Blocking Blooms...

On our day off last week, we were lucky with the weather, so after the chores were done we were back on our bikes. We cycled to Woking town centre, and stopped to look for our first Geocache around the WWF building. We made our way back, and found 3 more, but they were harder to find so we saved the others for another time, and cycled the rest of the route back...

I have continued working on my orange blooms this week

As I have so much blocking to do, and a towel really wasn't ideal, I sourced a set of foam mats, although technically play mats, they seem to be a popular, affordable option.

They have worked so well. The pins pop in so easily and stay in too!

The flowers are coming together. All the orange petals are made so i'm just adding the red edging and joining as I go and then blocking each flower

I'm thinking about writing out a pattern for this one, but as I haven't written a pattern for someone else to understand, I think I may need to do a bit of research first!

The weather has been quite erratic this week. From bright blue skies to deep, dark heavy rain clouds, but whichever we've had it's been very humid

Our flat is pretty hot, so when it gets too much, we have a lovely lake we can visit. just down the road

I never tire of this view, and a lap of the lake is a perfect stroll in the sun

We did have a sneak treat this time !!

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

New colour blooms...

I did very little crochet whilst on holiday, but sometimes its nice to have a complete break, devoid of pressure.

Our first day back home, and we continued with the outdoor activities. It was back on our bikes, and we cycled westerly along the canal path. It was a lovely sunny day, but not too hot, and with our newly attached water bottle holders, we were refreshed along the route. We then did an about turn, this time hunting for geocaches on the return journey. We found that some of them we had tried in the past, but this time we had success finding 4 in total. And despite having to search through a horse-fly swarm and getting stung by nettles, we did have fun!

I had a night out with the girls from work, as we visited Las Iguanas, Mexican restaurant, followed by Creams for pudding! It was a fun night, with yummy food!

And Peter Andre came to town, promoting his fragrance. I do have a soft spot from him, so I was quite happy to watch at a distance!

Crafting wise I've mangaged to complete all the rustic lace flowers, and joined them along the way. So all I have left to do is finish sewing in the ends, and it will definitely need blocking!

As i've taken many flower pictures on my holidays, I now have a lovely amount of inspiration to return to.

For my next crochet piece, this flower was behind my thought process (anyone have any ideas what it is?)

I love the simple shape, the way you would draw a basic flower on paper.

I made a dark round centre, and changed to an orange colour. I made a long chain, turned and worked back down the chain, and joined at the same point on the circle, till I worked round the whole circumference.

I wanted to add a second colour to the petals, to match the two tone of the flower

So I went round each petal in a bright red, for a slight contrast

As you can see, it is in desperate need of blocking as the petals have closed and curled round

I decided to make another, only changing the centre colour (after finding the original colour I had wanted)

I had no plan when I started out, but they are lovely plump flowers, so I will see how they look joined together, as I invisage they could make a colourful cosy scarf!

Looks like its time to dig out the iron!...

Chrysanthemum colourways...

So it was back home and back to work this week, and it doesn't take long to feel like you've not been away! Not got much to show you this week. I've been continuing with my Chrysanthemum pattern, working it in the other colours. Starting with the orange flower

and squaring it off with the green

these colours are a bit out of my comfort zone, but i'm liking the retro feel of them

this cushion will need some serious blocking, but i'm liking how it's turned out so far

the weather has been a bit all over the place this week, makes us feel very lucky we'd had such lovely warmth and sun whilst we were away

Another month has slipped by ever so quickly. Time just flies so quick these days it leaves my head in a spin! This is a little round-up of April, sadly lacking in crafts, so I really need to make a bigger effort in May and see if I can keep with time just a little bit!

So i'm off to get my head down and my hook out, lets get cracking...

Until next week...