Wednesday walk

This Wednesday was a day for walking...one, because my hubby said he would take the boys to school and two, because I had a bit of a flap.  In September, we have signed up for a The Brecon Mountain Trail Challenge, which is a twenty or thirty mile walk up a range of mountains in Mid-Wales.  I quietly thought, 'that's fine, I can get fit by then' and then I had a sudden panic, what if I just couldn't do it!

So out I went, dog, water, camera, pedometer and Ipod and hit the coast path.  The day started off grey and a bit cold, but half way around I was stripping off and getting a little hot under the collar.

The flowers were out in force and having my camera to hand meant a good excuse to stop and take a breather  photo.

Banks of colour

(I have to admit to being fairly happy that there were many reasons to stop to take a photo)

I clocked about seven miles, so a little way to go to reach the twenty I will do on the big day....but I'm on my way!

This beach is a bit of a locals' secret, it's not easy to get to, and so doesn't tend to be found by the tourists ;-)

A wreck?

These towers are used for guiding the boats in....although there is also a lighthouse just around the corner too....I'm imagining that these conduct some kind of signal(?)

So this is not the first walk, as Chester and I walk every day, but this is the first effort to atleast start heading in the right direction....wish me luck (and any tips for building my stamina for uphill walking)

Tomorrow, we are all jetting off to foreign lands (England) to visit my sister for a couple of days......sooooo excited I can't tell you!

Be back next week to catch up with knitting....there has been some!

Year of projects 22.07.12

Well the past couple of weeks of 'busy' must have taken their toll, as for the past two nights, I have not knitted or crocheted......hubby was about to get the thermometer out.  Waking up this morning was a bit like hitting the wall I reckon, and I'm afraid I've whined more than once today!

The picture above is a quick start on Ten Stitch Twist, unfortunately not in the Noro suggested, but in King Cole Riot, first time I've used it, and so far pretty impressed.

Disappointingly that's really it for YOP work this week, but I have still been busy.  A couple of weeks ago I borrowed a book from the library with lots of patterns for knitted and crocheted flowers, I can't say I've found the patterns very easy to follow, as the terms are slightly different to those I am used to, but let's say it has been a challenge!

(rose, scabious, daisy, dianthus, pansy)

We have been treated to a couple of days of sunshine, and definitely not taking it for granted with the recent unseasonal weather, we had a family BBQ yesterday.  It was relaxed and fun with great food and even better company.  I baked a cheesecake, a bakewell tart, a summer pudding and a batch of malteser squares which all seemed to go down well.

By request of Ruth, here are three of the puds, the summer pudding stayed in its bowl for transporting and once up-ended, was quickly consumed...yom, yom, yom!

This afternoon I got my way and we walked in the big woods.



There was some whining (not from me for a change!) and tired small people were bribed with the promise of homemade strawberry milkshake.

It is always so satisfying to get out in the woods on a warm day, even though we were all tired, it felt good when we were among the trees.  Both dogs are now snoring and I won't be far behind them.

Looking forward to catching up with all you fellow YOP-ers.  Thanks for all your lovely comments last week. Hope you all have another good crafting week.x

One-a-day (29th November)

Crochet is definitely not for the faint hearted...........in my house it is fast-paced and at the moment a little stressful!

So as you may recall, my temporary one-a-day, is a flower scarf for my mother-in-law who is about to hop on a plane and will be away for Christmas.  So I have today to finish and then it will be wrapped to give to her tomorrow! 

I'm out tonight.......... and although I am good at multi-tasking........ playing the whistle and crocheting at the same time is not I would say........ my strong point.  In my favour, the boys' schools are striking tomorrow, so I could work until late tonight as I don't have an early start tomorrow.

This week I have done 16 flowers.

It's not so much the flower making that takes the time, but all the crocheting together and sewing ends.  I have made good progress and at this stage have to say a massive thank you again, to Marie, Underground Crafter who suggested how to join. I feel it is working out well.

As is often my moan, the light is dreadful here today making the colours seem a lot brighter than the more muted colours I have actually used.

Those who chipped in their recommendations with the shape I should go for, will realise that the vast majority said triangular shaped shawl, so I duly went with the long scarf!  I did start with a triangle, but decided that a long scarf may get more use, even if placed over the end of a bed etc...

I only have three small flowers to do, and then it is the boring rewarding task of sewing and seeing the scarf come together.  When it is finished (early hours of tomorrow morning?) I will try and lay it out flat, so you can see how I've placed the motifs.

Anyhoo........thank you for the continuing support and lovely comments....even if I do blatantly ignore all your helpful advice!  Looking forward to seeing how you are all getting along too.  If you would like to see more One-a-day work, do check out gingerbreadgirl's blog.

