Two Little Birdies

I've spent a few hours this weekend crocheting little birds.  I've been wanting to make one of these for a long time, but just haven't got around to it.  This was my first one:

Not bad for a first attempt, me thinks.  I apologise for the poor quality photo; too dark to take it indoors and still not really light enough outside, so the flash has washed the colour out.  It should be a sage green with pale pink button eyes and bright pink wings.  My second attempt turned out completely different, even though I used the same stich and type of wool:

So much better!  I crocheted the wings this time rather than using felt, and the button eyes were a creamy white with a brass pin and shank.  These were both made from whatever wool I had to hand and old buttons from the button tin, which holds buttons inherited from my Grandmother as well as my mother.  Here they are together:

You can really see the difference.  I much prefer Pink Lady.  The eyes are better, the beak is much, much better and she seems to have more character.  Green man looks a little sniffy turning his beak up like that!  What do you think?

I've really enjoyed making these and want to crochet lots more.  I can see them hanging on the tree at Easter, or even in the garden during the Summer.  My mind is buzzing with places to put them and I have one of two other ideas along the bird line that I want to try, but more about that another time.

Hope you've all had a crafty weekend.  Til next time XXX

The Weekend

My weekend was somewhat scuppered by a Migraine attack.  I had allowed myself to become VERY STRESSED at work last week, particularly Thursday and Friday which resulted in THE MIGRAINE.  I had great plans for this weekend too, as I was feeling unusually full of energy and wanting to GET THINGS DONE.  C was back in the bathroom putting up more tiles (one wall finished top to bottom, yeah) as I sat and rested.  The migraine tablets took away the pain, but left me feeling like a zombie, as always, and I had the usual blurred vision in my right eye and so was unable to read, or watch TV or do anything, really.

Saturday did start out OK with a trip to the bank and a looksy in the local charity shops but by the time I had arrived home I knew I had to sit still for the rest of the day, otherwise the attack would be severe.  So, Saturday and Sunday saw me 'resting', although by Sunday afternoon I was feeling better and able to see OK and so I decided I would start on my next project :: a blanket for the living room.  Remember the cushion I made earlier?  The wool I used goes so well with the other furnishings that I'm going to use it again for the blanket. I cast on 200 stitches and managed two rows.  I am aiming to do at least one row every day so it grows at a reasonable pace.  I'll keep you posted with its progress.

Ta-Da!

Its finished!

WiP

My latest WiP (work in progress) is a cushion cover. Earlier this year we bought two new armchairs and they looked a little bland sitting without any cushions on, so I turfed out a few cushion covers I had put aside for a rainy day and decided only one would be suitable.

After a comment from my husband along the lines of "something you've made would look good" I decided I would crochet the second one. So off I went on a trip to the Post Office for wool, not really thinking there would be anything suitable colour-wise, and was surprised to find this lovely ball ...

Isn't it just gorgeous? There were several colours in it that would match in with the existing decor of the front room and new chair fabric, so I bought it and started to crochet :: I wasn't sure how it would knit up, but thought simple double-crochet would show off the colours without competing and now I've done a chunk I absolutely LOVE it and it matches well with the chair fabric.

Re-Kindled Love

A year or so ago I decided to pick up the crochet hook once more. I had been seduced by the newly emerged interest in knitting and all things made of wool. I had done a bit of crocheting years ago and still had a crochet hook in my sewing box. I found a bit of wool (probably left over from all those years ago!) and soon rediscovered how much I had enjoyed doing it back then. So, having got 'the bug' again I bought a few cheap balls of wool, from the local Post Office no less, and started to play. Could I remember how to do a granny square? Yes, I could, albeit a little wonky. My creative juices were flowing and I was having fun. How about if I change colour? And what if I change the stitch? Soon my first piece was done. A smallish blanket that wasn't very flat! Made a mental note to work on tension on the next piece. Now what could I use this for? I didn't want to undo it, nor throw it away. Then, suddenly it hit me! I remembered my computer chair was a little too blue for my liking and didn't look very welcoming. Would this blanket give it a lift? Yes, look. It fits perfectly as if it were made for it! Of course I tell every one I did make it to fit this chair.

Looks good, huh?