Monday 9 March 2015

Happy Days

 It has been a very busy week here, with work and with some happy family celebrations........but i still found a bit of time to finish off my crochet crafts bag and here are a few pictures of it...............

 .............i made the granny squares from lots of odd scraps and those little balls of yarn that you find when having a tidy up............they always look pretty and colourful and often give me ideas for new granny squares to make..........
 ...............i made 12 granny squares for each side of the bag, used the join as you go method to create the front and back pieces of the bag and used double crochet to join the two sides together...............
                       ...........i finished the bag off with some tassels in different colours.......
 .................lined it with this lovely colourful numbers fabric by michael miller..........
                            .............and made a long striped strap using double crochet.............
 ............i am considering adding a bright button and a loop to close the top but haven't done that yet.........at the moment i am keeping my new knitting project in this crafty bag........
 ..................when i had my yarn tidy up i found a surprising number of balls of pink rooster yarn....perfect to make a scarf for springtime, i decided............i am working it in popcorn stitch.......a few years ago i had a craze on making scarves in this pattern and made them for my daughters, myself and a friend, and my sister made herself one too.......i still wear my grey one a lot.....the pattern is also called trinity stitch, is only four rows (and two of those are just purl) and you can easily find it by googling it............the pink yarn is just like the hyacinths in my studio this week....
 ..................i had to put this little bunny in here today as i am very fond of it and now we are nearing the season when i am thinking about easter decorations and what i might make this year......
 ...............at the start of the last week we celebrated our wedding anniversary by going for a delicious afternoon tea to the chester grosvenor hotel..............the hotel is also celebrating an anniversary this year as it is 150 years since it opened in 1865.........they had a special loose leaf tea blend created for this year called grosvenor grey which combines cornflowers and rose petals to give an authentic victorian earl grey taste............it was delicious and so were the tiny sandwiches and cakes and scones..............a very special time for us..............
 ..............it felt like the first proper day of spring here on friday and i did a bit of my knitting sitting in the warm sunshine on the terrace, watching molly cavorting round the garden, listening to the beautiful birdsong, enjoying the scent of the gorgeous carnations in the bowl on the table (an anniversary present) and marvelling at the fact that i was finally able to sit in the garden again and not be cold.............it didn't last and the next day was chilly and windy again and rather grey........but still it won't be long till we have more of such lovely days......
..............thank you for visiting me here dear readers, i love seeing you and hearing from you too :).......i am planning a spring giveway soon as a special thank you to all my lovely readers so look out for that in the next couple of weeks............wishing you a wonderful week with happy times, sunshine and plenty of crafty inspirations..................back soon xxxxxxoooooooooxxxxxx

61 comments:

20 North Ora said...

Your bag turned out so cute. Love your little bunny with your gorgeous flowers. Bright and cheerful as always.

Have a great day dear friend.

Judy

Ingrid Orens said...

Congratulations with your wedding anniversary ! And what a festive and stylish way to celebrate it :-) !
Your granny squares bag is great - lovely lining, it combines perfectly with the colours of the yarn !!

Elderberry-Rob said...

Happy anniversary! You do choose the most delicious colours for your makes. Betty

floral and feather said...

That granny square bag is so bright and happy! I also love your new knitting colour, I've not tried popcorn stitch before but it looks great.

Home

marmarel said...

I love your finished bag and the picture of your scarf looks promising!
Greetings from Marijke

Amy at love made my home said...

Happy Anniversary!!! I hope that you have many more happy years together! I love your new bag, it is so pretty and just perfect for spring! xx

Jennifer Hays said...

Happy anniversary to both of you! It sounds like such a lovely celebration. The bag you made is so pretty! I've been thinking about making a new crocheted bag for my daughter to take to ballet class and that one might be just right. Thanks for sharing.

Rhona said...

Congratulations on your anniversary! Love your crochet bag, such gorgeous colour combinations.Enjoy the springtime warmth, unfortunately it still feels like the middle of winter here in NY!

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Happy anniversary to you and your lovely Hb, Helen and what a lovely way to spend it too!
I love your crochet bag, the colours are beautiful and your new scarf is gorgeous, such a pretty stitch. :)
Enjoy your week, hopefully with more outside days,
V x

Betty said...

Your crochet bag is so pretty and I love the colors you chose. Also like those buttons.

Art and Sand said...

Happy Anniversary!

I love your colorful bags and I have to say that my favorite part is the striped handles. I love the color choices.

Sam I Am...... said...

Oh, I so love your granny square bag! the tassels really add a nice touch to it. I did go on Google and pin several patterns of the trinity stitch and they have it in knitting and crocheting. Your scarf is so pretty in that color. Your Spring is earlier than ours. We had snow last week, now rain but the daffodils have been up for ages...no flowers just the greenery. So glad you got to sit outside in the sun. Happy Belated Anniversary and how nice to go to an old hotel with such grandeur and tradition. I love carnations and the smell of them.
Have joyous week dear Helen! I have to celebrate St. Patrick's Day before Easter comes. LOL! I am part Irish and part English. My maternal grandmother was English and my maternal grandfather was Irish. I don't count my paternal side as he left when I was a baby so he gets no credit at all! LOL!

