Garden Granny Blanket. . .

Hello dears !

I can finally show off my new blanket, 

which I have called Garden Blanket, because of the flower motifs. 

I started this blanket ramdonly and not knowing 

what I wanted it to be. Well, that is not true. 

I knew exactly the idea I wanted for this blanket, 

I just could not picture it, but I knew what I wanted. 

One thing is sure, I kind of wanted to make a Cath Kidston inspired blanket. . . .and I'm not sure if I achieved my goal. . . and to be honest I could not care less now because I just love the result !! 

This blanket is a gift to a very special baby. . . .(but tell me, is there any baby in the world that is not special ??) 

I mean special because she is my cousin's daughter. 

This cousin has been very special to me throughout my childhood, but about 15 years ago we kind or grew apart. As it happens in many families, there were some family problems. . . at the same time I moved abroad and we lost contact. . . 

We have met again in February and it was an extraordinary day full of emotions and memories. 

I made this blanket mainly with my yarn stash. . . from the yarn I used to make this blanket I made for my daughter. It is a 50% acrylic 50% wool yarn. I buy it locally and a couple of skeins of some colours left. . . I started using green first. . . . instead of the baby blue...

Then the shade of green was just not right, I thought. 

I also bought red and turquoise to give it a boost of colour. . . 

For the border I did a single crochet round in white. Then I used the 2 first rounds of border #120 from the Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman book. 

And to finish off I continued with border #105 from the same book. 

The final round of the border was done in red as I think it kind of frames the blanket and finishes it off. 

Blankets have a lot of history in them. . . I made this one while dealing with a lot (more than I bargained for. . . ) family emotions, good and bad. . . I also made it while traveling to different places for work, pleasure.... and also and mainly watching a fabulous tv series called Gran Hotel (Spanish production) which I have loved !! 

I also made this blanket in a record time (for me). . . 

I started it in February and it was finished on April 5th 2015, 

so about 2 months. . . . wow !!! I'm amazed !! 

I never thought I could make a blanket in 2 months ?!?! 

Now I suppose you want the details ?? 

It is made with Solid Granny Squares (this is a very simple pattern, that can be easily found in Google or any pattern site like Rarely) 

The flower motifs are the Waterlily square from the 200 Crochet blocks by Jan Eaton. 

It has 29 solid squares and 11 waterlily squares. 

It measures: 29' x 45' aprox (74cm x 114cm)

It weights: 438 gr

This means over 6 skeins of 50gr balls (200 cm per skein) = 1,752 metres of yarn !!

And now I leave you with some more pictures to enjoy !! 
I hope to write again soon. . . and be more regular on this little blog of mine. 

Take Care for now, 

xEva 

Pom-pom little girls knitted cowl and other late makes. . .

Hello to all and thank you for being there during this long absence.

What have I been up to ? 

The months before Christmas it was busy at work and involved some travelling

and I just could not keep up with work, the house, blogging and my online shop and what all that involves. 

I have lately had that dilemma about juggling so many things in my life and sometimes some things take priority and others have to be put on hold. That is the way life works, isn't it ?

In terms of crafting we have been up to a lot around here. 

My latest creation has been this cowl. 

I made it with the yarn leftover from another cowl I had made for my daughter here.

The cowl, I made it for a friend's daughter, and she loved it. 

I improvised the pattern and this is something I had been wanting to make for a long time: 

a girl's cowl that had a pom-pom closure. 

I think the result is very sweet. 

Then, if you follow me in IG, you would have already seen these pictures. 

I make lots of crafts with my kids, daily if we can. 

I try to make them as crafty and creative as possible as this is something I love and it is part of my life. I cannot think of my life without the creative part. And I believe creativity opens the mind to many other things in life. 

and so here below we made some hamma beads coasters. . . 

The blue one is a CK crosshatch pattern and the white one was our own creation. . .

the kids can spend ours doing that. 

Here below are some pretty things I also posted in IG. 

