Kimbles At Home

Just a few words

2011-07-14T08:49:00.000+01:00

Hi all

I am just quickly dipping by to say, that I will be taking a bloggin break for a few weeks. There is a lot going on at the moment and I have that "overwhelming" feeling - I am ok don't get me wrong but several things happening at once and I feel the plates may be falling off the spinning sticks!!!!! So my friends worrying about blogging is at the bottom of the list at the mo. My love to you all, I will try and dip into your blogs at some stage and say hi and then hopefully I will be back.

Speak soon xx

Positively letting off Steam!

2011-06-07T09:05:00.000+01:00

I have to chuckle my blogette friends - you see last week my feathers were ruffled. I had a bit of a bad day and then I arrived at a clients house (I am a beauty therapist), she wasn't there, "oh she has just popped out to the shops, she knows you are waiting and wont be long" her housekeeper said. Grrrrr she was so late in fact, that there were only two minutes left of the appointment when she arrived. Inside I was hopping mad,actually my time is quite precious too!!!!!! Sadly I can't afford to make too much of a fuss so I graciously did the treatment, only much shorter. Well the upshot of this is, that when she paid me I was so uptight I went straight to the Garden Centre and used the money to buy one of these

I know, I know, chocolate would have been good too, but I have wanted one of these for ages, but thought of it as a frivolous purchase, but that day pushed me to it! Do you know I turned a very negative day into a real positive one because I have SOOOO enjoyed sitting in my conservatory or out in the garden watching the spendid array of birds eagerly feeding - it is so relaxing and theraputic to watch.

You get the general gist don't you, sadly I am no wildlife photographer - took me loads of attempts even to get this dreadful picture!!!! Fancy that, if you get too close, the birdies fly away - and my zoom is pants!

This last week I have become a real bird spotter armed with my little Which Bird book - it was worth every penny and it proving a real calming influence when all around is chaos!

That's enough twittering from me!

Speak soon xx

Coil Pot Ta Dah!

2011-05-31T13:21:00.000+01:00

Hello there lovely peeps, I hope you enjoyed the weekend, here in England we had a loong weekend, I like loong weekends very much indeed, in fact I would love them to be even longer!!

Coffee and homemade shortbread biscuits were the order of the day, I felt like "chillin" and "chillin" I did.
That is until I could "chill" no more and just HAD to continue with a project of some sort, I carried on with the coil pot I started last week. After a very fiddlesome start, trying to get the knack of twisting the fabric round the springy coily stuff, I began to make Progress.

It is quite interesting how the fabric takes on a different pattern as the pot evolves until you get this effect

Surprisingly it makes quite a strong pot, it was fun and different to make, hope you like it!

Speak soon xx

Unable to leave Comments

2011-05-27T08:13:00.000+01:00

Morning, just to say along with most others using Blogger I am unable to leave comments - it is so frustrating!!!! Has anyone explored others like Typepad or Wordpress - I know they cost a little but would it be worth it? But then I suppose I would have to start again and not transfer my blog over - dilemma - don't know why I am asking after all, no one can leave a comment either hey - ho!

Have a great day!!

Speak soon xx

Coil Pot Making

2011-05-25T10:00:00.000+01:00

Last night I was searching through my stash of "Things To Do". I felt figety and didn't know what I wanted to do, Nothing was appealing to me! I didn't want to crochet, or knit but wanted to do Something. Then I found the "Something"

A Coil Pot making kit - I have had this in the cupboard for about 2 years and finally it saw the light of day. A book by Helen Deighan, the doyenne of coil pot making, soon had me reading up on how proceed.

There were lots of pre cut fabric strips (always a help) and I had loads of the plastic cording.

You start by twisting the fabric around the cord and securing it with the yellow clip - then you begin by making a spiral the other end and oversewing the coils to make a circle. The beginning I did find Really Fiddly but after some trial and error I got going. You can join in another strip by overlapping with the first strip and carrying on winding.

As usual for me I want to run before I can walk and expected it to be easy from the start, and it did take me a while to get the hang of it, but it is coming along now

The effect is quite pretty don't you think? Once you get the base to the size you want then you gradually build up the sides. I will show you the progress as I go. However, I have found that sewing over the coils does annoy my thumbs, but I am NOT giving up and am determined to finish at least one pot!!!!!!!

Have a lovely day

Speak soon xx

Lazy Sunday

2011-05-23T09:05:00.000+01:00

At the end of last week I went to a little Decorative Living Fair - you may recall I went last year too. It was the sort of day to put on a floaty dress - grab a basket and "waft" round the stalls!!! I did wear a summer dress, but my basket is broken and I am not too good at "wafting", not dainty enough! Still my friend and I had a very pleasant afternoon, and I have decided that "Vintage" or "Old and Rusty" still seems to be "in" , we sat and enjoyed our sandwiches drinking in the lovely view

The warm sun on our faces and the bunting fluttering in the gentle breeze, so calming.

I was quite restrained in my purchases (not out of choice, but necessity) but I couldn't resist some lovely herbs which I have now arranged on the front door step (gets lots of sun)

Lovely fresh Mint, Thyme and Dill mmmmm.

That wasn't bad was it - I resisted the packs of bunting, the clothes, the soaps etc - Well Done Kimbles!

We had a rather lazy Sunday yesterday, browsed round the garden but didn,t do anything, read the paper and ate lovely cake my Mum had made, could practically watch my cucumber plants creeping up the canes in my conservatory.

If felt like a re-chargin the batteries day - doesn't happen very often but boy, did I enjoy it!

Speak soon xx

Crochet

2011-05-18T09:23:00.000+01:00

Good Morning, you see I am trying to become a good regular blogger again! I have been indulging in a little hookiness lately, not as fast as I used to be, but hey that's no problem. You may recall on one of my previous posts I started this project

Well after making half a dozen squares I just wasn't "lovin" it, it just wasn't working in my mind. It's quite a decision isn't it when you have to decide whether to abandon your hard work or limp on! Well it had to be abandon I'm afraid and I don't regret it for a minute. So it was back to the drawing board. I was combining colours and thinking about what would go with my lounge. I wanted to Keep It Simple and traditional. So now I am working on these

I am loving the colours and the simplicity of this pattern, I think sometimes I look for different and fussier stitches but there is something so comforting and scrummy about traditional grannying! I have been signed off from the hand clinic ( have done all they can for me) so I have to be really careful, do special thumb exercises and rub in pain relieving cream. Hey ho never mind - I just have take more notice when they get a bit painful and STOP!!! I did invest in a soft touch crochet hook and that has helped me with the crochet thank goodness so all is not lost!

Have a good day

Speak soon xx

Sneaking back into Blogland

2011-05-16T14:02:00.000+01:00

I just realised my last post was actually 1st April.....gawd what a useless blogger! The last few weeks have been rather manic, I will try to give you a little update, I was whisked off to London to be supportive to Hubby and help man an exhibition stand. This was quite good fun if a little hard on the feet and legs!

Then came the Royal Wedding, and I was able to put my feet up and put my cup of tea on this spendid coaster the lovely Sue sent me and ooooh and aaaaaah for hours, yep it was a real 'feel good' day. Then we went off to a BBQ to carry on the celebrations.

Seeds have been planted and are already poking their little heads out much more since I took this photo.

I have also been enjoying the Being Creative group on flickr and my contribution to last month who's theme was 'Dessert' came out better than I thought, I spent one splended quiet afternoon just scribbling away - I LOVED it!

I have also been looking after my niece and nephew and two doggies for a week - went to live in with them in Windsor, so the weeks have flown by. I have dipped into blogland a bit, but am looking forward to spending some time catching up.

I have been a little productive on the crochet front, and I will update you with that with a second "catch up" post!

Hasn't the weather been amazing! The roses are already stunning this year, when I left to go to Windsor my lovely rose out the front of our house had no roses on it at all, this lovely sight greeted me on my return

Don't you think everything is flowering early this year due to the dry weather, I think we may experience Autumn in August this year!!

Have any of you seen this "yarn"

It is called "Salsa" and is like a knitted ribbon, you knit it up but really it is just a series of loops to make a scarf - my dear Mum bought it for me for a treat and it makes a lovely ruffled effect when knitted up.

Only trouble is, it is very hard on my hands so that I can only do a few rows at a time. One good thing we have a few months until winter, so I can take my time!

Well I hope you are all well and I am so glad to have dipped back in.

Speak soon xx

Country Living Fair

2011-04-01T13:00:00.002+01:00

Hi all, just bobbing by - its weird I have a free afternoon this afternoon, and because I have been very tied up with work this last few weeks, I am finding it hard to wind down - do you know what I mean? I actually thought - free afternoon what shall I do? Nuts I know, but anyway I have decided to sidestep the obvious like wash the kitchen floor, catch up with the ironing etc. "I know" I thought, "I'll blog" so here I am! After this I am going to take my mum out for a cuppa and a stroll round the shops, sadly she can't walk too far at the moment as she is waiting to have a second knee replacement. But we will spend some "quality Mother and Daughter" time together.

Last week I managed a day out with a friend to the Country Living Fair - bit of a contradiction this because to get there I have to leave the country and face the busy crowds of London and the dreaded Tube, I was hot and flustered by the time I got there and didn't feel very "country" at all. Still a nice cup of coffee and a scrummy cake soon solved that and several hours were spent wandering around the stands. Vintage is still huge and quite a few crochet items are surfacing too. It did make me think "I could do that" you know make a few blankets etc and sell on a stall - imagine selling something that you had crocheted - I would be over the MOON!

The Spring Fair guide is a useful tool to have, because now that I am back I can look up the online shops and have a serious browse. I am always too careful when I am at these Fairs - The little Devil on my left shoulder says "buy, buy, buy" and the little Angel on my right shoulder says even louder "just look, just look, just look!" In the main the little Angel wins, but the little Devil won with these two items

A sweet little jug with hearts on, love, love love ♥ Of course this isn't for me oh no, ...... its for the... Camper, hubby never minds if I buy stuff for the Camper ♥

The next item is for me, to make me feel like a domestic goddess!

An Apron! Haven't had one since I was a little girl. The hearts on this one called out to me - and I find myself wearing it most frequently!!! Sadly the domestic goddess thing is yet to materialise! This is from Susie Watson Designs, check out her website here she has some scrummy things to tempt you. I also got some supplies from the Jam Jar Shop, I got my jam making stuff from them last year, they have a great online store and deliver super fast. So I was quite good really wasn't I?

Tuesday evening of this week Hubby and I popped up to London to meet and feed our youngest son on his birthday. He is at Uni up there, so we met him at the O2 arena and fed him steak (a rare treat for a poor student!) then he pootled back to his mates and we got the Thames Clipper back from the O2 to the London Eye. High speed boats, some with coffee shops on (sadly we picked the one without - darn it) but London by dusk and night, I am going to show you these photos, some are a little blurry because of the motion of the boat, but you can get a feel for London at night.

As dusk fell, even the industrial area took on a softly lit aura.

O2 from the Water

View to Canary Wharf

London Bridge

It was much better than going underground!

Before I head off, thank you all so much for such positive comments about my Daffodil pastel painting. I am going to use the Be Creative challenges to develop my art and maybe collage, anything that I don't usually do. Why don't you join in?

Have a great weekend.

Speak soon xx

Trying to Be Creative!

2011-03-28T21:40:00.000+01:00

I am so happy that the clocks have finally sprung foward - lighter evenings, summer to look forward to, gives me a little energy rush! Well this last week I managed a day out at the Country Living Fair in London which I will post about later, but the other thing I achieved was a little picture for the "Being Creative" challenge. I have to say I am a tad nervous about showing this "effort". I love pastels and decided that the Being Creative challenge would be good for me to actually use them to try and do a little art - something I would love to have time to go to lessons, but for the future I think.

I littered the kitchen table with the scrummy colours and then - oh my, gonna have to actually make marks on the paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! found a picture

yes, try and keep it simple, cripes even simple things seem hard! Soon I was scribbling here and smudging there and adding bits here and rubbing out bits there and finally..........don't expect much but it is my first attempt in aaaages.

A scrappy pastel daff!!! Now I know it isn't art gallery stuff or anything like that, but I soooo enjoyed drawing it! Now I have to upload it to the Being Creative flickr group -- now that is nerve wracking!!

Enjoy the spring sunshine.

Speak soon xx

Tuesday Catch Up

2011-03-22T08:44:00.000Z

I cannot believe that I haven't posted for nearly a month! I thought that reaching my fifties would be a time for "calmness" for moving down a gear, for a little extra time for me, time to explore new hobbies, reality couldn't be further from those statements!!! I jest really, after all real life has to take precedence over my blogging life and real life has been very busy of late. I am not going to bore you with the details, but I am glad to dip in here to the lovely calmness of blogland. With everything that has been going on in the world of late, I feel so lucky to live in the situation that I do, and my heart goes out to all of those suffering at the moment.

I have a couple of WIPS to show you, but first here is the Royal Wedding square I sent to Mrs Twins for the SIBOL project

I entwined red metallic thread in the heart attaching the little seed beads as I crocheted along.

I have started another blanket, At the moment I really like colour blocks in blankets so:-

we will see how this develops! I haven't really planned it at all, just see how it grows :) I have also been playing around with delicate chain lacy motifs and am working towards a scarf

The wool is varigated with a silver thread running through it, it is another experiment!

