Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all have a great time :D



We've had an unseasonal amount of snow this year (more than zero for this time of year). We all had a great time building snowmen yesterday and today we've been greeted with more snow!! This is AMAZING!!!! I'm started to believe in a White Christmas after all!



Our little one even made a snow angel.



We got together with our nextdoor neighbour and family and made a MASSIVE snowman, he stands around 6ft tall. We had a great time!



Only thing is....we need to go out shopping! No food! We are not prepared for these conditions! The price we pay for having snow!
Happy Holidays!

Little Elves

I asked my little boy last week if he would like me to make him some little bootie slippers and he said he'd love some as long as they were red and Christmas Tree green!
I've made his wish come true and they look like little elf shoes :D

Our 11 year old loved them and wanted a pair himself but in dark blue and white. He couldn't wait to put them on once I'd finished them.

Cthulhu Beard balaclava!?!

Whilst searching my usual haunts I'd thought I would see if I could find a pattern for a balaclava and I came across this beauty. If any of you would like to try this its a free ravelry download. So sign in or register for free and get hooking :D

Kudos goes to Nichole Verville

Invincible Star Hat

Whilst going round my usual haunts round t'internet, I came across this rather cute hat over at April Draven's Blog. 
Whilst being super cosy, it even doubles up as an neckwarmer. She's even been kind enough to post a pattern to this, so if your like me and would like to give this a whirl, you can :D Happy Days.

 

Flower Power

I've been enjoying the delights of my local library over the past few weeks and one of the books I've been working from is Crochet Bouquet by Suzann Thompson.
Here is my little flower garden. I hope they bring you a little sunshine during these winter months.

A little bit of freeform

I went to my local library yesterday to collect a book I'd been longing for, for some time. The book in question is The encyclopedia of Tunisian crochet by Angela Grabowski. I started reading it and I was overwhelmed by just how many different stitches I could potentially make. I've only known about 4 so far.
As I was reading this amazing book, I came to the conclusion that I must buy this and I can see a few designs on the horizon that I can design. I was so excited by this I dug out a hook and tried out a few stitches and in the process I started to freeform. Going first one way, then the other, couple of single crochet then Tunisian knit, Simple or purl went in there. A few bits of everything seemed to go into it and when I sat back to see what I have made....a sock!! I couldn't believe it! I just had to laugh!! My lesson is: I've your bored, freeform! You never know what you might create!

Sorry for the break, been hookin an bakin!

Hi Guys and Gals, sorry about not posting for a while, I've been busy hooking up some Christmas pressies for my nearest and dearest and I've been busy baking a choccy cake! It was my first time baking a chocolate cake and WHAT A MESS I made!!! With a normal sponge cake you just wack all the ingredients in one bowl...not with choc cake!!! you've got to melt stuff before you mix it with the rest of the stuff and the mountain of washing up I've got to do now is too daunting to look at!! I'll do it tomorrow, I promise.
Well, like I said, I've been a busy bee with my crochet and I've got lots of pictures to show you. I'll post them up soon, I promise.
I've got my eyes on making some socks and some arm warmers, so its a busy week for me. I hope you are all well and keeping busy too. :D

The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon

The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon

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Christmas is Coming! Spread the Joy :D

Yes that's right! We are only.....I dunno? a few weeks away now and I thought I'd whip up some quick and easy Christmas Tree ornaments. Beansprout has been making the patterns and posting them every Tuesday for her 12 weeks of Christmas Cal. 
I love her patterns, so much that I made these 3 today :D Well have got to do something when I'm doing nothing! I've crocheted a Christmas wreath, stocking and poinsettia.

Thanks go to Beanspout for the wonderful patterns.

She's also got a November sale on now. Bargain patterns.

Happy Halloween (warning - my ugly mug in pictures!)

Happy Halloween All

I hope you all had a GREAT time! I know we did :D
We all went to a creepy Halloween party and had a SCREAMMMMM!!!!!

