Mushroom

Screaming Green Witch

2012-02-02T22:56:00.004Z

is the name of my newest item of clothing.
This is a fabulously quick and easy pattern by Drops designs Salsa Cardigan
I used up loads of my green DK stash (doubled stranded) and I even made my own polymer clay buttons for it.

Now you understand the screaming bit

and the green :o)

Working on a slouchy hat and thinking about doing some freezer paper stencils. Well I've ordered the freezer paper. I understand the concept and I'm hunting down designs. The first thing I want to do is some black and red butterfly wings on the back of a t-shirt.

My List has grown :o) I so have my crafting hat on and I'm determined to revamp kitchen and bedroom. Bedroom is well underway, but I'll maybe leave sanding and painting furniture until the longer warmer days.

I working on sorting and storage this year, so labelled jars, tins and boxes.
watch this space :o)

Scotty Dog phone cosy

2012-01-22T16:49:00.006Z

Working away steadily on my 50 projects.
This is project 16: A phone sock/cosy for my daughters phone.
I was trawling through a box of old prima magazine that a friend gave me when she was moving house. I was looking for some sewing patterns mainly and I came across a chart for cute little kiddies jumper with little Scotty dogs on it and thought that it would be a fab design for my DD's phone sock.

Anyway I cast on 40 stitches using black dk yarn and 2mm circular needle.
Then using the magic loop I knitted 2 rows of stocking stitch.
Increased to 44 stitches and knitted two more rows before starting the chart.
Knit the chart twice, ends up with a dog per side of the cosy.
once chart is finished decrease 4 stitches evenly across a knit row. (40)
knit 3 rows in k2,p2 rib then cast off.

Finally I crocheted together the bottom of the cosy and added a crocheted chain loop to the back and a button to the front.

CHART

Click on image to open larger.

Finished cosy.

Magic Loop Tutorial
\

New lunch bag

2012-01-12T11:25:00.001Z

Finally got round to clearing bedroom table and setting up my sewing machine again.
So to christen it I made me a lunch bag. Using this pattern

So Funny.....and True

2012-01-10T18:48:00.000Z

Source: stumbleupon.com via ana on Pinterest

Happy New Year

2012-01-06T16:32:00.003Z

off with a bang or maybe just a fizzle...
Went back to work yesterday, but didn't actually make it in. The car is having issues with it's ignition coils. We ordered a set so that should be fixed soon.

I've had a few days of relaxing, knitting and being online.I've joined a 50 projects in 2012 craft-a-long on craftsters. Feeling totally inspired to do some knitting and sewing. This is my list:

1. Shetland Bunnies for me.WIP pattern
2. Mum's Zig zag cardigan WIP Ravelry link
3. My red or dead scarflette WIP pattern
4. My cat's paw shawl WIP rav link
5. Background and flowers on living room wall WIP
6. T-shirt Rug WIP
Pretty sure I have more wip's somewhere

7. Set of Alice goblets
8. Goblets for aunties birthday
9. Frog hat
10. Toothless hat (from how to trains dragon)
11. Snow glazed Mukluks
12. plastic bag tidy
13. Chicken hat
14. Sew skirt with funky 70s fabric
15. Cat bed for window.(up cycled odd socks, stuffing from old duvet and patches from old clothes)
16. Phone sock for DD
17. Phone sock for Mum
18. Gothic beaded Cameo necklace.(up cycled from cameo brooch, black bead necklace and heart pendant)
19. Add more design ideas to my pottery book
20. Organise my yarn stash by colour.
21. Go through pattern stash and pic some sewing patterns to make this year
22. Finish coat WIP - just needs collar, cuffs, buttons
23. Birthday present for DS
24. Birthday present for DD
25. Birthday present for OH
26. Sell some pottery
27. Knit animal hats to sell at Christmas time
28. ~~Be a swap angel~~ 1/1/12
29. ~~Finish Moon Socks~~ finished 3/1/12
30. Turn book (bought especially for it) into a touchpad case already.

Gee I made it to 30 already.....

31. ~~Sew together two highly reduced throws to make a bed cover. Upcycling?~~completed 2/1/12
32. Big item for Swap angel package
33. Medium item for Swap Angel package
34. Crochet slippers WIP - found a bag with yarn and some half done crochet squares for this pattern.Thought I'd lost them
34. Reindeer Neck Warmer - for my Mum probably. Pattern
34. Cardigan for me. Pattern

I finished a pair of Moon Socks for my OH. He's delighted with them, as they are warm and comfy.

I'm working on project 34 at the moment :o)

Happy Birthday to Me

2011-12-30T15:47:00.004Z

Celebrated my birthday on Thursday night. Got some lovely presents including a box set of all the Harry Potter movies on Blu Ray. Super excited to watch these.
We were also celebrating having my son home from sea. He was away for Christmas, but back for New Year. Here's our glorious starter for the celebration meal. Looks as good as it tasted, pâté, chorizo, Parma ham, cream cheese stuffed smoked salmon, salad, herbs, melon and blue berries.

Here are some of my fabby presents;

Yes those silicon cupcake cases do have feet...ain't they cool. Looking forward to having a classic horror movie night. It's in the coolest Metal box. my Auntie made me the jam Rhubarb with ginger and Kiwi. Yummy!

I also got a beautiful tray and one of those eaty on things or lap trays.

now to get back to the knitting. Still a bootie to get finished.

More Christmas Hats

2011-12-30T14:44:00.010Z

Seem to have a knitting phase going on at the moment. I've knitted several hats for various people, an almost done tea Cosy and I'm working on the cutest pair of slipper booties. I've already blogged the Zebra Hat. Here's the rest.

Owl 1

Owl 2 - It's a Hedwig hat.

Tiger hat

Snowflake hat

Tea Cosy - Not finished yet. the teapot is at work and I' m not going back until the 5th.

The slipper booties are called "Moon Socks". They're by Garn Studio. Linky

Christmas -22

2011-12-03T18:54:00.006Z

Yeah, my favourite time of the year is almost here. I've done all my Christmas shopping and now I'm working on making some Christmas hats.
This is the first one:

P. has been busy and did another Bisque firing and for a change we've got some photos of the pre-glazed items.

I'm really excited about the frog jar. Here's hoping the yellow iron oxide comes out a nice maroon brown. Also the elephant bowl is looking really good. The inside should end up being the same colour as my mug in last blog.

The olive oil bottle is covered in a mix of oxides in slip that will hopefully end up being black - fingers crossed.
The goblet is inspired by Wassily Kandinsky Squares with Concentric Circles. Here's more of his work (my inspiration is towards the end).Love his stuff

November Pots

2011-11-21T11:37:00.003Z

Oh my goodness it's going to be December before we know it. So far this month it's been getting my head round doing some Christmas shopping, which has actually been fairly successful. Think I have, just about, got everyone sorted :o)

We did another glaze firing and I do believe that P. and I are growing as potters. There are still little disasters such as finding out that the yellow underglaze we use has a tendency to bubble if it's been applied at Bisque stage. We're going to have to test it when applied at Green stage. Too little Yellow iron Oxide in the slip will just burn away and leave you with Beige. I'll show you my very, very beige baking dish.:o(

Well apart from the obvious beige issues, I'm really quite happy with the dish. It's a good size and seems sturdy. Did you see the hint of Cuckcoo rays over the base?

We're getting better in general at the glazing, didn't have any really thick bits of transparent. Things are coming out lighter, thinner and a better size. I made a teapot that will take a whole mug of tea and pours well. P. made one that do two cups of tea or a large mug and pours well too.
I finally managed to get Mum a set of goblets that work and look similar enough to be a set.

See video:

October Holidays

2011-11-21T10:05:00.005Z

We had a jaunt to Uist for our October Hols. We had a great time, was really relaxing. We visited all the sites, ate some absolutely scrummy seafood and did loads of relaxing. Hoping to go again next year.
Here's the photo. Unfortunately I forgot my camera and these were all done with my phone.

Car Boot

2011-09-18T14:48:00.005+01:00

Got up at 6am to go and set up a stall at the local car boot. It was dark, but dry when we left. By the time we arrived it was lighter, but much wetter. We carried on regardless and ended up the clearing about £50 after expenses and still came home with a full car. So I think we'll be doing another clear out and heading back around the start of October. Fingers crossed that it doesn't rain this time.

Haven't been doing much pottery lately, as P has a new placement and is busy. I did hand build a jug for my mum, but no pictures. I did get a new camera, but I keep on forgetting to use it.
So here are some pics from our first and possibly last earthenware firing. The glaze was bubbly, P didn't like the colour and we didn't really enjoy throwing with it. I did like a couple of my finished pieces though.

These are two hand build pears using double pinch pots. The larger is a sugar bowl, but could be used for mustard or jam. The smaller one is for one of those reed air fresheners.

A hand built Owl Vase. It's a little squint due to being hand built, but I do like it. He's about 8/9 inches high.

Anyway that's my weekend nearly over again. So I'm away to work on my knitted slippers, as it's getting colder up here already.
I'm doing these Bunny Hop slippers using some of my unspun hand dyed shetland fleece.

Matchless pots

2011-09-10T15:59:00.003+01:00

I have a folksy shop :o)

Matchless Pots

It's only got a few items on it at the moment, but more will be appearing.
There are reasons behind only a few:
1. My camera broke :o( ,so I've had to get a new one. Another reason why I've been absent for a while. I really like to add pictures to my blog posts and that's darn hard when you can't take any pictures.

2. I'm not confident about how sell worthy any of my pottery is, so I've only posted up the stuff that I'm really happy with.

3. I have loads of stuff that I seem to have made for myself and I'm unwilling to part with. This though is a good thing I hope. It may mean that other people will like my stuff, or it may mean that I have no taste at all.

Anyway here is a peak at some of my Angry chickens available on my folksy store.

Holidays

2011-07-28T11:08:00.003+01:00

It's that time of the year again and you know what I just can't be bothered with the usual gut the house scenario. I'd like to spend my holidays not catching up on all the stuff that doesn't get done while I'm at work. I'd like to sit around drinking tea, doing crafting and relaxing. But as no one else will take the initiative and do things, then tomorrow I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and get stuck in.

Within the next two weeks I want to get rid of the excess furniture I seem to have. Move the kitchen sink and get a new waste system installed. Sort out the 3 bedrooms so they are livable in and finally sort out the two downstairs rooms so that I can have a small pottery area.

Not much to ask, but when all the drive has to come from me, it's actually quite a big ask.

Anyway, so as not to focus on the depressing state of my house I've been doing some crochet (as I've mentioned) and look how my blankie is progressing....

I'm loving it and I have enough circles ready to do two more rows. Which I will be concentrating on today.

I've also just bottled 5 jars of wild raspberry jam and P. is confident that we'll get the kiln on this weekend :o) happy, happy, happy.

Now if anyone has any ideas on driving up enthusiasm for DIY, please send it my way.

Pots from my last class

2011-07-20T13:31:00.002+01:00

Just had a quick gander at my blog and noticed that I haven't posted any of my finished items from the last class. OOps
So here are a plethora of finished pieces. Not sure I've found my niche. I'm still growing as an artist.

Arum, Sid and lil'yella

Skull Salt Pig

Wine Goblets - pretty, but not food safe as glaze powdery due to Kiln fault

Bumble Coffee Pot.

That'll do for now and I'm on hexagon 23 of my blanket. :O) Recon 115 or 138 hexagons for a finished lapghan.

Hexagons

2011-07-16T14:47:00.005+01:00

Broke my promise to myself to blog more often. It's my new phones fault. I've got an android phone which I just love. It has a blogger ap, which I used to write a sad blog. It then failed completely and won't allow me to open, upload or copy that blog post. I'm a bit upset about it and it stopped me from blogging trying to fix the blinking think.
Well it's been a month and it's still stuck in limbo, so I better get back to it.
I'll eventually write about the unhappy events of June, but not yet.
Anyway having a slight hiatus from pottery as P is on holiday and the kiln is loaded awaiting an extractor fan being installed. Which should happen by the end of this month.

I have been inspired to do some crochet though. A hexagon blanket to use up loads of yarn From Annie's Attic I have one hexagon already made. More to follow.

Adam Ant

2011-05-23T10:57:00.004+01:00

Went to a gig last night. Not something I do a lot, but when I heard Adam was back on stage and was coming to a venue near me. Well I just couldn't resist.
This is how I remember him.

He now looks like this.

I'm thinking....Nae bad. he's looking a bit Johnny Depp at the moment.
Anyway the Gig was fab. Had such a good time.
Here's some video's from the tour.

