A whole year on-line !!

It dawned on me recently that I've been writing my little blog for almost a year and maybe I should write a round-up post, like other bloggers. (And I must apologise that my blog writing has been somewhat disjointed and often jumps from subject to subject - I still haven't quite got the hang of it!)
Originally, I had intended my blog to be simply about crafting (Allsorts of crafting) but it hasn't quite turned out that way. But I think perhaps an anniversary round-up should concentrate on the crafting side of my life, as that is an area that has given me great pleasure throughout the year. And I may throw in some photos from Hillier Gardens and the like. I find a walk in pleasant surroundings always soothes the soul.

So, do I go for just for a timeline of photos of what I've made and what I've seen? Or a bit of text with some links so you can go and read about it?? Maybe a mix of the two?? Or make it up as I go along and hop from subject to subject?!

Let's start with Emma's blanket - that's the Stripey Crochet Blanket that I originally used for my header (although I have now changed it, albeit temporarily). You'll see a link in the sidebar to my Ravelry page for the blanket. I never wrote a pattern for it but there is some info about it and the links to the lady who wrote the pattern that inspired me.Watching the "view count" gradually going up has given me a lot of pleasure in the 3 years since I made it and you may have seen the screen dump I posted recently when it reached 11,111 views.

I had quite a shock last week when I was happily cruising around Pinterest (I loooove Pinterest in case you haven't realised) and by chance came across another of the Ravelry pics I'd posted and noticed it had been re-pinned 34.3k times. Yes, over THIRTY FOUR THOUSAND times!!! Woo Hoo!!

It seems strange to think that so many people liked it enough to re-pin the picture and clearly, quite a few of them followed the link to Ravelry and possibly from there to this blog. Fancy that!

Maybe one day I'll get round to writing a proper post about the other 2 blankets you'll find in the sidebar - the hexagon blanket and ripple blanket. They haven't been viewed anywhere near as often. But maybe one day...

Looking back through my blog, the next project I shared was a book cover. This was in response to something I had seen on Pinterest and I wanted to make my own version. I will add a link here to my Book Cover as that's my first try at a tutorial. You'll find links there to a better tutorial that I followed, along with the reasons why I was making it and who it was for. Those reasons still continued to echo through my life to this day.

Following hot on the heels of the book cover was Pocket Love, which if you are a regular reader you'll know I have returned to recently. The original idea came from HERE and is a simple, yet very sweet idea.
I think I'll keep returning to these little love hearts as they are a true pleasure to make.

My next project was a needle case. Oh what an absolute JOY it was to design and make! There have been few things I have enjoyed making as much as this sweet little needle case. It's one of the best things I've ever made and I love everything about it - and it's currently being used as my blog header. I do so hope Mara, the recipient, loves it too and is making use of it.

I enjoyed it so much, I took lots of photos along the way and used them to write a TUTORIAL which has it's own page. There are links there if you'd like to read more about who it was for - it's part of that echo I mentioned.

I made some other little bits to go with it and then put together a sewing kit with everything I could think of that might come in handy. I often wonder if Mara uses it. Or maybe her Mum does.

During the sewing kit's journey to the far side of the world, I came to hear about Dress a Girl Around the World. This is an international project that aims to give every girl at least one best dress. Or for the boys, shorts.
I realised this was something I could easily get involved with and having followed some links to find good free patterns, I proceeded to make quite a few dresses and shorts.

 

I tried to make/write a pattern for this little version of one of the dresses I made and a link to it was added to the "Dress a Girl" website, and lots of you have come via that link, for which I Thank You.
I plan to make some more dresses for this very worthwhile project soon.

The little smiley face was designed to go in the dress pocket, so the girl receiving it would have her own little toy to treasure.

Around the same time, I was also working on a Chicken Doorstop Tutorial. Something else I really enjoyed doing.

They were quickly joined by paperweight sized chicks.

We're six months into blogging by this time and August beckons. There were lots of garden visits and walks but I think I still managed to make a fair amount that month. The thing that sticks in my mind are the boys shorts as part of the Dress a Girl project.

Life started to get a bit strange for a while after that - for want of a better word. I was still making things but with the intention of trying to sell them to supplement my income. It turned out to be a complete waste of time as almost no-one wanted what I'd made. I won't talk about it further, just share a pic of my favourite make. I actually kept this zipped purse - it was the first one I made in this design and I used my favourite fabrics at the time (from Mara's needle case) and it's currently filled with all the bits I need to make the Pocket Love Hearts.

After that, work became so busy that for the next 3 months there wasn't much time for making things. I managed to make some crochet flowers which I shared amongst family and friends - which were sort of a contribution to Flowers for Memories. These were my favourites -

Then Christmas came and went and in January I started work on a crochet mandala cushion cover. It turned out somewhat gaudy I must admit, but the recipient didn't mind one bit. 

If you visit regularly, you will already have seen the Valentine Pocket Love pic. This was a January/February project I worked on as a fundraiser and every single one sold!

And that brings us up to date with the crafting really, other than to say, if you look up at the tool bar you'll see a Tea Cosie tab. I used to make them to sell for charity and thought it might be nice to share some, should you want to take a look. Every so often I go back and write a bit more as I come across photos.

