Holiday Time

I've just returned from a wonderful relaxing holiday in Scotland. It was just what I needed to recharge my batteries and work on some crochet and knitting for me! 

We had initially booked 3 nights in our favourite little cottage in Minto but then added a fourth night on followed by a very last minute addition of a first night at the Days Inn at Annandale Water. This hotel was a very pleasant surprise - budget so a pretty basic room but it had a balcony over looking the beautiful hills and lake complete with ducks and geese. I enjoyed my morning cup of tea whilst reading on the balcony (wrapped up in my slipper socks and dressing gown) but it was all very pleasant and civilised! 

The one thing I love about Granary Cottage is the hospitality of our lovely hosts Sheila and Kevan. Every time we've been, we've been greated by a vase of wild flowers and some home baked goodies. This year it was spiced fruit cake and it was delicious!

We spent a lot of time chilling out in the cottage, enjoying the beautiful view, reading and crafting. I managed to finish crocheting a shawl (it still needs beads adding so I'll post pictures when it's done) and started my Craftsy class on freeform crochet. It was great to have time for me crafting!

On Wednesday I headed over to The Border Tart (Lindsay) for a spinning lesson. She is a fabulous teacher and I loved every minute of it - so much so I've already acquired a wheel! I managed to spin and ply some yarn which has 'lots of character!!!' 

After my spinning lesson, I headed into Hawick where I enjoyed my lunch in a quirky cafe called The Damascus Drum which also doubled as a second hand book shop before popping over to The Textile Towerhouse to view the felt exhibition which was a delight to see and featured a few pieces by one of my favourite felt artists, Moy Mackay.

On the way home, we took a detour to visit Knit.Spin.Cakes new yarn shop, Harbour Yarns in Seaham, where I purchased some West Yorkshires Spinners Aire Valley DK. I have a project planned for this so you'll just gave to wait and see what it becomes. It's a gorgeous yarn shop, in a beautiful location with a great range of yarns. Definitley worth a visit! 

W.I.P Wednesday - Crochet Lego Blanket

It's a bit of a miserable Wednesday here as the weather isn't too great. Nevertheless, I've got a coffee and chocolate loaf cake baking in the oven ready to take to a friends tomorrow - if it lasts that long - and a blog post about my current.W.I.P (work in progress)
After much protesting from Mr Bunny, I've finally got around to working on his blanket.  I don't.blame him for the protesting, honestly, as I started his blanket way back on boxing day last year.
The pattern is The Lego Blanket by Andrea Baker, which I purchases on Etsy, and involves making lots of crocheted lego bricks, using the bobble stitch to make the nobbly bits you get on top of the bricks. 
The pattern is really well written and includes a detailed photo tutorial as well, making it a great project for beginners.
I've got a pretty long way to go on it yet but, you never know, I may finish it before next Boxing Day.  Maybe.

Birthday Giveaway!

Once again the weather is glorious here in Scotland and I have spent my 30th birthday buying buttons and eating cake!!
I baked my own chocolate, raspberry and Nutella cake and I can tell you that it is delicious!
To celebrate my birthday, I'm having a bit of a giveaway! I'm offering one lucky reader the chance to win a personalised set of 6 of my Peg It! pegs. You can have names, phrases, buttons or sparklies on them - so long as it will fit on the peg!
All you have to do is comment on this post to be in with your chance to win! If you share this post on Twitter or your Facebook page you can have an extra entry (make sure you tell me in your comment where you have shared so I can put them in!)
I'm also running a second giveaway via my Facebook group so why not join it and enter again?!!
The giveaway will close at 12 noon on Monday 10th June and I will  announce the winner on Monday evening so make sure you pop back and check!
good luck!
Sarah x

Happy 'belated' Christmas Everyone!

It has been quite some time since I last posted - you'll be pleased to know that one of my New Year's Resolutions is to make my blogging more regular but I'll save that for a future post!

Christmas has been and gone and I hope yours was filled with crafty gifts, fun and love.  I had a lovely Christmas spent with Mr Bunny and Grandma Bunny (my Mum - she considers herself the creatures Grandma!!).  I received some lovely handmade goodies including a hand made Gingerbread Bunny as a Secret Santa gift and some crochet mitts and bracelet from my mum.  Mr Bunny bought me Kirsties Vintage Home (yay) and some pink sparkly yarn, a needle case and a whole box of goddies from Felted Fancies Supplies full of ribbon and buttons. 

I handmade a few goodies this year, although not as many as last year.  Inspired by Attic 24 and Julia Crossland, I crocheted a mini wreath for my aunty to go in her new house.  I loved making it and the colours look so cool with all the 'bits'. I'm planning on making one for my house to that can stay up all year round. 

Crochet Wreath

I knitted - yes knitted - a scarf for my goddaughter in some amazing pom-pom yarn I found and felted a knitting needle roll for my best friend, Shinybees. 

'Baaaa'

Who doesn't want a scarf covered in pom poms??

I made fruit and nut cupcakes for my brother and sister in-laws, decorated with marzipan, icing and some little sugar decorations.  They were a great gift to make and looked really cool all boxed up and wrapped with ribbon.

No event is complete without cake

I also gifted quite a few crafty supplies to inspire and get more people crafting - yarn and knitting needles for my mum and wooden spoon people kits for the children.

All in all, my Christmas has been lovely and crafty.  How crafty was yours? What was your favourite gift?