Returned

Hello

It's lovely to be back, I have finally replaced the broken laptop with a new typing friend.

It's taking a while to get used to but I'm sure I'll will get the hang of it soon.

I've tried my best to keep up with you all and have seen some lovely posts.

So after laptop gate I have been mostly wedding planning and doing the never ending jobs an old cottage throws at you.

I have had sometime for crochet too...

This my latest cushion made from the pattern in simply crochet issue eighteen with style craft Aran. I really enjoyed swapping between the different stitches, I even did my first bobble stitch. The original cushion in the magazine is multi coloured and looks fab, mine is toned down a bit so I can use it in my sitting room.

 

Here are some cheery mandalas.

 

Finally...

A kitty travel cushion! I used the pattern from simply crochet issue twenty (the latest)

He took up a lot of double crochets but worth it in the end and is so snuggly.

Cant wait to take him on his first car journey up to north Yorkshire to visit my Grandad.

 

Here are a few photos from the garden.

 

1, Cinnabar moth

2,  Californian poppy

3, Perennial foxgloves

4, Calendula

5, A very full flower bed!

6, Celebration Rose

7, Pink peony

8, Rose hedge in bloom

9, Giant Allium

 

Has anyone else's children/grandchildren been sucked into the latest craze of loom bands?

My daughter loves them,

 I think there great, lovely to see her being creative. The possibilities are endless with what you can make. We think a strawberry key ring might be our next project

 My hoover isn't thanking me for all the strays she leaves behind!

 

I will leave you with my pretty tea cup that a picked up a few weeks back and some garden roses.

Wishing you a lovely end to the week.

 

**My lovely friend and neighbour has just started her blogging adventure,

 so if you have a spare min pop over and have a look-see**

xx

 

 

 



CAL A quick Valentine Update

Hello to you...

Hope you're all well?
I'm much better now after my week of lurgy.

Its very wet and wild here at the moment and brr so cold!

Some poor people have experienced awful weather - my heart certainly goes out to them.

I thought I'd hook up a quick valentines treat for my fire place.

The pattern I used for the hearts is here from Attic24.

They were quick, easy and lots of fun to make.

In my last post I mentioned I had a few birthdays to make for this month, so I thought I'd show you what I've made...

Lily pad brooches.

A never ending Granny stripe snood...

and an alien gadget case.

Hopefully all of them will be gratefully received. We shall see.

So what else have I been doing this week? Hmm...

I know...

 I hooked up a cushion for the kitchen.

I used my Drops Paris yarn for the stripy front and Style Craft Grape for the back.

It's a lovely shot of colour for these grey days...

My garden this week...

wall flower,

catkins,

seed head,

cyclamen.

Hope that you've enjoyed a lovely week?

Now I'm off to see what everyone else has been up to this week....

 Sure Chrissie and Marianne will have lots of lovely crochet and links to others too!

xx

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



 

Time to get organised

Hello to you...

Still working on the cushions -

They are growing slowly.

 

I've been busy today, getting a bit more organised.

I've always kept my yarn labels.

Having a cuppa and a chat with my Mum she suggested why not stick them in a book then I can flick through with easy access.

Good idea I thought, then took it a bit further and stuck samples of yarn in so I can see the exact colour.

This may not be new to all you organised Annie's.

My yarn was in chaos...I'm never going to be super organised but I'm a step closer.

I find it useful to jot down what yarns I've used and where too.

Excuse the writing.

I just used a cheap note book, bought in a sale last year.

Lots of yarns!

 

While making the book I realised how much yarn I've got!

You can never have too much though, can you?

Hope everyone is having a lovely week so far?

xx

Books and Shades

 

 

Hello to you...

I've  had some truly lovely comments on my last post, thank you so much for stopping by taking the time to comment.

This week I've been mostly indoors due to the rainy weather.

Perfect time to snuggle up with a book my friend and neighbour kindly gave me to have a look at.

It's called "Crochet Workshop" by Erika Knight.

It's well worth a peruse.

I found the section showing different crochet stiches very interesting, being fairly new to crochet I didn't realise that there are so many!

There are some lovely projects too the Asymmetrical cardigan has to me my favourite, I think I will need wore practice before I attempt that.

 

 

 

I've been sitting in the window crocheting a basic cushion. I ran out of yarn shortly after the photo so will have to  wait to finish it. I'm using woolcraft new fashion 885 walnut such a bargain at £1.25 a ball.

This here is one of my favourite things. It belonged to my Great Grandmother (big Nana) It's battered and faded but I love it.

