Sunday Happies

I'm delighted to announce that the random number generator has spoken and Jo from Bristol has won the Cable and Cotton lights giveaway. 

"Hi Gillian! My name is Jo, a teacher who tries to crochet to relax in my spare time, and I live in Bristol. I love these cable and cotton lights and have hankered after a string set as they just have a real cosy glow. I am not fond of bold ceiling lighting preferring the glow of fairy lights or table lamps in my house. I think my choice would be the marshmallow set- they'd add a perfect warming and soothing glow in my lounge! I am a regular reader of your blog- thanks for sharing!"

Jo - please could you email me at talesfromahappyhouse@yahoo.co.uk confirming your choice and giving me your address - thank you!

Rolling on with the usual weekly round-up of everyday goodness:

1. I've begun a new crocheted project, a shawl, and it has brought me huge amounts of pleasure this week. It's all new to me as I've never made a shawl, I've never worked from an American pattern before (get me, translating!) and this is my first time working with variegated yarn. It's not my usual taste (it's a gift) but I am enjoying every single stitch.

The yarn is Noro Silk Garden, which I won in a blog giveaway some time ago and, while it is not the softest, easiest yarn to work with in the world, the depth and variation of colour are just stunning. I love watching the colours change as I work, with no ends to darn in! Me and variegated yarn are becoming friends after all.

2. Pretty pumpkins. I might attempt something crafty with them later, but for now I just love the look of them on the table.

3. A nice cup of tea and a sit down is truly one of life's simple pleasures and my children aren't so old that I don't appreciate what it is to drink a cup of tea while it is still hot. Add cake* and a new magazine and I'm practically floating.

4. Today. It was brilliant. We drove up to Malham Cove and walked to the top. The views! Then we had a huuuge pub lunch (a Sunday roast, it had to be done) before stopping off for a stroll around Skipton on the way back to Leeds. I forgot my big camera (I kicked myself for that) so here are some phone snaps. 

This is the cliff face of the cove. To give you an idea of scale, you can just make out some climbers on the rock.

The view from the top of the cliff. 

Those famous "limestone pavements".

My boys.

Bella, looking for fossils. 

Thank you for your lovely comments on my summer embroidery, you are too kind. It's half term here and we are all very glad of the break. Tired parents, tired children, tired teachers - this autumn term always feels like a hard slog. Have a great week everyone.

* Apple and Currant Crumble Bars from this book - totally delicious and generously spiced with cloves, cinnamon and ginger. I can't find this particular recipe online but there are many similar ones.

Cable and Cotton Lights - A Giveaway!

What's the weather like where you are? It's raining here, and has been all day. A dark and gloomy day, the dreariest of autumn afternoons and on a Wednesday too, of all days. But luckily it's the season of fairy lights, blankets and candles, and I am really delighted to be able to offer you a fantastic giveaway today - a set of Cable and Cotton Lights! You know that I have been a fan of these lights for some time now and have written about them before as I really do think they are quite lovely.  

Cable and Cotton are kindly offering one 20 light string, and you can choose between one of their Pre-Selected collections, or pick your own. All you have to do is leave me a comment. Just tell me your name and where (roughly) you are from. Humour me here, I would just love to know whereabouts you all are. No need to tell me your choices yet - when the giveaway closes I'll contact the winner and do it that way, so if you are an anonymous commenter, you'll need to leave an email address. Once all the details are sorted out, Cable and Cotton then will send the lights directly to you. 

I am really sorry but this giveaway is only open to UK and European readers. I tried my very hardest to make it a worldwide competition, but this limitation is to do with things like plugs and wiring, which are beyond my control. 

The giveaway will close at midnight on Wednesday 22 October.

Good luck! 

This giveaway has now closed. Thank you.

On Blogging

I lost my way with blogging a bit over the summer. It's hard to keep it up on a regular basis when you're away on holiday, or visiting family, or hosting family. The longer I leave it, the more there is to say and the harder it is to get going again. Blogging works best for me when I'm back in my usual routines, as I am now. I do sometimes worry that my posts are repetitive, but I don't think you can blog for any length of time and not have this worry. Some of the things I most like writing about, like the change of seasons, what I'm making or cooking, what makes me happy - well, there is going to be some inherent repetition in that. And that's ok.

