I'm Back!

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to let you all know I am back!!!

I disappeared towards the end of last week, but I did warn you ;-).  

The reason for my disappearance was because I had to have a small procedure, all of which resulted in me not being able to be too creative or active!

I am absolutely fine and all the results came back clear, so I am happy, happy, HAPPY!!!!

I was also able to enjoy some of the fine weather we have been having in the Northern Hemisphere, and I took a picture from my lounge patio!!!

It all made me quite happy and content - even though I couldn't be creative!!!!

During this time, Peanuts cat (Fluffy) took to bringing me a number of small presents in the shape of this............

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I'm not 100% sure but I think it's a Robin's Egg.  Now whilst I'm quite happy to receive a token of their affection, I would rather it was a worm or bug  - Shadow (Bean's cat) brought me a few of these!  

So .................

I have thanked Fluffy, but scolded her in the hope that she does not bring me any more eggs!!!  

I think it would be different if she managed to keep them in one piece and not puncture the egg with her teeth (as you can clearly see from the picture), as I would be able to incubate them. (In case you are wondering, we have chickens and I occasionally have to incubate an egg or two!)

I do dearly love Robins and we have had 2 nesting pairs for the last few years, so I am pretty protective over them!

I also managed to take some photos of various bits and pieces around the garden, but need to sort them out before I can share them with you.

Well, that's all my news for the moment..... how is everyone else getting on?

Until next time................ 

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Knitting Design

Good Morning everyone!


Well, one of my cushion covers got a hole in, and before I could rescue it, it ended up ripped apart!! I won't go into the details of how this happened...... but it did.


Now...... I don't have much knitted interiors or attire in my house, as almost everything I make is usually for some-one else, either family or customers.


So I decided I would knit a cover for the cushion, but I would have to try and match the colour to the covers we already have, so that it does not stand out too much!


Our other cushion covers are red, brown and beige, so I came up with these........

I couldn't find a brown and my beige doesn't really match, so I thought, never mind, I'll just remake all the covers!!!!

I started off with the stripes and then decided I may even have one with spots!

I like the back of the fabric as well as the front! Decisions, decisions!!!  

I guess you'll just have to wait and see which way I use them....... but that won't be for a couple of weeks, as I am going to be away the rest of this week, so...... until next time, have good fun creating!

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Sampling

In between tidying up my studio, I decided that I really should set up my knitting machine properly on it's own table and not amongst the rest of the disaster zone (that is the best description for my studio at the moment!), and check that it is working and give it some TLC, as it has been sat on my computer desk with bits on top - although still easily accessible!!


So.... I cleaned it and oiled it and ensured everything was working, and then I had to have a sneaky play to make sure I had not lost my knowledge.... hehehehe.... any excuse!


I grabbed a couple of yarns I had lying around and made these samples ........

The sample above was done on a machine I have been given, so I did not want to do anything technical yet, as I wanted to make sure that the machine is sound and no needles are damaged or broken.  It knitted very well and I will be testing it more over the next few weeks.

The samples above were done on my old faithful!  I just had to have a play and make sure that everything was working okay....... I got a bit carried away with it all!!!  I'm going to have to use these samples for something, as I can't bear to just leave them lying around doing nothing!!  I'll have a think and when I'm done, will show you what I came up with!

Well, I must dash as I've got more sampling......... errmmmmm..... I mean tidying up to do :-)

Have a good one!

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A Stitchy Bit

Well.................................... 

I had a bit of time on my hands, so I thought I would share my handiwork with you......

It is a very simple cross stitch and only took a couple of hours to complete, and at least made me feel like I had done something creative!

I just need to finish the project off, so I should hopefully be able to reveal it next week :-).

Hope you all have a wonderful creative week.

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Busy Old Week

Hello again.


How has everyone's week been?


Mine has been extremely busy, but not..... if that makes sense!


It all started last week Friday..... it was Peanuts birthday, so I had all the preparations to do.  


When Bean and Peanut celebrate their birthdays on a school day, we allow them to open one present before going to school, as it is difficult to have to wait all day before opening any presents on your birthday. 


I usually dropped them off at school, and rush about getting banners and balloons and baking their cake in time for them to come home and enjoy the rest of their birthday... so you get the picture.  I do always try and ensure presents are wrapped and cards written, so that it does not add to the ensuing pandemonium!


Anyway this year Peanut gave me strict instructions about what she wanted for her birthday cake. Now you would think it was easier to buy a cake from the shop?  Well..... ummm.... no! My gorgeous family do not like shop bought cake!  So........... I take that as a big compliment, as it means I obviously bake a decent cake! (I should do, as I got an A at O'Level Home Economics and all the women throughout the generations of my family love to bake!)


So..... this cake............ it had to be chocolate and have cream in the middle, with chocolate icing and smarties and sprinkles....... anything else?..... Yes.... it must be round and can I use granny's recipe!


So I set to work and this is how it looked............

We (my Hubby always has the day of their birthdays off,) collected them from school and went bowling and had some food, then made our way home...... 


The girls do not always travel well, but they are at the age, where they will ask you to find a safe place to pull over so they can have a bit of fresh air.....


we found this spot.......

The views were amazing, although a tad bit windy!  We were able to climb the hill a bit and explore a little, and enjoy the scenery and views.


We finally got home and peanut spotted her cake sitting under cover......


I think she was very pleased with it , as she squealed with delight when she saw it and couldn't stop jumping up and down!!


She opened her presents to lots of squeals and laughter and then played with Bean and everything that she had received for her birthday.


Saturday was her Birthday party, so we took her and a group of friends to a ball pool and slide play center, after which we returned home and whilst she played with her presents, I packed.


