So What Did I do With All Those Flowers? Part 2

Thank you for all your lovely comments about part one, I'm hoping you will like what I did with my lovely flowers and scraps of yarn, I think some of you may have guessed already but please indulge me for just a little while longer..


Firstly I gathered my ingredients...

I took them all outside because I rightly thought there could be a bit of a mess in the making of this masterpiece.

I placed all the ingredients on the table then..

I emptied the scraps out of the jar leaving just a few in the bottom...WARNING!!

Do not do this on a windy day! I nearly lost all my vital scraps of yarn that I had been gathering for months, however order restored...

I began to  place flowers into the jar using the scraps to keep them in place

I added more scraps and slowly built up the flowers around the jar bit by bit,

you have to have a bit of patience, but it's fun filling in all the gaps to hide the scraps, not that it would matter if you could see a few here and there. See how it's taking shape, I kept adding more scraps and the placing flowers all around and right to the top until.....

Tadaaaaa!!!             Introducing....Flowers in a jar

What do you think? did you guess right?

Here it is placed in a natural setting

looking down onto the top

And sitting on the dining table, I think it looks lovely everywhere.

Think of the possibilities, you could use just one type of flower or maybe just one colour to suit your decor, you could use hearts or butterflies or a mix of all.. small jars or large jars my head is spinning. 

How about Halloween in a jar filled with ghosts and bats with a big spider on the top!

One thing is for sure I will never throw away any scraps again, be they yarn, thread or fabric they can all be put to good use.

I have another jar just like this one which is nearly full of scraps so I'm on the look out for more pretty flowers, why don't you join me and make one too, I would love to see your scrap jar idea's. :)

So What did I do with all those Flowers? Part One.

Those of you who have been following me in the crafty corner for a while may remember last year I went through a crocheting of flowers craze, I really couldn't stop for a long time, firstly I was making them because I enjoyed the process and I loved how you could make up a little pile of flowers in no time....

Puff Flowers

It was also a great way to use up all those little scraps of yarn. There is so much flower inspiration out there you really are spoilt for choice, you can click on the captions to see the post about the flowers and find the patterns too.

Granny Rose

Flower with no name

lil cute crochet flower

As well as the flowers above I did make these whilst I was just playing around with my hook.

I have used my flowers for all sorts of projects but I have had a special project in mind for such a long time, it involved the flowers and.....

my scrap jar of little bits....

now to avoid confusion for those of you who are new to my blog you may want to read this TUSAL post which explains how it all started and then if you are intrigued and would perhaps like to join in just follow the link below.

I am going to leave it there for now but I will reveal what I did with my flowers and my lovely brimming to the top with scraps scrap jar very soon, maybe tomorrow or maybe the day after or mayb......

Hope you're having a happy Monday if not then......

perhaps this will make you smile :)

So did I do it?

Thank you for all your lovely words of encouragement. :)

Yes!! I'm pleased to say that I did manage to get the blanket sewn up, although I didn't actually sew it, I crocheted it together with dc/sc

I find this to be much the quickest way of joining for me.

I also managed to find all those dropped stitches and weave them back to stop them from running again and all holes were darned in.

All ends were weaved in...these are going in my scrap jar.

However I'm not completely satisfied because if I'd had a little more time, each square would have been edged in dc/sc and then either crocheted together or sewn which would have given a much stronger finish.

I would have also edged the blanket with a few rows of crochet but it needs to be packed up and on it's way very soon and there are so many other things that need my attention.  Why aren't there more hours in the day so much to do so so little time!

If you want to see a really neat way of joining a blanket visit Una and see how she has done hers it really is a work of art. Una is having a great giveaway too so do pop along.

Thank you to Hilda, Judy and Caroline for knitting all the squares

The way I see it is..these poor people need help right now they will be cold very soon as winter is fast approaching I don't think they will really mind what the blanket looks like as long as it keeps them warm and I have to say this is a very warm blanket, I know because I had it over my knees the whole weekend. :)

This was a stash-buster blanket all made with donated scrap yarn to the Day Unit so I think it deserves a place in the November link party.

