tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67989501031946760802024-02-06T22:19:07.364-08:00Claire-clutterbug Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-25719449824923750742021-08-25T07:22:00.001-07:002021-08-25T07:22:22.549-07:00A Blog is for Life, not Just for Uni!2016 was the last time I created a blog post as Claire-clutterbug! 5 whole years ago! What have I been up to in that time you may wonder? Studying.<div><br></div><div>My creative roots are still in all things yarnie, but I have been learning all sorts of new skills on the Artist Designer Maker degree course at Cardiff Metropolitan University and my horizons have broadened somewhat. I have learned metalwork, woodwork, ceramics, glasswork...it has been heaven! But textiles and knitting and crochet are still what make my heart happiest.</div><div><br></div><div>My studies have focused on why making is so good for our mental health. It is something I think all makers instinctively feel but don't necessarily understand. Just look at UK Olympic Diver Tom Daley who has been all over the news and social media with his poolside knitting and crocheting during the Tokyo Olympics. It keeps his mind calm, relieves anxiety, stops him over-thinking in the most stressful of situations. We might not all be Olympians, but the mental health benefits of making can help all of us.</div><div><br></div><div>I won't bore you with all my academic research into making, but if you are interested in learning more about why knitting, crocheting and making in general across all disciplines makes us feel good, here are a few books that you might like to read: </div><div><br></div><div>Why we Make Things and Why it Matters by Peter Korn</div><div><br></div><div>The Case for Working with Your Hands or Why Office Work is bad for us and Fixing Things Feels Good by Matthew Crawford </div><div><br></div><div>Flow - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi</div><div><br></div><div>They all say it far better than I could put into words in a blog post. </div><div><br></div><div>I will be having a bit of a rebrand to go with the new blog name - freshen things up a bit, but change is nothing to be scared of - lovely new things will be happening. I know it's been a bit confusing with me switching from Claire clutterbug to Claire Maloney art and design to Made for Making, but that has been my journey and evolution. I have learned a lot over the last few years and want to enable others to make, by not only designing patterns but also setting up an Etsy shop where I will sell hand dyed and spun yarns, ceramic beads and yarn bowls, handmade paper sheets and sketchbooks, hand printed fabrics...things that I have made to enable further making. But that will probably be next year once my studies are complete.</div><div><br></div><div>For now, I will share with you the remainder of my academic journey (only the joyful making parts - not the stressy parts!) rather than keeping it between my lecturers and myself on my Uni blog 😊</div><div><br></div><div><div>But that's not really what you came here for is it?! You came here for the love of all things YARN.</div><div><br></div><div>So here's a couple of projects I included in my studies, and a couple of new patterns I am about to release on Ravelry in the next couple of days - hope you like them. </div></div><div><br></div><div>Love & hugs</div><div>Claire </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-bzNt8AWZijexZTfeLSWdEI1mFTLc-SogyDb1p5FhrxPS60bseOPAM5fkzsKI9-cKpDmQxOaydCzo020NVZN291b2ePy5hu1ePqiMmmuu5WpeiU7U0rcKeWamY57QGfKfKgHEtqbnru8/s1600/1629901339856609-0.png" width="400">
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</div><br>This is a new unisex cowl knitting pattern I designed based on traditional Welsh Blanket weave patterns. I will be making the pattern available on Ravelry in the next few days.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wx2PpicsYStKFWdnyXM_U9MgAooY_dBEfDWB1bK3B8knHpwjrEyKY0b5zw_XFUpwtvFDldUUxyBGtToUQBy98eIvFvfBLhOlqaVE-cQqMb5ZyD-VbItxsaoJbQsnh5DVIB3fPNv7D47O/s1600/1629901335310250-1.png" width="400">
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</div><br></div><div>This is an intarsia cushion cover knitting patternI designed based on photos I took at Elan Valley of reflections in the reservoirs. I dyed my own yarns for this using only natural dyes, including indigo, cow parsley, onion skins, avocado and logwood. Again, I will be making the pattern (chart) available on Ravelry in the next few days. As it is just a chart, it could easily be converted to cross stitch or tapestry.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-33666386181753593872016-04-29T14:49:00.000-07:002016-04-29T14:49:20.202-07:00BluebellsHappy Friday everyone! This evening we went for a walk in Crickhowell Bluebell woods at sunset - such a stunningly beautiful experience.<br />
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It is ancient woodland with native British Bluebells - the ones with the long, narrow bells, not the imported Spanish Bluebells with the larger, wider and paler bells. Not that the Spanish ones aren't just as beautiful!<br />
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We could hear a woodpecker hammering away with his beak, and saw plenty of evidence of his presence with patches of bark that looked like someone had been using the tree for archery practice! I was surprised at how low down his efforts were - I had always assumed that they would be high up, but these were only about 2 feet from the ground. We didn't get to see him though - our clumsy human bumblings must have scared him off well before we were within sight.<br />
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It is only a small woodland - it takes about 20 mins to do a circular walk, but the views all around are just spectacular with gaps in the trees giving glimpses of the Brecon Beacons to the left and the Black Mountains to the right. With the sun beginning to set, the lighting was just magical. Feeling overwhelmingly inspired, I am about to start some new paintings and have come up with ideas for both knitting and crochet patterns! Watch this space...<br />
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For now, here are a few of my photo's:<br />
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<i>*Please note that I have shared these photo's for your viewing pleasure only - if you wish to use any of these images for publication or wish to copy or reproduce them in any way, please ask my permission.</i><br />
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Love & hugs<br />
Claire-Clutterbug xx<br />
<br />Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-40267594258952052052016-04-24T12:36:00.000-07:002016-04-24T12:36:26.247-07:00Lazy Sunday AfternoonHi there, I hope you are having a lovely Sunday :) I have had a wonderful day - pottering in the garden this morning and painting this afternoon.<br />
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I have grown lots of plants from seed this year - veggies including lettuce, runner beans, dwarf french beans, peas, tomatoes, sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, courgettes and spaghetti squash. Flowers including sunflowers, rose campion, nicotiana, chrysanthemums, scabious and zinnias. <br />
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As I don't have a greenhouse, they have completely taken over my conservatory (well...I say conservatory but it's more of an unheated lean-to on the side of the house! Finally it is almost time to move them outside so we can reclaim the shelving space, so they need to be 'hardened off' by taking them outside for a few hours everyday for a couple of weeks before planting. They weren't at all happy about their first outing yesterday and were very droopy and sad looking, but perked up again when I brought them back in. They didn't seem to mind so much today :)<br />
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My husband was busy stringing solar powered fairy lights around the garden ready for early summer evenings sat outside with my crocheting and a cup of rose tea watching the sun set :) I can't WAIT for barbecue season!</div>
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And this afternoon I have been trying my hand at watercolour painting. I finally finished my painting of a bridge along the Brecon and Monmouth Canal just outside Crickhowell:</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/277648624/brecon-and-monmouth-canal-original?ref=shop_home_listings" target="_blank">Brecon and Monmouth Canal</a></div>
