Sunburst Granny Cushion .......

In the middle of birthday planning, housework, little men & getting ready for Christmas I have still made time to crochet, it keeps me sane !!!!

I have started to make some cushions for the sitting room. Here is the first cushion in progress, the yarn I'm using is Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, which is a delight to work with, & the pattern I'm using is called Sunburst Granny Squares. They are very simple to make & you can find the pattern, which is free by the way, on Ravelry.

I love to make things for the home, & I get such a sense of achievement when a project is finished & I stand back & think to myself " I made that !!! "

I have also been busy choosing paint colours & wallpaper as I have the decorator coming next week to decorate the landing & the sitting room ceiling & also to wallpaper the chimney breast (I love decorating but hate heights so the landing ceiling & stairs are a no no for me !! ) Of course the wallpapers that I love are about £50 a roll which is rather expensive, but I have managed to find one that is very nice in B & Q for £11.50 a roll.

I am so excited about all the plans & ideas I have for the house, which I will be doing on a very tight budget, but if you shop around it's surprising what you can find for sometimes half the price on the internet, ebay, charity & junk shops & even my local tip, it's surprising what some people throw away!!! I find it great fun searching & finding bargains this way !!

Happy 5th Birthday Boys .......

Yesterday was the little men's 5th birthday. Your growing up too quickly boys !!!

After school they had a tea party with their friends, unfortunately 3 friends couldn't come due to this awful virus that is going round at the moment & one due to her mummy's car having a flat battery because she left the lights on on her car, good one Kate lol !!!!


They seemed to have a great time & they all announced it was "one of the best parties ever", just goes to show that you don't have to spend a fortune for little people to have a good time ! All they need are their friends, some toys, food & of course Birthday cake !!!

Finished Ripple # 2 & A Little Birdie .......

It's been a week of illness in our house. Little man # 1 developed a hacking cough which turned into an upset tummy, poor little thing. I was planning to paint the study, porch & conservatory, but sick little people & decorating don't go well together.

Instead I worked on some crochet christmas pressies & a couple of scarves in between being on nurse call.

I also finished my second Ripple blanket a few days ago. I used Cascade 220 wool & it's perfect for my small sofa, I think the cats like it too !!!

I found the above wool blanket on ebay & it's just the right size for the armchair. The sitting room is coming together nicely & is beginning to look really homely & cozy.

I even managed to make an Attic24 Birdie to hang on the new oak dresser using some oddments of Peaches & Creme cotton.

Eventful Week .......

What an eventful week this has been. Firstly & most importantly, after 18 months of emotional turmoil, the house is now mine!! My ex partner at long last agreed on a settlement figure & everything was finalised on Tuesday. The sense of relief is hard to explain but there is also the sadness & heartache that comes from a break up. I have tried to stay strong for the little men but at times it has been very hard.

Now I am looking to the future & have lots of plans & ideas for the house. I have been busy clearing & getting rid of old furniture, toys, clothes & odds & ends that we no longer want, need or have grown out of. I have kept a few favorite old toys that I will put up in the Attic for the little men.

On Friday my new oak sideboard & oak dresser were delivered & I'm over the moon with them. After months of living in limbo it's great to start making the house into a home. The next big project will be ripping out & replacing the kitchen after Christmas, which I'm really looking forward to. It will be the first new kitchen I've had as I have always made do with what was there.

In the middle of all this bustling activity I have snatched some hooking time here & there & I managed to finish my Ripple Blanket #2, I will post some photos soon.

Well I have housework & ironing to get on with so back to grind stone !!!

Bonfire Night .......

On Saturday night I took the little men to see their first firework display that was being held at a local pub. We met up with some friends & we all had a great evening, the little men loved the bonfire & fireworks.
.

I had to cover little man no.2's ears as he didn't like the big bangs !!

After the display we all tucked into hamburgers & crisps, then it was time to head home for bed. Not a moment to soon as as we got into the car the heavens opened & it poured hard !!!


Now I need to get ready for the little men's birthday in 2 weeks time & then it will be Christmas. It's such a busy time at the moment my head is spinning !!!

What To Make With A Skein Of Silkstones .......

.

Yesterday while I was having a rummage in our local charity shop I came across a skein of Rowan Silkstones. This yarn was discontinued years ago & is 50% silk 50% wool.

I snapped it up & brought it home, now what to make ....

After a lot of searching on Ravelry I decided on making some coasters as another Xmas pressie for my mum. I adapted a pattern that I liked to make them bigger as I am using a 3.5mm hook & the pattern is for DK yarn.

