Cosy Crochet

Lately my making seems to depend on the weather - every time it starts to rain I just want to spend the day cosy and crocheting. 

I started this blanket on Sunday, during a day of rain and howling winds and as the days are starting to get shorter it's the perfect project to work on in the evenings. It's big enough to wrap around me as I go along now!

Shopping and Makings...

I had a lovely little mooch around the charity and crafty shops in Chester on Tuesday and came home with quite the little haul of goodies...

Cotton for crochet flowers, a see-through flower bag, some children's clothes to re-purpose, a Cath Kidston Cowboy cup and a sweet Budgie ornament.

I spent this morning sewing - making an age 14-15 dress into a cute skirt, and a little girls shirt into a tote bag. So now I will be on the lookout for more dresses to up-cycle, since it was such a bargain at £1.50 and so easy to alter - all it needed was a waistband and a zip! 

My Week...

Another week has passed, can't believe how time flies!

Tuesday - tea and cupcakes in The Vintage Rose Tearoom, Llangollen, and my "new-to-me" tea, coffee and sugar canisters, featuring peppers...

Wednesday - Meeting a new friend on our Anniversary evening stroll in the park in Chester

Thursday - Afternoon tea in Ellesmere followed by a trip to the movies to see "Guardians of the Galaxy"

Friday - My first Asian wedding, so very beautiful! 

Saturday - Honey and her lady-like paws, and my newly balled-up skeins of sock yarn - can't wait to start knitting!

A Visit to Ruthin

I love to visit quaint little towns, and one of my favourites is Ruthin in North Wales. It's an old town, with a castle and a gaol, and lots of lovely shops, but my first stop is always the Craft Centre. It's an Applied Arts gallery, full of beautiful objects and exhibitions from a variety of disciplines, and is always very inspiring.

The special exhibition was "As William Morris Said..." inspired by the quote -

"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." William Morris

I particularly liked the ceramics by Derek Wilson, in tones of grey and white, with some lovely yellows. I think personally I am drawn more to colours and patterns than the more utilitarian, minimalistic work in this exhibition, but it was interesting nonetheless. 

As well as the main exhibition, there is a Willow installation that fills the entire of Gallery 2, called "Inundation". It really is amazing, such a massive expanse and filling so much space, but still so open and airy.

The town itself is lovely too, and I always enjoy pottering around the charity shops, antique centre and the yarn shop, where I gave into temptation and bought three skeins of beautiful sock yarn. And of course there was cake, because it seemed rude not to...

A Cosy New Blanket

I found myself getting a little carried away with crocheting granny squares this weekend - I made thirty-six in two days so I thought I would spend a day joining, weaving in pesky ends and edging before I accidentally made more...

The finished blanket has found a home on my sofa - the cats thoroughly approve of it and it fits in nicely with my other makes and vintage cushions. My next job will be to finish some socks, I have had two pairs in the making for quite a while now!

Plans for Rainy Days

I can't say I'm a fan of rainy weather, but I like to make the most of it with a spot of crochet in the evenings - I'm working on granny squares at the moment. 

I haven't decided what they will become just yet, I'm just crocheting for the sake of crochet, and rather enjoying it.

My Week...

After the many adventures of last week, I have enjoyed a quiet week at home.

Sunday - spotting butterflies on our beautiful white Buddleia
Monday - A working day in a local cafe with friends, with plenty of crochet and tea
Thursday - picking our very own orange roses, after a morning of gardening
Friday - the weather has turned and Norman has gone back to his winter sleepy spot, a cosy blanket lined basket.