Bunting and learning

No one could ever accuse me of being unenthusiastic..........well .............unless mentioned in the same sentence as housework.

So when I saw squigglyrainbow's excellent bunting swap, I jumped in........both feet.

I have learnt a few lessons since then.

1. I really can't sew.
2. Always check out where the blog writer lives, before signing up.
3. Postage to Australia is not cheap.
4. I really can't sew.

The idea is you sign up to make a chosen number of pieces of bunting, sending them off to the individual addresses and then wait to receive the same number back, each individual one being able to either be strung together to make a bespoke bunting for your own house or used to decorate something else........................this is a great idea..................

My bunting contains a little piece of Wales.

The cut out hearts allow the light to shine through.

I love sewing, but shabby-chic was probably invented for me and my dubious sewing skills.  The recipients of my pieces of bunting should realise that although it may appear that I threw the things together and then told my kids to sew them up, I actually spent hours cutting, ironing and sewing.

I love bunting, but most of all I did enjoy making my pieces and like to think of a little bit of Wales winging its way to other lands.  I wanted to add something extra in my envelopes but ended up being very limited with weight to try and keep the postage costs down, so please know that my envelopes also carry love and blessings from my little corner of the world.



One-a-day Tuesdays tallies (wk3)

I am so enjoying my one-a-day.

As my project I am doing a Sunnyspread throw and trying to complete one square a day.  Each square takes around 1/2 hour, so is very do-able and can be slotted in around my other day to day things.

I find myself grabbing my cotton and hook as I head out of the door in the morning to take the boys to school.  I manage the first half while we wait, we are inevitably early (although this may be a conscious decision, as I know as soon as I arrive I can crochet!) and the second half and maybe a start of the next one, at the end of the school day.  I had a smirky look from someone I knew yesterday, but I felt quite smug in the knowledge that I have at least one of my Christmas presents  on the way to being done. 

What else would I be doing with that time otherwise?

Anyway, enough wittering!

18 done!

 (There is one lurking in there which only has 11 'rays' not 12, but then nobody seemed to notice last week so I guess it is passable)

I haven't attempted any blocking, but probably will as time goes on and I start to panic about everything coming together on time.

I think the pattern suggests 84 squares, which was where I was heading, however, rather typically of me, I have just figured out that despite being organised and weighing one square to make sure I bought the right amount of cotton, I failed to appreciate that I will actually need more as the blanket has a border........oh. dear, so I may well end up making less squares yet.......I'll see where I get to!

This is a shot of the underneath, which I also really like, although I know most wouldn't have sewn it like I have with the ridge, but I like the geometric feel to it in one colour.

Anyway, the afternoon is fast disappearing and I will be back on the school run shortly, so better look lively.

You can follow other one-a-dayers work by taking a look here.

Year of projects (wk6)

Well, this is a bit of a flying visit as we have a busy day and I can hear the dulcet tones of my husband returning from checking the stock and now I will be discovered!!

First there was this one...........which made up pretty quickly.........and I was feeling quietly smug!  I wanted to make a pair of socks, partly because I hadn't done one (a pair!) before and partly because I wanted to order one of those swirly balls of wool.........I know, I am easily pleased!!

I didn't rush to put the second one on my hook as I was getting too carried away with striping ('in the time it took me to do that I could have done one whole stripe' ...........'washing? ......oh, no I didn't do any, I was too busy with my blanket'......... you get the picture?).

Anyway, it suddenly occurred to me that I couldn't really remember how I did the heel of the first sock and went into a bit of a panic!  I have experienced making one sock before, and it is not a good feeling.

So, you will be relieved to know that...............

No camera trickery, I now have two socks..........a whole pair!!



 I know that it appears that I have been sitting with my feet up this morning, but contrary to appearances, I have been a busy girl.  In fact as I was lounging trying to catch the perfect picture this morning I suddenly realised in my relaxed state that I had forgotten the scones in the oven, thankfully no harm done and I will be providing cream teas this afternoon.

Yesterday we were out at a local zoo and despite miserable weather much fun was had.

  My favourite part?

Good thing I am not rustling up some socks for these!

I must tell you all before I shoot off, that my husband actually showed mild concern last night, as to how I would update my blog today when we are out all day..........I am slowly convincing him! 

During my blogging, my littlest has picked up my socks and said 'mazing docks' and 'poss' (posh).......out of the mouths of babes. 

I like that my kids see me making things and almost take it for granted that I would certainly attempt to make something before buying it (although the tin and string telephones are not so good long distance!)

Now, I have lambs to separate, children to bath, dressing up to be done, family lunch to attend, scones to be served...............

I will return this evening, to catch up with your projects, hope you have had a successful week!

Check out fellow YoP blogs here.

Baking, bananas, bikes and birthdays..........

Yesterday was the day when my littlest turned three.

Normally I bake enough to feed a small army and then a small army turn up and eat everything.  This year, we have not had the troops around, so I have been a little more restrained.

This is a first..............cake pops.

I discovered them on Suzanne's lovely blog Crea in the City, and thought I'd give them a whirl. 