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And then I got started on an addition to my planned collection of knitting and crocheting artwork. I made some lino prints of Stocking and Garter Knitting Stitches earlier in the week and today I have done a watercolour of a crocheted granny square in the making with a couple of balls of yarn.</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/291193993/granny-square-original-watercolour?ref=shop_home_listings" target="_blank">Granny Square</a></div>
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I'm not sure if they are any good or not - it's quite scary displaying your artwork for all to see and criticise. I have put them both up for sale in my Etsy shop and will see if they receive any interest. It's something I really enjoy doing so I am hoping someone will like my work!<br />
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Well, it's early evening here now and I am going to get back to working on my Sugar & Spice Crochet rug. It's really cold tonight and according to the Countryfile weather forecast I could be waiting for some time for those summer evenings crocheting in the garden with a cup of rose tea! Bye for now.<br />
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Love & hugs<br />
Claire Clutterbug xxClaire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-78950001876073885712014-07-06T11:43:00.001-07:002016-04-22T13:39:22.950-07:00The Importance of "Blocking"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I have finally made my 'Clematis' Garland Bunting available for purchase via <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/195437948/pdf-crochet-pattern-for-clematis-garland?" target="_blank">Etsy</a> or <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clematis-garland-bunting" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> ! Sorry it's taken me so long.<br />
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I thought it was the perfect pattern to point out the importance of blocking. Ever wondered why your finished projects don't look the same as the designers, even though you've used the same yarn and made no mistakes? Photography has a little to do with it, but blocking is probably the main difference. Blocking is essential to make your finished article look its best, and is applicable to both crocheted and knitted projects. Using the Clematis Garland Bunting as an example, it will bring out the petals on the flowers and uncurl the leaves.<br />
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Don’t be scared if you haven’t done it before – it’s just pulling the finished item into shape while it’s wet, pinning it so it doesn't curl back up and allowing it to dry so it stays that way! You can spray with starch if you’d like it to be a little stiffer, but I prefer not to - I like a little curl!<br />
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See how curly & scruffy my clematis flowers looked before I blocked them?! This is what I did to get them looking their best:<br />
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Wet the garland under the tap and pat dry on a towel or kitchen paper – it needs to be wet through, but not dripping otherwise it will take ages to dry!<br />
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Either on a folded towel or on a blocking mat if you have one, lay the flowers down flat and arrange the full garland in a roughly spiral shape so it will all fit on your mat or towel. Proper blocking mats can be quite expensive - I use foam jigsaw tiles I bought from Costco (but you can get them from Argos and other places). For projects which don't have to be measured or pinned to be absolutely the same size, they work just fine. I used to use the foam childrens floor number jigsaw tiles, but the numbers fell out all the time and it got annoying! The benefit of the jigsaw tiles is you can join them together to make huge mats for large projects like shawls.<br />
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In the centre of each clematis flower, stick one pin. Tease out each of the 6 petals until they are comfortably stretched out, but not too taut & pin in place. Then place a pin in the ch1 space in the middle of the side of a petal and pull out the next petal, poking the pin through the ch 1 space in that one too & pin to the mat/towel so they meet. Continue around, pinning each petal to it’s neighbour and then to the mat/towel from the centre ch1 spaces.<br />
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Now go around and place one pin at both ends of each leaf so that they are comfortably stretched out, but not too taut. Also pin either side to make sure they don’t curl width ways.<br />
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Once it is pinned out as you would like it, leave it to dry completely (you can get the hairdryer out if you’re impatient like me – don’t keep it in the same place too long & burn it though!)<br />
Once completely dry, unpin it and it’s ready to hang!<br />
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This is a good project to use as an example, but blocking helps all projects look better. Some are trickier to do than others - hats are a prime example! Beret's can be damped and stretched over a plate to bring out the pattern and shape, or other hats can be pulled over a suitably dome shaped vase or football or balloon (don't stick pins in if you're using a football or balloon!!!). Garments can be laid flat and pinned into shape, even granny squares look better and are easier to join if they have been blocked.</div>
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If you don't block already, give it a go and see the difference it makes for yourself!</div>
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<br />Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-16344135006129153532014-07-03T15:32:00.000-07:002016-04-22T13:39:13.439-07:00Busy, busy, busy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi lovelies, sorry I've been a bit quiet - life suddenly got very busy!</div>
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Last weekend was my cousin-in-laws 30th birthday, so the whole family made a special trip to Edinburgh to visit and celebrate with her. As the family are spread all over the UK, we decided to book an apartment that we could all stay in together and spend some quality time catching up.<br />
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I was in charge of looking for accommodation, so obviously my (rather selfish) priority was to find somewhere near a wool shop! I had visited K1 yarns before and knew they had a beautiful range of yarns, so I got their postcode and searched for nearby accommodation. To my surprise, I found an apartment that would sleep all 12 of us right next door!!!<br />
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I can't recommend <a href="http://www.edinburgh-accommodation-edinburgh.com/edinburgh-landmark-trust-house.html" target="_blank">The Trust House</a> highly enough. It was like staying in a National Trust property! We felt like royalty. The property was beautifully furnished and maintained, and it was right in the centre of the city - a few minutes walk from The Royal Mile, the Castle, Museums and all the delights Edinburgh has to offer. Unfortunately, considering I had only found it because it was next door to K1 yarns, the shop was closed and had been gutted - builders were in and all I could see was the bare stone. Whether it has closed permanently or was just being re-fitted I'm not sure, but I was devastated!<br />
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On our way home from Edinburgh we stopped in Harrogate for the evening - what a town! I've never been before and I have fallen completely in love with it. We arrived on the Sunday before the Tour de France was due to start - all of the streets were festooned with bunting made of thousands of little handknit yellow, white with red polka dots, green and white jerseys:<br />
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I called in at <a href="http://baaramewe.co.uk/" target="_blank">Baa Ram Ewe</a> and got chatting to a lovely lady in there who told me there were over 26,000 of the little jerseys and they'd been knitted by people all over the world! It was the most amazing yarn-bomb I've ever seen (and a great promotion of Yorkshire wool!) Whilst there I satisfied my yarn craving and bought lots of <a href="http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-and-double-knitting-1-c.asp" target="_blank">Jamieson Spindrift</a> in lovely autumnal colours - it will be time to start thinking of autumn projects soon! :o)<br />
