Finshed: A Boy's Baby Blanket

This is a boy's baby blanket that I finished last week. 

I know the picture is not very good, but that is kind of to give you the basic idea of it.

Project Facts:

• I used 4 colours: sea blue, sky blue, baby blue and forest green.
• I used up approximately 1 - 1 1/2 balls of wool.
• The blanket is the perfect size to fit into a pram or travel seat.
•  I am going to give it to some friends of ours who had a baby a few days ago.
• The edging is the only part done in baby blue

It looks very At Home on our blue sofas, but soon, it will be packaged up and sent away with the post.

Fings wot I've been doin'

Hello there once more.
I would have posted before, but things happened and got in the way, but I couldn't be bothered to sit in front of a screen, when outside the sun is shining  and the daffodils in the garden are just opening up.
I have so much to tell you.
First, about the flowers. It all started with a few primroses, mostly snail eaten, but some untouched....

It grew to some daffodils from Morrisons................

Sorry the photo's side on, but I don't know how to turn it the right way up.
Then, a snowdrop appeared.......

And finally. in all its glory, our beautiful rosehip tree in the back garden opened itself up, revealing a snowy mound of white petals and honey scent.

Here's a kinda scaled down version of it.

I have been pretty busy with crochet..........but that will have to wait for its own post.

During half-term, we went to the British Museum. As we walked along the streets to get there, the snow started to fall.

It was magical, looking at the famous museum, with the snowflakes swirling and dancing in the air.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of it, but never mind.

Last, is a little kingfisher cross stitch that I have finished.

He is now residing on my wall. 

That's all for now, folks!

One Little Drop

Hi there again, guys
I would like to talk about one thing today.
Its a blog I have been reading for quite a while.
It is called One Little Drop. That means one little drop of life. The writer is called Ruth and I know her personally. She has Cystic Fibrosis. She is also one of the most amazing, godly, clever and optimistic people I have ever met.
Sometimes, she comes to her church, and never  have I not seen her in the centre of the conversation, having a laugh or discussing something with the other people. I don't know if she is putting on for us. If she doesn't cry afterwards, because this leaves her extremely tired. If she has no energy left.
I do know, however, that she is happily married to David. They are the perfect pair.
Ruth is a great role model, because she laughs even though she knows that she doesn't have as long to live as other people. Because her philosophy is that if you don't laugh, you cry. Because her life is a living nightmare, but still, she trusts in her God.

Race tomorrow!

Arrgh! I have butterflies in my stomach! I have a race tomorrow. It will be my second ever running race.
I guess the reason is that in my 1st race, my shoe came off- which was very embarrassing. Still, there is no chance of that happening, as this time, it is a road race.
Here's my team. Sorry its a bit blurred, but then it was taken on somebody's phone:
 

I'm the one in the black hoodie and leggings.
gotta go
Verity

The things and people I really love and appreciate.......

• My family, who are always helping me learn.
• The members of my running club, all of whom are very kind and encouraging, though they don't know me that well. When I ran my first race ( and lost miserably ), one of the girls talked to me about it during the next training session, and gave me some advice. 
• My running coach, who is always there to cheer me on in the race, and afterwards tell me             ( falsely ) how well I've done, even though I haven't.
• My best friend, Sophie, with whom I always can have a laugh, by e-mail or face to face.
• fellow bloggers, who devote so much of their time to entertain us, their audience.

bye for now

Christmas

Hello again. Not much hooky has been going on at no. 33, but Christmas 2012 has been very enjoyable. Christmas dinner consisted of 3 meats, oodles of roasted veg and 3 different gravies! As well as that, there were stuffing balls, pigs in blankets and I haven't even got onto the dessert yet! Home-made Christmas  cake, Fox's Christmas pud, trifle and after dinner crackers.
delish!
It was also wonderful to see all the family again
Cousins, aunts, uncles. Its good that its Christmas!

