Monday 30 December 2013

Wishing You A Happy New Year xx

 
 
Hello to you.
My last post for this year and what a year its been...
I've been so glad to have you here with me in my first year of blogging.
I've really enjoyed posting and reading all your lovely blogs.
So loving and leaving you for this year with some photos from Christmas...
 
And what a lovely family Christmas we enjoyed, all together at my family home, the home of my childhood with Mum, Dad, my brother, my lovely fiancĂ© and my beautiful daughter...

I was so lucky to receive a new camera for Christmas. I really enjoyed playing with it, snapping photos here and there...
Do you love my partners Christmas jumper!?

My Mum's cat enjoyed Christmas, playing in the garden with his feral mummy cat.
It's not Christmas without a silly hat and this year's hat of choice was a Fez!
And what we would we do without a nice glass of champagne with Christmas dinner?

Here are some flowers from the garden and the hyacinths are on my window sill - a present from the lovely ladies at the charity shop I volunteer at, filling the sitting room with their lovely heady scent.

 
My lovely grey kitties are getting on so well - it's so nice to see them cuddling up together.
Lego camper and lucky cats on a sunny window sill.
 
I hope you have all enjoyed a lovely bloggy year and I will see you all in
2014.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
xx

Friday 20 December 2013

Merry Christmas!

                            Hello. 
            Just a super quick post to
                        Say ......
Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a 
HAPPY NEW YEAR. Look forward to seeing what you all got up to I've Christmas in the new year. But for now I'll love you and leave you with my crochet Christmas tree Joy very kindly shared the pattern from the royal sisters blog. Lots of fun to make. 
All the best to you all. 
Hope to catch up with you all soon xx

Thursday 12 December 2013

CAL and Busy Times

 
Hello to you.
Hope you're all well and wonderful?
Gosh it's been so busy here! School plays, costumes, Christmas trees, craft sales, Christmas shopping... and the list goes on...
So with everything going on here please bear with me - in January normal service should resume.
 I finished my crochet lamp shade, inspired by attic24.
Sorry the photos aren't great, the light at the moment is terrible but wanted you all to see.
Hope you can get an idea of what it looks like.

Joining again with the lovely ladies and their crochet along Marianne and Chrissie.
 Chrissie Crafts
I've really enjoyed joining in and seeing what everyone else is doing.
Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree!
I do love a Christmas tree - the smell is amazing!
I love to see the twinkling lights and shiny baubles.
Here are a couple of photos from my Christmas craft fair.
It went well and had lots of interest and comments which is lovely - always great to have feedback.
Mr Gingers were very popular! I was left with one though, which I was pleased about. He's hanging on the tree now.
Thank you to all of you who wished me luck and think it worked :)
Don't you just love a cosy fire in winter?
This was taken during a power cut last week where we were left without power for most of the day and night. It was actually quite nice relaxing in the warm glow from the fire reading. Couldn't have done without my electric for much longer though!
Finally, let me introduce you to the new addition to the family, Betty.
She was taken in from my Mum's garden where she was living feral (she wouldn't have survived the winter) She is now tame and a lovely little character - she was really worth the extra work.
 
I hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend.
Will try and post again before Christmas if time allows.
Thank you for all your lovely comments and continued kindness.
xx
 
 
 

Thursday 28 November 2013

CAL week 9 and fighting the bugs!

Hello to you.
Oh dear what a week its been...
We've all had some sort of illness here high temperature and sneezing.
Headaches so bad I cant focus on the computer.
So excuse any mistakes and the shortness of this post.
 
I've been hooking away on this lamp shade this week.
I was inspired as always by Lucy at attic24
It's a fun project with lots of bright colours (my photos are a bit dark sorry)
 
Chrissie Crafts
I'm joining in again with Marianne and Chrissie.
 
This is my plan shade and my first colour.

So here it is getting there!

Growing! wont be long now till I can show you it finished.

On Sunday we had our "stir up Sunday"
The family gather together and take it in turns to stir the Christmas pudding mix.
My Grannie organises it every year.
This is me having my turn to stir.
It's always nice to keep some family traditions going.
 
Thank you so much for the lovely comments on the last post.
Wishing you all a lovely end to the week.
xx


Thursday 21 November 2013

CAL week 8 and Keeping Warm

Hello to you.
Hope you're all well and dandy.
Our house was hit by a lurgy earlier in the week causing a few days off school and a few plans changed.
My partner and I received our wedding pack this week, we now have to chose what vows to say and what will be said during the ceremony. All exciting stuff!
On Tuesday we saw our first flutter of snow that was short lived but caused a lot of excitement in our house. It is, however, still frrrreeezzzinnng! Brrrr! Snow or no snow!

