Owlie Ta-Dah!

Well, here is my Owlie Ta-Dah!  My main September monthly make too - just scraping in!

It's a case for my mobile phone.

It's lined with pink felt, with a little pocket on one side, also lined in pink felt.  (Not sure what the pocket is for, but it adds a nice bit of interest!  The other side is just the owlie material, with a big wooden button to fasten...

It took me longer than it should have, and was a bit of a fiddley little blighter to make.  I was a bit fed up with it by the time I'd finished, and not that happy with it.  After a night's sleep, though, I decided I love it!

How many pictures of the same thing do you need to see?!?!

So there you have it!  I'll try to be more productive in October.  I have been crafting, just not finishing anything this month (like the never-ending Waterlily blanket!)

All Sorts...

Hello!

Doesn't that cake look delicious?  Raspberry swirl cupcake (bought not made, I'm afraid!) - it was goooood!

I've been having a massive sort and clear-out in my bedroom.  I thought I'd share a picture, as I'm taking part in Cherry Heart's Pretty Crafty Home.  This qualifies as tidying and de-cluttering - there isn't any craft involved.

Unfortunately I didn't take a before shot, but here is the after shot:

Those hooks have my colourful jewellery hanging from them - bracelets at the top, necklaces at the bottom.  That has actually been there for a while, but it's the clean tidiness that is the change!  I pulled the furniture out and hoovered behind, cleaning down the skirting boards - then I cleared and tidied the drawers and the piles of rubbish on top of them.  I actually found my watch that I'd lost a few weeks ago!  I'd thought I must have thrown it away by mistake as I'd searched high and low for it... but there it was - hiding amongst the debris!  (That might give a clue to how messy it was before!)  The spaces between units were also crammed with random things... now let's see how long before it ends up like that again!

I have also been lucky enough to win a giveaway!  Thank you so much to Helen Phillips - I was so pleased to win!  If you don't already know her, head over to her blog - it is always full of the most gorgeous photos of beautiful creations - she is very talented.

Here was my parcel, front and back...

And inside...

... a beautiful handmade big pin cushion, lovely Cath Kidston buttons and a gorgeous handmade tag (it's my little Mumsie's birthday tomorrow, so I've got the perfect use for that tag, she's going to love it - I hope she doesn't read this before then!)

Thank you so much Helen for such a lovely giveaway, I was very lucky to win.

Before I go - I have made a little something using the below selection of goodies...

Just need to take a photo of it.  It will be my September Monthly Make (in the nick of time!) along with the Swedish Chocolate balls from this post.

Until next time.......

Colour!

Well, it's been a busy last week - the Lumberjack and I have had the week off work and have been away to the Isle of Wight and Somerset, visiting family.  It's so good to have a break from work!

My crafting has suffered, but I thought I'd show you the latest pile of squares for the Waterlily blanket... I'm about 10 or 11 days behind my one-a-day schedule...oops...

I have also been buying more supplies for other projects!

Oooh, more lovely colour!  I've got some cross-stitch plans waiting for these embroidery threads!

One pattern needs these colours...

Another pattern needs these colours...

Another one needs these...

And these are the extras I bought, just because I wanted to...

Now I just need to find the time to do it all!!!

Swedish Chocolate Balls... Yum!

Look at these delights I've made...

They are Swedish Chocolate Balls, made with a recipe my Swedish friend Anna gave me ages ago - so tasty!  (Thanks yet again Anna!)  You probably can't tell from the picture, but they're rolled in little mini chocolate flakey thingies (so descriptive) to coat the balls.  You can roll them in whatever you like - chocolate sugar strands, coconut... whatever your heart desires!  The reason there are only six in the picture, is that I didn't have much of the "little mini chocolate flakey thingies" so only had enough to roll six balls in.  Therefore the rest of the mixture I left in the bowl in the fridge, and I just munch it with a spoon out of the bowl - yes, that's the kind of girl I am!!  ;o)

In crocheting news, thanks for all the lovely comments and encouragement on my last post.  I have fallen somewhat behind in my 'one a day' challenge (who's surprised?!) - I'm about 3 or 4 squares behind.  Still catch-up-able, though... we'll see!  Although, as my friend Anna (of aforementioned 'chocolate ball' fame, and also the person who taught me to crochet - oh, what a positive impact she's had on my life!) says, it's not homework - if I want to put it down and start something else I can!  But I have just completed square number 41 of 81 - so half a square over the half-way mark - woohoo!