100 done or not

2011-05-14T23:02:00.004+01:00

I found this list 100 list on a pottery blog. Seemed like fun

1. Started your own blog YES

2. Slept under the stars SURE

3. Played in a band NOPE

4. Visited Hawaii NOT YET

5. Watched a meteor shower YES

6. Given more than you can afford to charity YES

7. Been to Disneyland NOPE

8. Climbed a mountain NOPE, Big hill yes

9. Held a praying mantis YES

1O.Sang a solo YEP

11.Bungee jumped NO

12.Visited Paris YES

13.Watched a lightning storm at sea YES

14.Taught yourself an art from scratch YEAH

15.Adopted a child NO

16.Had food poisoning YEP

17.Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty NOPE

18.Grown your own vegetables SURE

19.Seen the Mona Lisa in France YES

20.Slept on an overnight train YES

21.Had a pillow fight YES

22.Hitch hiked NOPE

23.Taken a sick day when you’re not ill NOPE

24.Built a snow fort YEP

25.Held a lamb YES

26.Gone skinny dipping NOPE

27.Run a Marathon NEVER WILL

28.Ridden in a gondola in Venice NOPE

29.Seen a total eclipse NOPE

30.Watched a sunrise or sunset YES BOTH

31.Hit a home run NOPE

32.Been on a cruise YEP

33.Seen Niagara Falls in person NOPE

34.Visited the birthplace of your ancestors YES

35.Seen an Amish community NOPE

36.Taught yourself a new language YES

37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied Sometimes, but not for long

38.Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person NOPE

39.Gone rock climbing NOPE

40.Seen Michelangelos David Don't think so

41.Sung karaoke On the Wii

42.Seen Old Geyser erupt NO

43.Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant NO

44.Visited Africa Yep, Gambia

45.Walked on a beach by moonlight YES

46.Been transported in an ambulance No

47.Had your portrait painted No

48.Gone deep sea fishing YES

49.Seen the Sistine Chapel in person NO

50.Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris NO

51.Gone scuba diving or snorkeling YES

52.Kissed in the rain YES

53.Played in the mud YES

54.Gone to a drive-in theater No, but did try to.

55.Been in a movie NO

56.Visited the Great Wall of China NO

57.Started a business YEP

58.Taken a martial arts class yep

59.Visited Russia NO

60.Served at a soup kitchen NO

61.Sold Girl Scout Cookies NO

62.Gone whale watching No, Dolphin watched yep.

63.Got flowers for no reason YES

64.Donated blood, platelets or plasma YES

65.Gone sky diving NO

66.Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp NO

67.Bounced a check NO

68.Flown in a helicopter NO

69.Saved a favorite childhood toy YES

70.Visited the Lincoln Memorial NO

71.Eaten Caviar YES

72.Pieced a quilt YES

73.Stood in Times Square, on New Year's Eve NO

74.Toured the Everglades NO

75.Been fired from a job NO

76.Seen the Changing of the Guards in London Nope

77.Broken a bone NOPE

78.Been on a speeding motorcycle YES

79.Seen the Grand Canyon in person NOPE

80.Published a book Nope

81.Visited the Vatican No

82.Bought a brand new car No

83.Walked in Jerusalem No

84.Had your picture in the newspaper YES

85.Read the entire Bible No

86.Visited the White House NO

87.Killed and prepared an animal for eating YES, do snails count?

88.Had chickenpox YES

89.Saved someone’s life No

90.Sat on a jury NO

91.Met someone famous Possibly

92.Joined a book club Yep

93.Lost a loved one YES

94.Had a baby YES

95.Seen the Alamo in person NO

96.Swam in the Great Salt Lake NO

97.Been involved in a law suit YES

98.Owned a cell phone YES

99.Been stung by a bee YES

100.Read a book in one day YES, Many times.

I'm researching doing Earthenware single firing, if anyone has any knowledge to impart please send it my way.

Camping

2011-05-11T13:55:00.003+01:00

I went Camping!!! In April!!!! Had a fantastic weekend up in Fortrose. It was very relaxing (read 2.5 books), spent a couple of evenings watching the dolphins off Chanery points (walking distance from Camp site), had a lovely drive up the coast through Golspie, Dornoch up to the Helmsdale area, had lunch in the grounds of Dunrobin Castle and found a couple of cool charity shops.

Dolphin Watching - so very cool.

My Sauerkraut is ready and almost half eaten already. Absolutely yummy and very, very easy to make. Going to be starting a new jar any day now.

Pottery classes have begun again. :o) I'm working on some wine tumblers for my house, a present for my Mother's birthday, plus getting some of my birds glazed and finishing off various projects from last term. No pics at the moment, but I did glaze my Skulls Salt pig the other week. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

P. bought a new kiln, it was a bargain and much closer to being ready for installation than the last one she had. So we're building and throwing as much as we can with the red earthenware clay. Kiln will take a fare bit to fill, so we need some full shelves.
Recently I've made more bowls (various sizes), tumbler, bottle, pears (using double pinch pots, they're going to be a reed incense jar and a sugar bowl), lidded pig jar, Rabbit Statuette etc etc. Can't begin to tell you how much I love working with clay. Here's a few pics of some of my red clay items. They're all Greenware, which means they haven't been fired yet.

I have a new aspiration, or maybe it's not new, maybe I have been heading this way for a while and all it took to come to the forefront of my mind was a little visual stimulation.
I wish I could share my visual stimulation with you. I found it here. Basically this is a link to a book called The Potter's Studio Handbook: A Start-to-finish Guide to Hand-Built and Wheel-Thrown Ceramics by Kristin Muller. In the first few pages it has a picture of her kitchen cupboard full of handmade tumblers, mugs, bowls, side plates and dinner plates. The Eureka moment happened and I thought...That's exactly what I want. I want to be using my pottery for my kitchen, eating out of, drinking out of, mixing in and baking in my own handmade pottery. So watch this space. So far I have a plate and a mug in general everyday use.

Red Clay

2011-04-17T20:38:00.007+01:00

We finally managed to get a delivery of clay. OK not a delivery as such P collected it on the way back from England. We got Buff stoneware, Red Earthenware and white of each.
Now we're both fairly used to throwing and working with Stoneware, but earthenware is new to us.
Had our first go of throwing with it last night. It doesn't feel that different, seemed to stick to the hands more and being red it made an awful mess. Frankly it looked like I had been playing with Poop. :o)
Sorry no pics yet of those, I made a lidded jar, a cappuccino cup and a small bowl (for the barbie).
Today though me and the DD had a play hand building with the red clay. We made more birds, a lidded flask and she made a monkey.

Great way to spend a sunny afternoon. Look at the concentration.... Eddie was enjoying the sun too.

It's been a beautiful weekend: DD had a sleep over; We went to beach and collected seaweed and driftwood for my barbie firing; We played with red clay :o)

One small blip on the horizon though. LP has been bitten by another cat and his leg is swollen to twice the size. I'll need to take him to the vet in the morning. I have my fingers crossed that it'll just be a antibiotic shot (please, please). Poor boy is sleeping on my bed and been forced to endure getting his wound soaked in warm salt solution. He not awfully pleased by this.

The Hunger Games

2011-04-16T09:13:00.004+01:00

I don't tend to read Young Adult Fiction, but every, now and then you come across an absolute gem, well in this case 3 gems.
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins is just a fabulous read. Thoroughly enjoyed all 3.

Book 1 - The Hunger Games

Catching Fire

Mockingjay

Check them out.

Plus it's being turned into a movie. :o)

Birds Galore

2011-04-15T20:56:00.008+01:00

I now have 9 birds made. Four to burnish for a barbie firing and 5 that will be bisqued and then glazed. Here's a collage of the birds in various stages of Greenware. Doesn't include my first bird as you've already seen heaps of pics of him. You may see an Elvis and a Punk if you look closely.

My potter partner/best mate managed to get a load of clay, on her way back from her Easter break. So we now have heaps of clay, some Buff stoneware, some Red Earthenware and a white stoneware and White Earthenware. I have a chunk of the red home with me to make me some RED birds.

I'm now a seller on Folksy. Matchless Pots Store - Come and check it out..... Ok I know I have only 3 things for sale so far, but I didn't realise how much I had given away or personalised and kept as my own. So this are my only 3 excess, but I hope to add Birds soon. :o)
Anyway must go and eat my tastey home made Curry. :o) Oh and the Scones were a total hit, so will definitely be making more.

New Handbag

2011-04-13T09:50:00.008+01:00

I have been looking for a new handbag for ages. I not really into handbags, but they are useful for work. I didn't realise until I started looking that I had such specific idea on handbags.
Anyway I needed it to be:
Cheap - It's a tool for work and I don't actually need a new one. The old one works, but it is old and a bit worn.
Sexy - Ok not really a need, but if I'm getting a new one then I want to like it.
Big Enough - to hold all my work essentials, but not too big that I need to build muscles to haul it around.
Not Black - I wear lots of black and I want my bag not to just blend in.

Sounds easy, but it took me ages and I tried heaps and heaps of charity shops. Eventually I remembered to trawl ebay and Look at this :o)

Cost me £6.99 including delivery
I'm stoked.

So what do you think?
Do you like it?
Did I get a bargain?
Any ideas where I can get sexy purple summer wedges to wear for work?
They need to be cheap and not more than 2.5 inches high.

This weeks Scones: Toasted Coconut and Plain chocolate - These are an absolute hit. They taste good and my DD loves them with Peanut butter. Think I'll be baking them all week.

Sauerkraut

2011-04-12T13:33:00.006+01:00

I feel that I managed to have quite a busy, successful long weekend. I've got Sauerkraut fermenting away in a jar. I've blocked my finished Cardigan. I've made some paperclay and started making 3 new birds with it. I've done loads of washing and I've started a new Cardigan. Whoo Hoo.

So Sauerkraut. I've often thought about making it, as I love the stuff, it's especially good on sandwiches, but for some reason it's always sounded so complicated to make and so easy to go wrong. This has now all changed for me though. On Sunday I was trawling through the blogs I read on Google Reader.

You should so get one of these if you read a lot of blogs. It holds all your blogs that you read in one place. It's obvious when you sign in which blogs have new posts on them and you can share interesting blog posts with your friends.

Anyway I found one from one of my fellow potters (ha, ha I'm calling myself a Potter now, not sure I'm quite ready to claim that title yet), where she's making a Sauerkraut Crock for her Hubbie's birthday.
This post
At the bottom it has her hubbie's favourite Sauerkraut making Youtube video. It's a fantastic video, well worth watching. Espeacially as it's the life I would like to live, but don't have the courage, money or greenfingers to do it.

After watching I thought hey that doesn't actually sound too hard. I then must of read something about making it in a jar and then I found this video.

Within 10 minutes I was down in the kitchen throwing together some Sauerkraut, using that red cabbage I had sitting, for a while, in the fridge.
In my Sauerkraut I used: Red Cabbage; Onion; garlic; Juniper berries; Caraway seeds; Brine. I'm excited. :o)

Yellow Era

2011-04-09T21:36:00.010+01:00

OMG what can the matter be
2 blogs in so few days ain't a tragedy......

So I have more photos to show you. I have my burnished Bird, my finished Nimbus and some glazed pots!!!!

OK Mr Angry bird first.He's had his first lot of burnishing done. I may do it a bit more with the help of some olive oil. Everyone seems to like him so I'm going to make more to fire in the Barbie and some to glaze, all different sizes and shapes.

I finished by Nimbus....Finally. I've had it sitting waiting on maybe 1/2 hour of knitting to get it finished for the past month. Well I finally sat down and finished the knitting and then sewed it up. It needs some blocking to help the arms lie flat and to lengthen it a bit. Overall and pretty pleased with it.

When last term of pottery class finished, we left a glaze firing on. Our tutor Anne has started keeping a facebook page for the classes, so I've managed to get some pics of my completed items before heading back to class on the 20th.
I went through a bit of a yellow phase.
1. To try it out.
2. Because it took about 45 minutes to get the blinking thing mixed up.

I'm pretty excited about how everything turned out. Quite often I find that glazing can be the worst part of the pottery process. Not that I can't glaze, but more often as not the glazing doesn't live up to the picture in my head. This time I'm really happy, match and in some cases surpass my head pic.
This is what I ended up with: First thrown goblet; Sunshine bowl; Under the sea lidded Jar; Wee tester pot for my Art Nouveau teapot.

