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Thursday 28 February 2013

my creative space - heart bunting

My friend Elizabeth was admiring my tiny heart bunting which is strung across one of my wall units and wondered if I would make her some to hang in her bedroom.

I have a little box of crochet hearts that is so full the hearts are spilling out - in quiet moments the thing that pleases me most is hooking another heart! What a quandary - I have hearts a plenty, no project planned for them, I would happily make something for my dear friend but (it's a big but) can I part with my tiny cute baby hearts...........

I have decided that as today is my linky post with Kirsty at 'my creative space' I am going to put my Billie blanket to one side and make some bunting for Elizabeth. I'm going to stop being a mean girl with an unhealthy attachment to cute little hearts - but they are so lovely.

I spread them out across my table to decide on the colours, should they be random or in a more orderly sequence - I think order won.

The next thing is to crochet all the tails into little loops. I will then crochet a long chain and attach the little loop hearts as I go.


It will take longer than I thought to complete as it takes quite a lot of time to crochet the loops and I think I might need to make a few more pink hearts to fit with my sequence.

When it's finished I think it will look adorable -  this is going to be very difficult to give away....................

Talk soon x

Ps please pop over to my  Sweetpea Face Book page  for craft market details and a special offer just for you. It would be great if you could also like my page so I know you have stopped by x

Wednesday 27 February 2013

yarn along - Billie blanket 2

My yarn along post this week is pretty much an extension of last weeks, I finished the little woolleyhugs, Billie blanket but felt it needed a friend so I have started blanket number two. This one is a little different, the first one was made up of rows of treble crochet, this one is going to be made from small granny squares.

Reading wise I am looking for inspiration so have been re-reading my Simply Crochet, which I love. Not sure what I am going to make yet, but if I manage to finish my Billie blanket I will share my new project with you this time next week.



talk soon x

Ps forgot to say I am at Inspire Market Fair on Saturday pop over to Sweetpea Face Book page  for more details and a special offer just for you x

Tuesday 26 February 2013

52 weeks of happy - 9/52

Tuesdays seem to come around very quickly and it's time to join Jen again with my 52 weeks of happy post. Unfortunately I'm not feeling very happy today, in fact I feel a bit grotty. I think I have succumbed to the nasty flu virus, which isn't surprising as Laura has been really poorly, and both her little boys have been ill. To make matters worse it's my birthday today and I really don't want to spend a day in bed or resting on the sofa.

Anyway I must get back to my post as it will do me good to recapture some of the things that have made me smile during the last week.

1.  My tea party under the table with Noah gave me lots to smile about........

white chocolate buttons are best eaten from a tea cup ....................


2. Daisy's chocolaty face was an absolute picture .......

I can always wash my face later................


3. I've finished my first Billie blanket ..............I think it's so lovely, it will be hard to part with it.

I love my blanket.................

4. Manchester City beat Chelsea 2 - 0, wonder if we can catch Manchester United.........hope so!

what an amazing goal...................

I'm already feeling a bit brighter and if I rest up for a few days I can celebrate my birthday over the weekend when I've got more energy. Mr R is taking me out to dinner on Saturday which will be fun.

Talk soon x

PS I have just added a followers gadget on my side bar, it would be great if you would click on it, as I've only got a few lovely but lonely followers at the moment x


Sunday 24 February 2013

yarn can be sexy ....................

I was visiting Jayna's blog and came across this hilarious image, she very kindly said I could share it with you all....................


I would just so love to hear Mr R say that to me......................it will never happen!




talk soon x

Saturday 23 February 2013

tea party with teddies ........

Since coming home from London I have been busy with the little ones as I've had a poorly daughter who needed to be tucked up in bed. I have had such fun playing house under the table with Noah and eating chocolate buttons out of tiny plastic tea cups.

afternoon tea but not vintage style............
I have also been busy in the kitchen with Daisy who is as bad as Zachy when it comes to eating the cake mixture.
hard to resist her smile - even when it's covered in chocolate.......

Must admit it's nice to have a bit of quiet time, children have just returned home and I am curled up on the sofa with coffee and my Billie blanket. I need to get hooking as I have had little time to work on this woollyhugs baby blanket.

Hope you have a fun weekend.