I remember when I first started blogging, almost three years ago, reading something online about how to write a blog, and one of the things that particularly stood out was write little and often. And when I started my blog, I did that, for no-one starts writing a blog when they're pushed for time, you start when you have space in your life a new venture. I can't post as often as I once did, but I would like to post more frequently.

I've been able to spend a little more time on this space lately, and I've enjoyed that. I've added three new pages (Craft Projects, Friday Happies and Press & Sponsors) to the sidebar on the right, which all feels a bit tidier. I've been meaning to get all my tutorials in one place for ages and it was satisfying to do that. Do you remember, ages ago, when I wrote about our mantel, and how I like to follow the seasons and what's happening in our daily life through what I display up there? I'm going to write about this once a month, starting next week, and it will motivate me to be more creative.  I'm going to cook something in our new slow cooker once a week, and post about that too. (Thank you so much for the book, website and recipe suggestions by the way, I've noted them all in my blogging notebook.) I've got ideas and I feel engergised and inspired. September always does that to me, it's my New Year.

But this blog would be nothing without you lot, you lovely readers and commenters. Thank you for your interest, your support, your friendship. I started my blog to share and to connect with people, and they are still the reasons I love to blog now. 

A Blog Hop

I am very excited to be taking part in an around the world blog hop today. I had the privilege of being invited twice, by Kate from Just Pootling and Sarah from A Little Happy Place. Thank you ladies, very much. I will answer four questions about what I make and why, and then pass the baton on to two more bloggers at the end.

So, to answer the first question, what am I working on?

A blanket. (I've written about it here and here before.) I started it in August last year and I would like to finish it this summer. Maybe. This is the first really large blanket I've made and I do find it hard to keep the momentum going, I have to admit. It did me good to get out my blanket basket yesterday and lay out the completed squares, just to remind myself of how much I've actually done. I've finished 140 squares. When I say finished, I mean finished, ends darned in and everything.

I want the blanket to be big enough for a king size bed which means I need 225 of these in total, so that I have a 15 x 15 square. I have another 20 almost done, but that still leaves 65. Yes, 65 flipping squares... I am worried that the overall use of colour is too dark, and want to make sure the remaining squares have very bright or pastel third rounds.

Only one project on the go, that doesn't seem right, does it? But I've learnt over the years that too many works in progress annoy me. I'd rather unravel something than have it sitting in my project basket, taunting me. 

I do have three other projects which I have mentally committed to, but not begun yet, if that makes sense: a child's t-shirt with a monkey appliqued on it, ordered by a mum at school; a whole bundle of crocheted cotton face cloths - some will be given as teacher gifts, with a nice bar of soap, others will be donated to a stall at the school summer fair; a summer embroidery hoop, to complete my seasonal embroideries. 

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Honestly, I don't really know, I'm not sure that I sit in any genre. I can crochet, knit and sew, but would say that embroidery or hand sewing and crochet are my strongest areas, and the crafts I take most pleasure in. Knitting does not come easily to me, but I persevere. Likewise, machine sewing is the least relaxing thing ever, but I love what can be achieved with it. When I look back over what I've made this year I see crochet, zigzags, items to be worn, items for the home, items to be used - but maybe there is a muted palate in there which are "my" colours.

I would say that the things I make are mine and, while I might use patterns by other people, or draw influence from other things I've seen, my choice of colours or yarn or fabric will always make it slightly different, will make it my own. I am often frustrated by the overly fussy, feminine look of so much handmade work, and the things I find most inspiring are when someone has taken an old craft but made something really modern and fresh with it. 

3. Why do I create what I do?

For three reasons: to relax, to save money, and to decorate the house. 

I find having a project in my hands while I'm watching tv or listening to the radio enormously relaxing. It just soothes me. I think it's good to have different projects for different moods. Clearly, when I'm in relaxing mode, I don't want anything that requires too much concentration, just something I can half concentrate on. This throw was just that kind of project.

