Handmade Christmas Decoration Swap

 

I have decided to organise a little Christmas swap and hope that some of you may join me?! I think it would be so lovely to hand make a Christmas decoration/ornament for a fellow blogger and then to receive one in return in the post. I love getting mail...especially happy mail!

 

So, the decoration should be handmade, in any way you like, you could use crochet, knitting, paper crafting, sewing...the possibilities are endless! It doesn't have to be anything too elaborate...simple is good especially since we are all extra busy at this time of year. There is absolutely no obligation to add anything else to your parcel for your swap partner, unless you especially want to...the decoration/ornament and a little hand written note or card is great.

 

Please leave a little note in the comments if you want to join in, and if you could also let me know where in the world you are and if you are happy to post overseas or not, that would also be really helpful. I will leave it open until next Tuesday, the 12th November, when I will pair people up and post details here.

 

I am really quite excited, I love the idea of making something especially for someone else which they will hopefully enjoy having in their home this Christmas and maybe in years to come!

X

 

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Friday

This week has been so very busy with work, school and lots of after school and Halloween activities and I am so glad it's Friday. I am now off work for a few days and G didn't have to work until 3pm today so we decided to spend the morning together in Glasgow...

 

It was such a lovely Autumn morning, sunny and crisp. We parked the car on Kelvin Way and walked to one of G's favourite cafes. I don't drink coffee at all, but G is a big coffee drinker and he says the coffee here is pretty great...

 

 

I had tea and a frangipane cherry tart, which was really delicious. It is quite a cool coffee shop this, with lots of nice little touches. I liked how Lyle's Golden Syrup tins were used as sugar bowls. I think I may be saving our next empty syrup tin now...

 

 

After our drinks and cakes, we went for a nice leisurely walk, doing a little window shopping along the way. I loved this colourful display of fruit and vegetables outside a green grocers on Dumbarton Road...

 

 

We walked back to the car, just enjoying the sights on such a nice day. Above you can see Glasgow University just behind Kelvin Way bridge...

 

 

I went into the garden when we got home to hang some washing out and was delighted to see a few little flowers and some lavender remaining. I was so sure they had all gone, maybe all the rain we have had lately has given them a little boost. I snipped a few blooms and brought them inside to have on my bedside table. I really love having flowers beside my bed...

 

 

Miss M has a playdate today and won't be home until 6pm. So I have lit a few candles, made myself a cup of tea and I am going to catch up on a little television. Most probably I will do some crochet too!

 

I have made a couple of new discoveries this week...

 

I have realised that saucers make really nice tea light holders and I now have some saucers dotted around the living room for this very purpose.

 

G has been teaching me how to edit my photographs and how to use filters in my pictures. I had no idea these sort of things could be done...I am a complete techno phobe! I have a very basic little camera and I am definitely not a natural photographer, so it has been nice to learn a few little tricks to make my photos look a bit better! A few of the photos above were snapped with my phone and I think I will probably use it more often now to take photos as it is so quick and easy. G has also shown me how to add photos from my phone to a blog post, which I had no idea could be done either!

 

Thank you for the lovely comments recently, I really do appreciate and read every one and I so enjoy visiting your blogs in return. Also, hello and welcome to my new readers and followers.

 

Before I go, now it is November, my thoughts are turning to the festive season and I was thinking of maybe organising a little handmade Christmas decoration swap. Would anyone be interested? I think it would be quite a fun thing to do...

 

Hope everyone has a really lovely weekend...

 

X

 

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Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long Week 5

I can't believe it is already week 5 of the crochet-a-long! It has been lovely that so many of you have been joining in these past few weeks with Chrissie and I, and sharing your gorgeous crochet makes...I have found it very inspiring to see what others are making. The only problem is that my crochet 'to do' list is now much longer than before the crochet-a-long started!

I don't have any hexies to show this week as I have been busy finishing off a little cushion from Cute & Easy Crochet with Flowers, which I started quite a few weeks back here...

 

It is the crown-edged cushion cover from the book, although I decided against adding the crown edge as Miss M told me that she thought it was too "spiky"?! As the cushion was for her, I added a different edging which she is happy with, I am pleased to report! I enjoyed making this, it is a very simple pattern and I used only yarn which I already had in my stash.

 

 

Here it is on Miss M's bed. She likes to have a few cushions and blankets on her bed as she loves to curl up in amongst them all and read her books.

 

I haven't had much time for crochet or crafting this week really as I have been working a lot, but I did manage to make another square for my granny scarf and a couple of roses for another little project I have planned...

 

 

What crochet projects do you have on the go this week?

