Thursday, December 05, 2013

Jeepers Creepers.....

How long has it been??? My dearest bloggy friends, I am so sorry for being away so long. All I can say is one word... LIFE! I got busy with stuff. Work, children, marriage, hobbies.... something had to give and sadly, my poor blog got neglected. Part of me wants to scrap this bog and start over - especially since Webshots did away with most of my pictures! Happily, I can say that I still have those pictures. I managed to salvage them from my last computer and save them onto USB. So hopefully one day I will get time to go through my posts and replace them. I also thought about changing my cover on my blog and making my pictures bigger etc but I am not entirely sure where to start on that one. I did ask one blogger who very kindly (cough) didn't even respond (RUDE!!!!). But I am determined that next year I will give this little blog a makeover - somehow... some way... So I thought I would just share a few bits and pieces I have been working on over the last few months and maybe do a couple of posts before Christmas just bringing you all up to speed. How about it?

So, pictured above you can see how my Elmer blanket is coming along. I love, love, love it! It is so bright and cheery and such an easy one to make. I really need to get cracking on it and get it finished as I have quite a way to go on it. I am using the Stylecraft special pack which I used for the Granny Stripe blanket. Same colours - different look.
Okay then. This one is a quick Zigzag blanket I am doing for my son. Just three colours so it is a bit biring to make but he likes it and it is a super simple one for me as well. I am quite enjoying making this. The wool was totally cheapo. It came from Aldi when they sometimes have a wool offer on. Green, blue and cream. He is such a boy boy.

This was a quick, one nighter project when I was feeling cold and really wanted to snuggle up to a hot water bottle but all I have are the pinky, red ones with no covers on! No good! No good at all and so the night was spent using up oddments of wool - nothing special. This was a Made Up on the Spot cover and so I wasn't about to use expensive yarn. I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out and I will definitely be making more of these. I made this one as a tube and then sorted the neck out - decreasing and increasing to make it fit. I finished it off with a scallopy edge and some spotty buttons at the bottom. For a first effort I think it worked a treat.

Here's another project I am working on... A hexie blanket! It might take some time this one. I am using Rico Baby Cotton Soft which is a cotton/acrylic mix which is lovely to work with. I was inspired by something I had seen on Pinterest and wanted to make a similar one. I am making up all the circles first and then joining them together as I go into their hexagonal shape. (ETA - pattern is from the lovely Lucy from Attic24. Find the pattern here.)
I also am collecting Merino yarn too. Isn't it luuurvvvellly!! I want to make something really special with it but am only collecting pastelly shades. I was inspired by this blanket:
which you can find here. So I may well do something similar to that. I need to collect a bit more first though! Well, I have finally succumbed and opened up my own Etsy shop. You can find me here if you want to look at some of my items. I really am just beginning this journey and have a long way to go. I have a lot of marketing to do and marketing is really not my bag. So it is in its beginning stages with more stuff to be added. I really hope you go and have a peek and I am open to Custom Orders. Please let me know if you see anything you like or have any thoughts or tips you can give me. I will be back soon for another update. I promise! Thanks for all who have stayed with me during my busy time. I think of you and your wee blog spaces often. Much love. xxxx

21 comments:

Margaret said...

Hazel, it's so good to see a post from you! I so love your Elmer blanket! And the hexie blanket -- is it hard to do? Is there a pattern?? I was looking for a crochet hexie pattern years ago. lol! Love that blanket with the flowers on it too -- the colors are wonderful! I'm going to go check out your etsy store. Good luck with that!

Jackie's Stitches said...

So good to see you Hazel! And what lovely projects you're creating. I especially love the zig zag blanket. You're son is going to treasure it I'm sure!

Ginny said...

What great projects! The first blanket is so colorful and FUN. Love, love, love the hot water bottle cover. Maybe you could write down the pattern and share it? Please?

Lesleyanne said...

Gorgeous projects.

Annette-California said...

WOW Great crocheting and your blankets look so Beautiful. Glad to see you post and Congratulations on opening your Etsy shop:) Glad you posted. love Annette

Giovanna said...

What lovely projects - you've been busy, well done! Nice to see you post again.

Chris said...

So glad to see an update! Such beautiful projects. The hexies are my fave!
Have a wonderful magical holiday season!

Vickie said...

Oh Hazel! You continue to make such beautiful, fabulous things. I am glad you are well. Hope to hear from you again soon. =)

Sarah Beth said...

Your crocheyted granny square quilt is beautiful. I love reading your blog

Sara said...

Good to see some posting from you! It seems that many bloggers have gone quiet over the past few months and are trying to make a comeback, myself included. Glad to see that you're back too!

Carol said...

Nice to see a new post from you, Hazel--everything looks wonderful. You always crochet things in the cheeriest colors :0

Catherine said...

So good to see your post! Love all of your projects!!

Anne said...

Great to hear from you after a long time. Life does get in the way!! I have just been getting into crocheting and have been making my very first large granny square afghan!! Love the pretty merino wools and that blanket you are inspired by. Hopefully, reworking your blog will go smoothly.

Julie said...

You've been making some wonderful things. Good luck with the etsy shop.

Brigitte said...

Oh Hazel, how great to see a new blog post from you. Your crochet projects are wonderful. I love the hexie blanket that you started and the wool you are collecting has the most lovely pastel colours. I have bought a crochet book now with lots and lots of different squares because I want to re-start crocheting myself. I just hope that I will have enough time besidea my stitching and quilting, lol.
Good luck with your new etsy shop!

Rachel said...

These are all so beautiful, you do lovely work! The colors are fantastic. I can't wait to see what you do with the pastels.

Karoline said...

Lovely to hear from you again. All your crochet is looking lovely

Angie said...

Life always gets in the way so we can all understand why you didn't post for so long.Your projects are bright,colorful and very well made.

stitchersanon said...

I love your blankets...they are beautiful. To make your pictures bigger just click on them when you put them on your post and you get a choice of sizes: small, big, large, super larget etc. I feel inspired to crochet now, thats for sure ;-)

Heidi Kuijer said...

Hi Hazel! Great beauties from your hook. I just made a scarf with glitter yarn in one evening in front of the tellie for the holidays. And was thinking again about a friend in the US telling me over and over to start an Etsy shop for myself. Now you have had the courage to do it. I hope it is a huge success for you.

Are you still working and enjoying it? And are you off now for the holidays?

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi

Sally said...

It is lovely to see you Hazel! You are making and have made some beautiful things.

Merry Christmas!