We then drove up north, as bean was competing in a karate tournament on Sunday.  We stayed 3 miles away from where beans competed, and it was really nice, as we were able to take bean and peanut for a walk before dinner.  it was all very peaceful and tranquil.....

and we all enjoyed the walk.

We then went to Bean's karate competition in the morning, and I don't know who was more nervous.... Bean or myself! At 11 years of age Bean looks a lot older, as she is very tall!  She had entered two categories, points sparing and sport sword.  In both categories she was the youngest and the lowest belt.... (She's a Black belt). In points, the next youngest was 16 and a 2nd Dan (for my non karate followers - it goes various colored belts, then black belt, 1st Dan, 2nd Dan, 3rd Dan, etc.. up to 6th Dan - the 1st Dan belt means you have been training as a black belt for one year, 2nd Dan - training as a 1st Dan for 2 years, 3rd Dan - training as a 2nd Dan for 3 years.... and so on.  To get your Dan belts, you still have to be tested and pass, so a lot of hard work and dedication is required from the individual.)

Anyway, Bean came 5th in points sparing, which was not that bad considering she was the youngest, but at least she did not get hurt.  She also came 5th in sport sword, which we thought was brilliant, as the next youngest person was 18 and a 3rd Dan, and the fact that she had not actually had a training session in sport sword. She has only messed about twice with the sport sword in her master class.


We did enjoy the weekend although it was hectic and busy, and this week I have been busy sampling and sorting out my studio..... more on that next week.


So until next time....... have a good weekend and week ahead!


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P.S.   The cake was delicious!!!!!!

Knitting Update

Whilst I have a bit of time on my hands, I thought I'd show you a picture of the last two squares that I managed to do.....

Not much progress has been made since, as I have been busy doing various other things as well as looking after poorly children, so this is the first week that I have had to properly concentrate on things that I have not managed to do during this time..... unfortunately it has not been of the creative nature!


I have done a bit of tidying up in my studio, but it still needs more work, as I have bits and pieces in there that just do not belong!  I did come across this book that I bought when I was doing my degree..........

 and got somewhat distracted and absorbed by it......

It has so many fabulous and delightful ideas in it........

The really sad thing about it, is that I just did not have a lot of time to use it, or be inspired by it when I was doing my degree, as this book is focused on hand knitters!  (Which I am getting pretty darn good at - even if I do say so myself!!)   

But, now I have time......and I like a challenge!  The challenge for me, will be to translate some of these ideas onto my knitting machine.

I have other ideas, which are brewing in the background, but I can't share those just yet, but all will be revealed in time.

Until next time..... keep those ideas going and set yourself a small challenge!

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Paper Cut Love

A few weeks ago, I did some experimentation with various bits and pieces, as seen here.


During this time, I managed to do some paper cutting.


Now...... I have to confess, I am not a paper cut artist, and I would never want to be.  I have a lot of admiration for people who do this for a living, as it is hard work, especially when it is done using one of these.......

I was introduced to paper cutting at University and my favorite artist is Rob Ryan.  I have this book of his, which is totally inspiring, and I do love paper cuts, and I do enjoy the process, but only if it is for myself or a family member. Now, I know that seems a bit selfish, but  it really is a lot of work for a card sized image......


Here is a bird cage that I made ....

It is very sweet and just needs to be framed.  I also made this, but could not decide between a black or purple background ......

Which do you prefer???


I created these paper cuts to brighten up my studio, which is still a WIP, and I cheated, as I used some old stencils that I had lying around.... I just moved bits about and created something that I liked.


It made me look at other work by paper cut artists and I found two, that I follow, who produce the most amazing paper cuts, and they will also create bespoke pieces, you just need to ask......

By Charlies Hand - Charlie does the most incredible paper cuts.  Everything is hand  drawn beforehand and then painstakingly cut out using a scalpel.

Caroline Rose Art - Caroline does bright and fun paper cuts.  She also does prints and necklaces.


These two artists are well worth checking out..... and I'll apologise now, as you may end up spending too much on their delightful creations!


Until next time..... happy creating!


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Ta Dah!!!

Welcome Back!


I also want to welcome a number of younger browsers, who have been dipping in and out of my blog during D&T time at a certain school, which shall remain nameless!  I hope you are inspired by what you find here, and that it encourages you to explore your inner creativity and that you try new things and experiment more......... some things will work, and some things won't.  The main thing is to have fun and enjoy what you are trying out. Good luck and be proud of your achievements.


If you have followed me for a while, you may remember this post.....


Well, I have now finished the house and all that it needs now is a frame.

I am still busy with the second one, but as soon as it is finished, I will show you.  I find it amazing how you can design something and it looks so different, depending what you do with it.


The one above was very simple to make, I cut out felt to the shapes I required and then I stitched the felt pieces onto some plain calico, using running stitch and back stitch. the stars on the house were a simple straight stitch, for the tree trunk, I used chain stitch and the little dots were French knots.


You could easily use this type of design to make cushions, pencil cases, throws.... or anything that you can think of..... the list is endless!


Have fun with your creativity.


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Weekend Crochet

I just wanted to pop by and share my weekend crochet with you.


As you will know from my previous post, Peanut has had a throat infection, so whilst we were snuggling together on the sofa on the weekend, she asked me to make a blankie for Dogdog. (Dogdog is a toy that she got when she was 4 months old and it goes everywhere with her!)


Anyway, I had been making up some squares to use up some scrap yarn that I had lying about, so I went and gathered them up, along with some white yarn and set about creating her a blankie for Dogdog........


Here it is.........

The top two pictures were a couple of the numerous ones I took when trying to lay it out, the bottom left is the completed blankie and the bottom right is with Dogdog snuggled under his new blankie.


It was easy to do and Peanut and Dogdog are both very proud of their new blankie.


So.... until next time, when life has hopefully returned to near normal..... keep creating!


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