On Sunday I decided that I would get out and enjoy the autumn sunshine before the 'big storm' arrived (it didn't get as far as us in the end). So off I went with my little camera in my pocket, which I was glad I had when I came across all these beautiful fungi.

Sometimes we need to just stop and look around at the beauty in nature around us.

I love autumn, the fresh crisp mornings and chilly nights. I love the changing colours of this season.

 

 

I always feel inspired by these colours.

 

 

My friends the fairies have been loving the autumn sunshine too. I love to make these happy fairies, makes me feel like a child again, making up fairy tale stories about their adventures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Holiday Coasters

While sitting in the caravan on my holiday I did manage to get in a bit of hooky time and made some pretty little coasters to brighten up lunch time.

I had taken lots of small balls of stylecraft DK that was left over from my ripple blanket and my trusty 4mm hook.

Start with ch4, join with a slst to form a ring.
R1,  ch3 (ch3 counts as a tr throughout) 11tr into the ring. Join with a slst at top of ch3.

 

 

 

R2,   ch3, make a tr in st at the base of the ch3, 2tr in each st around. Join with a slst at top of ch3.

R3,   ch3, 2tr in next st *1tr in next st, 2tr in next st** repeat around from * to**. Join with a slst at top of ch3 and change to 2nd colour.

 

 

 

 

 

R4,   ch3, 1tr in next st, 2tr in next st, *1tr in next 2st 2tr in next st** repeat around from * to **. Join with a slst at top of ch3.

R5,   ch3, 1tr in next 2st, 2tr in next st, *1tr in next 3st, 2tr in next st** repeat around from * to **. Join with a slst at top of ch3.

R6,  * ch6, miss 4st, slst into next st** repeat around from * to **.

 

 

 

 

R7,   work 1dc into 1st and 2nd st of the ch6, 2dc into the next 2st, 1dc into last 2st. Repeat in each of the ch6 sections. Join with a slst and finish. Weave in all ends.

 

 

 

 





 

 

I love these coasters because they work up quickly and brighten up any table.





 

End of the holidays.

Here we are at the end of August and the end of the summer holidays, back to work next week!
I decided to book my holiday away in the last week of the summer break so I had something to look forward to, although it also meant that I seemed to wish the other weeks away.

So off we headed to Berwick Upon Tweed, my favourite childhood destination. This was where I went for my first holidays as a child and where I love to visit with my own children. I am not one for sitting around while on holiday, and I have to admit I can't cope with heat of foreign holidays so for me this is the perfect spot.

 

 

I love taking a walk along the river. We were lucky that the weather stayed fine so we could take in the sights, watching the fish jumping out of the water and the fishermen as they set out their nets.

 

 

 

 

 

Another of my favourite walks is along the cliffs and down onto the beach. Berwick has some fabulous stretches of beach which are filled with crevices and rock pools to explore.

 

 

No matter how old you get you can still get excited by the wildlife to be found in rock pools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







Unfortunately the holiday passed quickly and I soon found myself packing up and setting off for the train journey home.
 Now I am busy trying to get all the washing done, and make sure everything is ready for school/college/work next week.

 

 

So September is here tomorrow - wonder what fun this month has in store?

Today I have been taking inspiration from the flowers in my garden. I have been trying to capture the images of them in full bloom before they are too battered by the strong winds.

 

I love the free cross stitch kit that came with this months Mollie Makes, it looks as if it comes straight from my garden. I spent the afternoon stitching happily.

 

These roses also reminded me that I had a lovely Cath Kidston button factory that I had not yet had a play with, of course I then had to dig it out of my craft cupboard and have a go.

 

I think that the cross stich and buttons look lovely together.

I can't believe we are already half way through the summer holidays. Especially as I haven't managed to do half of the things I planned.

Yesterday however we did go on our annual summer outing to York. I have taken my children every summer for the last 12 years. After leaving the train station our first calling place was the Yorkshire Wheel, how better to see the great views of the area?
 I had hoped for a little trip to Bettys but with a huge queue and 3 hungry teenagers it didn't happen but I did get a very tasty lunch in the Slug and Letttuce.

Of course if you are a crafty soul like myself, a trip to York is not complete without a visit to Duttons for Buttons. So many pretty things to choose from!
I ended up treating myself to some rather pretty buttons and a new bag to keep my projects in (any excuse), and have spent this afternoon personalising it.

It is almost ready to be filled with lovely yarn. I'm busy making a pretty multi-coloured scarf, trying to prolong the summer flowers. I think I am about half way through making the pretty blooms.

It has been a busy weekend for wildlife, lots of butterflies and dragonflies visiting.
Then I looked out and spotted this little lovely wandering across the garden. Of course being me the first thing I do is run to grab my camera. While taking this picture I could hear a rustling in the flower beds and on closer inspection spotted another 2 babies. As it was very warm I went in to fill a bowl of water for them. When I got back and was looking for somewhere to put the water I found that I now had 5 baby hedgehogs all snuggled together!

For the rest of the afternoon I watched out of the window as they wandered about, getting a little concerned that there was no mother hedgehog to look after them. After a few hours I called for advice and was asked if I could catch them and take them to the rescue centre. This entailed having to cut back the bramble bush and lots of help from my hubby.
After catching them, they have now been checked out and are in good health and will be looked after till they are big enough to look after themselves x