A 'How-to' and a 'WIP' - not, as it was suggested - 'How to Whip'! ooeerr...

A little while ago I was gifted some very pretty Noro yarn,  and I found another little treasure hiding in the same bag - a delightful button in greens and browns.
I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. I wanted it to become a broach to go with the scarf I was crocheting in the the Noro. Having made it, I have been asked how/what I did - so with slight trepidation and self-conciousness I present my first tutorial -

'How-To'.....make a button broach

'Ingredients'

Pretty green button - new

Larger dark button - out of button box

Orange and chocolate brown felt - left over from another project

Broach clasp - left over from another project

Orange thread 

Cut the orange felt slightly larger that the biggest button - so it gives a border. 

I used pinking shears to give a more 'rustic' appeal

Stitch the larger button centrally to the felt disc

Add the decorative button on top 

I had to stitch a button at a time as the holes were set differently

making it a bit difficult to line up. 

It was at this point I cut the next layer of felt - chocolate.

Slightly larger than the orange disc.

Stitch right through both buttons and both layers of felt to attach the broach clasp

securely finish off under the felt so that all ends are hidden

Finished and on the scarf it was intended for. 

But the broach had other ideas, it wanted to go out on other colours too 

so.....

The broach choosing which colour to wear today - hmmm, terracotta jumper? 

Or apple green pullover or how about choccy brown jacket?

The choices, the choices!

Hope this makes sense, and if you make one, let me know or even better send a picture and I will post it up on here for you!

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The crochet throw of many jolly colours continues to grow and grow and grow! It is lovely and cosy to work with and the colours are so happy and bright. I am well over half way so just another 15 stripes and the edging to do then its finished!  Woohoo! 

Actually I will be glad when it's done, I have so many other projects that need doing but this one has be to out of the way first.

Right, enough waffle, sadly I have to be sensible now and get on with college work. 

Been good 'chatting' with you :)

Weekend round up - a potato harvest, a birthday bash, a woodland walk and knackered knees

Wottaweekend!
We seem to have crammed in quite a bit in the last two days and now it's Monday - I am suitably tired - just right for starting the new week (erhem...)

Any way, Saturday was my Dad's 70th birthday - 70!
wow, he looks good on it I have to say.

We were to all converge on the family home that evening to celebrate. So, first thing in the morning we all texted (sms) suitably congratulatory/rude/celebratory type messages before getting on with the pre-party chores making of deserts and the vegetarian option, wrapping of pressies, writing of cards and the general jollity of enjoying a day off work and school.

Youngest and I harvested our potato 'crop'. A small but very successful one. In years gone by we have struggled with different varieties that gave a poor yield on our heavy clay. But a combination of trial and error, adding home-grown compost year on year, we have finally found that the salad potato - 'Pink Fir Apple'  does well. And they are so YUM!

One of my Dad's favourite deserts is a Banoffi Pie - a truly calorifically sinful pudd that I make for him on special occasions and seeing today was his day, this would be the perfect time to put all diets and morals aside. The boys (all three I hasten to add) all agreed with me  about making it as this means lots of licking out of caramelled-condensed milk bowls, whipped cream covered spoons and generally hanging around the kitchen hopefully. The was so much smacking of lips and licking of sticky fingers that I am surprised that we had enough ingredients to take a completed desert! 

The boys were put to pressie-wrapping detail and this took a lot of planning and cutting up of boxes and paper. My Dad's smallest gift was wrapped layer on layer to make it the largest box and despite it weighing very little, on presenting it to my Dad, the boys pretended to struggle under the weight of it as they carried in it triumphantly in and landed it on his lap.

He is not the easiest person to buy the perfect gift for, but I think we did it this year, as when he opened his multi-layered present he seemed lost for words when on discovering what was hidden inside - it was worth all the planning and secret whispering between all the family members to agree on what to give him.

We sat down to a lovely meal and my Dad regaled us with stories of Africa and we all swapped tales of wild game viewing in the Kruger National Park. Laughing over the animal antics and the dangers of cars breaking down or running out of fuel in the middle of the wildness where there was the potential of a ravenous lion hiding behind every bush!

A chocolate cake resplendent with candles and the Banoffi pie were duly brought out and very quickly consumed - then we quietly spread out, some staying at the table chatting at length, others moving across to the lounge to knit and crochet (guess which group I was in!) while my boys persuaded their favourite aunt and uncle to play cards where the level of cheating was of Olympian proportions!

Saturday went well. Very Well.

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Sunday - was a reach-for-the-walking-boots day. 

