Knitting & Crocheting with a Difference

I was pretty bushed after yesterday's drive so after going out this morning and doing everything I had too, I came back and fiddled!
I have been trying a bit of jewellery making and I adore the effect that knitting and crocheting wire creates. The end results are very delicate. Please excuse the old and wrinkly hand as neither of my daughters where about to use as hand models!! I also use an old card table with a green baize top which has seen better days, but I can use it by the computer where the better light is!

I thought I would have a go at a ring

first you do a few chain and some single crochets,



looks a right mess! Then you do some more



until its long enough to go round your finger



pull prod, squash and pinch until your happy with the shape and then join up to make a ring!



this actually makes a nice thumb ring, but couldn't get a good enough pic. I then decided to add some beads to the next one.



Ta da!

The bracelets I have been making for awhile now, I do like them.



I have been trying out something with this, but I may tell you about that another day!

Been to the Library

Looking for inspiration I went to the library. But it turned into quite an emotional day for memories!

I picked up these books



and brought them home, but before I had a chance to flip through them I had a meeting with my neighbour and the 'Rights of Way' Officer. Our local farmer is trying it on again.
I had never met the Rights of Way Officer (Colin) before, so it was quite a shock to meet someone who reminded me so much of my father. A big man with such a happy face...



I was quite tearful when I got in. So I sat down with a coffee and my books,the first page the book opened too was this



Picalilli, I remember dad, making this, sat at the kitchen table chopping up onion and cauliflower, he was a seafarer so a good cook and passionate about his food. I must admit his picalilli was good.



Lemon Curd, reminded me of my Nana, have no idea what she did with it, but when ever I see it, or smell it, it reminds me of her



During my blog hopping recently someone was looking for a beetroot chutney recipe, I can't for the life of me remember who it was, so if you see this let me know and I will pass on the recipe!



and finally still seeking inspiration for Christmas. Last year as you may or may not remember I was part of the Christmas in progress blog. I signed up for this year and am embarressed to admit I have done nothing, zilch, zero! I hope something inspires me soon!

Groan, Moan! Chuckle!

I went to the garage with the car as we had a tyre problem and ended up buying two new tyres!
We (K & I) then went for my accupuncture appointment in Swindon, parked the car in the hospital carpark and realised we where losing diesel, lots!!! Went in had appointment, came out phoned the breakdown, went and saw the Caretaker guy and explained about the diesel spill which he said he would sort!
Got picked up by the breakdown guy, after an hours wait, who said, as soon as the car was on the back of the lorry, that he had to take a 1/2 hour break as he was on Tachygraph. So he went off to find a cafe and we sat out in the cold!!!!!
Eventually got back to the garage, who fixed the problem and we got home.
By now my hands are in agony, the accupuncturist, stuck needles in my feet, stomach and hands. My hands are by far the most sensitive and I could hardly grip anything, I could not have opened a jar! I was totally and utterley exhausted!
This morning after a goodnights sleep, my thumb joints are still quite stiff! I have loads to do, T has gone to college, Hubby to work to earn the 'crusty bread' and K is off to Worcester to do some filming. They will all be back tonight!!!

Fortunately I finished the bag I had been knitting the idea I got from Rooks Nest

I had fun knitting it, as you know I am a recent returner to knitting and was gaily knitting away following the pattern when it said 'ssk, yo' so taking it as it said I slipped 2 stitches, knitted the next and put the yarn over the needle and then carried on!! This bag seemed to be getting bigger and bigger and I couldn't understand why, I knew something was wrong but what??? So I re-read the pattern, got out my trusty new to me 'Knitters Bible' ah ha! So that was where I was going wrong! What ssk,yo roughly means is, slip two stitches onto one needle knit them together and then put yarn over!!!! Why the heck didn't they say that in the first place. So I had to undo the whole bag and start again! But I think you will agree not bad for the cost of some nice cotton yarn! Fun to do to!



These are on Ebay, you heard it first here on my way to Brugmansia domination of the world I am selling some cuttings, well one actually! You have to start somewhere!

