KEEP CALM don't PANIC!!!!

Well Good Morning...yep its still morning...just checked....

Its sunny today!!! I cant tell you how sick and tired I am of this constant rain :(

I'm also a little worried about this warm weather we are having and the effect its going to have on Mother Nature....I've seen posts of blossom trees in full bloom...dandelions...and my honeysuckle is in full leaf again and producing flowers! I really don't like it at all...I like my winters and Christmas to look like this....

(photo taken from Pinterest)

On Friday it suddenly hit me that it was only a week till the big day!...and yes...I did feel VERY panicked....I have never been this laid back....and so not on top of everything...I've normally wrapped all the presents...the cards have all been delivered...food all bought...and list after list of everything else that needs to be done!...this year...the only things I have done are the lists ha ha.....

but I've got my butt into gear...Friday the Christmas cards were posted....yesterday the presents were wrapped....today...well I'm just going to do the shopping list...then watch Christmas Films until Hubby tells me to turn them off (if he dares ha ha)

I made my gift tags on Friday ready for the big wrapping up session....

I am so glad I purchased these little printing blocks earlier in the year...they have been so useful...I love them....

I did another practice run of Pavlova...and someone pinched the bowl off the sink while my back was turned...but she insisted it fell off and she didn't touch it..... :)

no mom I didn't lick the bowl...honest...

Crochet has been slow and steady but my granny square blanket is all finished...I love the colour combination...I'm going to save up my blankets and put them up for sale in my Etsy shop in the New Year....

Now that that blanket is finished...I will be starting on the order for two Patchwork ones...my work basket is brimming with colour...ready and waiting...

I have been looking at Christmas table settings this morning...but I think I have made my mind up what I'm doing already anyway...it will be an Art Deco theme...of course...as its my favourite :) I will hopefully be able to capture a photo of the table before it gets too messy :) I've got new placemats...plates and glasses...cant wait to set it up :)

I'm so glad I have been able to reign myself in a little this year and be a bit more relaxed about everything...this time last year I was quite poorly...in a lot of pain...feeling very low and depressed and wondered how the devil I was going to get through the holiday period...I already knew I had my consultants appointment early in the new year...and prayed that my operation wouldn't be too long after that...I think that was the only thing that got me through...this year has been very different...thankfully :)

This week I just thought I would share a few of my favourite Christmassy pictures from my Pinterest board...because by next week Christmas will be as far away again as it can be...the big day over and we'll be looking forward to New Year Celebrations...so I have to get these in while I've got the chance ha ha

I would so love ittle place as cute and as lovely as this to go and hide away with a snuggly blanket and a cuppa :)

the reindeers....

the cutest little crafted angel...

vintage print of the big guy.... :)

this weeks vintage(y) photo is something from my childhood...which I had one Christmas...but this really made me laugh...as its just how it is these days :))

Well all that's left for me to say this week...is...I hope you have the merriest of times...Santa brings you everything that you wish for...that you are able to relax (ha ha)...and you are surrounded by your loved ones and friends...

So Merry Christmas...I'll see you on the other side...have a great week...enjoy everything you do....xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Crochet is not just a hobby......

Its a way of life!!!  ha ha it is here anyway......

Hello.... :) its all been about crochet this week....

I have had 3 WIP (work in progress) on the go this week....2 are almost finished.....

My Autumn Wreath has been put together....it started off with all these little pieces.....

....I just need to make the little felted Harvest Mouse now and it will be finished and ready to hang on Wednesday....the start of Autumn....

 

I couldn't bear to put my Spring Wreath away when Summer started....

But I have now....and the Summer one will be joining it this week....

My patchwork blanket has come to a standstill till later in the week.....

the position of colours in rows has been decided and they are neatly piled and labelled ready to go...but I ran out of white wool to join them and for the edging....so its been a great excuse to order the white wool and lots more lovely colours from Wool Warehouse....and with their great service I'm sure it will be here beginning of the week....

I have also been making an IPad cover for a family member...I decided on a corner to corner pattern and will be adding handles....I think I  will finish this today so will post a picture of the completed cover next week...

and my third project is a new granny square blanket....I have chosen some contemporary colours this time to give a more modern feel to a traditional blanket...I quite like it...but I have to say the vintage colours are my favourite still...

