Grandma Violet Cushion

Grandma Violet...

Flickr

I am starting to think I have a bit of an obsession

with cushions...

A book all about Granny Cushions...

Now that's something to dream about...

flickr

I haven't even had time to sit and write a little poem 

about this one...

I do hope one comes to me thou...

flickr

But while it is,

I will be busy writing this out

with lots of pretty pictures

and instructions...

It could be in my shop 

but if I every get snapped up by a book publisher

I could keep it for that...

Oh one can only dream...

Need To Decide

Need To Decide
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

It's raining it's pouring...
The old mind is snoring......

Need to decide....
Crochet or school work....

flickr pic...

In the end neither won...
Tiding up me enormous mess in my house did...

Well starting to clean up the enormous mess...
I have half a room finished...
I put it down to just one of those days....

FUZZY...

 P.S...
Thanks heaps Betty Jo...
I just checked the mail and spied a little present...
Pie...Mmmmmmm....

At last a winner and a pattern finished...

I have at last finished checking

the Grandma's Sweet As Pie pattern.

and will have it listed 

in my shop.

 The lucky winner is Sandy

Congratulation and I do hope you enjoy your pattern.

I have also added a picture of my wall with an added treasure.

I found this "casey ware" wall vase at a market stall

of $5...Bargain...

With a few "fake" stems of lavender,

it's looking mighty fine...

I just wish my essay for language looked that fine...

Oh why can't I write about crocheting and tales of thrifty finds

and granny goodness...

I could have it finished by now...

Spring Has Sprung

 Spring has Sprung...

and it's about time...

I have come to think that winter is all very well and good

if you want to wear that really trendy coat or 

your favorite woolly tights and knee high boots

but really freezing is not cool...

 

The sun has come out thou...

and I can almost think straight again...

I can wear something other than grey

and I can actually breath 

without the 5 layers of clothes on...

I can roam around and pick blossoms where I fancy...

and that includes the next door neighbours yard...

I am only Ummm borrowing a few branches...

Plus they have very sharp thorns on these so I think that makes it alright

I am sure that they wouldn't want a yard full of thorny blossoms...

well that's what I am telling myself anyway...

(no truly it's ok as no one is living there at the moment)

Now I must tell why I have been rather absent of late...

Much to do and no time to spare...

I have enrolled in TAFE online...

Yes back to school for me...

I am going to try and get my HSC...

I say try because seeing the enormous amount of files

that they have sent me is very daunting...

and Maths is about the only thing that I can seem to recognize...

I hope that one day with my HSC in hand I can hold my head high

and go to University...

For you see all of these years it has weighed very heavily on me 

that I never finished school...

Very heavily indeed...

Silly I know, but it's always been very real in my mind...

I need that piece of paper!!!

apart from all that my dears I have been writting patterns and doing 

"TOP SECRET"

projects...

Oh how I want to tell...

I can't... but I can say they will be just lovely and pretty 

and will be in print...

And not forgetting the lovely comments on my last post...

Oh how I love pie even more now...

I will let every one know in my next post the lucky winner...

I am just reading though the pattern to make sure I haven't made any silly mistakes...

I do tend to do that...

So if you haven't left a comment you still have time

and I will be sure to pop it in the shop at the same time...

So till next post...

Enjoy the colors of spring

and the smell of fresh blossoms in the air...

Grandma's Sweet As Pie

Grandma's Sweet As Pie...

I like pie,

I like pie a-lot.

Not just one piece,

but the whole entire lot.

Peach or Apple,

or Berry surprise.

They all taste good,

and warm me inside.

A sprinkle of sugar,

and a dollop of cream.

There a waist watchers nightmare,

or a food lovers dream.

With all that goodness,

stacked so high.

It's gone to my hips,

and traveled to my thighs.

but I do like pie

I like it a-lot

But I really should have one piece,

not the whole entire lot...

I have written out most of the pattern

for this new cushion...

I really like the simple back on it just as much 

and think that it would be just as lovely to

do two backs and join them together for another pretty cushion

if the front was a bit daunting...

I have added a few pretty buttons as well

so the cushion insert can be taken out...

Something that can be very handy with children around...

 

This will be added to my etsy shop

very soon...

Maybe by the end of the week...

So if you really would love to try this new pattern out...

please leave a comment 

and I will have a giveaway for one sweet dear...

