Sunday 18 May 2008

Huckleberry Finn...

Knitting, sewing and gardening...this Mommy is having fun...I have been making more of these little mice to go with the tea cups I thrifted the other week... It is the most beautiful yarn and the buttermilk colour is gorgeous, I need to purchase some little seed beads for the eyes and sew on some whiskers and then these little 'Critters in Tea Cups' will be ready to find new homes.
On the gardening front we are now at the stage that the garden looks livable rather than the work in progress state of 'stuff' everywhere. The children and I are making a little pond, well actually a large sunken bucket! We have had so much fun, digging it out, filling it up and collecting the wildlife to go in it...yep we were regular Huckleberry Finn's with our little jam jars and string handles hanging from our fishing nets as we went off in search of tadpoles. Well we got plenty and the pond will make a great new home for them and a perfect educational feature for the children. I have been rather taken with 'Country livings' bring back the Nature Table' this topic has made me really think about how to encourage my kids to be more interested in nature.
So when we had a little rest time I picked up my sock knitting...yep I am actually knitting socks on what seems like cocktail sticks. I have been inspired by my knitting friend Caroline and blogging friend French Knots. I just love the way this yarn patterns up its very addictive...a few more rows just to see what happens to the pattern...
As for sewing, well I have been making some hair pins (yet to photograph) and I have been going through my stash of fabric and these two patterns are just singing to me...Oh the possibilities...

18 comments:

quiltdude said...

I have a pond just like yours, a sunken toy crate, and it is teaming with wildlife. It's the best thing I've added to my garden.
That sock yarn is great isn't it, you just have to keep knitting.
Love your mice in tea cups.
X Clare

Sarah said...

Hurrah for the socks :o)So much fun

French Knots said...

Socks are addictive! As soon as I finish one pair I can't wait to start the next! They're small and portable and good for summer knitting I think as you don't have a large garment on your lap.
Sweet little teacup mice!

Anonymous said...

beautiful little tea cups and I love the mice! Very cute and you are very clever.

julia said...

You've been busy! Love the "bucket pond" idea, and the jam jar fishing.
As a proud owner of an original "Suzie Sews" mouse I can truly vouch for how cute they are!
Julia x

pink-petal-designs said...

Cute mice in their tea cups, i made some like those once and put cat nip inside for the cats to play with, they love em.
Nice socks, andlove the fabric combo.
Sarah x

Unknown said...

I love that spotty watering can!!! is the pattern on those socks really just from one skein of yarn - how amazing!

Ragged Roses said...

I love that fabric, looking forward to seeing what you come up with! The socks look good too, what great colours. I'm really pleased about the CL nature table thing, I have such good memories of the one at my primary school when I was younger. Good luck with the pond
Kimx

Locket Pocket said...

your mouse is gorgeous - I'm loving crochet at the moment! And the pond will provide so much fun for you all!

Kitty said...

More loveliness going on there - those socks look wonderful. I don't think I could do it - it looks so complicated. :-O

The fabric is lovely. I sorted through my stash at the weekend - giving lots away to the kid's school for crafting, some to charity shops, etc. Have still kept an embarrassingly large amount.

x

Summer by the sea said...

The critters in tea cups are great and that sock wool looks really interesting, it looks just like fair isle but without the hard work - what is the name of the wool if you don't mind me asking? - Natalie x

Sal said...

Love the bucket idea and might even try it!!
I've had a nature table, of sorts, in my teaching room ,since Country Living started their campaign.
It's a great idea.
Cute mice,Suzie! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Cool socks - love them -well done you for having multiple needles at last! Look foward to seeingthe finished product. Love the mini pond - we made several last weekend at my son's school - can't wait for some wildlife to find it's way there! What a brilliant way to have a bit of real nature in your garden! (Hope Archie bunny doesn't get tooo inquisitive though!)
Caroline
xxxx

JuicyFig said...

Love the pond - we have one on the allotment, they are fascinating! I too have been re-awakened to the nature table idea by country living, I think it is wonderful, and never too late.

I love the sock wool, I knit 1 sock, then couldn't figure out the casting on again for the second, so still only have the one sock!

Kath
x

Charlie P said...

Are you not tempted to keep those lovely teacups? I like the way that sock yarn is knitting up too :)

dottycookie said...

Making a sunken pond is on our list for this summer too - though I hadn't thought of using a bucket - fab idea!

Mrs Moog said...

Great pond idea - we've got an old half whisky barrel and one froggy - he/she is yet to be loved up enough for frogspawn.

Sock knitting envy going on here. Just...can't...do...it! I'm going to have to book onto a sock knitting course!

I can't wait to see what you make with those scrummy fabrics :)

xxx

Anonymous said...

The knitted socks are gorgeous...don't know how you manage to knit something so complicated.
I think it's great that you are making a pond and I've seen the article in COuntry Living about nature tables. I used to love ours at primary school and made my own in the orchard at home. Happy memories!
Margaret and Noreen