Month: May 2020

Sunday Sevens #224 31.5.20

~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

Hello there, how have you been getting on this week? It’s been a busy one as usual for me. How can life still feel so busy when so many aspects of it are restricted at the moment? I have no idea. Here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens:

Cruise ship calling

In spite of the fact we are still in semi-lockdown here in Gibraltar, there still seems to be a lot of cruise ships calling in. Few of them have passengers though, they are coming in to change crews, fly passengers home or collect supplies. It must be rather strange cruising about the place with very few people on board.

A trip to the beach

At the start of the week Littlest went to the beach for a short while for a socially distanced meet up with a friend. It was lovely and quiet down there and did him the world of good to see someone from outside of our family unit for a change.

Home schooling

I’m so glad that I got the chance to spend one afternoon a week as a work experience helper in a primary school as an A-Level student. It made me realise that I wasn’t cut out to be a teacher and I turned my attention elsewhere. I have to admit I’m struggling with the home schooling during lockdown. My patience levels are at an all time low. I completely understand that the lockdown and school closures are necessary but I will certainly be doing a happy dance when my three all return to school (whenever that may be).

An unexpected delight

I have to thank the ladies at The Crochet Sanctuary for bringing this to my attention – my new podcast, Making Stitches, got a write up in Crochet Now Magazine!! How marvelous is that?! I’m really rather chuffed about it 😊.

Crochet with concentration

I’ve been trying to finish some of my long-standing WiPs during lockdown and this is one of them. It’s an Entrelac Tunisian crochet purse from Little Box of Crochet. I started it and put it away. Upon rediscovering it, I realised the first row of turquoise blue diamonds wasn’t right so ended up unraveling the lot and starting again. This is how far I got yesterday – I’m not quite as far as I was before I ripped it apart.

It takes quite a bit of concentration – something I’m a bit short of at the moment – but as the rows grow it makes more sense and I think I’m back on track now. Hopefully I’ll be able to share a good bit of progress next week!

Also on my hook this week…

I’m still playing catch up on the Pandemonium CAL. It had been going so well but life & boring stuff interrupted my crochet! I think I might need another few rainbow rows…

Podcast update

Amanda Bloom & her daughter Jenny

This week’s podcast episode features Little Box of Crochet’s Amanda Bloom. We had a lovely chat all about her daughter a Jenny, who was instrumental in setting up their subscription box business as well as how the business has grown and the community it’s created. You can find it here, if you fancy a listen.

That’s all from me for this week, I hope the new week is a good one for you. Bye for now 😊.

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

Sunday Sevens #223 24.5.20

~ Making Stitches ~ 2 Comments

Hello there, is it just me or are the Sundays coming around faster than usual at the moment? It only seems like the day before yesterday I wrote my last Sunday Sevens. Quite remarkable really considering what quiet lives we are living at the moment.

Anyway, just one day late, here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens on Bank Holiday Monday (it’s a rather floral one seeing as it was Chelsea Flower Show week!):

Lockdown Crochet 🧶

I’ve not shared my Pandemonium CAL progress with you for a while. Here’s where I’m up to now, I’m a bit behind (a couple of weeks behind I think) but it’s been busy behind the scenes at Postcard Towers, so Crochet has been relegated. I’m pleased to say it’s made an appearance at last. I did the yellow and black v stitch on the 3rd anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing. I thought the yellow and black bee 🐝 colours were appropriate for that day.

Rainbows 🌈

I had a couple of trips into town this week and both times I parked in Midtown carpark. As I waited for the lift I spied rainbows on the floor. The sunshine was coming at the right angle through the louvred glass windows. I love it when I see them.

A walk around the Rock

Midweek I found myself on my own for a few hours and took off on an adventure I haven’t ever done before, to walk all the way round the Rock. It was a beautiful day and a lovely walk which took about two hours. I hope to share a post about it soon when I get the chance!

Where flowers bloom, so does hope

In autumn / winter last year I saw an Instagram post by the lovely Nancy (@avocadofairy) about a maker (@thepaintedanthology) who paints nice words on slate, pots and other items. I decided to buy one myself. Little did I know when I bought it how pertinent those words would be this year for us all; “where flowers bloom, so does hope” ~ Ladybird Johnson

Agapanthus surprise

I was doing a spot of gardening in our patio this week and to my great surprise I spied a gorgeous agapanthus bloom poking out above the bougainvillea. I have had bad luck with agapanthus over the years. I tried to grow them in the UK without success. I have lost count of how many I have planted since we arrived in Gibraltar thinking that at last the climate would be on my side here.