Just tell me what sought of pie is your favorite...

That easy!!!

Mine would have to be 

Rhubarb with lots of sugar...Yum...

and a big thank you to Bethel

for helping me with the name

I love it!!!

Getting side tracked...

Getting side tracked...
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

I know...I know...
getting side tracked again...
But I just can't help it...
Honest!!!
I know I was
making beanies...
then hoods...
and I am suppose to
finish the pattern for class
tomorrow...

But I just couldn't get this out of my head...
and after undoing 3 times...
yes...true...
I managed to get it right...
and I am onto the back...
and really want to write it out...
before I forget..which happens...
a lot...
I must say...
so stay tuned my dears...
this most definitely will be finished
and in my etsy patterns soon...

well cross fingers...
after all I do get side tracked...

Granny Hood

Granny Hood
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

Working on another pattern...
Granny Hood!!!
I really like how
it is turning out...
But really need some very soft yarn
for it to get to it's full potential...
It is very thick as I have used
two strands of 8ply together...


Will be working on a free tutorial for the granny beanies next week
so hopefully I will have it ready to share...
I think the granny hood will be a pattern for my etsy shop thou...
and might take me a bit to write out...But hopefully it will be ready before it gets cold overseas...

The weather eased up for a pic outside...
Brrrrrrr it's so cold here though...

crocheting my hands warm

crocheting my hands warm
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

crocheting along even though my hands seem frozen stiff...

The shell blanket has had some time spent on it...
and it is rather pretty and very thick and heavy...
I am having a bad hair month... or two or three...
but will be off to the hairdresser tomorrow
which I hope will bring me some joy...
and hopefully some sunshine will peek through as well...

Thank you all my dears for the lovely comments on my last Tutorial...
and also thank you to the sweeties that have added me to there friends list on Ravelry...
I am loving this fabulous place...just full of so many amazing
people and gorgeous patterns...

Grandma potholder

grandma potholder
Originally uploaded by caseyplusthree

This Grandma Potholder picture I spied
on Ravelry then found on flickr...
And knew straight away I had to ask the sweet
Casey if I could post it up for everyone to see...

Using the Grandma Potholder Tutorial and some lovely cotton...

Casey whipped it up and posted a great picture to share...

This is the first picture I have seen projects from this tutorial...
so if there are any others please send me a link as I would love to see them...

I have also added some of my Tutorials to Ravelry and you can click on my link in the side bar to check them out...or browse the amazing amount of patterns on offer at this site...
I think there are a few that I really would like to try...
If you are already a member on Ravelry I would love you to say Hi...as I am very new to this site and how it all works...and love hearing any helpful hints about it all...


Till next time...
Keep up the granny goodness...regards my dears...

Grandma Star Hexagon Tutorial

After what seems like so long 

since I did a tutorial...

A am back...

With a 

Grandma Star Hexagon

that I am hoping you love...

I adore hexagons

because they are so versatile

you can easy join them

and make lovely patterns

and mix the colours as well...
 Here is a peek at a unusual project I have started
using Grandma Star Hexagons and adding Pentagons... 

So without further ado I will begin...

3.5mm hook

8ply yarn

needle and thread and scissors to trim...

I am writing this in English crochet terms

with American in Brackets...

 Chain 4 join with a slip stitch
to form a circle.

Round 1...
1 chain, 12 dc(sc) into circle.
Join with a slip stitch to beginning...

Round 2...
2 chain, Yarn Over hook insert into same stitch, 

Yarn Over hook pull up a loop, Yarn Over hook and draw through 2 loops,
Yarn Over hook and insert into same stitch,

Yarn Over hook pull up a loop, Yarn Over hook and draw through 2 loops.
Yarn over hook and draw through all 3 loops remaining. Pic 1...  

*5 chain miss one dc(sc)

Cluster into next dc(sc)

(cluster is as follows):

Yarn Over hook ,insert into next dc, Yarn Over hook and pull up a loop,
Yarn Over hook and draw through 2 loops,
Yarn Over hook and insert into same stitch,Yarn Over hook pull up a loop,

Yarn Over hook and draw through 2 loops.
Yarn Over hook and insert into same stitch,

Yarn Over hook pull up a loop,Yarn Over hook and draw through 2 loops.

Yarn over hook and draw through all 4 loops remaining*. Pic 2...

