photo’s – Page 5 – Crochet blog

The smallest achievement is better than the greatest intention…

Published on October 18, 2015October 18, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin23 Comments

Here it is all complete… and I

love, love, love it.

Made from scraps, excluding the edging, this little blanket has provided me with the hooky colour therapy that I so needed. I had made many of these charming squares at the end of other projects, not really being sure of their final purpose.

mini squares made from scraps

Perhaps a cushion or a giant blanket I thought, big enough for all the robins to snuggle under…yes! that is what I decided upon, a large endeavour of love made from these little, beautiful components and so I started. And so it has remained, unloved at times or loved from afar, but most certainly unfinished and alas my latest commitments made the hooky pleasure of this project impossible.

I love a simple granny!

No, a king sized blanket out of tiny granny squares became a lingering burden…and so with some considerable heaviness, the white yarn was carefully frogged. I felt a sense of failure as I unravelled those stitches and was once again left with a glut of granny’s

a glut of granny's — a glut of granny’s

So, I counted my granny’s out….97….and thought on a smaller scale…hooked 3 more little ones and decided on this 100 granny patch baby blanket.

little beauties…

and as I hooked them back together, in a different way and with a different yarn and with a different purpose, the feeling of failure ebbed away and a new joy arose.

and I discovered that the smallest achievement is always better than the greatest intention… and this little blanket still conveys a large endeavour of love.

xxxxx

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

What weekends are made for…

Published on July 5, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

hooky planning — hooky planning…

in the sun!

in the park — at the park…

under blue endless sky — under an endless blue sky…

a lot of weeding needed in the garden...overgrown bush!! — a lot of weeding needed in the garden… and overgrown bushes!!

some chopping and pulling and a lot of elbow grease... — some chopping and pulling and a lot of elbow grease…

a few coffee breaks... — a few coffee breaks…

ta dah!!

finished with a evening by the chiminea

and some good company — and some good company!

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

self soothing!

Published on May 5, 2015 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin11 Comments

With a huge sigh… I have finished my assignment and therefore my course…full of self doubt but clinging to my battered motto…BRAVE… feeling weary I felt it time to self soothe, so this is what I did…

addictive!

I got my hook back out…

chives and parsley

I created a little herb bench on the patio… I still have some lemon mint to pot up.

pink and white fragoo

Planted strawberries…

summer trailing boxes

planted summer tubs with hot pinks and sunny yellow trailers

Mrs Butterfly like the parsley... — Mrs Butterfly like the parsley…

I stopped…and was still and just noticed (with my camera)

clematis glory

and my world was a better place.

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?

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

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

Cosy Afternoon

Published on November 24, 2014November 24, 2014 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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

So simple, but so beautiful.