Here I am dressed as a witch. I was meant to be a Gothic fairy but I couldn't get hold of any black wings in time (postal strike put the stopper on that one). I really went to town with the hair and make up and scarily, I quite liked my look too. I may have my hair like this next time I go out! Well maybe a little, lol!






My partner also got in on the act and dressed up in his suit! I was shocked when he came downstairs as he only ever wears a suit when he has to (wedding,
christenings, funerals). I think he looks hot in his suit! I whitened his face and added black around his eyes to finish the look.
We was about to leave when he found a bow tie in the pocket of the suit, don't know where they came from, but he said that he could wear that next year to finish the outfit off. It really is a cheesy 70's bow tie, very Bowfinger!!


Finally my little boy dressed up (as he should). We got him a tabard with a
skull on it! He still looks very cute, he he!!

Happy Wednesday

Hi, happy Wednesday to you

I've been making some wrist things to go over the satin gloves I've been lent for a Halloween party we've been invited to on Saturday. I'm going as a Gothic fairy. I like fairies but I only have a black dress so Gothic it is, lol. I'm making the wings with cardboard, paint and some black fun fur I've got at the bottom of my stash!! I may us some glitter too I also made the candy ornament on Beansprouts Blog.
I love her 12 weeks of Christmas CAL. I'm going to blog all my stuff when I've made them. I think they are great! She must have her tree set up to take the pictures though cause she's making it up as she goes!! Good on her!

Addicted to hookin...my latest work

Sorry I've not been blogging so much I've been hookin up some crochet stuff and I just could tear myself away from it!! I've made some lovely things (blowing own trumpet!!) for friends and family and I little something for my home. I've dusted the camera off and taken some photos to show you. I hope you like them.
The beanie with visor was been made with stylecraft sassy chunky wool in red, that I bought from a local wool shop for £6 for 10 balls (quite a bargain). I got the pattern from Vallieskids. Its a great pattern. I've made this twice, originally with a 6 mm hook (right picture) but on reflection it was too big for a child's hat, so I dug out the 5 mm hook and started again. The result is the hat on the left which has turned out splendid. I hope my friend likes this. I made her some armie fingerless gloves too but I've forgotten to take the picture. Happy Birthday petal, hugs and kisses going your way :D

I've been surfing the pages of Ravelry for a little while now and I found a great pattern for my lovely step mum for Christmas. I got hookin straight away with some Rowan Aran with wool 400. Again another bargain buy, I found it in a charity shop for 99p!! I just had to have it and its made the most wonderful shawl.
Here is my little boy once again modelling for me.
This took me a week to make and the only complicated part was the edging at the end but after a bit of hooking and working out I finally figure it out and finished it. I can't wait to give this to her at Christmas, she's going to love it!
Now something for the home.
I want to make a basket for the bathroom so I used a Halloween pattern for a candy basket and changed the colours to suit my own needs. I used about 50g each of green and blue double knit wool and it now resides in the bathroom to hold the toilet rolls and magazines. Before that area was a cluttered place and needed a basket to make it look right. Now when family and friends use the room they can read a magazine too :D

Crocheted Arm Warmers for Autumn Winter

As Autumn is here and its started to get nippy outside I thought I'd make something for our 10yo. He's into rock metal (O I can't remember specifically!! O my! My age is catching up with me!) So he said he'd like them in his fav colours, black and red! That's handy, cause I've got those colours in my stash!!
I found this pattern over at Ravelry but its really easy to make. You can find the pattern here at crochet me. I used two strands together to make this and I used nearly all of the 2, 100g balls.
He loves them and wears them in and outside of the house. No more cold armies here!!

