Wednesday, January 21, 2015

January update

Here we are nearly at the end of January and I haven't posted! Being back at work is great but it is a real drain on your time. So, as it is my day off today, I thought I would give you a quick update on my crafty makes this month. 

Most of my spare time has been beavering away on this blanket, trying desperately to get it finished for my sister's birthday. I feel pretty safe posting on here. I am almost 99.9 % sure she doesn't read my blog. I finally finished it the other night and I guess it was the quickest blanket I have made to date. I think I made it in less than four weeks! I did 71 of the 84 stated rows as I felt it was quite long enough and plenty big enough to sit on at picnics and wotnot. 

I followed Lucy's pattern and colour placement as I did for the Cosy blanket and it worked out fine. For some reason, I thought the colours would be a bit more subtler than they have turned out to be. I thought it would be a bit more pastelly but no matter, it is still very very nice and snuggly. 

Cottage Ripple blanket by Lucy of Attic 24
Wool - Stylecraft Special DK





And on the stitchy front, I did manage to get some GAST Piney Woods from the lovely Ann at Beadlework blog. Thanks so much for sending me some thread Ann. So I finally managed my first finish of 2015! The Stars are Shining Brightly by Heartstring Samplery.


I was so excited by my finish that I just snapped it without ironing it first! I will get a better picture soon. I loved working on this. 

My next project is one I started a couple of years ago and never got around to getting it done so I am trying to complete Lizzie Kate ABC of Christmas as my next Christmas design. It is kind of quirky and cute and not really my style but it is nice to be able to do one of the letters and feel a sense of accomplishment. The threads are Crescent Colours (are they called something else now?) and a re soft and pretty to work with. 



Two more charts were added to my stash as well - both Christmas ones. I couldn't resist the Season's Greetings one by LHN so I bought the threads to go with that one. The other is my autoship from The Patchwork Rabbit. It is the next in the series of Classic Ornaments by CCN. I must say, I am a little disappointed at these charts. I thought they would be more, well, "classic" but they seem a little twee in my opinion. I do really like the sampler ornies that are coming out by LHN and I should have waited and opted for these designs instead. Ahhh well, maybe I will get them after this autoship finishes. I will still stitch it up though and add it to my collection. I also spotted two small charts by New York Dreamer ( I think it was Carol's blog Stitching Dreams where I saw it first) which I have on hold for my also by the lovely Karla of Patchwork Rabbit.  


Finally, I thought I would end with a very cheeky picture of April. Look what she dragged home! A magpie! She has caught them in the past and we thought it was dead but when she dropped it it flew away! It's the look of innocence in her eyes that gets me. 


And on a different note, my DH and I have decided to go walking this year and so to encourage us, I have set up a separate blog of pictures of our walks here in the UK. We have been on two already. If you would like to take a look then please do but please don't feel like you have to comment as it is really just something for me and DH to do together. It is still in its infancy stage so there is a lack of words and bumfff on there but pictures are up and you can see how much snow we have been getting. Please go to Between Heaven and Earth to see. 

Thanks for reading and big welcome ad hello to all my new followers. Please leave a comment with a link back to your blog so I can visit you back.

Have a great week everyone. 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



24 comments:

Vickie said...

Oh my! Your sister's blanket is splendid! I love your stitchy finish as well.
Wow! April you naughty girl!

VeggieMummy said...

Love your sister's blanket and the ABC of Christmas. That magpie was rather lucky wasn't it?! I'm sure April thought you'd be thrilled with her present! Lovely snowy walk pictures too. x

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Your blanket looks really great and your stitched finish too. Poor magpie, I'm glad it managed to fly away:-)

Clare-Aimetu said...

Lovely blanket and great stitching :-)

Cindy's Stitching said...

the blanket is so pretty. The colors are so pretty. The first finish look so nice. The cat made me laugh.

Margaret said...

