Tag: seasons

Thank you Corfu…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

Thank you Corfu…

Thank you for sundrenched days 

Thank you for time with my brood, for rest and relaxation and time just to breathe a new rhythm for a while

 Thank you for tequilla sunrise and Corfu beer

Thank you that I was able to create x1 barefoot sandal

 well, I was just too busy doing not a lot!  See…

Thank you for time spent in your Old Town, where the streets came alive after dusk with the chatter of the swifts overhead and where the street sellers appeared from nowhere with their wares.

  For your cobbled alley ways crammed with unique gems and treasures. 

Thank you for fun, lots of fun… 

Thank you Corfu for helping our healing and for new memories. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

xxxxx

 

homemade summer plum jam

Homemade Summer Plum Jam

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin2 Comments

Here are the pictures as promised, of my  homemade jam making exploits.

The plums were freshly plucked from the tree and were deliciously juicy.

homemade plum jam

making homemade plum jam
I de-stoned the plums
making homemade plum jam
and simmered on a low heat in some lemon juice and water

making homemade summer plum jam

making homemade summer plum jam
added a lot of sugar!
homemade summer plum jam
and potted

I had a lovely afternoon in my kitchen making this jam.  The boys think it is delicious; I think it is a wee bit sugary and not set quite right.  I think I will have to invest in a jam thermometer for next time…because there will be a next time. 

It is too satisfying not to!

xxxxx

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

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin11 Comments

We are not used to a long spell of hot weather here in the UK, but this week has seen our temperatures soar way above 30 degrees. 

Top 5 things to crochet when temperatures soar and it's hot and sunny
Heavenly blue skies

And oh how lovely it has been, it has meant an exodus into the outdoors, picnics and walks and a lot of sunscreen!

But, I found myself unprepared in the crochet stakes…it was just too hot to be sitting under a half made blanket or to be half draped in a shawl;  sweltering under a wool blend.  

So, I have compiled my yarny list of the top 5 things to crochet when the temperature starts rising.

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#1

Ironically, top of the list is …..gloves!

Top 5 things to hook when it's hot andnumber 1 is ironic!
zingtastic mitts by Sandra at Cherryheart

  It is not as mad as it sounds.

Small, picnic portable, quick to hook… and you will have a lovely pair of mitts ready for when the sun disappears and the colder weather brings a chill.

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#2

A cute little square like this one

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic!
Robins nest square free pattern

Hook one, or two, or three or more..you can always join them in the autumn when the warm weather is a distant memory…and between you and me…what’s another PHD!

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#3

A splendid little tea cosy…the perfect finishing touch to a sunny afternoon tea…. al fresco of course.

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic
Granny Mabel Tea Cosy free pattern

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#4

How about a little inspiration from the outdoors… a yarny little leaf.

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic!
A yarny little leaf…free pattern

Embellish until your heart is content.  I think these would look great in bright hot colours…don’t you?

Top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot…#5

How about spreading the love

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic!
May rose keyrings…. pattern by Attic 24

Hook these lovely little flowers and add a key chain then give them away or leave them around your community and spread a little yarny H.U.G 

#Bonus Summer Hook 

Corfu barefoot sandals

crochet barefoot sandals - Corfu designed by ayarnyrobin.wordpress.com, summer feet
Corfu – Barefoot sandals

Hook these cute barefoot sandals for the perfect summer look!

 

So, whether you are currently in the middle of a scorcher or if it has been a while since the sun shone down on you, I hope I have inspired you to grab your hook and get outside. 

What are your hot hooking tips?

Top 5 things to crochet when it's hot and number 1 is ironic!
Hooking al fresco…

 xxxxx

Woodland Trails and Puff Stitch Bees…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments

A three day weekend…this should be made compulsory. 

Oh, if only I could have a bank holiday every weekend. 

We have taken walks along woodland trails,

Explored caves

and enjoyed some down time

  I have made slow progress on my hotel of bees shawl #hobcal

but, I am enjoying the pattern, even if I do have to concentrate really hard.  I really enjoyed hooking those sweet little bees. 

I have also been finishing up my Baby Wilmer blanket, I just have a few more rows to add now before I border.

 

I hope what ever you have been doing has been just as fun.

xxxxx

#yarnlove challenge 2017

Handmade home…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

Day 20 of

#yarnlovechallenge 

and it’s still not too late join in. 

The theme for today is ‘handmade home’.

Hot love waterbottle cover
Hot love water bottle cover

I love this hot water bottle cover and it’s an easy hook too…

a warm yarny cuddle guaranteed!

xxxxx

January…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

With life now returning to a more normal ebb and flow following the festive jollity, I feel like I am back on the treadmill!

So I am being very careful to make sure life at home is given the highest priority.  Which of course means in part getting out and walking with the boys and Mr R and of course the dogs.

Special Happy Birthday to Old Alf who was 11 at the beginning of the month xx
Special Happy Birthday to Old Alf who was 11 at the beginning of the month xx
Wellies are my favourite type of footwear!
Wellies are my favourite type of footwear!

Now the photo’s I am going to share with you may seem some what gloomy, particularly if you happen to live in a warmer part of the world.  But, I have taken great comfort from pulling on my wellies and feeling the sometimes quite squelchy ground, and at other times the cold and frozen ground under my soles.

