Everything Neet

Sew Many WIPs

2011-10-24T13:44:00.001+01:00

I have quite a few little projects on the go at present and I would like to share them with you.

I am SO enjoying stitchery stuff at present - it is my new drug!!

So I finshed a couple of pairs of 'granny slippers' so that I could put my woolly yarn and needles away to concentrate on other crafts

They are really warm and cozy and you can use up lots of your scraps to make something quite useful or as a nice gift - you need 6 squares per slipper, just google 'granny slippers' and you will find loads of links to make these.

I am so in love with hardanger embroidery I could scream about it. I have got my hands on a beautiful book and want to do all the projects inside!!

This is my little tilda bunny I am working on. I have wanted to do one of these for so long and now I have the linens to make a proper job of one I couldn't wait to get started.

I worked up these little houses from a kit supplied free with Crossstitcher magazine, They have got to be stitched up and stuffed

I am also working on my Flickr swap project for Emma, but that has to remain secret until she has received it in the next few weeks.

Hello Again

2011-10-11T13:26:00.001+01:00

Hello to all my readers. I have re-emerged from my Summer break, full of enthusiasm, ideas and excitement for my Winter crafting. Summer, for some reason leaves me feeling 'bleurgh' about any form of crafting and try as I might I just cannot lift a needle or stitch a stitch, my brain just says NO! Oh well.

Anyways, I am feeling very 'stitchy' at present and embroidery is calling out to me. My crochet hooks and yarn have been stashed (I have some granny slippers to photo and show you soon that I have completed) all WIPs have been abandoned for now and threads and fabrics fill my craft space.

This is what I am working on now - I am enjoying the precise nature of the stitches and the teeny tiny crosses - I am stitching on 18ct Aida!

I have also succumbed to the very addictive hardanger embroidery - I love the challenging nature of this work and the way stitches and fabric can transform into a glorious, lacy work of art.

I am also taking part in another Flickr Mini QT Swap - I am creating a mini quilt for my partner using another embroidery technique that I have dabbled with recently but I can't show or tell as it would spoil the surprise for my swap partner.

Right I am away now my little needle calls - gawd help my poor eyes!!!

Be back soon I promise ;)

My Singer 201 love affair begins

2011-04-02T13:41:00.000+01:00

This is the little beauty that has come to live with me this week. I acquired her from the ubiquitous Ebay and I am thrilled and excited to have her in my possession.

The serial number confirms she is a 201 model and was built in 1953 in Kilbowie, Scotland

Needless to say she also came complete with a not so nice coating of grime and detritus.

After a little bit of dismantling, scrubbing, buffing and TLC she is now looking beautiful and clean and shiny again.

The cabinet is in need of some serious attention and I shall tackle that too.

A really big surprise (that I didn't notice when picking her up, nor was it mentioned in the sale details) is that she is operated by KNEE CONTROL!. I did notice that the wire seemed too short to reach the floor on the foot pedal and put it down to it being doctored for some reason, THEN I noticed this metal lever underneath and realised that it was indeed a knee control lever and the foot pedal was supposed to sit in a cradle at the side of the cabinet (cradle is there). So with the pedal in position I tried the knee control and what a revelation it is!! I can't believe how easy and effortless it is to use, so much more comfortable than a foot control! The lever is always at the side of your knee/thigh and the slightest touch operates the machine. I'm hooked and there is no way I am going to convert her to foot control!

I did the coke can test to confirm the claim about the throat size and it does indeed swallow two cans compared to my other machine which can't quite fit two! Happy quilting.

What can I say about the sewing operation that hasn't been said before? Apart from that she sews like nothing before, so smooth, quiet and glides like a hot knife through butter. Also being set into the table top is lovely as the sewing height is perfect and so comfortable. For a 58 year old work horse she works perfectly and will see me through the rest of my sewing days.

(Ps. It took all day to load these photos to Blogger so my love affair with this site dwindles with every post I make)

Eureka moments

2011-03-23T09:05:00.002Z

The other day I had some time and was catching up on some bloggy reads. I popped in to have a see what Kellie of Don't Look Now had been up to (always very interesting and usually quite beautiful and inspiring work!) and Lo! she was talking about darning/free motion feet and what makes a good one. She talked about a foot from another make of machine being perfect for my make - a Janome/New Home. I have this foot

which to be fair I have not got on well with as the closed front does interfere with the view of the work and when you are working at speed, as you do for FMQ, it can be off putting. So I looked at it and thought 'I can chop the front out to open it up'. So when I next sighted Mr Neet I asked him to do the job for me and this is what he came up with

Eureka!! It works absolutely, bloomin' fantastic! and it cost me nowt! I did think before hand that if it didn't work as I had hoped then it would be nothing lost as I would have had to have gone and purchased one of the other feet mentioned by Kellie anyways, but as it is I now have the perfect foot for free motion work - all I have to do is brush up my skills to match!

On a different note......

This is the beautiful fabric (click photo to see the detailed prints) I received from Kimberley of Fat Quarter Shop - fab, fab service all the way from the US (Sorry UK sellers you just didn't have this fabric for me). My beautiful black and white stash that is going to become my scrappy strings bedspread/throw for my Superking (read 'huge') bed. I am calling it a throw because I am not going to sandwich it with batting, but piece it with cotton muslin (Ikea) as I go and then back it with a lovely piece of black and white fabric taken from a Hobbs quilt cover. So I figure that the 3 layers will make a nice drapable throw - now I just have to find the time to get it done but I AM clearing the decks of other projects at present so hopefully I will be chopping into this stash very soon.

