KarensKrafts

Moving Back To Blogspot

Well i finally made up my mind & decide i need to go back to blogspot, its simpler for me to use as i have very little knowledge of design tec on computers. My new link is similar to the original 4 Lilgirls, but as that one is just not useable i've had to create a new blog. Here's the link  My 4 Lil girls, kept it as close to the original as possible. I will keep this blog open,"just in case" of any breakdowns again, but from now on I will be at blogspot.......hope you will find your way over, love all my blogging friends & would hate to lose contact with any one of you

See you soon

Lots of love Karen x 

Weekend Bliss

Eventhough we are experiencing some of the MOST rotten wheather at the moment, I have to say i'm enjoying cozy times indoors.....

Lots of book reading & candlelight.............................................

Apple pie & coffee...........................................

New roses on my table.......................................

And plenty of hookey time,  I tell you......it was heavenly............more than heavenly ............the most perfectly relaxing non stressful few days i put down in an age!!!!!  Oh I did so enjoy being lazy, greedy, dosy & gluttoness heh heh, hoped it would just go on & on & on &......................you get the general gist of what i'm saying  :D

Oh yes there's a tah dah because of my busy fingers, one autumn scarf in the bag!!!!

It is most cosy & warm & snuggly..................I do love it, all i need now is a nice coat to match :)

Very seasonal......................... & some thing new, surprise, surprise ...........a new blanket on the go.

I started this last night, good ol granny squares, surprisingly fast to hook up & so satisfying. I've decided to use up all my bits left over from previous projects, so colors are being added quite randomly.............. I like it though.

I really want a patchwork look so every alternate square will be plain cream, some prettied up with flowers, as in pic above.  This is really grabbing my creativity & i'm just gonna run with it, might try to include farbic flowers along the way, we'll see, there's no real plan apart from the cream squares, lets see how it goes eh!!!!!

I have so much catching up to do with my fav blogs, tomorrow i guess, tonight its ........ yes Larkrise...... series 4 though, i have seen it already but its so watchable again & again, goes well with crochet, so thats my evening all mapped out :D

Look forward to catching up 

Lots of love Karen Xx

Bag crazy

Its official, i've become a bag obsessive, addictive, nuts on BAGS!!!!!  A few crochet ones next I think.  But seriously i do love to make bags, they look well with clothes, they transport things, they improve your general look & most important they say something about the carrier ( i think...........sounds good though doesn't it).  My latest offering is to be a birthday gift for a friend & its so her, I hope :)

Do you think she'll like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do hope so :)

I saw on Lucy's blog this morning a post on Nicki Trench's book Cute & Easy Crochet, was so excited as i had ordered it last friday, & guess what............ it arrived in the morning post yaaaayyyyyyyyyy!!!!!   I could not believe how fast it got here.  Of course i dived straight in, browsing, thinking, planning, what'll i make,  when will i make,  what color shall i make it,   you know all the excited gibberish that goes round & round in your brain when inspiration comes your way!!!!   Here's a project or two i'm going to have a whack at..............

 

Cute, super cute........................ that crochet dessert is the cutest.  Speaking of dessert yesterday we indulged after a delicious roast dinner in this.................

 

 

Tiramisu............ courtesy of Nigella & her amazing Christmas book, YUMMMMMMM Seriously this pic does not do it justice,  but we did Heh heh!   Back to discipline for the rest of the week, that way, i can relax at weekends & eat most indulgently (is that a word)

My granny scarf is growing,  i think another six squares should do it,  then the edge, saw this in the new book......................................

 
Its not a very clear pic, i know but would that edging be OTT on this scarf..............

I'm after a super cosy, super cute scarf.................. opinions much appreciated & sought after..... PLEASE!!!

I'll leave you with a pic of my autumn aster,  we are having a quiet family evening as Sophie is off on her travels "again" early in the morning.  She's off to Germany for a full university term as her degree is applied languages & german is one of her majors,  so i'm trying to prepare myself for her absense.  Not looking forward to it but at least this is the last trip for a few years.

