Something completely different

This week, apart from numerous creme egg critters a friend wanted instead of a party bag for her daughter's birthday party...

Happy Birthday!

I was also asked for something I have never made before, a wedding ring pillow. The requirements were very specific - for a three year old page boy to carry, 8 inches square, very plain and simple in ivory.
So after, much pondering, fabric looking and some sketching, this is what I've made.

wedding ring pillow

The fabric has a very delicate pin dot  pattern on it and I've covered a button for the middle. I've used a cotton fabric, as I thought it would be less slippery than satin for a little one to carry.

ivory fabric and satin ribbon

My last idea was to put a strap on the back that he could tuck his hands in for extra security.

safer carrying?

I do hope the bride likes it.
I'm going to join in Handmade Monday this week, if Wendy is hosting it, and I'm really looking forward to visiting all the other blogs.

Have an eggs-ellent Easter!

Life at Pickle-Lily has been very busy lately - lots of teaching during the week and knitting and sewing whenever I can squeeze it in! Creme egg critters are back!


Happy Easter everyone!

 And a new owl design ..

Rainbow owl

There is also time to knit a spring chicken or two before Sunday. The pattern is here.

I'm a spring chicken ...

So - as it is 4.30am Good Friday morning, I can wish you all

A Very Happy Easter from Pickle-Lily

Easter Blog Hop

Crafty Ribbons are running an Easter Blog Hop starting on March 28th with lots of goodies to give away and pretty things to admire.
I'm going to join in!

The Mystery Continues

At the moment I have a disgusting cold, and haven't felt like doing much of anything. But I have enjoyed picking up the knitting needles and doing some more to the Mystery Toy KAL. I have now finished parts one, two and three and have finished the garment - a little cardigan.

Mystery KAL cardi



A cosy cardi

 Fuzzy Mittens uses American wool and needles for her patterns. so I have had to adapt it a little, and I've used Rowan pure wool DK for my garment, so it's turned out a little bulky, but I quite like that! It also needs four little buttons. Here it is on one of my rabbits so you can see it is very cosy.
We still have no clues as to what animal will be wearing the cardigan, so I am looking forward to this Friday's instalment. It's not too late to join in!

Hot X Pudding and the continued quest to fill a teenage son!



Hot X Pudding

 A very simple recipe using stale hot cross buns was created last week., in my ongoing quest to fill the tummy of my teenage son! Why hadn't he already eaten them? To be honest, I think they were put away in the bread bin and he simply hadn't looked there when they were fresh!

You need
hot cross buns - I think the pudding in the photo used four
butter or sunflower spread to spread them with
350ml milk
50g caster sugar
3 eggs
grated nutmeg

To make

• Pre-heat your oven to 160C fan or 180C not fan.
• Grease a large (2 pint / 1 litre) baking dish.
• Butter the split buns and I then cut them into quarters.
• Arrange all over the dish.
• In a large jug mix the milk, caster sugar and then whisk the eggs in,
• Pour over you mix, and just lightly push the buns into the mix.
• Sprinkle with nutmeg and bake for about 35 minutes.
• Enjoy!

Mystery Knit Along

A couple of years ago I took part in a mystery knitalong on Ravelry to knit a mystery toy. Well, to be accurate I started it, I didn't really get along with knitting in the round with aran yarn, so I gave up when it got too difficult.

Then I saw in my side bar that Fuzzy Mittens was running one this year. I love Fuzzy Mitten patterns. I knit her bunnies. So cute in their little hoodies.





rabbits



with hoodies



I've also knitted a little teddy bear from one of her patterns - more are due to arrive soon!

teddy

So I have paid a very reasonable fee for the pattern - £1.70 and I eagerly sat and knitted the first part on Friday evening, whilst I waited for Pickle-Lily's leotard to finish in the washing machine, so I could hang it up to dry ready for Saturday morning. A new part of the pattern will be published every Friday for six weeks in total, and I'm really looking forward to knitting it.

Part 1 - part of a garment!?

I've also made some more felt birdhouses which I am very pleased with.

felt birdhouses

This week I am joining in with Wendy and Handmade Monday, so why not go on a blog hop and see what everyone else is up to?

Bathrooms, Blog and Birdhouses

This is my list for my non-teaching days this week! I haven't blogged for a while (two weeks!) but life has been busy with everyday things. So

Bathrooms - cleaned!
Blog - in progress and
Birdhouses ...

WiP

I love watching the birds at the bird feeder when I'm in the kitchen, and yesterday as I was washing up I wondered if we'd have any nests this year. We usually have starlings in the gap under the roof by Pickle-Lily's bedroom and I have got Mr P-L to put up some birdhouses as well. Thinking about all of this got my mind whirring and I started drawing as I was waiting for the children to come out of school, and after a few prototypes, here are the first felt birdhouses! I've put ribbon loops on as I thought they'd look pretty as a hanging twig decoration with Easter on the way, and I might make a few with lavender in as well. I'll see where the inspiration takes me.
Have a good week-end x