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The first stop though, was <a href="http://www.bettys.co.uk/" target="_blank">Betty's Tea Rooms</a> ! My husband took me to the one in York on our honeymoon - what a treat! I must confess all restraint went completely out of the window - we had florentines, fondant fancies, fat rascalls and engadines japonaise (not all at once - over a couple of days!!!)<br />
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I also found a lovely fabric shop called <a href="http://www.remnanthousefabric.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Remnant House</a> - packed to the rafters with beautiful fabrics. I could have spent all day (and a lot of money!) in there. Here are the ones I chose:<br />
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This was a lovely little peaceful island in the middle of a crazy couple of weeks. We've been trying to sell our house and move to Abergavenny on and off for a few years, and we finally got an offer on our house last week! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! We also made an offer on a house in Abergavenny which was accepted! Even bigger YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! This week hasn't been so much fun - talking to estate agents and solicitors and banks...so much paperwork and planning to do. I wish I could just wave a magic wand and whisk all our stuff into the new house! But we'll get through it all and we'll be moving into our new home in no time at all. I'm so excited! Well...I am until I start thinking about where to start with sorting out the loft! Ugh...<br />
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But don't worry - through all this I have managed to fit in lots of crocheting! I've made the tops for two more little dresses - one a much smaller newborn baby size that I've made in Drops laceweight merino wool in bright turquoise to go with the campervan fabric, and another toddler sized one in pistachio green cotton to go with a check fabric in turquiose, white and the matching green.<br />
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Also, whilst driving through the lake district, inspiration struck me for a shawl design! I started working it up immediately, and when we got to Edinburgh I started to write it up and make some adjustments. I still need to work it all the way through & make a couple of test-crochets, but I'm hoping to make the pattern available for sale in a couple of weeks time.<br />
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Now, are you sat down? Please don't faint with shock, but I have also finally got around to re-making my clematis garland/bunting and am in the process of writing up the pattern. It's blocked right now and drying, but in the morning I will take some new photos and add them to the pattern, then publish it for sale on Etsy and Ravelry! It's only taken me a year....;o)<br />
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I'd best get myself tucked up in bed - lots to do again tomorrow!<br />
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Love & hugs<br />
Claire Clutterbug xx<br />
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<br />Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-30464253396355053852014-06-24T13:52:00.002-07:002016-04-22T13:39:04.342-07:00Eeeeeeeeeep!!!OMG!!! (& I NEVER type that - that's how excited I am!!!)<br />
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I made the Ravelry home page eye candy section! Out of 7,445 'bunting' projects on Ravelry, they picked my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Claire-clutterbug/daisy-chains" target="_blank">Daisy Chains</a> project!<br />
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It is available for sale in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/193894973/hand-crocheted-daisy-chain-garland?" target="_blank">Etsy Shop</a> as a finished item (made to order), and I will try to get the pattern published tomorrow. I am far too excited to get it done tonight!!!<br />
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Time to celebrate - where's the bubbly??? :o)<br />
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Love & hugs<br />
Claire Clutterbug xxClaire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-54582810395425293172014-06-21T13:05:00.002-07:002016-04-22T13:38:55.034-07:00Happy Saturday!I didn't mean to blog on a daily basis, but I've had such a lovely day I had to share, so hello again!<br />
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Firstly, our hard work in the garden is starting to pay off - we've got some lovely colourful blooms at the moment:<br />
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My 'Nostalgia' rose - creamy white in the centre fading to deep burgundy at the the tips of the petals. My favourite plant by a long way!<br />
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Some lovely colourful Dianthus - don't they just make you smile?<br />
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And my gooseberries look like they're ready! I've got quite a crop this year! (apologies to any arachnophobes - I wouldn't have got so close if I'd realised the little spider was making a web on them...but it's helping with pest control so I'll leave it be.<br />
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After doing the housework this morning, my husband and I pootled off to Abergavenny to have a nose around a house that's up for sale. It was perfect, so just have to hope ours sells soon. Keep your fingers crossed. I love Abergavenny in case you hadn't guessed!<br />
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Whilst there, we popped into <a href="http://www.thewoolcroft.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Wool Croft</a> to gaze lovingly at the yarns and have a little squish! They sell such beautiful yarns....sigh. I was tempted by some of the Katia Ribbon Yarn to make a little pouffe, but I have far too much to do at the moment so I resisted.<br />
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I couldn't, however, resist buying myself some strawberries, and my lovely husband bought me a little gift too!<a href="http://www.cuddleandcwtch.co.uk/" target="_blank"></a>:<br />
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Look what was inside - aren't they gorgeous? A little set of four woodland lunchboxes from <a href="http://www.cuddleandcwtch.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cuddle and Cwtch</a> - perfect for my packed lunch! I can have one for crudites, one for houmous, one for strawberries and one for snacking nuts, seeds and fruits!<br />
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Whilst in <a href="http://www.cuddleandcwtch.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cuddle and Cwtch</a>, looking at all the beautiful little dresses for little girls, I decided I just have to make something I've seen on Pinterest (but with my own twist of course!) It's a free pattern on Ravelry - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-square-crochet---fabric-dress" target="_blank">Granny Square Crochet/Fabric Dress</a> by Mon Petit Violon. I've been in love with the pattern for a while, but sewing is something of a chore for me. I don't know why - I enjoy embroidery and cross stitch, but for some reason I feel the same way about sewing construction as I do about cleaning the bathroom! But it's so cute I've got to give it a go. So I bought a few metres of cotton fabric:<br />
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I love the first two fabrics, and with the two reds I'm toying with an idea for crocheting strawberries and cherries into the squares....I was all set to start on them tonight when I remembered I have loaned my sewing machine to someone, and they are on holiday so it will have to be put on hold for a couple of weeks.<br />
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So tonight I am making a daisy garland/bunting instead. Although I have just discovered Clipper Sleep Easy Tea (orange, cinnamon, chamomile and valerian mmmmmmmm yummy!)....so hopefully I won't doze off, crochet hook in hand!<br />
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Love & hugs<br />
Claire Clutterbug xx<br />
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<br />Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-35652242119638601462014-06-20T10:01:00.000-07:002016-04-22T13:38:39.911-07:00New Pattern for sale!Hi there, coo-eee, it's me again!<br />
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Bet you didn't think you'd hear from me again so soon - you were thinking I'd vanish for another year weren't you?!<br />
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Well here I am, after work on a Friday, keeping in touch with you lovely people. I've been a busy little bee this week! I've registered with HMRC as a sole trader (if you're selling your own hand-crafted items, please be aware that if you're selling more than one or two items to friends and family you do need to register with HMRC - it took me a while to find the information, but I did eventually - <a href="http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob2/syob2/index.htm" target="_blank">HMRC Guide</a>). I've also had my business cards printed:<br />
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Aren't they cute? I've had these made ready for handing out at craft fairs. Did I tell you I'll have a stall at Abergavenny Craft Market on 25th August (Bank Holiday Monday)? If you're in the area do pop in and say Hi!<br />
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I've also been thinking about making a few items that might be suitable for selling in shops. With this in mind, I designed this adorable little babygrow with a crocheted daisy chain applique:<br />
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This one is available to purchase in my Etsy shop, along with a few other new items I've added. Once I've increased my range a bit I plan on going to see people with independent baby clothes shops to see if they would consider stocking them - I'll let you know how I get on!</div>
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The reason I'm thinking of going down this route is I think a lot of people look for knit & crochet inspiration and<b><i> patterns </i></b>on the internet rather than finished items. I think they would prefer to be able to touch and feel a finished item before buying it, so I think selling finished items in an actual shop might be the way to go.</div>
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In the meantime I have finally started putting my pattern designs down onto paper (well...pdf documents!?!) The first one is my 'Ever Increasing Circles' Necklace and it is now up for sale on both <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ClaireClutterbug" target="_blank">Etsy</a> and my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ever-increasing-circles-necklace" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> Store:</div>
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I've got the patterns for my trio of British Birds and the Clematis Garland scribbled on pieces of paper and will soon be typing them up into a form others will be able to make sense of! </div>
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In the meantime, I have a busy evening of housework this evening - our house is up for sale and we have two viewings booked for tomorrow so I'd best get it looking it's best! Wish us luck... </div>
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Have a fabulous weekend everyone.</div>
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Love & hugs</div>
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Claire Clutterbug xx</div>
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<br />Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-65783458584098517012013-08-03T12:50:00.002-07:002016-04-22T13:38:14.900-07:00The Wanderer Returns!<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi! Sorry I've been MIA for a couple of weeks - I've been a little busy! Since my last post I've climbed the 3rd highest mountain in the UK - Mount Snowdon. I've been wanting to do it since I moved to Wales seven years ago and now I've finally done it. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIrzlAcXzAZ00ci8AVVUNbz9CRiKsHN-NVSllIjxr2JwzXHOFmeIHg8BJTwoaEJYeUZ5tWGM4xhz60A3-ALgrP1knR92FJxa0_foZ3u_FYp7bWNorg6Eyc53wRXWHjvgA-xZUkIBLG6Hx/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+1+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIrzlAcXzAZ00ci8AVVUNbz9CRiKsHN-NVSllIjxr2JwzXHOFmeIHg8BJTwoaEJYeUZ5tWGM4xhz60A3-ALgrP1knR92FJxa0_foZ3u_FYp7bWNorg6Eyc53wRXWHjvgA-xZUkIBLG6Hx/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+1+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Snowdon is in the centre - I know the others look taller, but they are closer!</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A large group of us went - friends & family. We rented the most beautiful holiday cottage <a href="http://www.menaiholidays.co.uk/accommodation/details/capel_fachwen" target="_blank">"Capel Fachwen",</a> just across Lake Padarn from Llanberis. I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone planning a trip out that way - stunning property, perfect location, beautiful views & everything you could possibly want or need was provided.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_DXvSnqhUEjXOkevXjTzDxggR0ZlHk6fN2xQ9p5K_XqjJDI-vPWLc7C095KN97MD8AJ1_j1EqflbUGGljzBDC0dTd2ANMw48-aHUsiURC5jrKnQFUhv6SrbX5WDI5346JZRoShJzIhSS/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+1+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_DXvSnqhUEjXOkevXjTzDxggR0ZlHk6fN2xQ9p5K_XqjJDI-vPWLc7C095KN97MD8AJ1_j1EqflbUGGljzBDC0dTd2ANMw48-aHUsiURC5jrKnQFUhv6SrbX5WDI5346JZRoShJzIhSS/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+1+043.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kitchen/Dining area in Capel Fachwen</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXe_9sLZOfssFEGUBKfYXjkPmIVTLLO53gBZ-NyRzkRcO-JcbkuRQU6ONYSs5rwG2i9EBYEP4w3cXZ7uDhwtrV19ZQJS86VM_DsW8-Lyn5_23NS8ZaIyXXcX9iX9BTw5qw8nHFkLsrqPc/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+1+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXe_9sLZOfssFEGUBKfYXjkPmIVTLLO53gBZ-NyRzkRcO-JcbkuRQU6ONYSs5rwG2i9EBYEP4w3cXZ7uDhwtrV19ZQJS86VM_DsW8-Lyn5_23NS8ZaIyXXcX9iX9BTw5qw8nHFkLsrqPc/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+1+049.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunset/Moonrise over Lake Padarn, Snowdon in the distance, as seen from balcony of Capel Fachwen</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDgIZuAa5h6uUox_MLEAi7vksnUzQwpJVWHiXMHqZFKApZVsbfeWPJT95WYFbkeVCNbGNHATBn6Lb18byRBauylCkkFTVoTmHz5dFek-EN1-botmdl1qORfo0g89qOXbr_hNfjGJ13O6A/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDgIZuAa5h6uUox_MLEAi7vksnUzQwpJVWHiXMHqZFKApZVsbfeWPJT95WYFbkeVCNbGNHATBn6Lb18byRBauylCkkFTVoTmHz5dFek-EN1-botmdl1qORfo0g89qOXbr_hNfjGJ13O6A/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dawn over Lake Padarn & Snowdon on the morning we climbed Snowdon. </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> On the Sunday we climbed Snowdon, we set off at 6.30am to avoid the heat - Wales actually saw temperatures of 32 degrees C! That doesn't happen very often! The walk started in the little town of Llanberis that you can see on the other side of Lake Padarn in the above photo. We took the 'Llanberis Path' route, which climbs up behind the 2 hills you can see in the foreground, then up & over the highest hill that you can see to the Summit of Snowdon, which in this photo is hidden by cloud, but you can see it in the sunset photo. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a 9 mile walk - 4.5 miles up & 4.5 miles back & an ascent of 3,560 feet/1,085 metres - it was a long day! The quickest member of our group made the Summit in 1 hour 45 mins, but she is a personal trainer/fitness instructor! I was the slowest at 4 hours 15 mins! The first 3 or 4 miles were a lovely gradient to walk, but climb up the last peak was very steep & pretty tough going! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bh9j0JvbYSzttxSLjZ3OWVk3MumLbS-NoK5oT4Ig_E2fI7g-QaIopezW-X-T6djyzHEK2ycxTwV_4JWpdNPXruHOTAbtMx4LeJPFH5do9zkyLdx6sJUsJhLbkhK8-GKwvfpSrM3GImPH/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bh9j0JvbYSzttxSLjZ3OWVk3MumLbS-NoK5oT4Ig_E2fI7g-QaIopezW-X-T6djyzHEK2ycxTwV_4JWpdNPXruHOTAbtMx4LeJPFH5do9zkyLdx6sJUsJhLbkhK8-GKwvfpSrM3GImPH/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That way!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6n4sfAMHqWJcxfVMckfb1uDpiFFe_HlfLjGXIbianUynZRa2KXNMwU11wHRu5mllyJiQJMJokiICEGhxFdl7J6wsu6ohrjrVBff2eKd8O68MuR8NWzmiQEesMXFwqK_PWgseIcZMd2w9/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6n4sfAMHqWJcxfVMckfb1uDpiFFe_HlfLjGXIbianUynZRa2KXNMwU11wHRu5mllyJiQJMJokiICEGhxFdl7J6wsu6ohrjrVBff2eKd8O68MuR8NWzmiQEesMXFwqK_PWgseIcZMd2w9/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Onwards & upwards...there goes my lovely husband :o)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qKssFgAizpSxxq3VfnCXHxSE5dYSd-XtVZYTUT59yMXmGJ0Rcp-m5foe5TQZj8XxQByXwFcXsn95-1RQm029Ja7ftg3suMRXmjI7mAU5vpbrS40btjnqKV0dSczHFB-QXHkB4tK__yam/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qKssFgAizpSxxq3VfnCXHxSE5dYSd-XtVZYTUT59yMXmGJ0Rcp-m5foe5TQZj8XxQByXwFcXsn95-1RQm029Ja7ftg3suMRXmjI7mAU5vpbrS40btjnqKV0dSczHFB-QXHkB4tK__yam/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+054.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's where it got steep - where we crossed under the railway track!</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eQmQyFxGrs_c1JrP1LHwcjmekuythgZrIA7ZDRyI3SQnCyl7-REOCchxGFCQO4OYIZ-od8jmXOnZxSHkyKZ6g4Y-4S2L79nAhgX7GhnVaoCQ7MJHHWGmhzzSRFYlVPYfSVdK6eTfccxY/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eQmQyFxGrs_c1JrP1LHwcjmekuythgZrIA7ZDRyI3SQnCyl7-REOCchxGFCQO4OYIZ-od8jmXOnZxSHkyKZ6g4Y-4S2L79nAhgX7GhnVaoCQ7MJHHWGmhzzSRFYlVPYfSVdK6eTfccxY/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+063.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Made it! Snowdon Summit Marker</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvegzHck-U4bjny55_rpgZghgZVtFgRos2ky8HkStJfVQRp6-VDASJPFXr0aJzFW0cRkRMBE7MARLpdL2KaVlOJ78Ltw7YCzZFMQVd0s8nouX4W7AnyC4hAx1l4rK4ow2CGB13w-DACR-8/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvegzHck-U4bjny55_rpgZghgZVtFgRos2ky8HkStJfVQRp6-VDASJPFXr0aJzFW0cRkRMBE7MARLpdL2KaVlOJ78Ltw7YCzZFMQVd0s8nouX4W7AnyC4hAx1l4rK4ow2CGB13w-DACR-8/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+2+-+The+Ascent+of+Snowdon+087.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The view from the top looking out towards the sea through a gap in the clouds</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After all that walking on the Sunday, Monday was a lazy day! My mother-in-law, my husbands cousin Alison & I had decided we would yarn-bomb Llanberis while we were there, and Alison & I hadn't finished making our flowers so we sat recovering & crocheting in the morning! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had my foxglove, but I hadn't finished my clematis flowers. The montbretia I was making didn't work out so I abandoned that - I need to re-think the making up & share the pattern at a later date. The clematis turned out really well though - I was really pleased with it :o) I didn't get great photo's though & as I was in a rush to get it done, I didn't take tutorial pics. I will make another one this week & share the pattern next weekend. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alison made some beautiful pot plants - pansies & primroses - complete with crocheted pots & my mother in law knitted some amazing lavender & roses from the book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flowers-Knit-Crochet-Lesley-Stanfield/dp/1844484033/ref=sr_1_1/275-5781404-6707624?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375557087&sr=1-1&keywords=100+flowers+to+knit+crochet" target="_blank">100 flowers to knit & crochet</a>.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0goNtRPE9qZNu6q_mo2DIr1Zw8zZ2coNOwdRm-eSLEo2lOGUR9N081ty9VIOpVlWqoxr1vuUAsWPpaPn1Da75G-2SQ0MAo5XIU2o2SrGmYL8CwllMMLl7rzGGhxhy-p5Iw9RND763Qco/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0goNtRPE9qZNu6q_mo2DIr1Zw8zZ2coNOwdRm-eSLEo2lOGUR9N081ty9VIOpVlWqoxr1vuUAsWPpaPn1Da75G-2SQ0MAo5XIU2o2SrGmYL8CwllMMLl7rzGGhxhy-p5Iw9RND763Qco/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clematis pattern to be shared next weekend!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSw3xR-f1JpYniO9Tln__uDUGhMQYwhIQptTxujUR1o-77pFF_eztqPvrux4aEX6pJ1OxXIyCMktYaTWPxfLTL1G7UvGJxSyhHRFBUBlixX19CVQPKUpEb9ZLvYJ60YS3PcdEUhg26kn_/s1600/58922_10151578865811297_2049599708_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSw3xR-f1JpYniO9Tln__uDUGhMQYwhIQptTxujUR1o-77pFF_eztqPvrux4aEX6pJ1OxXIyCMktYaTWPxfLTL1G7UvGJxSyhHRFBUBlixX19CVQPKUpEb9ZLvYJ60YS3PcdEUhg26kn_/s1600/58922_10151578865811297_2049599708_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clematis flowers joined together - bunting style</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aV_3SRk_4R-qzOX0vbHN9a1VHhHjl_2cZPxYViTz8DD_2Zbax2fiD4TAlzh_xofNx2uc3yrZvxBAhZ2zsUY8XCvl9OR30um4CdgrsDly8oy-XtcuaiCMj_mrFYpl30daZVDFQhfs4kge/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aV_3SRk_4R-qzOX0vbHN9a1VHhHjl_2cZPxYViTz8DD_2Zbax2fiD4TAlzh_xofNx2uc3yrZvxBAhZ2zsUY8XCvl9OR30um4CdgrsDly8oy-XtcuaiCMj_mrFYpl30daZVDFQhfs4kge/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Combined yarnbombing contributions of me, Alison (<a href="http://littlesaintknit.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Little Saint Knit</a>) and my mother-in-law</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c6z3Lc4otk7TDlqaU0a9dfNYFXTDm5OqSn_hvK6hA0ItaCSyJB-GA-W1kxzoGlkKnnYXDtV-lGNg8JvTsm0_i3l9HBj-SGQ3_azw_GzYpQD5kgoVUImIHgmQ70XTdE735f0Re1ofFXbu/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c6z3Lc4otk7TDlqaU0a9dfNYFXTDm5OqSn_hvK6hA0ItaCSyJB-GA-W1kxzoGlkKnnYXDtV-lGNg8JvTsm0_i3l9HBj-SGQ3_azw_GzYpQD5kgoVUImIHgmQ70XTdE735f0Re1ofFXbu/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+025.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clematis in situ on railings outside Llanberis Mountain Railway Cafe</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cc9d3C6YxnUqA6DIBViipuvWzpeeLMBG5YwYVBncdv8r1sd5A8Nb1eGvIgU_HrJ0h5mbSI7KT_6Cf016OXJIbJaNu2ffTiymA7MWoR6de0iGPdmyw0oXstPVBZI3InuoFacnGESrzxPt/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cc9d3C6YxnUqA6DIBViipuvWzpeeLMBG5YwYVBncdv8r1sd5A8Nb1eGvIgU_HrJ0h5mbSI7KT_6Cf016OXJIbJaNu2ffTiymA7MWoR6de0iGPdmyw0oXstPVBZI3InuoFacnGESrzxPt/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mother-in-laws lovely lavender</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOnPEmMLcrUa38yWH2_y-Y3VO_bTO-TbkseW8LSWJKJhSMdYeprlNIxVwiEXXy_gW8_lAL8SqRLGzzhuYaa6nN7melS3Qvs4D_mB6hwm58D0bCeEmrYet8tHdTFtREarsQVcrjkk2Ye0G/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOnPEmMLcrUa38yWH2_y-Y3VO_bTO-TbkseW8LSWJKJhSMdYeprlNIxVwiEXXy_gW8_lAL8SqRLGzzhuYaa6nN7melS3Qvs4D_mB6hwm58D0bCeEmrYet8tHdTFtREarsQVcrjkk2Ye0G/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+027.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alison's Primroses</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpS_UAyT2ofQ8HTO1jFTnni8rYRC_Ee__apzkyG3fUNPiqSRwBKY9-Wb2My7UbrtNGVHf3v5bM3YwxKTCQAgeX0XngRZNaezkEB7doAfRgmEIB07KDAQ65PyQ15mrlEiHupPpFQeEg1_aw/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpS_UAyT2ofQ8HTO1jFTnni8rYRC_Ee__apzkyG3fUNPiqSRwBKY9-Wb2My7UbrtNGVHf3v5bM3YwxKTCQAgeX0XngRZNaezkEB7doAfRgmEIB07KDAQ65PyQ15mrlEiHupPpFQeEg1_aw/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+028.jpg" width="117" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My foxglove</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVkNbEs6RpyFgHvCNM8SoqNRT3ubPiYmVTiOB9aBFUV_R1iSPZp3xIsscnj8g33-2lZTA3JVT1qCz8h3WKub1vLVSll-Q2zJThs2r759Cd1gnJBKJL7nHu71FXwxoeg9FN-vboassG1KM/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVkNbEs6RpyFgHvCNM8SoqNRT3ubPiYmVTiOB9aBFUV_R1iSPZp3xIsscnj8g33-2lZTA3JVT1qCz8h3WKub1vLVSll-Q2zJThs2r759Cd1gnJBKJL7nHu71FXwxoeg9FN-vboassG1KM/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+029.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My mother-in-laws roses</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TzyMB8nAqfsLr-HepCxqWM0LKvgZaWH6m23rq6BcZKJ85XuKhigozdo0BdRlIQ1Q-UJYpSwDLZg4lTIZ4MWZ8GHIIcVBhvTTtlO2E9pjuQfqY0120LlnpsmDveCDYugaK1OjURYQRKRl/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TzyMB8nAqfsLr-HepCxqWM0LKvgZaWH6m23rq6BcZKJ85XuKhigozdo0BdRlIQ1Q-UJYpSwDLZg4lTIZ4MWZ8GHIIcVBhvTTtlO2E9pjuQfqY0120LlnpsmDveCDYugaK1OjURYQRKRl/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+030.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alison's pansies</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf-eBbUS1E5ZkYLdmopy-29ws1n0oVsWv7n5QwHvNown-l98L-CjYCrb8vckap9b_yHSLRE2Sui-BHjAHdsQeRYlvv_AbPc4X_mQ001hmMe7FXuOfdetu3cSteYdX3jLkmW4UeBdJ8ps-/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf-eBbUS1E5ZkYLdmopy-29ws1n0oVsWv7n5QwHvNown-l98L-CjYCrb8vckap9b_yHSLRE2Sui-BHjAHdsQeRYlvv_AbPc4X_mQ001hmMe7FXuOfdetu3cSteYdX3jLkmW4UeBdJ8ps-/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+033.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My mother-in-laws roses</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-WCORpZ8Va0gYXhViPJ-MBVTaTjGj0Hri4IAuIJiZ8Sl8GjEfpADO5TeJ5eQxR-UFixGmWIf7SZA2oXF11YvoA5v9c578FM8TJTgj5DadQtS18YiYvdt2-FukPIeregVxTY_DCjnshxY/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-WCORpZ8Va0gYXhViPJ-MBVTaTjGj0Hri4IAuIJiZ8Sl8GjEfpADO5TeJ5eQxR-UFixGmWIf7SZA2oXF11YvoA5v9c578FM8TJTgj5DadQtS18YiYvdt2-FukPIeregVxTY_DCjnshxY/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+031.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The full bed (spot the knitted & crocheted ones amongst the real ones!)