Autumn Days...

Hello, happy autumn greetings.

We've had a lovely half term here, mild weather and plenty of fresh air.

 

A little colour left in the garden. I picked a dahlia today to cheer up the window sill in my bedroom.

I was very pleased with my three home grown pumpkins!

 

I've been quietly working on my Grandad's Christmas present ssh!! Don't tell.

A cosy lap blanket for chillier nights.

It hooked up quite quickly in a granny stripe pattern, I used stylecraft grey dk yarn and a blue from my stash.

My cat Dusty seems to have taken to one of my vintage suitcases I think I might have to get him one of his own and convert it into a bed.

 

Thank you for your kind comments on the last post.

xx

 





Crochet Granny Square Arm Caps and Summer Garden Lovin

Hello to you.

Well I'm back again.

It's very exciting having a new toy to type on.

I've been busy sewing up simple bunting (will show another time) for the wedding and organising my collection of vintage table cloths and mats ready for decorating the marquee. The wedding is getting scarily close now, I think we have about a month to go.

I have my crochet arm caps to show you...

I wanted something to protect the sofa from scratching kitties and my daughters habit of getting chocolate everywhere.

I was really pleased how they stood out on the red sofa.

 



 

I have also had a little trial run of making up garden flower arrangements in recycled jars, this is what I'd like at our wedding. I was pleased with the out come. Keeping my fingers crossed that the flowers will stay out for me!

 

Below a quick peep at what's about in my garden this week...

1, Pink rose (not sure of name)

2, Verbena

3, White old rose

4, Hydrangea

5, Nasturtiums

6, That pink rose again!

7, Magenta  Lychnis coronaria

8, Feverfew

9, Hydrangea Annabelle

 We've had a little bit of rain this week not too much, just enough to get the garden flourishing.

 

In my kitchen table tea cup this week I have...

 

 

It was supposed to be just the hydrangea but I broke a lily head off my bunch while trying to get it out of the packaging so it's found a home there too.

 

Just a quick thank you to my new followers lovely to have you here with me.

A massive thank you too to the lovely bloggy ladies who went over to visit my lovely friend and neighbour at her crochet cottage

Off to get the school uniform ready, have a lovely week.

xx

 

 

 

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

 

 

 



Bonjour!

Hello and happy Monday.

I'm a little late this week with my post.

Still feeling tired but will be hopefully perking up soon with a change of iron tablets.

We've had some lovely weather today so I am not long in from the garden.

Do you like my bunny? 

He says Bonjour to you.

I found the pattern in my new mollie makes magazine (thank you eBay) 

He was an absolute pleasure to make.

He is also my first amigurumi toy that has gone right.

I'm still hooking away at my gypsy caravan blanket.

It's growing slowly but surely.

Hope you've all enjoyed a lovely weekend.

xx

Stash busting gypsy carvan blanket CAL

Hello to you.

It's been a good week so far - the temperature has risen a little and I haven't seen rain for a few days... Woo hoo!

With the weather set to get better next week spring is certainly in the air.

I've picked up the hook again this week and have decided to take on my biggest project yet, a huge granny square blanket to go on the back of my sofa. It's also helping me do some much needed stash busting.

Oh dear I have let my stash mount up - so many opened left overs.

I've made a start making lovely circular middles and I now have 13 squares made with ends stitched in! I'm quite impressed with the progress so far. All photographed on my new coffee table, it has a very handy shelf underneath for keeping my crochet magazines...

My summer colour blanket is growing slowly...

Here are some signs of spring in my garden.

Look what I found while stash busting - a lovely new ball of matching beige yarn! So it looks like I will be growing my never-ending granny blanket a little further... Lucky I didn't fasten off properly!

I'm secretly happy to be hooking away on this relaxing project again.

Happy crocheting whatever you're making!

Thank you so much for the encouraging comments on the last post.

Until next time, have a lovely weekend. Hopefully you will enjoy signs of spring wherever you are.

xx

Linking up again with Chrissie and Marianne.

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

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 fiancé 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

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! 

 

 

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 

 

 

 

CK Inspired Blanket and A Day With My Love

Hello to you.

Hope I find you all well?

I enjoyed a quiet weekend visiting my parents and having some fresh air in the garden.

 

I'm joining the CAL with the lovely Chrissie and Marianne

I'm afraid its not blooming today but it is crochet! and I now am the proud owner of Cute and Easy Crochet with Flowers! So some more flowery posts on the way.

 

Well it's getting there. Nearly finished. I've been hooking away a few lines at a time, taking my time and enjoying the bright cheery colours as I go.

It's very cosy around the shoulders!

My partner and I enjoyed a rare treat...a Monday off and time to spend together.

Being members of the national trust, and my partner needing fresh air, we went along to Erddig, a beautiful house and garden.

Firstly I must show you the beautiful Dahlias they had, it's certainly Dahlia season there!

The yellow one in the last photo was bigger than my hand, stunning.

1, Erddig house.

2, A lawn roller/mower hiding under the walkway. 

3, Lots of Autumn colour in the walled garden.

4, Clock house.

1, My favourite part of the garden, a small walled garden within the larger one.

2, Red Rose.

3&4, Lots and lots of snap dragons! (Antirrhinum)

Bloom upon blooms and a cheeky ladybird.

The woodland play area.

1, Camp fire circle.

2, Tent canopy.

3&4, Beautifully carved wolves from tree trunks.

Cute little van and mirror carp in the pond.

Tortoiseshell Butterfly. So beautiful.

 Some Autumn blooms from our garden this week.

The snails have moved into our fennel, it's covered!

Getting outdoors always makes me feel more alive.

 Well, I hope that your week is going well and you have some time to breath in some fresh air.

Thank you so much for your comments on the last post, I really did enjoy making that hat.

xx