More Happy Crochet ♡

 'I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those 

in which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens

but just those that being simple little pleasures, following one another softly...'

L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Ahh...Anne Shirley♡ Many, many happy days as a young girl were enjoyed reading of the adventures and misadventures of Anne 'with an e' Shirley. So many wonderful quotes of wisdom to be found within the pages of Anne and her chronicles of Avonlea. Pete has always thought he'd like to visit Prince Edward Island. I too, wouldn't be adverse to wandering around the land of Green Gables, soaking up the scenery and landscapes that the TV series so beautifully captured; but I don't suppose it will ever eventuate. I wonder if any of my Canadian blogging friends have ever visited Prince Edward Island??

This week has been one where simple pleasures have followed one after the other in a gentle rhythm. Books, flowers, capturing happy snaps, baking, sipping cups of tea in pretty tea cups....a little of this and a whole lot of that..........and a little crochet. 

Throughout this week I have spent many a delightful hour in front of the fire, during the day and into the evening;  happily crocheting away. I've spent many a contented hour crocheting while gazing outside my window, where the burnished hues of autumn abound; and the air begins to become decidedly chillier.

With the front and back finished I started crocheting the sleeves. I decided upon granny stripes for the sleeves, as I rather like the contrast of the stripey sleeves with the granny squares of the front and back. I continued crocheting the remaining sleeve this morning for Slow Sunday Stitching but didn't have enough of one colour, so me thinks there will be a trip to the wool shop this coming week. A visit to the wool shop is always fun. Wall after wall of towering shelves of wool in a plethora of plys and colours, and textures. Besides, I'm thinking my next crochet pretty might be a blanket for the bed, so perhaps lots of balls of wool in myriad colours will come home with me. I'm in the mood for another granny square pretty. Granny squares are truly one of life's nicest of pleasures.

It's late Sunday evening here and my bed piled high with quilts beckons me. I hope, lovely lovelies, lovely friends, your Sunday is a pleasant one, filled with the nicest and simplest of pleasures♡ For me, one of life's nicest and simplest pleasures is sinking into a cosy bed under the warmth and the hugs of homemade quilts, and drifting off to the land of dreams♡

Until the next time......

Squares, Squares, Squares......And Then Some; On This Mother's Day♡

 

Hello lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ A lovely welcome to you, on this Mother's Day♡

A hand stitched cushion gifted by my 8 year old daughter, many a Mother's Day ago♡ It still rests in pride of place in my home, sweet home♡ At the time, unbeknownst to me, she helped herself to my stash and stitched away in secret♡

It's been a peaceful, chew your cud (just like those four-legged bovine outside my window) kinda day...pondering.....meditating.....ruminating....on all good things, of course! What is that verse in the Bible?? Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about these things. So this girl whose halo can from time to time slip and begin to choke one's aged, turkey neck, I will strive to think upon these things.  Now, back in the day when this verse was written, if I was the scrivener  I might've slipped in......and whatever makes you laugh till you can't breathe.........but that's just me.  St Paul wouldn't have been none the wiser. =)

So that's how I've spent my  day, hanging out with Pete, enjoying a long breakfast at a cafe and then home again reflecting upon the beauty that envelopes me, and thinking upon joyful things; my girls, my grandbabies. Oh, and of course, some tea and cake, while enjoying many a chuckle with Pete. I don't suppose a day goes by when we're not chuckling about something or other which tickles our funny bone. Sadly, even though I wax lyrical about all things slow stitching on a Sunday, I didn't crochet or stitch today as my wrist is a tad sore. I'll give it a bit of a rest for a little while, me thinks.

I've spent the week Trippin'; adding fabric squares to all the other gazillion little squares of my quilt. The quilt is still not a square. Ho hum. Deana asked me what line of fabrics I'm using?? No fabric line where all the fabrics dance a synchronised and coordinated waltz in pattern and colour; unfortunately. That would have been much too easy. =) Just diving head first into my fabric stash and search for the perfect fabric which will play harmoniously with both the fabric it sits next to, and the quilt as a whole.