Busy Swapper Catch-up

2011-03-17T14:38:00.002Z

I have been so busy swapping over on Flickr that there doesn't seem to have been time for little else. Now that all current swaps are drawing to a conclusion, until the next round, I can take time out and tidy up, catch up and update my little corner of blogland.

1. Scrappy Pincushion Swap

This is the package I made for Susan aka Chickenfoot. She liked 'srooms.

This is the gorgeous little pinnie I received from Steph (PaisleysPlaceQuilts) This was a secret partner swap and I guess she took on the whole 'englishness' of my profile for this little make for me.

2. Scrappy Mug Rug Swap

This is the Mug Rug I made for Jessie (TinyHouse) it is the first ever Mug Rug I made and was very happy with how it worked out.

This is the package I received from Linda ( ) again this is a secret partner swap but it so happened that Linda WAS ALSO in my group for the 3x6 Sampler Quilt Bee!

3. Doll Quilt Swap 10 - DQS10

This is the quilt I have made for my partner (again a secret so until she receives it I will hold back her name). I used a DoeCDoe tutorial stitchery for the centre panel and the quilt evolved from there.

I am still awaiting my quilt from my secret partner.

4. Mini QT Swap

This swap is lovely to participate in. You know who your partner is and can communicate with them. My partner was Di (Di2Quilt) and lives in Taiwan!! She was quite thrilled that she had her first UK-based swap partner - I decided to go with a British feel by using some Cath Kidston on my quilt. The theme was '3D' and we both agreed to do a floral design. It was my first attempt at machine applique - and I like it very much. Mini QT quilts can measure a maximum 12" square - this met that requirement.
I also enclosed some Cath fabric and a local church magazine as an insight into pastoral life in Britain.

This is the pretty little quilt that Di made for me. Japanese linen - how gorgeous. It measures 8.5"x 6" and Di also enclosed a piece of double sided linen for me. Thank you Di.

I am also participating in the 3x6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee but awaiting the 6 blocks in the post so I will post a photo of those when they are all with me

I am working on these projects for myself in between the swap stuff

scrappy string quilt blocks = 120 x 6.5" blocks! (I have also ordered some Michael Miller rouge et noir fabric from the Fat Quarter shop for a black and white superking version for my bed! = huge ammount of blocks!)

That Girl-That Quilt QAL

Moda Bakeshop Baby Pinwheel quilt also in red and white version for my living room

Cushions for my sofa

a blue version of the button quilt (as I love the design so much!!)

and I have just started designing for the next round of the the Mini QT swap as we know the theme already - circles and curves - just need the name of partner. Sign ups are open until April 1st - come over and join in why don't you?

Anyway I think I have covered all projects, hope you haven't been subjected to photo overload in this post!! and I am away now as there are things for me to do.

Bye.

Blogger's Pillow Party

2011-03-04T13:54:00.004Z

What do you do with a leftover block from a swap? Make a cushion cover! I had a spare block leftover from the 3x6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee over on Flickr as the person I had made it for dropped out quite early on. So with time on hands I added to it with some extra width, made an envelope back, added some extra quilting and ended up with a lovely cushion cover that I am rather proud of.

I am adding it to the entries for March on the Bloggers Pillow Party site to join in with all the other beautiful creations made by bloggers worldwide, and if I was very lucky, be selected to win a prize or at least figure in a final list to be chosen from!!

Scrappy String Loveliness

2011-02-28T14:11:00.001Z

I came home from the fabric shop with a little bit of Kaffe and a couple of rolls of scraps like this. They only cost a couple of quid each and are truly scrappy strips. I haven't amassed enough scraps of my own yet to do this sort of project so I thought I'd help it along on it's way.

The strips measure from 1" to 1.5" max and are all fabrics that I would never go out and buy but they they are all beautifully ditsy, small prints.

I have unrolled them and jumbled them up, added the odd two or three of my own fabrics into the mix (ones I am not too keen on)

I am making 6.5" squares (to make 12" blocks) with the paper piecing method. There are loads of tutorials and how-to's out there on the web so I won't link to any particular site. I am using skinny strips of 1.5" wide max for a really scappy look and all have got a white central string of 2" wide to create a sashing when sewn together. I have to warn you that this little creative outlet has a VERY addictive habit.

I don't think it will take me long to get to quilt top size - the trouble will be knowing when to stop!

I will update with news on all my Swaps later in the week.

Secret Garden Block Tutorial

2011-02-15T11:27:00.000Z

I posted this photo of my Secret Garden Pinnie on Flickr yesterday and had a few requests for a tutorial/how to for the squares, so seeing as the sun was shining (for a change) I took advantage of the light and, hopefully, put together a tutorial to help you create these little beauties with ease. This is a simplified version of Cathedral Windows blocks of which there are quite a few really good tutorials out there for those, namely this one and this one amongst many.

For my 2" finished block you have to start with a 4" square of main fabric and a shy 2" square of contrast. The math is very easy for any size of these blocks - finished square size x 2 (example 2" = 4" template, 4" = 8" template and always the finished size for the contrast fabric). You will need to cut an exact square template for your square to begin (I use a good old cereal box, but your template has to withstand ironing so bear that in mind!)

Cut your main fabric 1" larger than your template - so a 4" template requires a 5" square and try to be tidy with your cutting lines as this will help things to be easier. I cut my contrast fabric 1/8th short all round - so 2" becomes 17/8"

Now you will iron your main fabric over the edges of the template to get a nice crisp edge on the fabric and try to make sure the corners are as square as possible - slapdash will make things difficult.

Proceed to do an 'origami style' style fold with this square, fold over once, then again to make a small square, and press with the iron.