I have also signed up to Be Creative in the Julia Crossland blog - I did this in a moment of madness thinking "I know, I will get out my art stuff and this will force me to paint pictures" and now I feel quite nervous at the prospect and heaven knows when I am going to produce these pictures - by the light of the silvery moon I expect!!

Anyway I am so pleased to finally catch up and hope you are all well.

Speak soon xx

Have a Peek at these!

2011-02-24T08:49:00.000Z

Good Morning everyone! Been laid up for a few days with a bug, but now feeling a lot better ( and a few pounds lighter, every cloud eh?) its good to be feeling fine again. Firstly a HUGE♥ Thank you for the lovely Birthday wishes and response to my short post and Amyrillis pictures, really appreciated.

Last week I was busy making squares - firstly for SIBOL and then for the Sarah London Crochet A Rainbow appeal. Now I am quite happy making squares, you know, just squares - but I have never attempted a picture square, so I put my creative hat on and lo and behold these two squares evolved. I am really happy with them and they make me smile so much when I look at them (daft I know!) in fact I am having serious trouble sending them off to SIBOL but I will of course, because it is such a good cause! I have taken lots of piccies and I am thinking of having some notelets made from the pictures to remind me.

Crikey I have built them up somewhat - I hope you like them!

This is smiley Piggy for the Farmyard Blanket

and this is my Springtime contribution:-

I never realised how much fun crochet pictures are - so ...... freeform, just crochet away and add bits here and there and there you go!

Got to put my thinking cap on now for the Royal Wedding one!

Oh and here are the Crochet A Rainbow Squares

Oh and finally

One last look - there were Six Beautiful Blooms on this beauty in the end, but sadly as with all beauty, is now fading.

Have a great day

Speak soon xx

What More Could I Need?

2011-02-16T09:04:00.000Z

What more could I need on my Birthday - than the Love of my Family and Friends around me, and in Blogland, and this to greet me in the morning?

Times may be hard, but I am rich indeed.♥

Speak soon xx

Daisy Granny Blanket

2011-02-14T10:44:00.003Z

Good morning and Happy Valentines Day to you all. A Ta dah moment for you today. I have finished my Plain Granny Blanket, but I just couldn't call it "plain" - I have loved making this blanket, it has worked up quickly, not much messing with sewing in ends. I worked out the design on paper first and was then able to join-as-you-go which made it even quicker. I love the simplicity of it. It is going to live in our camper to match the cushions I made last year. I have added some Daisies which I have made with my Daisy Maker and hey presto! a plain blanket no more!

I made this with a mixture of Bonus UK and Robin double knitting. I find these two acrylics are the same thickness, some aren't quite the same even though they are double knit.

These are the cushions I made last year and as you can see, I have tried to pick out the colours of our camper. I think they are all going to live nicely together!

Thank you for dropping by!

Speak soon xx

A Completed Edge!

2011-02-12T09:38:00.000Z

Happy Saturday! Just popping by to show you two things :-

The first is the Edge of my Plain Granny Square blanket finished.

My blanket "frame" is complete - I did tinker around with several colours, but settled for this solid colour frame with an added lemon stripe. The stitch is double crochet (UK terms) and the edge of the edge is done in Picot stitches, just 3 chains double crochet into middle chain and then miss a stitch and double crochet into next. It makes a lovely but not too frilly edging. I really love how the dark blue helps to intensify the other colours in the blanket.

Close up of the Edge

I still have some extras embellishments that I am going to add to this blanket so hopefully will show you the Ta Dah moment next week.

The second thing I wanted to show you was this:-

Just look how this Amyrillis is growing! Two beautiful flowers about to emerge! It has been a slow grower, but no wonder with feeding two stems!

Can't wait for this beauty to open.

Have a great weekend.

Speak soon xx

Working on the Edge

2011-02-08T13:36:00.000Z

Just whizzing by to give a little update on my Granny Square Blanket .... I have begun working on the Edge. Something sooooo satisfying about working on the Edge don't you find. It means you have nearly finished your creation, you are "framing" your work, a chance to enhance what you have done, yes I just LOVE working on the Edge. I have plans for this Edge, oh yes, at the moment it is in its early stages but it will develop,

Yes, its coming along nicely!

Speak soon xx

Cosy Evening with Decopatch and Crochet

2011-02-06T11:20:00.000Z

Hi there lovely blogland friends, last Thursday I arranged a dental check up for myself and youngest son, on his way back to Uni in London -"Great mum", he said "you can drop me off at the nearest station and I wont have to pay so much fare" - Dentist is nearer to Uni than home, I hasten to add. Good idea I thought, we had the check up and headed to the station, and despite the mess he had left in his room, despite the fridge being constantly devoid of milk, the cereal packets empty, the toilet roll not put on the holder - I could feel the tears pricking at my eyes - "oh mum, you're not gonna cry are you?" Big Sniff "of course not, you go and have fun, and I will see you in a few weeks" as I waved goodbye - big sigh - what now? Serious cheer up was needed - and so it happened I drove up the road and found a rather large Hobbycraft - well I say large because the one I usually go to is rather a lot smaller than this one - OH JOY ♥ I have decided whenever I feel down I am going to drive to Hobbycraft!!!!!!!!!! I wandered around in a positive frenzy, I could try glass painting, dolls house making, beading, sweetie making, quilting etc etc, (bearing in mind I only went in for 3 balls of Lemon acrylic!) I kid ye not - it felt like I had died and gone to heaven, I know you lovers of craft out there will understand these feelings!

Now as pennies are a little scarce at the moment ........ I was quite restrained......... glass decorating, beading etc will have to wait, so along with the wool, I bought some felt (for future projects) and some decopatch stuff. I headed home with a much happier heart!

So Friday evening, with the wind howling I cosied down with a glass of something and the fire and the decopatch and crochet - now this next picture sets the scene but forgive me its rather blurred - but hey I had only had half a glass of wine!!!

This was a little cat I finished which I have had for ages - there is no doubt about it - I find tearing up the little pieces of pretty paper and spreading the glue sooo relaxing

So after the cat was finished I just had to carry on - so decided to cover a little valentine heart

Once again, so theraputic, this is a heart shaped fridge magnet, which now looks lovely holding my lovely heart postcard on the fridge.

After I had finished the decopatch - it was back to the crochet. This is my plain granny blanket which I am making for my camper - I will have to think of another name for this because plain granny doesn't do it justice - I am ♥ loving ♥ making this, the lovely colour blocks look really effective together and not nearly so many ends to sew in!

Here is a peek

I will show you it in all its glory when it is finished!

Oh and I just have so show you my lovely cat Thompson, who loves to sit or sleep by my side when I am crafting.

Well that was my lovely cosy Friday night - fav night of the week. I hope whatever you do my friends, you keep warm and cosy too!

Speak soon xx

Walking Together

2011-02-02T11:35:00.000Z

Sunday morning - and the countryside was calling us - hubby and I, although it was cold, the sun was bright and it did feel :::::: well can I say it :::::: should I say it :::: I will ::::: ♥Springlike♥ :: I know, I know its only just February, and I know only too well that winter can still pack a punch, but we have to be hopeful don't we!!

This field looks very different from the last time we walked through it when the sweetcorn was high.

Some clever people in our village have made leaflets detailing 16 walks, varying in miles from 3.5 to 7. This one was 4.5 miles - just a nice amount before cooking a scrummy roastie dinner!

The stream was running fast

Catkins hanging like little green tails

This Mole Town is obviously busy! Then we headed downhill to a swampy, foresty bit (very Lord of the Rings!)

Even though this looked like a tree graveyard, there were green shoots all around - nature is amazing isn't it?

It was a very interesting walk - time to chat and clear the head, to be together, which lord knows is sometimes quite hard in a busy, bustly house - time to reflect on our nearly 31 years together, yes a special time♥.

Speak soon xx

A Wicked Time!

2011-02-01T09:34:00.001Z

Yesterday, hubby and I were able to enjoy a Christmas present from our eldest son and his lovely girlfriend.

We wandered down the road to our lovely little station

the very straight line pointing towards London.

the sun was setting behind the downs and was emitting this delicious warm orangy glow.

The surprise was tickets to see a London show.

And a Wicked time we had too!! The story of the two witches from the Wizard of Oz. The costumes and sets were out of this world and the singing and dancing was amazing. There was a standing ovation at the end. See it if you can!

Thank you for your enquiries about my hands. I have seen a therapist a couple of time and had a grip test, and my right hand is very low - not sure what is going to be done about it, so I now have an attractive glove to wear when I feel I need it

To be honest I am not sure if it is helping or not - but I will give it time. But as you can see, I WILL not stop doing the things I love, and a pile of plain grannies has started to appear! I am making a blanket to match the colours of our folding camper - thinking of summer! Its a little frustrating because I just can't do it as fast as I used to and I am trying to hold the hook in a different way which takes some getting used to - but I will improve I am hopeful.

Speak soon xx

Rambling On :: About This :: and :: That

2011-01-26T17:21:00.000Z

Last week was very exciting and tiring. Little Kimbles and I were in the local Pantomime, we were both in the Chorus and had an absolute hoot!!! We did eight performances over the week and each night the production seemed to crank up a gear, so that by Saturday night we were all on a complete high! We sang and danced to songs from a variety of sources, from the theatre, such as Wicked and Les Miserables, films such as Toy Story 2 and Mary Poppins and pop songs from Abba and Elton John. Apart from the odd occasion when the scenery didn't move quick enough before the curtains opened, and a few attacks of giggling when not supposed to - I think we did well!!!!!

As promised, here is a picture of me in one of my costume with the Daisy pinned on to it that I made with the Daisy Maker

As you can see, I think the Daisy added some interest to a rather dull costume!

My other costume was a little prettier though and was nice to wear.

So this week we are back to normal, and looking forward to the spring

This is an Amryllis I was given for Christmas, its sprouting from everywhere! Looking forward to seeing this come out.

In the meantime my favourite Yellow Roses are adorning the dining table

Bringing some sunshine into the dull dark days.

I have done some crocheting too,

These two squares are now with Mrs Twins for the SIBOL project,

This is how far I have got with the African flower inspired squares. I think they may be turned into a cushion, I m just not feeling it for a blanket - but this may be revised in the future. Instead I have decided to make a plain granny square blanket for my camping in the summer, so blues, peach and yellow will be the theme. Karin made a super one with many colours in her blog, and I want to do something similar, something that I don't have to think about too much! I have only made a couple of squares so far, so will show you when I have made more.

Well I have rambled on enough - I must say though, it is nice to get back to some rambling!

Speak soon xx

Daisy Making

2011-01-13T10:34:00.000Z

There is much excitement this week in the Kimbles household, myself and Little Kimbles have been parading round in our costumes, practising our moves and smiles in front of the mirror and belting out the songs and desperately trying to get the Lyrics TOTALLY right!! You know what I mean don't you, you THINK you know the words to a popular song, you have been singing it to yourself for years that way - then you are given the lyrics typed out and suddenly ........ they are not quite what you thought they were. Its a very difficult habit to break then!!!!!!!! Last rehearsals tonight and then full dress rehearsal on Saturday then its the performances from Sunday oooooh I can't wait! This story is leading somewhere, you see, for one of my costumes, I have this rather dull black coat to wear, and a sort of browny skirt with greeny patches on it (poor villager look!), I thought what can I do to make this jacket less "dull". Well searching through my stuff in my workbox I found this

A vintage daisy maker - I have had this - wait for it - since the mid 1970's I made a daisy to go on a bag I made for school! I think it came from "Womens Own" mag. You have to wind the wool round and sew it up in the centre.

I found a lovely green button for the centre, then sewed a little circle of felt and a badge pin to the back

I am deeelighted with it! Isn't it cute, I think I may be making more of these, I orginally was going to make a felty flower of which I have seen loads around, but this is different!

You will have to wait to see it on the costume until after the show I am afraid!

Wish me luck!

Speak soon xx

A Quick Evening Project

2011-01-08T16:20:00.000Z

Hellooooo!
Good to catch up with you all again. Have you seen the new SIBOL CHALLENGES blog? Sue has been super organised and has listed all of the blanket themes for the next few months, they sound really exciting, so please check it out, as it is such a worthwhile cause and Sue works so hard making the blankets.

I am finally settling down back to some kind of normality. I was thinking - didn't 2010 just fly by? Maybe its me getting older, but that was the fastest year ever! Still finding it hard to remember to write 2011.

Yesterday, I took on a little project - a slight variation of one that I did in the summer. My small cream coloured teapot has been looking sad ever since we had it - it has no tea cosy and has had to suffer the indignity of a tea towel thrown over it or the oven gloves draped over it to keep the tea warm. I have been meaning to rectify this for ages, but have not had the time - so yesterday I decided NOW was the time.

So using the Rico Cotton I set about making the cosy. Sadly I had to modify my plans as I realised I didn't have enough cotton in the two tones of green to finish the project - darn it! I didn't want to start again so I decided to add a trim of two tone red ( my kitchen has green and red in it), anyway after fiddling around this tea cosy evolved.

I topped it off with the same flower that I made for my tea cosy in the summer. Now our tea will stay warm!

This morning I was in town and couldn't resist this

So now my teapot is sad no more, it has a lovely new coat, flowery hat and a super red heart stand!

I just love it when ideas evolve!

I have started Number 28 in the Jan Eaton book of crochet squares - its the Christmas Rose one, for SIBOL but I ran into difficulties last night on the first green round - it wasn't going right - the rose itself is lovely - I am hoping I was tired and therefore didn't read the pattern properly and that all will be fine when I try again this evening.