We picked up a young friend and headed off to Grass Wood - a deeply deeply loved place. The boys (our two and friend) and giddy dog must have picked up every stick along the way, tested it or tasted it in the case of the dog... and by the magic of imagination the sticks became swords, guns, they became staffs of power, bolts of lightening, they turned into snakes or dragons. The games ranged for 5 hours of walking. They played tig or rugby tackle, they played roving hide and seek, they ran with the dog, climbed rocks, climbed trees, hid and pounced - they never stopped. Not surprisingly, by the end of the day they were knackered!

I took photos - a celebration of autumn.

This morning, when I awoke, I could feel that we had been a goodly length walk the day before as my knees creek like old wooden farm doors with rusty hinges - quick pass me some lubricating oil!!

Well, that was our weekend, how was yours?

Sunshine on a rainy day makes my soul , makes my soul, trip, trip, trip away**

**with thanks to Zoe

After a rather strange day at work where we were driven to hysterical laughter causing tears to stream down our faces and to catch our breaths, I came home still unsure where this mirth appeared from and found this delightful sunshine award awaiting me from a sunny blog-pal - summertime dreams.

Wow - thank you very much Summertime D!!

So here goes.....

The Rules:

1. Save the image above and post it to your own blog.

2. Pass the award on to fellow bloggers

3. Link the nominees

4. Let the nominees know they have won by commenting on their blog

5. Share the sunshine and link the person you received the award from

So here goes:

A life of Felt

Colouritgreen

Thursday's Child

bobbypinsboardwalk

Woolfish

Artteachergirl

Attic24 

She Rides a Bike 

Bugs and Fishes 

ook?!

ever green knits

laughingpurplegoldfish

So, there it is, blogs I enjoy, blogs I read regularly, blogs that I can find solace in, inspiration from, blogs I can share in with  the laughter and the sorrow. Some of the bloggers know me, some don't - but that is the beauty of this bloggy world - so come on - let's spread the sunshine!

21.09.10 - Just look at this!

A Featured Crafter - Marta - Quilter extraordinaire! 

I just have to show off a friend of mine's handiwork - actually the word handiwork does not describe the wonderful craft(wo)manship that occurred in the creation of a most wonderful quilt. She is part of our knit and natter group and over the weeks we have oohed and aahed at her beautiful work.

And just to whet your appetite - a photo, taken at a struggle as it needed four of us to hold it up!

I stand in awe of what Marta has created -  

but enough of my waffle,

 follow this link and I shall let her tell you in her own words.

20.9.10 - A pleasurable 'turn' of events - attempt number 5**

There something deeply satisfying about re-winding a ball of yarn into a lovely squat 'block'. 

This must rate as one of my favourite bad weather pastime, ideal when it is lashing it down outside with rain or   flurries snow. Perfect for winter evenings. Seeing those blocks stacked up ready for use just gets me all excited and ready to start the next project! It must have universal appeal as I often have this particular pleasure begged off me by one or other or sometimes both of my boys. I am fascinated how the whirling top creates the most perfect shape. I love how when using the 'eyelash' yarn it becomes all charged with static and fluffs out like an indignant cat! And if you listen carefully, when you put your fingers near, you can hear the crackle of the charge - love it love it LOVE IT!

Am I the only one who has this sort of quirkly love affair with an inanimate object?

(mind you - it can be very animated when in action!)

Go on, spill the beans - what do you love?

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** attempt number 5 (done over the course of three days) - Blogger and I seem to be having a very one sided affair at the moment, I have tried and failed to upload a video of the wool winder in action and Blogger seems hell bent on being very unhelpful so - in the absence of the video Eldest helped me - here are a couple of pictures

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It has been a very good start to the week - APART FROM THE FAILED ATTEMPTED AT LOADING THE VIDEO (yes I am shouting in the vain hope that blogger will hear me!!)

Looky looky - I just  have to show you this - you can imagine my delight when I opened a bag gifted to me by one of my knit and natter friends and found these nestling inside. 

Oooh - such rich colours! 

Oooh what could I make, 

ooh ooh such excitement!! 

Those colours glow so-oo warmly, the wool is so soft and I can imagine a deliciously warm winter shawl. 

Hmmmm yum yum

And more colour feast for your eyes - the crochet throw is growing....

It is so soft and snuggly - I will be sorry to see it go, 

but I might just make another 

but this time make it for me!!

So much yarn, so many ideas, so so little time!

Weekend round up - Yes I know, it's nearer next weekend to the last one - bear with me....

