(I have been working and typing here all morning with a little one practically attached to me, singing, playing and reading, and every time I set up this to take, little dollhouse dolls would “magically” appear in the photo!!!)

…but I wasn’t slacking on the crochet front; oh no! I have been making (dare I say it) Christmas presents. My homeopath, Monica, had the most beautiful scarf on a couple of months ago- and an ingenious one too- there was a slit on the scarf on one side where you fed the other side through. 

 This played around in my head, and when I ordered (and promptly received) the most beautiful yarn from My Mummy Knits 

(I found Carol through Yarn Along, and had been salivating over her yarns for ages. The yarn itself is gorgeous, and it worked out cheaper to have it posted from America to Ireland than buy anything similar here!!!) 

 I made up a pattern (in my usual way, make it up as I go along…) which (actually) worked out beautifully. So I made another, and am on my third. I also ordered a lilac yarn which I am going to start (today, hopefully) some little baby things. 

 This first scarf I hope to embellish with flowers and buttons in red (these haven’t been attached yet, I need to make  more to add to it) Carol always pops in something extra, and this red yarn was my (much appreciated) extra! It is really lovely with the navy, isn’t it?

 The book I’m reading is The Concise History Of Ireland by Sean Duffy. I had originally planned to begin reading this to our children, but it is really a bit dense with information, so I am reading it and then simplifying it down a bit, but oh my goodness, it is such a completely absorbing read. And very relevant,as a lot of our history has been found buried under bogs, and we have been working the bog for a while now.

Looking forward to spending time seeing what everyone else has been making and reading, and do check out My Mummy Knits for some beautiful yarn, patterns and a lovely blog too!

I was setting up the photo this morning (thinking I was very organised getting it all done nice and early) when I was intercepted by a small girl who added her book and her dolls to the photo too…

…then began to wreck havoc add to my crochet:

(The dolls in the background are known as The Gentle Dolls in our house (I’ll add a post about them shortly, the deserve one of their own))

The book I’m reading is

The Right Brain Business Plan by Jennifer Lee

(well, more dipping in and out of it when I get a minute) and Grace is reading

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

(she never tires of these stories- we have three based around this boy and we read them over and over, and she loves the fact there is a penguin (or as she says: pen-goo-in) in some of them)

The crochet? Well, I finished the scarf (I won’t add it here, as I’ve already gone over my one photo quota) and I’m very happy with it! So I began something else. Still don’t have a clue what I will make with this one (although Grace has decided it is a blanket for the Gentle Dolls, I’m more veering towards another scarf or a bag. And besides, she has robbed back my dishcloth that I won from Gail and is using that as a blanket for these dolls)

Any ideas?? I will be very bold and add just one more photo, and any suggestions will be gratefully received!!

Well… the books are more or less the same, to be honest I’m not getting too much reading in at the moment

(apart from when I lock the door of the bathroom that is, and that in itself is rare; what is even more rare is that I wouldn’t have at least one little one in chatting with me  )

and I completely forgot to photograph any reading material for this post

(I blame being pregnant and slightly completely twitty)

so you will have to refer to last week for that photograph I’m afraid; but

The Secret Life of the Unborn Child

Freeform Crochet and Beyond

Homeopathy for Home and Garden

are all still very much on my radar, and I am “reading” them every day.

But I DID photograph the progress of my crochet (whew!):

Remember I had my plan and freeform crochet pieces? Well, they have progressed quite a bit in the past 2 days with some Irish lace crochet attaching them together.

It still all looks very all-over-the place, but even with a bit more lace work tonight it is beginning to take shape.

I’m hoping to be more or less “done” by the weekend! Gosh, I’m really enjoying this!!

(they are prone to accidents/fainting/illness/international disasters)

but mostly to see the progress of her beautiful crochet;

for someone so who couldn’t follow a pattern if it was a life or death situation (me); my sister, the Ginger one, not only reads and follows, but actually writes them! And sells them too!!

For each of my babies, and for any babies even slightly known to us or our family when we were growing up, have received a crochet blanket. Ginger, would produce a blanket, that was not only properly rectangular, but uniform in size, pattern and yarn choice.

Mine was, well… experimental.

So it is no surprise that I am crocheting with relish at the moment these freeform crochet patches.

I did stay with the three colours after all, and will probably interlink the lot with Irish-lace-like crochet, I think in black. I want the black crochet web in between to be looser, so it doesn’t get too dense and stiff.

This is my plan:

I’m hoping to start on the black yarn tonight for when I collapse onto the sofa and babies are in bed, pot of tea beside me…

I’m easily pleased!!

 I have a bit of a preamble to my crochet this week: I have been wandering around aimlessly in the crochet department of my head for a while… started the blanket, but am a bit ambivalent towards it, I’m just not inspired….

Anyway. 

Several times in the past 2 weeks I’ve spotted motif-based “Irish crochet” and freeform crochet everywhere I look. And as a default I always seem to return to making motifs:- flowers, etc. I have, as they say here in the west of Ireland, a gra for it! So that’s where I’m heading. Years ago, I spent 6 glorious months crocheting my wedding dress (coat, more like). I was following an idea in my head, had no pattern as such, and had never tried this kind of project before (!) 

Thankfully, a week before my wedding I put it together 

(not finished, or anything!! That was 2 days before) 

(somethings never change)

 And it fit!! And I was ultra-pleased with it!

So. Where that all is going is here: 

I’m on my second one now, similar colours, similar size. Not sure what I’ll assemble these into… I doubt anything bigger than a scarf or bag, but I must say, crocheting away without rhyme or reason is just wonderful.

(I’ve decided to be honest with myself: I just don’t do patterns. Never have, never will…)

 And as for books- all usual, I have several on the go: 

The Secret Life of the Unborn Child- completely fascinating

Freeform Crochet and Beyond- I just love this book, and come back to it about once a month…

Homeopathy for Home and Garden- I’ve been using homeopathy on our plants (and ourselves and our animals!!!) for years, with fantastic results. This book is just inspiring.

 Last week I hardly got around to see anyone else, “Life” took over and I hardly had time to blink. Today, however, I’m so looking forward to extended visiting hours to see what everyone else is reading and crafting, check out the links here.