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

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.

Free Pattern

Published on November 18, 2014November 18, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

hot love pattern

hot love pattern

DSCF4942[1]

gorgeous sunset colour way

gorgeous sunset colour way

cute love tag notion

cute love tag notion

and pompoms!

and pompoms!

finished back

finished back

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot andnumber 1 is ironic!

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 November 15, 2014December 1, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments

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

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!

out on Bella x

gardening

Least favourite thing to do?

Clean the oven!

What tv/ current book are you watching / reading?

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

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

it was at the bottom of a stash bag!

Published on October 19, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

Well this week I am posting and posting on time!

It’s been a while I know… but I think that I must start by thanking some very special people. If you read last weeks post you will know that I had lost my crojo! and I was desperate to find it again. After searching high and low to no avail, these very kind folk all offered their help in hunting for my elusive and misplaced enthusiasm;

Lucy, from aknitandacake despite having no crojo herself mailed me some enthusiasm.

Kim, from auntmaudknits kindly offered to send the great Aunt Maud herself, to come and have a good old rummage around in the search!!!

Ruth, from mysparemoments offered to search despite her leg being in a cast.

Iris, over at thegreenonion offered some of her very own crojo.

Last but by no means least…Sandra, atfarmgirlsam suggested amongst other things a bit of yarny retail therapy.

I am pleased to report that after all that help, I found my crojo at the bottom of an old stash bag… and got x2 items ticked off my year of projects list. A beanie for my Summer Robin and another for my Autumn Robin…I have no pics as they are away this weekend and their beanies have gone with them! I will post in the week about them.

As you can see from the photo I took Sandra’s advice and indulged in some (restrained) yarny retail therapy. Isn’t it delicious…it’s telling me to hook it into some hottie covers for Christmas!

I also had a little dabble around in Etsy and got these cute little elephant buttons.

bowling balls

I have also spent some very precious time with lil robins this weekend as it has just been him and me, as big brother is at scout camp and other big brother and Mr. R are on a cubs, lads and dads weekend. Lil robins’ requested we go bowling and eat pizza

and ice cream

He has talked my head off about flying cars and ninjago. We’ve played pool and drunk slush puppies too, had long walks with the dogs in our wellies, watched movies snuggled up together and he has enjoyed sleeping in Mommy’s bed and Mommy has enjoyed that too!

Anyway, have a good week and thanks again for all of your help, I am going to enjoy the last few hours with lil Robins, we’re off to church, before the boys return with all that dirty, dirty washing!!

Bloghoppin

Published on August 15, 2014October 14, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

So this is a blog hoppin post, which means I have been tagged to write a piece by the lovely Ruth over at My Spare Moments.

I have been given 3 questions to answer, which is quite fun and I hope that you enjoy this post as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

Question 1: What have you been doing/making/scribbling at your desk/making table?

Well, firstly I wish I had a desk/making table, but I don’t… our house is way too small…and way too busy for that! I do have my outdoor crochet corner for when the weather is fine, but I live in the UK, so I’m not out there that often..

crochet corner — My crochet corner

There has not been any hooking out there for a good couple of weeks, hooking has had to come indoors as the weather has changed, but hooking always continues and I always have several things in progress

mini squares for my scrappy afghan

chilli pepper baby blanket

infinity cowl

doodling future makes... — doodling future makes…

Question 2: Where are you currently finding inspiration?

My inspiration for projects comes largely from need, but I like to feel I am moving forward in my hooking abilities and stretching myself too. The chilli pepper baby blanket is a gift for a family member who has just had a baby… and I wanted to learn a new stitch technique in with this project, hence the basket weave. Most of my makes are gifted, so the person I am making for becomes the inspiration for the project. For example the roses and posies tea cosy made for my friend, who is a chain tea drinker, and the happy ripple made in bright colours, for a friend who needed to be reminded that she had a bright future ahead of her!

these little roses are gorgeous to hook

for a special couple on their wedding day!

That and my love for colour inspire me the most. Right now I am looking forward to my most favourite time of year…. Autumn, so am thinking about cowls and mitts and boot toppers and such other lovliness.

Question 3: How important is being creative to you? and how do you blend with work/family balance?

Well this question is simple… its like oxygen to me… I have to hook!

My Coffee Coaster

An elderly lady taught me to hook, when my smallest robin was a tiny baby and I had post natal depression, she came to a group that my Health Visitor had coaxed me into… and quite simply I have never looked back and have hooked ever since. It has become my default setting and just satisfies a part of me that nothing else seems to… no one else at home can crochet, so it belongs to me and yet everyone appreciates my pieces (or seems too!). Hooking is so portable too, which means I can hook anywhere… more often than not its on the settee in the lounge, amongst the boys playing on mine craft or making loom bands! or at the kitchen table, whilst the dinner is cooking. Sometimes, at the park sitting on a bench, whilst the boys play, or in the car when I’m waiting to pick the boys up from school, sports or cubs. It fits in so well with the most important things in my life… my family!

precious!

so, there you have it… time to tag another for a blog hop. I would like to tag Kim at Aunt Maud Knits a truly talented lady, whose projects are simply gorgeous and who may introduce you to Aunt Maud!

mention who tagged you.