Pat said...

I always love to read your latest post - the photography and your projects lift my spirits and make me happy! Thank you for sharing your lovely creations with all of us1 Happy day to you! peks1001(at)yahoo(com)

Cindy said...

The granny square bag turned out so pretty - now I want to make one!
Happy anniversary to you both. Have a great week!

SuperMomNoCape said...

Your granny square craft bag turned out so pretty. I love the number fabric you used for the lining.

Teresa Kasner said...

Your granny bag is simply gorgeous.. such pretty candy colors!

*H*A*P*P*Y* * *A*N*N*I*V*E*R*S*A*R*Y*!*!* to you and your husband, it looks like you picked *the* perfect place to celebrate!

I hope you have a lovely week and I look forward to seeing what you do for a giveaway. I'm planning one too.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

homemade@myplace said...

such a happy bag!!!!!
xxxxx Ale

Jane said...

Good morning dear Helen. What great celebrations you enjoyed, a happy anniversary to you both for last week. Your crochet bag is gorgeous and I love the material lining, it makes is look very sturdy too. The weather is getting there isn't it, enjoy your time in the garden when you can. Hugs xx

Lize said...

Wow, what a beautiful pictures and colours. I love them. Your bag is very pretty I like it so much.

Concratulations with your wedding anniversary.

Unknown said...

Happy wedding anniversary your day out looked lovely nice to be treated to high tea :-) Love your bag the colours are so pretty and delicate. I to sat outside on Friday and did some crochet in the garden it was so lovely to feel the warmth of the sun lets hope for some more days like that soon :-) dee x

KC'sCourt! said...

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary.
Your crochet bag is absolutely wonderful, and you have just inspired me to make one!
Julie xxxxxxxx

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Your crochet bag is so pretty Helen...the colors are gorgeous and I love the tassel decoration too :)
I have pink hyacinths in my workroom at the moment and I only wish they would last longer as they are a real favourite!
Spring is just around the corner and it's lovely to see some bursts of sunshine but there are still too many cold days here too!
♥ hApPy aNnIvErSaRy! ♥
Susan x

Kay said...

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary. It does all look rather special there at the hotel, nobody does afternoon tea like the British. x

Jane said...

Lovely bag Helen and great for storing crafty projects, I confess all my WIPs are in plastic bags - most unattractive! Gorgeous pink Rooster yarn, lovely for spring. Congratulations on your wedding anniversary, tea looks wonderful. Have a lovely week. Jane xx

Ladybird Diaries said...

Your bag is beautiful Helen! I really want to make one now, you have inspired me...it will be a nice change from making blankets ;-) Many congratulations on your wedding anniversary.
Marianne x

Annerose said...

Hallo Helen, nachträglich noch alles Liebe und Gute zu eurem Hochzeitstag, das sieht ja wunderschön aus wie ihr gefeiert habt.
Und deine neue Tasche ist ganz toll geworden. Sie passt genau in den Frühling. Ich wünsche dir eine gute Zeit und schicke liebe Grüße Annerose

forgetmenotsblue said...

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary. I really love the colours you've used in your bag and the little tassels just finish it off a treat!! x

Kjersti Eriksen said...

Your bag turned out beautiful! Love the colors you use for your projects and how you put them together. Visiting your blog always makes me happy and totally inspired. Love, love, love your pictures and projects. Thank you so much for sharing :-) Regards from Norway

flowers on my table said...

Hello Helen, congratulations on your Anniversary. I love the sound of that tea party with the unusual tea!Loving everything really. Isn't it such a joy to see the sunshine...happy days indeed! Much love to you, Linda x

Unknown said...

Congratulations Helen on your anniversary!! Mine is next month... I love your crochet bag with its cute little tassels.... You've definitely inspired me to make one for my girls, Pati x

Frances said...

Helen, I'm sending along continued Happy Anniversary wishes to you and your husband. That special tea definitely did look very special. Nice to have the hotel's anniversary tea on the menu, too.

I do like you new bag...adding those tassels gives a whimsical touch that works so well with the light-hearted colors of the yarn and the lining.

I'll have a little search for the Trinity Stitch...it seems very akin to stitches I've used in aran knitting and quite a few Patricial Roberts designs. Your pink scarf will be lovely.

Your being able to enjoy some knitting outdoors in sunshine sounds so pleasant. I'm glad to report that over here in NYC, things are at last beginning to warm up. Snow and ice and melting! xo

Beca said...

Hubby and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary last week too. So a happy anniversary to both of you. Your crochet bags are delightful! So much inspiration here.
xx Beca

scrappyjacky said...

