Tuesday Treasury - Yellow Poppies

Inspired by the poppies in my garden  (that I photographed yesterday), here's this week's mini-treasury ...

Yellow Poppy, modern art print -
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ialbert

Yellow Poppy Ring, you can also buy a print of the image used -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DreamlikePhotography

Yellow Felt Poppy, wear in your hair or as a brooch -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/forgottenstitches

Yellow and Grey Seed Spheres Greeting Card -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/joclarkdesign

Monday is the best day to blog ...

After a couple of wash-out weekends, it would seem that Monday is the best day to blog about what i'm up to and what i'm making. The sun seem to like shining on Mondays, but on Saturdays and Sunday ... rain is the order of the day!
The poor weather has meant that i've been doing lots of crochet - grannies for my blanket project and the final rounds of my Cath Kidston cushion (pictures of that later in the week).
My aim for this week is to complete the lace trim for the 'Scroll Lace Scarf' i've cast on. I made a start last weekend, but only have four repeats at the moment - I need to knit 28 in total.

The yarn is Posh Yarn Elinor Sport in colourway Vice and Virtue, it's wonderful to knit with, I can see why so many knitters have a Posh Yarn addiction, I think i'm getting there!

I also need to do some work in the garden, there's virtually no home-grown veggies this year and the weeds have taken over. I'm just about coping with keeping the lawn in check. I do like these poppies that have appeared everywhere, they may be weeds, but they have filled up the border where all my planted seeds have failed ...

Tuesday Treasury - Turquoise

I love turquoise, i've got lots of turquoise clothes, jewellery with turquoise stones, and there's lots of turquoise yarn and fabric in my stash. Here a mini-treasury of turquoise goodies i've seen on Etsy this week ...

Turquoise Starfish Bead Set, perfect for a 'feature' bead in a handmade necklace or bracelet, there are lots of beautiful beads in this Etsy shop -
http://www.etsy.com/shop/blueberribeads

Turquoise Mod Flower Purse, this 'mid-century' has been screen-printed onto the fabric -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThirtyfiveFlowers

Seas of Green Silk Yarn, this is a great colour combination for the summer -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/willowknits

Silver Wire Wrap Ring, with magnesite stone gemstone, this ring is so unusual -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/gimmethatthing

Big Square

I'm on Granny Square oveload at the moment! I'm making squares for the blanket that I pictured on here a few posts ago, plus i'm over halfway through my June Monthly Make - a Cath Kidston crochet cushion.
This is the back of the cushion, i've already made nine small granny squares for the front - the back is one big multi-coloured square. All I need now is a cushion pad.

It's started me thinking that it may be fun to make an even bigger granny square as a lap blanket!

... Then I started watching True Blood Season 2 on DVD and spotted Lafayette wrapped in this rather lovely chunky afghan blanket ...

Image from HBO

... it's like a large scale version of the scarf I finished at the start of this month. It's a fab idea, but i'll definitely need to do some yarn shopping!

Tuesday Treasury - Cotton Reels

Summer usually means that sewing takes over from my knitting for a while - it's that time of year when the temperature is ok to venture over to the sewing machine in the corner of the dining room! I've ordered some fabric swatches from Spoonflower, all I need now are some new sewing threads - where do they all disappear to? I'm sure i've got Borrowers under the floorboards using them as tables and chairs!
Meanwhile, here are some 'cotton reel' goodies I have found on Etsy this week ...

Cotton Reel Pincushion, this is so pretty, I love pincushions -
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucykatecrafts

Vintage Cotton Reel Mug, I can remember as a child looking at also the Sylko cotton reels that my nan kept in her 'sewing stool', a pouffe that opened out to reveal a sewing box -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Theyuk

'Sew Sweet' Cross Stitched Buttons, these are far too pretty to use, i'd just want to look at them -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/StashFantastic

Shade 1412, large print on cotton paper, this would look perfect hung above the desk in my craft corner -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mrseliotbooks

Grannies

Months ago I blogged about a Henry Holland 'style' crochet scarf I was making for my daughter. She'd seen one in Urban Outfitters, so I thought i'd have a go, both of us knew that it wouldn't be a 'finish in one night' sort of project ...

Night was the problem, as soon as it got dark enough to need the lights on in the living room it was time to stop crocheting. The black acrylic yarn I was using was impossible to see properly in artificial light as it has not natural sheen.

Anyway, I finished sewing the squares together on Sunday, then on Monday I did double crochet all around the edges to neaten them, and she has her scarf ...

But that isn't the end of the granny squares. now i'm making slightly bigger squares for a bed cover. The colour scheme is totally different as you can see.

The yarn is Sirdar Calico,a soft cotton acrylic blend that is a dream to crochet with. I'm not sure how big my cover will be, nor how long it will take, but it's relaxing to do, and at least I can see the stitiches i'm working into!

Tuesday Treasury - Picnic in the Park

A picnic in the park may have been a nice idea, but it's so overcast and cloudy that i'm making do with brownies and coffee on the sofa. I can dream though ...

Check 1950s Patterned Blanket, I love these sort of blankets, my mum seemed to have a few of them, even though she was a 1970's housewife rather than a 1950's one -
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyVintageStudio

Extra Large Hand Printed Linen Fabric Basket Hamper, my lidded basket is great for long lazy days in the country, but for a picnic at the local park I take a bag ... there's always the icecream kiosk if I haven't packed enough food -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/papatotoro

Trio of Wooden Breakfast Trays, who needs paper or plastic plates when you can have something as stylish as these trays ...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jonnasaarinen

Reusable Sandwich Wrap, you don't even have to worry about leaving plastic bags behind at your picnic site -

http://www.etsy.com/shop/homemadebylittleme

Monthly Make 2012 - May

Ok, so i'm late again with my monthly make post, blame yesterday's downpour - I didn't get my photos done! Anyway, the photo is done and i've also got some printable instructions ...
This is my little bunting brooch, I think designing the instruction sheet took longer than the brooch, but i'm hoping it's a quick make if you're looking for a Jubilee Accessory this weekend.

I used wool felt for the background and scraps of quilting weight fabric for the bunting, but I think it would work if you just used felt.

Now to get on with my June make, this should be a less hectic month, so i'm aiming for a bigger project.