A Crochet Cricket Set.

 Another fun thing that I missed out on blogging during our trip was this crochet cricket set that I developed for the father's day edition of Simply Crochet mag, Issue 18. This is one of my most favourite projects ever and the first one that Jonno has played with. I wanted to think of something that he would really love and being cricket mad, I thought an indoor set would be perfect.

The thing that I loved most about the project was how the colour palette worked out giving the set a vintage look - I also wanted the cricket bat to have a cricket vest rib to it AND the wicket to stand up on its own.... 

The boys were great at strength testing the bat and wicket.

And in this month's issue there is a lovely review about 'Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon'. So exciting!

And tomorrow I have a truly wonderful book to review that you are going to love so please pop by.

Love Kate. xxooxx.

Costumes for the Ball... and the Fate of the Crochet Caravan.

This costume was really supposed to be a macaroon tower but I ran out of time so it's more of a macaroon safety vest. Still, if you are ever feeling a bit tubby around the middle, it's a wonderful disguise.  If you have read my blog before, you may have picked up that I have been preparing for a school ball fundraiser for quite some time now. It was held last night and went of without a hitch. 

 It had a french theme so Jonno went as a frenchman (with a crochet snail which I am squashing) and I seized on the chance to wear a tutu and as many flowers as I could squeeze on without repeating my meadow costume.

So please excuse me for the selfies - it's just so exciting.... and I don't know about you but I am always so curious to see what bloggers look like. 

Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments of the crochet caravan. I am happy to say that it went for a really great price at the auction AND to a wonderful home so am feeling very lucky.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.

My Vintage, Crochet Caravan!

This is what I have been working on for quite some time now. My own little caravan. I've been a bit reluctant to post about it because of copyright issues but then I thought.... do I really want to be all squirrely - I would so prefer to share with you guys what I am doing. So, this is what you do when you would love to have caravan, but just can't quite justify it - crochet hooks come out and a new pattern is developed. Keep in mind that this really is a work in progress and any patterns will be a very long way from being released in any format.

Meet Rosie.

Remember the kitchen sink - this is who it was made for.

 Both windows have net curtains made from my grandmother's lace.

 Spare tyre for emergencies.

I would love to crawl into this bed for a nap.

Cup of tea anyone?

 The tap is made from an earring.

I used my one of my favourite Liberty fabrics for the decking - it's so retro and caravany.

And shouldn't all caravans have a name like Rosie or Flo?

Unfortunately I'm not keeping this one - she is going to be sold as a fundraiser for the boys' school and is up for auction tonight at the ball. I'll let you know how she goes tomorrow. In the meantime though, I just want to start making the next one!

Lots and lots of love,
Kate.
p.s. If you would like to see another small and magical crochet world, click here to see my book!

Crocheted Snails, No Puppy Dog Tails.

Still busily working away for our French themed ball this weekend. I have probably left Jonno's costume a bit too long so crocheted him this snail last night to wear attached to a stripy shirt. He can lick it whenever he feels peckish... did I just write that?

My best ever neighbour and her art student daughter have been working hard at painting posters for the big event. It's so nice having them around that every time they leave, I paint over what they have done so that they have to stay for longer the next time. They're both so talented. I'll show you the finished products soon.

 This book arrived in the mail today. I haven't had the chance to look through properly yet but Archie and Hugo were enthralled.

And Hugo gave me this mini tissue-paper flower brooch this afternoon. It is the sweetest thing to wear and he is so proud of it too. Apparently it is much harder to make a teensy tiny flower than a big, fluffy one. I don't doubt it.

Lots and lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx.

A Front Cover!

While I was away, I missed out on the chance to blog about having a crochet headpiece that I designed on the cover of Simply Crochet magazine. The most exciting thing about it was seeing it in all the shops and supermarkets overseas.... And I was completely uncool about it too. I would point it out to people near me and say "That's me on the cover" and they would look with pity at me until I would say, "The headpiece - that's my headpiece".  The boys were pretty over it by the end.

 So here it is.

 Ready to be shipped to England in a snug egg container.

Et voila!

And guess what.... Archie is featured in this month's edition with his crochet AND Stanley gets a mention too!
Lots and lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.

Poster Making and More Crochet Gems.

I think I have mentioned this previously, but we have a school ball coming up (for the parents). It's the biggest fundraiser in the calendar and is held every two years. This year is having a Moulin Rouge theme and my lovely neighbour has sketched out lots of posters that we are painting. It's the closest I have been to a paint by numbers set for years and I'm enjoying the process so much that it's hard to do anything else.

Except for make the occasional crochet gem. Sometimes I wish I could crawl into a quiet corner and just make gems and paint posters with people bringing me the odd meal. I think I could really get into that.

Lots and lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx.
p.s. I am obsessed with the neon string used to suspend the gems.

Crochet Diamonds and Fabric Macarons.

Goodness me, with a title like that, I feel that I should now launch into a poem. Anyhoo, I've had an idea for crochet gemstones kicking around in my head for a while now and over the weekend one popped out. I can't wait to write up a pattern for Christmas decorations but I have to simplify the construction side of it first.

At the moment, I am making millions of these for our upcoming school ball (as in to fundraise for our children - not me gatecrashing a prom at the age of 37). They are so easy and fun and am sensing another tutorial on the way.

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.