Rita the Knitted Rabbit

Hello all, let me introduce you to my first knitted rabbit toy which has taken me since the summer to reach this stage! (Partly because for a while I thought I had lost the magazine pattern so for a couple of months there were various unfinished rabbit boy parts lying around much to the perplexment of my other half, hehe).

She does currently remain unfinished and, ahem, un-clothed the poor thing so it's now on to the dress before she gets cold, although I first have to work out how to do 'yfwd' stitch first as I haven't done that one yet. Hopefully it turns out as per the picture...

I was flicking through all my craft book collections today and remembered that I had this new 'Patch!' book from Cath Kidston that I still hadn't done anything with yet... I don't normally buy books at full price when they are always loads cheaper on Amazon, but on this occasion I did because I managed to get it signed by the lady herself.

As I work near Selfridges and Cath was doing her book signing in there soon after I finished work I though 'why not' and actually had a little chat with her about fabrics and sewing which was fab! Worth paying full price for I think.

You get a little fabric kit with the book so you can make your own bag or cushion out of patchwork.

Such gorgeous prints....

Some lovely pictures and projects in there...

I really love this picture showing the combination of printed fabric appliqued on to knitted material...so sweet.

Enjoy the rest of your weekends!

Sarah

x

A long weekend...

Hello all, I had a day off work yesterday which was lovely... a perfect opportunity to indulge in a bit of blogging (at last), sewing and baking!

I finished off my applique tea towel... (a pattern from one of my fave books Cath Kidstons Sew!), plucked some more of my chillies from the garden (the ones in the photo have been drying on my kitchen windowsill for the last few weeks so that's why they look a bit shrivelled - much hotter that way though!), made some banana bread (no pics as the light was not great but I have made it before here - it is completely delicious and so easy to make)  and tried to teach myself how to freehand embroider on my sewing machine (which didn't quite work out as expected and I even broke a needle but hey ho)

Here is my chilli plant... still alive which I find quite amazing..

And my finished tea-towel...

Still creased even though I ironed it within an inch of it's life! That's linen for you though, eh.

On Saturday I had a brilliant day at the Country Living Christmas Fair in Islington with my lovely friend Lakota from Faith Hope and Charity Shopping. It was a bit of a last minute thing as I got some free tickets somehow that were posted through my door and very gratefully received! Must have entered something I forgot about, but it was nice to finally offer one to Lakota as she is normally the one offering me free tickets to these things!hehe.

Anyway, I was quite good on the spending side of things and didn't go too mad at all (VERY easy to do when you are surrounded by all these gorgeous things). It was just nice to be there to be honest.

I spotted some vintage style Christmas cake decorations which I have had my eye on for ages (as mentioned in my post around this time last year! Good grief how was that a year ago...)

And a very Christmassy Orange and Cinnamon smelling candle...

 Wow, I was restrained with the shopping! Definitely provided lots of festive inspiration...

It's good to be back blogging again!

Sarah

x

More woolly delights

I think I might be getting.... addicted to crochet! 

Not only have I already taken delivery of a lovely big stash of wool from an online order, I also could not help but treat myself to further balls of wool yesterday.

Here is my amigurumi mushroom man with circles of felt for his spots...

And my very thereputic-to-make giant granny square (hmmm, yes it is a bit bright and random colours but hey, it's my first one I'm just allowing the wool to flow! :)) I was going to do separate squares and sew them together but found myself not carrying on quite happily without casting off the first one. Hopefully I have enough wool to make it into a nice big blanket...

Have just started reading this book which I spotted on Amazon which looks like a nice easy escapist read. Really wish there was more time in the day to indulge in all these things. I could quite happily spend a few days off just reading a crocheting (in the sun would be even better)

Enjoy the rest of the Sunday (we do actually have sun here today which makes a change!)

Sarah

x

Crochet and colours

Hello lovely bloggers, I hope that you enjoyed this lovely weekend and Monday of sunny of weather it's so nice to have a bit of a U turn from that cold rainy spell.

It has been a few weeks since my last post but among other things I have been indulging in my new found crochet fixation...

