Garden love!

Ask me, how much I am loving this weather???! And how much I love my little, over-grown but brilliant for wild-life, corner of heaven! And I will reply, " no words can suffice" :))) It is a gorgeous golden early summer's day, the kind, I have only ever experienced in England!

I've been out, shutter-bugging! The pond is full of sun-bathing frogs, the sky alive with the most gorgeous bird-songs and the buzz of bumble bees! And the air, soft and sunny, and sweetly perfumed, by all the flowers! Sheer unadulterated BLISS!!!

AWOL for ages!

Good afternoon, dear readers!

Gosh, where to start?! So, once again my health has been a pain in the proverbial, hence the lack of posting. Apart from this..... DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!! I've had my first ever patterns published in the wonderful magazine that is Inside Crochet :) I'm beyond thrilled.
Last year, on a whim (after my friends and DH had been telling me to do so for months prior) I screwed up my courage, and sent in the pattern and a few pics of my New Dawn sweater. Claire, the editor of the mag and a total sweet-heart to boot, loved my design, and commissioned me to make the garment. It was like a dream come true :) Not only did ,my pattern get published, but, I bagged the cover!!! It was the most wonderful surprise, getting the mag in the post!!! I had no idea!

Then, I sent in another of my designs, my lovely lacy Alpina top (inspired by the gorgeous clematis Alpina, which grows over our deck -porch. Claire loved that too! Luckily, I had the garment already made up! This has been published in the current issue of IC magazine.

LOL! Now even DH acknowledges, that I've got a fledgling career as a crochet designer! It suits me brilliantly, as I can work from home, in my own time, despite my health problems. And since I LOVE crochet, and am utterly addicted to it, and am always scribbling down all the millions of ideas I keep getting, I should be at it, for quite a while :)

Plus, I have an obscene amount of yarn (LOL! It is one of my few vices, as I neither drink or smoke) which needs using up ;)

Here are some official pics, courtesy of Inside Crochet magazine. The Orange top is the New Dawn, and lovely pink one is the Alpina.

                                                                             

                                                                             

February Freebie! (Sweet hearts)

Hello dear readers,
to celebrate it being a month closer to Spring (well, I certainly hope so) I have decided to share my new pattern with you! I made these cute crochet hearts last night, while watching the TV. They are cute/quick to make; and great little stash busters. Especially for small left over bits of  yarn!

                                                         

The terms used are American. This pattern is not for a beginner, some prior knowledge of crochet is required. The 3ch turning chain counts as a stitch.

Yarn : 15/20m of DK/sport weight yarn in colours of your choice
Hook: 4.5mm
Notions: tapestry needle.
Size approx 4"

Abbreviations:

Ch: chain
Dc: double crochet
Sl st: slip stitch
St: stitch
Dc 5 tog: double crochet 5 sts together, as in decrease by 5 stitches.

Start pattern:
Row 1: With yarn of your choice, ch4, 2 dc in 4th ch from hook. (3dc)
Row 2: 3ch turn, In same st, 1dc, dc in next st, 2dc in last st (5dc)
Row 3: 3ch, turn. 1dc in same st, dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, dc in next dc, 2dc in last st. (8sts)
Row 4: 3 turn. 1dc in same st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc in next 2sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, 2 dc in last st. (12sts)
Row 5: 3ch, turn. 1dc in same st, dc in each dc across, till last st, 2dc in last st (14sts)
Row 6; 3ch, turn. 1dc in each st across (14sts)
Row 7: 3ch, turn. Dc 5tog over next 5sts, 3ch, sl st in next 2sts, 3ch, dc 5tog over last 5sts. Fasten off.

Darn in ends, and enjoy your cute wee heart :)

If you have any problems, or just like the pattern, please leave a comment. I love getting feedback about my patterns! xxx

Super busy!

Good morning! LOL! So much for  my decision, to write my blog more often! Life is very busy and hectic. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day. Thank heavens, the light levels are increasing, and the day is getting longer :) And, Spring is round the corner (well, it is as far as I'm concerned!).

