Two Angels - angels & petals AND crafty angel

Has Spring Sprung?

It's been a while since I've been out before 7am on a week day, but this week I've had a couple of days of paper round duty (I know, I know!) and I've loved being the only one around as the sun wakes up and the day begins.

 
Most mornings this week have started quite frosty.

 
I thought this ice pattern formed across a dip in the moor was quite amazing.

 
 
The pond area has been cleared of a lot of the trees which crowded the edge.

 
It has really made a difference. A Heron is a regular visitor now, as are a pair of Mallards.

 
Yellow is still the predominate colour, with the last of the daffodils giving way to a carpet of buttercup yellow flowers I can't remember the name of!

 
Catkins are hanging in there too. Wont be long before the garlic & the blue bells move in to change the colour scheme.

On a slightly separate note, I came across a Knitted Vegetables Book. It's not everyone who wakes up and thinks 'today I'll knit vegetables'  -   but if that's you, then this book is just what you need.

 
Inside there are 20 patterns for every thing from chillies to....

 
to carrots, and onto the more exotic.........

 
Artichoke, which I think is really beautiful. Would I have to be a princess to find one of these in my bed??

I guess this book could be for anyone who wants to impress the neighbours with an apparent bouncy of veg in their garden. Start knitting girls, you'll have the most impressive harvest ever.

Baby Bliss

Debbie Bliss has worked her magic once again. This time in creating a knitting book of baby clothes, with helpful hints and tips on how to design your own little knits, based on her patterns.

 
The little girl below looks soooo cute in her dress with it's knitted top panel and fabric skirt.

 
Simple patterns are included too.

 
I love this little hooded jacket. Easy to knit yet stylish and practical too.

 
These letter graphs included in the book, give you the opportunity to personalise your knitting.

 
I think this is a great book for anyone wanting to gain confidence and is full of projects to inspire.

It's a tough job

 
It's hard work being a shop keeper you know? Having to source beautiful eye catching items on a daily basis. Ha! not at all. It's the best job in the world & I love it. Never more so than at this time of year when the stock I've ordered, sometimes months ago, finally comes in. At this time of year it's all about presents. What people would like to give and most importantly what people would be delighted to receive.

Here's one present that ticks 2 boxes..

 

Not only would this make an excellent gift in it's own right, but it is also ideal for those who want to make special little gifts for Christmas from their own kitchen.

 
Who could resist home made Turkish Delight, dusted in icing sugar and packed in cellophane packages tied up with ribbon?

 
Or jars of marinated goats cheese, looking so lovely it seems a crime to open the jar.

 
This Honeycomb is always a hit. So easy to do, yet it never fails to make an impression.

 
Perfect for giving to neighbours these little cakes look very moreish.

 

 
Just how pretty do these sugar lumps look? Surprisingly simple to do I thought this idea was genius.

 
And how about a few pastel coloured macaroons? Presented in a prettily decorated box, what could be nicer?

 

Knit your own pet

Brand new out and such fun is this book, Knit & Purl Pets

Designed to be knitted for children who constantly ask for a pet, these little chaps will be loved by children and adults alike.

Bamber the labrador pup - less messy than the real thing.

Cute kitty, knitted in the round & very easy.

'can I have a rabbit mum'

'yes of course darling, I'll have it ready by morning!'

 You might need until the weekend to knock up this one.

How lovely is Zoom? I want one of these.

Also included are patterns for a snake, tortoise, guinea pig, mouse, rats, pony, hens, birds and even a stegosaurus - covering all possible requests!

The perfect combination

Would you believe someone has written a book about our 2 greatest pleasures?

I'll have and Earl Grey and some chunky cotton, please!

 One the face of it this does seem a somewhat strange combination for any book, but I have to say it works rather well.

The book offer an eclectic collection of tea histories & fact,

 recipes,

and even recommends a rather lovely looking tea room in Penzance.

Add to that a beautiful selection of patterns,

All with a link (all be it sometimes tenuous) to tea,

Think Green Tea,

 
 
 Ceylon

Builders

And bikers(?), but that's what I wanted the cotton yarn for!

 And I've long forgotten the tea link, but isn't this the most beautiful 'hoody' you've ever seen?

And all wrapped up with another of my favourites.....................

Meringues, cream and strawberries. This book is a winner all round, if you ask me.
 