Last Christmas we were watching our pennies very closely and so I set out to make as many Christmas presents as I could. Some of them are shown in the image below. A couple were tricky and time consuming, many pushed me out of my comfort zone, but we spent a fraction of what we normally would on presents last year. If you have the time, then making your own gifts can be cheaper. Although take care not to use very expensive yarns and fabrics if you want to save money!

I've always loved interior design and playing around with colour and pattern in the home is just another kind of crafting to me. I want to make our home look as nice as it can. It has to work hard - it's a three-bed semi with zero kerb appeal and not a lot of space, but that just makes it all the more challenging and all the more rewarding.

4. How does my creating process work?

I'm a bit of a magpie. I'll see something in a book or magazine, or on a blog or pinterest, and stash that idea away. It might be a whole project, like a quilt or cowl, or it might be the gilmmer of a beginning of an idea, just a sense that I like a certain colour or the way it was made. I'll jot it down in my notebook and I might start it the next day, or I might think about it for a year. Currently, I am very keen indeed on making a hexie, or English paper piecing, style quilt. I want it to be very mis-matched and homely looking, but I need to make sure that my choice of fabric and colour stop it being too shabby chic, too country in style, but keep it lighter and fresher. I have a huge stash of fabrics in small amounts, and I think this project would be an excellent way to use up some of that fabric.

So, now I must pass on the blogging baton and I am nominating two bloggers, both of whom will be posting their blog hop posts next Monday, the 30th June. 

Jennifer, of  Thistlebear, lives in New Mexico with her husband and children. I like to think we'll meet up some day as she is a kindred spirit. Her passions include homemaking, crochet, cooking, sewing and photography. She has chickens and she lives in the dessert and drinks possibly as many cups of tea a day as I do.

Col, of Hello Olive. lives in South Africa with her husband and two young sons. We've been blogging buddies for as long as I can remember and I always admire her style and eye for excellent design. She spent some time living in Scotland before recently moving back to Cape Town where she balances motherhood with her graphic design work. Her style is colourful and fresh, with strong mid-century influences and you can see her Etsy shop here and her Society6 shop here. 

Giveaway Winner

Hello there! I hope you all had a nice weekend. Just a very quick post tonight to say that the random number generator has spoken and the winner of my giveaway is:

Anne from Life In Mud Spattered Boots!

Many, MANY thanks to all who entered, and a big thank you to Vinyl Impression for supplying such lovely wares.

Anne, if you could email me your address and confirm which sticker you would like, I'll arrange for it to be sent to you.

Have a great week everyone!

Giveaway!

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful bank holiday weekend. Thank you for all your get well wishes, you are so kind. Despite colds and almost incessant rain, we had a very relaxed kind of bank holiday.

I have a giveaway for you today, very kindly offered by Vinyl Impression. I am really, really excited about this because I adore these wall stickers. The gorgeous typography, the sentiment, the floral imagery; to me they celebrate both spring and home, two things you know I love. 

The giveaway is for any sticker from Vinyl Impression's The Joy Press range. Follow the link to look at the full range. I've picked out my favourites here, below.

Beautiful, aren't they?

To enter:

•  Follow my blog, either through bloglovin' or Google Friend Connect.
• Leave a comment telling me which wall sticker your prefer.

The giveaway closes on Friday 6th June.

That's it! Then I'll announce a winner and contact you for your address and then Vinyl Impressions will send the sticker directly to you. 

Please note: All the wall stickers in this giveaway are open to international readers (hooray!) with the exception of the Hanging Flowers sticker, which is open to UK residents only.

All photos are used with kind permission of Vinyl Impression.

Edited to add: This giveaway is now closed.

Mixed Media

This weekend has mainly been about making things with Hama beads, banging nails in the wall and moving pictures around. Lots of time has been spent hanging small groups of small things on the walls, in various different parts of the house. Faffing about. Pottering.

I still find those Hama beads endlessly appealing and inspiring; the grid, the counting - it's like cross stitch. I had fun first drawing a Dala horse onto a grid on paper, then recreating my image with beads. The kids love making things with them, and our "pictures" are quick to make and so bendy, wipe-able and generally indestructible as to make them almost useful. We've got quite a lot of "mats" now.