The next couple of weeks will be busy in the Kimbles household as myself and Little Kimbles are in the local Pantomime, its the first time we are going to be in it together - such fun - so many songs learnt and dances practised and we will be adorned in the usual "villager" costumes! Its full on rehearsals all this week and then the performances all of next week.

Thank you so much for dropping by!

Speak soon xx

::HAPPY::BELATED::NEW::YEAR::X

2011-01-04T10:01:00.000Z

Snowy Sussex Countryside December 2010

Hello Blogland friends - and on the 4th of January may I wish you a very late Happy New Year and hope all of your dreams come true! I am still here, just gave up trying to "do it all" in December and blogging went out of the window I am afraid. I hope you all had fun, I have dipped in and out of a few blogs, but that is about it. It has been full on with both happy and very sad times, but that is life in a nutshell. To tell you the truth, I could do with a little break myself now, instead of straight back into work!

I haven't made any Resolutions this year, no point, didn't get round to last year's ones!!!

Yesterday afternoon I finally had a couple of hours to myself and I sat and watched TV whilst doing some lovely hookiness! I am starting another blanket, joining motifs together as smaller projects suit me better.
I have worked on a four leaf flower based on the Elizabeth Cat African flower pattern.

You may remember me showing this to you before, this was one of my first attempts. I have made several attempts at this and you may have seen that I used this idea to make pot holders for my three pay it forward winners.

I used the Rico cotton for these and was pleased with the results. So after these were finished I decided I would like to make more of this type of motif so hence the new blanket - its very small at the moment a WIP! Here is a sneak preview

Posing with my lovely Chicken door stop - a Christmas pressie from my daughter.

As you can see by the photos, I am sewing them together in a diagonal pattern for a change so the colour changes will alternate between the blue, pink and yellow. Its nice to have a project on the go again which isn't sewing curtains! I made four sets of curtains in the run up to Christmas so I am a bit curtained out!!!

This was the last set, heavy curtains for the front door, so we are really snug and warm now!

It's lovely to be back with you all,

Speak soon xx

Here I am - with Pay It Forward winners!

2010-12-02T12:01:00.000Z

Hi there lovely Blogettes - I didn't have any intention of staying away for soooo long from blogland, but you see I set myself a target - to finish the decorating in my lounge and dining room AND make the curtains by the 1st of December. I started on the 15th of October so it has been a while, and I have had to be very disciplined to fit in the decorating with work, so in the main I have had to resist dipping into blogland. I am looking forward to spending some time catching up with your blogs and finding out what has been going on and the latest projects you are all working on.

When I finished the painting I was left with lots of fabric

which was a little daunting. The cutting out made me feel a little nervous, you know matching the pattern, but luckily we had emptied the dining room so was able to lay it all out on the floor

so it was a lot of crawling around with pins and measure, measure, measure. My sewing machine was put to good use

Yesterday, because we had rather a lot of snow here, I was able to finish off and hang the curtains. So I met my target! I know its silly, but I do work better when I have a "target"!!!

Sorry the light is not too good this morning, I will take some better pictures tomorrow, but just HAD to show you!

Now, I am excitied to tell you that I have drawn the winners for the Pay It Forward and they are

The Garden Bell
Aussie Maria
Gibraltar Louise

Congratulations! please email me your details (link at side of blog) and I will send you a little something that I have been preparing in my bit of spare time which I do hope you will love - here is a peek:-

Well here in the South we have had tons of snow - this morning we woke up completely snowed in! I actually don't mind it too much, but feel for people who have been stuck on trains etc. It is the first time we have been really able to test our new heating which is an air source heat pump - and we are really toasty which is sooooooo fabulous after last winter when we froze.

Our little garden lights had "snow hats" on this morning

so did the bird bath

and my little garden table and chairs

Well I am off for a nice hot drink and may start to write my Christmas cards, snow does make me festive!

Its lovely to finally catch up with you all!

Speak soon xx

Thank you Karin - I will Pay It Forward!

2010-11-18T08:56:00.000Z

Hi there, I just looked at my blog and realised I haven't posted since the 3rd of November! I have been solidly decorating and have at last finished the wallpaper scraping, rubbing down, washing down, painting, painting and painting! I was getting a tad fed up with it but, now the end is in sight, I am moving furniture back in and now have the curtains to make.

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments on my Granny Stripe blanket, it was really lovely of you to take the trouble to comment as there are soooo many Granny Stripe blankets out there at the moment, so thank you again, it is much appreciated. I am slowly working on a new project which I am hoping to share with you all soon.

In the midst of the Kimbles chaos, a surprise arrived from lovely Karin :-

A package, because I had left a comment on her blog when she did her Pay It Forward.

Inside was sooooooo.........................................Dutch!!!! Fabulous have a peeeeeek

Gorgeous blue and white, and wait......................

A hand made coaster for my teapot (actually it is waaay to nice to put my teapot on!) and look at that lovely little tag she had made with beads adorning it!

There were also two Dutch pot holders, can you see the little couple kissing and the lovely windmill?

Karin, I can't thank you enough, you certainly made my day.

So .........

Now it is my turn to Pay It Forward, so if any of you would like to take part, just leave me a comment and after lets say a week, I shall send three of you a little something to brighten your days too! Then of course it will be your turn to do the same.

Take care all of you

Speak soon xx

Granny Stripe - Finished - At Last!

2010-11-03T18:41:00.000Z

Hi everyone, I popped by to show you the final result of my Granny Stripe blanket. I started this waaay back in the summer on a Crochet-Along with Attic24, but it proved to be not very forgiving for my hands and I had a huge break from it and since then I have done a little here and there. It was crying out to be finished and I sooooo wanted to - it was really frustrating - in fact I fell in and out of love with it, I just wanted it to be a completed project! Now it is!

Ta Dah!

Boy, am I glad that project is over! Now I will concentrate on something much smaller I think! I decided on an one colour edging with a picot trim

So now it has taken its place in our conservatory with mini hexagon blanket - waiting for a cold day so we can snuggle up together!

Our house is chaos at the moment because I in my infinite wisdom decided the dining room and lounge needed decorating ( you may remember me showing you colours and fabric in my last post) well I have finished the decorating in the dining room and we have now started on the lounge, sadly the wallpaper is holding on fast to the walls, so there is much steaming and huffing and puffing whilst trying to get it off hehe!! I keep saying once the preparation is done it will be all plain sailing - don't think hubby is quite as enthusiastic about it as me, I have done most of it - just don't think men see any need to decorate at all!!! I think despite the upheaval, its great to scrape off walls or paint and have music blaring out to sing along too - yes a very jolly time could be had.........................

Speak soon xx

The Tale of the Shelf

2010-10-29T08:01:00.000+01:00

Hello! As you know this last couple of weeks I have been decorating and dear hubby, who has been busy with work, dips in and out and offers advice (not always taken) and generally chivvies me along. Well a couple of times I suggested things he could do to assist. Well the other week I came home to find this shelf, which he had put up in on our kitchen wall.

"How handy you say" and "well done", but the truth is, I had put this out to go to the charity shop - he decided we needed another shelf - "you could put more cookery books on it "he said

As you can see, we already have rather untidy cookery book shelves, do we really need another one?

I mean there is a veeeery loooooong list of "Things To Do", and that wasn't even on the bottom of it - male and female brains, work sooooo differently!!!! Do you find that? hehe!

So "The Shelf" sat empty for a while, while I decided what to put on it. Every time I went out with my friend, we searched for the perfect thing to adorn "The Shelf".................................................. then last week I found this in a lovely little shop in my local town of Lewes.

I brought it home and placed it on the shelf............................................sadly it looked a little lonely!

A few days later I just had to give this little red hen a mate...................so back to the shop I went and voila!

This continues the "Hen" theme in my kitchen...

It took a few days before dear Hubby even noticed that "The Shelf" had been filled, but he approved, aaah I just love him!

Next week I will show you the finished Granny Stripe blanket, I am slowly finishing the edging, I am trying to finish off a couple of projects which I started ages ago, before I start on something with the African Pansies (incidentally thank you for your comments on that pattern, I will do a tutorial at some stage!)

Have a lovely weekend, the clocks go back so an extra hour in bed yay!

Speak soon xx

My One Year Birthday Give-Away Winner!

2010-10-26T12:24:00.000+01:00

I there dear Blogettes, I have finally got round to drawing the prize for my little give away.

And the winner is..................................................

Well done Helsie!!!!!!!! Could you please contact me with your address via the email and a little something will be winging its way to you in Australia!!!!

Last week I had this mad idea, that I would decorate our dining room, so I stripped off the wallpaper and then, had that feeling 'I wish I hadn't started this!' Do you get like that, well no going back now - so inbetween working I have been slapping the paint on, then there are curtains to make. I wanted a nice cosy by sunny theme because our house can be rather dark so this is the combo

I think it will be really nice when it is done, but getting to that point................well that is another matter. I am typing this with a wrist support on, because my hands are still sore and of course, I shouldn't decorate, or crochet or anything else for that matter, but I JUST CAN'T NOT DO ANYTHING!!!!!!!! My Doc has referred me to the Hand Clinic at the Hospital, so I am waiting for an appointment.

I have been doing a little crochet and it is great to be able to show you a teensy weensy something

This is a work-in-progress, two African Flower motifs in red and gold cotton. I plan to crochet them together and add a hangy uppy bit and then stuff it with Christmassy stuff, like cinnamon, and cloves, and hang them on the Christmas tree - I think this will look really pretty - may try a white and silver one too.

Talking of African Flower motifs I have played around with it and made a square shaped motif based on the African Flower (looks more along the lines of an African Pansy to me). Its literally "an experiment" but I think this is the next motif for me to make a blanket or something. I really think motifs are much easier to tackle when there are hand issues. Anyway, what do you think of these?

African Pansies! Cute aren't they? I think they have real PoTenTiaL!

What else has been happening around the Kimbles household? Pantomime rehearsals have started and this year myself and Little Kimbles will be in it - there is endless playing of songs and trying to learn the lyrics and dance moves - Mr K is a little tired of it already hehe!!!! But do you know the best part? Rehearsals are on a Sunday afternoon - and Mr K cooks a fabulous roasty dinner for when us tired singers and dancers arrive home - therefore I have to keep doing it until at least I am eighty!!!

Its so lovely to catch up with you all and actually have a little bit of crochet to show you!!!

Will post again soon with the tale of "The Shelf"

Speak soon xx

A Year Old Today!

2010-10-08T11:53:00.000+01:00

Hello!!! I don't quite know how I have got there, but my little bit of cyberspace is one year old today. Whilst thinking about what to write in this post, my daughter said I should focus on all of the positive things which have come out of blogging.

So here are some lovely country flowers and herbs for you - my bloggy friends which I have made over the past year. I have to give special mention to Mrs Twins and The Garden Bell who have given me much encouragement over the year and of course to Lucy at Attic 24 who even though we don't chat directly, has inspired me so much!

I have learnt so much too, from patterns to recipes, to how to do more of the more complicated stuff on blogger, it has been a pleasure.

Of course another highlight has been taking part in the SIBOL project and although I haven't been able to take as much as part as I would have liked in the last few weeks (don't mention the sore hands - be positive!!) I am really proud to have sent a few squares and be a "Sibolette".

I would love to do a little blog giveaway, so if you leave me your name I will choose a winner at the end of next week. I am not promising it will be anything crocheted as that is a difficult area for me at the moment - but it will still be something nice!

This week I have been pickling onions, which is quite sweet because my very first post was on the same subject - the years take on a sort of pattern don't they!

It was raining the day I did these - I usually sit outside, so instead I just cried my eyes out indoors!!!!

Leave them overnight sprinkled with salt

Next morning, rinse off and pack into sterilised jars, adding malt vinegar and a spoonful of sugar to take the bite off - and there you are!

I have also been making rolls at home too. I have a Panasonic Breadmaker and we use it loads to make our bread, but recently I have been making the dough

Then making rolls - ok they don't look like shop ones, but they are very tasty!

Also made some of the lovely oatie cookies which I got from the Attic24 blog - these have become firm favourites in our house, and they are so quick to do

So I have been doing stuff, but just not quite the stuff that is my first love!!

It has been so lovely catching up with you all - one year on, what a special year.

Speak soon xx

Jerseylicious!

2010-09-22T18:14:00.000+01:00

I think I have fallen in L♥ve with Jersey.

After moaning about hubby booking a 6.15 am flight last Friday - I had to eat my words because by 8.30 am we were having a lovely cup of tea and bacon rolls here:

I could have sat there all day, in fact all week. The warmth of the September sun, the lovely gentle sound of the tide, the odd Seagull flying by, breathing in that beautiful sea air, drinking in the view to France and enjoying the perfect cup of tea and the perfect bacon roll. To me the perfect place - a little cove called Greve De Lecq hardly built up with this fab beach and veiw. I was in heaven. The little weatherboarded restaurant called Colleens

will remain etched in my memory forever.

I can tell you now, that reliving this in my mind will see me through the cold days of winter, whenever I close my eyes I can visualise myself back there.

Jersey is one of the Channel Islands and lies 100 miles south of mainland Britain, 14 miles from France. It is a tiny 9 miles by 5 miles, that is 14 x 8 kilometres.

We did a couple of circular walks - the island is a walkers paradise, and this coastal walk was breathtaking.

