in the post...............

I have parcelled up my blanket and bunting and it's on the way to my friend Pam for her birthday. I have to admit it has been hard to let it go especially after I took some photos of it in the garden.

I especially love the bunting I must make some for my garden.

talk soon x

yarn along - Billie blanket 2

My yarn along post this week is pretty much an extension of last weeks, I finished the little woolleyhugs, Billie blanket but felt it needed a friend so I have started blanket number two. This one is a little different, the first one was made up of rows of treble crochet, this one is going to be made from small granny squares.

Reading wise I am looking for inspiration so have been re-reading my Simply Crochet, which I love. Not sure what I am going to make yet, but if I manage to finish my Billie blanket I will share my new project with you this time next week.

talk soon x

Ps forgot to say I am at Inspire Market Fair on Saturday pop over to Sweetpea Face Book page  for more details and a special offer just for you x

blankets are so adorable................

I have finished my chunky knitted blanket and it's just so warm and cosy - I love it.

The colours are lovely quite different from my usual pastels and pretty ice-cream colours, much more subtle and maybe grown up! 

I'm not sure where it will live apart from on my knee. We are still in the middle of decorating the lounge and I am visualising it nestling on a squishy sofa or artfully folded on a beautiful vintage unit but alas I do love to dream - we will just have to wait and see.

my beautiful knitted blanket.............

I felt a bit mean not giving my other blankets a mention in case they felt pushed out of the limelight, you can never have enough blankets although Mr R doesn't seem to understand my love of these cosy, snuggly, yarny, woolly things ................ but you have to agree they do look adorable.

you can never have enough blankets ..............

 talk soon x

ticking jobs off my list ...........

I've had a productive day, everything on list completed and actually quite a bit more besides. Vicky came over to discuss the hen do and ended up giving me a hairstyle make over - I quite fancied having a few curls in my hair so Vicky had a go with the curling irons, I was really pleased with the result.

Washing and ironing all done and I managed to fit in some baking as well, Pam had given me a Jamie Oliver recipe for banana muffins which she makes when she has over ripe bananas that need to be used up. I had three ripe bananas looking at me this morning and I felt unable to put them in the compost so you will be pleased to hear that I had a go at making the muffins. They were so quick and easy to make and turned out really well, I added a bit more texture by adding a handful of sultanas to the recipe. I was still in a baking mood and had all my ingredients to hand so I made a batch of plain scones to go with some strawberry conserve and clotted cream I had in the fridge.  All sounds yummy but I am still on my diet and due for a weigh in on Thursday so unfortunately none for me. 

I spent some time in the afternoon working on the baby shower decorations, wrapped my friends birthday present and then had a lovely treat which I had booked last week but had forgotten to add to my list. Pam collected me and we went to the new Clarins spa for a massage, mine was a relaxing and vitality enhancing massage with lovely essential oils,  Pam's was a full body massage that used essential oils and hot stones, we both felt so very pampered and relaxed when we came home.

After cooking dinner I spent the rest of the evening watching tennis and doing some of my crochet, a lovely relaxing end to a busy day.

I hope tomorrow is as productive
Talk soon x

a perfect sunny Sunday .........

It's been a lovely sunny day today and I decided to have a leisurely day before the onslaught of a very busy week ahead.

The day started with a trip to a local charity car boot sale, where I bought some lovely china teacups to add to my collection, some vintage dessert bowls and a little china serving dish. Followed by a very quick supermarket shop and then back home.

teacups

serving dish

dessert bowls

The house has been so quiet, no visitors, my partner had gone to play football which left me with some lovely me time hours. I played my favourite Jack Johnson album and did some pottering inside and outside the house. I love sitting in the sunshine but it also makes me want to do jobs in the house, I tried hard to resist on the job front but did end up doing some sorting - so not such a leisurely day but still enjoyable.

I have been checking off my to do list for the wedding and things are going well - also made a list of jobs for the week as I go away for the weekend and then on Monday it's time to go on holiday - I can't wait.

