WIP Wednesday.......... Undecided.

Good Morning, Wednesday's seem to roll around so quick, lately. I'm back today for Work in Progress Wednesday. I haven't actually got that much to show, as I've finished two of my knits over the weekend which I will share with you on Friday.

My friend, Kerry had said weeks ago now, that she would like to start a daisy style Granny Square blanket, so I said I'd join her and we would have a mini Crochet-a-Long. I started looking through patterns and eventually decided on a mash-up of two different patterns. The flower motif is called Something Cute by Millie Makes and I used the Classic Granny Square pattern for the background.

Yesterday, Kerry and our other friend, Jax, came to mine for lunch and a Knit and Natter, I love these sort of afternoons!!!! I won't say we got to much crochet done but we had a fab time.

Kerry and I made a start on our "Daisy Squares", after I'd finished a few squares, I kept looking at them and didn't feel the love. I added a cream border on one, I made some plain Granny Squares to break it up but I wasn't happy with them. I'm not sure whether it's the colour, the colour is called "Light Pink" in the Drops Merino Extra Fine and looked a beautiful, soft vintage pink. I would say this colour is "lilac" and even though I think it's very pretty, it's not a colour I would normally choose.

Anyway, after lots of faffing about and discussions, I sort of came to the decision, this wasn't for me, which I felt bad about as we'd been looking forward to our "mini CAL". I'm now looking at the above photo and really liking it, maybe I should do all daisy squares and Kerry came up with the idea of joining together with double crochet in cream to break it up.

Or..................

I've added it to some other colours I've got in this wool and maybe look for another pattern using all these colours, I'm drawn to Hexagons. I'll let you know what I decide next week.

The other thing, I'm working on is another pair of socks.

They are the Diagonal Lace Socks by Wendy Johnson, aren't they funky colours. I'm using two circulars for the first time, I'm not sure that I like this method as much as DPN's but I may grow to like it, the more I do it.

That's all for today, why not check out what everybody else is working on over on Tami's blog.

I'll be back on Friday to show you my FO's, that is "Finished Objects" for Pinder and Dee, I had a phone call last night from them, asking me what all the abbreviations were, lol, they suggested I put a glossary on the side for them.

xxxxDebxxxx

Silver Wedding Anniversary Card..............Lace and Pearls.

Good morning, my friends. I'm back today with a Silver Wedding Anniversary card. I'm playing along with Emma's Cards UK challenge, whose theme this week is "Lace & Pearls".

It's just a simple card but that's just the way I'm rolling at the moment. I embossed some Centura card with a heart embossing folder and added some wide lace, a ruffled grey ribbon and some grey sheer ribbon which I threaded a little pearl heart buckle.

Also on Centura card I stamped "Happy Anniversary" , to split the sentiment to use separate, I covered the "Anniversary" with washi tape, inked the "Happy" and ripped the washi tape off, leaving you with the "Anniversary" not inked then do the same to stamp the "Anniversary". I stamped the "silver" using an alphabet stamp.

Enjoy the week, I've got a couple of friends coming around today for some lunch and a spot of crochet. My friend Kerry and I are going to start our own little CAL, and hope to get started later. I will post about it tomorrow.

xxxxDebxxxx

FO Friday............Lacy Ribbed Socks.

Good morning, I have a FO to show you, today, these are my third pair of socks that I've finished from the book Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy Johnson.

All the socks I've knit, so far, I have given away as gifts but I'm keeping this pair for myself, they feel so comfortable and fit perfect. They are the Lacy Ribs Socks by Wendy Johnson, the pattern was to use circular needles but as the CO was 64, so I choose to use DPN's as that was what I was use too using. The next pair of socks I start, I will have a go at using circulars, in fact I will have to, I've flicked through the book and most of the other patterns are a 66 CO.

I used Rowan Fine Art in the Serin colourway and it was a dream to knit with, I love to use hand dyed yarns for socks from independent yarn dyers but I will definitely buying another skein of this Rowan sock yarn.

I've nearly finished my Manolin by Mel Ski's and my Cloud Iussions Shawl by Boo Knits so should have them to show you next week.

Check out other peoples FO's over on Tami's blog.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend.
xxxxDebxxxx

18th Birthday Book Card.............

Phew, it's been a busy week, with lots of celebrations, including our 25th anniversary, my birthday and last but not least, Paige's 18th. I can't believe my youngest is 18!!!!!! She had a wonderful day, 21 one of us went to Drayton Manor Park and Zoo and hit the rides then had a big family picnic.

I'm going to show you the card, I made for Paige. I used the tutorial from my friend, Gina's blog. Paige loves 50's fashion and loved her card.

