The best kind of post

A secondhand book I ordered from America and 10 packets of veg seeds I knew nothing about! 

(My lovely mum-in-law thought I might like them!)

Makes a nice change from bank statements and bills!

Rebecca

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A few of my favourite things...

Rain drops on roses...

whiskers on kittens...

strawberries and knitting!

One of my daughter's friends had seen this gorgeous tea cosy in a magazine and wondered if I could knit one for her. It just so happens that I was drawn to Nicki Trench's book Homemade Gifts a few months ago by this very pattern!

I didn't mean to be away from here for so long, but sometimes life has a habit of getting in the way of things like blogging. It's good to be back!

Rx

Proud & Smiling

At the beginning of May I taught my 9 year old niece, who lives on the Sussex coast, how to knit. We began with my very simple egg cosy topped with a pom pom - she seemed to grasp it really well and has been knitting ever since!

This morning I received such a lovely surprise in the post...a knitted lavender pillow accompanied by a handwritten letter from my niece! I am so touched, especially as it is her own adaptation of the egg cosy pattern...I shall treasure it!

I think that her knitting has come on beautifully and I love receiving handwritten letters because, as you know, I'm an old-fashioned kind of girl!

Back soon,

Rebecca
(proud & smiling auntie!)
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Quick catch up & I'm off to Wentworth

It's been a busy few weeks...

I've been rummaging for vintage bits and pieces in charity shops, where I found, amongst other things, a delightful pattern booklet entitled "Senior Knitteds - For the rich in years", which includes this pattern for knitted kneecaps!

I've been making hearts using vintage linens, lace, mother of pearl buttons and filled with lavender from my neighbour's garden




I've been preparing for some new workshops and working on my website




My school art clubs have been keeping me out of mischief...


we had lots of fun with salt dough a couple of weeks ago!


I've been enjoying time in the garden...planting, pruning, relaxing, sewing, crocheting...



and picking a few of my favourite flowers for the mantelpiece...buttercups, bluebells, lily of the valley and some of the pink hardy geranium that is beginning to flower near the pond. I am always amazed at the wonderful scent that comes from those tiny, almost ball-like lily of the valley flowers - gorgeous!

And, at the moment, I am preparing for a craft fair in Wentworth on Bank Holiday Monday - more details of which can be found here - I shall be in The Rockingham Arms Barn. I'm looking forward to it and hoping that it will be more successful than the Saltaire fair, where I only just about covered my stall fee! If you're nearby, why not pop along and say "hello" - it would be lovely to see you!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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And the winner is...

Congratulations Becca! I shall be sending the parcel of goodies to you next week. Thank you so much to everyone that took the time to leave a comment - I have thoroughly enjoyed reading them all!

This week I've been making these with the children at art club...

...we've called them "squidgies" and I now have around 35 of the creatures waiting for me in the kitchen! Job for today: to give the Squidgies their squidgy filling and stitch them up!

I don't normally buy craft magazines, but I just had to get a copy of May's Knitting magazine as my Flower Hair Grips are featured in the 'Get Inspired' section (top right hand corner!).

I have to say it is a lovely magazine - I'm particularly looking forward to reading the 'WI Controversial: The Changing Face of the Women's Institute' article and I love this Strawberries and Cream Tea Cosy pattern by Patti di Cagli.

As it's another sunny day outside, I shall be doing a little more weeding, sorting and planning in the garden later. Lettuce, rocket, beetroot and mangetout seeds went in last weekend - a little late, but we always get there in the end! I am planning a good sort out at the bottom of the garden by the pond so that I can scatter some wild flower seeds and just wait to see what happens! Hopefully, a colourful display in late summer! Watch this space...

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Positivity=Creativity

Despite all the not so cheery things that are going on in our lives here at the moment, I have decided that I am going to keep my blog as a place of positivity and creativity...or at least I shall try to!

I was back with the Brownies this week to finish off the egg cosies and here are some of the end results:


I was delighted when one of the girls told me that her dad had bought her some knitting needles this week and when another was excited to tell me that she had started to knit a scarf. All the girls seemed to really enjoy themselves, knitting and nattering, with a few exclamations of "I can knit!" along the way - so pleasing bearing in mind the "I can't do it" and "It's too hard" from the first week's session! How sweet too that one Brownie asked Brown Owl if I could join them on Pack Holiday next week!

The lovely Calico Kate asked me for the pattern for the little egg cosies, so here it is:

Most of the Brownies used 7mm needles and DK yarn, which gives quite a loose knit, but grows quickly!

1. Cast on around 20 sts - needs to measure at least 12cm when stretched across your needle.
2. Knit until your work measures approx. 7cm.
3. Cut yarn, leaving an end of approx. 30cm and, using a wool needle, thread this through all the stitches on your knitting needle.
4. Remove knitting needle and pull yarn to gather the top. Then, with right sides facing, stitch the side seam. Fasten off and darn in loose end at beginning of cast on edge.
5. Make a small pom-pom and stitch it to the top of your egg cosy!

