Popcorn and icing biscuits...

I confess I have been procrastinating a little lately. What with applications for student accommodation and student loans for the teen. Coming of age preparations and work , I just haven't had the energy to get crafty.

Although I was inspired from my WI biscuit decorating post to make a felt iced brooch and start a new cushion crochet project.

The brooch was super easy. I cut two brown biscuit bases with a round nestabilities die with a white felt creamy centre. Topped with scolloped die cut felt icing. I sewed tiny stitches around it all to hold it together, larger stitches as decoration on the icing, added a pale pink heart with an embroidered scroll. I think it would look good as a bag charm too.

Yesterday I tried out a new crochet stitch called a 'popcorn' stitch which gives a lovely textured feel. I'm using the Rowan red and green wool I showed you recently. And yes as some of you said, It is very soft and cosy to touch. But I have found it to 'split' easily when you crochet. I have been using my 'Compendium of Crochet Techniques' by Jan Eaton to help me along too.

This week my big boy turns 18.....he reckons he is ordering the first round for us and his grandparents when we go out to celebrate......not sure he is buying though! I'll update you on that at the end of the week.

Hope you all have a good week and it turns out to be another sunny one:)

Hello sun...

It's all been a bit bleak at work this week but at least the sunny weather has brought out the springyness in the garden. Even the fungi is looking beautiful.....

I'm such a rebel....

Ha ha, I bet your wondering what I'm going to confess now? Nothing raucous, nothing naughty I'm afraid but still it was a little mini achievement for me.

This week I was amongst a little merry band of four who visited our local WI. I know! WI! Now your thinking of grey haired ladies arranging their buns and rustling up a floral arrangement (or is that the other way round?) But no my lovelies, it wasn't like that at all at The Saint Albans Belles WI!

This WI is a fairly new group who are inspired by craft, baking and vintage. Even the ladies who run it are 50s inspired young ladies with victory rolls in their hair and wearing pretty floral tea dresses. Of course you don't need to look the part but it has quickly drawn in a group of newbie ladies with a lower age average (and I'm putting myself in that bracket) who want to craft with like minded ladies.

So off I went with three other friends, we are all a bunch of nervous Nessies so pushed each other in front through the doorway. But what a lovely night we had. A demonstration of icing biscuits using sugar paste and stamps ( yes, stamps that we use for stamping but obviously these ones had not seen ink before). Then later we made paper roses and before we knew it three hours had passed and it was time to go home.

We haven't signed on the dotted line yet and become fully payed up members but we have two more sessions to try before we have to decide.

Next month a vintage inspired hair stylist is coming in to talk and demonstrate a victory roll or two and maybe a seventies beehive.....who knows? But they are definitely not what I expected the WI to be and everyone ( at their headquarters and us too) think its a pretty unique group and can see it becoming pretty popular.

I'll let you know how it goes but in the meantime I have some Birthday biscuits to ice and stamp for a special birthday in the household coming up soon.....here's one from the night:)

Wordless Wednesday...

Things that are making me happy this week....

Ta-da!

Hoorah! I have finally finished a crochet project that I'm proud of (perfectionist, moi?). It's taken longer than I expected.

First of all I had to get the squares finished and crochet them altogether. I tried just darning them together with wool but didn't like it, it didn't look neat and because all the squares have different coloured edges it showed up too much for my liking. So I tried crocheting them together using a double crochet stitch. It was slow work but worth it as I really love the effect.

I didn't want a crochet back to it and instead opted for a lovely floral fabric found in my local second hand emporium. I can't say it was cheaper that way but it was just the effect I wanted.

I had a clear up of the craft room earlier this week and moved all my yarn and fabric in there too. So now my bright retro style cushion sits on my 70s brown chair....very comfy it is too for a little crafty mess making in the afternoon.

Wordless Wednesday

This week....

My precious memories...

I'm joining in with Sian from High in the sky today and blogging my precious...

My precious is a memory....

One that I remember from long, long ago. I was a mere 18 year old and in love.

In this precious memory my sweetheart proposed to me. A precious memory and now also a special place in my heart too.

A place I visited this week with my teenage son. Inspiration for a final college project.

Kew Gardens....

Who knows what the future may hold for him and my hubby and I. But what ever happens I have memories....

Broadens the mind...

Crochet broadens the mind.....that's a statement and a half isn't it? Yes truly it does.

For instance this afternoon while crocheting I learnt that baby squid take three weeks to hatch and dolphins like to play 'pass the seaweed'. Also I decided that I wouldn't like to live in Norway as in November they only have five hours of daylight.

Ok, so I was multitasking today and watching Blue Planet while I continued my 'Uni Blanket' ......but still, I wouldn't of known these facts if I hadn't of taken the time to sit down and crochet.

So it's official.....crocheting broadens your mind.....