Oranges and grannies...

So this week I have continued with my orange blooms

I joined two of the flowers together, but I really needed to block them, and what a difference it makes in doing so

I have no idea whether blocking will actually keep the petals open, or if they'll go back to being curly? I guess I will find out as I continue to work and join

After blocking the two finished flowers ( I really need to invest in some of those kiddies foam play mats to block on, a towel is very hard going to get the pins to go and stay in!)

I'm now whizzing through making more blooms, I've got a nice little pile ready for the red edging

This week I had a massive tidy of my craft corner. Hubby is very patient, but he doesn't like it to spread to widely! I have a big basket, and a small trunk, one which held yarn, the other my wip's and then lots of loose annoying bits. So the yarn has been relegated to the garage, and embarrassingly my unfinished projects have been moved to the large basket, and all the little tools, buttons, ribbons and odds and ends have fitted into the trunk. It is a job well done, and I found projects I'd forgotten about too (hangs head in shame!) but all I need to do now is stay organised, and maybe actually finish a few!

As usual a few more more mood blooms have been added to the ever increasing blanket

Yesterday was National Granny square day, so as last year, the crochet community from across the globe posted a close up picture of their square and uploaded it on instagram. The idea is then to take screenshot of everyones' squares to make a virtual blanket. With a heavy weekend workload, I had to cheat and take a cropped photo of a square from last years mood blanket. It's been amazing to scroll through everyones pictures, to see the variety and colours

Matching Granny backs...

So this week i've been concentrating on the backs of the Crysanthemum cushions

I've chosen to use a traditional granny, to compliment the front pattern

Both colours are nearly complete

So its just the finishing and the joining left to do

I can't wait to get them completed, as the end point is the most tedious for me and I'm always eager to get started on something new

plus of course I can't wait to see how they turn out

I've also managed to upload 3 of my cushions into my Folksy store, so i'm getting there slowly but surely

This week it was time to upgrade my phone

so i'll be having a play and hopefully be able to capture even better photos

Star light, star bright...

So last week I showed you a sneak peak of my latest make. I'm trying a new yarn, made by Ice, which comes from Turkey. I had seen and heard alot about their range, and in the end could not resist temptation at the various different shades. I chose a grey/purple mix and I was pleasantly surpised at the softness.

I chose to try the star stitch for texture this time. It was actually featured in this months 'Simply Crochet' magazine, but i struggle sometimes with written pattern, I like a visual to understand, so I went back to my usual resource at the crochet spot site

Once I got into the flow of the pattern I enjoyed it, it has a nice rhythm to it.

I have completed one side, and part way through the next, although it will need to be blocked as its turned out a bit skew-whiff!

Also, I made an extra square for Linda's yarnbomb. Its fun trying out different stitches, and seeing how a square works out

I'm looking forward to seeing everybodys pieces put together, it's going to be a bright fun tree, and will certainly stand out!

We did manage to get a little fresh air in between our heavy work schedules this week. So we endulged in a little spot of geocaching, a great way to blow away the cobwebs. The first one we were unable to find as unfortunately the tree had been felled. 

But we had better luck with two others in our local village, two well disguised fun finds.

They are part of a set of ten, so we are looking forward to looking for the others in the future.

Blanket Glory...

So. as promised this week its time for my Crochet Mood blanket 2014, to have its moment of glory...

55 weeks of colourful squares

plus mini squares that filled out the irregular lengths

At 47" x 23", its not the biggest. But will be a great little lap blanket whilst snuggled on the sofa

Or to keep the tootsies warm in bed

It's certainly the biggest item i've made

from January 

through to December

This will certainly be a blanket to treasure for many years

As a little teaser, I have been working on the new corner to corner cushion

The two squares are complete and i've started the edging, so i'm hoping to get started on the decorative flowers this week. But more on this little one next week...

Of course the flowers have been growing each day

The first month of the year is through already

Thankfully its not been too bad a start.....

Moods new and old...

So we've slipped in to a New Year, and as seems to be the way I'm with a positive frame of mind, and this years mantra word is DETERMINED...
Determined to:- better my way of life
                          get more active
                          declutter the flat
                          manage my time better
                          finish more crochet makes
Not a list of resolutions as such, but tackling things in a positive frame of mind and renewed energy, here's hoping it lasts.
So far I've been persevering with my mood blanket from last year, sewing ends, and joining, ive given it my full attention as I want to get it completed as soon as I can.

I've been pleased how quickly its been growing and how it's coming together, and it's really starting to look like a blanket now.

The only mistake I've made, which has made myself more work before completing it, is some of my strips of squares are too long!

As the year went on my squares got more ambitious and grew in size! So I'll have to adapt it, I think by adding some mini squares in the gaps,  before doing the edging. I'm determined to get this finished by the end of the month...

I have started a new mood blanket...
I've enjoyed the process, pleased ive managed to stick with something long-term, learnt new patterns and techniques and feel proud of the end result.
I'm doing it different this time as I don't want it to be quite so time consuming!
I spotted a beautiful crochet flower on @crochetgirl99's Instagram pages, which she had turned into a shawl, and it's this image that ive chosen to use.

It's small enough to be able to make quickly, but pretty enough to look effective, and the best thing is I can join them as I go, so no borders, ends and joining to plough through at the end of the year!

This means I can get more than one done a week, but without pressurising myself to having to do it everyday...

New Year was as quiet and as cosy as Christmas.

We treated ourselves to a new flavour of Sourz, Toffee apple, for us to try, and after a few shots

we also had a cocktail, Mexican Ruin...

After a lovely cosy week at home, I started back at work this weekend, which takes some adjustment.
We've worked doggedly on our time off, to try to work through the huge piles of boxes of belongings, and have painstakingly researched and listed quite a bit on eBay so far! You never know this time next year we might have a useable garage.

Well I am determined!!!

A visual little Christmas

This is actually my first post for December, it gets too busy towards the crazy season working in retail and something has to give.

So for a quick summary.

I did make a couple of presents (another reason why I couldn't log my progress on here) 

Firstly a hot water bottle cover for my Dad, made from different shades of stylecraft acrylic, surrounded by a lovely grey Noro.

I didn't have a pattern to follow, and there would be things I would do differently if I were to do another, but i'm still pleased with the results...

I also made a mini one for a colleague. I made it in a different way, as this was all one piece, in a multi-toned yarn, with a soft ribbon for a finishing touch.

Hubby celebrated his birthday and we were able to visit his sister and see her perform in her groups pantomime

and after a trip round the shops we stopped off for a lovely Indian meal

Christmas for us was a quiet, relaxed affair. 

Now my focus has turned back to my mood blanket 

I've completed the last two squares

The penultimate is a memory square, for my Mother-in-law, who died last year on Christmas Eve, 

and the last one has a traditionally Christmas feel

I'm looking forward to seeing how it all comes together, and fingers crossed I can get it near to completion by the end of the year...

 ** happy new year **