Open out your fabric and fold the corners into the centre along the crease lines, again keep this as tidy as you can and pin down as you go along

Once this is done you might want to press again with the iron just to give you nice sharp lines to work with (it does help)

Place your contrast fabric like so with right side up

Now fold those corners over to the centre and pin as you go

You want to end up with a neat little square like this

I prefer to stitch these centre points together with little stitches so that it all sits square. (I have used contrast thread here but you ideally should use matching thread- it does depend on your project)

Now you have to 'peel/roll' back the edges of the points to expose the contrast fabric, pin as you go.

It can help to use the edge of a pin to roll the fabric back on and keep things nice and neat

As you roll back sections, you can stitch these down with tiny ladder stitches as you go or pin everything first, but you may find that so many pins will get in the way. Try your own method here.

When you get to the outside corners, you need to close this up by about 2/8ths, this encloses the corner of the contrast fabric and achieves the 'window' effect. Continue around the square stitching all the sections.

Once completed you can use the blocks however you choose. I stitch mine together with little ladder stitches, pulled tight to give a firm, closed edge.

You can even make big squares too.

I hope you enjoy my first tutorial - if you have any questions please mail me or leave a comment.

I'm not blogging..........I'm SWAPPING!

2011-02-03T13:03:00.001Z

I have really caught the Swap Bug of late. It is rather nice though, making little bits of art for other people, strangers even! I am now participating in 5 in total - all Flickr swaps.

Number One is the Doll Quilt Swap - fondly known as DQS10 and here is my work so far.

I am a bit further along now with the construction but I don't want to give too much away by posting pics

We can't post the quilts out until the middle of March at the earliest so I have plenty of time to make it lovely, not that it isn't already.

Number Two swap is the 3x6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee. This involves a group of 7 making a quilt block for the other 6 members. I choose the design for the block and all 6 have to be the same but the member (or 'Beemate') chooses her colour scheme. The idea being that at the end of a 12 month period you will have 24 blocks each and everyone different, made by someone else but in your chosen colourscheme.

Here are my blocks I have made for my 'beehive'. (There are 25 'beehives' taking part in this, so that is a lorra, lorra swappers!

Number Three is the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap. This is coming to completion now and we will be posting out mid-February. It is a huge swap group, with secret partners, which is lovely because it keeps up an air of excitement, anticipation, lots of speculation and barrowloads of 'rug envy'.

Here is my completed rug.

Number Four swap is the Mini QT Swap. This has just started, like yesterday, so no work has been done yet, except for some serious brain straining over a design. These little quilts are just 12" square and the theme for this swap is 3D. We have got to incorporate little embellishments, sticky out bits and other nicies on this art quilt. This swap is much smaller in numbers and I am partnered with Diane from Taiwan!!

Number Five is the Scrappy Pincushion Swap, again this has just started and will be a secret swap, where we don't know who is making for us, but we know know our partner? Again lots of brain straining with ideas for this is taking place as their are some gorgeous mini works of art in this Group.

So at present any spare hours of the days finds me feverishly sewing, snipping or ironing for these swaps. I love participating in them as I really enjoy crafting but I don't necessarily need items for myself or have particular projects to craft for (that is why the crochet got a bit bleurgh for me, I have a pile of cushion covers sitting in a cupboard! for no particular reason!) so swaps are ideal platforms to create in, plus you get to chat with like-minded souls in the 'discussion' areas of the Swap Groups. If you have not ventured over there yet, pop in and have a look, there may be something for you to join in too.

Finally, as a really big footnote - can I say a huge Thank You' to all of you who come to view and read and leave lovely comments on my blog. I DO read them and appreciate them even more so, I'm just a bit of a lazy mare when it comes to replying! ((blushes)

I am away now to see if there are anymore swaps I can join!!!

I have got the Mug Rug Bug

2011-01-14T11:36:00.001Z

In case you do not know of Mug Rugs or what they are let me describe them to you. Simply they are oversized coasters, usually rectangular in shape with an area for resting your 'mug' of whatever and a place to rest cookies, treats, lunch etc. The ones I have made so far are the results of practice. The green one came about from my very first attempt at making a star block and I used the finished result to construct the Mug Rug around it (I also got to practice some neat quilting. The hexie one again was a practice piece and I have earmarked a recipient for this one (except they do not know!) The chickens is a WIP. I had the little stitchery made eons ago and have put it to use just because.

This one is a special one. I have joined yet another Flickr swap. This time it's the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap. I have a secret partner and I can make a mug rug for her with only the details of her profile, favourites, mosaic and likes to come up with a suitable design that she might love. The term 'stalking' is used on the Flickr swaps whereby your partner is gleaning info about you without any contact with yourself. Any questions are done through a third party which is the person known as the 'Swap Mama'. I think it is brilliant. If you are not familiar with Flickr and have not dug deep into the site yourself - there is a swap or interest group for virtually every subject under the Sun. Check it out.

Can't believe I made it

2011-01-12T20:40:00.001Z

I have been one of the lucky peeps to be chosen to take part in this awesome swap over on Flickr I consider myself to be amongst some excellent and very talented quilters in this swap and feel very challenged to produce a doll quilt that will, hopefully, look amazing and be appreciated as such by my partner. Pop over and have a look at the work produced in the previous rounds and you will see what I mean.

Not So Quilt Along

2011-01-10T13:11:00.000Z

So I have got to the stage where I need to join the blocks together to make the top but............I am not happy with the framing of the blocks that will ultimately be the sashing also. I can't even bring myself to 'wonk' cut the blocks - my straight brain won't allow me to (not without feeling uneasy) I am every tradesman's nightmare when it comes to 'straight' and even!