Crochet wise, my head is stuffed full of ideas. I've sketching/scribbling heaps of things down! I've got about 6 patterns in the pipe-line, just need to give my computer my undivided attention for a few hours! LOL! Like that is ever going to happen... ;)
Here is my current WIP! It is inspired by a woodland. It has turned out really well, if I do say so myself :)

                                                                         

Rocky & Sweetie, a love story....

So, after meeting everyone, and inspecting the extension, Rocky was "set-up" with a fair number of single ladies!!! He had great fun, but never really "clicked" with anyone.
Some of the hens he met were either too flighty, or too serious. Squawks introduced him to one of her friends, Amelia (they work together at the Soft-Feather refuge, a rehabilitation facility, for freshly released ex-battery hens). But this lady was way too career orientated (which is a good thing). She made Rocky volunteer for a day at the refuge. It really opened his eyes. He had no idea, these poor girls have such dreadful lives.
Some of them were featherless. None had ever set foot on grass, or seen sunlight. Their combs and wattles were almost colourless. They were all so scared and confused. It almost broke his heart to see this level of pain/suffering, in a fellow creature. He was amazed to see how gently and compassionately, Amelia and Squawks welcomed and helped these desolate wee souls.

Then, he met Blossom's friend, Sweetcorn Sussex! She is a trend-setter!!! That day, she had died her comb in 3 clashing shades!!!! And splashed her feathers in a "Jackson Pollock" style!!! To be honest, poor Rocky could't get a word in edgeways!!! He just listened and occasionally, blinked, in a dazed fashion. Dazzled by this feisty liberated girl.
                                   

Just when he had given up, on ever finding love, and was catching some late winter sunshine (with Frank, Opal & their chicks) in the back garden, he saw a pair of vivid red wings flapping at the viburnum bush!!! Followed by a pair deep purple legs. Intrigued, he decided to investigate further.
It turns out, the legs and wings belonged to Sweetie (little sister of Skittles (Olympic chicken) and Sparkle (sparkly chicken! LOL! Hey it's the best I can come up with) who was foraging for berries with little Teddy, Opal's little son.              
It also transpired, that as well as being a pretty wee thing (lime green & chocolate feathers, with a lilac comb) Sweetie had the most amiable disposition! She had a soft clucking voice, and laughed at all of Rocky's jokes! And she was also a good listener. She and Rocky ended up foraging in the garden for hours, and even found a juicy hibernating spider to share (well, they are chickens after all).
                                                           

 In short, Rocky and Sweetie fell in LOVE!!! As it was Christmas time, and the whole house was awash with decorations and pretty lights, there were plenty of opportunities for romantic interludes... ooh la la!
                                                   
                                                     

                                                                               

                       

Building Inspector!

The boys consulted DH's building regs book, and did a few calculations! Then, they gravely inspected the work in progress. Bricks and walls were subject to close scrutiny, via beak and eye (any one who knows chickens, knows the peck at absolutely everything). Not even the cement mixer was exempt!

                                                                   

Rocky comes to visit!

Last Christmas, a handsome, shy, gentle-rooster came to our coop (house). All the way from South Yorkshire, from my lovely friend, Diane's house! You see, he had already meet my woolly clucks via Skype (yes, believe it or not, woolly chickens chat via Skype all the time! That's modern technology for you; modern chickens too!).
Rocky has many lovely friends back home, but they are mainly teddy bears, Not much good if one wants to settle down, and fall in love...
So, he decided somewhat boldly, to come and visit us!!! My word you should have seen the eggcitement which ensued!!! A nest box was cleaned and made ready for him to sleep in, as was a perch!
The lady clucks styled their combs and put on beak-gloss!!! Well, yes, I know, they are chickens, but girls are girls, what ever their breed/biological classification ;) Cecily who is Tristan's girlfriend, phoned all the single friends, as did Blossom (currently unattached). Sparkle and Skittles did like-wise.
As it would happen, we had building work going on, regarding our extension. Rocky, being the intelligent chap that he is, cast a critical, somewhat beady eye over the work! I'm happy to say, he thought everything was fine!!! Phew! Who would think, a woolly cluck's opinion could count for so much!

Rock's welcome party

                                                                         

Chatting with Frank, who was visiting all the way from Colorado, with Opal!

                                                                         

Getting to know Tristan