January!

I've loved my January blanket project so far. It comes with me each week to my Slimming World meeting and keeps me warm as I add each new colour! After a crazy Christmas making stock to sell, it was such a treat to start my Yarndale project from the lovely Lucy at attic24. In fact, my Slimmingworld buddies love seeing the next colour being started as much as I do!

I think I have been hibernating this winter! Honestly, I've never sorted so many drawers, shelves and rooms. The charity shop thinks we are so cruel as old toys and games get ruthlessly discarded although I have learnt not to do this on the sly as you do end up having to re- buy the toy that the girls have just decided they can't live without...

But February has arrived and it's time to get back into my own designs.. HB keeps losing her gloves and now that shops are trying to sell Spring clothes, glove buying is tricky. So here are a quick fix pair of seriously chunky mitts! It's such a buzz to be able to respond to the confident little statement, "Oh, you can just make me a pair, Mummy!" and nonchalantly whip up a pair from scratch in an afternoon
Now I have an easy pattern to knock up for future losses and a very distinct pair for Monday. She now wants a pink pair for home and KJ wants a full length, fingerless pair to go with her poncho (the older they get, the more specific the demands...)

The flowers were not my idea but- hey- at least this pair can't get mistaken for ANYONE else's!

 And so, it's time to get back to my comfy corner of the sofa, finish another blankety row whilst eyeing up my pretty bookshelf as I plan the next project. Maybe some feltie hearts are needed for February??

Mummycat Crafts!

It's been over a year since I last blogged and yet I have been so crafty this year that my modest stash of wool and supplies are starting to be hidden under beds and in drawers. "This huge bag of wool new? No, I've had it for ages/ was given it/ found it in the loft." 

So why no blogging? Well, this year I have been trying to work without patterns and have been working hard to design and make my own patterns. I did not appreciate how long this process could be! It definitely takes lots of concentration- not always easy with a part time job and two growing girls. I even strained my eyes trying to work under a reading lamp at night...

I was pottering around nicely with my notebook of scribbles thinking that maybe, this year, I would design and make some little items for a Christmas stall.  No rush, plenty of time, I'll just spend a couple of days to draw, design.

All of a sudden, it's October darn it!

Well, I've worked my socks off to make some lovely items that should sell at a bazaar.  I will let you know if I sell anything and will work toward my own facebook business page.  So, for the first time, introducing....

  Mummycat Crafts

A family get together

Last year saw the first family picnic in Kew Gardens- my childhood home.  After a few tumultuous years, it was great to have Nanny and Grandad relax outside with my brother and sisters.  It was just missing a few special people and so, this year, was even more special as it was the first time all the children, partners and grandchildren were together!  Whilst rain and thunder storms changed the picnic to an indoor buffet, there was still plenty of fun with a "Get Grandad" water fight and a wonderful walk up my favourite stretch of the River Thames.  I so miss being by the River.  Let me share some family fun with you!

 

We have a love/hate relationship with these caricatures.  These were done in my early teen years (I was about fifteen, I guess and none of us girls thought that they were good likenesses.  I do see more likeness as I get older I think.  I just had to have a little pose session by these old pictures! 

 And now for some revenge on Grandad Ed.  Oh, the years of being attacked with hoses and buckets by this man!  So when he was attacked by children who knew no limits, well, we all just had to grab a camera!

 You wouldn't dare!

 Get him Hannah!

 Someone looks happy!

 You see cute, I see ruined socks (and cute, of course!)

 He's getting away...

 No, he isn't.

 Stealth mode.

 Real commitment= swimming costume.

Nanny and Grandad were getting a bit tired so we upped and offed to walk along the river to my favourite little play park under the Kew Bridge.

Myf and Katie got some time alone-  These girls really dote on each other.

 This is why Mummies have great upper body strength!

 Uncle Al is feeling goooood.  Vicki is saying it all with the eyes about this!

 The children have just come back from Narnia, didn't we notice that they had been gone for hours??

 Almost all the cousins- there is always one who just won't join a picture!

 Yup, that's you little Miss! 

 This is, of course, Narnia and Marcus is, of course, Mr Tumnus.  The children found this funny and the adults found it quite disturbing...

 Now she poses!

" The park,The park,The park,The park,The park,The park,The park,The park" (Hannah)

 Ahh, the days when my hips used to fit in the swings-* sigh *

 From relaxed....

 

 To Super Dad!  Only he can (or would) climb to such heights.

Darn it, no more pic!  Well, it was time to just play and enjoy the sun that did come out to see us for a bit.  After a lovely play, we walked back and just made it back with a little light rain before the down pour came!  Family get togethers in our house can so easily get stuck on the sofa chatting with cups of tea and coffee but the best memories always seem to come when we venture out and end up in a play park.  The children have fun and the adults inevitably end up on the equipment playing along!  Next get together will be my Yarndale sleepover with one of my lovely sisters- Hooray!