My Saturday

Today is our first day off from work for a whole nine glorious days. We wanted to take it easy today so spent the day pottering not too far from home. There was lots and lots of Tea - I do love Yorkshire Tea, it's my favourite. I started a new crochet blanket with a very very long foundation chain. It's very exciting starting a new project and I choose the yarn from my embarrassingly extensive stash. I had eight inches chopped from my hair in a nice hairdressers in Reepham - very impulsive, we drove passed, stopped and fortunately they had an appointment then and there. We had lunch in the rather yummy Recruiting Sergeant in Horstead - I went with  the Smoked Salmon Souffle and the Boy went with a Hog Roast Bap. We had a wander around Kerris Farmhouse Pine and Very Nice Things as well as a quick trip to Hobbycraft as the Boy needed some elastic, but I managed to pick up a couple of things too. Snacks after dinner was dried fruit and nuts - I particularly enjoyed the Lime infused Sultanas. Here's to the next eight days being so delightful.

Little Makings

In between bigger projects like Crochet Blankets, I have to intersperse them with little makes. Sometimes blankets feel never ending - recently I have been sewing in the ends of 360 granny squares which at times can feel quite painful! Especially when you realise that 60 of them are too big and need frogging! Thank goodness for my husband as he has offered to block them all for me. So I like little makes, things that a quick and easy to make - a bit of instant gratification!

Felt Flower Brooch - the centre is a self cover button in one of my favourite fabrics. Such quick little project,  it just takes a little drying time and now it beautifully embellishes my Winter coat.

Simple bunting to adorn our new shelves in our dining room. It makes me feel like a kinda have a dresser.

Hanging crochet hearts - nice little gifts for when the need calls. I do love twine and even more little makes.

Baby Blanket

For the last month, I've been working on a baby blanket for a friend whose little one is imminently due. I was a little worried I wouldn't finish it in time, but I have! Hurrah! I kept it simple with a Granny Square from Lucy at Attic 24. I've done this pattern before and knew it would work up fairly quickly. They don't know if they are having a boy or a girl, so I went for neutrals.

I used Stylecraft Special DK in Cream, Mocha, Grey, Silver and Parchment - one ball of each, which makes it a super economical blanket. I really like the soft neutral colours and it should suit their nursery which is cream and coffee colours. I finished it with a simple scallop edging. I genuinely cannot believe I managed to make it in just four weeks - a bit here and there with fairly solid concentration time in the last week. But it's done! I do hope that they will like it!

Tea Time

An absolute age ago, we bought a Tea Pot, at the time a quite liked it, but as time has passed it lost favour in our household. It has a pretty rose pattern, but it's predominantly white, just not enough pattern for my liking! So, I decided to make a Tea Cosy. I dug through my yarn stash and went with grey and various shades of pink. To be fair it was a little embarrassing quite how many different pink yarns I own! The main body of the Tea Cosy was a bit of a bodge - I didn't use a pattern, just made it up as I went along. Stretching and pulling it into shape. The pretty flowers and leaves are from Lucy at Attic 24. I am rather pleased with it as it's much prettier now and it will take pride of place at our Sunday Morning Breakfasts.

A winter scarf in summer...

I really like all the Ripple Blankets I've seen on the Internet, they are just so beautiful - and I've been itching to make one myself. But with all the projects I have on the go, I just couldn't bring myself to start another one, especially one that would be so time consuming! So, I thought I'd just make a scarf - quick and easy. I did feel quite strange making a scarf in summer - I usually make things seasonally, which often means that they are finished by the next season and then are too late to use! This time, my scarf is ready and waiting for later this year. I do love a quick project!

Weekending

We've had a rather delightful weekend. It started on Friday night with the Olympic Opening Ceremony. We were invited to a friends house and asked to dress as a Country - above is just a snapshot of the outfits. There was a Barbecue, some drinkies and we watched the ceremony in the outdoor cinema in their garden. There was lots and lots of puddings - almost everyone brought one! We took two homemade Pavlovas - a Summer Berry and Raspberry and Passion Fruit. I enjoyed every moment of the ceremony - it really was quite spectacular. 