After doing the construction of the book, I started decorating, the front cover is using some dress making pattern papers, sorry not sure what company it is, I found it in my stash. I cut a square of red gingham on the front with added "18" chipboard and some tape measure ribbon.

The inside is decorated with G.C.D. Melody Ross Homespun Chic, I love the dresses.

I adhered the tape ribbon around the front of the book and added a little jar of buttons and some cotton reels.

It's week 4 of Our Beautiful World and the theme is DETAILS, so here's a close up of the inside of the card.

Here's a few photo's of the birthday trip.

we got a bit wet on Storm Force 10

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of the week, I hope to be back tomorrow with some FO's.

xxxxDebxxxx

Whoo Hoo Wednesday........masking and background stamps.

Hello there my friends, I hope you are all having a good week. It's my turn for Whoo Hoo Wednesday. I will be showing you how to use a mask and background stamps.

You can find the tutorial over on Joanna's blog, if you create a card/project using this technique, one lucky winner will win a $15 gift card to the Inspired by Stamping Store.

Happy Crafting
xxxxDebxxxx

Pick A Boo KAL........week 3.

It's week 3 of the Pick A Boo KAL, organised by the lovely Sarah. I haven't had chance for much knitting this week but I have finished the lace section and ready to start the border.

As I mentioned last week about not having enough yarn for all of the extended lace section, after speaking to Bev from Boo Knits, she recommended that I knit to Row 44 then skip to Row 65. I did that and it's worked out perfect.

I've changed my mind about adding the beads to the border, there are a lot of beads and I just wasn't sure I liked so many on there. I think I'd get more wear out of it without the beads but I might add some on the last row.

Check out how everyone else is getting on, over at Crafts from the Cwtch.

xxxxDebxxxx

WIP Wenesday...........a new project.

As you can see I've started another new project, I really must stop doing this!!! I've recently started watching Single Handed Knits video podcast, if you've never watched it, I really recommend that you do. Mel is from Hawaii and films all around this stunning island and mostly on the beautiful beaches, showing us her knits and yarns. She really is an inspiration and has such a positive outlook on life, she's had to teach herself to knit again with just one working arm, after an accident that left her unable to use the other one.

She's also a designer and writes her own patterns, she designed Manolin which is the kids version of The Old Man and the Sea, inspired by the novel by Ernest Hemingway. When I saw it, I really wanted to knit my niece one. I have this book on my Kindle so I really should get around to reading it, soon.

I had some Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic Aran in my stash so started it straight away even though I've got to many other things on my needles and hook.

I haven't managed to do that much of it as I want to finish some socks I'm working on but I did do some sat outside the yurt overlooking the beautiful Somerset views.

I'm still working on my Lacy Rib Socks, I'm aiming to knit at least one pair of socks a month but starting all these new projects, I'm falling behind.

I even worked on them while we were stuck in traffic on our way back from Bournemouth, I've finished the heel on the second sock and have just started the leg. I'm going to just work on these now, until they are finished so hopefully will have an FO by next week.

I'm still working on my Cloud Illusions Shawl and have just started adding the beads. I did do some more of my Stars and Stripes Throw while I was in the car but it is just too hot to work on, now it's getting bigger.

Check out what everyone else is working on over on Tami's blog.

That's it for now, enjoy the rest of the week.
xxxxDebxxxx

The Yurt Retreat in Somerset......

Hi there, my friends. It is a week full of celebrations for my family, with my birthday on Thursday, my youngest daughter's 18th on Sunday and today, my husband and I celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary, where have the last 25 years gone!!!!!

We went away for a few days on Wednesday and stayed at the The Yurt Retreat in Somerset, it was on my bucket list to stop in a Yurt. I wasn't disappointed, I loved it, it was a complete getaway , with no t.v or internet, just amazing views.

The Yurts were very spacious, with a comfortable double bed, sofa, dressing table and log burner.

There was a large country kitchen where you could cook and prepare your food but the first evening we decided to have a picnic supper on the decking, overlooking the beautiful Somerset views, we even spotted a deer appear out of the woods.

It was on the border of Dorset and as I love the seaside our days were spent at the beach, which was about a 30 minute drive. Thursday morning, we went to West Bay for breakfast and found a gorgeous little cafe on the beach. 

After a wander around the beach and harbour we headed to Lyme Regis which is one of my favourite seaside towns.

We spent the afternoon on Lyme Regis beach with some essential beach reads, then went onto Weymouth, early evening. I love the deckchairs along Weymouth promenade.

Friday was the last day in the yurt, so we packed up and headed to Bournemouth first thing Friday morning.

We could have been in the Med, eating feta cheese salad for lunch overlooking the sea. it was a lovely end to a great few days away.

xxxxDebxxxx