Well, as my boy is pleading starvation, it would seem that it is time to go into the kitchen, but I shall be back tomorrow with a First Anniversary post - it's hard to believe that I have been blogging for a year already!

Bye for now,

Rebecca
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Oh, for the life of a cat!

How can it be Friday again? It's been a week full of children's activities for me - starting Easter projects with my school-based art clubs and back to knitting egg cosies with the Brownies! The egg cosies are coming along nicely and we've begun making the pom-poms for the top. I've been invited back for a third week, which is really good because it means that all of the girls should be able to finish their work to take home for the Easter holidays.

I've also been working hard on my website - www.rebeccamaryjanes.co.uk. Not being a very technical person, I'm quite pleased with what I have achieved - perhaps you'd like to take a look and let me know what you think?

All in all it's been a busy week...oh, for the life of a cat, eh?


Back soon,

Rebecca
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I'd forgotten...

how difficult it is to learn to knit! Trying to teach sixteen Brownies how to do it soon reminded me though! Most of them seemed to enjoy it and were keen to learn but, of course, there were also some "I can't do it" and "It's too hard" girlies! I am hoping to have them all knitting away by the end of next week's session!

Pink was a popular choice!

So...I now have 16 balls of wool attached to 16 pairs of knitting needles, each with a row of cast on stitches (or not!/or knots!) that, by the end of next week's session...

will become one of these:

Looks like I have a bit of untangling and knitting to do this week so that each of the Brownies will be able to take home a little knitted egg cosy in time for Easter!

In the meantime, I've been inspired to have a boiled egg for lunch!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Something old, something new, something...green!

I had chance to pop into the charity shop on the way back from the supermarket this morning and found something old - well, quite a few things! There were lots of crochet patterns for doilies and mats, some which had to come home with me - I quite fancy trying out some of the flower motifs! And, of course, to do that I'm going to need some fine crochet cotton, so I couldn't resist these balls of yellow, green and purple yarn at 25p each! I also picked up some more knitting needles to add to my collection in readiness for my knitting sessions with a group of Brownies in a couple of weeks' time.

I was pleased to find the Learn Tatting book as it has lots of diagrams - perhaps my daughter will give it another go! I wonder if this book came from the same home as the Tatting Designs book and shuttle that we bought there the other week? The Learn to Crochet book will come in very useful at my workshops as it has lots of pictures and guidance for left-handed learners.

This week I have been working on something new...

I've have called them "broodges" as they are a cross between a brooch and a badge! I am really pleased with how they've turned out...they are buttons and flowers...very me!

And, finally, for something green! I have given up on ever having broccoli from the plants in the garden - after all, they've been in the ground for 16 months now! However, in order to gain something from these enormous plants that have taken up so much of our little veg patch for all that time, I decided that we should eat the leaves!

They are very tasty indeed, especially added to stir-fried chicken, vegetables and noodles, as enjoyed last night! We won't be growing broccoli again, but we're really looking forward to making a start on this year's veg patch.

I'm also looking forward to relaxing with a cuppa, or maybe a glass of something, and catching up on some of my favourite blogs this weekend. Hope you have a lovely weekend whatever you're planning to do!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Knitted Hearts Pattern

Here's my pattern, as promised.

I used chunky Filz-It yarn and 7mm needles and felted the finished hearts in the washing machine before using them for my final project.

Abbreviations


k = knit

inc 1 = increase 1 by knitting into the front and back of the stitch. Knit into the front of the stitch as normal and, before slipping it off the needle, knit into the back of the same stitch, then slip it off (2sts).

k2tog tbl = knit 2 together through back loops (produces a left hand slope)

k2tog = knit 2 together (produces a right hand slope)


To begin:


Cast on 1st.
Row 1: K1
Row 2: Inc 1 as above (2sts)
Row 3: K
Row 4: Inc 1 twice (4sts)
Row 5: K
Row 6: Inc 1, k2, inc 1 (6sts)
Row 7: K
Row 8: Inc 1, k4, inc 1 (8sts)
Row 9: K

Continue to inc 1 at each side of the heart until you have 16sts (or the size you require)

Rows 17-20 inclusive: K

Row 21: K2togtbl, k4, k2tog, k2togtbl, k4, k2tog (12sts)
Row 22 (working on one side of heart shaping): K6
Row 23: *k2togtbl, k2, k2tog (4 sts)
Row 24: K
Row 25: k2togtbl, k2tog (2 sts). Pass one stitch over the other & fasten off.*

With the wrong side facing, rejoin yarn to complete the shaping of the other side of the heart, k6 and repeat from * to *

Darn in loose ends and, if felting your heart, do not trim until after it has been in the washing machine.


Happy Knitting!


Rebecca
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Hearts and Plans

How is it Friday again already? Where has this week of being 'back to normal' disappeared to? It's been a strange kind of week really...one filled with odd jobs and catching up!

I've finished the felted hearts for the wool shop workshop at the end of the month.

I used a yarn called Wash+Filz-it!. It comes in gorgeous colours and it felts beautifully in the washing machine, giving a sumptuously thick end result.