One-a-day Tuesday (22nd Nov)

This is a flying visit.....because as ever, I have a million things to do and about quarter of an hour to do them!

I have fitted in my 14 flowers this week which was my aim to make two a day and I think the pressure may be off a little next week, so hopefully I may even stretch to doing three a day.

There are three new pattern flowers in there (the purple ones with the circle around), which have really caused me to smile.  One has six petals, the other two have seven......but the best bit is, that the one in the book I am working from has eight.........not sure how I manage it!!  Maybe by next week I will have mastered it..........either that or I will just say its part of the bespoke design?

These are them all, not a great accuracy for colour, but hopefully giving you an idea of what I am aiming at.

Now question is.......do I make a long scarf when I join, or more of a triangular shaped shawl?

Come on help my christmas-induced-fuzzy brain make a decision!

Well, only have 999,999 other things to do......ooops and about three minutes left!

To see other inspirational one-a-day projects, check out gingerbreadgirl's blog.

Reasons to be cheerful!

It's Thursday, and I'm linking up with Planet Penny with my ..............

Reasons to be Cheerful!

I am in my element at the moment with my crochet projects, more WIPs than you could shake a stick at! Friends of ours had a baby a couple of days ago and I am busy making a blanket (my favorite past time!), the promise of another baby due in a month so an instant excuse to make another blanket! Christmas presents, snowflakes..........endless crochet...............

Anyway, avoiding all the crochet excitement, here are three reasons that I am cheerful.

Beautiful flowers from my Mum

My oldest son's class assembly this morning, he makes me soooo proud!

Learning new skills.....this one is almost ready for paint and glitter!

So there you have it........hope you have lots of Reasons to be Cheerful too...... if you do, why not join in with yours on Planet Penny's blog.....or if you need some more cheer in your life, go read others reasons for being cheerful, I'm sure it will put a smile on your face!

One-a-day Tuesday

So I find myself in limbo..........

My first one-a-day project is finished and I'm actually a little disappointed as it was a nice simple square that fitted well in to my day.........

So I've been pondering my next project and had a bit of a 'my list is how long?' moment!

I have numerous Christmas projects, a 'just because' blanket, two baby blankets.

..............so none of these things lends them self to one a day, as they need doing yesterday........

Top of the list for Christmas?.............The flower scarf for my Mother-in-law, needs to be done by the end of November as they are spending Christmas in S.Africa, so need to take their presents with them. 

So it is by this process of thought, that this will become my temporary one-a-day.

I have 19 flowers made.

I'm not sure how many more I need to make, but needless to say its lots more.  I have (quick tot up) 14 days to make quite a few more, which will then need placing and joining. 

So here is the plan.......(am I making this sound like I know what I'm doing) ..... I will aim to make two a day  and then in the last two days I will make 20 in a complete insane crochet meltdown..............

Are you with me???

To see other more relaxed and planned one-a-day projects, see gingerbreadgirl's blog.

Year of projects (wk11)

This week has taken me rather by surprise, it being the half-term holidays and with no school runs to do, I made myself a big to-do list.

I'm quite big on lists, and being able to tick off even a few jobs gives me a great sense of satisfaction.  At the beginning of the week, between other things I saw the tape measure and got oldest boy on measuring my granny stripe and my bed.  Not so long ago, it was a good way off being finished, but this time when measured it was about three stripes off..........totally do-able!

So first things first I have a finished item on my Year of projects........drum rolls please...............

This is already in full use with three boys snuggled under it on any given opportunity!

So onto another project, I've been carrying on with the flower motifs for a shawl/scarf as a Christmas present.

After asking advice from you clever, fellow bloggers about joining these flowers I was given a great idea from Marie at Underground Crafter so when I think I have made enough I will plan my layout and begin to join.!

Staying with the flowers, I bought a ball of Rico Creative about a week ago and after looking at this link here

suggested by goodpurlgonebad (don't you just love the blogging community!) I decided that I would give it a whirl.  I must admit, I haven't stuck to the pattern really as I liked the look of the flowers when I got to round three so rather than carrying on, I stopped there.

This yarn is absolutely beautiful and the colours (not shown well here!) are glorious.  This will definitely do well from blocking I'm sure.  I had in mind that this would make a shawl too, but hubby says he thinks it should be something less showey like a cushion.............hhhmmmmm, not sure.  The person who I have in mind for it, likes cheerful......... so why not wear it........what d'ya think?

So all in all a good week on lots of fronts........crochet........fun........housework..........sorting......... lots of ticks on my list!!

