KarensKrafts

A giveaway & 3 pay it forward winners

I'm so enjoying making the gifts for my "Pay it Forward " that i decided to make one more and host a give away.   I've been the recipiant of three giveaways recently so i thought "HEY" time to give one back.   You can see the type of gift for P I F HERE,  so with these fabrics i will be making another bag to give away...............................................

If you like , then simply leave a comment on this post & i will leave it open until sept 15th.  I will include a few small handmade items also, so get your name in  :D

Today Ella did the honors for me & drew three names from a hat

She felt soooooo VIP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The three Pay it Forward gift winners are.........................

Sarah @ Annaboo's House

Amanda @ The Vintage Hobby House &

Little Blue Mouse

Congrats & i will have your gifts flying out to you soon xxxxxxx

New quilt on the cutting board today, this one is for a very special lady, so i won't show you any more until she receives it..............................................

Squares cut & sewn into nine patch...............................wish me luck with the rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off now to sit with hook & yarn & whats left of the peanut brittle, YUM, YUM, WAY TOO YUM  honestly i did try to resist, i'm such a weakling :)

Hope you all have a sweet evening,   don't forget to leave a comment for the bag!!

Lots of love Karen Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Showers of happiness

 
Wow today's been another fab day, in fact i'm blown away, as it was all so unexpected. Firstly this morning i picked up my monthly "Country homes & Interiors", beautiful issue, full of lovely autumn colors & goodness, can't wait to browse it this evening, here's a wee peek......

Beautiful ideas.......................................

To die for dreamy bedrooms xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx & lots more. So then I arrived home to the postal delivery & yayyyyyyyyyyy my new Japanese crochet book had arrived. Saw it Here on Pam's blog a few weeks back & just had to have it, oh boy am i glad I did,  it's overflowing with the most delectable patterns, beautiful ideas, i will be crocheting non stop :D

 

I've done a wee flower already, show you in a mo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As if that didn't make me deleriosly happy, at two o clock exactly the postal came again with not one or even two, but three packages, there is def a father smiling down on me today, i feel so special to have received so much.

First was a gift from a young man who stayed with us in August, Sam a friend of Sophies. He sent us this Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

All the way from California, PEANUT BRITTLE, oh my there goes my diet, I mean these young twenty year olds just don't seem to get, that when you are 40+ & only 4ft 11" treats like this are dangerous, seriously damaging to all my best intentions, but who cares eh!!!!!  Thanks Sam, love ya!!!!!!

The next package i opened was from Pammy Sue. I won a giveaway on her blog a few weeks back for some cute lookin pot holders, well they arrived today.............

But not on their own, she also gave me 5 balls of cotton yarn, a sweet bookmark, actually the bookmark is so lovely, & some patterns

I am so thrilled, i was not expecting all this, thank you so much Pam.........................I love it!!

My last surprise was from another giveaway, this time on Tricia's blog. Take a look at these beauties...................................

Beautiful earrings & a lovely pendant or charm for a bracelet, they are so pretty, thank you so much Tricia, i love them xxxxxx

I've put the lil cards next to the roses i bought this morning on my table

Ain't it lovely, the nice part is its my birthday later in the week so i feel like i've received birthday gifts.  I never realised when i started blogging how much i would love meeting so many lovely people. Tricia's blog is beautiful, full of talent in so many areas, Pammy sue's is def one of my fav crochet blogs & she def makes me laugh, a very Irish sense of humor, love her!!!!!  Blog friends are the best :D

I have also been doing a little bit of crochet, firstly let me show you a flower i made TODAY from my new book

Perfect for this bag, what do you think???????   Also making a really small bit of progress on this

And on this.........................................................................................................................

Now i think i'll try & make some progress with this..........................................................

Heeeeheeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I won't be laughing tomorrow though...........

Hope you all have a wonderful evening, do leave a comment, stay blessed

Lots of love Karen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bearing gifts.........................

Oh my we have just had the most busy day,  definitely not a day of rest,  but most definitely a day of blessing.

