Monday 30 May 2016

Crafty Catch Up

 It's a beautiful sunny bank holiday monday here.....and i am having a crafty catch up.........
 .............this is the v stitch crochet baby blanket i've been making recently..........
 .............i wanted to try a new crochet stitch and discovered that i really LoVe this one :) .....
 ............so easy to do and i love crocheting trebles....and using lots of scrappy yarns from my stash with a row of white in between made for a fresh and summery colour scheme............
 ................this little blanket was soon finished and next i am going to make a bigger one for myself  so that i can keep on working those pretty zig zags for a lot longer......
 ..............the yarns are mainly from the stylecraft special dk range, with a few extras from my travels around that i haven't made a note of.....now that stylecraft have brought out a few new colours though their collection pretty much covers any i might have found elsewhere............
 ................i photographed the baby blanket on the cot we have at our house for visiting grandchildren....i got it over eight years ago when charlie was born and below is his little ck boat print teddy from that time too.....we keep it here in case baby rhys wants to cuddle it......

 ..............and here is baby rhys himself helping model the stripy baby blanket on this sunny day....
 .............besides doing crochet i have been sewing up a lot of patchwork and am so inspired at the moment that my to do list is just growing longer and longer :) .......
 ................i also spend some of my crafty time designing cross stitch, often for magazines and often i just create the charts on my computer and then the magazines get them stitched......above is a little peek at the chart for the summer sampler that world of cross stitching magazine are offering specially to subscribers............one of a set of the four seasons..........
 .................cross stitch and patchwork combine in this summery project that i made for this month's issue of crafts beautiful magazine..........this little sewing set is called raspberry keepsakes...........

 and below is a sneak peek at some adorable new fabric that has come all the way across the world from lovely jodie of vintage ricrac in australia............this is her delicious new bunny trails fabric and very soon i will show you what i have been making with it.......
................finally i must tell you who is the winner of the candy bloom button houses giveaway.......thank you to everyone who took part.............the winner is peta cowan........please email me your postal address, peta, and i will send your little houses to you :)................there will be more giveaways coming soon......... thanks for dropping by and for all your kind comments........wishing you all a happy, sunny, crafty week ahead.........back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

37 comments:

Jacky H said...

Hi Helen you've had a busy week.
Congratulations to Pet for winning.
I must try your new crochet stitch it looks very effective. I've had a busy week here in spain.
I'm sewing a fairy garland for my granddaughter .And crotchet a pink blanket and I've also pick up a tapestry which i started some years ago.
So thank you for the inspiration with all the lovely projects that you do.
Jacky

Ali said...

Always so pretty xxx Have a great week xx

KC'sCourt! said...

Beautiful blanket, gorgeous colours
Julie xxxxxxx

PamKittyMorning said...

what a sweet little baby! I always love all your pretty projects and photos. And yes, that Jodie is so clever, her new fabric is adorable!

pens and needles said...

How it brightens a busy Monday morning to find your newest blogpost pop up in my Inbox! Beautiful and inspiring, as usual -- wish I had just a fraction of your creativity and a whole lot of your ability to really MAKE and DO.

Judith said...

Do you use a software program to design your cross stitch patterns? Would love to know how. Thanks.

V stitch blanket is awesome!

crazydazy said...

Gorgeously V stitch blanket. ...great for stash busting.

crazydazy said...

Gorgeously V stitch blanket. ...great for stash busting.

bj said...

I love every single thing you do...and enjoy your beautiful presentations of your projects...such lovely colors in your beautiful photos...

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Brightening my day by visiting your blog with all the pretty eye candy!
warmly,
deb

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Oh I love your baby blanket Helen.....so pretty!
Your gorgeous little stitched raspberries are so sweet too!
Im looking forward to seeing what you make with your lovely new fabric. :)
Have a great week,
V x

Gracie Saylor said...

Thanks for sharing a glimpse of sweet Rhys along with your pretty new makes, Helen. It is a holiday here as well, Memorial Day, and I am planning on going camping for a little over a week...taking plenty of crafting projects with me! Wishing you happy productive days. xxxxxxxxx

Cindy said...

I just love that blanket! Did you use a special pattern or can I find the stitch online? I also love your raspberry set. Combining cross stitch and patchwork is so pretty. Have a great week, my friend!

Teresa Kasner said...

