Afternoon tea

Anyone fancy a cuppa and a homemade cranberry flapjack? Well what are you waiting for....come on over, the kettles on the stove and the leaves are in the pot.

Feeling a bit at odds this afternoon as I think I've lost a follower. I was so chuffed to have nearly 20 followers, and every time i get another i get a bit OTT with blog happiness. Oh well nay er mind. More flapjacks left for me.

Thank you for the lovely comments about my noro cardigan in my last post. It's very nearly there now. Only have a few little odds & ends to sew in and and will then ta dah it on here. I so cannot wait to wear it.

Big hugs everyone and see ya ll all soon.

Melanie Xxxx

This is my noro cardigan not quite finished but very nearly there. I'm loving working with noro yarn especially as this was my bargain stash from a few months back. You may remember
the post with this yarn and the Debbie Bliss that I found in the bargain bucket at John Lewis. Well I've only one skein left and the cardi will no longer be a WIP can't wait.

Sorry for my lack of posts but we have a new computer and I'm struggling with uploading pics and blogging full stop. It just doesn't do want I want it to when I want it to DOH.....

Am loving reading everyone else's posts though. Better than any craft magazine.

Hopefully see you again soon my lovelies.

Melanie xxx

My first proper crochet make that involved following a pattern. Pretty naff but I'm chuffed.

Melanie Xx

More WIPs

Yawn how many more of these will i find hidden away in carrier bags shoved under the bed, behind the sofa, in the laundry basket.....

This will eventually become a pair of honeycombe mittens.

One whole completed fingerless mitten knitted in self patterning double knit yarn.

Not sure what i was thinking with this one. Needless to say ive only completed one so far. Bed sock knitted using sidar hug chunky yarn. Knitted on two straight needles so has a seam. Not my favourite knit ever and might yet frog this and put the yarn to better use.

The aim of showing these WIPs was to make myself feel guilty for not finishing what i started. Trouble is at the mo these patterns just are not inspiring me.

Saturday night me and Mr had a cosy sofa saturday night with a plate of homemade lasagne and a bottle of red. After supper we cosied up and watched Brighton Rock on dvd. We had both been really looking forward to watching this as we had both enjoyed reading the original Graham Greene version. The film is slightly different as its set in a different era with a few other changes, but was still very good and didnt disappoint.

Off to bed now to read my latest find and loving this one.

TTFN my lovelies,

Melanie x

More catching up

A few weeks ago me and Mr had a rare day off together. My beloved is head of chemistry at a local boys grammer school and you will probably remember the teachers strike from a few weeks ago. It was really lovely to spend a week day together as we rarely get to do this and most of our weekends are spent doing the usual housework, DIY, shopping yawn yawn. So off we pootled in our car to the gorgeous georgian city of Bath. Bath is only a forty minute drive away along beautiful peaceful country roads. The sun was shining and a fab day was had by all.

Anyone who reads Mollie Makes will have seen the spread about Bath in issue two and I for one couldnt wait to get back and visit. Mr was issued with instructions to amuse himself for two hours while i spent some time finding all the lovely shops written about.

I was not disappointed.

Firstly as we sat sipping lattes down a sweet little side street, sat outside enjoying the sun, and there straight in front of me themakeryemporium.com This is the most amazingly incredible shop selling sewing and making gorgeousness.

Fabric, handmade felt, buttons, beads, threads, ribbons, stamping bits and bobs just to name a few. The lovely lady that runs the shop was very chatty and welcoming and made my visit feel extra special. I came away with a little bag of goodies and spent some of my birthday money on lovelyness. More on that another time.

Next on my map was woolbath.co.uk Another little treasure trove of gorgeousness and please buy me yarn. Set down a little side street underneath a georgian arch this took a little bit of finding but was well worth it. Again the two lovely ladies running it were very welcoming and friendly. The varity of yarn here is just simply stunning with amazing colours and textures i was spoilt for choice.

Sorry about the piccies but i pinched these all from google images as i didnt take my camera with me.

I had such a lovely time and when me and Mr met back up again we had lunch in yummy scrummy Cafe Rouge.

