A Giraffe and This or That

I've barely touched my laptop recently, the weather has been so beautiful that I've wanted to soak up as much sunshine as possible. I'm to be found either in the garden or in an evening, in the conservatory with the doors flung wide open, rain or shine.

The garden is a riot of colour, I get so much pleasure from just looking at it. It's our first year growing Sweet Peas, and they're scrambling up the fence, such a pretty mosaic of colours, and they smell divine.

We shall definitely be growing more next year, perhaps all along the fence, it'll be beautiful!

I've kept my hook busy too, it's been so nice to have some time to sit and crochet outside. I've whipped up a giraffe, if I make another one I'll make the neck a bit longer I think. He he is sitting among the flowers

A cosy up with my Blythe beauties

And another one by himself, stretching his legs in the sun.

I've also managed to finish my shawl for wearing in the garden in an evening. It's been so useful to have something light to throw round my shoulders when we sit outside in an evening

I used the new Stylecraft doubleknit colours. It's a simple Granny Stripe triangle, clusters of 3 trebles except at the beginning and end of each row, which is 4 trebles.

Such a simple item and it makes me happy and keeps me warm.

As it's swinging between brilliant sunshine and torrential downpours, I think I'll stay inside now and catch up on some blog reading.

Take care
xxx

Coaster crazy and cosy crochet

The lamps are glowing, the candles flickering and my crochet hook moving fast to keep me warm. It's not been a bad day weather wise today, I've had washing blowing on the line and it felt quite warm when we went out this afternoon.

I love our changing seasons, and as wonderful as it is to feel the warm sun on my skin and enjoy being in the garden, it's also so cosy as the nights draw in and I sit with my fluffy bed socks on and a blanket over my knees (I'm already in pjs at this point). Not to mention the extra hour coming up at the weekend, love that extra hour :)

Making lots of coasters. I love the pretty flower pattern and could quite happily cover the house with coasters and doilies. I have a few doily patterns that I'm looking forward to trying out... my list is so long.

I've made these ones in double knit cotton, but I do have some very fine cotton and teeny hooks to try with too.

This evening I'm hooking with some chunky yarn I picked up at the weekend, making small throws to cover the backs of our new chairs.

Nice simple Granny stitch, rows of trebles. Lovely and warm over my lap while I hook them

Just an aside before I go back to my hooking...  look what I've found

A sad face Sylvac dog. I'd like to have another one or two, perhaps different sizes.

His doleful eyes make me smile when I pass him, just like Nan used to have on her mantelpiece.

Don't forget the giveaway.

Take care
xxx

Small stuff

Can't believe it's Wednesday already, how time flies! I've been spending some time in my craft room/cupboard... lol. It's so small, but I have all my papercrafting supplies in there and a dock for my ipod (and I can now put music on it... big step for me as I tend to be a bit technically challenged), it's quite easy to lose track of time and while away the hours. I've been doing lots of die cutting mainly to sell, just small bits and pieces like these cute teddies wrapped in their blankets.

I haven't done any scrapbooking for ages, so I plan to make a mini album to mark our couple days away during the Easter holidays. I have a new printer that my son bought me for my birthday specifically for my photos... just need to get to grips with it... seriously, I'm technically challenged!!!

I've also being doing a mini Granny Stripe blanket to go in a small dolls pram. The pram is red, so I've hooked a nice bright red blankie.

I just need to sew in the ends (tucked away in the second photo), and I think it'll look pretty with some small white crocheted flowers sewn on.

I have some new projects in mind. I'm looking forward to trying some amigurumi. These books arrived this morning

I love the small dogs, and made sure there are Chihuahuas and miniature Dachshunds in there for me to have a go at. It's so nicely presented as well, dogs sitting in baskets, on pillows and with teeny dog biscuits... I couldn't resist :) I'm just a bit nervous about following the patterns, it's very well illustrated, but I haven't followed patterns in symbols before - yikes! The other book is full of lots of little cute things too, and I think I may dip into that one first as the patterns are written, just to help build my confidence.

Ooh... this slipped in my shopping basket too. I've been looking at it for the last few months and finally gave in...

