Projects, Pinks and Pups!

But not the kind of pups you might think! More of that later........

I just can't believe how fast this summer is flying by! Since I took early retirement a few years ago I hardly ever really notice the date unless I need to, for birthdays etc and was so surprised to realise that July is almost over when it seems it's only just begun!

There are so many reasons to be outside as much as possible, enjoying the warm, and often downright HOT, sunny days. Hot, sticky nights are not so great but hey, I'm not complaining!! Tending the garden, going for long country walks, any excuse really to get the sun on my skin but not TOO much, of course. And the evenings are so long and beautiful too.... So any crafting really has to be done out-of-doors as it's just too lovely to be inside. Having said that, today is overcast and we're having sprinklings of drizzly rain so I am indoors - and the result is Pineapple and Cherry Upside Down Sponge for tea!

A nice surprise for P when he gets home!

I have been working on some crafty projects too. My second cushion is now finished! I'm really pleased with how these have turned out......

And I enjoyed doing them so much that I am now debating whether to do a matching lap blanket/ throw to go with them. I'll think about that one......

Meanwhile, I have also finished a mini version of my Rainbow Ripple Cot Blanket. This one is a generous pram/ stroller/ crib size.

 Just the ends to weave in, my least favourite bit, and then it's done!

Another one I can cross off as finished! 

I still have several Oh-So-Nearly-Finished projects, like my little Carnival Hoodie which is still waiting for its teddy bear buttons to be sewn on! 

The matching blanket does have all its ends sewn in now tho'. Just the buttons and then I'll be ready to list it on Etsy with my other things.

Despite saying I wouldn't, I have also started a new project. I know I shouldn't but hey-ho, there ya' go! I made the mistake of going with my friend J, to a craft shop that I hadn't visited before and as soon as we walked in there, right in front of us, were the cutest knitted dungarees! Well, we both loved them so much we bought yarn and patterns there and then! I think I have done VERY well to resist this long before starting on them, especially as J, who won't mind me saying is a fairly novice knitter, has actually finished hers - and a matching cardy and bootees and a little teddy too! And she has done a fine job 'cos they look lovely. Here is mine so far.....

It's too early to tell yet maybe, but they really look lovely when finished and pressed etc. I'll show you when they're done. I think I'll be doing my trademark hoodie to match mine. 

Well that's it for this update craft-wise, but before I go I thought you might like to see my orchid which has been flowering almost continuously for about three or more years now!

 Just GORGEOUS isn't it?

And I'm SO excited because my bromeliad with the amazing huge pink flower, which you can see here,

is having pups!! Yes, that's what they are called! At the moment she has two which are about ready to be 'delivered' and two more very small ones just starting to show!! And if I can raise them, which is apparently fairly easy, in 2 or 3 years time they will produce beautiful flowers like this too. How exciting is that! And on that very happy note I'll say BFN, catch ya' later! T xx

Summer days

Why is it that time seems to fly by so fast in the summer? Another week has gone already and I can hardly say where it went! Even tho' the days are longer and SO very enjoyable - everything seems so much better in the glow of summer sunshine - they just seem to wizz by!

Lots of time being spent outside, of course. Even just hanging the washing out is a pleasure on these beautiful sunny days, as is tending the garden and looking after my pots!

 These ones are beside the front door, with a matching pair the other side.

And these are in the corner of the patio area at the back. 

And this is the latest addition to my garden, courtesy of the lovely E..., my future daughter-in-law and good pal. 

 Is there anything more cute for critters than this!

There's nothing living in there as yet but then it is early days because I've only just put it up. I shall be watching it with great interest!

Because of the lovely weather, crafty time has been largely confined to evenings when the sun has gone down and I'm watching a bit of TV, although I must confess that there has occasionally been an hour or two now and then, either in the garden or in the conservatory, in the sunshine of a lazy summer afternoon! Projects are slowly but surely getting completed - and I have so far kept my word and not started any new ones!

