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!!!

While I was away

Oh dear, I have not been blogging much recently. I have been reading though. This time of year is so busy in the garden and this time I am attempting to shoehorn so much more in veggiewise.

I am lucky enough to have two green houses. (I know!) The first one we inherited, Its huge if a little shaded.I grow most stuff here before it goes out. The second glasshouse we brought with us and is for tomatoes only.

I have corn and peas, a farms worth, fortunately the boy will eat them.

These are my spuds

Beetroot and onions

Indoor tomatoes, red cherry, yellow cherry and gardeners delight.

Chilli's

Peppers

The salad bowl .I haven’t bought leaves for 2 weeks and I eat it every day!!

Leftover plants, for the neighbours.

Look at the temperature, phew.

Just a few flowers counteract the productivity. I am going to try and do more blogging I swear. Maybe I’ll show you my hanging baskets, when I get them done that is.

Enjoy your garden folks, wherever it is.

round up

I sometimes wonder how I persuade anyone to come see what I’ve been up to at all. I am so envious of those bloggers who think ahead and write a blog with a focus. So here I m with a round up of what is occurring (Welsh accent optional)

Big excitement, Parcels! First my blog friend Louise and I are having too much fun for our own good swapping themed treats. Funny thing was we used the same pattern from Alice to  make 2 very different things. I will let her (if she wants too) show you what I sent as it hasn’t arrived yet.

I love it all thank you Louise. The next parcel came from Sue at SIBOL

She sent me a coaster commemorating the Royal wedding. Ahhhh.

I am in the early stages of putting together another blanket for the group. I am edging in purple and joining as I go but can’t finish it as I am making this…..

As a rush order for Mums cruise at the end of May. Sublime merino 4 ply in Gigi. Carefully chosen to go with her frocks. A fabulous and addictive free pattern with the lovely traditional pineapples. I will show you more when its all done.

I’ve also been gardening…..

Marvelling at nature…..

Sending the family off to their new homes.

I will try to do better and focus on one thing but the manic phase is upon me and I am so scattered. Aaargh.

By the way thanks for all the kind advice you guys are the best. Thomas and I are fledgling geocachers (there's one to focus on!!!)

Lovely happies to you all

Lou

A riot of colour

New project preview. An alternative to nasty Noro.

Taking advantage of the sun to show the spot blanket progress.

Summer shawl is all done and being blocked upstairs. Its acrylic so I used steam to “kill” the fibre. I could actually see it move as it died!!! uuurrgh. It is undoubtedly nasty yarn but soft and it looks pretty. I know some people that are like that!!

Finally, what do you do when you are 13 and your muscles have yet to “kick in”. Well you get your mother to paint a six pack on a t shirt for red nose day so you can be the incredible hulk at the school monster theme day.

A grand weekend to you all and if you are one of those people who had green beer last night, then I really hope that you are starting to feel better.

Love

Lou

Fab Friday

A while ago I looked around for new blogs to add to my reading list. One of the ones I found was In the sky. Lucy’s blog is so creative and I have truely enjoyed investigating her blog. I was especially glad that I found her blog when I won her ----tieth birthday giveaway!!!

Wow Lucy thank you. Afternoon tea will be an occasion. I am going to wash my hair and put on a frock!! Fingers are my ultimate, I could and probably will eat the entire box.

I am also grateful to Lucy's blog as it has enabled me to finish a UFO and that was one of my resolutions this year. I had made this colourful coffee cosy but had no idea how to attach it so it stayed on. Lucy drew my attention to Kumihimo-Japanese Braiding . It is such fun, so quick and the result is amazing. I used acrylic yarn but the finished product has (I think) a cotton texture to it. Great stuff thanks.

Other things I have been doing (between gradual spring clean of the glory holes and extreme dust bunnies)

More baby boots for my Aunts friends daughter, free pattern here

A knitting project because I am actually ashamed of how badly I knit. These are to cover creme eggs but they take me ages. They are Jean Greenhowe creatins and are also free Go get some!!

Finally I found this on tinternet  here its a great tutorial and quite easy to make. Its up to you how to decorate.

The best bit is the handle detail, I LOVE this. I have already made several to fill with easter yummies and give to lovely friends

 

I can feel that I am in a manic phase of crafts as I have just spotted a new crochet blankie idea, it calls for Noro silk garden and Kureyon. I bought some silk garden a while ago (£12 what was I thinking) Its awful!! So I am looking for an alternative (cheaper version) It is going to be a Riot of colour. I will share this with you just as soon as I have had it sanctioned by the reigning in police. Have a smashing weekend, I am off to crochet, what else!!

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.