Friday smile and finished by Friday!

 

A stunning rainbow today!

They always make me smile.

 

 

And here are the latest knitties...

The 4 x 50g balls of Sirdar Baby Crofter was just enough to make the age 2/3 version and the 0-6 months size so here they are - Little and Large!

So pretty and perfect for all the Spring sunshine we will be getting.

 

Join in with Annie's Friday Smile over on her "A stitch in time" blog.

Have a great weekend!

x Jo



WOYWW

Good morning to all our WOYWW followers and anyone else who pops in for a visit!
Thanks for joining in the blog hop and for all your lovely comments too.

I have had quite a crafty week this week.
On the left is the jersey fabric dress that I made for Maxine - it still needs another fitting before it's finished but looks good so far.

In the middle is a lovely little cardi I have just finished knitting using Sirday Baby Crofter.
It is a size 2/3 years so I think little Lexi might like it - really gorgeous Spring colour combo isn't it?

I am not sure what this week has in store for me - no doubt the knitting needles will be in use and my machines will be buzzing.
Never a dull or wasted moment here!
What are you up to this week?
I will be hopping round a few desks to find out.

Have a great week.

x Jo

PS If you are interested in needle felting, you will love this new book by Gretel Parker!

Just pop over to her blog to find out more...
http://allaroundus.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/my-book-and-giveaway.html

Friday smile

It's a lovely bright Friday here today so I just took a quick photo from my kitchen door.

 

That blue sky is such a welcome sight after the gloomy grey days of Winter.
It's the first day of Spring today.
March 21st was my Grandma's birthday.
We have such fond memories of a dear old lady who lived to be nearly 101.
She was the one with the talent for needlework that Annie and I inherited.
A bright little button with a sharp mind and skillful nimble fingers. She made nighties and dresses for us well into her 80s and 90s!


AND below...
A much better photo of the Redpoll.
The male is on the right and below on the left, I think, it's the female.
They arrived on my nyger seed feeder just as I took the photo of the hills.

 

Have a great weekend everyone and if you want to join in with Friday smiles pop over to Annie's "A stitch in time" blog and cheer her up as she is feeling poorly this week.

 

x Jo

WOYWW

Welcome to a quick look at what's on my workdesk today.

Annie gave me some pretty pink wool to knit a little "in threes" cardi. I like to have some knitting on the go. The wool on the right was one of my mad impulse buys.
I was looking at the Caricrafts site (Good value for haberdashery, wool, fabric etc) and I spotted the James Brett "Passion" chunky. I loved the colours and noticed it said there were only 3 balls left - so of course I had to order it!!
Not sure what I will make but it is lovely and soft - I am sure I will find something to do with it.

The box of Anchor embroidery threads was given to me by one of my crafting buddies who spent the day "dumfing" with us the other week. She didn't need them so I have shared them with a few other crafty folk and that is what's left. I love to group them all together like a rainbow!!

Well that's it for this week.

I hope you enjoyed the warm sunny days we had last week.
This week is not so good but Spring is just around the corner!

Have a great week.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

Friday smile

 

Just a little collage of colour from my garden this week.
We have all enjoyed the sunshine and it has certainly brought out the Spring flowers in my garden.

I am sure there will be more photos like these on other Friday smile blog posts this week, so, to find out, pop over to Annie's "A stitch in time" blog.
Have a great weekend.

x Jo

WOYWW

Last week's reminder from our lovely WOYWW host, Julia, that this year we would be celebrating 5 years of WOYWW friendship, set me thinking about my celebration ATC design.

So my desk today has some of the ideas I was working on and my machine set up in "free-machine" mode. I have hidden all the little finished ones that I am happy to swap or pass on when the time comes. They are sitting pretty in that little peachy purse.

The sun has been shining for about 4 days now - bliss!
The birds are singing and pairing up.
I know its not a good photo, but if you look closely on my nyger seed feeder you will see a pair of Redpols! I love spotting an unusual visitor to my garden.
The male has a dusky pink front and they both have little red caps.

 

I hope the weather is just as lovely for you.

Enjoy it if you can.

 

Now, I wonder just how many ATCs I need to make this year....

 

Have a good week.

Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

Friday smile and "Finished by Friday" item

Here is my "Finished by Friday" item for this week...

It's a little 3 in one cardi knitted in Rusty Sirdar Snowdrop with little owl buttons.
If you know anyone who would like it, let me know. It is 14" long and a 22" chest.
I will put it on ebay or maybe send it to charity.
It is really cosy and will make a snuggly extra layer for a 2 or 3 year old I guess.

Now here is your Friday smile.....

Remember the person setting the table is a 4 yr old. They tend to be very literal.
And - USA based story but I am sure you all know the terminology!

 

THE GOOD NAPKINS…This is too good to not share. I think we are the last generation to know what 'napkins' are.

My mother taught me to read when I was four years old (her first mistake).

One day, I was in the bathroom and noticed one of the cabinet doors was ajar. I read the box in the cabinet. I then asked my mother why she was keeping ''napkins' in the bathroom. Didn't they belong in the kitchen?

Not wanting to burden me with unnecessary facts, she told me that those were for 'special occasions' (her second mistake).
Now fast forward a few months .... It's Thanksgiving Day, and my folks are leaving to pick up my uncle and his wife for dinner. Mom had assignments for all of us while they were gone. Mine was to set the table.

When they returned, my uncle came in first and immediately burst into laughter. Next came his wife who gasped, then began giggling.

Next came my father, who roared with laughter.

Then came Mom, who almost died of embarrassment when she saw each place setting on the table with a 'special occasion' Kotex napkin at each plate, with the fork carefully arranged on top.
I had even tucked the little tail in so they didn't hang off the edge!!

My mother asked me why I used these and, of course, my response sent the other adults into further fits of laughter.

'But, Mom, you said they were for special occasions!!!'

Pass this on those who need a good laugh.

Life is too short for drama and petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly...and for heaven’s sake, use the good napkins whenever you can.

 

Join in with Annie's Friday smile over on her blog.. "A stitch in time"

Have a lovely weekend and thanks for calling by.
x Jo

WOYWW

Another week - another Wednesday!!
Hoping you are all well and able to make the most of the odd fine day we have had recently.
The birds are singing and the Spring flowers are out - we have primroses, crocus and tiny daffs blooming alongside the hellebores - beautiful!
I love this time of year!

My table hasn't seen much activity this week.
This is my SIL's birthday card that I showed a peek of last week.

 



I haven't had much time for crafting in my sewing room...
BUT we had a fab crafty day last Thursday so I will show you my dining area all set out with "dumfing" machines and materials.

Four of us enjoyed a day of happy company, dumfing and lunch with a glass of wine.
The day flew by and a good time was had by all.

Judging by last week's comments when I told you what I planned - there are quite a few folk out there who would have liked to have joined in.
I did suggest to Lunch Lady Jan that, as I am out in the sticks and a long way from anywhere, she would need to bring her PJs if she wanted to come a-crafting!!
Maybe I should be offering crafty weekends to anyone who fancies escaping to the country.
He he-  I can just see hubby's face when hoards of crafty bloggers descend upon us!

I forgot to take any photos of the lovely little dumfed pieces the crafters made.
They all went home with 2 or 3 finished pieces and were so keen to carry on they decided they would each buy a hand dumfer! In fact my school friend Chris bought one and showed her 6 year old grandson how to do it - this is what he made over the weekend! Start 'em young hey!

Well that's it for this week.

Have a great week. Thanks for calling by.

x Jo