Here are the pictures as promised, of my homemade jam making exploits.
The plums were freshly plucked from the tree and were deliciously juicy.
Homemade Summer Plum Jam
August
August so far has proved to be super busy…I am still flat out at work and busy juggling the boys summer holidays with Mr R and the help of fabulous Grandparents.
So here is a little snapshot of some of the finer moments I have managed to grab!
I have made some homemade plum jam too, but I need to sort the photo’s so I’ll save those for another time.
xxxxx
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Summer Holidays…
3…2…1… Summer Holidays begin!
The negatives… well it is lashing down with rain and I mean…LASHING!
The positives…the boys are chilled, they’re at home and we are counting down the days towards our Summer holiday. Mr R is properly on the mend and I’ve got an interview coming up.
I’m still hooking these lovely C2C love hearts
and have my first row joined.
My progress is slow but happy
and I love that the rain is lashing…guilt free crochet!
xxxxx
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C2C Love…
Just a very short post to share the newest thing on my hook.
I have had this beautiful basket of yarn for a little while now…and although it has been screaming at me to get my hook out everyday since I have had it; I have been patiently waiting for inspiration to fall. You see this yarn is gorgeous and deserves to be hooked into something just as lovely.
I have been wooed by #lemondesucrette’s beautiful heart baby blanket and have admired her progress from afar. I have also had an overwhelming desire to attempt C2C (corner to corner) crochet.
So, I have combined these two desires and am now addicted to hooking my own love heart blanket….
I found the pattern on Ravelry by MA Santos and it’s free! If you have not done C2C before there are some good links to video tutorials within the pattern that are worth a watch.
It’s quite addictive and I am totally smitten!
xxxxx
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Free dog collar crochet pattern…
this post contains affiliate links, which help to support my blog at no extra cost to you
Isn’t she a sweetie?
I can’t believe she will be 3 years old in August….do you remember her as a tiny pup?
How time flies, and oh how dirty her collar had become, despite washing it!
So of course it seemed sensible to make her a little yarny cover for her collar and this is how I did it!
‘Such a cutie – dog collar’…free pattern:
Pattern uses English terminology (American equivalent in brackets). You will also need a dog collar.
St/ s – stitch / es
ch – chain
htr – half treble (hdc – half double crochet)
I used Paintbox dk cotton yarn
yarn a – washed teal
yarn b – lipstick pink
yarn c – bubblegum pink
Do not cut yarn at the end of each row. Instead, work with 3 balls bringing the selected yarn up the side of the work. This will prevent lots of ends needing to be sewn in!
Row 1: With yarn a, ch 9, 1htr in 2nd chain from hook,
1htr in each st across (8htr).
Row 2: Join yarn b, ch2 (does not count as a st), turn. 1htr in each st across (8htr).
Row 3: Repeat row 2 with yarn c.
Rest of rows: Repeat row 2, colour repeat – Yarn a,b,c to end. Measure against your dogs collar for length.
Sew in the ends and whip stitch around dog collar as shown.
tOP TIP:
To increase or decrease width of collar you could use a larger or smaller hook or increase or decrease the number of starting chains accordingly.
Jess likes her new collar…I hope you do too!
Enjoy the pattern and send me photo’s of your cutie sporting a yarny collar if you make one won’t you?
xxxxx
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Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot
We are not used to a long spell of hot weather here in the UK, but this week has seen our temperatures soar way above 30 degrees.
And oh how lovely it has been, it has meant an exodus into the outdoors, picnics and walks and a lot of sunscreen!
But, I found myself unprepared in the crochet stakes…it was just too hot to be sitting under a half made blanket or to be half draped in a shawl; sweltering under a wool blend.
So, I have compiled my yarny list of the top 5 things to crochet when the temperature starts rising.
Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#1
Ironically, top of the list is …..gloves!
It is not as mad as it sounds.
Small, picnic portable, quick to hook… and you will have a lovely pair of mitts ready for when the sun disappears and the colder weather brings a chill.
Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#2
A cute little square like this one
Hook one, or two, or three or more..you can always join them in the autumn when the warm weather is a distant memory…and between you and me…what’s another PHD!
Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#3
A splendid little tea cosy…the perfect finishing touch to a sunny afternoon tea…. al fresco of course.
Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#4
How about a little inspiration from the outdoors… a yarny little leaf.
Embellish until your heart is content. I think these would look great in bright hot colours…don’t you?
Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#5
How about spreading the love
Hook these lovely little flowers and add a key chain then give them away or leave them around your community and spread a little yarny H.U.G
#Bonus Summer Hook
Corfu barefoot sandals
Hook these cute barefoot sandals for the perfect summer look!
So, whether you are currently in the middle of a scorcher or if it has been a while since the sun shone down on you, I hope I have inspired you to grab your hook and get outside.
What are your hot hooking tips?
xxxxx
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A yarny gate installation…
I have spent a lot of my time recently walking my dogs across the field that is behind our house.
I used to do this often when I worked less, so to be able to have space to do this again has been refreshing. However, this has been bothering me…
This gate opens onto a very busy road. You can just about see that some kind soul has taken a sharpie pen to ask that folk shut the gate…but, it was still bothering me.
It bothered me for two reasons. The first, the gate is still left open and the second reason, the sharpie pen instruction just didn’t look pretty!
So, I got out my stash and my hook
and began hooking a simple but very happy double crochet striped affair.
I added a sweet little sewn request
and a cute little ladybird
Then I headed off with a pocket full of yarn and a darning needle to complete this yarny gate installation.
I hope so much that this sign makes people smile and that it survives for a little while before someone takes it down.
xxxxx
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A belated gift and a belated thank you…
Things are still very tough here at the nest, but we are hanging in. Mr R is now out of hospital and we have nurses attending at home. We are healing slowly, but have a long road ahead of us.
I am finding I can crochet again for short periods of time, it is as much as my mind can focus on and I am enjoying the little bit of creativity my hook is giving me.
I have started a new project …yes, I know another one!
But, it is quirky and fun and I have enjoyed the creative process of designing it. I will share more as I progress.
I really wanted to drop in and give a BIG shout out and thank you to Ginny over at mytimestitching who sent me this gorgeous sock yarn, which I won in a competition she ran on her lovely blog.
I received this yarn a while back now along with a lovely shawl pattern. I am not sure what I will hook yet, but for now it is enough to keep squishing it!
I also received a belated birthday present a few weeks back too, this stunning yarn bowl, handmade by Sarah Whyte Ceramics
Ginny’s yarn fits in just perfectly.
xxxxx
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Baby Wilmer Blanket…
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xxxxx
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