I've Moved!!!

I took the leap! I'm hoping I've done the right thing anyway. 

New blog address

viewfromourhill.wordpress.com/

If you head on over through the link there are Follow options on the right hand side, it would be great to see you over there. 

I'm sure there will be a bit of shuffling around and changes as I find out what it can do. Hopefully being able to blog on the move and comment on other blogs via the iPad or phone will be one of them! 

TTFN

Happy Easter

I know it’s almost done but Happy Easter.  It’s been a warm one hasn’t it!?

Anyway, just a quick post to say I’m having trouble posting comments on other blogs. Google is playing up again.  Mind you I’m hearing from some others that I’m not alone!!! There aren’t many on here either but thank you to those who are still managing to talk to me via email, FB and even my sadly neglected website! Are Blogger’s days numbered? I’m seriously looking at transferring over to Wordpress. 

In other news I have a partial tear in a tendon of my rotator cuff and cortisone is helping. Well it’s helping so much I forget I’m supposed to be looking after it and hurt it again. Anyway, using a needle is currently not affected! 

Enjoy the sun while it lasts! 

More Hooking Than Needling

At the beginning of the month we had our first Crafty Cuppa at the pub. It's something my friend Tracy and I have wanted to do for a little while but we had to wait for the new pub tenants to settle in. We didn't tell many people as we want it to build, if at all, slowly and Tracy and I are more than happy to sit with a nice pot of tea and homemade soup or/and cake while we sew, knit or crochet anyway.  

Mal turned up with her very old crochet bedspread that needs lots of TLC.

This is just a little bit I helped her with, before and after. 

One of those weirdly satisfying jobs! I'm looking forward to doing more next month. Tracy getting on with the start of her double size ripple blanket, and wondering what she's let herself n for as she's just a beginner. 

There were a couple of others who came to see what we were about and I think we may have one or to more showing next month. 

I've bought this crochet pattern and yarn to take around with me. 

It's very portable and quite quick to do. Makes a change for me to do one that doesn't challenge the old grey cells. I'm also part way through Autumn Tartan but that involves using 9 balls at the same time so though the pattern is easy the logistics of controlling all that away from home is a nightmare. 

Last week I was away at Kingcome for a residency workshop with Wendy Dolan. We did her In the Meadows class. 

It was lovely working with like minded people but it may take some time for my waistline to recover!  The food there is seriously good and plentiful! 

At the weekend Elsa ran the Jurassic Coast again, this time as part of the Oner which meant she had 24 hours to do 82 miles. 

Of course she completed it with plenty of time to spare and a smile on her face! 

And in Doggy News we have finally had a Woofeasy put in the gate! 

Chris came and refurbished the side gates and put it in for the girls so they can look down the drive when the sensor goes  off. 

That's when they're not sunning themselves in the greenhouse that is. 

I had to have a cortisone injection in my left shoulder yesterday after Willow yanked my arm back a few months ago.  It's a bit tender still but I have a golf lesson this afternoon so we'll see how that plays out! Some gentle sewing could be in order though!! 

Climbing Back onto the Planet

Two blog posts this year. It's April. Oh well, the world doesn't stop turning just because I haven't blogged! Thank you for the where are you messages. I've just been in a funny place since last January which seemed to come to a head this year but I'm hoping to start feeling myself very soon!

I have been pottering along with making a few bits this year.  No pressure, just going with the flow if I felt like it. The day after we suddenly lost Ruger I had to leave for the NEC and Crufts.  I was going to cancel but it would have been last minute, I would have let friends down but most of all I would have let the rescue dogs down.  Not all dogs have a lovely life like Ruger did so I took him along in my heart.

Some dog quilts I made for the Rescue to raffle. 

The team on the stand.

Evie and Baylor seemed to know I needed comforting and every time I sat down, I was sat on! 

The lovely Clare Balding. 

Ruger came home, much to my relief.  It does seem strange how a little box can somewhat fill his presence again. 

Elsa brought him a lovely tree to plant.  It's an apple tree, he did love his rapples so much. 

There was also Craft4Crafters at the end of February which I went to with Maggie Grey and Fiona of D4Daisy and the WoWBooks. 

Some pieces I made to demonstrate transfer to fabrics, two books and a panel.

I used one of my bird skulls to make a 3D piece in one of my lovely chunky frames.  It seems a bit dark and sombre but perhaps that's where my mind has been lately.  I like it very much though. 