Hubby was working on the Saturday so I had most of the day to myself - I know I said I may stay in bed and get room service, but I just couldn't. We were staying in the main town of St Helier at quite an historic hotel. Jersey was occupied during the Second World War and was the last place to be liberated. Liberation was announced from the balcony of our hotel, which today overlooks "Liberation Square" and is marked with a fabulous statue and plaque to the war.

I wandered around the town and had coffee, then found this bustling colourful market

I also visited the local museum where there was a collection of Marilyn Monroe costumes, no pictures I am afraid, but it was very interesting.

I did relax with a little crochet in the afternoon - the "Twin Stripes" Jan Eaton square for SIBOL

During the time we were on Jersey we covered pretty much all of the island and it is all worth visiting, lots of lovely bays, but I have to say my heart is lost to Greve De Lecq, it kept drawing us both back and it was our final stop off on our way to the airport to come home

Jerseylicious!

Speak soon xx

One Hundred Times!

2010-09-16T14:26:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to my One Hundredth post! I am so sorry that yet again it has taken me an aaaage to get back to my blog, life has been so full on lately I have hardly had time to catch my breath!

Last week was Little Kimbles' Graduation, it was a truly lovely day and I did have to hold back the tears of joy, so happy, so proud, where have all of those years gone?

She gets her curly hair from her dad - mine is boringly straight!

Next up was her birthday and I was able to produce a Victoria Sandwich with my own butter cream AND JAM for once. Yes I have had a dabble into jam making - I expect you are all experts, but I have always wanted to try but never had the equipment so last month I treated myself to a Maslin Pan and had a go.

I made Plum jam - first lot a little too runny - setting point not quite reached but perfect for drizzling on Ice cream. Second lot much better and then I went on to make Apricot Jam and finally Strawberry Jam, oh and I also got a tin of those Marmalade oranges you get from Lakeland and made Marmalade too!

I think hubby thinks I have gone a bit doo lally every time he comes into the kitchen I am making more Jam!!

Next on the list is Chutney because I have quite a few Green Tomatoes and loads of Apples

I have been snatching some photos of the garden before the Autumn really sets in and there is still a lot of colour out there......not to mention wildlife, or should I say.....Pondlife!

This little fella was basking in the September sunshine on a lilypad in our little pond. I love to see frogs in the pond and we didn't have any for a few years, but now we are obviously in favour again!

This flower had its head straining for the last rays of the sun.

A friend bought me these lovely Sunflowers and I had to take a photo of them in the early morning sun for you - I love Sunflowers.

Beautiful!

Now my attention is focused on Youngest Kimbles, he is heading off Uni in London - one finishes, another one starts! So we have lots of packing on the go and sorting of "stuff", I think he is looking forward to it - time will tell. I have also had my Sister in Law to stay this week for her birthday - she can't get around much so it was nice to have her to stay and make a Birthday Fuss of her. In between all of this I have managed a little crochet but not much - I have nearly finished my glittery shawl and I am hoping to finish it this weekend BECAUSE Mr K and I are off to Jersey tomorrow morning (flight at 6.15am - what WAS he thinking of!!!!!) as he has some work over there so we decided to make a long weekend of it. So that means that while he is working on Saturday I will have the day to myself - can that really be true? - A Day To Myself!!! Yipee!!!! I have a book to read and some crochet to do - I am going to take the Jan Eaton Squares book because I have promised to make square No 5 for Mrs Twins and SIBOL , please pick a square to do for her if you haven't already. Of course I shall go for a walk, maybe some retail therapy, but there will be plenty of time to explore the rest of the weekend when hubby is free. A friend did suggest I stay in bed all day read, crochet and get room service - not sure I could do that, but it is tempting!!

So glad to fill you in with my goings on, a hundred times over!

Speak soon xx

Glitter Yarn

2010-09-03T07:56:00.000+01:00

Hi there, thank you so much for your lovely comments yesterday, it does feel really comforting to be back in touch with Blogland - I have really missed it lately, but sometimes life just gets too busy and I can't seem to fit it in. There was quite a bit of interest in the Glitter Yarn I was using for the Shawl I showed you yesterday.

As you can see, it is called Reflection and is 10% Mohair, 10% Wool, 75% Acrylic and 5% Metallic. I bought it at the Old Loom Mill, near Hailsham, East Sussex - (I looked but I don't think they have a website) - its a collection of old mill buildings where they now have a fabric shop, wool shop and lots of craft stalls - oh and of course a lovely coffee shop. They had a shawl made up and it did look pretty so I just couldn't pass it by PLUS if you purchased the wool you got the pattern free! Its only a hand typed out one but hey thats no problem! Oh and you only need two 100 gram balls of wool and it is worked on a 5.50mm uk hook so it is quite a loose drapey fabric. It was finished off with long tassels. I think they had other colours but I can't remember which! Must dash now - can't believe it but this is my 99th post - I am limping towards the 100!!!! I cant think what I have rambled on about for that many posts - will have to look back.

Have a lovely weekend

Lovely to talk to you

Speak soon xx

Colourfest

2010-09-02T07:51:00.000+01:00

Over these last few days I have become acutely aware that the nights are drawing in - Autumn is nearly upon us and at times it has felt like Winter is nearly upon us it has been so chilly. I really love to cling on the summer, I love the colours of my summer clothes and the warmth in the air, yes it does take me a while to wind down into winter mode. Of course the colours of Autumn are spectacular too ..... it just not so warm.

So to cheer myself up this post has pictures in that I will be able to look back on in the depths of winter for a bit of colour therapy. Just some pictures from around my house ...... and a little update on the crochet front.

Lovely colourful beaded necklaces - I think these will look nice on plain boring winter jumpers.

Colourful socks to keep my poor feet warm and the chilblains away!

I am determined to take up another hobby which I have dabbled in in the past - these little beauties have been crying out for me to use them...and I will, I will

Lovely soft pastel sticks.

Now what can I wrap myself in to keep warm?????????? well there is a choice .... firstly I have been working on this

Ok it isn't too colourful but it does have glittery bits in and is going to be a soft shawl.

But no, this really isn't colourful enough - so on really dark days I will have to go for this

Yes some more progess has been made, in fact only 8 more stripes to go plus edging

I have persevered with this project, and as you know my hands have been giving me a lot of trouble, so I have to be careful, not many rows a day and this is a big project, probably too big for my hands to take. I think I am much better making small motifs and joining them together. However I do love my Granny Stripe and it will be great to snuggle up under - it is too late to use it in the Camper this year, but it will get lots of use.

I am sooooooooo happy to be finally posting again☺!!!!! It is lovely to be back in touch and I hope you are all well. Littlest Kimbles is back from the USA and has had the time of his life, now its time to pack up and send him off to Uni, Little Kimbles has her Graduation next week so we will be off to that - lovely times.

Thank you for dropping by

Speak soon xx

Memory Joyride

2010-08-18T14:32:00.000+01:00

Hi there lovelies - and a very warm welcome to my new followers - I am sorry to have been so quiet this last couple of weeks. Work life took over with some unexpectedness, and blogging flew out of the window!!!!!! Yes over the past week or so, many's the time I have longed to be back camping (and that shows you just HOW much work unexpectedness there is for me to be loooonging to be back camping!)

A teensy bit of crochet has been achieved which I will hopefully show you at a later date, but for now can I take you along on a little "Memory Joyride" of my little holiday, cos that would help to relax me a bit and feel I was still there ♥

My first memory of the holiday was the joy I had making this:-

I really enjoyed making this whilst actually away "in the field", but I have to tell you a tale, not long after this photo was taken, hubby went to pour the tea, and the metal spout fell off!!!!!!!! How ungrateful is that - I spend ages dressing up the teapot and then it has the nerve to fall to bits!!! Sadly this teapot was added to the recycling and now I am on the look out for another teapot with the same rounded dimensions to fit the tea cosy!!!!!

Our little campsite was very welcoming

very well kept and the most perfect washrooms and showers I have ever experienced, AND they had Radio 2 ♪♫♪ gently playing in the background!

Ducks and chickens roamed freely

and this was the beautiful lake where lots of people fished, you could see the fish jumping, and the whole area was filled with wildlife - very restful

We had "days out". I love that on holiday, you are away and you still have "days out". One of our "days out" was to Berrington Hall, which is a National Trust house, very grand in huge grounds designed by Capability Brown. Sweeping lawns to a 4 acre lake which they had made - can you imagine excavating a 4 acre lake in your back garden!!

I fell in love with the green house and vegetable plot - I would loooove something like this!

A one time this house was lived in by a family of six and they had ..... wait for it......fortyfive members of staff!!!!!!! can you imagine. There was a tour of the servants quarters by a lady dressed as a chambermaid and she brought it all to life so vividly - there were underground passages so that the staff were never seen, and if they were, they had to turn and face the wall until the family member or visitor had passed. Lots of the rooms had secrect doors in the panelling so the staff could discreetly come and go, and they even had their own staircase at the other end of the house - it was fascinating. We were also taken to the laundry which of course, was a full time job for the girls - and they used to soak the sheets in week old urine!!! ugh evidently this used to help bleach the whites. She told us next time we saw Pride and Prejudice to think what Mr Darcy may have smelt like!!!!!

We also did a little hiking and climbed up to the top of a place called Simmonds Yat by the beautiful Wye River

It was lovely to "drink in" the lovely clear air. We were also able to see some Peregrine Falcons flying across the valley which was quite a rare sight.

After all of that walking it was back down the hill to the lovely tea gardens for a quick bite

Thank you for letting me indulge in my holiday joyride today - it has had a surprising and very welcome calming effect on me. ♥

Speak soon xx

The "Kimbles Cosy"

2010-08-05T17:53:00.000+01:00

Hi there, I am loving this "blogging from the field" lark! Mind you it does take aaaaggees to load everything up and I do have to persuade Mr K to let me have the wifi time but it IS fun!

I was going to save this Ta Dah moment for the Tea Cosy I have made, but I am soooo surprised, and pleased at how well it has turned out,... just out of my little old head - it materialised, I just COULDN'T wait to show you all.

I made two rectangles of this nice ribby pattern,

Sewed up the sides, leaving enough room for the handle and spout,

Then I gathered up the top and tied it in a knot

Sewed the ends in of course!

What could I do to finish it off? I know

Loads of "picots" and leaves later

Tah Dah!!!

It's already in use!

No more "chilly Tea"!!

Speak soon xx

From The Field!

2010-08-03T17:53:00.000+01:00

Hi Blogettes, here I am blogging from the field, yes the campsite we are staying on has WiFi and so hey presto! I can blog - it actually feels sooooo much more relaxed than when trying to find time at home in a busy week! Hubby and I have escaped for a few days to Herefordshire - which borders Wales for some R and R.

and here I am to prove it!!!! Hammer is for a loose tent peg not to keep hubby in check!!!

Those ducks can hear you break a piece of bread from fifty paces!

Today we went to the Wye Valley which is a beautiful part of the UK and took a river boat ride

It was sooo cute and decorated with flowers and inside you could order a drink or a snack as you cruised along

There were lots of canoeists - and I have to confess I was glad we were not among them - I have very vivid memories of canoeing down the Ardeche river in France for hours......and hours.....and hours - but I will tell you that tale another time!!

It has been lovely so far just the two of us "chillin" and relaxing and we have heard that youngest Kimbles is getting on just fine in the USA so all is well.

Coffee by the river

Strawberry tart as an afternoon treat

I have also started a little "hookiness" we decided that the camper teapot needs a "cosy"

So I have decided to make one up - what this space as to whether it is successful or not!

I am using two colours at once and it is a small project so hopefully wont hurt my hands too much. I haven't given up on my Granny Stripe blanket - I just have to do it sloooooowly!

I am kind of making it up as I go along, but it is making quite a nice ribbed pattern

I can't tell you how cock-a-hoop I am with doing some crochet again!!! Its good for the soul! I felt sooooo sad when my hands were really sore - however I am very aware not to overdo it - gawd the ageing process aint nice is it? Adapt, adapt, thats what I have to do - slowly, slowly.

I hope you are all well - guess what - it hasn't rained on us yet! lol

Speak soon xx

Wibbly Wobbly Week

2010-07-30T21:06:00.000+01:00

Well, here I am back again, a Friday evening blogging and the week has disappeared again! As the title suggests - it has been a Wibbly Wobbly Week for me. I mentioned in my last post about youngest Kimbles heading off to the USA on a dream trip - so this week has been "Mum - have you seen my Ipod cable", "Mum have you seen that T Shirt - you know, the one I mean", and finally "Mum, I thought I could print off my air ticket - but we have to dash to the Travel Agents to collect it" Then there was the checking and double checking of the itinerary and so on. This culminated in "The Farewell" and "The Farewell" was at the crack of dawn at Terminal 4 Heathrow on Thursday morning - don't you just hate farewells - I had given myself a good talking to - he is going on holiday, he has saved for a year, its his dream. I know, I know, I know - but you know that awful choking in the throat when trying to say goodbye and not cry........... after the deed was done myself a Little Kimbles who had accompanied me needed a strong coffee!

So all day yesterday I was Wobbly thinking about the very looooong flight, the transfer and another flight after that - then the waiting for the call to say " Im here mum" Well I waited for quite a long time and to add to it all Mr K was flying home from Aberdeen and he was delayed so

I sat by the computer watching programmes on iplayer and waited for the Skype call. Of course to keep occupied I tried some crochet. I am really loving the pattern that Kate The Garden Bell is doing at the moment there is a link to the pattern on her blog.

