Ta - Dah! Introducing SIBOL No. 54. 'The Young At Heart' Blanket.

Hi Everyone!

Thanks everyone for your comments on the Squares received on Wednesday. They were so pretty weren't they?  Also for the kind comments on my neices' drawing of my Grandmother.  If you haven't seen it please go back a post.

Now I have a Ta - Dah! for you.  'The Young At Heart' Blanket is finished and I would like to show it to you. What fun I had with these Squares. Such wonderful ideas from you all.  I always say this but it always amazes me when I put a Challenge out, how you all take it on board and do your very best to make such brilliant Squares! This Blanket was such a fun one to do. Lots of Childhood memories on this one, Skipping Rope, Swings, Footballs, Teddy Bears, Ice Creams etc., All brilliant ideas.




If you haven't read about the 'Royal Wedding' Challenge please go back posts and have a read. I wouldn't want you to miss out on the  Challenge.

I'll leave you with my Slide Show. I'll probably be back later on in the day with new Squares!

Happy Birthday Kimblesathome! Squares from the UK!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Well hi, how are you?  First of all thanks so much for visiting me today here on the SIBOL web-site.  I do hope you are going to be inspired once again by the Squares you are about to see!  I've had Squares come in from the UK today and I can't wait to show you them. 

First of all we have belated Birthday wishes for Karin. It was her Birthday last week and I really should have wished her Happy Birthday then. We have Daughters the same age 25 now and we both had their Birthday celebrations going on last week.  So time has been running away with us both. So I'm terribly sorry I am late saying on here Karin.  Please pop over to her beautiful blog and say hello!

But also today we are celebrating Kim's Birthday too. So Happy Birthday Kim! I hope you have a wonderful day!

First of all Teresa has been mailing me and I would just love to say how nice it has been to have a chat with her. She has been asking me how SIBOL started and how many Nursing Homes I have delivered our Blankets too.  I said on my last mail that I would put up a Slide Show for her of my Nursing Home visits. It is in the Side Bar, but I will make this one larger for her. I have delivered 44 'Sunshine Blankets' just before Christmas and I have some of course which are waiting to be given out.

For you Teresa here's the Slide Show.
If you want it to go faster touch the + key.
If you want to stop and look at a photo just touch the photo with your mouse.

Thank you for taking such an interest in our project Teresa.

Now it's time for Squares!  OOh goodness, don't we just love Squares!

I've had two sets come in today from the UK.  The first  set  is from crochet3love (Flickr).  crochet3love has sent me two gorgeous Squares. Now the tree Square will be perfect for either the Farmyard or the Spring Challenge. I want you to look closely because crochet3love has some tiny beads sewn on. They are just adorable. I absolutely love them! 



Aren't they lovely? Thank you so much for taking part in our Challenges, I think the Squares are beautiful.  The Butterfly Square also has tiny beads in the centre. Such fantastic ideas for SIBOL. Thank You crochet3love!

We move on to Gilly Lilly (Flickr).  Gilly Lilly has sent me such lovely Squares too.  OOh I do get excited......
Just take a look at these Squares they are so fresh looking. I love the patterns of the Squares and I also love the colour combinations.  Such a pleasure to receive your Squares also Gilly Lilly, thank you!



I  hope you two Ladies don't mind me combining your Squares in one Slide Show.  I have made it for you both so sit back and enjoy!

Thanks to everyone that has been emailing me and leaving a comment about SIBOL. I am so pleased you are been 'inspired'.  It's a pleasure to receive these beautiful Squares, but it's also a pleasure to show YOU!
I  know you enjoy looking at them too!

Now don't forget our 'Royal Wedding' Challenge.  We have to have the Squares in by 18th March, so there isn't a lot of time. Go back a post if you haven't heard about our Challenge.

I've just had an email come in from my Brother Kevin. He is married to Suzie and they have two children George and Katie.  Katie (16)  asked my Mother the other day if she could borrow some photographs of my Grandmother. Katie has to draw an Elderly person for her Art work at College. My Mother found out this photograph of my Grandmother when she was 100.  She is standing holding her telegram fron the Queen.

