I've been nominated....

Hello lovely followers and readers,

I'm a bit lost for words as I've been nominated for the Liebster Award

Thank you so much 

Jill over at Emerald Cottage 

You've made my day :-)

Do go and visit Jill as she shares posts bursting with warmth, sunshine and humour;

Jill always sets me a-giggling :-)

As Jill explains the award so well I won't go into that...

But there are a few things I have to do...

The first is to share 11 random facts about myself

so let me get started...this is not going to be easy!

1. I'm forever collecting random things

- corks, supermarket netting, metal, crockery shards, sea glass, buttons, driftwood, books, ...

2. My earliest memory is from when I was 2 years old and my family were staying at my grandparents house in Chessington....

I was in the bath and mum was washing my hair....

I was screaming my head off....

Nana came in and offered me an old penny if only i would be quiet...

I wasn't!

My poor mum tried every which way she could to wash my hair but it always resulted in screams from me...

Poor mum!

I don't remember why I didn't like it and I cannot remember the sensory experience  of it except for bright light and deep shadows.

Now I know I have Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism, it is highly likely i was having sensory  perceptual overload. It's a bit like asking too much of a computer and it has a wobbly, then crashes.

3. As a child I was very fearful of walking over a bridge or looking under one!

My mum use to get me to stand on the foot plate of my brother's pushchair, told me to hold tight and to close my eyes. 

Thank you Mum :-) xxx

I now understand that it's not a fear as such but the movement of the water, the shadows and light giving a sensory overload.  I can still feel this at times.

4. I bought my Pipy Wendy spinning wheel when I was 18. 

I now have two, the second being one of Majacraft's early  Suzie...it doesn't have the

New Zealand clematis flower motif on the handle or drive wheel.

5. I started to learn to sew and embroider when I was 6.

6. I use to make most of my children's clothes but this stopped when I came back to the U.K. 

7. I was a nurse...for two years.

8. I focus on detail and don't see or find it very hard to see the bigger picture ...it's an Aspie thing :-) 

I love close up photography

9. I love singing.

10. I couldn't live without my Christian faith... She/He has got me through some very difficult times.

11. I'm very grateful :-).... but I have to work at it...!

*************

I shall endeavour to answer Jill's 11 questions now :-)

Are you ready?

Not sure I am!

Here goes...

1. What is my favorite craft activity?

Ah... at the moment it is crochet.

2. What was the last project I finished?

Good question Jill...there's certainly plenty of WIP's

It took a couple of minutes to compute...

Ah...it was my red and white crochet bag that is currently holding my latest WIP - the green Drops Lace.

3. What would be my ideal crafted gift to receive?

That's a hard one....hmm...something handmade by a friend or family member...

Actually I don't mind what it is if it it's made with their precious time and their love for me.  It would be treasured my whole life through and passed on to my children and grandchildren.

Some treasures I already have....

This lovely card arrived by post this morning from the lovely
Mandy at Blue bell Lane Crafts ...Just in case I was missing my pigeon friend.
Thanks so much Mandy, you are a darling, it was such a lovely surprise xx

Here are a couple more items my lovely cousin has gifted me...

And a cushion from my beloved auntie and cousin...

Plus a couple from my lovely mum...

....isn't it stunning?

4. What is my favourite season?

All of them for different reasons...

Spring because...well, it's spring! Full of promise of new life, rejuvenation, warmer weather, ...a wonderful time for gardening, the joy of scents.... it's not too hot.

Summer because Lovely Husband is home from school for eight whole weeks.

Autumn because I've had enough of the heat of summer, I love autumn colours and they are the colours that personally suit me best.  Walking / kicking through piles of heaped crackly leaves. Collecting colourful leaves and conkers to display inside. Jars full of jams, chutneys and preserves ...and the freezer packed full too. Having a fire in the Rayburn all day and the resulting coziness of our cottage.

Winter because it always reminds me that I'll be thankful for the arrival of snowdrops and crocus followed by the onset of spring. Having the Rayburn alight all day and night; lighting the wood burner...

It's either spring or autumn... :-)

5. What is my favourite craft-related-non-blog website?

I don't think there is a number one favourite but I would say most places that can give me a colour fix. If I have to choose I'll say Pinterest.

I can be found here. 

6. Which crafty activity have I never done but would like to try?

I have enjoyed wet felting in the past and I'm going to have a play at needle felting as my lovely son bought me the essentials for Christmas.

7. What was the last magazine I bought?

Simply Crochet Issue 18

8. What was the last book I read?

'Sensory Perceptual Issues in Autism and Asperger Syndrome: Different Sensory Experiences Different Perceptual Worlds' by Olga Bogdashina (about the author); published by
Jessica Kingsley Publishers

The book can be purchased here.

It is an excellent book and anyone who loves, cares for, or who is on the spectrum would benefit from reading it.  It has helped me a lot and has given me a greater understanding of myself together with giving me a language to describe experiences and more confidence say what I need/feel.  It's not a 'how to' book but it's full of insight and intellectual understanding.

I intend to add another page at some point to this blog of the helpful books / web pages i have read. I have thought about writing a separate blog about autism but I would find it too confusing.

