Catching Up.

I haven't posted on here for a couple of weeks due to my poor Geordie being quite ill. He had to go into hospital for some unpleasant tests and although some things have been ruled out, it still hasn't been resolved. I've felt so stressed and worried that I haven't really done much to post about. What I have done is crocheted like a mad 'hooky' person and I've found it quite relaxing and distracting. I was very excited to finsh my Vintage Stripe Blanket.....

Oliver is carrying out a rigorous quality control check on it, making sure there are no missed stitches or loose ends.

 

It's like a big stick of rock!!

Here it is with my Little Squares Cushion.

I have also made another cushion, this one is just 2 big Granny Squares and literally took a couple of days to make and I used up all the bits I had left from the blanket.

I love the bright colours and they really cheer the room up. I bought the actual cushions for £1.49 each from B&M Bargains and then because you could see the white cheap material they are made out of through the gaps in the crochet, I cut up 2 T-shirts, one in pale blue and one in pink to make a cover for the cushions first before I put them in the crochet covers.

I've also been trying out some hexagons as well.....

I don't know what to do with them yet, they are all seperate so I might just use them as coasters on my coffee table or I might sew them together into a scarf or something.

Remember my post about Avoca socks? These are gorgeous knee high socks with lovely little trimmings but they are quite expensive and I had a real yearning for them. Well in the end I bought some socks in the sale from Tesco for £2 and raided my trimmings box. It has actually been cold enough to wear these recently under my knee boots (I know, I can't believe it's Summer!!!)

They are so cute and practical too. I've still got an oatmeal pair to do and Tesco still has some chocolate brown socks left which I might buy because I've got some cute little red roses and ribbons which would look sweet sewn on them. 

I haven't had much time for charity shop bargain hunting, so no vintage finds but I did find this gorgeous Boden cardigan for £3.99. I was ecstatic to find this because Boden (like Monsoon) is right up my street for quirky, colourful, embroidered vintage-style clothes, but it's just too expensive for me! This cardigan was probably around £60 new (at least) and it looks like it's never been worn-BARGAIN!!!

I also had a little trip to the Cath Kidston shop to browse in the sale. It was for therepeutic health reasons only you understand and it was practically on my way home and it would have been rude not too. Anyway I got a little present for the lovely Ms E, who sits beside me at work, and has very very kindly given me her Blackberry as she has got a new phone. She is so lovely and she knows I have wanted a Blackberry for ages and I was really touched when she said I could have hers. Anyway I got her this......

and I'm going to crochet her an Attic 24 Bauble, with some essential oils on the stuffing to hang in her car as she has always liked mine.

I haven't been doing much else these last 2 weeks apart from having a free listen to the Stone Roses gigs as I only live about 10 minutes from Heaton Park. I had the back door open so I could hear the music without the trauma of standing in the rain and mud. Our whole area was totally swamped with Roses fans and it was quite exciting really seeing people who had travelled from all over the world queuing for beer in our Sainsburys!! I saw one enterprising neighbour cooking burgers in his front garden on a barbecue and selling them to the fans! I'm sure he had all the necessary permits and risk assessments done beforehand-lol.

I'm off work now for 2 weeks and will be having a few trips out sight seeing and bargain hunting. Happy July everyone. xxx

My Car Blanket is finished!

I have had a frantic week trying to get my blanket finished. When it actually came down to it, I felt a bit sad to be coming to the end because it's my first blanket and I started it in the winter on those dark evenings and imagined finishing it in time for summer picnics....well hello summer, I've finished!!!

So without further ado.......here it is.

It does look quite a lot brighter in real life and I am so happy with how it turned out! I do like all the random-ness of the different sized squares. I'd probably do things a bit differently colour-wise if I was starting it now but for my first big project, all in all, I'm pleased. Also as it's 100% acrylic, I was a bit worried how it would feel and drape but when it came out of the washer having been drowned in 'Comfort' fabric softener, it feels so soft and beautiful, I was really impressed. 

I realised today as well that as this blanket is intended for Tulip my car, it's quite apt that it is 2 years ago this week that I passed my driving test and got the lovely Tulip!

Here's Oliver giving his expert opinion on the unfinished version before I added the border. It was honestly on the floor for less than 30 seconds while I picked the camera up, and there he was trying it out!!

While I was having a 'big project' trauma, I decided to make myself something quick and satisfying that would only take an hour or two. Having looked at all the stuff in my handbag, I decided my car stereo needed a 'cosy'. Out came the scraps of wool and a couple of hours later........

I haven't had much time for shopping this week but I did have a quick charity shop browse today and got this lovely bright vase for £1.50.

Also these knee socks for £2 which I'm going to makeover (as planned in my previous post)

  

And lastly, my present from Geordie this week (as he did have a good week selling on ebay) was this lovely cool bag from Cath Kidston. I have wanted this for ages but they don't stock them anymore as they have a new one out now. I saw this on ebay and mentioned a few hundred times how much I love it. Anyway when my back was turned, a bid was put on and this morning it arrived in the post......

Oooh I can't wait to go back to work on Monday and take my dinner in this!

Hope everyone else has had a lovely week.

XX

Geordie the skip rat....

Look what Geordie found in a skip near a friend of ours?