A Collection of flowers 1

Remember what I said about small projects well you can't get much smaller than flowers and lets face it we all love them, they are great for using up your tiny scraps of yarn and you can never have enough! it's always good to have lots ready just in case you need them for embellishing or for some beautiful flowery project.  

There are hundreds of beautiful free flower patterns out there so I'm going to pick some and place them right here with their pattern links in my flower collection so that they are nice and handy for us all to use.

The first ones I've been making are these

6 Petal Puff Stitch Flower

I always had a bit of an aversion to puff stitch until I started making these, they are such fun to do and addictive, once you get going you will want to try them in all sorts of colour combinations.
Thank you Tara for the pattern and tutorial.

I do have a couple of projects in mind for my flowers and one involves my scraps of yarn.  Yes the collecting of scraps continues and I'm pleased to say that the jar is as full as it's going to get and I have started filling another. For those who are new to my blog and may be feeling a little confused right now you may want to read the TUSAL posts which you can find in my Labels on the left side bar.

I feel slightly ashamed about this next bit, I am very late in thanking Helen for sending me these lovely flowers last year. I was going to thank her once the project I wanted them for was finished and she could see them in action as it were, truth is that project had to be scrapped due to persistent bad weather. ( I was going to fill a trellis with flowers in my garden) So a very belated thank you Helen, your beautiful flowers were well and truly appreciated and I will use them very soon I promise.

I am following Ana's Fantasy Blanket CAL, do take a peek if you haven't already.  I am a bit behind but once I have caught up I will be showing my progress, those who are following don't forget to link your progress in the summer link party so we can see all the different lovely colour combinations.

Hexagon scarf

Good morning everyone from a very cold and frosty morning here in the North of England.  I'm going to venture out in a while to post my Christmas cards and I'm hoping that the sun will have melted some of the ice from the roads and pavements my car went into a skid the other day and it was very scary.  It's very tempting to stay indoors on a day like this but I always feel so much better for getting out into the fresh air.
I am still working away at my motifs and for the last ones I thought I would experiment with different textures. I have lots of odd balls in my stash which have been donated form various places  most of them have no labels and are probably obsolete now but it's a shame not to use them.

Motif #37

I only had one ball for this and was afraid there wouldn't be enough to make the scarf long enough but I am pleased with the result.

The yarn was like fine ribbon and surprisingly lovely to work with, I used a 6mm hook and it was finished in no time.

I think it gives a nice finishing touch to a plain top.  The colours as usual are poor because of the lighting but there is a purple sheen to this scarf which goes well with the purple top.

Progress 83 of 100

Just before you go I have been neglecting my scrap jar! (TUSAL) at least I haven't really been neglecting it just failing to show it for the past few months, because I have had to cut down my crocheting to rest my hands, so today being the last New moon of the year this is a combination of the last three months.

Gathering jar

I know pretty pathetic compared to the others.

and here is my display jar as you can see it's nearly full but...I want the contents quite compact because yes I do have a plan not telling yet haha.  It will take a while so I will be continuing into next year, and when it is full and I have put my plan into action I will show you (if it works)  :)

Right I'm off to brave the ice and try and catch the mid-day post, have a great day !!

Having to Slow Down.

I was warned but I didn't follow advice and now I am suffering, so please let it be a warning to all you crafty people out there. 

