WOYWW #216 - new socks, more socks, undone socks.

Today I am joining in with WOYWW which is Julia's brainchild. A very nosy way to look at people's workdesk and craft spaces. It's very addictive.

I have been away for some time. Mum was visiting from the UK for six weeks, then our friends were here for a few days. Lots of entertaining, laughing, walking, playing, but no crafting. So today is the first day I have been able to get up to my lovely craft room and although I haven't really done anything, I have been able to put stuff on my desk ready for doing. So, my desk, not in the middle of work but about to worked on....

My Sleepy Seep has finally been finished and is reading to be wrapped and sent to its new home. A new baby boy here in Canada but of English parents. One of my new friends from the ex-pat group I joined. I am thrilled for them. He was born on the same day as the new Royal baby.

On the left is a pile of Mollie Makes bought over by my visitors wi lots of new projects to do. Left corner front are two new patterns for socks and new wool and needles. Who knows when I will get round to doing them. One of the pairs is for my Mum for Christmas or Birthday depending on how quick or slow I am! The boys chose the wool for her which is nice (especially as they agreed and didnt argue about it). The other, I am not sure.

At the front is the sock I started on ages ago. It is a work sock, red, grey marle and cream. I undid it all because I decided I wanted to knit them for Huffle for Christmas and the rate I am going, I better start now.

I think that is it. Hopefully I will be able to get round to more people this week as the kids are on holiday (actually thinking about it, that might mean I have less time - we'll see!).

Right I am going to crack on with this work sock now.

 

 

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WOYWW #211 - sock with rib this time

Hi. Wednesday again and note I haven't posted anything since last Wednesday. Tut tut. I am joining in with What's on your Workdesk Wednesday in order to show you my desk.

Not a lot has been going on, in fact I don't think I have even been up to my desk since last Wednesday. I did go to my knitting group and I did undo the sock I was making and I did start again. I realised before that I hadn't started with a rib so this time I did and it feels and looks a lot better. I am making a work sock. Cream with a couple of red stripes and a red heel and toe and the rest a grey marl or merle as it is called here.

Nothing else to report except I am having fun with my Mum here so may not have time to visit much.

 

 

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WOYWW #210 - sock, sleeve, sheep

WOYWW stands for What's on your Workdesk Wednesday? This idea was started by Julia of Stamping Ground fame. Who knew it would be sooooo successful. Even though I have only been joining in for about two and a half years, it is fascinating. All those desks (200 some weeks), all those crafty people, all the lovely things to see. Such lovely comments, great ideas, tips........ It's greeeaaaattttttt.

My desk this week is in the dark. It is a photo from Tuesday night because where I live (Canada), it isn't Wednesday until nearly midday in the UK. Enough excuses, here it is......

My sleepy sheep is very nearly finished, just a few ends to sew in. I haven't got any further with my crochet flower. I do have a new lamp on the desk. Although the lighting is good up in the loft, in the evening it is nice to have a brighter directional light. I am about half way through my sleeve as I started a new project (I know, I should have finished one thing before starting another but I am a bit bored of my cardi now. It's so thick and chunky and I can't imagine wearing it, I will finish it though soon I promise). My Mollie Makes magazine is open to a page I found very intriguing. Big crochet cushions with a lovely vintage fabric on the other side and a big handmade button in the middle. Ummmmmmmmmmmm.

So, my new project. I have a joined the 'Sockalicious' group at my knitting shop. The idea is we learn a different sock pattern each month. I am two months behind because I joined late. The one I am doing at the moment is a work sock (like the original sock monkey sock). I started it but I seem to have gone wrong and will have to rip it all out and start again. Moo (my Mum) is here visiting from England at the moment and we haven't had much time for crafting (though she has sewn on the kids badges on various things - yay).

Right, I will try and visit tomorrow but I am gardening on the rooftop of the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. It's going to be a warm one. Have a nice day x

 

 

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WOYWW #209 - wake up sheep

Hello. Today is Wednesday (well in some parts of the World). WOYWW stands for What's on your Workdesk Wednesday? Well, funny you should ask..........

It was, until an hour ago, really tidy and clear. My mum arrives from the UK tomorrow and half of the loft is for her so I had a good tidy up. Then I sat down to do this post and I got carried away 'doing'. Still, a clean, tidy desk is no fun for you to look at is it?

