Me & Cushions

I really do love cushions, I think I must have at least forty different cushions

around the house.

Friends actually laugh ....some with delight & some in disbelief at 

the amount of cushions on my chairs & sofas when they visit.

A few have taken to throwing them on the floor to make room for themselves as they sit.

I don't care.....you just can't have too many cushions!

These two are a result of a clearout of my yarn basket

The african flower was a test a few years back, my first attempt at one.

When I discovered it tucked away under all that yarn I knew I couldn't chuck it out, 

so I added a few rounds, a scalloped edge & a pink trim.

Made up a wee round cushion in some cute fabric & sewed the crochet piece on..

Viola one MORE cushion .....where to put it though?

This one was always destined to be a cushion, I had just forgotten all about it.

Some more cute fabric later & my home gets another much needed cushion, I love them.

Bright & cheery & summery, more to come though.

This is a little panel I made quite a while back.

I had made it into a cushion for Ella's room, but the fabric had gone quite ikky & faded & not very nice.

 So as I really love this piece of work I am going to make a much nicer

Cushion this time round.

Be back soon with a finished blanket....almost there...& finished cute cushion

number three.

Thanks so much for visiting

Love to hear from you guys.

Have a super week

Karen x

Rainy Days.......

I've realised that when you love to craft & make & bake & crochet rainy days are never boring....in fact any day with any weather can be filled with handmade loveliness from start to finish.

Today is one of those rainy type days, bucketing down, then short spells of sunshine, then bucketing down again. It means outdoors is a no no for today. 

So its a restful Saturday for me. 

Think I'll have coffee, maybe tea....yes tea & a piece of this

Seriously can you beat pavlova for indulgence......chocolate gooey cake maybe, but for now, its raspberry & strawberry pavlova. Its meant to be for tomorrows dessert but I don't think anyone will miss one wee slice!!

 

For an extra bit of cheering up I bought these this morning while dashing to the supermarket for our weekly shop

1.99 for a bunch of seven, not bad I think, so I bought two bunches & a plant I've been wanting for an age & haven't been brave enough to buy as I seem to kill houseplants

Its a Boston fern, always reminds me of quaint old British costume dramas with beautiful greenhouses & lush fern plants everywhere. Hoping this one thrives, never had a Boston fern so if anyone has any pointers for me PLEASE feel free to advise........

This wee thing started as a way to use up some stone coloured linen type fabric from Ikea

I desperately need some new place mats, nice simple ones, with a touch of prettiness

Oh my goodness the crochet edging took so long to do I am tempted to stop at one but more so am determined to make four more, should be five more but ran out of fabric.

Think I'll mix & match the lace & ricrac with different trims & do the same with the crochet heart, maybe throw in a flower or.......?????

ps the back is pink & white gingham, forgot to photo that

My blanket is growing well, another week should see it done.

I am loving it & would seriously like to make a huge throw from this but really its quite labour some.

Think I should stick to stripes & ripples so much less fiddly,

 I'm not a fiddly person.....no patience you see.

Crochet for the day............sounds like my kind of day!!!!

Beths taken over the sewing room again so I'm barred out of my own sewing room....Kids eh!!

Well that's my news & chat for now, be back soon

Hope you all have the best weekend

Lots of love Karen x

Bye Bye Easter Weekend

This Easter was officially the busiest one yet.....but def a very enjoyable time. 

It all started with Easter baskets for the girls, hard to put these together & resist the call to munch a lot of various chocolate treats in the process, ever have that problem?????

These will I imagine take a day or two for the lil ladies to eat....I hope!!!!

Aren't the container dead cute, bought them in Carrig Donn, for 1.99 each....SOLD!!

I hung a wee wreath on my door & some tiny eggs on "Spring" branches.

Also found this darling plant pot in a euro store 

A very colourful Easter indeed.

After church service we had sixteen people back for dinner, thank God the weather was lovely & we were able to eat outdoors. I ran home before people arrived, set our huge garden table with white cloths, sixteen plates, glasses, knives, forks......you get the picture. Brought out chairs with lots of colourful cushions & throws, hung some crochet bunting then made lots of salads while hubby cooked up some thai curries....was YUM.

For afters we had a delicious mint cheesecake supplied by one of my lovely guests & a lemon cake.

It was all just tremendous....I love a good crowd to eat with, great fun.

My sweet girl Lauren added to the chocolateness with yet more Easter baskets

I'm gonna look like humpty dumpty after all this

Ah well its all good......

Hope your Easter was as sweet

Today I'm having the laziest day ever watching .....maybe "call the midwife" just discovered it on netflix recently & am thoroughly enjoying it, crochet, coffee, tea (maybe) slice of lemon cake(leftovers) & peace & quite,,,,BLISS!!!!!

Lots of love Karen x

On the way

Well got finished with the baby stuff last night & its on the way to Perth as we speak.

Isn't it funny how things always seem to take longer than you expect to finish. I had hoped to be done on Monday but alas was a bit slower to complete, I think its the quilting that seems to take forever.