On Saturday, I throw open the curtains, ok, may be I am not that bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed, but I do open the curtains.................. 

to this...................

Snowdonia National Park  looming broodingly over the straits, 

the sun straining through the heavy clouds, 

the colours glorious.

Giddy dog is in desperate need for her morning constitutional so we all troop out and walk down the still sleepy streets towards the sea. A few die hard yacht owners are already out bobbing up and down on the choppy waves, their sails taut and straining against the brisk breeze.

I find that every time I am indoors, I gravitate to this view. I even take my crochet and mug of early morning tea and sit watching, watching waves, watching the gulls, watching people. A harpist sets himself up down on the square and the most wonderful ethereal sounds weave their way upward into my space. 

 

Tea, view, yarn - bliss

Of course, the boys being the boys, 

we hit the surf - well they do, 

my friend 'S', Giddy Dog and I go beach combing, '

crochet-extreme', drinking tea and talk.

My view, 

My boys in the far distance (striding back to the tune from a spaghetti western)

Giddy dog - too busy watching other dogs to notice her 'pack' returning from the sea

Crochet - a survivor from the tea-stunami.

We spend time on another favoured beach - building stone stacks.

Admiring the view.

Watching the tide come in.

We have had a lovely weekend - thank you S. x

14.09.10 - Congratulations!

First...sorry sorry sorry for not posting the winner as promised yesterday - bows head in slight embarrassment then quickly says..... . my excuses I have aplenty!!

• Battery flat in camera so could not take action photos of draw until this morning

• short staffed at work, so instead of having Monday morning at home I had to work all day!! 

• When I finally managed to get home last night - I had to cut Eldest's hair and deal with all the tearful emotion that goes with losing his long emo style hair for a more shorter (but still longish) style. All this angst so the science teacher will let him use the Bunsen burners!! Oh the cruelty....... 

So - without any further ado (notice preliminary waffle please, this is being done to allow the battery more charging time!)

With great pleasure, I can now present the draw proceedings

The names just prior to being placed into Youngest's 'Darth Vader' Head

Darth Vader showing interest in the proceedings

Youngest dipping his hand into Darth Vader 

I now would like to reveal the winner to my first blogiversary is................

Colouritgreen!!

Congratulations :)

The little birds posing on bleached drift wood

They now hop into their surprise 'travel case' ready to wing their way down to their new home.

Thank you to all who entered, you all said such lovely things and again I am amazed at the fact people read my waffle and have the time of day to comment or laugh or to cry with me,

thank you all very much!

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Weekend round up - well as revealed last week, we went of on an almost spontaneous weekend jolly - can't be to-oo spontaneous as we have to arrange for fur and feather sitting and we have a delightful friend who happily watches the animals for us in exchange for Himself cleaning her chimney - Oh I do like this system of barter! Any way I digress...

As the end of Friday evening surgery finishes, I gallop out in a most unladylike fashion to be met by a car full of exited boys (x 3 - I included Himself). As I throw open the car door to leap in I am met with the most heavenly scent of fish and chips - ooh, a road trip AND food heh - this can't be bad!

Barring the enormously long serpentine traffic jam at St Asaph, the roads flow smoothly. I manage to get a goodly amount of crochet done when.....

Is there any tea in the flask says a hopeful Himself

Why not I think, traffic is at a standstill and the troops are getting restless - the fish and chips a dim and distant memory - yes, lets have a brew.

With a bit of careful manoeuvring of wool and hooks,  I set up the mugs, chuck in tea bags, sugar and pour out hot water and milk. Stir, stir, sip, sip - pass the cooler sweeter teas to the boys, pass the hotter mug to Himself. He slurps appreciatively loudly as I set up my mug, stir, add milk, close flask and put it away in the basket. We sit, quietly, looking at the red beads of brake light flowing down the hill and fade into the  far distance. The boys, tea gone quietly chatting, Himself passes back his mug, empty.  Sigh, I tentatively sip my steaming tea, this might be a while....when suddenly the traffic starts to move, Himself launches into action and gets into gear and judders the car. JUDDERS the car........ JUDDERS the CAR while I was STILL nursing PIPING HOT TEA!

I howl my annoyance then immediately follow it with a screech of pain as a tsunami wave of tea launches out of my mug and cascades across my lap. I hurl, as best I can, the crochet aside hoping that in the dark I have managed to save it from the flood. My legs are stinging hot and the car seat horribly wet. I can feel tea running down my calf and dripping on the carpet.There is tea running down my arm as I hold the now nearly half empty mug aloft.

