Easter Blessings.

So here it is my little Easter display, as you can see I found my painted Easter rocks. It makes me happy each time I walk past, I tend to add to it each year, this years new additions are the bunny and carrot garland, the chick and the eggs. I have have added links for the free patterns below

To everyone who is celebrating have a very Happy Easter.😊

Free Easter Patterns

Bunny Garland

Carrots

Chick 

Eggs

Crochet Bunny

Linking with

Slow Sunday Stitching

Waterfall Crochet Review and Back To Mosaic.

Geometry Lessons Stitch Along.

You all know how excited I was to get started on the SAL, I was there as soon as the video tutorial was released. Mikey is a great teacher and I soon got the gist, however I soon came to realise that this type of crochet was not for me. I get that the beauty of this type of crochet is that you can have geometrical patterns in your work without having to carry your yarn at the back as in the intarsia method, however for it to work you have to have good consistent tension or you are left with gaps and holes in your work. My tension varies so I wasn't happy with the finish, it meant I was pulling back and trying again and again and at that rate I would never have finished the blanket.  

It appears that I am not alone in my thinking several crocheters have given up for the same reasons. Another thing I found is that it is quite hard on the hands, there is a lot of twisting and turning involved and for the longer waterfalls you need to use a hook with a long shaft or a Tunisian crochet hook.  I use an ergonomic hook but they are too short for all the stitches the hook has to accommodate. However I must quickly add, there are many more who are absolutely loving the waterfall method of crochet and indeed several have finished their blankets already at only two weeks into the SAL. 

I may revisit one day with a thicker yarn I was using Dk out of my stash and I think an Aran weight as used in the pattern would be the best way to go.

You can see how far I got below...

This particular pattern (the checks) involves two rows of dc (US) and chains in colour A, then in colour B you weave down through the chain spaces of the previous two rows and crochet into the dc two rows below. As you can see my work is very untidy and on closer inspection there are holes and gaps left in places, you can also quite clearly see the lighter blue yarn showing through the navy. The next part of the pattern (the arrows) is four rows deep so that will add to the difficulty I would think.

As I have said lots of people taking part in this SAL love it here is the link if you would like to give it a try or even just watch the video to see what it is all about. 

I'm pleased that I tried it even if  the experience was short lived for me, it made me realise that you can get the same result more or less with Mosaic Crochet and that is a method I really enjoy so I have decided to make a mosaic blanket instead.  

I have already made a start, it's going to be a 36"x 36" baby blanket and I'm using a pattern that I purchased ages ago by the very talented designer Rosina Plane I love her designs.

It will take me a while because Mosaic Crochet is slow as it only grows by a sc depth at each row however I don't mind as the results are always worth it, I will be happy if I can get this finished by the end of the month.

Other things

It's funny how different things seem to hold my interest at different times, the only thing that is truly consistent with me is crochet, I never tire of it, but I have to have something else going on too and as you all must have gathered by now it's embroidery, I don't know how long this will last but I'm really enjoying it at the moment.

The flower for this month is the daisy and as I love daisies I need to embroider a few to do them justice, I have yet another one I want to start, I enjoy sewing just a little bit each day.

I am still working on my Spring garland it's nice to crochet the odd flower or leaf between other projects, then when that's finished I will start on a Summer one.😊

Speaking about things holding my interest as I was assembling my little Easter display I realised that I had quite forgotten about the Easter stones that I painted last year, I was totally hooked on rock painting, in fact at that time I was quite obsessed with it but I haven't done any rock painting for months, one of the reasons is because it's quite close work and it put a lot of strain on my neck, and although my neck problems did ease a bit it seems to be getting bad again.  

The problem with craft work is, you are nearly always bent over your work so I suppose an aching neck its an occupational hazard. What is a craft addict supposed to do I ask myself, stop crafting?😩Could you? 

I'm going in search of my Easter rocks so that I can complete my little Easter display. 

Easter Cactus getting ready to flower.😄

Take Care until next time.😘😘

Linking with 

Slow Stitching Sunday. 

Handmade Monday

The Granny Rose and Hello April

 I love April it's my favourite month of the year, longer nights and warmer weather but as I'm writing this there is snow falling outside, amazing really when you think that the temperatures were more than 10° higher last week, looking back to last year we had snow in April then too. At least I know that there won't be much more of it and it will get warmer. 

Looking back on March  I am happy to say that I did manage to complete everything that I said I would and a little bit extra too.  The last thing I made was another 24" square for the comfort blankets.

The Granny Rose 

I love this rose and have used it quite extensively in the past if you want to take a quick peek you can see more of my granny rose projects below. Back then, I thought it would be a lovely idea to make a blanket for my bed using this design and I set about making dozens of these roses and then crocheting them into granny squares, then other things took over and they got put to one side.  I have resurrected  these and joined them into a larger square, I think that they look really pretty and would make a lovely centrepiece for a larger blanket.

More of the Granny rose...

A Poncho For Joanie

My Family Think I've Lost The Plot

When Two CALS Meet

Granny Rose Cushion

The Granny rose pattern can be found on the lovely Astri's blog Apple Blossom Dreams.

Other Things

The trees just beyond my garden border have worried me since I moved in here over four years ago, I do love trees but when they plant them they do so without any thought of which type of tree would suit the space.

Taken yesterday as you can see a dull wet day with the odd snowfall.

These will grow over 20 feet high if left unchecked, already their roots have grown half way down my garden towards the house, I can't dig the soil because of the roots and the decking is buckled in places because of them. My garden is South facing but these trees completely block the sun when they are in full leaf.  A few years ago I asked the council if they would trim them and they refused so my neighbour and myself  took matters into our own hands and got someone to trim them for us.

Taken through my bedroom window, my heart was in my mouth watching him and he stayed up there in the midst of falling snow and sleet showers too working for over four hour on my side alone.

I've just snapped this photo below while the sun is shining you can see the difference, they don't look very pretty now but I'm sure that they will, as soon as they put on new branches and leaves in the Summer.

As I was driving home along the sea front this morning I saw this rainbow and I quickly parked the car and took a picture of it.

You can hardly see it in the photo, it looked so much nicer in real life . 

My March 

To do in April

• Give you my thoughts about waterfall crochet.
• Make at least one baby blanket.
• Embroider the birth month flower daisy x2
• Make an Easter display
• Continue with my Spring garland.

I'm sure that lots more inspiration will come a knocking.  What are you planning for April?

Well I think it's time for a little bit of Italian study, I have learnt a few words which is better than nothing at least a few things have sunk into my brain, a few random words that on their own don't mean very much at all, ah well at least I'm trying 😀

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, take care until next time.😘😘