I've crocheted more granny squares, too. The grannies have been joined to form the front and back. In essence, two big squares dancing in little granny squares. I'm crocheting some rows along the sides of the front and back to add some width. Then I'll crochet the sleeves. I don't know if I'll crochet the sleeves in one colour, or stripes. I'll get back to you, shall I??

Now, my Trippin' quilt may not be dancing in a harmonious and curated line or indeed one range of prints and colours, and with the exception of say perhaps, Tilda fabrics, or maybe  coordinating fabrics designed by Robin Pickens I rarely  acquire  a curated line all at one time. BUT....yesterday I was looking around a shop and lo and behold I happened upon bolt after bolt of splendorous, digital printed florals!! Oh my giddy aunt!! Roses, echinaceas, dahlias, orchards, zinnias, poppies......irises all under the name of  Blissful Blooms. Did  I?? Or, didn't I?? You betcha I did. One metre of each blissful bloom came home with me. I'm always in need of a gorgeous flowery fabric or two, and as I seem to always be fashioning quilts with flowers flourishing all over, I need to replenish my stash  as my floral pretties are a bit light on. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. =)

Let's play 'spot the real blooms'.

Blissful Blooms for Mother's Day♡ Mother's Day can be bittersweet for many. I hope you enjoy a lovely day creating new memories with your loved ones. Beautiful Mother's Day wishes to you, lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡

Until the next time......

Squaring Off =)

 

Hello, and welcome, lovely lovelies, lovely friends, to my little autumnal place♡ How are you on this lovely Sunday?? As for me and Carmen?? Well, we are just fine....thanks for asking. =) Unfortunately, her flowery hat will soon be no more. The last of the dahlias and roses, me thinks. Love, love, love Carmen♡♡

A productive and fun week; that is of course, despite another dystopian-esque week that hurried by. I must say, the highlight of my week, was King Charles' III giving a masterclass in diplomacy, manners, intelligence, eloquence, sophistication, and wit, to the buffoon and his acolytes. Oh, how it tickled my funny bone that a king gave many a history lesson on democracy. Oh, the irony. And he did it with such aplomb; without starting WW3.

Now, I'll admit, I vacillate in opinion as to the whys and why nots of a monarchy but the blood of my British forebears, which pulsates through my veins, came to the fore and shouted "HEAR, HEAR"!! So many chuckles percolated from my person. There is nothing quite like the Brits and their humour. That is of course, notwithstanding the irreverent and naughty humour of us Aussies. Those Republicans in the hallowed halls of the US Congress are such an unfunny lot, are they not??!!  I did wonder if the King's speech(es) went over the 'comb-over', and it appears they most certainly did. As the person with the very questionable hair-do, to whom the 'arrows' were intended; laughed along. Absolutely no idea whatsoever as to the subtlety of the King's intent. The obtuseness is stunning. Bravo! Well done, King Charles!! 

But enough of politics, history lessons.........naughtiness.....comic relief; down here in my autumnal world, I have been steadily stitching little squares to one of the sides of my Trippin' Around The World quilt endeavouring to square it up. I continued stitching today. Goodness, it can take a while. Hopefully, before all the leaves have fallen from the trees and my world descends into the depths of winter, 'we' might have a very big square. Needle pricked and gnarled fingers crossed!

This week I crocheted granny squares. Yep, more squares! Another jumper in the works for winter. I live in woolly woollies throughout the winter months, and, more often than not the other seasons as well, because in Tassie the weather can be most contrary. Gotta, gotta, gotta have plentiful woolly garments to keep the chill from dem ol' bones. Besides, I'm a bit of a frog. AND after the arduous crocheting of Lenox's blanket I'm hankering after a quick and easy granny square project.

My grannies are dancing in mellow hues of blue, grey and green. I'm loving the subtlety of these colours. So, I'm hopping from my Trippin' squares, to my grannies, just to sprinkle fun into my creative days.

My Trippin' quilt has got to the stage where fabric metrage is needed. I'm thinking there might  just be enough to get me to the finish line without having to purchase more fabric. Again, needle-pricked and gnarled fingers.....and everything else, crossed. I've used up fabrics which have been sitting in my stash for a long time so I'm delighted about that.