What have been the doings/makings/scribblings at your desk/making table this week?

Where are you currently finding your inspiration?

How important is being creative to you and how do you blend this with your work-life-family balance?

It’s all in the ripple…

Published on July 29, 2014July 29, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin9 Comments

Rippley, colourful, squishy, gorgeous, playful, bright, fun…

all of the above could be used to describe my Happy Ripple.

happy ripple — neat ripple by Lucy – Attic 24

I am so thrilled with it! I don’t want to gift it.

wish I could keep it!

happy ripple in progress

it was so much fun to hook

happy ripple 1 — bobble edging makes this blanket fun

and the bobble edging just gives it that extra special something!

happy ripple — such a rhythmic pattern to hook

all of the pattern details can be found here and here is the link for the bobble tutorial.

xxx

Messing about on the River

Published on July 28, 2014October 14, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin9 Comments

Well, not much done this week in terms of anything to show you guys, but there has been some work in the background that shall bear fruit very soon.

Instead this week has seen a lot of this

sun cream

and lots of this

and lots of ice cream!

and some messing about on the river with friends…

lazy days with friends

We spent the day in a gorgeous little place called Hampton Loade, not too far away and splashed the whole sunny day away!

serene

DSCF4786[1] — how far do you think I can throw it!

DSCF4803[1] — boys, boys, boys!

DSCF4796[1] — Mr R

I so nearly completed the Happy ripple… honest I did, just gotta weave those ends in! I cant wait to show you… It’s such a playful blanket and has the most amazing edging on it, that was so much fun to hook. I have learnt a new technique with this edging and am putting a tutorial together for it, because I think I need to share the joy I had hooking it with you all… so watch this space, I will pull it together over the next few days! So for now I will leave you with a picture of my al fresco crochet corner…

crochet corner — my little spot!

and the yummy alpaca yarn that I have for my next project… a summer scarf

too lovely to hide away while it waits to be hooked!

xxx

Roses and Posies tea cosy

Published on July 20, 2014October 21, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin13 Comments

Roses and posies tea cosy

So this week has seen the start of the Roses and Posies tea cosy by Nicki Trench. It is the tea cosy that you can see on the front of this book….

Nicki Trench book

So here is my progress this week…

components for roses and posies tea cosy designed by Nicki Trench

I really enjoyed whipping up these roses and hooked them all over the place this week, mostly in the car, whilst waiting for one or more of my Little Robins (as their social life is so much better than mine!!).

tea cosy wip — naked tea cosy

these little roses are gorgeous to hook

and here it is my second Finished Object

roses and posies tea cosy by Nicki Trench

If you knew my friend, then you would know that she is just going to love this tea cosy!!

Tea Time x

I have also made a start on my scrappy afghan… I want this to be huge at least big enough for Mr R and I to snuggle under together, so I’m not even going to do the maths and work out how many squares… as that may be rather disheartening to know! But, this is the width and I’m x3 rows in, so I’m a happy Robin. It’s a long term project always in the back ground, but always a joy to hook. It’s a bit like having an old friend that you get excited to see, you know you can always pick up where you left off from, easy and relaxing and just a pleasure to be with, well that’s this blanket!!

tiny little granny squares

I love a simple granny!

The happy ripple is almost done too, no pictures this week, but there will be some next week… About x5 more rows and a border and it will be done ready to gift at the end of this month.

Continue reading “Roses and Posies tea cosy” →

Saturday Morning Suprise

Published on June 21, 2014October 14, 2014 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin2 Comments

I've got Mail — I’ve got Mail

This is what I woke up to this morning, at no earlier than 10am…. yes 10am! Not only was 10am such a lovely pleasure, but to be woken by Mr. R with breakfast in bed and some exciting mail has just had me smiling all day.

It was particularly welcome as my week has consisted of juggling work with a poorly little one and with Mr R working really long days also, which makes his gesture this morning quite sweet actually. I am returning the favour as I type though, as he is having a late afternoon snooze, before we head out into the garden this evening for a glass or two beside the chimenea.

Saturday morning bliss

So, I had a lovely parcel from Sheery, all the way from California, with 2 lovely crochet squares for my second Global Square Exchange blanket and my monthly crochet magazine. After a further whole hour to myself, I thought I ought to raise my body from my bed and resume being Mom again.

time out

My year of projects is getting longer already!!!!