Granny Cushion Giveaway

Hot off the hook and for one of my readers is a 2-sided traditional granny square cushion cover...

Just a little thank you to those of you who read this blog of mine and leave me lovely comments about my crochet creations (or encouraging comments about battling with small boys).  :-)


The cover is 40cm square, is made of acrylic dk yarn and has a button closure...

If you'd like a chance to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this post before 5th April.  I'll pick the winner in a weeks time. Please make sure I have a way of contacting you if you win.

Oh, and don't be shy... I don't mind if you've never commented before...


Small print: I am happy for those outside the UK to enter.  The cushion pad is not included in the giveaway, sorry.

3

 Smarties + Toy Story = one happy boy

Just something that made me smile today...

walking into the kitchen to find 2 chicks in a convertible...

Granny Squares for Crochet a Rainbow

I am guessing that, by now, most people who both crochet and read blogs will know about Sarah London's Crochet a Rainbow appeal.  Well, here are my squares...

I made 30 over the last week or so, just making a few a night.  My favourite ones are those with a different colour for each round...

What is it about the granny square?  So simple yet so charming.  I love 'em.

Still not much time for blogging or crochet...

Blog posts and crochet are a bit thin on the ground at the moment.  My #2 has well and truly dropped the day time nap, so I am spending more time with him than anything else.  I'm not complaining though, I suspect that's how it should be really.   

We are offered full-time pre-school in our area, so he won't be at home with me for much longer.  Come September he'll be out of the house from 9 - 3:15 just like his big sister, so I need to enjoy him while I can. 

But, now the days are getting warmer I am really enjoying our time together.  He is coping better with being awake all day and, for the last week or so, we haven't been stuck indoors with his latest obsession...

There's been plenty to keep us busy.  We've tidied up the garden and planted some pots...

We've sat on the sunny back doorstep playing rescue trucks...

There's the park or the library. We get messy at 'Happy Makers' (because I don't do painting at home)....

And three mornings a week I get my time off when he goes in the creche at my gym.  My friends wonder how I managed to be so disciplined about exercise - I suspect the reason is to do with the childcare that comes with it.

I know #2 and I have our battles (a lot of them caused by my impatience and mainly, these days,  revolving around the buggy), but mostly he's a joy - funny, chatty and imaginative.  


I'll be back in a couple of days to show you more of these - a slowly growing pile of squares...

Off the hook :: An absolutely hideous scrap blanket!

When I started this little blanket I intended it to be made up of 5-round granny squares.  Then I very quickly got bored, so I started messing around and added a large central square and some stripes - influenced by the GroovyGhan.  

Many, many times in the very slow making of this blanket I thought about ripping it all back.  I really don't like it.  It is lacking in warm colours for one thing - the blues, greens and lilacs are all so cold.  But my eldest has taken a liking to it and it's now disappeared upstairs to be used as a doll blanket.  The last dolls blanket I made for her seems to have been claimed by #2 as a wrap for his bunny so she did need a new one.  I looked in on her room yesterday to find her rather large herd of ponies were having a picnic around it. 

Yarn - acrylic dk, leftovers from the giant granny rectangle

Hook - 4mm

Size - 100cm x 100cm

Pattern - 5-round grannies and GroovyGhan by Tracy St. John, available through Tangled* on-line magazine

* a great resource for knitters as well as crocheters

Happy days...

This week we've had a birthday...

No big cake for #1. Instead, my strange child requested marshmallow crispy cakes and chocolate fairy cakes with one Smartie on each.  

She seemed to acquire a lot of crafting stuff in the way of presents.  I've got my eye on this tin once the contents have been used.  It'd be perfect for buttons or thread, don't you think?

I've managed a bit of crochet...

My parents returned from 3 months in Australia, bearing TimTams (like Penguins only better) and Musk flavoured Lifesaver sweets...

and the Amaryllis opened...

Also making me happy is an enforced break from housework - the vacuum is making the most disturbing noise and emitting a smell of burning and the engineer can't come until Monday.  The man at Dyson told me not to use it.  I won't need telling twice.

Happy weekend to you all x

I want...

I want my breakfast.

I want a drink of milk.

I want the dinosaur socks.

I want to get out of the buggy.

I want to scoot.

I want to walk.
I want you to carry me.

I want a hot cross bun.

I want an apple.

I want to play pirates.

I want a cake. Right now.*

I want to read a book.

I want a cuddle.*

I want my lunch.

I want a cheese sandwich.

I want my yogurt.

I want to do a jigsaw.

I want to play doctors.

I want the lego out.

I want...

I want...

* Me too

I love my children.  I know that I am lucky to have them.  I know I'm lucky that I get to stay at home with them.  But sometimes, in the middle of the seemingly endless list of requests, I can't help thinking 'But what about what I want?' 

I want 2 minutes of peace and quiet.  2 minutes would be enough.  Is it really too much to ask?

Roll on the weekend! x

Taking a moment...

to notice the shadows cast on the wall by the sun streaming through the stained glass...

to admire my 'new to me' green glass bowl...

and #2's crown that we made at playgroup this morning...

to notice that the bud of the 18" tall amaryllis is beginning to open... 

to shop for fresh, seasonal and colourful fruit and vegetables for lunch...

and for tea...

They may be small things but they've brought me pleasure.   

Hoping you've all found pleasure in your day too x