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Sunday, 4 December 2011

Bits n Bobs n Catch Up

Hello lovelies. 
Is anyone feeling festive yet?
The Littlies are desperate to get the Christmas tree up and I have to say I am quite keen but the de-clutter and clean up has to take place first and traditionally we get our tree the weekend before eldest's birthday, which would make it tree time next weekend. 
I tried to keep the Festive spirit alive in them by giving them a brilliant pack of gummed paper strips to make paper chains from Wilkinsons which cost a fantastic £1.00!!! I haven't seen the three of them so quite and engrossed in anything for such a long time.
4hours!!! A whole 4 hours of quiet.
They had a ball. Now I don't have a clue where I am going to put them as they would reach from here to the moon and back :)


£1.00 well spent me thinks.


My needles have been busy too. I started to make these little socks
 or Elf stockings as the kids have called them.



I started out on this as an advent calender but there is no hope of finishing everything I have to do and knit 24 of them so some are going on the tree and some are going to have a miniature of booze (probably Baileys) in them and a choccy and sent home to Scotland as little pressies.

I have knitted so many hats of late but biggest Littlie pinches them all so I knitted this one for me, me, me I tell you!!! I am determined to keep this one because I had a terrible time knitting it. The yarn had a lot of lanolin left in it and made my hands break out and bleed. Was I deterred?  Not chuffing likely! I am made of sterner stuff than that. I ended up knitting it wearing cotton gloves. Once it was washed it was much better and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.




The pattern is Star Crossed Slouchy Beret one Ravelry it's a fantastic pattern and a quick and enjoyable knit. 

I have also been making Christmas decorations at Glass Class to give as Christmas gifts but I think I'm going to have to keep the little Robin for myself!


Righto I am off to do a bit more de-cluttering while Middlie is asleep. She has a tummy bug and isn't feeling well at all. I hope she's better for school next week because she has a school disco, Nativity Play and Ballet performance but also Eldest has friends sleeping over next weekend for her 13 Birthday and Middlie has a bedroom to tidy before that can happen!

Thanks for popping by. Have a great week.
Love
Tickety-boo
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Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Hermione! Hermione! Hermione Granger!

Hello Lovelies!
How are you all? I hope you're well.
Thank you all for the warm anniversary wishes and lovely comments on Mr TB's pressie.

The title of this post comes from a video my Littlies love an recreate frequently.
It's bizarre but they find it funny.
I am not a huge Potter fan but they are and now every time the mention a name from the films all I can hear is this little clip!
Biggest Littlie loved the hat that Hermione wears in The Deathly Hallows film (or Deathly Heeeelllooooo's! As me and Mr TB call it to irritate our children, as is our duty as partents.)  


I had a search on Ravelry and as usual it came up with the goods! A free pattern available form this clever ladies blog Linky.
It has been in my project list for a while and I wanted to clear the decks for some projects for myself and for Christmas projects 
(sorry for that mention of the "C" word") 
 So once I finished Middle Littlies socks on Sunday I cast it on!
It was a really simple and quick pattern and oh the deep joy of knitting with something thicker than sock yarn on needles bigger than 2.25mm!!! It was done before I knew it and all for the bargain price of under £2.
The yarn is Serenity by Wendy, colourway is Boysenberry bought from fantastic Kemps.
So here it is the Hermione! Hermione!Hermione Granger hat :)






Biggest Littlie loves it and there is enough yarm left over for some fingerless mitts I think but ONLY when I find the time 
(maybe as a gift for "C" word or her Birthday which is in 4 weeks)

So far be it from me to let the grass grow and all that I cast another hat on last night :)
I will save that for my next post.

Before I go I wanted to give my friends blog a quick shout out. If you are fans of Downtown Abbey or indeed Playmobile (you'll understand when you visit) pop  over and say hello and discover The Adventures of Lady Grantham.
Have a great week everyone.
Love 
Tickety-boo
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Friday, 11 November 2011

11/11/11

 
 
 
 
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary
them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in themorning, We will remember them.
 
