Jumping In...Feet First :)

Hello...(gives a little wave from the side lines)

It has been so long since I posted last...as some of you will know I have been battling against depression and anxiety....I am glad to say that the dark days are now behind me once again and life is getting pretty much back to how it was...I have been a little scared of coming back to blogging again...but have decided to jump in feet first!

I am not going to dwell on the battle I have been fighting...just to say a lot of people do it everyday and its so important to find a way to aid your 'Mind Health'...my way has sometimes been with the help of medicine but these days I can control it with yoga exercise and meditation and just being kind and listening to what I need...but I would urge anyone struggling to get professional help...you are important and very very worthy so don't ever think you are not!

During the Summer I didn't really get up to much...I took a step back from everything...I even put my crochet hooks away!!! I think my Mom gave me a little project just to get me back interested in crafting again...it was a cover for my Dads TV chair...we decided on a retro feel with the colours and a 'manly' colour palette haha :) this was the result....

I used a new stitch to me....its called Larksfoot...a really easy but striking pattern I will definitely use that stitch again....

Once Summer is coming towards its end we always go on holiday....this year we packed up and went to Devon...a beautiful log cabin in its own grounds was our little home for the week...just glorious...perfect for getting to visit places and a HOT TUB! Oh how I love a hot tub! The weather was splendid too....and Sidmouth has become my favourite place in the world...old fashioned...gorgeous shops...bliss!

Puppy dog even got to do a spot of paddling in the sea...

I have come to the conclusion that Summer is my least favourite season....I am always so glad when Autumn comes...that is my favourite season...I know it can feel a little sad when everything starts to die back...but it is the season of re-birth...seeds being sown...trees settling in for a winter nap...not to mention the glorious colours...all of my favourite colours...I truly am an Autumn girl :)

So back to crafting...I had an email come through from Hobbycraft and they had little faux pumpkins on sale for £1...I knew I had to have some of these...so 3 were purchased that same day...I wanted to use them for display...I like to change around the décor to suit the seasons so these would be perfect...I also knew that I wanted white pumpkins this year...so set about painting them with chalk paint and highlighting details with acrylic paint...this was the result...

and the best bit is that they are hollow so if you wanted to carve them they are nice and easy...I just took the top of mine and put a jar inside to hold flowers...

I used the others in a little Autumn display in the kitchen...I painted up a little wooden crate and stencilled the letters on...used the pumpkins, foliage and the last of hydrangea flowers which dried such beautiful colours and added in some feathers and pine cones...

and for Halloween...I used fresh flowers with an added cute little witch :))

It is a wonderful crisp cold day here today...blue skies and frost...my favourite kind of day! I've just got back from playing ball with Puppy Dog over the field...it was beautiful...

There are two things on my list of things I would really like to have from Pinterest this week...

isn't this just adorable? a little snow globe with a yarny Christmas Tree inside...they are on sale at TK Maxx...so Hubby I hope you are reading this! HaHa :)  The other is a this...

I just soooo want a vintage red truck...just like this...I would use it for Autumn and for Christmas I just love it!

So that's about it...all caught up with the little makes...I do have some more crochet stuff to share with you but will save that till next time....

I will leave you with a vintage photo...which is very much from my childhood...

I had one of these...exactly the same! Oh how I loved that trike...and the little boot on the back was so useful...in fact I would love to ride one of these now haha :)

and my quote for this week...

very much my 'To Do' list over the last few months....

Take care all...enjoy everything you do...until next time....lots of love xxxx

Thinking Of Autumn...

Well Hello....from a very wet, grey day here!  Apparently we are going to have a fortnights worth of rain in one day...and here is England its a Bank Holiday such a shame...our Summer has well and truly deserted us this year :(
 
Thank you all for your comments about my Patchwork Blanket...it has now been sold and gone off to a lovely new home to be well loved :)
 
This week I have been looking back at some of projects completed over the last couple of years...and thought I would share some of them with you today...
 
The first is a flower garden blanket I made for a very special little girl for her Christening Present...
 

 

144 Squares of glorious flowers...I remember having to get it finished before Puppy Dog came to live with us...I didn't think this would mix well with a Doberman puppy full of beans ha ha...

 

 
This blanket was a big departure for me...as you know I love vintage, muted colours and this one was very bright! I loved it when it was finished....all of my blankets (apart from one) are from my mind so I don't follow a pattern...that way they are all unique and this one will definitely be a one off...it was made using 4ply and I will never visit 4ply again ha ha...this one too was sold and has a lovely new home...
 

 
These flower squares were made into a little seat pad for a child's chair which had been painted white...I cant find any of the photos of the completed item anywhere but it did look cute :) ....
 

 
This tea cosy and pot stand were made for my friend, for her daughter for her birthday...it was Cath Kidston inspired...the store had a very similar tea cosy for sale and she loved it...so I made my version of it and added the pot stand to match with little strawberries all around the edge....
 

 
This one was just for me :) ... I made the pattern up myself from some photos I had seen on Pinterest and it has made the perfect bag for crochet out and about...I love it and use it a lot...it was made from Aran wool on a 3.5 hook so its close textured and sturdy...
 
Well that was a nice little trawl through the archives....
 