After church this morning we rushed home as today we were feeding fourteen people for dinner.......................................delicious though............. roast beef with all the trimmings (crunchy roast spuds/potatoes,  fresh garden veg,  full of flavour gravy)  followed by sherry trifle, pineapple cheesecake  & butter shortbread. I should have taken photograph but seriously once grace was said,  yeah it got wolfed down pretty fast !!!!!!  Twas Yum :)

But for me the best part, even though my stomach & taste buds are very important to me, was receiving these early birthday gifts, one from a lovely friend, the other from my sweet daughter Lauren

My absolute favourite yankee candle, fresh cut roses, oh the scent is divine, i will sit & savour as soon as this post is done......................

Doesn't it look so pretty lit up, Lauren is such a sweet girl, always buys such thoughful gifts. Thats three blessings, my girl, the wonderful company for dinner & a beautiful candle, but thats not all...................................

A lovely handmade cross stitch bookmark from a lovely friend,  with one of my favourite blessings from the bible.  The bookmark is in dutch,  so here is what its taken from

The Lord bless you & keep you

The Lord make His face shine on you

And be gracious to you

The Lord lift up His countenance on you

And give you peace

Numbers 6:24-26

What a blessing, what an awesome day, so much to be thankful for.

I hope that this will touch you when you read it

Lots of love Karen Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A bag for pay it forward!!!!

Hi there My pay it forward giveaway ends tomorrow, soooooo i thought i'd give you a peek at one of the pressies i'll be giving away for this..................................................

And this is it, pressie number one ........... a pretty handmade bag with a contrast bow tie

Lined in matching floral, with inside pocket.............................

Perfect for carrying wips or make up & wallet or maybe even a small kitchen sink............. you get the idea!!!!  Each bag will include a pin on crochet/fabric flower.............. interested?  There's one day left to get your name in, just leave a comment on this post & a sweet lil bag will be winging its way to you xxxxxxxxxx

Have the best weekend ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of love Karen Xxxxxxxxxx

Yeah three blankies finished!!!!!!!

I had vowed at the beginning of the summer to finish at least two of the four blankets i had on the go or on my hook, a very confused hook i might add, flitting from one to the other, back & forth, wow i was getting dizzy! So it was time to take one at a time & just get em DONE!!!!!   Two by september first at the latest :?

So i had number one in the bag by july................. Giant granny square.............enjoyed creating this one :D

Went to some friends as a house warming gift.....they loved  xxxxx                                        

Number two finished in late july/early august.................................................................

Along with a couple of cute cushions, my daughter Lauren desperately had to have them, so i gave in.......................................gotta keep em happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then last night i completed number three.......................................Tah Dahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Now that was one busy hooking summer, I enjoyed every second, no sore fingers just dying to do some more................................. onwards & upwards as they say :D

African flowers........................................ watch this space. Tomorrow or friday i want to post one of the pay it forward gifts, do tune in :)

Love all the sweet comments, & i apologize if i don't get to reply, will def make more of an effort in the future xxxxx

Enjoy your week

Lots of love Karen x

Loch Derg & a little hookey!!!!

Well after last week I thought "time to chill out & relax a wee bit". The girls are back to school next week so i'm making the most of any sunny days that should happen this way. Now I know the irish weather generally isn't up to much but we did seem to be blessed by a few hop in the car & drive to the nearest beach or river type days!!!!

On tues :D it was one such day, my mood was one of "i don't care if you want to or not we're driving to Killaloe for a picnic", & oh was i glad of my bossiness that morning, because it tuned out to be one amazing day.

Killaloe is a pretty lakeside village, with a great picnic area & forest walks by Loch Derg. We had such a lovely relaxing day, paddling (regretted not bringing my swimsuit), eating, hooking, walking & of course killing countless wasps (pesky beggars) can't have a picnic in peace!!!!!

Well howdy dooooo!!!!!!!

