Rolling along

March 26th

Hello Dear Readers. 

I seem to be on a crafty roll since the last time I spoke to you

Completed projects.
Just before my fur baby Barney came to his forever home, I made a Crochet Cat Cave using 4 strands of DK held together (all from my scrap bag) and a 6mm hook. Based on a tutorial from Bob Wilson 123 This is one of the You Tube channels I have been following and her tutorials are great, and easy to follow, especially if you are a beginner. However after a couple of tries Barney decided it was not for him so... I unpicked the top and left it open with high sides and guess what? He loves it.

Updates

Back in December I shared a picture of the Nativity characters made by the members of  the Knit 'n' Knatter group I attend twice monthly. Someone at the Church made a lovely Stable to house it all and it was displayed throughout the Holiday season AND they have asked if they can use it for their 2020 Christmas cards. We are all delighted and of course we have agreed that they may.

 

Doesn't it look great all lit with fairy lights?

Last time I shared the updating of 'Eddie', my polystrene hat model which was looking a bit grubby. I was in the process of using Decoupage to tidy her up. Below is the finished item. I've shown the back and front or a full effect.

Completed Projects

I have a neat power pack that carries enough charge to keep my mobile going if the battery runs low when I am out and about, I'm usually pretty careful to keep my phone fully charged but, emergencies do crop up (as happened when Mum was in Hospital) The little plastic bag it came with had seen better days and so I decided to crochet a new one using an oddment of sock yarn and a 3mm hook, I'm very happy with the result.

On The needles /Works in Progress
Way before Christmas I decided to knit  myself a sweater after seeing a 'vintage style' pattern in a women's magazine, I bought the yarn online from Deramore's and I have to say I found their service very efficient with my order arriving 3 days later. However the yarn got put away once it arrived, but last week I decide to make a start

The pattern called for Stylecraft Life DK and I chose shade number 2497 - Hyacinth, it's a premium acrylic yarn with 25% wool. I'm pleased with the yarn and the way it's knitting up and the stitch definition is very good. Iv'e decided not to work the 'V' shape rib pattern on the back but continue with just the 5 x 1 rib.

I'm currently knitting another of my Hats, which I loosely call my 'on the go knitting' and also a scarf from a free pattern I found on Ravelry, in an effort to using up a bit more of the stash. I'll try to update you on those next time.

Reading

During recent events, I have not been reading anything, there is a book on my night table which I was enjoying but it has sat there for weeks untouched, I do love reading and will read most things (not Sci Fi or Horror!) and I really should get back to it.

Prattle

Finally Iv'e been giving a lot of thought to this Blog, I've been wondering thqt after my very long absence last year if anyone actually bothers to read it? I know previously I had a few loyal followers but wonder if they are still looking for my posts. Do I 'prattle' too much about the trivia in my life? Should I try to section it off as I have experimented with today. So if you are reading this PLEASE have a look at previous posts for comparison and let me know what you think.

TTFN

Lx

March Already!!

Hello Readers, 
As I sit here in my armchair Storm Gareth continues to batter the UK with force along the coastline, it's very windy here but we are far enough from the coast to be protected from the worst. But all the Spring flowers are in bloom and we have frog spawn in the pond  so things must be getting brighter - aren't they?

Its now almost a month since I last posted and I am happy to report that my crafting Mojo has been re-discovered, it was finally found in the chaos that was my sewing room. I found the Project Linus quilt I had been in the process of binding, under a pile of 'stuff'.  So it came downstairs and during some lovely warm weather we had in February I was able to sit in the conservatory and do some hand sewing, which I found very calming. So finished, it looks like this. 

Pink Stars

Spurred on by this and the encouragement of crafty friends I vowed to make an effort to get back to normality. 

I went to Clock Towers Quilter at the beginning of the February, and although I stayed all day I did no sewing. I also returned to Severn Valley Quilters and due to finishing the quilt I actually had some 'show and tell'.

My knitting mojo also returned and in the last month I have made 3 Beanie Hats. 

Made from a basic pattern designed by the lovely Tina of Looby Lou Yarns and knitted in the round, I vary the stitch count to fit the patterns which makes them individual. I love the way the decreases on the crown forms a pattern. 

Having only a little of the Beige yarn left I added some bright green. The hat on the right above is a plain Navy, tho it looks black in the picture. I'm currently trying to make it look less 'boring' with some embroidery so I'll update you when its done.

