Bloomin' tension

Hello all

I have been lusting over numerous photos on Instagram of wonderfully crocheted granny squares!  

I have wanted a granny square blanket for as long as I can remember.  They are so expensive to buy and the ones you find in charity shops are often made with the most hideous colours!  Hence, the donation?!

I thought I'd give it ago.....ummm!  Not as easy as it looks.  I found it so hard to get the tension right, my first couple were very loose and big.

The more I did, the tighter my stitches got, progress!

However, I soon realised that I would need a little more practice and thicker wool before I seriously tackled a blanket.  

I used a cotton yarn, I think, I bought it because I liked the colours!  I didn't really think about how easy or difficult it would be to work with!!

So, I decided to turn my multi sized granny squares into bunting!  Oh yes!  Surprising!

I didn't look up how to make the string bit, I just chained along until I felt it was long enough and then single crocheted along the chain, and sewed the squares to the chain at random intervals.  

I am dead chuffed with how it has turned out.  It is adorning my bed at the moment, but it may make its way to the fireplace in my bedroom once the flat packed furniture that is in front of it is made!!

Thats all for now folks, hope you are staying warm and dry and finding the time to be creative too.

Claire x

PS - Sorry for the dreary photos, but it is very dark and grey here today, and yesterday, and the day before that come to think of it.  I MISS THE SUMMER!

xx

H-A-P-P-Y

Late on the eve of Middle B's first birthday I decided to make a 'quick' bunting spelling HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  Quick it was not.... HOURS later and without a pair of pinking shears or adequate time I produced this:  

I was reasonably pleased with it at the time.  I'm never delighted with anything I make.  I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my sewing projects but I never plan them properly so they will never be perfect or quite turn out how I envisaged them to.  

I used quite a few Cath Kidston fabric samples that I had requested, retro football themed fabric that I was gifted years ago, several fabrics that I had left over from a pram quilt that I had made Middle B and fabric from a shirt that he owned.  I still have the remnants of that shirt... 

I had always planned at some point in the future to properly attach the string, as I had only tacked it on at the time... and I also wanted to tidy it up.  but 10 years later it is still going strong...it is a bit wispy around the edges but it now hangs proudly at every family birthday, young or old, boy or girl.  I love it.  I love looking at the fabrics and remembering how I came across them.

Every time I hang it up I feel H-A-P-PY!

Before I say ta ta for now....one last reminder.  Giveaway ends tomorrow at midnight.  Click on the Giveaway post and follow the instructions to find out how to win this beautiful hearts and buttons bunting.

Much love 

Claire x 

Thank you gifts for teachers on the cheap!

I know most of your children will have broken up for the summer holidays by now, but I thought i'd show you how I put together some little gifts for pennies for Middle B's teachers.

I bought buckets from Poundland:

Scented tissues, fudge/biscuits (a break time must), headache coolers (for THOSE days), a four colour pen from Poundland:

And finally using Boots 3 for 2 offer on holiday sized toiletries I used my points to get some lovely bath goodies:

I packed them inside some tissue paper, tied them with string and used tags that I already had at home and voila!  Useful, funny, sweet gifts ready to go.

(excuse the boxes in the background - I have started to pack the house up!)

I hope that has given you some inspiration to create gifts for people that you don't know well, but deserve a little thank you.

Enjoy the holidays my friends.

xxx

My two favourite things in my garden: shed bunting and my palm tree!

xxx

GIVEAWAY - Oooh exciting!

Hello my lovely friends

Today I am happy, very happy.  Why?  I shall tell you... I started my blog three months because I discovered crafty blogs and thought 'ooh that sounds like a fun way to show off my makes!' Three months later and I have had over 1000 page views...and they aren't all from lovely Fiona in Ireland or Heather at My Little Red Suitcase!

Now I know that this is a drop in the ocean to those who have bigger, better and far lovelier blogs, but I was delighted.

My little blog has reached audiences as far as Russia, Japan, Canada, Finland and Germany plus many more.