I thought ....OK couple of hours for quilting.....no prob

It took two days...not full days, but two days worth of crafting time. Am happy with the result though & really hope Andrew & Layla like them too.

Lots of love gone into these & i Sure hope it shows.....I'm so excited for them. There's nothing quite like a new born baby in a family to get the sweetness & love & happiness flooding in.

I do have some wonderful news of my own though (no I'm not.......)

My beautiful sweet girl Lauren & her guy Patrick are getting married in September. I can't believe it ,my first baby is gonna be a wife, a wonderful, lovely, beautiful wife. Seems like yesterday when I gave birth to her, 24 years ago.....Wow!!!!!

Mom of course (that's me) will be making her wedding dress & her bridesmaids dresses.....yikes that's five dresses for September.....will def be buying my own.

We couldn't be happier & I can't remember seeing her this happy ever....& I've seen her happy.

Was busting to tell..........!!!!!

Soooooooo that's me done, see you again soon, prob up to my tonsils in satin & lace :)

Lots of love & have a wonderful weekend

Karen x

Baby, baby,baby.......

Hi there so work is well under way with my baby pressies 

for my Lil brother...younger that is.... he's def about a foot

taller than me, which by the way would not prove difficult for

the vast majority of people over twelve years of age

as I measure in at a mere 4ft 11.5 inches (.5 being of the utmost

importance) you do understand!!!!

I've finished the baby bag, an absolute necessity for any

mother of a newborn.

I did so enjoy piecing this one together

The wee flower is removable in case its a boy & they think

its a wee bit girley,,,,really hope they like it

Also planned for tomorrow are these

Bit odd looking now to be sure, but they WILL be a few pairs 

of baby booties.....check back & see????

When I had them laid out like this my mind was brought back to 

this storybook & this illustration

Anyone else recognise this delightful book

Was one of my firm favourites as a child, such lovely pictures.

Wonder will my booties turn out as nicely as theirs!!!!

Before I go I just have to share this with you

Ella's school had a bunny art competition.

Every child received a bunny to decorate whatever way they wanted

This is her entry....sadly she didn't win a prise

but working together with her on it was the best ever.

Better luck next time.

I'll be back soon with more baby bits have to buy wadding for the quilt tomorrow

so I hope to have that finished over the weekend along with the 

booties, ready to post on Monday or Tuesday.

Three weeks left & its got to go to Australia eeeek

Hope it gets there first

Lots of love

Have a sweet weekend

Karen x

Quilts, cakes & crochet

Hi again, I've actually found time to blog....its a miracle.

Roll on the Easter break, morning lie ins, food galore, chocolate

bunnies, eggs, bears, mini eggs, cakes......lots of it!!!!

Four more days YESSSSS!

Anyhoo I managed to sew up the quilt top over the last few days,I actually have to fight 

to get into my lovely sewing room that I waited for years & years & years 

to have....Bethany has spent the last month entrenched there sewing 

costumes for her cosplay conventions....she's real good.

Must show you a few of her creations soon.

So back to the quilt top

  Keeping it simple but I will embroider some flowers 

& a lil message for baby on it.....can't wait to finish & see the 

end result.

Bit of progress on this too.....

I started this last summer & have been real neglectful

Am loving it though & am feeling a renewal of interest in finishing it.

Tiny wee squares can be a little monotonous but I'm determined 

& excited about it....good sign eh!!!

We had a birthday in the house this weekend, Lauren turned

24....I can't believe it ....24?

I should feel old but I don't...must be all the cakes keeping me youthful.

We had a tea party

Twas real tasty & much enjoyed by all.

Will be back again soon

Love you guys

Karen x

Ready Again

Its been a while, a long while. I think my last post was way back in november.

I have missed blogging, but needed a break from it, not from you guys though.

I have been secretly stalking your blogs, cause I just couldn't stay away from them.

All that beautiful inspiration is way too important to me.

I decided to put away blogging in december as my lovely dad

passed away a few days before christmas, I just didn't have the heart 

to share for quite some time. We miss him a great deal, but 

life does go on, it keeps moving, changing & living.

I haven't been crafting very much, just wee bits here & there.

Wee bits I nonetheless enjoyed making.

Let me share just some

A pretty blanket for Lauren

Some cute lil coasters......nice & easy

Cushions for my sofa & one for my bed

Simple, relaxing, no hassle pieces.

Pieces that hook up while sipping hot chocolate

& chilling on my couch.

I have enjoyed taking it easy but am dying to get 

back to full swing again.

My younger brother Andrew & his wife Layla are expecting

their first baby in May, I am itching to make baby stuff.......lots 

of baby stuff.

First up is a quilt from this fabric

They don't know the sex.....want to be surprised, so I have to keep 

colours as neutral as possible. 

Really like these though & can't wait to start

Will post as I create 

I am so happy to be back & will start leaving comments again 

 on your spaces.....just so you'll know how much 

I love what you say & do

See you again soon

Lots of love Karen x