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have passed away and to our current serving friends and family, may they come back to us safe and sound.

Friday, 4 November 2011

16 years Ago Today!

:: Hello you lovely people!::
Thank you for all the funny comments on my last post. I love how so many of you tried to put a positive spin on  the shocking shorts. I hope I made you smile.

Today is my wedding anniversary. 16 years ago today I married my soul mate and best friend. 
He really was my best friend (before we went out together) and still is  !


He is my world and I am so lucky to have him. 
We don't normally give anniversary gifts, we just exchange cards but we have been through a lot over the last 2years and I don't think we could have coped without each other to lean on. So, I made him something special ....




Have a great weekend!
Love Tickety-boo

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Monday, 24 October 2011

A Good Lesson to Learn!

I saw this and have to share this very serious concern with you lovely people.
Just because you can crochet
doesn't mean you should!





 Have a great day everyone.
Love Tickety-boo
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ETA: the source of these abominations and many more is 
The Ugly Sweater blog 
I dread to think what these are sweating eeeeewwwwwwww! 


Sunday, 16 October 2011

Starry Blanket Ta-Dah

:: Hello lovely blog followers!::
How are you all? I hope you are having a lovely weekend. I am popping in again quickly to show you my crafty makes of the week. It's another quick post because I have some work to do today. I have been working my butt off to be honest but that's not what this post is about.

The first up is my quick stained glass project. I was at my class a few days ago and noticed at the bottom of my glass box,  the most beautiful colours glowing up at me. These were off-cuts from other projects. I put them on my board and they just begged to be leaded together. 
No smarty pants faffing, no tricky curves or over complicated design 
(which is what I usually do to myself then get very frustrated)
Just simplicity to show off the beauty of the glass and it's sumptuous colours.


I just have to mount it on my back door now. 

And now to the yarny bit! 
As you know my nephew Archie arrived on Friday 7 October. Now during the summer I started to knit A baby sleep sack in anticipation of his arrival. I should have known better as my family have a history of BIG babies and the sleep sack turned out quite small. He was over 9lb and I think the sleep sack is too small for him,( so I'll keep it for a friend whose baby is overdue and I'll share the Tad-Dah for that when the baby is here safely)
That left me a present down! Arrrrgggggg what to do when spare time to hook or knit is at a premium ??????
I found some Vanna's Choice Baby yarn in my stash that came from my first swap. It's Aran weight and uses a 6mm hook so a project using this would grow quickly. I looked through my Ravelry queued projects and found the lovely 
Chromium Star Blanket What a lovely project I thought to myself!
EPIC FAIL!!!!!!! 
Maybe because I didn't have time or brain space to work it out but I could not get through the first 3 rounds no matter what I tried and after a little research I was by no means the only person to have that problem. 
Nothing else for it I was going to have to wing it!!
I would have to improvise a pattern and trust my hooky instincts. I decided if it didn't work it would be an online purchase of clothes instead of a blanket.
However...........
It did work...........Yay! I am so pleased with myself. Two evenings work (and sending Mr TB out to buy more yarn so I could complete the project)
and this is what I made.............

TA-DAH




I am really happy with it! I wish I'd figured out a way of having a closed centre but as my first piece of totally improvised working I am really chuffed.

Right-o. I will have to love you and leave you as I have to go do some work before I fall behind. I will be glad if these extra hours when it comes to Christmas and I take it all back as time off in one go!

Have a great week lovely people.
Love
Tickety-boo
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Saturday, 8 October 2011

New Arrival

::::::The baby I have been knitting for like mad has arrived!::::
It's a BOY!
Looks like I was right to make a blue Teddy.
My new nephew Archie arrived safely yesterday morning.
Delighted he's here safe and well.
Thought I's pop by to let you know :)
Love Tickety-boo
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