Christmas Holliers and Baby projects

Well did you all have a fantastic holiday? We had some sick little ladies in the house so it was very much a lazy Christmas and alot of pyjama wearing ...which means although I had intended to hang up my hook for the holiday season, I just had to tackle some projects. The run up to Christmas was super busy in crochet land for me and I have had some amazing requests for homemade presents. Today however I am turning my hand to making a Diaper Cake!!! Well in Ireland we call them nappies so it's a Nappy Cake which doesn't sound as appetising :D I found the instructions for this on a fantastic blog and if you haven't been over to Alli's part of the world, you just gotta....she is amazing and makes everything so easy and do-able. Here's the link I am going to follow for the Nappy Cake! I'll let you know how it goes...Have a Happy Happy 2013 everyone xxx http://www.allicrafts.blogspot.ie/2011/04/how-to-make-diaper-cake.

Boobies ain't bad - they are amazing!

Good morning all,

I'm sitting in my mismatched pj's this morning thinking how funny/strange and great us humans are!

I recently put up a photo on my facebook crochet page https://www.facebook.com/LilybelleCreationsIreland) of a boobie beanie I made for a customer. In case you haven't seen or heard of the infamous boobie beanie, it is a hat that is made to add a giggle and a bit of confidence to breast feeding and is worn on the babies head (not your own) while nursing your infant. Well anyhow when I popped up a photo of the said beanie, it created a bit of a stir, most people loved it but some were offended to my gigantic surprise. This was not my intention at all, I am not that radical :)
I make these beanies to show my support for breastfeeding Mums and also to promote breast cancer awareness which is a cause very close to my heart as I lost my own Mum to it when she was just 47.
I think women are amazing and Mums are outstanding. I think for anyone to say that Boobie beanies are sad fashion should take a look at themselves (and maybe do a breast check too!)

It makes me sad personally to say that in this decade people still have a problem with the breast being exposed in order for one to feed their infant.

I recently read an article on the boobie beanie and they are quoted as saying "Boobie beanies are for Mums who thrive on shock value"

Oh come on....that's not the way I see it at all. I see a confident beautiful woman feeding her infant and having a giggle...now where is the harm in that :)

Have a great day

Love Lilybelle x

What a bootiful day for a birds nest!

It's a balmy beautiful march day here in County Wicklow and I am lounging around with the girlies out our back. The bliss of being Irish is that we are so grateful for any shred of good weather and without two seconds thought we are sheding our winter layers and opting for all things short and summery! We are indeed the eternal optimists ~ dashing out to garden centres to furnish our gardens and plant some new shrubs as soon as those rays hit our spot of green!

Everyone is chipper, a hello for all your neighbours who for months have been hibernating next door to you. We are dusting off our cobwebs and set for all things outdoor-sie. We never think further ahead then a couple of days..and "isn't it gorgeous weather" and "aren't we blessed" are the common phrases we say to anyone who passes our way.

You just gotta love the Irish...we aren't normally blessed with 19 degrees in March but we sure make the most of it when we get it.

On a crocheting note - I have really got into the spirit of Easter and got a notion in my head to crochet a birds nest for the girls little Easter eggs. I really like the way it turned out...hope you do too.

Have a lovely day where-ever you are and enjoy the extra hour of daylight tonight ....summer is a coming

~ Love Lilybelle xx~

p.s I love newborn hats

BTW I am loving all things newborn at the moment and am quite addicted to hats for new precious arrivals

Hats and blankets and bears oh my!!

The weather today has been so beautiful and that's not the norm for this country but boy are we loving it! My kidlets are still out the back playing as I type. It was nearly warm enough not to wear our coats ...in March!! I love spring nearly as much as I love Autumn but my favourite celebration has to be Easter. I'm thinking crocheted lambs, bunnies, easter egg cosies, baby blankets for newborns and lots lots more.

I stayed up late last night doing some hats and started a granny square baby blanket....it has been truly an age since I have made one of these and it was satisfying relaxing (I started out making blankets before I learnt how to make anything else)

Here are some of the projects I have been making over the last few days...I wasn't convinced about the baby bib...my taadaaa moment fell a bit flat...maybe I can do something else with it - add a flower or I like the idea of a fish?!

If you're a happy hooker like me I hope you're enjoying the change in season and change in projects :D

Fling into Spring!

Good morning...what a gorgeous spring day it is here in Wicklow. I am loving the peace in the house after a couple of busy but great days with the family.

Is it just me or is there a serious baby boom on at the moment? So many of my lovely friends are having or due new arrivals...makes me so broody :) (just a little!)

Here are some hats I have made in the last few days for the precious arrivals. They are all deep textured hats with slight variations on them...different yarn etc.

I'm thinking I'd love to try felting but as I am a felting virgin ~ have no idea how it will go....think I'm going to have to just jump in the deep end. Felted creations always look so beautiful and totally different.

Hot Pot Mat

Lazy lazy bank holiday Monday...plenty of time for crocheting, completely acceptable to while away the day in your pj's and be slightly buzzed up on too much coffee.

I am really happy with the way this Hot Pot mat turned out. I just love the spring colours. It's perfect for protecting your table tops (one's that haven't already been personalised by stubborn crayon and red wine stains!)

Hope you like my little creation and are having a lazy day too.

p.s ~ will be posting a free pattern for this hot pot mat soon...love Lilybelle x