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZ8J6_027bQUYNNIt-xI9NStTBlLBxqg34-VUUwrdOIqbCSnz7WFHWRlNbytSkmPLGoC4RO-LEnsSrrXXVTfpzEoStK8Wi5jIo3nizsVa7qj7zSqR5YOQpUAHW0MeZSQfkhjzXKTc4zk5/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZ8J6_027bQUYNNIt-xI9NStTBlLBxqg34-VUUwrdOIqbCSnz7WFHWRlNbytSkmPLGoC4RO-LEnsSrrXXVTfpzEoStK8Wi5jIo3nizsVa7qj7zSqR5YOQpUAHW0MeZSQfkhjzXKTc4zk5/s1600/Snowdonia+Day+3+-+Llanberis+Yarnbombing+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Llanberis Mountain Railway Cafe - yarnbombed flower bed to the right</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The rest of the week was spent making lovely day trips out & spending time with the family - a fabulous week!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now we're home & unpacked & rested & back at work :o( We're in the process of selling our house so we're busy, busy, busy at the moment, so if I don't manage to blog once a week please forgive me! We've got a few weekends of DIY to get the house looking its best for its photo shoot with the estate agent at the end of the month! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will share the clematis pattern next weekend though - promise!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love & hugs</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claire-Clutterbug xx</span></span>Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-28224928679303754522013-07-16T15:48:00.000-07:002016-04-22T13:37:58.325-07:00Apologies<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello lovely fellow knitters & crocheters! I just wanted to apologise that I haven't managed to share my 2 further flower designs I promised you. They are still coming - they've just been delayed by a few weeks due to a few technical hitches.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have designed a Monbretia Lucifer pot plant, however I need to rethink the making up - it didn't quite work out as planned. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have also designed a clematis, which will be a bunting style design (well they are climbing plants!) as I thought I could wind that up a lamp post for yarnbombing purposes!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With the planned Ascent of Snowdon being this Sunday, I'm sorry to say I have run out of blogging time, so I will have to wait a couple of weeks before I have time to write up and share the patterns & tutorials. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you're not too disappointed and I promise they will be on here in August. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love & hugs</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claire Clutterbug xx </span></span><br />
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<br />Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-54621155243776615772013-06-30T14:17:00.000-07:002016-04-22T13:37:29.120-07:00A weekend away from yarn...:o(<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well that was a wonderful weekend! We're planning a family ascent of Snowdon (A mountain in Wales) in 3 weeks time, so the in-laws came over for the weekend to get a couple of practice walks in - as we live near the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains there's plenty of practice hikes near us! No weekend is ever completely knitting/crochet free in Claire Clutterbug land though, so I spent the 5 hours hiking up The Skirrid Mountain in Abergavenny thinking about yarn bombing!<br />
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My husbands cousin is a fellow knitter & crocheter, but she's much younger & cooler than me & is into yarn bombing. As she'll be coming on the Snowdon trip, we have decided to do a joint venture - we're going to decorate Llanberis with knitted & crocheted pot plants! So en-route I took a few inspiration photo's & I plan to design pot plants based on these flowers I saw along the walk from Abergavenny to the foot of the Skirrid:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpxWdOL7Rq00xOZkeZtCFAZ_VJYx-WKOC_QH4uJG9GB7Cnh685pCckbqc7iylrQ0ANJDdwJvBPbqnTj9YiwXopVndD-cyy7N21DnSfZ5Y6emMLAN0Jee7BMmMa1sbI3oEVhCX7prDjbNr/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpxWdOL7Rq00xOZkeZtCFAZ_VJYx-WKOC_QH4uJG9GB7Cnh685pCckbqc7iylrQ0ANJDdwJvBPbqnTj9YiwXopVndD-cyy7N21DnSfZ5Y6emMLAN0Jee7BMmMa1sbI3oEVhCX7prDjbNr/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+016.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog Rose</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQ8WeEqyV-hi_JOQvEGVZTnVyyErAvDt4uZtGWys9-2AcPy0bVQKj_MMMjqLXLHM4kfF-Y8timbDqclxLrtfmo2lmaS5Yo8NKswszHF_NWYC2pJo690zSup_xlDVbFD_7u5sUq7-p90uN/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQ8WeEqyV-hi_JOQvEGVZTnVyyErAvDt4uZtGWys9-2AcPy0bVQKj_MMMjqLXLHM4kfF-Y8timbDqclxLrtfmo2lmaS5Yo8NKswszHF_NWYC2pJo690zSup_xlDVbFD_7u5sUq7-p90uN/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Geranium</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoG_ZTiO9dvrHYJEmkjd0R4sqfrOAdqIsewTDKpHyPrOIBD6RQliLTK1j1tmrPzHKacBrt22Yxp7wk5n3ugivzf1B0CJO52tvycC56c09fX62nANPNPQZOuTrNGq5_XPrII-T09N4q7xX/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoG_ZTiO9dvrHYJEmkjd0R4sqfrOAdqIsewTDKpHyPrOIBD6RQliLTK1j1tmrPzHKacBrt22Yxp7wk5n3ugivzf1B0CJO52tvycC56c09fX62nANPNPQZOuTrNGq5_XPrII-T09N4q7xX/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Geranium</td></tr>
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I had lots of thoughts on how I could make the stems & leaves & stamens...amazing what your brain comes up with when you're refusing to let it think about how much your thighs hurt! The Skirrid isn't that high - 1,129 ft from the foot of the mountain, but it's very steep - about as steep as you can get without needing climbing gear! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8EIPsMD5rkcUC2E0X3FWMHMVALPm6I_KX_Zmn47l8rjAIkGT4PjzAM5xiAPkF8WcgRotth3KiSODy79SGIHdCbHyIXfeyGsQLraHNRxLK2kzYdIkn5fwSQ3LYJFUAmxNBxXKMEQ8Ea50/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8EIPsMD5rkcUC2E0X3FWMHMVALPm6I_KX_Zmn47l8rjAIkGT4PjzAM5xiAPkF8WcgRotth3KiSODy79SGIHdCbHyIXfeyGsQLraHNRxLK2kzYdIkn5fwSQ3LYJFUAmxNBxXKMEQ8Ea50/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
But the views from the top were worth it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeTmgGnVQK5-0w6Z5uZGDOU_0qP_fOHcr9QkKwQNiNGxXqSgyOZrrgjwxut1MecCzJkTf2c1slM9hhmS-tIx30jnt8AO5-y6tD4SnL6b8xA3C3plni-UKCt7wyHfzAAHBEtP5l_BjUQKb/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeTmgGnVQK5-0w6Z5uZGDOU_0qP_fOHcr9QkKwQNiNGxXqSgyOZrrgjwxut1MecCzJkTf2c1slM9hhmS-tIx30jnt8AO5-y6tD4SnL6b8xA3C3plni-UKCt7wyHfzAAHBEtP5l_BjUQKb/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+041.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abergavenny is to the far left, Sugarloaf Mountain is in the centre</td></tr>
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And we couldn't have picked a better day - it was sunny but not too hot with some amazing cloud formations, breezy but not too windy & perfectly clear - we could see for miles & miles!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVh8iTdNZ8UQqLrxQVyG4_xynJZgG9ntdneoHYiMhm8X95utepLbpFjsiikdViIGZ6EwkEC9JG8vQbMgMW1vh5_06VZAFZl4f8XpermDdWWa7hao2XBKQNtks1ly5ZJq65gqza5yLhGUmM/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVh8iTdNZ8UQqLrxQVyG4_xynJZgG9ntdneoHYiMhm8X95utepLbpFjsiikdViIGZ6EwkEC9JG8vQbMgMW1vh5_06VZAFZl4f8XpermDdWWa7hao2XBKQNtks1ly5ZJq65gqza5yLhGUmM/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugarloaf mountain to the far left & the Brecon Beacons </td></tr>
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Isn't South Wales just beautiful? I'm so lucky to live here!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGdLVWN74OUlkEZKUvwZHo7ubPJoTpUZsRgNZQ7nKydcHv2sNQ78G4RF1ZXvWMvhSCE8v8H8_BmFybcvyD1HkUVUpjw8B-rRQYCohfYYkqMwtp7YKI3CFLctikd9li6NoUNGQsBHSyhIP/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGdLVWN74OUlkEZKUvwZHo7ubPJoTpUZsRgNZQ7nKydcHv2sNQ78G4RF1ZXvWMvhSCE8v8H8_BmFybcvyD1HkUVUpjw8B-rRQYCohfYYkqMwtp7YKI3CFLctikd9li6NoUNGQsBHSyhIP/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+048.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herefordshire - England looks so flat compared with South Wales!</td></tr>