My chickens


not that one!

Have laid all these in just 3 days


which is a relief as we thought they may have been for the chop this year!!!

Day 12

Our 2nd morning of frost, yes its cold but give me a crisp frost, blue skies and that bright sun any day to rain!!!!

Bit behind on the advent calander



the first camel!!!!

I have been knitting, well playing actually, tackling a stitch I haven't done before and I am pleased with the result



What is it? You mean you can't tell! Hrmph!!!!! Just a practise really but I'm pleased with how it looks, I just need to practise knitting a bit more evenly! Although theres alot of picking up of stitches which could explain its wigglyness!

I'm also knitting something for my sister, no its not for Christmas, they are all wrapped up and ready, this is just something extra, cos I love her!!



Yes it is on four needles and no the bead is not included its a stitch marker!!! I shall be taking these with me when I go and visit my mum!

The car insurance company have decided to deal with our claim, as a claim, at our request, as the car is still drivable. They will not 'write it off' instead they will send us a cheque to get the car repaired ourselves or spend the money as we want! Well we shall repair the car, it is booked in for the 14th January. In the meantime it is OK to drive. Which means I can drive up and get K from Worcester on Friday, she will then drive me up to mums, where we will spend the weekend, then come back via Worcester as K has to pick up some stuff and hopefully be back either Sunday or Monday!

Today I shall be pottering round the greenhouses, I have had quite a lot of leaves drop off the Brugmansias and I want to clear them all up, give everything a little water, check all heaters etc etc.

Cat Tag! and Knitting!

I am still, as you may have gathered from the lack of blogging, feeling under the weather. So took my self to the GP last friday actually managed to see 'MY' doc too! He can't give me anything as basically I have got so low I'm catching everything that whizz's past my door! So eat healthily, (which I do) drink plenty of fluids and gentle exercise! So each day I take a walk up to the phonebox and back. Should normally take 10 mins takes me 20+ at the mo!

Knit, well I'm knitting for England and thoroughly enjoying it

Calorimetry



Hubbys fingerless gloves



and the first pair I've knitted for myself!



I'm supposed to be writing the Family Christmas Newsletter,I put this in the Christmas Cards but to be honest, I can't think of anything to put in it. Hopefully inspiration will come!!!

Who wants to make a Snowflake click here then click on create a snowflake". Saves all the clearing up after!!!!!

Now the Bliss Team Kitties have tagged Tango and Sassy! As you know I don't 'do' tags, but Tango and Sassy got very excited as it is the first time they have been tagged so asked me to type for them:-

Name Five Favourite Songs
Everybody Wants to be a Cat our favourite Disney Song!
The Cat Crept in by Mud
Whats New Pussycat.
The Owl and the Pussycat
Mr Mistoffolees

Name Five Favourite Toys

Anything on the end of elastic!


Dressing Up!


Bags to hide and play in.


Monopoly


Beds and Cosy Places



Name Five things You Love to Eat
Anything I can get my paws on given the chance!



Name Five Activities You Like to Indulge In!
Tango my number one favourite is coming in with wet and muddy feet and finding someone to dry off on before getting on my own bed all lovely and dry!



Tango, talking to my man human, we have some very interesting conversations, although I often wonder what he is saying as he does go on!

Sassy, helping on the computer!



Tango, coming in from outside and leaving muddy foot prints everywhere, especially when theres no one around to dry off on!



Sassy, being in Tori's room as she does keep it so lovely and warm!

Name Five Bad Habits
What is a bad habit? Oh when we get shouted at, well thats easy!

Lieing on the Clean Washing


Being Sick on the carpet under the dining room table in the middle of a dinner party!

Getting Really, Really Muddy


Bring a dead mouse into the bedroom in the middle of the night and crunching on it!!!

Sitting to Close to the Fire!



So the Woodlands Puss Cats Tag
Ella at Mrs Nesbitts Place
Slashabelles at Fluffy Flowers
Rupert Rabbit at Higgledy Pigglety
Babie at Nature Trail
Spot the Springer at Auntie Noo's

Lovely Day!

