Whizzing Windmills!

The long hot summer seems a long way off now that the weather has put on its winter coat!

We had a wonderfully warm few days near the Lincolnshire coast in August, however the first day along the prom we were well and truly sandblasted in a stinging gale. 

The pelting sand was like tiny piercing needles.

On our way back to the car on the calmer second day we passed a bucket full of  shiny whizzing windmills whirring and shimmering in the breeze .

I was immediately transported back to childhood holidays by the sea....

These are all made from wetfelted off cuts....

I brought home one of the shiny windmills from the beach shop

....a reminder of  the sea, sand and sunshine!

Cosy Toes!

Every year I promise to hook something cosy for Mr RWs chilly feet,

this year I have done it!

Inspired by my fabulous friend Tracey's chunky slippers pattern,

 and using some My Boshi yarn she had given me...

...these hooked up in an evening....

....with a slight colour combo change from the easy to use pattern! 

They have the thumbs up from the wearer, and stay put when others slide off!

There are some amazing British wools being championed during Wovember both Tracey and Sarah have been using Wendy Ramsdale...

I'm very tempted to hook some more slippers with two strands of Ramsdale, 

or even an Aran weight from WYS

Happy Birthday!

A very special young lady has a special birthday today

She is a talented textiles student, so her card was made full of colour and texture! 

The back reveals the greeting - rolled and tucked under the bows!

Part of her present is something small and shiny

packed into an extra tiny bag - pass the parcel!

It is made with Blossom stitch from Sarah Hazell's book, packed full of inspiration!

Happy Birthday!

Cat-ching up!

Over the summer some ideas have been quietly purr-collating, and taking shape! 

The finished cat-alogue is quite different from the original idea - 

but the new owners are pleased with their pets!

 Free styled spiral vessels provided a purr-fect base for a cat body.

.....the cat back! 

The purple cat had some fun in the sun!
 

His new owner is fond of his whiskers or mus-cat-che!

I really enjoyed going with the flow again, and love the random shapes, there are short ends and trimmings inside each....

It has caused a paws for thought involving more adventures with a spiral vessel....
all will be revealed, in seasonal time!

Random Wooliness!

A long time ago.... Linda's stashbusting project really captured my imagination.

I had bags and boxes of  random wool stashed all over, just waiting for those perfect projects!

As a result of Linda's inspiration, I've busted some of my stash and kept notes of the gs that have been put to good use.

Not only did the stashbusting have an effect on the volume of hoarded wool, it opened my eyes to new ideas, and I have found inspirational fellow busting bloggers.

However,  the whole project has really encouraged me to think about my purchases! 

Ever since joining the group I have only bought reduced or odd balls of wool that I have a use for, ideally British where possible.

I accept donations from other woolly minded folk and

I really enjoy searching for charity shop oddments. 

Its exciting to rise to the challenge of transforming other people's woolly donations.

As most of my makes are small I have the flexibility to do this, and my increasing love of freefrom also lends itself to the use of an eclectic range of exotic spare threads!

Recently I have unearthed some real gems:

Falcon by Post.... 75% Courtelle

 1976!!

 and some fab Jaeger.... I always enjoy a reference to the North East too!

Having spent a substantial amount of time tidying up our spare room and squishing my stash (in more ways than one!!)  I've decided that there's plenty for projects until the end of the year!
I warmly recommend Linda's colourful inspirational blog,  for stashbusting or browsing, 

I for one have been transformed!

Time off!

I had some time off free-styling and free-forming to follow a pattern!

This was a birthday present for a friend of RW Jnr!

 The easy to follow pattern can be found here:

As my big fingers found the arms rather fiddly I adapted that body part!

He was well received...and I have had another couple of orders! 

Will be giving my stitch counting a break first!

Oh I do like...

...to be beside the seaside...which is a little ironic living in the middle of England!

We recently revived memories of a friend's Woolacombe wedding,  enjoying the photos of a beautifully sunny and warm weekend.

For an anniversary present a window of woolly Woolacombe was hooked!

Many sandy strands and bubbly wavelets...

...the green hill in the distance..

 surfs up?!

back view...

...and a different background...

It takes a while to gather materials, so while they were all to hand....

and back

 This has surface crochet footprints on the sand

and in the water

Cuffs have been on my mind for a while....

 

Loved my visit to a local independent haberdashery shop with an abundant button bounty!

There are a couple of techniques I stumbled upon by happy accident, which I hope to use again!

I really enjoyed my time dipping into the woolly waves!

Hope to wiggle my toes in some real sand sometime this summer! 

Happy Holidays!