Tunisian Crochet Cowl

I made this for my friends birthday and presented it to here yesterday. I think she likes it (she looked like she did anyway :))
This is of my own design and the first thing I've made using this technique. I like the way its turned out and is very snuggley to wear. This should keep her very warm when she's out and about!
I made this with one 100g ball of dk yarn in brown and a size 5mm hook. I decreased towards the end to give a slanted/ pointed end and finished it off with 3 large wooden buttons that I purchased at my local market.
I started off with 35 loops (different to crochet or knit) and went from there.
If you would like to know more I suggested visiting The art of Crochet Teressa's videos are the best by far! She taught me to crochet (through these vids) and now this technique.
If your thinking that this is WAY to hard and you can't possibly do this! Your WRONG!! Crochet is really easy and the best way is watching her vids!! Go on!!! Give it a go!! Whats the worst that could happen!

Head Hugger

Mini over at CFL found a really cool design for a girls hat over at Vallieskids with a free pattern. I immediately fell in love with the design. I had the perfect yarn for it too, Patons Zivargo. A lovely soft yarn with some give in it. Unfortunatly this yarn is now discontinued :( but it was only 99p from a local charity shop so I'm not complaining (well maybe a little). I used 2 balls of the 50gram balls and finished them with little butterflies. I think this came out great. My little boy is, once again, modeling this for me (he loves having his picture taken and he's my biggest fan :D). I hope it fits my intended girl's head?!

Handpainted Mario Inspired Nails

Nailchick27's handpainted Mario inspired nails make me want to run to the nearest manicurist! My nails are WAY to boring! via boingboing and via photobucket

Colourful Carryall

I've been working on my crocheting a lot lately and I finally found something for my hooks that I really liked the look of. I found this pattern over at Crochet World and I just had to do it! Its a lovely design, and as well as making my very own I also adapted the pattern to make a mobile phone holder (didn't take a pic of it though) for a friend's birthday.
I used various double knit yarns/wools and a size 5mm hook.
I really enjoyed making this, I love the starry design and the colours really make it I think. I'm still thinking of ways to incorporate this design into other things. :)

I've lost my stitching Mojo!

I love cross stitching, I really do! but lately I've not been into it. It's upsetting but I must follow the flow of what takes me and right now my new obsession is crochet! I've been really getting into it of late and I've made some cool and not so cool things (all will be posted in time :D). I've also learnt to knit this week so expect some really strange things popping up!
I want my cross stitching mojo back! I may get it back after Christmas! Talking about Christmas (no don't - who said that!!) I've just made a plum pudding and snowman tree ornament (pictures to follow soon when I find my camera). I've been obsessing about making Christmassy things this week! I'm a lost cause, I know I am, but what can you do!! I'm just going with the flow and seeing where it takes me! It can only end good.

WolfDreamer off the hook - great blog and great crochet patterns

De'anna on CFL posted a link to a great blog for all of us who love crocheting and gaming. Its run by a person called WolfDreamer and they have some wicked patterns on there that you should check out NOW.

As well as some wicked crocheted game items (bubble bobble, fire flower, toad and toadetter, pokemon, to name a few) that have been done, they've also posted some patterns so we can give them a go too. There are some cool patterns you can purchase in her esty shop too.

I'll post up some of these when I've crochet them, so keep an eye on my blog for more....

Crafting update! Bargain Buys and published works!

I've been working on a pdf called 101 granny squares (ty Mini @ CFL) and I'm really enjoying myself. I'm quite hooked on crocheting now, so as a treat yesterday I went to the charity shop to see what I could find in bargain yarn and I came up trumps!!!

I got to big bags of assorted yarn for £5 (that's about $8.25). In it I got a cone of light blue yarn, some small bright balls, some balls of sport weight yarn, a few balls of mohair and some fluffy yarn (one is called rainbow wicked ostrich yarn) in blue and black. I think I got quite a deal and my partner is happy cause I don't need to spend money on yarn for a while :)

I'd like to give a big hug and kiss to Johloh for displaying my cross stitch of Pitt (his pattern) on his blog at SpriteStitch. I love it when I see my work published :)

Muppet Glasses Holder

This is my latest amigurumi. I found the pattern on craftster and immediately wanted to try my hand at it. I think he came out great. This will work look great on any bedside table.

