Another Finish

Catching up now with some unfinished jobs.

Whoa its not long to christmas & I haven't even started on 

preparations......gotta get it together real soon!!!!

I did however manage to finish this quilt 

before my Australia trip.

Its been a long trip with this I'm delighted to have it done.

Well pleased with the dotty backing & green binding, has worked out ok!

Warm & cozy just in time for winter

A satisfied smile....what more could i ask for.

Back soon 

Lots of love Karen x

Hi There

I've been away from my blog again for a few weeks

for good reason though.

For the second time this year I traveled to 

Perth in Australia to spend precious time with my dad.

He was diagnosed with motor neurons disease a year 

ago & really doesn't have very much time left.

Every minute I got with him was a blessing.

 

For the first time in 21 years we were all 

together in one place as a family

It was a amazing to be able to take this picture

with them

Thats me there on the right with my sweet sister Cindy just behind me.

Two brothers Gary & Mark behind us, my lovely dad with third 

brother Andrew & his gorgeous wife Layle, then my niece Jody, mom &

 sister Michelle next to her.

Made our dad so happy to have us all together

I guess we really need to treasure what we have

& I'll treasure this.

Hope to be back soon with some pieces to share

Have missed all your lovely blogs yet again

See you soon 

Karen x

Cushion Love

At last an opportunity to blog, sometimes I feel my 

days & weeks fly by so very quickly

I'm wishing & wanting it all to stand still

just for a while. 

My oldest daughter is 23 & I remember the 

day she was born like it was yesterday.

Wow make every day count, make every moment 

together be special, because it really is.

We just don't it all feel go by.

I appreciate this time to catch up with you guys

I still browse my favourite blogswhen I can't post

 get inspired, laugh at some 

of the funny things, cried today at some sad things but

am always blessed & in awe of you.

Anyway have managed a wee bit of creativity over the last week or two

CUSHIONS........

I love cushions & will probably make many, many more

in the years to come & yeah even over the next 

few months on the run up to Christmas

They sure make great pressies

New pincuhions for new pins for my new sewing room

Not at all fancy, simple wee designs, 

 I'm experimenting really

Lauren bought me the cute heart pins.....she certainly has an eye for cuteness

A few full size for my hallway, soft & pretty

Hearts & crochet

Oh my goodness the crochet one gave me 

so much bother....all my own fault of course

didn't count stiches properly on the second side & ended up 

ripping it back completely......major pain !!!!!!

Flowers to pretty it up & a simple border to finish

I love it 

Am halfway through the next one....green this time

LOVE GREEN 

relaxing calming colour'

Had to indulge my cake craving too

A biscuit from a packet just doesn't do it for me

has to be home made goodies

Thank God for recipe books....you can read

YOU CAN BAKE

Date bars....oh my lord they were good

Thank you Rachel Allen........ LOVE your cook books

Ate two.......want more.....but will have to restrain myself till tomorrow

RIGHT!!!!!!!

Feet up now, got some Classic Costume Dramas today

Sooooooo its tv, sleep, then date bars for breakfast ....heh heh!!!

Thanks for stopping by

Have the best weekend

Lots of love Karen xxxxx

Mmmmmmm COOKIES

These literally take ten minutes from start to finish

Got the recipe from Thiis Book

Some of the yummiest cookies ever

Trouble is you could quite easily munch your way through 5 or 10

in one sitting

 

 

Had some with raspberry fool & of course 

a cuppa coffee

Have a lovely evening Karen x

Crochet, crochet, crochet........

Now that I have my hand back in full swing again, its crochet 

all the way. I'm not overdoing it but I am 

most definitely enjoying the freedom of one of my fav pastimes

as much as I can.

My blanket will get done slowly.....I just know it ....but

in the meantime lots of wooley goodness in smaller makes

Pretty up the sewing room with flowers

Its a real pleasure to hook up some smaller project for 

quick results & encouragement for the bigger makes

Kinda spurs you on .....doesn't it!!!!

More Doilies.....can never have enough.

Might start keeping some for christmas pressies.....(much later)

A set of four or six would make a nice wee gift

I love giving homemade as much as I can/

Some blanket hooking tonight I think....don't want to 

neglect it again. I'll aim for Christmas on that too 

I think......fingers crossed!!!!!

Off now to browse your lovely blogs....yes my evenings all set

Have a nice one

Lots of love Karen x

A Sewing Room......At Last

After 23 years of raising girls, decorating bedrooms & sewing 

up pretty bits & pieces for them, two of my girls

have set up their own wee nest.

Lauren & Sophie are sharing a real nice 

apartment together, its a 2 min walk from my 

house......so it feels like they haven't gone anywhere.

As a result I have a spare room.......a room to do

whatever I want with, sooooooo

obviously I opted to have my very own 

sewing room. Oh my gosh a room to work in.

A room that doesn't need to be cleared every evening for dinner.

I have been using my dining table for so 

long now that I'm finding the prospect of my own

workspace almost dreamlike!!!!!

Anyway lots to be done, I have painted & wallpapered

so far & am dying to show you my WIP

Found this roll in a remnant basket at Laura Ashley....6euro

Absolute bargain. I papered one wall & even had enough to paper 

a small feature wall on my tiny landing.

Ohhhhhh its just such a pretty, cheerful sweet pattern.

Makes me smile getting up in the morning, 

walking past it on my way down the stairs to brew up

 my first coffee of the day.

