Sunday Smiles

I hope that you have all had a great week, mine has been a quiet one but I did have a few smiles along the way. 
Firstly thank you for all your lovely comments and feedback, they always make me smile. :)

Mandala 4

I found the pattern for this mandala on instagram, I came upon this and loved it straight away, there was a handwritten chart which I saved onto my phone.  It was just a small portion of a chart really and I have to admit that I made this more from looking at the mandala rather than copying the chart, it's not perfect there is a mistake but hopefully not too noticeable.  It's quite a big one measuring 9,1/4 inches across but the stitches are easy and it's lovely to make. The lady who designed this is called Camilla and her instagram profile is called crochet-millan, the link to her mandala is here unfortunately it looks as though she has removed the pattern but the good news is she has just started blogging and has already put two great patterns on there.  I'm leaving a comment on her blog asking if she will share the pattern. The link to her blog is here

Thank you for all your feedback about the jacket last week most of you liked the jacket  and thought that I should make it.  However I did ask my friends at work too and I could tell by their faces that they didn't really like it even though they said otherwise, that is until I showed Michele the hairdresser...her comment and I quote..."no Linda that is definitely not you, it will put years on you!" That's all it took, I wont be making it.   

Lovely new yarn!! lets face it nothing puts a smile on our faces more than a visit from the postman with a parcel of new yarn, you can't really see the colour properly here but it's called Cyprus and is a lovely bluey green. I know what you are saying well what's it for when you aren't going to make the jacket, well I'm making something else and I'm not going to tell you what it is now, because I can't start it just yet, I need to finish other things first then I can sit down and enjoy working with this lovely soft yarn with a clear conscience.

A visit to the garden centre
I am lucky to have three garden centres very close to me.  I was also very lucky to have been give some garden vouchers for the pram cover I made back here.  Well these vouchers have been burning a hole in my pocket for quite a while so I decided to go and spend them.

Plant food granules, if you remember my previous lot were waterlogged.

A new pot for my peace Lily which was getting rather pot bound

Wood for the fish tank, already installed and the fish are enjoying swimming amongst the little crevices. 

A pot of African Violets, aren't they pretty, I love African Violets.  So nothing particularly exciting but they did put a smile on my face and it's nice to buy things and not have to pay for them, I love getting gift vouchers and I still haven't spent them all so another visit will be on the cards pretty soon.

The stars in my garden this week

I can't remember the name of this rose, I think it's called Arthur Bell I've had it for many years and it never disappoints, it's a lovely healthy plant and always has masses of blooms.  I love the different shades of yellow starting with a deep orangey red bud opening up to a beautiful deep yellow which gradually fades to the palest lemon.  It has the most heavenly sherbet type of scent, I wish I could pick them and give one to each of you. :)

Hope you all have the best of weeks!