HOW Jewellery Club - Unicorns!!!

I'm so excited about this jewellery club reveal post as I have been working and developing the club for over a year now!  So let me tell you firstly a little bit about the idea... I originally launched HOW Jewellery Club last year and when I done so it just wasn't how I had it pictured in my head.  So we went back to the drawing board and working on making it bigger and better.  I wanted to create a really exciting jewellery subscription service that isn't like any other club.  I set about brainstorming possible themes and we decided to go with unicorns as our first box.  Which i'm so glad we did as I think my head was just about to pop with ideas! When we listed our box we didn't expect it to sell out too! Which was AMAZING!  If you want to find out a little more about the HOW Jewellery Club, how it works and more you should head over to the new website by clicking here.

So let's get to the picture's shall we?! Here are some of the quick snapshots we took before our boxes headed out.  So each one looked like this...

Don't they just look pretty?  So inside I included a range of unique and exclusive goodies....

Each A4 sized box came lined in hot pink sparkly tissue paper and was filled with:

-Limited edition art print

-Hand sculpted marshmallow unicorn horn key ring with glitter tip

-Unique Large fridge magnet

-Die Cut Unicorn Sticker

-A Unicorn adjustable ring by (lazylinepainterbelle)  Each ring came in a pretty pink drawstring pouch

-Unicorn sticker from (lazylinepainterbelle)

-20% Etsy discount code at (lazylinepainterbelle)

-Magical sherbet straws

-Unique rockin Claws

-Believe in Unicorn promo card to Finch and the Fallow

-Unicorn charm necklace

-Vinyl & Cotton Unicorn tote bag

-HOW card 

-and finally each box had a shower of faux clear crystals!

I really hope you enjoyed seeing/receiving our latest box.  The next box launches on the 1st of December at 9am over on the new website here.  Make sure you check it out :)

Tess

Easter Weekend...

So how was your Easter weekend?  It was a busy one here at HOW HQ! We had Easter egg hunts, a spring clean, family visits and getting your orders done.  As well as that we managed to get a new crochet pattern up just for you.  This is another FREE one (Don't say we aren't good to you!)  Inspired by all the delicious food we consumed over the past week I give to you.... 

....the macaroon necklace.  This super quick statement necklace is the perfect way to update your wardrobe for summer.  Whip up a fresh batch in assorted colours using your yarn scraps.  These could also be used to make a macaroon collar, bracelet or brooch.  The possibilities are endless! So head over to our Craftsy store now and download your free printable PDF pattern.  

All of our downloadable patterns are super simple and are written in US crochet terms.  All of our patterns are also on 1 sheet of A4 paper where possible to save paper & ink! :)

Can't crochet and need your very own macaroon accessories? Then get in touch right here and we shall sort you out :) If you do make these send us over a picture as we love to see your creations :)

Have a glitter filled day Wonderlanders!
Tess x

Make your very own crochet teething rings!

This week has been a super busy week here at HOW HQ with lots of custom orders and potting and planning going on behind the scenes. (mwahhh ha ha ha) One of the makes from this week are these set of 3 wooden teething rings.

The teething rings are made from organic natural ash wood and coated in beeswax.  I sourced these from a responsible online retailer which plants another tree for everyone cut down. YAY!

So here they are....

fancy making your own? Scroll down for the free pattern :)

To make your very own you will need:
-Wooden teething rings,
-Oddments of DK yarn,
-3mm Crochet Hook,
-Scissors & Needle.

*This pattern is worked into the back loop only.*
1. Chain 31 stitches,
2. Skip the first stitch. Work 1 single crochet into every stitch across.(30) Chain 1.
3. Repeat row 2 for a total of 6 times. Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
4. Hold your crocheted strip over the teether. (you may need to pull a little, you want a tight fit) Whip stitch closed to secure.
And ta dahhh! It's that simple.  I had a fiddle working this design in various yarns and hook sizes but found this method to give the best fit.   

These would make a fab little gift for any chomping little dude or dudette. Can't crochet and NEEEEED these? Then get in touch right here and we shall sort you out :) If you do make them send us over a picture as we love to see your versions :)

Have a glitter filled day Wonderlanders!
Tess x

P.S. Don't forget to head over to our Etsy store tomorrow to get our special easter bunny sale :)

Bear Cot Mobile Tutorial

Today marks 32 weeks of ickle bump! So with it only being 8 weeks until baby makes his entrance I spent the last weekend working on a brand new cot mobile for him.  I thought I would share with you how I made it so if you fancied making your own you can! YAY!

I'm creating quite a modern(ish) nursery so when I saw these knitted fabric packs by designers Bob & John knitwear I had to have them!  

Jonie was very helpful and sent over a photograph of all the packs she had available so I could choose 3 suitable packs.  These retail at £8 a pack or you can get 3 packs for £20.  It's insanely great value and the quality of the fabrics are just amazing.  I found I needed 3 packs to make 5 bears for my mobile and I have some scraps left over which im planing to make some booties with too!

After finding the perfect fabric I began my search for a simple modern bear template to use.  I came across Warren the Charity Bear on Pinterest.  I printed the bear pattern at A6 size to fit on my fabrics.  I used the main body piece and the tall muzzle.  Once I had printed and cut out my pattern I matched up two co-coordinating pieces of fabric and drew my pattern in sharpie on the back.  I pinned it together and then sewed it just to the left of my outline.  I found this method worked best and trimming after as the knitted fabric and smallness of the bears made it a little fiddly to do.  

