Thursday Thoughts

Can't believe I'm writing every day this week, but sometimes it happens I have loads I want to share.

So today is a scrapbook page made with Shimelle's weekly challenge in mind.  Shimelle is actually on maternity leave at the moment, but has handed over the reins to trusted friends to keep her blog going. Each week there is a challenge taking a project from Shimelle.com's archives that Relly then uses to create a new page with a particular focus.  This week the focus was on large titles.

Here's my take:

The photos are not the best, but are very precious to me as they've been sent by my middle son while he and his family were on holiday. I don't get to see them as much as I'd like as they live a day's journey away which involes a sea crossing and much organisation, so I'm really lucky that he keeps me in the loop by sending photos from his phone.

Supplies:
Papers: Bazzill Basics cardstock; ep A boy's life; Hambly screen prints, little circles; scraps from my stash
Alphas: AC thickers, iguana; ep, Summer Days, Country Drive & little girl; Bella Blvd, Sophisticates
Labels: Simple Stories, I {Heart} Summer
Punches: ek success, border punch; Woodware, circle punch

Next today I have an update on this:

 

It has now become this and my first crochet blamket is officially finished!

 

I've so enjoyed making this blanket that it's difficult to imagine not having something to keep me busy, but relaxed and peaceful at the same time.  Another grand project will be started soon I'm sure, but for the time being I've learnt how to crochet granny squares.  My intention is to make a couple of cushion covers for the new outdoor chairs we bought recently - I'll keep you posted. Here's the first four showing the colour combos I'm just going to keep repeating.

That's all from me today, I'll be back again tomorrow with a trio of cards.  Thanks for looking.

Jane
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Sunday Slot

Absolutely glorious weather yesterday, so when my block of the month email came through with the word 'explore' and the idea 'to visit a park or trail you've never been to' it seemed the time was right to see what Whisby had to offer.  We've been meaning to go there for ages, so off we went before going on to do the weekly supermarket shop. I know which bit I preferred!

Can't believe it's taken us 33 years to finally get round to going here!

So on to today's card. I made it using the layout from Freshly Made Sketches and the colours from Color Throwdown. I used a mixture of stamps from my two most favourite companies - Uniko Studio and Clearly Besotted. Looking at the photo now I think the banner should have been just a bit higher, but hey ho life's too short and I need to accept imperfections etc etc.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Uniko Studio, Beautiful Blooms 1; Clearly Besotted, Say It In Style, In The Frame + matching die
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black, tangelo, cantaloupe
Embellishments: glossy accents, adhesive gems

Finally today I want to update you on my crochet progress.  Well after finishing the storage basket I looked for a bigger project with some new stitches to learn and decided to make a blanket.

So while I was waiting for the supplies to arrive I made this little teacup pin cushion using some of the leftover yarn. I weighted it down with coins and chose only matching coloured flowerhead pins - so sad! - and it's already been put to good use.

 

And then the postman delivered my parcel of coloured wool.

And this is how far I've got. I've learnt double crochet, half double crochet, bobble stitch and a double crochet picking up stitches down two rows and I now hold my wool in my left hand so I look like I'm crocheting rather than knitting. 

Hmm, could be a long project, maybe I need some smaller things on the go as well!

Thanks for dropping by today and enjoy what's left of your weekend.

Jane
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Friday Focus

Just a quick post today to share my newest craft - crochet.  Although I've knitted all my life I've never learnt how to crochet. So believing firmly in lifelong learning and you're never too old etc I set about teaching myself to crochet.

I found these amazing blog posts, here and here to inspire me, got out an old crochet hook and leftover wool, tuned in to youtube and produced this:

On the strength of this tiny sample I ordered supplies and started to make my basket.  It was a bit of a learning curve and at one point I lost stitches, but embracing 'accept imperfections' I carried on and got more fluent and tidy.

Now I'm really pleased with myself and keep looking at my basket and thinking 'I made that!'  And the colours are just so me!

 

Supplies:

Pattern: www.yarninspirations.com link here

Cotton: Lily Cotton, Sugar & Cream colour  - Fruit Punch

So now I need a new crochet project to keep my fingers busy.  I'm scouring the internet for ideas and will keep you posted.

Thanks for dropping by today.

Jane

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