Broken or Blocked

I know it has been an incredible length of time since I last visited. But today has been the first time that Blogger allowed me back on site.

I'm not quite sure what happened, as I couldn't get into my other blog also :(. So either I got blocked or banned (which is differcult to conceive as I can read other blogs) or there has been something major wrong with my pooter, but it works OK any other time.

So whilst I'm here, and folks don't think I have forgotten them, I would like to say thank you for the eggcup donations that were made and I have sold 8 for Charity, they each sold for £5.00.

Thank you Thank you... for your kind donations.

I keep promising to post pictures, but I'm holding off that at the mo, incase something goes wrong again.

I have sent an e-mail to Blogger but I havent received a reply!

I have been a busy crafter and I do craft every day... Yep I have pictures of that too!

Until hopefully next time, I hope you are all enjoying your crafts and I hope to get back on some time this week again.

If I can't I will try and get word to someone.

I'm back...YAY

Yep you read it right I am back.

My wrist and shoulder are a lot better, and yes I have taken it steady.

As a student I even had problems writting my school work up, and using the computer was just a nightmare.

But hopefully now I will be able to fulfil some of my commitments on here and get my 20 minutes up and running again, get my eggcups done properly and just enjoy blogging again in general.

I havent read everyones blog yet but hopefully I'll get on a bit more this week and post some comments.

The only problem I have at the moment is the amount of ideas floating about in my head that I am itching to have a go at, I could do with an extra day in my week to fit everything in, but I just know that if that happened I still wouldn't have time!

I've been slowly working on a crochet bag for mothers day for my OH's mum. I'm also working on four Bunny BU's for my mum for easter presents. I've also got to make 2 Mothers day cards by the weekend, plus write up about 6 assessment pieces for my course...tick tock tick tock, lol...see I said I needed that extra day slotting in there somewhere.

I've also been asked if I would like to write about crocheting... SCAREY thought, but my other half doesnt think its a bad idea. (I don't think he has seen my english just lately). But I do think it is a pretty cool idea, if I can fit it in somewhere.

The kitchen is still a disaster, but a livable one, I'm not attemping anything until I know I'm not going to have problems again with my shoulder and wrist, just that sometimes it gets me down when I go in there and think 'what a mess!'

I don't know if its because of the spring thing, but I feel pretty good about everything at the moment, except for one family health issue, but that will hopefully be resolved soon, and all the whittle and worry about it will be over.

My daughter has picked up the knitting needles, and though I can teach my ladies at crochet class and knit and natter, and I can control 6/7 year olds, in a sensible way, we just clash. I'm glad she hasnt asked me to teach her to drive or'st there would be major headline in the local newspaper about MURDER!, lol. However I do get a 'please, please' at home when a stitch has wandered off somewhere, or someone has forgotten to fully take off a stitch. She's doing it slowly but if I'm honest she is a very neat knitter and her tension is very good for a beginner... please don't tell her, she would be unbearable to live with :)

Well thats it for now, I'll try and get on a bit more this week and go from there.

happy hooking, blogging and creating folks

Catch -Up

I thought I best let everyone know what is happening...

The RSI has turned out to be something else!

I have a trapped nerve in my elbow and underneath my shoulder blade:(

It means as you can gather I have done nothing creative now for a long time.

I am on some very strong anti-flammitories(?) and pain killers which are zonking me out a bit.

I've been told it may take some time to sort itself out, hopefully sooner than later because I so want to get on with things, especially things that have been promised to other bloggers.

For now take care of yourself

Crafts for tomorrow

I made these a while back, sorry pictures are a bit iffy again!

Here are my Ribbon Rings - very easy to make and only take about 1/2 hour each

Blurry burgundy one but I think you get the idea


A selection of necklaces, beaded beads and bracelets



Beaded ring
I'm also doing a demo in crochet and knitting if anyone needs some encouragement

Thank you, thank you and thank you

I have a nice crop of eggcups that have come in and I will hopefully (fingers crossed) be making them into pin cushions early next week.