I lately have something for Liberty Fabrics. . . I just love them ! 

Below is my new knitting/crochet corner in our living room. And a cushion I have also recently made. 

 Below is another IG picture. .. :-) 

This was one of my quite afternoons. . . .it's funny when you see a picture like this you dream of a quiet afternoon, enjoying your tea and some knitting/crochet and also a few moments enjoying a good recipe book ! Far from reality....I took this picture and had literally 10 mins of quiet before picking the children up from school. 

My 'me' times are that . . . .literally 10 mins in the afternoon if I'm lucky and then I might get a couple of hours at night.  

But those evenings are often lacked of energy and I just need to put my brain on a side, put on my favourite TV series and crochet or knit for a little while. 

I'm not a night owl and have always been a morning person and so it is in the morning when my energy is at its highest ! 

And those granny squares you see below it's my current WIP. I cannot show you too much as it will be a surprise present for a 1 yr old baby. She will be 1 in May and so I don't want to spoil the surprise for her lovely mum, that happens to be my cousin. 

And below a funny snapshot ! 

My kids always find different fun uses for my crochet blankets. . . one day they can be a tent, another a picnic blanket, a princess or queen's cape, a boat. . . the imagination of a child has not limits !! 

 Well thanks again for being there and for reading my blog. 

I hope to get back again to the routine of writing often as I really miss this little world. 

I have found wonderful people in it and I love the 'positive' vibe and good energy it is surrounded with... 

Love, 

Eva 

Makes in crochet & Circular Knitting

Hello all ! 

My, my ! it has been a long time . . . 

Thank you all for waiting for me. 

It is about time I show you some of the things I have been up to these 2 months. 

First, I managed to finish my daughter's

Creative Blog Hop

I have been quite relax about my blog lately and one of the reasons is time lacking and another 

is also probably I am still with that urge to knit and crochet more than using my computer for anything apart from work. 

What has got me to my computer and blog today ?? 

A Blog Hop invitation by lovely Elizabeth from Elizyart Blog. 

I think Elizabeth and I both started our blog around the same time and we have been in regular contact since them. . .and we both live in Madrid (Spain) !! She has created some lovely things and made gorgeous crochet shawls !! If you have not visited her blog please do so now and enjoy some lovely crochet !!

Now, I have to answer 4 questions, here we go !!: 

Question #1: What are you working on at the moment?

I'm always working on several things: this pictures below are solid grannies. 

Crochet Rug with T-Shirt Yarn - Alfombra de Trapillo

Hello dear readers, 

I seem to be away from my blog a lot  now. It is all about priorities and time in life, isn't it ?

I have been crocheting a lot lately and I'm enjoying it so much, and I find it hard to find time to blog about it. . .

I have finally finished this crocheted t-shirt yarn rug I started a while ago for my daughter. I mentioned it here.

Queridas lectoras, 

Parece que este verano estoy un poco desconectada de mi blog. Todo es sobre prioridades y tiempo en la vida, verdad ?

He estado haciendo mucho ganchillo últimamente y disfrutando mucho de ello, sin embargo no encuentro el tiempo de ponerlo en el blog. . . 

Finalmente he terminado esta alfombra de trapillo que empece hace tiempo para mi hija. 

Os lo conte aqui

 

It has taken me sometime...

Crocheted Curtain Ties - Recoge Cortinas a Ganchillo

Hello dears !!

Hola a todas !!

I hope you have been well. . . I have been a little bit out of blogland and concentrating on other things. 

Espero que hayáis estado bien. . . yo he estado un poco apartada del mundo blog y concentrada en otras cosas. 

Instagram is handy, quick and there is where you can find me lately. 

Instagram es muy rapido y conveniente, en cualquier sitio o momento puedes poner algo o echar un vistazo a lo que otros pone y es donde me podéis encontrar últimamente. 