Angus claimed the Dala horse and I hung it on the wall in their bedroom, in between Darth Vadar and Angus's drawing of a diplodocus.

It's not often I am drawn to a Cath Kidston print these days, but I always liked her flamboyant rose motifs and I especially like them in this pixelated form. It makes me want to make a giant patchwork quilt made up of single-colour squares, one huge version of a kitsch rose.

This was an enjoyable little project and they do make handy mats to go under wet vases of flowers. (The other mat depicts a floral cross stitch motif from Alicia Paulson's book Embroidery Companion.)

The collection of pictures in the dining room has been bugging me. I like them all separately but I think they are not right at the moment. Not wrong, but just not quite right. 

Too much white and paleness on the left hand side, maybe. Something needs to go above the lamp, and I'd like to continue this display over the whole wall, maybe even above the door to the kitchen, just to the right of the lamp, but the dining room is a darker part of the house and I don't know if it might all start to look a bit cluttered. 

But there is one gorgeous new addition to my picture wall, and that is this hoop-framed embroidery:

Isn't it sweet? I was lucky enough to win it in a blog giveaway held by Helene of Petite Laine. It arrived over Easter and what a parcel of goodies it was; bunting, stationary, postcards, notepads - so many lovely things.

I liked the look of the fabrics in the bunting straightaway but when I opened it up I realised it said "hello"...

So sweet. Thank you, Helene, I love it, and you are very talented and generous.

Right, I am off to put the hammer away. It's time to step away from the picture walls and leave them be for a while.

Wishing you all a lovely week. 

Fresh

Well hello! Do you like my new header? Isn't it gorgeous? It was designed by my talented blogging friend Jen of two-add-two. I love it and feel that she completely understood me and this blog and what I'm all about. The house, with it's little chimney and Scandinavian inspired flower, reminds me of my gingerbread house. After a temporary break from blogging Jen is back and she has been very busy setting up her own shop - you can see more here at jenroffe.co.uk.

I've been busy this week. I have added some pages along the side so that things like The Collour Collaborative, my recipes and a glimpse of the sort of creative things I love to do can be found quickly and easily. I've spent some unhappy and frustrating hours playing with HTML code (which I know nothing about) and decided that there is a limit to the amount of tinkering I am prepared to do here. My blog will never be a minimalist, perfect space. My house is not like that so why try to make my blog - which is an extension of my home, my life - look the same? I started this blog to connect with like-minded people and to share my love of craft and home, not to get involved in web design. That was a good reminder for me. I want this space to look clean, fresh and, most importantly, welcoming, but don't have the skills or budget to make it look really slick. So it is what it is and I hope you like it.

You might have noticed that I am doing the odd sponsored post from time to time. I'll be keeping these to a minimum, say one a month-ish, and you can be assured that they will be about things I genuinely like, brands I would and do buy from, products I use. I guess you'll just have to trust me on that one. Sponsored posts are clearly labelled as such. If I link to a product or shop otherwise, as I often do, then it's just because I like them, nothing more than that. I know people have different views on whether or not to monetise a blog, it's not for everyone and I respect that. I hope I am still for you. It's still me, Gillian, here, as I have been for the last two years. I am still the same.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

The above images offer a glimpse of my week. Winter walks, a new yarn purchase, a new crochet project, and an effort to eat more lightly sum up this week. I've rediscovered my craft mojo and have been busy with lots of bits and bobs, which I'll share with you soon. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. 

Giveaway Winners

Thank you for your many, many comments and entries into the giveaway. It was really wonderful to hear from so many of you. I wish wholeheartedly that I had 194 prizes to send out but I don't...sorry.

But the random number generator has spoken and I am delighted to announce that the winners of the giveaway are:

comment number 25 - Sharron of Annie's Place

and

comment number 15 - Penny of L is for love

To my relief you both happend to choose differing prizes and so Sharron you win "A":

and Penny, "B" is yours:

If you could both email me your addresses I'll get these packed up and take them to the post office.

A million thanks again to everyone who entered.