Things I have planned or need to complete before the weekend -:

Monday
Meet Vicky re hen do, sort holiday clothes, do the laundry and ironing, wrap Jane's birthday present, start sugar paste decorations for baby shower cakes.

Tuesday
Meet Jane for coffee, start planning baking list and shop for ingredients

Wednesday
Look after Zachy and Noah - meet up with Laura re hen do

Thursday
Bake cakes for baby shower commission

Friday
Bake cakes, scones, meringues for crafternoon tea (hen party afternoon tea), pack for London, decorate baby shower cakes, fit in visit to the beauty parlour for manicure and pedicure.

Saturday
Pack car with cakes, vintage teacups, cake plates, and  cake stands, jam jars and knitted covers, travel to London with Laura and Vicky

Sunday
Travel back from London, unpack and re-pack for holiday tomorrow

Monday - holiday!

I can't decide if the list has helped or made me feel slightly hysterical ............... but on a calming note I have started another baby blanket, this one in pinky shades.

comfy chair waiting, crochet at hand - just need a cup of coffee

talk soon Sue x

my creative space

I am playing catch up with everything this week, but better late than never. Hope everyone has had a creative and inspired week,  I stayed up late last night and put the finishing touches to my baby blanket - hope you like it.
Just popping over to "my creative space" to check out everyones projects.

 talk soon x

yarn along ........................

Hope everyone has joined in with Ginny's yarn along this week, I can't wait to check out new projects and find inspiration for a new read. - I have to confess I am a day late with being away in London.
The beauty of travelling is how much crochet work you can get through on a peaceful undisturbed train journey. I have been experimenting with a new yarn, style craft double knitting, well it's new to me and very reasonably priced which is a bonus as I seem to be getting through lots of yarn at the moment. I am making a little baby blanket as before the end of the year quite a few of my friends will have new grandchildren. I have used mainly trebles and doubles and have just made some crochet circles to add some embellishment down two sides.

I have also just received the first edition of a new magazine called " The Simple Things" which I think I am going to love. 

I thought I would share with you the inside cover of the magazine with its ethos ............

doesn't it sound perfect.

Hope you all have a creative week.

talk soon x

home and away .......................

Sorry it has been a week since I last posted on my blog - I have been so busy it's been hard to find time to sit at my computer. I have lots to catch up with. I went to London at the end of last week so had my usual cookathon to make sure that my partner had plenty to eat during my absence

The old staples of vegetable lasagna and vegetable chili stocked the fridge. For snacking I made a fruitcake, which was a recipe I hadn't tried before - Mary Berry's pound cake, I adapted it slightly and made it as a tray bake rather than a traditional deep round cake, it worked well. I also made a box of chocolate cornflake cakes which are quick to make and a household  favourite.  

Next came packing for my trip, I had to make sure I had room in my case for the knitted lamp and the little wooden people - I can now confirm that the knitted lamp was delivered safely and the little wooden people have a complete wardrobe and are sitting in Kate's studio.

It was lovely to spend time with Kate and Jake, it seemed ages since I had last visited but in reality was less than a month. Jake is getting more confident with his walking and is managing to get everywhere and into everything -  he is just adorable.

Kate as I expected is getting pre-wedding jitters, worried that she won't get everything completed in time, but of course she will.

We managed to fit in a trip to Liberty's where we bought some lovely fabric to make some of the wedding accessories.

I took this photo looking down from the top floor.....

One of the things Kate wants to make for her wedding is a wishing board like the one Sania Pell has designed and featured in her latest book " the home made home for children"

  

Wishing Board - taken from  " home made at home for children"

                              
We spent hours cutting up fabric to thread through luggage labels for the wishing board and for attaching gift tags to thank you presents. Kate also designed some special things for the hen party - I can't give too much away as it's not until the 15th September.

On Monday we visited  Temperley for Kate's wedding dress fitting, she looked beautiful  - I wish I could share more with you but I will have to wait until after the 20th October, I can't wait.

As usual the time ran away from us and it was time to come home, I got back yesterday and since my return  have had a busy time with the rest of my family.