Just take a look at Katies drawing. It's brilliant.

I think she's made a smashing job of it. Thanks Katie for letting me put this on my web site!

Have a good day everyone I'm off to do my ironing :( !

Squares from Singapore and 'The Royal Wedding Challenge'.

Hi Everyone!

It's such a dark, wet miserable day here today in the UK.  I've been trying to take some photographs for you because I received some Squares from arien156 (Singapore) just before lunch.  The Squares are just lovely, I hope they are not too dark for you.

arien156 has sent me quite a few Squares this morning. She has been  busy with our SIBOL Challenges.  I want you to have a look at them now.  She's made Squares for our Two Tone Green Granny Challenge, Jan Eaton, Circle of Friends, Farmyard Challenge, Spring Challenge amazing!

What cute ideas for the Spring Challenges, a little Birdie and a Beautiful Butterfly! I love them. Now the Farmyard ones are really original. She has made the Squares in colours of the Corn, Grass and Wheat! What brilliant ideas! 



Now I am waiting for a few more Jan Eatons to come in, so if you haven't sent them, would you do so now please?  Also a couple of Circle of Friends I am still waiting for thank you!

arien156 is in charge of our Ravelry Group SIBOL and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking her for her hard work.  Shes a very good 'Secretary!' Uploads our Blankets and Squares over there for me, I am so grateful to you! The button is at the top of the web site. Please pop over to have a chat with us over there.

arien156 thank you for the gorgeous Squares, take a break from Ravelry now and enjoy your Slide Show!





Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

If you are popping across from MSE please take a look at our Royal Wedding Challenge. It's on the previous post and it's also mentioned over on SIBOL Challenges. Closing date for Squares is 18th March. They MUST be here by then, so I can make the Blanket up ready to send off.  We are going ahead with this idea, let's see how we get on! Thank you.

Thanks for visiting SIBOL today.

Squares from the UK! CHALLENGE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all having a Happy Valentines Day! 

I would like to thank Margaret (UK) for the Squares received today.  Margaret has sent me some gorgeous Granny Squares for SIBOL, such lovely spring colours! One of the Squares has a lovely flower design and I'm sure you will love it.

The others Margaret are in your Slide Show, sit back and enjoy! Thank you so much.

                                                        ANNOUNCEMENT.

Now I would like your thoughts........I am proposing to do something I wouldn't normally do. To be honest I am a little hesitant but I need to know what you think.  I have never done anything like this before.

You may be aware of a certain event taking place on April 29th. Yes it is the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. 

Great British Yarns is running a special competition. They are asking participants to Knit or Crochet something to mark the occasion.  Now of course you can take part individually if you like, but as a Group who loves to Knit and Crochet I wondered whether you'd be interested in another 'joint effort'.  Now what are we good at?  Blankets (as dear Mia would say......)   I'm wondering whether you think the idea of making a 'Royal Blanket' would be a good idea.

I would be asking for 6" Squares Knitted or Crocheted as usual.  Another picture Blanket  but this one to celebrate the Royal Wedding. So you could have pictures of a Crown, Royal Wedding Cake, wedding rings/engagement ring, royal carriage, initials on a heart/, union jack flag, doves etc.,  Square maybe.  The ideas are endless.

Now if you are making your own item, or if we send a Blanket on behalf of SIBOL.  These items WILL NOT be sent back. We send them off to reach by the 20th April and then the items are auctioned off to raise money for  a Charity that  Prince William is involved in. It  may be the Prince William and Prince Harry Foundation.  This supports disadvantaged people, especially the young and servicemen/women.

There is a Top Prize of a £50.00 voucher to spend in the online store, with second and third place also receiving vouchers.  The Winner would be announced 29th April. Every entry will be photographed and put on the Great British Yarn web site along with the name/s of the person(s) who made it.

