Back to work

Hello dear ladies - thanks for stopping by and thank you for all the comments you have left me. They make my day :)

It has been a hectic week. I returned to work after a long period of absence - gently though, just three half days. Even so, I have been so tired in between and all the plans I had for hooking and quilting and blogging just went out of the window! I have to say that everyone at work has been so very kind and welcoming and have made my return a very happy one. But the very best thing about returning to work is that it means I am well again! Yay! And all you lovely people who have visited me and encouraged me and left comments have played a big part in the healing process, so big love to you all!

I did manage to do some stuff though. The fabulously foody Sue at The Quince Tree inspired me to make some of these beauties.......

Nutella cakes! How perfect is that combination? They were easy, delicious and were even enjoyed by The Mr who doesn't really like cakes (I know, alien). The recipe can be found here. Go on, give them a try. You know you want to :)

I recently had the honour of receiving not one but THREE lovely blog awards from three very lovely ladies. I can't do them all in one post so this is the first.....

The very lovely Jane at Hook and Yarn awarded me this

Thank you Jane!

I'm not sure what the protocol is for this award - I think I have to list some facts about myself (gulp...here goes)

1. I appeared in the title credits of a music show on TV called The Tube. A guy came up to me and asked if I wanted to be on TV - I told him where to go as I thought he was chatting me up! Turned out he was serious so I got a 'punter's pass' and went to the studio every week to see all these amazing 80s bands! I also met and chatted with Jules Holland and a very pregnant Paul Yates (who was still with Bob and didn't even drink in those days, let alone do drugs). Ah halcyon days, when I was young, skinny and beautiful!!!!

2. I don't drink anymore. I used to love real ale, then was into wine for a few years and probably used to drink quite a bit - not overdoing it but certainly enjoying it. I was quite a  party animal. I stopped drinking when pregnant and never really started again! The Mr gets a bit frustrated about this because he would like to share a bottle of wine with me now and again but I have lost all interest in it. The last time I had alcohol was the Christmas before last!

3. My favourite subjects at school were (in this order) art, English literature and history. I still love these subjects today.

4. I wanted to be an artist. I wanted to go to art school but didn't. I don't know why. I did eventually study to be an art historian at the age of 28 (late developer).

5. I get really mad about 'rogue apostrophes' and the tendency to use capital letters for everything...it drives me crazy!!!

6. I love pop up books. I saw a fantastic exhibition of pop up books in Manchester once...I was absolutely bowled over by the intricacy and beauty of these very complex works of art.

7. I hate my feet. It is only in the last couple of years that I wear sandals in public because I have always considered my feet to be ugly. Certainly I have seen feet a lot worse than mine but if there was one part of my body I could change, it would be my plates of meat (so that's two parts then).

8. I love puzzles. Cryptic crosswords (especially the Guardian, especially Araucaria in the Guardian), jigsaw puzzles, sudoku....any puzzle really.

9. My favourite two books are Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. I read a huge amount on a wide range of subjects but I would say that these two continue to be my favourites. Both dark and gothic, brutal and passionate but utterly magnificent and spellbinding.

10. I am an expert on Jack the Ripper! I have read pretty much every book written and watched every film made about Jack. Don't ask me why! Call me macabre but I am just fascinated.

Now the difficult part! Given the name of the award, I have chosen blogs that cover bits of all sorts of things....

Kelly at Handmade at Home

Brand new mum at Fantasy Landscape

Heldasland

Sandra at Just So

Stacey at Bakercourt (check out those cakes!!!)

More blog awards to follow. Enjoy your week xxx

A warning

Hello dear ladies

I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday afternoon. Thanks for all the lovely comments you posted on the little baby things.....more little garments coming soon!

This is just a quickie to share the amazing crochet work of Olek, queen of the hook. It is all a bit mad and I think it is a warning to crochet addicts everywhere - this is what will happen if we keep buying yarn and making things!!! Enjoy xxx

You can see more of this hooky craziness here

Pretty things

Oh it is so lovely having a new baby in the family - lots of yarny projects! It is especially lovely to have a little girl to make things for. I have never crocheted clothes before but I thought I would give it a try. I searched the wonderful Ravelry for some patterns and found this gorgeous, flouncy little dress. Perfect! I love its retro look and the fact that it can be worn as either a little sun dress or as a tunic. I had some cotton yarn in my stash and so made it up in a couple of hours. So quick and so sweet. Do you want to see it? Here it is....

This was such an easy pattern and yet the end result is so pretty. It is a cloudy, dull day outside so the colours aren't really accurate. The blue you see is actually eau de nil, sort of duck egg. You can find the pattern here

Inspired by this triumph I decided to use more stash yarn, this time pure wool, and made this little coat and hat. It is winter in SA and so a light little coat like this will be perfect for outings.....

Again, the colour is a little off. It is actually darker.. a sort of reddish pink. The pattern for the jacket and hat can be found here

If you haven't tried crocheting garments then I would recommend you try little things like this...they are easy and finished in no time.

Thank you for your lovely comments on recent posts and enjoy your week xxx

A beautiful little something

A little while ago Hawthorn took part in the Pay it Forward give away and I was lucky enough to receive this.....

 Beautifully wrapped...

 Beautifully made......

 Little pincushion!

It has a daisy motif on the top and Hawthorn has embroidered a daisy and the words Lazy Daisy around the sides. I don't know how she has found the time to do this as she is very busy putting blankets together for the children of the Japanese disaster.

Thank you Hawthorn! I am thrilled with my lovely little pincushion! xx

As part of the deal, I will give away one of these crocheted book marks to the first five lovely people who leave a comment on this post. They in turn will spread the love by gifting five people with a little something.....

Edited: The pattern for the bookmark can be found here

Enjoy your Sunday xxx

Auntie Andrea's blanket

Hello dear ladies

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments about Jemimah's blanket...and a huge welcome to new followers!

It seems that you would be interested in the joining method so I will post on that and also on the picot edging. There are those who are fantastic at tutorials (I'm talking to you Lucy) but I will try my best! I have been busy making lots of other things for Jemimah and can't wait to show you those soon.

There is also a prize and a beautiful gift to blog about.

For now here is a photo I just received from my niece titled 'Auntie Andrea's blanket'. All together now......awwwwwww

Of course it is going into winter there so a snuggy is needed for afternoon naps. It was made with lots of love and I hope they both feel that when they use it.

Have a lovely weekend! xxxxxx

Jemimah blanket :: finished!

Hello dear ladies

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my last post. Jemimah's mum is thrilled!

I have finished the blanket and here it is.......

I had started a really lovely cluster edging but realised that I wouldn't have enough yarn, so I did my trusty picot edging.....

This is a poor photo but I wanted to show you the join. I used a very quick and nifty method that my clever sister devised....not sewing and not crochet...sort a mixture of both. It leaves a very strong flat seam....

It is much bigger than I had planned but it is certainly snuggly and Jemimah will grow into it! I have been asked to crochet some sun hats for Jemimah so more hooking this afternoon.

Enjoy your week xxx

Lovely to see!

Hello dear ladies

I just received this lovely photo of Jemimah actually using one of the blankets I made her. My sister (Jemimah's grandma) is visiting her in South Africa at the moment and took this blanket and a big fat granny stripe (for Jemimah's mum). It is so lovely to see it being used! Apparently it has caused quite a sensation over there!

I am just finishing the edging on the granny square blanket and hopefully will be posting on that in the next couple of days xxx

PS Thanks for all your lovely comments....I do love to read them