Crochet update.....

Hello again...

Just a few snaps to keep you up to date with crochet wips

The ripple for Little J is coming along nicely, just finished row 96, so over half way now....

This was going to be for me, but, Little A has decided she likes it and it matches her bedroom, so she will have this one and I will make myself a ripple!!

I always try to take a ball out when it is just me and the little people...

This little guy made a sneaky appearance one Sunday afternoon, cute eh?  You can find his pattern over here

See ya xxxxxxxxxxx

More bits and bobs......

Hello

Just a few photos of bits and bobs that I have been snapping in January....

Valentine's designs

Lots of tea drinking..........

Ham, melted cheese and slow roasted red onions with French's mustard

Orange sweet buns...(warm with poached egg, streaky bacon and maple syrup for breakfast is the BEST)

Slow roast veg to cheer up some couscous, I'm really trying hard to love like that stuff

Ripples and ripples and ripples.................

January - what I am up to....

Hello everyone, how is January treating you? I don't get on with January so I am plodding through and looking froward to February with a vengeance, I want to do ballet and swimming in the daylight again, I want to get up in the daylight again...enough of these dark, grey cold months!!

My running is improving...I did three sets of 5 mins today with a short spell of walking between and then a nice yoga session when I got home...5 mins of running sounds pathetic when you say it out loud, but, when I first started I struggled with 1 minute!! Anyhow I am pleased with myself....

There was a cake sale a Little J's school, so I knocked up these little pretties for him...I didn't even bother to take a photo of the delights he bought home in return..ermmmmm.....

My crochet along is coming along nicely, I love making blankets, it is starting to get cosy now....

Lots of lovely slow cooker dinners, tonight it's spaghetti and meatballs. I made an baked the meatballs and then added them to my tomato pasta sauce and they will simmer away quite happily..I have left some out as the kids prefer them without the sauce...hey, their choice!!

An 18th Birthday cake left the Niki M Cakes kitchen at the weekend and this week there is loads of prep for next weeks cakes...better start advertising Valentines designs soon and I've already done my Easter ones! Get me!!

Anyway, enough of my rambling, that's how I feel today......catch up with all you lovelies soon
 xxxx

Poncho Ta ta ta tata ta DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH

Hello Lovelies

I hop you are all well and enjoying better weather than we are here?? Rain, wind, rain, wind..you get the picture...does not make for pleasant school runs, if there is such a thing..

Anyway I just wanted to show you my poncho!!  I love it, love it, love it..it was really quick and easy to make....I wish I had not used a bigger hook for the neck as I would of preferred it tighter, but, all in all I am chuffed...want to have a look then?

That last picture doesn't really do it's colours justice, but the light here is awful, but I am sure you get the idea and you will no doubt see me wearing it about the place soon....I have done quite a lot more rows than the pattern suggests, just because I like my poncho's longer..that's just the way I roll!!!!

Bye for now xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bits and bobs

Hello...how are you all?  January is trying it's hardest to beat me, but, I am fighting back.....I don't know about you, but I seem to be all behind, what with a mad busy December, Christmas, New Year, Husband and kids off work.....my cleaning routine fell by the wayside and I have struggled to get back into 'normal' mode, whatever counts as normal round here anyway!!

But, I am back on track and if I do all my jobs today, I can have a real proper day off tomorrow, it is such a rare treat I can hardy remember what to do!!!  From 9am until 3pm I can sit and crochet, drink tea, read magazines, watch telly and not with an ounce of guilt..so I must be quick here and get back to the jobs!!

I have a little list of household 'stuff' that I use to keep me on track, not very exciting I know, but useful, stops me having to think anyway!!

I have also started a new one of these...anyone know what it is?  I'm not telling you yet, I will show you a photo soon of the end result..

Oh, and just because I can, I have got this gorgeous little creation on the go....it is for Little J and he is not that keen on the colours now he has seen them in the flesh, but he likes looking at pictures of it when finished!! Boys eh...a different species, I have no idea?!?

Oh and before I forget another cake I did for last weekend, these are becoming pretty popular and Little A has decided she would like one even though her birthday is months and months away!!

Now, I really must dash...ironing beckons me...I know how to live!!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Poncho

I saw this cute little pattern the other week whilst reading through Attic24 and I have to admit I love a poncho.  I do have one already, it is dark blue, from Next and has tassles and I really like and it does get quite a few comments....but, this one in Simply crochet is just fab....unfortunately issue 25 had left the shops, so I ordered it online, went over to Wool Warehouse to make my colour selection (they were running a 25% off discount) made my purchase and then got busy with the million other jobs that required my attention the week before Christmas...

So, now, I am all ready to go, wool, hooks, pattern, a couple of free hours...

I am using different colours to those in the magazine, my main colour is a light grey and then some nice greys, blues and a few brights to liven it up.....should be good....I'll keep you posted

xx

2015, The Plan.....

WE have been out and about a few times, just pottering really, not wanting to stray too far from the comforts of home, but it is still nice to get out in the fresh air and blow away the cobwebs and walk off some of the over indulgence that the festive season always seems to park at my door!!

I don't make New Year's resolutions, but  I do have some goals that I wish to aim for in 2015:-

   - grow my business
   - banish my belly once and for all (6 pack please)
   - run 5km in a respectable time
 
now onto the exciting stuff     CROCHET....

