WOYWW 248

I MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY, I MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY,

EVER SINCE YOU WENT AWAY, EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY...

I've made many things for many people, but this has to be the best Thank You pic I've ever had....

I think Chloe liked her little waistcoat - bless her! That's her best cheesy grin :-)

I don't have a pic of my workdesk...nothing has changed there - but I get my machine back from servicing today. Wahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So I'll have lots to show you next week cos I've got two weeks' worth of stitching to catch up on......

But I have been crocheting away merrily so I present to you:

WOYWW - The Hampton Court Palace edition *drum roll*

AKA a cafe table with my mate, Lynne! We'd met up there as Hampton Court is halfway between where we live. We're creating items that are going to be used for yarnbombing later in the year. That bright bubblegum pink is not my usual choice of colour but oh boy, have I enjoyed the gloriously bonkers tone - it really lifts the spirits!

That's it for crafting so feel free to escape now......otherwise you'll be forced to share some of the pics from the day!

I hadn't been to Hampton Court since I was 8, so not THAT long ago...cough..

It was a fab day, we all really enjoyed ourselves. 

I was amazed by how many trees were covered in mistletoe!

Loads of it, everywhere!

This is the William and Mary extension to the Tudor palace - the back entrance!!  Wonder how long it takes to trim those bushes then ;-)

Very pointy topiary....looks like witches hats! D'ya see that very white statue in the background? 

All wrapped up snuggy warm against the frosts and winter weather...awwwww.

I loved the fantastic patterns in these brick chimneys...not bad for nearly 500 years old, eh?

This one's for you, Sandy L-J!

The Tudor kitchens were brilliant, filled with guys re-enacting what went on. These chickens were roasting beautifully on the spit...

This chap (a dead ringer for Terry Pratchett btw!) was applying gold leaf to the sugar paste crown, which would be used as a table decoration. He stuck it on with egg white.

Another bloke was making quills and helping people write with it in a handmade paper book...

...of course I had to have a go! And I managed it without sticking out my tongue!!

As we were leaving, Mr LLJ pointed out my transport for the home journey....

Hmmmm what CAN he be implying??  I'll get him back, don't you worry :-)

Hope I haven't bored you rigid with my Grand Day Out!  There'll be proper crafting next week, promise!

WOYWW 247

DON'T IT ALWAYS SEEM TO GO

THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT 'TIL IT'S GONE....

Guess what's missing....

Honestly, I'm bereft!  It was making graunching noises...my sewing machine that is *wink*  So he's gone to visit the nice service man in Franklins in Salisbury. But I don't know exactly how long he'll be gone and I'm getting sewing withdrawal symptoms...

But other crafting is filling the void - the baby blanket's finished...

...and I'm just about to sew three buttons onto this little cardi which is a prezzy.

Last Friday, Julia and I had a fun day with Janet Fairythoughts and Di (Pixie). A little crafting was done between the chatting and eating, lol!!

Janet seems to be amused by the amount of stamps Julia has.

While Di enjoyed having a furtle through the button bag!

Janet had brought her knitting.....

Di brought these funky crochet hooks...

...so that Julia could teach her the basics of crochet. Now Julia will probably be embarrassed but she really is a terrifically good tutor. She doesn't overload with too much info unless you're ready for the next step, is patient and gives you time for the technique to sink in...comes from years of experience of workshops I guess. Di left with a rather good sample of crochet...well done you!  It was a fun few hours well spent in good company. Thanks ladies!!

My fingers are firmly crossed that my machine will be back by next week - oiled up, revved up and raring to go.  Oooh, I've just had a moment.... ;-)

Naughty LLJ....*grin*

WOYWW 246

2-4-6-8- AIN'T NEVER TOO LATE,

ME AND MY RADIO TRUCKIN' ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT

(Picked just because the WOYWW number reminded me!)

