WOYWW 666 Maps, crazy crochet

Hi all, I’m back for our weekly blog hop care of Julia at The Stamping Ground. Isn’t it incredible, that Julia has hosted this for 666 weeks?

First of all Happy International Womens Day for yesterday! 

I’ve done a bit more crazy crochet, which will eventually become a cardigan. So far I’m sticking to my resolution only to use wool from my stash. 

Thanks 

I’ve spent a lot of time doing what Brian calls ‘Hard colouring in’ this week. It was a guilty pleasure to create PowerPoint images when I was working; I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed it. 

I’ve created a map of Ellyn’s Paris for my novel. I drew the Eiffel Tower by hand as I didn’t want to use potentially copyrighted images. I haven’t labelled Paris landmarks like the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe but I hope they’re evident. Given that the novel is mainly located in Paris, away from touristy areas, I thought it might help the reader. 

I thought I’d finished my first edit, so I transferred it as a private document to my Kindle. It did give me a thrill, seeing it there, but, reading it on that, I’ve so far found 47 errors to correct. 🙆. Oh well, more editing before I send it out to my test readers!

Last week we had a very nice walk onto the harbour arm, a bit misty but a good stretch. Last night I broke my little toe stubbing it against the base of the magazine rack in the bathroom, so walking is off the agenda apart from indoors hobbling as far as I can manage. Osteoporosis, grrr! I do have to go for my 4th covid jab on Thursday so I’ll have to hobble there. 

Gracie and Bella were fighting again yesterday evening so I was threatening them with pumpkin hats again. Looking at their photos, you’d never believe they could be naughty!

And finally…

Stay safe and happy crafting 

Hugs

Lynnecrafts x

WOYWW 665

First of all, sending BIG HUGS to our Julia. I don’t know what will happen with the bloghop tomorrow, but my thoughts are with her and her family.💕

I’ve had a few goes  at mixing blues and rusts this week. At first it felt a bit flat, till I found a stitch (linen stitch)  that mixed up the rows. 

I’ve also done a couple more Dorset Buttons as I have a new green and cream jacket that didn’t come with any. 

Ukraine is very much in our thoughts at present, such terrible suffering. I haven’t seen any local initiatives, but at least there’s the UNHCR appeal to help the refugees. 

I’ve felt quite frustrated by the stupid government policy that pretends covid is now no more than a cold for anyone. No free testing and no requirement to self-isolate means I scarcely dare go out now. John Toshack is in ICU with severe pneumonia after catching covid. Given I spent a week in hospital in July with pneumonia, I daren’t gamble I’d be in the ‘cold’ category. 

I contacted my GP and I’m having a 4th covid jab next week. 

But the surprisingly effective therapy has been to take up baking. This is an Irish Barmbrack. 

Brian also requested walnut and coffee chocolates this week. They were a bit of an experiment-I’m not keen on this mould as it’s too deep - and 1Tbs of coffee isn’t enough but they were ok. Since they have very little sugar, they’re not too naughty, though the barmbrack had lots of dried fruit. 

Our cat flap died in the recent storms so we had the had the entertainment of putting together a new one today. As it works off their microchips it was a bit complicated.  We kept telling them it would keep the ginger tom away but they were “nonpussed”. 

 

And finally…

Stay safe,all and happy crafting 

Hugs

Lynnecrafts 

WOYWW 716 Interesting times

Hi all,

Here’s Bella helping me with my latest bit of crochet. 

It’s the Frida Kahlo shade of Louisa Harding’s yarn Pittura. 

I’ve done one front and am now starting the back. It’s 4 ply but grows quickly in herringbone stitch. 

I’ve also done a sketch for my new project. I’d be interested to know what this reminds you of, if anything, please. Jan, you know, but you could add a teeny clue if you wish. I’ll be telling you more about it in the next few weeks. 

Other aspects of this have had me doing a lot more work but I enjoyed doing this drawing. 

This photo of Bella was a surprise as well. 

She and Gracie both send purrs to you all. 

And finally…

I’ll try to get round more desks this week. 