 

Hope you all have a lovely week

Lots of love Karen xxxxxxxxxxxx

New Bits & Bobs

I can't believe its been a week since my last post......................I've had such a mixed week, a wee bit of hooking, a smidge of sewing, a whopper of a flu ( that i had to feed) & a beautiful parcel in the post :)

A new cushion to enhance my bed.....................

New scarf on the go, went with some autumn colors for a change...........

Gonna add a cream frill around the edge but there's eighteen squares to go first

I'm really loving this  scarf, can't wait to cosy up in it later in the year, will have to get a coat to match though, what a pain that'll be!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finished up my giveaway gifts & popped them in the post at last :/, hope the receivers will like them :D

Ate some awesome food, Chocolate Chip Chilli............... taken from Nigella Lawsons Christmas book, its a great book, full of yummy, simple recipes. food that is suitable 

  at any time, here's a peek at a dessert we had last weekend, taken from this book............. Girdle Buster Pie.............sounds like it should banned :P doesn't it 

Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too nice, way too fattening & definitely not something to indulge in too often.  Sophie did a bit more baking, love her baking, wish she'd bake all the time, but then thats probably not such a good idea.........

Stickey date bars....................need i say more...........except i'd like to try them with ice cream...................... Hey i did have the flu & apparantly you should feed a flu................. thats what i've been told and i'm a stickin to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now this came in the post this week, a package of the most divine gifts from Sandi, a lady who's become a friend since i started blogging. Imagine my surprise at the fabric, its from one of my absolute favourite lines, by Robyn Pandolph, she designs the most beautiful fabrics. I made a quilt earlier in the year for my husbands parents with her fabrics, in fact would love to do one for my own bed with her designs. The newest line is called scarborough Fair, its so lovely.

Wrapped in this fabric of fabrics was the loveliest gifts, all handmade by Sandi

Here they are as they should be, all sweet & beautiful..................

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much Sandi xxxxxx

Well its been an eventful week, i'm well on the road to recovery & looking forward to a bit more crafting during the coming weeks & a lot more crafting coming up to Christmas..............my fav time of year. Looking forward to my Christmas swap with Julie.

Feet up now, a steaming mug of hot chocolate & Larkrise series three for the umpteenth time.............. i guess i just love it :D

Have a lovely evening

Lots of love Karen Xxxxxxx

Would you like a cupcake with your bag!!!!

Busy, busy, busy..................... lots to do round here, not terribly taxing work though, in fact the kind of things i love to do!!!! A wee bit of baking yesterday evening, cupcakes no less,

& not made by me. These were lovingly baked by Ella, with a lil bit of help from her big sister Sophie...............

Quite delicious, yum really.............wish i'd taken a pic of them at work, Ella just loves doing stuff with any one of her big sisters :D   Just so you know i had one.......... I def sounded like a glutton in my last post, all that brekkie,  but its was more like brunch at eleven, but believe me i really don't eat like that everyday,  honestly :D

Oh yes one or two people asked about black & white pudding.......... I think its a particular Irish thing, not sure if you guys in Britan have it............. anyway its sort of like sausage but spicier & much thicker so its cut into slices & fried or grilled. It really is one of those foods you either love or hate, i LURVE it, but only occassionally.  Coffee & wholemeal toast is my usual in the morning !!!

So bags................... i've been busy sewing with some real pretty fabrics, bags, bags & more bags

 

 

All it needs now is a nice crochet flower to pretty it up a bit more.  And another one on the go........................................................

And then there are more sweet fabrics to choose from................................

