A little update

Hello Lovelies

This is a quick update!

I told myself I wasn't going to publish another post until I finish one of the many projects I've told you about but it's been so long since the last one and I've been missing you... sigh.

Well I have been busy...honestly!

I have finished and posted two little pouch bags and one largish mandala doily thingy

- all gifts and I didn't take photos as I was racing to get them wrapped and posted.

I'm sure you know how it is...

I have achieved loads more little stitches on the vintage hexies quilt but have slowed down as it is too warm to have on my lap.

I haven't got as far as I'd hoped with my first skein of the green lace yarn. 

I took both photos with my tablet... you wouldn't believe the shawly thing below is actual a beautiful green!

I'll reveal more later :-)

I have been working hard in the garden and in our village churchyard. I must remember to take a photo of the gorgeous wild flower bank that Lovely Husband and i have been tending - it's glorious.

Take care Lovelies, thank you for visiting me, it's been lovely to see you.

Ttfn

Tracey xxx

Heirloom crochet WIP gift

Hello Lovelies :-)

And welcome to Angela of Cottage Magpie (here) and to my Mum and Dad

who are new followers.

I had a fabulous surprise on Saturday when the postman made his delivery....

...a package from my mum :-)

Thanks so much Mum xx

I have no memories of this project and I would love to know if it was before my time or when i was very young.

Mum has always been a crafter of all sorts but I cannot remember seeing her crochet except for when mum taught me as a teenager.

So here it is...

...and some closeups of those tiny wee stitches...

...and the matching thread plus a yummy yellow ombre one (you know how i have a thing about yellow at the moment!)...

The ecru is...

Shade 609,  dyelot N564 

I don't think Coats produce cotton thread like this anymore.

I think I may make another cushion to go with the cushion I'm going to make with this.

Maybe I'll use it with the yellow fabric...

I know...another excuse to play!

(Oh, I nearly forgot....the pattern is lost but I may be able to figure it out.)

I will, of course, show you what the outcome is but it might be a little while as I am trying to finish the hand quilting on the vintage hexie quilt.

I'm making good progress.

********

Thank you all for your comments and emails on my last two posts :-)

I wasn't happy with how the last post turned out...

I was stressing over it and pushed myself to publish it in the early hours one morning

....not a good move as it caused me even more stress later that day when I realised it didn't read the way i had intended..

Oops!

Thanks for bearing with me.

Ttfn xxxx
Tracey

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

Mand-a-long thus far.. and a visitor...

Hello dear readers,

Just a quick post today so that I can link up with all the lovely mand-a-long peeps over at Lazy Daisy Jones and Chrissie Crafts. Come on over and take a peek :-)

I'm currently working on my fourth mandala. I was so pleased with my third one that I am making another and writing the pattern to go with it.  If you had told me before I started that I would begin to make them up as I went along I doubt I would have believed you!

The upper two are blocked and the lower left waiting patiently whereas the wee one is still growing...

I've also signed up for Daisy's sew-a-long (see the button at the top of this page for link)

BUT....

...oh dear, a spanner has well and truly been thrown into the works to mess with my merry makes. There is a damp patch on the wall in the studio (due to the rain we've had) so I left the door open the other day to help it dry out...as you do..... It wasn't until the next day when we found large patches of wee that we realised we had a visitor. At first I thought it must be a cat and that it had sneaked back out when Lovely Husband opened the studio up and had gone off to fetch something. We were fooled. Oh dearie me.... I went back in yesterday and they was another puddle and we realised it hasn't been a naughty feline visitor but one of a rodent nature. It's now behind the plumbing pipes in the wall. We think it must be a rat of large size due to the big puddles it leaves behind.  So dear readers my beautiful studio is currently a mess as we have boarded up access to shelves, piled stuff on the tables, brought loads of precious stash, drawings etc over to the cottage until Mr or Mrs rodent is there no more... I have tried leaving the door open for it to escape but methinks it likes it's new home.

I shall let you know when I've moved back in....

Cheery bye

Tracey xxxx

Hooky joy and other things....

