Mood Blanket #2

Hello Ladies

This is week 2 of my 2014 Mood Banket.

Still doing a block a day, sometimes I do two or three at

a time to get ahead for the week. But the way it works

it fits in well with my other WIPs.

I'm still excited and motivated, I just hope it's not just a

honeymoon phase, that will wear off in a couple of months.

I know the idea of a mood blanket was to have a different colour

a day, but I liked these two colours together so much and try as I could

every time I went a sat at my yarn boxes I couldn't bring myself to

add a different colour.

These two colours do have a very personal meaning and I think it

gave me the chance to use them.

Also the more I look at the colours the more they remind me of these.

Parma violets were a huge favourite of mine when I was a child and I only

just discovered you can still buy them. And my Nan always seemed to have

a box of what she called her "Special Chocolates" and they had

crystallised violets on the top as a decoration.

I'm linking again this week with Hazel at Hazel's Crochet, for the 2014

Mood Blanket, so please go take a look at the others who are taking

part as well.

Take care

Sally xxx

Posted with Blogsy

Finishing Off

Hello Ladies,

I'm finding that the New Year has at the moment made me want to be a

little more organised with my Crocheting.

How long this will last for, I haven't a clue. Come the end of

January I might think "Oh Sod it" and carry on in my usual

haphazard way. My daughter Amie looks at my baskets of ongoing projects

and tells me it's called Organised Chaos.

So at this moment I would like to try and finish some projects before

starting any more.

This blanket I started back in June/July time. I pick it up now and again,

but the odd row here and there isn't helping to make it grow.

So I decided that along with doing my square a day challenge, for the Mood

Blanket, I would also crochet 2 rows a day, 1 coloured, 1 cream. It already

measures 41" wide and 27" long, 30 days of crocheting 2 rows gives me

another 15". Not really sure how long I would like it to be, but if I stick to

this plan, it might be finished by February.

These little fellows are coming along nicely, still haven't worked out

how many I need as I may be a bit daunted with the amount. I've made about

a 100 so far, 20 of each colour, I did also have a peach flower, but it didn't

seem to look right with the colours I'd already used, so I stoped making

those. Might start joining some together with the Join As You Go method,

then I'll get a proper idea of what it's going to look like.

This project I started between Christmas and the New Year.

I know I started it the wrong side of Christmas, but I found the idea

while browsing blogland, as you do.

As soon as I saw it, I wanted to make it. It's designed by a very talented

crocheter Sarah Zimmerman, and her blog is "Repeat Crafter Me".

I have made all the pieces, except the bunting. Then I put it in a Baggie

so I could start the Mood Blanket and it hadn't come out since.

So Jan/Feb are going to be my, be disiplined and be organised

Mood Blanket 2014, Week 1

Hello Ladies,

Here is my first Post for the Mood Blanket 2014 challenge.

The idea is to make a square a day giving you 365 or a square

a week giving you 52 for a year.

It was started by a lady called Stacey who is on Instagram by the

name stacey_mummy. It has become huge and she even says that

she never realised how many would want to participate.

Hazel, from the blog hazels_crochet, is doing a weekly link up

to anyone who is interested.

So week 1 and I have done my first 7 squares. Yep, I'm going for the

big one, the whole 365. That's 358 to go.

I also have used the Join As You Go Method. I am very, very

Impressed, it's brilliant, not sure why I haven't used it before.

But now I won't have to sew them all together at the end.

Hopefully I'll also be able to use this for my Stashaholics, stash busting,

that's being set up by Linda of Linda's Crafty Corner.

Take care

Sally xxx

Posted with Blogsy

Mood Blanket 2014

Hello Ladies

Happy New a Year to you all.

I hope it's full of fun, joy and crafting.

I know it may sound crazy but although 2013 was a very up and down year,

I found that crocheting helped me overcome and get through many difficult days

( and nights as I don't sleep well at all) .

This year has really started with a bang. At first I had my head so full of

ideas and Inspirations, I didn't know where to start. Then I read on a blog by

lovely Hazel,called Hazels Crochet that there was going to be a blanket

challenge for the year. The idea is from Instagramer mummy-stacey and it's

to crochet or knit a square a day, giving you 365 squares OR a square a week,

giving you 52.

It's called a Mood blanket, because the idea is to pick a colour each day

on how you feel. Whether it be, Tired, Angry, Calm, Happy, Excited etc.

This was what I wanted to do as my project for 2014.

Then I read another blog by very talented Linda of Linda's Crafty Corner,

that she was going to do a Stash-Buster for 2014. She had already done one

for 2013 and as It seemed quite successful was going to do another for

this year. So I thought I could do the Mood Blanket Challenge and Linda's

Stash-Bustertogether. This way I could start to use up my yarn that

seems to be taking over my house.

So now my decision is what square do I want to do?

This one

Or This One

But then I'm still making these little fellows that I started with Chrissie and Marianne's

Bloomin Cal.

 

I'm going to enjoy this I think and it'll motivate me to continue with the motifs.

I may even go for doing a 365 Mood Blanket AND a 52 one.

At least I get to use up some of my stash.

Take care everyone

Sally

xxx

Posted with Blogsy

2013

Hello Ladies,

I hope you all had a good a lovely Christmas.

Ours was full of family get togethers, food and drink.

I ate too much and drank FAR to much, but it's only once a year

that we indulge as such and now I'm all Christmased out. So

I'll be back to my Fat Club come the 6th Jan.

I started crocheting again roughly about February/ March 2013

time. The reason being was my son and his wife were going to

have their first baby, our first Grandchild and I wanted to make a

blanket for him. It was a very exciting time.