As you can see I left a little gap for turning.  Once my bear had been cut out and turned I stuffed the bear with The Craft Factory Supersoft Toy Filling.  I then hand sewed the little gab closed and repeat the process to make as many bears as you want :)

After you have finished making your little bits you need to give them their own little personalities!

For the muzzle I attached a scrap piece of interfacing to the back of a scrap piece of cotton fabric and embroidered my nose in brown embroidery floss.  I added little ric rac trip, 3mm coloured buttons, tulle and other craft supplies to give them their own little characters! 

Ta Dahhh! Here are the completed bears I made.  I'm very happy with how they turned out.  I think the fabrics and characters work so well together and they look quite modern and geometric which I love.

After the bears I crocheted up some little balls to tie onto the sting.  I made 5 little balls in assorted DK yarn using a 2.5mm crochet hook.

To make the balls simply follow this pattern:

Row 1: Magic Circle, Make 6 Single Crochets into the circle. (6)

Row 2: Make 2 Single Crochets into every stitch. (12)

Row 3: Make 2 single crochets in the first stitch and 1 single crochet into the second stitch.  Repeat this to the end (18)

Row 4-7: Make 1 single crochet into every stitch.

Row 8: Skip 1 stitch, single crochet 2 stitches.  Repeat to the end (12)

Stuff your little ball now :)

Row 9: Skip 1 stitch, 1 single crochet.  Repeat to end (6)

Fasten off and weave in ends.

After making these balls I also made 3 more using the same method but working with embroidery floss and a 1.75mm crochet hook.  After making all my balls I grabbed a wooden embroidery hoop and secured my bears and balls to the hoop using sewing, super glue and tiny knots. 

I am super please with how it all came out.  I am planning to add a musical box to it along with a stand to make it spin! (I like a challenge! :D)  I hope this little tutorial is of use to you.  Please share anything you do make as I'd love to see how it came out :)

Have a magical day :)
Tess

A new art project....

Since my last blog post my SPD has become worse meaning I have been able to leave my bed for a total of 3.5 hours in the last 8 days! Completely bored out my mind and so to cheer me up my two little boys drew me some pictures. (Boys really are the BEST!)  Inspired by their sweet little drawings I set about re-drawing some of their little doodles. You may have seen these popping up on facebook, twitter and instagram?

So I thought I would tell you a little bitty about them as well as share some of the original doodles so you can see them coming to life.  So far I have completed 7 pieces out of the potential 9-12 I am aiming to do.  They are illustrated on 120gsm A6 cartridge paper in standard HB pencil and cheapo colouring in pencils! They are drawn in my little style with an influence from Tim Burton, Studio Ghibli and Walt Disney.  So here are the original pictures alongside mine.....

My boys are super happy with how they turned out and now keep giving me more to draw! :D I am so glad I got to do this little project as it's been on my to do list for a while...

I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed drawing them! And if you fancy your very own piece get in touch at sales@how-store.com :)

Tess x

An EPIC update....

Ahhhh the joy's of pregnancy..... As you may have noticed I haven't been around much over the past few days.... This is due to me being in god damn pain! They say in pregnancy you have a gorgeous glow.... I'm on my third ikkle baby and am yet to experience this!  This particular pregnancy is by far the hardest. Iv'e had every symptom known to man.  I currently have SPD which is hell. It basically makes it really hard to walk, lay down, get up, basic day to day tasks really... But as you may of heard I recently had a tumble down the stairs on Friday which has left me now unable to walk.... YAY! (Where is my pregnancy glow god damn it??!?!??!?)  I have been stuck in bed/sofa since then so my beloved Pirate Steve has taken it upon himself to look after HOW whilst i'm on the mend.... Awww isn't he sweet????

Although I am now unable to move I still have been up to a few bits.... (in between regular rests) Here is just a snippet of what's been going on....

Ha ha! You thought you could stop me pregnancy! :D :D :D 

Above are some of the gorgeous bits I have been working on.  Some of these will be available shortly as a pattern, some in our House Of Wonderland store and a few went up in our crochet and knitting store today..... :O :O :O Quick! Go have a look....

I have also made up a few of our brand new limited edition boxes of happy things....

pretty awesome right??? You can find these in our other Etsy store right here....

So that's it from me for now. I'm off to book some physiotherapy and leave you in the hands of Steve the Pirate for the week.  Go easy on him little Wonderlanders ;)

Tess  x

The birth of Ninja Kitty....

Over the past few days I have been working hard on coming up with some new ideas.... I wanted to share one of them with you and the progress of the design :) So here is Ninja Kitty.  Inspired by my crazy little furball of a kitten, Dinah.  I swear she gets up to so many adventures when my back is turned! See how the little kitty was born by scrolling down below :)

Original pen outline

Having a play with some potential colours...

Next Ninja Kitty was scanned into the computer and outlined...

After the outline was completed it was time to add some colour!

and after a bit of fiddling, tweaking and changing....

Ninja Kitty was completed!

I hope you like our little Ninja Kitty as much as we do! I can't wait to see him on a range of HOW goodies.  What would you like to see him on?

Tess x