I like it because it has "texture". I played about with a view to making it into a sort of flowerish square

Pretty isn't it?

Oh, to finish the travel story - I got the Skype call at 1.45 am this morning but I could hear youngest Kimbles but he couldn't hear me! but at least I know he is ok and my Wibble Wobbles are calming down a little. Mr K didn't arrive back until 2.15 so by the time I had given him the update we didn't get to bed until 2.45am.

After this square I made another experiment using the lovely colours of the Rico cotton which I ordered as a result of Lucy

I changed the outside edge, and I quite like using the one colour in the middle -seems to make the textured "spokes" stand out - don't know if you agree. It was quite frustratingly "splitty" to use and I don't think there is enough for a blanket but I do like the pattern.

Well I am pooped! after two nights with not enough sleep - I think an early one is in order! I will try to post from the "field" next week as we will be camping some of the time - I really like the thought of posting from the field - although it didn't work last time I tried - so here is hoping for wifi!

Oh, I'm so tired I nearly forgot - I have guest posted on the SIBOL Archive about one of the squares I made for this worthy project - if by any small chance you haven't heard about the lovely Mrs Twins and the SIBOL project please check it out here.

Speak soon xx

Goooood Moooorning!!!!!!!!

2010-07-26T09:22:00.000+01:00

Hello!!! everyone, what a week it was last week. Things got really stressy here and in the end I completely gave up even thinking about blogging - sometimes you have to know when to give in don't you. The heating system in our house was completely changed last week - so the guys were here for the whole week - and although they were very nice guys - its the UPHEAVAL ! dust, pipes, more dust, one minute no power,the next no water, but all of these things were to be expected and to be honest there was NO WAY we were going to put up with another winter with barely any heat!!!

As you can see, where the old boiler was, lots of boxing in of pipes to be done and decorating,

and LOOK (I know you are thinking gawd a piccie of radiator - what is she thinking of) but this is in MY office/craft room Yayyyyy! so it will be cosy Kimbles this winter.

Of course, on top of all of this, my computer had to be replaced which caused me lots of anguish - could they recover the data etc and I had quite a lot of work to catch up with which had to be put on hold until the end of the week. Trying to catch up in blogland on an old veeeerrrry slow laptop was just crazy and time consuming - trying to leave very slow comments and then them not being accepted all of the time - so in the end I GAVE UP!

Snatching some sanity back in the garden with a cuppa and possibly some hookiness?

Well on that front - I have to tell you that I have been trying to "rest my hands" its not really working so Iam trying to do a little crochet.

I have made a grandad square for the SIBOL project

Hope you like - its in that zig zag pattern which I found somewhere and can't remember for the life of me where. So I have played around and I think this is how the pattern goes. Its a small enough project that I can do and hopefully not too much hand pain. I am trying not to go "hell for leather" with the crocheting because if I had to give it up completely I would be DEVASTATED!!!! really devastated.

Its so good to chat to you all again, I will try my best to catch up with everyone and leave a comment - may take a while but bear with me.

The other BIG thing on the go this week is my baby boy - (he's 19 really) is going off to the USA on his own to join a trek across America, so there will be a very early start later on this week as I take him to Heathrow - hubby will be away so myself and Little Kimbles will wave farewell to youngest Kimbles off on a big adventure mustn't forget my hankie!!

Speak soon xx

Another Hiccup!

2010-07-19T20:20:00.000+01:00

Hi dear friends - I'm not sure if any of you are dipping in here any more - and I don't really blame you. I am looooooonnnnnnggging to get back to "normal". I am missing my blogging sooooo very much. To add to my woes - (hands etc) on Thursday of last week we had rather high winds here in the south which triggered power cuts in our village - but these went off and on, off and on and carried on like this for some time. Unfortunately the computer was "on" when the power went "off" and when it came "on" again, I switched my computer back "on" and then the power promptly went "off" again. The upshot of this sorry saga is, my rather old tired computer said "I've had enough of this" and is now to put it politely "knackered" completely and utterly - I took it to the computer hospital and it is still undergoing surgery!!!!!!! This afternoon after ringing them twice I gave up until tomorrow for an update!! I am distraught, how much can a girl take? - having to stop the crochet for what seems like eons and now the computer is swept from under my feet. I have just managed to get this old laptop to work and even that has been difficult because the heating installers have arrived for the whole of this week to install a completely new heating system for us and first stop has been my little office/workroom and I haven't been able to retrieve this old laptop until this evening.

Anyway, I just wanted to have a rant to you all about it, and I know it is nothing MAJOR in the overall scheme of things, but I do enjoy my creating and blogging and it is something for ME just me and I can say what I like and crochet what I like and others seem to appreciate my efforts, and this feels like a double whammy!!!! He ho chin up Kimbles chin up.

Please keep your fingers crossed that the computer is fixed tomorrow - pretty please!!!! In the meantime I do hope you are all well - I am just off to have a look at all the blogs and news I have missed out on the last few days, slowly veerrryyy slowly!

Speak soon (hopefully) xx

Festival Memories and "Stuff"

2010-07-14T21:03:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone, just popping in to catch up with you all. You may remember me mentioning that I went to my first Festival a couple of weekends ago. Hubby and I went with friends and we camped for two days and sat in the blazing sunshine watching various bands. I have to tell you, dear friends, that I agreed to this with slight trepidation - I mean it had seemed like a GREAt idea after a couple of glasses of wine, but then of course lots of things do!!!!

We went to Kent, the garden of England, not too far from us for the two day event and it was at the Hop Farm.

The massive stage and screen were brilliant and on the Friday which was the first day, look how very civilised it all was - very genteel, lounging around in the sunshine drinking the odd glass of wine - I was enjoying it much more that I anticipated.

On the Saturday there the crowd increased by about sixfold so it was much busier and more standing up was needed.

Another very pleasant surprise was that lo and behold we certainly weren't the oldest there by a looooong way. Every age group was there and it was huge fun.

This is Debbie Harry in action with Blondie, she is in her sixties now and was really good bless her and didn't mind having the camera close up at all. Lots of the younger bands were excellent too, however the two headline acts - Van Morrison on Friday and Bob Dylan on Saturday - in my opinion were a little - how can I say, disappointing - I mean no matter how big a STAR you are, you shouldn't forget its the fans who keep you there - for us to have sat in the sun from midday to ten at night and neither of them even spoke to the audience - well I can't be bothered with that attitude!!!

There was a sea of little "pop up" tents, and I honesty do not know how anyone found their way back to the right one, because they all looked the same to me!!! We were in the campervan field - much better, if a little cosy!

Did we rock and roll? not too much at eleven at night we trudged back to the camper dying for a cup of tea, which I did say to the security guard, who thought it rather funny. However after the tea, we headed back to watch another band and didn't get back til two in the morning wooohooo!! OMG we were tired on the Sunday morning when it was time to pack up - as we queued to leave the site, we were quite happy we had enjoyed out first Festival, we were sober, hadn't got sunburnt - how jolly sensible!!!!!!!!!!!

A quick update on the crochet front - only two rows attempted of my granny stripe at the weekend and it was proving still quite painful. I have to admit, typing is the other key problem area too, hence I haven't blogged much or left too many comments (please accept my apologies - I do try to catch up and read the blogs too). So there you have it, I need to employ a cleaner, a typist, a therapist and a crafter and just give out my orders!!!!!

Must just show you my one purchase from the Hampton Court Palace flower show

I just couldn't resist this beauty

The Rico cotton, waiting to be used doh....................... those lovely colours singing out, "please make something with me!!!"

Talking of colour - I couldn't resist these either, some of them will be put to good use in the Camper - a great little buy from IKEA

Thank you so much for dropping by - I am sorry I seem to have rambled on about nothing much in particular, the joys of blogging.

Speak soon xx

Hampton Court Flower Show

2010-07-09T17:59:00.000+01:00

Hello dear Blogettes, Friday again already and its been quite a week. Yesterday I went to Hampton Court Flower Show, which for those of you not in the UK is an annual event - set in massive grounds of Hampton Court Palace (I think Henry VIII lived there), right by the side of the River Thames. My friend and I set off early on the Train and then took a water bus to the entrance, and the weather was really hot!!! Of course there were thousands of people there, and I don't know about you, but I am not too good when it gets really crowded, I get tired, hate to queue for the Loos, drinks, food etc, but yesterday although so many people, we didn't really queue much at all which was a relief! Anyway without further ado, here are some of the highlights

this was the lego garden!

This was the Pansy Project Garden and behind where the pink tap is represents "A Matter of Urgency" for those with overactive bladder!!!!!!!!!!!! cripes just lookin at it made me want to dash and join the loo queue!!!

There were some absolutely scrumptious stands to buy "stuff" and some of this "stuff" I would love if I had spare pennies

I would love a little greenhouse with a walk up to it like this - my friend and I were drooling over this and the sales lady said "everything erected and included - twelve fifty" "That's good said my friend, the ones I've looked at like that have been at least two thousand" the sales lady looked a bit disdainfully at us " its twelve thousand and fifty" "Oh quite" we said and sidled away!!!!!!!

Strolling round was really lovely though and such a variety - I particularly loved the veg gardens and the scrappy looking gardens and the sunflowers

Then there was how to grow your "five a day" in willow decorated containers - a really pretty veg garden

And this lovely collections of Alliums

aren't they stunning!

Of course when one is wafting round a show like Hampton Court one can often bump into people one isn't expecting to .................. a gentleman gently ushered us to one side ........ someone was coming through....

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (wonder if she had to queue for the loo!)

Well worth the day out - lots of inspiration, and rested my hands!

PS Going to try a SIBOL square this weekend - see how the handies hold up!!

Thank you to all my new followers, I hope to get back to my making and showing soon!

Have a lovely sunny weekend

Speak soon xx

Overwhelmed!

2010-07-07T23:32:00.000+01:00

Overwhelmed, and a little teary when I read all of your lovely messages to me about my pesky sore wrists and congratulations to Little Kimbles. Many many thanks from the bottom of my heart! Lots of good advice too which I am trying to stick to. Still no hookiness but hopefully a little more rest and it will all be ok. Tomorrow I am off to Hampton Court Flower Show, which will be very nice and not too much hand useage!!

A lovely Lily from me to you!

Speak soon xx

The Upside and the Downside

2010-07-05T22:19:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone, I am sorry to have been so quiet this last week, the downside for me has been that both my thumbs and wrists have been giving me quite a lot of trouble and I have had to have a rest from my beloved crochet! It is terribly frustrating because of course, I still work (massage and beauty treatments) do the house work etc - all using hands frequently as we all do, so "resting" them enough for them to improve is quite difficult. To be honest, I would rather give up the work, housework etc and just crochet but that aint gonna happen! I am trying not to let it get me down - I have cream to rub in and a very kind lady on Ravelry has told me to "ice dip" them so I am trying that. I am really cross with myself because this last weekend we went with friends to our first Festival (will post about it later in the week - gives me something else to talk about!!!) and just sitting all day listening to bands play - rested my hands and when I got back yesterday I thought hey - this is good - no pain. Stupidly got up early today, caught up with the ironing, dysoned the whole house and then worked, silly SILLY Kimbles - tonight back to where I started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enough of this I don't mean to whine on to all of you, just wanted to let you know that I havent got bored with blogging or crochet - its just circumstances at the mo! Here are a few colourful crochet pictures to cheer me up mainly!! Showing the Granny Stripe progress before I had to stop

This is me crocheting the granny stripe blanket outside our camper a couple of weekends ago - even then progress was slow! But I have to admit, that afternoon, a glass of wine by my side and crocheting and camping seemed to go really well together!

My beloved Summer Garden Blanket on the camper bed for extra warmth along with the camper cushions (I know they don't match, but I couldn't resist)

Square, Stripey and Hexagony goodness!

And lastly the lovely SIBOL thank you cards that arrived from lovely Sue, for Little Kimbles and myself, really beautiful and we will treasure them. If you haven't got involved in the SIBOL project yet, please check out this lovely blog - where squares are arriving from all over the world and lovely Sue is making them into blankets for the elderly.

Now the biggest "Upside" of the week has been Little Kimbles - I have her permission to tell you she got a 2-1 (I think that is how you show it!!) in her Degree!! We are absolutely bursting with pride, she is working away for the next six weeks, so we will have to wait to crack open the Champagne, but boy those bubbles will be bouncing then!

Thank you so much for dropping by and sticking with me!

Speak soon xx

English Country Gardens

2010-06-29T09:29:00.000+01:00

When we were in Dorset, we visited a couple of lovely gardens, we belong to the National Trust and love to visit historic houses and gardens. I particularly love the smaller houses, you know, ones you could actually imagine living in and it is so poignant seeing other people's precious treasures, be it an old sampler, a letter or a photo, on show to the public - but gives us a glimpse of life in times gone by.

My favourite on this visit was a small house and garden just into Somerset, called Tintinhull. In fact only the garden was open to the public and it was delightful

As you can see, it is a "liveable" sized house, with lovely walled gardens with roses

I loved this rose, it didn't have a name that I could see but it reminded me of the beautiful hand dyed yarn that Kate (The Garden Bell) produces!

In the middle of one of the lawns was an Umbrella sculpture, very unusual, (glad it wasn't a windy day!!!!!)

I believe the yellow one signified the one yellow plant in a border of purple ones.

Then of course there was the Kichen Garden - here they grow veg to supply the restaurant up the road in a larger National Trust house called Montacute.