I had forgotten about this one out back and given up hope after it put on a rather weedy show. But look at it now! What a joy and a perfect compliment to the pink bougainvillea.

Jacarandas

My word Gibraltar has some beautiful jacaranda trees in bloom at the moment. I don’t know whether it’s been a particularly good year for them or whether I’m just noticing them more but there are so many dotted about town and they look gorgeous at the moment.

Podcast latest

Marisa Alcock aka Mariwish

This week’s episode of Making Stitches features my friend Marisa talking about her childhood here in Gibraltar and her love of crochet. You can listen to it here.

That’s it for this week on Sunday Sevens, I hope you have a good week.

Sunday Sevens #222 17.5.20

~ Making Stitches ~ 2 Comments

Hello there! How are you this week? It’s been an extremely busy one for me. I was bitten by the cleaning / tidying bug – it’s a very rare occurrence. I did so much cleaning one day I walked 12,000 steps and hadn’t left the apartment!!

So much domestication has meant not much time for crafts but I hope to make up for that next week now I can sit back in a clean and tidy(ish) home! Here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens:

Sunday family walk

Last Sunday we had a family walk up to the bottom of the Upper Rock Nature reserve. It was a lot busier than it has been of late. There were more cars to dodge and some people were stopping to chat too. It felt jarring to see after so many weeks of isolation and social distancing.

Med Steps escape

On Tuesday I escaped on my own for the first time since lockdown (apart from to walk to the recycling bins or go to the supermarket) and climbed the Med Steps. It was beautiful and full of wildflowers. I wrote a blog post all about it – you can find it here if you missed it.

Pandemonium CAL

I’ve hardly had time or energy for crochet this week. But here’s what I have managed… done rather big bobbles on my Pandemonium blanket!

Sunshine on a rainy day

We’ve had a few extremely wet days this week (think total stair rods /monsoon). Naturally as I was on a spring cleaning mission, I washed all the windows – big mistake! They were soon splattered with raindrops. But at least it meant I caught sight of this brief beauty.

Coo-eee! I can see you!

When I climb to the top of the Upper Rock I like to take a moment to look down and spot places of interest. From certain angles you can see the roof of the building we live in, the schools the Little Postcards have been to etc. When you’re up there, it’s easy to forget that there might be someone down below looking up at you. One afternoon this week, that was me. I was in my kitchen and looked up through the window to see three people up there looking down. It looks rather precarious from below though…

Winning at the weekly shop!

Now when you get up and out early to do the weekly shop and are braced to join the end of a long queue to get into the supermarket, there’s no greater sight than this….

Eurovision night sunset

Last night as we watched Eurovision (the not really Eurovision version) and as the sun was setting on what should have been the venue of the grand final, I looked out of the window and spotted our own sunset too.

Podcast update

This week’s Making Stitches episode features a chat with Carole Rennison from Yarndale about this year’s charity appeal. Pop over to Making Stitches to hear all about it.

That’s all for this week, I hope you have a good one. Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.

A stroll around Gibraltar No. 25 : The Med Steps – an oasis of beauty in the midst of lockdown

~ Making Stitches ~ 4 Comments

Hello there, it’s been a while since I took you on a stroll with me. Care to join me again?

This afternoon, I escaped for my first solo walk for over 8 weeks, and my first trip up to the top of the Rock since being poorly with the dreaded virus.

Looking south East towards the enclave of Ceuta in Morocco

It was hard work, and took a lot longer than it used to (personally I think they’ve made the steps steeper while I’ve been away 😉) but it was bliss. I just love this part of Gibraltar, it’s my favourite bit. Calm and quiet even when Town is bustling with tourists (not that there are any at the minute) and so, so beautiful – especially at this time of year.

Looking East over the Mediterranean towards some huge drilling ships at anchor

This weekend should have been the Med Steps 5 Challenge in aid of Cancer Relief Gibraltar, but because of the current situation, it’s been put off until autumn at the earliest. I had planned to do it again this year (all 5 laps) but life and coronavirus got in the way. At least I got to enjoy just the one lap today!

This time of year is the perfect time to walk/climb the Med Steps footpath, the wildflowers are in their glory. I was thinking I wouldn’t get the chance to experience them this year, but thankfully an opportunity presented itself today for a solo stroll and I leapt at the chance!

It was so quiet, I spied just 4 other walkers on the entire stretch.

