Biscuit bears and crochet blanket update

Hello lovely bloggers... in honour of Valentines Day yesterday I couldn't resist these two Mr and Mrs Bear biscuits in Sainsburys at the weekend. I do love an occasion it must be said! Always such a good excuse to get an extra bottle of wine, or indeed a biscuit or two, hehe...

My crochet blanket is very slowly coming along, and although it only gets attention only once in a while, I have got to that nice stage where I can fold it into quarters (making it look bigger than it actually is) and take some lovely pictures of the yummy (if a little bit clashing) colours...

I think it must be a symptom of getting older but I sometimes seem to forget about little crafty projects that I am halfway through and find them sometime a few months later! I found this little half finished crochet purse a couple of days ago which needs folding up and sewing together...

Think it would look quite cute if it was lined with some vintagey fabric in corduroy or brushed cotton...

We had some snow left in the garden this weekend... hasn't it been just sooo freezing the last few weeks!

It's amazing though how the signs of Spring are starting to emerge against the elements... can't wait to see the flowers on my Camelia plant...

And these white hyacinth... love the fragrance of these...

Hurry up Spring!

Hope you are all keeping warm...

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

Knitting needles at the ready!

Hello everyone, I have to say that normally my post consists mainly of bills and takeaway menus... but yesterday I was very chuffed indeed to receive something much more exciting through the letterbox - my giveaway prize from the lovely Verity through her brilliant blog Miss Ginger Makes..... a brand new copy of the 'Knit your own Royal Wedding' - thank you very much Verity!

This book is an absolute classic....

You can even knit the corgis!

Here is the lovely Kate in a beautiful knitted wedding dress

And the rest of the family... Her Majesty is seen to be wiping a tear from her eye in this scene...brillant.

Even their faces really do look like the royal family don't you think?

Ooh, I can't wait for the Royal Wedding... all that time off work too hooray!

I would love to knit these... I was taught to knit when I was little by my lovely Nan, however the most complicated thing I have ever finished is a simple pink scarf, so I am not very confident with all the increasing/decreasing etc, although there is a section in this book which shows you how to do this so I plan to give it a good go and start with a Corgi.

On the subject of knitting - last year I posted about my trying to learn crochet project and I am pleased to report I have made a tiny bit of progress...

Here is the dog/fox creature that I really wanted to make from my magazine...

And here is my attempt at dog/fox creature so far...

(A head and a leg)

As you can see he is missing a few vital limbs, but he is slowly getting there I think... I am having a couple of issues with it though - firstly, I am finding quite hard to keep track of the pattern and remember how many single/2 double crochets I have done when I am either decreasing or increasing - so when I pick it up after not having done anything for a day or two, I can't remember for the life of me where I got up to, and I'm not sure how to tell just by looking at the stitches I have done so far... even mid crochet I loose count!

Also... when I made the dog/fox head, for the last  5 or 6 rows I had to decrease (dc2tog), on every stitch, however I am left with lots of big (ish) holes which are quite significant next to the other stitches which are much tighter... if anyone could offer any advice on this it would be very much appreciated!! :)

It's sooo nice that the weather is getting warmer! Spring is in the air for sure...

I just love the white pansies with the purple bit in the middle... (I'm so easily pleased)

My lavender bush is starting to show green shoots...

 And courgette seeds are starting to grow - these things grow at a rate of knots! (unlike

 my chilli plant seeds which were not worth a photo as the little blighters refuse to show themselves)

And here are my sweet peas... hopefully I get flowers on these this year as my sweet peas last year were flower-less! Not sure why...  second time lucky, eh.

And some Oregano which I thought would be quite useful for putting on pizzas and things...

I hope that you are all having lovely weekends, and Happy Mother's Day!

I treated my Mum to this beautiful handbag mirror from the brilliant Jenny Arnott, and she loved it (thanks Jenny!)

Ooh yes, there is still time to enter my Spring giveaway here if you would like too :)

Cheerio everyone...!

Sarah

x