colour ways

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin10 Comments
Attic 24's 'cottage colour way'
Attic 24’s ‘cottage colour way’

This is not my idea, but how clever to keep a record of your favourite yarns and to use as a tool to make colour choices.  I chose the colours below for a blanket I am making and it took well over 2 hrs to painstakingly choose them, looking at my screen trying to decide if the colour way was just right… this will make it so much easier in future and certainly more fun!

for my Dad
for my Dad
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wooden pegs and yarn!

 

Stylecraft DK Special is my all time, go to yarn, because it has an amazing choice of 60 colours, it is washable, dryable, durable and affordable!

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I think this is a great idea…..thanks Lucy x

Cosy Afternoon

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin22 Comments

 

Today I have had a lovely cosy afternoon hooking happily, listening to the radio, I will show you some pictures of that gorgeousness in a minute.

 

down by the brook
down by the brook

 This however, is where I walked this morning with the dogs, unbelievable that  this little path which runs alongside the brook, is just 2 minutes away from my home.

going up the hill
going up the hill

This morning was so sunny, but very cold, in fact my little thermometer read -0.5 degrees centigrade, so I didn’t stop for long but instead walked briskly up the hill!

at the top!
at the top!

Once at the top I was rewarded with this… I see this most days as this is where I walk the dogs, however, today I appreciated it more than ever…maybe the bitter cold coupled with the glorious sunshine had something to do with it.

Jess at 16 weeks
Jess at 16 weeks

Little Jess enjoyed it too, Alf didn’t hang around for his photo!  Anyway, here are the pictures of ‘that gorgeousness’ I promised you…this is what I have been hooking this afternoon

Cosy blanket by Attic 24
Cosy blanket by Attic 24

Yes this is the glorious, heavenly to hook Cosy blanket which is currently part of a crochet along that is being hosted by the enormously talented Lucy of Attic 24.  This one is the ‘her’ part of the ‘his and hers’ set I am making for my Mom and Dad for Christmas….the colour way is beautiful and is from the Attic 24 shop at Wool Warehouse and comes as a pack called ‘cottage’… my Dad’s colours I selected individually and look like this

for my Dad
for my Dad

My Dad’s blanket will be the same pattern as my Mom’s to complete the set.   Do you want to have a look at that pattern again… close up

colour therapy
colour therapy

So simple, but so beautiful. 

update

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

yearofblogsshortbanner[1]

A quick update this week.  

This week saw my first pattern release on  a yarny robin… and it’s free

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This is how my list is looking today, 

COMPLETED

  • headbands for Bowdazzling (charity for young girls undergoing chemotherapy) 

  • fingerless gloves (added to the list Aug 2014)

  • x1 yarnbomb in my community

  • winter hats for the Lil’ Robins and Mr R  

     – minion hat for my winter robin by request

      – beanies for my Summer Robin and  Autumn Robin and for Mr R.

OUTSTANDING

  • scrapghan 

    fabric buttons

  • bunting

    hook holder

    a crochet wall hanging

    charity SIBOL blankets (Sunshine International Blankets Of Love) charity for the elderly… have a look at SIBOL

    tree house decoration

    broomstick crochet photo tutorial 

    purse

    9 more yarnbombs in my community

If you would like to take part in a year of projects it’s never too late to join in with us or if you would like to take a look at some other blogs taking part, take a look here.

 I have also set myself the crazy challenge of hooking a ‘his and hers’ blanket for my Mom and Dad for Christmas, hence this quick update… my hands should be hooking!

Free Pattern

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments
hot love pattern
gorgeous sunset colour way
cute love tag notion
and pompoms!
finished back
Hot love waterbottle cover

Click on image to see more

A Yarny Robin would like to offer all of you lovlies this beautiful ‘Hot Love’ warmer pattern for FREE… Just because…

XXX

Leibster Award

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments
Leibster Award
Leibster Award

You might remember me mentioning the nomination that I received for the Leibster Award, from the lovely Lauren that writes her equally lovely blog, called the handmadehandmaiden.

