Thursday 21 November 2013

Another Finish

Catching up now with some unfinished jobs.
Whoa its not long to christmas & I haven't even started on 
preparations......gotta get it together real soon!!!!
I did however manage to finish this quilt 
before my Australia trip.


Its been a long trip with this I'm delighted to have it done.
Well pleased with the dotty backing & green binding, has worked out ok!


Warm & cozy just in time for winter

A satisfied smile....what more could i ask for.

Back soon 
Lots of love Karen x

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Hi There

I've been away from my blog again for a few weeks
for good reason though.
For the second time this year I traveled to 
Perth in Australia to spend precious time with my dad.
He was diagnosed with motor neurons disease a year 
ago & really doesn't have very much time left.
Every minute I got with him was a blessing.
 
For the first time in 21 years we were all 
together in one place as a family
It was a amazing to be able to take this picture
with them


Thats me there on the right with my sweet sister Cindy just behind me.
Two brothers Gary & Mark behind us, my lovely dad with third 
brother Andrew & his gorgeous wife Layle, then my niece Jody, mom &
 sister Michelle next to her.
Made our dad so happy to have us all together
I guess we really need to treasure what we have
& I'll treasure this.

Hope to be back soon with some pieces to share
Have missed all your lovely blogs yet again
See you soon 
Karen x

Thursday 24 October 2013

Cushion Love

At last an opportunity to blog, sometimes I feel my 
days & weeks fly by so very quickly
I'm wishing & wanting it all to stand still
just for a while. 
My oldest daughter is 23 & I remember the 
day she was born like it was yesterday.
Wow make every day count, make every moment 
together be special, because it really is.
We just don't it all feel go by.
I appreciate this time to catch up with you guys
I still browse my favourite blogswhen I can't post
 get inspired, laugh at some 
of the funny things, cried today at some sad things but
am always blessed & in awe of you.

Anyway have managed a wee bit of creativity over the last week or two
CUSHIONS........
I love cushions & will probably make many, many more
in the years to come & yeah even over the next 
few months on the run up to Christmas
They sure make great pressies


New pincuhions for new pins for my new sewing room


Not at all fancy, simple wee designs, 
 I'm experimenting really


Lauren bought me the cute heart pins.....she certainly has an eye for cuteness


A few full size for my hallway, soft & pretty


Hearts & crochet
Oh my goodness the crochet one gave me 
so much bother....all my own fault of course
didn't count stiches properly on the second side & ended up 
ripping it back completely......major pain !!!!!!


Flowers to pretty it up & a simple border to finish
I love it 


Am halfway through the next one....green this time
LOVE GREEN 
relaxing calming colour'

Had to indulge my cake craving too
A biscuit from a packet just doesn't do it for me
has to be home made goodies
Thank God for recipe books....you can read
YOU CAN BAKE


Date bars....oh my lord they were good
Thank you Rachel Allen........ LOVE your cook books
Ate two.......want more.....but will have to restrain myself till tomorrow
RIGHT!!!!!!!

Feet up now, got some Classic Costume Dramas today
Sooooooo its tv, sleep, then date bars for breakfast ....heh heh!!!

Thanks for stopping by
Have the best weekend
Lots of love Karen xxxxx

Thursday 10 October 2013

Mmmmmmm COOKIES

These literally take ten minutes from start to finish
Got the recipe from Thiis Book
Some of the yummiest cookies ever

Trouble is you could quite easily munch your way through 5 or 10
in one sitting
 
 
Had some with raspberry fool & of course 
a cuppa coffee

Have a lovely evening Karen x

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Crochet, crochet, crochet........

Now that I have my hand back in full swing again, its crochet 
all the way. I'm not overdoing it but I am 
most definitely enjoying the freedom of one of my fav pastimes
as much as I can.
My blanket will get done slowly.....I just know it ....but
in the meantime lots of wooley goodness in smaller makes




Pretty up the sewing room with flowers
Its a real pleasure to hook up some smaller project for 
quick results & encouragement for the bigger makes
Kinda spurs you on .....doesn't it!!!!


More Doilies.....can never have enough.


Might start keeping some for christmas pressies.....(much later)
A set of four or six would make a nice wee gift
I love giving homemade as much as I can/

Some blanket hooking tonight I think....don't want to 
neglect it again. I'll aim for Christmas on that too 
I think......fingers crossed!!!!!

Off now to browse your lovely blogs....yes my evenings all set
Have a nice one
Lots of love Karen x

Monday 7 October 2013

A Sewing Room......At Last

After 23 years of raising girls, decorating bedrooms & sewing 
up pretty bits & pieces for them, two of my girls
have set up their own wee nest.
Lauren & Sophie are sharing a real nice 
apartment together, its a 2 min walk from my 
house......so it feels like they haven't gone anywhere.
As a result I have a spare room.......a room to do
whatever I want with, sooooooo
obviously I opted to have my very own 
sewing room. Oh my gosh a room to work in.
A room that doesn't need to be cleared every evening for dinner.
I have been using my dining table for so 
long now that I'm finding the prospect of my own
workspace almost dreamlike!!!!!
Anyway lots to be done, I have painted & wallpapered
so far & am dying to show you my WIP


Found this roll in a remnant basket at Laura Ashley....6euro
Absolute bargain. I papered one wall & even had enough to paper 
a small feature wall on my tiny landing.
Ohhhhhh its just such a pretty, cheerful sweet pattern.
Makes me smile getting up in the morning, 
walking past it on my way down the stairs to brew up
 my first coffee of the day.