So I ordered the solid blue (Moda Azure) from Pink Chalk Fabrics and waited for it to arrive, cut it up as per quilt along instructions and stitched it to the block. Let's remember I am a 'quilting virgin' and don't know yet how to 'think out of the box' (but I am getting there with practice). Now, when it comes to stitching the blocks together there is going to be a seam running throughout what is technically the sashing area and I just do not like it.

So this weekend I embarked on Project Rip and ReWork.

I have decided to half the blue border width which means taking strips off some of the blocks and inserting a small white square at each intersection - it is painfully slow to make sure all the new seams are matching, but, I am pretty sure the quilt will end up as I want it to look and not some expensive 'maybe it's okay'.

(OT - I am still awaiting my lovely Ottlite but it appears to have got lost in the post and I have to wait until Wednesday to secure a refund and re-order elsewhere!! Bugger!)

Cushion swap

2011-01-05T10:24:00.000Z

Whilst I am STILL waiting for my Ottlite to arrive ....(taps fingers) I though I would show a couple of photos I took of the cushion cover that I made for Kath of Juicy Fig blog. The swap was organised by the ladies of Dutch Sisters blog. I am disappointed with my photography at present, seeing as I just use a point and flash camera, not something with all the bells and whistles, the light levels this last few weeks has been awful.

Ideally I would like to go back and photo them again but seeing as it is now sat on the sofa at Kath's home. that would be a problem!

I do have photos of the cushion cover that Kath sent on to me and will show that soon. Thank you Kath.

Right, let me wish everyone a bright and happy New Year and here's to lot of cheerful and productive crafting.

Tools to go

2010-12-30T11:11:00.000Z

I have got so fed up with taking shot after shot of really crappy pictures of my stuff because of the winter gloom that my relish for blogging is suffering - you take the shot, upload, sift, edit and it STILL is so not right that I have recently ordered an Ottlite lamp. From looking around other blogs and Flickr these seem to be used quite a lot for the 'natural' lighting and colours they produce within a photograph. So I await the postman eagerly to get on top of my WIPS and swappy stuff before I move on with them. I have progressed a little more on my That Girl quilt and want to photo it badly. Plus I have loads of Flickr stuff that needs to go on for referencing for swaps. Oh..........and I have got myself my OWN camera - Mr Neet got so fed with me changing the resolutions and whatnots on our shared camera - and him being TOTALLY 'gadget illiterate' that a solution of a personal camera each came about Yaaaaay - more stress free blogging for me.

Anyhow there is a very good chance I will not post again before Next Year!! hahahah - so let me wish my readers - if I have any?? a very Happy and Productive and Creative New Year. xxx

Prairie Points and a Bee

2010-12-18T12:03:00.000Z

This is the finished quilt top complete with Prairie Points. It is sitting waitng now for me to complete my quilt along top which should happen quite soon now, as the fabric ordered from the US is awaiting me to pick it up from the Post Office. Apologies for the dodgy photos - Arctic weather conditions aren't condusive to brilliant indoor photo shoots.

I have also joined/been accepted to take part in the awesome 3x6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee over on Flickr. I say awesome because of the number of participants - there are 25 'beehives' with 6 members in each, I am in #25 - I think this is because I took the plunge to join right on the point of sign up closure. I look forward to the challenge with great pleasure.

Quilt so far

2010-12-16T12:05:00.002Z

Here are some pictures of the Pinwheel Baby Quilt so far ( I have actually got the prairie points and outer sashing done now). This will be quilted when i get the top finished for the That Girl That Quilt quilt-along - I am awaiting fabric from US to arrive to complete it.

Granny mountain becomes a blanket

2010-12-06T13:12:00.000Z

This is my 'ta-dah!' post for my granny mountain blanket. It was finished a couple of weeks ago but I didn't get to take any shots of it. I absolutely love it and it is by far my 'reach for' blanket of choice at present, especially in this Arctic spell we are experiencing here in the the UK at present. I finished it off with a border of 2 rows dc and a picot flourish!

Squares so far

2010-11-27T12:18:00.002Z

As promised here are the squares so far that I have worked on for the quilt along that I am following over on That Girl - That Quilt blog. I am now stalled on these as I am waiting for an order from the US for the next fabric. I have tried my hardest to source this here in the UK but I had no luck at all - sorry UK fabric suppliers - and I was not going to compromise my choice for this project as a) I want it to be as perfect as I can get it and b) it does cost a little money to complete, and so any compromise would lead to a unhappy Neet at the end of the project. I made this US shop as my choice to import the fabric from as they seem very popular in the Quilting World - plus they had my preferred colour of fabric.

In the meantime, whilst waiting, I am making a start on this little project. I am using it to practise my 'skills' for quilting before attempting any big big projects. I love, love, LOVE! the concentration and the use of brain juice that is needed to do these projects = totally absorbing.

Nervous and excited

2010-11-20T19:30:00.001Z

I finally plucked up the courage and organisation to cut the fabric ready for piecing together of my very first proper grown-up quilt. After unexpectedly finding time alone without Little Neet for a Saturday afternoon, I managed to get stuck in without the distraction of 'Xbox drone'. I was very nervous, as I really want this to be perfection - if possible, so I paid meticulous attention to everything that was required including getting the sewing machine A1 perfect for the job - which is a first considering I have had it for a gazillion years and this is the most technical thing I have sewn on it!

I even managed to do my 'chain piecing' properly - Woohoo!!!!!