Well, here is my post in response to that nomination.  In a nutshell, I answer some questions, set some new questions and pass the Leibster on by nominating others, there are some more detailed rules which I outlined before, which you can take a peek at just here

Here are my answers:

Have you ever lived in another country?

No, but sometimes I think it might be nice to!

Do you have any pets?

Alfie
Alfie
Jess
Jess
Heidi, Holly and Bo... Sunny was busy laying an egg!!
Heidi, Holly and Bo… Sunny was busy laying an egg!!

What is your favourite icecream flavour?

that would have to be Peach Melba…or possibly bubblegum…or rocky road..or… lets be honest it depends on what ever takes my fancy.

What do you desire most to do in your life?

That’s easy…to influence and inspire people positively.

Countryside or City?

I need both.

If you could travel where would you go and for how long?

Bikini Island, Fiji for at least a month, then Australia for at least 6 months!

What is your hobby?

like that needs an answer, but just in case…

yarn, yarn, yarn, hook,hook,hook!
yarn, yarn, yarn, hook,hook,hook!
out on Bella x
out on Bella x
gardening
gardening

Least favourite thing to do?

Clean the oven!

What tv/ current book are you watching / reading?

my current read!
my current read!

 

If you could time travel – who would you see – where would you go?

Another easy one… I would revisit the younger me and say…

worry less, it will all be just fine,

you are beautiful just the way you are

and maybe consider avoiding eating chicken in the Lake District!!!

 

Here are my nominations for the Leibster Award,

Leibster Award
Leibster Award

crochetandcoffee

thegreenonion

loveorchestrated

I  highly recommend you take a peek at these blogs.

Here are your set of questions guys:

1. If you could have a shop what would you sell?

2. What is the meaning of your name?

3.What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

4. Margarita or Pina colada?

5. If you had a super power what would it be?

6. What is your favourite book?

7. win the lottery or work your perfect job?

8. Do you have a favourite quote?

9. what sound do you love?

10. tell us what your happy song is?

Hope you have as much fun as I have had with your

Leibster Award.

xxx

 

 

 

Not a lot…but quite a bit!

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin13 Comments
my poppy
my poppy

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This is the sum total of my craftiness this week….not a lot.  This is my poppy made just for me, being as all the previous poppies I had made for myself were oohed and aahed over and taken by my family and friends…not that I minded in the least, I take great joy from knowing that my hooking is appreciated!  I did however run out of the pretty topaz glass beads for the centre, but found these little glossy black beads instead which just makes this one extra special and mine!

 

I did achieve quite a bit else, this week saw my interview for my Return to Nursing Practice which was on Thursday.  After much of the week re teaching myself fractions and how to do long division and multiplication of decimals (yawn, yawn) I took my numeracy and literacy tests and successfully got through the gruelling interview and so start this new and daunting journey on the 13th January 2015! (cue angelic hosts singing Hallelujah!!)

 

I hope to make progress this coming week on my own pattern and who knows maybe even finish it so that I can share it with you in time for Christmas.

If you have not read all about the Leibster Award, please take a peek just here, I have 10 nominations to make and if you would like me to nominate you to receive the online award, then just let me know by leaving me a comment.

Leibster Award
Leibster Award

Enjoy your week

xxx

 

Would you like a Leibster Award?

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin8 Comments
Leibster Award
Leibster Award

You may or may not have heard about the Leibster Award, if you are shaking your head and are unfamiliar with the Liebster Award, it is a purely online award that is passed along from blogger to blogger, in the hopes of promoting new and aspiring bloggers with less than 200 followers.  Since it is promoting newish / small  blogs, there are a set of rules that are attached for each person nominated to follow, 

The rules differ from blog to blog, but these are the general rules;

1. Thank the person who nominated you with a link to their blog
2. Display the pink Liebster Award in your post (or any other Liebster Award button! Doesn’t have to be pink!)
3. Answer the questions that are posted
5. Nominate 10 other bloggers with up to 200 followers and inform them by commenting on their blog or contacting them
6. Write ten questions for the bloggers you nominate.

