Long absence....

Sorry for all the quiet here-I've been a bit down recently and have found it a little too much to post anything.  I've got a few projects on the go-a couple of blankets and I'm hoping to make a Mandela for the lovely Attic24 and Yarndale.

Myf and I had a lovely May Day bank holiday weekend visiting my beautiful sister Mummycat, my lovely brother in law and my gorgeous nieces as eldest niece was taking her First Communion.  Myf and I spent ages trying to find suitable outfits-she was trying on loads of dresses that weren't quite right and we ended up in a charity shop that sold bridal and bridesmaid dresses.  She tried on one that she really, really loved and looked so gorgeous in but it had some kind of staining along the bottom right...nothing too bad but it would show up!

I spent ages taking up the hem and underskirt (Oh, the joys of not having a sewing machine!) and then devising some way to cover up those marks.
I naturally turned to a favourite book, Crochet Bouquet, and made some little flat flowers in various sizes in similar shades of embroidery silk.  Those got stitched over the worst of the marks and then I stitched a line circling the flowers over some of the last bits.  Added a few tiny crystal beads and done!

Myf very kindly modelled it for me

We had a WONDERFUL time with the family

I'm making a lovely ripple blanket (first time!) for my sister's neighbour's daughter-it looks so pretty already :-D

Birthday presents for Mum

I was racking my brain trying to come up with an idea for Mum's birthday present and I turned to the copy of 'Cute and Easy Crochet' on my shelf.  It had a very simple pattern for a circular cushion cover and, as I happened to have a small circular cushion laying around, I decided to give it a go!  The pattern was basically a stripy circle, very easy to do and when I'd got it to the size I wanted, I thought it would be nice to add some embellishment to the front.  So I turned to my very much loved 'Crochet Bouquet' book for some compound leaves and simple flowers.  The leaves were perfect but halfway through making the flowers, I decided the shape was wrong so I improvised a more circular look.  Stitched everything on and crocheted the cushion pad in (it's non removable once it's done) and then thought hmmm...hope Mum's mind doesn't go to the same place that mine does!

They do NOT look like booby flowers, ok!?!

On the reverse...

Hope she likes it!

Myf has been working incredibly hard this weekend on presents for her 'Moogie' as well.  She has a few crafty books all her own and she wanted to knit her a little purse.  Unfortunately, the instructions were a little confusing and I can't knit at all (Myf used to know how but it's been a few years) so instead I crocheted a small strip for her and she stitched it together, added a button and then went to her new jewellery making book that an auntie gave her for her birthday.  She chose to make a bracelet with wire wrapped beads-aside from cutting the wire for her and making the fastening, she made the rest entirely herself.  She then made a silver one for me and a little one for herself that I'm going to take photos of to put up tomorrow as they're wonderful!

Back to another book to look at some card making techniques and she chose one involving stitching with wool-

And we're done!  Still got to finish up another project that despite its small size is taking forever!  My poor sister must be bursting with the suspense...:-( Sorry darling, I promise it'll be finished soon!

I've felt so much like crap this week that I nearly forgot Mothers Day!   Thankfully remembered last night and decided to make my Mum a little crocheted flower bookmark.  The flower design is from the lovely 'Crochet Bouquet' book that's become a firm favourite with a little improvisation on the leaf :-)  Hope she likes it!

There's some kind of Science day going on at Myf's school today so she dressed up as a 'Mad Experimental Doctor' complete with blue stripes in her hair and a very convincing evil laugh........

Can you spot the potions she drew on the coat?