Halloween Craftiness

My view from the table at lunch today...

There is little my #1 loves to do more than cutting, gluing and sticking, so while #2 naps that's what we do!  The witch, ghost and spider hanging from the tree came as a kit with a comic (Cbeebies Art comic, I think).  The web and pumpkin were ideas from the comic too.  The starry witch is made from a toilet roll tube, inspired by Teawagon.  Here she is, have a closer look... 

I didn't notice the shadow of the other witch when I took the photo...very spooky!

My Halloween crafting took the form of a dressing up outfit for the last day of term...

There's a toy spider stitched to the bodice, which apparently wasn't very popular with her classmates...

but I thought she looked great!

Tuesday Through the Window

Living in suburbia, I don't have very inspiring views out of my windows - we look out onto a row of terraces from both the front and the back of the house.  But there is a tree right outside our house and slowly, from the top down, the leaves have been turning from green to red.  The colours on this photograph do not do it justice (is it just me or does uploading to blogger dull your photographs too?), but nonetheless, here is the view from one of my bedroom windows...

More Tuesday through the window at Swedish House.

Off the hook :: Pincushions

One green using the pattern from 'Lacy Crochet' (first blogged about here)...

and one lilac and cream, using the Grandma All Square pattern from the Royal Sisters blog.

Quick, easy makes using 4ply cotton.

The cabled cushion cover is still on the hook. Thank you for all your kind comments!  I've finished the front and then started the back on Saturday, only to pull it back after miscounting the chains - serves me right for trying to watch television at the same time!

Texture

No colour, just chunky cream cables...

Yarn: Rowan Pure Wool Aran

Hook: 5mm

Pattern: my own: chunky cabled cushion cover

Tuesday Through the Window

Joining in with Swedish House..


Through the window in the kitchen door...

our cat having a drink of water from the trailer on #2's trike.  She's a funny old creature our cat when it comes to what she'll drink out of.  Her bowl of water - no!  My glass of water - yes!  In fact, before we had children she had her own glass of water to drink from.  These days she prefers to drink outdoors as far away from the children as she can get!  

For more 'through the windows' click here

This Weekend...

the weather was gorgeous, so we all went a walk along the River Bollin at Quarry Bank Mill and admired the Autumn colours...

a stew, flavoured with star anise, cloves, cinnamon and orange...

                                            magazine photo, not mine!

and making a start on the Christmas cake...

And before you go thinking my life is impossibly idyllic there were also an unhappy incident involving glue and glitter (must remember to put glitter in a hard to reach cupboard), a few unmentionable potty training incidents and a 'terrible 2's' tantrum the likes of which I have never seen before!!


What did you get up to?

Bits and pieces

Just a few things to show...

Two bouquets: one roses, one knitting needles!

a Japanese crochet book, 'Pretty Color Crochet and Knit Goods 2', bought from Pomadour24 on Etsy. 

I want to make this blanket (having seen it first on Vanessa's Coco Rose blog).

New shoes bought last week in a fit of 'I don't want to be 40' pique!  There's not much a pair of impractical, heeled, patent leather shoes can't fix.  I wore them on my birthday night out which included a trip to Cloud23 where a number of cocktails (including the delightfully named Ena's Sparkles) were imbibed.  

A few badly photographed Christmassy crocheted items for Emma.  A couple of garlands and an amigurumi snowman. The star/tree/heart garland was made using the Grandma tutorials from the Royal Sisters.  The snowflake pattern can be found here.  It's hard to tell from that photo, but the snowflakes are made from yarn with a sparkly thread through it.   Maybe this photo shows it better. 

x

Scandinavian hearts - I did it!!

I finally translated the Swedish crochet pattern.   Well, I have a version of it that I'm happy with anyway.  

I've amended round 4 to suit the way I crochet (I tend to have a tight tension) - the lilac heart has my round 4, the white heart below has a round 4 as directed in the original pattern.  In my version I've added extra dc (sc) stitches around the bottom of the heart to make it sit flat.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my original post about this pattern, in particular Anna, who directed me to the Garnstudio website where I found a handy Swedish/English knitting and crochet dictionary.  That was very helpful!


Do you think it'd be ok for me to post my translation here if I be sure to credit AnneSofie Ampen for the original pattern?  The pattern appears free on the internet, but I don't want to break any copyright laws!  

I ♥ Apples

 ♥♥♥ Apples ♥♥♥ 

One reason to be cheerful about Autumn - the new season apples!

Ashmead Kernal, Katy, Egremont Russet, Cox, Ribston Pippin, Lord Lambourne, Fiesta - the varieties for sale in my local grocer the other day.  

And all these apples has led to more baking - English Apple Cake this time. 
    

Thank you

I just wanted to say a big 

Thank You

for all your enthusiastic and lovely comments about the baby ripple blanket a few posts back...

for reading...

for following...


for commenting...

Here, have some tea and cake on me!

Aran knits and crocheted cables

I have a question.  I want to know who it is that sat down one day and said  "Right, Autumn 2010!  Everyone and their bed will be wearing Aran knits!"  Who? Why?  I don't know, but I do know I love the Aran cushions I am seeing everywhere.  

Here, have a look in the 'Bed and bath' catalogue from John Lewis. Have a look at this lovely cream cable cushion...

and these cushions and throws here...

if I'm not mistaken, the ecru coloured one is crocheted. I love the chunky handmade look of those cushions.


And then The White Company's latest catalogue - it has more gorgeous cabled and knitted throws and cushions.  This grey cabled one is very, very lovely in real life.  I know because I went to Selfridges to see for myself...

So, the result of all this drooling over knitted cushions has led to a new obsession.....crocheted cables.  I knew that it was possible to produce crocheted cables, but it's not something I'd ever attempted. But I want - no I need - a snuggly, woolly, chunky crocheted cushion, so I've decided to have a go.  And, do you know what?   It is not actually that difficult - all the patterns I've come across are labelled 'intermediate' but I reckon I'm up to that. So I'm going to carry on practicing until I find a cable I'm happy with and then hook myself a cushion to snuggle up against this winter. That's got to make the cold weather more bearable hasn't it?