This has blue scragffito on the outside. I love how the flower has turned out and how the blue and yellow work together. Yeah it's chunky, but it was a first attempt at a goblet....probably only big enough for a sherry :o)

I love this bowl. Need to get a side on pic too. The outside is a deep dark black/purple. The bottom is red glass. I love how it looks a bit like the centre of the sun.

The lid needs about a 1/2 turn to the left I think, the wavy seaweed matches up from base to lid. It meant to represent seaweed waving around under the sea. The inside should be....yellow :o)(Told you yellow was everywhere).

Hmm still not too sure I've managed to capture the right glaze for my teapot. There's another arum lily on the other side it might be better. The little tester pot came out really cute though and guess what....yep it's yellow on the inside too :o)

My best mate and I have just bought (I hope) a load of clay and she's collecting it on the way back from her hols (I hope), so by Wednesday I should have plenty to play with...Fingers crossed.
Here's to more birdies :o)

Double Pinch

2011-04-07T21:55:00.005+01:00

I think I may have mentioned my pottery geekeriness. No! Really?
Well my latest pottery inspiration is doing a firing in a barbeque. I've been reading up on pit firing and barbeque firing. Here are some of my sources:

Wildclay - This talks about handbuilding then pit firing, gorgeous black pots.

pistrucciartworks - This one is all about barbeque firing and decoration techniques

vickihardin - This one goes into depth about pit firing and some fab ideas about different materials giving different colours. I so want to try seaweed and drift wood.

So now that I really want to try this, I need to make some items to fire. These items need to be fairly small and be used for decoration due to them not being food safe and a more delicate than properly fired pots. I also want them to be burnished (there's an explanation in the wildclay link), so that they have a smooth shiny finish.
Here's my first piece for the fire. I was inspired by a wonderful pottery blog Glynnes Lessing who recently did a post about double pinch pots. You'll note that my piece is very much like one on here. It reminded me of an angry bird, so I just had to make one.

My bird needs to dry more, so that I can burnish it, then I need to make more pots.

Now for a laugh, my daughter just uncovered this.....

Me Hockey I would be 12 probably I'm far left, back row.

Using up Annual Leave

2011-03-22T13:21:00.009Z

So it's just about the end of the financial year at work and I have a few days of annual leave left, so I'm on holiday. Again it's a stay at home holiday, as I have lots of plans. So far It's all happening very, very slowly. I made a birthday cake for one of my DD's friends (Task 1). She wanted a tower of chocolate cake a bit like a wedding cake. This is my finished design.

Task 2 I really needed to dye my hair. I found my first grey hair at 23 and it's been going down hill from there. I like wacky colours in my hair like red and purple, but the last time I went purple I got dark purple, with the grey going bright purple. This would have been fine, but the grey is mainly at the front. So I'm sitting with a towel over my head whilst my hair is drying. I have my fingers crossed, that after applying some blonde streaks, using a cap and a tiny crochet hook/brush from a Wella kit, then some purple hair dye. I will end up with dark purple hair with bright purple streaks.....Fingers crossed.
That's it for my completed tasks.

Still to do:
3. Gut DD's bedroom and turn it into a playroom
4. Turn crafting room into DD's bedroom
5. Tidy up sitting room (bigger job than it sounds).
6. Finish painting Sittingroom wall.
7. Finish knitting cardigan
8. Spend evenings doing pottery.

Tasks 3 and 4 are Huge. So might not get any further than these this week.

Here are some of my latest pottery efforts and some that are incomplete:

First is a bit of a disaster. It was meant to be a white and green marbled platter with a hint of turquoise on top, with the Caterpillar from Alice and the word CHILL. Unfortunately the copper in the transparent glaze appears to have reacted with the chrome oxide (green colour) and we now have pink and not transparent. :o(

The Flaggon is just excellent. Love how it turned out. Made from a slab, turned into a cylinder and then the bottom pressed together to form a tripod. Inside is glazed with Tivoli Red and the rest is a mix of glazes with a hand painted hawk (looks a bit like a vulture to me). made it for my OH as a beer Flaggon.

Finally a couple of wall plates. They're wall plates, as they have flaws that make them unsuitable to eat off. The dark and white one has an imprint that was meant to be filled with glaze. this didn't work. So not suitable for food. The mushroom one is hand painted and turned out lovely, but it was very thin, so warped. You can't see it, but the food would just run off the plate...Definitely a wall plate.

I'm working on several items at the moment, but always forget to get photos. I did manage to capture this goblet: Stem thrown on a wheel and the bowl made with a inch pot and this Coffee/Tea pot: slab built body and spout, needs handle and Lid. These are unfired, so are green ware. Only caught them, as I'm working with them at home.

Going to check out my dye job. :o)

Matchless Pots

2011-02-03T23:55:00.002Z

So anyway I'm doing fine.Got a bit of a cold, still got a sore shoulder...don't ask, stomach isn't altogether sure about the loss of my gall bladder, so surviving on sandwiches. Anything more and I feel sick. Cuts healing well though.

I did manage to go to pottery, but took my son with me and he did all the lifting and mixing of glazes. I gave him one of my wiggly dishes/jars to decorate however he wanted. so this week I got to pick up all my completed pots. Matchless as they won't match anything you already own and certainly don't match each other. He did the face on the cat for me and the Tribal black and green jar is the one he decorated.
At the end are Mum's Tea Cosey and my Hat that I managed to finish during my Christmas Holidays.
Here's the gallery.

D-Day

2011-01-20T21:03:00.004Z

Well it's D-Day tomorrow. I have to be at ARI tomorrow morning 8am sharp to get my Gall bladder out. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I treated myself, earlier this month, to some new fish and a bigger feature in our little fish tank.

I've also started on a cardigan for myself. Might even get it done fairly quickly as it's using large needles and thick wool. It's a Nimbus
Looks like this so far.

Front left is done and I'm almost finished the collar. Then I'll do sleeves, front right and finally back.

College

2011-01-11T09:13:00.006Z

My DS started college yesterday. 12 Week Pre-Sea Training for the Merchant Navy. It was a bit touch and go to start with, but I'm very proud of him. He got over the intial hurdle and was settled in class after lunch.
Keeping all fingers crossed that this goes well for him.
My Secret Santa shall finally get her present today. It was all delayed due to the bad weather.
I really hope she likes the Hat....

and the Whisky Fudge.

Pottery Starts again Tomorrow :o)
I missed several classes at the end of last term due to the blinking awful snow. Just before we broke up I took the bull by the horns and asked if my tutor could show me how to throw a teapot. Next class I threw 2 teapots. They're thrown in individual parts, so bowl of pot, spout and lid. Then pulled handle.
Unfortunately I then couldn't get back to class to finish them.
Fortunately my Pal Paula, went in and collected the individual bits and I was able to put them together back at her house.
Hopefully tomorrow we'll get them back to class in one piece and they'll be bisque fired. So fingers crossed.

Goodreads

2011-01-09T15:09:00.004Z

I'm sure I've mentioned this site before. You can look up books, read reviews on books, save a list of books that you've read and books you want to read. There are also groups that you can join and chat to people.
I've recently joined the Dark Fantasy group. I joined it in the first place as I read a book recently and wanted to find out if it was part of a set. Now this is easy to do on Goodreads, but not so easy when you can't remember the title or author of the book. :o) Fortunately one of the lovely lasses in the group named it for me.
Anyway the group has brought up loads of suggestions for reading material this year, going to definitely get my fill of historical Romance, paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Plus I hoping to start the Wheel of time series and maybe some classics if I have time. Think my eReader is definitely going to be well worked. Can't wait!!
Off course unless I can get better at my crochet and knitting without looking I won't be doing much crafting. I'll really need to work on my time management. :o)

I am though planning to do some crafting. I'm already building a list on ravelry. plus there will no doubt be birthday gifts etc.

Crochet Plans: they're all ravelry Links.

This Visor Hat
One of these elephant-pillow for my OH. A bit like this one. Not sure what colour I'm making his in.

I really fancy making one of these. It's a funky shawl.
I'm also planning
zebra-slippers. Funky

I already have on my hook:
Chevron Jacket
Granny Slippers. Like the ones below

Fringed Shawl. In red sock wool.

Knitting Plans:

Scott Pilgrims Slouch Hat For my DS. He wants it in shades of Grey.
Stars These are so cute, want to make some for this years decorations.
Nimbus This would be great for work.
cable Hat. Just cause it's cute and you can never have too many hats.
Vest Another cute one for work.
AND OMG I started Versatality over a year ago. Must pull my finger out and get it done.

I also want to do some sewing. I have loads of patterns, but need to decide which ones I'd actually wear.

So it's Sunday night. I need to get us all ready for tomorrow: work clothes, school clothes and College Clothes. DS starts his 12 week Pre Sea Training course tomorrow. :o)
Plus there's baths, dinner and....read or craft? We'll see, probably depends on how much time I have.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T16:10:00.010Z

Hat from Here gloves from Here made for Christmas in funky Robin wool I got on eBay.

No resolutions, but a few hopes. I hope this year will be less stressful and emotionally fraught. I hope this year I will have lots of fun and happy stuff to blog about. I hope that this year to dance, play games, get fit, go camping lots and craft up a storm!

Synopsis of the last few months of 2010
Went to Belladrum (music festival) for the first time. Had a spectacular time, so much so that Mum gas bought our tickets already for this year.

Have had huge gallstones issues, ended up spending 5 days in hospital at the beginning of November. I'm due in hospital 21st jan to have my gall bladder removed

OMG I turned 40!!!!!!!! Let's just gloss over that one.

Got stuck into a second term of pottery, but ended up missing 3 classes due to the awful weather we've been having, so not much to show yet, but I do have 2 teapots sitting waiting a bisque fire. Class starts again in the 5th Jan.

My DS ended up living on the West Coast for a while, but he's back again to start a college course tomorrow.

Had to give away my last chicken. I was gutted, but Mr Fox started calling again with the snow. So I'm down to cats and fish. 3 of which are sitting on my knee as I type.

Ended up on snowing hillside on the banks of Loch Ness to bury my last Grandparent on Christmas eve. Granny Peggy managed a fine exit.

Had a very quite Christmas. The kids ended up on the West Coast with my Mum and me and the OH had a peaceful time. Got the most fabby present from my OH, a Pink Sony pocket eBook reader. It's wonderful, I've read 3 books so far on it and I've added a few patterns mainly WIP's that I plan on finishing this new year.

Anyway it's time to put fire on and do some housework, then I'll get some knitting done

crafting 2010

2010-08-04T13:58:00.002+01:00

Some of my crafting for this year

RIP Dad

2010-08-04T13:05:00.003+01:00

Haven't been around lately.
My father passed away and it's been a difficult time.

O Captain My Captain
by Walt Whitman

O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up--for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

RIP DAD

Thomas Gault 17.02.26 - 29.06.10

At Last I have finished

2010-06-20T21:11:00.004+01:00

POTTERY!!!!!!

My fist piece
Art Gecko - Slab Vase coloured with Oxide and topped with a transparent Glaze. The lady bird and gecko have some coloured glaze on them too.

My second piece:
Zombie Bear Mugg - this was my first coiled piece. Once I'd made the mug, I pulled the handle and hand drew the Bear. The idea came from one I saw on etsy. The bear was coloured using small pots of glaze and the inside is oatmeal glaze and the outside Glossy Brown glaze.

Pottery

2010-04-15T22:46:00.006+01:00

I started going to a pottery class. My best mate found one and asked if I wanted to go. We had our first session last night and it was fab. The 2 hours just flew by. We're were shown how to make a Slab Vase. So that's what we did and then we made some small tiles to do some glaze testing.
I can't wait for next week. Our tutor recommended that we start a pottery diary for recording ideas, glazes used etc. I already have a list of 8 different items that I want to make. Some are very much beyond me atm,but hopefully as I learn I'll eventually achieve some of my goals.
My vase is awaiting the Bisque stage, so maybe in two weeks time I'll be able to glaze it. Can't wait to have a finished item. So no pictures yet.
I do have some pics of kitties though. After loosing Ivan I decided I didn't have enough pictures of the cats,so I've been trying to get some good ones of them.

Here's Z sitting on my DD's crazy blanket. This was her Christmas present and I'm still adding squares too it. It'll be finished when I decide it's big enough

Here's Bear and little girl enjoying some spring sunshine. That's our bedroom windowsill. The kitties have been sleeping in that box for months now. I love getting up in the morning and checking to see who's there to cuddle first thing.

