Some Things

I bought these machine knitting cones in the charity shop today as I loved the colours, particularly the turquoise. The yarn is quite fine, I'm going to try some little crochet flowers perhaps. Worth a try for just 25p each.

Yesterday, my second order from The Linen Cat arrived. All are all intended for Christmas presents though I am loathe to part with the green lavender bird, he's beautiful! Not only do they look great, they all smell gorgeous too.

I also treated myself to an interiors magazine. Several years ago I used to buy several of these each month but stopped when I gave up my job, not only was I economising but decorating fashions became very expensive and bland. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the one I happened upon while browsing during the weekly shop, it's a new one for me - Country Homes & Interiors.

It includes a rather attractive 2010 calendar.

March in particular looks great, love the crochet blanket.

Also in the magazine are some lovely Christmas decorations which look suitable for adapting and making oneself:
I may have a go at making a couple of little felt houses similar to these...

...likewise these doves. Where I'll find the time I don't know, but we'll see.

The magazine has also given me another Christmas decoration inspiration. I'll not say what it is, if it works OK (which it should, it's very simple and I've made something similar before) I'll post a little tutorial. The first step involves putting some things in the freezer which I'll do tonight...

Enjoy your weekend!

Done

Here he is...

... my first completed crocheted thing, currently dangling from the lamp in the living room.

me: Look, I've finished it.
hubby: That's nice, what is it, is it a bird?
me: Hahaha
hubby: Well, is it a bird?

Another package, another crochet project...

I eventually gave into temptation and ordered a couple of items from Beth at the Linen Cat.

They arrived very quickly and were beautifully packaged and with a lovely surprise purple bonus birdie enclosed.

The green bird and rabbit are lavender bags, the bird is now freshening up my wardrobe, the rabbit is intended to jazz up A's wardrobe and has been given to Santa to pop it in her stocking.

I have now ordered some more as Christmas gifts for family & friends (who don't read this blog!)


We had a bit of a cold spell over the weekend and finally "lit" the fire. It seems to be unusual for blogland but it's not a real fire! We got it installed a few years ago - about 6 months before gas prices shot up and log burners became all the rage. However, it's convenient and suits us as we don't actually spend a lot of time sitting in front of it, it's easy to switch off & on as required. On Saturday I managed to get all the squares for my crochet cushion finished and have now begun the tedious task of sewing in the ends, yawn!

On Sunday morning (cold but with beautiful clear blue skies, lovely!) I took the kids to a play park in one of the nearby villages. The views aren't quite as scenic as here, but still pleasant.






Two little chicks in a nest!

Yesterday (Monday) was the coldest day yet. I was very glad of Diane's neck warmer - it was so cold I even had to button up my new coat(!) and there wasn't really enough space for a scarf tucked inside. The neck warmer was ideal.

Some views of frosty things in the garden...






A is in nursery on Monday mornings. N and I took the opportunity to do our charity shop tour. He's not really a good shopper - hates it when the pram stops moving, so it's rather a high speed browse. It wasn't our lucky day - no treasures! I bought a couple of books but that was it. I then popped into the pound shop and bought some cheap acrylic wool.


I'm keen to try this. As it's not for wearing it doesn't really matter that I'm just using acrylic. The colours were nice.


While N was having his nap I managed to make quite a good start (on neglecting the housework!).


Finishing off today with N's first piece of artwork. A has entitled it "The Storm".

Pay It Forward (PIF)

A month or so ago I joined a Pay It Forward (PIF) scheme by commenting on this post from Diane at HeartShaped.


I have now had the pleasure of receiving a lovely package of goodies from Diane.

Before I open the parcel for you though, I would like to announce my search for my own three PIF volunteers who will receive home made gifts from me (volunteer by commenting on this post and indicating that you're interested, I'll pick the first three). To volunteer you need to be prepared to continue the PIF by posting it on your blog and finding a further three volunteers to receive handmade items from yourself (you have a year in which to do this, plenty of time!).

Back to the parcel...


... no these weren't in it! Can you guess what they're supposed to be (answer at the end of the post!). They didn't turn out quite right but tasted fine and they were baking in the oven while I got on with the unwrapping to discover...


...1. A fantastic hand made bag, complete with front pocket and adorned with a gorgeous collection of vintage buttons including an A for Andamento (or Anne, equally appropriate!). It's lovely and big! I'm using it for my crochet at the moment and it easily holds all my yarn and bibs & bobs. It had it's first outing to craft night last Thurs too and was much admired.



Next...