Hello lovely folks 
and very happy Mothering Sunday to you :-)

In this post i show you a couple of my knitty creations, catch up with the latest news on those vintage hexies, check on the garden and last but not least, pop into the studio to see what been up to this week with crochet hook..... you may like to join in.

I adore colour so it it's not surprising that I drool over the work of Kaffe Fassett and more recently, Cath Kidston.

The two following items have been influenced by Kaffe. The basic batwing pattern comes from a magazine in the eighties and I've made up the design as I've gone along with no previous planning. It is knitted up from hand dyed, hand spun yarn and commercial yarn. It's never been washed or blocked...

So without further ado.....

Ta dah!

I love it!

...and the next to show you is my shawl that I made at the end of last year. I acquired a lot of tapestry yarn... I do really mean a lot! I was in heaven with all that variegated colour. The basic pattern is from one of Kaffe's books where you cast on 3 stitches and increase one stitch at both ends of every row. I had about 450 (approx) on my circular needle at the end. It's so big that the fringe touches the floor...I may remove the fringe and add a crochet border...now that I can crochet.

Ta dah!

Some garden updates...

And the news from my studio is that some of my home made bunting is cheerfully decorating my creative space. I made the bunting a few years ago for my 50th. I generally use it outside in the summertime but as I did have an addiction to making bunting at one time, I have plenty for both. On the odd occasion at church I get nicknamed Tracey Bunting!...(It's because I can be a little crazy, perhaps eccentric at times).

I've been fiddle faddling around with my vintage hexie finds trying to choose a background fabric that will fit in with my decor, show the hexies up well and fit in with the vintage feel.....

...still deliberating...

 I need to do some research before I decide. I've more or less decided to applique them to a background fabric but I'm still unsure if they should become a quilt top or several smaller items. Perhaps I could do both...  well see :-)

Other creative news...

I'm joining the mand-a-long that the two lovely ladies... Chrissie Crafts and Lazy Daisy Jones.... have instigated, along with the help of Wink. It's my first ever crochet-a-long and I'm rather excited. I've made my first mandala.... I guess I could show it....it's been pressed but not blocked.  I used the yarn that Deci gifted me last week.

it's from Wink's pattern in issue 14 of Simply Crochet magazine. It's certainly not perfect but as it's my first I'm not worried in the least as I will be hooking some more for sure. It's a fab pattern to follow and it's completely my fault that I didn't get it right as I didn't count stitches... do I hang my head in shame.... No way, as I had such fun hooking it! And anyway, if you only see perfect ones and you are a beginner like me, it could put you off trying and then you'd miss out on lovely hooky joy...... and what a shame 't'would be.

Well I think that is it for now, I was going to hurry off to make dinner but Lovely Husband has it all organised... Thank you :-)

Cheery bye!
Tracey xx

The gift... Ta dah!

Hi there!

I know there is more rain coming but right now I am just revelling in the sunshine.

I've had a walk around the garden picking daffodils for my neighbour.

I can hear you saying... 'Hurry up and get on with the ta dah!'

But first I really must thank all the lovely people who post comments and send me emails, I really appreciate every single one and they really make my day. Thank you! It's lovely to be making new friends :-)

Now for the ta dah... Actually, I'm a bit nerwous about it...but here goes...

Ta dah...!

It was rather windy

...and waiting patiently for the birthday girl to arrive...

My friend loves it so much but in the excitement of present giving I forgot to take a photo of the shawly scarfy delight on her person... actually, I think she would rather I forgot that!

I used this pattern by Kirsten Finlay, but not strictly. I would advise winding the yarn twice around the needle when making the first 'yarn forward' increase at the beginning of each increase row otherwise the sides are too tight and very difficult to block. I found  making that stitch loose was not enough and had to undo the work and start again.

I used this yarn in the colour way named Tamaya which I purchased from my

local yarn shop .

I previously made this pattern in Stylecraft Senses yarn in the Eucalyptus colour way and to be honest I preferred using that yarn for this pattern.