I only started this yesterday so haven't got very far...yarn is Stylecraft Special DK and the colours are: Saffron, Turquoise, Parma Violet, Denim, Spice and Aspen...I'm doing 7 rounds and will be joining with grey....as usual I have no idea what border I will do until the very end.... :)

Our holiday seems a million miles away now...but we have booked next years already....we will be off the Devon next year.... :)

Being back home has given me a spurt of energy and this coming week I intend to sort out and throw out....(not easy for me to throw out!) going room to room and getting everything clean and tidy....as well as lots of crocheting of course :)

I think I have had the last of the sweet peas for this year....I have decided to let the rest go the seed so I can collect them and grow them from their seeds next year :)

I have put them on the mantle this week instead of the window sill and set them off with my little French grey roses I made quite a few years ago now....

I had a treat this week....lunch out with my lovely friend....and a leisurely stroll around the garden centre...it was heavenly....that same friend gave me a fab book for my birthday...its really interesting and I have picked up loads of tips from it...well worth purchasing :)

and I have pre-ordered the new book Modern Vintage Gifts by Helen Phillips this week...I cant wait for it to arrive (not out until Oct ) I love Helen's blog... so I think her book will be brilliant :)

I have strangely been drawn to sewing of the past month or so and as I've said before...sewing is not my thing...but I think its time to give it a try...I saw this on Pinterest this week and thought it was beautiful....and maybe I could have a go at this patchwork picture....

Well we'll see.... I do have the embroidery hoops......

As I read a lot of blogs and pages from USA they are all getting into "Fall" decoration....I love how they decorate for all the seasons....it really makes me want to do it too....and as Halloween will be upon us in no time....I saw these and thought they were really fun...painted pumpkins instead of carved ones....

 
aren't they just adorable? And who doesn't love a Minion.... :)

Well I've taken up loads of your time....so I will leave you with the vintage photo this week...

Its in celebration of the 100 years of the WI....and well done all of you.....(round of applause for the WI) :)

This weeks little quote....

So have a magical week all of you....enjoy everything you do.....xxxx

Granny Square Heaven :)

Good Morning :) Hope you have all had a great weekend

Our weekend was spent in the garden putting up new fencing...our neighbours are away on holiday so we could make lots of noise....

This week has been a bit quiet on the crafting front...its been a week of catching up with my bestie, I just love going to her home...not only is it absolutely gorgeous she always has lovely food on the go...yummy...she is such an important part of my life...more family than friends...she is my Reiki Master so I always feel so much better after a visit...and she's always got just the right wise words...

I'm still working on my Hydrangea Blanket....but it is nearly finished...in fact I think it may be finished today! Hoorah...as my new order of wool should arrive tomorrow....yippee happy day!  I've ordered lots of stash from Wool Warehouse ...my go to website for lots of woolly loveliness :) they are soooo good, very reasonable prices, good selection and excellent service :) cant wait for my order to arrive...I have sort of decided what I'm going to do...but things my change....

My new book came this week...its fab I love it...so many squares, so little time ha ha

This is a selection of my favourites already....

There's a nice section on blanket designs too....

My inspiration comes from all sorts of places, but mainly from nature...but items, photos, pictures even carpets or wallpaper...for my new order of wool one has been a new notebook! Sometimes it's an idea to use a colour wheel...

It helps you decide on shades....

This shows you which colours compliment each other...but you might like to mix things up a bit...go colour crazy......:)

I use my swatch colours a lot too (there's a picture of that on the side of my blog and in an earlier post)

Sometimes I'll use this website and their colour combo tool.. Granny Square Colors ..you can get an idea of how the colours will look together...but sometimes you just have to go with the feeling you get...just enjoy immersing yourself in a colourful woolly wonderful time :)

Other things that have brightened my days this week....

The gorgeous Sweet Peas from the garden...they just keep giving and giving I have had so many little bunches of gorgeousness over the last few weeks this is yesterdays...

The charity shop finds of bits of glass bottles etc. have been put to good use...

I did do one little crafty make this week, I made some stitch markers...I had ordered some new stitch markers...just plain...then I remembered that I had some vintage charms...too delicate to use in robust projects but perfect for this...

They represent my favourite things...anything seaside and beachy...flowers and nature....old fashioned keys (I have a bit of an obsession with old keys) and crochet of course!

This picture popped up on my Facebook feed and I saved it straightaway...what I forgot to do was save the site is saw it on or who made them...but I was blown away by these...I think they are so beautiful...would love these hanging in window with sunlight catching them...(day dreaming now again now...ahhh)

This weeks vintage (well ish...) photo...

 

Ladies...you know this is so true........  :)))

 

 

I will leave you for now with this weeks little quote....

 

 

Have a lovely week...enjoy whatever you do xxx