A Little Heart Collection and Another Strange Happening.

 Valentines Day is always a great excuse to get creative with hearts, I can never resist because I love them so much and it looks like I'm not the only one to think this way because there seems to be lots of new heart patterns to choose from at this time every year. 

I do try to be sensible I mean to say, what is the point of making all these hearts if they don't have a purpose, the good thing about hearts is they can be used for all sorts and it's always good to have a little supply just in case you need to gift one to somebody, if you do need an excuse to make one you can read my list of reasons why below just click on the picture and scroll to the end of the post.

Sweet Lacy Flower Hearts

This time I was thinking coasters because I genuinely need some new ones the only problem was I was spoilt for choice so I decided to try a few out, after all it doesn't take long to knock up a little coaster

This was my first try, I saw these coasters around Christmas time and put them on my to do list..

 

 PATTERN HERE

It wasn't difficult to make although I have to be honest, I don't really like crocheting into the back of chains to make a round. just a tad too fiddly unless you are in the mood. I wasn't too happy with the size either, these hearts need a little more depth, so I decided one was enough.

Then I found another pattern and loved it right away

PATTERN HERE

It was one of those patterns that just flow and it turned out just the right size, I had decided that these would fit the bill quite nicely but then..

Late one evening  as I was having a last minute scroll through my favourite blogs I came upon these...

PATTERN HERE

There was no contest I had to make one there and then before I went to bed just to see if they were as easy as they looked. Granny hearts! who doesn't like granny patterns in any shape or form. I had one made in minutes and my choice was made.  The one above is made with Patons cotton in DK and Patons 4ply below in shades nectarine, cream and  limestone.

The smaller 4ply coasters are a perfect size for a mug or coffee cup.

I love them and I had to stop myself from churning them out in their dozens, you know what it's like with granny patterns you just want to go on and on. I have this pattern earmarked for next year when I can get out and about and I'll be making lots for friends and family. You could also use the pattern for a dishcloth, potholder or facecloth so it's a good one to have.

Tamara has now published a tutorial you can see it on Moogly here.

Here are more lovely coaster patterns that are also on my to do list...

Atys Heart Coasters

Crochet Heart in A Circle 

Heart Coaster

Then I decided that a  little bunting would be a great idea to cheer up my conservatory 

PATTERN HERE

Then just when I thought that I had finished with the crochet hearts I stumbled upon these on Marianna's blog, hearts of appreciation...

PATTERN HERE

I'm sure that they will come in handy, in normal times I would be popping them through my friends letterboxes and leaving a few hanging around the neighbourhood but I will leave that until the corona madness has abated hopefully not too far in the distant future.

Remember the disappearing  heart in this post well sure enough it turned up just like I thought it would right in the middle of my table and yes I had looked there before and I really can't remember putting it there!

Still on the heart theme I have been playing around with rock painting this week, it's surprising how calming it is and how quickly the time goes, I'm under no illusions that what I have produced are works of art, but I enjoyed the process and that is the main thing after all. Here are my first ever painted rocks...

  

It's not easy, one needs a steady hand and total concentration but I'm not entering them in any competition so I really don't mind how they turn out.

Then of course there has been some heart embroidery going on, I really enjoyed sewing this it was so simple and quick.

and I am sewing another heart themed one which I will be working on this weekend. 

We have had a very snowy, cold week and  I have enjoyed watching the falling snow whilst sitting cosily in my conservatory.

Those tortoises haven't budged all winter.😂

We don't often get a layering of snpw in our street so it was nice to wake up to this especially when I didn't need to go out in it.. 

The Other Strange Happening..

Yesterday I received a cheque in the post for £79, it was from an insurance company. I had a policy out with them which reached maturity in 2015, they said they were sending the cheque because I wasn't given the correct amount of bonus at the time. Of course I was delighted but thought it very strange why now? and how on earth did they know my address I have moved house since then.

This morning I got into my car only to find that the battery was flat, I phoned the garage and they are going to change it for me, I asked how much will it cost they said £79! now what do you think of that? make of it what you will,  sheer coincidence maybe but I think it's strange, synchronicity perhaps🤔 at least now I won't have to think about what I'm going to spend the money on haha.

Well enough of my ramblings and I will let you all get on, have a lovely Valentines weekend and if you have no one to make it special for you then make it special for yourself you deserve it!💕

Parties I will will be linking to.

Tarting Up The Sideboard.

Hello all you lovely people, I can't believe it's two weeks since I last posted! lots of busy and quite stressful things going on here at the moment and not a second to spare but I always try to make time to crochet every single day it's such a great stress buster don't you think? it's usually not until the evening I can sit with my my favourite hook and just crochet away and let all the stresses of the day melt away while creating something lovely. This time it's doilies.....

I needed something for the top of my sideboard, it has just been repaired after the workman had damaged it when doing the work in my house after the burst pipe.  There was a huge scratch almost from one end to the other, I complained and they took it away and made it look like new again even though they had it for almost two months! I think they had forgotten about it. Anyways I was pleased with the result and decide it deserved not one but three new doilies to sit atop...

I really enjoyed making these thank you Pradeepa from the Lazy Hobbyhopper for the lovely free pattern 

 The first doily is made up of 24 squares, I've had these pretty squares  pinned on my pinterest  for ages and was just waiting for the right project to try them, they were perfect for this you can find the free pattern here

I used King Cole Dk smooth which I have had in my stash for ages, this is an acrylic yarn but looks like cotton, it splits easily but not so much that it's impossible to use.  I love the colour choices and the lovely sheen it gives to finished projects.  I chose colours to match the flowers and owls that I had previously made for the metal art,  Raspberry, Olive, Rose and Damson.

