Ancestoral Home

Here we have my Ancestoral Home in Sussex. The current occupiers were most kind in allowing my family and I to visit last October (2007). This is where my Mother's Father (1895) and his Father (1853) were born.

My Great Great Grandfather lived next door.

GG Grandfather and G Grandfather were Underbailey and Bailey for the local Estate and these properties would have been tied accomodation attached to their jobs.

GG Grandfather spent his last working years catching rats and other odd jobs suitable for a man in his 70's with failing health. When he retired he remained in his house until he died.

Crocheted Blanket 1

Here is my 1st crocheted blanket, made from oddments of wool, crocheted together with some bought-in wool to give it continuity. This blanket was started by my predecessor so the colour scheme and tension were already decided. My task was to continue in the same style. Some of the pieces were more round than square so I had to give them corners. I also needed to choose more wool to complement what I had. I enjoyed making this and have already started my next one.

My blanket sold before going to our stall, as one of the ladies in our Art & Craft group bought it as a present for a friend.

Hayfever - Apple Cider Vinegar

Yes my fellow hayfeverers. The time has come for handkerchiefs and Vaseline, snuffling and sneezing. The time has come for puffy eyes and runny noses. The time has come for hiding from the sun and being miserable. Summer is upon us. Whoopee! Yes we wish we could enjoy it like normal mortals, but we are super mortals and hide behind our disguises.

There is some relief to be found and some do find it. I have a little tip to ease those itching eyes, but it is only temporary, but a relief still. Dab a little Apple Cider Vinegar onto a folded tissue and wipe around closed eyes. It is most cooling and I believe the acid effect helps to reduce mucus for a little while. It can sting a little if you have already allowed yourself the pleasure of a good rub and made the surrounding skin raw, but hey, that's life.

Crocheted Bag

I asked for some wool that had been difficult to make into anything. I was given this lovely Aqua coloured Paton's Big Ben Knitting wool. I think it is a left over from the 1980's; at least that's all I was getting from searching the net. I crocheted it into this handy drawstring bag and added a few flower sequins, which are just barley visible in the flesh. I used a size 7mm crochet hook and made the pattern up as I went along. I am in the process of knitting a pink one with some chunky wool I bought from The Bridge End Centre last year. With the second one I am trying to write down the pattern. I might post it at a later date. It only took me one day to make up, though it was Bank Holiday Monday and I was up at 7am. I managed to nearly complete the pink one the same day, but ran out of steam.

Fluted Tea Cosy 1

I'm please with this knit, as it is the first cosy I have made for many years. I bought the wool in a charity shop in Buxton last year, not knowing quite what I was going to do with it. I though about making a bag and matching hat at one time. Then we had our kitchen refitted and the colours seemed to match, so a Tea Cosy it became. I made another similar for the sales stall and have yet another half done. I know the colours are not bright, but not everyone wants bright colours in their kitchen, do they? I would like to do some more in this pattern and will probably go for wacky colours then.....

On Wed 7 May; my tea cosy sold on our craft stall. I'm rather chuffed.

The 2 Year Scarf!

I knitted this scarf in the mid 1980's and it took me around 2 years to complete! It is a basic knit 3, pearl 3 using whole balls of wool for each block of colour, with a bit of fringing. Dead simple, but one of those pick me up; put me down jobs. Put down more than anything else. I think it was meant to be a great big long scarf, like the one Dr Who was wearing around that time, but I got fed up. So there you have it. I have worn this scarf quite a lot over the years and I hold on to it in case it comes in to fashion again!

New Job

I've recently been promoted to a temporary post as Technical Instructor over my normal work area of IT and a new area for me in Art & Crafts. This is a very exciting time and my contract is to take me up to March 2009. I am always very busy, and I now have extra areas to attend. I have always enjoyed crafty things so have been busy producing a few items to add to our sales stock. I am rather proud of my creations and am happy to display them here for you to see. The first is my paper folded butterflies. I used some spare wrapping paper and oddments of gold cord. I found the pattern on http://www.craftster.org/