Happy Anniversary....the tea sounds wonderful.
I love the crochet bag as well.

handmade by amalia said...

Love the bag! The tassels are such a nice finishing touch.
Amalia
xo

Pat's Patch said...

Happy anniversay - the tea looked delicious. Your crochet bag is so pretty and just right for your knitting.l love all the colours.love Pat

Kate said...

Happy Anniversary Helen! Your craft bag is so cheery - love the colours. I enjoyed your pix. ^^

Judith said...

I must say Happy Anniversary to you both! I have to tell you how much I enjoy your blog and your bright and cheery crafts. When I see your post I go right to it! I can't believe how much you accomplish!
I especially like your love of strawberries. That is right up my alley. I live in Michigan and actually grow organic strawberries, although now they are still covered with snow.
Thanks so much for your inspiration!

Thimbleanna said...

I love your pretty new little bag Helen. I was thinking how much it reminded me of a crochet bag I had when I was a teen and then I scrolled down to see the tassles -- just perfect, as mine had tassles too LOL! Love Love Love your pretty, springy colors!

Susan said...

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary. Such a lovely way to celebrate. Thank you for another colorful and cheerful post. I always leave your blog with a smile and usually motivated to make (or finish) something colorful and pretty. :)

claire said...

Happy Anniversary Helen. Your Springtime home is so inspiring and uplifting. Have great week.

Lin from A {tiny} Cottage In The Woods said...

All so very bright and beautiful!
Enjoy!!!
Hugs,
Lin

Gillian said...

I love your bag. Gorgeous colours and so useful too.

Robbienae said...

Your crochet bag is precious. I love the cheerful colors. Also, the lovely pink flowers and white bunny bring a smile to my face. Happy Anniversary!

Simone said...

Lovely crochet bag and I think the tassels really add something extra special to it. Happy Wedding Anniversary! x

Cream Linen said...

Congratulations on your anniversary!
I like your crochet bag a lot , it is pretty and useful.
Have a nice spring time.
Tina xxx

Madelief said...

Your bag looks beautiful Helen! Hope do you find the time to make all those things....

What a delight it is to be able to sit in the garden again. Wishing you many sunny spring like days!

Madelief x

driftwood said...

love the bag, and the gorgeous tassels x and happy anniversary to you, your celebration sounds amazing xxx

driftwood said...

love the bag, and the gorgeous tassels x and happy anniversary to you, your celebration sounds amazing xxx

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hi Dear Helen, Sorry I've missed so many of your lovely posts. I have a lot of catching up to do! Love love love your granny square bag, love the colors and tassels. Button? who doesn't love buttons : )
Happy Anniversary to you both, ours is tomorrow the 12th❤️ I have done the trinity stitch before, it is a wonderful stitch and so much fun, love all the beautiful pinks!
Happy day and March to you, xoRobin

Taci simmons said...

Hi Helen,
I found you through Teresa Kasner. She is a good friend and we both live here in the Pacific Northwest in portland or. I love your bag and flower and your lovely blog. I'm going to come back for sure. Happy belated Aniversary to you.

sew said...

Anniversary greetings from me too - no better place to celebrate!

Sophie's mom said...

Just found your blog, what a beautiful page. Those incredible tulips and lovely crochet work. Thanks for a glimpse of Spring.
Pat

Ana Love Craft said...

Hello dear Helen! I love your granny square bag and the tassels are a lovely detail! Your flowers are always a delight to my eyes! Happy anniversary!
Have a wonderful day and weekend!
Hugs and love from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

Miss said...

The beg is very nice Helen, and you give me the taste to make one...
I am looking forward to your spring scarf. The pink is beautiful as always pink...
I am in my pink mood...
Have a great weekend,
Miss xx

moonstruckcreations said...

I love your bag Helen, what a great way to use up little odds and ends of yarn!

Spring must surely be on its way...

Helenxx

Unknown said...

Lovely bag,Helen. It's fun to find new ways to use up granny squares. A belated Happy Anniversary. Time is flying......Happy Mother's Day to you and your daughters!!!

Anne at PlumCreek22 xx

Linda said...

Such a lovely bag. I always love the colours you use, pastels but somehow vibrant. The hyacinth pink knitting looks fabulous. A belated Happy Anniversary! Your afternoon tea looked very special.

Jo said...

That is a great bag. I wish my scraps were that inspiring! I have a tilda giveaway if you pop over to my blog anyone? Jo x

Ingrid K. said...

Hi Helen!

I always enjoy reading your page!!

Reall love your new bag, it's so cheerful and happy looking!

Have a wonderful week!
Ingrid xx
http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

Véro said...

Bravo,Helen!Your grannysquare bag is relly wnderfull!

Antonella said...

Bellissima borsa e bellissimi colori, complimenti, ma cosa mettere nel fondo per rimanere rigida? La maglia scende troppo quando metti qualcosa dentro?