WOYWW - last one for 2015!

 Here's my little festive snowman to greet you today!
I put him on a place mat for my little dinner guest and now he will be packed away till next year.
We had a lovely Christmas day with our little family.
I spent the morning juggling pots, pans and recipes and I think Mary Berry would have been proud of my efforts! We have just finished the last of the turkey in soup today so that's that for another year too.
Unfortunately little sis, Annie, has been poorly over Christmas and told me to keep away from her germs so I have had to do as I was told. No doubt we will make up for it when she is better in the New Year.
Get well soon Annie!

Below are two of the little gifts that she made for me.
A non-slip rest for my sewing machine foot and a lovely Christmas heart for my tree.
She is a clever thing isn't she - thanks Annie.

 And lastly, my little Bobble hat knitted for me by Roz from "Bobble and Squeak".
I love the colour combo in the gorgeously cosy wool.
The pompom just finishes it off beautifully - so "on trend", I think.
If you want one, just follow the link....
Bobble and Squeak

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and I just want to wish you all a very happy New Year.
Thanks for all your WOYWW friendship and fun - long may it last!

Best wishes
x Jo

WOYWW and a Happy Christmas!

Oh such a busy Wednesday - shopping, baking and visitors.
It's so lovely to be in town where family can just drop in - Haven't had that luxury since leaving home at 18!
Now Julia suggested we take a snap of our trees to share on WOYWW  - so here is mine - neatly tucked out of harm's way in the corner of my kitchen. Ben helped me to load it up with all our old favourite decorations.

 

 This is the beautiful flower card that arrived by post today.
So pretty and a perfect little gift from one of my Yorkshire friends.

And this is the little track suit that I knitted for Sam's dolly.
I just hope it fits.










And that just leaves me space to wish you all a very happy Christmas!
Have a wonderful time.

x Jo

Friday smile

Happy Friday all!!

I haven't joined in for ages with Annie's Friday smile.

Life just gets a bit hectic at times and I try not to spend too much time on the computer when there are so many other things to do!

Today I just wanted to share this bit of gorgeous colour with you.

I bought it as a little Christmas gift but don't think I can part with it as it makes me smile each time I see it.

The little cyclamen has deep rosy pink, curly petals and looks lovely on my dining table.

So enjoy it everyone and if you want more smiles pop over to Annie's "A stitch in time blog".

Have a great weekend.

x Jo

WOYWW - knitting marathon!

Good morning to all WOYWW buddies. I hope you are all well and getting all your jobs done ready for Christmas.
This week I have been knitting again.
I promised my great nieces some knitted dollies' clothes so delved into my massive wool bag for bits and bobs that would look good on the modern dolly!
This is the result....

 A hoodie and a little cardi for each of the three dollies.

My sewing room looks like this at the moment...

Still in need of more organisation but at least it has a useful space for a bit of communal sewing. Maxine came round this week and we had an entire hour together sewing whilst Ben had his afternoon nap. Bliss!

This is what I made for him to hang on my tree...

Well that's it for this week. I have a bit of Christmas baking to do today.
Have a great week.

x Jo

Is it WOYWW already!!!

 Well here I am, late again!
I seem to have been busy cooking, baking, cleaning, helping crafty folk and having fun playing with Ben.
I must apoplogise to all the kind folk who visited my desk last week and left lovely comments about Ben's advent tree - I only managed to revisit a few of you. I promise I will try harder this week!!

Above is the little knittie and dress I made for a little 15" doll - I haven't made dolls clothes for ages and it was fun to work on a tiny scale - I even tried to smock the frock!

Below are the little Christmas collages I added to some Christmas napkins for my friend's family Christmas table. I think the little ones will love the festive fun!

So now I need to get my a... into gear and finish off my Christmas cards - I have been making them in the spare moments I have had and they seem to be taking forever.

Thanks for dropping by - if you want to see what Maxine has been making while I have had playtime with Ben, then pop over to Tilly Tea Dance - she is much cleverer than me!!
Well if I don't link this with Mr Linky on Julia's blog it will be WOYWW next week before I know it!

See you soon
x Jo

WOYWW - I'm back!

It's so nice to be back!
Where have you been? - I hear you say.
Just here under a mountain of boxes!

We moved the last remnants from our old house a fortnight ago so, now I have the wonderful job of sorting books, fabrics etc into my long awaited storage. That sound easy peasy but you know what it's like trying to get a quart into a pint pot (sorry for those who only use metric! )

My happy little assistant, Maxine, has spent days helping to clear out and reorganise all our crafty goodies - I say "our" because lots of it is shared between us and I needed her to decide what we keep and where we store it so we both know where things are. (Good excuse I think!)

I think she is going to blog some of the chaos we caused and the neatness we created on her Tilly Tea Dance blog.

In between times I have been crafting away at an advent tree for Ben to put all his little felties on each day.
This is what it will look like by Christmas Day......

 Today he chose the little parcel to velcro onto the empty tree and we hid all the other ones in a shiny box along with a few chocolate buttons. I think he will enjoy using this for a year or two don't you?

