Finishing this and that!

I have NOT been distracted you know ......even with all the excitement of hunky firefighters at my door (ok I'm exaggerating a teeny weeny bit...they were under my window) as related in my last post and what with the irritation of a second fire in our apartment block.
Actually could I just comment on this for a moment .Many of you remarked ,in your always welcome comments ,and rightly so .... how was it possible that the grandparents did not supervise the child adequately.  I have since then gathered a little more information about the situation from those here who know!   It seems the little angel,the grandson, (and he is ...a little fair blue eyed angel; pretty as a picture) loves to touch everything and particularly the hob & oven knobs and dials. The grandfather is in charge of the child while Mum and Grandma are out to work. Now it seems Grandad ( a young Grandad by the way) doesn't check what little angel face has been up to before they leave the flat for their morning stroll. Hence this is the second time he has come back to find his kitchen on fire. Incredible really, you would think he would have learnt the first time!
If it was me once I had that babe strapped in his pushchair I'd be checking every switch and plug in the house before I left.


as I was saying  I haven't been too distracted and have managed to finish the following makes :

This poncho is for my little six month old great niece who lives in Devon. I hope it will be too big for her as it is for autumn.

 The basic pattern isn't mine ...I know it isn't .....I think it was given to me by someone but I have no written pattern anymore. I did it from memory.
 I did design the extras though the neck,the soft trim around the neck and the bow .

It is a stash buster too. I used up some SMC Coats Bravo yarn and added Katia Bombon in white and mauve for the trim and bow. As SMC Coats Bravo yarn is a little harsh for babies´ skin I decided that the super soft Katia Bombon yarn would be ideal for the bits that would be in contact with little E´s skin. Incidentally can I just add Katia Bombon is useless for crochet! It is a total nightmare to use but it is my own fault because it does indicate on the label it is only for knitting.
 I had plans to add a third row to the edging but got so exasperated with it I gave up! I've sent all what I bought to my sister who is a knitter. It is a shame because it is really lovely and soft.

I was asked by a neighbour if I could make her a pincushion jar cover like the one I mentioned in this post here. Now as I tell everyone I do not normally make the same thing twice. Actually I don't think I could do another one anyhow as that first pincushion jar cover was total freeform. I have no pattern and I designed it as I went along. I told her I would do the same for her that is whatever came to mind ..that is freeform.....I don't think she really understood what freeform is though.
Anyhow I made this:

 I call it the Agra pincushion jar cover.    She said she liked it but I got the impression she thinks I'm a bit weird!  It may be weird but that is what came out of me or rather what was transmitted from my thoughts to my crochet hook!

Welcome to my new followers. I would really love to visit your blogs too could you send me the link please because I cannot see it on your profile on the Google friend Connect widget. I have tried to connect to some of you by email but I'm afraid  I can't because it indicates a no-reply email address

My giveaway is still on the go and you are welcome to participate:

Amanda :-)

Getting rid of the blues!!!

Personal strategy for getting the blues under control!!!

1. Saturday morning: Loaded with backpack containing flask of tea,banana,bottle of water,lesson plan drafts,coursebook,pen,glasses,mobile,tissues and sunglasses. Walk! Energetic pace, plugged into an ipod. Over the pedestrian bridge over the busy motorway down into the San Gabriel suburbs,up the hill to the Palmeral Estate ,pausing for a sip of water and to wipe sweat perspiration from my brow, a wriggle and discrete pull here and there to get certain item of intimate clothing back into place! 

Cursing not remembering my hat! 

Pop into bakery buy churros for snack. Pick up pace again down past the Palmeral football club and around El Palmeral housing estate:

Palmeral Housing Estate

Feet dragging! 

Enter El Palmeral park ....look for shady secluded corner to sit and work.

choose secluded picnic table hidden behind some trees in the cool shade. Set up work area and chill out munching churros and cuppa tea for two hours. Sr P pickup at 13:30; blues totally dispersed for the day!

