Following some much needed soul restoration on Friday, the theme has lingered here at the nest over the Easter weekend; and I can deleriously report is continuing today too. However, hooking came to a very abrupt halt yesterday!
After a chaotic but funny Easter egg hunt, in which I muddled the clues up somehow; and hearty singing of praises in church. Followed a mixed weather walk just down by the brook,
I love carefully picking my way back home through this flowery path…
Back home for some quiet hooking
which was fine until…
I realised I had only this much red cotton left and four robins nest motifs left to square…I told you the hooking came to an abrupt halt! Which was only soothed by this wonderful Easter tray that I received from my lovely brother and Sister in Law (Thank you Kate xx)
Which proved just perfect to hold my coffee whilst I ordered more yarn
After a long hard slog I now have 2 out of 3 of my essays done…but it has been hard, not just for me, but for the whole of the Robins’ nest clan. So with the sun shining it was time to restore the soul with some non academic (no not a single reference required here!) time together. However, it didn’t quite work out as planned. Mr R had to work… ON A BANK HOLIDAY! and summer and autumn robins, well they are growing up and wanted to go out with their mates…so that just left me and my little Robin to go and play.
Pitch and putt, all 18 holes in the sunshine.
I spent a lot of time trying to get out of bunkers…
and trying very hard not to misplace my golf ball in the river that ran alongside some of the course.
After the successful execution of hole 9, we had a half time interval of ice cream and popcorn…much needed foods when soul restoration is in progress!
‘A yarny little leaf’ designed by Nicola Florence @ayarnyrobin.wordpress.com….February 2016
On a very wet afternoon, just the other day, I began to hook up some little leaves. Simple I thought, no pattern required.
After a couple of tweaks here and there, this is what my trusty hook had produced. I think they are rather sweet, so I thought I would share this little leaf pattern with you.
Little Leaf Pattern.
I used drops cotton dk and a 3.5mm hook. All instructions are using English terminology.
Slst – slip stitch
st – stitch
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
htr – half treble
tr – treble
dtr – double treble
blo – back loop only
Central Vein
Ch8, slst into 2nd ch from hook, then slst into each remaining 6ch and fasten off.
Leaf Body
Join chosen colour thread to 1st st at bottom of leaf vein. Ch1, dc in next st, htr in next st, tr in next st, 2dtr in next st, tr in next st, htr in next st, dc in same st, ch3(you should now be at the top of the vein).
You now need to reverse the pattern down the other side of the leaf. This time working in the back loops only.
So, dc in next st, htr in same st.
tr in next st, 2dtr in next st, tr in next st, htr in next st, dc in next st, slst in next st. Fasten off to finish and weave in ends.
Happy little leaf hooking
xxxxx
‘A yarny little leaf’ designed by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin.wordpress.com….February 2016.
2015, well what a year, a roller coaster in a lot of ways, but a good year. A year of progress and accomplishment and growth…. and of course craftiness.
There have been walks that have embraced the changing seasons.
Certainly, a lot less hooking than previous years, but for very good reason. As I eluded to at the beginning of this glance back, 2015 has been a year of progress, growth and accomplishment.
and throughout it all, through these last beautiful, hard, tiring, challenging and wonderful twelve months that has been my 2015… I have clung to my motto BRAVE... and it has seen me through, it has inspired me, encouraged me, comforted me and at times kicked my butt… it has also taught me…
So thank you to all those that have journeyed through 2015 with me here, this little, mostly yarny space of the ether. I value your encouragement and appreciate the time you spend dwelling here with me… more than you will ever realise.
Here’s to your 2016…may it be blessed and beautiful and of course yarny.
A crafty little tutorial today…Christmas dog wreaths, for the pooch in your life!
Easy peasy to make, here is what you will need…
wreaths…these are bought, cost £1 each, but you could make one from some coat hanger wire…your dogs favourite biscuits…raffia, or ribbon…cut raffia into lengths…tie onto wreath…Attach a length of raffia to top of wreath to hang…
Oh, my delight in these pretty pumpkins. Whilst we do not celebrate 31st October, halloween in the Robins nest, we do celebrate light in this beautiful, busy and sometimes dark world. As you know I love autumn, and pumpkins certainly contain light and autumnal(ness) in abundance.
I also love spending time with friends and that is exactly what is happening here tonight. We are having some very dear friends over to mark the very significant occasion of our homes transition from ‘no space to have anyone around’ to ‘being able to say come on over for supper’ a transition which has taken many years.
the chickens enjoyed a pumpkin feast
So with a three bean chilli and a hearty beef chilli planned for later, accompanied by a bottle or two of red, these pretty pumpkins will help to create the perfect atmosphere for chatter and laughter late into the night.
It has also seen my eldest two robins start year seven at High school…
they are growing so quickly…
I also passed my return to practice course in nursing… (happy dance) and have commenced training as a Health Visitor (happy dance…feeling overwhelmed…happy dance)
my study buddy…
not sure I have time to celebrate with another yarn bomb! There has also been a lot of disruption in the Robin’s nest
renovations…
Which is still ongoing, but will be worth the extra grey hairs it is giving me.
So far this year I have truly lived by BRAVE… and now Autumn is nearly here… my most favourite time of year and to embrace this season and welcome it with open arms… I’ve spent a little time pinning my Autumn happies… I just hope I can weave in some time to create.
up over the big field and back home through the daffodils…my favourite flowers in the whole world. 
my study buddy…
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