Christmas Crochet Blankets.

Well Greg has returned to Africa - but only for three weeks this time ! So he will be back a day before the children finish school for Christmas half term holidays.

So while the big cat is away I have been busy crocheting !

This is blanket 6 - made from tiny squares - this will take AGES to finish I fear !

This blanket is number five - it is for my Grandpa in Coventry. He has had two blankets from me already but I am running out of ideas for him !

So while the kiddielinks are eating their chicken pie which apparently tastes very BAD I am working on my blog !

I am winning on the food front and am making all our food from scratch ! Yeah !!

And my grocery bill has shrunk too - so no more ready meals for us !

One Down - Five to Go...

This is for my Great-Grandad and Grannie Jean.

Will get it in the post on the 1st of Dec.

5 more blankets to go !

Have a great crafting day !

Christmas Crochet Blanket Marathon.

Here we go - as you can see I have been busy !

Blanket three -

This one is going to be BIG I did not realise 250 stitches was so very long ! This is all my yarn colours with out repeating - and not using my good stuff and no variegated colours !

Blanket - 4 on the go -

Have repeated colours in this one - on the second round of each colour at the moment. This one is almost finished. Started it yesterday, this pattern goes quickly.

On the 5th of December it is our tenth wedding anniversary - where did the time go? We have been together for about 12 years now WOW time flies past !

As hubby will not be here he bought me these lovely flowers - plus faster broadband and more channels to watch when I am home alone in the evenings...

Oh and my Back Tack partner has received my parcel so I can show you what I sent her ...

Gold - my crocheted birds.

A crocheted shawl and a shoulder bag... representing myrrh

A smaller bag, pixie house and patchwork cushion full of lavender - for frankincense...


I made this bag for Christmas - not sure who to give it too !

Chat soon XXX

Crochet Blankets - work in progress.

I have three blankets on the go at the moment. A brown one, a red, white and blue one and one using ALL my wool in my stash !

As it is Friday I also went to my quilting class and began a dresdan plate quilters block.

Here is a peak at the brown blanket - I don't want to reveal too much as it MAY be a Christmas present IF I finish it in time !

The next blanket on the hook is the red, white and blue one - it is just going to be a rectangle shaped granny square. It is supposed to be a spiderman theme but has ended up more like the Union Jack ! No photo of this WIP as it is in the conservatory...

The third blanket I began this afternoon - it is a retro theme, I am using ALL the stash I have ... and I am going to see how wide it is going to grow with out repeating the colours...

Here is what I have done so far ...

My Dresdan Plate block - still have a lot of work to do on it ... must squeeze it in among all the crocheting !!

Have a GREAT weekend !

Chat soon XXXX

Shopping for Shoes.

My baby sister is in England (from South Africa). So today we went to town. I think we visited ALL the charity shops in town.
I came home with two LOVELY pairs of high heels - I don't own ANY high heels so now I do !
I also found two brown and green mugs from Truro I will use them to hold my crochet hooks. And of course a shopping spree would not be complete with out more sewing / quilting books to add to my growing collection.

Abs and I had a lovely day shopping.

I am now making a chicken pie for supper and making Christmas presents - photos to follow after Christmas Day !

Now had better go and referee a heated discussion about where we are going on Sunday - it sounds like it is zoo vs aquarium !

Have a great evening.

Chat tomorrow XXXX

I Have been Tagged ...

by Sue from http://eco-tricot.blogspot.com/ seeing as it is my first time I have been tagged I will have a go !

To participate you -

Link to the person who tagged you.
List seven facts about yourself.
Post the rules on your blog.
Tag seven more people to do the same and link to them.
Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
Let the tagger know when your entry has been posted.

Here we go !

1. I am a hoarder of all things I might be able to use in my crafting...

2. I would love to live near the sea.

3. I met my husband through a sailing club - but got to know him at a mutual friend's wedding.

4. I am incredibly untidy - but try to be tidy.... really I do !

5. I can speak Xhosa badly ...

6. I love Christmas and snowflakes.

7. I love family meal times.

I will have to pass it on later as I am not sure who to send it on to !!

My two favourite people taken two years ago (ish) XXXX

Quilting Progress?

