Pinecone Gnomes

After adding more pinecones to my collection I thought I'd better use some of them.

So with Christmas approaching I thought I'd make some Gnome decorations.

I cut a pipe cleaner in half for arms and legs. Glued them in place to make the arms and legs.

Decorated a 3/4 inch wooden bead with rosy cheeks and eyes before gluing it to the top of the pinecone.

Cut out mittens and shoes from felt, and uses whip stitch to sew them together.

Cut out cone shapes for hats

And a long rectangle for a scarf. And a gnome was born! But he is a bit a a sun lover and keeps escaping to stand soaking up the sun!

Autumn is...

Autumn is sneaking into my garden bringing with it the promise of long evenings knitting in front of the telly.

Felt Aromatherapy Houses

I love the sunny summer weather - yes we did have some - as I like to have the doors and windows open. But I don't enjoy chasing all the flies, wasps etc out, so I've made some felt houses filled with wadding scented with peppermint, lavender and citronella oil to keep them out - fingers crossed!

I cut two rectangles out for the main section of the house and rounded off the corners.  I then cut two roof shapes out with a pointed top and make them slightly wider at the bottom than the rectangles so that they slightly overlapped when sewn together. 

I joined the roof shape to the rectangle with a contrasting thread. I used a whip stitch but blanket stitch would work just as well.

I then cut out a rounded door shape out of a darker piece of felt. then added a french knot for a door knob and stitched the door to the house with back stitch.  I then used some simple embroidery stitches to create the effect of grass round the bottom and roses growing round the door. I then added windows with a running stitch or used buttons which made nice cottage looking windows.

Next I joined the house front and house back pieces together with a contrasting thread.  This time I used blanket stitch.  I attached a piece of ribbon or ricrac at the top of the roof so that I could hang the houses up on door handles and at the windows.  You need to leave a space to add the stuffing so don't sew all round your house.

Then I added five drops each of lavender, peppermint and citronella oil to some wadding.  The aromatherapy blend came from the Fragrant Pharmacy book - I couldn't afford all the oils so went for the ones that were used in a number of blends.

I then stuffed the house then finished sewing round the edge.

So almost every window and door has its own little house (or seal with ball in the bathroom) fingers crossed no mroe flies or wasps!

Hot air balloons in the park.

Living opposite the park means there's always something going on.  This time of the year whenever there's a break in the weather and enough of a breeze then there's often a hot air balloon preparing to take off.

Adding the hot air.

Adding more hot air.

Up up and...

away!

Close up of the balloon - this would make a great abstract print.

Jubliee

How sad that the Jubliee is over - what a good excuse to dress the house up.

My red white and blue bunting.
I made this bunting at a workshop at the Button Tin in Rotherham.

Jubilee crown biscuits which I did decorate but frankly it looked like a two year old had done it so I'm just showing the plain  biscuits.

My flowering coach.

My Queen Elizabeth II Coronation mug.

It's a shame to take the bunting etc down but the solar queen is still waving to everyone the park!

Zippos Circus at Endcliffe Park

After a rainy bank holiday I woke up to find that the circus had come to the park opposite!

And spent most of the day watching them putting up the tents and hanging out the bathroom window trying to take pictures!

Chips in the park.

Too busy to make lunch and sooo hungry.  Erm not sure I can finish all these chips!

Chip buttie at Endcliffe Park Cafe.

Oh I do like to be beside the sea side!

Oh I do like to be beside the sea!

East coast traditional seaside venues are amazing in the height of summer or even in the depths of winter.

One of my fav places is Filey - traditional with a capital T.

Fish and chips, arcades, donuts, donkey rides, tea and toast, shopping and one of the longest beaches ever!

And of course seagulls!

We've been going to Filey since I can remember - never Scarborough for us - come rain or shine and mostly if memory serves it was rain  - buy it was always Filey!

 

Weather forcast

Forget the radio forcast or watching the news or logging on.

I use a traditional method

If the lady is out it will be sunny! Never fails another fine and sunny day.  If the man pops out it's rain, if they are both peeking out of the door then it's typical mixed and muddled English weather.

Etsy Shop

I've just updated my shop on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/Pumpkinchickpea)

to include some Jubilee items:

A bright pink felt tea cosy with a grey crown and gorgeous green highlights.



This fun knitted corgi brooch - the ideal addition to any Jubilee outfit.




A red, white and blue crochet tea cosy for those summer garden parties.

Jubliee Pinwheels

I was looking for a cheap and cheerful way of decorating the house for the Jubliee.

A quick search of the internet and I came across the idea of making some paper pinwheels in red, white and blue.

There are lots of easy to follow instructions on the internet including these inspiring ones on The Sweetest Occasion site.

I made 60 in total - well it is the Jubliee after all!

Enough for two displays!