This is our Serious (Serious Black). He's a big scaredy cat, but when he gets on the bed with you, he loves cuddles and immediately rolls onto his back to get his belly rubbed. He's always been the scruffiest and most serious one of the bunch. Always the last to join in with the playing. He's my big softy.

Finally "Kitties at Play". This was when Fat cat got his mojo back. It's amazing what having some kittens to chase will do to you.

Stop All The Clocks...

2010-04-06T00:16:00.006+01:00

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

By W.H Auden

Devastated!
Our Ivan, our Swoosh kitty has just been run down. Can't quite take it in...
Going to miss you. Love you baby.

IVAN 25/05/2009 - 05/04/2010

Recycling

2010-03-28T13:35:00.003+01:00

Just wanted to share how I spent my morning. Got up at the ungodly hour of 7am, or 6am if you go by my body clock. It wasn't quite ready to loose an hour last night. I then watched an extremely enjoyable F1 Race. It was exciting, there was overtaking, crashes, rain, Bob came in 2nd (Go Bob) and absolutely best of all BUTTON WON :o)
So I was a very Happy Bunny.

I then ate a sandwich and started on my main project of the day.
Ever since we'd put in the stove, at the end of last year, we'd had this unsightly hole in the wall. Now it wasn't so bad as I really quite like rustic, but I missed having a mantel. I tried putting in the old one, but it wasn't big enough anymore.
So yesterday I had a rummage around the wood that has been pulled out of the bakery next door and found some suitable pieces. This morning I cut them to the required size, and then got out some nails, screws, a hammer and some screw drivers.

Et Voila.....

I might even get round to painting over that god awful pink. Now I like pink, but really only to wear.

And now for the gratutious pussy picture......
Here's Little Girl, she's so cute.

So what now it's only 2pm. Do I rest in the quiet reassurance that I've done well today.... or do I test myself further and pull out that pattern for a shirt that I found. I've never sewn an item of clothing from a pattern. :o)

Cheeky Swoosh Kitty

2010-03-20T22:25:00.008Z

Been a while since I put any pussy pictures up. Yesterday I was working from home. I got up to stoke the fire and look what happened.

This is Ivan the afore mentioned Swoosh kitty. He's all sleek black apart from a litte white swoosh on his lower belly. And that's my chair not his!!

Anyway since I already had the camera out,I thought I'd take some pics of the the other lazy poops enjoying the warm living room.

Here's Z

and Fat Cat aka Gandalf

I send away my item for the quick and easy swap, but can't put pics up yet as she's not received. I received from her though and I was utterly delighted. I got an Elephant tea cosy. It's straight of my wists and a perfect colour and size. See.

Anyway I'm just about finished my April MOH swap and I've joined a DIY kit swap.

Update

On the go.

1. Irish Knit Tea cosy - about Half done Still no further, although do plan to pick it up this week
2. My DD's crazy blanket - Got loads more square to add to it.
3. Still working on my catspaw shawl - done a few more rows, but not finished.
4. Still working on Versatality - not touched
5. Participating in swaps - Got 2 finished this year, 2 sent awaiting arrival and 2 in progress.
6. Drops waistcoat - started.

Plan to make

1.Seraphina's shawl - not started
2. Elephant Tea cosy - Don't need to now as I got one in a swap :o)
3. More fingerless gloves - not started
4. Loads of swapping. :o)- on target for this.
5. Bought a jacket pattern from ebay McCalls 5531 - here's a load of people who have made the long version on Craftster. I've sent away for lining and some interfacing. I'm excited and scared all at the same time about making this. Wish me luck.

Back to my Bad Ways

2010-03-15T15:34:00.005Z

I so tried to keep up my posting. I'm such a bad blogger.
Anyway It's now March and I am sorry for being so lax.
Not much going on around here.
Good stuff...hmm I'm still crafting and I've found a new swap to become addicted too. It's called the Monthly Odd Holiday swap. It really cool you pick 6 holidays from a month. e.g. For Aprils swap I picked:

1.Be Kind to Spiders Week
2.National Library Week
3.Scrabble Day
4.National garlic Day
5.World Penguin Week
6.National Card And Letter Writing week

My partner picks 3 of these holidays and makes me a little something to go with it.

For March I picked:

1.National Craft Month
2.National Peanut Month
3.National Quilting Day
4.Saint Patrick's Day
5.Peanut Butter lovers Day
6.National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day

Out of these she chose to make me things for:
1. National Craft Month
4. Saint Patrick's Day
6. National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
and this is what she made me.

My partner picked:

1.World Folk Tales & Fables Week (March 22nd - 28th)
2.Make Your Own Holiday (March 26th)
3.Worship of Tools (March 11th)
4.National Craft Month
5.National Photography Day (March 27th)
6.National Caffeine Awareness

and I made her:

For National Caffeine Awareness

Worship Tools Day

World Folk Tales & Fables Week- I took Our very own Loch Ness Monster as a bit of a fable.

Not so good stuff: Something is killing off my chickens. First I thought the bad weather had been getting them, but other than 2 bodies I've had 8 chickens go missing. I finally found a heap of feathers, so all I can conclude is that something is taking them. I've only got two left :o( I'm not happy as I have no clue how to protect them. I'll need to try and lock them in at night.

Any other than that roll on the better weather.

I've got a cold

2010-01-26T14:01:00.004Z

OMG I feel lousy. Headache, sore sinuses and such an irritated nose that I think I've sneezed more in the past couple of days than I have in the past 6 months. Although I am catching up on loads of trash movies on Sky. I've taken to lying on my mum's couch and watching her Sky whilst sneezing my way through the day.
I've got a swap package due on the 29th, so I'm having to plough on with some embroidery. Normally this would be no problem, but being ill really knocks the stuffing out of my crafting vibe.

I got a fab package the other day in the OWS 54. A DS Case and some fantastic chicken fabric.

See my DS fits fine.

Anyway back to my lemsip, sneezing, sisterhood of the traveling pants 2 and embroidery.

Bunny Olini

2010-01-19T18:42:00.005Z

Finally the snow has all gone. Whoo Hoo!! I love snow, but only when I don't have to drive in it.
It's been a good year so far. I've generally got a warm room in the house and we've not had to buy any fuel for the fire yet. My great and wonderful friend moved into the same village as me :o) Yee ha..... She's going to get so fed up with seeing me.
When I'm not visiting my friend I've been doing some crafting and joining swaps. I even managed to fit a small cupboard into my sitting room (came from friends house) so that I can hide away some of my crafting stuff and not have it lying all around the sitting room. Which is the only warm room in the house.

Anyway some of my recent Craftiness.

Crochet Snowflakes

Knitted Irish Hiker Wrist warmers

Bunny Olini - new owner thinks she's lovely

World of Warcraft The Horde Shield

For a WOW fan who embroiders - Hence the WOW embroidery bag made from an upcycled school sweatshirt.

Update

On the go.

1. Irish Knit Tea cosy - about Half done
2. Lumpy Bumpy tea cosy - Frogged
3. My DD's crazy blanket - it's all crocheted up but I'm waiting on a few more squares before it'll be finished. Still waiting, although I'm doing a crochet-a-long using Jan Eaton's 200 crochet blacks book
4. Still working on my catspaw shawl - not touched
5. Still working on Versatality - not touched

Plan to make

1.Seraphina's shawl - not started
2. Elephant Tea cosy - not started
3. More fingerless gloves - not started
4. Loads of swapping. :o)- Oh yes I'm in two swaps atm. I've got some retro cloth napkins, a crochet hook roll, notecards and something "Creepy, but cute" to make.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

2010-01-07T14:04:00.003Z

Well that's all it seems to be doing atm.
Snow,more snow.....Proof.

So not used to it. This started before Christmas and it's still here. What's more it appears to be getting worse. I've no idea how to cope with it. I hate driving in the snow, all it does is stress me out. Arghh. Working from home this week to combat it. Fingers crossed for thaw this weekend. :o)

Still crafting in the evenings, so far this year I've finished a pair of slippers for my DD (crochet) and a pair of fabby fingerless gloves. Started them ages ago.

On the go.

1. Irish Knit Tea cosy link
2. Lumpy Bumpy tea cosy - ravelry download
3. My DD's crazy blanket - it's all crocheted up but I'm waiting on a few more squares before it'll be finished.
4. Still working on my catspaw shawl
5. Still working on Versatality

Plan to make

1.Seraphina's shawl Link
2. Elephant Tea cosy link
3. More fingerless gloves.
4. Loads of swapping. :o)

TTFN

Long Time no see!

2009-12-07T14:02:00.007Z

I know, I know, I've been terrible and haven't updated in ages. I blame it all on that awful 13 days of Halloween swap I took part in. Huge disappointment - Enough said.
Anyway i have been busy and here are some of my goodies I've made:

1. Meet Reggie. I made him for a lovely lady on craftster. No pattern just winged him and beside him is one of my first coiled fabric bowls. Very cute.

2. A crochet flower scarf. Again for a swap. No pattern. I made the flowers and leaves first and then made a dark green mesh scarf and sewed them on it.

3. Hats for a swap. The flower one was an old curtain and the prototype. I liked it so much I sent it with the actually finished hat (the denim one. Couldn't find a pattern online so I adapted this one.

4. Handmade Halloween Movie note books. I learned how to do coptic binding for a buffy swap and I've been using it ever since. Had great fun making these.

5. Two needle fingerless gloves. I got the pattern of ravelry linky and it's so adaptable. I'm making another set for my niece for Christmas, using a completely different cuff. There's also a little octopus ipod cosy in the pic.

6. Finally a couple of crochet things for my Halloween swap. Amigurumi and juggling balls. No pattern....do you see a connection.

So now it's a big push to get all the Christmas stuff done.
To do list:
1. Finish 5 hours sweater for my mum. Just need to do the sleeves, but making them 3/4 length
2. Finish wacky crochet squares blanket for DD.
3. Finish off swap items for a fill a stocking swap on Craftster - almost done just one little thing to make and it'll be in the post on the 9th :o)

Plus I'm taking a couple of days annual leave before christmas as I want to make some homemade goodies.
1. Noyau - bottled last night recipe link
2. Limoncello - started last night
3. Mincemeat this recipe as a guide, but we've added loads of different dried/glace fruits,walnuts and allspice. - Jarred

4. Homemade sweeties - planning on making rather than buying this year:

Cinder toffee probably dip half in chocolate

Candy Corn hoping to make these in Christmas colours red, green and white

Chocolate and Almond Popcorn Not sure if I'll use almonds or not. Probably depends on what I have in the cupboard.

So I'm totally in Christmas mode and loving it. Can't wait until I have two weeks of to relax and be merry. I promise to blog more often as I have been a bad bad girl.
More gratuitous pussy cat pics next time.

Cat's paw

2009-08-17T18:26:00.006+01:00

Ho hum that's my holidays almost over. i didn't get done what i wanted to do, but that's because the OH was being unhelpful, but we did manage to do some things that I hadn't planned on doing. We've almost got a laminated kitchen floor for free. We got the laminate from freecycle. It's no where near perfect, but that's because we're laying it and it's not new. Although it's SO MUCH better than what was there before. Hopefully by the end of this week we'll have it finished and we'll also have the new work surface put in. The work surface has been in the hall for at least 3 years now.

I've been a busy beaver crafting for swaps and having a great time trying new things, more sewing projects.
This one I'm really proud of. My first rag doll, she's a day of the dead doll that was inspired by one in someones wists.

I think she rocks.

I also tried my hand at Kanzashi, Japanese folded flowers. Not a craft I'd do again,I've decided I hate working with glue. So I made a few and then added some crochet flowers...much more fun to make.

I've done some more spinning, this is a core spun with some of my food colouring dyed Shetland and a some brown wool mixed with white alpaca. Came out quite nice. I'm working on making a finer yarn. It's going to be one strand of the brown/white alpaca plied with a strand of dark red and green Shetland. I hoping for something a bit like some of the noro shades that you see.

Finally I've been getting on really well with my Cat's paw shawl. Mine is done on smaller needles with finer yarn, as I really want to use it to wrap around my neck. I was inspired by the Aestlight shawl Roobeedoo linked to on her blog. Here's pics of how I'm getting on.

I've got 44 more rows to do then I'm going to have to think about how to finish it off.The original pattern calls for a fringe, but I'd rather like a decorative edging like the Aestlight shawl has.

Anyway I have a day of holidays left to enjoy and on my crafting list I have, reuseable sandwhich bags, crochet bowls, crochet flower earrings, crochet flower scarf and loads of halloween stuff.

