Too Much to do...

WOW! 

It has been a while hasn't it? Doesn't the time fly when life gets hectic???

Well even now as I am writing this I am in a hurry as I HAVE to get to sleep soon for another busy day tomorrow, but I had to pop on and say hello. I have missed the blogging world so very much lately and all the gorgeous, inspiring posts but I promise as soon as I am more organised I will be back with vengeance :)

For now I will share with you the exciting news that my friend has had her baby girl.

Ruby-Mae made her entrance into the world on May 25th.

She is beautiful. I am totally in love already.

Becky is never quite organised...Late announcement hehe!

ooooo and I can show you the blankets that I had to keep hushed about...

I love the vintage look of this blanket. I used the old candy stripe bedding as inspiration. It was so lovely using other colours than just pink and white for a girl blanket and still having the same cute baby girl effect.

I even have one of her very first photographs and you can just see it peeking through...

Isn't she just ADORABLE?!?! How I didn't bungle her home with me I don't know.

So beautiful x

So I will be back soon and hopefully will start to become much more organised :)

Happy Sunday xx

A is for Attempt...

A is for Attempt

B is for Brave

C is for Colour.

This is my motto this week. I am scared by bold colours. I go from blog to blog and see so many gorgeous makes with so many bright and bold colours and when I go to my mountainous yarn storage I can never quite find the right green, the perfect shade of pink etc...

I have decided though that I can have no more excuses and I have to just bite the bullet and what will be will be. I need to get on the colour train!

So, I apprehensively and thoughtfully picked out the colours I am going to use for a new project. My Summer Patchwork Throw.

I deliberated for aaaaaages, I kept putting colours back, picking them up, putting them back until my basket was full. I am still not happy with them, especially the yellow, but we will see what it looks like when complete.

I think adding the red was fine but maybe not next to the yellow. I am not going to undo it now as I need to be braver. I need to stop being afraid of colour and recognise that the only way to master it is to practise and be bolder.

This is where I am up to. I have gone for large granny squares on a 4mm hook. I LOVE granny squares and as this throw is for me I wanted it to work up quickly, be very easy as I want it large enough to fill my bed. Fingers crossed it will have a nice patchwork feel to it.

I was so pleased that in less than 4hrs I managed to get the first row of squares finished(only another 9 to go!)

I think that was only because the children were taken swimming and were all gone until early evening.

Later on last night(around 10pm) I decided that I wanted to start something else...this is a curse for many crafters out there I know. Something I hadn't done before...A shawl. After seeing so many beautiful ones around blogland and on Pinterest I really felt inspired and my fingers were itching.

A the beginning of last year I did my usually trick of seeing pretty yarn and impulse buying, this is a really bad habit of mine. I saw this yarn on a totally unrelated shopping trip to John Lewis. I got distracted from Grandparent present buying and ended up, as I so often do, in the haberdashery section. I loved the soft feel of the balls and the stunning warm but lifting colours.

It is Rowan Kid Classic, a mixture of lambs wool and kid mohair, so you can imagine how lovely and soft and natural it feels.

Problem with it was, when I got home and looked at it some more and felt it and cuddled it, I had absolutely no idea what to make with it. It isn't the right weight for a blanket or cushion and I was in no way attempting clothing, so it got put away, out of site and I gave myself a smack on the hand for once again jumping head first into an unnecessary purchase.

Last night however, it became the PERFECT yarn for my shawl.

It says to use 5.5mm hooks...it has a weight more of a 4ply than a dk so I can only assume the large hook recommendation is to get a really lacy look.

I didn't want a lacy look. I want a light but warm shawl so I opted for 3.5mm and so far it is really working out well.

I have gone for a very basic granny stripe pattern. It is easy and as most of you know with my constant health moans easy is about all I can manage...

There is a superb tutorial at this lovely blog

You can see all those natural fibres bursting out. It is so perfect for warmth on Summer nights. 

I have again been quite brave I think with the layout of the colours. I was tempted to mix the light and dark colours but I actually really like the contrast. 

I could be making a huge mistake and kick myself later, but for now I am happily hooking with this sumptuous yarn.

I am hoping to have this finished for a dear friend. Fingers crossed.

