Friday 30 October 2015

Friday smile - Bobble and Squeak

Just a little snap of Ben in his new bobble hat.
My friend in Yorkshire knits them and she wanted a photo or two for her facebook page - Bobble and Squeak. So this was Ben wearing his "Squeak". It's a really soft, cosy, little hat which really suits him.
Check out Bobble and Squeak if you want to know more.

Look at those squidgy little fingers - I wonder what he is thinking?

Have a great weekend.
Join in with Annie's Friday smiles.

Thanks for calling - I will try and get round to visiting but seem to be slowed down by all the sifting sorting and packing!!

x Jo

Wednesday 28 October 2015

WOYWW- crafting and clearing!

 Good morning all!
I have been enjoying inchie fun this week!
Now before any of you get carried away with the possibilities.... if you don't know about inchies - here are my two examples....
The one above is in shades of pink/turquoise and I made it especially for my little sis as a birthday card but with the idea that, if she liked it enough, it might go on her new sewing room wall.

The one below is a little get well card/pressie for one of our friends.
Same technique just different colour combo.

They are fun to do. I just created some background fabric using Bondaweb/Angelina and scraps of threads/shiny bits and bobs, overlaid with old chiffon scarf.
I chopped it up into inch size squares and then sat cosily embellishing each one each evening.
I think the longest job was the blanket stitch around each square but even that was theraputic!
 Below is my tidy work table and the roman blind that I made for Annie.
We might show a pic when she has it in place in her new bathroom.
The gorgeous felted picture behind it is one that Maxine made. She has had requests for more, so is spending every minute she can dumfing (needle felting) and stitching.
 Now, this is the state of my desk today!

I am in the process of clearing and organising my room and I just dumped all my tat in a heap on my table while I rearranged some of the furniture. One day I will be all neat and tidy!

Thanks for calling by and leaving lovely messages.
If you want to see the completed mini monster suit that I was busy with last week, then scroll down to my Friday smile post.

Have a great week.
x Jo

Friday 23 October 2015

Friday smile with a mini monster

Happy Friday everyone.

As promised on my WOYWW post, here is my mini-monster in his new suit.


(click on the collage to enlarge pictures)

He is just able to stand and take a few steps unaided so he really thought he was the "bees knees" on the patio having his photo taken.
Isn't he a sweetie - I know I am biased but what Nanny isn't?!

Now I must make sure I get over to see the birthday girl today - little sis Annie is ** today!!!
Join in with her Happy Birthday Friday smiles over at her blog "A stitch in time"

Thanks for calling by and I hope my little grandson has left you smiling.
Have a lovely weekend.

x Jo


Wednesday 21 October 2015

WOYWW - monster attraction!

Monster alert!! Beware small monster on the prowl!


Good morning all.
A wet, drizzly day here but it will brighten later when our little "monster" comes to play.
Now, here is where I wish I had taken a before and after pic.
Maxine and Ben came yesterday and asked if I could make a monster costume for Ben to wear to two little parties he is going to.
Of course I can make monster costumes - I just need the right fabric!
Believe it or not - one of Maxine's cast off stretchy dresses was lurking in my "useful fabric bits" box ( I have loads of those boxes!!)
With a little bit of creative advice from my design team (Max) and a little bit of Nanny magic we came up with a brilliant little monster suit....

I will take a picture of Ben wearing it later and maybe post for my Friday smile this week.

Below are the finished table mats that I was making last week - cute aren't they.

This morning I have another little project on the go but will show you that next week.
I hope you are all well and not too bothered by the drop of rain we are having today.
The mud on the building site is horrible but each day brings us nearer to the rest of the houses being completed, so I must be patient - er and wear my wellies!!!

Have a great week.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

Wednesday 14 October 2015

WOYWW - Christmas is coming!!



Today I have a little bit of Christmas crafty activity to share with you.


They are little placemats for a friend's grandchildren. She started them and then has been too busy with her Grandma's duties to be able to finish them. So, I have had a great time making little collages to go on the side and will be stitching all their names on later. I just need to get all the bits stitched on and the backings added but that will be tomorrow.
I have even made one for Ben so it is a win, win situation.
I hope they like them.

I have also been knitting a little rosey pink cardi for a little 2 year old. It's a fab colour and will suit her I think. It works up really quickly as it is in chunky wool.

Now, the really good news is that we have sold our old house and hope to get everything moved by the middle of November. At last I might be able to get a bit of order into my sewing room!

Must dash - I am looking after Ben today while Maxine goes for a bit of pampering and gets her hair cut.

Thanks for dropping in and for your lovely comments.
If you are wondering what this is all about then pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground and join in the WOYWW fun!

x Jo

Saturday 10 October 2015

Saturday smiles


Good morning all - this is my Friday smile, a day late!
Above is the glorious view from my back garden yesterday. Sadly it won't be my  view for much longer but here is the good news... the house is sold!
So, at last, we can empty the house and get properly organised here in town.
We will really miss the views as we have nothing like that here. However, the folks buying it love it as much as we do, so that's good. We can always go back up there for walks and to breathe the fresh country air whenever we want to.

Below are the lovely flowers given to me for my birthday.
Maxine bought the blues and creams which look perfect on my lounge window.

 My niece bought the hot reds and oranges and sunny yellows - so cheery and bright.
I hope that has brightened your day and made you smile.
Have a good weekend.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

Wednesday 7 October 2015

WOYWW - a little bit of infinity

Now don't laugh - please - titter ye not -  as Frankie Howerd would say!

I spent an evening last week making this infinity scarf with oddments of James Brett chunky wool and thought a quick selfie was in order - no please,  no more giggling!! So, here I am - age 64 this week and sporting my neatly trimmed hairdo. The scarf is a slight adaptation on the ones LLJ made a few years ago and kindly gave me the pattern, which I mislaid. Well, I couldn't remember what I did so I made it up as I went along - it's only chains and trebles. Now I will be searching out the rest of my left over chunky wool for a couple more. It's lovely and cosy.

My workdesk is empty but this is my other piece of happy knitting that kept me awake each evening this week....

Another cosy little chunky cardi - this time for my friend's grandson.

Well that's it for this week.
I hope you didn't get as wet as I did on my walk round town today - it certainly ruined the hairdo!!
Thanks for calling by.
Have a great week.

x Jo

Friday 2 October 2015

Friday smile

Just a little Gerbera in a pot in my kitchen....



It is a brilliant shade of red and this is the second flowering since I bought it. (Last pot on the shelf in Sainsburys). It certainly makes a cheery sight on my window sill.

If you need a few smiles to cheer you this morning then pop over to Annie's "A stitch in time blog".

Have a great weekend.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo