Our Olympic Challenge is finished!

Hello Everyone!

We have been working extremely hard over the last year making and collecting Squares for the Olympic Challenge. My aim was to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society here in the UK. I invited you all to send in Squares to celebrate the Olympic Games coming to London 2012. You certainly put your thinking caps on because we've had over 300 Squares. Some in red, white and blue, and others showing Athletes, Flags, Olympic flame, Olympic rings etc.,  I can never thank you all enough for the wonderful work you have put into these Squares. You certainly have used your imagination.

I want to first of all show you a Blanket which shows 100 Flags, crocheted by 'akarapacha' (Santha) in Fort Myers, USA. Such a lot of work went into these Squares and I can never thank Santha enough for her dedication to our SIBOL Olympic Challenge!

The patience she must have had making all of these Squares. They are the Flags of some of the Countries taking part in the Olympic Games London 2012. Wonderful work Santha! Thank you so much for making them and sending them across the pond!

The Blanket comprises of 100 6" Flag Crocheted Squares.
The Blanket measures 63" Square.

The next Blanket comprises of 130 Squares, both Knitted and Crocheted. You all certainly rose to this Challenge making it so very interesting! As I said at the beginning of this post we have had everything included in this special Blanket. Athletes, Olympic Flame, Flags etc., You have sent in the most amazing Squares! I can never thank you all enough!

THIS PHOTO HAS TEMPORARILY BEEN REMOVED.

There will be lots more photos to follow I just wanted you to see the finished Blankets. 

I am very pleased also to be showing you our other smaller Blankets which have been made with the Olympic theme in mind.

First of all we have 'Rule Britannia'. 25 gorgeous Red, White and Blue Squares all in beautiful patterns. Thank you to everyone that has contributed these Squares. They really are so pretty!

Then we have 49 Squares mostly in Knitted, a few Crocheted! This one is called 'Jubilaton'.

These Blankets will be auctioned on EBAY to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society here in the UK. Let's hope we can raise a fair amount for them.

Thanks to everyone that very kindly took part in my Giveaway. If you remember we were chosen as 'Club of the Month' in the 'Knit Today' magazine.  If you would like to go back a post you will be able to read the Winners' names! Congratulations to you all!

I would also like to thank Sara for very kindly sending me in three gorgeous Blankets today. As I was taking photos of the Olympic Blankets this afternoon  I really didn't have time this afternoon to showcase her work. But please be assured I will do it as soon as possible. The Blankets that she sent in are absolutely gorgeous. She made a beautiful purple and green striped 'mile-a-minute' afghan, a Large Granny Square Blanket, and a pink, green, blue and cream squared Blanket which has a vintage feel to it, well I think so. I can't wait to show them to you so please stay tuned!

Once again thank you so very much for all your hard work with the Olympic Challenge. I have had great fun working with your Squares and I am so pleased you enjoyed this Challenge.

Thank you so much for popping in to SIBOL today! I am off to bed it's 1.55am!

Nitey nite....

Love Sue x

Giveaway Winners today!

Good Morning everyone!

I would like to thank everyone for taking part in our 'Knit Today' 'Club of the Month' Giveaway. As you remember a few months ago we were chosen to be 'Club of the Month' in their magazine and they very kindly sent me all of these books!

A great selection to share amongst our wonderful Ladies!

Not only do I have these books to share amongst you I am also adding in this one I won some months ago in one of the magazines and also another surprise gift which I'm not going to show you! The winner of that one will have to be kept in suspense till they receive it.

Let's have some fun now. Are you ready?

 I have used the Random Number Generator using the Numbers which were on the RAV Giveaway thread to find the Winner!

Wishing you all the very best of Luck!

Jennifer (jenn1feranne)   Congratulations you are the Winner of
                                      'Knitted Fairies to cherish and charm'

 Marion (jean nock)       Congratulations you are the Winner of
                                      '20 Twenty to Make' 'Knitted Baby Bootees'

Steph    (craftymizz)        Congratulations you are the Winner of
                                      'Norwegian Knitting Designs'

Marge (bennythedip)        Congratulations you are the Winner of
                                        '20 Twenty to Make 'Knitted Egg Cosies'

hieke                               Congratulations you are the Winner of
                                       '75 birds, butterflies & beautiful beasties to knit & crochet

Joyce (joyce28)               Congratulations you are the Winner of
                                        'Knitted Home'

.............and the person who has won a surprise gift worth £25.00 (which is another gift I won in one of the magazines) is.............................................................................................................................................

                                             theemuts (Tinka)!!!!!!!!
                                            
 Well done to you Tinka  you will have to tell everyone what you  have won when you receive it!

I am sorry if you were'nt lucky this time. Fingers Crossed for next time!

Please could you mail me your addresses
sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

My rooms are a little disrupted upstairs due to decorating and it will be quicker for me to have the addresses from  you than to search my boxes upstairs. I'm not that organised that I have them on the computer! Thank you everyone! 

I have had a large parcel arrive this morning from Sara H. I haven't even opened it yet, thank you Sara I think I know what's in there! I can't wait!

Love Suex

Do you like Crocheting? Would you like to Swap Squares? Please join us!

Good Morning,

I am hoping that Ladies will see this SIBOL post this morning. This is a shout out to anyone in our SIBOL RAV GROUP, or anyone else in the World who loves Crocheting!

As you know 'SIBOL' regularly donates Sunshine Blankets to the Elderly in Nursing Homes here in the UK. We also make 'special Charity' Blankets raising money for various Charities which is really good. Apart from that we have fun in our SIBOL RAV GROUP making Crocheted Squares to 'SWAP!'.  Now the numbers of Ladies taking part has dropped and we desperately need some new Ladies to join us. So if you would like to join us why not pop over to RAVELRY and leave your name on the thread. arien 156 will contact you if you leave your name.

The Ladies swap Squares each month to make Blankets and cushion covers and always enclose a small gift too. So if you think you are interested please pop over to RAVELRY now!

It's so nice to make new friends and share the love of Crocheting!

x Sue x

Butterfly mania!

Good Afternoon!

Thanks for visiting 'SIBOL' today!

We seem to have started something over on RAVELRY, a bit of a Butterfly craze!
As you know Butterflies are rather like a 'trade mark' for our Group. Back in the early days
of SIBOL we started using a beautiful Butterfly tutorial over on Nettie's Blog in Australia. The idea
of putting Butterflies on to our Blankets for the Elderly really took off and as I mentioned the other day
to the Ladies on RAVELRY that my stock was near to the end, they very kindly started Crocheting for me!
It is so nice to have a good supply of Butterflies to hand this really saves me a lot of work.

Today I have received a really pretty selection from 'creativegranny' here in the UK. She has really got 'hooked' on making these Butterflies and so have the other Ladies. If you want to join our Butterfly Club please follow the link! These Butterflies are made in all sorts of yarn and I really love the sparkle in some of them too! Thank you so much 'creativegranny!'

Here's your Butterflies!

I am visiting a Craft Group next year and I plan to take a basket of Butterflies with me. The idea of attaching a tag on to the Butterflies labelling your name and country is brilliant and Bev (baw1812) has very kindly offered to send a file over to any one interested  for the tags. So if you are interested, pop over to the RAVELRY link and send her a pm!

We are having such fun with these Butterflies please join us!

x Sue x

Two Olympic Ta - Dah's for you!

Good Afternoon everyone!

Welcome to 'SIBOL'.

I am very pleased to be showing you two finished Olympic blankets. The first is a 25 Square one which is Crocheted and Knitted. The Squares are all of different patterns and they really are so pretty! I really enjoyed making this blanket up.

Beverley over on RAVELRY has just named this blanket 'Rule Britannia'.

The other blanket today is a 49  Square one. The Squares have come in mainly from craft groups here in the UK, mostly Knitted with a few Crocheted ones. 

There are two other blankets. One is finished the other I have the border to do. But it won't be long now before I can show you them. One is 100 Square and the other is 130!  A lot of work!

Thanks to everyone that contributed Squares for my Olympic Challenge. These blankets will be auctioned to raise money for Alzheimer's here in the UK!

I'll leave you with some more photos.



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A beautiful day here in the UK, I've just been out for a drive in 'Mr T's' open roof car! We stopped at a Garden centre and had a cream tea! How lovely! I know I'm on my slimming plan but......one cream tea won't hurt will it? You won't tell will you?

Bye for now

x Sue x

We're holding a Giveaway!

Good Morning Ladies!

As you know back in March 'SIBOL' was lucky enough to be featured as 'Club of the Month' in the 'Knit Today' magazine here in the UK.

 Well I am very pleased to be telling you that our prize has arrived! Yes a great selection of books and guess what I'm giving them all to you!

To have a chance of winning one of these wonderful books, please pop over to RAVELRY and leave your name on the thread.
Also your choice of book.
Closing date Friday 18th March midnight.

To be eligible you must have sent me at least one 6" Square 'Crocheted or Knitted'.

What a great selection! You don't know which one to choose? Let's have a closer look!








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THE RANDOM GENERATOR WILL BE USED TO FIND THE WINNERS!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH 'KNIT TODAY' - We love our prize and it was great to be featured as 'Club of the Month' in your magazine!

I'm popping in an extra book that I won sometime ago!



Best of Luck everyone!


Thanks for popping in to SIBOL today!

x Sue x

Let's have some fun today!

Good Afternoon to everyone visiting SIBOL today!

The Ladies on RAVELRY are having fun making Butterflies for a visit to a Craft Group I am doing next year and also for our 'SIBOL Butterfly Stash!'. It's always great to have any kind of embellishment and Ann has already been very kind in sending me quite a selection Stars, Flowers, Hearts and Butterflies. They get used up so quickly though so I am always very grateful for more. These are attached to our SIBOL Blankets!

I'm sitting here thinking how far afield can our Butterflies fly from? So where ever you are in the world why not pick up your Hook and make a Butterfly! Beverley (baw1812) has very kindly made some tags for the Butterflies and if you RAV mail  her I'm almost positive she would send  the file over to you on normal email as an attachment!  You can then put your name and country on the tag and attach it to your Butterfly!

Her RAV name is baw1812

If you want to 'Knit a Butterfly' then please do!

I'm going to give you a link to Nettie's Blog over in Australia. She very kindly put up a video tutorial some time ago for a Crocheted Butterfly. They are so easy to make and they are so beautiful! It would be really interesting to see how far our SIBOL Butterflies can fly!

 Here are some that have been made already by the Ladies on RAVELRY.

These ones have been made by Nik. Nik is a new Member to our SIBOL RAV Group, I'm pleased you've joined us and your Butterflies are super!

Beverley has been busy! Aren't they gorgeous!

Carol has made these ones and she gave me the link for the yarn which is really nice. 'Penny's Cotton Club'  I'm going to treat myself one of these days!

Of course you don't have to follow Netties tutorial. Please feel free to make your own Butterfly. You may have a different pattern you would like to share. Please email me on sueatpigsty@talktalk.net

If you want to join in the chat about Butterflies over on RAVELRY. Follow the Link!

I haven't any Squares today nor Blankets and I have been busy at the printer's today getting our SIBOL Labels ready for the Blankets. There are about 40 upstairs waiting to be delivered in a few months time.

Here they are! 

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We work terribly hard all year round making Squares and indeed Blankets for the Elderly in Nursing Homes  and it's nice this week that we can have a bit of fun making Butterflies! I am really enjoying the SIBOL RAV Group why not join us!

I'm going to leave you with some  pretty paperweights now I have been making! This one is from the Emmerdale Blanket we sent off to Emmerdale Production Studios.

This one is from 'Flower Garden' - 'creativegranny'.

                                                   'On Target!' - 'joyce 28'.

Thank you to everyone visiting 'SIBOL' today I hope you have enjoyed what you have seen!

x Sue x

Bank Holiday Fun!

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for visiting 'SIBOL' this afternoon. A pretty miserable day here on Bank Holiday Monday!

I have been having some fun with photos of our SIBOL Blankets. I have been using Dumpr.net photo fun to create some Circles using jenn1ferannes'  pretty Blankets!

Do you want to see?

Here's 'Still Waters!'

Here's 'Springtime!'

Here's 'Raspberry Sundae'

The idea came from a paperweight which I had made when I was 21 years of age.

I met Mr. Twins when I was 21 all those years ago and during one of our 'fallings out' he

tried to win back my love..... by bringing me 10 not '12' red roses. Travelling 20 miles on the bus as his car was off the road. 

Today while doing my dusting I stopped for a second and looked at this gorgeous ornament I had in my cabinet and thought how nice it would be to make some pretty paperweights using your pretty 'SIBOL' Blankets.

This is what I have done today for 'jenn1feranne' and if you like it I will make more for the other Blankets we have received. Just give me a shout if you would like yours made!

Wouldn't it be nice if we could go into business making 'paperweights' as well as Blankets? :) We surely would have some stunning designs!

I'll leave you with my ornament. These roses have been preserved all these years from my Loving Husband 'Mr. Twins'. x

x Sue x

Yummy Blankets!!

Good Evening Everyone!

Welcome to 'SIBOL'.  I am very pleased to be showing you some gorgeous Blankets that have come in from the MSE Knitting Group. Chalky (Linda) has very kindly assembled lots of Squares that have been sent to her from the Ladies in the Group.  Today she has sent me '8' Blankets and they are absolutely gorgeous! I am so very grateful to everyone that sent Squares to Linda.  The Ladies work very hard for different charities and they are such a great bunch!

I have spent the afternoon raiding the Butterfly, ribbon and embellishment stash to decorate the Blankets and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself! What fun! I am getting low though now so if you want to make any Butterflies then please do. The more 'Butterflies that flutter into Two Times the better!'. It is so nice to decorate the Blankets that we make, they definitely finish everything off!

Here's a link if you want to have a go yourself. My friend Nettie in Australia put up this video tutorial some time ago and it is so...easy! Have a go!

I did mention some weeks ago that I have been asked to do a talk about 'SIBOL' at a local Craft Group next year. I know it's a way off but I thought of taking in some of our Butterflies in a basket to give out to the Ladies. If you want to have a go at making any 'for the basket' then why not put a tag on to the Butterfly saying 'With Love from ?' and maybe your Country too!  This was thought of by Linda (Fatals-attraction) on RAVERLY! She lives in Belgium. Thank you Linda!

I do hope you like the new Blankets which have been donated. These Blankets are so nice.  They will be absolutely ideal for the Elderly Ladies and Gents in the Nursing Homes and I am so grateful to everyone concerned. Our Blankets will be delivered to Nursing Homes in the next few months as soon as I have finsished the Olympic Blankets.

Let's take a look at these  Blankets now!



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Between us all we have now made 162 'Sunshine Blankets' for the Elderly in Nursing Homes here in the UK. Our Squares have arrived from all over the World. What an accomplishment! Thanks everyone!

Enjoy the weekend, it's a Bank Holiday here in the UK.

I can see a 'Radiating Rainbow' and why not pop in and have a 'Cappuccino!'

Good Afternoon!

Well before I show you the latest 'works of art' I would very much like to Congratulate 'pippa-anne' and 'jenn1feranne'. Today jenn1feranne has reached 'Explore' over on Flickr and a few weeks ago 'pippa-anne' did the same while she was away on Holiday. I am so proud of you both. I have made an 'Explore'  poster for you!' 'Explore' is over on Flickr, and each day out of thousands  of photographs loaded up,  the computer chooses an interesting shot.  'jenn1ferannes' photo of her 'Croco-dahlia' Square on 2nd May reached No. 453/500.  Now this may go higher or it may go lower. It may drop out we will see. 'pippa-anne' you reached No. 297 on February 27th! So well done to both of you! I have to admit I was experiencing problems with both my camera and my iphone, neither wanted to work that afternoon and when I finally managed to load a photo off the iphone the light was poor. So I'm really pleased this one got to Explore! If you click on the photo below it will take you to Flickr and it will be enlarged. You might also like to have a look at my Flickr photostream too. There you will see every Square that has ever been donated to our Group and every Blanket made too! You'll have to sign in to get access!

That's the  Explore poster showing the Square at the start belonging to 'jenn1feranne'  and can you see the cute Owl? Well that little fella belongs to 'pippa-anne!'

'jenn1feranne'  if you would like to follow the link you will be able to read some comments on Flickr!

Back to our 'works of art' now!  They are works of art too! Two more stunning Blankets have arrived at my home this morning.

Some months ago 'baw1812' Beverley  mailed me and said she would like the experience of assembling a 'SIBOL' Blanket for me! Well I was only too pleased to send her 25 Squares. These Squares have been donated by Ladies from all around the World  and today I received the Blanket back. It really is a beautiful Blanket and the Ladies over on RAVELRY came up with an appropriate name. 'Cappuccino!'.  I do hope you like it. I love it! What a variety of different patterns and colours, they have all been made beautifully. Another unique Blanket for our Elderly folk! I think this one will suit one of the Elderly Gentlemen!

Let's have a look at the Slide Show for Beverley!







I'm very grateful for the donations of ribbon which  was extremely kind of you. This certainly helps me when I present the Blankets. I do hope you enjoyed  the 'SIBOL' experience!  Also for the Stash Squares I'm pleased you used the yarn up!  Thank you!

Not only did I receive Bev's Blanket back, I also received another beauty. What wonderful Blankets are being donated to our Group. It's nice to make the Blankets up myself but while I am doing the Olympic ones this really is helping me.  The second one today has arrived from Sistersestina (Sara) over on RAVELRY. Sara has been working away on this gorgeous Blanket. The colours in this Blanket are absolutely magnificient, I really love this one too!

Sara kept running out of yarn on this one I think it was eating up more than what she expected but she got there in the end and I'm sure you will agree  'it's annother Stunner!'.  Just look at the colours in this Blanket!
It's called 'Radiating Rainbow'. It certainly does have the Rainbow factor!

Absolutely beautiful, well done to you Sara! Can you imagine an Elderly Lady sitting with this on her knees? She will love it! Just looking at the colours makes you feel warm!

I've made a Slide Show for you too Sara. Thank you so....much!









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I am extremely grateful to anyone who sends Squares in for our project, but when I receive donated Blankets this really is an  'act of kindness'. Thank you very much indeed!

That's all for now, pouring of rain again here in the UK! I expect it's getting ready for the Bank Holiday Weekend!

Thanks for visiting 'SIBOL' today!

x Sue x

Anyone for a 'Raspberry Sundae?'

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to 'SIBOL'. Well I could certainly do with a Raspberry Sundae today. The weather here in the UK today has definitely improved but I'm not sure how long for! What could be nicer than to experience a 'Raspberry Sundae' today!

I know ..........it's not the usual Raspberry Sundae, this one is even better!

I have today received a Blanket from 'jenn1feranne' on RAVELRY. 'jenn1feranne' has very kind 'made and donated' this stunning Blanket. Do you know when I write these posts I'm using the same words over and over again, 'wonderful, beautiful, gorgeous, stunning' but to tell you the truth all of our Blankets lately are all of these words!

How kind of 'jenn1feranne' to once again make and donate a .......'wonderful' Blanket to 'SIBOL'.  Tears came to my eyes this lunchtime as they always do when I receive a donated Blanket. To think that 'jenn1feranne' has sat down and made another Blanket is just so touching. For new Ladies visiting 'SIBOL' today 'making your own Blanket' is one of our optional Challenges. If you are interested then please pop over to our other Blog 'SIBOL CHALLENGES'. If you like making Squares and don't mind sewing or crocheting them together then this Challenge is for you!

As I have said many times before I am busy making the Olympic Blanket(s) and while I am doing so I can't be making our usual Blankets, and the donated Blankets are really helping me keep the numbers up. As soon as I have finished the Olympic work I shall be going out to Nursing  Homes to take these gorgeous Blankets in to them.

Its' nice for the Elderly to throw a Blanket over their knees while sitting out in the garden. Maybe they have a wheelchair? Maybe they would like to simply put it on to their beds to admire while sitting in their rooms! Our Blankets have been accepted so well by all of the Nursing Homes and we really have a lot to be proud of Ladies. We have now between us made 151 'Sunshine Blankets'. Thanks to everyone that has helped our Group!

'jenn1feranne' has made this Blanket 'Raspberry Sundae' in lovely summery colours I think. The combinations of the three colours just work so well together. Why not take a look at the Squares in the Slide Show coming up now! The Blanket is her own design and she made it so well. Thank you very much once again 'jenn1feranne!'.






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Isn't it lovely? I think 'SIBOL' must have the prettiest Blankets ever made don't you! We certainly are turning out some beauties!

I would also like you to see a gorgeous Square sent in by 'jenn1feranne'. This Square is called 'Croco-dahlia!'. Yes 'jenn1feranne' it is pretty! Very pretty indeed!  Isn't it unusual?

I'm very grateful to you 'jenn1feranne'. Thank you!

I would like to thank everyone for the kind comments on the 'Emmerdale' Blanket. I have sent it off now so fingers crossed they will show it. That was another beautiful Blanket!

It took me ages to load this Flower Square up. I had trouble with my camera so I tried my iphone that didn't want to sync either, so problems, problems! Still I hope it's worth it in the end! I hope you have enjoyed looking at 'jenn1ferannes' beautiful work. Thanks for stopping by again!

x Sue x

Our 'Emmerdale' Blanket.

Hi Everyone!

As you know we work very hard all year making 'Sunshine Blankets' for the Elderly in Nursing Homes, but on occasions it's nice to make our 'Charity Blankets' and our 'specials'. 

While watching 'Emmerdale' a TV soap opera a few weeks ago, I noticed as usual the Crocheted Blankets on the backs of the sofa in the 'Dingle Household'. Well I thought it was about time they had one of our 'SIBOL' Blankets!  So I quickly got to work asking Ladies on RAVELRY if they wanted to help me. Well any excuse to get those Crocheting Hooks and Knitting Needles out! They jumped at the chance to make a Flower Square in really bright 'noticeable' colours.  The Squares started pouring in and today I have great pleasure in showing you our 'Emmerdale' Blanket. 

I would like to thank everyone for taking part. This  really was  such a fun Blanket to make. I do hope we get to see our Blanket on TV. There is no guarantee they will show it, but I'm going to do my best!

I am going to send it to 'Jane Cox' who play 'Lisa Dingle'. I have the address so all I have to do is to type the letter and tell her about our Group and send it off to them.

I hope you like it, thanks everyone!

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Updated Lunchtime!

Thanks to annlynncraft over on RAV, I have today received these gorgeous Squares. All made in beautiful colours and great designs. She also made some Stars for our Blankets to hang on with the Butterflies.

I am always 'extremely grateful' for embellishments! She has sent in a selection of Hearts, Flowers, Butterflies before  and now Stars! I think we ought to call her our 'Embellisment Co-Ordinator'.  If anyone else wants to send in Butterflies, or anything else then please do they are always so useful!.

I'm off to pack this parcel up! Thanks everyone!

x Sue x

Sally's Ta - Dah day!

Good Evening,

I am very late writing this post due to a busy weekend with my family and I was waiting for some good light. We have had rain virtually all weekend and it's been pretty miserable.  But this afternoon after finishing our 'Emmerdale' Blanket I thought I would try and take some photos of Sallys' Squares and donated Blankets.

These Squares are lovely Sally, thank you. 

Sally has very kindly made a Blanket for SIBOL using some Squares that she had at home. What a good idea to put them to some good use! This Blanket is beautiful, let's take a look.

She has made a wonderful job of this Blue Blanket, but here's another one! What a kind Lady!

It is lovely! The colours are so delicate looking. I added some Butterflies out of our SIBOL Stash and some ribbon too! What wonderful Blankets, I can't tell you how grateful I am. These will be delivered to the Homes in a few months time. Thank you very much Sally!


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Our 'Emmerdale' Blanket is finished and as it's Sally's day today, I will be posting photos tomorrow!

Thanks for visiting 'SIBOL' this evening!

x Sue x

Lots of Squares on a Friday!

Good Evening,

Another miserable day here in the UK. This rain is just not giving up and they say we have a hose pipe ban in some parts of the Country!  Well it's a good job I have some pretty Squares to cheer us up that's all I can say!

I would like to thank first of all 'creativegranny' for sending in these beautiful Squares. The centres are just so pretty.  It's amazing how different a Square can look when you use a variety of  colour combinations. 'creativegranny' certainly has a way with colours!  These Squares are really nice and will look great in a Blanket for the Elderly.

'creativegranny' is really enjoying our web site and actually she has joined our SIBOL RAV Group. She tells me what fun she is having and what a nice group of Ladies they are, so why don't you join us? We'd be very happy to say hello to you!

I am a lucky girl today, 'creativegranny' also sent me two Friendship gifts. One a pretty Heart with the words 'Friendship' on the back. The front too is lovely very decorative indeed.  I can smell Lavender too! How lovely! Also a little 'Friendship Doll'. Can you spot the words 'Love, Peace and Hope?' She is so....cute!  I was also sent two 'Earl Grey Tea Bags'.  I shall have that cup of tea with you 'creativegranny' while joining my Squares up! :)  A very nice thought thank you.  I'm very grateful to you for the donations of ribbon too, that was very nice of you!

Thanks for everything today and I am so pleased you have found us! :)

I'm sure everyone are waiting for your Squares, here they are!






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I'm very busy today, lots of Squares. These next ones have come in from Suzanne here in the UK. Suzanne tells me she hasn't been Crocheting for long! You would never have thought it! The Squares once again are just so pretty, lovely patterns and great colours! Once again here is another Lady who knows how to put colours together! Let's have a look at her Squares now!

I'm teasing you! Here they are in a Slide Show. There are so many of them, sit back now and enjoy these lovely Squares too!





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I am hoping to finish off the 'Emmerdale' Blanket this weekend, if all goes well. I shall keep you posted!
                      
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------

I'm going to tell you know how our Butterflies started. Back in the early days a Lady from the States 'Linda' very kindly sent me 50 Squares.

 I made two Blankets with these Squares and the Blue one which was SIBOL No.8  was decorated with a couple of Butterflies.

Linda loved her Blanket and she wanted me to call it 'Butterfly' which I did. Then Salma in Kuwait said why not use them as a 'Trademark' for SIBOL. So everytime we finish a Blanket I make Butterflies for them.   I have been told by a couple of people that the Residents in the Homes love our Butterflies and they hang them on door knobs and even Zimmer frames! 

I keep a Butterfly Stash here at HQ and if anyone wants to have a go at making some for a change then please do!  I use a great video tutorial from Netspets in  Australia my dear friend Nettie. Here's the link.  This really helps me because I can just pick one up when a Blanket is donated to me or when I make one and it's a lot quicker.

Thanks so much for visiting 'SIBOL' this evening.Thank you too 'creativegranny' and Suzanne for the most amazing Squares!

x Sue x

Beautiful Blankets arrive at SIBOL!

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Welcome to 'SIBOL'.

I am very pleased to be showing you two beautiful Blankets which have arrived today. They have both been sent to me by 'jean nock' here in the UK.

'jean nock' on Flickr regularly helps me assemble Blankets, I send her 25 Squares with a couple of balls of yarn and hey presto she comes up with the most beautiful work! So thank you very much 'jean nock'. I would also  like to thank everyone who has very kindly donated the Squares in this Blanket they are all so lovely. Let's take a look now at the first one.

I tried to edit this photo because I spotted a little end on the floor but the new editing programme on Flickr was not working for me this morning! So I'm afraid we are stuck with seeing it. Isn't this a gorgeous Blanket?

Not only did I receive this Blanket but I also received a second Blanket. 'jean nock' made all these 25 Squares herself and made the Blanket up and sent it to me. How kind! Thank you very much 'jean nock' a complete surprise!

The idea of making your very own 'SIBOL' Blanket has become very popular indeed. I put this idea up on the Challenge Blog as 'optional Challenges' because very often I am asked if Ladies could make their own Blankets up! Well this is actually helping me a lot at the moment because with over '300' Squares come in for our Olympic Challenge 'I am otherwise engaged you might say!'.  When the Olympic Blankets are finished I shall be making the cards up and popping out to Nursing Homes to deliver these wonderful Blankets. So if you want to make your own Blanket up please pop over to our Challenge Blog.  All instructions are written out for you and if you want to print the post off you can now do so by clicking 'on printable version' after the post. Debi in the States very kindly gave me instructions on how to do this. I am quite slow at times and to tell you the truth I was terribly frightened messing around with Blogger but I did manage it and I can see it will be useful to us.

I do really need Squares for the Challenges. There is still a  couple of Jan Eaton Blocks  available if any one wants to make one. Here's the link!  I did initially put deadline dates up but they are a little slow coming in this year so I am keeping the Challenges on for a while. I shall just let the Challenges run until I am finished with the Olympic Blankets and then we will try and 'tidy' them up so to speak.   So if you want to take part in any of them please follow this link to SIBOL CHALLENGES.

I am doing really well with the Olympic Blankets. I have now finished sewing in the ends of two Blankets, meanwhile on the evenings I have been Crocheting up Squares for the 'Emmerdale' Blanket. Oh golly the Squares are just the prettiest things! I can't wait to have this one finished. I'm hoping to get it finished early next week and then send it off to 'Mrs Dingle!' ha.ha. Can you believe that!

If you want to join our friendly 'SIBOL' Group over on RAVELRY. Please follow this link. It is always lovely to meet new Ladies over there. Anytime of day there is always someone to chat too!

Thank you for visiting 'SIBOL' today!

Created with flickr slideshow.

Bye

x Sue x

No Squares today............but

Hello Everyone!

Of course I can't have deliveries of Squares 'everyday' now can I? So when I am not posting photos of new Squares onto Flickr and the web site, I spend my time making Blankets up and sewing those dreadful ends in. I say 'dreadful' actually I have quite enjoyed my day sewing in the ends with a nice cup of hot chocolate and listening to Steve Wright with all of his oldies playing on the radio. I have to admit I don't very often have Steve Wright on I have Classical FM radio on, but today was a sing a long day and what could be better while  I have been doing this!

As for the Ta - Dah! Well I'm sorry you will have to wait a while for that. I'm in the teasing mood!

I would love to thank everyone for their donations of Olympic Squares. As I crochet them together I admire the beautiful work of many talented Ladies from all over the World, so from me to you 'A Big Thank You!' and let's hope our Olympic Blanket will raise some money for Alzheimers here in the UK.

I say Blanket there will be more than one Blanket. I am doing four Blankets because I have so...many Squares. The first will be a mixture the one you can see on the table. There will be a 100 Flag Olympic Blanket, a 49 Knitted Red, Blue and White Blanket and a 25 6" Square Red, Blue and White Blanket. They are all assembled but I still have quite a way to go, I have the ends to finish and I also have to do the Borders......So Steve Wright I will listen to you again another afternoon! You're really helping me get through these ends!

Thanks for visiting 'SIBOL' and here's a crafty look at the first Olympic Blanket. All proceeds will be going to the  Alzheimers Society here in the UK.

Bye for now and thanks for visiting 'SIBOL' today!

Monday's Squares!

Good Afternoon and welcome to 'SIBOL',

I'm very happy to be showing you three 'Emmerdale' Squares which have arrived at lunchtime from 'jessiebonbon' on RAVELRY.  These are such pretty Flower Squares and I think my favourite is the Daffodil. They are going to look great in our Blanket thanks so much jessiebonbon. All made in wonderful colours I think they are so pretty!

Those aren't the only Flower Squares which have arrived today. I have also received a great selection from Marilyn here in the UK. Not only did she send Flower Squares but a great variety of Squares which are just so interesting. Take a look at these wonderful Squares!

Aren't they lovely? I have made a Slide Show for you now Marilyn, thanks so much for sending them to me.




Created with flickr slideshow.

x Sue x