Dolly's Dreamings

Lights camera action

Our lights are up outside the house - not switched on of course - and we will soon be ready to decorate the house. We don't do as much these days. Frankly I can't stand the clutter and we can't have a tree anyway as it is way way too stressful with the boyz. It is largely little things we put out these days. So Barb, we are not sorted yet!

I got Nigel to take photos of my latest project today. I have seen the crocheted hexi cardigan everywhere - even a photo of the gorgeous Jason Mamoa wearing one. I really wanted to try one and saw a photo of a neon bright rainbow hexi and just liked it. I wasn't sure it was for me but Nigel egged me on and we picked the bright bright colours together.

It was very simple to make and is the first wearable garment I have made for myself. I did have to alter the pattern quite a lot though as I didn't like the full baggy sleeves of the original. The next one I make - yes the wool is about to be delivered already - is far more subtle in tones of blue.

 

So here it is - at least people will see me coming!

 

 

and this is the small picture I did in my sketch book at art yesterday

 

 

And finally a little more scrapping for my taught class in the summer for ATDML

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a productive day
• a completed project

 

lovely days and cat worries

We had another of our lovely days away going up to visit family. It was another in our 'the cats will go in for one night and it doesn't matter if they don't eat because we are coming home'

Well - Indy ate a tiny bit on day 2 but Koda hid the entire time and wouldn't eat. The owner of the cattery who is absolutely lovely and has worked so hard with us to turn this round, expressed her worries when she looks into Koda's eyes and they echo mine. He is NOT a normal cat. We have had 8 cats and none like Koda. She has dozens of cats pass through her hands and none like Koda. He is very very odd. He likes routine like nothing on earth. He panics at any noises or any changes. He cries when disorientated. He paces. He is terribly terribly heart-breakingly anxious. And we chatted about it and I have now googled autism in cats and yes - I seriously think it is a possibility. It breaks our heart that we can't seem to help him and he is getting worse rather than better. He is fine with us, fine as long as everything stays the same. I know I might be clutching at straws but there is something not completely mainstream about my poor big boy. I guess all we can do is continue to love him with all our hearts and keep things stable for him.

 

Anyway, he is fine now he is back home - I mean weird as ever but fine. And we had a lovely couple of days. The forecast was absolutely dire and so we nearly didn't bother going through the Cotswolds on our way, but I'm so glad we did.

This is a little of Burford

 

 

 

Then we went to Stow-on-the-wold as I wanted to see this specific doorway which is incredible with two huge yew trees framning it. Their root systems were amazing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and then we went to Bourton-on-the-water  (a little sad as the last time we were there we were with all of my American family. )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I couldn't resist this shot of the bench that - last time - was filled with family

 

 

However, this weekend was still filled with family as that was the reason why we went up.

We visited and stayed with my 'alternate' Mum, who has been a part (and an incredibly important part) of my life since I was 4. We took them out to dinner and had just a lovely time. In the morning we then went to finally visit the gorgeous Oliver. He is now 3 months old so it was a trip that was so delayed. He was just as gorgeous as we'd seen on photos and videos but it was lovely to get cuddles.

 

I have some scrapping to share

This is a new Scrap a Sketch Premium Sketch and some gorgeous scrap a sketch printables (those beach huts are so gorgeous) and is Poppy's first trip to the beach

 

 

 

 

This is a design team page for A Trip Down memory Lane and another from Bodmin Jail hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

and this is the little hoody I made to take up to Oliver

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely couple of days away but being back home
• My Koda cat - he is such a mess and I love him to bits

 

 

Back to normal

Thankfully we are both negative and seem to have few after effects of Covid. However, we have agreed we do NOT want it again so will resume life with caution again.

 

We have had a couple f lovely walks and were down at the beach by 9.30 today and it was glorious. Yesterday I had my cancelled dentist check u which was all fine and I took my latest blankets to the drop off point for Ukraine - they were blankets number 6,7,8,9,10 and 11 and I collected wool for another half a dozen. The people were very kind and very impressed with them. They are not my cup of tea as they are very plain and not a pettern I would choose but they are the only pattern where I can get a full blanket and pretty trim from 3 balls of wool.