Anyhows back to the future now and here is a sneak preview of my top down cardi that im knitting using my lush Noro bargain yarn....droolllll... I really do have a thing for Noro and this particular yarn is made up of wool, silk and kid mohair. Its lovely and soft but has a warm sturdiness to it that will stand the test of time hopefully.

Welcome to my new followers. It really makes my day when i get a new follower or comments left following a post. I love reading other blogs and im chuffed that people think mine worthy of following and leaving a lovely comment. There really are some kind thoughtful people out there in blog land and alot of very inspiring talent.

Big hugs,

Melanie x

Catching up....

Remember me? its been a long time.

Lots of special birthdays in June requiring home made cards.

My birthday was also in June and here is a gorgeous hand made card that my special man got me from a lovely shop near where i live called Made in Stroud. Well worth a visit if you are ever in the area especially on a sunny Saturday when the very lively Stroud Farmers Market is in full swing. Its a truely amazing place to be and has a continental feel about it.

Every craft bloggers favourite. The lovely Mollie Makes. How i loved those strawberrys.

Mine are filled with lavender and hang on the wooden knobs of our bed side tables.

Sale bargains from John Lewis at Cribbs Causeway. Im thinking maybe a crochet cushion. What do you think? A bargain at two pounds a ball. You would not believe how excited i was. I started shaking the moment i set foot on the top floor...... and saw the sale signs.

Another mega bargain. This yarn is the stuff that dreams are made of in my mind. When i saw this bag of lovelyness at half price in the bargain bucket i very nearly wet myself. I dont mind admitting i acted in a totally selfish manner that involved me launching myself head first straight into that bargain bucket coming up clutching a whole bag of eight skeins very tightly to my chest and spluttering to anyone that was within earshot ' get your hands off these have my name on'. A week later and im part way through the most gorgeous top down cardigan that may end up being short sleeved depending on how far this yarn will knit up.

Thought you might like to see one of my many WIPs. This is knitted with lots of different left over 4ply sock yarn on double pointed needles. When i knit gloves or socks i always get a bit bored after completing the first one and need to knit something else before going back and completing the pair. I love the colours in this glove and am thinking they will brighten up a miserable winters day.

Sorry ive not posted for ages but have been sooooo busy and i do always manage to find time to read everyone elses lovely blogs. Nothing better at the end of a busy day than settling down with a cuppa and catching up on blog land.

Have a lovely peaceful weekend and hopefully catch up again very soon.

Melanie Xx

Socks on time

Hello my lovelies,

Well what a horrible old day it is today then. Pouring with rain here so gonna stay in and have me some lovely crafty time with my knitting and possibly may make a couple of birthday cards for friends who have birthdays next week.

Got up very early again and sat peacefully knitting for an hour. Oh i so love the early morning when all is quiet in the house and it could just be only me in the whole world. A perfect way to start the day.

Did a three mile very wet run with Charlie choco. Another good way to start the day if you have the energy. Most sensible people would still be in their beds on a sunday morning. I do love getting out for a run and try to go at least three times a week if poss. Its a really good time to think things through and plan my next crafty make he he.

I thought today i would show you some socks that i have knitted over the last year.

This pair were the first that i ever knitted and my first ever attempt at using double pointed needles and knitting in the round. Takes a while to get the hang of it because its a little bit fiddly at first but once you get going... bobs your uncle....and you never look back. WARNING sock knitting is addictive and the choice of yarns.....need i say more....simply amazing.

These bluey green socks are ace and my absolute faves in the whole world. My beloved, bless him, got me the yarn and knitpro double pointed needles for christmas and i sat all of boxing day knitting these because my villiage had a power cut that lasted all of christmas and boxing day. It was a pretty miserable christmas for most of my neighbours, but little old me was quite happy and cosy sat in front of the wood burner knitting socks with my fingerless gloves on and a rug over me knees.




 

I thought i might sort out my stash boxes today but only got as far as photographing them MMM tut tut. Today would have been a perfect day to have a sort out but im in the cant be bovvered frame of mind. Lazy article my nan would have said.

Tat ta for now my lovelies, im off to get crafty. Hope you are all having a lovely restful weekend.

Melanie xx