The quilting course I am doing would have finished on Friday - but we have all asked for a two week extension so I will have two more blocks to be added to my collection.

I also had to finish some of my unfinished blocks - thankfully hubby is home and I have been able to do a LOT of homework.

My first block - tumbling blocks. I still want to do grannys garden or an inner city block ... when I have an extra hour or two perhaps ....

The log cabin again ...

The old tipping canoe this is one of my unfinished blocks - completed this one on Friday after class.

My own design - finished this one yesterday. It was a lot of hand piecing...
Strip piecing - I think ... my first sewing machine block.

My second machine block.

My work today - Cathederal Window. This is not finished - but I had to start with four squares ... want to add more on - it might not end up in my quilt it might be a wall hanging - but then again I may use it to pull all the colours together !

Now I had better go and organise my children's homework...

Chat Soon XXXX

I did not think I would finish ...

but my hands do ache !
My quilting course is almost at an end and so my tutor wants to see all my blocks. Some of my hand piecing ones were not finished.

So today I finished my tipping canoe block and have almost finished my own design. But the ache won and I had to stop!

Still have to work on the white on white block and the cathederal windows. Will see if we have plans for tomorrow... if not I will be doing them ! I hope to turn the cathederal windows into a wall hanging - we will see.

Am cooking a roast as we speak so have to go and pop the parsnips in the oven and find my yourkshire puddings .... yummy !!

Chat soon, XXXX

Gold, Frankincense and Mrryh.

I am taking part in an on line swap called Gold, Frankincense and Mrryh ... I have just taken photos of my work and packed it all up to post tomorrow ... will post pictures later as it is a blog based swap and I don't want to spoil my partner's surprise ! So I can tick that off my list! Along with my yahoo group Secret Santa ... plodding along nicely !

This is my afternoon's work - two squares for a quilt, I think it will be for Anna-Kate but we will see.

Now off to find a crochet hook as hubby has said we can have fish and chips for dinner !

Chat soon XXXX

My New Hairstyle.

My hair has all been cut off.... it is short and has red streaks in now.

Remember though that this is right after a trip to the hairdressers - not sure if I can make my hair lie like this all the time !!!

I am so excited I could burst !

I have just finished two parts of my secret santa - I can not post pics yet as the receipient might read my blog !! It is a new venture (adventure?) for me and so I am very happy ! Now back to crocheting and back into my normal zone ....

Enjoy the ordinary day ...

I have had this expresion bouncing around in my head for ages now ! I might put it into an embroidery / needle work .... we will see.

I have been busy this week.

Greg came home on Saturday afternoon - bringing me home a new sewing magazine called Sew Hip ! I will go back and have another look at it soon.

Sunday I am afraid we spent tidying up the house ... and I have begun the proper dinner offensive ! Sunday we had roast , Monday fish and yesterday meatballs .... everything has been eaten with lots of complaints but I am NOT backing down ... Luke and Anna need to stop eating JUNK !

Monday I worked on the brown crocheted blanket.
Tuesday I worked on a secret santa I am in ... I have really stepped out of my comfort zone ! But will add some of my usual goodies so I think she will know who it is from !!!

Today I am going to be working on my quilt block.

Chat soon xxxx

Do you think it is big enough ?

This is the baby blanket - it measures roughly 65 inches by 58 inches. Anne wanted it to fit a single bed. I think it is OK - what do you think ?

Pay It Forward ...

Good Evening Everyone - I have read on a couple of blogs about PIF .... so to spread the love (so to speak!) I am going to do the same .... and I really need to de-stash .... so it is a win win situation !!!

I am going to promise to make three people something in the next 3 - 4 months ... what do you think ?

If you want to take part all you have to do is pay it forward after I have sent to you.

So leave a comment and I will put your name in a pot and will draw out three names Voila !

To make it a little easier tell me your favourite colour / s please !!!

This PIF post will last until Monday Morning my time !

HUGS - Chat soon XXXX

Great Post, Baby Blanket and Luke.

This has taken a week I think... you can see the squares / diamond shapes - it is almost the size of my carpet. Anne would like it to fit a single bed for her new grandaughter so I am trying to make it more rectangular. Very pastely and pink I think.