The flower pattern was taken from the book 100 Hundred Flowers to Knit and Crochet by Lesley Stanfield. 

You can find the pattern for Odele and Oyah the owls here

Have a great weekend 😊

A bit of A Cheat.

Ever since I decorated my lounge earlier this year I have needed  a doily for my coffee table the one that was there and I really loved just didn't match my colour scheme anymore.  I have been searching for the perfect pattern but have been unsuccessful so far.

I have been making do with this..

I made this doily 35 years ago and gifted it to my Mother, when she died ten years ago I found it in one of her drawers, I'm not sure if she ever used it I know I didn't until recently, I washed it and blocked it and it's been sitting on my coffee table.  Looking at the intricate detail in this doily I feel quite proud of the fact that I made this when I was quite young and relatively new to crochet I know that I wouldn't have the patience to make one like it now.

Anyways although I think it's lovely it just doesn't look right on my coffee table as the table is rectangular. I have been pondering for a while about this state of affairs and then while I was looking through my stash look what I found unexpectedly...

Squashed in a bag at the bottom of another bag these african flower motifs left over from the previous doily I had for my table but in more neutral shades.  So I dusted them off and weaved in all the loose ends sewed them together and came up with this...

So although one of the targets for last month 'a doily for my coffee table' has been met I have cheated a bit by using motifs I already had but it's always good to unearth a bit of treasure like this don't you think? 

Take heart all of you who, like me, have UFO's in all kinds of places you will find a use for them one day. :) 

I'm still not completely happy with it, it will do for now I suppose but the search for the perfect doily goes on.

The pattern and tutorial for the African Flower motif can be found here

Have a great weekend and I'll see you all for the new Stash-Link Party on Sunday.

Doily Story

Once upon a time a lovely blogging friend called Pammy Sue showed us a picture of a beautiful doily and invited us to make it along with her.  Well at first I declined the invitation tempting as it was because I had so many crafty things already on the go.  

Then I remembered my daughters round coffee table in her new home and I could quite visualize that doily settling quite comfortable atop of it, not only that but she expressed the desire for a fuchsia rug, well that quite sent my head reeling because I knew that I had a cone of fuchsia crochet thread which had been tucked away for years just waiting for an opening like this and I felt that it would match the rug quite nicely and so I accepted Pammy Sues invitation and although it's taken me awhile I am proud to announce it's done........

Playing with the doily

First I placed in on top of my chest of drawers...yes nice but what if I put....

my terramundi in the middle it has the same blend of colours and matches well BUT it does tend to squash and indeed hide those central popcorns.

ok well lets put the terramundi  to one side

and then add the lamp

Very nice but it's quite dull in the bedroom so lets take it outside ...

I love the colour so bright and vibrant in the Autumn sunshine

I wonder what it would look like on my windowsill...

I think it looks good and Becky Bunny seems to think so too but how about...

 Sitting on my dining table

Ouch! those popcorns got it again but it does look so pretty and I think it looks good everywhere, I hope my daughter likes it too, the fuchsia rug did not materialise by the way but fuchsia cushions did so the doily should feel right at home. 

FACTS
This doily was not an easy make at least not for me, having said that I'm sure there are crocheters out there who would find it easy and many including our own dear Pammy Sue had it made up in no time.
It was challenging because there were stitches which I hadn't tried before and there were sooo many picots have I told you I HATE doing picots.  It took ages to complete a round especially the final rounds because it's a biggun, mine measure's 20" in diameter..BUT it was worth it because I love it...will I make it again? well no. :) 

AND even better it's a stashbuster using 95 grams cotton yarn.       

Linking with..

Hope you are all having a great week :)

Sunday Smiles

The first thing to make me smile is all your great dishcloth feedback, thank you so much it has clarified the dishcloth making process so much for me and made me eager to make more, so much so I have gone and bought these,,,,

They are Aran weight but not quite as thick as the Lily sugar n cream and because of reassurances about the colour's running I'm quite happy to make them bright and cheerful. In fact although the colour did initially run from my green dishcloth it has stopped now and I do love it now that I'm getting used to it so I hope my friends and family will like them too I have one on the hook as we speak a facecloth in fact for a birthday gift, will show you once it's done. :)

Poppies
I love poppies be they real

or handmade...
I have been making these for a sea of poppies project.
Some in crochet and

a knitted one..

I much preferred making the crochet ones they took me no time at all, I found the knitted one a bit fiddly and there was sewing involved that's why there is only one and why there are only four petals when there are five in the pattern.
There are loads of poppy patterns for free if you fancy making some yourself or just click on the pictures to find the patterns I've used although I did play around with them a bit I just can't help myself :) 

Doily Progress

This is where I am now, round 19 and there are 34 rounds! I really am a slow coach I think everyone else has finished theirs but I did pause for a while to see if daughter was going to buy a fuchsia rug,well she didn't but all wasn't lost because she did buy some fuschia cushions yay!! 

I'm loving making this doily because it's something I don't usually do, some of the rounds are quite challenging and it takes forever to finish a round, the bigger it gets the longer it takes but of course but theres no hurry, it will get done one day.

Visit Pammy Sue to see how beautiful hers has turned out and there are pictures others finished doilies too.

Have a great week!