Of course photo's will be published

Thank you so much everyone for your kind donations

xxx

MIA

Well not really ... just off my blog.

If things didn't go from bad to worse!

You know about the kitchen - it didn't happen, even under the stairs didn't happen :(

My WIP's are sat looking at me forlornley (?).

Yep the dreaded rsi came back and to top it off, I have been suffering with a frozen shoulder!

It hasn't been my week at all.

Can you tell, I'll wallowing a bit in self pity - only because its frustrating to sit and do nothing.

All my homework has been hit because I can't hold my pen properly and using the mouse has been painful.

Bodies are amazing things but sometimes they just let you down.

I'm a little excited but nervous about tomorrow as I'm doing a craft taster at the shop, and I have been limited in what I can prepare... but I'm sure some of the girls will help me.


I do have some photo's somewhere to show off some of the things for tomorrow. I'll download them in a bit and get them posted.

Well pants..lol

So much for plans,

I'm a couple of days behind with doing the kitchen, so today I've sorted wool products and heck I have a lot, maybe later I may do all my other craft stuff but it is really a big job.

The main hold up is the colours I want for the kitchen, not enough tins in the shop..grrrrrrr..

And my car is playing up so I don't want to travel incase something goes wrong, so instead of a big project me and OH have decided to tackle under the stairs with the paint that I have then reorganise it so I can store my craft stuff properly.

Pants.........

Finally Broomstick Tutorial

It done folks, so if you want to give it a stab please follow this link >>>


http://hookroundsandstitch.blogspot.com/2010/02/broomstick-lace-tutorial.html


Sorry for the wait

Tutorial and stuff

will be posted tomorrow sorry for the delay, but you can blame Blogger for taking 2 hours to upload piccies ....grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Another post - sorry...lol

OK so the wrist is better, but I am strapping it up when I am on here or hooking away.

I told my other half I was hooking the other day and you should have seen his face... Boys and their mucky minds!!! lol.

Anyways, I think that time of year is here... You know that time, that you can smell new things in the air.

BUT before new you have to think about old first.

My OLD list at the moment consists of old decoration around the house.

I used to decorate all the way through the house every year, but with so much happening in the last year and half it has been differcult to do.

2nd thing on my OLD list WIP's - I really need to sit down one day and finish them all off, of course one day wouldn't do, but one has to try.

3rd thing on my OLD list - yarn - since I started to teach crochet, my yarn stash has gone crazy.

4th thing on my OLD list - Cards - i am a card maker, invitation maker, wedding favour maker in fact anything to do with paper and glue I make.

BUT the smell of NEW is driving me crackers.

As you will have read I have had a couple of days of no creativity at all :( and it has really hit me hard!

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo... here is the plan ( I don't know if it will work, cos I have a life too!)

I am going to decorate the kitchen/dining room (massive room the width of the house and at least a 1/3 in length).

Whilst I am doing this, I am also going to re-organise all my craft stuff, by this I mean everything! (Too long to list).
This is going to cause me a problem, I don't have a proper craft space. We did come up with the bright idea of using the space under the stairs, but coats, shoes, hoovers, irons, etc etc live there.

But I'm sure I could work something out!

I really really want a log cabin at the bottom of the garden, but that costs too much and we didn't win the lotto this week, lol.

Whilst sorting my craft bits and bobs, I'll also be pulling out any WIP's - these will be my night time projects. (20 minuters, maybe) I'll probably use them as fund raisers too so a good motivation to get them done.


And finally my yarns - looking at other craft blogs there are masses of inspiration for using up my bits - I am determined to get rid of my 'bitty' yarns. So watch out if I come blundering into your blog looking for advice etc.

And 'when' you may be wondering am I going to be doing this....

Next week!!! Yep I plan to do this all in a week. I know Spring madeness has sprung, but I need to get it done.

Here is the time table:

Ok a little cheat..

