Granny Basket

Last week the weather was absolutely dreadful, it was like winter had hit again!

This did mean a good excuse to curl up on the sofa and get crafting...

Unfortunately I suffered an annoying setback!

I completed another round on my Mandala, and went to start the next. Something wasn't right! I took a closer look at the pattern, only to find that on this occasion there was a different starting point! I was gutted. Its grown to quite a size now and each round takes some time and I was going to have to unravel a whole row!! I put it aside as I couldn't bare the though of it.

So whilst I put that one to the side, I went back and continued with my basket.

I worked the rounds in a granny stripe which left the washing line cord on show, and used different hues of pink, from light to dark

Each basket is turning out completely different, and with each one I make I'm learning more and they retain their shape better. I'm really pleased with how this one has turned out. And am looking forward to trying out other styles too

I have a few days off next week , so am hoping for some better weather, and i'll put my mistake behind me and get back to my mandala.

Until next week...

Hot Hot Hot...

This week in the U.K it has been hot, damn hot!

I love summer, and warm sunny days, but this has been too much! Maybe i'm being a woosy Brit or maybe this country isn't set up for these conditions, as we get them so rarely. But it's been hard to move, function or sleep! 

Needless to say that not much crochet has taken place!

Its only the last couple of days, that the temperature has dipped slightly to allow me to pick up my hook

I'm still working on my Sweet Williams, rustic lace flowers

First a little colourful pile of centre circles

And then the second round shaping

And of course a touch of hookin in front of the tennis at Wimbledon

Although I don't complete a flower daily, I'm still continuing with my floral mood blanket, completing a batch at a time. Sadly i'm getting a bit slack with the ends though!

With the hot weather and Wimbledon what better excuse was there to have some strawberries and ice cream.....

Pinks...

So this week, I decided to undo the last round, and try joining a different way. I'm much happier with this layout

On one of my many ongoing trips to the p.o.  I picked up a lovely bunch of flowers from a local independent stall

I was very happy when I saw this beautiful bunch of Sweet Williams

Especially as they are my current inspiration

I love the two tone mix of colours

All different shades and tones of pinks

From brights

to pastels...

I'm looking forward to continuing this pattern

Despite the hot weather, on a whim i had a quick baking session. I had been given a recipe for a banana and chocolate loaf, and I'd been dying to give it a go.

It was very easy to make, well it had to be for me to succeed!

I was very pleased with the outcome, and it was very yummy!!

Bits n bobs...

So I tried again after my failed attempt last week.

I decided the issue was the thin yarn and tiny hook, so I went back to my usual size, just reverting to the little hook to ease the yarn thorough the buttonhole.

This was much better and went back to being the fun little project that I had originally expected it to be!

I was very happy to find some  pom-pom makers in one of my favourite stores 'Tiger' I'll admit it took me awhile to get started, and figure out what I was doing.

But oh my goodness look at the lovely fluffiness it produces...

I can see me making many more of these yarns fluff balls, though I should really figure out what to do with them first!!

I was hoping to have another ta dah moment this week, but I've not quite managed it.

I did tidy up the ends and do an sc edging, and so nearly finished joining together. All that's left now is to finish the join and find some buttons for fastening, then the 'giant blooms' cushion can have its glory!!

Autumn has well and truly set in, and the weather on a whole has been quite miserable. So on one of my trips out I went gathering and brought home some of the colourful parts of the season.

Sadly I've not managed my mood square for this week, as I've been suffering majorly with fatigue. Thankfully I have some much needed time off next week, and we are taking a short break away to Weymouth. I am hoping to catch up with the joining of my mood blanket. I really don't want to get too far behind and miss out on the amazing end of year sharing. Problem is I have a load of other projects lined up in my head, plus I really would like to tidy up my blog page and I had intended to open my Folksy store again this month. Oh to have extra hours in the day and the energy to utilise it!!

I did start a square, but this one is going to a good cause. A lady in Australia, who I follow on IG is collecting pink squares from crafters all round the world, and will be putting them all together, for 'Pink Ribbon day', the blanket will then be donated to someone in need.

This is my square so far...

Little Bunting!

I mentioned last week that I had been doing a little crafting. Not a great deal with all my trips out,  plus work seems to encroach on my personal time more and more.
So I had whipped up a couple of owls, which i had previously shown a sneaky pic of!  It was just something that I fancied doing out of the blue, a nice quick easy project, a basic shape, nothing too fancy! After completing the main owl, I decided she needed a bubba companion!

I'll admit I've committed crafty naughtiness!! My owls were so close to completion, all that I had left was to stuff and sew them up, but instead I started a new project! The shame of it!!
In my head, for ages, I have wanted to do a collection of mini buntings. A selection of different styles, shapes and patterns. So I started with a flower. The pattern I took from 100 Flowers to knit and crochet book, I chose the Irish Rose, but only did the centre of the pattern, otherwise the mini bunting wouldn't end up that mini!! I did a test piece first, I did find it a bit fiddly in places and I changed a couple of joins to make it easier.

But once I knew what I was doing and I got into the flow, and before I knew it I had a whole bunch!!

I had a lovely reel of dusky pink ribbon tucked away, I knew this would be a perfect compliment for the flowers to hang along.

I wanted the bunting to be the width of my door. By putting a couple of pins in the door-frame I can then interchange the different styles of bunting quite easily.

I'm looking forward to making more, as they are small and easily transportable and doesn't feel too daunting a task in between work shifts. I quite fancy doing a daisy chain as I think that would look really cute, some hearts and maybe some fishies inspired after seeing 'Chickidees' display window! I might do some traditional bunting too, I'll just see where this project takes me!! When I get round to putting these in my Etsy store I will be able to offer the option of different colourways and different lengths if they don't want their bunting to be quite so mini!!!