A Knitted Beach Hut..........

Hi, did you all have a good weekend ? The girls went to V Festival in Staffordshire, not far from where we live so Hubby and I went down to Brean again.The weather was good and we had a really lovely time, I can't remember the last time we went away just the two of us.
I don't know what's the matter with me but the last couple of weeks I haven't been able to finish a full square for Carole's, One A Day. I have managed to do some of the cream around some of the pink centres though.

Take a look here to see how everybody else has got on.

What I have managed to finish though is my Beach Hut Doorstop designed by Susie Johnson from The Wool Sanctuary. Susie taught Kirstie Allsopp to knit and was featured in Kirstie's Homemade Home.

When I went to Brean the weekend before, I started knitting it on the beach, which I thought was a good place to knit a beach hut, lol, I also took a little bag of sand from the beach to fill it when it was finished.

It's a nice, easy pattern to follow and I soon got the front, back and some of the side finished but when  I came to do some more the following day, I'd lost one of my needles on the beach the previous day, sob*sob*. I got Paige and Mick looking along the sand where we'd been sat the day before, but it was gone.
They were Knit Pro and the lady who sold them told me they were the Rolls Royce of knitting needles, I'm hoping some children found it and thought they'd found a pretty stick !!!

Here's a photo of my one lonely needle, I have replaced it now, I went back to House Of Fraser who are selling Knit Pro at less than half price, bargain !!!!!
You can find the pattern for the Beach Hut, here, I've also bought Susie's new book, Janet Smith Can't Knit. It's such a fun book, full of quirky, colourful patterns.

Here a few of my Instagram photo's from last weekend.

eating prawns along Western Super Mare's seafront.

On our way home we stopped at Clevedon, a quaint Victorian seaside town, I had my first savoury cream tea at Tiffin's, it was delicious and consisted of cheese scones, apple chutney and cream cheese, yum,yum. We sat on the terrace, overlooking the beautiful seafront watching the world go by, a perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Thanks for stopping by, I can never get any internet where we stay so I'll catch up with everyone's blog this week.

xxxxDebxxxx

Thanks A Bunch.......featuring IBS Mason Jar Set.

This is the last day of IBS August Release Party Blog Hop and today I'm back with two of the new releases, Mason Jars and Mason Jar Add On II.

I've used the Mason jar as a vase and done some masking to create a bunch of stamped flowers, I've added some lace trim around the top and recreated a table cloth using the fabric gingham washi tape and more lace trim.I got the water effect with Pan Pastels.

Supplies
Stamps- Mason Jar, Mason Jar Add On II, Daisies,Little Flowers.
Papers- Authentique Fresh.
Pretties- Gingham Washi Tape, Scallop Crochet Trim, Princess Crochet Trim, twine.

Thanks for joining me over the last week, don't forget the free shipping ends tomorrow and congratulations to the winners of the blog candy.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
xxxxxDebxxxx

IBSIC #22.........A Sketch.

Welcome to this week's Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge and this week is a sketch.

This card is using another couple of stamps from the Mason Jar Add On II which will be available to purchase at the IBS Shop from tomorrow.

Supplies
Stamps- Mason Jar Add On II
Papers- MME Follow Your Heart and Miss Caroline.
Pretties- IBS Gingham Washi Tape, IBS Cream Crochet Lace 1cm, button, pearls.

I hope you'll join in the fun and don't forget you get another chance to win some blog candy today, check here for details.

I'm back tomorrow with all the new releases from IBS.

xxxxDebxxxx

Inspired by Stamping August Sneak Peek Blog Hop......

Hi there, I'm back today with this months sneak peeks from Inspired by Stamping, this month there are four new releases and it's all about the Mason Jar, designed by Joanna and Debbie.
I love Mason Jars so I was really excited when I saw these new stamp sets, also this month Joanna is releasing some gorgeous washi tape, lace trims and seam binding and satin ribbon, everything is available from Friday.

Mason Jars

I love this set with the jar, it comes with lots of little accessory stamps to decorate it with, I made a noteboard to leave messages for the family and to write my shopping list.I also used the Mason Jar Add On Set II for the sentiments.

Supplies
Stamps- Mason Jars, Mason Jar Add On II.
Papers- October Afternoon, MME, Stampin Up.
Pretties- IBS Washi Tape, chipboard hearts, button, pearls.

