SPrinG

Well Spring is here we could tell she had arrived as soon as
we woke this morning and heard the rain hitting the
window.
But we know thing are going to start getting warmer now
and that the days will get longer.
The retreat gets unwrapped tommorow:)

What better thing to do when its wet outside than a bit of
crochet so with one big girl out with her mates
(staying at home with your Mum is so uncool at the moment)
and Little N practising her ballet infront of the mirror. I sat
down and tried to recreate a beautiful bunny which I saw while
blog hopping. I hopped into see Sandy at Teacup Lane and fell
in love with the little bundles of Easter joy. I am not sure mine
is the same but I'm quite happy with her.
A very poor photo' sorry.

Laptop and Leftovers

Well I only have two rounds left to do on my Big Blanket!

But I also have a lot of little bundles of wool left. Far to

precious to throw out so I have been thinking about what

to do with them a quick little project maybe..........

SO what does this have to do with a laptop?

My job like lots is changing with the times and I now find

myself with four hours admin time a week. So I have a

laptop supplied for me to use. Now all the laptops look the

same and all the carry cases are the same so you have to

personalise them. Some people have keyrings others bits

of ribbon what could I use............Leftovers of course.

Easily recognised as mine now

Don't you just love them? I was always taught that you get

a better effect with odd numbers of objects so I think three

is the perfect number.

Another Attic24 inspired project Lucy has a tutorial for

these little beauties

I'm thinking Springtime decorations....

Our little bit of Paradise

Our little bit of Paradise
I am not sure where the last four and a half months have gone
but with the end of March in sight we definitely have a spring
in our steps.
Next weekend we go down to see how our retreat has coped
while hibernating for the winter.
The girls stay with their Grandma and K and I pile the car
full of bikes, bedding and food supplies. It takes about an hour
and a half to get to our little bit of Cornwall.
It looks very sad when we arrive as all soft furnishings
have to be taken down for the winter so we spend the day
getting it all cosy and homely. When I say all day we do
get a little distracted by the peace and quiet.

Sitting and just enjoying ...........
Oh and K has to cut his grass!!!!



Then we have to pay a visit to our favourite beaches
Constantine Bay something for everyone dunes, surf, lots
of sand and great for rock pool discoveries.



Treyarnon amazing at low tide can you believe all this
without a Passport!




Harlyn Sands great beach for families and learning to surf.
Great river for damming, but not advisable on a busy day
lots of annoyed holiday makers when dam breaks and water
rushes down over their things opps!




So you can see why we are bouncing around like lambs in
a field.
So looking forward to Easter on the Beach.

Rays of light

I am so bouncy happy this evening, the sun has shone its warm rays all day long.
So tonight for the first time this year we picked K up from work and raced to Teignmouth .
An hour of sunshine came with us and we just walked, well Briar ran of course!
We even splashed out on chips for the journey home and I have to say they were delicious.
A perfect start to the weekend.

Bunting and baby gift

As I have mentioned before I love quick craft projects

especially when they come out looking better than I

could of imagined. Recently we decorated big A's bedroom

and I had been promising her I would make some bunting,

we had even purchased the fabric from a little quilting

shop in Bovey Tracey. So during half term it was on the top

of my To Do list.






I am never sure of an almost twelve year olds taste but

fortunately she loves it and so does little N so I think my

machine will be busy in the next few weeks.

Quick project two

Working with little ones I see all the latest must haves,

lots of little people of late have been snuggling with

little cloths called taggies they are really sweet and

really costly! So when a friend had a new addition it

was the perfect time to have a go at making something

along the same line.

It has little folds of ribbon sewn in for fiddling with or sucking

and very soft brushed cotton fabric also from Serendipity

Quilts of Bovey.

Just think years ago it was the label on a muslin square or

a Terry's nappy that a toddler would walk around with!

A STORY FROM little N

Sorry cant work out why it keeps turning next piece

How proud!

Banana cake and Barbie buns

Yum Yum!

Being half term I am enjoying doing the little things I love at a much more relaxed pace. On Tuesday little N and I spent a whole morning baking, she really likes to get involved and thanks to her Grandma who is a fan of Pampered Chef products she has all the right sized equipment for the job. I must say the mini range that

P Chef do is really great.

So we soon whipped up a Banana cake with some seriously sad looking bananas then some Devon Apple Cake N had great fun cutting the apple into cube one for the bowl one for her mouth!

