Ring Up The Curtains

 

I have been very preoccupied this year with curtain making. I think my friends and work colleagues may have got a bit bored with my answer to "what have you been up to?", always being making curtains. But they are done, and I am very pleased. Although I have made curtains before, that was quite a while ago, and making 8 was quite a job. 

They definitely make the living room cosier, and also less echoy. Although we are now thinking that they may stand out better with a slightly different wall colour. But I suppose there is always something to do.

My pets always seem to want to part of a photoshoot, and although our cat Joey can be a bit naughty, he at least does not seem to be a curtain climber. 

The fabric was bought from Lenka Dresses on Etsy, and called Sole Raya Grey Stripe. I was very pleased with it, and the whole ordering process. It is extra wide, with the stripes going across the width, so I was able to make full length curtains without having to have any seams.

I have always used pencils pleats before, but this time went for pinch pleats, which I think has worked quite well. 

And although I am planning to get back to the knitting, we still have a bedroom without curtains, so I have been browsing at fabric again.

Mosaic Hot Water Bottle Cover and Cat Model

Another bit of getting my family to model. This time it was my elderly cat. As you can probably tell she was not delighted. That is definitely the look of a cat saying "why on earth have you put me here?". I forgive her though, as she is an old lady of 18. Eventually though with another strategically placed hot water bottle under her basket she settled down for a bit more of the photo I was aiming for.

Looking at other photos on Ravelry of hot water bottle covers, I decided my favourites were of people heading of to bed, so I also feature myself in the one below.

This crochet pattern was designed by Rebecca Anaspure, and is available as a project kit on Blacker Yarns website - Mosaic Crochet Hot Water Bottle Cover. It is a really clever design, with a handy split at the back to insert the hot water bottle through.  Made from Samite silk-blend in DK, it is not only really soft and snuggly, it will keep your bottle’s warmth until you are fast asleep.

Now can I work out a way to get my dog into a photograph for Blacker Yarns.

Pet Portraits

I don't usually post my daughter's drawing. She is doing GCSE Art, so there is quite a lot of drawing and painting going on. But these ones are a bit personal, as she did them for the family. They are charcoal drawings of our pets. The first one was done about a year ago, and has been up on the wall, so I have been pestering for a picture of the cats to go along side it. I was really pleased when she did one of the cats last week. Although they are mother and daughter, they don't like each other very much, so it would be very unusual to get them sitting this close. I do think she has captured their characters - particular Noodle, who is often a bit of a grump.

Just a reminder that my Ginx Woolly Linx party for June is now running. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.