Shall I pick some "garden" photos now? I take so many, it's probably best just to pick them fairly randomly - I'll be here all day trying to choose favourites! I'll try very hard not to pick too many! And in case you're wondering about the second photo - no, there's nothing wrong with your eyes or your screen, there really are 2 bulls-eyes mowed into the lawn!!

  

And that's it. A year in the life of, so to speak... 

For  a while I did consider winding up my blog but I think I'll keep going for now at least, although probably not as often. But I'll try and bring in more crafting if I can.

Thanks for reading - I really do appreciate it even if I don't say so. Bye for now,
Tinaspice xXx

Summer's last Hurrah...

The weather has finally decided to brighten. It's been a lovely weekend of blue skies and sunshine, with just a slight nip in the air to remind you that it's September now. I was beginning to think we wouldn't see the sun again...
I managed to get out and have a long walk at Hilliers, and also did a lot of measuring and sewing... A lady at work asked if I'd finish making her curtains for her on my new "work from home day". She cut them out at least 2 1/2 years ago but didn't actually manage to sew them for one reason and another. But they're nearly done now.

But why the Last Hurrah??? Well, my wonderful lily has nearly finished flowering and is having one last "hurrah". Most of the blooms have been cut and brought indoors and displayed in champagne glasses - did I mention that before?? There's just the last few left now, so I thought I'd leave them on the plant. Three flowers open and 2 fat buds still to come. Soon!

It's been absolutely fabulous this year and a complete JOY to see them. And smell them as they have the most amazing sweet vanilla fragrance. But it's just about over until next year. Once all the foliage has died down, I must try and remember to scrape off a little of the soil and replace it with fresh. I did tip the whole lot out last year and replant (in the same big pot) with fresh compost, which could explain why it did so well this year, although it was also in a different position in the garden so may have got more light. Either way, it been stunning this year.

With all the curtain making there hasn't been any time to make shorts during my first 3 day weekend, so I might try and make a pair or two in the evenings before I get them posted off by the end of the week. I must try and make some more smiley faces too - they were fun.

That's all for now. It will feel strange going to work tomorrow thinking it's Monday when it will actually be Tuesday... I'll let you know how that one goes!

West Dean Gardens

I made my first visit of the year to West Dean Gardens at the weekend. The weather was good with blue skies and a few clouds - although it could have done with being a little warmer! Never mind. It was good to get out and stretch my legs - and my camera!
West Dean Gardens are amazing. I first heard about them on Gardeners World many years ago and as they're only a 45 minute drive away, just north of Chichester, I headed down for a good look and have been going back 2 or 3 times a year ever since. Set in the grounds of West Dean College, the gardens have formal beds and borders, a walled orchard of apples, pears, cherries and the like, a walled vegetable garden, several glass houses growing everything from tomatoes to orchids, a 300ft long pergola which looks fabulous in high summer, a woodland walk that takes you up over the hills with stunning views and a rather nice tea room. Amongst other things.
I can't recommend it highly enough, it really is worth a visit and if you like a good walk, you can find enough to do and see to be there all day.
Naturally, I took a photo or 2. Hundred that is. Actually, it was more like 300!!
One of my main reasons for visiting at this time of year is to see the daisies. If you make the effort to visit the woodland walk, as you approach the top of the hill you come across a meadow full of millions of daisies that just takes your breath away. Well it does mine. Did I mention daisies are my favourite flower?...

 There are so many, that viewed en masse they look like a layer of snow on the ground.

 You can see the gentle slope of the hill in this shot.

They just go on and on... 

 I rather like this photo taken standing under the trees as I was facing into the sun. The shade above and below looks very effective. And if you look, you'll see the next meadow beyond the fence doesn't have a single flower. That's because there are sheep in that meadow! The flowers don't stand a chance there!

 Millions. Go on. Count them...

This is the view from the top of the hill, looking towards the College buildings.

And a bit further on, on full zoom.

And this is the view from the vegetable garden, looking back up onto the hill. If you look carefully, just above and to the left of the chimney, are some tiny people walking across the top of the hill. That's where I was. And here they are again, zoomed in. It was so peaceful up there. Just me and a few sheep. 

Then it was time to explore the walled gardens and orchards. This lovely little old fashioned potting shed had onions and garlic strung up from the ceiling. I can't tell you the fragrance as I walked through the door! The warm smell of onion was almost overpowering - so strong it almost made your eyes water!

I just love the texture on this leaf - a begonia rex of some sort I think. Look at all those bumps and furrows and fine hairs.

And I also love these great big waxy leaves with their striking markings. And the grills on the floor. Aren't they amazing?? 

 I think this is one of those big leaves, just about to unfurl.

 And Joseph's Coat - I've always wanted but never had, one of these...

Then into the hot house for a little orchid fix. They completely rebuilt and repaired the orchid house last year and it looks so much better now.

 This is a macro shot of another begonia rex.

 This is the sunken garden, at the foot of the 300ft pergola (more of that another day). The gardeners spent several years laboriously regenerating and replanting this area and boy, was it worth both the work and the wait. It is truly lovely and tranquil. If you look at the far side of the photo, there are some steps. As I was about to go up them I saw the following carved into them -

I've had trouble finding the meanings of these words until it finally dawned on me that they might be Latin, not English. Again it was a bit of a hunt but I found the following translation that seems to fit -

Examine the Past, Examine the Present, Examine the Future

Aspice

Respice

Prospice

A fitting place to finish today I think.