family – Page 5 – Crochet blog

Happy Birthday Jess

Published on September 22, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin11 Comments

This last few weeks has seen Jess turn one…

at 8 weeks old — at 8 weeks old…so cute xx

at 1 year old... still cute x — at 1 year old… still cute x

It has also seen my eldest two robins start year seven at High school…

they are growing so quickly... — 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... — 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

rennovations... — 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.

xxxxx

A yarny give-a-way…

Published on June 5, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin27 Comments

A yarny give-a-way from a yarny robin!

From me to you with love…

to celebrate a year of this blog.

already a firm favourite!

(one of my first posts)

Whilst this blog started as a catalogue of my crafty life and has never been about the number of hits or the number of followers, I have been amazed and humbled over the last 12 months by the huge amount of encouragement and support I have received in terms of folk reading and liking my posts and leaving me such lovely comments…

THANK YOU ALL.

This last 12 months has seen lots of craftiness… here is a little snippet of some of my favourites

happy ripple in progress

(my first tutorial – bobble edge)

these little roses are gorgeous to hook

(roses and posies tea cosy)

yarnpom

(yarnpom)

Hot Love

(my first pattern)

There were also the new arrivals and fabulous family memories made…

Jess

( the arrival of Jess)

(and Percy)

down by the canal

(out on Bella!)

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

(a day on the river)

I wish to show my appreciation by means of a small give-a-way… of yarn…open to all

it could be yours!

Just leave a comment below if you would like me to enter your name to win x3 50g balls of this Chunky yumminess… I will draw a winner on the 13th June, so make sure to leave a comment by the 12th June…

xxx

Introducing Percy.

Published on April 25, 2015May 5, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin10 Comments

Last weekend, we went to collect the newest addition to our family… on our way we stopped of with friends and ambled over the sheep fields in the most glorious of sunshine…

up the windy road

over the gate

past fields about to burst into bold, rape flower

over the fields

then finally at the top

just perfect for kite flying

told you!

Taz enjoyed all the fun

not so sure about the sheep... — not so sure about the sheep…

pretty pale lemon primroses still in bloom

and blossom on the trees

All in all a perfect April afternoon…and here is Percy…

Percy...our cockerel, a fine black silkie...the girls will be pleased!! — Percy…our cockerel, a fine black silkie…the girls were pleased!!

Have a fabulous week.

Another busy week…

Published on March 15, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin12 Comments

It’s been another busy week at the Robins Nest…but we have still found time to get together and just be together…and I love that!

through the gate and down the path...

through the gate and down the path…

enjoying the very new spring sunshine

enjoying the very new spring sunshine

a birds eye view from the top

a birds eye view from the top

whose home could this be?

whose home could this be?

grape hyacinths

grape hyacinths

and tete a tetes

and tete a tetes

looking very spring like in my kitchen windowbox

looking very spring like in my kitchen windowbox

with University and work and the boys, life is taking over somewhat and not much hooking has been done. I have one blanket that is almost done and that I really want to get finished and sent off before I start my placement at the hospital in a couple of weeks. It’s just a simple granny and I am so near to finishing…

Alpine Nanna

Since this photo I have added a 3″ border of the base colour, which has given it a more finished edge…just deciding whether to fringe or not…What do you think?

AWOL

Published on February 23, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin12 Comments

I LOVE THIS!!!

I just wanted to let you all know that I am still alive and kicking…. what a hectic few weeks… juggling university with work and family…is proving tricky. I have not had much time for craftiness, but I have managed a little. Here are some pictures to prove it…

home made chocolate hearts

Valentines was a home made affair as you can see… the chocolates were very simple to make and strangely didn’t last for long as they were so delicious!

date jar

With my trusty glue gun, buttons, some lolly pop sticks and a jam jar I made Mr. R a date jar… it really is awesome and it is not only very simple to do, it’s really fun to use… most of the dates are virtually cost free and a lot of them don’t require a baby sitter as they are home dates. My inspiration was drawn from pinterest and if you are thinking of recreating your own then take a look here for some date inspiration.

I have also been hooking a giant granny blanket, for a friend…but I do not have any pics yet…I will try to get some tomorrow.

It’s short and sweet, but it feels good to be back!

xxxxx

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!

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

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