Oh Helen... I've seen many V stitch projects, but yours is the only one that I've totally loved... it's the way you've made the colors pop with the alternating white rows. It kind of looks like rick-rack! It looks like you're happily immersed in lots of fun designs. Thanks for showing us a bit of baby Rhys, he looks so adorable! What a good grandma you are! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Jo@awholeplotoflove said...

I love the blanket I want one now and I do have some yarn to use up!!xx

sew said...

I'm currently crocheting a ripple blanket but your cheery post makes me want to
1. Try the V stitch
2. Cuddle that little person called Rhys!

All gorgeous, as always.

Teje said...

Dear Helen, just what i needed at the moment! Sweet, cute lovely post filled with beautiful things! You have the talent to make it look like you live in a fairytale! Best, sunny wishes from busy busy Crete! x Teje

Christine B said...

Congratulations to Peta! I love your new blanket and baby Rhys looks adorable! Glad you had some nice sunny weather for the weekend.... it is pouring with rain here this morning!! Have a lovely week! Christine x

Cream Linen said...

What a pretty baby blanket, Helen!
Your grandson is the perfect model for it.
love,
Tina x

Jenn M said...

Such pretty projects - again! I have been eyeing the v-stitch blankets as well and think that might be my next big blanket choice. I love the candy colours in yours and the white really makes it look fresh. But more importantly: I just love those chubby little hands holding the blanket! Oh my gosh I love those little dimples!
Good luck with the rest of your ideas: May seems to be an inspirational time for many as I have seen in blog-land.
Happy Days!
Jenn

Frances said...

Helen, I like what you write about the joy of imagining many new projects. Sometimes ideas just bubble up and some notes or sketches need to be made quickly before the idea drifts. I've got several sketchbooks that contain notations of fleeting inspirations.

As always, it's grand visiting here! Congratulations to the lucky winner of the little houses. xo

Annerose said...

Eine süße Häkeldecke und das bestickte Hexagonblümchen ist so lieblich.
Liebe Grüße Annerose

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Lovely blanket. The V stitch looks like fun.

Beca said...

The blanket is so cheery. Perfect for a little one.
xx Beca

Things and Thoughts said...

Another fantastic blanket! I think I'll try this pattern.
Greetings from Greece
Olympia

Elderberry-Rob said...

congratulations to your winner. Your latest blanket is lovely and fresh with the white. Betty

Kim said...

Fabulous projects as usual, Helen. The colors get me even more excited for the season. Cute baby, too!! :)

Lady Linda said...

What adorable projects and colors! Everything just makes me so happy. You cheered me up with this visit.Just charming.

Blondie's Journal said...

Oh my goodness, Helen! This is such a pretty and happy blanket. The row of white really makes difference. I love your cross-stitch asnwell. My daughter is having a baby girl in a few months (her first) and my creativity begins and ends with cross-stitch so I'm hoping to make something pretty. I KNOW it will take awhile!! But, a labor of love all the same.

Hugs to you,

Jane

cristina said...

Helen Hello! I love his new blanket! stitch V I did not like before much, but now that I have seen in his new work I believe that now it will be a stitch that I'll have to try ...! this baby is so beautiful! Congrats for all these beautiful things that you always makes... Thank you again for sharing your world, Helen! A big hug!

Simone said...

That's a lovely blanket Helen and so fresh with the inclusion of white stripes. The weather has been dreadful here with torrential rain so it is good to visit your sunny blog. x

Jane said...

The V stitch blanket is so pretty Helen, what a great way to use up scraps of yarn. Love the raspberry keepsakes too. Enjoy the rest of your week. Jane xx

Sandra said...

I absolutely love that V-stitch baby blanket. The addition of white every other row gives it a lovely fresh look. I do rather love V-stitch, but I haven't made a blanket yet!

handmade by amalia said...

I also LoVe the V stitch. I'd LoVe to give it a try.
Amalia
xo

Thimbleanna said...

EEEEK! Baby Rhys! How adorable! And that little baby blanket is just gorgeous -- I love all the pretty, different colors and the white just makes them stand out so perfectly. As always -- BEAUTIFUL!!! (Oh, and can't wait to see what you do with Jodie's new collection -- I got some at market too!)

Anonymous said...

Baby Rhys, gorgeous pic with your lovely crochet blanket, those little fingers,so expressive and beautiful. X
Love your patchwork and cross stitch too. Wonderful post XXX

Лейсан said...

I love your details
very beautiful blanket with so pretty baby.