It's really solid and chunky. I'm going to paint it and put it on the landing as a linen / bedding box. We're really short of storage in this house and this is just so perfect (or it will be when I've finished with it). The only reason I can think of for it being in a skip is that there is a small ink stain on the top but once I've sanded and painted it it will be fine.

Tonight I decided to look at all the squares I was crocheting for my Babette Car blanket that I started in February and have neglected after an initial flurry of activity. I laid all the pieces out and realised it won't take many more squares as I'm planning on putting quite a thick border on it. This blanket is to take out in the car for sitting on at classic car shows and picnics so I must get it finished in the next couple of months. When I look at it, I really wish I'd gone for a brighter yellow instead of that pale one but never mind. Also all the wool is acrylic and some of it feels a bit 'squeaky' but I wanted it to be hard wearing and machine washable so I'm sure it will be ok when it all comes together.

I finally finished my Easter chicks too so they are being hand delivered with chocolate and hard cash tomorrow.....(and yes I know the pink one has a bent leg-I think it's cute and quirky but I'm not sure my super critical niece will agree!)

I also made this on Friday for my antiques friend Ms M who has a bit of a boiled egg / vintage egg cup obsession. It was her birthday and since she left work we made a pact not to buy birthday presents for each other anymore as she is trying to start her business up and is on a strict budget. I just couldn't do it so I told her it didn't count as I made it.

 

In the end it was good karma because one of her friends saw it and asked if I could make her a hat in a similar style....and she wants to pay for it!!!! I feel a bit wierd about it as when I've made things in the past I've always done it for nothing so we'll see.....

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter.

xx



Been soooo ill.... :-(

I've been suffering since last Sunday with a viral throat infection-oh my, have I felt sorry for myself! I've not been in work, I couldn't eat anything, I've been aching, hot and cold, totally miserable and full of self pity. My lovely Geordie has been looking after me, cooking me soft food and bringing me presents. I've been sitting in bed, watching TV and crocheting away on my Vintage Stripe Blanket

As you can see I've still got a fair way to go, but it is about 4 foot wide so I'm quite proud of how much I've done in a week. I think this blanket is going to be kept on the back of the sofa to add colour and for snuggling.

Anyway yesterday I started to feel a bit of the 'old' me coming back. The sun was shining, my throat was feeling better and I had an urge.......

........an urge......

........to go shopping.

Woohoo, I'm on the road to recovery. It's a week before payday though so my shopping was restricted to cheap shops and charity shops. Here's what I got.....

Total spend? £4.99. The canisters were £2.99 from B&M Bargains, the 3 tea towels £1.49 and the Royal Worcester Evesham porcelain Olive dish, 50p from the charity shop. I think the lady in the charity shop didn't want to let me have it! She kept saying I had a bargain and was a bit reluctant to hand it over. 

 Then I noticed I had a text from Miss M, my lovely antique lady friend. She had come by a little cupboard she thought I might be interested in. I drove to hers, loaded it into Tulip, and here it is....

I went straight to B&Q and bought sandpaper, and a lovely tin of duck egg blue paint. It isn't a priceless antique, it's a very shaky, very scratched cupboard and it was going on a skip if I didn't take it so I don't feel guilty painting it. Also my house does not suit dark furniture, so it's getting painted.

When I got home, Geordie had just finished putting a clutch in someone's car so he came home to join me for lunch in the garden.....

I then spent the rest of the day sanding and cleaning the aforementioned cupboard and when the sun went down I got another urge......

.....an urge....

......to make an Attic24 Birdie

Sooooo cute! I put a couple of drops of patchouli oil on the stuffing too so it's scented as well as being sweet. I think I might hang it in my car actually and make some more for the house. I might make some in yellow for my nephew and niece for Easter too maybe with some mini eggs........

I think I'm going to be busy. :-) xx

A Most Successful Day.

Well I had a wonderful day with my wonderful sister shopping for birthday presents for our Mum. We of course ended up in Cath Kidston (well I say 'ended' but we just went straight there,lol). I got Mum this , the mini dot box bag in green, and my sister got her this, mini dot passport holder, and this, red Stanley glasses case. The munchkins gor her this mug in Provence Rose. I also gave Mum the orange scarflette I made earlier which I'm modelling (badly) in one of my earlier posts. I have to admit I did treat myself to some gorgeous little red rose slides from CK too!! I also bought a keyring for a friend who is taking her driving test tomorrow-I really hope she passes and hopefully the keyring can go on her new car keys. We then lunched and chatted, then off to Primarni-it had to be done, it's the law! I got 2 beautiful vests with a chiffon trim, that could have definitely come from Monsoon-£3 each!! I just had to get both. One is a kind of jade colour and the other tan.  

I have started my car rug/blanket for Tulip and I'm really excited about it. I love the candy dolly mixture colours and it's so quick to do. Now that I've had my fill of neck and wrist warmers, I want to fly with this. In fact in my head I'm already planning another one for when Geordie gets around to decorating the bedroom. I'm also thinking about getting a sewing machine for my little box room cum study cum junk room. Even though my Dad is a tailor and has a fabulous workroom, I'd like my own machine so I can start a few sewing projects too. I've got 4 days off work now so by Sunday I hope to have doubled the size of my blanket-woohoo!