Twas perfect, came home that evening & put the feet up to some hooking

Oh i feel soooooooooooooo much better the last few days, sleeping a lot better, moved my room back to normal of course, i'm a creature of habit................. & took it easy with crafting wip's. Couldn't resist a lil bit of crochet (its the addictive one isn't it). First at the lake...................................................

Then a bit at home. Am making progress on my lilac & white throw for my room, took Pam's advice & blocked all the smaller grannies for the edge

Was def worth it as they went on a lot better this time.........................................

Can't wait to finish it, am looking forward to the coziness of it on my bed Mmmmmmmm. Also did a few more african flowers, which i can now do from memory great eh :D. I think i'll put those off until lilac & white is done, otherwise i'll skip from one to the other & probably take on something else as well.......................................does anyone else do that????? So one at a time, yeah!!!

Hard to resist though :)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Oh i took some pics at bunratty folk village, looks like the set from Larkrise.....will post them soon, some fabulous images there :D

Hope you all have a lovely week, do leave a comment, love them soooo much

Lots of love Karen xxxx

Wedding Pressie Quilt Taa dahhhh!!!!

Well i did it, I finished the pressie this morning & am really thrilled with the finished piece.  I'd almost given up on it as tiredness has been a real problem this week. I moved my bedroom around last week & haven't slept properly since. Don't know if its just a coincidence, but its going back to the old way before I go to bed tonight.

Anyhoo i opted for a wavy quilting pattern this time & actually its was quite pleasant doing it. I had bought a free motion foot a few months back & i love using it. You could with a wee bit of control practise draw (sewing of course) with the machine!!!! Its fab!

Folding it before i wrap it...........................................

A bit of a wrench giving this one away, but worth it when the happy couple unwrapped it.

We drove straight out to visit them as soon as the quilt was ready as they're leaving tomorrow for Israel, where they're to be married :D

Want to show you a few snaps of his house, which is one of the oldest surviving houses in co. clare, it was built in the 1700's.

It really is lovely, so peaceful. Well they loved the quilt, said it was going to be a family heirloom, isn't that so nice. I think the best part of giving a gift is the absolute pleasure it brings to the person that receives, gives me such a thrill !!!!!

Just down the road from the house is a vey pleasant little village. Aidan & i stopped on the way home & sat by the river that runs through it, bliss, real lovely serenity.....

Just the sound of a river is enough to relax you & bring a real peace to your day....

Nice wee village, sweet shops & a real lovely bistro hat we intend to use OFTEN :D

Not too sure about this guy though.................... what do you think??????????????????

That was my afternoon, i'm ready to sit on my sofa now with hook in hand & maybe an episode of Larkrise to Candleford (have all four seasons squeel!!!!!!).

Have a lovely evening all, leave a comment if you drop by, makes my day :) xx

Lots of love Karen Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Pay it Forward.............

  

I have absolutely no idea how to get this image centred, but being a computer genious i'm sure to figure it out in a few ticks...............not!!!               Yesterday i have to say was a yuk day for me, i was shattered after a week of insomnia, walking zombie status. The morning was taken up with setting up our church thrift shop, selling lots of second hand goods, then taking it all down again. I was majorly freaked as my plan was to come home afterward, get out my garden recliner, stick a great big squashy cushion on it, park myself & sleep under the sun, but of course the sun for the first time this week stood me up......don't you just hate a no show!!!!!                                                                                                          Anyway feeling way too sorry for myself i arrived home at three in the after noon & guess what, i had a little package waiting for me :D :D :D :D smiles all round, little pitter patter of my heart, i got a pressie!!!!!                                                           

A while back i put my name in to a  "pay it forward" giveaway at Robin's blog My Nest of Yarn & Buttons, & i actually got picked. The package had a beautiful handmade gift in it, all for me. Have a look.........

A pretty little purse to hold mycrochet hooks & yarn needles, isn't the fabric sooooo cute & look at Robin's label, it gorgeous "Robin's Nest". But thats not all, included was something you just cannot get here............................