Party

Hello again.
1st of all:

Happy New Year
I am as usual, late on everything. While other bloggers are writing about their past year, you are finding nothing on my blog. Well, I should give big thanks to the people who entertained us on New Year's Eve-New Year's Day. They did a whole salmon and a half for dinner. As well as this, they set off fireworks, got out the face paints and lit a bonfire. It was really brilliant, and truly enjoyable. We roasted marshmallows, and the little kids' faces ended up with painted spiderman masks, butterflies and tiger faces-lovely. Thank you all!

The True Meaning of Christmas

              A Very Merry Christmas to you all!            

Thank you all for reading my blog so far. I wish you all a very merry Christmas. 

As well as this, I would like to remind you of who Christmas is all about. Jesus.Nowadays, most people seem to have forgotten that somebody laid down his own life for us. Christmas is all about seeing family and being happy, they say. But the terrifying truth is..........

IT IS NOT!

I admit that part of the season is about this, but most of it is to think about God. I'm not saying that its wrong to have presents or a tree, but they ought to be something on the side. 

I still hope you enjoy yourselves, never doubt that, but perhaps, for my sake, keep the real reason for the season in your heads, throughout the holidays.

Another thing to discuss is what some people say about where Christmas came from. They say that it is actually a pagan holiday in disguise. That is so stupid. It is unbelievably dumb. You saw an old church, and somebody told you that it used to be a pagan temple, and therefore was still, would you believe them? Of course you wouldn't, or you'd be a proper mug. Christmas is just like that. 

Well that's all done and dusted. I hope it is understandable, but if you have anything to say or ask, just comment 

PC carols? No way!

It's disgusting. It really is. I am talking about a video that I have just seen on BBC News. You can find it here. Isn't it revolting? Christmas carols are being changed so that a load of soft-headed fools can feel good. Why on earth are they trying to hide the true meaning of Christmas? This is a disgrace. Christ Jesus was born male, so why swap words in carols to keep the feminists happy? I just wish there was a way to campaign against it.
One example they showed was the chorus from ' O come all ye faithful', where the line goes ' O come let us adore him/ Christ the Lord '. They tried to change it to ' O come in adoration/ Christ is born. I admit that the video was from 2008, but I am worried that maybe this is still going on.
The root of the problem is probably a bunch of feminists. They imagine that when a courteous male stands aside to allow a female to go in front of him, it is through contempt.
This is ridiculous. Barely any women died on the Titanic. Why? Because in those days, a man would be hated for the rest of his life if he allowed a woman to die instead of himself.
Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that men are somehow above women. But some people take women-man equality way O.T.T, so far as to reverse what they are trying to fight.

Christmas Doings

Hi
I know that my posts are so irregular, and as usual, I have to apologise. However, this time I think that you will sympathise with me. So much has been going on what with Christmas and presents, that I can hardly want to sit in front of a screen for so long.
Despite this, I have much to show for it. I have  made a wreath. I would definitely recommend this to anyone. It is fun, though it takes up quite a bit of time. I built it on a sort of bambooish type of twisted wreath base  thing. As foliage, I used eucalyptus, jasmine and the green wood from the pruning of a tree out the back.
I have finished that scarf of mine that seems to taking for ever. We went to a Christmas concert yesterday night at which I finished off the ends
I would like to share with you a great Christmas bauble-making idea. You will  need sequins and polystyrene balls or hearts as well as some pins. Stick the sequins into the polystyrene shapes using the pins. The pins you use should be around 1 cm long and plain. We got all of the stuff for the project here. However, I suggest pinning a ribbon to hang it on with decorative pins. These can be longer, if you like. They do look quite jolly. Oh yes, we hung  up decorations today. I think that I definitely prefer putting them up closer to Christmas. Its just that it seems such a pity to make Christmas decorating earlier and earlier.
I have been making sugar mice and buying presents for certain brothers.
Some of the sugar mice are going in little gift boxes for our cousins, whom we are going to see tomorrow.
Last Saturday, I went on  bike ride with three brothers and Dad.

News

Well! Guess what! I have finally got those photos onto the computer.
Look and enjoy, then I will tell you what it is, and a smattering of colour will become............understandable.
Voila!

Oh....Oh no!Here comes the Fount of Knowledge charging forth, explaining the jumble through mathematical equations. 

Pic. 1=my friend (barn dance+smiles), Pic. 2+7+8=the baby nightie that was sewed several years ago, and finally finished, and is now put to good use, the rest= beautiful frosts.

..........Phew! At last! Its Gone! That Fount of Knowledge! How dare it! Dear me!

Well, to get back to what we were saying before the F. O. K disturbed us ( rhubarbrhubarbrhubarb),  it should at least be a bit clear even from  maths equations what the photos are supposed to mean.

The frosts, though. Ooooh! They were gorgeous. When it settled on the windows, and the sun shines through it, and you can see the fresh blue sky behind. 

We have been having such lovely weather lately. 

And then................. It snowed! Nice!  

Short Post ( again)

I am so stupid and forgetful. That camera is still not charged and is sitting there gathering dust. Still, I should tell you that we are going to a craft fair in a few minutes. I will have to use Mum's phone, I guess. Lots of fun to come, though. Mum has finished her scarf, except for some flowers for the ends, so hopefully some eye candy on that front.
G'day
Verity
xxxxxxx

Flowers, flowers, everywhere!

Once again, I must apologise extensively for the lack of photos, but I just I had to get back to blog world with a new pattern. This my 2nd one now, and it is quite an simple awfully easy one.
Cute Flower Pattern:
This pattern is very versatile, and can be made with any number of petals. Just adjust the number of  chains in the foundation ring and double crochets. You can also change the shape of the petals, by doing, for example, a thinner petal (a slipstitch, a double crochet, a double treble, a double, and slipstitch).

chain-ch
double crochet- dc
Treble-treb.
double treble- doub. treb.
slipstitch-ss

1. Ok, so start by ch 6 and join by a ss to make a foundation ring. 
2. Next, dc 7 times into ring.
3.  * ss, dc, treb, doub. treb, treb, dc, ss * into each individual dc. 
4. Ta- da! you flower is fini!

Lovely! Tell me how you do on this. I am thinking of including these in my secret project.

Lately..........

Lately:
 The camera has found its way back home, bringing its tail behind it, but is out of battery, so you will have to be patient yet, my friends. However, I would like to give you a brief sketch of what has been happening to me lately.
The Barn Dance was great, and I met up with some more people whom I have not seen for a long time, which was a pleasure.
We had a big Bonfire Party. It was really lovely, in front of the raging flames, with the sparks dancing, leaving trails of light like long, golden ribbons as they leapt up to the heavens.
My secret project is coming along very well, and I just can't wait to show you. It is mainly a scrapbuster, but I still love the colours all the same. They work so well together. I am already onto the sides, so it will not be too long now. Watch this Space.
love
V
xxxxxxxxx

Fragrant Cushions- the Big Picture(s)

Do you remember that in past weeks, I kept on babbling about my fragrant cushions? Well, I forgot to show you their photos in previous weeks, didn't I? So, shall we take a peek? Shall we?

My apologies that it is not perfect, folks, but I have another one here:

I love the gorgeous button on top. They smell so good. I really do adore them. I must make some more. but I already have so much else to do, what with needing to start on making those Christmas decs, and all my other hooky stuff. So, bye, I am hoping to get back soon. I have not forgotten about the Barn Dance, its just that I don't have my camera at the moment- its a long story, and rather complicated, but I am hoping to reclaim it some time in the near future. For now, however, I'm afraid you will  have to do with little notes and titbits until the Big One. 

Saturday Rush

Yo!

Well, it has been frrrrreeeeezing today.

However, there were many good things about that:

There was a lovely view with a blue sky from my window............

............. and there was a fire. I am afraid that I couldn't get a picture of it in its full glory, but it still was very beautiful even in the embers................

....................I even stayed in slippers, pyjamas and dressing gown all morning..............

........................ I also got down to some baking.....................

 Mmmm! I love muffins..............

..........................................I did the ironing for the clothes I am going to wear tonight to the Barn Dance.

Have I told you about the Barn Dance? No? I thought not. Some friends are having a Silver Wedding Anniversary Celebration. I will take my camera, and bring the whole experience back to you. This is going to be fun. I love barn dancing. At Camp, we have a gigantic Barn Dance on the last night. It is brilliant, especially if you have a good partner. 

Yesterday was even colder than today. I had to put on three pairs of socks and my slippers.

I was looking through my old photos, and found some really sweet pics of Macavity, the cat.

The 1st picture is of when he broke his leg. Being an adventurous cat, I suppose this had to be inevitable.

I must go, now. Good bye, my friends 

Top Secret

I have a secret project I am working on. I must really not tell you. But-Oh, all right, its something to do with my balls of wall. But no more.
Good bye

My Crochet Cushion is Now Finished!

I am so pleased! I have finally finished one of my crochet creations. It is a pillow. It began with the first granny square I made, and grew so big, that I decided to make a cushion cover. It is far from perfect, but it has a kind of old-fashioned, vintage style which speaks of  how ' Granny made this thirty years of '. It is soft, and cuddly, and warm.

I made it from a single giant granny square, and joined the corners together to form the back. It is so warm and colourful.
I have really enjoyed weaving the different wools together to make a whole, flowing stream of colour. It goes well with the sofa, don't you think? Well now, fellow bloggers and crafters, I must leave you now....

Extra! Extra!

Hello
I'd just like to give out some photos of the scones we had for lunch today. They were with soup, and delicious!

Also, these are the lavender, rose and larkspur buds that I put in some little gauze bags.

My Photos Are Now Out!

Hi there again
Ooooo! What a treat I have in store for you! I have finally found my camera charger, charged it, and uploaded all the photos. Soooooooooo. First of all.

This is as far I have got with my granny square blanket. Some of the squares are not sown on, as you might be able see and one of them is yet to small ( the corner one ).

 This is the humble beginnings of my granny stripe blanket as seen on Attic 24.

These are some little flowers I crocheted. I am going to put them on hair grips for a friend. I think that my favourite one is probably the red one. Which is yours?

 These to soaps I made. They are lavender ( yahoo ) with, as you can see, lavender buds. The buds were supposed to be distributed throughout, but they kind of- floated. Still I think I rather like it that way. 

Mum and I have been making soaps for quite a while now. We do soap-making every year on Craft Day  at our camp. 

Lately, we got some food from a fruit and veg market, so we have been having some lovely, fresh food: Sliced tomatoes with mozzarella cheese, a basil leaf and salt, pepper, oil and spring onion on top; Roast peppers stuffed with onion, tomato and mushrooms. Oh, it really is delicious. 

I have some other food photos to show you, but I have to upload them, because they are on a different camera. 

Here is my hat and scarf I have ( almost! ) finished. 

And now, I have been saving this till last: MY OWN, HOME-MADE RIPPLE BLANKET PATTERN!

I am so excited! I tried to do ripple using another persons pattern, but it didn't work, so I decided to make my own.

1. Basically, to start off, you need to chain a multiple of 16, then add 3 to it ( the extra 3 is for turning ). 

2. So, finished all those chains? Right, now do a treble into the 4th chain from the hook. Do three more trebles into the next 3 chains. 

3. Now you are going to do the valley of the ripple.You need to do 3 2tog stitches ( wool round, in to stitch, wool round, out of stitch, 2 middle stitches over ( 2 stitches left on hook ), wool round, into next stitch, wool round, out of stitch, wool round, all stitches  ( 4 ) over. 

4. To do the other half of your valley, do 4 more trebles into the next 4 stitches.

5. To do the hill, do a treble into the stitch, chain 1, treble in to the same stitch. 

6. treble 4 more trebles in to the next 4 stitches ( again ). 

7. Carry on to the end in this way. Once you get there, chain 3 and turn. This time, you will of course be doing in between stitches. Be careful on those 2togs! Make sure you go in between them, otherwise you will end up having too few stitches.

I will try and get back to you sometime soon, my friends, but: That's all for now, folks!