Talk soon x

PS I have just added a followers gadget on my side bar, it would be great if you would click on it, as I've only got a few lovely but lonely followers at the moment x

Friday 22 February 2013

Kate's house..............

Whenever I spend time in London with Kate I am always in awe of her interior design talents. She has an incredible eye and manages to achieve wonderful visual displays, in every corner of her home. Kate's style is quite eclectic from modern, industrial, a touch of urban and even some slight vintage influences.

I feel sad that Kate has had to give up her business, she is such an inspirational designer maker but she had just too many balls to juggle. Being a busy mum and also Head of Art at a prestigious London school were stretching her to the limit. I am sure that Kate will continue to develop her design ideas and I have no doubt that when her life calms a little she will be tempted to explore other avenues.

With Kate's permission I have tried to capture a little glimpse of her lovely home - unfortunately I'm not sure the photographer was quite up to the job.

Kate's kitchen and outside space .............




main living space..................
Jake's room......................
study and staircase....................

 so much more I could show you but not enough time...............

talk soon x

ps I want to start to use my face book page more - please if you have a minute would you like my page
many many thanks
Sue x


Thursday 21 February 2013

My creative space - play tent

I am so pleased that I can share with you the finished tent - such a ta dah! moment. We started this tent an age ago after Kate spotted one on a blog post - I can't remember which one. So Mr R was given the brief to make one like this, but not sure how - he set to work with the wooden frame and I got my sewing machine out to make the fabric cover.

Unfortunately the completed tent wouldn't fit in the car, so it had to be dismantled and taken to Kate's in pieces.

This weekend it all got put together again and is now looking fab in Jake's bedroom. The next challenge was getting a photo of Jake inside it - possibly the biggest challenge of all.



not a great photo - but he was showing some interest................



it's not a slide Jake.................


If you have time pop over to visit Kirsty for some creative inspiration.

Talk soon x 

ps I want to start to use my face book page more - please if you have a minute would you like my page
many many thanks
Sue x

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Yarn along - Billie blanket


My yarn along post this week shows the first few crochet rows of my Billie blanket which I am making for the woollyhugs charity.



I had ordered some new yarn for the project as the cotton yarn I was going to use wasn't suitable. My parcel of yarn was waiting for me yesterday at the post office, the colours are really lovely and the yarn is soft so hopefully it will turn out nice and snugly for the little ones. I started it last night but didn't have very much time, with a bit of luck I might have more time tonight.

I have finished my novel so have been reading a magazine my friend Barbara bought me, it's called Making. I haven't read this magazine before so it was a lovely surprise and I am really enjoying the articles, this month features Sania Pell who I always find so inspiring.

Please pop over to see Ginny if you have time 

talk soon x
P.S. I want to start to use my face book page more - please would you "Like" my page
this will enable me to get stats to show if it does get viewed.
many many thanks
Sue x




Tuesday 19 February 2013

52 weeks of happy - 8/52

I've just come back from a few days in London, visiting my daughter - so lots of happy things to share. We had lots of fun and I hope you have noticed that Kate and Seb have helped me create a new blog header - what do you think!


1. Tickets for my trip - it was such a lovely few days and Mr R came too.........

2. Playing with Jake - he is so adorable I do miss him .........

3. A little glimpse of Kate's beautiful home - more to follow soon ......

4. My dad was 75 last week - he was very happy with his heart cake......

Hope you have all had a fun week - I'm just about to nip to the Post Office to collect a parcel, I hope it's the yarn I ordered for my Billie blanket .....

talk soon x

Saturday 16 February 2013

Billie Blankets...............

I have been reading about a number of charity projects across blogland and I want to join in and make a small crochet blanket. Lucy over at Attic 24 has made two beautiful blankets for a Comic Relief  charity auction. Knitstitchsew has joined in with woolyhugs  and is planning to make a Billie blanket.

I have checked out my stash and have signed up to make a little Billie blanket, the project is in memory of a little girl who died off Leukaemia. The blankets will be sent to children suffering from cancer in low and middle income countries. In these countries the overall chance of survival can be under 10% compared to around 80% in high income countries such as ours.The first batch of Billie’s Blankets will be taken to children in Malawi and Bangladesh.

Debbie Bliss Amalfi ..............so soft


After sorting out some lovely cotton yarn in soft baby pastel colours I have re read the brief and the blankets have to be made in acrylic yarn for easy washing and aftercare ...............I will need to make a quick trip to a yarn shop.

Will keep you posted on my progress.

talk soon x










Friday 15 February 2013

fun with our little ones.................

As it's school half term holidays we have had a busy few days looking after little ones. Wednesday was snowy, wet and cold but after making sure they were all suitably wrapped up Mr R took Alex, Finn, Zachy and Daisy to the local park (Noah stayed home in the warm with me). They set off on an assortment of brightly coloured scooters. they had great fun scooting around the park and also managed to fit in a game of football, without any injuries.

When they arrived home flushed with the cold, bright red cheeks and shiny noses they were all soaked. Only thing to do was to run a hot bath - luckily as they had stayed overnight we had some dry clothes for them to change into.

Next it was snuggling up on a comfy sofa with a big bowl of popcorn and a DVD - what fun.



warm toes..............


the sofa is full ......................

anyone for popcorn .........good fun was had popping  a big bowl of it in the microwave
talk soon x

Thursday 14 February 2013

lipstick............


After confessing my love of lip gloss on my last 52 week of happy post I have just spotted this amazing lipstick holder. It was featured on Elsie's February Wishlist along with lots of other fab things.

If you like it pop over to LESS & MORE on Etsy they make organising fun with a range of Eco friendly products.



I have enough lipsticks to more than fill this organiser ....................































I've a busy day ahead as it's half term so lots of grandchildren fun

talk soon x


Wednesday 13 February 2013

pancakes.............

We had fun making pancakes last night - sorry photos are not very good quality as the light was so poor.




lots of yummy sugar and lemon and a little chocolate spread for the little ones.

talk soon x

Yarn along - second sock

Now that my blanket is complete I have no excuse for not starting my second sock. It took a lot of willpower to pick up the four needles and cast on but I've done it and already feel really pleased, although I haven't got to any of the tricky bits yet.

The thing I find most difficult about knitting socks is that it's impossible to do anything else at the same time - not even watch TV as I have to concentrate so hard on what I'm doing. If I am going to finish this sock anytime soon I will have to limit reading my new novel to bedtime only. I finished my last novel (The safe house) super quick and it has inspired me to continue with the same genre. This week’s book is by David Baldacci - only read a few pages so far but I think it's going to be another good thriller.


Hope you have a chance to pop over to see Ginny  and if you have time don't forget to vote for her.


Talk soon x

Tuesday 12 February 2013

52 weeks of happy - 7/52

I love this regular post as it encourages me to reflect back on my week. My weeks are busy and have recently involved lots of hospital visiting, spending time with poorly parents and also lots of fun playful times with my grandchildren.

It is a time in my life that involves caring for so many different generations - I was in the car recently with my mother, daughter and granddaughter - a car full of powerful opinionated women ( and that was mainly 3 year old Daisy) spanning 4 generations.

Looking back over the week so many things have given me joy and made me smile, albeit sometimes a tired smile. I have chosen four images to share with you - some are surprisingly frivolous.



1. I adore lip glosses - still searching for the perfect one with staying power - any suggestions

2. Blankets always feature high in my happy thoughts

3. Flowers - my beautiful sunny flowers have made me smile everyday

4. The last of my 3/12 trial of Homemaker arrived yesterday - full of happy smiley things .............

talk soon x

Monday 11 February 2013

blankets are so adorable................


I have finished my chunky knitted blanket and it's just so warm and cosy - I love it.

The colours are lovely quite different from my usual pastels and pretty ice-cream colours, much more subtle and maybe grown up! 

I'm not sure where it will live apart from on my knee. We are still in the middle of decorating the lounge and I am visualising it nestling on a squishy sofa or artfully folded on a beautiful vintage unit but alas I do love to dream - we will just have to wait and see.
my beautiful knitted blanket.............

I felt a bit mean not giving my other blankets a mention in case they felt pushed out of the limelight, you can never have enough blankets although Mr R doesn't seem to understand my love of these cosy, snuggly, yarny, woolly things ................ but you have to agree they do look adorable.



you can never have enough blankets ..............

 talk soon x