Alex has moved up to year 5, Finn has started school, Daisy has started nursery school and they have all settled in well. Today was my usual day for looking after Zach and Noah, it has been lovely and sunny enabling us to spend lots of time playing in the garden. Noah has become very confident negotiating steps and slopes in the garden, his walking has improved so much. Zachy and I didn't manage to bake today but he had fun pretend baking in the sand pit.

I have also managed to do a little bit more on my crochet blanket, will add a photo next time.

No wonder it was so late when I eventually started this post.

Night night talk soon x 

I am so lucky ................

Over the last few years I have become more comfortable with technology and really enjoy using my laptop and can't imagine not having the Internet. I love writing my blog and have recently taken part in Holly Becker's blogging course.
I'm quite addicted to my iPhone, always looking for that perfect blog photo opportunity, but recently I have been coveting iPads. Kate had one for Christmas, my best friend Pam was bought one for her birthday (she has made an amazing knitted cover for it)

Imagine my absolute surprise and delight when a few days ago one arrived in the post for me! I am so lucky I still can't believe it.

My partner ordered it as a surprise and it's not even my birthday  - I  have bought myself a lovely pink protective cover and I  think I will knit myself a case for extra protection for when I take it out. At the moment it is kept close to my side at all times - I know that you all have a good idea what an iPad looks like but I just had to take a photo of it for my blog - so sorry for being so boring and I don't mean to gloat but I am so absolutely thrilled I just had to share it with you. I promise to never mention it again ( I will try).

pink iPad, crochet blanket what more could I ask for ............

Talk soon
Sue and beautiful pink iPad x

my creative space ..............

My creative space is somewhat messy this week - I seem to have so many things that I want to make and all at the same time, which makes life tricky. I have two blankets on the go, a cushion, granny squares, a strange project I am attempting which is covering a lamp flex in a knitted tube, also mini crochet balls - not sure what for yet!

Plus I have an endless list in my head of more things I want to make - can't wait to crochet some nesting bowls (check out Seriously Daisies for the amazing pattern and tutorial)

my creative projects ...............

I love the mini crochet balls ...................

If you have time click on  my creative space on Village Voices for lots of inspiration.

talk soon
Sue x

yarn along ................

the books from my bedside table ..............

I have joined in with Ginny's yarn along again, I hope you have all had a lovely creative week. I can't wait to see what everyone is reading and making.

I have a number of books that have been recommended to me by friends and also kindly donated unfortunately they are all sitting on my bedside table waiting for me to read - but I am going to bed later and later as a little hook seems to keep me up!

Recently when I have been tempted to dip into a book they have all been craft, crochet, knitting and of course cookery books - my other passion, but I have decided to read "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, it's set in Mississippi in 1962 - the story captures the difficult struggles that women face and how they find the courage to cross cultural boundaries, I'm really enjoying it.

Moving onto my current yarn project - I have to confess that the blanket I started last week has been put on one side - it's Jules fault from littlewoolie she has started a mixed stripey blanket and invited people to join in. I couldn't resist and Jules is going to add some stitch tutorials onto her blog.

I have gathered some lovely colours together and hooked my foundation chain, it's got just over 200 stitches and I have started off with half trebles as Jules recommended. I can't wait to see what our next stitch is going to be. 

Talk soon

Sue x

yarn along ..........................

My first ever yarn along  - I have been inspired to join the amazing yarn along that Ginny from Small Things  has set up, every Wednesday Ginny has a yarn along link and people share with her what they are making and reading.  I am celebrating the completion of my crochet blanket and also want to share with you two lovely books written by Sania Pell. I was first introduced to the books by my daughter, Kate, who bought me them both as lovely surprise presents. It's so lovely to receive an unexpected gift in the post.

Sania Pell the author describes "the homemade home" as having 50 thrifty and chic projects for the home and "the homemade for children" as having 50 thrifty and chic projects for creative parents. The books are beautifully illustrated and the photography fills me with inspiration. When I have some quiet me time I love to put my feet up on the sofa, I have a big mug of coffee to hand and then delve into both books - dreaming of all the lovely projects I could make ........... sounds delightful.

 I can't wait to see everyone elses creation's and books they are reading.



talk soon Sue x