Another great post day - received the I love fall swap ... At the top is a large piece of knit fabric - may try to turn it into a gathered / swing type top. On top of the fabric is a stuffed, felt leave, it is on my ornament table now, the leafy fabric is a cushion cover - I love this as it has all of my favourite colours on. On top is a fabric covered diary - perfect for list making - with three red buttons on the front as decoration. And right at the front is a flip folder with a bird on the front, perfect for my quilting course notes.

I love this parcel too.

This is what I sent my partner - a harvest recipie book, a crocheted string bag with autumanl colour beads, a string of crocheted Eastern birds with the same beads, an ear warmer with a fancy name (which I always forget !) and a cascading (twirly) scarf. I think I threw in an English choccie bar and some hot choc too at the last minute !

While I was taking photos of the baby blanket - I caught Luke folding paper aeroplanes again. He has been making paper aeroplanes for at least 6 weeks now ... my recycling bin knows all about it !

Wrapping Presents.

Have begun the Great Wrap this morning. The children went back to school today so I retrieved some of their Christmas presents I have hidden away in my bedroom. I have started to make a list as well so I don't double up on presents... I am much happier now that I have begun .... roll on Christmas !!



I have just had a hot choclate drink and a nibble on one of my American choclates I received yesterday ...



I would share with you if you were here !!

Another Swap Received .... Full of Chocolatey Goodness!

The postman has just rung the bell and he gave me this Big, White Box.So I dropped my crocheting, grabbed my camera, a pair of scissors and opend the box. Inside the Big, White Box I found four elephants all snuggled up inside.

Here they are all sat together. The elephants each represent a member of my family. Anna-Kate is the brown one, Greg (my hubby) is the brown spotty one, I am the white one and Luke (my son) is the blue spotty one.We love them - they are sitting on my bed as we speak.

I LOVE this fabric - so I LOVE this bag and will use it ALL the time !

An action shot of all the candy ! YUMMY !!!!! I am afraid that the smores bar has already vanished and the BUG Hershey bar has already shrunk.... Oh and those 2 lovely pencils have also disappeared .... I think I will have to search my daughter's pencil case later !!! The beads will come in handy too ! Have I said how much I LOVE beads ??

And a WHOLE collection of fibre and a drop spindle ..... another new hobby to try ASAP !!!!

So I have had great fun with this swap.

Here is what I sent to my partner in America - a crocheted granny square bag (lined). Along with an ear warmer, a Wiltshire recipie book, a crocheted owl, a scarf and removeable flower badges - plus loads of English choclate.

Baby Blanket Continues ...

That is all I have been doing today (craft wise) .... I asked the children if they wanted to go for a walk but they said no so I sat in my corner and crocheted .... Tomorrow is grocery shopping - I am hoping the shop will be quiet as the other schools will be back. The blanket is growing. I am enjoying the pattern not taxing at all but not boring.

Greg will be back home this weekend ! Awaiting visas again.

Mum and Dad have decided on a flat and baby sister will be in the UK soon !

Chat tomorrow!

XXXX

Supper Tonight.

Just read this blog and I am now hungry !!! I will try this tonight or asap.

http://conversationswithacupcake.blogspot.com/2008/11/ground-chicken-was-on-sale-last-week.html

Right off the computer now and back to crocheting !

A Happy Friend.

A very happy friend of mine (from my good old working days !) telephoned me on Saturday asking for another baby blanket. As she is expecting a grandchild or two in the next few months! She asked if I would crochet her another blanket. I have made her a big granny square in the past - of course I said yes. I was going to do lots of small granny squares .... but the weaving in of threads made me think again.... so I put a little spin on the original granny square and started with a circle. This is what I have done so far ....

It is to fit a single bed eventually. More work to be done.

Anna-Kate came home just after 9pm last night. She had a lot of fun ! Doing things that I would have worried about !!! Abseiling, going down a zip wire, climbing up a wall, trampolining ...and so much more I can not remember everything. She managed to get the top bunk (she was worried about that !) and ate really well - even ate a bowl of leek soup. I have asked her for a list of what she had there so I can buy it !! At home she is sooooo fussy ! But I think I will just get strict !

