PURPLE FROGS - Ribbit, Ribbit, Ribbit

HELLO SPRING

OMG... what a beautiful morning its been! Gorgeous sunshine and blue sky. Hope this is finally the start of the good weather! Saying that, its still very cold in the shade but in the sunshine its quite warm - big smiley face! Its great to get washing hung out on the line for a change, instead of it drying in the house.

Introducing
FREDDY THE FROG

Made this little critter last night whilst watching the telly - very easy and quick to make - and low and behold the longest part was finding buttons for the eyes! I seriously need to get some buttons that I can use for eyes.



I nipped into Asda yesterday to get some shopping and seen these socks. Four pairs for £2.00 - bargain. I have bought loads of socks recently and none that were plain - bought loads of stripes, patterned but none just plain. And when I saw these ones I knew I would be able to make the frog.



The mouth was made using the heel off a white sock - which curled up when placed on the frogs face to give it a smiley face. Really loved the fact that this was so quick and easy to make.



Here are some photos of Annabelle taken in the sunshine - glad to say that they are better than the ones I took the other night. I still don't think she is finished yet - maybe a pair of shoes will make it look complete. Maybe that will give me something to do later.

Hope you all have a lovely Monday - Think I'm gona sit here and check out a few blogs that I haven't visited for ages. Bye!

ACHOOOOO!

Sorry for the absence but been busy with work, a wedding and full of a stinking cold.

Last Friday me and my partner went to a friends wedding in Darwen (congratulations Becky & Tom) and we had such a lovely time away. We stayed in a beautiful hotel called the Astley Bank which to Anthony's delight had a Jacuzzi Bath in the room - which he promptly filled with water and dived in! He was like a child with a new toy. The weekend was then just spent having 2 very lazy days not doing anything - and I mean not doing anything which was total bliss!

But back to work it was on Monday - and the start of a cold emerging! And I've had it all week now and its getting on my nerves. But on the up side I'm off work again for a week - yippee! I had a few days to take and my manager booked me next week off so it was a nice surprise. So I'm off next week, in work for a week then off again for a week - oh happy days!

Last night I sat down with the intentions off making a rag doll with my youngest and ended making it myself. I grabbed some of her old vests that were way too small for her and used the template out of the book 'Made By Me' by Jane Bull. I had tried the other week to buy some calico when I went to town but couldn't find any - so that's where her vests came in handy. So I cut out the body bits and started sewing! But for some unknown reason (ok my bad sewing) when I turned the fabric the correct way i found that the head was slightly mishapen so I ended up making the doll with hair.

Meet Annabelle

I only just took the photos of her and the lighting is pretty rubbish - but hopefully will get better shots tomorrow.

END OF THE HOLIDAY

Well my week off is over and its back to work today.
The holiday has gone way too fast!!!
But its been a great week especially spending it with Anthony, Calum, Ellie, Caitlyn, Joe & Avie.

We have been quite lucky really with the weather even though some days were very cold. But its been to nice to get out and do a bit of walking even though I feel like I've shrunk a few inches.

This is the most recent photo of me and my partner Anthony (love this man) at Williamson Park on Sunday. Caitlyn took around 6 photos and this is my favourite one of us together, even though the sun was in our eyes and we are squinting. She took some great photos and I think I have a budding photographer in the making.



Left to right - Avie, Calum, Joe, Ellie & Caitlyn - This was taken on the Stone Jetty last Monday when we went out for a walk and its the first time that we have managed to get a photo of them all together.



So I'm going to go and get sorted for work (really don't want to go back) and hopefully might have something to show you during the week if I get the chance to craft.

TWIT WOO

Forgot to post the pictures for this little Owl that I made on Tuesday night. I'm not 100% happy with this one as I had problems getting the eyebrow shapes on the head the same thickness and then again I didn't have any decent buttons for the eyes. But at least I gave it a try.



The instructions in the book mentioned scraps of brown socks which I didn't have, so I had to once again resort to felt. A very quick little project to do and I think maybe next time I try something like this one again I will certainly practice on the eyebrow bits.

FEW DAYS OUT & ABOUT

Had a few days off from making stuff and decided to have a few days out & about with the kids.

On Wednesday we went to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. Only a half hour drive away but worth it. Such a peaceful place and great birdwatching. We ended up joining the RSPB as we enjoyed it that much. I didn't seem to get any photos of any birds apart from the ducks but the kids and Anthony got some great shots. I have to say I love this shot I got looking across one of the lakes.



On Friday we went to the Manchester Science & Industry Museum. We had a great time and the kids enjoyed it. Have to say this is my favourite shot of the day of Caitlyn. The end of the day was spent at the Trafford Centre where we had our dinner and the only shopping bought was Gummy Bears, a few boxes of Nerds and Reeses sweets. The nerds were so expensive and I'm sure when I was younger I didn't spend £2.49 a box and that was with 20% off - but they were nice.