But what Little N was looking forward to the most was making up the Barbie Buns she had nagged me to buy went we last went on the last big trip to the supermarket, a trip I try to avoid if I can. I do shop, I just don't enjoy doing it on a grand scale.

So a ready box of Barbie Buns were the next to prepare, well add a bit of water and an egg and mix .

Well lets just say that N loved every minute of making and decorating them.

Well they do look quite scrummy now don't you think!

i JUst caN'T WaiT

Yesterday I was thinking of things I love and as I was sat snuggled under my WIP tripling away I thought....... how much I love the feel of the Rowan yarn running through my fingers and the warm, cosy, safe feeling it gives me.



Now I am on the last stages I just couldn't wait any longer to show you.






Using five different colours I made thirty six little squares first with a single round of triples then a double round.






Then putting them in fours to make bigger squares, I used a join on the go technique from the lovely Lucy at Attic 24, she has been the inspiration for me learning to crochet and also gave me desire to attempt something so big. This was a challenge for me I don't mind admitting, I am one of those quick results sort of crafter who likes to flit from one project to another but I have had to surpress urges to do other projects in order to give my beloved blanket the time and love it deserves.





So here's a glimse as you can see a double row edges each big square, bright pink, well it is for me and I love pink!

So what happens next.....................
I am going to and another double row of pink around the nine large squares, but then I am not sure wether to do one round of each colour or maybe two finishing with a scollop edge maybe we will have to see where it takes me.
Have you any ideas?

Happy Valentines

Hope you have enjoyed spending time with those
you love, doing things you love.

Poorly Times

Today the Calpol bottle has taken a bashing we have been struggling in this house for sometime with nasty sore throats, runny noses, aches and coughs. We try to manage these at home but today we had to give in with a trip to the doctor. Poor little N has got tonsilitus and tharengitus apoligies for spellings haven't got a clue whether they are right or not.
What I do know is she is feeling absolutely awful. So I was so pleased when a kind boss said to go home early from work so i could snuggle up with her under an almost complete WIP.

OH WOW how soon they grow uP

Today is a special day in our home as it is hubby's
Birthday. We both work til 5 on a Wednesday so the girls
are at home with their Nanny. Big girl likes to come back
to our house (just over the road) to get on with home work
or just CHILL! for a bit.
But today when we pulled up outside the house it was clear
no chilling had taken place.

Balloons greeted us on the door and on opening that door we
could smell the most delicious smell.

All by herself she had managed to bake and decorate the most
fabulous cake for her daddy.





She has only been at secondary school for five months but
she seems so grown up.

Oh ...........I bet your thinking the kitchen looked a right mess,
well I can tell you it was immaculate not a dish or sticky spoon in sight.

Think I will start teaching her how to cook the tea next!

Just dropping in to tempt you back!

Thought I would just pop by with some pic's of something
that is a really big part of my life at the moment.

Just wait while i unwrap the precious contents .

Oh I love having some fabulous shops on my doorstep.

Look at these great colours, If only you could feel how amazingly soft it is.

It is a little costly but I LOVE IT!

It is going to be something very very special, infact,

total indulgence as it is for

ME.

Hope you come back to see the WIP

So WhAts BeEn HaPPenInG

When I started this blog I thought it would be easy to find the time to put some

photo's and words on regularly.

Big excuse on the way!

But I was forgetting that it was October and life starts to get more manic

than ever at this time of the year.

First was Hubby settling into New Job his first move in almost 20 years.

Shortly followed by the birth of my second and equally as precious nephew Rufus.

Then came the excitement of a 5th Birthday in the house, which meant

party, so we went to Build A Bear with five little girls and a Big SiSter.

What a fantastic time was had.

Then off home for CuPcAkEs.

And of course there was a little time for crochet.

These little stars looked Fabulous dotted around at

Christmas sorry for the very poor photo.

Hearts for Haiti

First a sorry I will try harder to put posts on, I will make it a New Year resolution!

Hearts for Haiti


Like a lot of people I have been moved by the stories coming out of Haiti I can't imagine what these poor people are going through.
Last week I emptied the change in my purse into the Shelter Box bucket but was left wanting to a bit more only not sure what. Then I remembered the lovely hug sent to me last year from my dear friend Linda.

www.chalkygilbert.blogspot.com

An idea was born.

First lovely fabric from Serendipity Quilts of Bovey Tracey bought to make bunting for Alanna's newly decorated room.

Next some aromatic Lavender.

Just in time for Valentines, quick and easy to make.

So these will go into a basket with a dish for donations and hopefully will send a little love and comfort across the miles showing that people care.