As I mentioned last week...on our walks its looking decidedly Autumnal and my mind is whirling with ideas for my Autumn Wreath I have been taking ideas from Facebook and Pinterest here are two pictures that have inspired me...
 

 

 
And yesterday I saw a beautiful one just using leaves and berries...now Autumn for me if full of these colours...so I will absolutely be using these along with acorns, berries, blackberries, corn ears, mushrooms and a little critter but that's a secret at the moment...(just in case it doesn't work out ha ha)
 
Whilst looking at all these lovely pictures I came across these which I just had to share with you...
 

 

 

I think these photos are amazing and taken by very talented photographers...they just sum up the season.... 
And when I came across this...I clapped my hands with glee...I so want one of these but I cant find where you can buy them from...so frustrating....
 

 
It would fit so perfectly in our home...so if anyone knows where I can get this please tell me....(fingers are crossed and wishing hard)
 
I adore how the seasons change...and I struggle to know which one is my favourite as I love aspects of them all...I think if I had to choose it would be Autumn as I love the colours...they are the colours of my home...its the harvests and the fruit and seeds ripening...but it does make me feel a little sad...as everything begins to die down...but I know it has to...and after its sleep...all will begin again in the Spring...and maybe its because I was born in September...in the Autumn...perhaps that's why its a favourite :)
 
I shall be working on my wreath over the next few weeks...I'm looking forward to all the little pieces forming something beautiful :) ...I have finished my corner to corner cushion cover for little brown chair and I love it...
 

 
And while formulating the plan of action for the wreath...on my hook this week...
 

 
Yep...little patchwork squares for another blanket but a smaller one this time...more for a pram or pushchair...its an easy project to do while my mind is occupied :)
 
Well what a colourful post this has been with all the pictures...as we say goodbye to August and welcome September this says it all....
 

 
And this week vintage photo...is a reminder of my childhood days...there has been a TV programme on over the last few weeks looking back at TV in our growing up days...Watch With Mother was a firm favourite for me :)

Rambling on done for today....I'll leave you now with this quote...one I am going to heed myself...

Bye till next week...have a lovely, joyful, exciting, inspiring time xxxx



Patchwork Blanket Tah-Dah Moment

Good Morning....how's your week been....

This week I have finally finished the Patchwork Blanket...here it is in its fully glory :)

Tah-Dah!

 

I have to say that it has been a joy to do and I will definitely been making another one...its perfect for using up odd bits of yarn that are left...I will be writing a separate page for the making of the blanket, going into more detail...probably this week as I don't want to bore all you non crocheters with the details.  I am overjoyed with the way the colours have worked and my border...well I had made my mind up this was what I wanted to do...I found the pattern a while back and this was just the perfect edging...a bit fiddly to do but well worth it!

 

 

It has given a lovely little ruffle of pompoms..... :)

I have started my new project...a cushion cover for my little brown chair...its a corner to corner crochet and it will be finished this week...the pattern works up so quick!

  Then I shall be starting my Autumn Wreath...oooh the ideas are flying around in my head...I cant wait to get started..

This weeks weather has been a very mixed bag....a few absolutely beautiful days and more than a few of god damn awful days!!

Lets start with the good days.....we have been spending some time in our little sanctuary in the garden...me and Puppy Dog just love this place...



 

On our walks this week you can tell that the season is starting to change already...one of the trees is already looking very autumnal in colour, everything is ripening....

 

Rose Hips ready to burst...

Branches on the Rowan Tree so heavy with berries...

Blackberries almost ready to pick...mine will be making Blackberry Gin this year...I made Jam last time...

Elderberries forming...

Crab Apples getting larger ready for some Crab Apple Jelly....

Apples almost ready for picking....just look at that blue sky....

 

These Bull Rushes are so tall....I took this photo standing next to them and they were taller than me at 5' 4"....

But there is still plenty to remind you that it is still summer....

Bees still busy....

Wild roses still blooming amongst the rose hips...

Dandelion clocks to make wishes with....

A little Oak Tree seedling....

From these little beauties...I can wait to pick these....(I have a plan for them...ha ha)

 

And my favourite Tree on our walks....our Weeping Willow....so magnificent....

And a very playful Puppy Dog....

And then the weather turned...it went extremely hot and humid....and in England when this happens...we get very, very grey skies forming....heavy rain...very windy...this was taken through the bedroom window Saturday afternoon...

The rain was lashing down...but later we did have the most amazing thunder and lightening...great to watch and listen too....not so good for those at the V Festival up the road though!

Well lets back to nicer things...and leave the grey skies behind...

I took a photo of the latest batch of blankets all piled up and loved it so much I have made it my icon on all of my pages...luckily taken before the blue granny blanket went off to its new owner at the end of the week...

I love to dream looking at all the amazing interiors on Pinterest...but I'm not in need of mansion (I'd take it if someone wants to give me a mansion ha ha)...just something with a bit more space...more open plan...I found this photo and this is what I would like...

So this has been added to my dreaming file of Interiors on Pinterest...one day....I just keep dreaming...

Well I've kept you long enough now...another week has flown by...this Vintage picture made me chuckle...as it is so true for me....its not going to a bikini holiday yet again this year ha ha...

And this weeks quote...

Have a lovely week...enjoy what ever you are doing...and be kind to yourself xxxx