First Christmas Pressie Finished ........

I proudly present my first hand made Christmas pressie !!! It's for my mum & I am sooo pleased with how it's turned out, hope mum likes it too. Since I learnt to crochet properly there has been no holding me back. I find it much quicker than knitting & just as addictive.

.

I have so many things I want to make and as I have rather a large stash of yarn ( about 12 boxes full under my bed, & more in the study! ) I should be busy for at least another year before I need to buy any more yarn, though I can't see that happening !!!! Some ladies buy shoes, others bags & clothes, not me, I buy yarn !!!

Crocheted Swirling Bag

Pattern : Crocheted Swirling Bag (free pattern on Ravelry)

Yarn : Cascade 220 Wool ( One skein of each colour )

Colours : Natural # 8010 / Duck Egg Blue # 9427 / Dusty Rose # 8114 / Medium Rose # 8834

Hook : 4.5mm

Now onto the next pressie !!!

Edit: This is a good sized bag, 11" high & 11" wide, & is perfect to hold a small to medium knitting or crochet project !!

Jack-O-Lantern ......


The little men & I had great fun making our Jack-o-Lantern. Hope you all have lots of fun tonight, Trick or Treat !!!!

I'll be watching some scary movies (I think ' Sleepy Hollow' to start with) once the little men are tucked up in bed asleep, with a big bag of popcorn & the cats for company

Feeding The Chickens .......

This past week the little men & I have been looking after my friends chickens while she is visiting Micky Mouse in Florida with her family, lucky things !!!!

The little men are loving it & every morning when we go to let them out they say "Hello Girls, have you laid any eggs for us." I must say that I am enjoying it too, except for the muddy boots & trousers. But the freshly laid eggs make up for that!

Any eggs in there !!!

.

So far we have been lucky with the weather, but the weather man is saying that it's going to pour tonight & tomorrow so we are going to be up to our eyes in mud & other yucky things tomorrow morning. Lovely !!!!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE .......

Hubble, Bubble lets make trouble !!!!!!

Best Of Friends !!!! .......

Here are Cusso & Saba having some cuddle time with little man no. 1. They are all great friends, which is wonderful for all concerned !!!!


I grew up surrounded by all creatures great & small & want the same for my children, I think it gives children a sense of responsibility & in return they get unconditional love!!

PS: Please excuse the state of the carpet, we inherited it when we moved in ( it was cream !!!!) & it hasn't been replaced yet.

Sunday Afternoon In Tenterden .......

It was such a gorgeously sunny autumn day today that we decided to take a trip to Tenterden, which is only about half an hours drive from our village.

It is a lovely little town with fantastic shops & tearooms. The weather was so warm that we sat outside having our coffee & sandwiches.





A lot of the shops have got Halloween decorations in their windows, I really liked these pumpkin lights & they where only £12.00 each but unfortunately the shop is closed on Sundays.

Some shops where open & I did buy a few things !!!!!!



The little men had great fun playing in the leaves & throwing them up in the air & chasing them. They even made a leaf bed for Bagpuss, Bless !!!!!




I find it hard to believe that it is nearly November with weather like today, long may it last !!!

Sunday Mornings In Our House .......

.

.

I love Sunday mornings !

.

An extra half an hour in bed for me ( if I'm lucky !!! ), CBeebies, curled up on the sofa with Bagpuss, for the little men & pancakes for all of us. No rushing around in other words !!

I even get some hooking time in while children's telly is on.

.

I have started a new little project yesterday, while we where at my mum's, using Lorna's Laces Worsted, the colour is called Watercolour. This is absolutely beautiful yarn, sooo soft & the colours are breathtaking, the photos don't do it justice.

More Wrist Warmers .......


Just a quickie to show off my next pair of wrist warmers that I made last night/ this morning. Not as colourful, but perfect to go with my kingfisher blue jacket !!!!

More Finished Projects ......

I have decided to make two car blankets as I know there would be a lot of tug of war going on in the back of the car with just one between two little men that are now at an age when they like to have their own things !!!!

As you can see the first one is finished & I started the second one today. It's such a great way of using up so many odd balls of wool that have been stashed away under my bed for ages.

I have also been making some wrist warmers, another great way of using odd balls up. They are very additive to make & so easy & quick. I'm going to make some more pairs in different colours & maybe make some as Christmas presents. I feel a little bit like an Attic24 groupie at the mo but I just LOVE all of Lucy's crochet projects...... have you seen her little Birdie she has just made !!!

Lucy I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your designs. I just wish I had more time to make up my own designs, I really must have a go one day.