Woyww #117 and more Korknisse and a Warm Monkey

This week I am back at my trusty old spotty kitchen table.

I have my spotty bag of wool. (overflowing because I had to buy bigger balls because the blanket is getting so big).

My sewing box, which is also overflowing because I never put anything away in it properly.

My cup of tea in my Padstow mug.

My Grandma's old tin of buttons.

Smash book with some bits I'm adding in and some buttons that for some reason my mum has tied together (probably being tidy and organised).

My friend's teapot again - I just rang her to ask if she had seen my blog last week and whether she thought she might like the tea cosy I found. She does.

The crochet pattern for the aforementioned tea cosy.

My ever increasing granny blanket. This now takes an hour and ten minutes per round. But it is still no nearer the size I want it to be.

And that's it.

I have however been creating this week some more Korknisse, number Five and number Six.

......and didn't they have fun in the garden (remember the chickens?). We have new neighbours but I don't think they saw me.

I have also made a new jumper for our resident Monkey, Gunkey Monkey. He has been asking (yes you heard right) for a jumper for ages, and I finally got my wool out and made it up as I went along - with a little help from my Mum (Moo).

He can't actually remove his jumper as I sewed it on around him - it's not cruel - he'll be fine!

Doesn't he look smart and ever so warm. We are moving to Canada shortly and it sure gets cold there in the Winter.

That's all from me. Have a look at some other desks here.

Meet Me On A Monday (Evening!) Week 4

I'm a bit late with this one this week.  It's the Bank Holiday's fault.

I am joining in with Clare's "Meet me on a Monday" and here is what I hav been up to this week.


Growing: yellow courgettes which I have used in my pasta today - yum. 

Cooking: apple crumble with an almond topping

Wearing: my scruffs as I haven't been out all day - shame on me!

Listening to: the kids fighting and fighting

Watching: Hey - I'm watching Wilfred too - It is hilarious

Meeting: Some friends on the park tomorrow

Visiting: The Dentist - eeek

Reading: Huffle's job offer letter - hurrah - well done Huffle.

Dreaming of: The next house we will buy - (might also be a nightmare)

had a few people ask me about this house - it's not one we are buying in canada - it is from the film "The Money Pit"

Drinking: a lovely hot cup of tea

Remembering: to post this blog before Monday is finished


Join in - leave me a comment to show you've participated and then go and leave a comment on http://jumbleberries.blogspot.com/ - she'll be really pleased to hear from you.

Woyww #116 - not alot

Having been away for five days, I don't have much to show this week. I don't even have a workdesk, I'm a fraud, am I even allowed to take part?

This is all I am working on at the moment ......................

I'm sure you can find many interesting workdesks if you pop along to Julia's place

There is a bag of rubbish up for winning if you go to
http://lazycatscards.blogspot.com/2011/08/pennis-rubbish-candy.html

Meet me on a Monday - week 3

This week I am actually in Canada but I wanted to join in with Clare's "meet me on a Monday". I know it says above that I posted this on Sunday but I know that it is Monday in the UK so I thought it would be okay.

So here goes (I can't post pictures but might add them when I get home).

1. wearing a dress. Not exactly normal for me but I am in a different country, it is hot and I have just been to the theatre.

2. watching Billy Elliot the musical in Toronto.

3. visiting the Toronto Blue Jays baseball stadium to hopefully get a top for Small.

4. eating aeroplane food (ummm nice) later on the way home.

5. reading about how to stop scratching mosquito bites. Ouch.

6. dreaming of coming home and seeing my two beautiful boys.

This is them at Pizza Express after we got home

Why not pop over to http://jumbleberries.blogspot.com/ and play along. Leave me a comment here too so I can have a nosey at what you are doing.

WOYWW #115 - PLENTY

This week I am back at the kitchen table where there is plenty going on.

Some new balls of wool for my Granny Blanket.

My friends' tea pot - she would like me to make her a tea cosy for it. Now I did start to knit this but whilst flicking through my new Crochet Magazine I found a fantastic pattern for a crocheted tea cosy - so I might just have a go.  I'm not sure this is what she had in mind though when she asked me.

My Smash Book - brimming with ideas of things to make and do.

On the right hand side in the middle is peeking another Kornisse half done, I need to make his hat.  Also some more corks waiting to be 'dressed'.

On the left hand side there are my Family Photos which I am still scanning and trying to organise to put in an album.  Below the photos there are some tea towels that I bought to make something for Small - maybe a draught excluder for his bedroom - not that it is draughty but I saw a fabulous one at a friends' house recently, and I wanted to make it.  Watch this space.

And that's it for me this week.  Pop over the Julia's for more workdesks - go on - it's fun (and who doesn't like snooping at other people's stuff?).

Meet me on a Monday

Today I have joined in with the Jumbleberries Meet me on Monday

This week I'm :-

1.  making a crochet Granny Blanket

Huffle testing it

2.  Cooking a vegetable lasagne using ingredients dug from my very own garden

3.  Wearing my new platform sandals - just because I can!

4.  Listening to Maverick Saber - WOW I just love this song

5.  Meeting Mrs Jumbleberries this evening for a well earned glass of wine

6.  Visiting my dear friend after lunch for a coffee and a chat

What are you up to today? - visit Jumbleberries to join in.  ENJOY x

Corks, Cake & Crochet

And one more makes 4.

Smallest actually came up to me the other day and said "where is my cork man?". He went off and chose the wool, got my needles and picked his own cork.

So this one belongs to Smallest - he loves it.

I have been commissioned to make some Korknisse for a friend too, who wants to use them to display her 'meaningful' corks, i.e. one from her Wedding Day, one from when her children were born etc - what a lovely idea. 

I made a Banana and Chocolate cake (from The Great British Book of Baking) for a picnic we went on this week.  In all honesty, I had some bananas hanging around which were way past their best so this was the perfect thing to make.

They are not holes - they are great big chunks of chocolate - yum

Now when I went to take a photo of my cake, I accidentally left it on the video setting - (oh how my Huffle laughed - he wanted to see the video to see if the cake moved).  Well here is the video and if you watch it very very closely you might just see it wink ;o)

he, he, he, he.

My Crocheting is coming along quite quickly.  Maybe not as neat as I would have liked but I am very very new to this.  Each evenng I lay it on the floor of the lounge and when Smallest comes down in the morning he picks it up and admires it (he is so very appreciative of all my work).  He lays it across his lap to see if it is yet a blanket. 

Ah bless him.

woyww - in the sunshine

I'm outside crafting again.  You just can't beat it.  Boys playing cricket, tea and biscuits, wool and corks, books and needles.     Ahhh, I've got so much done.  The boys don't seem to notice that I'm not running around after them when we are outside, them playing with their friends, while I sneak bits of crafting in - he, he, as long I throw them the odd biscuit here and there.  (These are my sons I am talking about, not a couple of dogs!).

Anyway here is my desk rug (go and see some more desks at Julia's Stamping Ground):-

By George I think she's got it!

I have finally mastered the art of crocheting in a sqaure.  Can you see the beginnings of my Granny Blanket on my picture?  And now I have started I just can't put it down.  I have even stopped making the little Korknisse (for now), although I did notice that Annaboo had posted the crocheting instructions for these gorgeous little things - go on, have a look, they are so cute.

Anyway, back to my blanket - I love it  ;o)

Three's a crowd?

And one more makes THREE.............................

These are soooo addictive.

They're corkin'

I have discovered a fabulous new blog (new to me) called Annaboo's House. If you haven't managed to find her blog yet, do go and look.  Its so interesting and she makes the most amazing things. This week she has made some gorgeous Korknisse and I thought I would have a go.  As my crocheting is still in tangles, I thought I would have a go at knitting them.

What do you think?

Last night I went out with two of my friends for dinner and Cinema. I came home with a bag full of corks. (not because we drank too much wine, but because I asked if I could take some if they had some spare - and they did)   Hurray, I can make as many of these as I like. 

My two here are made using champagne corks. One is from when Small was born and the other given to me by the restaurant last night.    But again what a good idea, a way to keep a special cork.

Thanks Annaboo's House.

WomcrW in the sunshine

Which translates into What's On My Crafting Rug Wednesday (although I did take this on Tuesday) but that's far too many letters for a title.

This week I have been trying to make the most of the sunshine and been crafting outside. Well trying to, despite being ill and having the kids here. Funnily enough they are not interested in crocheting, knitting or anything I fancy doing at the time. You see, it doesn't involve mud, sticks or chocolate.

Anyway, what is on my crafting rug:


My How To Crochet book which I am finding incredibly difficult to decipher. It should be easy. There are diagrams, pictures, tips but I just can't do it. Luckily my Mother in Law can crochet and she is going to help me this weekend.