This is a shot from last week - the little doll's quilt has now been received so I can show you. The initial choice of fabrics went out the window, I wasn't getting the right vibe..but when I found this butterfly fat quarter, I realised that all the pastels would go with it and the rest, as they say, is history :-)

Pretty pastels......not usually my colour scheme at all but I enjoyed the way the colours of the butterflies are echoed by the polka dot fabrics. And the little bows are a nice finishing touch - and not at all there to cover the fact that I can't mitre corners for toffee...no indeedy....*cough.*

Yesterday's desk!  I'm following that Debbie Shore Tutorial again as I liked the shape of the bag. This is my bargain £3 a metre fabric that is STILL going strong!  I found the perfect green/multi spot in my stash for the lining and a blue zip to echo the flowers in the print.

I enjoyed making the little tags for the zip ends too!

A fun bag - bit like me!! ;-)

And the first one I made. I know the pocket seems large but I wanted to put crochet hooks and scissors in it.

And rows of overlapping squares for a lap quilt I'm going to make for JoZart's LillyBo charity. I've sewn the squares into rows but haven't made a start on sewing the rows together. This was inspired by a selection of fat quarters that Kay sent me - the mad paisleys, dark turquoise and zingy orange were part of that. The rest are what I already had in my stash and just thought they'd go together well. It's not quiet, that's for sure!!

Two more sewing excitements:  The Great British Sewing Bee is back on TV..wahoo! I've got my favs already. Wonder who the slow burners will be this time?

Secondly, check out this wonderful craftshop website - The Homemakery - go there at your peril. It's chock full of fabricky, yarny, papery, sewingy goodness and is SORELY tempting my stashbusting willpower. Be strong LLJ, you CAN resist those gorgeous ribbons and lacy bias bindings.....whimper.....

Have a good week everyone!

WOYWW 245

RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD...

Well, here's the desk ready at the start of another project..I've nearly done the little quilt from last week but don't want to post a pic before it's been delivered to the recipient.

I bought a book called Half Yard Heaven by Debbie Shore before realising that she was a main presenter on Create and Craft TV.....duh....she has a blog where she feature some tutorials.  Hence why it's up on my iPad there - I'm going to make myself a tote to lug my crochet/knitting around in rather than the usual tatty carrier bags! Interestingly, although she's a well known 'face', there's only a few comments to each post, whereas Lucy at Attic 24 and SandraCherryHeart get oodles.

Here it is a little later. The white fabric is fusible fleece which I'm using for the first time ever...it's useful stuff. I dragged Julia to Salisbury in order to buy it and we enjoyed ourselves browsing and drinking coffee. It's gotta be done!

Remember the basket of yarn last week? Well, I've made a start on a baby blanket - it's growing really quickly - think I'll do a scalloped edge with the lilac and green.

This pic is just to show Vonny that we have had some blue skies after she very kindly emailed to ask how we were coping with the weather.  Everytime there's a gap in the rain, I'm off out for a walk. Other chores can be done when it's chucking it down...

But spare a thought for the poor souls who have been flooded out of their homes - some have lost everything. It is truly catastrophic in some areas.

And even though the weather has been dreadful, there are still reminders that Spring IS on its way - little pink cyclamen in my hedgerow. Good for the soul....


Have a great week :-)

WOYWW 244

SO DON'T BE AFRAID TO LET THEM SHOW,

YOUR TRUE COLOURS,

TRUE COLOURS ARE BEAUTIFUL

LIKE A RAINBOW...

The desk is looking a bit barren today...in fact, it's downright dull!

It gets better when you close in a little - I'm just playing with some fabrics for a project for a young 'un who, and I quote, 'Loves ALL colours!' These cottons are more vibrant in reality, it's a funny old flat grey light today..doesn't bode well for unprofessional photography! I'm not sure about that pale fabric on the right....I'll just have to play some more :-)

When I had my big sort out a couple of weeks ago, I rediscovered these. The doggy fabric is already cut out for an apron, it just need hemming and ties putting on. I'd forgotten all about the green and gingham teapots! There's a reasonable length of this...it would make a pretty pinny too!