Now let me try and explain what all my mess is about.

The usual pile of swimming towels, beavers uniform and blanket ready for badges to be sewn on. Now I know I had this to do last week, but my excuse is, my Mum is much better at sewing on badges than me, and wouldn't she just love to do it! So there it sits until at least tomorrow.

IPad with instructions for Sleepy Sheep. Glass of water. A new project (like to have new things on the go) it is going to be a tea cosy and I am just making it up as I go along. Stuffing that I had to take out of Sheeps arms as they were too full. The pink yarn, crochet hook and magazine is to make flower coasters, I just saw it this afternoon and started making it. A disembodied sheep. He now has a face and ears, I have to sew his limbs on (the wool is driving me mad, everytime I pull it tight, it breaks, which is why it isn't finished yet).

My tin of bits, ever handy. And last but not least on the left is my cardi sleeve no2, not quite up to my elbow yet, but it may be finished next week (not sewn up thought I doubt).

As I said Moo, my Mum, is here for six weeks, so who knows how much I will get done while she is here. Maybe a lot, maybe nothing, but I know one thing, all our washing will be kept up-to-date, folded, put away and the boys will be well read to.

I am off now to see what everyone else is up to, I am looking forward to seeing all those lovely ATC's that everyone swapped last week.

 

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Present Received

A while ago I made a present for my friend in the UK who loves to visit us in Canada. She also loves coffee. I made her a cafetiere cosy, however I didn't know she didn't own a small cafetiere and she had to go out and buy one, whoops!

Anyway, she has her cafetiere now and she has used her cosy. Se sent me a photo.

Awww thanks Aunty A.

P.s. anyone notice it matches my Pouffe cover and Small's Nimp?

Versatile

 

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WOYWW #208 - stuff and nonsense

Hello. Wednesday again. As usual time flies in the world of desk hopping.

My desk, back in the loft where I belong, no nasty storms to keep me away...........

My knitting bag is on the left overflowing with cardigan. I read the pattern completely wrong which is why I had a sleeve fit for a very long giant. Now I have a sleeve that fits me (an average armed person). Next to that in the middle is an array of cream and dark blue limbs and head and body which will soon become a crocheted sleepy sheep. My sewing needle in front ready for action. My little owl tape measure (what is that doing out?) and my tin of bits. Above the tangle of limbs and wool is a pile of stuffing ready to make the sheep a lovely squishy bundle of cuddliness for the baby I am making it for.

Right in the top left hand corner is a Beavers top and a new badge ready for sewing - oh joy! And that is me for today. I think I did fairly well last week, I visited those that visited me and I even managed to get round the ones that visited me last week that I didn't get to (make sense?). I will try my best again this week, I have no children with me for a few hours so I don't have an excuse.

Can't wait to see what everyone is up to this week.

 

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Ladybugging

Smallest and I have been very creative today. He is going to a Ladybug party on Sunday so we made a card.

(The ladybirds all stand out on 3D pads)

Then we wrapped up the ladybirds I had knitted and crocheted.........

 

Tied it up and added some lovely buttons (mum gave these to me years ago, I knew they would come in handy one day).

 

Happy Birthday MissK.

 

 

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WOYWW #207 - stormy table

Hello woyww'ers. Are you here to see my desk this week? Sorry to disappoint but it is so stormy here I am too scared to sit in the loft by myself and have brought my stuff to the kitchen table. Actually I am also poorly with Strep throat (that's three out of four of us that has it now!).

I took my crocheting with me to the doctors because I had no idea how long I would be there and I managed to finish my Sleepy Sheeps body, I finished his head last night. This is for the baby due in ten weeks, the wool is so soft. I am using a pattern found here.

Also on the table is my knitting bag with my cardigan in. Now I nearly finished this but I have undone the sleeve once and knitted it again but it just keeps being too long. I have no idea what I am doing wrong. Will have to go back to the knitting group and ask El. The IPad has the pattern on there. The tin is full of bits and bobs like tape measure, sewing needles, buttons, scissors, crochet counters, unpicker, pencil etc.

