About Me

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United Kingdom
Hi there & welcome to Annie's Place. A place inspired by and named after my late Grandmother Annie. Somewhere I can be creative, and share my love for all things handmade. I like nothing better than sitting with hook & yarn, crafting something home spun & completely unique, or rustling up some yummy baked goodies. I live in a town with a beautiful embankment, situated on the River Great Ouse. You may know me as CosyKitty on Ravelry. Why not stop a while.....?!!

Tuesday 29 January 2013

A cornucopia of colour

Gosh, has it been a week already since I last said hello? I'm so pleased to see so many lovely new faces popping in to have a look-see. I extend the warmest of welcomes to you all.......x
January's coming to a close, and it looks like we've seen the back of Jack Frost, for now at least. I bet the utility companies aren't best pleased about the milder temperatures though. I can well imagine the board room fat cats were rubbing their hands together this last couple of weeks, thinking about the bumper profits coming from the recent cold snap, grrrrrr!

Let's not dwell on that though eh? How's about we focus on all things light & bright & crochet related instead. Good idea? I thought so. You may remember my post a little while back, where I was endeavouring to try out new stitch combinations? One pattern I happened upon whilst browsing for inspiration was the Sunburst Granny Square, which included puff and cluster stitches. Something totally new to me. I really liked the look of it, but decided I'd much prefer a smaller block, so just followed the first 4 rounds on a 3.5mm hook, utilising the lovely Catania Cotton I had in stash. I noticed my original sample picture has turned up on a fair few pin boards on pinterest, which was rather lovely to see.  


So, a new project was born. I like to call it my Sunburst Patchwork. I'm really happy with how each colourful block looks, slip-stitched together side by side. I shall make a concerted effort to do a few squares a day, alongside my other wips, I promise.

However, my bedroom is now over run with crochet, both chairs are covered. You can't sit down!!



I think some of those cushions need to find a new home, don't you.......? x

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Sorting.....






























I've spent much of the day sorting through my craft supplies. Tidying up, organising. Utilising all the little clip top jars I've collected, for storing buttons & beads & ribbons and the like. I'm very fortunate that my sister will tend to buy me crafty bits and bobs for Birthdays and Christmas. I always look forward to opening the box of goodies she thoughtfully puts together for me. I never know what to expect, but I do know it'll be choc full of little delights, like these cutesy heart pegs for instance.





























Is it strange to want to collect as much as to use? I find myself buying things without a real purpose for them sometimes, do you? Good job I'm frugal, otherwise the budget could go out the window.......



How many of you have heard about Cinnamon Aitch? See that  note book in the pictures above, isn't it adorable? I bought 3 different designs at Christmas, one for me, one for Sis and one for Mum. Yes, you guessed it, I'm head over heels in love with this range of cards and notebooks. And do you know what's even more fantastic, they've recently joined forces with the wonderful Sascalia, whom I've been a fan of for some time, to bring out a range of her designs too! Go take a look......

It's fair to say I haven't seen much of the outside world this past week or so. Unlike most it seems, I've avoided going out unless absolutely necessary. No snow man building or sledging for me, just one trip to the supermarket to stock up on essentials is as far as I've gotten. I have however enjoyed vicariously (via the fantastic pictures posted on many wonderful blogs I read) the thrills and spills of those who have donned their hats, scarves & gloves to venture out onto the playing fields with their sledges. Every evening on the news there's footage of folk travelling at what seems like a hundred miles an hour downhill, screaming hysterically, arriving in a great heap at the bottom. 

People of all ages out enjoying their snow days off work & school. Although I have to say one fella's comment made me laugh. When asked by The One Show's Carrie Grant why he wasn't at work, he said he couldn't get his vehicle on the road because of the weather. Yet when Carrie said 'well you've managed to get down here to the sledging run', his response was that he borrowed his wife's four wheel drive. My immediate thought was, well why didn't you drive the 4x4 into work then? duh. Not sure whether his boss'll be impressed!! ;)

All this bitterly cold weather has got me thinking about summer, and getting away from it all. How many of you watched George Clarke's Amazing Spaces series on Channel 4 this past Autumn? (now being repeated on More 4). There were some amazing small space transformations featured on that show, that were sooooo inspiring. Now, if I had to choose one; I'd happily spend a few days on  The Majestic Bus. The restoration of this old Bedford Bus was quite remarkable, don't you think? 

Before












After


All Photos from https://www.facebook.com/MajesticBus


Oh to spend a few days holed up in there with nothing but the panoramic views of the countryside, and a basket of yarn for company......x x x

Tuesday 15 January 2013

No occasion necessary

Happy Tuesday everyone! Have you all settled back into your normal routines yet, after the festive frivolity? I always feel a little deflated for a few weeks after, but nothing that can't be cured with a basket of yarn by my side and a head full of new hooky ideas. The snow arrived yesterday, but has slowly melted away over the course of the morning. Certainly not enough for snow man building or sledging. More has been forecast, but for now there's very little disruption this end.

I've had to put my Granny Stripe to one side for the moment as I've run short of yarn. I thought I had enough Aspen Stylecraft Special DK to take me the whole way round my blanket, but was left about 3ft short of what I needed. I'm loathed to frog the entire round, so I'll just have to order some more won't I? Any excuse.....

