Off to France

Just a quick post to say we're off to France today - back mid July. I shan't post in France but I'll try to make up when I'm home.....

More Felting Projects

Well.....  now I've attached the handles to the creamy yellow bag and I'm quite pleased with the result.

My next felted bag project is well underway.
I've finished the knitting and I'll pop it into the washing machine tomorrow. This bag is octagonal and has an attached icord round 7 sides.

It looks more like a circle than an octagon in the photo so it will be interesting to see how it turns out after the felting. I'm also concerned about the top because it rolls down - would it have been better to have a few rows moss stitch before casting off?

This bag is from Alice Underwood and Sue Parker's book "Felted Bags".

Today I had a girlie day with my friend Sandi. We visited a lovely little shop and I bought some goodies....

This blackboard for the kitchen, and a picture that I'll put by for my daughter. She's in the early weeks of pregnancy so I shall keep it until she's a bit further along.

I think this will look lovely in the baby's room..... hope she lokes it!!!!!!!!!!

A Hot Saturday

Goodness it's been so hot today!!! Too hot for anything too heavy this afternoon - well that was my excuse!!!

On the positive side I managed to felt a bag I knitted from Bev Beattie's book "Knit and Felt Bags".I used Bev's felting wool - one strand of buttermilk and one of ecru. The bag is knitted on 8mm and 10mm circular  needles, so it knits up really quickly.

As Bev says in her book, before felting, the bag is very much the ugly duckling -

 - but then in the washing machine the magic happens. I used the 40 degree cotton wash programme and I'm really pleased with the result. My ugly duckling is on its way to becoming my swan!!

I have stuffed the bag with towels and need to wait until it dries and then I shall attach the handle and think about embellishing it. Bev recommends attaching embellishments and handles before felting but my confidence isn't that high yet. Maybe next time.....

The other thing I have finished is a birthday present for a friend.

I hope he will hang it on his shed - it doubles as a store for all the bits for his garden railway!

Monday 24 May 2010

Today has been a good day. The postman rang the bell around 9.30 and delivered an eagerley awaited parcel. It was my new knitting bag from the lovely Sally at lifecovers. Sally produces her items in beautiful Scotland so has lots of inspiration all around her.

I'm so pleased with it; it's even better than in the photos -

Sally was able to personalise it with 'Susie's bag' embroidered on the handle -

I spent the morning in the garden watering, tidying and planting out. We have been growing a few veggies here in the UK and we have peas .....

.....runner beans.....

.....garlic, carrots, onions and salad leaves.....

.....and I put the strawberries, with some parsley and dahlias, round the lamp post.....

  The afternoon was impossibly hot and humid so we had a lazy break in the shade with lemonade and something to read!!!!

Sunday 23 May 2010

Some while ago, when life was difficult, I came across the suggestion that at the end of each day you should think of six good things that have happened during the day. At first I found it really hard to come up with a list of six, but after a while it became easier. It's a habit I have kept up over the years and helps to keep me focussed on the positive side of life. It has clarified what sre, for me, the important things in life, what makes me happy and what I have to be thankful for. It's not the material things that make my list, but often it's aspects of the natural world - birds or flowers; chance conversations with strangers; time spent with family and friends.

So what made the list today?

1. Time spent in the garden in early morning solitude with that first cup of coffee.
2. A walk round the lakes with my daughter and her chocolate labrador, talking about the baby she (fingers crossed) is expecting. It's very early days but she deserves a problem free pregnancy and a healthy babe.
3. Meeting other dog walkers and exchanging news.
4. A rare, quiet, afternoon reading my book.
5. Watching Halcyon River Diaries on BBC1
6. A leisurely bath with delicious bath salts.

Back home again

Last week we returned home from over a month n France. We had a good visit and managed to get quite a few jobs done....

We cut down some bushes to open up the view......

Before....

Going....

Going....

Gone....

We finished a little seating area at the front of the property ........

We got out and about a bit and I'll post piccies next time.

Take care, all.

Sleeve Board Cover and Bunny

It's been a wet and dreary day today! We woke to rain, had a brief respite and now the rain is back heavier than before! I took advantage of the drier interlude this morning to do a bit of tidying in the garden; but since lunch I have been pottering in the house. I did get round to making a new cover for the sleeve board. The old one had rotted right through - though I had never replaced it so it has lasted since 1967!!! I suppose I shouldn't grumble!



The other thing I wanted to post is this picture of a rabbit I bought at the Country Living Spring Fair. I had fallen in love with him on the publicity for the Fair and couldn't have come home without him - although he was rather expensive! I shall have to be very good for a while to make up. He was sold by Plum and Ivory and is filled with dried lavender so he smells wonderful. If you get a chance check out their internet site. They have some lovely things.