I love to bake, and what I lack in talent I make up for in enthusiasm!  I followed some great instructions online and was doing well until it got to the part where I had my freshly coated cake pop, white chocolate dripping everywhere, thinking, 'so where am I going to put this to set'.  Hubby was making all sorts of useless useful suggestions ('What you need is some polystyrene') and in the end they ended up sitting in a couple of bananas and a bagel until I could find something more elegant and fitting for the occasion.

Can you guess what it is yet?

Much excitement to discover a mystery present in the morning...........what could it be?

One sleepy-faced, pyjama-ed three year old

A little more wide-awake..........cake and tractors the way to man's heart!

Our celebrations don't end here, we have a family day out at the zoo tomorrow and then a big family lunch to toast my Dad's 80th on Sunday.

Thankyou for all you get well wishes, I think we got off very lightly and I reckon I will be able to deliver an action packed weekend yet..........not sure how tired I'll be  on Monday though!

I was reading Emily's post from Unravelled a couple of days ago, and she was referring to the lovely sunset she had been looking at, it was quite poignant I thought, as I noticed the strange light  and went outside to see a beautiful coloured sky with a huge rainbow.

  Its a big old world, but we are all under the same sky. 

One-a-day - Tuesdays tallies (wk2)

Well, quite honestly I'm in a bit of a dash......school and tescos, but which order depends on how quickly I get out of the house.  I would certainly prefer to do shopping without three boys' assistance.  Hubby is poorly, littlest is definitely not right and has whined most of the morning (unlike his normal smiley-self) and I have a pre-cold achey neck and sore head...............hhhmmmm, I am going to stock up on all things mediciney (it is a word you know) now and be prepared.  Shame of it is, that littlest is three this thursday and my lovely Dad is 80 on sunday, so we need to kick whatever cold/bug this is, in to touch in 24hours.

Back on course, what you all tuned in for..........

I have hit double figures.........just!  This is going to be a beauty of a blanket even if I do say so myself!

Now for all you observant people, can you see the square with the obvious mistake?

Answers on a postcard...............

Looking forward to looking at all your progress when all three are tucked up in bed.........maybe it will be four with poorly hubby too.
Catch up with my fellow one-a-dayers here.

Year of projects (wk5)

This week I have been mostly................chasing my tail!

As previously mentioned, crocheting-on-the-go has become my new best friend.

I am still to work out the finer details, discovering on my first venture into this new world that I was completely unprepared.

I need a bag.
I need some mini-scissors.
I need to make sure it is a light place....otherwise, I could try a head torch?

Do you reckon I could carry it off?

Oh Granny stripe, how I love thee...........

I have finished the second run of 17 colours and I am still loving every minute.  I am going to stop showing pictures now, for fear of boring you all, but do know that I am striping away and enjoying every moment.

My one-a-day pile is gradually growing

This project is perfect for mobile crocheting (mo-cro?) so will easily be finished for Christmas, as intended.

Ah, the socks........I've started to really stress that I am not going to be able to re-create a second one to match the first, so I have picked them back up and am determined to get them done and dusted.  Admittedly I didn't quite understand the pattern when I did the heel, so I made it up myself ........now you with lots of experience will be saying 'well, that's ok, as obviously you wrote down what you did.'...........hhhhmmmmm, herein lies the problem..............

So there we have it.  I have been thinking on extending my list, and will soon, but as it stands my feet hardly touch the ground during the day due to new school runs so it will have to wait a little longer.

I am really looking forward to sitting now with a cup of tea and reading what all you clever people have been up to.  For more 'Year of project' blogs, look here.

Have a great and productive week!

Woolly things

Saturday morning, spent with lots of wool..........

It's all change here, down on the farm and some of our ladies are going to be boarding a lorry next week to the hillier Anglesey countryside..........I'm not sure all of ours speak welsh, so I wonder how they will cope?

We were a busy crew this morning, hubby, three boys, fuzzy haired lady (me) and Ned (dog). Ned to all intent and purpose is reportedly a sheepdog, but we know better.  I have a feeling he is actually a little scared of the ladies, especially when they stamp their feet at him.  Sometimes he works like a dream and the sheep all come into the pen easily, most of the time he is far too excited by the quad to actually be listening to any instructions.

You will never see Ned on the sheepdog trials currently on tv in the UK.

Our sheep are actually magic, as they don't need shearing and shed any wool that they get over the winter when the weather gets warmer in the spring.  The birds in our area have the luxury of pure sheepwool lined nests, taken from the fences and hedges, so everyone is happy!

The week has been a busy one, still not quite in routine of the school runs, but I have taken up crocheting on the go, which so far is quite good.  I need to find a little bag to put a small project in to keep safe.  I made a square yesterday for my sunnyspread, only to realise I didn't have a scissors with me, so ended up having to pull the other end of the ball to start another.  I struck up conversation with a few at the pool yesterday while trying to get a few rows done on my second sock...........so all is well in my crocheting world.

On the subject of both wool and crochet, I wanted to point you all in the direction of Little Woollie who has the most gorgeous giveaway at the moment for this cushion.  I must admit to agreeing with others who say they are telling people through gritted teeth, as the more of you who visit, the less likely I will win it!  Check out the amazing blanket that Jules has been making too........it is absolutely stunning.

Anyway, gotta run.......have an impatient husband 'tutting' in the kitchen and tescos awaits........lucky me!!  I will be back tomorrow with my Year of Projects update.

Until then, happy Saturday all!