Progress being made...

Hi,

Gosh! I feel this month has been just as busy as last!  I haven't had as much time as I would like to pick up my crochet hook.  The evenings have been taken up with family or work commitments. I am really hoping things will be a bit calmer as we head into February.

Anyhow I have been making steady progress with my latest project combining the fabric and crochet. Really need a name for this project... Any suggestions?

I have a nice pile of squares now as you can see...

This weekend I have a little go at starting to join them using a slip stitch.  I have began to join the horizontals with 8 squares across the blanket.

Need to continue with some sewing this week to prepare more fabric squares ready to add the crochet.  I will let you know how I am getting on soon.

Bye For Now

Von xxx

New Beginnings...New Blanket Project...

Hi,

   Oh my!  What a week...really hard getting back into the normal routine after Christmas chill out. And oh no, how hard is it not constantly eating....my stomach has been groaning with hunger pangs all week.  Mind I really need to get back to normality and work off the Christmas baggage that has appeared!

I cheered myself up on Sunday by buying some Lillys from our local Lidl.  I must say they looked gorgeous this morning as the sun made an appearance.

I have, also, began the new year with a new blanket project in mind.  I have been toying with the idea of combining fabric and crochet for a while and was on a search for the right fabric during my last visit to the Hobbycrafts Show at the NEC in Birmingham.  Anyway, I found this small print flower material on one of the stalls and bought a couple of metres with this project in mind.

I cut two small squares measuring 7.5cm x 7.5cm from the fabric and then a slightly smaller one from some fire retardant wadding.  I used some "Stick and Spray" glue for fabric to temporally hold it in place.  Then using some white thread I blanket stitched around the edges using stitches roughly 5mm apart.

  After completing the square I used Stylecraft Special DK and a 4mm crochet hook to create a foundation stitch for the square.  I simply double crocheted(UK terms) in each stitch and then in the corners double crochet, chain 1, double crochet.

I continued to complete a second round using the same stitch.  Then I chained 2, and treble crochet x 2 in to the same stitch.  Skipped the next two stitches and then treble crochet x 3 into the next stitch.  I continued this around the square and in the corners I treble crocheted x 3, chain 1, treble crocheted x3 into the corner stitch.

Next I continued with a further round treble crochet x 3 into the spaces and repeating the stitches within the corners.  I finished the square with double crocheting around the edge.

Really pleased with the finished square so I have continued to carry on with making further squares to turn into a blanket.  I will update you as I continue.

Bye for Now

Von xx

Throw Making

Hi,

I hope you have all enjoyed your Christmas fun?  We had a lovely Christmas and lots of fun together.  It just goes so quick...

Anyhow I can finally share a project that I have been up to for a while and managed to complete just in time for a Christmas present for my Mum.  I know she reads the blog so I could not let on what I was up to on here.

I used Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Aran Tweed - Stormcloud as the main colour for the throw.  I used just over 2 balls of this to complete the project.

I used a simple stitch which was made up of 3 stitches a double crochet and then 2 trebles, then skipped two chains for each row.  There is a full tutorial for this on www.crochetspot.com

I simply followed this until the throw was the size I wanted.  

My Mum loves a bit of sparkle in her life and for the border I chose Sirdar Soukie DK - Starstruck as it has sequins embedded within the wool.  Firstly, I double crocheted around the edge then followed round with a treble.  Next I used a simple shell stitch skip 1 chain 5 trebles in the next chain, then skip the next chain and repeat.

I am really pleased with the finished result and it has made a great throw.  I gave it to my Mum yesterday and she seemed very happy with it.  I hope it keeps her nice and cosy when our normal icy winter finally arrives...which I am sure it will when we least expect it!

On to my next project now.....

Bye for now

Von xx

Christmas in Birmingham

Hi,

Wow! Busy, busy, busy!

However, we managed to have a lovely Christmas break in Birmingham today.  We visited the famous German Market and had a lovely wander around the stalls.  There was so much there!  Lots of people visiting so it was extremely busy.  Here are some photos...

We walked up to the Birmingham Symphony Hall after a wander around the market for the "Festive Favourites with Alan Titchmarsh" concert.  I have been to this a few times before but it was a first for my husband and daughter.  The Symphony hall is absolutely amazing and the photos below do not do it justice.  The acoustics are wonderful and we had a brilliant time singing along with the carols.

 

I would definitely recommend a visit if you live locally.  I am most certainly in the Christmas spirit now and can't wait for the festivities to begin.

Have a super Christmas!

Bye for now

Von xx

Making Christmas Cards!

Hi,

     I have been so so busy!  This time of the year is always a challenge especially when you work in a school!  Christmas Plays and Fayres and all the other fun and exciting things that go on.  I have managed to make some more Christmas cards in the middle of all this and I have some other projects to share with you once they are complete!

    These are the cards I have made this time with a "ho ho!" theme.

I began by using some white card stock I had in my stash and used my circular hole punch to punch out two circles on the outer side of the front of the card.

Then I used some pale blue paper from this lovely "Silent Night" paper pad that I bought from Hobbycraft to cover the circles

I then used a snowflake die from this Spellbinders set to cut out two snowflakes using some of the white glittery effect paper in the pad of paper stock.  Next I attached these on top of the "o's".

Then I added some snowflake stickers on top to add a little more glitter!  

Finally I cut some "H's" from some poinsettia patterned paper I had found in my stash to complete the "ho ho."

All done!  A nice easy but quite effective Christmas card.  I have made a few of these.  Just need to write them now!  Looking forward to Christmas I hope you are too!

Bye for now

Von xx

Christmas Cake - snowman

I love Christmas its such a special time of the year to spend with loved ones and just be thankful for everything you have.  Its a magical time for younger children and to watch their excitement and see their delight in opening their parcels and celebrating the day is so lovely. 

 

My children love the build up to Christmas.  They love to see the Christmas cake being made each year.     I always like to try and make it well ahead of the big day to allow time to make my husbands and daughters birthday cakes to celebrate their special days in November and December without feeling under pressure. 

 

For this years cake I decided to stick to a fairly simple novelty cake that wasn't too time consuming to allow me some time to do some other Christmas crafts also.    I got the idea from a pinterest pin that had been posted but it is actually based on a Karen Davies cake mould .....

 

 

I am definitely starting to feel in the Christmas spirit now which is good given that in less than 5 weeks we will all be celebrating

Hope you are all feeling in the Christmas sprit too!!

Julie
X

Christmas Card Making

Hi,

I have had a go at making some Christmas cards as the season is almost upon us.  The first card I had a go at was this Christmas Tree Trio.

I had some small 6x6 black cards so decided to use these.  I cut down some other black card that I had in my stash and then used a Christmas Tree punch to punch out three Christmas trees.

I then cut some white and silver feathered patterned paper I had found in my stash to fit the 6x6 card and then added the smaller black card with the punched Christmas trees on top.

Finally, I added some little silver gems to the top of the trees and added a 'Merry Christmas' sticker.  

A very simple but effective card.  Just got to write them now.  I have made another card which I will share with you another time.

Hope your Christmas preparations are going well.

Bye for now

Von xx