I have finally finished my 'amigurumi' chick -  think I am getting used to the keeping count of stitches when following the patterns now (found it a bit tricky at first). And above is a pic of the amigurumi mouse that I made - it's a very good beginners project and quick to make once you have learnt the basic stitches. It's a good job I have a new baby niece to make things for - brilliant excuse! ;)

My first granny square! So chuffed about this as I always used to look at granny squares in awe as they look very difficult to make (not when you know how! :) mind you, I think I would need to check the 'how to' book again when I do my next one, heheh.

Next on my project list is a phone holder for my new phone which I received a couple of weeks ago. Found this pattern in a old crochet magazine with tea stains on it...

Think I might use these colours...

Spotted a red strawberry in the pot this morning... wish I had a few more though.

Had a look through one of my fave websites - BBC Good Food, for some Strawberry recipes, and thought these Strawberry and Vanilla Shortcakes looks yummy (although don't think I could solely rely on my tiny supply of strawberries to make them). Might try them next weekend!

Also in the garden...after two years of waiting I actually have flowers on my passion flower tree! I love the way they have so much detail on them...

Can't wait until my chillis are fully grown. These ones look like they will be quite small but hopefully that means they will be hotter.

Must remember to keep watering them though the poor little blighters dry up quite quickly...

Enjoy the rest of your weeks!

Sarah

x

A delivery of crafty delights!

Hello everyone on this very sunny day...

This week I was the extremely lucky recipient of a gorgeous giveaway prize from the lovely talented stitcher and fellow blogger Helen Phillips - thank you SO much Helen, I love it all!

Everything was so beautifully wrapped...

(I had to stop myself to remember to take a pic at this point before it quickly became non-wrapped)

Yes, I do feel like an extremely lucky girl - It felt like haberdashery heaven!

Among the goodies was a cross stitch project which I am looking forward to attempting....

Everything was lovingly placed in this cute and useful bag...

Some lovely fabrics....

Threads..

And a particularly fabulous stash of buttons...

So definitely enough to keep me going for a while...

If you haven't already done so, I would highly recommend that you visit Helen's blog if you are a fan of crafts, colour and anything stitchy you will not be disappointed. Thanks again Helen!

Enjoy the rest of your sunny Sunday everyone...

My first chilli is emerging, hurray!

Off to soak up a bit more sun now and read my latest Amazon purchase... looks really good so far.

 

 

Sarah

x

Rainy days and a courgette in the garden

Hello bloggers, yes it has been almost one whole month since my last post I am ashamed to say, and can honestly say that I am not sure how this has happened! What with this and that going on, it seems that the hands of time have been working overtime...

Anyway... I hope that you are having good weekends. We have had constant rain all day today which has not been too bad be honest as I have had no need whatsoever to step outside the house today - not even to Sainsburys Local! Don't you just love the sound of the rain (and thunder!) when you are indoors? So good for the garden. I really am in 'garden mode' at the moment - as I usually am this time of the year!

I am very chuffed to report that I have my very own first time ever home grown courgette!

These little blighters really do take up a lot of space in the garden but to think that I can pluck my courgette from my humble patio is very exciting, and also extremely useful too as otherwise I would definitely have had to make the journey to Sainsburys Local today to pay a whole pound for a shop bought one instead! 

I saw this recipe in Zest magazine this morning and think it looks quite nice, so in the pot Mr Courgette will go this evening...

I also spotted a flower on one of my chilli plants... just a little white one but also very exciting all the same!

It really is rainy right now...

Good job we covered the BBQ (A few too many times we have left it out to get drenched in the rain.... not this time! :) hehe)

I've discovered the art of making Yo Yos! This little crafty project is a brilliant way of using up odd scraps of fabric and buttons and creating colourful combinations, I love it...

They are so easy to make - all you do is cut out a circle of fabric and losely stitch a running stitch around the edge of the fabric. When you have sewn all the way around, you pull on the thread and the outside of the fabric gathers into the middle to make a Yo Yo flower shape. Then you just sew your button in the middle and there you have it!

The perfect way to make use of any lovely buttons...

I hope that you are keeping dry and enjoy the rest of your weekends

Sarah

x