Snap happy

We've been blessed with some lovely mild temperatures and spring sunshine this week. It's made the world of difference to my overall mood. I've definitely had a sunnier disposition that's for sure. 

My crochet hook has been dusted off and put to some use after being badly neglected. I like to think of it as a temporary blip. I admit I lost enthusiasm for a moment, but surprising how a bit of good light can make you feel energised and motivated once again.

I've been hooking up some 7 round traditional granny squares. The yarn is acrylic, the hook a 4mm, the blocks joined as I go, and the colour scheme very random. Apart from making sure that my 4th and final rows are kept the same colour. I'm rather pleased with them so far *happy face*

Let's see how long this project can keep me engaged! You know me; the eternal flibbertigibbet. I really must commit to one project at a time. But it seems like an impossibility for me *arghhhhh* 

I've been very snap happy too. My camera is never too far from my hands, and I kinda went a bit mad. The addition of some lovely blooms, and some new crochet squares just sent me a bit batty. I know you don't mind me overloading you with visual stimuli??! Especially when it's hooky related!

Before I scoot, I've been meaning to ask who's been watching Kirstie Allsopp's new property programme Best of Both Worlds? I'm a sucker for these shows, (another favourite being Escape To The Country) and I think this one has been fantastic. Not that I'm green with envy or anything, but some of the places Kirstie's visited in this series have been sickeningly beautiful. A bit of escapism is good for you though, so I guess I'll keep watching and dreaming.........

Enjoy the weekend

x x x x x x x

Colourful flower runner revisited

Phew, am I glad the week's almost over! You know sometimes you get those moments when everything seems to all happen at once. Appointments to keep, entertaining unexpected visitors, trying to get the car through it's MOT without any added expense. Oh yes, that just about sums up the kind of week I've had.

But now I can take a deep breath and relax into the weekend. I've enjoyed watching some of the World Indoor Athletics Champs on TV this morning, glad to see some Team GB success in the heats. Fingers crossed for the finals. 

As you were all so generous with your comments about my ripple, I thought I'd follow that up with a look back at my colourful flower runner project. I made a very tentative start on this back in the summer of 2011, after being totally inspired by this gorgeous pattern. 

I was just beginning to find my feet with crochet, and at about 8 months in felt ready to take on a bigger project. I followed Solveig's pattern for the circle part of each block, but then adapted it as I wasn't confident using the JAYG (join as you go) method. I crocheted each square, then slip stitched them together in rows. 

Soon I had accumulated row upon row of colourful circles framed in white. It was a pleasure to make and I got a real thrill out of seeing the project grow. I decided on a runner, rather than a blanket as I wanted to give my rattan chair a makeover. I ended up with 7 rows of 22 blocks. The perfect width and length for my chair cover.

It took me a couple of months to complete, but for a self confessed slow coach that was pretty quick. I'd like to attempt something like this again but on a grander scale. Problem is, I'm not sure I have the patience for it. 

I hope you enjoyed my wee trip down memory lane? 

Perhaps I've inspired you to do the same? 

x x x x x x x x

Rainbow ripple revisited

Happy weekend everyone, I do hope you've had a good week thus far. Today's weather report I'm pleased to say includes lots of sunshine. Much needed after the soggy grey day we had yesterday!

I want to thank you for all the comments on my last post. I'm still trying to navigate my way around this new computer of mine. Despite it being so much quicker than my old one, surprisingly I'm finding it difficult to adapt. 

I managed to safely retrieve all my data from the old pc, with the help of the tech guys at PC World. There was a point when I thought I'd lost everything as I'd failed to back up my files. I know I know, stupid of me. I feel a bit of a twit really as my father kept warning me of the dangers of not keeping things up to date. But you know how it is, you put it off thinking I'll do it later. Only later never comes, and you end up facing the consequences. Lesson learned.

One thing I have had fun doing is sorting through all my old photo albums, revisiting projects I had worked on pre-blogging. Projects that I haven't really spoken about here or shown you in any great detail. So I thought it might be nice to dedicate a few posts to some of the colourful crochet that I completed before deciding to embark on this blogging journey.

As per usual Attic24, and the very lovely Lucy was my go to for inspiration. I know her neat ripple pattern is a firm favourite with lots of you, and I was no exception. I couldn't wait to try my hand at her very generous free pattern. So I picked up my 3.5mm hook and got to work making oodles of gorgeous colourful waves with my stash of Schachenmayr Catania.

I really enjoyed the gentle ebb & flow of this simplistic pattern. Once you get going it really is a lovely project to pick up and put down when the mood takes you. The rainbow palette was a no brainer for me, as I knew it would keep my interest being so bright and cheery. 

I couldn't wait to add each new row, anxious to see the picture I'd built in my mind slowly emerge in all it's multi-coloured glory. Well I can tell you it didn't disappoint. I could've happily rippled away forever!

Looking back has given me a renewed thirst to do another ripple. Maybe something like this! A gorgeous colour scheme, don't you think? Hmmm, I see a new yarn purchase in my future...........

x x x x x x x x x

Organising

At the end of my last post I said I'd be back soon, and believe me I had every intention of fulfilling that promise. However my plans were well and truly scuppered when my desktop PC decided to finally give up the ghost. My trusty little Windows XP that I'd been using for the last 9 years decided it had had enough. 