Repeat * - * until there is 6 petals and one dc remaining.

 5 chain.see note below...

Join new colour into the last chain of the 5 chain. Pic 3...

Slip stitch into top of cluster.

This will be into the loop that is on the left hand side. Pic 4...

Slip stitch across to 5 chain space. 1 chain.

Remember to work over your ends.

Keeping them to the left of work helps. Pic 5...

Round 3...

6 dc(sc) in this and all 5 chain spaces to end

join with a slip stitch to first dc. Pic 6...

Round 4...

3 chain to count as first Treble(dc) ,

Treble(dc) into next 2 dc(sc), 3 chain. Pic 7...

*Treble(dc) into next 6 dc(sc), 3 chain* 

* - * Repeat 5 times. Pic 8...

Continue around. Pic 9...

3 treble(dc) into last 3 dc(sc) remaining,

Join with a slip stitch into top of 3rd chain at beginning...pic 10...

36 treble(dc) and 6 – 3 ch spaces.
Fasten off and sew and trim ends...

These motifs can be joined
by simply omitting the second chain in the corner and slip stitching to
adjacent motif corner. Use this method for all joining of sides...

 I do hope the tutorial has worked out
and has been helpful...

And of course full of granny goodness...

Crocheted Smart Car

Crocheted Smart Car
Originally uploaded by StartTheDay

I found this amazing
photo on flickr
and had to share
with everyone...

How gorgeous!!!

The photo was taken by
'Start the Day'...

The car cover
was made by
an artist called
Magda Sayeg...

Just so COOL!!!

All Square cushion

Thanks to Jen

for adding this gorgeous cushion she made

to the Grandma Tutorial flickr group,

using the grandma all square pattern

this is a great way to make something very granny and very cute...

Jen has also a lovely blog to visit...

with lots of pretty crocheting projects...

even though Jen is new to blogging I found

she has lots of helpful links in her posts

as well as lots of pretty pics to share...

Something I think we all love...

Enjoy

Cherry Grandma's Garden...

This week we are

finishing off our

Grandma's Garden cushions in class...

I have decided to use

a cherry colour yarn for mine

with a white border and multi- colour flowers...

I have tried a variation to the pattern

and added a opening

with pretty pink buttons...

This way it will be easy to take the insert out

and wash the cushion as 

well as begin easy to post...

I will be adding this and hopefully a lot more into my shop soon...

I would like to thank everyone for all your help

with my starching problem

I am hoping I have it all sorted out

and will be just waiting for a break in the weather

to try it on the "real" project...

It is very exciting 

and I can't wait to share it with you all...

so till then...

Keep up the granny goodness

Projects and a question of starch...

This very cute coffee pot

was found at a resent thrifty trip...

I love the colour!!!

I also have a lot of projects going on at the moment...

I need to finish the flowers on my

extraordinary blanket...

make some more flowers

for my grandma's garden cushion

that we are making in my crochet class

finish my shell patterned blanket

and

I am half way through a new project...

Yes last night I started something new

not that I haven't got enough on already...

nooooo

So the next few days I will be slightly

obsessed with it and probably will get not much else finished...

But I do need some help with this project...

Do you know about starching???

If you do I would love to hear from you...

I need a stiffening agent that will be quite strong

and will last...

But everytime I try something

I still get a residue of the white powder on the yarn...

It is not noticable on white but on coloured yarn mine is really

noticeable...

any thoughts or helpful links???

I will do a bit of experimenting so please leave a comment and I will try it out...

So till next chat...

say safe 

and full of granny goodness my dears...

Almost Finished...

Almost Finished...
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

I just need to add
some pretty flowers
to my second
extraordinary blanket...
Then I can relax...

Well maybe not...
I have started to paint the outside
of River Cottage...
Several sample pots of colour later...
I have come up with a combo
that I like...

I have also bought a new camera...
Still trying to work out the settlings thou...
I took this picture
using the "light globe" setting
for inside
I think it has turned out a bit too blue looking
But you can at least get the general idea
of how the blanket is coming along...

And I do want to say a big thank you
for begin so patient waiting for a post from me...
I have go really caught up with the kids going
back to school and trying to organize crochet classes...
and of course finishing of this extraordinary blanket...
so sorry and I do hope I will not let it happen
again...
Well to often...
Till next chat...
Keep up the granny goodness...

Comfort food...