I received the latest copy of simply crochet this week.
Full of great Christmassy makes!

I'm still crocheting away on my partner's chair runner. I must admit I'm getting itchy fingers...I may give it rest for a while and have a break. Hmm, we'll see...

This week I've also been crafting away making the finishing touches to my crafty makes for the Christmas sale on the 30th.

1, A beautiful brooch I bought from a local art exhibition, love it!
2, A spotty cushion I made ready for the craft sale.
3, Mr gingerbread.
4, A naughty present for me, bought by me! hehe it was silly how excited I was when it arrived.
I thought I'd leave you with some lovely simple pleasures of the week.
1, A freshly made bed all neat and clean.
2, My flowers I received nearly a month ago for my birthday, amazing how long they've lasted.
 
Thank you so much for your lovely comments on the last post, they always mean so much.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
xx

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Christmas Crafts and Crocheting Along

Hello to you.
Hope you're all well and wonderful?
I can't believe it's Thursday again! Where does the time go?
This week saw the temperature drop so quickly that we endured our first frost of winter.
It certainly is noticeably colder here. So time to light the fire and put on the woolly socks.
Also this week, my partner and I are going to the registry office to do all the official bits that come with getting married, starting to feel real now!
 
My Christmas craft sale is approaching so I've been making bits and pieces here and there when I can find five minutes.
What do you think?
I really enjoy working with felt, a little crochet star has snuck in too!
I recycled some old pillow cases and turned them into present sacks with a cute Father Christmas face on it.
Here they all are together.
Only lots more to make!
Here's my ripple stitch chair runner - not got very far with it yet. I've never tried a ripple stitch before so slowly getting used to it. I have memorized the pattern now so that's half the battle.
I'm joining in again with Chrissie and Marianne.
with their CAL.
Looking forward to looking through the other projects going on.
 
Chrissie Crafts
 
I'll leave you now with some photos from my garden.
Everything is dying back now but some little fighters are still blooming.
1, Cyclamen
2, Viburnum
3, An annual from a butterfly mix
4, Sedum
 
I hope you all enjoy a warm and cosy weekend.
Thank you for your lovely comments on the last post - really kind and positive as always.
xx
 
 
 
 
 

Friday 8 November 2013

CAL Late! and My Little Visitor

 Hello to you.
Hope I find you well?
It's been another busy week, full of tasks and appointments.
So here I am at the end of the week and I can finally breath a sigh of contentment, lean back and enjoy a relaxed weekend.
I did manage to find some time so finish my gypsy caravan cushion from my Mollie crochet book.
I'm linking in with Marianne and Chrissie again for their blooming crochet along.
I'm still enjoying joining them and the other members, nosing in on what everyone's making.
Excuse the photos - the light was dreadful!
Here it is on the chair.
It's a lovely addition to my sitting room, it's starting to look a bit yarn bombed now!
It was a welcome smallish project after the blanket!
 
Chrissie Crafts
 
So my excuse now for being a day late....
This is Bella, my friend's daughter who came to visit yesterday. She's a real bundle of fun!
Bella is sporting my recent give-away prize from Joy.
I think you'll agree that it's a beautiful cardigan for a beautiful girl, a perfect fit.
My friend was delighted with the uniqueness of the cardigan and the style.
So thank you again Joy.
 
I hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend.
Thank you so much for your lovely comments on the last post, really appreciated.
xx
 
 
 
 
 

Monday 4 November 2013

A Huge Thank You To A Thoughtful Friend

Hello to you.
Hope you're all well and enjoying the beginning of the week?
My week began with a very happy moment - a parcel all the way from Australia.
After some squeezing! I careful opened the parcel to find not only the beautiful cardigan I had won in Joy's give-away but also two individually wrapped presents - one addressed to me and another (which really touched my heart) to my daughter.
Inside my parcel I received a beautiful kitty and doily - impossibly neatly crocheted!
I loved the kitty way back when Joy inspired me to make my own kitty and I must say there is no comparison - hers is amazing!
Inside my daughter's parcel was a lovely dolly for her to look after, all the way from Australia. She was so excited to open this lovely up and she has sat her on her bed - pride of place!
My prize from the give away "with love in every stitch." Outstanding work!
My friend's baby daughter is going to look so cute in it!
 