2. A lovely corsage. A took a shine to this and can be seen wearing it in the photo below along with...


...3. the gorgeous handknitted neck warmer. I attempted to take a photo of myself wearing this but failed to get a decent shot...


this was the best one! And there was more...


4. A smashing lavender bag. When I opened the box of goodies A commented straight away on how nice it all smelled.

And that's not all...


5. Last but not least, a bottle of "Hendos" which I gather is a Sheffield speciality. I added a slug or two to the sausage stew I made that night, and it did taste delicious (even if I say so myself, hmmm!)

So all in all, an excellent parcel of beautifully made gifts. My favourites are the bag and the neck warmer, both very lovely, and both especially appreciated as sewing and knitting are not my best talents !

Thank you very much Diane!

So if you want to take part, let me know via a comment. Don't worry, I'll not send you anything I've attempted to machine sew or knit myself, it'll be of some other handmade genre...

By the way, those flat soft squishy baked thing were supposed to be rock cakes. They were made using a recipe from a recently unearthed children's baking book that we had when we were younger - one of my my older brothers used to make them when he was about 12 and he made a far better job of them than I, but I'll have another attempt soon...

Catching Up (with crochet, flowers & chocolate cake!)

My first attempt at a crochet creation continues...

... Using Lucy's summer garden granny squares pattern I had crocheted enough squares for a 4x4 cushion cover as I had originally set out to do. However, once I started to crochet them together I realised it was going to be a cushion cover for a very small cushion!

I considered just crocheting a wide border, but in the end decided to go ahead with making up the other 9 squares required for a 5x5 cushion.

I'm more than halfway through them, and will not run out of yarn as I had at first feared.

I should manage to get it finished before the end of the year!

Remember the flowers in the first photo on this post?

This is them now, well flattened and dried out. A used them to make a card to send to Granny.

This daisy flower was my favourite and I rather fancied keeping it for myself, but Granny was to get all the flowers on her card. I will just need to be more organised next year and squash more of the garden into the flower press (but will not be using corrugated cardboard in the press again though, didn't really like the stripey effect!).

Also during the week I made this egg-free chocolate cake. I'd seen this post on Tabiboo's blog linking to the recipe. She did all the work testing various recipes and this one came out tops, I have to say it was indeed rather tasty. Next time I'll have a go at Tabibbo's recomended icing (didn't have the ingredients to hand at the time)

Another random image from the week. A's cuddly toys were playing hide and seek, Bagpuss looks a little squashed in his hiding place.


This afternoon I sold these two 60x15cm mirrors from my website. I apologise for the poor photos, they're old ones and the weather was too awful today to make it worthwhile taking any new ones. My "shop" is now rather bare, must get on with making (and listing!) new items.

This evening I took A to our local fireworks display and tried out the fireworks setting on my camera. A then told me on the walk home that not only were the fireworks too loud but they were too bright and so she had her eyes closed most of the time!

And finally, a little glimpse of a special parcel I received earlier in the week. It's my PIF gift from Diane at HeartShaped, but I'm not letting you see what's inside till my next post! (It won't be a Bike Trip post as hubby will be doing some overtime this weekend which means I'm on swimming lesson duty instead; I'll miss my bike & pics, even if no one else does!)

Two Awards

I've been nominated for two blogging awards!

In order to accept them I have to divulge some information about myself which may or may not (probably the latter!) be of interest...

The first is the Lemonade Award from Beth at The Linen Cat Blog. Thanks Beth, nice to have been thought of! The Linen Cat Blog is one of my favourite blogs and one I've followed pretty much from the beginning of my own blogging "career".
The Lemonade award is for “seeing blessings where they’re not obvious and making lemonade instead of complaining about sour lemons”.

Hmmm, personally I think I'm quite a dour sort of person but do try not to show it in my blog so it must be working! Anyway I understand I first of all need to list some things I'm grateful for...
1. Of course it has to be my lovely (I'm biased!) family and our good health first.
2. Living in such a beautiful part of the world with so many roads close by ideal for cycling - my solo weekend morning cycle rides keep me sane!
3. Being able to spend so much time with the children. Though there are days (many!) when they drive me round the bend and we are financially much poorer since I gave up my job, I still appreciate being able to see so much of them while they are little.
4. Craft Books - love em! I don't have nearly enough spare time to do many(any) of the projects but love imagining that one day I will!
5. Craft Blogs - love these too. So glad I discovered them though I seem to be a little bit of a late-comer, still better late than never.
6. Think that'll do!