Pacman Ghosts amigurmi

This is my first time crocheting toys. I've always wanted to make a ghost since starting the craft, so when a friend on CFL posted the link for the pattern I jumped for joy and I couldn't wait to start hooking.
My first attempt was made with a 6mm hook and its come out cute but very holey. I loved making it so much I thought I'd give it another whirl and dug out my 4mm hook and started again. This immediatley felt right and the stitches where a lot tighter than my previous attempt.
When I finished them I gave them to my little boy. He loves them so much he insisted in posing for a photo with them.
As you can see, there is a clear different in size for such a small change in hooks. I've learnt a lot from making these. I'm starting to understand the craft more and I'm totally addicted.

Thank you to fulloffluff.com for making such a great pattern.

Megaman Crochet with free pattern

MegaMan.EXE amigurumi with free (crazy long) pattern - CROCHET

I've been searching around the web quite a bit of late (hence the pacman stitch markers) and I found the perfect crochet pattern for all the Megaman, video game, crafting geeks out there!!! I'm sure you'll love making this!! Enjoy! :)

Mrs Pacman and Googly Eye Ghosts stitch markers

MRS. PAC MAN AND GOOGLY EYE GHOSTS - STITCH MARKERS for knitting needles / crochet MR. PACMAN IS ALSO AVAILABLE by scarymerry on Etsy

Whist looking around for stitch markers to use for crochet I came across these little fellas and lady on Etsy. Its a shame a can't knit otherwise I'd get these. There soo cute.

Crochet Sun Potholder (oven mitt) Warning: Very bright Orange!!

I made this for a challenge over at crochet for life. The challenge is to make a square or motif that will be made into something else. It took me ages to figure something out to make but eventually I found this pattern on the site and set to work. This took me only a day to make. I figured out how to half double crochet ( really easy as it goes) and joining the two orange circles together whilst crocheting the yellow edging.
I think its too thin to be used as a pot holder but it does look pretty and is now hanging on the kitchen roll holder.
I made this with a size 6mm hook and bright orange and yellow value wool/yarn.

Super Smash Bros Pitt Cross Stitch Complete

It's taken me nearly a year to stitch this but finally its complete!!! I'm so excited I've taken the photos before I've washed and ironed it!!! I shall have to get a custom frame for this as I've not left enough fabric for it to go in a normal frame, but that's O.K. This was originally intended to be my step sons christmas 08 present but its taken me this long to get it done so now its a VERY VERY VERY late present!!! He's no longer into SSB but he still loves the cross stitch!! Good on ya la!

I'd like to thank Johloh over at Sprite Stitch for the pattern, its a great pattern, Thank you.
The only thing I missed off the original pattern was the shadowing that surrounded his feet.

Starburst braclet

Check this out!!
How many of you made these as kids. I used to make daisy chains but this is WAY cooler!!! Fluffyland craft have a tutorial on how to make these braclets here.

Thrors Map (part map) pattern

Here's the pattern of Thrors map as promised :D

Thrors map from the hobbit (part map)

My Dad loves reading and he loves the hobbit and Lord of the Rings so I thought for his birthday this year I would stitch him up one of the maps. I got started in making the pattern and realized that it would be huge and I don't think he would want something too big on his wall so I stuck to just the top middle section of the map and viola!!! The stitching itself too only a week to do, making the pattern took a lot longer!! It's 15 inches wide by 8 inches tall, and I've used 18 count ecru aida.
If you would like the pattern just ask me, I will be happy to share.

Day Out at the Steam Railway

My little boy loves trains, he loves Thomas the Tank Engine and Chuggington and could watch them all day if I let him, lol. So as its his 3rd birthday this week we went over to the steam railway at Preston Docks in Lancashire at the weekend. He got to look at all the old steam engines and have a ride on the railway. He even got to go in the engine and pull the whistle. I think that was his favourite!
The engine that pulled the carriages is in the picture above and the bday boy in the other.