Jubi - late

Can I be the last to wish you all a happy Diamond Jubilee? Ahem. To me the spirit of the Jubilee is continuing for the rest of the year because of all the other celebrations that there are going on. Going to watch the Olympics, Dads big birthday getting together with far flung family (my particular fave) So that's my excuse and I’m sticking to it. I decorated the house, a lot of it was what I had leftover from the Royal wedding last year so I’ll not bore you with that but I did make some fireplace bunting based on the Easter bunting that Sandra made at Cherry heart.

           

Other than that I had a very exciting time when the torch bearer lady brought her torch to Pilates and……..

It was so lovely but sadly I look huge. I wouldn’t care I've lost way over a stone recently too. On a positive note my hair was behaving. I am told that they all were allowed to keep their torches and uniform for £200 quid which is not bad as they are selling for about 3 grand on Ebay. Not judging, that's a big lot of cash.

I am also in a good mood because someone who seems to know all about it has left me a message on my Inside crochet post saying that its going in and that I should keep my eyes peeled. Woo hoo. I do hope I’m not in bother for spilling the beans. I really did think that was it for the Magazine but I was told earlier that it was taken over by a new publisher. I’m so pleased.

A great weekend to you all I will be knitting bunting, how about you ?

ta blooming dah

I’ve been a bit in limbo waiting for something else to happen that hasn’t and so I have had unexpected time to work on granny picnic. I have used the Jan Eaton pattern in her 100 squares book. I have also been highly influenced by Attic 24 in terms of how many in the starting chain and number of stripes etc. I have used an edge that Alice invented years ago and that I ferreted away in the old brain. Its very pointy and I think, buntingey. I did have half an idea to make it multi-coloured but simply wanted this project finished. Today we have spectacular sun and I really aught to be digging but a photo shoot is less strenuous. I hope you enjoy reading the pictures!!!

Royal wedding

 

What a great day

We decorated…….

No opportunity was missed for patriotism.

We had a feast and watched on tv.

The things in paper were asparagus frittata cooked in prosciutto ham cases. Mum made them from this recipe in good food magazine. Highly recommended to accompany fizz. We also had coronation chicken in lettuce cups, pork pie, quiche and sausage rolls. I stopped short of sandwiches but we were after traditional British party

Here is the fridge “ before”. Its nothing like that now.

A great family day in which we made memories and celebrated being together and Britishness

Winner, hearts and flag

So sorry to keep you waiting but I’ve been taking advantage of some fine weather to get into the garden and prepare the veg beds for the new growing season.

Right the draw, drum roll please

And the winner is……

 

Of Aussie Maria fame. As soon as you let me know where to send it, the bunny plus chocolate sweetie egg will be on its way to you. You can email me at the adress in my profile. Yay!!

Aside from gardening and chasing dust bunnies around, I have been hooking. A little late and inspired as always by blolgand I have made hearts for a bathroom garland which I have snuck in while my husband is away this week

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I really love them but they need more stuff dangling from them. As you can see there is far too much wall on show. I got the pattern from June Gilbanks website. I think the shape is lovely.

 

I have also made this cushion. Now I really love this one. It was easy to make and quite quick too. I especially like the finish on the cushion as it looks professional (not blowing my own trumpet, the pattern is very profesh) The pattern can be purchased  from The Royal Sisters £3.78. I saw it a while ago but did nothing until I saw Amanda had made one and I had a serious case of the wanties.

I do like my union flags. It was while I was doing this that I made the square for Sibol.  I fancy making one in lots of bonny colours or maybe shades of grey. Hmmm

Huge welcome to all my new visitors by the way. Its so lovely to know you are there weather you want to say hi or not. I love to know that I am not alone.

Happy Wednesday

Lou

xx

Hearts for hearts sake

I’m not a fan of V day but I do like hearts around my home and I have been making. This project could be a good one to do with children. Either by hand sewing or even gluing.

Cut out hearts from paper, 2 of each size .

Lay one heart on the other and sew  up the middle don't stop keep your thread continuous   I varied the size of my hearts but I guess it would look lovely all one size.

Now fold each heart along the sewing line. Display with pride.

You may note that I have embossed my paper and also die cut them. I got a swanky tool for crimbo that does all this for me. Its a bit like a mangle (as my Dad put it) but its not necessary. I think that I’d like to add beads or something extra, maybe glitter.

 

I have also had a go at making these from the wonderful world of colour that is Elizabeth Cat. Elizabeth how on earth did you know!! Whilst making my spot blanket I have had multicoloured ends and saved them up. Yep weird I know. This coupled with the recent purchase of a pom pom maker. Again weird and I know how easy they are to make but this one makes them heart shaped! Too cute, or so I thought. I made one, got cocky and then had 4 disasters so my bits tin filled instantly.

If anyone has had any joy with the little bleepers can I have some help, I am clearly special needs.

Aaaaaaannnnnnnyyyy hooooooooo I have loved making these

The most depressing day of the year

Woa, its been a while!!! I have been having a mammoth attack of the starties only this time it was so bad and my brain so scattered, I never got past the thinking about it stage. In the end it all came out in a mad rush. I will now share the first  of my creative meltdown .

Well today has been scientifically and mathematically calculated to be the most depressing day of the year.

It varies every year but is always mid to late January. I’ve just got back from Pilates so am feeling quite buoyant. Still I do get it, its grey and we are seemingly a million miles from payday.

 

With that in mind, and my inability to find any snowdrops yet, I have come up with these.

 

I made some first from this book which is I feel rather pretty.

   

I only did the petals. I got the trumpet from here

 

I love the result and I have a brooch pin on the back so I can wear it. However its a bit big so I set about inventing a smaller one using the different sized stitches technique that I used to make the apple coasters.

 

 

I have starched them because they curl up such a lot. I made the trumpet similar to the large one above, made it smaller and modified the frill. Do you do this kind of thing too? I find I get an idea from here, a colour scheme from there put it together and although not totally original, something new.  

 

They take so little time to make too.

 

*ch 9 sl st into 2nd ch from hook, dc in next st, tr in each of the next 2 ch, dtr in each of netx 2 ch, trtr in next ch tr in last ch**. repeat from * to ** twice more sl st into last tr of first petal.

 

 

Now working from the back of the first round of petals sl st round last tr of Ist petal repeat from * to ** 3 times sl st into last tr of first petal.fasten off

Trumpet

ch9 dc in each ch, continue in a spiral until work is 2cm. for the last round work (dc,tr) in each dc. sl st into 1st dc fasten off

The trumpet can be started with a magic circle. I did swap to this method after a while in order to close the hole that appears in the middle. I only starched the petals , the trumpet is fine. Originally this was made to fit a Sibol square and I will be using it as such but as you can see I went on to make a garland. I hope some of you might be tempted to have a crack at this. They do cheer up a miserable day.

 

I want to end today by sending a big friendly hello to all the new people that are feeling brave enough to comment. Its so lovely to hear from you. If any of you are reading this from any flooded or post flooded place, my heart genuinely goes out to you, I have shed many a tear this past week for your plight.

Village party

This weekend saw us indulging in a little bucolic, village garden party action. The weather threatened to turn nasty and indeed at one point it rained heavily for about a minute. Us Brits however showed true grit and continued to enjoy the Pimms and afternoon tea that was laid on for us. It was a super way to meet up with neighbours that we already know and meet a few new faces too. Smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and a little sun, what more could we wish for? Please excuse the bunting shots, I made them and offered them for use. It seems they went down well.

   

Note the grumpy teen in this one. Mine I,m afraid hoodie up against the rain DS firmly in pocket.