WIP Wednesday 29th June 2011

Here we are again.  This week it is a gorgeous sunny and breezy Wednesday.  We've had some killer muggy heat the last few days so the breeze is much appreciated today.  In the heat progress with yarn has been slow as I dont enjoy working with wool when it is hot.  I have however tediously sewn in all the ends on 15 of my tile blanket squares - only another 5 to go but it is such a boring job!!  Decided to start whipstitching some together last night for a bit of WIP variety.  The 'Happy Hooker' describes whipstitching as a 'less pleasing' way of joining seams but I LOVE it.  Why have I not whipstitched before lol as it is so much quicker than mattress stitch or crochetting seams!

Its so lovely to see squares that were made up to 9 years ago finally coming together.  My longest WIP is becoming my happiest WIP :-)

To see what everyone else is working on this week head over to Tami's Amis blog

A year of projects

Ravelry year of Projects and disappearing 9's

I've signed up to Ravelry's blog-a-long year of projects.  By 1st July I need to post all my patterns for the next 12 months and then update their progress each Sunday.  You can either:

• Pick all projects from one book / magazine
• Create your own book of patterns
• Pick patterns from your current queue
• Finish all WIP's

I've got plenty of WIP's lol so might go down that route or I could make a book of patterns using only wool from my current yarn stash.  The second option is more appealing as I put myself on a self inflicted ban from Wonderwool until my stash is much depleted!!!  Decisions decisions!

My cottons

lovely yarn

felting projects??

worsted weights

double knits

This is only some of my stash *blush*.  Strange how our tastes change - I've moved away from worsted weight and prefer to knit with sock yarn of which there is a disappointing lack of!  Any suggestions for patterns gratefully received :-)

Whilst the weather is warm my needles are taking a short break so I have started my next sewing project.  I'm going to make the girls a disappearing 9 patch quilt each for Christmas - inspirations from this quilt on the Moda site

 I was hoping to make it in vibrant colours but Josie has requested light purple, light pink and light blue!!!  So I've chosen these fabrics

All 160 5"squares cut and ready for sewing.

Looking forward to a quiet evening to start piecing them together :-)

Elderflower Pop :-)

Thanks to my Nan I developed a taste for elderflower pop at a young age.  I have memories of sunny days drinking ice cold pop at the farm.  My mate Janet  makes elderflower cordial and last years batch was gorgeous.  After a sniff of hers brewing in the bucket I decided to give it a go.

A stroll down to the river to search for elderflowers

Bingo!

10 heads

My assistant!

The all important stirring

Recipe taken from this lovely book I got from the library today

Mmmmmmm!

Recipe:
10 large elderflower heads
1.5lb sugar
1.5 pints of boiling water
4 lemons zested, sliced and squeezed
Mix all together and leave under a damp towel for 48 hours - with frequent sniffs of the amazing smell before sieving through muslin and bottling :-)

WIP Wednesday 22nd June 2011

The longest WIP ever!!!!

This week I have given myself a good talking to and promised to be good and not start yet another project until at least 2 WIP's become FO's.  So I went down to the shed to dig out a very old WIP *blush*!!!  I started this blanket in cough cough 2002 when I first learnt to crochet!  The yarn is cheap acrylic brought from Cardigan Bay market whilst we were on holiday.  I don't think I paid more than a pound a ball and its a mixture of chunky and DK held double.  The throw has always been my holiday project and whenever used to go away for the week it would come with me and then get put behind the sofa or in the shed until the next holiday.  Obviously we don't have enough holidays as 9 years later it is still unfinished.  All the blocks are completed but unfortunately I was lazy and didnt waste holiday time weaving the ends in as I went so this week I am mostly weaving and snipping hundreds of ends.  Then all the blocks need whipstitching together before deciding whether to add a border - sadly I havent got enough yarn left to make the pattern border.

For more lovely creations head over to Everyday crochet and  Tami's Amis blog 

Toy Challenge Week Result

After a week of happy toy crafting the girls have some new toys :-)  I managed to make them a Babushka dolly each using some left over Adriafil Knitcol and a knitted gnome baby from some beautifully soft Malabrigo worsted.  Both were great projects for using up scraps.  I stuffed them with scoured lambswool which although feels quite coarse its great for a firm filling.  Their little toys were hidden in a drawstring bag again made from scraps.  Challenge week has been great fun and the best way to ensure projects get finished!  Now what shall I challenge myself to next?

Babushka's

happy gnomes

pretty bags

present time :-)

So how did you all get on this week.  Add your blog link.