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Once we'd made the steep climb, there was a long gentle climb along the ridge to the highest point - to the left was Wales, the Black Mountains & the Brecon Beacons, and to the right was the flat fields of Herefordshire & England - the difference just looking to your left, then to your right was amazing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs4HFEwmh9EQuVAHyFnDp1WAiM-l-CXT7CrwyqbOXMJ5VSMA3aPmUd1vqmTj3BVd3Qhb5W-7nnh563As44FxphOEq7CZ7EDMBfM6F8ZAOgSWb6gasO-tdJyL3SBiKU5rAV0hgdlhFWbWM/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs4HFEwmh9EQuVAHyFnDp1WAiM-l-CXT7CrwyqbOXMJ5VSMA3aPmUd1vqmTj3BVd3Qhb5W-7nnh563As44FxphOEq7CZ7EDMBfM6F8ZAOgSWb6gasO-tdJyL3SBiKU5rAV0hgdlhFWbWM/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love clouds - I find them fascinating!</td></tr>
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I could have sat up there looking at the views & the clouds all day long...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0SM2J_XOlck8eEPHL7oE5_ynAgTZDB440ob0rd5E9_xEKbB456Ys9494Nzrxqdw8cKflLhUCm_klINQ4o3SUxEip3tId0Q-tdXTTHe2KQIagnbqJIUEl5EV4ahfx5tHU2zwJdCfBLWuX/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0SM2J_XOlck8eEPHL7oE5_ynAgTZDB440ob0rd5E9_xEKbB456Ys9494Nzrxqdw8cKflLhUCm_klINQ4o3SUxEip3tId0Q-tdXTTHe2KQIagnbqJIUEl5EV4ahfx5tHU2zwJdCfBLWuX/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+055.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An arty black & white photo of Sugarloaf from Skirrid</td></tr>
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But we didn't have any food & were running out of bottles of water!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqawN4Sp1jBy3lBr-L5v8aN6tciXi4uH0_ORLZUnmrsbsu2laQjwLn6F_fkLveclz7-qOXlIzZboJUjIfQYXAqaLcsCsPYtjFX9zDofFoUqtalNVp074obp60IIVD9VDyFEBqmC_rKkKb/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqawN4Sp1jBy3lBr-L5v8aN6tciXi4uH0_ORLZUnmrsbsu2laQjwLn6F_fkLveclz7-qOXlIzZboJUjIfQYXAqaLcsCsPYtjFX9zDofFoUqtalNVp074obp60IIVD9VDyFEBqmC_rKkKb/s1600/Y+Skirrid+Fawr+056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top - finally!</td></tr>
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But we finally made it to the very top :o) All I was fit for when we got back home was eating my dinner, snuggling on the sofa with my husband & sleeping! So I didn't get to write down any of my design idea's...so I'm very glad I took the photo's - can't wait to get started on them tomorrow! I only have 3 weeks to make them, so I'm hoping to be able to add a new pot-plant pattern each week for the next 3 weeks - hope you like them!<br />
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Well, we've been for another 6 mile walk around Penarth Marina, the Barrage and Cardiff Bay today & my legs are starting to feel rather achey, so I think it's time for a long soak in a hot bath. And I think I deserve a treat so I may take a glass of Baileys & ice with me! Oh I hope I'm not in too much pain tomorrow...<br />
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Love & hugs<br />
<br />
Claire Clutterbug xx <br />
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<br />Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-59874757845675010792013-06-25T16:12:00.001-07:002016-04-22T13:37:05.986-07:00Paint the whole world with a Rainbow<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Up above the streets & houses, rainbow climbing high, everyone can see it smiling over the sky...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_-6pJe79ioZj3-GcQqf91odVh6hpt1R3ayxJyuE1ZDKVUP0MQvQ0kQdECXDZDknXxZN50spYAzNnc0bshS0QUDR3Mgj5_CVoSqhouoUQDIHvMzrZ7WWScehsk2UxtsIFRO_LbtPByYOS/s1600/Silk+%2526+Steel+Necklace+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_-6pJe79ioZj3-GcQqf91odVh6hpt1R3ayxJyuE1ZDKVUP0MQvQ0kQdECXDZDknXxZN50spYAzNnc0bshS0QUDR3Mgj5_CVoSqhouoUQDIHvMzrZ7WWScehsk2UxtsIFRO_LbtPByYOS/s1600/Silk+%2526+Steel+Necklace+002.jpg" width="270" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Sorry to anyone who wasn't a child in the UK in the early '80's! Rainbow was a childrens TV program!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rainbows seem to be filling my week. We had a beautiful one arching over the South Wales valley in which I live on Monday.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqoFZ6JlddvUOjduBMP8yS3vo_pBZXtfGlbNlVkl4PylZOF8xxDYJVgJG-1LdhKuRMzRjkMqjgwDKay18GsNs3VdWBgBKZVUhcqqazxRinRU7y_EFU2bMsLdG9Uyuu13VQsqSVPKLv9VV/s1600/Silk+&+Steel+Necklace+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqoFZ6JlddvUOjduBMP8yS3vo_pBZXtfGlbNlVkl4PylZOF8xxDYJVgJG-1LdhKuRMzRjkMqjgwDKay18GsNs3VdWBgBKZVUhcqqazxRinRU7y_EFU2bMsLdG9Uyuu13VQsqSVPKLv9VV/s1600/Silk+&+Steel+Necklace+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then I bought this beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeautiful hand dyed yarn in my local yarn shop. Isn't is just hypnotically gorgeous? I have no idea what to make with it - it will no doubt be something for my niece, but I just couldn't resist it! It's hand dyed here in the South Wales Valleys by 'Wooly Wumpkins'. She has created a range of variegated and solid shades especially for my local yarn shop - Hurleys Haberdashery in Pontypridd.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQO43bFSQAJPabe6UeZrH5LL0HVWzYg0nCL5F2kMcono2M9Ho9VK2u8Cu0s-LDOllrJae5iQyBBlmaHiuRroRqEYSkE-wh8xaUNsL_BWmsbAeyQgg9p9geB5yaK2B9O1vHwNjy8rEZ5ST/s1600/Silk+&+Steel+Necklace+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQO43bFSQAJPabe6UeZrH5LL0HVWzYg0nCL5F2kMcono2M9Ho9VK2u8Cu0s-LDOllrJae5iQyBBlmaHiuRroRqEYSkE-wh8xaUNsL_BWmsbAeyQgg9p9geB5yaK2B9O1vHwNjy8rEZ5ST/s1600/Silk+&+Steel+Necklace+037.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do have a soft spot for brightly coloured variegated yarns - I just can't resist them. I order quite a lot from Bohemia Fibers in the US too - she makes some beautiful coloured yarns. But I do struggle to find things to make with them. Intricate lace & cable patterns get lost in the colour changes & I'm not keen on the pooling effect you get over large areas. Crocheting with variegated yarns can be very effective with long colour changes, but if the length of yarn covered by each colour is quite short, then you can end up with only a stitch or 2 before the colour changes which can look odd!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHC2QFPW1AdJ_s07m5Aj6FX-ijX3tQjakLRzbzvzgPitt13stojvrU3BW0E4WADmbUQJcHUWfPwfz_Q-y47Q6mTPMmi9WUWqYvBX_RG58sxIBlF0qj0u5LK0pCMKVOQNm9YZ1762YzJjOJ/s1600/Silk+%2526+Steel+Necklace+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHC2QFPW1AdJ_s07m5Aj6FX-ijX3tQjakLRzbzvzgPitt13stojvrU3BW0E4WADmbUQJcHUWfPwfz_Q-y47Q6mTPMmi9WUWqYvBX_RG58sxIBlF0qj0u5LK0pCMKVOQNm9YZ1762YzJjOJ/s1600/Silk+%2526+Steel+Necklace+035.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I tend to use variegated yarns as accents - I love to pick one colour from the yarn & use that as the main colour of a garment with a few stripes of the variegated, or use to to edge something, or my new favourite thing in the world - "fake isle"!!! (fair isle effect but using one solid colour & one variegated). I'm still quite new to this knitting with 2 hands though so my tension isn't great - don't expect me to be showing off too many fake or fair isle patterns on here for a little while yet...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDz6hyphenhyphenpByIDDksPHTay2KyFmfiEiLO-i8EmYIPTRU4BYvh86enAJ3Egw0uiGMnnISJq4JRS0-3yFg8xFO6lLvNgMTRsB0IptLlDSeLFZirVQCNKRthyphenhyphendJ0OgVvcc2xd8dlktKaLBpJtHf/s1600/Silk+%2526+Steel+Necklace+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDz6hyphenhyphenpByIDDksPHTay2KyFmfiEiLO-i8EmYIPTRU4BYvh86enAJ3Egw0uiGMnnISJq4JRS0-3yFg8xFO6lLvNgMTRsB0IptLlDSeLFZirVQCNKRthyphenhyphendJ0OgVvcc2xd8dlktKaLBpJtHf/s1600/Silk+%2526+Steel+Necklace+036.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Talking of sharing patterns, I have another one I'll be sharing on Thursday (I would have waited until Saturday but the in-laws are coming to stay for the weekend - it would be a bit rude of me to sit here typing while they visit!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is my husbands cousins birthday on Thursday - she's a fellow knitter, crocheter & generally lovely human being! She's far younger & cooler than me & is into yarn-bombing...we may be doing a joint yarn-bomb collaboration in July when we are having a family holiday in Snowdonia...but that's a tale for another post! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Sunday evening inspiration struck me & I designed & made her the most beautiful gift. I'm so proud of it - I can't wait to show you! But I will have to wait as she won't receive it until Thursday - we don't want her seeing it on here first do we?! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well...my husband brought home some salted caramel & belgian chocolate ice cream & it's calling me - can you hear it? I'd best go release it from the freezer....hehehe :o) Hope you'll come back & visit on Thursday when I share my latest pattern!