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

Quilts Galore

The weekend saw me in a tiny hamlet of houses not far from our village at their Quilt Festival. It is held in the church of St Laurence every three years. The words stunning, beautiful, inspiring, breath taking, vibrant all spring to mind as I review the photographs. I am truly in awe of the women who can produce such wonders! This was one of my favourites, though there were so many to drool over.

This is a stunning version of the Cathedral Window and was draped over the choir stalls. I love this design but have never tried it, but would love to have a go.

The angle of these was a bit awkward to photograph as they had been suspended from the beams in the church roof. This quilt was entitled "Freya's Quilt" and the one below is Xander's Quilt. Both are grandchildren of the main organiser of the event. She is a prolific quilter and craftswomen, and hold classes at her house. Sadly, although I would love to attend these lessons, they are held during the working day...deep sigh! Maybe one day when I am retired!

I loved these little girly quilts, as did the littlest fairy.

A gorgeous nursery rhyme quilt and one for a first grandchild...so cute!

I particularly loved this one as well, made from satin, silk and old fashioned lace and part of the makers wedding dress. I love the crazy patchwork style of the squares.

Just so many beautiful quilts....... a pity it is a triennial event!

So, what else did I get up to this weekend...well I finished a couple of projects myself, not on the same scale I have to admit, but I am pleased with them all the same.

This Stanley fabric from CK is just so darn cute, don't you think? I made this pretty crochet roll and needlecase

Both these items are available in my shop.

Back to the ripple tomorrow me thinks, has been a while since I got all hooky.

Dev x