Lazy Sunday's

I love Sundays. They are by far my favourite day of the week but also tinged with sadness - by the time it reaches 6pm I feel like the weekend is over and I have to start thinking about work on Monday morning!

This weekend was particularly lazy. We went to Homebase (DIY store) to look at exciting things like tiles and paint as we're getting our kitchen done soon. I think we've decided on the colour scheme and layout, and I'm really looking forward to all the new accessories I can buy! As well as picking up a paint sample booklet I purchased three mini Cactus. I've always loved Cacti and reminds me of one we had when I was little, I would be fascinated with the spike y-ness of it!

I received yet more yarn to add to the ever growing collection! This is Rico Creative Cotton Aran in Light Green, Sky Blue and Orange. The red shade is from James C Brett Cotton on DK (shade 15). These lovely bright colours are earmarked for a project for my Godson who's birthday is in March. 

 I also picked up a copy of this month's Inside Crochet magazine. I usually buy Simply Crochet each month but fancied a change. The adorable camper van on the cover just grabbed my attention and I'll definitely be having a go at making that soon! I've had a quick flick through and I really love this magazine; the photography is amazing and there are so many projects, big and small to do.

So that was my weekend! I'll leave you with some pictures of our cat Toby who loves to look out of the window at the birdies. Hope you all had a lovely weekend and didn't get too wet in this awful UK weather we're having.

 

Betty xXx

Crochet Projects

As with many crochet lovelies I have a millions of ideas rolling around my head all.the.time! It gets a little frustrating as I don't always have the time or effort to crochet in the evening after work. I took a break from it for a couple of weeks and now I'm back in the swing of things.

I recently bought a whole load of yarn for future projects which include:

 

Kitty Cat Cushion...I love cats and all things cat related...its getting to the point where I feel like one day I might be that crazy cat lady! This is another amazing pattern from Annabooshouse sold through Etsy. Her patterns are lovely and super easy to follow. Check out my Instagram feed to see my attempt. This will be a birthday present for my sister-in-law but I think I might have to make one for myself! 

A cute little crochet car for my godson who's birthday is coming up in a month or so. He will be 2 years old so into everything, especially cars! I thought this would be a nice addition that could be displayed on the shelf in his bedroom - or played with if he wants to! For the free pattern, click here

 

Linking with the car theme I'm going to make some car bunting using this brilliant pattern (link here). I'm planning to make bunting with his name on and these little cars in between each letter.

And for my last little project I'll be making this cardigan for our friends who are pregnant and due in May. If you read my previous post you'll know I've already made this cardigan for my husband's 2 year old cousin as a Christmas present, but Sarah from Ball Hank 'n' Skein has made the pattern easily adaptable for smaller baby sizes by changing the hook and yarn size. This pattern can be purchased from Etsy (link here)

Lots of things to be getting on with! I'll keep you updated on my progress as the weeks go on. Have you got a whole list of projects on the go?

Betty xXx

Wonderful Weddings // On a Budget

My first wedding anniversary is coming up later this month (23rd February) so it's getting me all nostalgic, thinking about our day and what I was doing this time last year....panicking - sheer decent in to a panic ridden spiral!!

We got engaged in December 2011 and started planning more or less straight away as we had already said we didn't want a long engagement (we'd been together for 9 years by then so talk of weddings had come up from time to time!). I knew I didn't want to spend a fortune on a wedding, for a number of reasons:

1. We aren't rich!
2. A wedding is just one day - it's the marriage I would rather put all my efforts into
3. I believed that you can have a wonderful day and not get into debt by spending above your means
4. I'm a crafty person so wanted to make as much as I possibly could!

I thought it might be helpful to share my experiences of the build up, where I sourced things, how we kept to a budget and what it was like to be a bride! So I'm starting a little series looking at all the planning and hopefully sharing some tutorials along the way. I'll be starting off with the basics of planning a wedding, so check back soon to read my tips!

Betty xXx

Scrapbooking // 29

I have now reached the grand old age of...29 (booo!) To document the last year of my 20's and to remember what it was like to be young I have decided to make a scrapbook. As part of my new year resolutions/plans for 2014, I also decided that this year I wanted to do lots of fun things and take more pictures, actually getting them printed out instead of letting them store on my hard drive (remember the good ol' days when you went down to Boots to get your photo's developed, not knowing how they'd turned out?!).

I've never made a scrapbook before - well, maybe when I was about 5 or 6! After spending ages searching through Hobby Craft's website I found a really cool looking scrapbook by a company called La De Dah. They not only do lovely scrapbooks (they call them creative journals) but they also have washi tape, sticky notes and lots of other accessories!

I went for the blue scrapbook (I don't know if the different colours have different themes in terms of the paper patterns but this one seems to be travel orientated?). It comes with 42 printed pages, a dual ended pen and glue stick, and four pocket pages. It is also a ring binder so you can move the pages around and add more to it. I purchased some cute washi tape with bicycle and bunting print, polaroid frames, some sticky notes and pastel coloured Sharpie markers.

I've been hording little things to stick in like tickets from Venice and will be printing my photo's from January. The plan is to document each month with pictures and any other little trinkets that hold memories. Luckily additional paper can be bought for the scrapbook/journal, which I think will be needed! Did you know its really hard to find an online printer that does 3x3 sizes?! I've looked everywhere! So I'm going to print them at home for now.

Have you made a scrapbook?

Betty xXx