Bank holiday – time to knit & chill

Bank holiday and its time to knit and chill

I don’t know about you but as it is a Bank Holiday here in the UK, I am going to knit and chill. I find knitting very therapeutic. I totally relax when I have those knitting needles click-clacking away in my hands. I am not big into knitting cardigans and big garments. I just love creating smaller fun things.

Little pink bras - raising awareness for cancer charity fundraising

Little pink bras – raising awareness for cancer charity fundraising

One of my commissions was for some little pink bras to be hung as bunting in a shop window that was fundraising for a breast cancer awareness charity. It certainly raised a smile as well as lots of much-needed funds.

Mr & Mrs Noah

The rainbow and Mr & Mrs Noah are part of the Noahs ark – a present I have chosen to knit for my youngest grandaughter. As an ex-primary school teacher, I absolutely love using primary colours. I am using Sarah Keen’s books Knitted Noahs Ark 

 

Sandown yarnbombing

Recently, The #Golivegranny community took part in the Sandown Yarn bombing to brighten up the town. Sandown was entered in Britain in Bloom and Jackie, who set up the Sandown Yarnbombers appealed for knitters to partake. I shared the news into my 10 pm broadcasts and flowers started arriving by the box full. It was a bit like Interflora on steroids. My community never disappoint. My job was to create beautiful display boards as well as making some flowers myself. My community never pass up the opportunity to knit.

I knitted Mary Mary Quite Contrary and her silver bells and cockle shells and was able to add a few beautiful flowers from #golivegranny community member Carol Potts.

Spaceship

Another project my viewers have embraced was something my daughter asked for help with. She has recently started working in a school serving some very deprived children – children who don’t own any books and there are no books in their homes. She asked me if I would make some finger puppets to aid their learning. Again I shared it with the community in my broadcasts and the result is many story sacks containing props to help illustrate the stories and rhymes. The spaceship is for the song :_

5 little men in a flying saucer
Flew round the world one day
They look left and right
But they didn’t like the sight
So one man flew away

4 little men in a flying saucer etc

It was one of the bigger slightly bigger things I chose to knit

 

They have also supplied aliensaliens

 

taken from the Mini Knitted Cosmos

 

 

We are very lucky as many people gift us wool and needles for our projects – most of which go on to various charities.

My viewers love to learn about all things knitting and so I decided to become an affiliate for some of the knitting businesses.

Deramores is a popular site and offers a range of yarns as well as patterns and needles and hooks and accessories You can also get 15% off your first order

 

The Knitting Network is another site popular with knitters.

2020-08-lucky-bag-half-banner-min

It is always worth checking out to stay up to date with current trends and offers. There are some great value packs worth investigating.

 

It has been a very long time since I updated this blog but as it is Bank holiday I am now off to knit and chill.

Lyn Knitting in Toby and Cheryls garden

 

This post contains some affiliate links. This means I will receive a small commission but the purchaser will not pay any more for their goodies. The purpose of the commission is to purchase more items to entertain the #golivegranny community via the broadcasts be it in the #golivegranny community garden or from the #golivegranny studio. My mission is to inspire, educate and entertain. Have a great day and if you have enjoyed this then please share. #sharingiscaring

 

 

 

 

 

 

When life gets in the way

 When life gets in the way

There was I, with every good intention, starting out on the 30 Day Blogging challenge. I did wonder if I was a little foolish starting out in my busiest week of the year!! Then life got in the way! I’m social media manager for my church, my Rotary group, several paying clients as well as for my own businesses, Wightbuzz, AllthingsNetworking.com (with my son)  Lyn’s Green Biz, and Lyn Blackledge Independent Phoenix Trader . I was also giving a lot of my time to another voluntary project.

I have always undertaken a lot of voluntary work. However, I don’t expect to be verbally abused for giving of my time and effort free. When I found myself faced with 5 other volunteers who saw fit to shout at me – I took stock.  Much as I had loved working on the project for well over a year using much time and effort and raising a considerable amount of funds with my friend, I decided that it was time to take a break. We were all supposed to be part of the same team – volunteers – helping those less fortunate. This wasn’t the first time this happened but this time I had had enough.  The accusations were unnecessary and unfounded. Sadly, all too often the old green eye works its way in. My social media skills had done much for the project. Obviously too much for some folk. I did suggest that we sit and talk like grown ups – unfortunately the main culprit couldn’t even bring herself to answer me directly.  I was sad at first then realised that my own health is the most important. If I don’t take care of myself, there is no way I can look after others.

I was watching my grandaughters’ dancing – they were dancing to a song from the very popular Disney film, Frozen. There, I had it . Instead of feeling bad, I just had to  LET IT GO!

 

Since I made that decision, life has improved. I celebrated the New Year last night with family and friends having  made the decision to  start the new year in very positive mode. So far, so good. I have had a very productive day achieving far more in one day than I have for a long time.

Decluttering – tick, paperwork tick, videos made tick, listening to some very soothing tapes tick. decision to tackle the weight problem tick, plotting and planning for the portfolio of businesses I run – tick. Restart the exercise regime too – tick.

So as for the rubbish in my life – LET IT GO . Sometimes you really do need to stop and take stock. So 2015 you WILL be an awesome year.

 

 

 

 

Wikaniko and how I like being a distributor of eco friendly products

I have been a distributor for Wikaniko since December 2010 and it is a company I love to be involved with. The folk who run the company work tirelessly to help us grow our businesses. they pay all the suppliers upfront . They offer help and support every step of the way. They are helping me to help others take those small green steps to save the Earth without costing the Earth,

green feet 2

 

It has taken time to build, as all good things do but this morning I faced a particular frustration and I got straight onto the online direct chat to HQ. Drew answered my call and within minutes, he had sorted my problem. Well done Drew. Thanks so much. Im now on my way to take more green steps……….why not come with me – check out the eco friendly products in my online shop and find out how you could have your own shop full of eco friendly items. Why wait – act now http://lynblackledge.wikaniko.com

4 home based businesses – who said it couldn’t be done?

Once upon a time – a business was for life – not so anymore!. Having worked hard in my 30 year teaching career – during which I ran my own nursery for 21 years – I turned to becoming a book lady – selling children’s books via stalls at local events and book parties. When the book company moved the goal posts after I had built my business for 7 years, I decided to leave and then at the age of 58 I had to look for new ways of earning an income. I found other home based businesses and set up several. I decided to spread my eggs into several baskets. There was criticism but at the end of the day – it’s my life and I have to do what’s right for me. What is right for me is not necessarily right for others.

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Putting your best foot forward.

I would love to put my best foot forward! Now let me see! What do you think this means? Well I decided to look up the meaning and found the following meaning:-

Embark on a journey or task with purpose and gusto.I took this from The Phrase Finder and it suggest it would mean there would be at least 3 or more. I only have two feet – would that I had more!!

You see I have had an epic NHS fail – see for yourself!

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