2. Weekend crochet marathon.
Determined focus on completion of Poncho project (previous details here)
Friday evening pickup hook ....Sunday morning completion = better state of mind and 1 poncho for daughter Nº 1 using 1 50 gram ball of  Gedifra Balsini Colori by Coats and a bit more from my own stash; Coats SMC Bravo in purple,orange,brown,green,yellow and bronze Gedifra Balidini Coats and a size Nº 9 crochet hook. Basic pattern from Plymouth Yarn Company/Lainie Hering free patterns generously tweaked by yours truly and renamed Crinkle Poncho.

As usual no model available making do with large hanger

The neckline

Loopy and stretchy as daughter Nº 1 requested, so garments underneath can be seen!


3. Sunday morning excursion to Elche street market...minimal shade...crowds of people.....over 100 stalls.

Replenished trims and buttons stash .

 

 results = hot sun burns blues and everything else away ...crawl to the car and refreshments sort on sea front ----seafood paella at El Gamba restaurant.

El Gamba Restaurant Urbanova Beach












CONCLUSION:
Anger and hurt not gone but eliminated one track mind mode and able to think, analyse and decide the best option. Hurt won't go for a long time but its manageable.

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My heartfelt thanks to everyone who commented on my last post and for your good wishes and advice....incredibly supportive.

"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks."

Will Shakespeare 

 

Swap bitten and return of the poncho if it ever left us

Well and truly bitten.....................

 

but there you are ......I enjoyed my first blog swap so much with the Jar of Love that I was hoping another one would get started soon and so it has. I am now participating in the Cosy Autumn Swap hosted by  Blueberry at Blueberry Heart   and do you know what but I have been partnered with Sharon at From my Front Porch... which is wonderful because we are already reciprocal followers.

The rules of the Cosy Autumn swap are as follows:

.... well chocolate and food stuffs are out for a start as Sharon lives in the States and I am not risking the parcel being opened and any edible goodies confiscated.
When I went to visit my daughter in Chicago,when she lived there, I took a couple of boxes of PG Tips and a few things she asked me for that she missed so much and they were all confiscated by a very nice polite man at customs. Grr!!!
So choccies is a No! No!

No problem.........two handmade items are already being finished and are made of this and that and can be used for this and that too....the third one is in progress and will be handy to help in this and that as well....easy peasy!
Have to get my thinking cap on though for the bits and pieces to keep the rest company so I make sure its bits that Sharon will like or I hope will like.

Fun! Fun! and more Fun!

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I'm not doing this one its a pic from google to set the scene

Now PONCHOS:
 Daughter Nº 1 has been badgering me for awhile now about making a poncho for her and a full length poncho at that .......that ponchos are very practical...they are back in fashion....and nice and warm for the winter ...and so on and so on......so finally I said I'd make one for her but she was to decide on the colours she wanted and to buy the yarn.
Fine......things went quiet for a few weeks and then she popped in to see me and handed me this one morning:

 It is called Gedifra Balsini Colori by Coats and comes in 50 g balls.
I thought it was an extremely nice choice so I told her she needed to get at least 10 of these.
You can imagine my thoughts when she said NO that was it, that I'd have to manage with that one ball. It was too expensive to buy anymore,she said. She told me it cost her 7.56 pounds (6.00 Euros) for one 50 g ball. I did suggest she return to the shop to choose something cheaper but no that was the one she wanted. She said she was hoping I could do at least half with that ball and add some black or something to make up...well ......I had to laugh and then tried to explain to her that this one ball would perhaps cover the edging on the poncho and no more! Incidentally my daughter is NOT crochet/knitting/sewing/ apt at all she just likes to wear or have the finished product!
So its been left in my hands to sort it out! 
As it would cost me easily 75pounds for the rest of the yarn I have decided to make up a poncho using the chosen yarn for edging,black main background and some how working in the colours from this Balsini yarn from my own stash of yarn and hope daughter Nº 1 will like it.
At present I cannot say its a project I'm looking forward to doing......I'll let you know how it goes :-)

Hello and welcome to my two new followers Blueberry Heart and Sue Butler.  Many thanks for visiting my blog and for joining too. I'm sorry Sue I'd like to visit your blog but I can't work out which is your blog among the list of blogs on your Blogger profile.

Ahhhh!!!! nearly forgot
they have now been filled:

Natillas......a nice cold cold dessert for a very hot day

Have a great week:

Amanda :-)