I have been told that the Great British Yarn web site will tell us how much each item has raised when auctioned.  Of course we should not be disappointed if your item/or our SIBOL Blanket didn't raise  very much.  Sometimes these sorts of things can be disappointing.

If SIBOL was lucky enough to win a voucher this would be put towards yarn for our SIBOL 'Sunshine Blankets'.  But at the same time we would be having fun making the Squares, and watching them come in on Flickr.

A similar sort of idea  was suggested by Mia over on Flickr a few weeks ago to raise funds for SIBOL, to cover my Postage, Yarn, Stationery etc., But at the time I said I would leave it for a while. Since this has been advertised I'm thinking 'why not!'.  It is a competition this time and I think it would be fun.

I'd be very pleased to have feedback from you. Do you think it's a good idea? Or shall we not bother? Would you like your Square to be used in  this way?

sueatpigsty@talktalk.net
or please leave a comment on here.

This is your Group as well as mine, and I want us all to be happy about it.
Of course you don't have to make a Blanket with SIBOL. You could try and win this yourself!

Entries should be posted to

Sharon Spencer
Great British Yarns
66 Langdon Road
Bath, BA2 1LT

We have decided to do this Challenge. Squares 6" must be received at my home by 18th March.I need to make the Blanket up. Thank You! http://www.sibolchallenges.blogspot.com/

Saturday Up-date

Hi Everyone!
 
Would you like to pop over to SIBOL CHALLENGES?
 
I'm letting you know how I am getting on with our Challenges.
 
PLEASE NOTE:-  A change now to the 'Two Tone Green Granny Square' Challenge.
 
If you are already in the process of making Two Tone Green Grannies please send them. If you haven't started please note there is now a change.
 
I had a few Squares which didn't quite fit into the above Challenge. So I have decided to put them in a second Blanket. It is now.....'Two Tone Green 'any pattern' Square.  But if you have/or are making the
Basic Two Tone Green Granny Square I will still accept them. This Blanket (2) will probably be a bit of  a
mixture to accomodate the ones that didn't quite fit into the Challenge.
 
Any queries please email me sueatpigsty@talktalk.net
 
Details about the other Challenges are on the SIBOL CHALLENGE web-site.
 
Thanks so much for visiting SIBOL today!
 

Done it again!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone!

Well SIBOL has definitely gone 'GLOBAL' today!! I'm so...pleased.  I sent an email to 'Crochet Today' about SIBOL months ago! I was replying to a Charity article they had written Well.....Dutzie over on Flickr has just sent me a Flickr mail to say that they have printed my letter.   I was trying to get that 'Star Letter' once again, but once again I didn't quite make it!!! It doesn't matter though, I'm pleased they've printed the Letter.

It mentions I had made '17 Blankets!'. I know that seems just ages ago!!!! Well we've definitely moved on from there! 53 now.  OOh, how exciting!!! I shall have to wait for W.H. Smith to receive their copies they are always much later.

OOh Dutzie thank you for telling me and also roomontheleft, very much appreciated.

Squares from the UK!

Good Morning Everyone!

Thank you all so much for the great comments on 'Grape Jelly!'. I'm pleased you enjoyed looking at the Blanket, such pretty Squares.

Today I am welcoming a new 'SIBOLETTE!'.  'Wigglescrochet' over on Rav.  Wigglescrochet has sent me a lovely set of Squares. I have my favourites, can you guess which ones?  Yes, you're right I just love the pink ones. I love them all, but especially the pink.....

I have also received two Knitted Squares in the set from Wigglescrochet, they are such a beautiful pattern and they will be great for our Mens Blankets. I still have quite a few of these to do.

I was up late last night, could'nt sleep so I assembled 'Young At Heart'. I have to do the Border yet. But I really enjoyed making it up.

Well Wigglescrochet I am so pleased you have joined our Group from Ravelry and I hope you enjoy the SIBOL Experience.  Here are your beautiful Squares thank you!

Have a nice day everyone! Thanks for visiting SIBOL today!

