This and that

I seem to have a lot of projects on the go right now - knitting, sewing, cross stitch and crochet but nothing actually finished so here is one, as they say, that I prepared earlier. This Barn Owl is called Night Stalker and is by Karen Couchman stitched on twilight linen.

I have wanted to learn Hairpin crochet for a while so when I found this frame in a second hand shop I snapped it up. I paid 80p for it but when I peeled off the label it said 14 shilling underneath and as decimalisation was in the early 1970s it is pretty old and still in its original packaging. Below is my first attempt, I have made a few more pieces with different decorative spines and found it quite easy to do and very relaxing.

As part of my crochet course I have had to learn and produce samples of Tunisian crochet and broomstick crochet. I am not so keen on the broomstick but the Tunisian, worked on a long crochet hook, produces a knitted effect but at a much faster speed so I would probably use this more whereas the broomstick I could only envisage using for scarves or shawls but it is nice to have learnt them both.

I have mentioned before what a bad cook I am but in an attempt to improve my cooking skills I made Coronation Chicken after seeing an updated recipe in a magazine. It is one of those foods that has gone out of fashion but I love it and I only know one restaurant that serves it now. I made it exactly as the updated recipe but used sultanas instead of grapes, as per the original version. It turned out ok although I have to admit that John helped me by grated the lemon and chopping the spring onions or I probably wouldn't have bothered!

Whilst out shopping today I popped into a second hand shop where I bought these three bags of linens, some printed with embroidery and some plain. I especially like the art deco tea cosy cover in the second picture. Each bag was just 99p so I got the lot for 2.98 pounds, a real bargain.

Finally, as this blog is Crafting with Dogs, I just had to include this cute picture of Higgins sleeping under this furry throw the other day. For a working dog he sure likes his sleep.

Till next time,

Shirley

Everythings Coming Up Roses

Not just roses, everything else is coming into flower too. I love this time of year with the expectation of warmer days and longer evenings. Yesterday was so hot, we came back from shopping via the beach and there were lots of people laying on the sands and the ice cream van was doing a brisk trade. I don't know if it will last, you have to make the most of it when you can here and whisk those shorts and sandals out while the goings good, LOL.I've never considered myself a flowery person but I seem to have completed quite a lot of floral projects. The knitted roses were made with a vintage pattern from my collection and the daffodils below are my one and only attempt at glass painting. I have all the equipment but cannot seem to find the time to do more. It's simply a case of too many crafts, not enough time.

I have planted three types of tomatoes from seed this year and they are already shooting up. I just hope they grow as big as this crochet tomato pincushion I made with a pattern from Annies Attic.

I am not much of a gardener and don't have much success with flowers so I tend to stick to the papercrafting variety below. The last two cards were made with papers from Anna Griffin, one of my favourite designers. Enjoy the sunshine all.

A Monthly Make: Stanley Kidson

Just scraping in by the end of the month, here is my monthly make - Stanley with a pattern from Cath Kidston. This is the fourth Stanley I have made (I have given two away) and this time I decided to use non traditional colours after seeing some of the snazzy coloured ones other have made.

Below is Stanley resting on my current read, The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean. This is the lady who writes the dress-a-day blog and her book is set in a vintage clothes shop and the stories of the dresses they sell and who they once belonged to. A lovely read for anyone who loves gorgeous shops selling beautiful things very similar to A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff except the first is set in the US and the second in the UK.

Oriental Influences

I have recently been taking some photographs of my craft work and only just realised how many Oriental/Asian themed projects I have completed. These two designs are both from PINN, the first is called "Fish of Fortune". The second is a good luck symbol supposed to bring wealth. All I can say is it hasn't worked so far, LOL!

Here are some cross stitch cards I made from charts in Lets Get Crafting: Cross Stitch, Stitch and Craft and other cross stitch magazines.

The pink kimono card was made with papers from Paper Nation.

Finally, keeping to the same theme (sort of) are two scrap book pages made with photos from my holiday in Thailand some years back. The papers and embellishments are all from Anna Griffin whose papers and fabrics I love.

By the way, the bottom photo above of me with the show "girls" are actually lady men. We went to a cabaret and afterwards the "girls" posed for photos with the audience!

The Birthday Boy & Airedale Stitching

It was Archie's birthday on Saturday, he was nine years old, so we had a little party for him. Here he is helping himself to a French Fancy. He didn't realise you are not supposed to eat the paper case too!

He hasn't changed very much over the years and can still behave like a puppy when the mood takes him. I love this photo of him dressed as Jekyll and Hyde for a fun day. I made the costume myself and he was lucky enough to win first prize.

This photo is from a previous birthday, a couple of candles less, which I made into a card for his grandmother's birthday.

I always keep stitching magazines that have Airdale charts in them and I have made these several times for gifts and for myself. For this sachet I charted the heart and alphabet myself and filled it with lavender I grew in my garden last year.

John has been asking for a hand knitted sweater for some time but I've been putting it off (all those stitches) but decided last week to make a start. I am actually quite enjoying it, the stitch pattern and colour changes make it interest even if I am having to use two circular needles to hold all those stitches!

Stash Busting and Bargain Shopping

What a lovely day today, the sun is shining, the weather is mild and we have had the back door open so the boys can run in and out. Perhaps spring is finally on the way.

It took me a while to get to the needlework shop to buy the thread for my sunflowers so in the meantime I worked some small kits that have been in my stash for years. The Easter bunnies and the flowers I have made into cards. The flower basket, a kit from Needlecraft magazine, is the first embroidery I have done this year. I don't know what I will do with it yet.

I have also made two bookmarks. The sampler style one I will keep for myself and the redwork one I am going to pop into a birthday card as a gift.

The book it is resting on is my latest read, The Snowman by Jo Nesbo - a thriller set during a snowy Norwegian winter. A read page turner with two twists in the tail.

Here are my sunflowers, finally finished:

Couldn't resist this bargain from Craft Superstore this week. A cabinet and craft goodies with a retail value of 100 GB pounds for just 25 GB pounds. Too good a bargain to pass up. I have already started using the cabinet to hold some of my fabric stash of which I have loads.

Here are a couple of cards I have made from my papercrafts stash. A card for a pony mad niece and a personalised card for John's brother in Australia.