Jack Frost has painted this leaf...
Jack Frost has painted this leaf…
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A little spiders home sweet home.

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There was much fuss made in the media about the UK being hit by a polar storm, we were quite excited at the prospect of maybe being snowed in for a while…

The polar storm
The polar storm was a little underwhelming…

You will be relieved to know that I survived the polar storm of 2017 and even managed to get into work!!!!!

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I think I have enjoyed the walks just before dusk the most, when the mist clings to everything and envelops all…

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because lurking just underneath the ground is the promise of spring.  I can feel it when I’m out in the countryside.  The biting cold is soon to be replaced with a milder air, a warmer breeze and a brighter light. 

But, until then I am happy to stomp around in my wellies, looking at the footprints of what has stomped before me,

wp_20170108_14_40_01_proand exploring trails I have not been down before.

wp_20170108_14_56_16_proGetting cold and breathing in that damp air, because it means coming home is all the more cosy…

crochet by the fireside.
crochet by the fireside.
crochet in bed.
crochet in bed.

Don’t you think?

xxxxx

2016 Montage

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

I love this time of year; for me it’s a real time of reflection, a time to look back in wonder at the year gone by. 

And what a year it has proven to be, both personally and here at the Nest too.  This year I have created a montage of my favourite memories, both hooky and the not so hooky!

January 2016

WriteOnImage635941710229816305

Started with a lovely little trip to the worlds smallest library…in a phone box and finished with felt flowers.

February 2016

WriteOnImage635941700701818089

Was filled with my Flower Fiesta installation and saw the release of a yarny little leaf pattern…on the house of course!

March 2016

635952209085949052 (1)

Maybe one of my favourite months this year as it was full of hookiness, creativity and some much needed soul restoration . Some much needed time away from studying for a PGdip, juggling placements, family, home and a whole heap of essays!  There was the Robins Nest Square pattern release, followed by a tutorial for joining with a double crochet and a BIG thank you.

 April 2016

april-2016Well, April really did whizz by under a heavy cloud of essay pressure, but I did find time to look for some lovliness and learn a new yarny skill despite a Woolly dilemma.

May 2016

may-2016

Was permeated with bluebells, al fresco dining and a woolly win.

June 2016

june-2016

Left me feeling chuft!

July 2016

july-2016

 was celebrated with a yarny give -a-way and a growing pile of PHD’s

August 2016

august-2016

Brimmed with crochet goodness; hooking al fresco, completing the very V blanket and tutorial and not forgetting the graffiti robin.

September 2016

sept-2016Saw the calm before the storm, a quilting Ouch! and the launch of The Grandma Collection.

October 2016

oct-2016Oh my days!

October held the secret of happiness…alpaca walking!  Enough excitement for one month you might think, but there was also the release of The Grandma Mary Tea Cosy pattern.  Too much!

November 2016

nov-2016Was bleak to be honest, but there was a WOW and a fond farewell

December 2016

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Ahh December and homemade damson gin, hooking virus style (post coming soon) and planning for project 2017 (launching in the New Year!!).  And there you have it…a whistle stop tour of my 2016.

I do have one more special thing to add before I sign off for 2016 and that is to you…Thank you so much for journeying with me, I love having you along.  I am always amazed by folk dropping in and reading what I write, it humbles me to my core.  I hope in return you have enjoyed and been inspired, encouraged and been blessed. 

Here’s to a very yarny 2017!

xxxxx

Autumnal sunshine low in the sky
playing hooky
new pattern coming soon
home xx
crispy leaves
hungry birds
an autumn carpet
top secret hooking!
more leaves…
keeping me busy…
new wool delivery
A fleeting glimpse of the super moon…
cheers
my happy hooky space
buttons
even more leaves
cheeky alpacas
road trip
planning patterns

Farewell Autumn…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments
button heart

Wow…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

Humph!!…did you hear that…or is it just my tinnitus again?  I think it was the sound of me falling onto the sofa from a parallel universe; where the last few weeks have spun by in a blur and may have possibly been the fastest few weeks in history. 

A fleeting glimpse of the super moon...
A fleeting glimpse of the super moon…

I was hoping to have posted this weekend about the second tea cosy in the Grandma Collection, but that may well be next week end now…so sorry.  It would have happened, but I think that in exiting the parallel universe I left my little pencil case of hooks as  I can’t  seem to find them…most distressing. 

There has been quite a bit of Christmas hooking going on, but that will have to remain under wraps for now, enough to say I am in love with the pattern and can’t wait to share it with you all. 

So, whilst I acclimatise back into the earthly realm, I will leave you with a little snap shot of the last few weeks…

An Autumnul walk
Autumn is slipping into winter
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but glorious colour can still be found
and if you know where to look you can still find cosmos
and if you know where to look you can still find cosmos…
The boys are still being boys...
The boys are still being boys…
getting balls stuck up trees...
getting balls stuck up trees…
I do love them so...
I do love them so…

wp_20161029_16_45_07_pro

taboggoning at the snowdome was pretty awesome also...
taboggoning at the snowdome was pretty awesome also…
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A sneek peek of some of the lovlinesss in store for the second tea cosy in the Grandma Collection….

Oh ok then, just a  very quick look at some of the Christmas hooking…

just don't tell anyone...promise.
just don’t tell anyone…promise.

xxxxx