I made two of the knitted red hearts into a little pin cushion and stitched the pretty, multi-coloured crocheted heart onto a small calico bag. I have had quite a few enquiries about the patterns so I am going to post them here and here for you. Both patterns are my own, so I hope you will be able to make sense of them - please do let me know if you cannot understand what on earth I'm talking about and I'll try to help! Of course, you could always book a place on the workshop at Knit & Stitch in Maltby (Tel: 01709 817944) on Saturday 30th January (1.30-3.30pm)! It would be lovely to meet you there!

This week I've thinking a lot about my little business, rebeccamaryjane's, and where it will be heading in 2010. I've started work on my own website, and there are couple of exciting things in the pipeline that could turn out to be very exciting! I've been thinking about new colours and designs...I've been thinking about organising some more workshops...oh, the possibilities...I have so much spinning around in my head! So, just sometimes, it is nice (and necessary) to take a break and sit down with a cuppa and a good book...

My selection from the library this week...'good books' don't have to be fiction do they? I quite fancy squeezing in knitting or crocheting myself a hat...I will find the time somewhere!

Back soon,

Rebecca
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Warming up

The temperature has risen slightly here overnight, leading to a slow thaw of the thick blanket of snow that has had us all snuggled indoors for the last few days. I much prefer the snow to this cold and slushy Monday morning! However, looking on the bright side, it has meant that everyone has been able to carry on as normal this morning - hubby has gone to work and both children are at school, which has meant that I have had the house to myself for the first time since before the Christmas holidays.

I've made up patterns for these crocheted and knitted hearts, which are felting in the washing machine as I type. These will be part of a heart themed workshop at the end of this month.

It's been very quiet this morning and I've missed having everyone here! But, there's only a little of yesterday's homemade roasted carrot soup leftover...just enough for lunch for one with some of the bread that's just come out of the oven! Yummy!

Time to warm up the soup!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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When will there be broccoli?

Oh, my poor, neglected blog! Where has all the time gone - it's been over 2 weeks since my last post! Well, I am here now...for a few minutes, anyway!

I've been busy finishing off a large wholesale order, which included kilt pins and brooches like these:


Having had quite a good run of sales over the last few weeks, I am busy making more stock and trying to update my various online shops, including a new outlet here. November is going to be quite a busy month with various fairs & markets and, of course, my Learn to Crochet Workshop (see side bar for details - there are still some places left), not to mention thinking about Christmas on a personal level! But I do like to be busy, so I am not complaining!

The nights are drawing in, which I quite like...curtains closed to the world, lamps on...time to snuggle down on the sofa with a hot drink and some crochet or knitting! I love he colours of Autumn! I can see this miniature apple tree from the kitchen window and have watched its leaves change from green to gold to this vibrant russet shade that brightens some the dull days we have been having of late!
There is no doubt that it is easy to see the seasons progressing at a pace by looking at all the changes in the garden and around abouts. However, while some things are changing quickly, others are taking rather longer! Each day I go to the bottom of the garden to our small veg patch and search...and always return to the house asking myself the same question: when will there be broccoli? Despite massive leaves and careful nurturing (you might remember this), there is no sign of any broccoli! It's been in the ground for a year...how long does getting broccoli take? Are we nearly there yet?


Bye for now,

Rebecca
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Catching up & moving forward

Those apples were delicious...their gorgeous pinkiness inside reminded me of the lovely hank of Araucania wool that I bought from Coldspring Mill in early summer...and that I had planned to use it to knit myself some hand warmers for this winter! This is quite a draughty house in winter and once my hands are cold, that's it...I can't knit, sew or crochet and they take forever to warm up again - hence the need for some new hand warmers, which do the job perfectly!! Although the weather is glorious today, I'd better get knitting!!

Now that the children have gone back to school, it is time for me to catch up on everything that slips by the wayside during the holidays - some household chores, lots to do with 'rebeccamaryjane's' and exciting new ventures, some of which I shall share here and now, some of which I shall save for another time when I know a little more!!

I have been teaching workshops at a local wool shop since the spring and have always loved the idea of running my own workshop. So here it is:

I am so excited about it !! I am pleased to have found such a lovely venue and to have the opportunity to combine two of my favourite things - crochet and cooking! I've had some enquiries already, which I'm pleased about as I've only really started promoting the workshop this week. I was quite surprised to discover that I would not be able to have a poster in my local library without paying £13 for 1 poster in 1 library, or £26 to have 1 poster in all the local library branches!! For the time being, I'm keeping with the offers of free poster display!! It's all a new, steep learning curve...but lots of fun! In case you're having trouble reading the poster picture, the Learn to Crochet workshop is on Saturday 21st November (10am-4pm) at The Old School, Barnby Dun, South Yorkshire - the cost is £45, which includes workshop materials, morning coffee, homemade lunch, and afternoon tea. If you'd like more details, please get in touch - rebeccamjm@hotmail.com

Time for a cup of coffee and then off to distribute some more posters!

Back soon,

Rebecca
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