WOYWW 149
After such a hectic week back and forth to Brighton after the whole family, children included, were ill here, I'm shattered but slowly returning to reality. Missed my first ever WOYWW since my first entry in June 2010 but as we all had our heads in buckets ....enough, enough! I'll spare you the the gory details.... I just couldn't manage to join in last week. It was lovely that I received some private messages so thanks for missing me just a little bit!
This week it was so cold that I brought my crafting to the living room and played away on the coffee table. I have been commissioned by DD2 to make a few special cards so I prepped the background for a "milestone" birthday card for one of her special work colleagues who is a patchworker. I have made a patchwork collage from scraps of art card backgrounds cut into tiny squares and triangles which I assembled randomly. I will stitch over one piece to see if it is effective but will use the other piece if I don't like it.
They had to be cut really accurately before fixing to the background sheet.
Close up of one of the pieces.
Next step of my crocheted Afghan... It's now joined together but still has lots of loose ends to be secured and I'm amazed that it is so much bigger than I expected from my final 144 squares. Here it is draped over an armchair and a coffee table and it measures approximately 70 inches square. Not bad for just less than 6 weeks of making one or two squares whenever I had spare minutes. I intend to crochet a nice neat border so it will be even bigger when completed.
Another legacy to leave my DDs to fight over in the (hopefully) distant future!!! Maybe I'll make another and give them to my girls NOW!!
I really do hope it inspires others to use spare time and not waste it!
To see many more work desks of crafters from around the globe join in the biggest snoop in the stratosphere over at our lovely Julia's blog... Stamping Ground, but be warned that you'll want to come back again and again..... and why not!!??
50 comments:
Wow, wow, wow! I love your patterned papers like that! I keep saying I'm going to do that, just never get around to it! Thanks for sharing!
I love the colours.
Lynn
One I Made Earlier Today
#16
OMG, they look totally amazing is all I can say. I would never have the patience for that....
Astrid #33
You seem to have a thing for squares this week. Sorry to read that you were sick. Hope you are better, even though I did miss you last week. Have a super WOYWW from # 9 this week!
Beautiful job on the patchwork cards! I love them! My dd just began crocheting. She will be inspired to see how much can be done in so little time with practice. I may have to take up a crochet hook myself! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa
#21
...lots of paper cuts in gorgeous colours on your desk and your blanket of crochet squares is just fabby...great work...thanks for sharing...Mel :)
Poor you!!! The crochet is wonderful, how clever. Hugs trace x61
Im so glad i came i love those patchwork papers very clever idea and the granny square blanket oh i must get on with one....got so many things on the go lol...but will one day get finished lol.
Kate xx
I'm chuckling here now Jo. Could someone please explain to me what 'spare time' is? :-)
You were greatly missed last week Jo and I'm really glad the bug has gone now.
Hugs,
A x #68
Wow to both the patchwork pieces, love the card in progress and the Afghan looks gorgeous now.
helen, 39.
Oh Jo, poor you and your family all being ill :( Am glad that you're picking up now...
I adore that paper quilty background you're making, you must have mega patience to get all those triangles perfectly cut. I know for a fact mine would be all over the place! And that Afghan is beautiful and made from work done in otherwise wasted time - I like that as I find it hard to sit down without doing something as well :)
Hugs, LLJ #3 xx
Definitely do another of those throw in your spare time Jo - would be nice for both girls to have one.
Love your patchwork.
TTYL
Hugs, Neet xx
Good grief Jo, you have been busy with the needle, must admit sewing-up is one of my least favourite bits of knitting so well done yoou.
Love the paper quilting, very effective ans so pretty. I did a small piece on a Deco a while ago (pentangles) and it took me an age.
Ann B
#46
Ohhh you can turn your crafty hands to any task and it will be gorgeous. Hope you recover from all the family illness.
glad to hear you are feeling better. I am beginning to think my food poisoning of a couple weeks ago is actually a virus and I was a lucky one to get it earlier then everyone else! Love the card squars and the crocheted squares. Looking good! Thanks for sharing. Vickie @106
Thanks for sharing your little corner of the world. Now, that's a lot of cutting but what a fantastic look I love it Have a great day!
Those patchwork backgrounds are fabulous! I really have to give that a try.happy WOYWW, Shaz #94 xx
your patchwork is amazing,really eyecatching,glad you are feeling better
have a fab crafty week and
happy woyww
kay,x
WOW!! I love the granny blanket. You could save the fighting and just give it to me now ; ) After all, it only seems fair that I inherit it, seeing as I didn't inherit any of your crafty genes!! And it would go so well in my living room...Love the patchwork card too. ♡♡♥♡♡
Hi Jo!
Sorry I haven't been around - I have now read that you haven't been either! Sorry to hear about all that terrible illness soaring around your house!I will be in England this coming weekend! I got my DBF to go to Ally Pally but I saw on Helen's blog that you won't be coming! Can I try to make up your mind??? Well if you do make up your mind let me know, otherwise next week we can talk on Skype at some time!
Lots of hugs
Cardarian
Hope you are well recovered from that nasty bug Jo. Think there has been something going round here too - I felt grotty over Easter (very unlike me) but better now. Pouring with rain here but I did manage to plant 2 rows of beetroot and a row of potatoes at Annie's before the downpour. I love the tiny patchwork and your blanket is truly gorgeous. Do make another and give them to the girls - they will treasure them and as you say - its only used up a bit of spare time!! Have good week. x Jo
Glad you're feeling better. The patchwork is stunning, and the Afghan is so pretty. Take care, enjoy WOYWW snooping! Love Zo xx 75
Oh, that crocheted afghan is so very lovely...weaving in the ends is not a job I relish either, but it has to be done! Glad you all are feeling better! Thanks for visiting me at WOYWW #47
Oh wow, your patchwork background is just *stunning*! What a fabulous idea! Would you mind awfully if I pinned it, for future inspiration? Cos I may have to have a go at that myself! :)
Ali #117
WOW! That paper piecing looks amazing! Such a wonderful display of color on your workspace!
