Gutermann thread treat!

I popped into town today with a friend to the local fabric shop.I spied there these tins of Gutermann threads .I just had to treat myself ,but at £5.99 with 4 threads inside ,it was a bargain!

Don't forget to pop back later for the unveiling of the surprise!!

Crochet Blossoms

Over last week I made some little cotton Mary Jane baby booties.I made them out of some lovely Creative cotton Pearle dk yarn.They looked a little plain so I croched some blossom flowers to go on the front of them.

The blossoms were made using the magic slip knot method.You then make 9 SC into the loop & pull the loop tight.This forms the centre of the blossom.Into the first sc ,4 treble crochet then the next sc ,ss1.Continue around the centre .Once you get to the last space you should have 5 petals.Fasten off.Stitch to whatever you wish to decorate!

The weather over the weekend has been foul.Last night we had torrential rain.I spent the whole weekend indoors.It did help as it made me rest my back.I also made a start on my Debbie Bliss winter coat.Its the riding coat by Debbie Bliss.I am knitting it in moss stitch.I know its going to take longer being made in moss stitch ,but its gives the fabric much more substance.I am now going to start searching for just the right buttons for it.When you spend a lot of money on yarn for a garment ,its so worth the extra effort.I cant wait to show you how I am getting on with it.I have done just 11 rows so far of the back .I would like to get it finished by October as Debbie will be visiting The Wool Bar on 14th October

I also have something else I have been assembling which I cant wait to show you ,but its a secret at the moment! Shh ,don't tell anyone!!!!I will show you after tomorrow.Make sure you drop by again.You mustn't miss it!!

Celebrity Masterchef Winner 2010

Yay,

my prediction came true!!!Lisa won as those of you who watched the programme will know.

They all did so well.The food was stunning.

I have found a link here to all the recipes. I will definitely be trying Lisa's Panacotta recipe.I have never had it & so want to try.I also liked the look of Dick's Rhubarb crumble tart.

Mr T & I have decided that Christine is the double of our Weight Watchers leader,Dawn.Even her mannerisms are similar!!How canny is that!

I have just had such a yummy breakfast of fresh figs & porridge & a very large mug of tea.I always have the same breakfast but usually with a banana sliced on the top.Yesterday however Mr T picked over 40 very ripe figs off our tree in the garden.Its gone mad,never seen it so laden & with such large fruit.In over 10 years of living here this is the first time we have eaten it .

I am going to have to find a recipe to make fig chutney I think.We cannot possibly eat all these figs & I have already given some away .We also have an abundance of Chilli's.Fig & Chilli chutney anyone!

Lucy Bags.

I just realised as I was writing the previous post ,that I still haven't showed you the Lucy Bags I have made.These are from a very creative lady who writes Attic 24 blog.

The Lucy bags were made from Creative Rico Cotton ,which is an aran weight.Comes in lovely scrumptious colours & is available at The Wool Bar. It forms a lovely firm fabric .Lucy has a description of her pattern here.Have a browse through her little blog.Its really lovely.

Here are some pictures of the bags I have created.

Top Viewing

Over the past few weeks ,I have been watching Celebrity Masterchef.Now although generally in our household ,I don't cook,Mr T does,its not that I cant ,which is contrary to his belief!Mr T does enjoy cooking & I also think he secretly enjoys winding me up by secretly adding things to what I am cooking or re stirring something when I have just stirred it.Now you know why I leave it to him!!I can cook & do it quite well.I did the whole Domestic Goddess thing at school & gained an A level in it!I have also cooked for a very famous person who then went on to become the Home Secretary.Thank goodness I didn't poison him!

Masterchef is great.My cousin took part in a Masterchef heat.Bless him ,he was so nervous ,I am surprised anything got on the plate he was shaking so much.Needless to say he was thrown out.He put salad from a bag on his plate & the judges were not impressed.

Anyhoo ,I digress.This years Celebrity Masterchef has been really good.The contestants have completed some really difficult dishes.Watching the penultimate programme last night ,I so think Lisa Faulkner could win the competition.The Champagne Caviar she made is very technical & I was amazed at the Tiramisu pudding she created.I just wish she would stop crying.!!! Christine I reckon could be second & then Dick.All could just change places though.

Its so exciting.....cant wait for tonight's episode......

I had to look up how to make the "Caviar" , so here is the link to a blog that explains it uses & how it is made.All very clever.