I have also been very sad. . .on 11th May I was having a look at the blogs I follow and I read this post from this blog ... and I cried. 

También he estado triste. . . el 11 de Mayo dando un repaso a los blogs que sigo 

lei esta entrada . . .y llore

I have felt a very deep empathy with both mothers but specially with Jacqui at BabyBoyBakery as she is also in Instagram. 

He sentido una profunda empatía por ambas madres pero especialmente por Jacqui de BabyBoyBakery

Why ? - I have a boy 4 months younger than her Ryan and so he is of a very similar age, we seem to do very similar things with our kids. . . and the very scary fact that sometimes no matter what you do you just have no control over what can happen to them...

Porque ? - Tengo un hijo 4 meses menor que su Ryan, hacemos cosas muy parecidas juntos.. . 

y lo que mas miedo da es a veces no importa el cuidado que tengas de ellos que simplemente no tienes control sobre lo que les pueda pasar. . . 

Why do I follow her even if eve

ry time I read something I cry and feel incredibly frustrated,angry and sad at the same time about something bad ever happening to a child ?? 

Porque la sigo si cada vez que leo algo de ella me siento increíblemente triste, enfadada y frustrada al mismo tiempo ? todo esto por el hecho de que algo malo le pase a un niño ?

She asked from day one through her best friend for support , help , prayers for her and her family to deal with the loss and she asked for her son to never been forgotten. . . when a mother is so humble to ask for all of this I could not do other than offer what I could. 

Desde el primer dia podio a través de su mejor amiga apoyo, ayuda y oraciones para ella y su familia. Para poder sobrellevar la perdida y podio que su hijo nunca fuera olvidado. . . cuando una madre te pide algo tan humilde yo no podia hacer otra cosa que ofrecer lo que pude. 

All I can give her is Kindness and sweet words. I only leave her messages on IG or her blog. . . it is all I can do to help them and I know at this moment she needs to feel the love of people around the world and that Ryan will not be forgotten. 

Lo unico que puedo ofrecer es Amabilidad y dulces palabras. La dejo mensajes de apoyo en Instagram o en su blog. .  .es todo lo que puedo hacer para ayudarles y se que en estos momentos necesita sentir el calor de la gente de todo el mundo y que Ryan no caiga en el olvido. 

As for the sharing part they have also asked for, this is my contribution and I share it with my dear followers: YOU 

Así que esta es mi contribución, compartir la historia con vosotros y la vida de Ryan

It is hard to change subject but in the midst of all this I have also finished my curtain ties. 

Uff !! Es difícil cambiar ahora el tema, pero en el medio de esto también he terminado el recoge cortinas que empece en Abril. . . 

The inspiration came from lovely Sandra at Cherry Heart's Garden Curtain Tie backs. By the way, have you seen her Crochet Corner ??

La inspiración viene de Sandra y su Recoge Cortinas. 

Por cierto habéis visto su Crochet Corner ??

To be honest I started this without knowing where I was going. I also really, really , really wanted to make the crochet puff flowers. . . and use them somewhere...somehow. 

Para seros sincera empece este proyecto sin saber muy bien donde iba. 

También tenia unas ganas tremendas de hacer las florecitas de punto puff

y queria usarlas en algún proyecto . . . de alguna manera. 

For the crochet puff stitch flowers there are lots of videos in YouTube and I have now forgotten which one I have used. . .

Para las flores use un video de You Tube pero ahora no me acuerdo de cual . . .

Then I kept seeing crocheted hearts and I really wanted to make one. . . after several tries I found this one and I loved it. 

You can find the pattern here

Después vi muchos corazones a ganchillo y quería hacer uno . . . después de probar varios encontré 

este y me encanta.

Podeis ver el patron aqui. 

I have used Natura Just Cotton Yarn, 100 % cotton yarn. 

You can buy the yarn at my Esty Shop

He usado hilo de Natura Just Cotton, 100% algodón. 

Podeis comprar Natura en mi tienda Etsy. 