Ta Dah! Introducing SIBOL No. 53

Hi again Everyone!

I'm back quicker than what I thought........  I have a Ta - Dah for you! SIBOL No. 53, but first please don't forget to check out Pattyglorias' Squares and Bonsalls on the previous post. They simply are gorgeous!

I am very pleased to say that I have finished No. 53.  I love the colours in this Blanket.  These Squares were saved in my Mens Challenge pile, but I suppose it could be for a Lady too.  Men like brighter colours don't they?  I had great fun putting these Squares together. I loved the yarn I was working with so...much. The White yarn to edge them with was donated by itty_bitty. It was Caron (USA) such fun to work with. Thank You itty_bitty!

Here goes. SIBOL No. 53. 



I can't believe I've made over 50 'Sunshine Blankets' now!
Thanks to everyone that has kindly contributed Squares.

Squares from Canada and the UK!

Hello Everyone!

It's such a beautiful day here today in the UK. There was a bad frost this morning, but it cleared up nicely and now the sun is shining. I have my patio doors open and it's so nice to  have some fresh air circulating around the house.

Today I had two lots of beautiful Squares arrive. Four little bundles of delightful beauties!



Don't they look lovely sitting there waiting to be opened!

The first set has come all the way from Canada. Our dear friend on Flickr Pattygloria.  Now Pattygloria has sent  some gorgeous Two Tone Green Granny Squares for our Challenge.  I've said many times before it's so interesting to see which tones of Green you are all using. These are just lovely!



Also Pattygloria has sent in a Square 'or two' for the Jan Eaton Challenge. Now this one is No. 34 and it's called 'Band of Bobbles'. I'm sure you will agree it's a  really nice Square. Tryng to decide which one to fit in to our Blanket, I think it's going to be the pink one.

Please enjoy your Slide Show and see if you can spot the Jan Eaton Square. They are all lovely Squares Pattygloria. I appreciate you sending them all these miles!

Gorgeous, weren't they?

Now Bonsall has been working very hard 'secretely!'.  She has sent in some lovely Squares this morning, and there were  such a lot! Beautiful, beautiful Flower Squares for the Ladies and she has sent in some appropriate coloured Squares for the Men too!  Amongst the Squares were some 'fun' Squares where she has used her 'textured yarn'. 

Bonsall I love all the Squares thank you so....much!

Here are some of the Flower Squares for you to see, my favourite colours also 'pink and green!'. Just love them.



Your Slide Show Bonsall! Enjoy!

Thank you so much for the Squares 'SIBOLETTES'.  They are lovely!

Just one more thing before I go.......I'm always very pleased to welcome our new friends here on SIBOL and also over on Ravelry.  I just wanted to ask you all a question..........We may be having a 'Male Crocheter' join us.  I know isn't that so......terribly exciting!  Well the question is 'What do you think he'd like to be called?

We have SIBOLETTES for the 'Ladies'.

What about Men? Have any ideas? I'd be very pleased if you'd leave a comment, so I can be prepared to welcome him!

Bye for now.

My SIBOL 'Friendship Blanket' Thank You!

Hello Everyone!

I do hope you go back a post and view the Squares that I have received. They are so lovely.

I was going to save this 'SIBOL' Friendship Blanket until the 28th February, the day that SIBOL went 'live' you might say, 'one year ago'.   But you know I can't wait. I just can't wait any longer.......I have to show you all.

Do you remember in those early days when 'SIBOL' was created? Thanks to Ladies all over the World the name 'SIBOL' was thought of. It was a joint effort by everyone around the World. 'Sunshine' because we wanted to send some 'Sunshine' into the lives of the Elderly. 'International' because this was a joint effort. 'Blankets' that's of course what they are! The last Letter 'L' I wonder what that stands for 'Love'.
Yes 'Sunshine International Blankets of Love'.  That's what we are managing to do between us all. Such beautiful Squares have come in to me and I am truly grateful.

