Where did March go?

 I can't believe it's been a month since my last post? Where did the month go? But it was full of little happy moments!

I felted the project bag which is already in use on the coffee table, twice at 40 degrees produced a nice felt.

I made my sister a heart wreath as she started coveting mine and this is her photo of it proudly displayed in her kitchen

Finished knitting the sock for my spring wreath. But as you can see from the photo below it needed to be wider as it's pulled too tight and you can see the ring beneath it.

I chose the colour yarns for the flowers and leaves assisted by Indiana. Luckily I had just the right colours in 100% wool.

Lots of fun knitting the flowers and leaves, (this is before felting). And then.........

Ta-dah!!!!

This was ready for the official first day of Spring on the 21st of March but only because I cheated and used pins to attach the flowers...ssssh don't tell anyone!

 Close up so you can see the cheaty pins!

Hung up in pride of place..how lucky is that fit? Not sure it's a raging success but as always I learnt from it. Notes to self.....knit the sock wider and felt the flowers at 60 not 40 and learn to crochet as crochet flowers look better than knitted ones!

We have also been down to what counts as the seaside for us.....Severn Beach and the  Severn Estuary. This is the new bridge the Second Severn crossing. 

Severn beach was once the Blackpool of the West and sadly it's all gone. It's a local joke these days but it once was a thriving resort that the Edwardian's and Victorians  and right up to the 1960's that people flocked to.

There is something still magical about old seaside places and something so very British. I can't explain but I'm sure you know what I mean.

This is the original suspension bridge in the murky distance.

We visited on one Sunday as a wet and windy dog walk. Although Moushka wasn't allowed in the sea as it's also VERY muddy. She is looking longingly at it with David.

We walked up to the Salt marshes to listen to the call of oyster catchers and see what other birds were about.

And the yellow of the lichen really stood out on this dull day

And the sea is making a small sea forest from branches by sticking them up in the flood defences.

We came back the following weekend on our bicycles when we were having the Spring tides on Equinox weekend. I have never seen the tide out so far, it felt like you could walk across to Wales. It is one of the highest tidal ranges in the world and to see it empty like this and then imagine a 10M tide filling it....that's an awful lot of water!!

We had a good cycle about through the nearby villages of Northwick, Old and New Passage and came back for coffee and cake at the Cafe, completely voiding any good the cycling had done us! Oh well!!

So my Happy Friday is recalling my Happy March and it's not quite over yet!

Many thanks to my sister Julia for this bit of woolly happiness that arrived in the post! I'm calling her Myrtle and she is guarding my stitch markers at present.

Please pop over to  http://planetpenny.co.uk/ to spread the happy Friday vibe!

Red Nose Day

It's a perfect sunny day early spring day outside and it's given me a real lift after the cold wet days of late. I even saw a little honey bee earlier having an explore, but there isn't much for them to eat at present apart from snowdrops and a few early daffs.

The days may be getting longer but they seem to be more full as well, or is that just me cramming more in ? It's hard to believe February is almost over and March is upon us, but it feels as if Spring is well under way at last.

I've been enjoying the Comic Relief bake off on TV and this inspired me to make some stitch markers and sell them for Red Nose Day as I know they'll turn out better than my baking!

I had some lovely bright red beads in the bead box which were just perfect for the job.

Strung on red wire with gold crimps they look very jolly. I've listed them at £4.99 with £2 of it to be donated, so fingers crossed they raise some money for all the good causes Comic Relief support at home and abroad.

Wishing everyone a Happy Friday  and a great weekend and lets hope the weather isn't going to be as bad as they say!

Please visit  http://planetpenny.co.uk/ to spread the happy Friday vibe!

Happy Fridayness

This week my little daffodils have made me happy with their nodding heads on my windowsill.

I was inspired by Clare over at http://summerhousebythesea.blogspot.co.uk to finish up some of those WIP's, so I got out my knit n felt project bag and did the last few rows to make it ready to go in the machine for felting. I have no idea why I left this so close to being finished, literally 5 rounds and it was done?! I'll post a picture once it's been felted.

I have cracked on with the sock for my Spring wreath. I had real trouble finding a pattern for a long sock to fit the 35cm ring, so had to make one up. Size 5mm needles, stylecraft DK cast on 29 and knit until long enough! I will do a better post with the pattern once it's nearer completion.

Last Saturday we popped over to Thornbuy to visit the http://www.thewoolstop.co.uk/ Tina was very welcoming and helpful. Her shop was like the best stash you've ever seen! I shall be going back for more yarn and a giggle in the future. At least I have all the colours I need for the wreath now.

I'm happy that we found Edward after his mystery night away last weekend. He has been under house arrest all week and seems quite content about it. I'm not looking forward to him shedding his winter coat as he objects sorely to being brushed and tries to nip me. I try and do a little everyday much to his disgust. It's like owning 2 cats as he looks so different in the summer, but that's Norwegian Forest cats for you!

House arrest means Xbox all day...Hurrah!

Summer coat

Winter Coat

I was also happy to be in the supermarket at he exact time they gave away free flowers! I picked up some rather thirsty looking tulips but overnight they perked up and look fab and are even more enjoyable that they were free!

So I have had lots of little things to make me happy this week and I'm grateful! Wishing you all a great weekend!

Bunting, hearts and needles

After the Christmas garland had come down the fire place seemed a little bare so to bust some of the stash I decided to knit some bunting. I'm not entirely happy with the colours but it made a dent in the DK pile at least. Excuse the dust on top of the fire, I've only just noticed!

I found the bunting pattern here  http://greenmountainmama.blogspot.co.uk/2007/10/knitted-bunting-pattern.html

But I found my bunting curled so I knitted  smaller garter ones (cast on 23) which I sewed to the back which straightened them out.


Flowers were buttercups from Nicky Epsteins Knitted flower book http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/buttercups

I also was inspired by Lucy's heart garland over at http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/. But I still haven't made time to learn to crochet so I knitted mine instead.

Lots of fun knitting up these little buttercup flowers and they were a hit with the cats who liked to steal and play with them...one has yet to be found!

Not sure I like the garter leaves I should have done stocking stitch ones instead.

But the finished result is bright and pretty, perfect for February.

Running a retail business means you have to be ahead of the game with regards to universal events like Valentines day. So I ordered beads and charms in early January so overseas customers had time to order and receive them. I like these little 10mm heart charms with their slightly different designs.

Another departure for Crafty Cat is to buy in some knitting needles and hooks to cover more of the yarn experience for my customers. I fell in love with these brightly coloured bamboo circulars. The 80cm cord is nice and flexible and the wood smooth.

These crochet hooks have rubber handles making them very comfortable to use and again just my bright colours!

I made myself a row counter a while ago and sat down to make some for sale. I came up with 2 colour ways as these aluminum jump rings are so light to use.

And that brings me to snow envy! I love snow! I love being out in it, I love how it changes the quality of light that you wake up and just can tell it's snowed. I love how it covers  everything and makes all pristine for however little time.I love to watch the animals reaction to this change in their world. The feel of snowflakes against my cheek, AAAhhh SNOW and we have had NONE. I feel cheated and left out. Photograph below is the sad offering we have had here in Bristol and that melted pretty quickly too. Huummphh. At least my tulips are alive.

I recently found http://planetpenny.co.uk/ and this is my first Happy Friday!