A Derbyshire life…..local walks and events and some crafty stuff
More hats and bootees.........I'm on a roll. More babies are due and I'm really getting the hang of baby bits and pieces and am trying a few variations. This time I've used 'Vintage Pearl Baby Hat' pattern found on www.hopefulhoney.com. I looked at adding pearls, but I wasn't sure that it would be worth the effort as the hats have a vintage charm without.
The long planned family bike ride actually took place during Bike Week. We even had a picnic in National picnic week and we cycled at Carsington reservoir with all it's abundance of bird life during 30 Days Wild. How unexpectedly co-ordinated that turned out to be as it was planned weeks ago. There was even had a break in the dreadful weather of the last week and it was dry if a little overcast. We had a lovely day. The funniest thing is that I still have bike chain oil on my calves, as was pointed out at my nephews baby's christening today :)
Our barn conversion site is not quite a building site yet, but more of a pre-building site. As this is all set to change in the next couple of weeks, here are few photo's of the garden and some horticultural happiness before building commences.
Admittedly the photo of the garden shed does not portray a horticultural vision but is important to us as it is our domestic garden oasis of calm. This is because our current temporary accommodation is pretty grim. Practical but not pretty would be a kind way of describing our rented flat and we are so looking forward to moving out of it and to our newly converted barn, if it ever happens. Here are a few photo's of our barn conversion in retro style, though these are the before pictures. One day I hope to have some after photo's.
And to finish off this post, here are a couple of photo's of the view we will eventually have one day, although it still seems such a long way off. NB more details of our barn conversion adventure can be found on our barn conversion blog
We are not very good at identifying wildlife - birds, butterflies, wildflowers are all pretty much a mystery to us. We don't let it put us off though and we are getting better at it and it doesn't stop us from appreciating the pretty and peaceful nature reserves. This time it is the turn of Theddlethorpe dunes nature reserve on the east coast in Lincolnshire.
During our recent holiday to Suffolk the (mostly) dreadful weather forced us to spend a day in Norwich. Obviously we really went there to see the cathedral, but as we parked in the John Lewis car park it would have been rude not to go in and buy something :). We did make it to the cathedral though and it really is very impressive, both in it's architecture and age. This year we have visited two of England's ancient cathedrals; Canterbury and Norwich. It would be difficult to pick out a favourite as both were equally interesting days out; in Canterbury we were unexpectedly entertained by a young choir from America and in Norwich we managed to tag onto a tour of the cathedral which was very nicely done and very informative.
Another quick holiday crochet effort. This time it's a flowery brooch. Inspired from 'Crocheted Flowers' by Jan Ollis, I adapted the antique rose pattern to match the yarn and fabric available (yarn left over from a hat, and organza from a bunch of flowers) to make this pretty brooch. It was a bit fiddly, but I was pleased with the final result.
Crochet is such a portable craft and baby items are perfect for being small and achievable things to complete on a holiday. Combine this with a plethora of babies and it makes a homemade gift for a new baby very do-able. Hence the following array of hats, bootees and bear.
Credit where credit is due; the lilac hat and all bootees were based on a pattern from loopy love. The delightful boy hat is from LisaAuch.com. The bear from Crochet Now issue 2 and is the kit from the magazine.
After a flurry of barn conversion related admin and anxiety over the past few weeks we were able to (almost) forget about it and unwind and relax during our holiday over Spring Half Term. Typically we were holidaying in the coldest area of the country for that particular week on the east coast of England in Suffolk and then in Lincolnshire. On the west coast they were basking in 23°c heat whilst we had a miserly 11°c fresh (ie cold) north wind, with occasional showers to add to the misery. However, we were undeterred and intrepid and visited Minsmere nature reserve in Suffolk and spotted a Bittern, marsh harriers, muntjac deer and the Spring Watch TV crew setting up for filming. Can the film crew be classed as 30 days wild? I'm going to take it as an official wild sighting.
This deer was so unconcerned about the human visitors to Minsmere I had time to faff about wrestling my camera out of my bag.
This rather blurred (but entirely authentic) image is of a bittern at Minsmere. An actual bittern. I was so surprised I nearly missed it in the viewfinder.
Another peaceful place to visit for nature and wildlife is Dunwich heath and beach.
A blog diary of my creative life in Derbyshire with crochet, quilting, knitting, embroidery, textile art and baking......and barn conversions
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