What a wonderful labour of love making that crochet blanket!!! simply beautiful, you have to make two one for each DD's, and that patchwork paper is adorable looks like a lot of creative hours went into it!! but the effect is worth it, Glad to hear you are feeling better.. Have a wonderful week, Hugs May x x x No15
Wow Jo, what an awesome project! I love the patchwork pieces... What an amazing way to "use up" art samples too - I have a rather small bag of knitting tension swatches that I am hoping will grow big enough one day to make a patchwork blanket out of! Your crochet is amazing too. It's nice to have some squares to pick up and do in odd moments - these days I do the odd row of my knitting and it's amazing how quickly the odd moments add up, isn't it, and you get quite a lot done.
Wonderful creative post! My mouth is watering, as it always does when visiting here - your background is awesome too.
Thanks for your comment on my blog. The last couple of days I've definitely been feeling better again, and determined not to blow it again by doing too much, like when I tidied all those cardboard boxes out of the way!!
As far as my blog background is concerned, I am aware that the purple colour isn't brilliant, but as I pointed out, it's a work in progress and hopefully it will all be sorted in a day or two. Please bear with me!!
Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #18
Have a lovely holiday, we will speak when you get back!
Hugs and love,
Cardarian
Beautiful patchworking and such a great idea. Really like your crocheting too. Thanks for sharing :)
Wow, everyone being sick at once must have been a horror. I'm glad you're on the mend. The patchwork card is quite impressive. I would love to see the finished card!
Cheers,
Susan #130-ish
Thanks for the link to the gypsy girls website! I would never have found that and their stuff is really funky :)
Cheers, Jan xx
Those patchwork papers are so lovely! I want to try that with some scrap papers. It just really speaks to me. I love your quilt too-the time and thought that goes into that. You are right that a stolen moment here and there really can add up to a whole completed project!
Love the wonderful splashy paper quilt pieces. I would love to have a paper cutter like that! Awesome! You are right, you would have to be very accurate with paper. At least with fabric, you have a little give and fudge room. Your granny square colors are so beautiful! Worth the gander at your site:)
I'm not surprised to see a glass of red wine to help you concentrate on the patchwork cards - they will no doubt look amazing though, great idea.
Your Afghan quilt looks fantastic too.
Glad you're all better now x
Sherry (73)
Gorgeous! Love your patchwork - and now fancy a glass of wine!
a paper patchwork? and then you stitch on paper? ... must keep track on this ....
Vee
#151
Sorry to hear you've all been so ill but glad you're all better. I love the patchwork card, all the colours and textures are fab.
Sorry to hear you were poorly. Love the way that patchwork background came together and your throw is just gorgeous!! But what is spare time? I have forgotten.....
You were missed!! Hope all is better now. Love the colourful quilts
Loave and light
Frankie
xx
Hi Jo,
Are those granny squares? I LOVE granny squares; it's the only reason I'd even try to crochet. It's beautiful; why not make another to give to your daughters now? Then you can watch them enjoy them!
The patchwork paper piecing looks great!!!! Love it.
Happy WOYWW
Hugs
Kay
36
sorry to hear you haven't been well. glad you are on the mend. the paper patchwork looks wonderful and a great way to use up scraps. and how lovely to see the crocheted squares all together. imagine, you finished it with just your extra time! happy WOYWW, happy Easter season and thanks for sharing!
blessings and hugs from #23
peggy aplSEEDS
Glad to hear you're feeling so much better - welcome back!
The crocheted afghan is lovely - all the crafts I'm able to do, and crocheting isn't one of them! LOL I'm v envious of that particular skill. I can knit fine, but no matter how I try, all my crocheted squares end up as triangles, my tension goes haywire.
Love the patchwork background too!
Thanks for stopping by!
Morti #4
Oh where to start? First of all, I am happy you are feeling better! Sounds just awful and you all had it too :(
Your afghan is incredible! I am amazed at how quickly you have made this and just in your spare time too!
The patchwork card is wonderful! I don't know that I would have the patience to get all those triangles just right so they would match up! But good on you for doing it! I think the recipient will treasure that card!
xoxo Karen
Absolutely gorgeous, what a stunning technique. I must save all my paper scraps now!
Sophie x
No.79
You are so clever to be able to cut those shapes accurately enough to put them together so well. Your blanket is doing well too, so near to being finished. I might think about getting my scraps of wool out and hook to see what I can do. An extra blanket would be useful in the caravan and something that looks fun too. I did do my tow children blanket to their own design when they were young. Son requested a robot blanket, which was fun to put together. Have fun with all your projects. xx Maggie #2
Hi Jo, sorry to hear the family have been so unwell but good to know that they, and you, have recovered. Your 'quilting' is impressive ... the card is going to look fabulous. Love your heirloom blanket too. Like Maggie, I'm tempted to get my crochet hooks out and fill those spare moments, so worth it when the result is something as lovely as this. Hope you have a lovely weekend. Elizabeth x #26
Just so beautiful Afghan
Hello Jo, just a quick update - if you pop over to my blog you will see that I have indeed picked up my crochet hook after an awful lot of years and there's a special message for you there too :) Elizabeth x
I hope you and your family are feeling better now Jo. I love your patchwork cards and your blanket looks fabulous.
xxx Hazel.
Trying to catch up, I missed this one!! I was having prblems with the comment box just forever loading! just wanted to add, yay!! yes I love my doing of doone book, it's amazing!
(Lyn)) (from the furture...coz I'm late)
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