can read more about my offers HERE

Stitches Explained - M1L - Make-One-Left

Here is a quick help to show you how to make an increase if you see this in your pattern:

M1l or M1L (Make-One-Left)

First locate the thread/strand between the two stitches:

Then pick up the thread on your left needle from the front:

Now knit this stitch from the back. It will be a little tight - This is correct!

TIP: if the stitch is way too easy and loose, you are knitting it from the wrong side!

 You can find more Stitch Tutorials HERE

 If there is a stitch that you need explaining and you don't find it here, please let me know, I will add it to the collection asap :)

Filofaxiness / Garden Plans FREE Printable

Before we know it, spring will be here, and as this year hubby and I are giving ourselves a really big effort to become more self-sufficient (You can follow our progress HERE)

I am busy planning our little garden the only way I know how - Of course - Filofax style :D

Today I am going to start you off with the first of my gardening planners and I hope that they will come in handy to the one or other of you out there.

This printable is for the planning of our square foot gardening beds.

I would love to hear from you if you use my inserts.

How do they work for you, are there details that still need to be included/excluded?

Let me know I am always open to suggestions.

Please feel free to print out a copy of my insert for your personal use.

Click on the image below to download your FREE PDF copies.

This page is to be printed on an A4 page.

If you are using an A5 planner, print the same on the back and then you can cut it in half and have the two different plans (Top one is a 4' x 4', bottom plan a 4' x 8')

Note - These pages are for personal usage only and may not be reproduced and/or sold. If you are using my inserts, please give me the credit, thank you.

 I am still busy creating new planners and will post the new pages as they come about :)

As soon as they have been created and in use, I will show you exactly how I put these printables to use.

See You soon.

x

Stitches Explained - M1R - Make-One-Right

I have been promising for such a long time to explain some of my stitches so today I made myself take the time to start to get this going.

You will find all of the explained stitches categorized on their own page which you can find at the top under the Tab "Knitting-Know-How".

Here is how you go about M1R or M1r (Make-One-Right)

This tells you to make an increase, and if you are a continental knitter, using the right needle.

 For us right-handed (English-knitters) peeps out there it isn't that straight forward so I will try and explain.

First find the thread/strand between the 2 stitches:

Got it? Okay, now pick it up from behind with your left needle:

Now knit the stitch from the front. You will find that is is rather tight and sometimes difficult to get that needle through - this means it is correct!

TIP: if the stitch is way too easy and loose, you are knitting it from the wrong side!

 You can find more Stitch Tutorials HERE

 If there is a stitch that you need explaining and you don't find it here, please let me know, I will add it to the collection asap :)

Book-Club Begins Today :)

Our Book-Club discussions for our first book officially begin today!

I am already reading the book, and loving it :)

How are you enjoying the story so far?

Not a member but would like to be?

You can still join in, it is never too late. 

I have set up the group so that everyone can read at their own pace and as they get to certain bits of the book, they can take part in the discussions in the book folder. 

As a member you can add to the discussions, give your thoughts on the material and discuss all things "booky" and otherwise (We also have a general discussion area that is open to all topics)

To join, please follow this LINK

You will find yourself on Goodreads where I have set up the book-club.

Once you have joined the club:

You will see the various discussion boards that are available.

Feel free to browse through them all and introduce yourself, it is always nice to meet new people ;)

As a member you also can influence the choices of the future "To-Read" books, by adding your selections to the group Bookshelf. 

The new readers that will be voted for will come from the group bookshelf selection.

Our next book choice selection will begin from Mid-February, so be sure to come and add your choices soon.

Look forward to meeting you.

x

Marigolds' Loft Online Book-Club's bookshelf: read
4 members Welcome to Marigolds' Loft Online Book-Club. This is the platform where we will discuss the books...

Our new-possibles shelf

The Buddha in the Attic
by Julie Otsuka

And the Mountains Echoed
by Khaled Hosseini

View this group on Goodreads »

Tutorial Thursdays - Valentines' Take 2

Wow, Thursday is already here again!

Lets get our craft on!!

Today I am going to show you how to create this quick and simple Valentines' Day book mark.

For this craft you will need:

A Serviette with a motif that you would like to use

A Charm of somesort (Preferably "hearty ;))

A piece of ribbon

Design Freezer* (A lack that can stiffen absorbent materials)

A Piece of White card

Begin by cutting your serviette to the right size.

Place the serviette (do not remove any of the back layers) on a smooth plastic folder and using Design Freezer diluted 1:1 with water, apply to the top of the serviette with a sponge. Be careful to not tear the serviette.

Allow to dry. 

 Whilst the serviette is drying, thread your ribbon through the charm and cut it to size. 

 Once your serviette is dry, cut a piece of white card to fit the back of the motif (it should be able to be folded in half)

Fold the card in half.

 Glue the ribbon on the inside of the card, with the charm hanging outside.

Once the ribbon is glued to the card, glue around the ribbon and close the card on itself.

Glue the serviette motif on the card, and trim the edges to fit.

Decorate with Dekopointers if you would like to and you are done!

I hope you enjoyed this quick and easy valentine craft.

*I use Gonis Products as I am a distributor of these amazing crafty helpers. If you cannot find these products in your area, you will have to substitute them. Hence the descriptions in brackets. For more information on these products, please feel free to contact me.

Now it is your turn-----

Are you ready to get your craft on?

I hope so, I would love to be able to visit your Blogs and be in awe of your amazing handiwork.

Thank you to all of you who linked up last week.

Please feel free to link up your crafts below.

They do not have to be tutorials, I would love to see any crafts.

I understand that the point of linking at a party is to gain exposure and share your goodies, but please stay a while and visit some of the other links available. 

I love hosting the Linky Party, but it would be so much more fun for everyone, if all of you, would take a couple of minutes to visit at least 2 other links below. 

We all appreciate visitors and comments, so please be so kind and do so.

Rules for the Linky Party:

• Be a Follower of Marigolds' Loft, this is not a MUST, but I would appreciate it :)
• Grab my button below and showcase it somewhere on your blog OR create a visible link.
• Do not Link if you are selling something. 
• Be sure to only link the relevant Blogpost and not your whole blog.
• Please be so kind and visit at least 2 other posts linked below, it is always nice to receive visitors, this is a linky party after all! :)
• In linking below you are giving me the permission to use of your image if it is being featured the following week. If I am unable to use your image I can unfortunately not feature you.
• Please note: I will remove content that does not abide by the rules mentioned above. 

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