John, Paul George or Ringo?

:: Good morning lovely people::

Wow it's Saturday already and I have somewhat neglected my blog. I have had my 19 year old nephew staying with us so there has not been much time for yarny things or indeed all things bloggy. In there place there have been days out and trips to Cheltenham. 

This is the clock in Cheltenham shopping centre which the Littlies(and I have to say me too) love. The fish blows bubbles out on the hour so we have to time our visit well.

And Bristol's shopping centre (we haven't only been shopping!)

This is a big shopping mall at Cribbs Causeway just outside Bristol.

I thought this was fantastic!! All those traditional deck chairs, bunting and kids paddling in the stream that runs down from the fountain. They even have giant games like Connect 4 and Chess. 

I have, however, finished the hat I have been working on. I have really enjoyed this pattern and just LOVE the yarn, it reminds me so much of those little metallic beetles you see on leaves (quite often on silver birch trees).

or maybe it's just me! So for a title for this FO. Because it reminds of said beetle I think it deserves a beetle Beatle name. So I am pleased to introduce you to my Ringo Ta-dah!!!

My only problem is it needs blocking, but only the back section not the brim. It is a bit more of a beanie than a beret at the moment. 

Can any of you lovely people give me any advice? I have never blocked a hat before. I have thought about using a balloon or even stuffing it with shopping bags but I could do with some guidance so I hope to pick your wooly wonder brains :)

There has been a ripple of excitement on the We Love Lucy group on Ravelry since Lucy from Attic 24 blog made  This post in which she showed the most gorgeous hook! Everyone has been talking about hook handles. I had a look at some beautiful ones on Etsy but I decided to have a go at making one myself. I popped to Hobbycraft (hence the above shopping trip) and bought cheap polymer clay. For those who don't know it is modelling clay that once shaped you bake in the oven and it hardens.

at 99p a block it wasn't going break the bank!

This is what I came up with

Now these could be an idea for my 100 follower giveaway!

It's my lovely friend C's gorgeous daughters birthday tomorrow (she is Middle Littlies best friend) and she has just learned to crochet so this one is going to be her birthday present along with the personalised project bag I am making her. C's other gorgeous little girl broke her arm on Thursday, poor love, and had to have an operation yesterday so I am making a little something for her too but I'll show you those in my next post.

So I best go round up the troops and find out what we are going to do today when we get my Nephew out his bed (hopefully before lunch!!)

Hope you all have a lovely weekend whatever your doing.

love

Tickety-boo

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Romy Riot

:: Evening All ! ::

How are you all this July evening?

Before I go any further I want to say a big welcome to my newest followers and welcome back to my regular followers. Thank you all for the lovely comments on my Festival Shawl it really is so nice of you to take the time to comment.

I suddenly realised it was Tuesday and I hadn't made a post in over a week. Ooops!!!

Well what's been going on in the last week? 

Terrible sickness bug ripped through the family (but we won't linger on that)

The Littlies have been busy busy busy. Biggest Littlie with ballet and horses.

Middle Littlie with ballet and street dance not to mention her interview

 on BBC 1's Countryfile on Sunday night which was watched with great excitement in our house! She was talking about her allergies.

Smallest Littlie had a fantastic report card (as did the girls) proving he is working hard to cope with dyslexia and doing a brilliant job. He also had his first ever Tae-Kwon-Do lesson and he came out thinking he was Jackie Chan!

forgive me cutting out his face (I always said I wouldn't post  photos showing my kids faces) but this photo was too funny not to share.

We picked the last of the raspberries 

and surprisingly got a kilo which was enough for 3 and a half jars of jam plus some extra for pancakes. Yum yum!

Mr TB and I discovered a lovely new place for our Wednesday lunch (our version of the O'Bama's date night because we don't need a babysitter.)

The Lavender Bakehouse

It's a lovely relaxed,comfortable place with really scrummy food

 And oooooooo cake

Lovely lovely lovely cake!!! Yum yum.

I think it's going to be a big favourite with us.

::

I made a decision on My Riot yarn. I decided to knit Romy by Katya Frankel.

It's a knitted beret with a 20 stitch cable repeat and a few little tricky bits to keep me on my toes. I have marked each set of 20 stitches so if   when I get it wrong I know fairly quickly and can remedy it before I have to frog inches of work!

I haven't got to far with it yet but I thought I'd share my work so far.

So far I am heart skippingly happy with it !

(if Lucy of Attic 24 doesn't mind me borrowing her phrase)

Before I go I wanted to say there are three lovely giveaways on at the moment

one is over at Insomniac With a Hook

another at lovely Kids and Capers

and last but not least Gillyflower

I have decided when if get to the magical 100 followers I will do a giveaway too.

95 down 5 to go!

Have a lovely week everyone!

Love

Tickety-boo

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Hooky Mojo is back!

::Hello to you all from a soggy Costwolds!::

When will this blinking rain stop???

Yet another camping weekend cancelled due to sucky weather :(

I have been ,more of a knitter of late than a crocheter or crocheator as Smallest Littlie would say. I am having trouble with my wrist clicking really badly when I crochet but not when I knit so it has been putting me off. I lost my hooky mojo for a while. That was until I found this...............

The Festival Shawl pattern on Ravelry.

I imagined myself all wrapped up in this beauty by the campfire this weekend, snuggled up with Mr TB and toasting marmallows and drinking hot milk with brandy and honey (our camping treat) whilst singing songs and telling stories to the littlies. In this day dream we look like some kind of tourist leaflet family and not the slightly bedraggled and stressed out bunch that camping makes everyone. When camping even Waltons act like the Osbournes by the time they have got the bloody thing pitched and beds sorted and..........so on and so on!!!

Enough of that! The point is I can dream and if I have a Festival Shawl  of my very own wrapped around me I can be one step closer to being said family all relaxed and having a jolly time. 

(Even though Mr TB is now working this weekend, it's pouring down and we are not going anymore!)

 I dug the hooks back out and off I went with some Lidl sock yarn in Navy blue from my stash........... 

two evenings work + 48hours blocking later I had this beauty of my very own................

Modelled by Biggest Littlie.

 It is a monster shawl! 

Now it is blocked a whopping 190cm wide but I love it and I have my hooky mojo back.

A little bit of glass ta-dah now.

My gorgeous friend L has an allotment, which makes her a very happy bunny indeed. The only thing that would make this very happy bunny even happier is if she had a shed! Ahhhh one of life's simple pleasures a shed. How great would it be to say " I'm off to my shed darling you can cook the kids tea!" and then run like the wind to your own little piece of  Nirvana in wooden form?? Anyhoo this Mother's Day L's hubby indeed got her a shed. A second hand one but who cares about that? Not I and certainly not L. 

The purple shed is talked about all the time with ideas of an illicit still, home brew and lots of other shananigans.

 It's now purple with a heart on the door and bunting

 (much to the amusement mostly elderly male allotment keepers)

 Tonight is the official opening of said shed  complete with big hats and champagne but I can't make it so I made her a special present in fused Glass.

I hope she likes it!

L ..................... here's to  your little purple shed and all those who frequent her!!!

Chin chin!

Have a great weekend everyone, whatever you are doing!

Love

Tickety-boo

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