Yo Ho Ho !

Hi there, just a quick post to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and hope that you all have a wonderful and peaceful time.

A few days ago our world looked like this........... Tonight it is absolutely pouring down.

So are you all ready for the day ahead? As I said last year at this time, if I have forgotten something or somebody, then it is too late now. Everything is wrapped, cards sent, turkey defrosted, wood piled high and a sherry or three has been consumed in front of the fire, along with a chocolate or two.

All that remains is to wish you all a fantastic time, enjoy yourselves and remember...this time tomorrow, it will all be over!!

Dev X

Back at Last!

Hi everyone, long time no see. It's been a rough few weeks and mostly back to normal for the time being. Illness has pervaded the Fairyglade with a vengeance, but now, hopefully, all better just in time for the festivities.

So, in between being poorly, what have I been up to....mmmm..let me see.

We bought one of these.............yippee.

A very fine specimen if I say so myself. The trick apparently is to trim off a couple of inches from the base where the sap has solidified, then soak in a bucket of water overnight before bringing it indoors and placing it in a bucket of water, to which has been added a couple of spoonfuls of bleach.

We have had to be thrifty this year out of necessity, however, I have so enjoyed making presents for friends and family. I find as I get older that I just do not enjoy the shops like I used to. I hate the queues and the piped music and the heat inside the shops. I have ordered most things online that I have had to buy for the littlest fairy and the rest has been lovingly made by my own fair hands.

Snowflakes have featured a lot this year.

As have gorgeous garlands...........

And Nigella of course, this recipe is to die for, Chilli Jelly. Scrumptious as a marinade for beef and chicken or haloumi if you prefer the veggie option. However, it comes into it's own on mature cheddar, totally delicious.

I have made several batches and decorated the jars with pretty fabric and red raffia and finished off with little wooden reindeer...how cute is that?

All my friends at work will have a jar of this gorgeous, glowing, christmas red scrummyness. In addition to the ingredients listed, I also added a pinch of dried chilli flakes for a bit of extra zing.

You may have read about a swap that I did recently with the fabulous Nina in Tabibooland. Read all about it in her words, and see the pictures. I was late sending my goodies out, and in my haste, I forgot to take photos of what I sent her! Don't you hate it when that happens?

I received some lovely handmades from her and these I did photograph, so feast your eyes on these lovelies. I had looked longingly on her blog as she explained how to make these pretty hexagon balls and was intrigued by a glimpse of the embroidery. Little did I realise that I was to be the lucky recipient. Thank you once again Nina, everything is so darn cute.

A fantastic idea for all the little people who like to give gifts to other little people is this one..Snowman Soup. I cannot for the life of me remember whose blog I saw this on, so I sincerely apologise. I do seem to remember that she found the idea on a website herself somewhere, so I don't think I am treading on anyones bloggy toes. What a fab idea though and so simple and relatively inexpensive. I bought the cups in Morrisons added a couple of sachets of choccy and a few marshmallows all to be stirred round with a candy cane or two.....yummy yummy!

I am sure if you google "snowman soup" you will find the verse and the contents.

Well now, way past my bed time. Just going to make up a hot water bottle as it is freezing here. We have had a light dusting of SNOW, how great is that and there is more on the way apparently....So exciting!!!!!

Dev x

Lurgy

Hi everyone, just a quickie to say that we have all got the dreaded lurgy again, can't believe how bad I feel. I felt I was just turning the corner and then, wham, bam, back it came with a vengeance! Nothing getting done and mild hysteria over Christmas goodies still to make has turned into total PANIC!!

Hope to be back soon.

Dev x

Lest We Forget

Hi, this is just a quick post to show your some Remembrance Day poppies that I have crocheted over the last couple of nights. They have been so popular at work that I thought I would post you the link. They are really easy to make and take no time at all, so you have plenty of time to make yourself one before the 11th, (or even a service at church on sunday perhaps).

I made 12 over 2 nights and then sold them to my collegues at work, asking them to put the money into the offical collection pots.

So girls, crochet hooks at the ready. Find the chart here.



Dev x

All Hallows

It's nearly that time again...

nearly time to wear these.........

and this...............

and this as well.............



It's nearly time to eat bats wings and witches fingers off these..............


It's time to decorate the house with these................

It's time to decorate the garden with these.............

and finally, it's nearly time to frighten the living daylights out of anyone who dares set foot in the Fairyglade after darkness falls.....................you have been warned!!!

Hope you all have a spookylicious Halloween.............................be afraid!!

Invasion

Has anyone else been invaded by ladybirds? This year there seems to be thousands of them. One wall of the house today was a seething mass of red and black bodies scurrying here and there. The air was filled with them to, all of whom had a death wish and were dive bombing my coffee cup, eughh!

That said, it has been a beautiful day here at the Fairyglade. Blue skies, birds singing and soft breezes. Spring in the air.....VERY disconcerting for the time of year I must say.

Haven't been feeling myself recently, but today gave me a bit of a boost and I managed some reasonable photographs of the projects that have kept me occupied during my malaise. Do you want to see?.......................

