I am still undecided whether I prefer WordPress or blogspot as my blog host of choice. I think I like the versatility of my Google blog more. Also, it is easy to add widgets to advertise and link to my etsy shop.

So, if you want to see my posts on there, here is the link. I have been posting more on there than here lately.

The Government proposal to increase the State Pension age for women, and the time scale for its implementation has serious implications for me and many thousand other women. I feel very strongly about this, and feel action needs to be taken.

We are seen as an easy target. Who cares about something that will affect just older women? Well, that is how I feel the reality is. I worked as a teacher in inner city schools for most of my working life. I expected to retire at 60, and planned accordingly. I worked part-time whilst my children were little which reduced my teacher’s pension entitlement. I was made redundant, and have not been able to find another job.

I discovered that 60 had turned into 63 and 10 months, and worried how I would cope. But I accepted the change without complaint. Now I discover 60 will turn into 66, and I have no back up plan or enough time or means to financially prepare for this.

I have no argument with equalization of retirement ages for men and women. It is the speed of the change which will effectively steal two years pension and other benefits from me. Being my age I hate to have become both invisible and it seems a ‘burden’, just because I am getting older.

This ConDem plan is unfair and will no doubt occur as the plight of older women is not deemed important or interesting for many to campaign about. We will just become yet another forgotten minority.
Please sign these petitions if you too think this is unfair. Your vote could make a difference to thousands of women.

http://www.saga.co.uk/media-centre/petition/index.asp
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/handsoff

I am very worried about the way the current coalition are steering our country. I rarely make political statements, or feel equipped to call for changes. But, I am very fearful of the dark future in prospect with the policies being pursued by the ConDems. I feel that not to take a stand now, would be the same as showing agreement with their destructive course.
To that end, I have signed this petition. A small act, but at least in doing this I am signaling my ‘no’ vote on their course. I did not vote for this coalition, or any of their policies. I am very fearful of the consequences to us all if they continue unchecked.
If you feel the same, here is a link to the petition. Make your vote count!

Been busy making more crochet flowers in my handspun yarn. Just finished and posted this one on my Starziggles etsy shop.

 

Crochet Clematis Flower Brooch.

I love making things, just hope others like them too.

 

I have been knitting like mad the last few days. Now my latest throw is complete.  Years ago I bought some Colinette yarn, and never used it as I found the enclosed pattern too annoying. So, I added some of my handspun yarn and ebay mohair purchases, chose a simpler pattern and just kept knitting.

I am quite pleased with the result. It is pretty, cozy and very warm but light. It sits perfectly at the end of my sofa, and keeps me snuggly warm when watching tv.

New Throw

Throw

Now I have started on a mohair jumper, using some lovely yarn I got at a craft show in Brighton. I shall post pictures soon.

After my initial joy at opening an etsy shop, and selling three items…nothing now for the last month. My level of enthusiasm dropped, as did my desire to make and list more items. I have decided to have a new push to make and list items. As a result I have finished one new rabbit Ziggle and a few flower brooches. Just have to see what happens now. Here they are:

 

Yellow Flower Brooch.

Roddy the Rabbit.

 

 

This is a wonderful time of year, Winter being slowly chased away by ever longer days. Still cold enough to stay all cosy inside making lovely things, guilt free. But the lengthening days and greening of the garden, hinting at Spring time to come.

I have been sticking to my New Year’s Resolution, to be more creative. I have been painting, crocheting and knitting. A calender intended for photos, I have filled with twelve small and colourful acrylic paintings.

Here is February’s page

February Heart Painting For My Calendar

A cushion made and a new throw started in crochet to use up all the left over yarn from my ripple blanket. I did buy a few extra balls too, just to give even more colours. This throw is my second taken from this lovely blog .

Ripple Crochet Cushion.

New Throw About a Third Done!

Thanks to my charity shop hunting, I have made two useful purchases. Whilst looking through some Brighton charity shops with a friend visiting me from London,  I found a small wooden picture frame. I have painted three small pieces to fill this with brightness and pattern.

Three Small Paintings in a Wooden Frame.

My next charity shop find is much bigger, and much more useful. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted a knole sofa. I saw one years ago in a Devon cottage, and loved the idea of a drop arm sofa with tassel ties. Always out of my price range, I made do with a cheap sofa bed from Ikea. But to my surprise last week, I saw a knole sofa with a matching chair in my local Peacehaven charity shop. I checked it out and found it both very comfy and also in very good condition. It was not cheap, but I had to buy it. It is now taking pride of place in my lounge, with no cats or dog allowed to sit on it!

New Sofa and Chair.

Knowle Sofa and Chair.

The sofa and chair need throws of their own, to protect them from my naughty cats and dog. I have started two small ones in pale colours, which when completed will be perfect to both shield the fabric and keep me warm and snuggly underneath. I am making them with stash yarns in mainly pale greens, pinks, and blues. I will have to blend and spin some extra merino fleece too, to have enough wool to finish both throws.

Pale Green, Pinks and Blues Knitted Throw Started.

I love new projects, just must make sure to finish all the existing ones too. If you look carefully in the photo of my new sofa, you will see two bags of wool and both current throw projects. My idea is to try to share my time between the crochet and the knitted throw.  I have also promised to make a crochet ripple throw for a friend-lots of lovely crafting ahead.

Popped out to my local charity shops today, I also had a rummage in a few in Seaford too. I love checking out all the surprising things you can find that others have discarded. I am always on the look out for new craft books, and I found an interesting one today on freeform crochet.

But the star buy, was a lovely and rather unusual Carlton Ware Flies vase number 2131. I do like pretty and unusual ceramics, and have a small collection. This new addition was only £2.00, so I am delighted with such a bargain!

 

Carlton Ware 2131.

Carlton Ware Lustre Vase.

Carlton Ware Orange Lustre New Flies Design Vase.

Now I will have to check out my local charity shops even more often.

 

I have been busy finishing off my lovely bright ripple blanket. After much enjoyable crochet, it is finished. It makes my bedroom look lovely and colourful now.

Ripple Blanket

Lots of Colour!

It has been fun spending these cold and grey days making something so bright and colourful.

The Winter drags on with grey and cold days. But, the garden is starting to wake up a little.

Garden January 2011

To my delight when I went shopping this week, I found some of my favourite flowers-daffodils. I love these flowers because they always make me believe that Spring is on its way. They make me smile just to look at them. Lovely Spring days not too far in the future I hope.

Daffodil Bulbs and Cut Flowers.

Beautiful Daffodils.

Spring Soon!

Just finished my new crochet project bag. After years of storing my current knitting or crochet project in tatty plastic bags, I decided to make a special bag for this purpose. I had been busily making crochet hexagons with home spun yarn, with a view to making a blanket. As the hexagons turned out quite stiff, I decided thy were not ideal for a blanket (I will try again, but with a larger hook or try spinning finer yarn) I decided to turn the crochet hexagons into a bag instead.

Crochet Hexagon Bag

Crochet Project Bag

I now have a giant bag that is stuffed with my most recent purchase of Stylecraft yarn. I purchase this after being inspired by Lucy of  attic24 fame. I don’t usually work in acrylic yarn, but I fancied a change and it is so much cheaper than wool or cotton. I did make an acrylic blanket years ago, and it is still very much in use now.

Crochet Afghan Blanket

I am now busy making a ripple blanket in random stripes and bright colours. I should have plenty of yarn left over to make at least one other blanket after this is finished. Always like to look forward to the next project!

Ripple Blanket Started