On Saturday, we headed to North Norfolk to the Langham Street Fayre. It really is one of my favourite Norfolk events. I love the all the stalls, the food, the entertainment and the atmosphere.

Our first port of call was Yvonne Law's stall who hand casts pewter jewellery and ornaments that are inspired by the flora and fauna of North Norfolk. I love love love her work. We bought two pieces at the last  Fayre in Langham and I was itching to add to our collection.

Outside the Church was the stall of Sea 2 Sea who creates handmade decorative driftwood items. Eventually after a long debate, we settled on a Whale and I love him already!

This stall made me smile - I've never seen so much Licorice!

This guy made us smile too...

We then settle opposite The Bluebell pub and enjoyed the Sea Shanties of The Wild Rovers. I could have listened to them all day. Here's a little clip...

On the way home we stopped at the Norwich Makers Market and purchased some Macaroons - they were absolutely delicious, especially the Lime one! Such pretty colours.

Today, Sunday saw a stay at home day. A new Crochet project was started - a Baby Blanket for a friend whose little one is due in just five weeks - I must get on with this blanket and crochet quick!

There was also a little baking - Chocolate and Hazelnut Cupcakes from The Hummingbird Bakery book. Dang, these Cupcakes are amazing, completely yummy!

My Sister then came home and had bought us some more Macaroons! Two lots of Macaroons in a weekend - absolutely heavenly!

Hooky Roses

In between darning in my granny squares, I have been making a few Crochet Roses. The pattern is from the lovely Lucy at Attic 24. It's such a super pattern and she explains things so clearly trying out something new is a complete joy. I'm mostly using leftover yarn, different brands and weights but keeping to various shapes of pink. I think I need about the same again for what I have in mind...at least it's something different in between the darning! I do love this Crochet lark - it really is quite relaxing and the end result is something pretty for our home. 

Nearly There...

I needed 380 Granny Squares and after remaking about 100 of them, I've now just 14 left to do! In fact, the colour rounds are done, so it's just the white bits. I can't wait to be finished. But then there is the slightly mammoth job of sewing it all together. Mammoth and daunting. I've also got to block them all, but I can't wait to see it finished. I *will* finish it rather than just start a new blanket though, which I already have the Yarn ready and waiting. I've really enjoy making these Granny Squares, I like the bright colours and turning the rounds into squares. I wonder how long it will take me to properly finish this blanket?!

More Wrist Warmers in May

Thank goodness the weather is still a little chilly as I'm making more Wrist Warmers. I'm finding them  slightly addictive. I think I could make endless pairs - they're so quick to make and I could have a pair in every colour of the rainbow and ones to match every outfit! There's one pair for me and the others are for friends. I'm keeping the above white and blue pair as I wear a lot of these colours, plus the Blue is a great match for my Winter Coat. I kept my ones a little shorter and no fancy edging. The other two pairs have pretty scallop edging and I've chosen their favourite colours; I like when you make a gift for someone you can create something that is really specific for them, hopefully something they'll love. 

The rate the weather in Blighty is going I'll be wearing these in August!

Yarn Love

My collecting of yarn is getting out of hand. Too much yarn and too little time! There's just too much yummy yarn in the world. I have collected all sorts of yarn, some projects are started, some are just in my head. I think I have enough yarn to last me years and years.

Stylecraft Special DK

Ongoing project of crochet colourful rounds.

Hand spun Alpaca Wool from my Sister in Law who lives in Australia.

Cushion cover, literally just completed.

Debbie Bliss Andes

Project Unknown

Rowan Pure Wool DK

Granny Stripes Blanket - Completed

Manos Del Uruguay Fair Trade Silk Blend

Project unknown!

Manos Del Uruguay Fair Trade Silk Blend

Project unknown, maybe another cushion cover

Sirdir Snuggle Baby Bamboo

Wrist Warmers, only one made.

Mixture of DK yarns

Granny Square Blanket, to be started.