 

I am a complete bag lover & have been able to sell quite a lot of them over the last few years, women really do love bags. Have you ever seen a woman without a bag, they really are one of those absolute neccessary accessories,  really where would you carry all those things that we can't possibly leave the house without....... three cheers for bags :)

Also finished my lil scarf, quite cute really & soooooooooooooo fast to make.......

a wee bit blurry............ soph was dying to get away, hates modelling for the camera

These really are lovely scarves & easy to make..............give it a try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear Sophie's in the kitchen baking again, i'll just have one of whatever she comes up with :D               

Bye for now & don't forget to leave a comment, i enjoy reading them so much

Lots of love Karen Xxxxxxxx

A more cheerful post :D

I just had to post again today, I was in such bad form yesterday that i thought "hey snap out of it & stop being such a sulk, post something nice!!!!! "    So here i am in a better mood wanting to share my day so far today. Had a great start, we took  Sophie & Lauren out for brekkie at Dromoland (had vouchers, so nooooo we are not loaded). 

Sat by this fire & totally pigged out, full irish breakfast (for those who don't know what that is.......) bacon, sausages, black & white pudding, eggs, tomatoes, mushroom, chunky chips, toast & lots of coffee, followed by scones with homemade jams & vanilla whipped cream...............................................haven't eaten since, still feel full. Ohhh it was soooooooooo YUM, the company was great too as was the open fire :D   Just to bring a wee bit of balance we took a little stroll in the garden afterward, have a peek............

Even though Autumn is well & truly here the gardens look so beautiful, food for the soul,

Never loses its appeal, we come out here at Christmas, and its always lovely, specially the mince pies they serve in the golf club, not that any of us play golf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But we do, most definitely indulge in mince pies :).    On to some projects i'm working on at the moment, My African Flower throw is not progressing as well as i thought it would

 

Truth be told its boring me to tears, so expect a taa dah on this in say................... 10 years, just kidding, i will keep at it but a bit at a time, second to other things. I started a less fiddly throw instead..............................

 

Its to be made up of eight inch squares in very subtle colors.............light grey, charcoal, cream, natural, very nice heather & i want to include a real soft pink in there too. All the yarn is pure irish wool, apart from the heather which was a gift from Sandi, its australian wool, so soft i want to keep it up to my face all day. Thats a throw back to when i was little, i used to have a fur glove called "fuff fuff" no laughing please, & kept it stuck to my face constantly, guess i just love the warm feeling of it, thanks Sandi  :)  Its quite basic, with different stitches to create different textures.

 

I'm very much influenced by this beautiful blanket. Have admired it for so long, but don't want to do a replica so am putting my own touches & ideas in.........................

Have also been doing a quick scarf, one of those wiggley ones, can't remember the proper name for them so here..................... if you know the name let me KNOW !!!!!!

 

Its a lovely soft green in (gosh i'm not even sure what the yarn is, doesn't say on the label) feels good though. These are great, they make up so fast, sometimes its real nice to see quick results, don't you think :D

On a good bye for now note, all the pay it forwaed gifts & the giveaway gifts will be posted out at the weekend, sure hope  you guys like Xx

Lots &  lots of love for now, do leave a comment if you drop by

Karen Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Giveaway Winner

Well exactly two mins ago i got Sophie to draw a winner for the giveaway, I've seen others arrive at a winner through some computer program but i'm afraid i'm a little comp illiterate for that, now i know its probably really simple but as it is i'm a few days late doing this & am not in the best of form at the mo so the easiest way was for me to write a list of the people that entered, in no particular order, each one numbered, then shout for soph upstairs........." "hey Soph pick a number between one & 24"........"19,mom"......"thanks love". K number 19, run through the list, Helen from http://helenphilipps.blogspot.com/. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy congrats Helen, will post the gifts out to you by the end of the week Xxxx.

Sorry for the moody tone of the post, its just one of those days, lets try cheer this up a bit eh!!!!!!!!!!!! I finished that awful navy & white blanket, plus some nice colorful stiitches to cheer it up a wee bit, here's the Taa Dahhhhhhh.......................

A closer look a the edge.............................................................

Def more cheerful than before :D

Its still going in the car though as its quite chunky & will be majorly cosy in the coming bad weather.