I then added some wooden beads from my daughter's necklace making set. . .for some weight 

Después añadí algunas cuentas de madera del juego de hacer collares y pulseras de mi hija. . . para que tuviera un poco de caída y peso. 

And this is how they look on the curtains. . . 

I could not get any decent picture. If I opened the window there was too much light and if I closed the shutters it was too dark . . . 

They do brighten my window in my home office and I love having some crochet beside me. . . 

Y así es como han quedado. . . 

No he podido sacar una foto en condiciones. Si abría la ventana había demasiada luz

pero si cerraba las persianas era muy oscuro. . . 

Pero si que alegran esa esquinita de mi oficina en casa y me encanta tener algo hecho de ganchillo mientras trabajo. . . 

Now I will have a wonder around your beautiful blogs. . . 

Durante estos dias ire visitando vuestros preciosos blogs . . .

Thanks for visiting once again. . . 

Muchas gracias por visitarme de nuevo. . . 

x Eva 

Loopy Loo Poncho - Finished !!

There is so much going on at the moment that I find it hard to keep up with blogging. . . and 

sometimes lately I was so much into making things that to blog about them was a second priority. 

Then, I don't usually talk about news or politics, but lately. . . 

what is wrong with this world ?? - so many bad news in the news lately

Neighbours that hate each other and cannot leave in piece, lack of respect . . . but things that affect me specially are those that involve children. . . 

People, why cannot they leave children to their mums ?? in piece and let them have a normal childhood. 

I'm sure you have all seen the terrible news in Nigeria. . . I just can imagine how helpless the mothers must feel and my heart aches for them. . .really. . .

Sometimes I feel that if women had more presence in governments and conflicts, I don't know but we might have a different world. . . or maybe I'm just a dreamer

Now, to a lighter subject. 

I have finished the Loopy Loo Poncho !!! 

Ultimamente estoy muy ocupada con muchas cosas y así que casi no encuentro tiempo para manteneros al día de lo que voy haciendo. . . y a veces, sobre todo últimamente estoy haciendo tantas cosas que prefiero estar haciéndolas que ponerme con el blog...

Luego, normalmente no hablo de política o noticias . . .pero últimamente

Que le pasa al mundo ?? - tantas malas noticias

Vecinos que se odian, falta de respeto entre pueblos. . . pero cuando hay niños involucrados entonces me tocan la fibra sensible. . . 

Que le pasa a la gente ? Porque no pueden dejar a sus niños con sus mamas ?? en paz y dejarles tener una infancia como es debido. 

Estoy segura de que a habéis oído hablar de las terribles noticias de Nigeria. . . solo puedo imaginarme por lo que tienen que estar pasando sus madres y cuando lo pienso me da dolor de corazón por ellas. 

A veces pienso que si hubiera mas presencia femenina en los gobiernos, conflictos, etc no se pero creo que igual tendríamos un mundo un poco diferente. . .o quizás soy una soñadora. 

Ahora vamos con algo mas liviano

He terminado el poncho Loopy Loo para mi hija !!

No, it did not take me so long to finish it. . . I have finished for over a week now 

but I did not have the finishing thread that goes around the neck line. 

Sandra made two lovely versions of it, this one and this one I loved both of them but I wanted to give this one my personal touch in something. 

No, no me ha llevado todo este tiempo terminarlo . . . lo tengo acabado desde hace mas de una semana pero como no tenia pensado que hacer como cinta para el cuello pues no os lo quería enseñar a medio terminar. . . .

Sandra hizo dos preciosas versiones, esta y esta y me encantan ambas pero queria darle un toque personal al mio. 

and so I made two little crocheted balls (first time I made these) and I quite like the result. . . 

What do you think ?? 

Así que he hecho dos bolitas de ganchillo (mi primera vez) y la verdad es que me gusta bastante el resultado

Que pensais ? Os gusta ??

