Rowan Tree Cottage

There have been some secret makes in March which I couldn't share until now.  4 cute trousers and cardigans for a friend with 4 special Unicef dolls named after the Walker children in Arthur Ransome's Swallow and Amazons series.  4 crocheted decorations.  My version of a bright and cheerful kingfisher. I think he's a little plump! A crocheted onion holder or even a project bag.  At long last our bedroom walls are painted plain clean fresh white. It feels lovely!  More painting! This morning I painted the inside of the herb bed green to match the outer. It was too full to paint last Summer. Nice to have that little tail end of a job done while the sun is shining. I came across the buried slab when wondering why the grass wasn't draining properly in all the rain we had. I decided to leave it in but expand the lavender bed up to it. I had some of last year's lavenders which needed to come out of the blue pots. The bees will love it! The geranium is...

 Hello friends. You know how colour makes me happy especially rainbows of colour, well I've had an idea for us crafters while we are having minimum contact outside our homes. Why not make a bunting flag a day from stash to lift our spirits? Then when this corona virus has run its course we will have bunting to hang in celebration. An act of hope! I don't think everyday families have ever had to face something like this since the war. We could lose vulnerable family members. The women back then were encouraged to be thrifty and cheerful. They had to carry on in spite of the fear. They had to be so inventive with few resources. We are luckier. We have the internet and can skype chat. TVs and electronic entertainment are the norms within our homes. We aren't having to crowd around a radio to hear the news. Us crafters are telling one another what it is like near us. We are supporting one another. We will get through this.  Jelly roll rainbow  A real rainbow ...

This beautiful dark purple and lime green hellebore caught my eye. Spring is in the air although we are surrounded by flood warnings for the River Severn and the River Wye. There have been evacuations and some people have lost a lot. I am thankful that we live up in the forest.  This blanket began with me just crocheting up the odd bits of sock yarns. Then donated yarn was added until it became a usable size for charity.  This Christmas beauty wasn't for charity however.  Son's computer chair seat had worn out so I made him a leather one which  should last a lot longer.  Socks perfect for brown or grey jeggings.  The seating area got gravelled so looks a lot tidier.  Edward lear got his own snuggle blanket from leftovers as he enjoyed whatever I was knitting. A bag for daughter which leaves her arm free for her walking stick and dog lead.   Baby blanket from donated yarn with a crochet trim.  Socks f...