I currently have 3 projects on the needles, I always have more than one to suit all situations... I've cast on the back of a vintage style sweater, this I work on in the early mornings when its just me and the cat and I can concentrate on the pattern, which isn't difficult but involves a bit of counting. For when I'm watching TV there is a scarf in garter stitch, with a decrease/increase system to vary the shape (more on that later too!) And of course there is the inevitable Beanie Hat, BUT! for this one I'm using the 'magic loop' method, which I am finding sooo much easier than using 4 needles and means I can knit on the bus while travelling to hospital appointments (the journey takes an hour each way!) or at the coffee shop and I don't have to worry about dropping a needle. My knitting goes everywhere with me, tucked at the bottom of my bag, and the beanie pattern is perfect for that, and for taking to Knit and Knatter groups where concentration is always at a premium. 
As you may have noticed the hats are modeled by 'Eddy' whom I mentioned in my post in December. She was looking a little grubby and in need of a re-vamp and so I decided to update her with some decoupage. I have lots of little fabric samples from way back and thought I would try using them. I picked out the clover pinks and made a start, glue-ing them in place with a thin coat of Modge Podge. Today at U3A Craft Club I continued and she is almost completed. I'm hoping to finish it off tomorrow and once dry I'll share the result with you all.

Well friends I guess that's it for tonight I hope you enjoyed my 'ramblings'. Do leave me a comment if your reading this I do love to hear from you, but for now I'll sign off.

Take care
Lx

Farewell

18.02.2019.

As you will have read last time I was planning to try and post more regularly on here but, my Dear Readers life as they say has other plans.

        After a wonderful Christmas Day with all the family in 'attendance' followed by a 2nd pleasant day on Friday 28th Dec.when my DH hit the big 80 (we enjoyed a small celebration here at home) things suddenly went downhill very fast.

       Early hours of Saturday 29th December my Dear Mum was taken to hospital by ambulance following severe 'breathing difficulties' around midnight. By 7.30.a.m. she and I were given the devastating news that she had suffered a major 'silent heart attack', and although she had survived things were very scary for her (and myself).

However the Dr's seemed hopeful that with the right medication she would be able to go home after a few days. I stayed the rest of the day and left her around 6.30 p.m. Planning to get some sleep and pack a small bag for her, returning on Sunday morning (30th) as early as I could. 

        At 9.15 a.m. the hospital rang to say she had taken a poorly turn and could I go straight back in ASAP. After a frantic dash I arrived to find she had passed quietly away around 9.30 a.m following another heart attack, I was able to spend some time with her before returning home to speak to the family.

      Her whole life had revolved around her family and she idolized her Darling Great Granddaughter, she was active in village life until around 5 years ago and was still a member of The Royal British Legion, and, as recently as June last year she had been delighted to take part in a film about her memories of the war years (she was 13 in 1939) for Gloucestershire Museum Archives. She was always full of laughter, and her health had been robust apart from Osteoporosis and Arthritis (she was working until she was 70!). 

And so however much I had thought about the end of her life, it was sudden and not what I expected, At 92 years old she was still able to live alone with minimal help, she was always chirpy bright and in very good health although getting a little frail.

I have to say that I believe this was the way she would have wanted it however devastating it was and still is for all of us. She had a D.N.A.R. in place after talking with her GP and 4 years ago she had planned her Funeral.

And so on the 21st of January we said our final goodbyes. I was heartened to find that the church was full of her friends both old and new to bid her farewell, the service was conducted by Tracey a lay preacher and friend of 30 years. She now lies with her beloved Husband Henry in a double grave at our local church, reunited with both him and their son John.

Henry & Iris 16th October 1947

Iris June 2019

Below is the reading I chose to add to her Funeral service and this is how I will try to  think of her. 

They Are Not Dead - Unknown

They are not dead,
Who leave us this great heritage of remembering joy.

They still live in our hearts,
In the happiness we knew, in the dreams we shared.

They still breathe,
In the lingering fragrance, windblown, from their favourite flowers.

They still smile in the moonlight's silver,
And laugh in the sunlight's sparking gold.

They still speak in the echoes of the words we've heard them say again and again.

They still move,
In the rhythm of waving grasses, in the dance of the tossing branches.

They are not dead;
Their memory is warm in our hearts, comfort in our sorrow.

They are not apart from us, but part of us,

For love is eternal,
And those we love shall be with us throughout all eternity.

And so my friends my creative Mojo is listed as 'missing' for the time being, hopefully it will return and I will be back just as soon as I can, 

Lorraine.