First up some patchwork cushion fronts, at least that is what I think they will become. I attended a workshop last Saturday with the wonderful Jane, who is the fount of all knowledge of patchworky things. She makes it so effortless, that event a numpty like me can make things like this.

This is a variation of the Nine Patch for those of you who might be interested. Just need to back them and buy some cushion pads.

Then there is my tea cosy. Just had to make one after seeing the lovely pictures in Jane Brocket's book. Am half way through a second one, but that is for another post. Not bad for a first attempt methinks!

Some sweet little xmas birdies complete with crochet flower wings..

And finally, this.....

Not quite finished yet, but nearly. Just need to quilt and back with some halloweeny orange gingham and it will become a wall hanging. I made a few last year for swaps etc and never kept one for myself. So made another one just for me.

Well, that's all for now folks, short and sweet. Hope you all have a lovely week.

Dev x

Time

It has rained almost steadily for 4 days out of 5 now, not that I am complaining you understand. I love the rain. I love the sound of it, I love the smell of the earth when it is wet, I love the way it cleans away the summer dust and freshens the tired foliage in the garden. It all looks lush again doesn't it?

However, slowly but surely it's time for the autumn foliage to take over from the summer flowers and shrubs. Everything is jewel coloured here at the Fairyglade, Amber, ruby, emerald, citrine ...

It’s the time of year to check on the wood supplies, is there enough to get us through the coming cold months? I think this little lot might last us a while!

It’s time to go through the wardrobe, pull out jumpers and cardigans, find hot water bottles at the back of the kitchen cupboards. Pull out an extra blanket from the airing cupboard, (how I wish I had an airing cupboard).

It’s time for dressing gowns and slippers.

So cute and sold in aid of breast cancer

It’s time to get on with Christmas crafts and make lists. Who had what last year, who will get what this year?

It’s time to use words like snuggle, cosy, crunchy, crisp in our blogs.

It’s time to get on with winter crafting, knitting and crochet with soft wool which is too warm to handle in the heat of summer.

It’s time to eat stews and casseroles again, with winter vegetables from the garden, leeks, parsnips, late potatoes, carrots. Sticky toffee pudding and custard. Porridge for breakfast.

It’s time to close the curtains at tea time, light the lamps and candles, put a log or two on the fire.

Time for reading by the fireside with mugs of hot tea from a teapot with it's own blanket...

from this......................

To this.....though it still needs a bit of work and different flowers I think.

Essentially, it is time to slow down, take stock, prepare, anticipate and appreciate all that is beautiful and comforting at this time of year.

Dev x

Writers Block

I am struggling to find anything interesting to say at the moment, I suppose it is my turn for writer's block! It has been a rather mundane sort of week, you know the sort I mean, where you just drift along living your life with nothing in particular happening. Perhaps that's not such a bad thing, just plodding along, minding your own business and getting on with things without worrying or having to think too hard about things.

I have been crafting a bit here and there and have been asked to sell some of my things at another coffee morning at the beginning of November. Not really sure what to do, the last one knocked my confidence a bit. I have that age old problem of setting prices that reflect the work that I have put into something against what people are prepared to pay for it. The two never seem achievable to me. I am usually out of pocket or I take it all home with me! Decisions, decisions!

So what have I been up to I hear you ask? Well I bought this pretty panel last year but unfortunately didn't have time to do anything with it. I draped it over the sofa anyway.

This year I decided to dig it out and, get stuck in, and hopefully get it done for this Christmas instead.

I love it, and the snowmen are just so cute! I am using a variety of coloured threads for the outlining and then sequins, buttons and beads for embellishing certain elements like their hats, scarves, shoes etc. A really "jolly" project.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without angels and so I have begun making my pretties out of old linens and lace. I have made so many of these as presents over the years, all hand sewn too, no machines here. Each one is totally unique.

And finally, I couldn't possibly leave this post without a picture of gorgeous, rippley, woolly goodness.............my mystery project, which I am guessing, that you are guessing, what it is going to be when it is finished.

There are no words to describe how much I am loving this piece, the look, the feel, the warmth. I just can't stop looking at it. The design is just so addictive and lends itself so well to whatever colour scheme you choose.

On that note, I will away and maybe do a couple of rows before bedtime. Hope this post hasn't bored you all to sleep!

Dev x

Crafty Weekend

Here at the Fairyglade we have had the best weekend, the kind where there is nothing pressing to do (if you ignore the ironing basket), nowhere in particular to go and no one of any importance about to descend on us for sunday lunch and all that entails, ie hoovering, dusting and the ironing basket! We have pottered and mooched about and read books and crafted and crafted and ....well....crafted some more.

I made myself a crochet roll because I am always loosing my hooks. It's a bit wobbly along the bottom but I don't mind. I used a different pattern than the the one I used for the stanley roll and found it much more fiddly.

Then I managed to get hold of a fleece blanket to finally make up a couple of cushion covers with my gorgeous, soft, snuggly crochet squares..what do you think?

They are now sat on the sofa in my garden room for all to see. I absolutely love them. They are just so bright and jolly and they really cheer me up when I enter the room.

There has been some christmas sewing too, but as some of the things are for presents, I can't show you any photos.

All in all, it has been a very productive two days.

Devina x