My very own polkadot crochet hook & a wee needle to match, i'm all a flutter, its all just lovely, thank you so much Robin, I love the gifts :D

So now the rules are i have 365 days in which to find three bloggers who would like a handmade gift from me in the post, & who is prepared to do the same!!!!

If that takes your fancy, just leave a comment on this post, I'll leave it open for two weeks, until the third of september & will stick the names in a hat & get one of my girls to pull out three. I promise to send lovely gifts, & not to take a year to do it, so PLEASE feel free.........I won't say you have to be a follower as its a bit different to follow typepad blogs, you have to register with them to do that, so its not a requirement for this "pay it forward".

Hope you'll join in, have a lovely day

Lots of Love Karen Xxxx

Sunny days & progress

I have to say, i'm so chuffed with the weather here at the moment, we've had such a nice few days, so i'm taking ever single opportunity to sit outside & soak it up........

 

                             

Nothing quite like coffee & a good recipe book outdoors. This particular one by DELIA is a particular favourite of mine, full to the brim of traditional british food, which is practically the same as a lot of Irish food & I do love it! I made many a delicious meal thanks to this gem of a book last autumn & winter, great pickles, side dishes & the best christmas mince recipe, oh, and the traditional trifle is an absolute must at any time of the year :D.

See this tree, well you can't really make it out from here but is is laden down with crab apples, I think i'm the only one in our neighbourhood who's ever been seen climbing a ladder to pick stuff off trees, nobody seems to realise the deliciousness of what you can make........ crab apple jelly, blackberry jam, crumble, pie.... elderflower cordial to name but a few. So tomorrow hubbie & I are "goin pickin".

Watered up my hanging baskets, they were gasping for a drink, already had to replace the flowers in these due to awful neglect.....

 

 So this time round i'm being very attentive to their needs, and i must say they are starting to make pretty nice progress, i do so want a really lush set of hanging baskets, i feel green with envy when i see huge flowering displays in other gardens, hope i haven't left it too late :(

Anyway some progress on the wedding quilt, here it is hanging on my clothes line swaying ever so slightly in the breeze...........................

 

Perfect day for this kind of shot, it was lovely to pop it on the line & snap it in full view, hard to do that otherwise. Tomorrow is bastng day & then its quilting weekend. Hope they'll like it................mind you i think most people love a home made gift its just so personal. Back to crochet next week & hopefully i will see a nice bit of my african flower throw made up :).                                                                         

I wanted to say thanks to everone for the lovely comments on this blog so far, wasn't sure if the change would work but so far so good. Enjoy the rest of your week, Lots of love

Karen Xxxxxxxxxxxx

A secret Quilt for.............

Hi there, well as you can see i'm settling in here at typepad, finding out a wee bit more everyday bout how to meander my way through all the techie "stuff", that i'm a total eejit (as we say in ireland) with, but i'm getting there.                            

So today I started a new quilt, its to be a wedding gift, I have three days so i'm keeping it as simple as poss!!!!!!!

these are the fabrics i'm going for. Loving this color way right now, its not what i,d usually go for but after finishing this one last week i'm hooked.........

Its to be a simple nine patch with two or three borders. Spent the morning cutting out............................. 144 squares, thank God for rotary cutters :)

So i've been sewing & sewing & sewing.................... lucky i enjoy it eh!!!!!!!              

First square looks like this............

Will keep you updated as i go :D                                                                           

Yesterday was a sweet day at home, sat out in the garden, hung washing, pulled some weird carrots (i'll show you in a mo), baked some muffins & of course relaxed with tea & a splash of hookey. It was "glorious", did feel sooooooo good just to unwind & get stuck in things I love........... here's a few images......... Bliss Mmmmmmmm!!

And one freaky looking carrot, please tell me you think it looks like a side face too!

Ok i did atempt to carve a little mouth out there, but it is a freaky carrot ?????

Right thats enough of that, i'm going back to my quilt before i do myself some serious damage :S.  Enjoy the rest of your day & if you do stop by do leave a comment, i loveeeeeeee comments, makes me feel like i'm making new friends all the time.

See you soon Karen Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx