Author Archives: Pollay

October 22, 2021 · 12:11 pm

ANYTHING BUT PINK!

Today is the last day of school for my boys before they get a week off for half term. To mark the day, the school have said the kids can come in wearing their uniform with pink accessories, or dressed entirely in pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness.

My youngest (aged 4) often copies his older brother, but aside from that he doesn’t have any strong opinions about pink. In contrast, my eldest (6) once told me that it was a school rule that pink was for girls and blue was for boys. I’ve no idea where he got this from, but he is resolute. We all have colours assigned to us based upon our gender. I’m not sure how this manifests in life, but in his mind it is an immovable fact.

Several of the boys at school opted out of joining in. They couldn’t face the thought of donning pink and having their masculinity challenged, others really went for it. I saw one boy running in wearing his sisters pink leggings, a pink t-shirt and an excited smile. Hopefully my little man (and a few others) will see that no boys were gender re-assigned by six hours in a fuchsia top, that they walked away, pride intact, having had a lovely day.

As for my two, I knocked these up last night and they both looked very handsome. In the end they seemed glad they’d joined in and so am I.

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October 21, 2021 · 1:39 pm

Large Macramé Wall Hanging

A while ago some friends of ours moved into a beautiful victorian house just outside of Edinburgh. I say this, I’ve not seen it yet, but we have seen photos and it seems spacious, light and homely with tiled floors and raised ceilings – the perfect place to raise their wonderful girls. During a chat with my friend she mentioned that she was keeping an eye out for a macramé wall hanging as she had a large blank space in need of art work. I took this as a request, had a rummage online and Crystal from Marching North (click here for the pattern) did not disappoint.

I think I’ve made around four macramé items now, two very simple plant hangers, the more complex hanger in my previous post and now the wall hanger pictured here. This was surprisingly simple to make and it only took about two hours. I cut some cords a little longer to accommodate the thicker branch and I omitted the final step, it was easily done, a pleasure and I’m pleased with the result. I hope you like it too. x

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September 27, 2021 · 3:12 pm

Idle Hands

Once again, there has been a significant gap since I last wrote on here, largely because, for a while at least, I struggled to get anything finished. However, these days time is on my side as both my boys are now at school, and my days are my own again. I miss them, but the school day is short and it is nice to be able to focus on something other than snacks and squabbles for a while.

I started this plant hanger ages ago and did my usual stunt of carrying it with me from place to place for a few months before buckling down and completing it. I’m quite happy with the result and once I got my head down it didn’t take long, but don’t really have anywhere to put it so it’ll be packed up and sent to a friend in Scotland. The pattern is from Macramé by Fanny Zedenius (for more information click here), it’s a great book with a lot of accessible patterns.

The same friend has asked for a wall hanger, the cord is on order, and I’ll be starting it as soon as possible – so watch this space!

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April 19, 2021 · 10:04 am

What’s The Buzz?

Between the kids being home for two weeks over Easter, and the usual list of jobs, I’ve not had time to craft anything lately. Which isn’t to say I’ve not made anything, just that it doesn’t really qualify as a craft and it’s not been particularly artistic. My husband and I are beekeepers and at this time of year (partly because we’re pretty disorganised), our roll becomes more hands on. Over winter the bees hibernate and we leave them to it, hoping they’ll emerge in the spring alive and well. We have 6 hives at the moment, and they’ve all made it through the winter months and are now gathering nectar and pollen and hatching babies.

Our bee hives are made up of boxes, which can be added to as the hive grows throughout the spring and reduced in size in the autumn. Each box contains eleven frames and each frame needs a fresh sheet of foundation (the wax sheets pictured below) before it is placed in the hive, which is what I’ve been doing recently. So far I’ve done about 30, but we’ll probably need another 60 doing before the season peaks and the hives start to shrink again.

I really enjoy this job, it’s meditative, reasonably quick work and it makes my hands smell of bees wax and propolis. I’ve included a picture of our hens as my workbench is right next-door to their run, they like to say hello when we’re all outside. After the frames are re-built we give them to the bees to use as they see fit – they are such a clever bunch.

Thanks for dropping by, Polly

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March 24, 2021 · 1:15 pm

Much Loved Bowls

This is probably going to be the last post show casing ‘stuff I’ve made’ over the last 7 years. Not to say that there isn’t additional ‘stuff’, just that it doesn’t really warrant a post.

That said, the kids probably deserve a mention, but making them wasn’t really a process I could control and the jury is still out with regards to the finished product. True, they are great WIPs, but until they get arrested or elected (or anything in between) (elected and then arrested?) I guess I shouldn’t brag too much… also, all credit to dad, extended family, school, etc… the boys are a group project and are, inevitably, masters of their own destiny. Many moons ago I was the oven and they were the buns, but, if they end up in prison, I want it made clear that it wasn’t my fault. I digress.

Pictured below are four bowls I made during a pottery course at York College, details of which can be found here. It was a great evening course for adult learners, which allowed full access to all the college facilities with no fixed agenda, we were free to do whatever we wanted under our own steam.

I love these bowls, chips and all. My kids enjoy eating yoghurt from the smaller ones, I use the largest for soups, salads and the odd take-away. I love the fact they get used and the way that use has chipped the rims like war wounds, scars obtained through acts of consumption. Although I’ll be sad when it happens, they probably will break at some point and then they’ll line the bottom of a plant pot. This just makes them all the more appreciated at the moment, their time with us is unpredictably brief, or not, who knows.

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March 19, 2021 · 1:48 pm

A Crocheted Pot-holder and an Overdue WIP

(WIP = Work In Progress)

I made the potholder pictured years ago, I honestly can’t remember when. Of all the functional things I’ve crocheted it probably gets the most use and is, poor it, the most ignored. However it has saved me from a nasty burn on more than one occasion.

I used wool as I love this colour but it makes my skin itch, so making anything wearable was out of the question. The border is a light purple cotton, just to add a touch of colour, and to reinforce the loop.

It’s made with a foundation chain of the desired length and then rows of single crochet until it was the right size. On the last row I continued beyond the square with a chain, which I went back over with single crochet to produce the loop. The border was added using single crochet all the way around (these are all UK terms). It comes in handy all the time and I really love the look of it.

With regards to the WIP, I’ve been crocheting a pillow case for, give or take, about 3 years. It’s been so long, that when I recently ran out of yarn and ordered more, the colours had changed. I thought perhaps my stash had faded over time, but some colours seem brighter, some seem duller. I’m pushing to get it finished as it’s rainbow themed and with everything that’s happened over the last 12 months, with the extent to which the rainbow has become synonymous with supporting the NHS, I thought 2021 would be a good year to complete it. Fingers crossed I get it done before I run out of yarn again!

On the right is my old yarn, the two on the left are new. It’s not that noticeable… I’m sure I’ll get away with it…

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March 12, 2021 · 3:46 pm

Lino Print Thank You Card

I decided this card (image below) warranted a post, not least because this was the last print I did before we had our children five years ago, but also because it was my first attempt at using more than one colour. I should add, it was the last of about 6 prints, I’m a learner who hopes to improve with practice.

I do look forward to getting back to lino print, I tried during the current lock down but my eldest was fascinated and wanted to join in. I was only able to watch him failing to stab himself for a few minutes before I decided I was best off waiting until the schools reopened.

There are some fantastic lino print artists around. I first encountered lino print during York Open Studios, an annual event (pre-covid), during which artists in York open their studios to the general public and allow them to sneak a peak at the inner workings of their craft. We went to the studio of an artist called Gerard Hobson (website here) who was desperate to teach his guests all he could in the short time we had together. He was very generous with his knowledge and I left his lovely home feeling keen to have a go. Amanda Colville is another artist I’ve always loved and once you’re familiar with her work it crops up here and there. I thoroughly enjoy recognising the work of artists when out and about, it’s a bit like unexpectedly running into a friend.

Anyway, that will do for now, thanks for visiting.

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March 7, 2021 · 12:39 pm

An Overdue Blanket Reveal

Today I am getting a bit of a preview as to what next week will be like, as my husband has taken our children to my Mother in Law’s house. She is part of our bubble and so the visit complies with the current lock down restrictions. This means I was able to have a lie in, the house is eerily quiet and some toys (for the first time in about 12 weeks) can finally be put away.

I decided it would be a good opportunity to post a few pictures of a blanket I made. I originally wrote about in February 2013 (see post here) as part of my first blog post, a post which included images of a number of granny squares, a work in progress. I can’t tell you how long the blanket took in the end, it was a while, which isn’t surprising as it is more than big enough to cover a standard (UK) king sized bed. In the autumn and spring it gets used as an extra layer on our bed, otherwise it is around for anyone feeling a chill.

This blanket was basically my first crochet project and, if only for it’s weight and size, I’m proud of it.

Thanks for dropping by, Polly

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March 5, 2021 · 4:24 pm

Easy Tiger!

For a while at least, I’ll be using this blog to make note of some of the things I’ve created over the last few years.  To be honest, with the boys keeping me on my toes, I’ve not been as productive as I’d have liked, but there are some items I’d like to post here for posterity, if nothing else.  The tiger pictured below is definitely worthy of a post.  

Some good friends bought our then 2 year old a tiger suit for Christmas (2019) and he fell in love with it.  He wore everywhere, in all weather and, like an experienced method actor he really ‘became’ the tiger.  He roared with all the force he could muster, he prowled about the house on all fours and occasionally, when he was feeling particularly fierce (stroppy) he would try to bite us.  B the tiger would even eat foods that B the boy didn’t like, very handy.

As a result, with his birthday fast approaching, I had a look online for a crochet pattern to make B the tiger a little tiger buddy.  I ended up going with this free pattern (click here) by the very talented Jess Huff.  It was easy to follow (US terms) and I was very pleased with the result, though I did opt to leave off the white tummy.  I made the pad but I preferred the wee man without it and, if I’m honest, I thought it might show the dirt a bit.  

When a parent makes a child a gift they do so hoping their child will enjoy interacting with it, that it will really mean something to the recipient.  I made my eldest an elephant when he was two years old, as requested, and I don’t think it’s ever been touched.  It was appreciated on the day, but fell from favour pretty promptly.  

B’s reaction to Tiger was everything I hoped for, and he has kept Tiger close at hand since their first encounter.  If, at 8pm, when he’s supposed to be asleep, B starts to complain that he doesn’t know where Tiger is, that Tiger is sad / cold / lonely, it is with a genuine mix of muted rage and a swell of pride that I traipse off to look for him.  Such was B’s enthusiasm, I decided to add to Tiger this Christmas (2020) with a superhero outfit.  I have very limited sewing experience, the suit took far too long to make and it is nothing like I had in mind, but I was still pretty pleased with it.  That said, B seems to prefer his Tiger au natural – you win some you lose some I guess. 

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February 26, 2021 · 4:27 pm

A Wedding and a Wreath

It’s been years since I’ve posted anything on this blog, seven and a half to be exact.  It is now February 2021 (the last time I wrote was June 2013) and, unsurprisingly our world is a different place now to what it was then.  

There have been a few significant events within our personal world: my husband and I got married, and we now have two beautiful boys (aged 3 and 5).  We moved house, trading-in local amenities for a garden and more space for the kids.  I am also no longer working and, at present, I spend my time with our youngest, preparing food, reading, being hugged, stumbling on toys and muttering expletives.  At present though, as for many, the overriding theme in our lives is COVID-19 and it is for this reason that I’ve returned to 45 Ginger Biscuits.

Once upon a time my anxiety levels were nonexistent, I may have been prone to brooding on arguments or worrying about things that hadn’t happened but, otherwise I was reasonably stable.  A miscarriage many moons ago seems to have irrevocably rocked the boat, and now I have to be a little more mindful about how I manage my mental health.  To cut a long story short, creativity helps, I enjoy writing, and so I’m back. 

Without further ado, I wanted to share the wreath featured above.  It was made, along with six others, after our wedding using the flowers from the bridal and bridesmaid’s bouquets.  I made the bouquets using a tutorial similar to this (click here) and then pinned the flowers to a wreath by way of a keep-sake.  I also crocheted bow ties for the groom and any significant gents involved in the ceremony.  It was a time consuming project but well worth the effort, that said, I couldn’t have done it without the help of some very dear friends.

My eldest returns to school on the 8th March, he can’t wait and I’m excited about the light at the end of the lock down tunnel. Hopefully a little more free time will mean a little more time to craft and to post.  Until then, hope you have a good day.

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