Thanks Mike, yes they do take a while 
Huge thanks to Carol @Knittingtopia for starting thos thread
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Thank you, 
Your play mats are such a brilliant idea, I wonder if something tactile and colourful like that might be useful to an older person with dementia or suchlike?
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Thank you Debby, I didn’t enjoy making her but I do love her now she’s done.
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That is stunning Christine!
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I made a huge throw type thing featuring all 57 pure breed British sheep breeds (no cross-breeds such as mule or masham or whatever). I spun all the yarns myself from either readily available spinning fibre (limited number of breeds available) or from fleece that I got from the farmers and all of them are in natural colours, no dyed fibre used at all. The entire design is my own and each knitted piece features the name of the breed of the sheep that the wool comes from. It fits our King Sized bed but it’s not been used as a throw/blanket as I don’t want to ruin/damage it as the idea was to use it for promotion purposes for British Wool etc, which hasn’t happened yet, but it might in the future.
I’m now slowly working on another one but featuring non-British Sheep breeds, so Merino, Cormo, Polwarth etc. When I say I am working on it, I have been getting my hands on (buying over time as its not cheap) the spinning fibre and fleece and getting it ready for spinning but I’ve not spun anything yet nor have I done the design but it will be similar but also feature the country name so I need to spin the yarns a lot thinner to get it all in within a reasonable size.
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Wow. That is stunning, a real labour of love and beautiful way to show all the different breeds. Wonderful.
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Hi Lynne @PaintedHorseArt , thank you so much. I was asked exactly that at a craft fair earlier this year - someone wants a “fidget-blanet” for their father . I’m linking with ex-colleagues to find out what would need to be tweaked to better suit older folk with dementia (I worked with the local Elderly Mental Health team for many years - I was their finance business partner and helped get funding for their new unit so they still like me )
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Julia @DrapedInLace, that is so beautiful, it should definitely be exhibited. And using it to promote Britsih Woll would be amazing. Are you in contact with anyone in the British Wool Marketing Board? My daughter works for Defra - she’s in water not farming but she may be able to get a contact name for you.
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I follow Campaign for Wool and others on social media but I’m still at the “it was such a labour of love and was so difficult to get all the breeds and cost so much that it’s not leaving my sights” point at the moment. To be honest, I don’t think I will ever let it completely out of my sights. I think I am more likely to take it out and about promoting at events once my teens don’t need me so much, when I am not constantly playing taxi driver for my 17 year old who has autism, if that ever happens (I really hope that does).
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I tried it once and it wasn’t my thing either, I bought a good supply of needlefelting wools, needles etc and was going to use it for bears faces, never got around to it and can’t do it now. I keep thinking about adding a supplies section to my shop as I have a lot of craft stuff I’ve bought and never used. I bet you’re pleased you persevered with it though now it’s finished as it’s beautiful.
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You definitely should add supplies section. I’d probably end up buying half your wool stash! I’ve started trying to create a needle felted fat cat from my leftover wool but have run out and broken a needle stabbing too hard!
My next make is a willow woven bird feeder that my eldest bought me for Mother’s Day - that looks like there will be much cussing involved with that too
@DrapedInLace that blanket is just stunning. 
I’m not surprised you don’t want it out of your sight.
@TheOldButton ooh I’ll look forward to seeing a ‘fidget blanket’ if you do make one.
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Thank you Lynne.
Its something im proud of, but wouldnt want to do again.
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Love the dinosaur mat Sharon and think it is perfect as it is, just enough detail really and the colours and fabrics are great. I think they will be very popular, all little boys love dinosaurs.
I use to make all sorts with fabric, I love crazy patchwork projects but havn’t had any time since starting Bearlescent 10 years ago lol, I even have a crazy patchwork bear drawn out with piece placement etc, one day I will make it up, in fact I might get it out and have a go when my restoration bears are done.
Kits sound a really good idea Sharon, when I designed my first bear making kit a lady on Facebook offered to road test it and another proof read it all for me, between us we came up with the finished kit, it took me 3 months from the first design to get it on the shelf but it was worth the effort. I definately would recommend someone making it up to see whether the pattern can be followed etc, If I can help at the time I will but I’m going to be off limits during the summer as having a major op and might not be able to sew for a few weeks.
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Thanks Debby @Bearlescent, yes I agree the dinasaur mat is a good design and I also like the colours. It’s just some of the embroidery stitches are rough and ready, and I didn’t machine stitch the applique on first (which I now have to do on the ones I sell).
Road testing is definitely a necessity. I’m looking at a May deadline for a couple of easy designs as a test (I have a big event in a location that’s perfect for sew-it yourself kits, and there is also CraftDrop), so have asked a friend to help me out this coming month.
But if the test works I’ll be looking to develop more designs later this year, and to improve on the originals. I’ll let you know how I get on, and if you are still interested you can pick one that you think your grandchildren will like. 
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Thanks Sharon, I will help later in year if I can, just have lots of times booked up this year. Road test is definately the way though, i waited until Mel had made fhe kit before I launched it, everything was fine just a couple of tweaks on some of the wording but once you have the first kit done you probs wont need it for others. Good luck, it’s so exciting starting something new and very unique.
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My latest commission, a touch switched table lamp built into a polished brass 105mm artillery shell case.
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I’ve just finished making this peg bag to go into my daughter’s Christmas stocking. She has just moved house, it’s very windy there and I’m hoping the beefy clip will keep the bag on the washing line.
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