Thursday, 15 August 2013

A Work In Progress

Hello there!!! How are you all?
I'm sat here with a large mug of coffee, the sun is shining, windows are open and a lovely cool breeze is blowing through the apartment. MMMMMM Summer mornings!!!
I have a bit of a morning routine that consists of bumbling out of bed (late), making a coffee and sitting sleeplessly surfing the internet, reading the news and checking my emails.
This morning however, I was up out of bed extra early after having a phone call from my clever little sister. She had just received her 'A level' results and found out the she has successfully gotten into university! Now that's amazing news if ever I heard it!!!! Im so very very proud of her and so excited for her moving to another city later in the year to start her new adventure!!!!

So I'm up out of bed a little earlier than usual and thought I'd come and share with you lovely people.
I'm currently working on a new project and enjoying it immensely! I say a new project, It's actually an old one. A project that has been hibernating for over two years in a plastic bag behind the sofa. It feels like a new project though as my energy and enthusiasm towards it is brand new and fresh.

Shall I show you what it is?
Its this scrummy Japanese Flower blanket which I'm hoping to finally get finished so I can fully enjoy it's beauty!!!


These pictures make me extremely happy!!! YUMMMMMMMMMY COLOURS and SOFT SOFT  YARN!!!!

Now I can't take responsibility of this project. It's actually Dennis' blanket that he started a couple of years ago and forgot about. It was only recently when I was having a big sort out at home (we are getting ready to move apartment in October) that I came across this lovely project so bright and luxurious that I knew I had to do the good deed of finishing it.

This isn't my first venture with the Japanese flower pattern, I actually started a little blanket with the pattern using stylecraft acrylic yarn a little while ago. Rather like Dennis I lost interest in this project and it didn't amount to much.


The difference between my version Japanese Flower blanket and Dennis' was the yarn. He had started making his with 'Drops Alpaca' and it's because of the luxury of this yarn that I couldn't let this project continue to live in a plastic bag.

For those of you that don't know this yarn, it is simply delicious!!!!!


It's a dream to work with, comes in a fabulous selection of colours and is the softest most silky smooth texture when worked up. 

I got to work on this blanket, picking up where Dennis had left off. It's such a pleasure to make. It's slow work but the quality of this yarn and colours that Dennis chose make it well worth while. 

Luckily Dennis saved the labels for each of the colours of yarn. So once I was finished with the yarn I already had, I could easily purchase some more in the correct colours from the DROPS website.

Here are the colours Dennis had picked that we are using for the blanket, a really great combination of bright and dark tones:


















The blanket was about halfway complete when I got my hands on it! So I've got the other half to finish.


It's going to take quite some time to actually finish this blanket, what with the many colour changes and the endless amount of ends to sew in. I'm positive it will be well worth the hard work when it's done. 


Not only is Dennis super happy that his lovely project is finally going to get finished, but I'm thrilled that it will be a fabulous finished blanket that we both worked hard on. I think that's rather special.

I'll keep you all updated on my progress.
Until next time.... Have a lovely day!!!

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Monday, 29 July 2013

The Catch Up

Hello Lovelies!
Oh my!!! It's been such a long time since I last popped by and posted here on my blog. For weeks I've been meaning to write a post or at least come and say a quick "hello" but it seems that time is always getting the better of me.

Not only have I been extremely busy at work, but Summertime has also finally graced us with its presence.
With the sudden appearance of the sun I've noticed a rather direct correlation between my crafting time and the changing of the seasons. I've not been crafting quite as much, mainly because the weather has been soooooo nice.  Locked up at home working up a crochet frenzy is not quite as appealing to me as it is on a frosty winters day. Instead I've been using my free-time by spending it out and about in the freshair and enjoying this rather splendid hot Summer spell we are having.

Lots has been going on since I last had a chance to catch up with you all. I spent most of my free time at the beginning of June enjoying my time with Dennis before he prepared to leave again on another cruise ship contract.

At the start of last month, having been talking about it for ages, Dennis and I finally got around to buying bikes. We both bought the same Dutch style city bike (except mine is a little smaller, as I'm only little). Its been amazing cycling around the city on our new modes of transport, enjoying being active and outdoors. Having a bicycle makes me feel very VERY happy indeed!


What else have I been up to?

I've been enjoying treats at my favourite local cafe.


Of course you can't have coffee without a little something to nibble on! Sandwiches with fresh crusty bread! MMMMMMMMM!


I took a trip with Dennis to the brilliant zoo in Hamburg and we enjoyed a day playing with our cameras and watching the fascinating and beautiful animals.




I been eating lots of ice cream!!!
For those of you that don't know, I am the biggest ice cream fan ever!!! I could eat ice cream all day if I had my way.



I've been enjoying the Summery flowers on offer at the local florist. They have certainly been making my apartment feel lovely and fresh. 


I  also took a quick trip home to England to celebrate my little sisters 18th Birthday along with the rest of my family. Here I am with both my Sister and my older brother. We had such a lovely evening laughing and joking the night away. A fun evening I won't forget in a long time.


As for the crafting........
I bought some new colouring pencils and have been doing a spot of drawing once again. I couldn't resist laying them all out and taking a rainbow picture...... I love a good rainbow picture!


And I have some new yarn!!!! Its the softest most vibrant yarn ever! Alpaca by drops. This yarn is simply delicious!


I'm working on a project using these 10 lovely shades:



Hopefully in the next couple of  days I'll get some pictures of my current project to show you what I'm working on.

So there we have it!!! The quick catch up I'd been meaning to have with you all for the past six weeks!!!
Better late than never!!!
I hope you are all enjoying your Summer?
I'll be back soon!

This post has moved!
You can read an updated and revised version on our new blog.

Click here to read this post in full at it's new home!