Whilst that's on the back burner I've decided to pick up my Patchwork Granny wip. You can see it just sneaking into the back of those pictures above. I get an endless supply of inspiration from the very talented Sandra at Cherry Heart who created the most amazing patchwork last year. She has managed to create a real buzz around this pattern, and so many people are currently working on it. I just couldn't resist attempting my own. I'll do a proper update post on that later in the week.
We have a 21st to celebrate this week, alas it's not mine. So I shall be spending some time baking this afternoon. A good old fashioned Victoria sponge goes down well in this house I can tell you. I might even make some bunting to adorn the top of it, should I find time.

Flowers are the one thing you can buy where there's no occasion necessary. I just had to pick up some bright red tulips this week, as they were calling out to me. I had the perfect vessel to put them in, a plain jug that I accessorised with some pretty gingham ribbon.  They really have brightened up the house, and lifted my spirits. I'm glad I gave them a home.....

Back soon x x x 

Saturday 5 January 2013

Somewhere over the rainbow.......


Those lyrics are so beautiful, aren't they? It has to be one of my all time favourite songs, along with the film, of course. From Judy Garland to Eva Cassidy, it spans the decades and generations.  Oh to be a child again, and see 'The Wizard of OZ' through fresh eyes. How magical that would be! I never tire of it, 'Lions and Tigers and Bears, on my....'

That brings me nicely to the theme of today's post, rainbows! or should I say rainbow inspired.  I know it's not everyone's bag, but I really love multi-coloured things.  Anything with lots of colour will usually catch my eye first. Funny thing is, my wardrobe consists mainly of darks. I do try and accessorize with colour though, especially scarves. My favourite shade of the moment would have to be Teal. 

Around the home I like to place colourful bits and bobs. Not everywhere, just the odd thing here and there.



If I had my way I'd live in a house where every wall is painted white, and adorned with brightly coloured artwork. Speaking of colourful artwork, I know a lot of you will already know about the very talented Loretta Grayson. One thing I had on the top of my wish list for Christmas was one of her Backyard with Fireflies prints, and lucky ole me got what I wished for. 

Mum & Dad (oops I mean Santa) kindly gifted me the large print. Now I just need to find the perfect frame for it.  I can't tell you how excited I was when the postman delivered it last week! It arrived safely to the UK from Australia, beautifully packaged. That's what I love most about purchasing from Etsy, that personal touch you don't get on the high street. I've admired Loretta's work for some time, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to finally receive it?! Oh, and did I mention Loretta's a rather gifted crocheter aswell?! you must check out her blog or Flickr stream!

Lots of my crochet work thus far has been rainbow inspired too.  My alter ego Colour Heaven would testify to that ;)


I just love getting lost in my own colourful world
x x x x x

Tuesday 1 January 2013

'Colour me Happy'...New Year


Well I made it through the festive mayhem, and out the other side. Though I have to say my body clock is well and truly out of whack. Too many late nights and late awakenings has really messed things up. I'm sure I'm not alone on that one?

There were lots of lovely moments, lots of laughs, sharing it all with loved ones. Plenty of good food and drink, Christmas TV, cosy moments snuggled under my granny blanket snoozing, bliss. I hope you all had a wonderful time, but I'm always mindful of those that struggle this time of year. It can be the best of times and the worst of times, that; I'm acutely aware of. With that in mind I send love, luck and most importantly the best of health to everyone for the coming year!

I'm really very excited about my blogging journey this year. I have so many things whizzing round in my crafty mind I'm fit to burst! Of course crochet is at the top of the list, but I plan on widening my horizons a bit. See, I still consider myself a novice really and would like to become far more proficient in this wonderful art form. I know it's quality, not quantity that's important, but I am a bit of a slow coach when it comes to finishing projects.  I pledge to complete my UFO's before moving on to anything new (yeah right?! ;)

To ease me in to 2013, I've started with something very simple. A tea light holder made from a recycled glass jar, with a jacket made from scraps of yarn.   
Trust me, literally anyone can do this. Wash up an old jam, coffee, pasta sauce jar, whatever you have to hand.  Grab a pile of your favourite yarn, and some scissors and you're good to go. 

Rope in a volunteer, because you'll need an extra pair of hands for this too. All you have to do is take a ball of yarn in whatever colour your heart desires, unravel a piece & wrap it round the jar, leaving enough length to easily tie it in a knot at the front. Cut the required length and that'll be your template for all the other lengths of yarn you'll need. Go ahead and cut at least 10 different pieces of yarn to get you started. The possibilities are endless here, you can coordinate it to your room's colour scheme, or you can just be completely random.  Whether you want to cover the entire jar, or just part, again it's up to you. 

Right then, once you've got your stash of little yarn strings you can get to work wrapping them round the jar. It's as easy as that, just tie it round, asking your trusty helper to put their finger on the yarn to stop it from slipping, so you can get a good tight knot. Repeat this process one underneath the other, until you get the coverage you require.  No gluing necessary, no mess, hurrah!!

You'll be left with a lovely ruffle of yarn down the front of your jar, that you can clip to size, depending on the desired effect you'd like to create.  I prefer to keep the ends fairly short, but not so short that they might come undone.  I hope you know what I mean? As long as your knots are good and tight, you shouldn't have a problem. Then drop a tea light in and you're all done.  I suggest you invest in a box of long matches, so that you can light your candles with ease.
I'm sure I'm not the first to have thought of this idea, so forgive me if I'm repeating something you've seen before. This is just my interpretation :) x x x x x x x x

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