Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crafts. Show all posts

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Rainy Day Rhythm...


Cheap and cheerful
chrysanthemums
perk me up on a grey rainy day...

The power of flowers can elevate any decor...

a simple jam jar with daisies

a Baccarat crystal vase with roses

a single bloom in a flask

an orchid in a blue and white porcelain planter

depending on your budget

you can get as creative as you like when it comes to floral arrangements.


Vintage Verlys glass satin dish bowl
etched simply with pine cones
sits empty 
beside the window
catching the light


The grandchildren made this colourful Easter Wreath at Michael's.

We were meant to go to the workshop together but I had Vertigo and had to cancel...
it sounds like they had lots of fun.


Our sunsets have been quite stunning 
this week at Quarter Deck Cottage.

I love how sculptural the arbutus trees look set against the yellow skies.

One needn't go far to find beauty 
it is outside just beyond the front door...
all you have to do is open your eyes and look around.

It may surprise you to find that there are ordinary things 
which when studied 
on close inspection
look like works of art.

I never come home from a walk without seeing something quite lovely.

Perhaps that is why I love to walk so much...
not only do I feel restored and re-energized
there are snippets of Nature's handiwork at every turn.

I make it my goal to seek out the delights that Nature has provided...


A juicy red rose hip still clinging to the vine...


Queen Anne's Lace seed head boldly standing tall against the blue sky.


A reclaimed lifeboat
re purposed as a planter at the end of the road.

The Riddle Family plant this boat with seasonal offerings...
The sign says 
"The Point...Of it All!"

A scarecrow and mums were on display for Fall
daffodils and tulips for Spring
 I am already curious what they will plant for Summer.

The rains have arrived after several sunny days so it's a day of domestic chores...
laundry and tidying.

A pot of tea now waits
 I will return to my books and knitting
after I hit the publish button on this post.



The Humble Dishcloth
(a knitting pattern that I return to time and again)

Size 6 or 7 (US) needles
Cotton yarn

Cast on 4 stitches
Row 1 - Knit 4 stitches
Row 2 -  Knit 2 Yarn over knit to end of row
Repeat Row 2 until you have 44 stitches
Row 3 - Knit 1 Knit 2 together, Yarn Over, Knit 2 together knit to end of row
Knit row 3 until you have 4 stitches left on the needles
Bind off.


so soothing to knit
useful to use
soft
makes a great Hostess Gift!

Wishing you all a Very Happy Weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~


Monday, December 18, 2017

Knitting, roses and a DIY gift

It is such a busy time of year for many of us...
festive events, shopping, baking, wrapping, annual meetings, and volunteering to help the needy. They all seem to happen in the first few weeks before Christmas.

This week there are a few things left to do...
delivering gifts, food shopping, making cranberry relish, a trim at the hairdresser, lunch out with the girls, wrapping a few last minute presents.

I have been working on a new project for darling Miss Isla,
our 7 year grand daughter...
she wanted me to knit something with "flowers" on it
so I thought that the Boneyard shawl pattern might do the trick and I could add my own flowers.

I've caught the cold and cough that is making the rounds so by staying home a few days and I managed to finish her shawl.


The Boneyard pattern is available on Ravelry free to download.
It is a versatile pattern and you can use a variety of yarns.

I used cotton (the weight used to knit dish cloths) as I had in my stash
5mm circular needles with a 30 inch wire.
It looks quite cozy.
Hope she likes it.

I am going to make another one 
using a fingering weight wool yarn as it will drape well.

With the lighter yarn I will be using smaller needles 
so it will take longer to knit up, but the time spent will be worth it...
knitting is very meditative and soothing
and it goes well with mugs of tea!

Having a knitting project on hand helps me stop and sit for a bit in the afternoon after I have been busy in the kitchen or garden...
when the weather is inclement and I stay home 
it is wonderful to have something to keep my hands busy.


Jude the Obscure
David Austin Rose

The fall weather has turned this usually pale yellowy rose a rich apricot.
It is so unusual to see it blooming at this time of year.

I tried picking one of the blooms but the petals scattered like confetti...

Our weather has been mild recently 
but the news forecast tonight 
says there is a cold snap on its way.
Snow perhaps?
BRRR

(more time to knit!)

Are you looking for a last minute DIY gift?
How about one that is a quick and easy?

This spiced nut recipe is super tasty.

Spiced nuts

In a large bowl :

6 cups mixed nuts
(I used pecans and hazelnuts)
handful (maybe 3/4 -1 cup) dried cranberries


Mix together:
4 tbsp. maple syrup
grated rind of two large navel oranges
5 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp light oil
1 tbsp vanilla
3 tsp ground cinammon
pinch each of cayenne and nutmeg

Pour over top of the nut and fruit mixture mix well.

Bake at 350 degrees on a Silpat lined sheet pan for 20 minutes.
Turning the nut mixture after about 10 minutes return to oven.

Cool before
packing it into jars 
tie with a ribbon and add a tag and perhaps a sprig of holly.


Makes a tasty Hostess gift...
I sampled a few mouthfuls just to make sure it was up to the usual standards!

Hope that you are enjoying these last few days before the holidays.

All the best to you
and
thank you for stopping by 
The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Friday, March 25, 2016

Snippets from The Humble Bungalow...

This week has flown by...
we were very busy and it feels like a bit of a blur.


Monday started out with a visit from our darling grand daughter Isla.


We decorated an apron for her to wear.


It fits perfectly!


We ate comforting macaroni and cheese and nibbled on some grapes.
We needed to recharge as there were cupcakes baking in the oven.


Isla was definitely up to the job of decorating...



She got so good at it that she used both her hands at the same time!


Yummy 

We read some books and made some fairy wands.

Our daughter, Isla's mom, brother, and baby sister arrived for a late lunch and a visit.

I went to see my RMT 
she provided me some pain relief and more mobility to my "frozen shoulder." 
We are still not totally sure what the final diagnosis might be...
 I am on a wait list for an ultra sound.
There is a backlog, which I am told is 4-5 months!
 I continue to be proactive and positive while I wait.

Mom, my sister and I walked the Esplanade and had a casual dinner at Mom's condo.


Walks have been sporadic due to winds and pouring rain.

This blue door reminded me of the blue doors and shutters that I saw in France.
It has almost been a year since I ventured off to Paris and Auvillar...
I have so many great memories of a fabulous trip.


Good friends came and stayed with us and we had a great visit.
They brought us a gorgeous bouquet of lilies.





I will take another picture when the buds all are in bloom and share it with you on Instagram.


The sun is shining and we are planning a day of pottering in the garden.
The lawn needs to be mowed, the edges trimmed and a few weeds need to be pulled.
After that I hope we can go to the nursery and peruse the new plants.

The weekend is going to be relatively quiet after such a busy week.

We have a few Easter treats to deliver to the grand children 
darling daughter and I are going to a collectibles show
 some easy meals are planned 
 I hope to find some time to read my book and walk with my husband along the seafront.


Best Wishes for a lovely Easter Weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~