OOOOOOOOooooooooo I had such a lovely day with my sister and husband yesterday! It was so lovely and relaxing! We sat, chatted, ate breakfast and chatted, drank coffee and chatted, went wool shopping and chatted, knitted and chatted, drank tea and ate biccies and chatted, ate dinner and chatted, then all too soon they had to go home and the chatting finished :o( But it was soooooooo lovely!

I helped her master the art of the 'Loopa' we both bought one awhile back and she had been trying to solve a problem she was having and I hadn't even picked mine up! So before they arrived I started, would you like to join me?

First gather all your ingredients............



The Loopa frame, pattern, 3 balls of wool for the scarf, 1 ball for the chain and sewing up!



First make a slip knot with the chain and sewing up wool,



through the loop put the ends of the scarf making wool, my selection had 3 strands do not tighten yet.



Then wind the yarns around the loopa in a figure of eight (just the once). with the sewing up wool form a chain at the cross over point to hold the loops in place



Repeat!

Showing how to make the chain




Once you reach the top of the Loopa you have to backstitch up the centre chain to secure the wool in place



Sorry about the pic! I'm using a different coloured wool so you can see where I've stitched!
Once you have backstitche up the chain which is held on the Loopa, you can slide it off



quite scary the first time you do this, but this is what it should look like so far,



Now you start again, so hold securely with your thumb



repeat all the steps again



and again and again until you finish!



This is soooooo simple to do, the Loopa cost under £2, the wool from Wilkinsons was about £2.50 and look at the cracking present you can make. Using different wools gives different effects! I will post pics of further Loopa scarves as I finish them!

I also finished the bedjacket for my mum which I am far, far happier with!



This time next week I shall just be home from my op! Whilst chatting with my sis, it dawned on me that I had only been feeling back to my old self in the last week or two! Which means we are looking at about 2 months for 'full' recovery! I think its the anesthetic that is 'fuddling' my brain cells! Now this panicked me abit as I still have alot of 'Crimbo' presents to do/make! So this week I shall make a list of all the things I need to make, for whom and sizes! I shall also make a list of everything I have already made, so I don't worry that I have forgotten anyone! What I know I can do is knit, whilst in recovery! But I also have some sewing to do to! So I think I will try and get that done this week!
I have also found the sewing pattern I shall be using for my 'select' few Crimbo cards I hand make! Last year I used beads, see here so this year I shall be using?????????????????????? ha ha its a surprise!!!
Right off to make some lists and attempt to get some amount of organisation to my Christmas Preparation!

Glass, Wool and Garden!

Well I have nearly got all the old greenhouse glass cleaned. Ordered and collected the new glass! Now I'm just waiting on the clips and rubber strips to arrive by post!!!!!!!!!!! They have today and tomorrow to do that, then Monday and Tuesday we have another postal strike!!

I have been knitting,




Its a bedjacket for my mum, for Christmas, I'm not totally happy about it so am doing another one. Its just like one she had many years ago, that fell to pieces, fortunately I found the pattern, a vintage one, on good old EBAY! You can see the wool I'm using for the next one in the top corner of the first pic! I used 4ply for this one which I think is the right weight for the jacket, but probably not for the pattern!!! So the next one is in Double Knit, which I think will be great for the pattern but too heavy as a bed jacket!!!! So she will be able to choose!!!! lol!!

I did abit of tidying up in the garden yesterday and managed to get some pretty good pics I think!!!





It was really foggy yesterday and I got some lovely spider web pics!



Pyracantha!



Red Caster Oil plant! Such a lovely rich colour!



A very confused clematis, I'm sure it doesn't normally flower at this time of year!!!




This is my Brugmansia, the very first one I ever owned and it never fails to amaze me with its magnificent display of flowers even this late in the year!


and finally one of my Red Banana's which is looking forward to the protection that my greenhouse is soon to offer!

My sister is coming for the day tomorrow, I'm really looking forward to that!!!