Well that's it for this week - got to dash - more sorting to be done.
I will try and get round a few WOYWW desks to make up for missing out over the last fortnight.
See you soon.

x Jo

WOYWW

It looks like my little dolls have had a wild night - they seem to be draped round my machine, exhausted - but from the smiles on their faces I'd say they enjoyed it!
I haven't had much time to craft here in my sewing room but did manage to finish sewing together these little ones.
It's all go at the moment packing and unpacking bags and boxes.
Not sure where it will all fit in but maybe that's a good excuse to clear out some of the fabric etc that hasn't seen the light of day for a year or two.

This is the beautiful Tom Thumb fuchsia that came along with LLJ when we saw her earlier this year isn't it looking fab - this mild Autumn weather has suited it and it is laden with blooms. It always makes me smile and looks so cheery right in front of my kitchen window.

I hope you are all well and enjoying life.
Thanks for calling by my sewing room and for all your lovely comments.
Join in with the mad Wednesday blog hop over here with Julia and her buddies in the Stamping Ground.

x Jo

WOYWW

 Just a little bit of crafty activity from the sewing room today.
My free evenings have been spent knitting "parts" for dollies.
I loved the little characters on "Fluttterby Patch" so I bought the patterns and started knitting. Well, Like everything else I pick up - it's addictive!


 I have already given one away and she has been named Daisy and is already a firm favourite.

In a spare afternoon I made my friend a quilted table runner for Christmas - well she had it all cut ready to sew - I just quilted through random ivy leaves with gold thread and put binding around it.

We have had a busy week because Maxine was contacted by someone wanting to buy some of her beautiful needle felted pictures so we had to get a few mounted and framed and then set up a little exhibition in my dining room. Here are a couple of them...

Check out "Tilly Tea Dance" if you want to see more. She sold four so, I think she needs to get a few of them on her Etsy site now, in time for the Christmas rush!

And lastly, as I was in Watson and Thorntons fabric shop on Monday somehow I felt the urge to stock up on my fat quarters!! ( Something sounds a bit weird there but I am sure you know what I mean!!)



Just a tip for anyone sewing metallic thread - these needles help to stop the thread from breaking. Also they have a humongous eye so they are easy to thread - a tip for short sighted old dears like me!!)













Well that's it for this week.
It was lovely to see the photos of all our WOYWW buddies at the crop last Saturday - and so good to see that smiley pic of Shaz looking so well too.

Have a great week and thanks for dropping in.

x Jo

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

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 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

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

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 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

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 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

WOYWW - more dumfing fun!

What does a person do when their little playmate is on holiday in the sun?
This week I have my sewing room to myself so I got down to some serious dumfing!!
Well, wet felting first of course to create a woolly background.
Here is the one I started last week - I think I will save this for Maxine to embellish.

AND here is the one I had fun in experimenting with.

This is it with some free machine embroidery added.

One of our greatest sources of inspiration is Marmaladerose.
She makes the most amazing felted pictures and I just wanted to have a go at something different to my usual thing. We usually embellish on top of the background piece whereas Marmaladerose puts most of the detail into her wet felting. It is totally stunning and I can only imagine how tricky it is. Pop over and see what she does.

I hope you have been able to enjoy the late September sunshine. It's been glorious here for the last week.
Well, I will get back to my dumfing.

Have a great week.
Thanks for calling by and joining in with the WOYWW fun!.

x Jo

Friday smile

Just one of my photos from my favourite picture file to share with you today.
It was just a tiny pool surrounded by trees but I loved the way they were reflected in the water.
It is on Howden marsh in East Yorkshire.
I saw a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker there too!

For more smiles pop over to Annie's "A stitch in time blog".

Enjoy the lovely weather this weekend.
x Jo

WOYWW - dumfing!

Good morning fellow WOYWWers!
AND how are we all today? Well, I hope.

Today I am in the mood for dumfing.
I dipped into my bags of gorgeous wool rovings and set out the "fluff" for a piece of wet felting.
This will become the background to one of our needle felted (dumfed) pictures.
It's a wet job so I should really be doing it in the kitchen but the bright sunshine was beaming through my sewing room window so I thought I would tackle it here where all my bags of rovings are stored.

The two little poppy pictures are ones that Maxine made earlier using another of my dumfed background pieces. She is hoping to get a good stock of pictures finished ready for the Christmas rush!!

You will have to pop back next week and see what has become of the latest wet felted piece as I doubt I will have time to do it and take a photo for this post.

Just in case you have no idea what I am talking about - here are a few we made earlier....

Well that's it for this week.
No doubt Maxine will be blogging (Tilly Tea Dance) about our happy birthday party for Ben who is now one. It was a really lovely "sunny day in the garden" sort of party - we were so lucky with the weather.

Have a great week.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

WOYWW

Well for the first time in a few weeks now, I have had a crafty day at my sewing machine.
About time, I hear you say!!
So, at last, I have something of my own to share with the WOYWW crafters.

Well of course I have been chief advisor whilst Max has been busy here, but it's not the same as playing at my machine myself. So, on Monday, I made a banner for Ben's 1st birthday.
We are having a little tea party for his little buddies so I decided a banner by the front door, to let folks know where we are, would be a good idea.

The theme of course is the "Hungry Caterpillar".....

Then, I got all the bits and bobs together again to make his birthday card...

AND out of the chaos came...

Don't tell him it's here - it's not his birthday till next week!

I hope you are well and keep dry and safe with all the wild weather predicted.

The sun is beaming through my window as I type this.

Have a great week and thanks for calling by.

x Jo