Sunday 12 April 2015

Billy's Blankie......Jane learns to crochet

 Hi everyone it's Billy here at Jane's Journal. I'm just enjoying the sunshine outside but

 there have been some strange things going on here over the Easter holiday. Come with me....


......for her birthday Jane received some new stash which included a book on learning to crochet. I knew that this has been on her bucket list for ages and no sooner had her birthday passed then out came some very strange implements.

Just take a looks at these thing....they could do any awful lot of damage. There is a poor bird which has been fashioned into something metallic, that beak looks very sharp. The green and blue shiny thing are obvious called 5.000mm and 4.000mm, I wonder if they are related?

Anyway, off Jane went to the High Street last week to find a few balls of fluffy stuff she called wool. She had already had a practice with some off cuts from Daisy's baby hats and learnt some stitches called chain (nothing metal though, how very odd) double and treble crochet.
She looked at some You Tube videos too but got a bit confused because apparently what we call a treble crochet in the UK the American's call a double. Eventually she got the hang of these basic stitches and decided it was time to have a go at something she has been itching to do.......
 starting her first Nanna square, oh actually it might be called a Granny square. She chained 6 stitches and linked then into a circle and off she went. I heard her talking about shells and runways but anyway this started to appear.
 and after a while her first Nanna  Granny square was made. She had planned to make lots of these and put them together but then changed her mind (I'm reliably told this is a woman's prerogative).  She thought that for a first attempt she would just keep going with these 2 colours and make something bigger than a Nanna Granny square.
I got very interested when she put it on my chair and said.....
 "Jane this is not big enough yet.....
I could have something like this as a blankie for my box where I sleep at night, 
Look I can't get on it....you need to keep going".
She got the hint and went  up to my box on the landing to get an idea of the size. Now you may think, goodness me, that is a rather old battered box (it was from when Daisy's Mum was at Uni and they put her furniture into storage in Leeds one summer when she was between houses). This is my box and I will not sleep in any other box or any other bed as I will not use it. Jane muttered something like, yes we have tried buying you other prettier (how can my box not be called pretty?) beds but this 10 year old + old box still remains. Hmmm I can't see what she is complaining about.What is there not to love about my bed?
The front is even bend down to a perfect angle where I have jumped in and out of it, it's perfect for me. I have a little cloth inside which gets washed each week...here it is
Pretty good huh...but very plain. Now a blue and yellow blankie for me in here would be lovely.

So over the Easter holidays my blankie got bigger...............

 and bigger ..................

and eventually Jane stopped using those instruments of torture and produced this.

yes my very own blankie.
  I have just seen that she has tucked it into my bed.
 Sweet dreams?.........................I'll let you know.............................;0)


Now Jane loves to enter card challenges and she wants to me share one here.


Today's card obviously has to feature a cat of course. She says this is very "Clean and Simple" for her and it was a congratulations card she made for her DD when she passed her exams recently. She used Kraft card as the base.
The focal is a lovely Little Claire's printed panel which she won as part of a prize recently.
She used a stamp from hers stash and stamped the sentiment onto her MB cloud die. The little butterfly is MS.

She would like to enter her card into the following challenges;

Little Claires use kraft card
Country View crafts use Kraft card
Die Cut Divas in the garden
Addicted to stamps and more Clean and simple
Natalie and Amy Frame it
The Ribbon Girl add ribbon and/or lace
Pile it on Fancy frames or beautiful borders
Simon Says stamp Monday A is for April blossom on my image
Crafty card makers wings
Papertake weekly anything goes
Allsorts bingo I have added ribbon, gems and die cut

I had better be off now before Jane realises I have hijacked her blog today.....

