Year End!!

Howdy guys and gals, I’ve noticed in blog land that a lot of people tend to do a little year end review of their goings on, and I’ve spent many a pleasant hour reading through what people have got up to, and seen as its so pleasant I thought it only right that I do one of my own. So if you’ve been following, or even if you haven’t here’s some pics of what I’ve been up to this year  . . .

 

Looking forward to seeing you all next year.xxxxx

 

 

 

Stormy Socks

The heat wave has passed folks, and given way to torrential rain and thunder storms. It’s really quite exciting to see mountainous storm clouds just over the garden fence, and there was the inevitable rush to get the washing off the line before it pours down.

So today with it being rather grim outside the order of the day was hand decorated crochet hooks and crocheted socks.
The crochet hooks were pony crochet hooks, found in any craft store. We put milliput (a two part modelling clay/all purpose fixer) around the handles and smoothed down with water and left to dry.

The milliput dries solid and is then ready to decorate. Me and the bf did a hook each, both with polka dots.

Once painted we left them to dry and then added a coat of gloss varnish, left them to dry and they were finished. It was quite a nice project if I’m honest, even if they do look a bit hodge podge. They were fun to do at any rate and I’d encourage any crocheter to give it a go.

They now sit proudly in my jar with my other hooks, I can’t help but think the collection is getting too big for the jar.

I’ve had a inclination to make some crochet socks for a while and I scoured the Internet for patterns, of which there are many. But something in the back of my mind was niggling at me to have a go myself and so. . .

Comfy cosy stormy socks. They’re not exactly everyday socks, more like bed socks but I’m still quite pleased with the result and they are so comfortable.

Just perfect for when the weather starts to turn nippy. And as its my own pattern it will be available for free on the tutorials menu in the near future. Hopefully it will be the first of many. I will also be posting a crochet ‘how to’ on the basics for those of you who’ve never tried but might like to give it a go.
Despite the indecision when it came to hanging the washing out, the rain does seem to be doing wonders for the plants in the garden and I’m pleased to show you just a few of the marigolds which have finally started to bloom in all their orangey glory.

Til next time folks. X

Back to Work.

Well the Christmas holidays came and went and I’m back at work full-time. However I’ve been more determined than ever to keep up with the crafting and have been very busy this last week. As you know I’ve some improvements to make to this blog and fancied that I needed a better header for the blog, well I got some scraps of felt together and started a little well . . .hanger/logoey thing to have as my banner. It isn’t finished yet but I’m working on it.

This was the rough layout of the pieces and I’ve cut out a template for the writing first as a friend of mine said she liked the handwriting effect, so I kept it in. Later on I fashioned a bow and decided to change the lettering a little.

You can see it coming together in this photo. It’s a little shameful to say but what I really like about this photo is the mess I made, I rarely get the time to completely indulge myself in a project and I thoroughly enjoyed working on it. For effect I’m going to pad it out with stuffing especially the lightbulbs which I think turned out really well.

The design was based on the one above. As you’ll notice it was originally Minnie’s Market which was going to be the name of an etsy shop I was going to create; however I found myself in full-time employment and just didn’t think I would be able to give it the time it deserved. (one day I’ll get round to it) Making my banner was great fun and it allowed me to use some of the beautifully coloured cottons I’ve got stashed around the flat.

I’ve been just dying to put these to good use and finally I had the opportunity. After doing a bit of sewing I really made a bit of a schedule for myself this past weekend. It’s the bf’s (boyfriend, though he’ll chide me for not saying fiance) birthday on monday but as we’re away I thought I’d make him a birthday treat early. So I donned my apron and got to work making a carrot cake (his favourite).

Instantly this made me happy because I got to use my new oven timer which my friend had bought me for Christmas and my retro kitchen scales which I absolutely adore.

I must admit, though I enjoy baking I’m not great at it and this was the first time I’d made this cake on my own. In the oven it looked fine but started to crumble a bit on preparing to ice.

But not to worry, the icing would cover it, and it looked so nice in the bowl I thought nothing could look horrible with this icing on.

Two whole tubs of mascarpone went into this icing.(sigh) I’m not quite sure if I like that fact or loathe it. But with this on my cake would surely look pretty, well, so I thought . . .

My icing skills leave a lot to be desired and I think the cake tin was a bit too big, but apart from that, if you close your eyes, it tastes quite nice, and the bf liked it so it can’t be all bad.

Setting myself with the cake challenge and completing it put my mind towards another challenge, something which, though I like to think it, doesn’t really come naturally to me. As you may have read on the little “about me” page I am a keen but not always successful amateur gardener. “how does she garden with no garden?” I hear you say, well it’s not so much a garden as a few herbs I’ve got indoors and a couple of succulents. Last year I saw the demise of all my well established little herb pots, sad yes, but entirely my own fault. This year I’ve replanted and have just got my first few seedlings. I’ve got coriander and chives so far, and hope to have basil, parsley and thyme.

Just how long these little fellas will stay alive I’m unsure, I’m the worst plant mother possible, but this year is all about starting afresh and I will do my utmost.

So, after a busy  weekend a well deserved cuppa was in order and I just had to use my Christmas mug. Cheers!