But what's this 'SIBOL' Friendship Blanket? You  maybe asking! Well do you remember in those early days, when everyone was saying, 'Sue, we think you ought to have your very own Blanket, one for you to keep for yourself''.  Well in those early days I collected a Square from quite a few Ladies to put into my very own Blanket.  Today I would like to show you the finished Blanket.

Now I have to say...... not everyone is in this Blanket. It would be massive if I did put everyone. So please don't be offended if you don't see your Square. This is not intentional by any means.  I have had the majority of Squares sitting in a box just waiting until I could get to them.  After I had finished the Black and Whites it was my aim to devote some time to 'me'. I had been doing a little on the Blanket throughout the year, so I was really pleased to be able to say I had finished it.

I am so pleased with the outcome and I will absolutely treasure it always. I do hope everyone will pop over to Flickr and 'add note', to your very own Square. It is rather larger than usual because dear Pilar sent me the centre Square, and I've had to work around that one. It is lovely but so are all the others too!

Without further a do......Please take a look at my very own 'SIBOL' Friendship Blanket and SIBOLETTES/My Friends 'Thank You' very, very much! I do hope you like it.





Why not my own Slide Show? Enjoy!

Squares arrive from the UK and the USA!

Hello Everyone!

I have some pretty Squares to show you today!

First of all EvelynsStuff (Flickr) has very kindly sent me her 'Circle of Friends' Square. This has come out beautifully and it's actually made with baby yarn.  I love the Square, I love the colours. Thanks so much!

I hope you had fun joining in the Challenge Evelyn! Thank you.

Next we have some Squares from Pol here in the UK.  Pol had the idea to make a Kite for our 'Young At Heart' Challenge.  I think this was such a good idea. I just love the tails. Take a look at this one!

Nice isn't it?

Next we have her Jan Eaton Challenge Square.  This is 'Steps' and it's No. 45 in the Jan Eaton book.

I love the Colours you've used Pol.  The Squares are just so pretty thank you.

A joint Slide Show for you both today, thank you both so much for the Squares.



Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

I appreciate your Squares, the time you've taken to make them and send them, thank you so much!
Have a good day everyone!

Squares from the UK and the USA!

Hello Everyone!

Well as I type the sun is shining, but it's quite chilly out there still. Hopefully going to warm up soon.

Thank you for the Squares I have received today!  Squares have come in from Heather414 in the USA and crochet3love here in the UK! Both sets of Squares are just gorgeous.  I bet you want to see them!.

First of all may I tell you I bought a copy of 'Yours' this morning and for those of you that are familar with 'Loving Hands' and Lou Jaap who founded it there is a wonderful article on her and all the good work she does for Charities.  Her Group started as a mere Knitting Group, but after 'blogging' about it on the internet rather like SIBOL I thought, her group has expanded.  She has her own personal health issues but this does not stop her from still helping others. I read that her Daughters are keeping the group ticking over until their Mother is able to take charge again.

Please visit http://www.lovinghands.org.uk/ For further information. 
'Yours' is well worth buying at £1.40 a copy.

Let's get on with the Squares shall we?

crochet3love has made three pretty Squares. I'm going to show you the Flower Fairy one she made for our 'Young At Heart' Blanket. Simply gorgeous! Then the others are in the Slide Show. crochet3love has centred the Squares with beads, how lovely.






Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

Thank you so much for the Squares crochet3love. They are all so lovely.

The other Squares have come in from Heather414 over in the USA.  Please pop over and visit her blog, she has made some gorgeous Squares for herself and I'm really pleased she has very kindly made some for SIBOL.  Her Squares will be used for the 'Spring Blanket'.  Just take a look at these and then view Heather414's Slide Show.  Thank you so much and I now officially declare you one of our 'SIBOLETTES!'. Welcome!

'Flowers on the Green' Squares for SIBOL. The other two in the Slide Show are Sunset/Sunrise Squares.






Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

Such pretty Squares I love them. I'm pleased you are both enjoying SIBOL!

Have a good day everyone!