Jewel blanket :: finished!!

Hello ladies

Thank you for all the funny comments you left on my last post! I expect to see lots of knitted helmets and crocheted carpets soon!

I am very excited this morning because of this....

My circle in square blanket is finished!!! I have called it my jewel blanket because the circles zing out of the beige background like shining jewels.

Want to see some more?

Note the swishy edging!!!!

It is made from Stylecraft Special DK and has 100 squares. It is a sofa blanket rather than a bed blanket so it isn't huge, but is plenty big enough to snuggle into.

I love love love it!!!!

Enjoy your day! xxx

Ladies of the canyon

When I started blogging at the end of last year, I thought that perhaps this would be an opportunity to show some of my craft work. I didn't give a thought to what I would get out of blogging. What it has done for me is make me feel part of an amazing group of women - some of whom I almost feel I know........

women who make things for their loved ones...










 

women who make things for their homes....

Yes!!!! A crochet carpet!

and crochet loo accessories!



ah that's more like it!

 women who are always creating tasty things for the family to eat....

women who tend their gardens....

while looking after their appearance....

A friend recently asked what blogging was like and I said....

It is like a virtual Ladies of the Canyon....

For all you lovely, lovely ladies who put beauty into your world (and mine).

Have a beautiful weekend xxx

Frabjous day!

"Then you should say what you mean," the March Hare went on. "I do," Alice hastily replied, "at least - at least I mean what I say - that's the same thing, you know."

Lewis Carroll   

I found this stunning print by deebeale on Folksy! I have a thing about hares and have several prints around my house. Not sure why I like them so much, but there you are.

It is a frabjous day here in Yorkshire. I spent a little time earlier sitting in a very sunny, very breezy, slightly cool garden. I didn't mind the breeze or the low temperature as it was so nice to feel some sun on my skin....wonderful!

I made some grannies for Hawthorn's project - making blankets for those in Japan who have lost everything. Five done so far....

If you think you can help this project, then please visit 11am and Hawthorn will send you details of where to send your squares. If you can't crochet, then knitted squares are fine too. Really, even just a couple would make a difference.

And I had a little look through a copy of Country Homes magazine and saw this spread...

...crocheted tables....knitted lamp shades.....felted cushions...in fact, all manner of crafty loveliness. I am not a regular reader of magazines but it did make me happy to see all of this stuff. Of course, we crafty ladies have always known the beauty of crafty things.

But the best part of today so far has been getting this award from the lovely Claire of no knitted knickers!.....

Thank you Claire. I am very happy to receive this and really appreciate the sentiments behind it. It is wonderful to know that out there in the blogosphere there are people who like this tiny little corner of the virtual world!

Now I have to nominate blogs I like with under 100 followers. This is the tricky bit as all the blogs I admire and visit regularly are listed below. But, in the spirit of the award.....(and in no particular order).....

The Villa Vanilla - lots of beautiful children, home made bread and yarny things...lovely

Andamento - rural gorgeousness

Little Tin Bird- scrummy yarny-ness in Heatherland

East of Eden - a lovely, cosy crochet corner

11am - not only lovely things but very funny too

I know some of you don't like the whole award culture, but I think it is a lovely way to be introduced to great new places to visit. And we all know that we have lots of favourites and that the real 'award' is in supporting them.

Enjoy the rest of your week! xxx

PS Thank you so much for all the lovely, lovely comments about my blanket and also the little felt elephant (he has already found a home)! x

Help for Japan

Good morning everyone

I have just visited Hawthorn at 11am and she has set up a new blog  that is all about making squares to be made up into blankets for those affected by the catastrophic events in Japan. If you follow the link to Hawthorn's site, she will explain how to get involved. If you have the time and the yarn, please join this very worthwhile project.

"Tsunami Flowers," By Daryl Cagle

Oh dear......

Mmmmm it's been one of those weekends.

Firstly, I did this....

I left my crochet hook embedded in the crochet on the sofa and then sat on it!!! Ooops. Much as I love them, there is an obvious disadvantage to bamboo hooks!!

Yesterday we went out into the Yorkshire Dales to make the most of the splendid Spring sunshine that was promised, only to find that Grassington and surrounding area was bathed in....grey cloud. Well that is not strictly true. We had a little sunshine but it didn't last long. Still, we had a lovely time....

Little S had a fabulous time running up and down hills, counting lambs and throwing pebbles into the river.

I had planned to take photos of a couple of gorgeous little shops I had seen in Grassington at the start of our hike.......but I'm afraid this was the last picture as the battery went dead halfway through the walk!!! Grrrrr

Today I decided to do some baking (dodgy photo alert).....

Flapjacks that crumbled and broke up.......scones that didn't rise. However, both taste very good so not such a disaster.

But my circle in square blanket is going very well and slowly growing. These photos were taken a little while ago and I have 100 squares now.....only another 100 to go. Oh dear! xxx

Another giveaway!

Nope not me this time but Claire at No knitted knickers who is kindly giving away a really neat thread cutter.....go for it xx

Heart felt #1

Who would have thought that when I ordered my little stash of felt, I would have had such fun! It is lovely doing this sort of sewing....reminds me of school! And felt comes in such lovely, vibrant colours and is a joy to work with. No hems. No fraying.

I made this little fellow a few days ago from this free pattern and he came together really easily. I hadn't decided what to line the ears with though and he was sitting on a table next to the sofa waiting for me to finish him. I was looking at him yesterday morning when the post arrived.....with the perfect fabric to finish him. It really couldn't be more perfect as I have used both colours in the felt! So here he is in all his Amy Butler glory....

And you can see that I made the underneath from a light purple felt....

 

This was the rest of the stash....in all ten fat quarters of Love for a tenner!!! Bargain!





Enjoy your week! xxx