FO Friday 17th June 2011

Luscious Lace

I am so excited to be showing off this little beauty :-)  Introducing my Summer Mystery KAL 

Laid out for blocking - it grew a lot!!

Trying to catch the lace work through the sun

I've done a little bit of lace work before on cardigans but never anything this detailed.  Starting at the bottom is definitely the way to go - I think I'd have given up in the other direction lol.  I used a Zauberball on a 3.75mm needle and its taken just under a month (with a bit of other WIP work in between!)

Now how do you wear a shawlette???

Round the neck?

to the side?

Think this one may well be a present as I have someone in mind who looks very good in those colours.

I've been busy doing my Toy Challenge week too and have finished two Babushka dolls.  They were very quick makes.  Really looking forward to giving these to the girls at the end of the week :-)  Just a couple of gnomes and a toy bag each to make now.

Dont forget to pop over to Tami's Amis blog to admire all this weeks finished objects

WIP Wednesday 15th June 2011

Its a wet Wednesday :-( although Kinsley Wood still looks lovely with the mist and horizontal rain lashing across.  This week is Toy Challenge Week so I have gnomes and dollies to make.  I've got 2 babushka dolls on the go. The pattern was for a separate back and front but I hate sewing up and knitting such small rows with constant back forth turning so I've made them in the round on dpns.  Hoping to finish knitting the second doll whilst Erin naps this afternoon and then I will embroider their faces and stuff them this evening so I can start on the gnomes tomorrow.

Its not to late to join the Toy Challenge - make a little something for your kids this week :-)

Cant wait for FO Friday - here is a sneaky peak

To admire what all the other crafters are up to this week head over to Tami's Amis blog

Toy Challenge Week day 2

So what are you all up to?  I was supposed to post yesterday but sat down with Carl to watch The Kings Speech instead - great film by the way! Needed to finish my ravelry KAL too - now that's off the needles toy making can commence.

Although I didn't make anything today I did spend the day with a major toy challenge!!!  Brought every single toy in the house up into our bedroom and went through all the boxes to find all those missing pieces (and have a good clear out!)  The kids rooms are now full of neat toy boxes with everything where it should be and the front room is a toy storage free zone :-)

Mid chaos!  Wish I'd taken the after photo with it all neatly put away!

 I have decided to make:

• a couple of toy bags to store some of the toys which have lost their original boxes.  They'll be a drawstring bag with some of the left over fabric I've brought this year.  
• a gnome baby or two

• a gnome house

• and a Babushka Dolly

I've ordered some sheeps wool stuffing so praying that arrives tomorrow.  I'd like to make a doll for Erin with interchangeable clothes but that may have to wait until another week!

Join in too and dont forget to add your blog so we can all admire what you are up to :-)

FO Friday 10th June 2011

Woohoo I have a finished object :-)  Say hello to Josie's birdie!!  Its a year tomorrow since we moved into our new house and I feel awful as I starting making the birdie before we moved in to welcome Jo into her new bedroom and help make it cosy!  Thankfully she settled in with no problem so the poor birdie has sat in the WIP pile.  Very pleased to have finished him in time for our 1st anniversary :-)

 Luckily she hadn't gone to sleep by the time he was finished so I was able to sneak in and let her have her birdie.  They are snuggled up asleep now :-)

 

For some more great FO to inspire you head over to Tami's Amis blog

If you fancy a toy making week please come and join me next week for the challenge

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you’re inspired to do the same,

leave a link to your ‘moment’ over at SouleMama for all to find and see.

WIP Wednesday 8th June 2011

Wow June already!  I missed last weeks WIPW as the computer gave up on life. Grrr!!!  So whats on my pins this week - guess what same as last time lol.  I'm still working away on the Summer Mystery KAL.  Really regretting starting a second because I'm falling behind with the rest of the group and it gets a bit tedious when you havent got the buzz of being ready for the next clue as its released.  I managed to slice through the pink bit of my nail last night whilst chopping the veg!  Lace work and an elastoplast on the tip of your finger are not a marriage made in heaven so it back to some crochet for a few evenings!! 

Fyberspates

Zauberball

Whilst my finger mends I will try and complete some of the crochet WIP's rather than start anything new!!!  Today I'm trying to get my Lucy's attic 24 bird finished.  Body is done and somewhere in the house there are some wings!  Using the gorgeous rico cotton for this one.

I'm also trying to put an hour aside after dinner to craft with Josie.  So far we've made a pin cushion and 2 gnomes for our gnome project.  I'm running a Toy Challenge Week (11-18th June) on my blog please join in and see what you can create during the week.

 

Please come and join us :-)

 I'm off to admire all the other WIPW over at Tami's Amis blog xx