Yarn Used: 

Merino Woolly DMC

Very Light Pink - 041

Blueish Green - 073

Aquamarine - 074

Raspberry - 054

Hook : 5 mm as I crocheted on 2 strands of yarn all the way. 

Have a lovely week ! 

xEva  

Lana Usada:

Merino Woolly DMC

Rosa Muy Suave - 041

Verde Azulado - 073

Aguamarina - 074

Frambuesa - 054

Ganchillo: 5mm - y lo he hecho con 2 hebras de lana. 

Que tengáis una Feliz Semana !!

xEva 

Atardecer Poncho & Dublin & Northern Ireland Trip

As promised, here is my latest make. This is the Atardecer Poncho, pattern here

I made it with: 

Natura Just Cotton Yarn

Colour 03 Sable

Just over 2 skeins = 108 gr

4.5 mm hook

I love the colour as it goes with nearly everything, specially as lots of my summer clothes are white, sand, beige, etc. . . 

Como prometí, aquí os enseño mi ultima creación. 

Poncho Atardecer, patron aqui. 

Lo he hecho con:

 Hilo Algodon Natura Just Cotton 

Color 03 Sable

un poquait mas de 2 ovillos = 108 gr

ganchillo del 4.5 mm 

Pin it, share it, spread the love. . . 

Podeis hacer un pin (Pinterest), compartirlo . . .

Before I forget let me tell you I'm so excited as I have had my first 4 sales in my Etsy shop !! hurray !!

And now a few (just a few. . .) pictures of my last trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

We went from Dublin to Belfast and stopped at Downpatrick Cathedral, where St. Patrick's remains are believed to be buried.

Antes de que se me olvide dejarme que os diga lo contenta que estoy ya que he tenido mis 4 primeras ventas en mi tienda Etsy !!! hurra !!

Y ahora, algunas fotos de mi ultimo viaje a Irlanda e Irlanda del Norte. 

Fuimos de Dublin a Belfast  paramos en la Catedral de Downpatrick, donde se cree reposan los restos de San Patricio. 

Apart from the Cathedral there is a lovely gift shop and cafe and the food is quite nice. 

Then we went on to Mount Stewart House & Gardens. 

The house is of neo-classical style and is currently undergoing a major restoration project.

Aparte de la catedral hay una agradable tienda de regalos y un cafe donde se come bien. 

Después visitamos la Casa y los Jardines de Mount Stewart. 

La casa de estilo neo-clasico esta en proceso de una gran restauracion. 

The gardens are so romantic and the sun was shinning for us so it looked even more beautiful. 

Los jardines son tan románticos . . . y el sol brillaba para nosotros así que estaban incluso mas bonitos

Giants Causeway, simply amazing. . . .

La Calzada del Gigante es simplemente increible . . .

We also went to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge,

these are the cliffs seen on the way to Carrick-a-rede rope bridge

Tambien fuimos al puente de cuerda de Carrick-a-rede, 

y estos son los acantilados que se ven en el camino. . . 

I did not have the nerve to cross it. . . I did not feel brave enough, 

I'm more and more afraid of heights as I get older . . .

Yo no me sentí valiente para cruzarlo. . . según me hago mas mayor mas miedo

me dan las alturas. 

Then we returned to Dublin and visited Trinity College. . . 

Después volvimos a Dublin y visitamos Trinity College . . .

And the most amazing library I have ever seen. . .

Y su increíble biblioteca, una de las mas espectaculares que he visto. . . 

Hope you have enjoyed seeing the pictures, 

Espero que os hayan gustado las fotos, 

I will be back soon to show you the Loopy Loo Poncho I am making for my daughter and also

to show you this finished, by the way, they will be curtain ties. . . :-))

xEva 

Volveré dentro de poco para enseñaros el Loopy Loo Poncho que estoy haciendo para mi hija, 

y también esto terminado, por cierto, es para recoger unas cortinas. . . :-))

xEva