Well, perhaps not now, but it has been!
My poor little blog has been a bit neglected this month. What can I say? I'm a fickle creature. The weather has been so glorious I've been outside as much as possible.
Pottering among the perennials!
Just soaking up the sun and surrounds. Isn't it wonderful to feel the Vitamin D coursing through your veins?
One of my favourite things about the sunshine is the way it brings people out of their houses. I absolutely love where I live; a long tree-lined road inhabited by folk from all walks of life. We have a real sense of community which is in no small part down to the efforts of a handful of us who started a monthly get-together at the local church hall after the success of a Golden Jubilee party ten years ago.
Anyway, I don't know about you but I find it hard to crochet when it's hot. My hands get clammy so hook-wielding is a struggle and the thought of anything woolly near my skin gives me the willies.
My stripy cushion is sitting unfinished ...
and my poor little thingummy (following the lovely Annaboo's Crochet Along) is still legless! I don't think I chose the best yarn to be honest, (Debbie Bliss' Eco Cotton), it's stupendously splitty!
What I am thoroughly enjoying at the moment is cross stitch!
Things seem to have moved on massively since I last cross-stitched about ten years ago. Or perhaps that's just me?! I'm sure it used to be all about Winnie The Pooh and twee bookmarks. Things have gotten so much prettier and fresher and there is so much inspiration around.
The Cath Kidston 'Stitch' book rekindled my interest, as did the wonderful Helen Philips, cross stitch creator extraordinaire!
One other reason for my extended absence might just have been *hangs head in sheepish shame* my new addiction to Instagram! I love it! If it's your thing, do come and say "hello". My privacy settings are quite stringent as I've had one too many dubious types wanting to add me to their list of 70000 followees but I'll know who you are if you blog. I'm 'pinkmilk40'.
Cheerio for now and, to my fellow Commonwealth friends, I do hope you enjoy this deliciously long weekend and have a very ...
xxx
i know what you mean about not wanting to crochet in the warmer weather - I have also moved on to doing some cross stitch!! Although have made a couople of bits for the Jubilee.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
Helenxx
beautiful post, such a lovely garden of blooms ;0)
ReplyDeletehappy jubilee, lovely photographs xx
A lovely catch-up post, I agree with you about crocheting in the heat.. I can't stand it when the wool starts squeeking with every movement!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cross-stitch, I want to give some a try.. how do you keep it all so straight when your not using that cross-stitch material with the holes in..??
Ashley xxx
It's called evenweave and it's an alternative to the normal aida (most cross stitch places sell both) so there are holes but as it's so much finer, you count every other hole - if that makes sense?? It does send your eyes a bit skew wiff after a while though!! x
DeleteI'm with you on the whole wool and sun mis match. I've been looking for things to do outdoors and crochet just feels like a cosy in front of the fire pastime. I agree I think cross stitch has changed loads these last few years I am really enjoying it too recently.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your jubilee celebrations, we just finished of a patriotic bag of M&M's this morning too :0) xx
Don't!! I singlehandedly polished off almost the whole bag after the photoshoot!!! :-{ x
DeleteIt's fabulous to have you back! I must say that I really am smitten with the colour combination of your unfinished crochet cushion cover! Glorious images of English seaside and gardens spring to mind. Good for you for enjoying the great outdoors.
ReplyDeleteWarm greetings from hot (phew!) France.
Stephanie
Glad you've been enjoying the outdoors,me too.What a change now though,we have gone from Winter to Summer and back to Winter ,in less than 2 weeks...Enjoy your jubilee celebrations, Laura xxx
ReplyDeleteLove the look of that cross stitch - just put me in the mood for starting a new project!
ReplyDeleteLiz @ Shortbread & Ginger
Lovely catch up post! The projects you have on the go look fab! Enjoy the weekend!
ReplyDeleteVictoria xx
I love the fact that you have multiple projects going that aren't finished! I don't feel so alone now! LOL! And I must run off and order Helen's books which have been on my list for some time now and Cath Kidson! I love all things British because of your colors and flowers and decorating and craftiness...LOVE!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Diamond Jubilee to you! I'm just a rebel from across the pond but wish I could be there to see it all! How wonderful for all of you and then the Olympics too and with your new royal newlyweds you must be over the moon with happiness! Enjoy all the festivities and "Hail to the Queen"!
I know what you mean about wanting to be outside. I spent too much time outside, the garden looked fab but the house was a tip! I was (very sadly) a little relieved when the weather turned and I could spend a whole day inside. Daft I know, but there is just so much to do in the garden at this time of year, I feel compelled to get on with it. I agree also about the clever Helen Phillips. I now own a few of her lovely books. XX
ReplyDeleteAhhhh I'd love to sit in your garden with a glass of something cold! Love your chairs and the colour you've painted your fences/shed with really sets off your plants beautifully! I'm gleaning lots of ideas for when we move! I'm finding myself drawn to cross stitch too at the moment but am yet to settle on something I feel uncontrollably drawn to stitching! Lol, look forward to seeing your stitchy creation all finished!! I'm finding my crafting mojo is somewhat slack when it's hot!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of the bank holiday love x and guess what?! I popped to Sainsbury's and now too have a pink spotty coat! Hurrah!!! Lol :D
Love & hugs,
Jo x x x
Jo, the bottle is on ice, I'm ready when you are!!! x
DeleteYour little thingummy is very cute, for all that he's legless!
ReplyDeleteHow serious a cross stitch fanatic would you like to be? You have a lot to learn about the wonderful possibilities!
Your garden is very pretty and i love your chairs xx
ReplyDeleteYeah I can't touch wool on a scorching day! I also don't understand how people can smoke when it's hot! Lovely chairs and flowers. Your thin gummy is cool. Mine is non existing!!!
ReplyDeleteX x x x
Your garden is gorgeous. The wall with your flowers and the lush chairs in front is perfection.
ReplyDeleteI don't like to crochet when it's warm so I've started some cross stitch for the first time in years. I like how portable it is too.
Lovely catch up post xx
How pretty your garden looks. We currently have a stripy fence panel after testing stain pots on it. It's down to a similar blue to yours and one that's a little more turquoise and I just can't choose between them.
ReplyDeleteIt's years since I've done any cross stitch, but I used to find it wonderfully meditative to sit and sew in the garden in the summer. Enjoy x
Aww that lil pink guy is cute even if he is a bit legless. Pretty Cross stitch, I love cross stitch especially in the summer. I get what you mean about twee and cutesy designs 10 years ago. I have magazines to prove it hehe.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking so pretty
Emma x
Darling girl
ReplyDeleteChezza's voice KILLED me. KILLED me. Remind me why she is famous?????! Glad you agree. And yes I have mega crush on Sir Gary of Barlow. And I do indeed believe he is worthy of a knighthood. Lovely man.
Hope you are well and able to crochet again, now the weather is utterly pants again.....
x x x x x x
What absolutely lovely photos - your garden is gorgeous! And your craft projects are all looking pretty fab too - I think my favourite has to be the cross stitch (so pretty!). Have a lovely weekend hon, Becks xxx
ReplyDeleteI love all your gorgeous garden pictures. Your crochet cushion is looking lovely....and so is your cross stitch! Thank you for your sweet mention of me, it was a lovely surprise! It's nice to have different projects on the go so you can swap them around when you feel like it. I hope you are enjoying the weekend :)
ReplyDeleteHelen x
Me gusta tu blog,las fotos de las telas, papeles,ganchillo,punto de cruz...muchos saludos desde España.
ReplyDeleteLindo blog.
ReplyDeletebjus
Marlene