Scrabble Tiles

Imogen went back to school today after the summer holidays. It's her last official school year (she hasn't decided yet if she'll stay on for 6th form or go to college). I like to take a photo of her in her uniform before she leaves on the first day of term. Here's the photo from her first day at 'big school'. She hasn't grown much taller, perhaps an inch or two, but is definitely much more grown up.

Here's my baby now, as always it's passing far too quickly.

I've made quite a few things for our new grandson, most of them crochet or knitted before he was born (little Zackary has been here for 4 weeks now). I thought it would be nice to make something that would include everyone, something with everybody's name on it to tie them all together.

I have some shadow picture frames that I'd picked up a while ago when Hobbycraft reduced them, just the right thing to make a scrabble tile crossword in. I chose white as it goes with most things.

I think the hardest part was looking through the papers I already have to choose one as a background. I love this design, I must have been influenced by the approach of Autumn.

Lots of wooden scrabble tiles, I knew I was going to need 3 Z's and luckily this bag had a good selection.

Then to simply arrange the tiles so they all interlink like a crossword, I also added a few novelty buttons to make it a bit more interesting.

It turned out really well, Adam and Holly were very pleased and I'm thrilled to say they have hung it in their hallway.

Only one of our 2 Hydrangea bushes flowered this year, though the one that did was covered in big, beautiful, pink blooms all summer. I snipped this pretty one so I could admire it from indoors too. Most of the ones outside now have a sepia tinge to them as though they have been soaked in tea, quite stunning.

Take care
xxx

An Escape to the Beach

We now have french windows in the dining room ready to lead out into the conservatory, woo hoo, it's been so nice in the evening to have them open and feel the nice cool draft coming through.. love it... wish we'd done it before.

The footings have been dug

It was all fun and games getting 4 small dogs from the house into the garden. Andy blocked up the side where the fence has been taken down and placed a couple of boards over the concrete to protect their little feet, of course it goes without saying that when dry the cement was covered in lots of little doggie prints (I'm sure I saw them signing their names).

Anyway, the house is a mess, there's brick dust everywhere and I thought we could do with some family time away from it all (otherwise more jobs end up being done) and enjoy the sunshine. We bundled Imogen into the car and off we went to Hornsea. It wasn't too busy so we found a spot to enjoy some glorious fresh sea air.

Andy dug out the beach wind tent and put it up so I could sit and do some crochet while Imogen built sandcastles and paddled in the sea.

Just above the prom where we were sitting was a small paddling pool for children, very handy for rinsing sandy feet too! Imogen had a small play before we went off to have fish and chips before coming home.

Quality time :)

Take care
xxx

Throws and Bobbles

I've made a start on Imogen's throw to go over her chair bed. So far I've crocheted a Granny Stripe throw/blanket and ones made up from Granny Squares, I'm now used to crocheting trebles and double crochet, so thought I should try something else. I flicked through my book The encyclopedia of Crochet techniques by Jan Eaton and fancied having a go at the bobble stitch, I think it looks so pretty. I'd really like to crochet bobbles in a contrasting colour, but thought I'd better walk before running! I'm really pleased with how it's progressing, and Imogen loves it - very girlie!

pale pink and green bobbles

It's about the width of a single blanket and I'd like to make it long enough to snuggle on the bed if she wants to.

Outside in the back garden is a bit chaotic. We've just had the small back porch knocked down and the fence (with gate) in preparation for our new conservatory.

Tomorrow I think they'll be taking out the window from the dining room and fitting french doors and perhaps starting on the foundations. We have all the bits and pieces from the porch (how did we fit it all in there!) in the kitchen and dining room - chaos! Imogen has a friend staying tonight, so I think we may pop them in the car and take them out somewhere, just need the rain to hold off.

Take care
xxx

DIY progress and new fabby fabric!

Things are progressing slowly but surely on the DIY front. Andy has painted the wall he put up on the living room side, so all we need for the living room now is a new carpet.

Virtually all of the dining room carpet has been taken up and Andy has stripped quite a bit of the wallpaper off the walls. We've narrowed the choice of new wallpaper down to two, but I'm struggling with the last two. It's only going on two walls and I think I'm favouring the green flowers... hmmmm...

But the roses are so pretty too. I've stuck samples of them both on the wall and hopefully as we go past them we'll feel inspired.

I had a nice parcel to open this morning, some gorgeously fabby fabric! So pretty...

The top one has sweet little elephants all over it.

I tried to do a close up as the design is so cute, but the colour hasn't come out very well, should be more blue.

Take care
xxx

Building Walls

It's been a busy week, though more for Andy than for me!

I said those dreaded words, the ones that can make a husband's hair stand up on his neck... 'I've been thinking...'

We have a living room/dining room all in one. There's a lintel where the rooms were once two separate ones. The house was built in 1931, the days before open plan living became the thing to do, and it was knocked through by the last owners who lived here from the mid 1970s until we came nearly 10 years ago. I have really wanted a separate dining room and living room for some time and have toyed with the idea of wooden separators, but we have high ceilings, and nothing seemed appropriate.

So I started thinking...

Followed by a trip to the diy shop, and Andy got straight on with putting up the framework.

Followed by plasterboard

Lots of filling and sanding

'scuse the washing drying in the background, but it won't stop raining!!

I'm thrilled with the result. It's now been painted on the living room side, and we're in the process of trying to declutter the dining room, which means I'm trying to sort out my 'stuff'! I've seen some wallpaper I like for the dining room and hopefully we can think about that next month, I'm finding it quite exciting! I will keep you updated :)

While Andy's been busy with his sawing and banging, I finished off Adam's throw. It's a while since I started, but thought he wouldn't be bothered until the autumn, but as the summer is so dismal I thought I should get a wriggle on!

Adam stretched out the top while holding it up, so I took another photo below.

Take care
xxx