Thursday is Crochet Class but in the pm I'm sorting craft stuff in the kitchen and paint buying.
Friday is Knit and Natter Class, but again in the pm I'll be sorting again.

Saturday - shifting kitchen furniture and chasing my children out of the house, whilst holding my OH hostage in the house!
Paint the ceiling - two coats.

Sunday - all walls painted - twice! And the wood work. OH can make dinner - he has no choice in the matter I will be laying down the law, lol. ( I must admit his yorkshire puddings are better then mine).

Monday - kitchen furniture back in place and all windows washed and streak free.
HOMEWORK, yep I am a 39 year old student so this is important.
PM - WIP's, WIP's and more WIP's

Tuesday - Friday - home work again in the mornings, and decluttering where needed.
PM WIP's and bitty yarn finished!

I know, I know - Winter Olympics start this Friday too and as an avid fan, I will have to fit this viewing in somehwere, thank heavens for Sky Plus.

So thats the OLD...

Here's the NEW...

I have been so inspired by so many people on here, by comments and e-mail, I would like to start to really think about selling my work properly and designing. I did do a design course years ago, and I have a friend that has the perfect place to sell my work.
So whilst I'm finishing my OLD stuff I'm hoping to design NEW stuff...

Did I say I could smell something in the air?

I believe it is Spring Madness!!!

Caught Up

My oh my hasn't 20 Minuters grown.

There are some fantastic projects being created in these 20 minutes slots, big and small. I personally believe they brighten up blog land.

Well done to everyone for all the inspiration that they give and are giving.

Again I have spent the last 2 hours commenting and I apologize if I have missed anyone, but blogger sometimes won't let me post, so please don't be put out if you didnt receive one, I promise I visited everyone on the list!

Also jut a quick note as Jodie commented on the Broomstick Lace, I'll be posting a pictorial, probably Thursday afternoon, if anyone wants to have a go.

I promise that it is a VERY simple stitch, and all you will need is a hook about 4 - 5mm, a 20mm knitting needle or dowl or a broom handle, and of course your choice of yarn.

So please look out for it, and I hope to get a couple of you trying it out.

YAY... Back up and running

Finally I have been able to pick up my hook and do some work.

It has been a boring few days, except for my birthday, sitting in front of the box not being able to do anything.

I sometimes forget how much pleasure I get from creating things.

So here are some pics of my work over the last couple of days.

The front of cushion for the bed set


My Broomstick Lace - first attempt done in Reflections - I absolutley love this yarn, and I love the stitch and the history behind it all. I'm hoping to turn it into a shawl.


Close up of the stitch - it reminds me of a peacock - what do you think?





Off to catch up with blogs now, cya all later

20 Minutes Food

Something a little different:

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

Chicken Stock Cubes
Chicken Breast chooped into cubes
4 carrots
3 Sticks of Celery
2 Garlic Cloves
Chicken Noodles
2 litres of Water

Stock cubes in water and start to boil

Chop Celery and Carrots

Add to pot and bring to boil, then simmer.

Add Chicken cubes.
(Don't put yesterdays Yorkshire Pudding in pot, snack on it whilst waiting :) ).

Peel Garlic and chop finely add to pot and stir.

I split into two pots and add noodles to each pot 10 minutes before serving

Serve and enjoy

Thank you and Apoligies

Thank you to everyone who has offered me egg cups, I am going to get my daughter to type out some e-mails for me and get them sent out with address details etc. Hopefully tonight.

And apoligies for not leaving comments in blogs, too much to type at the moment, and I'm sure you can understand that I just can't physically do it at the mo.... very frustrating indeed!


So keep up the good work and I promise as soon as my wrist can cope I will be writting something, even if its just hello or well done.

RSI and Dislocated Shoulder

Don't panic... I have the dreaded RSI in my crochet wrist... I warn folks over and over again about this, and yep I've managed to give it myself!

Remember to put your work down sometimes and rest your wrists.

