Crochet granny blankets update

Hi again,

Another quick post as I'm still not back to full health, though I went back to work last Monday. Yesterday I had to see an emergency doctor and he nebulised me. I don't even think it was an asthmatic attack, just chest pains that I'm having a lot recently, unfortunately my asthma is really playing up right now, so I'm back on steroids again too... I really wish it would all go away, I guess it's back to the doctor tomorrow...

Anyway, I thought I would give a brief update of my granny blankets that I'm still working on.

Loose hexagon/squares, double knit acrylic wool, 4.5mm crochet hook



Large squares, 9 rounds, double knit acrylic wool, 4.5 mm crochet hook



Small squares, Stylecraft special double knit acrylic wool (the nicest wool I've worked with), 4.0mm crochet hook



Today I was comparing my crochet made with different hook sizes 4.00mm and 4.5mm. Basically I've usually made grannies with a 4.5mm hook but recently saw the fabulous granny blanket made by the fabulous Lucy at Attic 24 (http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2012/09/granny-patchwork-blanket-.html and http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2013/02/granny-patchwork-blanket-ta-dah.html). She uses a smaller hook to give a small more dense result which I think gives a pleasing look.

This is a quick photo showing the different effect changing the hook size gives. The larger hook work is softer and less structured, the smaller is tighter and firmer. Obviously the larger hook crochets up a larger size more quickly, so if I was trying to make a large blanket I would probably go with a larger hook, especially as I take so long to finish anything!!!!



Until next time
Gillian

I've not been well

Hi again,

I haven't been well this week with tonsillitis and pneumonia so I've just spent 6 days in bed per the doctors orders. I guess I'm feeling a bit better the last couple of days because I finally feel like doing something...

... A little reading, with Jaffa cakes (for energy!!!), curled up under my favourite double quilt I made a few years ago. I've discovered the Emperors Edge books by Lindsay Buroker (steampunk fiction that's fast paced and exciting)- a really good read


...a little crochet, well more looking at what I've already done and thinking of doing some more- the pretty colours make me feel happier too


Until next time
Gillian

Let there be light...

Hi again,

I'm having my midweek lull- also known as I'm too tired to do much, roll on the weekend!



I did however put the the lights in the Modern Witches Cottage. They are battery lights and, I must admit, are not as bright as I expected. They do however look pretty good and add some decorative interest.



I tried to place them so they had maximum impact, one by the living area and one by the bed.



I am very happy with how they fit with the look of a cottage. I wanted something subtle but stylish and they are just right.



Finally tonight, here are the two canvas pictures for the wall above the side table by the bed.



Until next time
Gillian

Weekly targets updates

Hi again,

Last week I listed my targets for the week

So the completed list is...

Furniture shabby chic'd
Stove painted
Roof completed
Platform shabby chic'd
Wash stand painted

I bought two canvas's from Ebay for the walls instead of painting abstracts... I really liked the canvas's as they look like faux windows, so the outcome is better than if I'd done my own.

The outstanding items are to sew up the duvet, pillows and cushions. I blame dark winter days and cold hands for not wanting to hand sew at the moment, but I need it done...so this is my target for the next week.


Until next time
Gillian

Painting day

Hi again,

The thing with painting is you need to do it, then let it dry. This is the bit I get impatient with. So I try to start early in the day, then go off to do other things.

Today I sanded the rough bits and put another coat of paint on the Rangers Cabin outer walls. I also bought some wallpaper border adhesive ( ready mixed in a tube for ease) so I could put the tile paper on the roof of the Modern Witches Cottage. Then I had to leave them to dry...as I'd completely covered our kitchen table, I had to stop crafting for a while... At least I had some ironing to keep me occupied!!!!




After the tile paper dried I trimmed it and then spent a few tense minutes wood gluing the two halves together before placing it on the cottage to dry in the correct position. It looks good, just a little bit of touching up to do (when I trimmed the roof paper I sort of scraped some of the paint off the eaves-oops!).

Thalia and the dogs quickly moved back in... From the gloom inside it's clear I must put the lights in next- I have some battery lamps as I didn't want to commit the cottage to always being in one place next to the electrical socket.




Whilst I had the wood glue out, I stuck the roof on the Steampunk Observatory (bandstand). A quick fixit I thought- unfortunately it wasn't a clean fit and a couple of bits had to be sanded to get the roof to go on properly- no one will know from looking at it, but it was awkward to put together.




Then it was back to the Rangers Cabin, touching up the outer walls and putting two coats of brown/mocha on the woodwork frame and window frames.




To the right of this photo is the roof trim for the cottage- painted to match the doors and windows.



Ok, so I know that's lots of projects on the go, but whole days when you can have time to paint are few and far between... midweek crafting has to be cleaner and tidier, and be a lot quicker to clear away! I do love all day Sunday crafting days!!!

Until next time
Gillian

Rangers Cabin (the Summer House)

Hi again,

At last the weekend has arrived... what a week! Winter has well and truly descended and caused full on chaos with the snow and ice over much of England. Luckily, not here yet, but the forecast has hinted we might get it tomorrow. Unfortunately my mum fell badly on ice on Wednesday and is in hospital following an operation to pin her badly broken ankle. So none of us are too keen on snow this year- I think I have definitely outgrown the stage of life where fun can be had when it snows... Roll on spring and better weather, it can't come soon enough for us this year.

Anyway back to crafting... I decided on Soft Pear as the colour for the outside walls of the Summer House. It is going to be Liam's new place, and as he is a woodland/ forest ranger then it's going to be a Rangers Cabin ( I actually cannot decide if I should call it a hut, a cabin or a lodge - it doesn't make much difference but for now it's a cabin).




Liam came to look and seemed pretty pleased with the colour. It's only the first coat but it has a subtle, natural tone.




I've tried doing some roof tiles for the Modern Witches Cottage but didn't like the way it looked so I bought some tile paper as a back up option. I really can't decide what to do... which means it will sit and wait until something feels right for the cottage. Still Liam had a good look at the paper and it looks better out of the tube roll.




This week I received these canvas texture prints (bought on Ebay). I'm going to put them in the Witches Cottage, they will add a dash of colour and the arch frame in the design sort of looks like windows into the distance. I will have to make some picture frames for them to help complete that illusion of a scenic view.




Until next time
Gillian

Summer house ideas

Hi again,

I'm still thinking about the Summer House. I keep thinking woodland house, beach house or holiday home. I know they don't sound terribly original, but they would have whatever twist inspiration will send me when I start.

Colours have been really bothering me. I want to stick with a typical mid blue outside, or natural browns if I do woodland, but I feel a desperate desire to break with the norm of creams or whites. At the moment I feel like using two bright colours, one for the lower wall and one for the upper wall.

I tried out all my leftover paint tester pots on a piece of card to see which met my mood for this house...

My usual pastel shades just aren't appealing today...




But I really like the three colours on the right below... Especially the turquoise ( called rather charmingly Mountain Rain). Who could resist the deliciously named Feather Boa or the tasty Juice Berry? But I wonder, would they be too much in a small room? And if I do go more masculine, what can I use instead?




I have to now put it all aside and see what colours still appeal in a week or two. Perhaps I will want a more toned down effect, or maybe I'll have more confidence in going for a much more vivid finish.

Until next time
Gillian