I did finish the first round of my 40 squares, but the light got the better of me on this very dull, dank afternoon, so I will take a piccy of them in all their freshly pressed glory and post tomorrow

Moonstitches' owls

2010-11-17T13:08:00.001Z

I came across the 'tutowlrial' for these cute little owls whilst trundling around t'Internet and couldn't resist giving them a go.

Scrappy Granny Cushion

2010-11-16T14:10:00.002Z

This is a cushion that has taken ages to complete. I wanted to do a granny square design but with a vintage 'scrappy' look. It is all 100% pure wool with new and thrifted yarns. When it come to making the finsihed shape I could not get the square shape of the cover - for some reason if I 5 x 5d it, it was too snug for the cushion pad , but with the 6 x 5 layout it was perfect. Strange???

Granny mountain

2010-11-12T12:57:00.001Z

I am finishing up my last crochet project for the foreseeable future - I am itching to go in another crafting direction. I had the urge to make another granny throw and decided to make it with only yarns from my stash - no purchases. So with colours-a-plenty for the squares and a deep blue to hold it all together I am making quite a decent sized throw and being 100% wool it is going to be really cosy. I am using all the little leftover balls, thrifted bits, and even embroidery wool that has appeared along the way, so long as it is pure wool, it is being used up. Once this is finished I want to tidy away all my yarns good and proper, out of sight, to concentrate on other stuff. I still have SIX crochet cushion front to complete into cushions, I have all the throws I need, so crochet no more for me.

I'm taking part

2010-11-10T22:34:00.000Z

Check out the button on the sidebar for the quilt along that I am taking part in. It is all very exciting and new for me.

Granny Stripe surprise

2010-11-10T13:47:00.001Z

Little Neet snuggles up most mornings and evenings with a cosy black fleecy throw that lives on our sofa. It is indeed a warm and snuggly blanket to keep toasty with, but.............about 2-3 years ago I started on a granny square blanket for him 'a la Cath Kidston' colourways and this has languished at the bottom of Wip

Mountain, occasionally seeing light of day, but nevertheless, always languishing at the bottom. Well, I am in the fervent throws of whipping up another blanket at present and feel that after it is finished that my affair with all things 'granny' must come to an end for the time being. - there are so many other projects that I really, really want to put my hand to without granny distraction. So I have decided that I WILL finish the blanket sitting at the bottom of Wip Mountain but it will appear in another guise - as a granny stripe. The surprise will be - is that Little Neet is unaware of this blanket gift I am making for him - I just hope he gets it before he starts university (he is 9)!!!!!

Needlecraft Heaven

2010-11-02T13:51:00.004Z

The postman delivered me these two beauties this morning. I used some 'birthday money' to treat myself to them and I have to say that every penny spent on these has been so well worth it (you know the disappointment you get when a craft book only half delivers?).

I want to do EVERY project in this book - in fact just looking at the pictures makes me want to squeal with delight!

This one is a gem - cram packed with cross stitch and embroidery projects, inspiration, stencils, charts and all done in a red, white or blue theme - beautiful.

I also spied this one after I had placed my order and I think it is an absolute must to have have in my craft book collection.

Anyway sincere apologies for the awful photos - UK daylight not being up to scratch today!

Naughty chickens

2010-10-30T09:57:00.002+01:00

The fact that we have about a third of an acre of garden for these naughty chickens to find a suitable place to bathe and not create havoc does not appear to worry them.

My plant pot containing a bay/laurel tree really is THE most suitable spot as far as they are concerned.

Never mind that I have to follow them with a dustpan and brush to return the soil to the pot.

At least they are free from bugs and nasties.

African Flowers

2010-10-22T14:40:00.001+01:00

I am sorry to say I simply can't grow to love these little crochet hexies. I have tried and tried but they just don't rock my crochet world. I think it is because of the edges that you find yourself trying to negotiate into a usable item that is just too much effort for me. I am just a 'square' girl at heart I think.

So with the African flowers being ripped down I am so much more happier making these little beauties - so much happier. I am using a little yarn stash that was given to me as a birthday present last year, so I am just seeing how far it goes to be able to turn it into a 'something'.

Another Granny throw completed

2010-10-21T13:20:00.001+01:00

This is Wip #1 of the Winter that I have set out to complete

It has only taken 3 years from beginning to now to get the job done! After the last post, there is not even one single loose end that needs tackling!
I am a bit of a yarn snob (unfortunately for my pocket) and this one is in acrylic yarns hence it does not compare to my cream granny as far as weight and snugglyness go which is made from 100% wool yarn.
But - it looks great in my room on the sofa and it is DONE! Yaaaay.............!

Loose Ends

2010-10-20T10:18:00.002+01:00

I have a little guilty secret that I think I might not be alone in sharing

This poor granny throw has been part of our family for the best part of a year now, keeping us warm and snuggly in times of need and I still haven't got around to finishing off those pesky loose ends - I think I might have a bit of a mental block when it comes to this task. There is about a third of the throw that needs this attention and I am going to do the right thing in the next couple of days and make it a throw to be proud of. I am working on a couple of WIPs that are virtually complete - including finishing off the loose ends!! and once they are done, this old faithful will get full attention.

Pillow Swap

2010-10-16T14:48:00.001+01:00

I am taking part in this lovely pillow swap (now closed for entries)and my swap partner is Kath of Juicy Fig blog (which is a lovely read and full of insiration - *waves*)

Frantic cushion cover making is occuring as I write this post.

Plus I have a wardrobe full of neglected WIPs that are screaming out my name everytime I walk past!

