Giant felted Granny Squares

Taking Granny squares to a whole new level ..

Read more in the NY Times here..

Little Blog Awards :Dorset Cereals

We have been nominated for a 'Little Blog Award' ! I am so excited!! So, if you feel like voting for us, make my day and click on the link below.....

I have been relaxing back in my new 'Box room' purchase. Perfect for reading the Sunday papers.

Go on, treat yourself....

Thank you Ali for the lovely surprise gift today..looks great in my kitchen (yes, I know I should have ironed it for the photo...not too big on ironing in our house!) and the tea tastes pretty nice too...!

Introducing....

My new blog..I love contributing to GWI, and this new one - Northern Hi-lights, is my own personal blog. I would love for you to pop by....Elaine x

Home-made Ric-Rac

So easy, so addictive, so many possibilities - why didn't I think of this?? All credit to Jellywares for this great idea and pattern - I'm thinking towel edgings, garlands, tarting up of t-shirts etc..

I adapted Jellyware's pattern slightly for finer ric-rac, by using SC and only 1CH, and now the seed has been sown I can see that you could use lots of different crochet motifs - hearts, flowers etc...very, very addictive!

....there are no bounds

I sat down last night after a gloriously sunny day in North Eastern Scotland, and wanted a quick crochet fix. I found a ball of parcel string in my stash and remembered a pattern for a crochet skull in a book I bought a couple of years back

'Craftivity' by Tsia Carson, is a collection of projects for 'The DIY Lifestyle' and has a couple of crochet and knitting patterns.

The skull pattern was written by Diane Bromberg, and I love her introduction to the pattern:

"Knitting is like building with bricks, and crochet is like building with a fluid erector set - there are no bounds."

Possibly for me the skull is the highlight in the book, with a few misses as well as hits:-

Knitted Lampshade anyone?

I love this knitted hammock though..

To think, with a ball of string and some knitting needles, you will always be able to knock up your own bed for the night, Ray Mears watch out....!

Oxfam Online

How cool is this? Oxfam are now offering an online shopping service! Makes total sense when you think about it, how fantastic......!


As far as I can see delivery is free (or, more likely, built into the cost per item) but it's possible to make a contribution to the charity at the checkout too. Can't beat a bit of charity shopping for a guilt free, eco friendly retail hit that often offers an opportunity to buy something really quite special and unusual too. Super cool.

Bamboo Tape

I've just ordered a stash of the above Rowan Bamboo tape. I have never used it before to crochet with, but was very impressed last week whilst visiting my Mother -in-law, when she showed me a knitted tunic she had recently made using the tape . The finished garment had a lovely silky feel and a nice weight to it. Any other hookers have any experience using it? I ordered it for only 69p a ball from Kemp wool shop , so feel like I'm getting a bargain to boot.

Whilst browsing on Ravelry last night I found a fantastic cardigan pattern, and plan to make it using the grey bamboo tape.

I am now counting the days for my yarn order to arrive.....sad or what??

Charley Harper

A small independent bookshop opened in our village about a year or so ago, and whilst I wonder at how such places can make a living in this day and age of Amazon and Book Depository, I admire the owners impeccable taste when it comes to Art and graphic design, reflected in the books and small stationary items that are stocked.

A while back my eye was attracted to the shop window, displaying a range of Charley Harper children's books. I have been an admirer of Charley Harper's work for a long time now, and couldn't believe my eyes, as he is little known in this part of the world compared to his native USA, where he is viewed as a legend.

Charley Harper's (1922-2007) unique view of wildlife is portraited by means of stylised drawings and paintings, capturing the essence of his subject in as few elements as possible. He once described his style as 'minimal realism' and joked that he doesn't count the feathers of the bird only the wings.

Charley has designed over 50 'Bio' posters for non-profit conservation groups and wildlife sanctuarys. In the 1980's he completed a set of 10 posters for the US National Park Service, each focusing on a specific eco-system and its inhabitants:-

Undecided in which book to buy I settled on this colouring book:-

I will selfishly keep it to myself, I might even unearth my set of Pantone markers from my university 'rendering' days, and do a spot of colouring in - it's too good for the children!! But...perhaps I will buy them a copy, because afterall I do want my boys to be exposed to decent art and graphic design in the hope they will appreciate it one day...