I know I don't blog very regularly - I barely get the time to get my sewing machine out, let alone take, edit and post photos!  The summer holidays are looming and so is a house move...  so I may be a bit sporadic for the next couple of months but then i'm going to get 'on it'!!  Hopefully...fingers crossed.

WHAT ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY?!

Sorry I'm a bit nervous about this bit...

To celebrate reaching ONE THOUSAND page views (1137 to date) I'm giving away this:

I blog about my love and adoration for bunting all the time and so what else am I going to give away but BUNTING! 

This bunting would brighten up any little girls room, craft room, kitchen shelf, bathroom, the list is endless...  

So If you'd like to win this one off fabulous bunting lovingly designed and made by my fair hands you have to do the following:

1.  Leave a comment and tell me WHY you would like the bunting.

2.  Follow me on BLOGLOVIN or INSTAGRAM.
    Gotta get my blog out there!

3.  Cross your fingers and toes.

I will leave the giveaway open for two weeks me thinks, then I will write all the names down (that qualify), pop them into a hat and pick one at random.

I am happy to post to anywhere in the world.  So do not let your destination stop you from entering.  (Bunting will be ironed before being sent to the lucky winner!!)

CLOSING DATE 1st August 2014.  I will announce the winner later that week!

Good luck. x

pastel prettiness

Hello - I have missed blogging this week - it has been a bit hectic my end. 

Big G started her GCSE exams on Monday and turned 16 on Tuesday, Middle B hasn't had a good week and I have not been able to find a spare moment to put a post together...until....this evening.  

A short post - but a post nonetheless.

We were allowed to make a little fuss of Big G on her birthday, so I made some bunting.

 (Really?  More bunting? Yes! I am a bit obsessed with bunting - I haven't exhausted how many different ways one can create/decorate bunting!!) 

 I hope you like.  I found it very therapeutic to make.  I simply love the process of creating with paper, far more than I do with sewing.  

I start out with one idea in my head and then the idea grows and evolves and before you know it I have created something, that, even surprises me!

Big G loved it and it kept me amused for a morning.  Also keeping me sane this week is my new obsession...

...POSTCROSSING...

I'll explain more about it in another post (I'm aware that I promise this a lot!  I will try and keep to all my promises...so much to share - so little free time).  

Here is one of this weeks contributions:
(Photo taken before address and stamps added)

Enjoy the weather and thanks so much for popping by.

Claire 
x

two out of three ain't bad

Hello all,  

I am very chuffed as I now seem to have a few 'regulars' who pop by to read my blog - I'm blown away...thank you!  Keep coming back and I will keep posting my crafty inspirations :0)

I did promise to reveal the results of my Easter Bank Holiday weekend fun - sorry it took so long, don't really know what happened this week - couldn't get my act together at all...still haven't finished one of the three things I was working on so I only have two to show you.

Project Number 1

After finding this sweet wooden hanger at a local jumble sale, it got me thinking..... and before you knew it, I'm rooting around in all the wardrobes looking for wooden hangers to 'prettify'.

Little B2 wanted to get in on the act so after painting his hanger

(a bit of his jeans, t-shirt and my garden table) - he got out the children's art box and set to work - 

he was very pleased with the results.  He painted it a pale green - but pictures are not showing the colour well.  

The tape used is electrical tape - brilliantly cheap to buy from hardware shops and great for little hands as it is not too sticky.  

Here is what I produced.  I used left over paint, did a bit of colour mixing and gave the hangers a couple of coats.

I then used my letter stamps to 'name' each hanger, added a pre-used pretty sticker that Miss G had picked off her mirror that very morning and ta-da!! Here are the results.  I think they are sweet.  What do you think?

Project Number 2

Heart bunting - I gave most of this project away in my previous post - but here is the finished article anyway. I love the mint against the pastel pink - very now, very girlie and very pretty.

I still haven't finished the quilt for Miss G's birthday WHICH IS ON TUESDAY... so next post will be showing off the finished quilt.....it is rather lovely....my down fall is finishing quilts - putting the back, wadding and front together - not my strong point.  But I did promise I would show my makes and mistakes so I will be brave :0]

Til next time - have a wonderful weekend.

Claire x