A lovely day out - but of course I have my OWN English Country Garden - ok not quite as grand or large - yes a much smaller scale

My tiny " kitchen garden" in the wrong place under the leylandi trees, is doing remarkably well!!

Not enough to supply a restaurant - enough for the Kimbles household for a little while!!

Lovely apples are forming on the tree.

the potato bags are coming along nicely

Very beautiful sweetpeas - such a vibrant colour!

Pretty floweryness

mini cucumbers, ripe for picking in my conservatory!!

Ok so it is not quite the National Trust garden but hey who cares, its ours and considering I do not have green fingers at all - I am very pleased with my efforts so far - and there is nothing like the taste of home grown veg!

Have a lovely day and enjoy the sunshine!

Speak soon xx

Delightful Dorset

2010-06-24T20:02:00.000+01:00

I have been meaning to post all week and here we are at Thursday already! I wanted to share some of my memories of last weekend and our little trip to Dorset.

We visited Lulworth Cove, which is a lovely sheltered little cove with lovely cliff top walks. We hiked up to the top of the cliff and along the top

This view is looking back down to Lulworth cove. It was the perfect day for walking, not too hot!

The sea was a beautiful deep blue and the cliff top was edged with pretty wild flowers. I am always a little nervous of unfenced cliff edges - I'm not one to be bold and look over!!!!

A couple of miles later we came to this beach and the rock formation is called Durdle Door. Now when I was a very tiny girl, my Mum and Dad and I, stayed in a caravan on a site at the top of the cliff overlooking Durdle Door and it was terribly rainy weather, so much so that we came home a week early. The week later the weather was so bad the caravan was blown over the cliff!!

I digress - we were feeling a little hot by now after all of this hiking and we realised we hadn't put enough money on the car park ticket (isn't that soooo annoying?), so we had to "Hike" rather quickly back!

Heading back down the hill was a little easier than going up!! It was a lovely walk though, all of that lovely sea air.

Of course when we got back to the "Trailer" we were in need of a treat - and it just so happened that on the morning we were leaving I got up really early and made some fruit scones. I had also brought with us some lovely strawberry jam and lo and behold we found some Clotted Cream -

I didn't feel at all guilty eating this after all of that exercise!

Speak soon xx

A Little Home Away From Home

2010-06-21T21:28:00.000+01:00

Hello dear Blogettes, sorry for my absence this last week. Hubby and I took a few days away on a short break to Dorset, a couple of hours away from Sussex where we live. I had hoped to be able to "blog" from the field because that is where we were in our folding camper, but alas, No Signal! Now I have to be ToTally honest with you dear friends, unlike Lucy at Attic 24 who has Caravan Love, I have over the years had a mixture of Camper Love and Hate!!!! You see, sometimes, usually when it has rained for hours (I don't mean the sweet pitter patter noise on the canvas, when you are snuggled up) everything feels damp and cold and you have to trudge across a wet field, or the times we have got lost and gone down a narrow road with said trailor on the back, with me panicking and hubby being all calm, or when we have travelled two days through France only to be given a TiNy DusTy pitch, that is sometimes when I .... how shall I say..... sink! Oh yes, with my hand on my heart Kimbles has been heard to cry "That's it, I'm never doing this again" or "Sell it!"

However, there are also the good times, Hubby knows how to get round me with a Kir for me and a Beer for him

and suddenly I am back on track, chillin in the fresh air, no TV, just books and hooking and chat and starting to relax!

Our little Home Away From Home springs to life, complete with Sunflower lights

So then I fall back in love with it all! I am always buying "stuff" for the Trailor and its really weird because I could come home with literally AnYthinG and say to Hubby "it's for the Trailor" and Hubby would say "good buy darling" (must try that with some new boots!)

Sorry I am gabbling on - we had some lovely days with leisurely breakfast

Can you see my little toast rack? Here is a closer look...

I found it in a second hand shop last year and fell in love with it! It has a little Teapot on the top and flowers/eggs on the sides! I knew it had to be mine the second I saw it in the window, and a couple of pounds later it was, and I love it.

Whilst away we did some exploring, seaside and interesting houses and gardens which I will share with you later in the week.

Of course, I did get some hooking done "for the Trailor" I finished these cushions

What do you think of them? I am really pleased, they are from Jan Eatons 200 Squares book and are called "Chocolate Box"

I also managed a few more Granny Stripes

So there you are, that is where I have been these last few days. This morning we packed our folding camper down (you see the bottom half is Caravan, top half Tent, we have lovely sprung beds, oven, washroom, sink, fridge etc) and this is how it looks all neatly packed away.

Now it is safely stowed away in our garage until the next time (that is unless of course I sell it!!!!!)

Speak soon xx

Crochet Top Reveal!!

2010-06-11T09:11:00.000+01:00

Morning to you all, thank you for taking the trouble to drop by!

I am really excited by this post , do you remember by green top I was making?

Well the pattern worked like a dream, the bamboo cotton was lovely and silky to work with (if a little splitty)

but for once I have crocheted something I actually might wear!!

The pattern was from King Cole Ltd made in Bamboo Cotton (50% cotton, 50% Bamboo) and took 4 x 100g balls. The pattern was easy to follow and the shaping minimal. All in all a very good pattern.

Ta Dah!!

Oh dear, I suppose you would like to see me in it ............... I hate having my piccie taken! Here goes...........

Ok ... one with my head in!

Hope you like it!

Speak soon xx

"Short Jaunt"

2010-06-09T20:24:00.000+01:00

Welcome, it is lovely of you to drop by! On Sunday I went away on a short "jaunt", a little break with my mum and a friend, a little "girl" time away - it was unexpected and very welcome - we headed to Stratford-upon-Avon, a really pretty town famous for its William Shakespeare connections.

We wandered around the riverside and looked at the canal boats and I would love this fountain in my garden!

We ventured into town to find scrummy places to eat

yes it was a short "happy jaunt"

I got back yesterday, so this morning I dashed out to get my copy of "Inside Crochet" to see the article about SIBOL , how exciting, there they were lovely pictures of Sue's blankets! Check out the SIBOL blog for themes for up and coming blankets - its a brilliant cause and Sue is making a fantastic success of it all!

After my last post I where I couldn't decide which projects to start next - I made a decision to try and use up my currrent stash

I decided to use these to join in with Lucy's hook along granny stripe blanket over in the We Love Lucy group on Ravelry

I am already "hooked" on it and loving the granny stripeyness! The only slight downside I can see, is that I wont be able to cart it around with me as it gets bigger - at least with squares and motifs you can do a few and add them on if you see what I mean. I am quite excited to see how this turns out - its going to be a holiday blanket for our folding camper.

As I needed a "little" something to do whilst on the "short jaunt" I sorted out my leftover cotton and started on this

I am hoping to make this into a beachy type bag, however it is eating more cotton than I thought so may have to improvise and make it into something else! The joy of crochet - nothing is set in stone is it!

Thank you to the lovely Louise for mentioning my "join-as-you-go" tutorial on her lovely blog.

Great to catch up with you all!

Speak soon xx

What to do! what to do!

2010-06-03T20:25:00.000+01:00

Hi, a quick little post today. I have been playing around with the crochet hook this week itching to start a new project. I have finished my green jumper and will post some pictures next time. I was browsing the internet and came across this pattern

I scribbled down a bit of the pattern, went away to try it - got in a mess and then couldn't remember where I had seen it in the first place :::::::: after several attempts I think I have cracked it. It is groups of three trebles done in a "zig zag" way starting with one and increasing with each row and then decreasing until you are back to one! I have no idea if this is how the pattern intended, but it seems to have turned out alright.

This was an early attempt which looks more like squares - I like this too and have plans for this pattern. But the prettiest way is this way

I can see a cushion or a bag in this pattern.

I have also done a swatch of the Granny Stripes that Lucy has done on her blog - I have lots of odd bits of stash left which would be good to use for a blanket

Head buzzing, I don't know what to start next!!!

Watch this space!

Speak soon xx

My Forgotten Treasure

2010-05-28T08:24:00.002+01:00

Hi there lovely Blogettes, how is your week going? Here in the Kimbles household it has been a busy week - with hubby on a "tidying up the garage and loft" mission. There has been a lot of "we don't need this" and "why are we keeping this?" and to tell you the truth I find it all a bit difficult - you know, to let go of things and I know in my heart stuff that has been sitting there for 20 years probably won't be used again! We compromised in the end with me squirreling away certain items that NO WAY were going anywhere! The reason for this big sort out is that our heating system has really struggled all winter (how typical is that, when we have had the coldest winter for 30 years!!!!!) and just before Easter stopped completely and because we live in a small village there is no mains gas - so other avenues have to be explored. Anyway the upshot of this is that the whole system needs to be replaced and that means access to the loft and garage - hence the BIG clear out!!! Hope you are keeping up!

I am telling you this because as all of this busying was going on - in amongst all the forgotten "treasures" or "mess" I found this - and a tear did come to my eye

This is "Ann" my favourite doll and LOOK what she is wearing - one of my very FIRST crochet projects!!!

In real life she looks a little dusty and tired but the photos have brought the colours to life!

I have been trying to work out how old this crochet is and I am sure I made this when I was about 9 or 10 so in and around 40 years ago!

There is no sewing up - I have threaded drawstrings through the waist and neck - so very simple, and I love the green and lemon - still working in green today!

I clearly remember the first time I learned to crochet - a very trendy friend of mine at primary school was trying to make a poncho (they were very fashionable at the time) and I got a hook and a ball of yarn and tried to copy her, without any success, and my mum was more of a knitter - then one evening I was with my mum and our sick doggie at the vets of all places, it was busy and the waiting room had spilled over into the front garden and they had put out chairs for us. I was messing around with the hook and yarn and a lady sitting next to us taught me a chain and treble - from then on I was hooked and made my first poncho - sadly I don't have a picture of it, but I remember it was all higgledy piggledy with colours. I then progressed on to dolls clothes!

Its funny, but that kind lady introduced me to a life long love of crochet, a chance meeting, I haven't the faintest idea what she looked like - but I am very grateful to her.

Can you remember where you first learned to crochet?

Here is an update on my current crochet top - I am really enjoying this - the bamboo yarn although a bit splitty isn't too bad to get used to and feels very "drapey". I just hope I won't be disappointed when I try it on!

Gosh, I have been very "wordy" today - hope I haven't bored you with my childhood memories. Have a great weekend (over here in the UK its a Bank Holiday - so Monday off yipee!) .

Speak soon xx

FIVE

2010-05-24T21:15:00.002+01:00

Yes there are FIVE of us back in the Kimbles household - we moved Little Kimbles back home over the weekend as she has now completed the Uni studies, there are many more boxes than five to tidy away though!!

FIVE photos of signs of summer making me happy

FIVE - that is the time the Kimbles household got up this morning - to watch the last ever episode of LOST and eat bacon butties - such an impromptu daft family thing to do, even though we had work - but just fun!!

FIVE minutes snatched in the garden with a cup of tea and my latest project

I 'm not usually into crochet clothes - have tried a couple of times with mixed results - but I found this pattern and thought I would have a go. It is in Bamboo cotton which is a little splitty, but the colour is divine and reminds me of all the fresh green leaves on the trees at the moment and is probably my favourite colour along with pink!

The stitch is made up of shells with the next row chains and dcs so that the shells are above each other if you see what I mean.

Its growing quite quickly so we will see how it turns out - mind you, if its a disaster - I might not be able to bring myself to show you he!he!

Speak soon xx

Garden Mosaic

2010-05-20T19:57:00.000+01:00

I have to tell you dear Blogettes, that surprisingly I haven't picked up a crochet hook or done anything crafty at all this week, and that does make me a little sad.... but not for long, I will be back hooking away as soon as I can. I left myself a day free from work work on Wednesday and headed off into the garden to plant my little plants which have now sprouted from the seeds I planted. Oh the bliss - the sun warm on my back as I worked, the lovely green plants going into the ground and the excitement and anticipation of hopefully the lovely vegetables that I will be able to harvest in the not too distant future!!! An almost perfect day - if only I had had the time to crochet instead of clean out the showers!! Oh well you can't have it all!!

Garden Mosaic - little cucumber plant, my small veg patch, under the leylandai (worst place ever, but seemed to work ok last year!) , basket of Margarite daisies, Ferns uncurling, Lillies that have survived the harsh winter and in fact came from my Grandad's garden and he died 18 years ago!! lovely Lily of the Valley reminds me of my Wedding Bouquet and finally more seeds.

Thank you for looking in on me and for the lovely comments on the Mini Hexagon tutorial - I hope it comes in useful.

Oh and check out the SIBOL blog - my squares arrived safely and Karin has named us Sibolettes!! Lovely like Blogettes!!

Speak soon xx

Mini Hexagons Join-As-You-Go Tutorial

2010-05-14T12:47:00.000+01:00

I have finally got the detail for you for the Mini Hexagon Blanket - I must get used to noting down methods and amount, measurements, number of motifs etc as I go along - I am afraid I get so absorbed I forget all that technical stuff! Anyway here are a few details:-

Measurements: 100 cm x 114 cm
Number of Hexagon flowers: 16 each made up of 7 hexagons
Number of outline Hexagons: 168
Number of half Hexagons: 16
Edging: Crab stitch
Yarn used: Cygnet Acrylic double knit
Hook: 4mm

TUTORIAL

Joining the hexagons to make the flower motifs is relatively easy - but it may be better to plan your design on hexagon paper so that you can see which hexagons to attach to which when doing all the outline hexagons.