>>>>>>>goes to rummage

Hello again

2010-10-06T14:21:00.000+01:00

Well....................I did take quite a long blog break this time but I can safely say I am back, revived and restored with vim and vigour. Sometimes blogland can get in the way of life and it can leave my little brain quite confuddled. so sometimes a 'time-out' helps to get everything back on a calm footing once again.

I took time out from crafting so as it was virtually non existent really, but, I have at least mastered the Macaron - post to follow soon.

I have also been enjoying using food at home that has been made 'from scratch' as much as possible and I am trying to get away from the processed fodder offered by the supermarkets ..........*dreams of small-holding*

So with that in mind I would like to show you my first attempt at home cured bacon...........really.

I started with a whole piece belly of pork - this will produce streaky bacon - loin will produce back bacon. It weighed 2 kilos or 4lbs approx. If you are in the UK and have an in-store butchers at Morrisons - they are fabulous for help.

Next I had to make up the curing mix which consisted of sea salt, brown sugar and a special curing mix. This is then rubbed onto the dry belly pork (90% to the meat and 10% to the skin) and the belly is then either placed into a ziploc bag which will accomodate it flat or, in my case, wrapped in cling flim to make a secure parcel to prevent against any leakage. This is then placed into the fridge for 7 days with the meat being flipped over once and massage a little bit every day. You will need to place it into a ceramic, glass or plastic vessel because you will get a little liquid out of the meat (in my case not much) but do not use a metallic container because of reaction with the salts - but do keep it flat.

The special curing mix is available from here in the UK but I do believe that other countries do have their won suppliers of this type of salt. This site is very, very informative for home curing products

After 7 days remove the meat from the fridge and rinse the curing mix off it thoroughly and dry with kitchen paper. Another 24 hours in the fridge on a rack or positioned upright, uncovered will help it to dry out ready for eating

Of course I had to do a little bit of my own quality control on this bacon and as you can see it was PERFECT. No white, foamy gunk in the pan, just crisp flavourful meaty bacon. Lovely.

Now would you like to see my method for 'No knead bread' where you really do just stir the dough??

Stripy project finished

2010-03-07T11:19:00.000Z

My stripy project was this cushion. I rather fancied this colour scheme for a little area where the chair normally sits. I rippled in stripes until the piece was big enough to go around the cushion pad in one piece, then joined the seams and top to bottom edges.

Macawrongs or Macarights!

2010-03-05T11:58:00.000Z

I WANT, WANT, WANT TO TRY THESE!!!

Almond Macarons.

Truly inspiring inspiration for these beauties/works of art can be found here. After being nosey and searching the Web for them, I understand that they can become a little bit of an obsession once you embark on making them. But there certainly lots and lots of glorious examples to live up to.

I can hear my ground almonds calling me from the kitchen cupboard!

While I wait

2010-02-22T15:25:00.001Z

for some extra yarn to arrive to complete the red, black and white project .....................I started this to get me through the weekend (even though there is a cupboard FULL of WIP's that need my attention!!) The stitch although it may look difficult, is actually very, very easy to do. A tutorial for Diagonal Box stitch can be found here.

New project

2010-02-17T15:29:00.000Z

This is my new project I started yesterday.

Yarn purchased from PurpleLinda

I think I am in love

2010-02-12T13:18:00.001Z

I came across this image whilst browsing the net and instantly fell in love, with the colours, ooh the colours, and the design. It would so not match anything in my home but I think it is lush! It is on a fab Japanese site with oodles of inspiration and free pattern downloads, once on there just click around the images and so what you can find! There is also this Japanese yarn site that mails out yarn worldwide!

Check this out too. Beautiful or what?

I feel another project coming on.

Crafting companion

2010-02-10T14:48:00.000Z

My little Jess loves to come and have a snuggle when there is a bit of quiet crafting going on. It's even cosier when it is so cold outside.

(*Notice Rottie dog - top right - also enjoying the delights of underfloor heating!!)

Lemon Drizzle Cake

2010-02-09T12:23:00.001Z

I know there is always a fresh post about this ubiquitous cake popping up in blogs, so I thought I would add mine to the list

I use this recipe. You can't fault it, follow to the letter and results are perfect every time. (You might want to add a few extra minutes to the baking depending on your own oven.)

This time I did something I have never tried before. I used my processor. I am normally a 'chuck it in the bowl, beat it up' gal, but yesterday I decided to throw caution to the wind and see what results I got from this method...................

Well even if I do say so myself, I think it came our perfect (polishes nails on collar) There WAS an end piece but Mr Neet was circling like a hawk after it was baked and whipped it off for quality control purposes - of course!

Corners of my home

2010-02-08T10:51:00.000Z

I am quite proud of my little home and the bits and pieces collected for it. I have tried to change things now and again but always revert back to the original design and choices I first made.

Sock love #2

2010-02-07T12:39:00.000Z

These socks can become very, verrrrry addictive. There is some real nice pleasure in knitting them and being able to wear them with pride and very real satisfaction.

I don't know anything about the main yarn, it was a thrift shop find but it knits up as 4ply and has some mohair content. They are beautifully soft and cosy to wear. I knitted the cuff, heel and toes in some off white 4ply 100% wool yarn to make sure I had enough yarn for the main body. I am using the Wise Hilda Basic Ribbed Sock pattern at present, it is so easy to follow and there is nothing complicated about it at all for a sock novice.

So now that pair is finished I am onto Sock Love #3

These are going to be for Mr Neet. I am using Regia Design Line for these, a self-striping yarn. Hopefully they will be finished for February 14th, just in time for Valentines Day, knitted with love as they say.