The last time I had bought any yarn was when my 3 kids were babies

and now I was going to be making something for my sons baby and that was

a good 20+ years ago.I remember going to pick the yarn and just standing

there looking at it all on display in there little cubby holes.

Trying to take in all the different colours.

Some were plain, some were

multi coloured. There was Acrylic, there was cotton, there was

pure wool, a linen blend and then there was all the different textures.

It was like walking into a sweet shop.

Have you ever been somewhere or seen something that so

overwhelms you, that you can't take it all in? That was what I was

like. The lady in the shop must of been used to having people like me,

cooing and aahing over the different yarns. In actual fact I think she

made me worse, by pointing out more lovely yarn that I'd missed.

I remember finally choosing some yarn and getting it home and

wondering if I'd remember HOW to crochet.

Well that was the start of what I now call my hooking addiction.

I've looked back over the last 10 months of crocheting and I'm really

surprised at the amount I have done.

I didn't start blogging till I'd finished my second piece, which was about

June time and I made a Wrap for a friend of mine, so please excuse

the first few pictures.

One thing blogging has taught me, is that I need to try and take a

good photo and take my camera everywhere as you never know

what may catch your eye.

There are 3 baby cardigans in my photos that I knitted as well

and I've included them as feel they were part of my yarn journey

of 2013.

I am really looking forward to seeing what 2014 brings.

I have so many projects wizzing around in my head and see so many

ideas out there in magazines and blogland. I think I've also

learnt loads this year, all the different patterns and motifs

that can be put together to make something special.

Crochet has come such a long way. 20+ years ago.

It was mainly Doileys and Granny Squares and although I love

both, especially the Granny Square I'm enjoying trying different and new

things with my hooks.

Thank you to all of you that sent me get well wishes, I was truly overwhelmed

by your thoughtful comments and they certainly made me feel better.

Take care

Sally

xxx

Posted with Blogsy

Nearly Ready.....

Hello Ladies,

We're nearly ready but not quite.

I haven't posted for over a week and I even missed my CAL with Chrissie,

Marianne and all you other lovelies who are in Bloomin CAL.

But I have been poorly. It was a stuck in bed, don't want to see,

do or talk to anyone. Then when I had the energy to move from my bed,

It was just to the sofa.

I did try a couple of times to write my blog, but my head didn't want to

behave and concentrate.

My poor crocheting, I look at it, pick it up then after about 5 or 10 mins

I have to put it down. I really miss not doing any. It always gives me a

feeling of peace and relaxation. Maybe I should just try some in the morning

and some later in the evening.

Sorry if I haven't replied to your comments, but I will try and do a catch up

sometime over Christmas and Thank you for leaving one if you have.

So with Christmas looming, I did begin to worry, would I be fit enough for everyone

to be here Christmas day. The thought of a full house (12), with all the prep and

cooking was quite daunting. But Helpful Hubby decided to take on the chief

Christmas Elf role and with chit chats and lists he decided Christmas would

continue as planned :)

Together, we prepared and made the 3 Christmas cakes that I'd started

( 1 for us, 2 as gifts). I was supervisor, he was gofer.

He measured, mixed and baked. When it came to the marzipan, he

rolled, cut and covered the cakes.

Normally I would make my own icing for the cakes, but this year

we bought ready rolled icing (which actually doesn't taste to bad),

and Helpful Hubby iced our cakes. I was over the moon, I thought

they were never going to be finished. I was able to do a simple decoration

on them, so with Helpful Hubby's help, we had 3 wonderful finished

Christmas cakes.

We shopped together online and got the last of the presents

And now all we have to do is wrap them and get the last of the food

shopping. I now know that we will all muddle through and Christmas will

be perfect :)

I want to take this time to say a big Thank you to all of you who read

my blog and take the time to leave their lovely comments.

I started my Blog in June this year and I have met such a

wonderful group of people, that are willing to help and advise when you are

stuck or unsure about a project, cheer you up on your down or difficult days

and even share personnel tips or tricks that help life or crafting easier.

I have enjoyed sharing my projects and some of my family

joys or sagas with you all, especially the birth of our first Granchild Flynn.

I have learnt tons of new stuff to do with crocheting (and other things

to), that had I not got into the blogging circle would never had

known about. It has given me confidence in my projects and confidence

in mixing with other bloggers.

I wish all you lovely people a Merry Christmas and a

Happy New Year and look forward to sharing 2014 with you.

Take care
Sally xxx

Posted with Blogsy

Bloomin CAL

Hello Ladies,

I went away on Holiday with projects to hand and in mind.

I'd finished my Mums blanket and had really enjoyed making it.

When I came back I wasn't happy with the projects I'd taken, I kept

laying them out, trying to get motivated. But they ended up being

undone or shoved in a basket to deal with later.

Then I decided to do some Christmas motifs.

I sat and did them on

and off for a few days, but even them I couldn't settle too.

Even though I'd made enough for some bunting I just put them away

In a Baggie.

I wondered if it was because I had too many projects wizzing around

in my head and I had crochet overload. I even went and got all

my yarn out and sat in front of it. Pondering.

I looked at all my yarn, I have so much, all different colours and

textures. I needed to make something with what I had and there

be no buying involved ( well maybe a little if I have to add to it).

Then I remembered that when I joined Crissie and Marianne's CAL

they originally started Bloomin CAL with a hexagon flower motif from

Nicki Trench's book "Crochet with a Flowers".

So I went and dug out my copy, found the flower motif and made one.

This was it, this was what I needed to crochet. They are so lovely to do

and they look amazing.

I would like to make enough for the double bed, in the girls old room.

Haven't yet worked out how many I would need, but I would like to think

I'll stick at it and finish it.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Sally xxx

 

Posted with Blogsy