Little Things

Life isn't going quite as planned at the moment - so it was time to take a moment to appreciate some of the little things around me when I was out for a walk this morning.  

Hope you got to see some sunshine too - we are due yet more rain here!

xx

More crochet

Evening

Another busy a week or so - and I am not quite sure where the time has gone!  Work, sport for Matt (including a full day hockey tournament), more birthday celebrations for Mark - I guess that's it really.  And once you add in the ordinary stuff that still has to be done, I suppose that's where my days have disappeared to.

I have found time to start a new crochet project though - the as we go stripy blanket.  I haven't managed to get as much done as I was hoping, but am enjoying the process so far, and learning some new stitches along the way.

Here are some photos

Trying to work out the colour order

Making a start

Night - time to go and add another stripe.  :)

x

First Finished Project of the Year

I loved Yarndale in September and bought a few skeins of the most beautiful yarn.  However, finding the "right" project for it has proved trickier!  I have never spent that much on a single ball of wool, so the hand dyed, silk skein needed special treatment.  Having only bought one skein, my options were a little limited - but I could only really justify buying one.

I settled on this pattern - available on ravelry.  Sorry about the photos, there hasn't been much good light for photography recently.   I am quite pleased with the wrap, which I shall mainly wear as a scarf.  I have never used silk yarn before, it definitely needed blocking.  It was more than a little scary, soaking my hard work, and then stretching it out across the hall landing for 48 hours!  But it was worth it.  I don't think it was my favourite to crochet with, but it is very pretty - if I do say so myself!  The little beads are so unusual, and I have already worn it to work.

So, that's my first project completed.  I am already working in the next.  I'm just starting a new blanket!  It definitely feels right to be starting a new big project at the start of the new year.

x

Brighton

As I said,  last weekend we celebrated Mark's 50th Birthday.  We spent last Saturday with friends and our siblings in Brighton.  We met in the afternoon at a hotel for a slice of birthday cake and later more friends joined us for supper.

It went brilliantly - if I do say so myself.  Mark's organising paid off.  It was a little bit of a worry that friends were coming from different parts of our life, but everyone got on really well, and it was so nice of people to write and email to say how much they had enjoyed themselves, and particularly when they had not known each other beforehand.

Here are a few photos of the occasion.

 An uncanny likeness I think! :)

Having fun with a friend.

It rained all of Saturday, but Sunday morning was beautiful.

I love living in the country, but there is something glorious about waking up be the sea.

Helping paws?

Look who's helping me tonight!

Have a great weekend. 

x

Hello

Sorry I've not been around much - not posting nor commenting.

As I mentioned in my last post, it was Mark's birthday on 1st January, and we have done a lot of celebrating. However, it was back to the routine this morning.  Although it would have been nice to have a couple more days to get over the late night on Saturday, in some ways it was nice to get back to "normal" today.  Everyone up, and out of the house at a sensible time.  I've cleaned through - and it stayed that way for a couple of hours.  I've almost caught up with the washing.

So next on my list is to catch up with blogging.  I've been reading them on my phone, but commenting is trickier!

Anyway, this was the school run this morning - or was it a swim?

This isn't a stream, but the footpath!  Oh well - it was a good work out too!  :)

Hoping I will be organised and back to posting and commenting by the end of the week at the latest.

See you soon.

Sara

A Year in Crochet

When I saw all the posts last year reflecting on peoples years, I thought I would do the same this year.  However, I clearly wasn't that organised!  Whoops!!

So, having the afternoon relatively free, I thought I would sort through my pictures, and try and put something together - for the garden, my cards, or crochet?  Next year I might do one for all three - but this afternoon I had to make a choice.  The garden was quickly excluded - I seem to have run out of steam around August, and there aren't so many pretty garden photos towards the end of the year.  My New Years Resolution will be to keep my garden colour photos going throughout the year.

Next - looking at the cards, it would take more than an afternoon to make some collages to share, so that left my crochet.  I have finished most things this year, and will be taking 2 WIP in to 2014.  The blanket for the playroom - which is a huge project, although I haven't worked on it for ages.  I'm really not sure why, as it is lovely.  Maybe because I wish I had splashed out and bought merino rather than style craft?  But, I know deep down that acrylic is the better option as it can be thrown in the washing machine as and when needed, will dry quickly and won't need to be blocked.  

The other WIP is a new lace gossamer scarf using the silk yarn I bought at Yarndale.  I only started this a couple of nights ago and it is coming along nicely.  The longest time was spent choosing the pattern for such expensive yarn!  I do also have a few other balls of yarn (well quite a stash if I'm honest!), some gorgeous skeins purchased at Yarndale, and some ordinary, waiting for inspiration to hit me! :)

Anyway, here is my year in crochet.

Starting the year by making gifts for friends, a hook case for me, and some alpaca socks when I had a cold.

Spring time saw me make a bag and wrap to wear at my sister-in-laws wedding, a cushion to tie in with my ripple blanket in the entrance hall, and some bunting for Yarndale.

I finished Matts ripple and added a cushion to complete the look in his newly fitted room.

Then I moved on to making some bits for me!  A couple of hats, some mitts and a cowl and wrap, socks and a bag for me too.  A friend liked it so much, she asked me to make her one too.  I was happy to oblige.

And finally Christmas crochet.  I enjoyed hanging my snowflake garland again, and I made an Advent Garland this year, and small gifts for the women of the family.

I think thats about it - quite a lot I guess, but so very enjoyable.  I'm sure 2014 will be productive too.

Well, I've just about managed to get this completed before the New Year!

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2014.

Sara x

PS - I haven't had time to add links for the patterns used, there is a variety of Ravelry, Sandra at Cherry Heart, Drops, Patchwork Heart, A Creative Being,and obviously Lucy at Attic 24.  Thank you all for your inspiration. (Apologies if I've missed anyone). If you would like to know where any particular pattern came from, just let me know.  xx