Well that's me done. I have to take my antibiotics and glug some water and hope the storm is not too bad tonight (I have already mopped up the water from the basement). My thoughts go out to Oklahoma, what a terrible thing to have happened.

 

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Fly Away Home

Smallest has been invited to a birthday party and the theme is LadyBugs, LadyBirds, whatever you call them. The party girl does not want presents but I thought I would knit and crochet her something that would go with her party theme. Who couldn't be cheered by a few ladybirds?

For the bigger knitted one I half used a pattern I found here (I couldn't make the back work so I followed the front but all in red), but for the crochet one I just made it up as I went along.

I hope she will like them.

Pesky things, get everywhere ;)

 

 

 

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WOYWW #206 - a bug, a bunny and a sheep

Hello. Today is Wednesday (maybe not here but somewhere in the world) and that means I am joining in with WOYWW, or What's on Your Workdesk, Wednesday.

So, my Workdesk has been abandoned and I am instead using my lovely crochet-covered Pouffe in front of the TV. On my Pouffe is a ladybird or lady bug as it is called here, which I am knitting because Smallest has been invited to a Bug party and they have asked for no presents (instead they want us to donate to a food drive. What a lovely thought). I thought if I knit her a little something then it isn't like we bought anything and it is the theme of the party. I have been knitting like mad today because I thought the party was this Sunday, but it is a week on Sunday so I can slow down now.

There is a Comforter Bunny I made for a friends baby who is due in 11 weeks. I need to make another one with a smaller head so there are two new balls of wool to try.

Also I am crocheting a Sleepy Sheep with some lovely soft wool I bought for the comforter originally. I have made one of these before. This could also be for the baby, I haven't decided yet.

That's all for me this week. I am sorry if you visited me previously and I didn't get back to you. I try and spend the majority of the day (Wednesday) blog hopping and always try to visit everyone who leaves a comment. some people comment much later in the week and those are the ones I find it difficult to get back to. Sorry, I will try harder. I have two boys at home this Wednesday, one poorly and one just not at school so that means I will either be busy playing or they will play with each order and let me have some time!!!

 

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A Mother's Treat

As it was Mothers Day here yesterday, I was given a whole morning to craft. I have a new friend who is having a baby and I wanted to make the baby something nice to cuddle.

There are many many patterns on pintrest but one in particular caught my eye. It was a Bunny Blanket Comforter. Now my 'Smallest' had one of these (not handmade) and he loved it. He also still loves his 'Smelly' which is a tired stinky old elephant. He still rubs it in his face and smells it when he is tired.

Anyhow, this is what I made......

 

I think his head is too big but it is very soft and cuddly. Smallest tried it out and said "it smells good". Now I know what I am doing, I will have another go but use smaller needles and amend the pattern. To be honest, I couldn't follow the pattern completely anyway, so I have already adapted it.

 

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WOYWW #204

Hello Wednesday'ers, how lovely to see you. I have been MIA for a couple of weeks, entertaining the in-laws. They have gone home, the loft is mine again and I have left it a mess just because I can.

So my workspace this week (more than a desk, I made it onto the floor too!):-

The material on the floor is an off cut from Small's curtains and I am trying to make some bunting with it, as well as other material. The very big canvas is a painting I am doing (will take me years) and is from a photo of a field in our old Village in England where we used to walk. It is of sheep grazing in a very snowy field. My green basket is full of wool, odd bits of material, granny squares and some frog tape (how did that get in there?).

My desk........

....is all sewey (made up word?) this week. As I said, I was making bunting, then I made a chicken (for no other reason than I liked the material and I thought I would have a go).

Nimp is still there peeking out at the back, he needs his bell sewing back on but the truth is, I've lost it - shhhh don't tell Small! I have finished other stuff off though that I was doing. Sewn on the badges on the uniforms and towels, carried on with my granny blanket and cardigan, and finished my Warning Sign.

No-one bumped their head during the two week Grandma and Grandad visited, so it either worked or isn't needed. I like it though. It's not perfect but that's why I like it.

Off I go now and see what everyone else is up to on What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?

 

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Bottomless Chicken

I haven't been properly crafting for a while. Visitors from England were here and there just wasn't enough time in the day. Anyhow, I had chance to get back to my craft table yesterday. I was cutting out some bunting for Small's room when I had sudden inspiration to make a fabric chicken. I had a similar thing on my desk that I bought very cheaply in the Easter Sales. It didn't work out quite right but I do kind of like it.

