Hallo-b-ween

I don't know why i call it that but hallo-b-ween is what its been since the kids where born, i am forever making up words for different things, much to the annoyance of the teachers at school who once called me in to say that my eldest was not saying words correctly "tinternet", "Nursaberry" "Omputer" to name a few. She did laugh when i explained it was my fault and i kept changing words, its just in front of the kids and not every word obviously, but since my telling off i have stopped all but a very few and trust me the kids know its a little joke and that they are not real words. But i like it its a cute little language just between us.

 This year it was at the end of half term, unusually for us we had stayed quite close to home, having days with family and friends as opposed to our usual outings here and there. I think as we had been really busy with things recently it was nice just to chill and hang about. They ended up playing with toys they had not had out for ages and its great to see them play and use ether imaginations and Fred loves them being at home. There were lots of crafty moments

 And family moments ( and this is just a few of them!)

 And one trip to the illuminations ( including fish and chips! yum)

(Selfie in the car)

 Woolly moments ( Of course!!!!) This was not even half of it but it was fun sorting it all out and i have donated some to the school for crafts.

Then finally it was Halloween, apart from a pumpkin i don't usually decorate the house but this year i decided to start a new tradision with the kids and get some decorations in. The kids had a friend each from school come round and we went trick or treating which we do every year. This year it was quite warm for the time of year and the kids could go without there coats and show there costumes off 

Freds first time going to the doors and he liked it, Knock on door get chocolate!

he wouldn't wear a costume so i put Alexs little ghost hat on him.

Then as i was uploading the photos for this post i discovered this picture of the field opposite my house i had taken it on the morning of Halloween as its was the first time the field looked really wintry, but as put it on here i saw it.... can you see it too!!!!!!

Boo!

Bye for now and thank you for looking xxx

Gagets and gizmos

Over the last couple of weeks i have been trying out some new gadgets. I have wanted an embroidery machine for a long time, but they are very costly, even second hand, so i decided to buy one of the little Disney applique machines i have seen on e-bay, to see if it was something i would actually use and not just a novelty.

It was really really easy to use , so much so that i wondered if perhaps it was meant for kids to use, so i brought in Molly to have a go and she absolutely loved it. Big brother Ewan thought it was rubbish, till he saw Mollys finished results, then changed his mind and wanted a go himself much to Mollys disappointment.

 This picture pretty much says it all!

 The results were fantastic and these were done to iron into there school coats.

Next i had some orders for big pom pom hats so decided to invest in a pom pom maker. Again they are so easy so i let Molly do the pom poms for the hats.

I finally got round to ordering a wool winder, even Fred had a go at this, till he wound it back on its self and tangled the machine up

This little invention i found in Wilkinsons, it a row counter! which is so helpful when you are knitting cables like i have this week.

These little gadgets have been great this week and i love little finds that make things easier or neater.

Hopefully have some ta-dah moments in my next post xxx

Illuminasia

I am currently sat downstairs with a very weazy baby, its that time of year when little people start getting colds and usually spread them to me. I have been sat here browsing ravelry and planning my next project since 4am. Even though he is now asleep in his little chair i can't sleep, i would love to sit and work on the Aran jumper i am currently making him but am not really awake enough for that as its the kind of knit that require a bit of concentration as there is nothing worse than taking a look at the pattern only to discover 10 rows ago you made a mistake. Today is Fred's nursery morning so if Alex went along with it i could have gone back to bed later, but i can't as today i am running a crochet workshop at Madhatters which is another new venture i will tell you about another day.

Last weekend Paul should have been off, but ended up having to work, so feeling more than a bit miffed, i decided that me and the kids were going out anyway, even though the prospect of taking four children out on a Saturday is a very exhausting and costly business! Ewan had brought home a discount voucher for Illuminasia, the night before from school which made it only £5 per person instead of £12.95 do it was a done deal, off we went on the bus.

We arrived to find they had no idea about the vouchers and they were not valid till next year, why send them out now then? after some....discussion about the face there was no date on the leaflet which luckily i had with me, they apologized and let us all in for £12.95 when with the voucher it wold have been £15 so i was happy, Then just as we were about to go in i was told i could have that money back and have a free visit!!! even better. so here it is Illuminasia Blackpool

 The little ones loved it, as it was so bright and colorful

 You can see how big the displays were

 Time for McDonalds on a quite warm prom

 It was really busy in Blackpool

That was our weekend hope you had a good one too xxx

Busy week of Ta-dahs

After yarndale i felt super inspired and so began a week of new hats and finishing off bits and bobs.

Firstly i finished off Mollys new cardigan, i loved the simple pattern that i had made for some baby cardigans however the only size was 0-3 months so with the help of numerous patterns as a gauge to sizes and number of stitches, i managed to figure it out as a bigger size and also to put into it a lace pattern that i have used before and really love. I used stylecraft merry go round as i love the softness and the way it knits up. The buttons were £1 for 12 from the works and they are wooden and all painted differently and so far they seem to be working out great and i love them. For this cardigan i decided to try joining it on my sewing machine and its alot straighter it has covered up the stitches that i like to see around the raglan sleeve so i will do it again but perhaps make the stitch further in rather than one stitch from the edge.

I used some of the left over yarn to make some booties and a little hat

I then started on some Halloween hats for the kids 

Little Pumpkin

Little Devil

Little Ghost Hat!

Ewan wanted Pokemon and has been asking me for ages so...

I was asked to make a specific Bobble hat, this was my tryout

The pattern eas so easy so i decided to alter it and make some using two strands in diffrent colours

I made my first flower fairy hat order since before the summer ( last winter i made tons of these!)

Cheeky Monkey bottle cosy

An Owl Bag for Molly

Cot Bedding for Alex made out of the same quilt cover Molly has as they share a room and i wanted them to match

And i think that is about all i have finished in the last 2 weeks! 

I now have a Owl blanket and a Aran jumper for Alex on the go now!

bye xxx