Take care all and happy WOYWW 

hugs

Lynnecrafts x

WOYWW 664 blues and colour dreams

Hi, I hope you’re all safe and well after the recent storms.  We were lucky. There are houses nearby with no power but ours only went off briefly a few times. This was from the other side of our village. 

My desk this week is its usual mess. 

The grid for my Roman banners is on the left, as I’m alternating between knitting another one and crocheting Brian’s slipover. The front is growing and I’ve another 10cm to do before dividing for the V neck. 

My eye was caught this week by a yarn that looked to be a beautiful melange of blues and rust on the Lovecrafts site. 

When I looked on the manufacturer’s site, though, there was a lot more white in it and I didn’t like it so much. 

I’ve learned always to check on a couple of sites what a yarn really looks like. So now I have a dream of combining blues and rusts from yarn in my stash. 

Here’s a start. 

I want to make myself a cardigan with crazy patterns, a bit like this, but in the shades above. 

This is a photo of Gracie hoping for a bowl of cat milk. She only gets it if Brian brings me breakfast in bed in the morning, but she’s always hopeful. I don’t know who’s more spoilt, her or me 😼. 

. I really didn’t feel like taking a photo when she jumped onto the bed at 6am today, though, soaking wet. 😼. Of course I’ll dry you! 

 Bella has much taken to the cat tree. 

And finally..

Well done Jan! Last week’s cartoon was from Monty Python “No one expects the Spanish Inquisition”. (especially in the bagging area…)

This week, Dr Who cartoons are more prevalent…

Take care and happy crafting!

Hugs

Lynnecrafts 

WOYWW 663 Roman shields and chocolates

Hi,

Back again for our weekly blog hop courtesy of Julia at The stamping-ground.

I finished my tea cosy this week. 

I couldn’t find my acrylic stuffing so I used wool. Crocheting it into loops seemed to help. 

Brian’s verdict is that “it’s a good thing”, as it’s the sort with holes for handle and spout, so he uses it more often than the cover type. 

I am taking part in the 1900th anniversary of Hadrian’s wall, by sending knitted bunting with a Roman shield design to be used to yarn bomb part of it. 

We lived nearby for nearly 10 years so I feel a connection to it. The knitting pattern is here 

 There are more details about the project here: 

https://www.vindolanda.com/Event/1900-bunting-challenge

There are opportunities to crochet or sew bunting as well. I’ve taken part in yarn bombing around Aldermaston to protest against nuclear and chemical weapons before, but I’ve never done it to commemorate something so old!

Back to the present, I made my husband some chocolates for St Valentine’s. This time they were walnut and apricot. Judging by the speed with which they’re disappearing, they’re his favourite yet. 😻

It’s the first time I’ve used this mould. It’s not so easy to produce clean edges as the other one. Here, I’m sifting cocoa powder over the hearts to make them easier to pick up. 

Gracie gave me a scare this week. She disappeared for most of the day and we couldn’t find her anywhere. I felt sick with worry. Of course she’d just hidden somewhere in the house. 

Both cats now have AirTag Bluetooth discs on their collars. You can see the pink tag holder on Bella here. 

 I’ve not managed to get a picture of Gracie with hers yet but they both seem to tolerate them ok. 

And finally….

Do you know where this one’s from? I’ll tell you next week if you don’t. 

Take care and happy crafting!

Hugs

Lynnecrafts x

WOYWW 662 Cat tea cosy

Hi, just a quick post this time. The cluster headaches are back. 

I’ve been tempted away from my crochet this week to one of the Tea Cosy Folk creations. 

I’m waiting for the safety eyes to arrive, so it’s unfinished. 

The handle and spout come out at the sides. It’s a knitting pattern but I found the smaller pieces easier to do as crochet. 

The ginger cat’s tail has been redone as it looked rather…er….masculine. 

Yes Jan you can say ooh er missus! 

I’ll show you the finished item when the eyes arrive and I’ve stuffed the heads and sewn it all together.  

Cats are are wonderful comfort and have been doing some hard sleeping 

Bella likes playing and napping on the cat tree. 

And finally 

Take care and happy crafting

Hugs

Lynne