Amanda Williams Designs

De-stash Time

2008-06-27T14:31:00.006Z

I have not been knitting much in recent months. I seem to have lost my drive and enthusiasm towards both my shrugs and knitting in general. I have recently found out that I am pregnant with my third child. It took me back 4 years to when I first started knitting - I was pregnant with my daughter and had trouble finding a warm cover-up that was both fashionable but also practical. Hence the birth of Amanda Williams Designs. I now have a similar yearning for a cover up that is not going to make me look like I am wearing my grandfathers cardi.

I have started knitting myself a wonderful short sleeved shrug in 100% angorra. Its so soft and beautiful I cant wait to finish it. As a result I have been trawling through my yarns and having a good old sort out. I have got quite a little pile of yarns that I won't get round to knitting up so I have decided that it may find a better home somewhere else. I have listed a load of yarns on my ebay shop so someone will get a really good deal somewhere. I have also decided to shut up my etsy shop as I dont seem to have any inclination to knit any more shrugs. I still a bag full o shrugs that still need to be photographed and put into the shop, I must do this as I only have 4 shrugs left in the shop. Maybe I will pick up my needles and start knitting again for others soon - I hope so I have so much yarn that needs something doing with.

Ludlow Craft Fair

2007-10-23T17:25:00.001Z

This weekend I am attending the craft fair at Ludlow Assembly Rooms. This will be the 3rd year that I have attended and this year I have been fortunate enough to have been chosen as the "face of the craft fair", well actually its not my face but that of my shrugs. A photograph of one of my shrugs is on the flyer's, the posters advertising the fair and the website too!! How lucky am I??

Take a look at the Assembly Rooms website to see for yourself. If you're around then drop in, I have been knitting like crazy and have added many different styles of shrugs than in recent years and due to popular demand I have put together a knitting pack to make a lovely chunky scarf, which will include wool, pattern and needles and if that's not enough to get you going then wait until you see my lovely gift bags for the whole pile of goodies to go in - think Christmas presents, think of yourself! Go on you know you want to!

http://www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/activities.html#Craft%20Fayre

Come and say hi if you're passing.

Kathys shrug

2007-09-23T11:43:00.000Z

A little while ago (about two posts down the page) I posted some yarn for Kathy to choose for a shrug.

Will its finally finished and ready for posting to her over in the US! Heres a little picture of how it turned out before I pack it up.

The yarn is a lovely mix of silk and pure wool and has knitted up a dream. It is so soft but still lovely and warm. Perfect for the autumn that is hurtling towards us.

So thank you Kathy, I hope that you will be pleased with it!

My knitting pattern challenge

2007-08-02T10:11:00.001Z

This was a real challenge for me. I was asked to submit a pattern of a shrug for the Yarn Forward autumn magazine. The challenge was to come up with a totally new design that could be used, knit the shrug and then write the pattern. Challenge indeed!

Anyway this is the final result and as I said the pattern will be in the Autumn mag!!

For Kathy

2007-07-25T09:39:00.000Z

These yarns are for Kathy! She is choosing a yarn for a shrug but is unsure of the colour to choose.

Well Kathy heres the choice so far!

This is a lovely and soft yarn called Soft tweed. It is a lovely pinky beige and is a mix of wool, viscose and silk. It has slubs of a pale delicate blue running along the length of the yarn and is baby soft against the skin. This is also available in a pale blue colour.

The final choice so far is a 100% cotton yarn also in a beachy blue colour. Great for the summer (if your lucky enough to have a summer)

I'll keep you posted on the choice Kathy goes for and a piccie of the final shrug once it is complete.

Hello Australia!!!

2007-06-26T19:06:00.000Z

I have had my first en

quiry from Australia! Danielle is interested in

my Biggy Print Shrugs. I always think the photos don't do them justice. The feel and weight of these lovelies cannot be portrayed in a photo. Danielle if you decide to go ahead with a purchase you won't be disappointed!