Little pressie from Lauren for my NEW ROOM
PERFECT!!!
Still quite a bit to do so I'll wait to show you the rest when its finished
Eeeeeeekkkk can't wait.

This is my other project for the next few days
A quilt to quilt......its been thrown
aside for soooooooo very long, so this 
morning I finally got myself into the nearest
fabric shop for wadding & backing fabric.


I'm loving the spots, hope it adds a nice twist to the 
overwhelmingly pink granny square quilt top.
Back (hopefully) in a few days with 
a finish.

I've enjoyed so much catching up with you over the 
last few days.....made me realise how 
much I missed you all.
Blogging really does become a lovely part of 
your life & I'm glad I've started up again
Thanks for your comments...is always great to hear from you
Have a sweet week
Lots of love Karen X

Friday 4 October 2013

Trying Again

I have missed blogging so very much, but a few months 
out was a must for me this year.
Its been a hectic summer & a busy autumn start
I've hardly had time to scratch.
Also my crochet, sewing hand has been incredibly sore for months.
I was real worried as to the problem, so after a brief GP visit & some
 strengthening exercises its all good again.
I haven't crocheted for months, not much sewing either
so now I'm so excited about getting to finish somebits & pieces I started 
way back in May, yes thats the last 
time I posted.....so onward at last!!!!!!!



There photos were taken in May back when I thought it was time to use 
up the far too many different colours of yarn in my possesion......
& there are many, way too many.
Anyway in the last few days I've managed to bring the number of squares
up to 100. These are small three round squares
& I want to make a good size blanket, I'm thinking
300 squares or so.....does that sound about right?????
So lots to do, but its so good to be able to crochet again
I sure did miss it.
Also to get me back in the saddle I hooked up some
pretty doilies just to nibble up my fingers.




I love how they look around the home....random touches of 
prettiness here & there.......
little glimpses of color with cups of coffee
crunchy cookies & my favourite yankee candle



I think I need at least five or ten more.

Some new fabrics to play with not to mention the two 
quilts I need to  finish....all in good time


Did however not neglet the art of baking & of course eating
said baked goods....not alone though.



But my absolute highlight of the last few months was
Sophie's graduation from university


I felt so proud, such a great day.
She's a titch just like her mom, maybe an inch taller
but no more than that.

I have so much catching up to do, not just on projects 
but with all your blogs...i have missed it all 

Have a wonderful weekend
Lots of love Karen x

Monday 20 May 2013

A Mommy Blanket Finish

Its done....finally, I actually can't remember when I started this wee
Throw, it was definitely well before Christmas.....Ohhhhh
the shame!!!!!!!
I'm such a bad, bad crocheter (was gonna say hooker....but had a 
very quick change of mind )
But anyhoo it's done, its really done, I'm kind of giggling here
with a giddy, stupid, silly laugh cause I  thought I'd never finish it.
I got bored at times, lazy at times & just too darn busy at other times.
I've stitched in all the ends....which is a mini miracle because  (confession) 
I've done reveals before & just hid the ends.....not this time though


No cheating....no ends :)


Just real good ol fashioned finished blanket


I love the border, found the link for a pattern on this wonderful 


I'm packaging it up tomorrow & sending it to my Mom in 
Australia along with a lot of Butler's Irish chocolate for my sweet 
toothed Dad (it's def the best choc ever)


Hope she likes............

By the way I should say this more often...thank you so much 
for the lovely comments you leave, I get excited & thrilled by each one,
a real genuine encouragement....Bless you
Lots of Love Karen xxxxx

Saturday 18 May 2013

A tasty little cake

Lauren bought me a new cook book last christmas
"Cake" by Rachel Allen.
Now I've tried many a recipe from it over the last few months
but yesterday I tried this one


Swedish Almond Cake
Oh my goodness what an absolute treat & I swear so simple to make.
Here's a link for anyone who would venture to test it out
Seriously yum, with a nice cuppa of whatever 
you fancy...... tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cappucino!!!!!


This one is all gone, we pigged out....total gluttony.
Think I'll make another :)

Have a sweet YUMMY weekend
Lots of love Karen x

Tuesday 14 May 2013

A Sophie Quilt

YaHayyyyy I finished my first full size quilt this year, I am so 
pleased I put the commitment in  at long last.
Its been thrown in a basket for almost a year & Sophie's been 
minus a much desired new quilt on her bed.
Well no more wishing she got her quilt & even slept with it last night.


I think it was a successful sleep


I was tempted to keep it for my wicker chair'
but sure that would be totally selfish...wouldn't it ??????


I kept the quilting nice & simple, straight line, no hassle, no steam coming out my ears
just sew handy lines back & forth accross the quilt
Easy peasy.


I finihed with a cute green fabric for the binding.
Actually it was all I had that looked any bit decent & I just was
not going to wait while I ordered something else.
Works ok though.....doesn't it :)


 I am super pleases to have done it, kind of gives me incentive to finish
more of my WIP's.

Finished painting my kitchen  today, think I'm on a roll.

This is next, just gotta weave in a few hundred ends


So another  finish on the way in a day or two. depending on my fingers.
Off I go.........
Have a sweet week
Lots of love Karen x

Sunday 12 May 2013

My Lil Birthday Girl

Happy birthday Ella, she had a real fun party yesterday, food, friends & pressies......twas great










Pizza Party Yum (these are in uncooked stage) such a lovely day
Karen x