Florals, dotty dots, stripes, hexagons......a fabulous fabric with candelabras.....all dancing and playing fabulously. Love the blue candelabra print. Such fun! What's not to love about a candelabra....or two??!! I have a few. =) Gotta shine one's light brightly these days to stem the darkness!

Enjoy your Sunday, lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ Delight in something that brings you joy♡

Until the next time......

Lazy Autumn Days♡

Why, hello......and welcome♡ Gosh, it's been a while. The last time you visited my little place, Pete and I were about to enjoy a holiday with my daughter and son-in-law to celebrate Lenox's first birthday. AND, celebrate we did!  It seems ages ago now, but we had the best time. Oh, and by the way, my little crochet blanket with sweet animal faces atop the granny squares, was a hit. 

How are you travelling?? How are you navigating the diabolical and evil one's idiocy?? I'm assuming you have an inkling of whom I'm referring to. =) The reverberations of his amoral edicts are being felt the world over, in many ways; even down here on this little isle.

A wee 'funny' aside......I went to the Post Office yesterday to post a gift to my daughter in San Francisco and oh my goodness, the debacle in trying to post anything to the USofA! All the hoops  Aussies now have to jump through. The chap behind the counter informed me that Trump has made the process of the postage of mail, which was once a simple procedure; difficult. It appears Trump is not a fan of Australia, to which I replied Australia is most definitely not a fan of him!   We both laughed, taking the mickey out of the said leader. We Aussies do have a deliciously dark and wicked sense of humour. I wonder if his ears were burning?? Gosh, he's tedious, wearisome, tiresome, arduous........enervative......! Let us count the words which negatively describe this loathsome oaf??!! Alas, I cannot, as they are innumerable.

But, while the world writhes and groans under the tyranny of Trump,  here at my little place, life drifts by on the continuum of slow and relaxed,  lazy autumn days. Warm, sunny days. Rainy days. Windy days. Autumn  days slowly heading into what I suppose will be winter. Ho-hum.

There are still dahlias, cosmos, hydrangeas and a sprinkling of roses in the garden but only a few, as they are beginning to disappear. I must say, the hydrangeas are morphing into their autumnal beauty quite spectacularly this year. The landscape is beginning to glow in autumnal burnished hues. So lovely♡

I suppose Ive been hiding in my little world where simplicity has been the order of my days. It's been a while since I've felt like blogging. I've been stitching my 'Trippin' Around The World' quilt.  Slow, simple stitching adding oodles of little squares. Though, I confess, of late I haven't been completing each fabric round. I've been impatient to see what the next fabric might look like added to the mix.....hence my pretty is a most irregular shape at the moment. But.....it will become a queen-size square.....one of these days.

As I've stitched I've sometimes second guessed myself with the choice of fabric in one or two rounds, thinking that perhaps  some fabric rounds don't quite play nicely, but, as I've added a few more fabric 'trips' somehow my quilt of a gazillion squares is all of a sudden, honky dory. There was one hiccup. After stitching two sides of one round, maddeningly, I was six squares short, AND, as is always the way the shop where I purchased the fabric only a couple of weeks ago had sold out. I checked online, too. Sadly, no luck! Such is the life of a quilter, sometimes. So, my persnickety self, and  my seam ripper spent an exasperating afternoon and evening together, unpicking each little square.

I Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi, like you very much......just channelling Carmen Miranda. =) 

Isn't she lovely, Isn't she wonderful?? Think Stevie Wonder. =) She, was gifted to me as a candle with the most divine fragrance inside. The candle, having fragrantly wafted through my days until there was not a spot of wax remaining; she now continually models flowers. Love, love, love her. Me thinks, Carmen would like her, too.

Is it really the last Sunday in April!!?? I really cannot keep up with the calendar. Today was a pearler of a day. Deliciously warm with blue, blue skies. I of course enjoyed more (very) slow stitching of my happy squares to the quilt. I'm loving the simplicity of this quilt. Love all the fabrics in multitudinous colours and prints. Me thinks it just might become one of my favourites. I have a penchant for quilts dancing in simplicity of late. As darkness begins to cloak my autumnal landscape, when Sunday morning breezes in at your place, I hope you enjoy a lovely day partaking in something which causes you to smile♡ Take care, lovely lovelies, lovely friends♡ Let your little light shine♡

Until the next time......