Crochet update.....

Bit busy today.....but just wanted to show you how the crocheted granny square blanket is going.....

am really loving doing this..... I am still saving it for evenings as a treat!!!But I can't help looking at those scrummy bright cheery colours a thousand times during the day too......and asking anyone in the family who's passing - 'well, what do you think?' and 'Aren't they just the BEST colours ever?!!'

I think they might getting be a teensy bit fed up with me.

But I LOVE this blanket!! xx

A diversion....

Good morning everyone! I do hope you had a relaxing and productive weekend. For a change, I seem to have fitted quite a lot into one weekend - we had a lovely Burns supper yesterday with some fab friends, which was so pleasant that I still have a smile on my face (and that's not from the whiskey, wine and sloe gin I promise!) So a big thank you to Lisa for such a lovely evening.

On Saturday, in my small bit of free time, I sat down to make a bag from the lovely new cord but somehow didn't feel in a 'bag-making' mood.

I found myself still thinking about the tulips that S had bought me, and the photo that I took of them with the gorgeous bright colours....

so I made this little fabric picture -....
I have been experimenting for a while with various scraps of fabric, piecing them together, making little parts of pictures, but this is the first time I have made a picture just as a picture and not as a piece of applique to go on a cushion or a bag.

I was really pleased to find the spotty fabric for the jug - my lovely red polka dot jug is from Greengate, where if I hadn't spent all my money on yarn, I would spend a fortune on their beautiful things - go see, but don't say I didn't warn you - money will be parted with!!

The tulips are really blooming now - look at their gorgeousness, they just get better and better!

Then, still in a picture-making-mood, I decided to have a go at one that has been in my mind since our holiday in Cornwall last summer. The wonderful harbours filled with brightly painted jaunty little boats were such an inspiration...I got the photos out and had a lot of fun making this-

Well, I hope today is a good day for you......think I might tackle the bag-making today!!...

Some unexpected time...

I am surrounded by colour at the moment, S came home yesterday with these gorgeous tulips for me, saying 'I knew you would love these.' And I do, don't you?Oh, after all the blurry grey outside at the moment, and the bleak whiteness of the snow a little while ago, it's all a little dull dull dull outside right now.

I really think it's important to have some colour around....it feeds something inside you.....your soul maybe? It certainly does mine....it makes my heart beat a little faster...makes me feel like doing...making....something.

I find myself this morning with a couple of hours of unexpected time for myself.

S has taken the little 2 to the theatre - he managed to get last minute tickets for Cinderella and has taken them to the morning performance (never heard of this before - not a matinee but don't know the word for it) for some lovely 'Dad-time' with them.

The teenagers are still sleeping, so I have the luxury of some time with just the radio and the kettle for company. Yay!!!!!!!!!

So, having loaded the washing machine and unloaded the dishwasher and cleared the kitchen debris........ I am trying to decide what best to do with this precious piece of time.

What I would like to do is make some more granny squares.......with my lovely new yarn.....but that feels a bit like too much of a luxury.... I should do something more.... something more useful, bigger... I bought some gorgeous cord material the other day.... I might make a bag. Hmm, yes I think I will.

I want to tell you about my 'buying fabric day' the other day since it was a bit odd, but it'll have to be another time cos if I don't get on.....they'll be back!! I'll leave you with some more colour for a happy Saturday! xxxxxxx

Shhhhh..............

Now I want to show you something..........something that makes my heart flutter, makes me smile, and is making me very very happy even on this completely grey, wet day......

-What is it? I hear you ask - well, let me first say, that you are absolutely definitely NOT under any circumstances allowed to tell anyone about it. No-one, especially not anyone living in this house over the age of 17. Do you understand? You know who I mean, don't you?! He is NOT allowed to know.

Not yet...anyway... at this very moment, not until I can find a way of softening it for him.

Cos he won't understand, you see..... he won't experience the same happy lift that I do, just looking at it in all it's rainbow glory, fondling it in all it's cottony goodness. You will, though, I know you will. You'll get it, just like I do.

Okay.....is that a promise then? Great!! So now, just LOOK AT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ooooooh!! Isn't that one of the most beautiful things you've ever seen?!!

Look closer.......

it is Rowan dk handknit cotton - and it's all MINE!!!!!! Look at those fabulous colours.

Yes, I have to admit it - I paid a visit to our lovely local wool shop and these scrummy balls of beautiful colours just jumped right out at me, begging me to take them away and make them into granny squares. What could I say? I had to bring them home with me.....

By the way, if you hear awful bad stories about 4 children being made to eat bread and butter for the next two weeks, don't pay any attention. It won't be true.

I can't afford butter.

Love-Birds

This is what the lovely fabric and ribbons turned into a couple of days ago.

They are my Love-Birds - hearts and birds at the same time.

I was feeling very lovey-dovey about Valentine's day at the time, and these birds just sort of happened.

I have filled them quite generously with gorgeous chemical-free French lavender so they smell so yummy.

Actually, I did have a bit of a headache when I was making them and when I got to the lavender-stuffing part, my little room filled up with the wonderful smell, and my headache went!!!

So, pretty and pratical - can't be bad!

I'm going to put these little birdies in the Etsy shop to spread a little love around. xx

OH YES! YES! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could skip around, I could jump up and down, I am squealing and making all sorts of giddy noises!!!!!!

And why? Are you asking? What is it that has got me all of a quiver?! To a point of such excitement?!

Well, luvvies, I'll tell you - after six months of wishing and trying so very hard, of frustrated evenings and lots of good intentions - after the purchase of seven lovely books with lovely pictures and diagrams galore..........

I HAVE LEARNED TO CROCHET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my!!!!!!

Yes, really..........me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and LOOK!!!!!!!!!! I made this!!!!!!!!!!

I actually made a Granny square!

My lovely friend Lisa bought me this book for Christmas, and it was this that started me off - I had yet another go, I have tried and failed miserably countless times in the past, but this time, something clicked!! And I found I began to understand it. I did have to have three or four goes but something was different this time, what I was making began to look like proper crocheting!!! The beautiful pattern I used was from here from the lovely and talented Lucy. Isn't it beautiful - it's called the summer garden granny square.

I am so happy, can you tell? And not only that, I think I might actually have become addicted. Because before I could stop myself, I made another, then another, and another, and another.......

And when I'm not making them, (because I have had to limit myself to only doing it in the evenings, otherwise I'd be hooking away all day long), then I'm thinking about making them, and what colours I'll use,

and when I can get to the lovely yarn shop in the local town..... and how I can justify spending some money on some more yarn when I actually have no money!!!!

Maybe we can live on beans for a week? Hmmmm...have to think about that one!

Oooohhh!! I am definitely HOoKed!!!! (sorry about that but couldn't help it!!) It's exactly the same feeling when you've got a really good book that you can't wait to pick up again. something wonderful waiting for me when I've done all the stuff I HAVE to do. And it's brilliant!!!!!! I love love LOVE it. Can you tell? xxxxxxxxxxx

******

Oops, I almost forgot in my excitement, my LOVE cushion has been featured in an Etsy treasury!!! Thanks to WhatIsee.

Oooooh, almost too much excitement!! And far far too many exclamations marks! But I do like to use them!! Because it tells better than anything how I feel!! Yes Indeedy!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxx

Craft Hope for Haiti...

Just a quick post about Craft Hope for Haiti.

Craft Hope has set up an Etsy shop to collect money to benefit Doctors Without Borders.

I have donated a button bracelet like this one.

Please think about contributing if you are a crafter or maybe buy something instead!