 

Colour Me Crochet

 

A World of Imagination

 

Hazel's Crochet

 

Forgetmenotsblue

 

Sweetpea Family

 

Us Three By The Sea

 

X

 

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Fingerless Mittens

 

I have finished the fingerless mittens I was working on! I am really happy with them, I love the colour and they are nice and cosy. In fact, I am tempted to knit up another pair in teal (and in soft pink actually) for myself, but I really must get on with my Christmas makes and stop making things for myself!

 

 

I used the pattern above, from Nicki Trench's book Handmade Gifts. I adapted the pattern a little...actually, I seem to adapt most patterns I use, I can't seem too leave anything as it is, I always have to make a few changes! I have small hands, so I went down a needle size and for the cuff and top border I used garter stitch instead of working in knit one, purl one rib - I just really like the effect garter stitch gives. I also made the cuffs quite a bit longer than it said in the pattern, simply by increasing the number of rows. Finally, I added a little crochet flower to each mitten...

 

The yarn used is Sirdar Snuggly in Duckling. I adore using Sirdar Snuggly, it is meant as a baby yarn, but it is so soft and cosy for any project and is a decent price too.

 

It has been nice to do a little knitting after all the crochet I have been doing lately!

 

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.

 

X

 

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Bloomin' Crochet-A-Long Week 4

My poor hexie blanket has been a little neglected this week, as I have been busy making squares for my granny square scarf from last month's issue of Simply Crochet magazine...

 

 

I am enjoying this project so much, I love the colours and the squares are just lovely to make. I really like looking at all my little squares stacked up together, although I don't know if I will enjoy joining them all together quite so much!

 

 

I have made a couple more hexies for the throw and I seem to like stacking those up together too! I had hoped to make a hexie a day, but work and my granny square scarf have sort of got in the way of those plans! I am going to make some more hexies tonight whilst I catch up on the Great British Year on I Player, I missed the last episode as I was working and I have just adored watching the others. So a nice hot drink, good television and some crochet for me this evening, I can't wait....

 

It has been lovely to see what crochet other bloggers have been working on, and great that you are joining in the crochet-a-long with Chrissie and myself. As before, simply leave a note in the comments if you would like me to link up to your post.

 

Have a little look to see what lovely crochet makes these bloggers are working on...

 

A World of Imagination

 

Gilly Makes

 

Hazel's Crochet

 

Forgetmenotsblue

 

Summerhouse by the Sea

 

Summerhouse Cottage

 

Colour Me Crochet

 

Three Stories High

 

Cosmos and Cotton

 

Sweetpea Family

 

Snap That

 

All occasions, cards, papers and more

 

Happy crocheting!

 

X

 

 

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Sunday

It was just Miss M and me this weekend as G had gone down to Ambleside with his mountain biking buddies for a weekend of mud and rocks. I really hope that he had better weather than we had...the west of Scotland has been incredibly damp, grey and chilly since Thursday. I also really hope that he has visited here and purchased a bath bun for me! He is due back later this evening so we shall see...

 

Anyway, we have spent much of today keeping cosy inside...

 

 

Enjoying French toast with blueberries and maple syrup for breakfast...

 

 

We did manage to go out for a walk this morning in between rain showers and it was nice to get some fresh air. Miss M is always very happy to have the chance to wear her horse wellies and splash in some puddles...

 

 

We bought some nice, bright flowers for my gran and took them along when we visited her this afternoon...

 

 

Miss M chose this lovely, soft yarn during the week for me to make her a cosy hat and scarf. She will wear them on the walk to and from school each day and the blue yarn will look nice with her school coat. I made a start on the scarf today...

 

 

It is just a very simple garter stitch scarf, knitted on fairly big needles for quick results...

 

 

I have had the living room candles lit since late afternoon. I love how candles make a room seem so cosy and the whole house smells of vanilla now...

I really love looking through my favourite books with a cup of tea after dinner. I have been enjoying browsing some of my craft books this evening whilst Miss M has watched some television...

It has been a nice, relaxing Sunday, just what I need as I am back at work tomorrow. Now Miss M and I are planning a quick game of junior scrabble before it is bedtime for her and crochet time for me. I am completely loving working on my granny square scarf, the squares are nice and simple and perfect to make in the evenings...

 

X

 

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Sunshine on a rainy day...

 

It is the last day of the October school break today and it is wet, cold and grey outside. However, Miss M and I spent a happy hour this afternoon baking some little fairy cakes and then had fun decorating them with brightly coloured icing 'pens'.

 

Happy little cakes!

 

X

 

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