I need to work on how to get a base to make it sit properly without being propped. I bought the material in a thrifty shop last week. It was a bargain.

 

 

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Pouffe Finished

Today I finished off my Pouffe cover. I love it, it turned out just how I wanted which is amazing seeing as I didn't use a pattern.

It is crocheted and I started using a a single stitch (I get a bit confused with crochet terms here as US and UK terms are different) or what I call a single stitch and then carried on working in a spiral, moving to a double crochet and then a seam on the top edge using a slip stitch. I think it works well. I made another seam underneath to hold it on.

I'm hoping my Grandma (Gram) would have been pleased with what I have done to her old Pouffe. It feels cosy now when you put your feet on it.

 

 

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WOYWW #201 - stitched warning

Today is Wednesday (well its actually Tuesday because I am five hours behind the UK where Miss Julia starts the revelry that is What's on your Workdesk, Wednesday?), and I have a desk to show you.

My cardi, now has a back and a side.

A new sign I am working on. PLEASE MIND YOUR HEAD. All hand stitched which for me is a work of art as I am not a stitcher! Anyway, the reason for these words of warning is because when we had the loft finished, we moved a light switch so we could switch the light on and off upstairs. However it is now just under the slanted ceiling and because it is all a pale creamy colour (Natural Wicker is the correct name!), we keep banging our head. Hope it will do the trick. I think I am going to machine sew it onto another piece of fabric and then stitch it around a canvas to hang just above the switch.

A small pile of bunting to carry on Small's batman bunting for his room.

And the honour for 'best on table' goes to Pouffe for his splendid cover which is nearly finished, just need to add a few rows underneath to keep him all snug and warm. I am very pleased with this lovely bit of crocheting as I didn't follow a pattern. I just went round and round in a spiral single crocheting and double crocheting and then added a row of slip stitches and crocheted into the back (too technical?) to make the flatness required for the the top and another one underneath to keep it secure.

So that is my desk and now I would like to go and look at everyone else's. it's always a great place to go for inspiration.

 

 

 

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WOYWW #200 - wooliness

I am joining in with the Wednesday phenomenon that is WOYWW or What's on your Workdesk Wednesday?

Here is my desk.

My cardigan, with a finished back and a new side started. Coming along nicely. My Granny Blanket - now seventy rounds. WOW! I bought some more wool so I can do lots more. The new thing in the shape of a round black and white spiral is a Poof cover. I inherited my Grandma's rocker and matching poof (I remember the poof when I was a child, I used to be able to fit in between the legs. These days I can hardly fit my leg through it ha! Anyway, I saw, on Instagram a similar thing but very colourful. I want it for the living room so wanted it slightly muted. I used the back and white on Small's Nimp at Christmas and I really liked the stripiness of it. I like the spiral even better. Hope to be able to show you more as it progresses.

My sewing machine has moved because I used it at the weekend and finished the Batman Bunting for Smallest's room. He loves it.

That's me done. Yorkshire tea poo (leaves) and a slice of cake and then I will have a blog hop to see everyone else's desks this week.

 

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Angry Birthday Cake

I have been so busy with Smallest's birthday that I forgot to post about his Birthday Cake. Silly me. So here it is.

I started with a 'Golden Yellow Cake' in a square 8" tin.

While I waited for it to cool, I created some creatures and a catapult.

I used butter icing with melted Chocolate in it to give it that fudgey taste. That went in the middle and all around the cake. Plus a strip of green for the grass.

I had made another smaller cake in case I needed to make structures. The first structure I needed was a bird platform and a wall to put the candles on.

Chocolate wafers, chocolate fingers and lots of buttercream used as glue made various hideouts for the pigs and ledges.

Three vanilla wafers sandwiched together made the TNT box, then I used icing cut out by hand to form the TNT letters.

Digestives were sprinkled over the butter icing on the board to create more texture.

There were a lot of times where things started shifting and moving and we thought the whole thing was going to collapse at one point, but it held together. Smallest was very pleased with his Angry Birds cake. I had a lot of fun making it too.

 

He said it was his best cake EVER and gave me the biggest hug.

 

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