Granny square progress

I haven't got much to show this week but this is how far I am so far with my blanket, considering I'm just using up ends of wool I think it looks ok : ) I have no idea what weights the wools are because the packaging is gone, so the squares are a little wonky, I don't mind that though I just didn't want to waste all that lovely wool.
I thought I had done loads of squares, I have realised they don't go very far, my problem is that I want everything finished yesterday and I get bored when it goes on too long.
My solution...have lots of things on the go so I can pick one thing up and swap when I get bored of it, unfortunately it takes an age to complete anything so progress is frustratingly slow.
Lacks focus and easily distracted is what my report would say (probably is what they said)
So I'll use up what wool I have, then just keep going round the edges in that lovely green (which I have loads of) until it's big enough.
I'm still working on socks hopefully there will be something to show soon.
Also I'm working on some art quilts for the shop (I'm not giving up !)
No more progress on the hexie quilt as yet though.
As spring has sprung I find myself drawn back into the garden and down the allotment, we have had purple sprouting brocoli and there are still some new potatoes to be unearthed too.

Have a lovely week,

Emma x

ps sorry I keep messing about with the header, I can't seem to find a picture I like, I'll leave it as it is until I take a decent one (could be a while)

I've learnt something new

I have been trying to crochet for a while, I made some sucessful mug cosys and some snowflakes but I didn't really know how to do it properly. I think it had a lot to do with having other things to do and not giving it enough of my time (I also got a bit hung up on not holding the yarn and hook like other people)
I recieved my copy of Mollie makes and in it was a lovely granny square stool top, I don't have a stool but I do have an old bed side cabinet which stands in the hall with the phone on. Our hall is dark and dingy not at all pretty and I thought I could have a go at making one to sit on the top. So I found instructions for the required stitch on-line and had a eureka moment! I can do granny squares hooray! Unfortunately I hadn't realised the cabinet was rectangle not square so instead of putting elastic on it I edged it with a pattern from
Attic 24.

It's brightened up the space no end, I can't show it in situ as it's too dark so this will have to do. 

I have now started some small granny squares for a blanket, oh how long I have wanted a granny square blanket now I can make my own hooray. I am using up all the wool I already have so it's another stash buster and will be very multi coloured : )

I have had two poorly little girls over the weekend ( an everlasting tummy bug, YUCK) So it has given me time to just sit with them and do quiet things. They both went back to school today, I hope they will be ok.

Woody was home at the weekend too, which was a nice suprise as we didn't think we would see him till the end of the month and he painted my little shelf for me. 

Here's a little before and after 

Much better now I really love it.

I have also done some more hexies,

this one is my favourite so far

I'm off to make some more granny squares yay : )

Have a lovely week,

Emma x

Tea and cake

It's very gloomy again here ( my excuse for bad pictures ) The dog and I have been for a walk, actually quite enjoyable even though it was raining, he had a great time.
We returned from the walk cold and rather peckish...well whats a girl to do...

Tea and a slice of banana and cranberry loaf yum, thats better now on to the more serious business of trying to photograph my big quilt progress in the dark ( it's forgotten to get light here today).
I really wanted to use the white print around all of the flowers but as I'm working my way through it's become apparent that I won't have enough of that fabric so a rethink is going to have to happen. I think I will just carry on making flowers in strips with what I have and fit them all together, it's supposed to be random and I know it will turn out fine if I stop worrying about it. Actually looking at this I think I will have more flexibility if I unpick into single flowers and put it together at the end, decision made yay.

It was Sophie's sixth birthday last week and these are her birthday fairy cakes. They grow so quickly I don't know where time goes, it seems only yesterday that she was a baby. Any way she had a lovely day, got loads of lovely presents and we all ate too much cake.

Right, I'm off to unpick my quilt I feel better much for making a decision about it.

Emma x

This week....

There has been lots of this ( I'm actually a bit further on than this with my big quilt but it's been too gloomy to photograph ) The stash is oficially being busted !

This little pot holder is a present for my friend's Birthday, she has two little dogs that are very similar to these ones, Esme and Denzil.