Unfortunately my son dislocated his shoulder at school, which throw many a good plan out of the window. Luckly when it popped out, he managed to pop it back in again - though admitting he felt rather ill and faint at the time.

So very quickly here are some photos of my projects you can see more than 20 minutes worth of work.

The Granny Ripple

Admittingly I didn't actually have a pattern so I have tried my best with it and these where my practice pieces

Bed Runner and beginnings of a Cushion Cover Set

The piece above is large enough for a King Sized bed and hence the RSI! 4 Hours work and not enough rest - be warned!

I couldn't work out a ripple effect for the Cushion Cover so as you can see I just used plainGranny Stitch

Bazaar Request

Hi everyone,

now I know you are going to think that I have lost the plot a bit here, and I wouldn't normally do this, but...

does anyone out there have any PLAIN coloured egg cups, that they no longer use?

Now the reason why I ask is, I try and go to local events tabletops, fayres etc, and through this I do some fundraising for Macmillan Nurses.

I either have part of the stall just for charity or if anyone asks me to sell their crafts I ask for a percentage of their sales to go to charity.

Now I have seen a cute quick idea using eggcups as pin cushions, BUT can I heck as like get any plain eggcups, trust me I have tried.

So if at the back of the cupboard you any plain ones that are in decent condition, that you no longer use, and you wouldn't mind sending them to me, I would be incredability grateful.

Send me an e-mail for home address.

Thanks for reading this

xxx

Queen Annes Lace

This picture shows how it should look like, I used a 3mm hook with 6strand DMC

Just for KC and any others who fancy giving this a go.

Yet the pictures in some places are a little blurry but I hope the written instructions will get you past that.

Use a hook suitable to yarn thickness and off we go - oh forgot to say instructions in American Double Crochet


Chain 6 and join to make a circle



Chain 3, then 13 DC into the space in the middle of the circle






DO NOT join your work it needs to be kept open.

Chain 1 then turn your work





Work a SC into next 2 DC. *Chain 4 then 2SC in next 2DC* - repeat until there are 6 loops sitting on top.










Chain 6



TURN work and place hook into tthe nearest 4ch loop





and slip stitch



Chain 3



TURN work



Work 13 DC's again like the first circle





Place hook into the nearest 4ch loop on the first motif and join with a slip stitch





Chain 1 and turn work





Work a SC into next 2 DC. *Chain 4 then 2SC in next 2DC* - repeat until there are 6 loops sitting on top.





Place hook into nearest 4chain in opposite motif





Chain 6



TURN work



Place hook into nearest 4 chain motif



and off you go again from

chain 3 dcx13



You continue to the length that you desire and you can leave it like that.

If you would like to border like the set that I did earlier, once you have reached the length you do 3 posts of DC in each 4ch on the outside of your work, then Chain 4 2dc in the next 2 sts.

This will fill the scarf out and make it chunkier.

As per usual please post if you don't understand this.


Written

Chain 6 and join into a ring.

Round 1: Chain 3 - work 13 DC into ring. DO NOT JOIN!
Chain 1
TURN
Work a SC into next 2 DC. *Chain 4 - SC in next 2 DC. Repeat from * five more times (6 loops).
Chain 6
TURN

2: Slip stitch into the 1st free CH4 loop.
Chain 3
TURN
Work 13 DC into the CH6 loop
Slip stitch into the the 1st sSC of the 1st motif - chain 1 - turn
SC in next 2 DC
*Chain 4 - SC in next 2 DC. Repeat from * five more times (6 loops).
Chain 6
TURN

3: Slip stitch in 1st free CH4 loop of adjoining motif
Chain 3
TURN
Work 13 DC into CH6 loop
Slip stitch in next free CH4 loop of adjoining motif
Chain 1
TURN
SC in next 2 DC. *Chain 4 - SC in next 2 DC. Repeat from * five more times (6 loops)
Slip stitch into next free CH4 loop of adjoining motif
Chain 6
TURN

4:Repeat step 3 for desired scarf length

Happy hooking