This Week

My sweet Miss M had her birthday on Wednesday...being one of the last in her class to turn 8 she was really looking forward to it. I made her the rainbow cake as requested! It took me almost the whole day whilst she was at school on Wednesday to make it! But it was so worth it as she was absolutely delighted with it. The recipe came from Fabulous Family Food by Nadia Sawalha (my new favourite cookery book!) and is called Pastel Layer Cake...

I have been enjoying a bunch of gorgeous and fragrant hyacinths in my living room this week too. I love hyacinths so much...

Miss M and I have been writing our thank you cards for our Christmas presents this week...

Yes... I have started another blanket! It is the Camellia Blanket from Cute & Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench. I'm only using 3 colours and the squares are working up more quickly than I thought. I'm also being very disciplined and sewing in the ends as I finish each square! I'm really enjoying making this...what can I say, I just can't get enough of blanket making! 

Hope you have all had some lovely moments in your week too.

X

Floral cushion

Here is the cushion I have been working on recently. It's bright, very colourful and cheerful...and I love it so much!  I made it to coordinate with the granny squares blanket I crocheted last October.  I love how pretty it looks on the bed...although I don't think G is convinced! I asked him before I added the pink edging if I should leave it as it was and he said yes and that sometimes less is more! But I love pink so I went ahead and added it anyway! I love how girly it looks...it makes me happy :-)

To make this cushion, I used yarn that I had already, all DK weight and the usual mix of Sirdar Snuggly and Stylecraft Special, with a 4mm crochet hook. The little flower squares were lovely to make, although they required quite a lot of concentration! The pattern for the squares is from the Gypsy Queen Throw which is in Nicki Trench's book Cute & Easy Crochet With Flowers.

This was a quick project really as once I started making it all other wips were cast to the side! I have plans to make a few more cushions and also have 2 blankets on the go...but right now I have a birthday cake to make for my lovely Miss M who is 8 today.  She has asked for a rainbow cake from one of my cook books which looks as if it may take me some time to bake and ice!  Oh well, she's worth it.

Thanks for all the lovely comments recently and for stopping by to visit me here.

X

Cosy weekend

So the weather this weekend has been really awful...stormy and cold with lots of wind, rain and hail. We haven't been outside much except to take Miss M to her swimming lessons this morning and yesterday. Well, actually, G has been out...him and his buddies went mountain biking this morning when the storm was at its worst.  Completely crazy, I tell you. 

Miss M and I have enjoyed keeping cosy indoors...we have had the wood burner on since early afternoon both days, we have made pancakes and had hot chocolate and lots of tea! I have also been enjoying some crochet (of course!) whilst Miss M has been reading, drawing and playing with her Christmas toys. I am making a cushion which is so colourful and cheerful...I am loving it! I m going to put it together tonight so will be able to show you really soon...

There are lots of benefits to grey, cold January days aren't there?!  

Hope you are all keeping cosy too.

X

Fresh and new

I really enjoy the start of the New Year. Although I love Christmas, I am always ready to take the decorations down and give the house a good clean and freshen to bring in the New Year. I love fresh flowers anyway but I think in January I love them even more as they really brighten up the house....

I have really been enjoying crocheting this blanket. I love the fresh, uplifting colours...

I bought Miss M a new mug but I have to admit it was kind of for myself! I couldn't resist the sweet little ladybirds but since G has banned me from buying any new mugs for myself I bought this for Miss M instead. Naughty me. Miss M has been very kind and has let me use it though...

We have been enjoying walks along the beach. It feels good to get some fresh air...

I made a tea cosy. A fresh new tea cosy for a fresh new year...

I have lots and lots of plans for 2015! There are so many things that I want to make this year and I am so looking forward to sharing them with you...

X

Well that was 2014...

...lots of crochet, baking, crafting with my daughter and sewing! I hadn't really planned  to do a round up post at the end of the year but I was looking through my photos today (when I was supposed to be cleaning!) and thought I would quite like to have a little reminder of all the things I made this year. And anyway, I do love making photo collages....!

2014 was a pretty good year for me all in all. But now the big Hogmanay clean has finally been done and it's nearly time to welcome in the new year. I am so looking forward to 2015 and have lots and lots of projects planned!

But now I would like to wish you all...

     💕 A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 💕

Thank you for your visits, comments and friendship this year...see you in 2015!

X

December Days

December days are busy days!! There is so much going on...parties, night out, school concerts, brownie outings etc. However Miss M and I have managed to do a little festive making together which has been fun...we decorated a gingerbread house, made mince pies and gingerbread men. We also spent a cosy afternoon making simple gift tags. I love crafting with my girl. 

The tree is up and the house is looking quite Christmassy now! I love the festive season...all the decorating, making and baking. 

I have still quite a few gifts to finish off which hopefully will get done in time for Christmas. Although I still have 4 long 12 hour days to get through at work as well as two brownie meetings before then so we will see! 

I will be taking a little blog break until after Christmas but I would like to thank you all for visiting my blog throughout the year and for the lovely comments which are always read and always appreciated.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and festive season!

X

Dotty spotty blanket

So I finished this blanket a few days ago now and I am so pleased with it! I couldnt decide if the circle motifs were dots or spots so I decided I would just name it the dotty spotty blanket and that should cover it!  It has been so dark and dismal here lately, in fact some days it has barely been getting light at all so getting the opportunity to photograph this blanket was a little tricky!  Anyway, I managed to take a few snaps during some brief light spells.  Even if I didn't blog or use Instagram I'm sure I would still photograph my makes as I love having a reminder of how something looked when it was finished, before it gets given away as a gift or is used (and sometimes abused!) at home. 

This is going to be a gift for a special work colleague of mine and I really hope that she likes it.  I certainly enjoyed every moment of making it for her.

The pattern for the squares used in this blanket can be found in Granny Squares by Susan Pinner. I love this book and there are so many projects in it I want to make! Actually, I have found myself going back to my craft books a lot lately for crafty inspiration and I have stopped using Pinterest completely for ideas. I'm not sure why that is? Maybe the novelty has just worn off for me and to be honest I actually I find there is just too much to look at and it becomes overwhelming. 

 Anyway...back to the blanket! The circle motifs were a joy to make and surprisingly quick too. I used a 4mm hook rather than a 5mm as suggested in the pattern. I made 49 squares and joined them using a double crochet seam.  I then did 2 rounds of trebles and finished with a shell border. 

I really enjoyed making this blanket so much. As you can see the chosen colours were once again influenced by the Cath Kidston colours as my friend loves these colours too.

 I can see me making another in a softer colour scheme to keep for our own home I think...

X