Felt like trying...

Oh dear, I'm getting worse, I'm sorry. It was a bit too good to resist!

I've seen so many beautiful felted things, applique and 3d gorgeous things. I have a small amount of roving and needle, but just hadn't got around to trying it yet, I think I was a bit worried about not doing it right - the greatest reason ever not to try something... grrr...

I was feeling a bit off colour yesterday so darling husband bought me a little felting kit, a wee birdie (he knows I love birds). I set to with needle and roving, everything was supplied in the kit

It all fitted on a tray on my lap, so I could stay wrapped up on the sofa to keep warm

 It wasn't without it's dangers and craft related injuries soon appeared

 There are tiny barbs on the felting needle, so a bit ouchie when I stabbed myself, especially the fourth time, yes it took 4 times to learn my lesson...

It was very repetitive and took quite a while, but as with anything repetitive, it was also therapeutic.

making a wing

It just took some patience, but I found it rewarding watching the wool change from something loose to a firm shaped object.

My birdie

Not perfect, but I'm happy with how it turned out and amazed at the process and how the change happened.

I'm looking forward to trying something else.

Take care
xxx

My New House

How exciting is that!

It's a small cottage with a kitchen, a sitting room and a bedroom in the attic. Come and have a look around with me.

I love these bells

It even comes with it's own wine supply

Perhaps I should show you from the outside

I had a dolls house when I was a little girl, and Imogen has a lovely one that has migrated downstairs into our dining room. I didn't intend to buy this one, but it was so so cheap that it seemed wrong not to! I've never done up a dolls house, but I can feel my crafty senses tingling.

There's even a broom above the door

I'd like to make it into an old fashioned cottage. It already has a couple of gorgeous bits and pieces in it, my favourite being the bird cage.

The letter rack on the wall.... loving it...

Loving the fireplace too.

I think it's a project I'll save for next year, I really don't think I can justify spending the time on it this side of Christmas and it gives me time to think about what I can do... where to start... and it looks very nice in the conservatory.

I'm quite excited about it, I certainly wouldn't have gone out to buy a dolls house, so I think I'm also very lucky.

Please share any dolls house ideas or experience you have and I'd love to see photos of anyone else's house.

Take care
xxx

Staggeringly Beautiful

Should I apologise for that title, oops, I couldn't resist it!

I am very excited about this though

I do rather like stag heads, and had my beady eye on a lovely wooden one for the conservatory last year, but was unfortunately vetoed by my hubby as he really doesn't like them.

Then he saw this little one, actually a Christmas decoration, and swooped it up for me. I love it and he sits proudly above my door so every time I lift my head up I see him and smile, even Andy is growing to like him!

I've been busy crocheting a new wreath for Christmas. A nice simple one with just a bit of Christmas ribbon.

I should be making more for Christmas, I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by how many things I should be doing. I have started a hat, but I'm not sure yet if I'm going to like it, have to see how it goes.

I did have a moment of extravagance the other day... it was a special offer, end of line. There wasn't much left and it looked a bit lonely, so home with me it came.

Not sure yet what it's purpose will be

Something warm and cosy.

Take care
xxx

Lil Owls and Book Review

Congratulations to my giveaway winners. Hannapat, I need your address if you could email me.

I've been making lots of smaller bits and pieces at the moment. Here are my little owls looking all cute and cheeky playing peek a boo.

Hiding behind the toadstools, another excuse to play with and use buttons

The colours are nice cheerful colours on this cold day

As well as being busy with the hooks I've been trying to snatch the odd moment to read my book (they tend to stay on my bedside cabinet and just picked up at bedtime).

My latest read was The Twins by Saskia Sarginson

The story revolves around twins, Viola and Issy. The story was told through each twin's flashbacks, not one of my favourite ways to hear a story. It wasn't up there in my top ten, but did intrigue me. Worth giving a go, though I felt took a bit of persevering at times.

Anyway, if you read it, let me know what you think.

Take care
xxx

Giveaway Winners

My book giveaway ended on Thursday night, thank you to everyone who entered. My helper Imogen did two draws, one for each book.

The winner of the Hip Crochet book is Hannapat from Cosmos and Cotton.

The winner of the Hairy Dieters book is Amy at Love Made my Home

Congratulations to you both, can you please email me your addresses so I can dispatch hubby to the post office with your books please :)

It's been fun to do a giveaway, so I'll not leave it too long before I do another one.

Take care

xxx

Cookie Love

It's half term here this week and Imogen decided to do some baking - one of her favourite things to do.

Very yummy cookie dough was made

with much concentration and measuring...

I think I've put the recipe on here before, it really does make the most wonderful tasting cookie, especially when still warm and soft in the middle....

and it's so nice to be able to store the dough in the fridge and just use as and when

Dough Mountain

The best part is the nom nom part with a lovely cup of tea

I saw this gorgeous cookie when I was perusing Pinterest the other day

It's 2 slices of cookie dough with chocolate baked inbetween them (in a ramekin)..... drool.....  It's from the website Baking for Boys, there are lots of yummy things to drool over there!

Only one more day to enter my giveaway until the draw.

Take care
xxx

Bit of Tarting Up.

I bought a lovely standard lamp from one of our local charity shops a while ago. I'd been popping in and out for a while hoping to find one.

It didn't need much doing to it, just a bit of tarting up. I completely forgot to take a before photo before I started... oops, never mind. Here's the shade, lovely big one.

Bit plain though and in definite need of tarting. Tarting accessories...

Glue gun (with extra glue stick as I always seem to run out in the middle of doing something), bobble trim and a lovely twill.

I removed the existing trim and simply replaced it with my own.

How do I manage to almost completely remove my fingerprints whenever I use a glue gun!! Is it just me?

I painted the stand with Annie Sloan paint, Versailles. Here it is in it's glory... please excuse the general messiness

I'm sure lots of you clever people out there could have made a lovely lampshade, but I just didn't know where to start and I'm happy with the trimmings for now

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