Puddings & rings

Mr T & I had been invited down to our friends beach hut to see the Birdman of Worthing event.It was a most welcome break from the monotony of being stuck at home .I decided to make our Weight Watcher leaders recipe for Beetroot & Orange jelly to take with us.!!Uggg I hear you say.....well it did get mixed reactions,but those who tried it , actually liked it. It surprised me too ,but I don't think I will make it again in a hurry.If you would like to try it then get some plain cooked beetroots ,skin them ,& finely slice into a made up sugar free orange jelly.Do this in layers & pop it in the freezer compartment to set quickly then add another layer.When set ,serve & wait for the reactions!!!Its quite funny.Now I know how Heston sometimes must feel.

I also made a bracelet.I wanted to do this for a while .I purchased some plastic macrame rings from a local shop who do beads for jewellery.I also bought some crochet cotton which is variegated & has a lovely pearl sheen to it.A simple single crochet stitch was done all the way round & then they were joined together using a double crochet stitch.

Viola!!!

The dogs have been my constant companions during the last 3 weeks.Maisie likes being on lookout duty ,whilst Grouse gets as close to me on the sofa as possible.They are so funny.I love the to bits & these weeks would have been pretty lonely without them.Even little Peggy, who stays mostly in her bed ,is such company.Life without our dogs?No way!!!

Bobbin about!

I have always loved sewing .I think that's partly to do with the eclectic mix that can be made with any notions you may have to hand in your stash.Its all about individual taste that makes a hand sewn item unique.

Part of my collection includes old cotton reels.I love cottons ,the colours ,the sheen on the thread.Most of all I love old cotton reels.When I mean old, not ones that were just around 10 years ago ,but those that were made with wooden reels . These were the cotton reels of my childhood .They were the ones that a knitting dolly could be made from ,a necklace could be made & even a TV show puppets were made from them.

I love my little collection.Whenever I see some sitting on a shelf in a charity shop,I have to unite them with mine.Some people may think I am sad,some mad,but who cares......I don't!!

More Tunisian crochet

I made another bag out of some of the yarn I dyed the other day.I hadn't even got it finished when my friend who popped round for a coffee said she wanted to buy it from me as a present for someone.How nice was that!,Obviously it had to be finished but this is the outcome.

I am pleased with the way it came out.The lining fabric I had & the flower trim is made with petals from 2 silk flowers ,a puffball I made & a very pretty old button ,all from my stash.

I am feeling a little better today with my back. I think a change of anti- inflammatory tablets is to thank for that.I actually managed to get into the bath today.....I have been showering ,but its just not the same.Absolute bliss!!!!So I have done my hair properly & put some makeup on.It all helps doesn't it to make you feel better.

I really miss work & my team ,so maybe after these 2 weeks I have been told I have to be off ,I will be able to go back.My boss came to see me yesterday .He has just taken over our team .I was worried about how Grouse was going to be with him as he has become very protective over me ,but he was fine & let the Boss in to the house & even made a fuss of him.Phew!!!!!It doesn't do for your dog to nip the Boss when he comes to visit!!!!

He looks so innocent doesn't he !!!Look at the way he is laying with his paws crossed.That is just so sweet!

youngest family member

On Sunday Mr T drove me up to my Mums cottage to meet the newest member of our family,baby Izzy!She is my great niece ,Mums great grand daughter.I have to say I don't think my mum looks like a Great granny

With Mark & Clare ,my nephew & his wife

Me without any makeup & looking rather old!I suppose I would next to a seven week old baby.

Dying update & the Bonne Bouche !

I re-charged my camera & got some pictures of the dyed yarn.

Here we go;

This is the Bluefaced Leicester double knit.So soft & yummy springy in your hands.It smells good too.Do you smell your yarn or is it just me!This was dyed using the pink lemonade & lemon/lime KoolAid.

This is the Merino /Silk lace weight dyed using Parrot green Dylon dye.This yarn is even softer than the above & feels like caress on your skin.Perfect for anything close to you.

This is the new wool /acrylic double knit in the strawberry KoolAid.I am not sure what this yarn is but it may have been Wendy Family choice.Its a good hard wearing yarn that you could get away with washing in the machine on a cool cycle.

I found the dying really easy to do .

The Bluefaced Leicester was just begging to be wound into a useable ball.As usual ,scatty me couldn't remember where she had put the skeiner & ball winder.An hour later after roping in Mr T to help look ,it was found in a box on top of my wardrobe.I must have tucked them out of the way safely & then promptly forgot where I put them.Anyhoo.....I digress ........the yarn was wound into very pretty balls.

The Bonne Bouche bag was the way forward & with my new Tunisian Crochet hook ,it all came together in a few hours.A very quick project to do .I doubled the yarn to make up to an approximate chunky weight & off I went.

I am not suppose to be doing any crochet or knitting at the moment because of my back ,but I am so bored.With frequent breaks I managed to get it done in about 3 1/2 hours.