I know, even in the dark, that Himself dare not look at me and firmly fixes his gaze at the now stationery traffic..... 

umm, it's slowed down again, oops - heh sorry - hmm he says. 

Still not looking at me as I stare crossly at his profile. 

At least we've finished our brews he offers helpfully.................... 

aaaAAARRRGH!!

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10.9.10...And the winner is...............

..................Ssssssssh a secret! 

You all have to wait until Monday!!

Why I hear you ask..

Well coz we are going away for the weekend - to Anglesey - Woo hoo!

Off to stay with a friend  

And I am So-o-o looking forward to it

Especially after a day like I have had today -pheweeeeee! 

09.09.10 - One year and beyond Woo hoo - My blog is one year today!

Wow, one year - one WHOLE year!!

When I started it, 

it was as a mix of inspiration from Colouritgreen and Thursday's Child, 

the need to write and post photographs 

and to mark the start of my Eldest son at senior school.

I've met and made some delightful new bloggy friends as well as linking up with existing friends along the way.

 Angela and Jan from Bobbypinsboardwalk are always quick with a lovely comment and encouragement
 as are new friends Summertime Dreams and Artteachergirl. Sarah and Cat and Jak are all regular visitors too.

I have had many more visitors and comments that I am both surprised and delighted to receive as I still find it amazing that people have the time to read my waffle and actually respond to it - so thank you!

SO, a gentle reminder (as if you need one!) just say hi, leave your name, 

no anonymous comments please 

between now and midnight (UK time) on 9th September 2010 

and I will pick a winner at random. 

The winner will notified on MONDAY 13th SEPTEMBER

and coz I am feeling rather generous - I have slipped an extra surprise in the parcel for the lucky winner ssshhhhh not revealing any secrets just yet!

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08.09.10 - snap shots of my day - be prepared.

Let me set up the scene....... I am doing my usual evening stint on a typically busy Friday evening just prior to the summer holidays.

The bell rings.
I leave my prescription printing to see who has rung for attention.

Evening 

I say to a 'stigged' up man (wearing a full face motorbike helmet with the glass down)

  The helmet says......

mufflwopsshlllsffppm

err - sorry I didn't hear you I reply

I stand there smiling....waiting....

He finally reaches up and flips up the visor and I can see a middle aged man's squashed face

I've coom to sort me wiiife' he says in the local accent

I stand there smiling....still.....

So does he.....not smiling though,  just standing

My smile feels a little tight but I still manage to maintain a certain cheerful note in my voice when I say

  I need to know her name so I know what to collect for her...

Oh, it's Jones **

Now, not knowing if he means it's Joan's or for Jones I ask again 

Sorry what name is it for? 

Fer me wiiife,  Valerie Jones** he grumbles

I won't be a moment I say as I duck back into the dispensary to collect Mrs Jones's** medicines.

I search the shelf for the J's hmmm, I can't see it there, so I check the K's and the I's in case it's been miss-filed - nothing.


I think quickly - may be it is not for the drugs but just for the prescription paper, so I change my search to the file where the paperwork is kept - still nothing. I frown.

Mr Jones, when did she put in her request because I can't find her meds

I see that two more patients have arrived and are now standing in the queue, they seem to know each other and are chatting away together.

Me name's not Jones, it's Mr Young** Mr Mortorbike-head tells me

I blink, slightly confused, oh, so am I looking for a Mrs Young?


He looks confused now, 

noooo-oo he drawls slowly for I am obviously rather stupid

I smile - not a real one, coz I am getting totally confused here, and duck back into the dispensary for a sneaky check under Young and having failed there, doubled my efforts for both Young and Jones on all of the shelves.

I can feel my face getting red as I return to try a different approach, as the usual one of working on a name has failed, I ask for her address

she maint-ave changed 'er name yet or...

he says thoughtfully rubbing his wrinkled check through his visor, I notice with increasing agitation that the queue of two are now a queue of four and they are all staring with arms folded and increasinglyannoyed faces.

........she maint be usin' er other name

I smile a slightly desperate but hopefully encouraging smile and enquire which name it might be under

Mr Motorbike-head-aka-Mr-Young-possibly-married-to-but-not-really-sure-Mrs-Jones** has a very quizzical look on his grizzled face. A fifth person has arrived at the queue and in the dispensary I can hear the phone ringing...and ringing....and ringing.

Can I have her address please and then I will see what she needs and hopefully I can sort it out for you


I can hear a note of desperation in my voice and hope the increasing crowd missed it.