Comfort food...
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

It's weather like we are having now...Freezing!!!
That leads me straight to the fridge,
or pantry...
Hunting through...
Thinking of the next creation to warm me up...
This is a vegetable tart with danish feta...
Yum!!!

All made in the dodgy fuel stove...
I call it dodgy as it
never cooks the same...
never the right temperature...
and the same recipe can turn out anything from
raw to cremated...
It just reminds me of what our grandmothers had to put up with...
No temperature gauge...
No timer...
and the luck of the draw...
But some how their culinary creations turned out just perfect...
I really need to work on it...

But maybe that's the secret!!!
I need to cook on this primitive device until I am a grandmother...
Than by that stage in my life I will have this thing down pat...
Here is hoping...

Lots of crocheting happening but not many pictures at the moment...sorry...
I am 3/4 of the way through another Dottie Blanket...
So hopefully there will be a finished blanket to show soon...
And a quick mention that I am having my pattern sale in my etsy shop till the end of the weekend...
You can buy one pattern and get your choice of a
second pattern for free...

So till next post...
Say safe and full of granny goodness...

Granny Square Scarf and too much pudding

Granny Square Scarf
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

Warming up with
my granny square scarf...

I wanted my crochet class
to make something a little extra
than just a granny square...

so I had them join them together
and make something pretty and very useful...
perfect for winter...

But I am finding it hard to move with all the layering happening...
Hmmmm I really don't think it is all the bread and butter puddings
and watching Master Chef 6 nights a week...
Nooooo indeedy...
That has absolutely nothing to do with it at all...

Now where is my mixing bowl?

Meet Aunt Harriet

Aunt Harriet
is a woman of a maturing age with substance and virtue ...
Head of the CWA for the western region sub branch...
She fills her time by organizing herself and all around her...

Sponge cake is her vise and her saviour
winning the inaugural prize for
'Best sponge at show' four years running...
When asked of her success
she replies most politely
"that it is in the care and attention to detail
that makes all the difference..."


When Aunt Harriet isn't committing her time
to her many organizations
or planning her next overseas cultural holiday...
she likes to sit and relax
watching a spot of television
(of course not past 8:30pm as Aunt Harriet deems this not appropriate viewing hours
filled with unjustified levels of violence)
with her companion "Maude"
Maude is a 10 year old Himalayan blue cat
that is now retired from show life and spends her nights by Harriet's side...


Aunt Harriet's husband passes away some years back

and due to having no children
she fills her home with many nieces and nephews
every school holidays...
filling the hours with baking, laughing
and memories...
telling them tales of the past went she and her sisters were young
and rather silly and carefree,

all of these children adore Aunt Harriet
as she does love to entertain and keep company...
"they make me feel young again"
she says...
and with that she reaches for her hankie...

Aunt Harriet was made
one night without a pattern or any real idea
at the time...
she evolved to this stage out of pure delight
and is still a work in progress...
her story and clothes and accessories might even change yet,
I will just wait and see what comes to me...
but for now I do hope you like her so far....

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July

It is finally finished...
The American Flag blanket
I have made for my son...

I am so glad he is a sharing kind of kid...
as I think this is one project
I am finding hard to part with...

I don't usually follow patterns very well
I do change them and detour a tad
This one worked really well
and I only changed the stars a fraction
due to not quite beginning able to understand the pattern
more than anything..
but I am still more than happy with how it turned out...

In recognition of the kindness and friendship
that so many of my American friends have shown to me...
These pictures are for you...
I do hope you have a very happy 4th of July holiday
with lots of stars and fireworks to celebrate
your special day...

Are my granny knickers showing

Are my granny knickers showing
Originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage

Sneak Peek....

Sugar Blooms

Sugar Blooms is a new venue my sister and brother in-law
have started...online...
You can order lovely chocolate and flowers bouquets or
chocolate and cookie bouquets
as well as gift hampers...
These are just some of my favorites
from there range...

As I have mentioned in previous posts
My sister runs a very lovely wedding cake business...
Now they have explained even further
which is fantastic for anyone living in Australia...

At the moment there is FREE shipping to most cities on the east coast...
Like Melbourne and even Brisbane...

They except paypal as well as most credit cards
and ship super fast too...
So if you are after a little something special pop over and take a peek...
It is well worth it!!!

hope they have a few spare chocolates for when I visit...Yummmm...