   - make a poncho
   - make a coastal ripple blanket for little J (This is a crochet along and starts in a couple of weeks)
   - make a cottage ripple for little A
   - Finish Bright Grannie Square blanket
   - start cushion covers
   - make more face cloths
   - scarf/cowl

And then just to be the best Mum, wife and friend that I can be.

So do tell me what have you got planned?

xxxxx

Baby Blanket......Da, Da, Da, Da, Da - Dah.........

Hello everyone and a Happy New Year. I hope you all enjoyed a very pleasant holiday....it has been completely hectic here, small children and Father Christmas, presents, chocolates, sweets....far too many toys.....

But, over the break I have managed to complete the Summer Baby Blanket. My nephew's baby is not due until the summer so I can pop it away in the box and know that my pressie for the new arrival is all sorted....I usually sow a small heart button into the corner of my blankets, but, as this is for a new born I have made a small crochet heart and attached that instead (Health and Safety at work!!)

So without further adue, please let me introduce you to the Summer Baby Blanket.....

It's not huge, but good for pram or car seat.

Technical info:

Wool   -   Stylecraft DK
Amount   -   Hard to say as all odd and ends from other projects
Hook   -   4mm
Pattern   -   Cosy Stripe by Lucy at Attic24
Time to make   -   quick
Experience Level   -   Easy

Byeeeee xx

It's Chritmas time.......

Now, I am sure I speak for most of us when I say that things are pretty hectic, the panic is rising and there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done..... I have been busy at school Nativities, helping out in the school creche, wrapping, buying and baking.....2 more carol concerts to go on Friday, one more day of work on Tuesday and then I can relax......yippee!!

Here are just a few snaps captured over the last week

I just love this wreath that was hanging in the Restaurant, so stylish, wish it was gracing my lounge wall!!

This little dotty number caught my eye, 2 of them in bone china, half price.....coffee tastes a treat out of it............

A frozen inspired cake for a young ladies birthday....

Just 2 of the cheeky Christmas chaps, I have been making.....

And then of course, just in case there was the slightest chance that I didn't have enough to do, my nephew's wife announces the arrival of a summer bundle of cuddles.....so off I run to my wool stash and dig out loads of colours left over from my granny stripe.... a quick little baby blanket to see me over the Christmas hols...

I would like to thank you all for following along with my chatter.....blogging is still early days for me and I don't think I have settled into my own style as yet....but next year I will be 'all over it'

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I hope Santa brings you all you wish for and more besides....health and happiness to you all...

Fondest wishes........Niki xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Do you want to know a secret?

SSHHHHHHHHhhhhh......

Don't tell anybody, but look what I have......it's hidden at the very top of my wardrobe.....can you tell what it is?

Shall I tell you?

Promise not to tell anyone....

It is the Coastal Ripple colour pack from the lovely Attic 24 shop over at Wool Warehouse...............

I am starting a CAL (crochet a long) in January with a friend.....she is a beginner, so we are aiming to make it in 3 months.........feel free to join in if you wish...this blanket will be for Little J when it is finished and then I will move on to another ripple for Little A, whilst completing my greanny square blankets...they are so much easier to just pop into your bag when you nip out!!

But ssshhhhhh it's a secret :)

xxx

Repairing the love......

Hello lovelies, I cannot believe it has been so long since I was last here...apologies...

The last two weeks have been mayhem with work, school, christmas, more work, more school, jogging, working out....housework, gosh mustn't forget the housework!!  Washing, laundry, ironing and on and on it goes in a never ending circle...It's not just me, so I shouldn't moan but oh how I wish I could wave Little A's magic wand and all the mundane chores were done!!  Here's hoping...

So my Little A loves her blanket, loves it a little too much.....it was my first blanket project, other than baby blankets, so I have to admit it is a bit hit and miss in places, so it didn't come as to big a surprise to see a little hole appear.....

So coffee pot at the ready a quick repair job was undertaken....

There all back to as good as new, maybe even better than new....who knows??

bye for now
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ta - dah, Ta - dah, Ta - Daaaaaaaaaah

Well this has been an absolute pleasure, my biggest project by far, probably started it in March time and then other little projects have got in the way, oh and yes the summer, was a bit warm crocheting this whilst sitting outside!!

Lots of balls of wool, lots of ends sewn in and now I can just snuggle, just in time for the Winter when I will be snuggling on the sofa with the telly and tea for company.....bliss.

Ok, photos I hear you say, I was just imagining in my head snuggling on Christmas Eve under this lovely stripey watching something good on TV with a nice cold glass of fizz, but hey...come back now that is another story...

Right then Giant Grannie Stripe started here......

And now it will live here....

But, it looks equally at home here....and I don't really want to hide it away upstairs just yet, so whilst I am working on my sofa Grannie Square, I think I will leave it here....

I love the final picot edge...

 Stripey, stripey, stripey......

I used the colours picked out by Lucy at Attic 24 in her original colour pack and I bought 2 of the packs, but I do have yarn left and I did use some for other items...so altogether a very good value blanket, which has bought me hours of pleasure and will continue to do so.

Now my basket has the next project all lined up to complete...