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Beautifully Chilly

Published on January 20, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin9 Comments

iced by Jack Frost

My usual walk with the dogs lately has just been so beautiful….chilly at an average of -3, but beautiful. The bright, freezing mornings that fill my lungs with crisp air have also cast long shadows, which make me smile, as I make the short journey over to the fields with Alf and Jess.

long funny shadows caused by the glaring low sun

The field down in the hollow, with all it’s grass and mud iced like the top of a frosted chocolate cake

As I climb out of the hollow and up the hill the sun shines in a blue, blue sky, but it can not chase away the bitter cold

Alf stops and pauses for a photo

Big Old Alf

Not one to be out done, Jess poses too

hasn't she grown...at 6months now! — hasn’t she grown…at 6months now!

Tiny footprints temporarily fossilised by the ice

footprints highlighted with frost

every bare and exposed surface has been visited by Jack Frost, over night.

such beauty

so blessed

xxx

The End of my Cosy Journey

Published on January 19, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin27 Comments

: The ‘His and Her’s cosy blanket

As promised, here are the pictures of the ‘His and Her’s Cosy blanket’ set. This most enjoyable hooky adventure started back in November 2014, when I fell upon this oh so easy and yet oh so fulfilling pattern, details of which I will list at the end of this post, so you too can embark on your very own cosy escapade.

'her's' — ‘her’s’

The colour way is simply delicious and has the romance of femininity, which just flounces through the overall blanket, making it just perfect for wrapping up in. For details of yarn and colours, please see below.

‘his’

The colour way of the ‘his’ blanket was inspired by the Eastern Bluebird, both blankets incorporate 15 different colours, 7 of which are common in both, and have identical row placement, giving them the same overall tone and therefore linking them as a set.

the blankets share 7 common colours and row placement

Each blanket is bordered with 4 rows of colour, the first 2 rows being shared by each blanket

denim, camel, plum and rose

denim, camel, turquoise, and petrol

If the truth be told, I’m missing hooking these beautiful blankets… I really have enjoyed my journey and I will definitely be returning to this pattern again and again. I will leave you with some more pictures and the links below.

Cosycattage blanket, ayarnyrobin, crochet blankets

Cosy Cottage Blanket by Attic 24

DSC_0094 (1)

Pattern

Yarn

her colour way

his colour way

xxx

A yarny Angel

Published on January 16, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

This divine angel is made by hooking 2 small granny squares and assembling with a few bits and pieces. I made mine in a white yarn with a silver sparkle…the pattern is by the very talented Priscilla Hewitt (search Granny square angel on her site) and is super simple to follow and in no time at all you could have your own host….

DSC_0063 (3)

DSC_0069 (1)

BRAVE…

Published on January 11, 2015January 11, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin12 Comments

Autumn leaves

I have not made resolutions for a number of years… I feel like I am just setting myself up for a fall and lets face it, life can be complicated enough with out sabotaging yourself! I do like a new year though, I have friends who say that it is just another year and nothing changes, but I suspect that has more to do with their attitudes being unchanging rather than anything else.

down by the brook

A new year is different, after all it’s how we mark significant events, birthdays and anniversary’s of various things, both positive and not so, and I know for sure that there have been some years that I have been really pleased to see the back of and some years that have been extrodinarily memorable for me.

Last year I adopted a word, which kind of just happened and helped me through, not a resolution as such, more a spirit of attitude that I sensed was key to my journey through 2014. That word was ‘Flow’ as in the ebb and flow of the tide. In other words I just went with the flow.

That flow has delivered me into this blustery grey January and already I am sensing from deep within my soul a new key word for my 2015. I have had to wrestle with this word as I am finding the thought of what it means a tad daunting. I don’t just invent the word…if I did I would think of something like ‘wealthy’ or ‘creative’ or just plain ‘happy’. If you know anything about me you will know about my faith in God, and as I have sought direction in my alone time with Him, this word is just filling my soul.

The word is ‘Brave’

Be Bold – go all out for it

Rest in God – take time out to

Advance – Keep moving forward

Victory will come

Enjoy even when it’s tough / Effort – put it in

A bit daunting, but exciting don’t you think… I feel a little intrepid mixed with a great dollop of hope… I feel like this year is going to be really challenging but that this challenge will prosper not only me, but my family as well!

happy new year

Published on December 30, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

to all my readers old and new xx

a look over my shoulder

Published on December 27, 2014December 27, 2016 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin13 Comments

This is my end of 2014 review… a chance for me to look over my shoulder and reflect on the last 6 months…yes…this little sanctuary of mine is 6 months old and as we trip in to 2015, I feel both excited and content, which I think is a good place to be.

June 2014 saw not only the birth of ayarnyrobin… but the completion of my friendship blanket.

already a firm favourite!

and the Robin’s nest!

tree house rules... "there aint no rules, there never was none, there aint never gonna be none"!! — tree house rules…
“there aint no rules, there never was none, there aint never gonna be none”!!

In July I completed charity headbands

basket of headbands

a happy ripple blanket

happy ripple in progress

a vintage tea cosy

these little roses are gorgeous to hook

and wrote my first tutorial

my first tutorial

as well as spending some ‘down time’ on the river

messin' about on the river — messin’ about on the river

August saw me settle outside to crochet in the warmer weather and do a spot of blog hoppin’.

crochet corner — my crochet corner

I also broke into my sumptuous alpaca stash

alpaca yarn - Louisa Harding yarns - Orielle — alpaca yarn – Louisa Harding yarns – Orielle

and enjoyed the summer holidays with the boys, making some special memories

down by the canal

and completed a light weight summer scarf

lightweight glamour... — lightweight glamour…

and wrist warmers ready for the autumn

fingerless wristwarmers

and a much needed Summer break away was enjoyed also.