The latest to be completed is my Country Cottage Cushion, now complete with little pearly, almost translucent buttons to fasten the open edge.

 I think the little buttons work really well and I'm very pleased with the end result.

This is the first of two, and the second is well underway too!

I just love choosing the colours for each individual square and then deciding on the colour combinations for each side of the cushion. A few more squares to do for the final side of the second cushion before I join the two sides together using a UK double crochet stitch.

I like these so much I may even decide to make more than two - or to make a matching blanket or throw......
Now that would be a very big project to keep me going right through those winter evenings when they finally return! But for now, it's summer days and sunshine all the way - and back to all those unfinished projects before I start on another new one, big or small!!

BFN, Tricia xxx

Country Cottage Cushion revealed!

Where does the time go? I cannot believe it is so long since I was here last! And what an exciting time it has been! Beautiful long, sunny, summer days, most of the time anyway, filled with colour! Days spent in the garden, working or just enjoying the summer plants and flowers in the glorious sunshine! Lovely fresh British strawberries every day if I choose- and I DO choose most days while I can! Even hanging the washing out to dry in the fresh air is a real pleasure on these bright, sunny days!

And then there has been all of the sporting excitement! World Cup football, Wimbledon and then the Tour de France, right here in good old Yorkshire! The disappointment of our performances in the first two of these events was completely erased by the overwhelming success of Le Tour de Yorkshire!! What a great Yorkshire welcome we gave them! I knew that people would get right behind the event with bunting and yellow bicycles everywhere but I NEVER expected to see the huge crowds that turned out to cheer the riders on - even in the remote rural areas! There was barely a foot of road anywhere that was not lined with excited spectators! And in some places there were so many thousands of people that the Peloton literally could not get through without slowing down almost to a stop! Great - but a bit mad too! After all, these guys are racing, fast!! The television coverage certainly showed off this beautiful county and it's spectacular scenery to best advantage. 

Needless to say that watching all of this sport from the comfort of my armchair gave plenty of opportunity for some happy hooking! I must say that my tendency to work on numerous projects at the same time is backfiring on me a bit right now! I just have too many things on the go and they are filling my craft baskets literally to overflowing, as you can see! 

I really need to finish some off so that I can move them into my storage cases until homes are found for them! I know where some of them are going, at some point in the future and others have yet to find a home. If you might be interested in giving a home to these or any of my other projects listed here just let me know or click on each individual listing to take you to that item in my Etsy shop.

Anyway, back to overflowing craft baskets! At the moment I'm struggling to get to my yarns, especially when I'm using multiple colours like in my Rainbow Ripple and Flower Garden projects! There are so many projects which are oh-so-nearly finished! Just needing ends weaving in, buttons sewing on etc. 

So, I am making a concerted effort to finish projects before starting anything new - and here is the first one!! My Country Cottage Cushion! Voila!

I just love these multi-coloured squares which are different on each side of the cushion. Many thanks to Kirsten for sharing her free pattern.

I edged my coloured squares with this very pale cream, joining my squares as I went along. There are a couple of good tutorials on how to do this, one from Lucy at Attic 24 and another here, at My Rose Valley. It really is very quick and easy to do once you get the hang of it, it looks neat - and you don't have an ever-growing pile of squares to store, which in my case is a real bonus!!! It's great to be able to really see the project coming together too!

I then finished off each side with three rows of double crochet which you can see in these last two pics. Finally I put the two sides together, wrong sides facing each other and with the right side facing me I joined them with a little seam of more double crochets along three edges, leaving the fourth edge open for getting the cushion in and out. I haven't settled on a means of fastening this open edge yet so that's my next task! And tidying up all those little loose ends! That's my least favourite bit......

I am really quite pleased with the end result - and it feels so good to be getting something finished!!

Eventually there will be two of these - and they do have a home to go to a bit later, but they and their future owner don't know it yet! Hmmmm.........