Mammoth crafty update part I

Hello everyone! This is the first time for about a month that I have had access to a proper pc and working internet connection on which to blog, or do anything web related. Regular readers might remember that I was about to move house at the end of November. The move went smoothly, but sadly setting up an internet connection is taking a ridiculously long time, so I'm taking advantage of being back at my family home for Christmas, where there is a working internet connection!

I promised a mammoth crafty update, but I think there is too much for one post, so I think I will split it into parts - it may take me a while to catch up with myself. To be honest December has just been completely knackering in a lot of ways, so I haven't done as much crafting as I normally would, due to my routine being knocked sideways by the move. Still, the enforced blog-absence this month has meant that I have a lot to share!

So, to begin! Firstly there is the granny stripe throw.

I spent the last couple of weeks frantically trying to finish this so that it could be a Christmas present. I actually started this project in July - right around the time that I found my flat - so it seems appropriate that it should be the first project I finished after moving in!

This project owes a lot to other bloggers actually - I'm sure you will recognise the original idea as being from Lucy at Attic 24, and you may also recognise the colour scheme as being heavily inspired by Annie's Place.

I'm very pleased to have finished this in time, and I hope it will be a thing of beauty to the recipients tomorrow!

Sorry about the bad light in these pictures - it dark and rainy all day yesterday, and who knows when daylight will return! At this time of year in England, it can feel like the sun is never coming back!

Ok, I think that will have to be all for this crafty update, as it's getting ridiculously late on Christmas Eve to be up blogging! Hope you all have a happy, cosy Christmas with your loved ones. I hope to be back for the next update on Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas! 

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A big decision...

Well, I have something pretty exciting to share with you! Well, its very exciting to me anyway!

I had a half day off work this afternoon, and spent the afternoon visiting the building society and then the solicitors...

...yes, this may sound familiar to those of you who are home-owners....

....I am buying my very own little flat!

I can tell you it's a scary proposition, but also soooo exciting! I've been busy looking for somewhere since the beginning of May, which has meant I haven't had the time to be here on the blog as much as I would like to - between everything else in life and trying to arrange a mortgage and find a suitable property... well, you will know what I mean!

But, at last I have been able to set the wheels in motion. Things are still at an early stage, and those of you who have done this before will no that there a lot of things that can still go wrong. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that in a few months time I'll be able to share with you the excitement of moving day!

It has been quite a lovely day here - blue skies, sunshine, still very warm but thankfully not as stultifying as it has been!

Once I'd returned from my various flat-buying related errands, I was mercifully able to flop down on the sofa for a while and relax with some crochet.

First I worked on the granny stripe.... stripe, stripe, happy stripe I worked, enjoying the bright colours.

Then, in a sudden burst of energy and project-finishing-inspiration I got out the hexagon throw and have just spent the last few hours stitching motifs in place:

There is still a little work to go on this, and then the ends to fasten in. But I hope to have this project finished well before moving day, so that this blanket can grace my new home!

I think I may have to make something else brightly coloured once I finish granny stripe and hexagon blanket. These little tea light shades which I have in my bedroom have been reminding me of all the colours I love!

Have a happy evening.

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Granny stripe blanket

Last time, I said that I would share with you the details of my latest project, which I'm pretty excited with. I have 2 projects (one knitting, one crochet) that are almost finished (I'll share photos of those soon I hope!), so I thought it was ok to start something new!

I have had a large stash of Stylecraft Special yarn for about 6 months now that I haven't been sure what to do with. Then, last Sunday, I was browsing on Pinterest (one of my favourite time fillers whilst waiting for the train!) and saw a picture of this granny stripe, from Sharon at Annie's Place. I'd seen this before, having been a follower of this blog for a while, but seeing it again reminded me how visually stunning this version of the granny stripe is. On taking a closer look, I discovered that Sharon had used Stylecraft Special, and that I had most of the colours (plus a few extras) that she had used in my stash!

As you could imaging I could hardly wait for time to dig out my stash and begin. I made a start on Wednesday and it's been great fun so far:

My colour scheme has basically been inspired by Sharon's although I have changed the sequence in a couple of places as I didn't have exactly the same colours.

There's something about a rainbow colour scheme that makes me feel sort of 'safe'. I think it takes me back to the 1970s, and my childhood (which was actually in the 1980s for the early part - there, see if you can work out my age!)

I should also say that this granny stripe pattern originally came from Lucy at Attic 24.

I saw something else really sweet yesterday. S and I were in a garden square in London, and spotted these little bird houses, high up in the tree trunks.

 

Aren't they magical? Like a little village for birds!

Wishing you all a happy week!

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