I even managed to make a pocket in the back : )

And as I am officially hooked on knitting socks this is the start of the second pair but with the right size needles. This wool is beautiful and it's super wash so I can actually use the socks I make yay.

Now I must away and prepare for a small persons sixth birthday.

Have a wonderful week,

Emma x

Winners.

Two lovely ladies entered my little givaway so I'm going to send them both a prize.
So well done to lily at Making it vintage and also Norine at fivebahtelephant I'll e-mail you for your details ladies thank you for entering : )
Speaking of prizes, I've been nominated for the versatile blogger award, hooray : )
So in order to accept the award there are a few rules, firstly, I have to thank the giver of the award and link back to them.
Thank you very much Handmade by Tamara Jayne.
I also have to nominate and notify 15 blogs that I have recently discovered but I'm going to change the rules and suggest 5 for you to visit which I've recently discovered and really enjoy.

1. Making it vintage

2. Craft couture by T.C

3. Is it just me or...

4. Bustle and sew

5. Zakka inspired

These are all lovely inspirational blogs and well worth a look.

Also I have to share 7 things about myself,

1. I love chocolate

2. My favourite colour is purple

3. I listen to radio 2 when I'm sewing

4.  I love marmite : )

5. I hate bananas

6. I love walking with the dog

7. I'm not sure if I like baking or sewing best, or sewing or baking mmm both the same I think.

I have won another battle too ( very proud of myself ) and with out pestering Lily once yay, I have conquered the sock, the heel, the toe, everything, so here is my first ever sock.

I think I need to use one size smaller needles, but the sock fits and I've started the next one yay.

I have decided to make a large quilt too with hexagons. I'm planning to make it with fabric I already have in my stash. I have been very worried about doing a large quilt but I figured that if I can manage to knit socks I can make a big quilt.

I'll leave you with another picture of my new jug and beautiful sunny dafodils, have a lovely week.

Emma x

It's been a year......

Just over I think, a whole year of blogging and it's been fab. I'm so pleased I decided to take the plunge, I've not regretted starting my little blog for one minute and looking back over the last year has been lovely. I did actually achieve quite a lot even though it didn't seem like it some days. So I'm celebrating with a little give-away nothing complex or big just a little something because I'm so grateful for this little on-line community and everyone who follows my blog.
I've had quite a productive week, I finished my little hexie quilt.

This was going to be the give-away, but I was a little mean with the binding and there is a small bit on the back which may not stand up to washing. I am making some pot holders/mats for the shop and decided to give one of these away instead, I've made them with 2 layers of wadding so they will protect your table from teapots and hot plates, or you could just hang them up in the kitchen. This is the one up for grabs.

So if you would like to win just leave a comment on this post, I'm happy to ship any where. Just so you know though the draw will probably be done out of a hat by one of my girls nothing complicated.
I have also done some practice Easter baking, I found the inspiration for these cupcakes on pinterest, I had to try them, they are just a chocolate fairy cake with a swirl of chocolate icing and mini eggs in the middle yum yum.

Have a lovely week and I'll pick a winner of the giveaway for tuesday.

Emma x

Oh dear...

I have nothing to put in the shop this week, I seem to have lost my momentum, I haven't stuck to the plan at all this week. I have made a few things though.

I had intended to make a few of these little sleepy lavender cushions for the shop for valentines day, but only managed one, it's probably too late for valentines now, they are still cute though and if I manage to do some more I'll still list them. I also managed to make some tiny bunting for my shelf.

It's only little plinked triangles with some embroidery floss, but very cute, I love my new/old shelf, eventually I'm going to paint it white but not yet.
I have also started some more hexagons, ah ha, the new obsession and probably the reason I haven't done much else. I seem to have rumbled myself !

Add to the hexies the snow.....

and my excuses are complete and justifiable....ahem... is anyone convinced? I should also point out that the dog has not been forced onto the trampoline he goes on there on his own, he's a bloomin nutter he is.

Stay warm and have a wonderful week,

Emma x