Little pressie from Lauren for my NEW ROOM

PERFECT!!!

Still quite a bit to do so I'll wait to show you the rest when its finished

Eeeeeeekkkk can't wait.

This is my other project for the next few days

A quilt to quilt......its been thrown

aside for soooooooo very long, so this 

morning I finally got myself into the nearest

fabric shop for wadding & backing fabric.

I'm loving the spots, hope it adds a nice twist to the 

overwhelmingly pink granny square quilt top.

Back (hopefully) in a few days with 

a finish.

I've enjoyed so much catching up with you over the 

last few days.....made me realise how 

much I missed you all.

Blogging really does become a lovely part of 

your life & I'm glad I've started up again

Thanks for your comments...is always great to hear from you

Have a sweet week

Lots of love Karen X

Trying Again

I have missed blogging so very much, but a few months 

out was a must for me this year.

Its been a hectic summer & a busy autumn start

I've hardly had time to scratch.

Also my crochet, sewing hand has been incredibly sore for months.

I was real worried as to the problem, so after a brief GP visit & some

 strengthening exercises its all good again.

I haven't crocheted for months, not much sewing either

so now I'm so excited about getting to finish somebits & pieces I started 

way back in May, yes thats the last 

time I posted.....so onward at last!!!!!!!

There photos were taken in May back when I thought it was time to use 

up the far too many different colours of yarn in my possesion......

& there are many, way too many.

Anyway in the last few days I've managed to bring the number of squares

up to 100. These are small three round squares

& I want to make a good size blanket, I'm thinking

300 squares or so.....does that sound about right?????

So lots to do, but its so good to be able to crochet again

I sure did miss it.

Also to get me back in the saddle I hooked up some

pretty doilies just to nibble up my fingers.

I love how they look around the home....random touches of 

prettiness here & there.......

little glimpses of color with cups of coffee

crunchy cookies & my favourite yankee candle

I think I need at least five or ten more.

Some new fabrics to play with not to mention the two 

quilts I need to  finish....all in good time

Did however not neglet the art of baking & of course eating

said baked goods....not alone though.

But my absolute highlight of the last few months was

Sophie's graduation from university

I felt so proud, such a great day.

She's a titch just like her mom, maybe an inch taller

but no more than that.

I have so much catching up to do, not just on projects 

but with all your blogs...i have missed it all 

Have a wonderful weekend

Lots of love Karen x

A Mommy Blanket Finish

Its done....finally, I actually can't remember when I started this wee

Throw, it was definitely well before Christmas.....Ohhhhh

the shame!!!!!!!

I'm such a bad, bad crocheter (was gonna say hooker....but had a 

very quick change of mind )

But anyhoo it's done, its really done, I'm kind of giggling here

with a giddy, stupid, silly laugh cause I  thought I'd never finish it.

I got bored at times, lazy at times & just too darn busy at other times.

I've stitched in all the ends....which is a mini miracle because  (confession) 

I've done reveals before & just hid the ends.....not this time though

No cheating....no ends :)

Just real good ol fashioned finished blanket

I love the border, found the link for a pattern on this wonderful 

blog  Coco Rose Textiles.

I'm packaging it up tomorrow & sending it to my Mom in 

Australia along with a lot of Butler's Irish chocolate for my sweet 

toothed Dad (it's def the best choc ever)

Hope she likes............

By the way I should say this more often...thank you so much 

for the lovely comments you leave, I get excited & thrilled by each one,

a real genuine encouragement....Bless you

Lots of Love Karen xxxxx

A tasty little cake

Lauren bought me a new cook book last christmas

"Cake" by Rachel Allen.

Now I've tried many a recipe from it over the last few months

but yesterday I tried this one

Swedish Almond Cake

Oh my goodness what an absolute treat & I swear so simple to make.

Here's a link for anyone who would venture to test it out

Rachel's Swedish Almond Cake

Seriously yum, with a nice cuppa of whatever 

you fancy...... tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cappucino!!!!!

This one is all gone, we pigged out....total gluttony.

Think I'll make another :)

Have a sweet YUMMY weekend

Lots of love Karen x

A Sophie Quilt

YaHayyyyy I finished my first full size quilt this year, I am so 

pleased I put the commitment in  at long last.

Its been thrown in a basket for almost a year & Sophie's been 

minus a much desired new quilt on her bed.

Well no more wishing she got her quilt & even slept with it last night.

I think it was a successful sleep

I was tempted to keep it for my wicker chair'

but sure that would be totally selfish...wouldn't it ??????

I kept the quilting nice & simple, straight line, no hassle, no steam coming out my ears

just sew handy lines back & forth accross the quilt

Easy peasy.

I finihed with a cute green fabric for the binding.
Actually it was all I had that looked any bit decent & I just was
not going to wait while I ordered something else.
Works ok though.....doesn't it :)

 I am super pleases to have done it, kind of gives me incentive to finish

more of my WIP's.

Finished painting my kitchen  today, think I'm on a roll.

This is next, just gotta weave in a few hundred ends

So another  finish on the way in a day or two. depending on my fingers.
Off I go.........
Have a sweet week
Lots of love Karen x

My Lil Birthday Girl

Happy birthday Ella, she had a real fun party yesterday, food, friends & pressies......twas great

Pizza Party Yum (these are in uncooked stage) such a lovely day
Karen x