The blanket is just lovely! I love the colors! Your stitching is lovely too! Good for you on the walking. I need to do more of that. Ack on the poor magpie! At least it was still alive and able to fly off. Yikes!

Angela said...

The blanket is gorgeous! Love your stitching too :) Your Kitty gift reminds me of the time my first cat brought me home a Crow :)

Margaret said...

Your sister is very lucky. Magpies are protected birds here in New Zealand so your cat would have a criminal record by now!!

Annette-California said...

Congrats on finishing your sisters blanket in time for her birthday. It's beautiful! And congrats on your first finish for the new year, so pretty! Lovely stitching. love Annette

Christine said...

Beautiful stitching and that blanket is stunning!

Julie said...

Wonderful blanket gift for your sister, she's sure to love that.
Nice stitchy finish!
Oh dear naughty April....

Shirlee said...

Where do I begin? Lol! The blanket is beautiful, & I love your Stars finish! April made me laugh with her look of innocence. I am glad that the magpie wasn't harmed ... just playing possum I guess : ) I have become a follower of your walks blog. Gorgeous photos! I look forward to seeing more of them!

Mylene said...

I am sure your sister will love her blanket, looks gorgeous and such lovely colours you have used.
A lovely stitchy finished too!

donnacrafts said...

Your afghan is just beautiful, the colors are vibrant and lovely. You are a wonderful sister!! Do you want another one? If you do, I am here. Enjoy!

Chris said...

ooh Hazel! Your sister is going to love the blanket.
I love your sweet finish and new stash too.
I an very excited about your walking blog. Such wonderful places to walk.
I hope that you get a walk in this weekend!

Sally said...

I love your sister's blanket! It is gorgeous.

Love your stitchy finish and the ABC of Christmas is really pretty.

Nice new stash. I am the same and wish I'd waited for the LHN sampler ornaments. I the first three of the CCN ones so far but like you will still stitch them up as I'm on auto for them. There is a church one that is really nice though. My Christmas Cookies is missing though but if it hasn't arrived by Thursday next week Karla is going to send it out again for me.

stitcherw said...

Your blanket finish is beautiful, what fun coloring. Congrats on your finish and your new WIP project to work on looks to be a fun on. I love LK designs. Glad the magpie could fly away, poor birdie. You're quite right though, there really is an innocent, what me look in the eyes, cats can be so expressive/sneaky at times, LOL

Jackie's Stitches said...

You must have seriously been working hard on your sisters blanket to get it completed so quickly! You've been working on some really lovely projects. Congrats on your first stitching finish of the year!

Kathy said...

Love your Ripple Blanket hun, I have Coastal waiting in the wings to work on, and hoping to treat myself to the cottage ripple at a later date. I am enjoying Cosy

Your Stitchy finish looks fab too hun, love it.

Awww cheeky kitty, cute xx

ruthsplace said...


The blanket is gorgeous! What a wonderful gift.

Carol said...

Hazel, I'm amazed at all of your creations--and with a job and two children, too!! The blanket is luscious--so, so pretty. I know you'll love the New York Dreamer charts, too :)

The expression on April's face is priceless!! Thanks for the smile :)

Stitchabilities said...

Oh that blanket is lovely well done. I like the ABC's I am doing one...somewhere...in my pile of UFO's lol
Oh Naughty April! Mine brought one back not as lucky as that magpie and was attacked by it's mate everytime they went out afterwards.

CathE said...

Beautiful blanket and stitching. And I'm impressed that a cat can catch a magpie! Glad it was OK though.

Brigitte said...

So wonderful that you could finish the blanket for your sister in time. I love the colours very much, and I am sure she will love this blanket a lot.

A very lovely stitching finish that you have had here. And a nice WIP for next Christmas.

I have just been at your other blog looking at all the pictures from your walks. Walking in GB has always been my dream and I have read some books featuring the long walks through the Pennines etc. Fantastic landscapes. Good luck and enjoy your future walks.