Sewing

2009-08-06T21:25:00.007+01:00

I've never been much of a sewer. Can't sew in a straight line to save myself. Although recently, via swapping I've really started to get into it. What I now love is how quickly I can produce a swap item compared to how long it would take me to knit or crochet the same thing.
So recently I've made two hipslingers, a mp3 player cosy, a rag doll and a make-up brush roll. Can't show you the last two as they're still in transit, but here are my hipslingers and mp3 cosy.

Cool and my lines are getting straighter. :o)

I also knitted a slouchy beret recently. Turned out to be a very quick knit. Hope it fits the lady I sent it too.

I'm on annual leave and loving it atm. another week to go :o) getting some work done around the house (far too slowly!!!) Managing to get loads of crafting done too. Just wrapped up my BTVS (Buffy) swap package to be sent off tomorrow and I'm hoping to get started on my 13 days of Halloween swap.
Other than that I've joined the travelling teabox on ravelry, which is where this box filled with tea and extra goodies travels around europe. when you get it you take out what you fancy and add back in the equivalent and then sent it onto the next person on the list. Sounds like fab fun. I've also started working on two wraps/shawls:
Cats paw lace shawl I'm making mine with sock wool and smaller needles so I hope it will be much smaller. I want to use it as a scarf.
Versatility I even bought wool for this one. I've been eyeing it up for ages and eventually took the plunge.
Off course both are for me so they sit at the bottom of the pile all the time.
Anyway I'm going to get back to my cats paw shawl.

Bento

2009-07-12T10:21:00.007+01:00

So I've decided that since I have a new office on my own, (somehow I prefer my own space) and I will be spending more time there, that I will start making my own Bento lunches. I've loved the idea for a while, but never really had the drive to do anything about it.
I've joined Just Bento it's given me loads of ideas and recipes and last week I had my first two Bento lunches.

Lunch no.1 consisted off: brown rice, blanched broccoli and mange tout, 1 egg tamgoyaki (japanese omelet), crispy prawns, red pepper and onion confit and earl grey muffin.

It was absolutely yummy and really easy to prepare. I just had to be a little organised. I marinated the frozen prawns the night before. The confit, veg, rice and the muffins where also prepared the night before. Both the confit and muffins will do about 3 days and I made enough rice and for a week (froze the other portions).

Day 2 was not so traditionally Japanese, but it was frugal. We had home made Pizza and salad the evening before, so I made a left overs Bento.

This one was also delicious and a little more filling, that was probably because the scone base on the pizza. Anyway it's home made pizza squares, salad, olives, tomato,pepper and onion confit scrambled eggs, earl grey muffin and strawberries.

We're now on a long weekend. I've been tidying our bedroom/crafting room, catching up and finishing off some swaps. I've made a chicken apron for the OWS 48 swap and it's so cool, I'll post pics once she's received.
I'm now working on a slouchy Beret for another lady on the OWS 48.
Tomorrow I'll be planning my Bento's for the week.

R2D2, Veronica Mars and the Kittens on the Bed

2009-06-18T13:39:00.005+01:00

Busy, busy, busy reading about my latest obsession. Veronica Mars Fanfiction!!!
So anyway after watching the only 16 episodes of Moonlight (cancelled Boo hoo). I went a hunting for something else to watch. First thing I did was check IMDB to see what cutie Jason Dohring (Josef in Moonlight) had been in and guess what He was in Veronica Mars. Now I vaguely remember that from when I watched Sky, but I don't think i ever watched an episode.
Wellllllllllll. I have a new obsession it's called LoVe. The fab relationship in, the sadly only 3 series long, Veronica Mars. The relationship that is between Logan and Veronica, hence LoVe.

So I now have all 3 series and I've only 7 episodes left to watch (Boo Hoo), but then there is always the Fanfiction to keep me happy.
All I can say is that someone needs to find another lovable bad boy part for Jason SOON.

OK, OK so it's not all about the cute bad boys and the LoVe story I have managed to fit in some Kitten loving. They are so goddamn cute, adorable, sweet!!! Here's some cute pics.

OOh, ooh, ooh I have been broadcasting myself. Well I've put up some vids of the kittens on youtube. My latest even has a soundtrack. Took me absolutely forever!!!
My camera takes MOV files (quicktime). I tried using Windows movie maker (WMM), doesn't do MOV files. So I converted the files to avi. WMM didn't like that as needed a codec.
So downloaded codec. This then allowed me to import my video file. I then added music, title and credits to the movie. This took a while, but in the end I was really happy with the results.
Then I tried to finalise my movie so I could put it online....well it didn't matter how I tried to do it it just didn't want to work. So back to square one!!!

Finally I used quicktime pro and got an Ok result, although WMM is much slicker.
This is the result:

How cool is that?
Favourite bit: Little girl cat trying to bite black kitten, then doing reverse and full 180. She's just a show off.

So Yes, I have been crafty...well a little bit. I finished my swap for spectrumsparkie in Oz. Here's her R2D2, Passionflower Scarflet and Mary Jane slippers. I used a pattern for the mary Janes, but the other two were improvised by me.

for more photos check out my flickr

Kittens

2009-05-25T18:42:00.003+01:00

Babies are here. I got to look on and make sure everything went fine. My wee Fizzy was an absolute trouper and did all the nasty stuff like clean of birthing sack, eat placenta and chew cord.

Baby pics

We have 3 black ones and 2 tabbies. All born this morning. Now they have spent all day eating they are more belly than anythingelse.

I lurve youtube

2009-05-17T00:16:00.006+01:00

So i have been spending heaps of my free time working on OWS rnd 46 swaps, but none of them have arrived yet so I can show you any of my work.
I do have a couple of pics of stuff I made for round 44.
This is a woven African themed Wall hanging. A wildebeast in the sunset.

And this is my first ever pair of knitted mittens. Even better I did them two at a time on a circular needle.

Anyway as to why I LURVE youtube, apart from that fabulous southpark twilight clip. I don't tend to watch too much TV, not because I don't like it, but generally it eats into my cooking and crafting time. Besides when I'm ready to sit down and chill (after 11pm) there's nothing on that I want to watch. Also some of the things I want to watch never get shown on our freeview, but some fab people put the odd series onto youtube.
Recently I got to see the entire first (and only) series of Higher Ground. I like Hayden, strangely enough he reminds me alot of my son.

It's a fab little series and had me blubbing a fare few times.
The new find that I'm watching atm is Moonlight a vampire series, another cancelled american show. I'm only on the second episode so no opinions formed yet.

I've also managed to get in a couple of movies. Tristan and Isolde

Great romance, had a little cry.

Life as a House, has Hayden in it and a cast of well know stars. I just loved this movie, was very moving. Hayden really reminded me of my 16 year old in this one. This one I really did blub about.

Final word....what's with this blinking weather!! I was all gearing up to summer mode and then poof....it's cold and wet!!! I was getting so used to drying the washing on the line. I sad :o(

Ooh, ooh, ooh...Ok this really is the final word....keep an eye on the blog as we're getting babies soon. No NOT me!!! I have my Silkie X sitting on 6 Pekin eggs and some of them should hatch any day now....another reason why the weather sucks. Had to spend time today building a run for the chicken and chicks in the pouring rain!!
AND...... my cat is pregnant too. Fizzy is expecting a litter. Here's the baby bellied madam in her new basket. She loves cuddles atm.

I thought it was funny

2009-05-12T17:44:00.003+01:00

Twilight Goes Southpark

I'm sorry, but this really cracked me up.

In the HOOD

2009-05-04T19:30:00.003+01:00

Hey, hey, Last week I finally managed to finish my DD's Christmas Hoodie...Yes I said Christmas...It only took me a whole 6 months to make it. I'm easily bored and I hate following patterns.
Anyway I'm very proud and it's got slightly cropped sleeves so it'll be fine for next winter.

Apart from that I have just been an Angel to a "Craft My Theme Swap", can't put pics up until the recipients receives.
I joined the Ongoing Wish Swap rnd 46 and so Far I have some Awesome swap partners. They making me a vampire inspired Shoulder bag and A pair of PJ bottoms I'm so pleased.
I'm making some kind of Dr Who bag, a wisty surprise, some bookmarks, cat toys and quilted pot holders. Well today I made the pot holders. Now I'm very pleased with them (can't show you pic yet). It was a bit of trial and error, as I say pattern hater. The first one took ages, as it was the prototype, but the second one was a breeze. Hope she likes them.
Anyway I need to get my swap package all finished off, so that I can send it tomorrow

Roses

2009-04-18T19:31:00.006+01:00

Well looks like I'm a once a month blogger, not good, I need to improve.
Just had two weeks holiday and managed to get all my swaps up-to-date, to fit some new to me units in my kitchen and we're slowly working on getting the washing done and tidying the garden.
So this is some of the stuff I've been making:

These are my squares for the 200 squares CAL

These are the crochet roses brooches and choker for the Sweat Shop 18 swap.

This is a knitted cable bag that I made for the OWS rnd 44. Took me ages, as I'm such a slow knitter, but I really love how it turned out. Although I hate lining bags.

Anyway apart from all the work, we managed to spend the day on the beach last monday with friends. Off course, it then proved to be the only nice day this week.

We finally managed to let my DD have her birthday treat. We had to cancel it the first time as she got chicken pox lol.
Her treat was to go quad biking with a couple of her friends. She had a fab time and we managed to get some photos.

An now the proud mum moment. My DD (just turned 9) made a cake the other day from begining to end, she greased and lined her cake tin, weighed and mixed all the ingredients, put it into the the tin and finally made the icing and topped the cake. Pics: Yummu Spiced Caramel Cake

Thanks Taz

2009-03-17T13:18:00.006Z

Ok so one of my mates has thrown me a rope. I can almost see daylight....well enough to type anyway.
So after weeks of doing nothing, but eat, sleep (not alot), work and read fanfiction, I'm actually starting to do other things. Maybe I've overdosed on Twilight or maybe it's because the sun is actually coming out these days and when I get home from work it's stil daylight :o)

So my Chocolate swap package arrived in New Zealand and said swapee was is delighted. I'm so very please as I tried hard to craft just for her.

Here's what I made her: She's a huge zombie fan.

crochet eye ball bag filled with chocolate limes

Bourbon biscuit flash drive cosy. The flash drive is full of music and amigurumi crochet patterns.

Crochet zombie cut throat necklace.

Amigurumi crochet Kit. The gothic crochet roll with hooks ans zombie eye stitch markers goes with the pdf's on the flash drive.

Unfortunately my package from her is still stuck in transit somewhere.

I've done more 8" square swapping and I even got in a swap in OWS rnd 43. I received some fingerless gloves and I made some crochet fruit and veg. My fist attempt and it was great fun. I made the patterns up myself. Pics to follow. I forgot to take any, so I need to wait for swapee to post some.
I've even got embroiled in two swaps for OWS rnd 44. So I'm in the process of knitting a bag and then I'm making some mittens and some black and white wall art.

For the first time ever I sent my library books back unread -Shock, horror- but i have managed to pull myself out of reading only twilight fanfic and I've read Moon Called and The dream Hunter both of which are very fluff vamp/werewolf type stuff good for the switching off.

Ooh ooh ooh...that's the other things I managed to do. I butchered my own pig. Didn't kill it or anything, but I chopped it up into bite sized bits. I made roasts, chops, mince, spare ribs, loin, diced, cheeks and Loads of sausages.

Chocolate chilli, leek and cheese, honey mustard and boozy stout sausages.

Help!!! I'm being sucked in.....

2009-02-21T14:16:00.003Z

to the wonderful world of Twilight Fanfiction

I read Twilight months ago and quickly bought the other books, but didn't read them. Anyway whilst we had the snow and the library weren't getting deliveries I had to start reaching some of my stash. SO I picked up the next book in the saga....and then the next and then the next and when that didn't fill me with enough, I saw the movie and then I started reading fan fiction....most of it fab and some of it is absolutely fantastic. like Seducing Ms Swan I am so hooked, haven't picked up a hook in days.

Anyway I'm sure I'll eventually have pull myself out of the Twilight lovefest and get on with my life, but I'm not sure I'm strong enough.....

More Hodge Podge

2009-02-15T19:36:00.009Z

I've been trying to get things finished and take photo's which has in turn held up the whole blogging thing.
Anyway on some fronts I've failed miserably. I did finish all my swaps, but my weaving is going slowly. The problem is my nails keep on falling out. I need to figure a way of keeping the nails in the wood. That doesn't mean I haven't done a fare few squares. Look:

What do you think? The squares are lovely and soft, I only have a couple of squares to do and I'll have the lapghan finished.

