Year in Books

Hello......... Over the next few days I'm going to be doing some 2014 review posts. First up is The year in books, where I joined in with Laura over at Circle of Pines to read a book each month of the year. 

So there they all are above. I had planned on arranging them nicely on s shelf for a end of year photo shoot, but I'm still recovering from a busy Christmas, which has not been so kind to my ME/Lyme disease, so the mosaic will just to do.....

As for my December read,  'The Great Christmas knit off' by Alexandra Brown. I have to say I really enjoyed this light heart romp full of yarn and knitting, a perfect read for over Christmas,  jammed packed full of feel good factor.

Plus it has the bonus of a cute little knitting pattern at the back of the book, yes you can knit you're own Christmas Pudding. Such a sweet little additions, not sure if my knitting skills are up to it though, I might have a go at making one for next year, although the world of knitting is a bit of a mystery, to me, give me a crochet hook and I'm fine but add in two knitting sticks  I mean needles and things start to go wrong.

Wishing all a wonderful New Years Eve how ever you are celebrating.

See you next Year....

Clare xx

Granny Star Decorations

Hello...... Now that Christmas has been and gone I can safely share this post.  Yes over the past few months I have been making these Granny Star Decorations, for friends and family as a little homemade touch to my gifts. 

It all started off with a Craft based Secret Santa gift for someone who loves stars and once I'd started making them I just could not stop.

I used Zelna's wonderful Granny Stars pattern as a starting point for these decoration, crocheting the first three rounds only of the pattern.

I then pinned and blocked each star by hovering the steam iron over them, two stars for each decoration. I used lots of sparkly yarns for this make seeing as it was Christmas.

I also used some candy cane string and cute little wooden embellishments,

Stitching one into the centre of each star, before pinning the stars together, adding a little stuffing and stitching each pair of stars.

This was the first star I made and one of my favourites, I love it's simple Scandi Style,

Before long though I was branching out into different Festive Colour combinations

Ta- Dah

Cute little Granny Stars, off to spread some festive cheer.

They all went off in the post long before we got around to putting the tree up this year.

I did make one just for the Summerhouse though.

Here it is hanging on the tree with some of our other decorations,  lookie the Button Baubles also made it onto the tree as well as the Felt Strawberry I made 'here' it's lovely to have a little bits of homemade craftiness on the tree.

As always thanks has to go to chief crafting assistant Merlin, who always has a paw in the mix.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.....

Happy Crafting

Clare xx

Christmas at Kew

Hello....... Just popping in to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and share with you some of the pictures from when we went to Christmas at Kew Gardens last week

It was like a magical trip to Fairy land (the pictures really don't do it justice)

Perfect to put us all in the Christmas spirit

It was pretty cold but we all bundled up in lots of layers.

The Tunnel of lights was just amazing.

As were the chandelier's hung from the trees

I could use some of them in the horse chestnut in the Summerhouse garden, so gorgeous.

There was even a pretty Wishing Tree, my Christmas wish is on there somewhere.

The Tower, Lake and building were all lit up

and the glass house was just stunning with a light show and fire sculptures,  all in time to the music from the Nutcracker.

Here I am by my favourite of all the lights I just loved these lampshade snowdrops.

 The whole site was wonderful for wheelchair access and we had no problems at all.

Wishing you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas, have lots of fun.

See you on the other side.

Clare xx

Wintertime Wreath 2014

Hello.......... Yesterday I spent some time re pinning my Wintertime wreath yippee

Here's how it looked last year when it was first completed, I thought that I was just going to re pin it as was but no, my creative side took over as always, so this years wreath has some new elements.

The Holly is still there

As are the Stars

Roses

Mistletoe

and Ribbon Flowers.

The frosty lacy Stars

and blossoms are back too

This year however I've also added in some of the items from my Autumn Wreath,  The little crocheted frosts are staying

as are the silver leaves

I've also added in these super cute Toadstool, that I purchased at Christmas at Kew Gardens

and of course the baubles, glitter stars and tinsel pompoms are back for the season as are a few berries from Autumn

So would you like a little tour of the New Wintertime wreath?

The left side of the wreath

The top

The right side (how I'm loving those toadstools )

The Bottom of the wreath

Ta-Dah

The Wintertime wreath is back in town.

Now for a game of spot the difference !! the original wreath is on the left and this years version is on the right.

 Ho ho ho not long to go now.........

Happy Crafting 

Clare xx