Blowing Off The Cobwebs

 Stuart and I had the chance to go for a long walk to Wreay Woods, without the children, we had a lovely morning meandering along the river bank and seeing all the signs that Spring is not far away.

 Stu got a great camera for Christmas, a Canon EOS 550D which means we got some beautiful shots of the new growth.  I especially loved the Fungi pictures the one below being my favourite.

He managed to sneak a couple of me too, but this one is not too bad.

Take some time out this week to look around, the world around you is waking up from it's Winter snooze a little early, let's hope the mild weather stays.
Amanda.x.

For the love of Granny

Some time away as I lost my camera charger but now I'm now back.

 And with some WIP to show, these are 4 of the Granny Square Blankets I'm working on, and they're growing well.  When I first started to crochet as a child my Nana had blankets like these, she'd start you crocheting round and after a while she'd start on the next colour and chase your loops as you went.

 

 As I crochet these and feel the yarn through my fingers I'm reminded of my Nana, her smell (Lavender perfume and Parma violets) and watching her hands wrinkled and soft working their way round behind me.

 I've used arcylic yarn to make these, which some people will barf at I know, there's a few reasons behind this decision. 

First is I'm not made of money or sponsored by a yarn company, to get the huge array of colours I like I need a reasonable priced yarn. 

Second is I'd been approached by vegans about things I make, and was told there was not alot of vegan friendly items made from lovely colourful materials.

Third is washability, I hopeing that people will buy these to be used not just for decoration, so it helps to have an easily washable yarn. 

 I love the colours of the top 3 blankets, but I'm not sure of this one, I wanted it to be bolder than usual blankets but I think I like the effect of single lines of colour.

Which colour do you like best?

Have a lovely Friday,

Amanda.x.

I Got Tagged.

Before my holiday I was tagged by Jean of Talking Beads with a list of random getting to know questions, you've then to tag 8 other people but I'm changing it to 9 you'll understand when you read on, here goes.

Your current obsession: Looking at all the materials I could buy if rich & dreaming of the beautiful things I could make if only I had them.
Weirdest Obsession: the number 9 its my favourite, I like other odd numbers too 3 is also especially good 3x3=9, ah great numbers.
What are you Wearing: Just home from work so office gear.
What is for Dinner: Just had rice, with roast veg, having strawberries for pud.
Favourite Book: The Time Travellers Wife, but it makes me cry and Stephen Kings The Stand.
Last Thing you Bought: A pink top I didn't really want but mine was soaked through in rain.
What can you hear right now: The Tweenies and the noisy laptop fan.
Favourite flavour of Ice Cream: I real like plain vanilla with real vanilla pods in.
What do you think of the person who tagged you: I only know her through the cyber community but I think thats how lots of friendships will be made in the future.
Where in the world would you go if I gave you a plane ticket: Oz, I've got loads of friends there that I'll never be able to afford to see.
Which language would you learn: Spanish, I could almost do it school.
Who do you want to meet right now: My Grandma Pinguey, shes very missed.
Favourite Colour: Turquoise
Favourite item of clothing: Comfy jeans and white vest.
What size shoes are you: 7, sometimes a 6 & strangley a size 5 in Berkinstocks
You have £100 to spare, what will you buy: Beautiful glass beads
Favourite time of day: Early morning as long as I got a good nights sleep beforehand.
Who's style do you most admire:
What is your own style: Confused at the minute, left overs from maternity clothes.
What are you going to do next: Probably move my 8 month son off more dangerous househole items, normally speaker wires.
Favourite Films: True Romance, best love story ever.
Favourite Fruit: Strawberries.
What inspires you: Random acts of kindness.
What Music is your favourite this week: Nina Simone, NIN, Leonard Cohen & Faithless.
Do you have a dream job:Owning a craft shop with cafe & gallery.
What is stopping you: Just money
What would you change in the world: Take away the worlds debt, & teach prople to live a simpler way of life respecting each other as human beings.
Favourite animal: Cat.
Favourite Tool: Round nose pilers or maybe my glue gun.
What would your job have been in Victorian times: Probably a Jack the Ripper victim.

For the taggees, you just copy above, paste and fill in the answers with yours.
People I am now tagging are: Ruby Blue, Made by Val, Snugbaby Slings, Scavenger Bird,
lauren ceramics, Beadypool, kitschycoo, The Beading Lady, Lej-Jewellery.