Mason Jar Add On II

I used all my scraps up for this card, I also used the new IBS Satin Ribbon in Victorian Rose.

Supplies
Stamps-Mason Jar Add On II
Papers- various left over scraps.
Pretties- IBS Flower, IBS Satin Ribbon, button, leaf pins.

Mason Jar Add On

I've made a Strawberry Jam recipe card with this set, for those of you who make your own preserves, this set is ideal for making your own labels but also for using with the Mason Jar set. I've also used the gorgeous new IBS Lace Trim, it would look so pretty around the lid of your homemade jam.

Supplies
Stamps- Mason Jar Add On
Papers- Basic Grey, MME.
Pretties- IBS Victorian Crochet Trim 2cm wide.

Spice Jar Labels

Again, another perfect one to make your own labels, I covered this homemade mustard (not made by me) with a handmade label.

Supplies
Stamps- IBS Spice Jar Labels

This month, Joanna is offering blog candy today and tomorrow, two lucky winners will win one of these bundles.

All you have to do is leave a comment on Joanna's blog, telling her what you would like to see in the future from the Inspired by Stamping Store

Today's DT

Deb H (me)

Colleen

Kim

Irit

Joanna

Tomorrow's DT

Tammy

Debbie

Kendra

Joanna

Also Joanna is offering shipping Friday through to Sunday with purchases over $20, no code needed and if you want all four sets, if you buy the August Bundle you will save 15% !!!!

Thanks for looking, I'll be back tomorrow with a new challenge from IBSIC.

xxxxDebxxxx

One A Day..........Tuesdays Tallies.

Hello my Lovelies, I hope you all had a good weekend, we decided to go away to the seaside as the weather was so nice. I didn't book until Friday afternoon and didn't expect to get anywhere with at short notice but we managed to get a caravan in Brean for one night.
We had such a lovely, relaxing time on the beach, we had a picnic, I did some knitting, read magazines and did some crossword puzzles together.
I haven't done so well with this week's One A Day's, I haven't finished any squares, just the centres.I do them in stages so I crochet 36 centres in one colour, then add the cream around them all and finish off by adding the final row.

I have finished a pair of knitted welly toppers for Paige though, it's V Festival on Friday so I needed to get them finished. I think she may need them with all the rain forecast for this week !!!!

The pattern is by Rhian Drinkwater, the pattern used aran but Paige found some Sirdar Crafter Fair Isle  effect Chunky she really liked.
I used a 4mm circular needle so they came out smaller, I'm not sure whether you're suppose to go down that small with Chunky but it seemed to work.

Thanks for looking, don't forget to check out how everybody else has got on with their One A Day's on Carole's blog.

xxxxDebxxx

IBSIC #21............pink, green & yellow.

Hi, I'm back today with this week's challenge over at IBSIC, and this week we have this gorgeous inspiration photo for you.

Here's my card using pink, green and yellow from the photo.

I inked the gorgeous Delicate Doilies II for the first time, I love them they are so pretty, I think you'll be seeing these a lot, I also used my new Prima papers. A quick, simple card this week.

Supplies
Stamps-Delicate Doilies II, Heartfelt Greetings, Little Phrases II.
Papers- Prima Tea-Thyme, Melissa Frances.
Pretties- seam binding, IBS Flowers, pins, SU Tag punch, SU pearls.

I hope you'll join in the fun, we love looking at all your gorgeous creations.

xxxxDebxxxx

No Sew Tutu.......

I'm back today not with one of my creations but something that Paige has made. After I knit Olivia the ballerina wrap, I wanted to buy her a tutu skirt to go with it.
I looked everywhere and couldn't find one so I suggested to Paige that she make one, it would give her something to do as she was moaning already that she was bored, it's only two weeks into the summer holidays.
I went on YouTube and found this video on how to make a no sew tutu, perfect for what we were looking for.
Off we went to our local haberdashery store and bought 8 metres of net in various colours, as soon as we got home she started the first tutu.
Within an hour she had finished, this one was for my friend's Granddaughter, she used ribbon for the waistband which when tied makes a pretty decoration on the front.

The second one was for her little cousin, she added some green net to this one, to match the ballerina wrap. The cardi has a bow on the front so Paige did this waistband with elastic as the ribbon looked a bit too fussy.

 I think they both turned out really well, and the two cuties who received them, absolutely loved them, as soon they put them on they started dancing like little Prima Donna's.