Here is something I made ages ago, but hadn't got round to posting about...

It's a tuna-tin cover (inspiration from Lucy at Attic24 - I'm sure you all saw her post ages ago)  The reason I hadn't posted about it is that I planned to make a few - but that didn't happen...

In case you're wondering what's inside that odd little flower pot thingy, they are cactuses the Lumberjack and I have been trying to grow from seed since about March time.  (Well, mainly him - as I kill all plants that have the misfortune to enter my presence!  That plant in the background of the first tuna-tin picture is his too, although lives at my flat - it's an orange tree... oh, exotic!  As far as I can tell, it hasn't changed one little bit in about six months, but what do I know?  I'm just grateful I haven't killed it off in the days when I'm left alone with it..!)

Not sure if you can make them out - there are about 8 or 9 cactuses in there I think.  Probably too many for the pot if they all actually survive!

Enough from me... I've been a bit waffley today!

One A Day...

Well firstly - thanks for all the great comments on the shawlette and flower brooch - I'm glad it seems to be liked.  I know I shouldn't say it, but I'm kind of looking forward to the weather getting a bit cooler, so I can wear it!

I got a bit of a bargain yesterday - found a discounted Susie Watson Pudding Pot - down from £9.25 to £4.60.  Well, I decided I needed it in my life!

It's pretty small - about 5.5cm tall, with an 8cm diameter at the top, getting smaller towards the bottom.  It's called a pudding pot.  Now, I don't know about you, but I like my puddings somewhat bigger than would fit in this pot!!  I propose to use it for looking at, and enjoying it's prettiness... :o)

I've been making a bit of progress with my Waterlily Blanket lately.

I'm now up to 29 of 81 squares done!  A few days ago, I set myself a challenge of doing one a day until I'd finished.  That would mean all the squares would be done on the 17th October (which seems ages away!).  Also - I think that might be a bit hopeful really, as it's quite hard to find the time.  I need to somehow get ahead, so it doesn't matter if I have the odd day where I don't do one.  What with working, and occasionally having a life, I'm not always going to have the time (not to mention the inclination!) to get a square done.  Well, we'll see.  I haven't done today's yet - so maybe I'd better crack on!

I hope you've all had a lovely bank holiday weekend!

Crochet Rose Brooch - Ta-Dah!

Thanks for all the shawlette love - I always enjoy reading your comments!  Well... the crocheted brooch has been made.  As Kandi said... what better excuse to make a crocheted flower!

Here it is, made and ready for me to sew on the felt circle back, with brooch pin...

Taken in the evening with the light on - so the colours aren't quite accurate here. 

Close up, pinned onto the shawlette...

I made the rose with every last little bit of the blue shawl yarn... then ended with the pink to provide some contrast.  The aim was to see blue and pink throughout the rose - although most of the blue is hiding, except the middle bit.  I'm still happy with it, though.

I've spared you from having to endure any more pictures of me in the shawl - I think my last post had enough!  (Also my cameraman wasn't around, so I stuck with shoving it on an old hanger and photographing it myself!)  When I see other people photo their lovely items on hangers, they always have sophisticated wooden ones.  This one is an ancient New Look one, gone all yellowed with age!  I just can't do classy!

The pattern for the rose is here, although I didn't quite follow it, due to yarn constraints!  I did row 1 and most of 2 in the blue (before the yarn ran out).  I finished row 2 in the pink and did most of row 3.  I didn't complete row 3, as I wanted to have a blue middle to the rose.  Therefore the blue middle bit is only 2 rows high.  (I did what I could with what I had!)

So, there you have it!  The brooch can be my 2nd Monthly Make for August.

Bye for now...

Posing with my Shawlette! Ta-Dah!

Well, thank you all you lovely people for all your great comments on my last post - after reading them, I decided to carry on and finish the shawl - yay!!  Thank you especially to 'Anonymous' (who are you, oh helpful one?!) for suggesting a shawlette and ways I could wear it.  I carried on, and I finished it, and I love it!  (You were right!)

If anyone is interested in the details, here they are:

Yarn:  3 x 50g balls of Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic Aran in Robin's Egg (Shade 209)
Hook:  6mm
Pattern:  here

The pattern is in Japanese and a symbol one - I've never used a pattern like that before, but I found it surprisingly easy.  (Maybe I was doing it completely wrong - who knows - I was happy anyway!)

I'm not sure what size hook I was supposed to use, and I didn't do the number of rows specified - I did as much as the yarn I had would allow.

I had a bit of a shawlette photo-shoot in the park... so here are more pictures!  Sorry for being a poser....!!!

I'll probably wear it like that quite a bit.  (Didn't really know what to do with my arms in these pictures - so if they look a bit random, that'll be why!)

I'll probably NOT wear it like this quite so often...!!  ;o)  (Had to be done....!)

This will be my August Monthly Make.  I'm glad I didn't rip it apart - I'm rather loving it.  It's very warm and cosy too.  I'm thinking I might crochet a brooch to hold it together in various positions.  If I do, I'll be sure to show you...!

Failed Shawl?

Thanks for the comments on the organisation in the last post!  I think I've seen people do similar things in notepads etc - although I can't remember where.  I've been trying to find the sources of my inspiration, to give them some credit, but I can't find them so I apologise if it's you!

I mentioned in a recent post that I wanted to make something with the Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic Aran yarn I had.  Well, I started to knit some kind of a scarf/shrug type thing.  I was just making it up as I went along and ended up pulling it apart twice, as it wasn't what I wanted!

Then I swapped to crocheting - and got massively enthusiastic, working for hours on this...

I did really like it, but... I only have three 50g balls of the yarn, and that is nearly one ball finished.  From the base to the point is only just past the depth of my window sill, as you can see in the picture.  So, I don't think it's going to be big enough, I'm not sure.

Also, I don't know if I'm even a shawl person!  I can't really see myself using it to be honest, even though I like it.  Maybe I would, I don't know...

So...... back to the drawing board I think.  Even though I can't quite bring myself to pull it apart yet.  I just really want to use the yarn to make something I will be able to use and make the most of, as it's so lovely, but I can't find the perfect project for it.

Any ideas of what lovely thing I could make with three 50g balls of Belle Organic Aran?!

I think I'll just forget about it for now, and hope something comes to me.

In other news, look at this cute notepad the Lumberjack spotted and bought for me.  The boy knows I'm partial to a list or two!

He said he thought it looked a bit like PiP Studio so thought I'd like it.  I know - what have I done to him?!  Before he met me he was merrily roaming through woodland, doing manly things with axes and chainsaws... now he's identifying "PiP Studio-esque" items.  I should be ashamed of myself!!!  ;o)

Being Organised...

I've been organising the yarn I'm using for my Waterlily Blanket.

Making sure that I can remember what each colour is called, for future reference.  The make, thickness (e.g DK), colour and washing instructions are recorded on little cards, along with a few strands of the yarn.

I plan to do this for every yarn I use in various projects from now on - so that if I ever am wondering what colours to use for new projects, I will have some reference points!  Especially if ordering online, when it is sometimes difficult to know what the colour will look like in reality.

I'll keep them all in some kind of little box or something - I haven't got that far yet!

And here is the project these colours are from - a few more squares of the Waterlily Blanket...

I've been a bit distracted from it recently, but I need to get back into it!  I plan to do 81 squares - I've done 20 so far, so a way to go!  (2 aren't in the above picture)

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my last post - much appreciated!  :o)

Fabric Basket

Thanks for all the comments on my last post!  I really enjoyed reading them, as always!


What have I been making now...?  Well, ages ago I spotted a gorgeous fabric basket, that I knew I had to make!  The tutorial is here on the Pink Penguin Blog.  She makes such gorgeous things and there are lots of lovely tutorials that are very tempting.


The fabric basket really called to me, though... and here is what I made...

I love the bright pretty colours!  It's a dinky little thing - about 4 inches x 6 inches and 3.5 inches tall.  This will be my July Monthly Make #2.

Not sure what to put in it yet - at the moment it sits on the side looking cheerful!  I'm thinking that next Easter it will be rather delightful filled with some Cadbury Creme Eggs!  Although I've got a while to wait for that...


I finished that last week, and have since been having yarn urges!  At Christmas I ended up with two copies of 'Cute and Easy Crochet' - I took one of them back to Hobby Craft and swapped it for some yarn in the sale.  I made a cowl out of one of the balls - which I wore all the time when it was cold - such lovely soft wool.


I also got some Rowan by Amy Butler Belly Organic Aran yarn - 50% wool and 50% cotton.  It is such gorgeous yarn, so very soft and delicious!  But I've had it waiting for a good project all this time...

I know the weather is unbelievably hot here now (so shocked - thought the rain would never end!) - but I am still feeling some knitting or crochet coming on... watch this space!

Laptop Sleeve - July Monthly Make

I decided I needed a laptop sleeve for my work laptop, for when I work from home so need to transport it.


It's for work... so let's make it look professional and corporate...


Or.... how about pretty and girlie?!

Yeah, that's more fun!  Pink cherry fabric on the outside, with pink buttons and elastic to fasten it...

... and brushed cotton heart fabric on the inside!  The brushed cotton is lovely and soft.


That heart fabric is actually from an XL pair of pyjama bottoms I found in the discount bin in Primark!  £1 - and there is soooo much fabric!  They are so big that I can fit both my legs into one of the pyjama legs!  Want to see a picture???


Of course you do......!!

The lighting is bad, but you get the idea - those two little blue things are my feet poking out of one leg - the other leg is empty!  Yes... this is the sort of thing I do when I'm alone in my flat................!!!!


:o)

Mini Heart Bunting

Another long-awaited WIP has been finished - and really there was no excuse for taking so long with this one!  These little hearts are so quick to make - then it's simply stringing them together with a crochet chain.

The pattern is from Julia Crossland's blog.  She's got some great free patterns and tutorials here.  If you open the Free Crochet Pattern E-Book you will find the instructions for 'Teeny Tiny Heart Bunting'.  They are really fun to make, and so pretty!

I've strung them across my living room window.  A bit difficult to photograph with the light coming from outside - but I've tried!

You could be mistaken in thinking I live in the middle of woodland with all this greenery outside the window!  In reality I'm in a one bed flat, in a town, with a bunch of trees and bushes out the back, blocking most of the light - hence my often dingy photos!  Although, there are worse views than green leaves.  (I shouldn't be mentioning this, because once the Lumberjack reads this it'll set him off on his usual rant that these bushes/trees aren't being managed and maintained properly.  Then he'll start threatening to get out there with his chainsaw and tidy the whole lot up!!!)


I also forgot to mention the other day that I finally got a frame from Ikea for the Caroline Rose print I ordered quite a while back:

Love it!  (Propped up on my pretty pink spotty sewing box!)  It's now hung on the wall and looking lovely.  Makes me smile whenever I look at it!  :o)


Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!