I have got one more pair that I have planned and they are going to be my 'scrappy socks', as in, knitted with any bits of 4ply yarn I have that work together. Then...............................I may just indulge my growing love and splash out on some swishy sock yarn (read 'expensive') and tackle a more challenging pattern, after all there are a gazillion of them out there on t'internet.

On a more serious note........

2010-01-22T12:44:00.000Z

See this spot?

It turns out it is a skin cancer! I had the spot for a few months, at the top of my thigh, on the front. When it first appeared I just thought it was a 'spot' and it would heal itself away. Well, it didn't and so I got to thinking that maybe, just maybe, it might have been something more insidious and so I tackled it head on. I made an appointment with my GP to take a look at it and perhaps give me a definitive yes or no or a reason for this 'spot'. The GP couldn't say and so a hospital referral was made for me.

At the hospital, a dermatologist looked at it and again couldn't say definately what it was. So a biopsy was booked.
This involves removing some, or, all of the spot. For my appointment, the whole spot was removed under local anaesthetic and 6 stitches inserted into the cut. The removed area was then taken for a check under the microscope to ascertain whether it was a skin cancer, and, if so, what type, and if all of it had been removed.

At my follow-up the consultant has advised me that it was a skin cancer, but one of the easiest to treat, if caught early. They have removed all of the cancer cells associated with the spot and that is the end of that one....... BUT..........I asked him to check my shoulders for some 'sun-spots' I wanted looking at and whilst he did that he found ANOTHER spot/area that he was concerned about!! Eeek! So whilst I was there a biopsy nurse took a tiny 'punch biopsy' from this area and it is being checked as I type this. Depending on the result it might have to be removed completely or treated with a special cream.

So readers, please be careful out in that beautiful sun. Wear a high factor suncream - 30 or above, stay in the shade during the hottest parts of the day and please, please, mummies and daddies - don't let your children get burnt by the sun. Unfortunately my damage is done and I will have to live with it's effects but I can certainly preach about the dangers now,

Socks

2010-01-21T14:56:00.003Z

I decided I needed to tackle something challenge myself. I love crocheting my granny squares and hexagons, but I could do these in my sleep now. I don't know what made me fall on a socks pattern, absolutely no idea, but anyhow, this is what I have done. It's not through a shortage of yarn either. These are using some of my DK stash.

The pattern comes from an old edition of Lets Knit magazine.

Well they seemed to turn out okay, even with all the colour changes - even if I say so myself!

These are slouchy socks or house socks. A perfect fit and so warm and comfy.

The next pair are already on the needles, there is so much inspiration out there>>>>>>>>

I am officially addicted!!!

Lazy blogger

2010-01-06T10:12:00.002Z

I have no excuses for my tardiness in producing any blogworthy news apart from the fact that I have felt a little lazy about hitting the Blogger button. This stems from the last attempt at making a post which seemed to take f o r e v e r thanks to the foibles of Blogger and somehow I don't seem to have time in my days to get stuck on the PC tackling this job. I have been busy during my idle hours (very usually between the hours of 7.00pm and 9pm when the days chores are over and I can switch off from the demands of the home and family.

I sorted out some yarns that were going to sit about not being created into masterpieces anytime soon and rustled up a stash/project bag a la Attic24.

The yarns were purchased when I started crafting once again about a couple of years ago. They never made the project they were intended for, but now I am really happy with their purpose. I used some 4ply yarn, doubled, plus a couple of dk colours thrown in and ta dah!

I have been stocking up on my yarn stash (photos to follow soon) prior to beating the minor VAT increase. (Thanks Mr Darling!)

I can't seem to resist a hexagon nowadays and this is going to be an afghan, don't know how big, I will just go with the flow until it feels right.

I really, really REALLY can't decide whether to frog this afghan!!. This was my project last winter and took weeks to complete. The yarn is beautiful 100% wool, it weighs a LOT and I still have not finished tying off the ends at the back. I really can't decide what to do, but I know I am not in love with it for some reason. I am fancying using the yarn to 'hex' it up with some different colours.

I have got two other aghan WIPs that I keep dipping in and out of, three cushion covers to complete and a hand-sewn English paper-pieced patchwork to tackle, so a busy Spring is ahead just trying to clear out the WIP cupboard.

Now do you understand why I feel 'time-pressured' for blogging?

Just thought I'd mention that we have had a teeny-weeny bit of snow too!

All that leaves me to do on this post is to say Happy New Year to all my readers and visitors and may all your days be filled with hooky, knitty, crafty goodness.

Sunday morning preparations

2009-12-20T12:16:00.001Z

Sunday mornings are usually spent in my kitchen cutting, chopping and prearing everything in advance for Sunday Lunch. These cooking apples are going to be made into a scrummy Apple Crumble for pudding and a few stewed down to make the apple sauce to accompany the pork and trimmings I am doing for the main meal.

Whilst doing these preparations I love to listen to Carl Chinn on BBC Radio WM 95.6. He is on air from 10.00 - 1.00pm and is a font of history regarding Birmingham and the surrounding areas. He always manages to take me back to my childhood and early years with his reminincences (sic) and features of people, places and times gone by. Today he had a gentlemen on his show promoting a book - In and About Aston. I was Aston born and bred and this book features photos of old Aston alongside new photos of the same places as they are today. All the local book shops have sold out of their copies apparently and Ted has offered to send out copies that he has at home in time for Christmas. So I called the telephone number that he gave as a contact and spoke to his lovely wife Maureen. I asked for the book to be sent and enquired about payment, thinking that a card might be requested. NO!. Ted is sending the book out WITHOUT prior payment, just an invoice for a cheque to be sent upon receipt. Now I love this faith in human nature and really hope that nobody who receives a copy of the book from him let him down with their payment, but blimey, in this day and age, who would take that sort of chance? Perhaps there is a little bit of naivety going on here but I hope the spirit of Christmas lives on.

