March 17 - Lunchtime Smile

The highlight to my St Patrick's Day, a little hooking during my break at work.  Since I don't leave the house to go to work, there was no green in my day, just a little blue whilst I took break waiting for files to upload on my slow poke work computer.  Although my husband has Irish heritage and shares the same name as this day, we really don't do much to celebrate.  I make sure our St Patrick's day flag is flying from our front porch and I always wish my Mister a Happy it's Your Name Day.  

Hope you had a lovely St Patrick's Day!

Toodles.....L x

March 8 - Sunday Sewing (with Spud)

Did you know the best spot to sit is always right where someone is trying to sew?  Spud never fails to investigate my sewing project and them plop her bum down right on top of it.  Of course I'd rather she sit on whatever I am trying to sew than trying to steal the pins out of my pincushion, which always makes me nervous.

Silly old cat.

Happy Sunday!  I hope your weekend was good to you.

Toodles...L x ♥

March 6 - Old Jeans Bag

Second success of the week - brilliant new bag out of an old pair of jeans!  Anyone who has read my blog for a while will know I l♥ve to make bags.  Some of them get used for ages, most end up in the back of the hall cupboard.  This one however won't end up there.  What started out with me making my first 'dresden quilt block' (more on that another day) ended up with me staying up WAY past my bedtime making another bag.

I L♥VE IT

Big J donated an old worn out pair of jeans, which I used the wrong side of the fabric as they were a few murky stained parts and the denim was quite unevenly faded on the right side.  Little J donated an old belt so I could use the metal rings for the handle.  I added a pocket on the outside and inside and much to Little J's relief a key keeper, since my keys always sink to the bottom of my bag out of sight.

Did I tell you I L♥VE this bag?

Oh and the big button was a treasure I found in my first ever auction purchase!  I went to my first auction last Sunday, oh my, what a fantastic time I had. More on that later too.

Happy Weekending!

Toodles...L x ♥

5 March - Poncho Surprise!

Hello and almost Happy Friday!

I'm was excited to show this little ta dah moment the first photo I took as it was chucking it down snow this morning.   I really wanted a nice white background and the snow was perfect. You can see the snow falling and I had to dash back inside before it was soaked. It still got pretty damn and it was only out there a few seconds.  The second series of photos are a bit higgly piggly because I threw it down outside before the dogs came rushing outside and messed up the nice white snow.  It was still snowing at that point, but slowing down and I only had my slippers on so I didn't want to tromp around in the snow to straighten it out and get my slippers wet.  I know, I'm nuts.

Anyway, this dark green yarn started out as yarn for a cardigan. I tried three different knitting patterns and two different crochet patterns and nothing worked!  I was on the last sleeve of another tea leaves cardigan before I admitted that the top of the sleeves were just too tight and I hated it.  I threw it across the room in a fit of frustration and cried.  Luckily, the Mister rescued it from Beets, the cat and his partner Charlie, the dog, before they got a hold of it and destroyed it. After strong cup of tea and some deep breaths I decided it would be perfect for a cozy poncho to wear while I work. I'm always cold and sit with a blanket wrapped around me, so a poncho seemed perfect.   I made the pattern up in my head as I went.  I know I started with a chain of 84, which I joined with a slip stitch and then double crochet (US terms) to the 42 second chain where I did two double crochets, chained three and two more double in the same stitch and then at chain 84 I did the same.  If that makes sense?  Then I just did whatever stitch or colour took my fancy and was in the closest yarn basket.

I LOVE IT!

This yarn just wasn't destined to be a cardigan, it wanted to be a poncho.  It took me less than a week and I will definitely make another.  Perhaps next time I'll write the pattern down as I go?

I hope all is well with you this week. I'll have another ta dah tomorrow, a sewing project. I've had two successes in one week, its been great and after so many failures it really has got my sewing/knitting/crochet mojo back in full swing!

Toodles...L x ♥