Feeling Sad

I wondered about sharing this...but Blogs can't be happy, happy, happy all of the time can they?  Today my Mom's eldest brother, my lovely Uncle John passed away.  He was suffering with Cancer and had two wishes, one, that he would see his first Great Grandchild.  Coco Poppy is now a couple of months old and he was a very proud man.  His second wish was that he could die at home.  He passed away peacefully this morning in his own home.  My Aunt was supported to take care of him at home by the fantastic Macmillan Cancer Support Nurses, their help has been invaluable.  I am feeling very sad, with lots of childhood memories...he was the 'poor' Uncle I grew up next door to, and I know that my busy body face was not always a welcome sight for him when he got home from a tiring day at work and 'Little' me wanted to talk his ears off!  He and my Aunt never made me feel unwelcome, perhaps that was one of their mistakes!  Happy memories of Uncle John and gratitude that he got his wishes.  xxx

'Tis The Season To Crochet' Penguins

Here is 'Little Miss Penguin', the pattern is from the book 'Tis the Season To Crochet'.  You have two more days to enter my 'Give Away' for your chance to win a copy of this book.  It is full of lovely Festive Crochet ideas.  I really take my hat off to people who can make 'good' toys.  I struggle.  I have three more penguin bodies made, waiting to be finished.  Euan has put in his order, he would like 'brothers' one with a blue scarf and one with a green scarf.  He has a little obsession with brothers everything has to come in two's.  I also want to make the 'Santa Penguin.  They are cute but I am a bit confused about their wings and feet, then I have trouble with their little faces...apart from that I am fine.  There is something appealing about penguins, I have had lots of comments about the book and the penguins on the cover.  If you think penguins are cute...watch this...it may change your mind...

Ooops I am a bit late with November's Collage

Another Happy Month in Blogland.  Thanks for sharing it with me.  xxx

Dusting off the Knitted Baubles

I made these beauties about seventeen years ago now, when I was a very hard up student.  Six of us lived together with no money but a great sense of fun.  One Christmas, a tree came from nowhere...and we all made the decorations.  My best buddies boyfriend was a chef in the Royal Navy and he came over and cooked a 'Christmas Meal' for a load of us.  Happy days.  Today at Euan's request, it was time to dust off the baubles.  First I had to majorly declutter the living room...I have moved all the junk into the bedroom, so I will have to vault from the door to the bed tonight!  I love getting out the decorations...it is a trip down Memory Lane.

I made this 'Christmas Fairy' when I was three or four, so she is quite a wise old lady now and has survived very well indeed.  I am very pleased to see her each year.  My Mom used to teach Music at a private school and she could take me with her to the Nursery class from the age of 3-5.  I made her at school.  She is made out of a cotton reel and I think she has melon pips for her nose and mouth.

I made this Christmas Pudding at school when I was about ten, there used to be an apple and an orange too but I don't know what has happened to them.

I made this Attic 24 'Christmas Bauble' last year and my boys said it looks like a Cheeseburger, it is now known as 'The Festive Cheeseburger.'   I had a sorry looking Christmas Tree for years and I was really fed up with it...I did not have the money to spend on a new one and although real trees are beautiful an artificial one seems easier.  A couple of years ago my Mom took Euan out shopping and they came back with a bargain of a tree...it was used in a shop display and it was sold very cheaply with all the decorations still on it...Euan's little face looked like he had struck gold.  Now instead of having a sparse tree I have a completely over the top, chocca block full with Christmas Bling Tree.  Henry's favourite are the Peppermint Candy Canes and he has always prided himself on sneaking them off the tree before Christmas day!

I found it very hard to photograph in all its glory!  So we are feeling very festive indeed.  I have done lots of housework today and no Hooky time yet...I will ripple away in peace later.  One of the jobs I had to do today was terrible, but someone has to do it.  I did clean the chicken coop out, but that is not what I am talking about....

 I sorted out my Blackberry Brandy, straining off the fruit and funneling it into bottles.  Some of it wouldn't fit in the bottles!  It was a shame because I had to drink it!  At the end there was a panic with it overflowing so I had to quickly stick the end of the funnel into my mouth and surrender!  I will make labels and prettify the bottles next weekend.  I am not sure any of it will make it to 'Christmas Gifts',  it is going to be hard to part with, as it is delicious.   Next week I will have to do the same to the Raspberry liqueurs!  Tut tut, 'A woman's work is never done!'

I Have Been Busy Making....Three Small Gift Ideas

This is my first attempt at crocheting an 'Apple jacket'.  It is not quite right, but it does the job.  I may actually start to take an apple to work now it can be fully accessorized in crochet loveliness.  I am a sucker for pretty packaging.  I also do not fancy an apple that has rolled around in the bottom of my work bag for a few hours.  On my diet Healthy Eating Plan I really should be eating more fruit...these little 'Apple jackets' work because I have just eaten the model in this photograph and it was pretty delicious.  I am sure it tasted better for being kept in a crochet wrapper.  You can find the 'Free' pattern for 'Apple Jackets' Here.  I want to make a whole fruit bowl full now.  If anyone has a pattern for a 'Banana Jacket' please let me know!

As you know we are all 'Tea Bellies' in this house but we don't like it cold!  It takes no time at all to make one of this for your favourite mug.  The pattern is one of a pair of 'Mug Cosies' I designed and is available Here.  The Crochet rib pattern is particularly useful as it is so elastic it clings well to the mug.

I saw one of these Jolly Little Goody Bags over at The Smiling Robot Blog.  I thought these look cute for carrying fruit or snacks to work too.  I particularly enjoyed making the curly chord for this, I have admired these Twirls over at Chalky's World for a while now, but never tried one.  I needed to adapt the 'pattern' maybe because of my tension.  I made a chain for the required length and then worked three trebles into each chain...hey presto...as if by magic...Curly Twirly.
These three projects are super quick to make and would be perfect as little gifts or stocking fillers.  Who would not love a present wrapped in a 'Festive Jolly Little Goody Bag'?
I have also been making these:

Cinnamon Rolls

I put them to rise tucked away in the oven over night.  Then when I got up this morning I just had to turn the oven on.

The boys enjoyed them warm for breakfast, it made a good start to a frosty day.  The house was filled with a delicious spicy aroma...  I have talked about Cinnamon Rolls before Here and you can follow the link for the recipe.  I just used a soft white bread dough, sweetened with a tablespoon of sugar and the filling was simply Cinnamon and brown sugar.  MMMmmmm!

Smiley 'In The Sky' - 50 000 Hits 'Give Away'

Wow!  My last celebratory 'Give Away' was 20 000 page views.  I decided I would have another when I reached 50 000.  I woke up today and had exceeded that 'Magic' Number.   It seemed a long long way off.  I am amazed in under twelve months (my First Years Blogiversary is at the end of January) this blog has clocked up so many page views.  I am very grateful to all my followers who continue to pop back to share my madness.  Cheers!  I love each and every comment that you leave.  My obsession with my 'Flag counter' continues and I am over the moon to say I have had visitors from 112 different countries, not forgetting the visitor from the mysterious 'Unknown Satellite'.

What a lovely 'Festive' time to have a 'Give Away' Celebration.  It is only fitting to have a Christmassy Craft theme.  I have a copy of 'Tis the Season to Crochet' ' to Give Away.  The winner will be drawn by Random Number Generator on Thursday 8th December (I will post the prize out ASAP).  All entries must be in by Wednesday 7th December.  All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this post :)