What WIPs have you got on the go?

Happy Thursday xx

Making the Best of it...

Hi there. So what about this sunshine? I don't know about you but when that sun is shining I am filled with ideas and excitement before I even open my eyes, which is why it really, REALLY sucks to have the crappiest immune system ever!

Guess What???

Yep!

I am ill again!!!

This is getting sooooo boring. My house has so many messy spots which I am noticing more and more every day. I have redecorated at least 10 times in my head since being laid up.

I have spent thousands!

I have won the lottery, all different amounts and planned how to spend it and deliberated on how deserving family and friends are and how much they will get.

I have been on about 20 different holidays, some with kids and some without...

I have bought so many pretty things that in reality I can't afford. I have made Pinterest boards which display these desires...even made a holiday one(a girl can dream).

I have made soooo many cakes(and eaten them) and my decorating skills would put Cake Boss to shame hehe!

Obviously in reality I have been lay in my bed or on the sofa, feeling sorry for myself, crocheting and moaning. I have been drinking tea and eating out of boredom!

I have been enjoying marathon programme catch up. Mainly Call the Midwife and Sewing Bee, that has been one good thing. I am longing to learn to use my machine and Sewing Bee doesn't help this longing!

I think it is safe to say I am a little worn out with my own company. 

I have been popping in and out of blogland and seeing all your lovely posts but I am so worn out that I get through some and then doze off again.

I have made a concious decision this morning after waking up without the ability to swallow and discovery of white spots on the tonsils, to spend the morning typing(albeit moany typing) on my little blog and upload some of the photos I have been snapping away at.

My little bug. We went to the cinema over the weekend(I started feeling really poorly half way through Muppets Most Wanted) he had to take Fluffy and Mickey with him and they thoroughly enjoyed it.                                             

Something that has been a source of mindless entertainment...it gets boring very quickly!

Some flowers to cheer a girl up :)

The garden is getting a mini makeover. Just something to make this very small and ugly yard a little less of an eye sore!

More bright, beautiful flowers.(both bunches were reduced and count as medicine for sure)

New wool storage...

Cute retro Pop bottles...little in love...

So there are some of the nice things about the last few days.

I haven't been too bad with my frugal March.

I have looked for bargains everywhere. I spent a lot of money on my food shop, but I managed to buy enough for over 2 months for £400. I know that sounds like a lot but for a family for 2 months and it includes meat and all cleaning/household products, I am quite chuffed!

These pop bottles are a sparkling £2 each from Tesco, which is a bargain I think. They have a lovely range at the moment with all this gorgeous coloured glass and some stunning pastel cookware(which definitely did not become part of my March)

Wilkinsons also have some gorgeous coloured glass products including Kilner jars. Again I haven't indulged as they really couldn't be justified.

I know you may think that these bottles can't be but they can I just can't go into details...yet!

(My crochet ta-dahs can't be shared right now either :( )

But a sneaky peek wont hurt ;)

ooooo and another little tip. Right now we are in garden stuff season. Now, if like me you are not the greatest gardener but still find yourself browsing these aisles then despair not.

Garden paraphernalia is usually a lot cheaper than pretty indoor decor.

The bucket I am now using for yarn storage is a gorgeous pastel green and has the wooden embellishment on the handle. It was £4 in the garden section at Tesco!!! £4! If this was an indoor decorative item you would be looking at upwards of £10.

I also use a lot of string in my crafts and for wrapping and twine is perfect...gorgeous twine holders are EVERYWHERE at the moment and they are really reasonably priced.

Keep an eye out people x

Happy Tuesday xxx 

Lazy Sunday...

I do try and make our Sundays very lazy but around midday I decide that everywhere needs a good clean. Today really does have to be a cleaning day. All that furniture painting led to sealant replacement, grout cleaning, cupboard 'organising' etc.

So whilst most of today will be cooking and cleaning, I have decided to steal an hour of this gorgeous sunny morning, and whilst the children are all busy with football, reading and talking to toys, I am going to lay back and crochet.

Absolutely blissful.

I hope you are all enjoying your day and have a fabulous weekend.