A quick refresher of the hexagon motif (tutorial in my side bar)

Chain 5 join with slip stitch

1st row: 3 ch, 11 tr into ring and join with slip stitch (12 stitches)

2nd Row: 3 ch, 2 tr into same space, *1 ch skip a space and make 3 tr in next space. Repeat from * 4 times more and join to top of beginning 3ch with a slip stitch (6 groups of 3 trebles)

3rd Row: 3 ch, 2 tr, 2ch, 3 tr in same chain space, *1 ch then 3 tr, 2 ch, 3 tr in next space. Repeat from * four more times and join to top of beginning 3 ch with a slip stitch (6 groups in all).Fasten off.

Below I have already joined two hexagons together, and I will show you how to join in a third

First of all you need to make another hexagon and when you get to the last round make your first hexagon point as usual then chain one and make the first 3 tr of the second group

then instead of doing the 1ch, make 1dc but through the 2ch space of a corner of the hexagon you are going to join it to, then twist the hook back and do your normal 3tr back in the previous space to complete the corner on the first hexagon.

then instead of doining the 1ch, make another dc through the 1ch space between corners and then twist the hook back and do 3tr for the start of the next corner. Again, instead of your 2ch make a dec into the corner of the hexagon you are joining to

Can you see where I am coming from? I do hope so, I really do - I promise you it is quite easy!!

Carry on with this technique and once you reach the end of where the hexagons touch carry on the rest of the round as normal.

I hope this is a bit clearer than mud!!

I hope you have fun with this my lovely Blogettes and pleeeeaaase let me see the results so I know this tutorial has been worthwhile!! I will try to do a tutorial on the half hexagon - but to be honest I will have to make one to remember how I did it - I think it was a bit "hit and miss"

I hope you all have a happy hooky weekend

Speak soon xx

Hello Blogettes!!

2010-05-13T21:12:00.003+01:00

Hello dear Blogettes - do you mind if I call you Blogettes? I thought it was rather a sweet name. I was at the computer the other evening doing something totally un bloggy when hubby passed by and asked " how are the blogettes?" and I thought this was rather sweet - a collective name for ladies who like to read and write blogs, sounds to me much more lady-like than bloggers!!

This week I have made a few squares for the SIBOL project and I have been preparing a tutorial on the Mini Hexagon Blanket join-as-you-go - I thought I had finished it but I am not happy with some of the pictures so you will have to wait another day or two, I find sitting down and writing a tutorial can be much more tricksy than you think! I will do my best for you all!

On to the squares,

Now the two squares with the flowers in the middle are Grandmas Garden Squares from a pattern I bought from Michelle at Loving the Vintage - a great blog and the other one is from the 201 Crochet Blocks book - it is in varigated yarn but doesn't show up too well.

I got this pattern from the SIBOL site I think, forgive me but I can't remember exactly where I got it, this has turned out a little tighter, even though blocked - hope the lovely Sue can still do something with it.

This final square is an experiment I made up using a kind of twisted shell, I think this is going to be called "Choppy Seas" square!!

This week I have also got my sewing machine out and taken it apart and oiled, dusted and de-linted it (put it back together!) ready for making curtains for our recently decorated bedroom - still not finished but getting there!

And look at how my little seeds are growing

Do you know, I think this is favourite part of growing stuff - when the little shoots start to appear - magical!!

A warm welcome to new followers (Blogettes!) I hope you find something of interest on my blog - it is always lovely to hear from you all.

Signing off Kimbles and the Blogettes!

Speak soon xx

African Flower Mini Project Bag

2010-05-07T08:22:00.000+01:00

Good Morning dear blogland friends, here in the UK has been a tad cold again this week, summer is proving stubborn and not wanting to make an early entrance - and I can't tell you hoooow much I am looking forward to the summer. Escaping to blogland is so refreshing and I want to send you all these

to thank you for the lovely comments about my mini hexagon blanket, comments are really appreciated, its nice to have like-minded people check out your work!

Some of you have asked about a tutorial for the mini hexagon blanket - I will try to post next week about assembling the blanket but basically you need to make loads of the mini hexagons - and the tutorial is in my side bar - I joined mine as you go, which is easy and if you don't know how to do this I will include that next week. I was so excited to finish the blanket I haven't measured it or counted how many hexes are needed, sorry - me being too eager, I will do that for you!!

Here are a some more pictures I have tried to get a closer view for you as requested

Lastly today, I want to show you what I decided to make with the African Flower Motifs.

Its a little project bag, its just big enough to keep some wool and hooks, scissors etc for little projects, so I can carry it around easily from room to room or away with me. It kind of evolved in my mind as I went along and I must admit I really love it! I added handles and threaded some strong carboard to make them firm (may look for something plastic which will last longer) and ta dah!, one mini project bag!.

Just big enough for my next stash of SIBOL squares to send to Sue!

I hope you all have a great weekend

Speak soon xx

Introducing - Mini Hexagon Blanket

2010-05-04T21:55:00.000+01:00

Hello dear bloggies - how was your weekend? Here in the UK the weather was in typical Bank Holiday style - cold and wet ugh! I had wanted to spend most of the time in the garden but after dodging shower after shower, I gave up. Did plant my seeds though

All ready to be tucked up and watered - I gave them a talking to - you know - to make them grow! We have beans, broad beans, tomatoes (large and small), cucumbers, and courgettes. To add to that will be some salad leaves, radishes, brussel sprouts and sweetcorn. I am telling you all of this now, not to boast at all, it is to remind myself later on in the summer when some have been eaten by caterpillars and some by aphids that I was full of hope for my tiny vegetable patch and I did try, really I did!

One success of the weekend was finally finishing the Mini Hexagon blanket - I am rather excited about this because I made up the pattern in my own head (its probably been done before, but I hadn't seen it), visualised it, worked out how to do the half hexes (bit hit and miss) did a crab stitch edging and finally added the tassels and Ta Dah!!!!!!!!!

I wanted it to look like a traditional patchwork quilt - really pleased with the way it has turned out.

Hope you like it - a really quick pattern to make and great to join as you go.

Now as I showed you previously, I have been making African Flower Motifs you can see some beautys on the lovely Elizabeth Cat's blog, she introduced us to this motif, but I have also been enticed by the Grandma Garden Cushion on The Royal Sisters.

Before I go, please check out the new blanket Sue has made for the SIBOL project, it is such a work of art - reminds me of 60's pop art - should be displayed at Tate Modern!!!

Speak soon xx

African Flower Motif Love!

2010-05-01T10:57:00.000+01:00

Happy Weekend to you all! Here in the UK it is Bank Holiday weekend so we all get Monday off yipee!! To tell you the truth, it couldn't have come at a better time. Last week I was in London with hubby on an exhibition stand - and although enjoyable, it takes its toll on your legs and feet, plus the fact we were acutely aware that outside, summer arrived for a short while ..... and we were stuck inside! I have to confess I didn't get round to any SIBOL squares, so hopefully some will be done this weekend, but I did discover the joys of the African Flower Motif, OOOHHH they are a joy to make! (Sorry I do sound so daft, all excited over a motif!)

This is me squashed behind the exhibition stand for a ten minute break! Its amazing how you can make your home in such a small space for a few days! I think this is quite a strange place to be crocheting - I think you should all post a picture of the weirdest place you have done crochet - could be a new Flickr group!

Anyway back to the motif - this is how they turned out

I feel ridiculously happy with these! I don't even know what I am going to make with them yet - I just keep gazing at them - such eye candy!!!

I have been a good girl and sewn/crocheted all the ends in as I have gone along and sewn them together, unlike the mini hex blanket which has taken me aaaages to sew the ends in! Big reveal moment for that blanket next week and I am very happy with it!

The end of the week after arriving back from London has still been frantic because we are in the process of having the windows replaced - so much banging and dust - so I had to escape - and a friend kindly invited me to go with her to a Decorative Living Fair - a very small version of Country Living Fair.

Off we went and had a smashing afternoon, it was all lovely vintage stuff, bunting, flowers and coffee and cakes, set in the garden of a lovely country house with views across a valley

- my idea of a perfect afternoon and a nice way to end a busy week.

Speak soon xx

Short and Sweet

2010-04-26T10:47:00.000+01:00

Good morning lovely blogland readers - this is a short post as I am being whisked off to London later today. To tell you the truth this isn't a jolly oh no - its to be on an exhibition stand to help dear hubby. So I have had to put away the slouchy clothes this week and go "businesslike" instead. It can be rather nerve racking talking to strangers - but come to think of it all of you were strangers a while ago and now I feel that I have got to know some of you well - amazing considering we have never met!!!!!

Among the "businesslike" stuff I have sneaked this in:-

just enough to make the odd square or two for SIBOL- and to try the lovely African Flower motifs I have been seeing on Flickr and Karin's lovely colourful blog.

I hope you all have a lovely week, sounds as if the weather is going to be beautiful (shame we will be inside all the time!) Hopefully I will be able to post over the Bank Holiday.

Speak soonish! xx

WIP

2010-04-22T09:34:00.000+01:00

WIP thats the state of our bedroom at the moment! You may remember that I was having trouble deciding on a colour scheme for our bedroom which we have been decorating. Well I finally made up my mind and so work started a couple of weekends ago.

Why is it that when decorating one room it seems to affect the whole house! Stuff everywhere, DUST, DUST and more DUST!!!

Progress is being made now, so here is a peek

Mind you, if you have the radio on - its great to have a sing song whilst painting the walls! Wall on the right is the finished colour which we have taken through to the little ensuite bathroom

All very neutral .............. but I know what you are thinking .......... where is the COLOUR ?

Colour? what colour?......... oh this colour

He!he! you knew I would have to have SOME colour!!

These are the accessories I am going to use

Looking forward to putting it all together - still have curtains to make and they are going to be this stripey fabric from Laura Ashley

So that has been my week so far - managed a little hooking and my mini hex blanket is nearly finished just have to work out a half hex pattern to my liking and do the edging oh and we wont mention all of those pesky ends!!

Speak soon xx

Flickrville Fun

2010-04-16T12:46:00.000+01:00

Hi lovelies! Yesterday was a bit of a laugh in Flickrville! Bethel suggested we all post a picture of our work or creative area, so I duly obliged.

and so did loads of other crafters and it was fascinating peeking into everyone's "space" shows how nosey we all are at heart!! Mrs Twins asked me if I had a chair, of course! I had forgotten to include the chair in the picture!

This is my chair with our lovely cat Thompson sharing it - he usually gets the snuggly up cushion bit and I get to perch on the edge!!!

and when I get up, he takes over whole chair space thing!!

Then the lovely Karin set up this gallery in flickrville, helps us all to visualise where the person is when we chat in blogland/flickrville.

This weekend I would like to sit, drink coffee and crochet and watch a good film, reality will be housework, (not done this week) and the dreaded decorating!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend whatever you do!

Speak soon xx

Project Mosaic

2010-04-14T12:34:00.001+01:00

Today I have reached my 70th post - I have no idea what I have rambled on about for this amount of times, but I do know I have made some very sweet blogland friends through this 'open diary' of mine. In the 'old' days these would have been 'pen' friends, but thanks to cyberspace we can converse instantly which is really nice. So I looked back some of the projects I have finished since I started blogging last October - and do you know what? .... there were quite a few -so I prepared a little mosaic for you to see some of them

I realised that blogging certainly helps me to be more creative! Long may it continue.

Speak soon xx

Catching up!

2010-04-13T09:11:00.000+01:00

Hello! How are you all? I haven't posted since Easter and it feels like an aaaage! I hope you all had a great Easter and ate loads of choccie!! I certainly did and now I am on the diet and keep fit road or else I will be crying when I try on my summer clothes!!!!

Last week I spend several days with Little Kimbles up at her flat near her Uni and oh! it was lovely. We ate out at studenty type places, went to the cinema and shopped for a dress for her end of Uni party. On the last day I was there, we went for a walk up on the hill above the town

it actually felt quite warm and we both felt so happy that the summer is on its way!

then it was back down the hill to a small garden centre to share a smoothie

just lovely!

We didn't get much hooking done, so I have tried to catch up in the evenings now I am home, and my mini hex blanket is nearing completion, the last flower is about to be assembled

I have really enjoyed making these little hexagons and they join as you go like a dream! I have to work out an edging for the blanket and - the dreaded sewing in of allllll the ends - yes I have been very lazy this time and have left all of the ends to be sewn in til last, and now I am regretting it , big time! Some have been crocheted in but loads haven't.

I have been enjoying catching up with all the blogs, its amazing how much passes you by when you miss a few days in blogland!

Well tasks for today are shopping, work, and the dreaded decorating ugh! we finished our ensuite bathroom over Easter and as I was away last week and so was hubby, we spent the last weekend sanding down, don't you just hAtE that bit! the dust gets everywhere and it seems to take over the whole house! Never mind hopefully it will soon be finished and I may even give you a peek if it looks at all presentable!

Speak soon xx

This Week I Have ........

2010-04-01T18:47:00.000+01:00

enjoyed my youngest son's 19th Birthday - can't quite believe my baby (10lb baby he was!) is now 19 and well over 6ft tall.

........ enjoyed seeing these beauties open up.

.... got fatter because I have eaten Birthday cake on Monday and then on Tuesday made some of Lucy's Oatie Biscuits ..

and them ate most of them myself!!! scrummy!

...... felt sad when I heard about the death of Elspeth Thompson.