I received my goodies from the Love bites swap.

I got some gorgeous sock yarn (now have to find someone to knit me some socks), hearts shaped sweets and pez. dark chocolate, chicken ornament, heart shaped notelettes, earrings and tea.

Here's what I sent.

Hand dyed sock yarn, vampire book, bookmark, neckwarmer, bracelet, black heart necklace, valentine dog and I also had a skein of maroon sock yarn sent to her via etsy.

close up white sock yarn dyed with food colouring:

I'm hoping Heatherrr will post a pic of whatever she makes with my handdyed yarn. Can't wait to see how it turns out. It's 80%wool and 20% nylon and dyed really easily.

and the stitch markers, first I've ever made:

Now for some cuteness.
I surely have a lot to put up with....apparently there's not much I can do without the cats wanting to be involved. This is fine when you're....actually I was going to say watching TV, but even then they still manage to plonk themselves between me and the TV.

Me Crocheting

Me Reading

Went to the library in the morning to pic up 7 books!!! Due to the bad weather the delivery didn't happen last week so they all turned up at once, so I now have:

Lover enshrined : a novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood / J.R. Ward
Magic study / Maria V. Snyder
Dead witch walking / Kim Harrison
Dragonflight / Anne McCaffrey
When darkness comes / Alexandra Ivy
Moon called / Patricia Briggs
Dark challenge / Christine Feehan

Anyway Happy (late) Valentines Day. Me and the OH pigged out on tastey cheese, cold meat and bread with some red wine and Hancock (with yummy Will Smith) on the TV. Well worth a look, but could have been better.

It's all Roobeedoo's Fault

2009-02-03T22:16:00.005Z

So my friend introduced me to an old craft and immediately I was hooked. Unfortunately I couldn't find one for myself, so I hodge podged a little one to give it a go.

My hodgepodge Weave loom

My first 3 squares.

What do you think?

I'm making a blanket for my neice from it. I've made a larger one too.
So yes hooked.

My Mug

2009-01-29T21:19:00.004Z

I'm still busy working on two swaps. My DD gave me a bit of a dickie belly, so I haven't done much this evening.

Anyway here's my Mug that a got in the fill-a-mug swap

and some pics of the goodies I made Bexieboo: Fascinator, coaster, her mug.

Just finished round 9 of the friendship Granny square swap. Here's mine from esmecraftin

and the ones I sent her.

Bad belly, brain dead. TTFN

Love Bites, Mugs, Chocolate and Crochet

2009-01-23T17:06:00.005Z

January is whizzing by, but don't you find that's your life now. Is it an age thing? Or do I just keep myself so busy, that time flies?

I have loads of pics to post. I did my first real bit of spinning with my rickety wheel, I then dyed the yarn and crocheted up a couple of wee things for the lady who gave me the fleece.

I started with some white Shetland fleece, spun a small skein of yarn, dyed it with some food colouring and crocheted 2 flowers and a book mark.

I'm on the home runs for my start of the year swaps. I have received my Fill-a-mug parcel and my partner will be picking hers up from the post office tomorrow. Here's what I got.

So there's funky Teas, wonderful real chocolate for making Hot chocolate, a mushroom pincushion, a pink elephant, an oven mitt, home made brownies and the most gorgeous crochet hook roll.. How fab is all that. The mug arrived the next day, but I need charge camera to get pics. It's got chickens on it so I'm well pleased.

I've sent off my friendship granny squares rnd 9 and I'm almost done making stuff for my Love bites swap on ravelry. It's anonymous, so stalking has been somewhat difficult. Just waiting for an answer and then I'm ready to send. Which leaves me with my chocoholics unanamous swap. I've bought supplies, but need to get crafting.

So what else have I been up to. I got a Kenwood Smoothie to go maker for christmas. I love it great for starting off your day, I tend to make myself a banana, yoghurt oatmeal one for breakfast, also fab for a quick boost with banana, milk and frozen berries. I liked it so much that I got one for my DS (who's up at his Grandads) he had it for 2 days and has made heaps of smoothies and loves it. :o)

Must tell you about this absolutely excellent site that someone on ravelry pointed out to me. Goodreads you can add books you've read, put books into a "to read" selection and just keep track of, find new books. They have synopsis of each book, reviews by readers etc etc. It's an absolutely excellent site for an avid reader like me. I love the fact that if I read about a book and think yeah I want to read it, I can add it to my list. I then check my list before ordering book from the library. I'm zombiecazz on there too. Check it out.

Happy Hogmanay

2008-12-31T14:49:00.004Z

While the cats away....Ok the cats are all here, but the kids are away.
Went out today and got chicken food, cat food and rat food. For us we got a load of party food, as tomorrow we're having a Pirates of the Caribbean day. Watching all 3 films with breaks for nibbles. Can't wait.

Yummy!!

I've aso joined 4 swaps and 1 CAL. Fill-a-mug swap, Chocaholic unanimous rnd 4, friendship granny rnd 9 on craftster and valentine vampire swap on ravelry. Let the swappage begin!!!!

Busy, busy , busy January. Looking forward to it.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-30T16:20:00.003Z

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

Had a ball this Christmas. Everyone loved their presents. My DD got heaps of video games and a huge amount of Lego and she's dead chuffed. My DS got an xbox 360, wii games, an mp4 player and headphones...oh yes and a little torch that he's over the moon with. My OH got torches, mp3 player, beer, book, dock for sata drives and sweeties he was also over the moon.

Here's the tree

This is our white twig fibre optic tree. Cost about £20 3 years ago and we still love it.
and my presents.

I've been wanting to try Hendricks Gin for an age (too expensive for me to buy). It's very yummy. The diesel perfume is lovely and that fab yarn is dying for me to find a project for it.
Got a fabby MP4 player from my Dad and those gorgeous Skull Candy headphones from my OH (very happy). The cook book is absolutely excellent, some really great recipes in it (from my DD), my mum and I had a food look through it and she's thinking about getting one for herself. We also got some nice bedding which you can see in the next picture.

One of my Friendship granny swap packages went missing in the post, so I made another set for my partner and sent them today. So I thought Id photograph the squares I've been sent. Here they are.

Too much flash, but you get the idea. That's our xmas bedding underneath, it's yummy and black (thanks Mum). Gandalf seems to like it too.

So I've had a great time, but yesterday I was sad. My DS, who's 15 heading rapidly for 16 left school recently and yesterday he heading off to spend some time with his Grandad. Grandad is 82 and hasn't been keeping well. So my DS has decided that he's going to help look after Grandad, help him around the house and learn some of Grandad's skill with cars. I think it's a fab idea, but it basically means he's left Home. I blubbered alot. Pathetic really, but I'm going to miss him.
He left me a fab message on this silly can I got for Xmas. You leave a spoken message on it and everytime you open the fridge it plays the message. My DS said "I love you Mum", this made me smile and cry even more.
Off course then my ASS of a OH wiped it to put his on his own message....so I beat him with a pointed stick until his was bloody.....well I didn't, but at the time I wanted too. Silly man, just didn't get my saddness.
Anyway I have a blissful week with just me, the OH and the animals. I want to do some crafting, some tidying and....well not sure I'll have time for much else.

12 month CAL COMPLETE

2008-12-17T13:56:00.007Z

WEE HEE!!!!
All done.

I was worried that it would be just messy looking with all the colour changes.....but I think the black has brought it all together. I love it and will definitely be joining the 2009 CAL

I received my latest set of squares from the friendshipghan. These are from Sunspotted in Canada. They'll look fab with the rest of my squares.

So we had cat under squares and now we have cat-in-a-box.

Mad moggy. He loves my new blanket.
If you look closely at the first pic you'll see an aquarium hidden in the background. We got it from Freecycle last week. It's somewhat fishless atm as you need to have it up and running for a week before introducing any fish. It's all very exciting and I can't wait to get some fish in it.

We're going to start of with about 3 Sunburst Platys.

Then we'll add:

A Haplo Catfish

Some Fancy Guppys:

Some Dwarf Gouramis

and some Neons

Can't wait to get some colourful fish and then I can have a go at photographing them...Should be fun.

Finally you must check out Roobeedoo's blog she's a sock queen, so has lots of fab crafty projects on the go and the other day she posted a recipe for sticky ginger cake. I made some and OMG!!!! It's absolutely yummy. It's a batter type recipe that doesn't rise much, but you end up with the most succulent ginger cake...YUMMY!!

Cold, Cold, Cold, Cold, Cold

2008-12-08T15:35:00.005Z

Blinking flip, I wish I had enough money to pay all my bills and heat my house!!!

Anyway Moan over.

Had a lovely trip to delgatie Castle, for a craft fare and a visit with Santa. Has enlivened my enthusiasm for spinning, so I'm determined to get my wheel fixed and make some yarn. Also I want a blue faced leicester sheep.....need to get a bigger garden though.
Also got me in the christmas mood, so I've been listening to Christmas Songs. This is one of my favourites:

and started making some decorations.

Snowflake No. 1

Taggage

2008-12-02T11:15:00.004Z

Meme!

Samsara let me know that she'd tagged me with this meme, so here we go!

The Rules:

1) Link to your tagger and list all these rules in your blog.

2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by including links to their blogs

4) Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

The Facts:

1. I've had my belly button pierced for 12 years.

2. I'm a crazy cat lady, would have heaps if I could afford it. Content with 4 atm.

3. I hate driving in the snow/ice.

4. I'm a big vampire fiction fan, read loads of vampire books and love to watch them on TV. Don't believe in them or anything, but love the myth.

5. I have an honours degree in Health Sciences

6. I'm a really bad housewife, but a fantastic cook.

7. I'm a highlander and proud of it.

Okay, so who shall I tag now?? Well, I think that Purpledragon, FWS, and roobeedoo will take part.Oh dear that's all I can think of, two other friends have already been tagged. Anyway, as always, your participation is completely voluntary, so if you don't want to take part, I completely understand, but if you do, well, hurray! And if I haven't tagged you and you want to take part, then feel free to copy the rules over to your blog and let me know so that I can come and take a squizz!

Virtual Pigs

2008-12-01T10:35:00.008Z

One of my fellow NEEPS rears his on Berkshire pigs. This year he has been let down majorly by buyers, so has made a deal with some of us NEEPS and he is going to rear the pigs for us and we'll pay the costs, then he's going to take them to slaughter and we'll do the rest.
I've decided that I'm going to cut up my own pig. So Saturday I spent ages with another NEEP who rears pigs and did her very own one. We scoured the river cottage books looking at the butchering and curing of pork.
I really want to dry cure bacon, make my own sausages and also my own salami and chorizo. I'm really looking forward to it. I know sounds very morbid, but I know how the pigs has been reared and I will know exactly what is in my own sausage, bacon, pork etc. Plus I know it'll taste so much better as it will all be home made.
Here's to virtual pigs

This is stoney's blog if you want to read about a guy who's working the land, rearing his own life stock and who I'd want on my side if SURVIVORS really happened.

Well as our old freezer crapped out a few months ago we invested in a new one, new to us anyway. Cost us £20 and is now taking pride of place in my hall Whoo hoo. It works too.
Anyway that's what I did with my weekend. Which off course is nothing like I planned. I wanted to finish some stuff for my pregnant colleague, make Christmas cards and wrap some presents!!!
Did have a fun crafting evening on Friday night and managed to get a fair bit of my fleece/crochet baby blanket done. I'll finish it tonight.
Also I managed to take the kids to Tolquhon Castle, a lot of Historic Scotland sites were free yesterday to Celebrate St. Andrews day, so we took a wee jaunt over to Tarves and had a wonder around. Some Pics:

It was a very chilly crisp day, but the kids had great fun running around the castle.

Busy, busy, busy

2008-11-21T22:12:00.004Z

Blinking flip, been all over this week with work and have not had any time to myself. Ok maybe I've had a little time, but it's not been much and I've tried to make sure I did some crafting.

OH had his CT scan, so we're awaiting results now.

I finished my squares for the 7th rnd of the friendshipghan swap. Actually I finished them last weekend and I have had no time to get to the PO so they're still sitting waiting to be posted.

I started a very silly hat last night. No pattern, just a wee idea from Ravelry.
So far it looks like:

No idea how it's going to look, but hey it's a bit of fun.

I've only got one square to do in my 12" CAL 2008.
Here's October

and December

This one's not finished off yet as I need to check it's 12". I did it on the train to Dundee this morning and didn't have room to measure it properly.