There are my balls of wool and some lovely flowers I might make into brooches. I made them by mistake, good mistake but a mistake nevertheless.


My smash book - full of more ideas which I will get round to one day.

And an album I am trying to create of old photographs found at my Grandma's house. I've had them for years but only just started to sort them. Some of them go back ages.


<><> <><> <><>

I wish I knew who this was.  We think they might be my Great Great Grandma & Great Great Grandad but we can't be sure.  It seems a very old photograph.

What's on your work desk this week? Hop over to Julia's to find lots more desks.


Another purchase from Ikea that I wanted to share

It's a candle that smells of apple.  ....and it really does.  I have bought many scented candles before and none really smell once they are lit - but horray, this one does.

Swedish Shopping

No crafts today as Mum and I took the kids to Ikea. Why? Well the kids said they wanted to go.    They were an absolute nightmare.  And we got lost twice on the way.  I had also thought I could pick up some bits and bobs - crafty wise - but I didn't.

However, I bought some lovely things (for those who know me or have read my other blog, I am supposed to be de-cluttering).


Some lovely purple glasses

Three (Well Mum said one was not enough) small vases

I was inspired to buy the small one-flower vases because I picked a Daisy from the garden the other day and remembered my Mum had once had a glass rose vase. I asked her if she knew where it was and if I could have it, and..................................

Ta - daaahhhhhhh

What a beauty - she said I could borrow  it.   Thanks Mum.

woyww plus Minions & Cupcake

On my workdesk this lovely Wednesday is :-  My Smashbook / Journal/ Scap Book, whatever you want to call it.  It is proving very useful for jotting down ideas especially when looking through my friends magazine yesterday.  I managed to get lots of tips, some good websites to check out and some new blogs to look at.

There is a finished Minion on there waiting to be delivered.  Some photos I want to cut up and do something with - not sure what yet.

Also there is some crochet - I am attempting to crochet a blanket but am kind of making it up as I go along.  When I was in the loft this weekend (having a huge clearout) I came across all the old baby blankets that I have knitted, friends and family have crocheted.  I don't want to get rid of them so I thought I might crochet them all together and make one huge blanket. 


MINIONS

Hurrah - I have finally finished my knitted Minions and have the pattern here:-

One for my neice and two for my friends' children.  I had such fun knitting these (although they are bit fiddly to sew together).  They each have their own look and I am sad to see them go to their new homes. 

Be happy little Minions.  BTW these are from the film 'Despicable Me' - I had a few comments last week asking what Minions were.  They are little helpers / workers of the main man in the film (Cartoon).  He has hundreds of them. 

Doesn't everyone deserve a few Minons in their life?


CUPCAKE

I also made another felt cupcake - I quite like this one but not sure it's quite good enough to eat.

Maybe I could knit myself a load of Minions, to make me lots of cakes and then I can sit and eat them all day long.   Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ;0)

Afternoon Tea, Cinders?

Wednesday

I had a craving for scones, and what do you do when you crave something that you haven't got in the pantry? Well you make it of course. Yummy scrummy scones. Made in the food processor and not because I was being lazy but because the recipe actually told me to.

...... and just in case you wondered what they look like sandwiched with butter and jam........

Thursday

Made the base of the Cinderella cake so that I could spend the whole of Friday icing it. While I had all the ingredients out I thought it would be a nice surprise for Huffle if the kids made him a cake for his tea.



He was very happy with the pink sprinkles!!

Friday

Then Cinderella got dressed and went to the ball. It was my intention to show step by step photos but I kind of got carried away.

but here's my lovely mixer

here's my lovely silicone oven glove and cake tester



Her dress?

Ooh Cinders, put it away!

Ready for dancing

The cake has been delivered now. (I always take the legs off the dolls before I plunge them into The cakes and then leave the legs, dress, shoes etc with them for when the cake has been eaten, but this time I forgot the bits and bobs. I hope when they cut the cake and see she hasn't got legs that the poor birthday girl isn't traumatised). (when I mentioned to the birthday girl's mum I had forgotten the legs she said "of course she has legs, they are under her dress otherwise how would she dance?"). Good point.

Oh yes, while I was decorating Cinderella my mum was decorating mini cupcakes.

Chicken

Now I know I said no chickens for a while but I had to show you this cutie that Lulabelle made.  She asked me for the pattern and made it the very next day.  In fact I've just checked her blog and she has made another two already.  The chickens may take over the world!

Right, now the cakes are finished it's time to get on with those Minions.