 
 
 
 
 

A taste of things to come!

Yesterday was such a wet and windy day, my thoughts turned to winter and a feeling of dread came over me! The only glimmer of pleasure I can for-see at the moment might be a couple of hours curled up by the fire with my knitting. I'm not panicking though, I'm sure summer will return in all it's glory pretty soon - fingers crossed!

So, confident as we are that this is a brief 'autumnal' spell, this little book is just the ticket.

We wont have time to curl up by the fire for long. Just long enough to knock up something lovely from one ball.

Perhaps a pretty little hat to stop our hair blowing every where.

I love the little bag, top left.

Maybe a present for a summer baby

 
  Or a lacy shawl for those cooler summer evening.

Jump to it - the sunshine will be back on Monday (keep it close by though, it's an unsettled week!)

Book Club

For anyone who missed lasts nights book club K&N, Olive did a great job of leading the discussion on Dan Brown's Deception Point.

We selected the next book, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and chose Tuesday 31st August for our discussion meeting.

If you'd like to join in, there are plenty of cheap copies to be had on Amazon.

Sock it to them!

When I was away recently visiting my dad who is in his 90's I took it upon myself to change his bedding. Underneath his pillow I found various hankies, a very heavy torch, a map, some fisherman friends and a pen knife! All very useful stuff (though quite why you might need half of them beats me), for a man sleeping alone. However, nestled in amongst this 'manly' collection, was, what I later discovered was Mr Button. Mr Button was a sock creature. Pale blue with arms & legs and 2 huge button eyes. On further enquiry I discovered Mr Button had been made by my nephew Hamish, now 10, when my mum had died almost 3 years ago, to keep Granddad company. What touched me was that not only was this a lovely gesture but one that had obviously been really appreciated. Dad is not the soppy kind, he will cope admirably with whatever life throws at him, which can actually make it difficult to 'touch' him and where my sister and I may have struggled to let dad know we are concerned for him, Mr Button had indeed hit the button.

So, that got me thinking about sock creatures and wondering what there was in the way of books out there for ideas. I can tell you there are quite a few, of varying degrees of interest and enthusiasm. The one that struck a cord with me was this one

 
The main draw for me was the opening paragraph which reads: Forgive me if I stare at your ankles. forgive me if I hand you a business card and ask you to give me your socks'. Author and avid sock creature creator John Murphy has not only a talent for turning socks into amazing creatures, but also a very warm style of writing. With clear instructions and useful tips throughout he makes you want to go and pluck some socks off the washing line and start straight away.

 

 
Each creature comes with it's own personal introduction, warning you of any strange traits!

Lots of helpful tips & hints are scattered throughout the book.

 
 
 
A great book for a wet afternoon's crafting, but definitely too good to wait for rain, so perfect for making sat in the garden with a Pimms!

Perhaps you know someone who'd appreciate a 'Mr Button'.
 

Keep it simple

A new craft book arrived this week and I love it.

Author Kelly Doust is a long time collector and recycler with some lovely ideas. What I like most about this book is it's simplicity. It's a big chunky book of over 250 pages with a wipe cleanable cover and clear fuss free instructions for all the ideas. The projects are very do-able with minimum preparation. The book is divided into seasons offering inspiration to suit the weather and the mood - woolly project for winter, fun and pretty ones for summer.

Coloured bubbles in our house this evening, my choice & I can't wait - just need to find the children!

Lots of lovely things to make and keep or gift.
 
 

Where ever I hang my bunting - that's my home.

Remember the little hearts bunting?

Well I've found just where I want to hang mine. From an old shepherd's hut. Wouldn't that be cool?

Since the arrival of Rosie, meaning we now have 2 dogs, our thoughts are turning to caravanning. Scary I know. But it does seem like an ideal solution to the 'what do we do with the dogs' scenario, whenever a short break is needed.

I do realise that a shepherd's hut is not really the answer and that a run of the mill cheap caravan for 4 will have to do, but it doesn't stop me dreaming.

Doing up vintage caravans is very 'in' at the moment and it does seem to me to be a project I might enjoy.

Lots of opportunity to use those blankets I've made.

There are lots of inspirational stories and photographs in this book....

I'm not sure how well they'd transfer to a run of the mill second hand van - but I'd like to have a go.

Does look fun doesn't it?

This book, and all others featured on the blog are available from Angels & Petals