Something New

Hello everyone - hopefully this finds you all having good times and sunshine! I've been having both - intermittently!

First off, to continue from last post, Jan Eaton's book has been having a good old workout here after a lot of indecision as to which of these blocks to try first; it was so difficult to choose cause they are all so beautiful and beguiling but I did get going and so here's a wee peep at them so far:

First one is number 54 'Framed Flower'

Next we have number 189 'Willow'

This one is 71 'Star Flower'

And last but not least comes  number 83 'Diamond in a Square'

I am quite happy with each of them and they will look more even and straight edged when they've been properly blocked - I hope! Now would you like to see them together in a square?

Now more decisions need to be made - what's going to become of these pretty things? They each measure 6 inches square so are quite large. I could work more of the same or continue the variety of mix and match in the same colours?

I did try out a gentle little pink thing to see if maybe a few of these could be worked around the 'square' in order to build a smallish blanket - what? another cushion? Well maybe! I could even do the pink  one in the other shades already used to balance things up a bit more. Let me show you little pinky:

This is number 6 'Textured Bluebells', only it's not blue!

Just another idea - and again, they should all be 6 inches square when properly finished - I hope!

But that's not all I've been doing since last time; cooking and baking is always a priority at our place so, when the weather was a bit off a couple of days ago it was time for another pot of soup. Sweet potato, butternut pumpkin, and carrot make a lovely drop, and some nice hearty gluten-free herb and nut damper muffins complete the picture - yummmmm!

I'm going to finish off with a pic of our cheeky little 'Pika' for she's such a big part of our lives:

I did say cheeky, didn't I! Who could resist those eyes!

It makes me very happy that you take time out of your busy day to have a look at the things I've been busy with, and I've been so encouraged by your lovely messages, thank you!

❤Joy xx

Decisions Made and Task Accomplished

How are you today friends? In the midst of your busy days I hope you've been finding time to enjoy some craft time? I certainly have, although not without a couple of hiccups here and there!

Last post I showed you the little 'Happy Flower' granny squares I had begun to work up in various shades of blue, and I thank those of you who left, (or emailed), me comments regarding my dilemma as to whether or not to include some additional colours and, in fact, what I was even going to finally make with these little cuties! Well the decision wasn't too difficult after all: I really liked the blues yes, and was also really tempted to include some pink and mauve but, because there are so many crochet projects that are really beckoning me, and because I really love a variety of colours and subjects as well as learning new things, the little grannies only multiplied to the 'mighty number' of nine - still in blues - and became a cute little cushion. I really enjoyed watching this project develop and love the finished product AND I am now ready to begin something NEW! Yes!

There were a couple of false finishes to this project and I've taken a pic or two which will explain what happened. You see, after little cushion was all finished and put together I thought a couple of rows of double crochet (in the navy) around the outer edge of the button closing end would finish things off nicely! Yes? Yes, that did look good - so much so that I decided to do the same border around the rest of the cushion. Then what? Then I realised that the whole thing looked unbalanced because the flap- over-closing-side was devoid of the navy edging - so from the front, the cushion had three edges in navy and one still white - difficult to explain hence the pics to show how I overcame the problem - without having to unravel the whole flap (including buttonholes) in order to include a navy stripe!

                                                                                                                        
I really do like this little blue Happy Flower cushion!


Recently I took delivery of a book that many of you lovely people seem to be familiar with, Jan Eaton's '200 crochet blocks for blankets, throws and afghans', and I'm so longing to get into these blocks - the excitement has been building considerably so that it can hardly be contained any longer - so - tonight after dinner, in a comfy place in front of the telly, with a choice of  gorgeous new colours - that's where I'm bound! What are you doing tonight?


Thank you for popping in and being accommodating towards me and my ramblings! I wish you all a happy weekend filled with all things lovely.

                                                                          ❤  Joy x

Endings and Beginnings

Hello again friends! I'm so pleased you dropped in to have a little look at what I've been up to, and I trust you are well and finding lots of time to enjoy your creative activities, whatever they may be.

My days have been pleasantly interrupted of late by friends popping in and catching up on this and that, but nevertheless I did manage to finish the fuchsia cardigan and I'm really glad it's done! Not that it was a difficult job really, for the fan and feather pattern is quite simple to follow, but ...  ....  ... it turned out  that it was knit in one piece from the beginning right up to shaping for the armholes and yes, I'm one of those people who don't like circular needles for I learned to tuck the right needle under my arm when knitting and that's how it's been all those millions of years for me. The circular needle doesn't allow for that, does it! So there was me struggling with 252 stitches on an ordinary knitting needle - a round of sympathy please!!! Thank you!


Having said all that, I am happy with the finished product and without further ado, here it is:

What do you think? The pattern is not everyone's 'cup of tea' of course, but the colour - isn't it so bright and cheery, which is just what we need for Autumn/Winter approaching.


So now would you like to see the 'Beginning' part of this post? Well these little granny squares come from a tutorial which the lovely Sharron of Annie's Place very kindly and patiently put together - thank you so much Sharron! 'Happy Flower' is the name Sharron chose to call her post where you'll find this pattern, if you'd like to check back.

 

I have not, as yet, decided what I'll do with these little grannies - they could become a cushion or even a knee-rug, but I did originally decide to stay with blues for this project. Now I'm not so sure! I definitely want to keep the navy and white as the two outer colours, but now am beginning to think it might be rather nice to include some other shades in the centre parts - maybe a couple of pinks or mauves here and there. I surely would welcome your suggestions!

This little bird, which my daughter bought me some time ago, is rather attracted to this one!

On another subject now, a rather lovely native Australian plant - Hakea Laurina, more commonly known as Pin-cushion Hakea.

Above we have the flower bud in it's perfectly  beautiful little 'casing', then 24 hours later and hey presto, below, that lovely protection has given way to the sweet little pin-cushion flower. How amazing is mother nature - everything so well planned and brought to fruition!

In a 'past life' one of my favourite hobbies for quite some time was water-colour painting, and this type of study had me totally absorbed for hours on end. 

Now I would really like to include a couple more 'nature type' pics, if my trusty friend here will allow me: let's try eh?

Good little computer! So - this is the Liquid Amber which many of you will be familiar with - but I was so taken with the colours of this beautiful specimen the other day, it seemed like a pic or two would be a good idea although the colours don't appear to be quite so brilliant as they seemed on my camera. Ah well, we do our best don't we!

It's time for me to go so, until next time, do what you best enjoy doing and keep well and safe. Thank you so much for looking in and for taking the time to leave me a message - I do so love to hear from you.

❤Joy x