Then pass it on to some poor other unsuspecting bloggers, the ones I've chosen are:
A Country Mouse Writes
Shells and Bells, Flowers and Showers
The Garden Bell
Little Cottage Comforts
We all seem to have started blogging around the same time, seems as good a reason as any - I do enjoy their blogs too! Please don't feel obliged to accept - it's just for fun!

The second award is the Kreativ Blogger award for which I am nominated by Haptree and Me. The instructions for this award are:
1) Copy the pretty picture and post it on your blog.
2) Thank the person that gave it to you and link to their blog.
3) Write 7 things about yourself we don't know.
4) Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the award to.
5) Link to those 7 other bloggers.
6) Notify your 7 bloggers.

1. Here's the picture:
(not spell checked obviously!)
2. Thank you Haptree & Me! Another blog I enjoy, especially the generous photography tips.
3. 7 Thing about me you may not know (at least it's not 7 interesting things - would definitely have struggled there!)
Well, umm, here goes...
a) I'm really indecisive (can't decide what to write here for a start)
b) Prior to becoming a crafty Mum I worked as a process engineer in the micro-electronics industry for over 13 years.
c) I'm secretly very competitive
d) I used to take part in indoor rowing competitions (before being a Mum again!) My best 2K time was 7:25.9 which is not bad for a girl (or old woman!)
e) I used to want to be a ballet dancer when I was little, however I didn't stay little for long and at 6ft I definitely became too tall (I never took any ballet lessons anyway which was another slight disadvantage!)
f) I once got stopped by the police when I was a learner driver as I was so bad at turning corners they they thought I was a drunk driver! Didn't exactly boost my confidence at the time.
g) I'd like to get another cat (our last one died when I was pregnant with N), still trying to persuade hubby - he thinks they're a big hassle and a waste of money - valid points, but there's just something homely about a house with a cat.

4 & 5. For this award I nominate two of the four above again (sorry!)
A Country Mouse Writes
Shells and Bells, Flowers and Showers
Plus
The Linen Cat
My Life in Flip Flops
Applique
Miss Marie's Miscellany
Heart Shaped
Just more blogs I like that are written by friendly people who I'm glad to have "met" online. Again, please don't feel obliged!


Phew, that actually took me a while. I'm jooking orchestra practice tonight and am supposed to be getting sorted out instead of blogging (to be honest I'm also a little fed up being the only regular bass player - why does everyone want to play the cello - there are 9 of them - the world needs more bass players!) ...

Saturday Morning Bike Ride, Parties and Pumpkins.

Another dark, overcast morning though at least it's dry. We've had quite a bit of rain here recently but there have been dry days in between the wet ones so that's fine!

Out the village by the usual route, the trees at the top of the hill are still clinging on to their leaves. Much quieter here than last week - fewer squirrels and little wind so no tumbling leaves.

A view from the top.
Tree mound with lovely beech hedge in the foreground.

Sheep. Baaaaa. I notice the trees at the back are mostly bare already, I expect it's because they're quite exposed to the wind up here.

Lovely Autumn colours along the roads. Shortly after this point I turn off onto the back roads behind Lochwinnoch which I've never been along before. I love how there are so many quiet little roads round here to explore.

Funghi.

I like farm signs which look handmade but with a little artistic flair about them.

Hmmm, this view does look a bit wet!

I leave this inviting looking road for another day and turn left heading down towards Kilbirnie where I join the cycle path.

Some new (for me!) cycle path artwork.

Barr Castle (dating from the 1600's) as seen from the cycle path.

Cow. Moooooo.

In the afternoon we go to a Halloween party. A is dressed as a witch and N is the witch's cat...

... this is them before we leave. As you can see, N doesn't want to be anybody's cat!

At the party, A make this rather fabulous spider. He's called Mr Mudsquirt.

Back home I attempt to carve a pumpkin with groovy eyes. His nose is a little on the large side. However, at least he's quite friendly looking (I don't like scarey things!)

I dig out the lino cutters and have a bash at a more arty farty pumpkin. I don't have much time to be imaginative so just do one of my robin designs.

The mantlepiece with some Halloween decorations, none of which I can take credit for...

...A made the pumpkin pictures while the little pumpkin lanterns are actually scopped out oranges. They were from the childrens' party in the afternoon and were served containing strawberry jelly, an excellent idea - will definitely have a go at these myself next year!

I then get to go to a grown-ups party in the evening - not fancy dress thankfully (I sooo can't be bothered!), it's a BIG birthday party and we get to play pass the parcel, I don't win but do gorge myself on party food despite already having had my tea. The meringues, strawberries and cream in particular were delicious!