WIP Wednesday - scarves & bags

So, I recently revealed to the world that I am painstakingly learning to crochet. I quite enjoy it. However, I suspect that it would be extremely painful for someone who is good at crocheting to watch me do it. The kind of thing that would make you wince, and your fingers itch to take the hook and turn out a beautifully uniform work that doesn't even know the meaning of 'tension issues'. Because let me tell you, I am tense. Well I must be, if the quality of my crocheting is anything to go by!

But here is the ongoing product. Current length is around 27 inches. Note that I haven't photographed the portion that is narrow, then wide, then narrow again. I am still having to count each line to make sure I have done the right number of 'stitches'. (Is that what they are called?)

Something that I am far more proficient at (thankfully), is sewing. And here is a photo of my latest purse creation. I have had this idea in my head for a week or so - it has taken several days to get it together, thanks to the Awful Gastro Week that we had last week. I have just posted it up for sale at Sasha Sews. You know, if you happen to have fallen in love with it and decided that your next outfit ensemble won't be complete unless it is swinging from your hand. Sorry. Enough shameless self-promotion (which you are all no doubt sick of by now)!

I think that the next one I make will be a larger purse size, rather than the little bag-ette.

Now head on over t0 The Place of H to see some far more talented crochet-ers than me!

WIP Wednesday (on Thursday)

I find myself with a few hours to myself, thanks to a very good friend who has come and collected Naomi to take her to the park this morning. So I thought I would actually post my works in progress, rather than just admiring everyone else's!

This first one is a patchwork piece that I have had going for, um, at least 2 years (pre-children days!). I pulled it out on the weekend, looked at the soft muted colours of the background and decided to add the flower applique and cream border. I think it will turn into a cushion cover, in due course. I have never been particularly good at applique, and all the curves in the flower petals were a challenge. I am calling the style "rustic and naive"! Hoping that this will make it charming, rather than just clumsy!

As for the garden shot, Naomi and I worked for weeks chopping down the tropical jungle of weeds and overgrown plants that was cluttering the garden in front of our lounge windows. It is the front of the house, and was not making any good impressions. I have slowly planted it out with what should be a lovely fragrant low hedge of mini mock orange plants, some brunfelsia ('yesterday, today, tomorrow' plants), and various daisies etc. Naomi loves to point to the garden and say "Made this together, Mummy".

The smell of the new pine bark chips wafting through the front windows is particularly lovely -- but not helping keep the weeds down as much as I would like! But we did have our first bird actually use the bird bath the other day -- Naomi was thrilled, watching it from inside the windows.