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Friday 28 February 2014

Half term treats...........

We usually take the grandchildren out for the day during half term, but with me still feeling quite fragile we thought we had better do an activity where we could all sit down. Our local Garden Centre has a pottery studio so we booked in for the morning.

Alex chose a Panda to paint but wanted to paint it in his favourite colour which is purple. Daisy chose a little mermaid and Finn and Zach chose super heroes.The children had great fun and were so well behaved it was a pleasure to take them out.


Alex is very slow and precise so he was only half finished when the other children were all done and the pots were ready for the kiln. Mr R took the little ones for a walk around the garden centre but when he returned half an hour later Alex still had quite a bit to do. So off they went again and after another 30 minutes Alex was all done. His panda looked amazing.



The colours become deeper and richer when the pots are glazed so we are looking forward to vibrant pots. A few days later we returned for the pots and they do look really fab.


We had such a fun day.

Talk soon x

Thursday 27 February 2014

yarn along - crochet garland..................

I have fallen in love with Prima Makes Issue 1 it is packed full of wonderful projects. I haven't seen this magazine before and I must confess I have it by default, my friend Pam had bought it and then left it behind at my house (she kindly said I could keep it) I have at least ten different projects I want to try my hand at.

The first on my list is a really pretty flower chain, the pattern has been taken from Cute & Easy Crochet with Flowers by Nicki Trench, which is also on my wish list.

I've made the large flowers and love them, the pattern included some smaller flowers which I didn't like quite as much, as instructed I have hand sewn the flowers onto a simple chain - I love the results and feel a flower obsession coming on.







Not the most perfect of images but I am so pleased with my lovely flower chain - although not sure what I will do with it.............maybe if it was longer it would make lovely bunting, what do you think?

I'm joining in today with :-
Marianne and Chrissie
talk soon x

Monday 24 February 2014

Taking stock..........

One of my favourite blogs is little Woollie Jules has such an amazing blog. One of Jules recent posts was about taking stock, she is taking part in a blogging course run by Pip over at Meet me at Mike's. One of the tasks has been to complete a 'taking stock list' which is a snap shot of where you are and what you are thinking at that moment in time. I was intrigued with Jules list and have read a few others across blog land. Pip has kindly posted a blank list if anyone wants to have a go, pop over here.  I thought I would fill one in too.


I filled this in a few days ago when I was stuck in bed, reading it back now my answers would be quite different. I think I will do it again next Monday and compare the two.
Making: lists of things I need to do
Cooking: nothing - having to rely on others today!
Drinking: coffee from a flask Mr R left me before he went to work
Reading: blogs on my iPad
Wanting: to be healthier
Looking: a bit frumpy
Playing: with Noah when he came to visit me and give me a snuggle.
Wondering: will my new crochet hooks arrive
Pondering: will I get well
Considering: even more workshop ideas
Watching: catch up TV on my iPad
Hoping: I will be better tomorrow
Marvelling: how little ones grow up so quickly
Needing: some new clothes
Smelling: my valentine roses
Wearing: my pink dressing gown
Following: lots of lovely blogs
Noticing: I'm looking older
Knowing: I'm so lucky to have an amazing family

Thinking: of the poor people who have been flooded
Feeling: dizzy
Admiring: winter Olympians
Sorting: ideas in my head
Buying: wooden clothes pegs on line (another crafty project)
Getting: distracted
Bookmarking: too many things
Disliking: the wind blowing outside
Opening: a new crochet book that arrived today
Giggling: not much
Feeling: kind of helpless
Snacking: almonds
Coveting: UGG boots
Wishing: to be a slimmer me
Helping: others to stop worrying about me
Hearing: my next door neighbour chopping logs
Hope you have a go it's quite an interesting exercise and very mood driven. I am out of bed now and managing to potter around a little, hopefully I am now moving in the right direction. Thank you once more for you lovely caring comments, they have really brightened my days.
talk soon x


Friday 21 February 2014

yarn along - crochet samples



I'm afraid my vertigo has still not cleared up so I have been in bed most of the time since last Sunday. Over the last few days I have been able to prop myself up in bed and have managed a little bit of simple crochet and some short bursts on my laptop or iPad. Anything prolonged has resulted in increased dizziness.

Before having to take to my bed I had tentatively advertised my crochet workshops on some local social media sites. I have been amazed at the results, the first dates in March were filled in a couple of hours, I posted additional workshop dates for April/May time, which are now full and have had to set some provisional dates for June. I can't believe the response, crochet seems to have become so popular. I just hope I am well before the first session in March.

Due to my inactivity my mind has been in over drive thinking of lots of other workshops I could run once people have mastered the basic stitches. I had already made little crochet swatches of doubles, half trebles and trebles, but now I have moved onto making samples of little projects using the basic stitches. I've made a granny square, swatches of ripple stitch, shell stitch, popcorn stitch and some different flower motifs




It has been good fun as it's been a while since I followed so many different patterns and some of the stitches I've never attempted. The shell stitch was completely new and does need a bit more practice.

I'm not sure that this post really counts as a yarn along/crochet along post but I did want to show you my colourful mini samples.

I'm joining in with, Ginny, Marianne, Chrissie Tami Amis and Linda

Before I go I want to say a big special thank you for all of your lovely uplifting comments. I have really appreciated them and thank you for the tips and advice you have given me about vertigo, it is much more common than I thought. I'm sorry I haven't answered you all individually but thank you again. 

I hope I will be back to full fitness next week as it's my birthday on Wednesday........................

talk soon x

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Dizzy..................

Just a quick post today - sorry I haven't been around for a few days but I'm stuck in bed with awful vertigo. Thank goodness for my iPad which has helped with the boredom of being unable to move. My head is so dizzy I feel like a spinning top..............

Talk soon x

Saturday 15 February 2014

Crochet Workshop.........................

My crochet class went well last Saturday and my three friends seemed to really enjoy themselves. I was so pleased that they all managed to learn the basic stitches and even had the beginnings of a granny square to take home. I used Saturday as a trial run as I am thinking about running crochet workshops from home. I set my crafty space up as though it was a real workshop, with samples of crochet projects, books and magazines for browsing and inspiration. In advance I had hooked some crochet samples of the basic core stitches which was very useful. I also had some printed information which was kindly given to me by Chrissie.


Chrissie has been running crochet workshops for a while and was able to give me lots of useful tips and advice and has kindly shared her workshop lesson plans with me. I am always so amazed at the friendship and support that is offered by the wonderful blogging community.

We also managed to consume quite a lot of coffee and cake amidst the chatter and of course crochet tuition.


I was so pleased with the crochet samplers that everyone managed to produce and the little granny squares..........


Inspired by the success of Saturday I am just putting the finishing touches to a flyer advertising three x 2hr workshops in March. Please keep your fingers crossed that I have some people sign up for them, I think I will advertise on face book as well - you can only try.

Talk soon x


Thursday 13 February 2014

Yarn along - hearts.....................



I have put my grey wool to one side and chosen some pretty pastel shades in honour of Valentine’s Day. I couldn't quite bring myself to choose red yarn but I think my pretty pastel combination works well. I have hooked up a few boho hearts, thank you Cherry it's such a fab pattern, and also a bigger crochet heart using Nancy's  adorable pattern. I've had such fun creating these beautiful hearts and as usual I can't stop at one or two I want to fill a basket.


I had a little play on PicMonkey - do you like my special effects.......
I hope you have a lovely day tomorrow "Happy Valentines Day"

I'm joining in with Ginny Marianne, Chrissie, and  Tami Amis to share my crochet lovelies do pop over to check out everyone's posts.

talk soon x

Wednesday 12 February 2014

sculpture garden...................

A week or so ago I went to Chorlton Green which isn't very far from where I live. It's a trendy little area in South Manchester and has quite a few interesting independent shops and cafés. One of my favourites is a little art gallery that specialises in using recycled materials and it has an amazing sculpture garden at the rear of the shop. I had a lovely time photographing the garden, with the owner’s permission of course.

The sculpture garden won a bronze prize at the RHS flower show held at Tatton Park in the summer, which is our version of Chelsea.

 My photos don’t do the garden justice put hopefully they will give you a feel for it.

it's hard to believe that this water fall is made out of plastic, you almost want to dip your fingers into it .

The art gallery also run a wide range of really interesting craft courses I would like to try my hand at lots of them but one that has really sparked my interest is the "paper patchwork quilt" course in June. I am going to check out places (another craft!)

Talk soon x

Tuesday 11 February 2014

yarn shopping what could be nicer...............

My friend Pam came to stay last week and it was a perfect opportunity to have a trip to Black SheepWool - such a wonderful yarn emporium. We had a wonderful few hours browsing the shelves and selecting our wares. Also since I last visited they have added a lovely little coffee shop, which means you can shop, rest and then shop some more – what more could you ask for!
Such an amazing selection of all things yarny and crafty, and great value - attributes all good crafty outlets should aspire for.

I had promised myself to resist temptation and not overspend. I only bought what I needed and kept to budget. I decided on some extra fine merino, a few balls of grey cotton, some lovely fine 4ply, and lastly some bright mingled chunky.

a perfect day, talk soon x