Also Aidan & i were away this weekend, but before we left, i read one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.................Margie over at http://margieloveswool.blogspot.com/.  Thank you so much, the people i've met through blogging have become real important, i feel cheered up just thinking about you guys, such a blessing  :) Catching up on blog news & creativity is most def a favourite pastime now, love, love, love it Xxxxxxxx

 One last thing, i put my name in for a christmas swap over at Laa Laa's, got my partner over the weekend Julie from http://atalefromtoadstoolhouse.blogspot.com/, love her blog, go have a peek, i seem to really like a lot of the same things so i'm chuffed with my swap buddy :D

Well its Downton Abbey tonight, i bought the boxset last week, heard good things about it, so maltesers & popcorn time ............................................

Lots of love Karen Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Taa Dahhhh the giveaway bag, I should have waited until I had it made to host a giveaway so here it is. I enjoyed blogging soooooooooo very much, have made sweet friends & have received some really beautiful gifts through this new past time, so really this give away is by way of saying thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! In fact on sat gone i had another lovely gift in the post from Amanda @ Manda's challenges, have a look............

Isn't it pretty :D, thanks so much Amanda, its been well used already, in fact i don't know how i've done without a pin cushion for so long, i just did not realise how handy they are.  So on to the giveaway, here's a few pics & detail of the bag.............

So i already have some names from my post last week, if you would like to have this bag plus a few small goodies to be revealed (cause i havent got any yet ), leave a comment after this post, i will leave it open until saturday 17th :D

Off now to watch deep space nine, i know star trek is for nerds.............. guess i'm a nerd :)

Have a lovely evening, lots of love Karen Xxxxxx

Mom's Quilt........Ta Dahhhhhhhh

I'm so happy to be able to make something like this for my mom,  she was the one that taught me to sew at a very young age, along with my grandmother, sewing was a huge part of family life. When i took it further & studied fashion design for four years, she was there all the way encouraging me, loving my work & paying my way, an absolute angel. So its her birthday on monday, but she lives in Perth, Australia now, i don't get to see her very often at all, so i wanted to do something special, i hope she likes it.

I have this amazing woman for a mother, at 55 she went back to uni in australia & spent four years training to be a nurse, now she works full tome with elderly people & just loves it, she loves them, loves the work & never fails to amaze me Xxxxxx

On another subject, i need opinions, you're gonna think i'm a complete flake but i'm considering moving back to blogger. I've been here for a month now & cannot figure out even with tec support how to do a lot of design stuff on here, blogspot was so easy & now i'm stumped. Also following my fav blogs which are mainly on blogspot is quite difficult & others find it difficult to follow my posts. Am i mad!!!! Advice needed, what do you think???????????????

Before i log off, a wee peek at some more gifts i received today

A pretty necklace from Ella........................................so sweet, she asked Lauren for the money to buy it :D smart eight year old

My fav perfume from my lovely husband, then off out to dinner tonight, sqeeeeeeeeeel can't wait, major pig out time :)

Also got a voucher from some dear friends for another meal out in dromoland castle, oh i am feeling loved & spoiled.

Off to get dolled up soon, so you all have a good weekend

Lots of love Karen Xxxxx

Jazzing up a boring blanket

Remember this ol thing i was crocheting waaaaaaaay back in May, i think!!!!!!!!!

Would you look at that, i wouldn't use it in a dog basket & i intended it for my car, well at the moment it would suit my car ( could badly do with a good.......... professional valet) Really its a shockin disgrace, but that aside for now, i decided to try & do SOMETHING with this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Sooooooooooooo i purr- chased two balls of colored wool to see where it would take me.   Here's what i've done so far

I want to kind of experiment with different decorative stitches & see what comes out, what'd you think so far, is it an improvement,  it def looks better this end :D  I'm gonna do a bit more tonight as i'm really quite enjoying it now !!!

Wee peek at the latest quilt under my machine, i think its my favourite so far :)  Almost finished.............................................                                                                                                                                  Well thats me done for this evening......................... oh i am going to extend the giveaway, i think its a bit unfair of me to ask people to sign up until they see an actual bag, check in for that during the next few days, i promise it'll be a sweetie Xxx

Have a lovely evening, thank you for the lovely comments you leave, i enjoy every one !!!

Lots of love Karen x