Sometimes it's the history as well as the item.

 

Lastly...

My Mum knowing my love of flamingos bought me a present this week.

Some super pink and glittery shades!

I think there amazingly kitsch.

 

Hope everyone is having a lovely week so far.

I'm very excited, we are visiting the zoo tomorrow (I think I'm more excited that my daughter)

xx

 

 



Spring Is Springing and The Latest Crochet Cushion

It's been a busy week so far with one thing and another. The week started with my partner having a surprise day off whoopee! So it was decided to spend some much needed time together.

So we jumped in the car and had a wander around a local market town sipped posh coffees and munched on one of the best carrot cakes I've tasted, it was a lovely day.

We took the scenic route home and spotted lots of beautiful houses that looked like they were straight from grand designs! and spring lambs jumping in the fields it was a perfect spring drive.

 

Unfortunately I was having so much fun I didn't take any photos! Here is one I found on the web credited to Eirian Evans copyrighted.

 

So on to the latest crochet cushion. In the evenings I've been hooking away this is what I've made this week so far......

Yes granny square again!

All 9 squares joined together

 

and here it is this morning in the garden all finished!

I enjoy making cushions this way, it doesn't take me too long so it pleases my impatient mind!

I used Glacier, purple, violet and magenta colour yarn all from the new fashion range I like using this particular brand because they have a huge range of colours and are really reasonably priced.

I thought the bright colours worked quite well together for a real colour pop!

 While I was photographing the cushion in the garden I thought I would take some photos of things that caught my eye.....

The beautiful crocuses that my auntie bought me for my birthday way back in October. Poor things had been covered in snow for weeks.

Pulmonaria with its speckled dotty leaves

Grape hyacinths just peeping through almost ready to flower.

My bargain from the Tesco reduced counter, winter flowering pansies 10p for a pack of six more than worth it!

Tete a tetes looking sunny.

skimmia  that hasn't had the chance to flower yet.

 

 

 

I saw my first one of these today I adore butterflies so I had a real smile on my face when I saw my first of the year in the garden (I have seen them in  the zoo) but you cant beat seeing them in the garden. I didn't take this photo by the way wish I had! The one in my garden was moving far to fast!

 

Hope everyone is having a lovely week so far...

xx

 

  



A Pretty Vintage Find

Over the last couple of days I've been busy sowing  the rest of my seeds, more sweet peas, beans, courgettes, cosmos and hollyhocks. Keeping my fingers crossed for more sunny weather.

It has got warmer over the last few days here which has lifted my sprits a little, I hope its a sign of things to come we really could do with a decent summer if anything is to grow well.

Every window sill in the house is now full of seed trays and propagators.
 

 I was treated to a "potting shed" sign I haven't got a potting shed yet but I've been promised one this summer my partner is going to design and build it himself.

I popped into town where I indulged in one of my favourite things junk, charity and second hand shop shopping.

I love it, you never know what you might find. I think its great how you can find something that's totally unique to all the mass produced things and it's recycling!
 On this occasion I found two lovely bird prints and a very impressive handmade vintage crochet cushion both where absolute bargains the prints being £4.50 for two and the cushion only £1.50 unbelievable value.

 

 The above print is of a fire crest

 and a blue tit
I was really pleased with the vintage cushion its the perfect colours for my bedroom.

I wanted to say that I'd made this but I couldn't do it! I love the muted pinks and greys in the cushion and the intricate crochet.

Maybe one day I'll make something like that!

xx

 

 



My First Granny Square Cushion

Following on from

 http://forgetmenotsblue.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/from-small-beginnings.html

I have found a use for the granny squares I hooked the other evening.

 

 

 

 First of all the bit I find difficult, matching colours and seeing what goes with what! Some of the blogs I seen, the bloggers seem to find beautiful colour combinations with ease.....not me maybe one day hey!

So when I'd selected my not so sure about colours, I made some smaller granny squares than I'm used to I enjoyed hooking them as they looked a lot neater than my usual squares.

I decided I still wasn't ready for another huge project so I made the squares up in to a cushion.....my first, what do you think?

 Sitting pretty on the sofa.

My joining up is still a bit wobbly but getting there.

 I hooked a slightly scalloped edge for a little extra detail.

Ready for my close up! There's those wobbly joins haha never mind I still love it and I'm happy to have a new addition to my cushion family on the sofa.....my partner may not share the same view as he thinks I have enough already! In my opinion you can never have enough.

xx