Just have to do November now.

And here's for some AWWness are my two little sun worshipers.

Not my Year

2008-11-10T13:58:00.005Z

It really just isn't my year.
My Dear OH is in hospital having tests after a seizure.
Oh my goodness, it was so scary. Fingers crossed that they figure out what the problem is/was.
Send him get well thoughts please.

Tell you what, with all the death, illness and general crap that's been going on this year. I have my fingers crossed that next year will be a blast (in a good way).

Here's the latest addition to the family:

This is Gandalf, he's a rehome due to an unsympathetic landlord. He's around 2yrs old and still has a little bit of the kitten in him, even though he's huge. Cute huh?

Only 2 more squares to do before my 12" CAL blanket is complete. Off course there is the sewing up to be done.

Happy Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T22:55:00.008Z

EE BY GUM, life is just so busy atm. No time to blog. No time to carve pumpkins, but did manage to get my little DD all costumed up for Halloween.

Guess who?

If you're not sure, it's Jason From Halloween. The mask and machete are homeish made and I bought her the boiler suit. Which I'm Ok about as she can use it to help painting etc.

Apart from that I'm working on wrist warmers for myself as it's blinking freezing and I've started my DD's Hoodie for Christmas. It's a 70's Wendy pattern, which I'm doing on circular needles and so far it's going rather well.

Dad is out of Hospital and doing well. He's got oxygen at Home and is using it a bit, but the Dr's say that it can take up to 6 weeks until he's back to his old self.

We're inundated with Cats atm. We got a new Boy cat called Gandalf from Freecycle. He's a beauty, but still a bit unsure. We've also got my Auntie's cats temporarily, as she's moving house. The Tom is a minx and keeps on trying to escape. He wants to be on the outside and the other one is a little black girl who is just a little sweetie.

Finally got my OWS 38 stuff finished and sent. I was so pleased with it. I basically made Sullengal a flapper set. Hat, gloves and scarf.

All crocheted.

Long Weekend

2008-10-17T10:55:00.007+01:00

Well It's the October break so I've decided to take a couple of days off work and chill.

Dad update:
Spend last weekend at Dad's bedside. He went from being on the large O2 mask onto the smaller one and then finally onto the into nose one. He was on Monitors, syringe antibiotics and and bagged. By the time I left he was moved into the General medical ward and completely off all monitors. By the middle of the week they took away his bag and he was getting up to go to the toilet himself. SO things are looking great.

On the way to Inverness on last Friday some guy in a Landrover Discovery with a loaded trailer plough across the road and totalled my car and the car behind me. I wasn't a happy bunny.
Oh well I'm perfectly Ok and that's Ali that counts.

I put a post on NEEPS with all the stuff I've made lately. Go have a looksie Latest Creations Didn't realise how much I've made. Most of it has been crochet.
I've still got one of my OWS rnd 38 swaps to complete, it's really late, but I've told them all my difficulties and promised that it should be in the post on Monday. It's one of those situations that it would have taken me the full two weeks to make anyway and with all the diving up to Inverness I just haven't had the time to complete it.

I'm Working on my 12" CAL blanket. Only 3 months left to go. This is what it looks like so far:

I'm also swapping for my friendshipghan and these are the squares so far. This is so going to be my blanket.

I've also been receiving heaps of swap goodies.
This is the fab stuff I got from Snowday in my first Ravelry swap.

I also got some great chocolate, red crochet hooks and a felted lapel pin. Although I think I've lost my hat to my OH he thinks it's fabulous.

Heart Attack

2008-10-05T23:26:00.003+01:00

OMG there are some things you will never prepare for.
My Dad had a heart attack on Friday. He's 82 and a lively, upbeat guy. He's been dealing with a lung problem for 10 years and this has slowed him down alot, but he's still full of life.
I was so scared. I'm so not ready to say goodbye to my dad. Even if he can be the most annoying nag in the world. I love him to bits.
The good news is that they caught in quickly and they're happy that his heart didn't get damaged. He's still in Hospital, but they're hoping he'll be home by the end of the week.
So big hugs and keep wells to him.

I'm now behind in swaps and i have loads of pics to post as I got some great swap packages recently.
Been a crap weekend, with the heart attack, full of the cold (AGAIN!!! I'm never ill) and it's back to work in the morning. I need a holiday and for people and animals around me to stop dying and getting ill.
Oh yes and one of my rats, my favourite Isis, has a tumour. She's on her way out, so she's getting lots of playing time and cuddles, even though it makes me sad. Life really sucks sometimes and old age doesn't do us any favours.
OK I'm going to drag my sorry ass to bed and read some vampire romance to cheer me up.
night night.

Foraging

2008-09-21T23:48:00.008+01:00

ME and the little one went for a walk today and took a couple of wee buckets. We came home with some brambles, some rowan berries and some chanterelles.
So tomorrow I'm making bramble whisky liquer and rowan chutney

Was reading someones post on Craftster about making cinnamon rolls and I thought yummy, but it was late in the afternoon and no way was I going to start off dough, so I did a search on the web for cinnamon recipes and found Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies perfect I thought. They have cinnamon in them and I just happen to have a couple of way past their best bananas in the kitchen.

They turned out very scrummy.

I also found a recipe for Cappuccino Muffins. They sound scrummy, so I'm making them tomorrow.

My kitchen has had a little change. I got a ceiling mounted pan hanging thingie from Freecycle ages ago. It sat in my hall for yonks and i finally decided to bite the bullet and hang it.

Doesn't it look great. Me and the OH have our fingers crossed that it stays up there. :o)

signed up for two more OWS claims> Argghh i need to hold myself back sometimes. My knitted bag is coming along nicely ( for OWS 38) and I'm busy working on 8" squares,as I'm now doing them for OWS 38 and the friendshipaghan.
Better get on with the crochet.

Brrrr!!

2008-09-19T00:25:00.006+01:00

It's got so cold here. Winter is upon us, as is the blinking rain.

We lost our Buffy yesterday. He was our one surviving chick from last year. I really think silkies are not suitable to the wet Scottish weather. My poor DD was quite upset. I think I'm a bit numb. I'm really fed up with animals dying, bad weather and the like. I'm already missing the sun.

My OWS 38 package I sent to Kartiana arrived. I love the hat I sent her. Unfortunately i didn't use a pattern so I'm not sure how I would replicate it.

I also sent her a wee hedgehog pincushion and a bangle inspired by her wists.

I'm busy working on a couple of things for the OWS 38, plus I need to have 4 8" squares done for the friendshipghan. Then I decided that I should actually learn to knit two socks at a time using my newly acquired (via OWS) circle socks needles. Arghh must be mad.
This is how I'm getting on.

Made quinoa bread, Cinnamon and raisin bread and leek and potato soup Today. All minimum effort with the help of my slow cooker and bread machine. I love express bake.

Discovered a fab romance writer Nan Ryan So far I've read two of her books and loved them. I've already booked some more from the library.

2008-09-11T21:39:00.009+01:00

So to top of the pain of loosing my darling cat, I then got struck down with a cold. Fortunately it has only lasted a couple of days and I'm well on the road to recovery. I think it was all due to that massive amount of blubbering I did.
Still talking about my cat, brings tears to my eyes. I try very hard to put it to the back of my mind and focus on other things. Then smack it hits me whilst making dinner or some such normal task.

Anyhoo I thought I'd post some of the items I've finished recently. Unfortunately i don't have pics of it all, as my batteries and I are still not talking. I have sent away for some new ones though.

This is a wine bottle cosy that I sent as part of an OWS rnd 37 swap. I love it. It's the first real piece of freestyle crochet I've done.

Here's a hat I just finished for my DS.

I also made another hat and some gloves for samsara in the OWS rnd37

Hmm not my nails. Pretty Nails Samsara!!

Samsara also claimed me in the OWS rnd37 for crochet stitch markers and a wisty surprise.
These are the markers. So very cool and so my taste. I've been using them too. :o)

My wisty surprise was just as fantastic. Lookie a dragon necklace.

it's been around my neck since I got it.

Anyway I have a swap on ravelry to finish, I've just volunteered to make a handbag in the latest OWS. Gee must be mad. They want one with a mushroom theme and I've got a quilting design in one of my books that will be perfect. Hey I like to stretch myself when swapping (argghhh).

Oh yes and I'm still reading up a storm. I jumped on the Twilight bandwagon and just loved the book. So I bought the first 3 with my amazon tokens.
Started reading Christine Feehan's carpathian Novels. The first one being Dark Prince me likey and if you like that you'll also like J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series starting with Dark Lover and Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. Do you notice a trend? Ok I don't just read vampire books. I do have major run ins with fantasy, murder/mystery and Bodice rippers (tee hee). Loving Naomi Novik Temeraire series. Not an ounce of bodice ripping in there.

Heart Broken

2008-09-08T23:13:00.006+01:00

Our beautiful, lazy, big Tom had to be PTS today.
Thomas went missing for over a week, although this is nothing unusual. He turned up the other night and was beyond poorly. OMG he was so unwell.
He managed to make it through the window and up the stairs. We found him next day sleeping on the couch.
We took him to the vets today.
About 4pm the vets told us that it was no good, he was suffering from Kidney failure and the best thing would be to let him go.
I have been beyond it since then.
At around 4:30pm we went to the local garden center and bought a rose. this one. It's called wildfire and it's SO inappropriate. My lovely poopie cat was so soft, large and laid back the last thing you would call him was a wildfire.
At 5:40pm we went to the vets for our final goodbye. I got a good cuddle and bubble and a purr, then I left the OH and my DS too it. I just couldn't stay until the end. They tell me he went peacefully, purrring to the end.
We took him home and dug a hole in the garden. Laid him gently in it and planted the rose.
I promise to post pics when it flowers.

6 hours later I'm still blubbering. I'm pathetic and I know that he is much better off. I'm thankful he came home and we could ease his pain. It's me I'm blubbering for. I miss him.
I miss the whole extra place he took on the bed. Heck he thought he was adult human size. I miss the loud purring he did, used to have to tell him to shut up, so I could get some sleep. I miss the fact that he was such a Daddy's boy, but still he slept on my side of the bed because daddy is such a restless sleeper.
I miss Thomas!!
RIP My Lovely Poopie Cat.

New Batteries Please

2008-09-03T11:04:00.006+01:00

I've been going to write this post for days now, but my rechargeable batteries don't seem to be keeping their charge. These means I'm a few pics missing.

We've got new chickens. Brandy, Gin and Sherry.

Sherry and Gin are from a Friend who is selling off his chickens due to vandals. I'm gutted for him. Horrible monsters have been coming around the Fisheries that he runs and burning stuff, breaking windows and abusing his poultry. He's had a destroy several birds. Personally vandalism is something I absolutely abhor.
Anyway I now have Sherry a lovely silkie cross and Gin a Maran who Andy promises me will lay dark brown eggs....She better!!!
Then we have Brandy, she's a wee Buff Sussex (Girl I hope fingers crossed). This is her:

She's about 8 weeks old and is living in the house at present as a pet. Talk a bout poop-a-scooping !!!. She's to young to put out with the bigger chickens yet.
Brandy was a present from a mate. One of those were your 8yr old DD ask if she can take her home and you mate says yes why not....Thank you Shirley.

Got some of my OWS swaps sent off and I'm working on my last item. No photos due to battery issue, but hopefully I'll get some when they arrive.

I've started another CAL, this is Lionbrand Sampler afghan i thought it looked pretty and I think I have just about enough muted colours in my mass of bright and bold colours to make it.It's made up of 30 textured square, 3 different types of square (therefore 10 of each), I'm planning to use multiple threads and for square I just bege and white, Square II beige white and green , Square III beige, white and blue.

here's a couple of pics:
Square I

Square II on top of Square I

Finally some more cute pics of my Fizz.

This is how she likes to sleep in the evening when I'm surfing.

This is me attempting to do some paperwork.

My Friday night crafting group has started up again - Yeah. We're called Gasbags and it's an evening of chat and crafting. We also bring along some home cooked stuff, so that we eat tastey food too. All round I love it and have a great time attending. roll on Friday evening.

Monkey Change Purse

2008-08-26T12:58:00.004+01:00

Pics as promised.

Made from the pocket of a boys shirt, a zip I got from freecycle and a ceochet monkey face out of Happy Hooker.

Cute eh?

Hope she likes it.