I pressed publish on my last blog entry and went off to do some grocery shopping. Upon my return I tried to power up my computer, but to my horror I was met with a blank screen and an error message telling me there was a missing or corrupt file. My heart sank as I realised this was not going to be an easy fix. 

I won't bore you with the details, but it's safe to say this caused me much inconvenience & unavoidable expense. I suppose it's not all bad news though, as I'm now the proud owner of an all singing; all dancing shiny new model. I was quite happy pootling along with my old XP, yes it was slow and had limited capabilities, but it was sufficient enough for my needs. However I'm glad I was forced into upgrading my equipment and operating system, as it's just highlighted to me what I was putting up with for so long. Not only that but I hear XP will be unsupported by Microsoft as of April 2014, so maybe it was all a blessing in disguise. 

Another good thing about being forced offline for a bit was my ability to get a lot more done at home. I utilised my time well, sorting, organising, and cleaning. It feels good to have a place for everything and everything in it's place.

Sadly I'm down to the dregs of my Schachenmayr Catania yarn, which I have used for many projects over the past year. I'm using up the odds and ends making some circles in squares, and joining them as I go. I really must invest in some more of this lovely cotton yarn. Perhaps I can factor it into the budget under essential supplies for health & well-being! Sometimes that's the only way we can justify the expense ;) 

Thank you for all the comments you've left for me recently, and hello to each and every new reader that's bobbed by this last few weeks. I hope you make yourself at home here. 

x x x x x x x x x x

Tea, cake and crochet

February 1st, can you believe it? It feels like I've barely come up for air this last few weeks. Lots on the horizon, but not a great deal to share with you here today. 

However, there's still plenty of tea drinking, cake eating and crocheting going on. I'm making some slow, but steady progress on one of my many blanket WIPs. It's all been quite yummy!

The sun is out today hoorah, so I've been able to take advantage of some good light to snap a few pics of the wristies I crocheted up in super quick time. I used the lovely Catherine Wheel Stitch from Erika Knight's book Crochet Workshop, and some Hayfield Bonus DK acrylic yarn in a lovely powder blue colour. It's not the best yarn for the project, but was cheap enough for me to experiment with, so I'm happy with the outcome. 

So in the words of Porky Pig 

(which is what I'll end up like if I don't stop eating cake)

"That's All Folks"

Back soon

x x x x x

Colour Play

As promised I am back to share my little ta'dah moment with you. The reversible granny squares cushion I completed before Christmas is having it's moment in the spotlight today. If you're anything like me and love to play with colour, then this (I'm sure) will be right up your street.

I painstakingly went to the effort of sewing in all the loose ends, hundreds of them. I could have left them as they would have been hidden on the inside of the cushion cover, but my obsessive side knew I wouldn't be satisfied unless they were all tidied away. I pulled up the centre yarn tails on each individual square tightly, closing up all the holes, which I think resulted in a rather nice effect.

As you can see from the pics one side is made up of 121 x two round granny squares in a bright palette, and the other 49 x three round granny squares are a more muted palette. I crocheted the two sides together with a simple half treble crochet stitch.

It's really nice to be able to swap and change it around as the mood takes me. I really enjoyed the process of putting it all together. I suppose it satisfies both my fun side and my more relaxed side. 

So there you have it. My first ta'dah moment of 2014, and I hope to share many more. I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all my new readers. I'm so glad you found me.

Till next time 

x x x x x

Optimistic

Dull, dull, dull. What a grey day it has turned out to be. The sunshine that greeted me this morning upon lifting the blind in my bedroom, has now disappeared to leave the world outside once more shrouded in darkness. Some might say it's the perfect weather for a lazy Sunday indoors, and I agree. 

After the essential chores have been done, I plan on planting myself firmly on the sofa with a basket of yarn to hook up some more colourful circles in squares, to add to the handful already crocheted up over recent days. 

The gorgeous blooms that sit upon my window ledge today are inspiration enough. The amazing deep purple and zingy green of these floral beauties has given me a thirst to create something bursting with the same vibrant colour. Surrounding yourself with colour is so important at this time of year. It really does help to stave off those January blues. 

I took another trip to Cambridge before Christmas, to have a mooch around the shops. I love to go to places where there's an abundance of smaller independent retailers. Somewhere to find unique gifts you wouldn't generally find elsewhere. 

The intention was to only buy for other people (honestly), but when I spotted a rather jazzy looking snood wrapped around the neck of a mannequin, in the window of a little shop called Mayhem on Sidney Street, I just knew the temptation to treat myself would be hard to contain. 

I was instantly drawn to it's multicoloured loveliness. This 5ft tubular scarf was a steal at just £12.95. I couldn't believe my luck. It was worth the trip just for that, and my sister kindly gifted me a lovely pair of red gloves for Christmas, so I'm well set up for the cold snap that's upon us now.

It may only be 12 days into the new year, but I'm already feeling optimistic that 2014 will be a good one. I'm really looking forward to all the sporting action coming up, from the Winter Olympics to the Commonwealth Games. Closer to home we have a wonderful river festival to get excited about in July. I do hope the weather is kind to us again this year.

I can't thank you enough for the messages of support and comments received recently. I appreciate you all, and will be back soon with some crafty updates.

x x x x x x