9. What did I want to be when I was little?

A hairdresser like my mum :-)

10. What is my favourite thing about blogging?

I spend a great deal of time on my own and I love the friendships and the sense of community that I'm finding in the blogosphere.  I would name you all but I would worry I'd unintentionally leave people out.

11. How did I choose the name of my blog?

It took me ages, well, months :-)

I wanted a name that is easy to say, memorable and says something about my interests. I would quite like a second line that rhymes with the first but haven't come up with anything that's not too twee. 

So there we are :-)

The next step of this award will be on the following post.

Bye for now my lovelies...oh....

..if you haven't already, now's a good time to go check out 

Jill's wonderful blog!

Err.... I forgot to mention I can be rather bossy....just sometimes :-)

Ttfn xxxxxxxxx

Tracey

 Thank you so much for all your lovely sweet comments on my last post.

I welcome your comments and they make my day :-)

Little views of happy

Hello Lovelies :-)

I'm rather excited about a little parcel I received this morning, 

I couldn't resist the Drops sale over at The Wool Warehouse

 These beauties were inside...

Aren't they gorgeous?

I have plans a brewing for these oh so soft plump lovelies....

The ice blue skein will be lovingly crafted into a shawl for a beloved family member

And the others will become shawly things for me

...I think I'll start on the green :-)

*************

So there I was standing in the kitchen taking photos of the lace weight yarn when I thought how about showing you my happy cottage kitchen. I've always argued myself out of it before now as it's never pristine. I'm not the most tidy of people and to top the untidyness off, we have a solid fuel Rayburn... this means lots of sooty dust!

So, shall we start the little tour?

Our home it's full of things that reminds me of people 

- loved ones, both family and friends and others that remain in my heart that I can no longer see.

Creations from when my children were small and newer ones by Little Miss and Young Master...our beloved grandchildren.

Washed recycled jars drying and waiting for harvest jams and chutneys.

Lime pickle fermenting - my wonderful, caring son in law will be delighted :-)

And finally just to dispel all romantic notions.... my next job is.....

...sweeping :-)

Ok my lovelies, thank you so much for visiting and I wish each one you a wonderful weekend and half term.....  

Yay! I will have Lovely Husband home for a week :-) :-) :-)

Blessings to you all

Ttfn Tracey

xxxxxxxx

Sunshiney garden today

The view from my kitchen window. I love it and feel so blessed to have a cottage garden. 

You can just make out the welcoming open door of my studio.

Ttfn

xxxx

I do like red

Hello Lovelies

Honestly this really is bright red even if the photos say otherwise! 

Think tomato :-)

This it's my first proper crochet bag....yay...I think there will be many more to come.

The red 100% cotton yarn I bought from Lidl a few months back. The white is James C. Brett craft cotton purchased from Deramores.

I made an oval base before continuing up the sides. I just wanted something simple rather than elaborate.

I've lined it with a pretty floral fabric that I bought some time ago.

As you can see from the top image my wee constant companion thinks it rather lovely to lie on... bless!

I've been busy doing various other things too

...like looking after a lost and exhausted racing pigeon!

It arrived 4 days ago and I've grown rather fond of her but nevertheless I am keen for her to return home.

Through studying her ring tags on her legs and a spot of googling I discovered she is from the north west of England and was able to leave a message on someone's phone in Wigan. (I live in the south west)

A very nice man called to verify the tag details and within an hour I was speaking to the owner... yay!

She is going to be couriered home to Chester in a specially set up van.

I'm calling her Priscilla in the meantime... a bit pointless really because I keep forgetting it and often referring to her as a he. Lol!

I've previously not been too fond of pigeons but this wee girl has such character how could i not fall for her :-)

Well that's it for now my lovelies,

Thank you for all the lovely messages you have been leaving;

you are so kind.

Ttfn xxxx

Little makes and more little stitches

Hello Lovelies

Have you got your cuppa ready :-)

Here are some little things I've been creating.

There are no pattern references as I made these up myself.

A wee pin cushion ready to make its home in my studio.

A little yellow bag - it's more yellow than it appears.

My first effort at crochet fusion - is that what it's called?

...and I've added lots more stitches to the vintage hexie quilt...

Ah...and I haven't tried to rectify the colours this time but it's still not right

ho hum

Apologies for being so slow with posting lately.

I've been trying to figure out a way of downloading photos directly from my camera to my tablet but so far I've failed (sad face). 

I've written lots of interesting posts in my head but that it's of no use to you, my lovely readers!

Nevermind

I'll try and write short regular posts using my tablet's own camera and will resort to the pc sometimes for posts and better images.

Meanwhile my constant companion has taken himself upstairs for a nap

But he'll soon be down for his 5 o'clock walk and fishy treat, 

Lucky boy :-)

Bye for now my lovelies, 

Thank you for all your comments and emails they mean so much to me and really brighten day.

Ooh, that reminds me... yarn and pencil can now be found on Twitter (here) and Facebook (here)

I must look into finding links...

I'm also opening an Etsy shop! Get me! I'm still rather lost in the setting up process at the moment though...

I'll be off then 

Thanks so much for dropping by :-)

Ttfn

xxxxxxx