What other crafty things have I been up too...?  Well, my ripple blanket/throw is growing slowly but I am really enjoying it.

I've made several more dishcloths which I am going to sell to raise money for our village church - you can see a glimpse of the church in the background of the top photo.  I'm just selling them locally for now.  Actually, I gave my friend a dishcloth too but she said it was too nice and would use it as a cloth under a plant pot!  I had made a round one and edged it in pink :)

There's a couple of other things I'm trying to make for fundraising but I've not quite there yet.

I am very relieved to have finished the shawly scarfy thing as I missed being able to crochet.  I have been knitting since I was about 4 years old so that's nearly 50 years.  I have loved knitting but at the moment I LOVE CROCHET MORE!  Sorry for shouting but it was an excited shout, an almost 'I can't believe it' shout.

I think I may show you a couple of my knitty makes from the past in my next post... a shawl and a batwing jumper.  Of course there are many, many other knitty makes I've made but methinks you will like to see these two particular garments.

And what is my constant companion doing... need we ask!?

...and here is a peek off one of our window sills...

Well, it's been lovely chatting with you over our cups of tea, [mine is an Earl Grey], but the Rayburn is getting hungry so I must go feed her.

Bye for now my lovelies, have a fabulous week,

<3 Tracey xx



Ooh...new crochet project

Hello lovely people,

I hope you had a great weekend.

 

A couple of weeks ago my gem of a husband bought me some more yarny stash from my local yarn shop ...I had decided I wanted to make a blanket and thought I wanted lots of colours.

Well, these yarny balls of goodness played on my mind a lot.  The more I thought about them the more confused I became on how to use them.  I had tentatively made some granny squares but wasn't convinced that was what I wanted.

So, some new and some from my stash... here are some of the colours I had teasing me...

 

 

 

Yesterday I decided upon Lucy's ripple pattern and started a brand new hooky project.

I've only hooked about five rows but I couldn't wait to show you

so here it is....

 

 

Surprise! I'm only using three colours.

 

I've had to pull it apart a couple of times and it's still not perfect but I am fine with it now and happy just to hook away at it.

It is a lovely pattern to work once you get use to it... rhythmic and therapeutic. Lovely :)

Thank you so much Lucy... I owe you a coffee!

 

I'll show you a progress report when there is something more substantial to see.

Nag me if I don't!

 

I've been fiddling around with my blog header.  What do you think?

I'm not too sure at the moment so I'll live with it a few days before I make a decision.

 

Several people have had problems with not being able to leave messages.  I have checked everything and cannot find anything wrong.  Have you had a similar problem with your blog? 

 

Ooh...it time to go as Bertie (wee Cairn like dog) wants some attention.

 

Toodlypip xxx

 

 

 

Spring colour

 Spring is springing, yippee!

 

Happy St. David's day.

 

 

 

Yesterday I said I would post a picture of my two crochet cushions... and I have... but there at the end of this post.  Is that being sneaky...making you look at all the flowers and foliage first...?

 

I've been out in my garden absorbing the sunshine and the delights of new growth.

 

 

 

The damson about to blossom

 

 

Forget-me-nots appearing

 

Leaves unfurling

 

Snow drops drooping prettily

 

A barrel of narcissus

 

 

 

 

Divine scented Daphne

 

Rhubarb erupting

 

Lungwort flowering under the Daphne and greeny fronds of grape hyacinths

 

.........

 

...and Ta Dah

 

 

My two crochet cushions.

The one on the left is from a Cath Kidston kit I bought half price in Windsor, and the cushion on the right I made afterwards with yarn from my stash. The four centre grannies were a tad smaller than the outer squares so I hooked a row of double crochet all around  for a tidier sewn together look.

They are both acrylic.

The red cushion on the right I knitted several months ago and I used Wendy Mode DK doubled, from my local yarn store.

What I think must have been a stash buster, the stripey blanket, was a charity shop purchase.  I love finds like that!  It's getting a bit holey though...hmm...I can see a good excuse to create some bright hooky patches.

 

Thanks for joining me.

Have a lovely weekend. Bye xx