And in the frame with glass.

Another dark piece I made was a book repurposing pictures. 

I also made another driftwood piece as a gift for friends. I can really get carried away with these!!

The village pub has been taken over by new tenants and there are several events up the new Landlady's sleeve like learning to hand tie a bouquet for Mother's Day! It was a lovely evening. 

A friend and I have started a Crafty Cuppa morning once a month in the pub too and it was lovely to sit around a table with others drinking loads of tea and munching homemade cake! 

Next week I'm back to Kingcombe for a few days retreat with Wendy Dolan. I know the food will be OTT but the company will be fun and i can worry about eating too much another day!

Back soon!! 

Ruger

Clearing up, Not

This past week I’ve made another 37 Cosy Collars for GSP Rescue UK and 18 have already sold! eBay HERE and Rescue and the dogs HERE

I’m so pleased they are helping those dogs who aren’t as lucky as mine. Selling is the name of the game but I hope there are some left for Crufts in March! 

I also had a good news email! My sketchbook finally arrived at the Sketchbook Project and they have it listed. It may be a couple of months before it’s added digitally but I’m so relieved it is safe and in one piece.

We’ve had the decorator in and the house has been a bit upside down which has been a fabulous excuse as to why I still haven’t finished tidying the nasty corner in my studio. I know it’s going to be a big job and there are several unfinished projects under there too. At the moment I’m concentrating on the collars, finishing an online course I’ve been on, getting ready for Craft4Crafters this year, I’ll be on stand 133 with Maggie Grey and Fiona again. Come and say hello if you’re visiting.

One thing I did dig out was my tall ship Racehorse. 

John bought me this to do back in 2003 when I built the hull from scratch using tiny slithers of wood. When we moved here it went on the back burner and it’s been sitting in a corner of my studio ever since!  I thought it time I finish it and get it safely out of the way.

I have sorted everything out for it, discovered where I am, repaired a couple of bits and moved on a little. I’m now ready for the rigging but I’m going to have to put it to one side again while I focus on C4C stuff. At least I know where I am with it now!

There have also been a few more crocheted cowls, my evening work. 

I make them up as I go along from different yarns so none of them are the same.  I may be putting a few in for the rescue auctions soon. 

Oh and the octopus.  Did I mention the octopus??

So That Was Christmas

And it's all gone for another year.  We had a lovely time with the family.  The Grands are really getting into the spirit of it all now and it's good to see them enjoying it all. 

On Christmas Eve we walked to the church for the Children's Service. All the readings were done by local children and at the crib scene they asked for all the children to come up to sing Away in a Manger.  I was so proud that little Olivia went straight up there and joined in, even in wellies and a unicorn hat! 

The gifts I have been making have now all been given.  There were crochet fingerless gloves. 

And matching cowl. 

I've made quiet a few of these in lots of different colour ways but they were snaffled as last minute pressies before I could take photos!

I also made 70, yes seven zero, in fleece in the couple of weeks before Christmas!! It was a last minute thought, like you do, and they were sold for the GSP Rescue UK charity.  

I only have 12 left so not bad going!  My little Elves, John and Joe, did amazing jobs getting them out there. Mind you I don't want to seal another envelope again for a while. I will have to stock up a few ready for Crufts in March.

There was also glass gifts from the Linda Rowe days. I must use up some of my own glass and fire up the kiln! 

A wave for surfer son Chris

And mountains for ultra runners Elsa and Mike

And some Robins, trees and baubles for each of us.

I think my favorite thing was the driftwood harbour I made at a Michelle Clements-Davies workshop. 

I adored making it and have gathered a fair bit more suitable wood and materials so will probably put a few more together. 

After all the makes for others I finished off the Helen Shrimpton Mandala Madness.  

I stopped a little short of the complete pattern but it was an unfussy row with no frills etc. and as it's 58 inches across more than enough for a lap throw. 

Having eaten too much and exercised too little we are now on a damage limitation diet! I'm going to try my best to not be ill in 2019, though who knows what can be thrown at you after this past year! John currently is suffering with chesty cough, having managed to overcome his sciatica and phlebitis, so he's also hoping to leave that in this year too! 

My word(s) for the coming year is Use It Up as I have already been incorporating that into as much as possible as I can even with a # in Instagram now and then. 

From this House household to yours, have a wonderful, peaceful, healthy and creative 2019 and thank you for reading. X