Thanks for popping in to look.

xxxxDebxxxx

One a Day.......Tuesday's Tallies.

Hi, I'm back today with my One a Day's, I've been doing a fair bit of knitting lately and missed doing crochet so this week I've concentrated on my Springtime Throw.
I love making these little squares, they crochet up so quick and with my little production line I can soon get a few made.
I've finished 36 square this week so I've got a total of 396 all together,the pattern says you need 420 but I don't think it will be wide enough and I've got loads of wool left so I'll be carrying on until I've used it all up..

Check out everyone else's progress over at Carole's blog.

I've also done 4 rows of my Wonder Blanket.

I've used the yarn left over from my niece's ballerina wrap, I bought the wool from Porthmadog when I went away with my friends. Evelyn who started The Wonder Blanket on Ravelry, commented about when using your left over wool, it will remind you of certain times and what project you used it on so this bit will always remind me of my fun few days with the girlies.

Talking about the ballerina wrap here it is with my niece wearing it.

She's such a little cutie !!!!

One last thing, I wanted to show you my new yarn that I received from the The Natural Dye Studio Yarn Club. This is July's YOTM, a merino/tencel mix lace called Koroibos in commemoration of the Olympics. Koroibos was the winner of the stadion race in the first Ancient Olympics.

Have a good week, I'll be back tomorrow with a new sew tutu that my daughter Paige made for the little girls in our family.

xxxxDebxxxx

Shabby Chic/Vintage Buys.........and a new magazine.

Hi there my lovely friends, how is your weekend going ? I've had a lovely afternoon, we took a trip to Bridgnorth, a pretty little market town in Shropshire.
First stop was lunch at Bailey's, a quaint little bistro on the High Street, we managed to get a table right by the front window and was able to watch the world go by. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day and everyone was in their summer finery then without warning the heavens opened.

It was torrential rain and didn't take long for the road to become flooded, this street two minutes before was full of people going about their business.
This rain continued for about 45 minutes with claps of thunder every now and again, then the sun began to shine again and from nowhere the streets were full. Paige and I had a little giggle over this as they looked like little ants filling the streets and we couldn't work out where they'd all been sheltering.
As soon as the rain had stopped we began shopping in case it came back again without warning again.
We'd come to Bridgnorth to visit the lovely vintage shops.I wanted to go to one in particular called Gin & Teacups, a gorgeous shop, full of vintage treasures.
Last time I'd been in they had an array of vintage knitting needles so I planned on buying some but just my luck, they'd sold them all but I did find these vintage Jaeger Angora Spun yarn at just £1.00 a ball.

While I was there I popped into WH Smiths to have a look at the magazines, and I found this one called Pretty Nostalgic.

This is the second issue, I can't believe I missed the first one, how did that happen !!! It is full of vintage lovliness, stunning photo's and how-to's.

The rain clouds looked very ominous so we cut our visit short and headed back to the car, on our way home we stopped off at Garden Village.We had a wonder around and I found this little shop called Oliver's, it sells new and vintage country living/shabby chic goodies.
I was so excited when I saw this baby blue wicker basket with french ribbon tied around the handle, hanging up outside, I've been after a pretty basket for ages and just couldn't find one I liked. It was a bargain price of £7.99, so needless to say I snapped it up.

When I entered this Aladdin's cave of everything shabby chic I was in heaven, touching, picking things up, ohhing and aaahing. I could have spent a fortune but I restrained myself and just bought a few things I'd been wanting.

A wire basket for my fat quarters.

A vintage teacup and side plate to add to my collection.

This little garden trug wasn't on my list of things but I couldn't resist it, not sure what to use it for yet but will find a use for it !!!

A new tray, so all in all I've had a great day of shopping and very pleased with my purchases
.
I hope you're all having a great weekend, I'm off now to devour my new magazine from cover to cover.
xxxxDebxxxx

IBSIC #20.........A Sketch.

I'm back again with this week's challenge from Inspired by Stamping, I can't believe how quick this week has gone and we're now into August !!!!
This week we have this great sketch to inspire you.

Here's my card.

Supplies
Stamps- Fancy Label 4, Birthday Greetings.
Papers- My Minds Eye  Miss Caroline & Follow Your Heart.
Pretties- IBS Flowers, Prima swirls, lace.
Tools- Spellbinder Labels 4.

I hope you'll join us this week, we love looking at your gorgeous creations.
xxxxDebxxxx