This is my Downstairs Desk! (It's on the floor by the window so I get more light - I hate using the flash)  The variegated wool is being used to knit some wristwarmers for a friend. The green and lilac are saying 'Baby Blanket' to me, with some ivory to lighten it.

My friend Helen from band, passed me on this big tub of beads, so my mission is to sort them out, make up a bag for the local charity shop and keep a few for me..

This would be a great pic for a jigsaw, don't you think??

I spent a happy half hour furtling.....

I'm keeping these....pastel, pearly perfection!  Now, what to do with them.....

Have a great week y'all!!

WOYWW 243

OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL,

YOU GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL DOLL...

LET ME PUT MY ARMS AROUND YOU,

I COULD NEVER LIVE WITHOUT YOU.....

These lyrics were swimming round my head as I was putting the finishing top stitching on this...

Another little quilt for the second granddaughter of the same lady who ordered last week's!  This little girl is a definite pink fan but I thought I'd introduce some blue to calm things down a little :-)

Here it is when the light got better! I'm quite pleased with the little pillow.

I'm determined to use up all those squares I had ready cut...waste not want not etc etc!  I've got enough for a LillyBo snuggler and another dolly cover.

Wipso was kind enough to share her knitting pattern with us last week - I thought I'd do the same with this pattern that comes from an ancient Good Housekeeping book I found in my Mum's stuff.  I'm making a scarf for a charity project and the pattern gives it some interest but it's not too flimsy.

Lacy Ladder Pattern

Cast on required No of stitches (got to be a multiple of 4)

Knit 2 rows

Knit 4, (YO, K2tog, K2) rpt this until last 4 stitches, K4

Repeat this pattern row until scarf is as long as you want,

Knit 2 rows

Cast Off

That may be the shortest pattern I've EVER written down!!

And finally, two things made me very happy this week: my rainbow crochet bedrunner has been pinned many times on Pinterest (yay!!) and while I was shopping, I espied a woman with a tote bag that I'd made. She'd been given it as a present nearly two years ago and it was still looking good. She must have thought I was bonkers as I leapt around, happy that the handles were still holding out! Apparently she uses it as her Grocery Bag for Life.

Big Smiles :-)  :-)

WOYWW 242

IT'S A PATCHWORK QUILT OF A LIFE,

CAN'T STOP THE RIVER,

JUST LET IT ROLL....

Sorry to be a rebel but there's no desk to show this week. I've been away at my Dad's, then my son popped home from Uni so no sewing at all....Tsk tsk, Must Try Harder, LLJ....   But this is the finished dolly pram quilt and pillow. Sweet colours :-)

Look at this spread of hexie gorgeousness, sent to by Twiglet and Wipso for the Crochet for Kidneys charity I featured a couple of weeks back. Thanks Girls, you are always stars - I know that these will be gratefully accepted. Elizabeth is crocheting like crazy too and will be sending hers direct. And Julia is using up her odds and ends of yarn just like I did and giving me a few to add to the pile on Thursday. I think I'll need a bigger envelope!

My offering - I used up all the ends of the Crofter variegated wool I had, which pleased me immensely!  It meant I didn't have to change colours every row either! (How lazy is that, lol!!)

Twiglet also sent these little cardis to pass on...aren't they sweet? I especially love the blanket stitch edging on the paler cardi, a lovely finishing touch. Thank you Twiglet....you are a generous soul :-)

Finally...a prezzy for me and a what-am-I-going-to-do-with-this!  The needle felt hare kit was from Helen, a dear friend in Band. She has got a different kit, so I think we're going to have to have a crafty day together soon. I've never done this before but know I'll end up with punctured fingers!!!  And the Whiskey bottle tube is empty (well done Gordon!!) but it's too good to put in the recycling bin. Any suggestions?? 

So, short(ish) and sweet from me today! Have a great week :-)