Jane will be back soon,

Billy x

20 comments:

  1. Bravo on learning to crochet, Jane! There'll be no stopping you now! I can see all kinds of fun things in your future.. I mean.. you don't want Daisy to see that Billy got your first blanket! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. this cat image is adorable - thanks for sharing your cute card at ATSM this week

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  3. Hi Billy, Jane is very clever learning how to make your blanket (don't tell Daisy that you got her first masterpiece) She also made a very beautiful card - obviously because it's got a cat on it. Please thank her for me for entering our challenge at Country View Crafts, and I look forward to you hijacking her computermabob again. Sue xx

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  4. Well now Billy I hope the blankIe doesn't put you off sleeping in your box because I know what you cats are like, you like things to be your idea and not someone else's which is the reason I suspect you are sleeping in a cardboard box and not a CK bed!!!
    I must say your Mum has certainly got the crochet bug and has become quite the expert at it too. Your blankIe is lovely and those stitches are ever so neat! You may find lots more of the woolly stuff appearing around your house from now on.
    Your Mum has made such a pretty card too but then it has a cat on it so on earth could it be anything but pretty!
    Have a good week Billy and enjoy that new blankie.
    V x

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  5. Jane,you are quite talented! First, I must admit that I have tried to crochet. I really tried. My attempts were horrible. Truly horrible. So I am both impressed and awestruck by your lovely handiwork. And the card is lovely as well. I'm certain that her DD will agree. Thank you for joining us this week for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. It was so fun visiting your blog this week. Thanks again! ~Michelle

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  6. WOW, impressive with the crocheting! I've often thought about learning this skill...you've certainly added more sparks of incentive! Your card: absolutely delightful! Thank you sharing in the ATSM gallery!
    ~c

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  7. Very adorable and sweet cat card! Love the soft color you've used! Thank you for sharing at ATSM.

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  8. Thanks to Billy for your wonderful post today and well done, Jane for your first crochet creation! (I hope Billy liked his new bedding, as V said, cats can be fickle creatures!)
    Love your CAS card featuring that cute kitty too! have a fabulous week! Hugs, Lisa x

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  9. Lucky kitty :) Congrats on learning a new skill!

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  10. Oh my gosh, hilarious Jane!! Great job on the blanket and it looks like Billy finally got a large enough piece! haha!! Sweet card. hugs :)

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  11. What a fun post Jane and did make me laugh. My cats also love crochet blankets in the summer months and fleece for the winter, but I got mine from charity shops.....not as clever as you. Your card is a perfect addition to your post.
    Julie xx

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  12. Darling card. I love the light colors and design. Sweet card. And I loved reading about the 10 year plus cat box. :)

    So glad you joined us at Die Cut Divas.

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  13. Lovely to see a lc image and a fab cas card, beautiful puss too. Thanks for playing at lc

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  14. Bravo dear Jane!
    I enjoyed your story, I would love to see the Adventures of Jane & Billy in a book with watercolor illustrations as sweet as your beautiful card!

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  15. Hello sweet Billy,

    You have a pretty new blanket, please tell Jane she is a very, very talented lady! Now the bed you sleep in... Well I know you love it, but I must say I can see why Jane might not love it as much - maybe she could decorate it a bit (I know she loves decorating cakes and cards and smaller keepsake boxes so...)? And once you are on the subject of decorating, you might soften it all up a bit by telling her that she made the most wonderful card again, that little kitty with the birdie-friend is adorable!

    Happy April week to you all!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  16. This is a wonderful card, so cute, thanks for joining us at Allsorts, xx
    Great crocheting too, x

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  17. Billy, we love it when you hijack Jane's blog- She did a very nice thing by learning to crochet and creating a special blanket for you. Our person, Michele has projects planned for us, too. But first, she has to break out her old sewing machine from the closet where it collects dust and it's a heavy one! Meanwhile, none of us is getting any younger. But she's good to us and shares her own blankets and chairs so we can snuggle while we read or watch TV- Your pup friends in the US, Junior and Esther.

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  18. What a lovely card! Thank you for sharing it with us at Crafty Cardmakers and more.

    Jackie

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  19. Ahhh, Billy, lucky you with your new homemade blanket. Tell Jane it looks lovely and I'm little by little, learning to crochet also.
    Happy to hear some news from you. Sending a big kiss and some warmer weather from America.
    Anne xxx

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  20. See, I knew you'd make nice things :) and I'm sure Billy is thrilled - my cats love their crochet blankets....sadly, not made by me. Bx

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Jane x