..... loved reading lots of blogs - the success of Mrs Twins and the lovely blankets she is making, Lucy's beautiful zig zag blanket, to name just two.

.... enjoyed enormously the lovely comments left after my post about my chickens that I had!

.... had some new lovely followers join me - Thank you to you all!

.... enjoyed the lighter evenings now the clocks have changed (even though it has not been any warmer)

.... found this sad looking little pot in a charity shop and decided it needed a Decopatch makeover

...... soothed myself with the gentle repetitiveness of this lovely craft

..... was very pleased with the results of the soothing repetitiveness.

.... found a place to stash the easter eggs!

.... decided to go and spend a couple of days with 'Little Kimbles' at her flat near her Uni after Easter, and do some 'girly' stuff - and may be able to persuade her to make another square for the SIBOL project. So therefore, I may not post until the end of next week.

Hope you all have a great Easter!

Speak soon xx

A Tale of Three Chickens

2010-03-30T20:59:00.000+01:00

Hello lovelies, over the weekend, I collected some new laid eggs from a friend who has chickens

There are a couple of blue ones and a pinky one and a white one! Look too good to eat!

This reminded me of my very own chickens which I had up until last year. You see, I kind of got them on a whim - a bit of a mid-life wish - something I had wanted to have for ages, but alas our garden is quite small, but then ..... I read about the Eglu a small brightly coloured chicken house suitable for small gardens.

The thought milling around in my mind I monitored some on ebay - and then one day bid, and waited, bid and waited and WON! Oh dear - did I really mean to win - I would have to go through with it now.

Hubby, bless him, humoured me and we prepared a space in the garden for the run and Eglu and I excitedly did research and bought lots of chickeny things - only thing missing was the chickens!

One afternoon we ventured off to a "chicken" place and came home with three lovelies:

Oh I forgot to say, the Eglu was bright PINK. Now watching chickens is a brilliant pastime and I could watch them from the kitchen sink. When they laid their first eggs, the excitement was almost too much ! The thrill of opening the nest box and finding a warm egg is magical - and the eggs become so precious. One day we had a double yolker which hubby ate before I saw it (still haven't forgiven him for that one!)

We would let them out into the garden for a wander, but boy, could they trash, they trashed anything they would get their little beaks on

then there was the small matter of poop! they could poop for Britain!

they would have happily made themselves at home in the house if I had let them!

and when we had loads of snow last winter, I thought I might find frozen chicken, but they were fine, just a little bemused.

As they grew, they became rather loud, noisily asking for treats and as the lighter mornings came they wanted to get up earlier and earlier - various family members started to complain about the noise, hubby started to make grumbling noises about the amount of "poop" and where were we gonna put the BBQ now the chickens were near the area.

So in the end the time was right and I reluctantly rehomed them - but they went to a family up the road with a field so they had far more land to roam on - lucky chickens (bet they don't get as many treats now though!)

I was a little sad to see Rosie, Crystal, and Prudence go, even a little teary for a while - they were sweet, at least I fulfilled an amibition, even if it was only for a short while!

Speak soon xx

Weekend Plans

2010-03-26T09:46:00.000Z

Friday, Friday!!! love Friday, hopes for the weekend are doing some of this,

using some of this

and tidying the garden after the severe winter we have had look what the weather has done to my lovely terracotta pot!

the little pansies are fine but the pot ..................mm not so good!

Yesterday I went to the Country Living Fair in London - great day, very tiring!

I could have gone mad, yes spent a fortune, which sadly of course I don't have, could have been really tempted -------But I was really restrained! BoRinG I hear you say - but no, I collected loads of brochures so that I can come home and look at them at my leisure and make calmer choices! Well thats my excuse anyway - I did take out a subscription to the Magazine which meant I got a gift of these scrummy smelling soaps

Oh yes I was tempted to try on a £250 pound Mac but I ReSiSteD.

It was well worth a visit my brain was a bit addled at the end of it all there was so much to take in.

I was looking for ideas for decorating - our whole house needs decorating and we are going to start with our bedroom - trouble is it needs decorating and updating - but I kinda still like it - and now there is nothing similar around because it isn't ThE colour of the moment - do you ever find that?

I will keep looking for inspiration.

Have a great weekend.

Speak soon xx

Mini Hexagon Tutorial

2010-03-25T08:14:00.002Z

Hi there, I have been a bit of a stranger this week - can't believe it is Thursday and I am only just posting! I have been itching to get on here and give you the tutorial for the Mini Hexagons that I showed you last week.

Now, as you can probably tell, I am not the best at tutorials but will do my best for you all! I promise you this is super EaSy, and great for a beginner.

I used a 4mm hook and some double knit wool. I have used UK terminology, a UK treble is a US double crochet.

Row 1 : Chain 4 and slip stitch into a ring. 3 chain (counts as first treble) and work 11 trebles into the ring. join at the top of the 3 chain with a slip stitch. Fasten off.

Row 2 : With a new colour join in wool between 2 trebles and make 3 chain and 2 trebles in same space, 1 chain, miss 2 trebles and make 3 trebles in next space. Repeat 1 chain miss 2 trebles and make 3 trebles in next space all the way round and slip stitch into to of first 3 chain. You should have 6 groups of trebles. Fasten off.

Row 3 : With another new colour, begin in a a chain space and make 3 chain, 2 trebles, 2 chain, 3 trebles in same space, *then 1 chain and make 3 trebles, 2 chain, 3 trebles in next space , repeat from * all the way round and join to top of first 3 chain with a slip stitch and fasten off .

Hey Presto! one Mini Hex!! These are sooooo quick to do

and you can join them together as you go - here is a peek at my current WIP

as you can see I have been making seven of them into flowers - I am hoping to make them look like a traditional patchwork.

Hope they turn out ok - would love to see pictures if anyone makes these!

Just have to show you the Amyrillis - its a giant beauty and worth the wait!!

Must dash now, blow the washing and ironing and all the other things I should be doing - I am taking a day out and heading to London to the Country Living Fair (strange, I live in the country and have to go to central London for the Country Living Fair!!!) such excitement!!!!

Speak soon xx

Lady Helen's Challenge

2010-03-19T07:14:00.000Z

Browsing through various blogs last night, I was checking out Helen at Lady Helsie's Happenings and she had taken up a challenge which she had found on another blog and that was to go to the 4th folder in your my pictures file and click on the 4th file and see what the picture is - well I did and this is it

my front garden from last year! It made me feel all warm and glad that summer is on its way!!!! I know it looks a bit scrappy but I love that cottagey look and the pink roses on the left of the picture are I think called Delphine and they are thornless, smell divine and flower all summer.

So thank you Helen you made me re-visit last summer and very nice it felt too!

I hope you have a great weekend, I have sent my squares off to Mrs Twins for the SIBOL project and this blanket it aiming to be the sunniest ever, so these are my contributions

It is certainly going to be a bright blanket!!

I am hoping to get lots of hooking done this weekend. Oh and next week I will try and prepare a tutorial for the mini hexagons, as I have been asked for one.

Speak soon xx

Mini Hex Patchwork Crochet

2010-03-17T09:35:00.000Z

Hi everyone, hope you are all ok and finally enjoying Spring!

I have managed to get back to a few stitches this week and oh my - it does feel theraputic! You may want to take a look at SIBOL as I have posted details of two experimental squares with zingy colours and a spiral pattern. It is really nice to experiment and crochet lends itself to this because it is so easy to 'make things up' and so easy to 'frog' if it all goes pear shaped!

I have started another project which was buzzing around in my brain for a while and I hope it turns out ok, but we shall see. This involves lots of mini hexagons - which I have made into a truly simple design - excellent for beginners and can be joined-as-you-go to make these

They are coming along fine - cripes! look at all those ends to be sewin in! a good film and a bar of choc should help kill the boredom of that task!

I am aiming for a traditional patchwork look - see how it goes!

Before I go today look at this Amyrillis

It was a christmas present and has taken aaaaages to get this far, but just keeps growing up and up! I saw the lady who gave it to me a couple of weeks ago and she asked me how it was growing and I said it was nowhere near flowering - hers had finished - I think she thought I was making it up - must be a slow grower, will show you when it eventually flowers.

Have a great day, and thank you for your comments - much appreciated.

Speak soon xx

Mother's Day Walk

2010-03-15T08:40:00.000Z

Morning to you all - last week was hectic to say the least and even the weekend was busy - out with friends on Friday night, then other friends to supper on Saturday - and Sunday we did a country walk had dinner as a family - so do you know what - not a SiNgLE stitch has been done since last week!!!!! Quite unusual for me - and I am missing it. I am itching to start a sunshine square for the SIBOL project - have an idea but don't know if it will come to light! So I am hoping for a more productive week this week!

Having not a single photo to show you of project progress - I will thrill you!!! lol! with our lovely walk we did yesterday- a real spur of the moment one. My only ask for Mother's Day was that I wanted to find and take a piccie of snowdrops - and as luck would have it not long into the walk we found some:-

So pretty, I love the way they grow in clumps

It was so lovely to be out in the fresh air walking across fields and

following the woodland footpaths, which some kind volunteers have recently restored

across the very clear water stream

down to the the South Downs with the "V" of trees commemorating Queen Victoria.

everything springing to life after the very harsh winter.

across the fields to visit

lambs in the field at the foot of the Downs

After all of this we hiked back again - so did I feel guilty about eating chocs yesterday! not a bit - I deserved it after all of that exercise! Yes - Good Times!

Speak soon xx

Crochet Intarsia Square

2010-03-10T07:24:00.001Z

Morning Peeps! quick post today, too much work getting in the way of everything at the moment! Good for the purse strings - bad for crafting!

Late last night I was playing around with intarsia crochet again. My head buzzing after the square I sent to Mrs Twins. I was really pleased with it and haven't seen anything else around like it ( probably haven't looked hard enough!). Anyway this materialised

Excuse the colours, I was just playing around with bits of yarn - what do you think? I really like it but it is Oh So Fiddly!! I forgot to take a piccie of the tangles of yarn at the back of the square but this is it after cutting the excess off!

basically I think I may need lots of clips so that I can keep the wool from tangling too much because you have to weave it in as you go - I think a large square would make a great cushion don't you think? If anyone knows of a glaringly obvious easier way of doing this PlEaSe leave a comment!

I need to explore, explore, this technique further!

Oh I nearly forgot 'Little Kimbles' - that's the new nickname someone has given my daughter after sending in her first square to Mrs Twins, and she is delighted to be part of the crochet community.

Have a great day

Speak soon xx

Decopatch Mirror

2010-03-08T12:40:00.000Z

Hi folks - hope you all had a great weekend - it disappears too quickly - Friday night I did some more of my rug whilst trying to get even the tiniest bit of a hint of whats going on in "LOST" my youngest and hubby and I watch each episode and are always frustrated by the end of the hour - with cries of "omg what's going on now!"

Its still emerging, slowly slowly (a bit like LOST!)

Thanks for all the lovely comments last week about the decopatch, and about my daughter sending a square to Mrs Twins - my daughter said she felt 'famous' and pleased with the response! Also a warm welcome to the new followers who have joined me over the last week, don't hesitate to leave a comment - nice to hear from you and I will visit your blog if you have one!

Sunday evening was decopatch evening! I found this in a charity shop on Friday for a couple of pounds and thought it was JuSt the thing for a makeover - its an IKEA small mirror.

I can't tell you how theraputic this craft is - Lucy kindly told me that you get a better finish by tearing the paper so that's what I have done this time - tear and stick, tear and stick - soooo soothing. Hooked in Hove
has some lovely pictures on her blog of decopatch projects she has done too - so take a peek. This is the mirror completed.

I emphasised the the flower pattern with patch liner, which you dab on and it dries hard.

I am really pleased with the outcome - hope you like it too. Think I will rummage around at the next jumble sale our village has - bound to find some poor cast out items I could recycle and bring back to life with colourful decopatch!

Speak soon xx

The Delights of Decopatch☻

2010-03-04T11:24:00.000Z

Morning all you lovelies out there in bloggie land, hope you are all well, I am feeling really excited today because last night I spent a whole evening doing Decopatch. If you read Lucy's blog (and lets face it who doesn't 'cos she's a star!), you may remember she did some decopatch before christmas and before baby B arrived. I thought at the time how nice it looked, anyway to cut a long story short a few weeks ago I went to a craft fair in Brighton and lo and behold there was the decopatch stand, details to be found here. Of course I just HAD to treat myself, and last weekend I tried it out on some small key rings.

You basically cut up special decorative papers and then you glue them on to whatever you wish with this special glue which has like a varnish in it too, so it dries shiny and the colours become more vibrant.

So last night ........I had the house to myself......... so out came the glue, papers, scissors and brush

and I started cutting and sticking.......

it was ToTaLLy absorbing and relaxing......I just loved it!!!

I alternated papers for a bit of variety and Ta Dah!!!!

This is going to hang on my wall by my computer, to make me chuckle on gloomy days!

Oh, but that isn't all, I just HAD to look around for something else to decopatch over, you can use most things, but I didn't think hubby would appreciate me covering chairs, table etc!

Then I found this drab little bucket which had had some pretty flowers in it once upon a time.

I decided to experiment and use the pretty green and white gingham paper

and Ta Dah!

It needed something to finish it off .......

Isn't it pretty and springlike? Now I am thinking this would be good for either Mother's Day or as Easter presents.

At the end of the evening I really didn't want to put my brush down, but I will have to find some suitable items to cover ..........watch out cat!!

Speak soon xx