Mr Motorbike-head-aka-Mr-Young** divulges his address but as I leave I hear his parting shot....

but we've moved so the address baint be that eiver

I quickly tap into the computer the possibly incorrect address  with the desperation of a condemned dispenser and find to my utter relief that it is correct - but notice that Mrs-Jones/Young/motorbike head has another surname - that of Valarie Edwards**  huh??!!?

I go to the dispensing shelves and find that she is not under E either, a quick look in the paperwork file confirms the same. Then a lightbulb moment occurs.

Mr Young - your... erm... wife, doesn't she dispense at the local chemist in town?

Yes

That is why I don't have anything here for her, 

her paperwork has already been sent up to the chemist

Oh, 

blank look on his face

We don't dispense to Mrs err, to Valarie, 

her medicines are probably ready and waiting for her up at the chemist

I try to maintain a calm note in my voice, as he flaps down the visor and leaves with out another word.

For a brief moment - the briefest of moments I mentally shake my head and breathe a sigh of relief when the next patient steps up and says..........

I know it's Friday dear, but I am going away early tomorrow on holiday for eight weeks and I need all my repeats, twice over, tonight.......................


I feel the need to lie down in a dark corner and gently weep.............................

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** All names have been changed to protect the identities of all involved......but heavens knows why, this gentleman seemed to have done a good enough job in the first place!

07.09.10 - Oooh - getting excited- looky looky!

I just love it when I start a new project - a choice of new colours, the excitement of a new WIP and the sheer enjoyment of the 'act of crafting'.

Just look at these colours of woolly delicious-ness!

(ok ok for the purists it's acrylic)

Yummy

I am making a throw of candy stripes in the most scrumptious colours with inviting names such as Sherbet and Lipstick, Aster and Spring Green, Pomegranate and Fondant - how could I resist?!?

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And don't forget my give-away!        

To celebrate one year of waffle and guff, I have made (but not quite finished!) a handful of birdies in bright felty fun. 

They will have loops so you can hang them up 

on cupboard door handles 

on a festive tree or wreath 

(yes that that time of season coming up)

or on parcels 

Any where really!

So, just say hi, leave your name, no anonymous comments please between now and midnight (UK time) on 9th September 2010 and I will pick a winner at random. 

I am happy to post internationally.

I have had some lovely comments already and don't actually feel that I deserve them. I am always surprised that people find my meandering tales and waffle on woolly things worth reading! 

Now, excuse me, I have a basket full of yarn calling me for a bit of hooky hooky! (oh err - now that sounds like fun!!)

05.09.10 - Weekend round up - to include chocolate!

Aaah, Saturday was a blur of boys. 

A friend was here for the day and the three of them did-not-stop....all...day.....long......

Hiya

hiya

run....shout....shoot....hide....BOO!

hungry

thirsty

play play play

Loud.....run.run...run

jump hide dig hide

eat eat eat

slurp

chew talk chew talk

talk chew more

swallow loudly

leap from chair

off to play play play 

Go for a walk....take swords...play play play 

yell play

hide

come back from walk

hungry 

eat drink chat talk

play play play

sit down and watch a DVD

S......I......L.....E.....N....C....E

film ends

talk

eat drink chat pillow fight

talk

yell play play play

then suddenly the friend was collected and after a bit of a noisy goodbye we all collapsed back and sat in...

S......I......L.....E.....N....C....E

bliss

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Later, much later, I started to craft again...with chocolate next to me (for medicinal purposes only you understand...) and a small friend

A curious robin spies some Green and Black's chocolate

while I craft more felty feathery friends.

Now just to give them some ribbon loops and wrap them up ready for their new home.

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Today we went for a bright and blustery walk. A good one to blow away the cobwebs. 

We sat out of the breeze, surrounded by sun-warmed honey scented heather

We sipped piping hot tea while Giddy Dog wallowed in a stream

We stopped by the 'Hanging Stone' reputed to have caused the accidental death of a sheep thief as he ran from the police. The stone was carved in 1618.

A lovely day, we returned feeling refreshed and invigorated.

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I commented on Summertime Dream's blog the other day in which she mentions how she over time has evolved and changed and that she is happy with these changes. 

My response was, I feel that by writing a regular blog it has gently forced me to come to terms with who I am. And I have found that over the course of this first year of writing my blog that I have a lot that occurs in my day and my life that I actually like if not love. 

 I am on the whole a fairly cheerful person but I can and do dwell on the negative and I find that this can overshadow all that is positive.Writing this blog about the good things in my life has made me realise that I am very lucky, very loved and definitely on the whole a very happy person.