 

So I’m off to answer the set of questions I have been asked by the lovely Lauren, who nominated little old me and writes the handmadehandmaiden blog and will be back soon, so you can all have a read.  I have decided to allocate my 10 nominations to the first 10 aspiring bloggers that comment on this post stating that they would be up to the challenge…. So my first question is

Do you want to be nominated for the Leibster Award?

Just let me know!

liebster-award1

 

 

All the fun of the Circus!

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin9 Comments

Well as the title suggests, we’ve been to the circus this half term and had sooo much fun…. I’ve got some hookin’ done to show you and some exciting news to tell you also.

all thrill is an understatement!
all thrill is an understatement!

The Circus came to town quite literally and up went the big top and the signs and I thought that sounds like quite a lot of fun, so we headed off  and that’s exactly what happened… we had lots of fun together and were treated to some outstanding entertainment that in places were quite terrifying to watch.  Not a harness or safety net in sight, there were gasps from the audience and the modern day clowns (that were not scary at all!) made us chuckle out loud.

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balloons
balloons
our ticket in
our ticket in
mmm...candyfloss
mmm…candyfloss

So, if this circus should come to a town near you, then it is well worth a visit.  Did you notice my hat… that is one of this weeks finishes… It’s not on my YOP list, but I needed a beanie and it only took an afternoon to make.  Here are some clearer pictures of it…

my beanie love
my beanie love

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love notion
love notion

I adore the love notion which really finishes it off a treat, the yarn is delicious and was not only lovely to hook, but it is warm and snuggly too!  Project notes can be found here.

I’ve also made lots more poppies, much like these ones as I have been inundated with requests for them, as I have for brainwave beanies so guess what I am currently up to!

So to my exciting news… I have been short listed for interview, this Thursday coming for my Return to Nursing Course at Uni….. as I’ve written that I realise that may not be hugely exciting for you and it might just be for me… so I will also let you know that this week I have started on my first crochet pattern, that will be free to my lovely readers and will be coming very soon.  

liebster-award1

I have also received a nomination for the above, which is lovely, so will post about that separately in the week!  If you would like to be nominated for the award click here and leave me a message!

So with all my news shared, I’ll be off…have a good week and enjoy the fireworks!

xxx

Year of Projects Progress

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin8 Comments

yearofblogsshortbanner[1]

This week has come and gone in a flurry it now seems and I am happy to report that some progress has been made on my year of project list.

bliss x
bliss x

I had a lovely couple of days at the beginning of the week, catching up with friends sharing latte’s and maybe the odd cake here and there!  I have enjoyed several long walks with the dogs through the autumnal leaves that are now carpeting most of the fields and parks nearby.

walking the dogs x
walking the dogs x

We also had a Parent’s evening thrown in mid week – which was a pleasure on all 3 counts I am both pleased and proud to say.  Even work has come and gone quickly this week and so I find myself as I write this at the start of half term, looking forward to and easing into a long weekend (4 days) to be precise, of fun and family and no alarm clock!!!

I have some finishes to show you, if you are a regular reader you will have already seen a couple of  them in the last 2 posts…. 

brain wave beanies for the boys...
brain wave beanies for the boys…
remembrance poppy
remembrance poppy

If however, you have not read the finished posts, more details on patterns and yarn can be found on these links:

Beanies

Poppies

I did manage another brain wave beanie, this time for Mr. R, who was super thrilled as he is working on a roof this coming week.

Mr R's beanie
Mr R’s beanie

Details of how my list is now looking can be found here and if you would like to join in or take a look at other folk’s progress you can check out the group just here

xxx

Remember Them Poppies

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin8 Comments
so quick and easy to make
remembrance Poppy

So quick and easy to make, the pattern is by Anne Egan and was in this months edition of Simply Crochet.

light topaz 4mm crystal bicone beads
light topaz 4mm crystal bicone beads

 The actual poppy takes just over 5 minutes to hook up and I added the beads… which took a bit longer and of course the brooch pin on the back

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All in all a really quick make… I have had to make several, as friends and family have visited they have all taken one…of course I’ve told them that they still need to make their donation towards the poppy appeal.

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so quick and easy to make
so quick and easy to make

 Do you have any highly recommended 30 min or less makes… if so let me know.