I hope you have had a lovely weekend. Ours was very quiet.

Chat soon.

xxxx

Saturday.

Well - Luke let me sleep in until 7am. Then I was dragged downstairs to get breakfast for him. He reminded me that he no longer likes choclate brioches and wanted cereal. What am I going to do with the full packet I have?

I googled for a crochet pattern for a kimono type top but could not find one. I found a simple knitted one - just stocking stitch so I am trying to convert it to crochet as I go along.
We will see how that works out!

Then mum and dad phoned (yes at the same time - very funny!) to see if I wanted to go and look at the flats with them. So of we went.... it was freezing out doors. The flat is really nice. Small but pefectly formed. I think it is a good move - they will be close to Ben (my brother) too.
I will have to get out my sat nav to go and visit them though !!

Came home for lunch did a little housework and sat down to crochet my kimono top.

An old friend from Firlawn Nursing Home phoned to ask me to crochet a blanket for her new grandaughter living in Canada. Of course I said yes - so that is what I am working on now.

Must make a list of what I need to do for Christmas still ...

Hope you all are having a lovely warm weekend. It is very wet here - I am hoping my little girl is warm and enjoying herself!

Chat soon.

One Word Answers .... from an email sent from a friend.

TYPE ONLY _1_ WORD... IT'S HARDER THAN YOU THINK!!! ONE word only!!!
1. Where is your cell phone? handbag
2. Your significant other? Syria
3. Your hair? up
4. Your mother? home
5. Your father? home
6. Your favorite thing? happiness
7. Your dream last night? scarey
8. Your favorite drink? southern comfort
9. Your dream/goal? contentment
10. The room you're in? quiet
11. Your fear? heights
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? settled
13. Where were you last night? bed
14. What you're not? hungry
15. Muffins? more
16. One of your wish list items? craftroom
17. Where you grew up? Africa
18. The last thing you did? crocheted
19. What are you wearing? Clothes
21. Your pet? cats
22. Your computer? laptop
23. Your life? rollercoaster
24. Your mood? happy
25. Missing someone? yes
26. Your car? new
27. Something you're not wearing? shoes
28. Favorite Store? cheap
29. Your summer? wet
30. Favorite color? red
31. When is the last time you laughed? today
32. Last time you cried? ???
33. Who will/would re-post this? ????
34.PLACE I GO OVER AND OVER: seaside
35. Person WHO E-MAILS ME: lots
36. MY FAVORITE FOOD: dessert
37. PLACE I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW? seaside
38. Person I THINK WILL RESPOND: pass

I had fun doing this ! And it is hard as you want to explain yourself ... and really I can not remember when last I cried - may be the first / second time Greg left for work? I am not sure .... I can just remember feeling so overwhelmed by everything.
Did feel close to tears tonight as I REALLY am missing Anna-Kate but I KNOW she is having fun even though we forgot her water bottle in the fridge!!

Chat tomorrow xxxx

My Homage(??) to Halloween ....

This is not my favourite holiday - I suppose it is because I do not know much about it - except what you see in the shops !

Anna-Kate is not here she has left for brownie camp and I am feeling very unsettled about that !

She went off really well though - well after a little hic cup as the car park I thought we were to meet in actually has another name (the official name and the name by which it is known are very different!)!! So I accousted an innocent man and double checked the situation with him and he assured me that lots of coaches meet people at this car park .... luckily we then saw more brownies then so were relieved.

After dropping Anna-Kate off we went to town and bought more videos for the kiddies so Luke is happy. Well until he came in from the conservatory as he was shaking so much !! He meant shivering.... the conservatory is not heated as we have to leave a window open for the cats and sometimes leave the door open for the dog too... Bless him I would have taken his sleeping bag in there to him had I known he was so cold .

But I was too caught up in carving the pumpkin ! We have not had too many trick or treaters this evening and I did not take Luke out ... I pursuaded him to stay in and scare the trick or treaters instead ....have loads of sweets left thank goodness I boughts sweets I don't really like !

The pumpkin ... ready to sit in the window and scare everyone !

My resident ghost / skeleton. Luke all dressed up and also ready to scare the children in our street !