I really have come to think of Joy as a friend. She is a truly special person and her thoughtfulness is really inspiring and overwhelming.
 
So thank you Joy.
xx
 
 

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Mollie Makes Crochet Cushion CAL

 
Hello to you...
Hope you're all well?
This week has seen me turn 29 - my last year of being a twenty something! My naughty shoulder is playing up. I really hope it isn't RSI. I can't not crochet! And we've a new arrival in the shape of a feral kitten...
So, another busy week since I last posted.
So as you know, I've been joining in with ladybirddiaries and chrissiecrafts with their blooming crochet along.
I've really enjoyed the company through my various projects.
Last week saw me finish my CK inspired blanket so I've been twiddling my thumbs and wondering what shall I make next? My partner bought me this book about a month ago and I was instantly drawn to the granny square cushion...
 
Quite a simple pattern so not too much concentration necessary.
The book is great, full of colourful patterns and comes with a really cool folksy daisy free gift.
My partner bought mine from here
Well worth £5.
 
I've made my front panel - 36 squares all joined together. Back panel next.
A smaller project is welcome after the blanket.
 
 
 
Here is photo of my favourite birthday present - a genuine 1950's print of The Green Lady. I absolutely love it! My partner bought it for me and knows me so well...I'll stop being slushy now!

 
 Today my daughter, her friend and I carved pumpkins. We all enjoyed the messiness of it!
I hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend.
Thank you so much for all your lovely comments about my blanket and also making me feel less mad RE my daughters rash...
A warm welcome to my new followers - lovely to have you here with me!
xx

Chrissie Crafts

 

Thursday 24 October 2013

CAL and The CK Inspired Blanket

 
Hello to you.
I hope that I find you all well?
It's been a another busy week, Monday was a bit of a nightmare with my daughter worrying me to death with a rash that had appeared on the back her neck! I managed to get her seen quickly by the doctor and it turned out to just be one of those things (a reaction to washing powder maybe)
I've not always been such a fuss pot, but when my daughter was 3 she had a terrible time with an appendicitis that had been misdiagnosed and became infected. So I think I may be a little bit over protective now. Like the saying goes though, it is "better to be safe than sorry!"
Apart from that I've been settling into my new part time job and I think I'm doing ok so far.
Oh and I've been to look at wedding venues too...I now have a possible date for our wedding - exciting times ahead...
 
Anyway, on with the post...
You may already know I'm taking part in the CAL with Chrissie and Marianne.
This week saw me finally finish my Cath Kidston inspired blanket - Hooray!
I have really enjoyed making it but I can't lie... when the end was in sight I was slightly relieved!
So here it is!
Tada! 

 
Chrissie Crafts
 
If you fancy joining in or just having a look, click on one of the links above and check their posts.

I also bought myself a little treat with my wages and couldn't wait to make the free gift.

I enjoyed this small project - SO quick after the CK inspired blanket and totally satisfying.
 
Well, I will leave you now with some lovely Autumn blooms from my garden...
They're still going!

1,2, Sunflowers
3, Viburnum
4, Marigold
5, A baby squash. 
1, Rose
2, Red berries (the birds love these)
3, Cosmos
4, Japanese Anemone
5, Autumn leaves. 

1, Morning Glory
2, Verbena
3, Hollyhock
4, Sage
 
Hope you all enjoy a lovely end to the week.
Thank you all for your lovely comments on the last post and WELCOME to my new followers - so lovely to have you here with me.
xx 
 
 
 

Thursday 17 October 2013

CAL Pretty Flower Brooch

Hello to you.
Hope you're all well?
This week I have had some changes in my life. I've got myself a little part time job cleaning and ironing for a family down the road. Prefect timing - just before Christmas!
I made myself a little flower brooch this week.
I've finally managed to treat myself to Cute and Easy Crochet with Flowers.
Here is my lovely new copy.
I wanted to start myself off with a quick project, so I chose the brooch.
The book is full of amazing projects.
Some of which the ladies from the CAL crochet-along are making.
LadybirdDiaries and Chrissie Crafts are making a beautiful hexagon blanket.
 
So I made all the bits first...
Then sewed them together, easy as that.
Here it is on my cardigan! ready for its first outing.
I must say I'm really enjoying joining in with the crochet-along. I really enjoy popping into other blogs and seeing the lovely things they're making.
 

Chrissie Crafts
 
This time my crochet is definitely blooming. Still working on the CK inspired blanket only a few more rows to go now! And then I can get bordering.
Hope that you've all enjoyed a lovely week.
xx