Before I forget, I would like to point you all in the direction of Fee at Chipper Nelly who is giving away some of her gorgeous handmade wooden blocks........take a look

As others have said before me.......never entirely sure why you want to alert any one's attention to these things when it clearly makes your own chance of winning less........hhhhhmmmmmm.........

Anyway, it's all go in my house today as it is Hubby's birthday ('And you're sat here blogging?' I hear you ask incredulously). I have a roast in the oven, although after the amount of chocolate coconut cake we've all eaten I'm not sure there will be anyone much interested in supper!  There are veg that need doing and batter for Yorkshire puds.....so must go!

I'm looking forward to having a good nosey about later at all your blogs too........thanks as ever for all the lovely comments and ideas.........always appreciated!

To check out other Year of projects work - please look here.



Year of projects (wk8)

Well, I picked some of you good people's brains this week and decided to put hook to yarn and  get on with it.  Thank you for all the useful suggestions, the most helpful suggestion was that I need to change the habit of a lifetime and ..........plan...........

As part of my YOP list I want to do a flower scarf.

I love the beautiful Japanese scarves I have seen on so many other blogs.  The bit I don't get is that the book that a lot of other crocheters have used is obviously in Japanese, and not being able to read charts that well, I wasn't confident I would get anywhere.

Anyhoo........I bought a book about motifs and was very inspired, but still unsure about working all the shapes together.  I asked about tessellating, but actually it probably isn't the word I was looking for.  If I choose a geometric shape they will fit together and I could join-as-I-go, but with flowers, I guess I had in mind that I could pick a few different designs and join each one by slip-stitching into previous flowers as I go. 

I tried this design first that I found in Rowan's Vintage Knits book from the local library.  This would overcome the joining problem, but it wasn't exactly what I envisaged.

So I used my new crochet book and tried out three different flower motifs.

I want to be able to randomly put them together to make a scarf or shawl, but as of yet, I haven't figured out how.  If I join as I go, I will have to select the design and colours carefully  and I feel that it won't fit into my haphazard style of doing things!

I have also been working on my one-a-day sunnyspread throw and my Attic 24 inspired granny stripe.  The stripe is very comforting to do now, as it is keeping me warm while I work on it. 

I have done 4 repeats, that is 68 colours or 136 rows.  I chained 240 to begin, so it is wide enough hopefully to go on a bed, and I have read somewhere, that with that width I should get 7 repeats out of each ball, so I am over half way! 

I think I will buy another Lucy pack so I have the option to add a bit more, as I'm not sure if the border is included in the one pack with 7 repeats.  I also have two friends expecting babies in the next few months so would like to make a couple of cot blankets, maybe a ripple?  Maybe a round ripple as I have seen some beautiful examples recently.

I love, love, love this project!

Anyway, I am whizzing off to watch Johnny English with the boys while probably doing a little more striping. 

Looking forward to seeing all your great progress with a cup of tea when all the littlest members of this family are tucked up in bed.

Hope you all have a very successful week!



One-a-day - Tuesday's tallies (wk4)

Well, as ever I seem to be squeezing this post in before my food shop and picking up the boys from school.

My tally this week is 25.

This week I haven't got round to sewing in ends and sewing the squares together hence why the new squares look a little bigger.

I am pleased on how this blanket is going and really have to say it is no trouble, I tend to have a look in my 'chuck it all in' hidey-hole in the car at the end of Monday, and generally the week's work is completed as I do it all on the school runs.............effortless.......... just about!

Haven't yet figured out what I will do about the shortfall in cotton, although I'm pretty sure I want it to be all one colour for the person I am making it for.  I know how much a square weighs, but am not really sure how much I will need to make the border which looks very pretty on the pattern......hhhhmmmm, can you tell I am not the best at making decisions!!

(Just spent ages trying to arrange three silly pictures and now everything is slowly unfolding, so I give up)

(now as soon as I type it got worse!! To cap it all off, I got to the end of the post and one of the pictures has gone!!)

Try again..........I want to make a Christmas present for my mother-in-law and  was thinking to make a flower scarf, rather like the beautiful Japanese scarves which so many are blogging about at the moment.

Anyway...........taking a look at my newly acquired crochet and knitting book, there are a number of flower motifs which are really pretty, so I hope to give some of them a go this week.

My question is...........you knew there was one coming didn't you?!

Has anyone any tips in designing shapes to tessellate (gosh, that's dredging up some memories from junior school) planning is not my strong point, but planning would probably help with this, as then I could join as I go?  Any advise gladly accepted!

Back on subject, to check out other peoples one-a-day work check out gingerbread girls blog here.