It was so clear looking beyond the Europa Point lighthouse and across the Strait to Morocco

I didn’t realise just how much I’d missed this time alone. I felt energized and able to totally switch off from the world outside this tiny bubble of mine!

Just look at those wildflowers!

A rainbow of wildflowers

I did the touristy thing and went into the cave (pretending it was for an arty photo but actually it was for a rest!).

View from one of the Goats Hair Twin Caves (Gibraltar’s most Instagrammed views apparently)

I spotted these purple flowers, which I had never seen before…

Could they be a kind of orchid?

Whatever they are, they’re beautiful!

Those steps, my word, it was hard work but it’s always worth it for that view!

View from near the summit looking North

And of course our hairy neighbours are never far away!

And that, as they say, is that. One Med Steps stroll done. Now there’s the easy jaunt back downhill to get back home!

Thank you for stopping by to come on my Med Steps trip with me. I hope you’re safe and well and managing during this worrying time. x

If you would like to find out more about the Med Steps, you might like this post I wrote a while back.

Sunday Sevens #221 10.5.20

~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

Hello and how are you? I hope you are safe and well wherever you are reading this. We’ve just completed week 7 of lockdown here in Gibraltar but things are slowly relaxing in terms of restrictions and that feels good.

It’s been a week of crochet, walks and a fun podcast about quilting! Here’s this week’s Sunday Sevens:

Gibraltar plumbing…

So last Sunday afternoon our walk was cut short by a phone call from a neighbour to say one of our pipes had sprung a leak. Can you see the jet of water spray shooting upwards? Well that was our salt water pipe which fills the cistern to flush our loo.

The pipe’s only a couple of years old but because it gets direct sunlight in the mornings it’s perished the plastic. Plumbers are a bit thin on the ground in Gib at the moment as many trades people who work in Gibraltar come in from Spain. I found one eventually, but it took him 4 days to source a ladder tall enough to reach the pipe.

I know we speak a lot these days about the things we once took for granted before lockdown began, but there’s nothing like constantly filling your cistern with a bucket in order to flush that makes you reckon you’ll never take a flushing toilet for granted again!!

Thank heavens it was fixed on Thursday…

Sunset

I spied this lovely sunset one evening as I walked past the open front door. It’s nice just to take a moment to appreciate them when they come along.

Hat making workshop

I’ve been missing my weekly dressmaking lessons with my sewing teacher Dorcas lately. She hasn’t been idle during lockdown though, she’s been uploading video tutorials and selling patterns online. On Tuesday I took part in one of her online classes – and made a hat! It was upcycled from an old pair of trousers and turned out rather well.

If you fancy taking one of Dorcas’ classes online just visit Dorcas Fashion Academy on YouTube.

Paint job

While clearing out the shed, I found some paint, so decided to give our gate a facelift. One day for undercoating and another for gloss. I’m pleased with my work. FYI the paint splatters were on cardboard I put down – not the floor (I’m a messy decorator).

Lily in bloom

This beautiful lily, which lives beside our front door, came into bloom this week. I love it when it comes to life like this.

5K walk

There’s an appeal underway in Gibraltar to raise money for the Covid fund for the local health service. They are asking people to walk, run or cycle 5 km and donate £5. We did our 5k on Friday, the VE Day bank holiday.

It was a super, sunny afternoon and even Littlest did very well, in spite of his legs being a lot shorter than the rest of ours!

#finishedforfriday

A few weeks ago, Black Sheep Wools issued a call to action to help us work through our WIP piles (work-in-progress) I have one or two (ish) projects on the go including this jumper which has been in my WIP pile for about 18 months.

I didn’t manage to get it finished for that Friday but I got it finished for this Friday instead! I’m really pleased with it – it’s the first item of clothing (which I’d be happy to be seen in public wearing) that I have crocheted.

It was made from a Simply Crochet Magazine pattern using Stylecraft Linen Drape in Cranberry. I love it! Shame it’s not really jumper weather in Gibraltar at the moment!

It has the nice heart detail in filet on the sleeves too

Making Stitches Podcast

Also on Friday I published the latest episode of Making Stitches Podcast. This one is about a community quilt being made in lockdown inspired by a quilt made by female prisoners of war in Changi in Singapore during WWII. You can find it on podcast apps by searching for ‘Making Stitches’ or here.

That’s Sunday Sevens done for another week, I hope you are ok and managing with whatever restrictions you have had imposed upon you. I hope the week to come is a good one for you…

Sunday Sevens was first created by Natalie from Threads and Bobbins.