Autumnal Arrangements .. . . . . . . .

Over the past few months, I have been a whirlwind of making. It has been one project following another. Our window display changed to an Autumnal theme. This only lasted a couple of months and it is now time for Christmas! Where does time fly too? 

 Window display 

 For my autumnal theme I went quite traditional, with bursts of colour and little characters galore. I played with ribbon to make an autumnal ribbon garland; 

I also made a funky fox called Derek who is a handsome chappie with a top hat and bow tie, love his colours. 

 He sat in the shop and kept giving the customers the eye. Felt he looked a little lonely, so I made him a “foxyfriend”, Doreen! 

 She is very pretty, with a pretty vintage clip in her hair. I think they make a handsome couple! 

I have become obsessed with autumnal colours, I went on another crochet rambling of round, around and around with a Autumnal giant Mandala, and this became my perfect backdrop! 

 

Love a perfect edging too. 

There were Pumpkins too and fallen leaves. 

 

Also a lovely, friend made Hoggly the Hedge pig. 

 Soon enough another Hedge pig joined in the party with the arrival of Mr Hedge.  Think Hoggly is a little shy hiding under the leaves peeping out  wiggling her nose at Hedge!  He is ahandsome devil. 

 We have lots of romancing going on at Miss Millicent. I am sure when the lights go out that things come alive!!! I may leave a note and ask if they will make themselves useful and do some of my making, you never know it may work. 

I am now working on my Christmas display which is due to be put out this week! It is all go with this making malarkey, no moaning, just keep going luckily the weather is becoming colder, perfect to get up to so cozy craftiness. Hope you have a good week and keep crafting xx

A bit of Mid-week Making

For this weeks Mid-Week Making, I have been slipper sock crocheting, using a glorious Stylecraft pattern and for once I am being good and using the correct yarn, specified in the pattern.  I don't always do that I like to experiment, then you never know what it will turn out like.  Your twist on things, it's good for your crafty soul.  

The yarn is Stylecraft  Classique Cotton which is lovely to use.  The pattern uses two strands and produces quite a sturdy slipper sock.  Can't wait to try them on!!  

Have you noticed, I am very colour co-ordinated too with my blue hook!! This was quite by accident.   It's lovely to be co-ordinated!! 

Have a good week and keep crafting xx 

Catching my tail on Mid-Week Makes'

A bit of a catch up for the last couple of makes in the midst, this week showcased knitting, yes I definitely said knitting!! The lovely art of sock knitting, it can be addictive this going around and around, and using four double pointed needles keeps the mind very occupied. 

This  lovely sock yarn is Wendy - Happy it contains bamboo to let your feet breath.  They will be a Christmas present for my Dad, he has a thing about socks.  Mind you he may only get  one for Christmas and the second for his birthday!!  I have given myself half an hour a day,  but fear it is going to be one of those projects that on Christmas Eve,  I am going to be there frantically knitting in the round with a schooner of sherry at my side!! 

For my next 'Mid-Week Makes' I am in the throws of making myself some fingerless mitts.  It has been on my to do list for 2014, to make myself two crocheted items to wear; one being a cowl and the other some mitts.  I am terrible when choosing colours as I just 'willy nilly' choose away with total disregard for what items are in my wardrobe, so I have decided that multi coloured is the way to go, they will go with everything.  I am using Katia Basic Merino which is so lovely to use and comes in a an array of happy colours.  

I am now in full swing making for my new Christmas Window display, so lots of Christmassy makes in the midst.  Hope you have a good week and keep crafty xx

The Cheery Cheeky Chevron blanket . . . . . at last!

"At Blooming last" the little voice inside my head says!  A couple of weeks ago I finally finished my 'Cheeky Chevron' blanket, which has been a pick up, put down project for about a year. I like those sorts of projects as you feel like you have climbed a mountain when they are finished, I feel really chuffed with myself too. 

 This project was a constant face in my work in progress bowl! 

Works in progress - January 2014 

 

Works in progress - June 2014 

One of my favourite colours is duck egg blue, so this was definitely going to be used. I did not want to do all different colours, I wanted a colour scheme for this little beauty.

Sure you would agree that the cheeky chevron blanket definitely lends to a colour scheme. I did not have the sun, sea and sand in my mind when choosing the colour scheme in fact is was quite by accident, as my mission when I started was to use my scraps of wool, which would mean it would be a blanket of multi colours.  Following much pondering, this little colour scheme was born. 

 I love a nice edging, so for me it had to be a bobbly one, and most definitely in sunny yellow.  It reminds me of the sea, sand with the sun poking through fluffy white clouds. 

 Hope you like keep crafting! Xx

This weeks Mid-Week making

For this weeks mid-week making, I have started a blanket which is a new Stylecraft pattern, that I  stock in the shop.  It is one of those patterns that as soon as I saw it I knew that I had to do it.  I am  sure you understand this is purely as a sample for the shop.  However, the cogs are turning and I'm thinking that one maybe on the cards for home!

This pattern is made up of beautiful simple flower motifs, which are joined together to form a beautiful cheerful blanket. How pretty is this, hope you like it?    

I will keep you posted as to my progress 20 flowers made. . . . . only 187 to go, woo hoo I love that feeling. 

See you soon and keep crafty xx

This weeks mid week makes . . . . . . .

Just a quickie for this weeks mid-week making, I am in the midst of making a mini quilt, with patchwork blocks of tea cups! 

Ohhh I do love a cup of tea, whether it be summer or winter. In the summer it helps cool you down and in the winter there is nothing finer than warming your hands on a cup of tea. I think it does truly have medicinal properties, when you are upset it cheers you up, when things go wrong it makes you feel better, and if you are happy it makes you even more happier!  

My mini make is going to be a four block quilt with pretty tea cups, in reds, pinks and crisp white.  Perfect for in my kitchen at the shop.  

 Hope you like and keep crafty xx.

A bit of home mid-week making . . . . . .

On my work table at home and for my makes in the midst this week, I found a little time to do some hand quilting, after doing some boring old chores.  In fact In my head that day I planned to do some crafting, so it made me do my boring things quicker!

This project has been a lengthy make in the midst, I knew it would as I wanted to make a quilt which was totally handmade, firstly, I English Paper Pieced (EPP) the squares of lovely fabric, which are in lovely shades of blues and creams. 

 This quilt is double bed size, in a favourite colour combination of mine,  it has appliqué butterflies which were firstly hand embroidered.   

Then by hand I sewed seed beads to make the trails of the flutterby's shimmer in the light.  Instead of binding I have made a crocheted edging in a mercerised thread, using a 1.75mm hook.    

I am now hand quilting around the butterflies to bring the layers together. A bit cock-eyed way of doing things, but I could not wait to do the crocheting, and I could not decide what design to hand quilt.  I love hand quilting, it is so relaxing, the world is your oyster regarding what design you use, and just stitch away.  I will certainly show once finished.  

Hope you like?