 If you remember back in June I was complaining about pain in my thumbs, here.  I knew then that I should rest and give my hands time to heal but how can you stop when crochet is your passion and you love to hook. 
I have so many projects on the go for charity, friends,family and for myself, I love to do a bit of everything each day.  It's not just crochet that hurts, knitting and sewing too sends pain right up my arms not to mention house work... it's funny but that last bit doesn't seem to bother me so much :)
 I knew I had to address this as the pain was getting worse and even more scary the base of my thumbs feel tingly and numb so I made an appointment with my GP and I was diagnosed with this please read it because it can affect anyone who overdoes it with the hook or needle. 
I am honestly trying to be good, though I can't completely stop or I would get withdrawal symptoms haha

If I only to do a little each day and follow my GP's advice I'm hoping that the damage that has been done won't be permanent.
So all project targets will be extended and finished whenever and I am going to try and make just small things so hopefully I will still have something to show all you lovely readers now and then. 
Now here is where you can help, suggestions please how can I fill the large hole where crochet has been, almost everything I do with my hands hurt.  If anyone else has had this or similar problems please leave a comment and tell me how you coped, that would be helpful to me and to anyone else who is reading this and maybe has the same symptoms.

My plan.
Just do a little bit crochet each day.
Hand exercises see video here
Use inflammatory gel as prescribed (I cant take tablets, they hurt my stomach)
Use a splint to rest my hands whenever I can. 

Another month has flown by and it's New moon day and time to display my TUSAL jar again. Please excuse the pictures it's very dark and gloomy here today

As you can see full to the brim once more.

Then emptied into here I can see there will have to be some serious squashing down of contents soon, I am going to squash and squash until I can't get another single scrap in there. 

Next New moon is October 15th.  
You will be able to see then if I have been following the Docs advise by how full my jar is. :)

Gathering of Scraps TUSAL

First of all I would like to thank Kara over at petals to picots  for featuring my granny circle's  at her Friday link party, if you haven't been over there it is well worth a visit.

 I can't believe a whole month has gone by since my first gathering of scraps TUSAL post, but it's a New Moon once more and here is my gathering jar for this month.

Full to the top once more in fact I had to squash it down a bit to keep all the scraps from falling out.  Mr frog just loves this jar as you can see. :)

Then here we go all emptied into larger container more than half full already I can see there will have to be some serious squashing of contents before too long.

How are your scrap jars looking ? 

Next New Moon is September 16th.

My First TUSAL

So here we are folks the time has come for my first reveal of the TUSAL scrap jar.  Lots of scraps in there because I'm working on a few things that have lots of ends at the moment and I like to finish off as I go.  

 I'm calling this my gathering jar  

and this is where my lovely bits of this and that will end up

I'm loving it already, I think it will look really pretty once it's all filled up.  Did you know there are 389 of us participating in this TUSAL and I thought I was crazy it's good to know there are other scrap lovers out there.
Next New Moon August 17th

I Wasn't Dreaming After All

Thank you once again to everyone who tried to find the scrap link; I did manage to find it in the end, I went back into my internet History where I eventually found it on my old laptop, then it took me ages to bring it up as my old laptop it so slow, hence the new one, anyway I am talking of course about 'totally useless stitch a long' or TUSAL The website in question is daffycat   

 You need to join to be in on this and I have applied but have not received an answer as yet but I’m still going to do it anyway.  I’m sure it doesn’t matter if its threads or yarn that you put into your container as Sharon of daffy- cat says anything goes.

I have decided to have a smaller container to collect my scraps in and then empty them into a larger one every month, I haven’t yet decided whether I should just let it fill up naturally or give it a stir to mix all the colours.  Then of course one has to decide whether or not to keep squashing them down until you can’t possibly get another piece of yarn in there or let them lie naturally and loosely as they fall mmm… decisions, decisions.  I think the container will look quite pretty no matter how I decide to fill it, and once it's full I will be able to cast my eyes upon it with pride knowing how much work I have achieved to produce such a wonderful display.  Then maybe a pretty crochet lid to decorate for the final touch. 

Come on and join me let’s have a beautiful scrap container display, it doesn’t matter how long it takes or how many you have,  I know it’s silly but it’s fun or maybe I’m just nuts you decide haha

The next New moon is on the 19^th July when I will reveal my scrap jar and the one in which I have chosen to display my beautiful end products of productivity, and hopefully I will have heard from Sharon by then and will be able to add the TUSAL button for a direct link to her website.