Pram cover.

This is a picture of a pram cover I made for my grandson a while ago.
It is possibly a favourite pattern for many mothers, I have had many comments which lead me to think this.

The Terracotta Army

As a Christmas present this year our eldest daughter and her husband, bought us tickets to see the exhibition of The First Emperor and China's Terracotta Army held at the British Museum in London, as our family have been very interested in this subject for several years now.

On 26 January we travelled with our daughter to London to attend the 7.30 evening showing of this event,the weather was on our side and we had a cool evening with clear star studded skies as we walked the short distance to the Museum.

There were no queues outside and having divested ourselves of our coats inside, we joined other people who were visiting the museum progressing to the entrance of the display area.
The suite for the display had linen type material arranged as backdrops and pictures were being projected onto these showing the empire, life and works of the First Emperor.

259 BC he was born Ying Zheng and at the age of 13 became King of Qin ( pronounced Chin) one of the seven main states competing for power and at war with each other. Under his leadership Qin conquered the other states using highly developed weapons technology and military strategy. After completing his campaign, the King of Qin declared himself Qin Shiuangdi: First August Devine Emperor of the Qin.
To govern and rule his empire required the introduction of reforms and he inforced strict laws. He planned to join walls from conquered states to create a great wall, inclosing new roads and canals. Standard weights and measures, a single currency and a universal script allowed him to rule more easily.
He had built more than 270 palaces in his capital city Xianyang, as a disply of power and to house the rulers of the states he conquered

Spring its on the way

I hope that you are all off to a good start to the New Year and long may it continue.
It was not quite so here as I came into contact with two viruses which laid me low for two weeks. However I feel the energy returning and am planning various jobs to be done, always a good sign.
The latest knitting project and fund raiser, is the Nativity scene Mary, Joseph, Jesus, two wise men, a sheep and a donkey have been made so far. The figures are 20 cm tall, the animals less. There are three more figures to make and three more sheep. It has been fun. I will show them when they are stuffed.
A pattern found on About.com for crocheted interlinked wedding rings with Irish roses, ment that I just had to find some fine yarn and have a go. I have always loved working fine lace so have started the rings and roses and plan to make them into anniversary cards.
Christmas cards are to be made throughout this year, as the right theme comes to mind.
Spring is on its way and the garden is in flower, witch hazel, aconites, hellebore, myrtle, primroses . The rose given to me last August has flowered all through the poor weather we have had and is a welcome sight to come home to each day at the front door.
May spring be close to you also.

New Year Resolutions

New Year Resolution time.

The first to get fit, second to make fund raising projects all the year long.
Both have been started as I have purchased a treadmill and started the supply of items for fund raising.
These decorations were made last night using left over supplies of various yarns, beads and cords.
I have three venues to supply my work to.
Our grandsons school, a voluntary project I am involved in and the bowls club.
Over the year I hope to have completed many items and will keep you up to date with them.
Any ideas you may have and wish to share, would be appreciated, I can be contacted on
http://bowledoverandout@blogspot.com

May I leave you now with a poem which I enjoy, it is by James Elroy Flecker

To A Poet A Thousand Years Hence

I who am dead a thousand years,
And wrote this sweet archaic song,
Send you my words for messengers
The way I shall not pass along.

I care not if you bridge the seas,
Or ride secure the cruel sky,
Or build consummate palaces
Of metal or of masonry.

But have you wine and music still,
And statues and a bright- eyed love,
And foolish thoughts of good and ill,
And prayers to them who sit above?

How shall we conquer? Like a wind
That falls at eve our fancies blow,
And old Maeonides the blind
Said it three thousand years ago.

O friend unseen, unborn, unknown,
Student of our sweet English tongue,
Read out my words at night alone:
I was a poet, I was young.

Since I can never see your face,
And never shake you by the hand,
I send my soul through time and space
To greet you. You will understand.

Saving Wildlife and the Environment

There has been a trial on in the area where I live, to lower the amount of plastic bags being used by the public when shopping. Evidence is there that the message has been heard by the local public.
The damage to the environment by these bags, is wide spread and although some manufactures claim that their bags are bio degradable, the degraded dust still contains toxic waste particles.

I can not help thinking of the song "One Way or Another I'm Going to Get You"

I have found a site which is attempting to encourage us to greater awareness of our own part in saving the environment and would ask that you visit the site to see if you can find a way of adopting their message and their Bags of course. Please visit

morsbags.com

While looking at the site I wondered if fund raising projects, say for schools, could would benefit by selling the bags, what would we not do for our children and their future.

Still recycling

Our Local Authority has announced that no body does it better, regarding recycling, than them. They give us a gift each year, we are allowed to over fill the bins after the Christmas week without penalty.
With that and the season in mind, I continue to bring news of sites which may assist you to clear space for all the new goodies you may receive this Christmas.

Recycle clothing
whatsmineisyours.com

Or add to your winter wardrobe by

peopletree.co.uk

and
adili.com

So lets see you all happy that you have cleared space, even if it was only to fill it again from another site. Merry Christmas to you all.

Santa came to town

I received this pattern last week from the Knitters and Crocheters Guild and thought that they would be fun to make, they become addictive though and I could not stop.
Anyone who fancied could lengthen the hangers and wear them as ear rings or add a fastener and wear them as a broach.
I like small projects at this time of the year, they fill in odd moments when I am at home and sitting still.

Delftware from Amsterdam

As you will see we have been to Amsterdam and bought five diffrent KLM miniature huisjes.
My total collection is fourteen and it will cost at least another £1,500 to complete it.
I was informed by a resident that brides and grooms in Amsterdam, are given a replica of the palace by Bols. What a nice gift.
There are now 88 huisjes in the collection, the latest is a replica of "'t Lootsje", the former Amsterdam tasting room of the leading genever manufacturer, Lucas Bols.
A complete collection of the huisjescan be viewed at Bols' headquarters in Amsterdam.
For admission details visit www.houseofbols.com.

More Christmas Cards

This was the first batch of Christmas cards that I made, the carpet is full of glitter which twinkles when the light is switched on.
There will be more cards made in the next few days.
I had planned to make lace cards this year, time just ran away. Could be that next years cards will be made earlier.

Christmas Cards

Well now mac's niece made me feel quite guilty about lack of crafting over the last few weeks.
There are projects on the go here, although I have had a spell of reading.
However I have taken a leaf out of her book and made some Christmas cards, not 130 though I am full of admiration for her.
These are made with a tree cut out, filled with 'makower uk' printed material which has been padded to give an embossed effect.
I bought the material to make our grandson an advent calendar using these small pictures as the pockets for the basic large tree shape background.
In my voluntary work I travel to villages and have found some very nice craft shops. As a consequence my craft shelves are filling up with future projects.
I have more cards which I will show in the next entry.