Just the tea cozy alone looks delicious, it has some gorgeous things inside from bags to blankets to a shawl, going to be a busy summer methinks!

Take care
xxx

Needles and yarn

For Christmas Imo had a tablet pc, we looked around for a nice cover but saw nothing that appealed to her. So... time to do some sewing, a little patchwork quilted bag. We chose some pretty fabric pieces

I love these pretty pink blossoms and have gone back to buy them in blues as well.  It was an evening job after Imo went to bed and didn't take too long on the sewing machine. I wanted it to be quilted to give the tablet some protection.

It's lined inside with the small blossom pattern too. We do have a nice big 'I' cut from felt that Imo would like stitched on one side as well, and perhaps a strap... At least her tablet is safer now!

Thought I'd do an update on my Granny Stripe blanket. Wow... it's getting so big, it hangs down both sides of out kingsize bed, so nice and wide. I'm starting to flag a bit now, but really want to finish it... I think I can see the end... I think! Anways... here it is, I'm sitting on the sofa holding it up in the air and it's draped down the sides...

Take care
xxx

Sunday

I love Sundays, we have quiet, family Sundays, Adam usually comes over to have dinner with us and the afternoons are spent pottering, watching a film, playing games, just being together.  The film this afternoon is Star Wars, Adam and Imogen are curled up on the sofa with Daddy... and some sweeties, I'm curled up with my Granny Stripe blanket.

It's growing... the blanket. I took a couple of photos this morning while there was some natural light. I'm really enjoying it, love the colours, but do feel a bit overwhelmed by how much more I have to go!

I folded it for the photos, it's to throw over our king size bed, so quite wide, my next one will be smaller!

Bought my copy of Mollie Makes yesterday, the little mice on the front are so cute!

There was a babushka doll keyring to make with it, I'm planning to cut one out for Imogen out of some material scraps, so we can make one each during the week, it's half term :)

Take care

xxx

Happy Hooking

I can't believe I left it so late to discover how wonderful crochet is and how happy it makes me :)

I started my chain, 300 chains in a gorgeous, rich plum colour. I laboriously did my chain, then the next pesky double crochet row, ready to do my favourite trebles. I changed from the plum to a pale lilac and started to notice that it was curling. I thought I'd done my chain relatively loosely, but it was definitely getting looser...

You can't really tell from the above photos, they just show how much I had to undo!!!!!! Hubby was saying it'll be fine, but it's my first Granny Stripe blanket, and I really want it to look lovely, so I undid it all... and started again...

This time I used a bigger hook. I used a 4 the first time, last night I used a 6 and a slightly smaller chain, 240 instead of 300 - still loads! After my chain and double crochet row, I switched back to my lovely bamboo 4 hook and... I was away, having lots of fun...

I took 2 photos, but paid the price of not using natural light, it shows how I'm getting along though. Lots more lovely colours to do, and I love how quickly it seems to be growing. I'd like it to go on our bed, so a long, long way to go... but I already know what's next... a mini one for my little niece and her dolls pram, I'm thinking with little pom poms sewn on :)

Take care

xxx

Happy Colours

I haven't painted my nails for a while, and the last few times I've used a gorgeous, vibrant red. Today I opted for a varnish called 'Troll' (from George in Asda), hmmm, that's what I thought, but it's a lovely rich, deep colour with a matte finish and looks fab with some bright gold (looking yellow) flicks. I don't think the lighting is very good, but you can get the gist.

my thumb!

trusty bottle of George nail varnish

I'm all ready to start on my next crochet project, I'll be able to flick my new nails around as I do lots of hooking.  I wanted to start a Granny Stripe blanket as my next long term project, and felt really inspired by a thread on UKS all about them - it also means I'll have a place to go if I need help :)

The snow is falling thick and fast and has been doing all afternoon and evening, luckily we'd already been to the shop to stock up on some happy, pretty wool colours. These are what I plan to use for my Granny Stripe.

They look prettier in real life :)

Now I just need to get started on that pesky chain so I can enjoy the 'stripiness' tomorrow, curled up indoors away from that very cold snow!

Take care
xxx