Latest addition

2007-06-13T14:25:00.000Z

This is my latest addition to the Amanda Williams Collection. I am torn between finishing off an order I have and writing a pattern which I have been asked to submit to knit forwards autumn magazine! I am very excitied about this but also extremely nervous. I have struggled to follow patterns all my life and so this is a really big challenge. Anyway before undertaking any of the above I couldn't resist finishing off this lovely shrug which is knitted in Rowan Biggy Print. The photo doesn't do it any justice the colours are wonderful, pink and blues. I will be sorry to see this one go. It will soon be featured in the Etsy Shop.

Shout Out for Sakura

2007-05-26T16:20:00.001Z

Well I promised some time ago that I intended to feature a fellow etsy er on my blog from time to time. I have given this a lot of thought and as there are so many fab UK sellers on Etsy my work was cut out for me.

I chose Sakura Fubuki Designs. http://www.sakurafubukidesigns.etsy.com I love her jewellery and her style is just so me!

I am coveting lots of her jewellry but this one in particular has caught my eye. I love the beads and the turquoise and pearls. I want it! She recently made it for a craft fair and I hoped that she didnt sell it. Unfortunately for her she didn't but for me it means that I can now live in hope that it will very soon be adorning my neck! I just need a couple of etsy sales to fill up my paypal and job done!

The way she describes her pieces is great, you really feel that you need to own what she is describing almost as though she wrote it for me -( she did I know it.)

On top of being really talented she is also very lovely, very kind and thoughtful to us other UK sellers. So thank you Sakura - and please dont sell my necklace!

Stow-on-the-Wold Craft Fair

2007-05-26T15:56:00.000Z

I was recently lucky enough to be offered a stall at a craft fair in Stow on the Wold. I thought that this would be a great springboard for my 1st craft fair of 2007 as it was a busy place with lots of tourists arriving by the bus load. Well, yes! they did arrive by the busload, however they all forgot to come to the fair. At one time I think the most customers in the hall was 8. None of us even covered to the cost of the fair with our sales. A really disappointing day was had by one and all!

On the plus side I sat all day and ate and chatted and knitted. I made a complete shrug in the time I sat there. Just need to sell it now!

My First Knit for me Hands off!!

2007-05-12T17:04:00.000Z

This is the first thing I have ever knitted for myself and one which I plan to keep too! Usually I knit something and some one says they like it and then it ends up being sold or given away. NOT this time.

This yarn is lovely and heavy with an almost Boa like texture to the wool. Yummy cant wait to wear it.

Its May

2007-05-01T10:47:00.000Z

Well its May already and I have a list of things to do this month.

I have two orders that have been generated via my Etsy shop and a craft fair in Stow on the Wold that I cannot seem to get any shrugs knitted for. The craft fair is the first one of the year for me and my stock levels are at an all time low, so needless to say I am beginning to panick now with only 2 weeks to go.

The orders I have are both to American ladies and although won't take me that long to knit will hold up my knitting for the craft fair. The one shrug is a lovely tangerine colour and contains angorra and a lycra based yarn that makes it both soft and fitted. I was planning to have one for myself but have just used the last of the yarn for the order. The second order is a 100% cotton yarn and is for Erin - the below post. The yarn is lovely and rich to work with and falls beautifully. Again I planned to use this yarn for a shrug for myself but again have selflessly given it over for Erin.

The latter part of the month will be taken up with the Hay Festival and school holidays amd hopefully more orders!

My other plans for the month include trying to update my blog more often. I have had an idea to feature a fellow seller from the Uk Etsy group as yet this is still a plan that needs sorting. Watch this space though I will get it done by the end of May!!

I also want to expand on my other passion which is photography. At the moment I take photos for pleasure but want to get into selling them. My bug bear is that I can't stand the thought of using photoshop or such things. What happened to the days when taking a photo relied on skill rather than computer knowledge! Call me old fashioned but I like to see the raw photograph, not only do you get the photographers perspective but you can really see the naked thing!

I am planning to get my prints onto postcard and greeting cards at some point but this is costly and time consuming and the shrugs are pulling me in that direction at the moment.

Yarn for Erin

2007-04-25T17:12:00.000Z

This is a post for Erin.

She is wondering about ordering a custom designed shrug but at the moment is undecided about the yarn as she has a sensitivity to wool.

The yarn pictured is a 100% cotton yarn from Rowan and is a delicious shade of raspberry.

