Tad-dah To My WIPs

Hello friends

I've been determined to get my WIPs finished. I've been inspired by the bloggers who've been joining in with the 52 project. It's a great idea to get things done. Anyway this is my first. I started this crochet blanket about two and half to three years ago. I've had a few breaks in between where I've got fed up with it and did other things then came back to it. I have to give credit to The Art of Crochet, which was a weekly magazine that had a square to crochet and embroider (I did my own designs) each week with a ball of yarn. Also in the magazine were other crochet projects to do. I didn't like the back, thought it looked messy and when chatting with my MIL she came up with a fleece she had stashed away and just the right colour. I hand stitched it around the edge and used some buttons to secure the middle.
Before I could finish this blanket I had to change the cream buttons on my black coat for some nice black ones and then I used the cream buttons on the blanket. A couple of  pictures of  individual squares. You can click on the pictures to make them larger if you want to see them in more detail.
We have a floor cushion that I made many years ago and the cover was looking quite sad so using some of the left over yarn I crochet a top for it. In order for me to finish the top for the cushion I had to finish the blanket because all my safety pins were in use holding the backing in place. So, here are the before and after shots of the floor cushion.

I have one more crochet WIP to finish. I have just realised that I've not picked it up for at least 10 years. It's an Irish crocheted jacket and I've only about 4-5 inches left to do around the sleeve. My Grandma inspired me to do some Irish crochet when she made herself a dress (she was in her 80's). Sadly she is no longer with us but she would be disappointed in me for not finishing it. I promise myself that I WILL this year.

I feel better for getting them out of the way.
Well I need to get some chores done. I hate chores but needs must.
It was lovely of you to drop by and I do enjoy reading your commets.

Carolx

A Recycling Hobby

Hello friends

A belated welcome to new follower Thrifty Deluxe. Hope you enjoy my intermittent ramblings about things we get up to.

Today I thought I would share with you one of L's hobbies. We enjoy going round car boot sales seeing what bargains we can pick up, even though I'm trying desperately to declutter and get rid of lots of things we don't need or use. Anyway L looks for old jewellery (beads on chains) that she can take apart and refashion into something else and never pays more than £1 for an item.
Here are a few examples of some of the things she's made.
L has made many key rings/bag charms and sold them to her friends at school and will be dong a workshop, at guides, in a couple of weeks making key rings for Mothers Day.
Everything she makes are a one off because it's all down to what she can get.

L has done a couple of craft fairs and the most successful one she did was when she made lettered key rings whilst the customer waited.

A while ago a dear friend's mum died and gave L all her jewellery making bits and pieces and that's how she has made the earrings. The only thing we've bought new was her pliers and pincers, so daddy could have his back and stretch cord for beaded bracelets.

I had a go a jewellery
making a few years ago but didn't enjoy it as much as L is doing.

I'm off to enjoy a bit more of today's sunshine in the garden before the school run.

Thank you for dropping by, it was lovely to see you.

                                                                        Carolx

Hearts, Stars and Arrows

Hello friends

Hope you are all having a good weekend.

Yesterday the weather was lovely and L and her friend decided to do some street art, with chalk, in the back garden, It was mostly themed around One Direction.  Afterwards they had a game of stars and hearts.  Looks like it was a draw.
It rained last night and all the chalk has now washed away.

 It's a bit dark miserable and cold today but that has not bothered M and L because they had their first archer lesson at the local sport centre. The lessons are two hours long and is a six week course. Both enjoyed it and it's a good bonding activity between father and daughter (they don't do much together) The class is  made up of both adults and children but L was the only girl. After the six weeks they can continue going each week at a later time to just enjoy their new sport.

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon

Carolx