 

I make some from wool I buy, some from donated wool and my best friend bought wool for another two blankets too. I wanted them t be pretty because these poor people have nothing and I thought maybe rather than just a plain blanket they might bring a little joy and let them know someone is thinking of them and praying for them.

 

 

 

 

The flowers are very plain. I would like to have added beads for centres but not safe for babies.

 

I have also done some scrapping over the last two days - not for anything other than joy

 

This uses the new Cocoa Vanilla Storyteller and showcases the boyz and reminds us how it was dreadful before we got them sorted out on the right food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this uses the new Simple Stories Vintage lakeside which I love too

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• being better
• a good dentist visit
• being able to help others
• new collections

 

Quiet days but lovely

Almost a week pain free - I am a happy happy lady

Life is good

 

Days have been quiet but lovely. Walks and even a trip into our local town (which we didn't like but we needed things)

 

I finished a huge project - a crochet blanket for our bedroom and I am really pleased with it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is the same as the red one (which obviously doesn't do with the bedroom) and I am aiming to sell it for just a little more than the cost of the wool. I am also now making one for my cousin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have also been scrapping a lot - much of which I cannot share until tomorrow but I can share these

 

me and a giant sunflower at Morten

 

 

My scrappy team mates and I on our weekly zoom call where we chat and set and share challenges

 

a whole field of sunflowers - I was so happy

 

 and another for the birthday album - pims o'clock

 

Today I am thankful for

• continuing pain free
• binge watching The West Wing
• black russians - we hadn't had one for ages - they are so delicious

 

and today's share - these are all the work of an amazing makeup artist. I can't believe they are makeup and not just phtoshopped. What talent to do this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Lockdown project

Well at times I thought this day might never come - but it has and I am thrilled and saddened at the same time.

I started a lockdown blanket back in March. I have only been crocheting for under a year and have tended to make simple things. I have made s scarf and three blankets all based on simple squares - a sunflower blanket, a bright patchwork style blanket and a simple one using wool I happened to have. But when I saw this blanket pattern and wool I fell in love and had no idea that it was absolutely NOT for beginners and was very complicated. I swear I have made it almost twice as there has been so much I had to undo and redo. But I have loved the challenge and it has filled my evenings and been so exciting as it has grown. So now I am thrilled it is finished but also sad it is finished and am planning to make another one!

 

I am in the pictures just for size reference. It's a big old blanket and I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do with it.

 

 

It is so soft and so beautifully dimensional and lumpy with popcorn stitches and backwards stitches (no idea what they are really called) and I absolutely love it and I am sad it is done.

 

I am also sad but also relieved that we have cancelled our holiday today. We were off to the USA again later int he year to explore the National Parks in Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and California and are now staying firmly at home. It was the only sensible decision and I feel relieved we have now made it . And I am doubly thrilled that we didn't lose a penny.

 

Today I am thankful for

• finishing a big project
• feeling accomplished
• making a tough decision but the right one

 

 

and today I share teeny tiny pencil lead sculptures - just WOW!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Friday Greetings

I was so grateful for technology this morning - as I am every day - as obviously I couldn't go to church today and Good Friday is always absolutely key for me but I could stream my worship and celebrate and meditate at home. Technology is wonderful and we are blessed to have it at the moment most of all, as without it we are even more isolated. We are able to have visual calls with family and friends, keep in touch with communities we belong to on social media, stream news and worship, puzzles and games, books and newspapers. It is keeping us in touch and I feel so sorry for the people who do not have this, especially the elderly.

 

The weather has been gorgeous and we have been spending a  lot of time on the balcony. Nigel did the shopping - oh my goodness that is an ordeal we both hate, and we have enjoyed our daily walks. People are still driving to walk on the heath but I have to say there are fewer. However the news remails worrying, the death rate is still rising, and we are scared. We try hard not to be, but we are and we only really feel safe in our own home.

I have been scrapping again though and whilst I cannot share some of the things that I have made I can share the things I have made with the free products from A Trip Down Memory Lane - this month they were Bloom Street by Paige Evans - Pink Paislee papers.

 

 

 

 

 

This was the euphoric moment that Nigel fetched our first small shop from Asda - amazing that shopping brings us such relief when it is over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also finished this lockdown project which has been thoroughly catscanned

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• technology
• streamed acts of worship
• sunshine
• Kira's continued healing