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love & hugs</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claire Clutterbug xx</span></span>Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-54246314939109953842013-06-20T22:00:00.000-07:002016-04-22T13:36:37.886-07:00Coral ReefThis blogging malarkey is a bit addictive isn't it? I tried really hard to contain myself & wait until Saturday for my next post (when I'll be posting the re-worked neckwarmer pattern), but I just had to share my beautiful Coral Reef Shawl with you! (click <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swallowtail-shawl" target="_blank">here</a> for the Swallowtail Shawl pattern by Evelyn A Clark)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyExNKp4FvJhlLczyQcnGAtvVp4E3j-mr1hYWdSPZpFt1hf0735oNhYu7H1M5LBTyE4T6sJS9DUxYBUuLfTnl4LObxhGHvdoQVvRg-0WxShaZvRu8N8AYsTPlkbCoAXAuy02zJoR5_yhQ/s1600/Swallowtail+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyExNKp4FvJhlLczyQcnGAtvVp4E3j-mr1hYWdSPZpFt1hf0735oNhYu7H1M5LBTyE4T6sJS9DUxYBUuLfTnl4LObxhGHvdoQVvRg-0WxShaZvRu8N8AYsTPlkbCoAXAuy02zJoR5_yhQ/s1600/Swallowtail+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I started it last October - I was making both of my aunts a shawl each for Christmas. Not for wrapping around their shoulders - they're both quite nifty dressers, so I thought they might like them to wear as neckerchief type scarves. I love them as I tend to wear v-neck tops - they cover my chest & don't leave weird drafty bits!!!<br />
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Well, I made a Haruni shawl by Emily Ross (click <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Claire-clutterbug/haruni" target="_blank">here</a> to see) for my Aunt in Canada - it only took me a couple of weeks - I made it in Rowan Siena 4 ply cotton & it was just a dream to knit. I can't recommend this pattern highly enough! With the Swallowtail here though, I chose to knit this in laceweight silk. Now the yarn is gorgeous, and the pattern is beautifully written & simple to follow, but those bobbles or 'nupps' you see in the 'lily of the valley' section were an absolute nightmare in the completely un-giving silk. You knit, wrap, knit, wrap, knit in the same stitch, then on the purl row you purl all 5 of those stitches back together. If you do them too tightly there is no way you can get your needle through 5 stitches to purl them back together again! You have been warned! So I put it back in my knitting basket & forgot about it for 6 months. When I tried again, leaving the wraps much looser, it was a piece of cake :o) Mmmmm cake.... <br />
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As un-giving as the silk is (I mean there is no stretch in it), it was the perfect choice for this shawl - it has a beautiful sheen & once blocked it holds it's shape beautifully - no spring-back! I got it from a lovely little shop in Hay-on-Wye called Wool & Willow. They don't sell branded yarns - only independently dyed yarns. This silk laceweight was very reasonably priced, and I'm pretty sure I have enough left over to make another one! I LOVE that shop! Actually I love Hay on Wye - wool shops, book shops, antique shops & a tea room called The Old Stables that sells toasted teacakes that are bigger than your head & require 6 butter patts - heaven!!! Their apple & rhubarb cake is also to die for...</div>
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Anyhoo, I've been knitting this in my lunchbreaks at work for the last few weeks - I could just about fit in 2 rows per lunchbreak after eating a sandwich! Those 2 rows a day soon added up and it's finally complete!</div>
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Ok - I've already blown my resolution not to blog until Saturday, so can I share a secret with you? Do you want a sneak preview of my latest design? It's nowhere near ready - I've not even done a test knit myself yet - it's only on paper...and then only a first draft! Inspiration struck last night, and I was up until 3am doing the maths & drafting my idea's on graph paper. Wanna see?<br />
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All that work, and such a late night...then I put it in my bag to take to work with me so I could work on it in my lunch break, dashed out of the house (late as usual!) in the pouring rain, but didn't think to cover it:<br />
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Lesson learned - graph paper ink bleeds when wet!!! Oh well - I needed to make a few changes anyway! Right - I'm feeling all inspired again now so I'm going to get back to it. Hope you all have a lovely evening & I'll chat again on Saturday & share the neckwarmer pattern :o)<br />
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Love & hugs<br />
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Claire Clutterbug xx<br />
<br />Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-19284181669080060872013-06-17T13:07:00.001-07:002016-04-22T13:36:06.176-07:00Confessions of a Yarnaholic...<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Psssssssst, want to see my stash?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHB2jcdpLDJe2QfvbVT_croBQQERMT197MDUWbdHRV_Sttyp4Wdd0AsiGU6Gq42CjdzqHgsCPVoYOWeSgO9vRb9jRLbUFUnXH-dnthyWCz-zVIXaTMACvoBU9-aB93i6PZtfR0iHrBx-X/s1600/Doris+Tutorial+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHB2jcdpLDJe2QfvbVT_croBQQERMT197MDUWbdHRV_Sttyp4Wdd0AsiGU6Gq42CjdzqHgsCPVoYOWeSgO9vRb9jRLbUFUnXH-dnthyWCz-zVIXaTMACvoBU9-aB93i6PZtfR0iHrBx-X/s1600/Doris+Tutorial+081.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Isn't it beautiful? I could waste a day just sitting & gazing at each hank, skein, ball & cake looking at the colour, the sheen, feeling the texture & imagining what will be created with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I confess - I am a yarnaholic! You may be able to see that there is no acrylic in my beautiful collection, but please don't think I'm a yarn snob. I just hate acrylic. No matter what I do with it, how neatly I try to work, how closely I watch my tension, how carefully I wash & block it, whatever I make with acrylic yarn <i>always</i> disappoints me. I wish I could knit or crochet with it - it's so much cheaper & most brands have a huge array of colours in the same yarn - but I just don't know how to deal with it. So I don't! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Believe it or not, I have plans for almost every inch of the yarn here - there are very few impulse buys. & there's nothing worse than feeling the urge to start making something on a Monday & having to wait until Saturday because you don't have the right yarn!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ok - enough gazing lovingly at it - time to get back to knitting with it! I'm hoping to have my re-worked neckwarmer pattern on here by Saturday. I know it's weird posting a neckwarmer pattern in June, but a couple of people have contacted me on Ravelry lately to say they've not been able to open the old version, and it's been bloomin' freezing here in the Valleys of South Wales for the last few days - this morning I was wishing I'd finished my new version so I could wear it in the office!!!</span><br />
<br />Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798950103194676080.post-9583650005404359182013-06-15T12:53:00.000-07:002016-04-22T13:35:44.696-07:00Greetings :o)Hi,<br />
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Let's keep this first post short shall we - you'll get to know me in time! All you really need to know for now is my name is Claire, I love knitting, tea, crochet, doodling, designing, walking, food & photography. As you can see from the blog title & background, I intend to mainly blog about knitting, crochet & all things yarn related, but my other interests will no doubt creep in at times.<br />
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I'm new to blogging & I'm not too sure what I'm doing as I don't follow many blogs - I have only discovered the blogging world by following links to free knitting & crochet patterns & tutorials from Ravelry, and intend to give a little back by sharing lots of my own patterns & designs. So if I break any blogging etiquette or go off-topic I do apologise!<br />
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I think that'll do for my first post - let's get down to what we're really here for - sharing my passion for all things yarnie! Eeeeeeeeeeep! <br />
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Claire-clutterbug http://www.blogger.com/profile/02689888694198121557noreply@blogger.com4