(P.S I am glad you all liked the flower tutorial x)

Happy Sunday xx

Fabulous Flat Crochet Flowers...Tutorial...

Hello lovely people. 

Firstly let me say thank you for all your lovely comments regarding our recent furniture endeavours. As I sit here typing I am enjoying the pretty and colourful crafty things that are in the corner of my eye. Goading me to make more and share more, so with that in mind I am going to share another of my little patterns.

You may remember my train journey a while back where I happily watched the countryside whiz past whilst hooking some cute little coasters?
Well I promised on that post that I would share my flat flower pattern.
Flat is important to me...remember the hexagons? Flat crochet items make great embellishments, home decorations, blankets, scarves etc. I love crochet flowers, all of them, but I find sometimes that they are just too fiddly or time consuming, especially when my brain is tired or not functioning to the best of its ability and I need something simple, soothing and pretty. Pretty crochet leads to satisfying crochet.

Before Christmas I was asked to make a flowery scarf from a customer on my FB page. There were no specific instructions so I had free reign over design. I took inspiration from pinterest, but do you think I could find a pattern that satisfied my simplicity? Nope. So in situations like these there is only one solution. Make your own.
As I have said before, we all sit there and work hard creating something we think is unique only later to find that someone else has already done it, so if a wonderful person already has a similar pattern then I promise this is not from anyone elses.

The scarf and wrist warmers made to order.

Can you see how lovely the flowers sit together and piled on top of one another? This is one of my most favouritist patterns and I am so happy to be sharing it with you.

First off. I work in US terms

ST= Stitch

SS= SS UK

CH= CH UK

SC= DC UK

DC= TR UK

I am using Drops Merino for the turotial and a size 4.5mm hook.

You see, it is flat.

To begin magic ring or if you just can't(like me) then ch2.

This shows your first ch.

DC 14 into the first ch. Join to beginning ST as shown.

CH 3+1 (this counts as your first DC, CH1), DC into same ST, CH1

You will have your first V stitch.

*Skip next ST. DC, CH, DC into next stitch* (shown above)

Repeat from * a further 5 times. 7 V stitches.

Join to beginning CH. You have to count up 3CH to find where you are joining your work. I have shown in the photos below how to do this. You have a plait type pattern when you chain and all you have to do is count up.

1 CH

2CH

3CH. Once you have joined, CH1 and turn your work.

This is the space in-between the V stitches.

1SC in this space.

In the V stitch *2DC, CH1, 2DC. SC into CH space* 

You should now have a little petal mountain like above. Repeat from *to* 6 times, but do not SC after the 7th petal.(7 petal mountains)

Instead of SC at the end SS into the first SC stitch. 

This is where we are up to. Isn't it wonderfully flat and perfect for sewing onto that cushion, bag etc? You can leave it here for a smaller flower and/or small coaster(if using as coaster or bunting I advised a little starchy after care. I use spray starch. Pin to a rolled up towel so all is flat and happy and spray starch all over the flower. Leave overnight to dry)

LAST ROUND...

CH1 and turn your work.

SC in the space between the SC(SS for the first one) and the DC.

The needle is where you need to SC, the red hook is the CH space of the petal from previous round. I will quickly run through the pattern again in a second.

In the CH space of the petal mountain DC 5 times.

You then SC in the space between DC of previous round and the SC. The needles are placed where you need to SC.

It is a little blurry but I want you to see where the SC are.

The pattern for this again is

*SC, 5DC into CHsp at top of petal, SC*

Repeat to end

SS into top of first SC.

Cut ends and pull through. Then you just have to sew in your ends.

TA DAHHHH!

A Fabulous, Flat, Crochet Flower!

Now again, I am not little Miss Expert when it comes to patterns or tutorials so please, if you do try this and you have any problems then let me know so I can fix them x

This is what I did with that little flat flower. I needed a good mug of coffee before I sat down to write this. 

Can you see that little crochet hook holder sneaking its way into the photograph? This was a gift made for me by the lovely Jacquie at Bunny Mummy.(Told you I still have it Jacquie) Jacquie and I became blogging friends many moons ago when I had my original blog

Land of Emma.

I would like to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Jacquie as well for your fab piece in Simply Crochet magazine xxx

Happy Friday x