(apologies for the lack of links I am running on a tight schedule today regarding time)

Animals

2009-12-09T19:08:00.001Z

Anyone with a 3 month old kitten will know all about the trials and pitfalls of attempting to put up and decorate the Christmas tree whilst the said kitten is in the same room!!
This is Jess, a new arrival at Neet Manor who is going to earn her keep by acting as Chief Rodent Control Operative (aka Rat Catcher)! You see keeping chickens also has some downsides and rats are the main bugbear. So hopefully once the rats get a whiff of Jess on the prowl they will clear off to pastures new and leave us free of their nuisance. Did I say she was a barn cat? Her Mum was a farm cat and did exactly the same job that we have given her, so hopefully rat-catching is in her genes. She certainly seems keen on the log-pile (aka Rat Towers) up the garden when she is outside, so we will see.

These lot seem comfortable - don't they? Introducing my 4 young chicks. They are 12 weeks old to be precise. I hatched them myself. The two brown ones are pure Welsummer but Dad was a bantam variety and the two grey ones are also Welsummer (Mum) but have a Brahma as a Dad. So they are all brothers and sisters and they roam for miles around the local area, always appearing for lunch and afternoon tea at the appropriate times!

These two are Marans, both hens, again hatched by myself and just coming in to lay for the first time. Chickens are comical characters as anyone who keeps them will know, they get into everything, (mostly stuff you would prefer they didn't) and will take liberties at every opportunity.

Hello Hexagons!

2009-12-07T16:03:00.000Z

I have finally succumbed and tackled my first hexagon

I used the brilliant tutorial over here to get to grips with it. Be warned though, DO NOT enter the link if you CAN'T crochet or...... if you CAN, you will be doomed to a winter of fantastic inspiration, very addictive projects and some lovely sunny banter from Lucy.

Of course, now I have done my first hexagon I couldn't stop at that could I? So now there is a project in the making using only stash yarn (this is my goal this Winter - to craft with as little expense as needed).

Crochet balls - this time

2009-12-02T11:31:00.001Z

To keep up with my 'colourful' mood that I am feeling at present, I have rustled up a few little crochet balls to dangle from my Christmas tree.

I will post a picture when they are dangling off the said tree.

How much do you like Cath?

2009-11-28T10:04:00.000Z

Do you like her £30 more to pay for wellington boots with her name on? Yes £30!!

These are my boots that I brought this week from Aldi (UK) for a grand sum of £8!

They are IDENTICAL in every way, apart from Caths' colourway and spot design, but I think I can live with that one.

I spotted the difference when I was flicking through a free CK Christmas brochure that came with a magazine after I had brought my boots and I couldn't believe my eyes.

Felt ball delight

2009-11-27T13:18:00.000Z

Take a selection of 100% pure wool (or any yarn that will felt if washed without special care or rovings especially for the purpose).

Wind into a ball, not too loose nor very tight. Here I used a bit of thicker yarn in the centre as the mohair I was using was very fine.

Wind into a nice ball that holds it shape well. I get to the size of a walnut, but you may prefer something larger or tinier (especially if you want beads)

Here are some more made using Garnstudio Drops Eskimo which is brilliant for felting.

Now felt the balls using the 'hand' method. You can use special needles to dry felt, but this way is very satisfying and relaxing. There are lots of very good tutorials out there on the Web describing this process.

Place the wet balls on a rack or something similiar to aid drying. Once they have dripped to the point of being damp, I place them along the back of a radiator and let it do its job.

Once dry you can sit back and admire your handiwork.......

Or you can get busy decorating and let your imagination run away with you.
These are destined for my Christmas tree.

Happy felting!

(PS- hopefully Blogger will allow me to post next time when I want instead of making me wait a week!! Grrrrr!)

Babette frenzy

2009-11-09T13:58:00.000Z

This is a piece of work that just begs to be kept going. I started last Tuesday and have now done this whole section of the blanket. I am using Garnstudio Muskat yarn which is 100% cotton in glorious saturated colours. It is worked in treble crochet (dc in US) and uses the Target pattern from 200 Crochet Blocks by Jan Eaton. I have slightly altered it by only using 5ch at the corners as that suits my tension/yarn better and gives a tidier look. There is a Flickr pool dedicated to Babette Addicts and also a Ravelry group.

Babette love

2009-11-06T09:14:00.000Z

This is the birth of my Babette creation. Only another 192 squares to go!

Hopefully it will turn out just a gorgeous as this one

More to follow................

Crochet cushion cover

2009-11-05T14:29:00.000Z

This is a WIP that I picked up the other day that had languished all Summer in the Dreaded Craft Cupboard. I had made about half the squares but decided to rip them all out and start afresh.

I HATE this part of crochet work! It is always a dread at the thought of getting stuck in with sewing and snipping (I'm pretty sure I am not alone with those thoughts?)

BUT once it is done and you have the completed item, all horrible thoughts slip away.

I now have to look for a white cotton cushion cover to attach this to and I am also thinking white or multi-coloured pom-pom fringing around the edge also? I have searched t'Internet but not come up with anything, so any UK-based help would be appreciated?

Hello There

2009-11-05T14:22:00.000Z

Welcome to my little World if you have come over from Neet Designs or you have stumbled across me by chance. I apologise in advance if we seem a little 'bare' in here, but please pop over to Neet Designs as all links there are still relevant and will be transferred over to here very soon.
I hope you enjoy your visit.