If you would like further details of my shrugs or the yarns that I use feel free to get in touch!

For Nia!!

2007-04-22T18:54:00.000Z

This post is for Nia my best customer!!!

I have recently bought a new camera for myself and find that my computer is toooo slow in downloading the photos because the files are so big. Anyway I have been unable to send these pics of my latest work to the lovely Nia ( you will know her if you see her, she is always wearing a shrug!).

If Nia doesn't want these shrugs then they will be for sale on my etsy shop later this week.

Details: The beige shrug is knitted using a yarn made by Jaegar and is cashmere based. It is wonderfully soft and fluid yarn and I love it!!

The aqua shrug is knitted using a yarn by Rowan and is cotton based. It looks as though it has a gold leaf print and it is glitzy and fun great for the summer.

Take a look at the shop at www.handknitsbyamanda.etsy.com

Nia I am sorry for the fact that my camera is the most up to date and my computer is like something that Noah threw out of the Ark for being soooo slow!

Can I also take this opportunity to apologise for the state of Betty's chest. She had a terrible accident recently, the wind took us both by surprise and as she is seriously lacking in arms her poor chest took the full force of the fall and therefore she is now known as Berty!!

10 things about me!

2007-04-17T07:29:00.000Z

Along with fellow UK etsyers I have been tagged by the lovely Sakura to reveal 10 things about me. Thought I should add a photo too (yew, I hate photos of me)

Not sure I am that interesting but here goes:-

1. I came 2nd in the Welsh Eisteddfodd playing a piano recital when I was 10.

2. I have a profound fear of height. 4 years ago on a holiday to Turkey I parascended from 2000 feet! The instructor was so amazed that I did it (was suffering with wobbly legs and the inability to talk at the time) that I went again for FREE!!! Never been up in a lift since!!!!!??

3. I almost gave birth to my second child in a store room on the antenatal ward (don't ask what I was doing there)

4. I once drank a whole bottle of southern comfort and vomitted all over the house - not so bad but my parents were hosting a dinner party at the time.

5. I passed my driving test 1st time having only had lessons from my Dad yay for my Dad!

6. I will be 40 in 9 months and am soooo not looking forward to it!

7. I have delivered 89 babies.

8. Alan Titchmarsh brushed against my plants at Gardeners World Live 2 years ago. They are all doing well!

9. I met the queen when I was 8.

10. Up until 2 years ago I did not know how to knit.

See I told you I have nothing interesting to say. Right who is next to be tagged.

UK ETSY SALE

2007-03-28T20:22:00.000Z

BUY BRITISH. BUY HANDMADE.

The British contingency of the Etsy World are staging a sale for the week commencing 1st April - 8th April 2007.

Take a minute to have a look around at the shops. There are very talented crafters there offering various discounts during the week, from money off, free gifts, free postage. The list is endless.

Visit http://www.etsy.com/. Type into the tag box uksale and it should provide you with a list of shops participating in the sale.

In my shop http://www.amandawilliamsdesign.etsy.com/ I am offering 10% off all purchases made during the week.

My environmental project.

2007-03-25T08:43:00.000Z

I have been commissioned to knit a shrug for someone who is fast becoming one of my best customers. After looking for something a little unusual I found a new yarn made from 100% Bamboo. It is a lovely soft yarn and drapes beautifully. The texture is that of silk and is so lovely to knit with. The bamboo is totally sustainable and whilst some may say that so is wool!! For those who cannot for various reasons wear wool it is the most wonderful alternative. Photos to follow.

My Favourite Knit

2007-03-21T16:36:00.000Z

This is my favourite knit to date. I used 10 balls of Biggy Print in Fetish and 1 metre of pure silk ribbon in Pink. It is really heavy and wonderfully warm. I am tempted to keep it myself. It is for sale in my Etsy shop.

My latest Project

2007-03-21T12:04:00.000Z

This is my latest creation. A friend is going to a wedding in May and wanted a wrap. The yarn is a kid mohair and silk and is wonderful to work with. I love this green colour I was really pleased as I managed to find some crystals in the same colour to sew onto the edges. it really catches the light.