Tenby harbour

September saw the struggle with my hook to complete this basket weave baby blanket

basket weave baby blanket

which led to a frivolous yarnpom in the park

yarnpom

and the arrival of Jess!

Jess

I lost my crojo completely in October…partly Jess’ fault

crocodile flower by Joyce Lewis

eventually finding it, after much help from some lovely readers, and completed a couple of beanies for the boys.

brainwave beanie with ear flaps

and more than a few poppy brooches,

2014-10-21 09.46.42 — poppy brooch

and Summer turned to my favourite time of the year…Autumn.

walking the dogs x

In November I hooked myself a beanie

my beanie love

and had a great time at the circus

balloons

and was very kindly nominated for the Leibster award

Leibster Award

and very proudly offered my first free pattern.

my first pattern

I continued to enjoy the changing landscapes walking with the dogs and rellished the tranquillity that the peace allowed in my mind.

Gloomy day

and then there was the last minute Christmas hooking in December,

Cosy blanket by Attic 24

which did get completed in sort…and which I have yet to post about in finished splendour (I will in the New Year…I promise).

The 'his' cosy blanket by Lucy of Attic 24 — The ‘his’ cosy blanket by Lucy of Attic 24

And finally a traditional Christmas spent with the people I love the most… a perfect way to celebrate my most favourite festival.

our Christmas tree

And there you have it… my 2014 review. May I take this opportunity to thank all of my lovely readers for sharing this journey with me. I have honestly loved sharing my journey with you and appreciate you all so much. I guess all that is left to do this year is to wish you all a very peaceful and healthy 2015.

xxxxx

The ‘his’ cosy colourway

Published on December 18, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

The 'his' cosy blanket by Lucy of Attic 24 — The ‘his’ cosy blanket by Lucy of Attic 24

I have been asked several times what colours I am using in my Dad’s cosy blanket, so thought I would show you with my colour pegs

the 'his' colour way — the ‘his’ colour way

so from the khaki at the bottom of the page and going clockwise, I have chosen

Khaki Turquoise

Parchment Meadow

Aster Cloud Blue

Teal Walnut

Mocha Grey

Royal Petrol

Camel Silver

Denim

The yarn is of course Stylecraft Special DK

consistent colours

The above 7 colours are what I am calling my consistent colours… these are the colours that feature in my Mom’s cosy cottage blanket and will appear in exactly the same order in both blankets and will be the common link… so there you have it and now you know!

xxx

This Cosy Journey continues

Published on December 14, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin23 Comments

I posted earlier in the week about my big disaster in the Christmas present crochet arena… a calamity which at any other time I would have perceived as a mishap, but at this time of year, has escalated into an undue burden, helped only in that it was as a consequence of a school girl error on my part…in short I only had myself to blame!!

almost done!

After long evenings of hard pressed hooking I have completed the body of the ‘her’ part of the ‘his and hers’ blanket set…and have commenced the ‘his’ blanket. To relieve the pressure, I have decided to set my goal more realistically and I aim to have both blankets finished to border stage…after all Christmas is all about love and as the intended recipients are my Mom and Dad and they love me very much…I can complete the borders if necessary on Boxing Day.

even the ends have been woven in!

The Cosy Cottage blanket is just so beautifully girly and I have, despite my error, loved, loved, loved hooking it… I think my Mom will be so pleased with the colours too. I have followed the colour sequence that Lucy from Attic 24, used in her cottage ripple blanket, take a look if you want all the details of Lucy’s exquisite colour placement.

colour therapy

This is how the ‘his’ blanket, which I am naming the Eastern Bluebird Cosy blanket is looking so far…

6 bands done!

I love how the essence of the blanket changes and grows with each colour band that is lovingly added.

for my Dad

Guess what I’m off to do now…. yes, this cosy journey continues.

xxx

A peek in to Christmas

Published on December 9, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

One of the things that I have really enjoyed this December, when peeking into other blogs and generally taking a good look around, is glimpsing how other people do Christmas… so here is a little peek around the robin’s nest.

our Christmas tree

I love the designer trees and the minimalist trees in the shops and I always catch myself thinking how I would love to get one. This year I fell in love with an all white one with sherbet coloured decorations… but I adore more, our tree, decorated by the boys with our mismatched decorations that we have accumulated over the years, most of which are attached to a lovely memory…like the spherical robin bauble at the bottom of this photo, gifted to us by dear friends.

deck the halls... — deck the halls…

pretty Christmas bows

stockings...just waiting to be filled — and stockings…just waiting to be filled

party shoes! — party shoes that I just couldn’t resist!

the nativity — and the nativity

Certainly the most important part of Christmas for us…the reason for Christmas…the birth of Jesus.

16 days to go!

Published on December 8, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin17 Comments

colour therapy

Just a short update this week and here is why…..

It is with great panic that I have to report that I am still hooking the main body of this blanket, which is my Mom’s Christmas present (I have one to start for my Dad, yet, hence the panic!!)

I had almost finished it last week, when I noticed a distinct increase in stitches, meaning the sides were not straight. The reality of this meant that I had to rip out over a weeks worth of hooking and so now I am behind…seriously! My ONLY saving grace might be that I finish work on the 18th so may be able to make some time up then.

My error…simply becoming complacent and not counting every 4th row or so as this is such a simple pattern. Anyway, let’s not dwell, lesson learnt and it is such a lovely pattern that I am still very much in love with it.

Now, I must get back to my hook