Today, after having a very lazy morning we went for a drive to Williamson Park in Lancaster. It was mine and Anthonys first time up there and we were amazed with the views from the Ashton Memorial. Its sad to think I have lived in the area for nearly 36 years and its my first time there.



Caitlyn took this photo of me, Anthony and Avie and I love it. We didnt know she was taking the picture and there were a few more but this one is my favourite.



This photo was taken on Monday looking from the Stone Jetty to Morecambe Sea Front. We dragged the kids and the dogs out for a walk as it was such a lovely day but very very cold. The tall structure in the middle of the photo is The Polo Tower left over from Morecambe Pleasure Beach. The fairground shut many years ago but the structure is still there as the council decided to let mobile companies use it as a mobile phone mast (sad).

WELCOME DINOSOCK

Finally got round to making this little one on Tuesday night - ok I know I said I was having a break for a few days but I just couldn't resist.

So here she is... DINOSOCK!



A nice, quick little one to make but I'm not happy with the way the tail turned out - due to me trying to get it finished before I went to bed - but it will do! I think I spent more time trying to find buttons for the eyes than what it took me to make it. In the end I gave in and used black beads that I bought the other day.



The kids loved her when they seen her yesterday morning - and I can see me making a few more of these as they are quick to do.

MEET PENNY THE PENGUIN

This is my little creation from last night. I'm sorry for the dull photos but once again its not been the brightest days to get any good photos.

So meet PENNY THE PENGUIN!



I followed the pattern from Stray Sock Sewing Too (love that book) and it took under 2 hours to make. Had a few problems finding a white sock so I ended up using a bit of white felt to attach to the front.



The beak I originally made was too small and when I turned it the right way the stitches were visible so I made a larger beak but it ended up a bit too long :)



I'm going to have a few days break I think from making any sock creatures, as my kids especially the youngest wants to make a bag for her collection of Moshi Monsters.

LITTLE ZOO

After we had our dinner last night we all sat down to create sock creatures/animals. So from around 7 last night till about 11 we all sat round the dining room table making things.

Here is Calums (19) first try at making a sock creature. I think he did a fab job!!





Here is Ellies (16)
Ellie got these socks for Christmas and kept them aside especially for making a sock creature.





Its still a work in progress and at this very moment she is finishing the legs off.



This one is the joint attempt by Anthony (42) & Joe (10)
They used a kit with everything inside it for making the Zebra and when I had a look at the instructions I found them quite hard to follow. So I think I will stick to my Stray Sock Sewing books.





I made the Penguin from the book Stray Sock Sewing Too but for some reason I cant upload the photos on this post. So I will post the photos for later.

CHESHIRE CAT

Sorry for not blogging for nearly a week but I've been busy with work, then my eldest was off school on Friday because of the cold weather. So last night I finally sat down to make the 'Cheshire Cat' from the book 'Stray Sock Sewing Too' by Daniel and I'm so chuffed with the result.



Had a bit of trouble with this one though! I used adult socks instead of children's socks and its ended up being over 22 inches long - so it took ages to stuff and used lots of stuffing. I bought the socks from Asda (cant see me using old socks) the other day and when I saw the stripes I knew I wanted to make the Cheshire Cat.



I just love how the cheesy smile gives the cat so much character.


My partner Anthony has his kids staying with us for a few days, and I can see after dinner that there will be some sock creations going on in the house. So WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!

CUPCAKES AND TOOTH FAIRIES

EAT TOO MANY CUPCAKES AND THE TOOTH FAIRY VISITS YOU MORE OFTEN

Yesterday morning my daughters school was shut on safety grounds because of a gas leak, so around 10.30 I had to go pick her up. So with my days plans out of the window we sat down to make a few things with felt. It took her ages to decide what to do and in the end she came up with tooth fairy bags and I made a cupcake pin cushion.



When I'm sewing I constantly put pins on the table and they disappear (damn that needle thief) so I thought I would make myself a small pin cushion to keep everything in a safe place other than the carpet (dangerous place to store them I know).



I had been trawling through the many websites looking for easy to make stuff and seen these the other day. So quick to make and my youngest found them ok.



The tooth gets put in the tooth part on the front and when the tooth fairy takes the tooth they leave the money in the little bag part :)



I'm back at work today after having 4 days off (long weekend) but I'm happy because I've only got 3 shifts then I'm off till the 21st of February. The kids are off school for half term so I booked the holiday so I could spend the time with them. So if the weather is rubbish (which I hope it isn't) I suppose there will be more felt crafting and the likes going on in this house whilst the kids are off.