Old Age and grief

2008-08-26T10:37:00.004+01:00

Had some rather sad news this week. Another one of my dad's siblings has died. My Aunt Doreen passed away the other night from a heart attack. She was 80 and had a long run. It was also quick, so no lingering illness. Tat leaves just 3 of them out of the original 8 brothers and sisters.
I'm still surprised by it and saddened. Surprised as my dad had 7 siblings and they have most lasted until their 80s, but it's not usually a heart attack that takes them. Dad's now 82 and this was his younger sister, really makes me more aware of his oldness. Saddend for all the usually reasons, but also Dad and I had talked about Aunty Doreen the other day and I was saying I should go see her. Too late. :o(

Swapping fever has hit me again. I'm busy working on some fun things for OWS swap, should be sending out my first two parcels tomorrow and hopefully my third at the start of next week. I lurve crafting.

My DD has borrowed one of the items I'm crafting, so I'm making her a little replacement. I'm usuing Happy hookers, Lil'Monkey pattern to make her a monkey change purse. Shouldn't take too long and should be cute.
Pics tomorrow.

No Time

2008-08-19T23:41:00.004+01:00

I need another Holiday. Life has been going so fast since I got back to work my heads begining to spin.

Anyway we got all the rooms moved around. Now I need to start on the long progress of sorting out all the mess.

My lovely friend Nicole popped over from the states for a job interview so I got to entertain her for a week...OMG it's been 8 years since we last met!!! We made snickerdoodles yummy I highly recommend them. These are an old American cookie recipe, a bit more crunch compared to the chewy cookies. I also did a batch today with sugar and ginger, agsin yummy. I also taught her scones and shortbread.
She took me loads of goodies over, kool aid for dyeing yarn, muffin mix ( you get heaps more varieties in the USA), candy for the kiddies and the most fab skull and roses material. 4 and a bits yards for £22. isn't it too die for.

Alexander Henry "Skulls, Bones, & Roses" fabric
Originally uploaded by Mellicious

I finished all my squares for the friendshipghan swap rnd 4 and they're winging their way to Kookie at the moment. I even decided to start another swap. It's an ongoing wish swap. It works so differently from other swaps that it's hard to describe. You claim an item from the last person to post a list. You claim to craft this item for them and then you post your list. the next person claims one of your items and posts their list and so on. It's looking like it could be fun. I've already started the items I've claimed.
More good news, the organiser from the Pick'n'mix swap has arranged an Angel for me. So I will after all be getting a parcel for this swap. My partner hasn't answered any pms since last month so we kinda gave up on her.

So back to my new nutty pussycat.

here's my underwear drawer:

are you confused yet?

well look closer:

Can you see her yet?
Closer still

Yes that's her eye you can see snuggled in the back of my underwear drawer.

See....this is her getting back out.

There you go nutty cat or what....That's our little Fizz or as we call her....you little MINX!!!!

Mummy Stop Working So Hard

2008-08-12T15:02:00.002+01:00

Second day back at work and already she's feeling neglected.

The house is moving on nicely.....still huge amounts of crap, but at least most of the furniture is in the correct rooms.
Off course the couch is never, ever, ever moving rooms again!!!!!

I'm still working on my 8" squares and the litlle/medium extra. I got my parcel from Kookie (i'll post pics once batteries have charged). She sent me 10 fabby squares and some yummy soap.

Bought some yarn for my ravelympic Shrug which I will be making this weekend.mmm RED.

Anyway back to the grind.

tagged by Taz

2008-08-09T15:24:00.002+01:00

One Word Tag

1. Where is your cell phone? charging

2. Signifigant other? Honey

3. Worst bad habit? untidy

4. Hair? long

5. Favorite food? cheese

6. Your favorite thing? bread

7. Your dream last night? blank

8. Favorite drink? wine

9. Dream/goal? debtless

10. Room you are in? bedroom

11. Your ex? john

12. Your fear? Loss

13. Where do you want to be in six years? comfortable

14. Where were you last night? Bed

15. What you're not? fit

16. Muffins? lemon

17. Wish list item? slimmer

18. Where did you grow up? highlands

19. Last thing you do? snuggle

20. What are you wearing? Jeans

21. Your TV? Off

22. Your pets? many

23. Your computer? On

24. Your life? happy

25. Your mood? Tired

26. Missing someone? nope

27. Your car? old

28. Something you are not wearing? glasses

29. Favorite store? Charity

30. Your summer? busy

31. Love someone? totally

32. Last time you laughed? Today

33. Last time you cried? unsure

Well that's me.

Been working on more moving, as got nothing done yesterday with return of the cat. Who has decided that she likes to sit on my and snuggle like a baby when I'm at the computer.
4 squares done and two to go in my friendshipghan swap. i've started number 5. 1 down and two to go for Ravelympics.
Better get back too it.

Fantastic News

2008-08-08T18:25:00.003+01:00

My poopie cat is back.
Got a call from a lady today to say she thought she had seen my cat.
We live in a fairly small village and apparently she noticed a little cat only a street away. I was rather dubious as we had been out lots calling and looking for her.
Anyway, the OH and I took a walk along to the road. I started calling "puss, puss, puss" about 20 seconds later there was a "meow, meow" and Fizz jumps out of a bush onto the pavement. I just couldn't believe it. She's been missing for 41 days and here she is as though nothing had happened. She's a little skinny and was very pleased with the bowl of milk and food we gave her. She's been snoozing on our bed ever since. See.....

Isn't she adorable? So happy to have her back.

Off course she put our plans for today on the back burner. It was meant to be big shift day. One desk to bottom room, one up to top room, table and chairs in from car etc etc, but I thought it would be unfair to do all this upheaval when we only just got her settled.
So I've done a little bit of tidying and I've started my ravleympic Lamb for the Amiguruni Toss event. It's quick so I hope to have it done by tomorrow.

crochet squares

2008-08-07T11:30:00.006+01:00

So I know I said that I was giving up swapping for the summer. well my mate Kookie decided that I should get involved in a 8" crochet square swap and because I like her I decided to take part. Heck what's 4 x 8" squares in a month. What's hilarious is that she's now my swap partner for this swap. This means that I'm doing 6 squares not 4 and I've started working on an extra little something for her too. Can't say too much as I know she's watching. I've asked Kookie to make me black/purple squares as I fancy a kind of gothic little lapghan.

I haven't been neglected my other tasks though.
We're still in mid room move. Our bed and chest of drawers is now in the appropriate room. Futon is dismantled and I collected a fab round dining table from Freecycle. Off course it is still sitting the car awaiting it's move to the sitting room. Which I'm planning for tomorrow. Heck I'm going to need another holiday to recover from this one. :o)

So progress on my 12" CAL is doing well.
another filler. This one is
Victorian Dream

Here's my progress so far on the blankie. I have attached a couple of the squares using black, but I think I'll wait until they are all done before adding any more.

Oh yes swapping. Another Lass from ravelry has managed to persuade me not only to take part in some swappage, but to join her team for ravelympics. After a month of not swapping I must be missing it. Anyway for the ravelympics I'm doing Converse Booties for the Baby Dressage, Crochet shrug for the Sweater Sprint and crochet little lamb for the Amigurumi Toss. the idea is that we start these items and get them finished with the time it takes for the olympics to start and finish. Should definitely be doable. Off course I do go back to work on Monday and i have a friend from the states visiting on wednesday and then the kids go back to School a week on tuesday. See all the time in the world. :o)

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-08-04T00:28:00.005+01:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a while.
Spent a week in Shetland with my mum and kids. I'll blog that with some pics when I get a hold of my mum's camera.
Now I'm home and me and the OH are busy moving the rooms in the house around. I don't really want to spend my hols doing this, but winter will be here before you know it and I'm determined to have either a fire or a stove working before it gets cold.
Plus I want an area where I can invite friend round for dinner.

Crafting has been a bit on the back burner. I've finished my August square for the 2008 12" CAL
mine's a little wonkie, but still cute.

I'm involved in a monthly square swap on ravelry. This month we did a circle of friends square
This is how mine turned out.

It turned out much smaller than 12", so I did more repeats and finished of with a couple of rows of hdc.

Apart from that I'm working on a babies jacket for a work colleague and this
gorgeous circle cardigan
Unfortunately I got to the cast off for the sleeves and I had way more repeats than the pattern says. Oh well it still looks fine so I'll plod on. I'm making mine in black with a bright pink thread running through it.

Catching up on previous blogs. My pussy cat hasn't turned back up, so I still have my fingers crossed that she makes it back to her previous owners.
My Pick n' mix swap parcel apparently ended up back in Germany and the last I heard was that my partner was going to resend it. The parcel I sent her is still missing or so I presume as I haven't heard back from her recently. I'm not pleased. I put a lot of effort into those goodies. If I hear from her soon I'll post some pics.

OOh I have a wee recommendation for some things I have been reading and watching lately.
Bought my mum
Shakespeare Retold last christmas and we just got round to watching them. Fab stuff. So far watched "The Taming of the Shrew" and Much Ado About Nothing" Excellent. Loads of fab british actors and really well made. Looking ofrward to the next two.

Borrowed this book from the library. Cool crochet... Some fabulous stuff in it. Several I would really love to crochet.
I'm loving going back to the library again. Reading up a storm.

Microwave Baking

2008-07-15T16:52:00.003+01:00

I've done a little in the past, syrup sponge pudding and coconut squares, but nothing major as it's quite a different method to cooking them in a conventional oven.
Well at a charity shop yesterday I picked up Microwave Baking by Judith Ferguson and today I made Banana Coconut Bread.

Yummy, 5 minutes to whizz together in food processor, 8 minutes on medium, 5 on high and then a finall 2 minutes on high and it was done. No oven preheating either.

Cobweb Vest

2008-07-14T22:40:00.002+01:00

My latest creation.
I finished this today for my Mum.
Isn't it fab?
I got a fab crochet book from a charity shop with lots of lace motifs and stitch patterns. I then decided to make a vest using this cobweb one.
it didn't take long and it actually turned out rather well.
I made it for Mummy dearest.

Sadly my poopie cat hasn't turned up. She's not made it back to her previous owners yet and I've no word from vets or radio.

Also my swap parcel from Germany has been making it's way to me since 18th June and still hasn't got to me and the parcel I sent to Germany on the 23rd June hasn't arrived either!!! How's that for odd. Apparently it's only meant to take 3 days to get to germany!!! I'm still hopeful.

Desperately Seeking Fizz

2008-07-03T14:01:00.005+01:00

I've been really down. My new poopie cat has run away. It was all my own fault as I didn't keep her in long enough. I've never had an issue when getting new cats, so I got too cocky. She seemed so happy and settled, but obviously something went wrong.
I've put up posters, informed all the local vets and got in touch with the SSPA and the cats protection Lost and Found. I've also contacted her previous owner.
So everyone keep your fingers crossed that someone will find her. I almost feel like one of my kids has gone missing.

My friends and I on NEEPS have been working on a blanket for one of the NEEP's sisters. She's a very ill lady and used to have a well loved crocheted blanket. When she ended up in care the blanket was too old to go with her, so her sister (a neep)decided to make her a new one and loads of her friends volunteered to help.
Well a few weeks ago the crafting group on NEEPS spent several evenings working on sewing the blanket together.
Pic of Blanket

isn't that cool. I'm very proud of everyone getting involved.

I made my first wearable item of SEWN clothing the other day. Off course I didn't make it for me. I made them for my DD. It's a pair of wrap around trousers. They are so easy to make, once someone posts a fab tutorial on craftser that is.
Anyway I made them in an hour or so using a cot sheet I had bought from a charity shop, some spare fabric and some fabric ties.

Aren't they fab.

Anyway I quickly nipped into my local charity shop and picked up a single duvet cover and some other material, as I plan to make a pair for myself too.

ARghh need sleep

2008-06-25T09:40:00.005+01:00

We have a new addition to the mad house. Her name is Fizz and she's 10 months old. Hence the reason for the lack of sleep. Just couldn't sleep right last night, as I was always conscious of the new girl wandering around the room.
Here a quick pick....it's all new to her so she was unwilling to stop long enough for a good one yet.

Other news. Finally finished my Pick n Mix swap and got it sent away. Was really happy with it so can't wait for my partner to receive. I should be getting mine any day now.
It was my OH's birthday yesterday, so he got some fun presents and I always try to include something home made. This year he's got a 46 onto a t-shirt. 46 in bright yellow is Valentino Rossies number.
I also made him a Stewie from Family guy. It's not perfect, but I like it. It's crocheted. The pic is blurry too. need to get my batteries charged.

My swap partner in South Africa finally received her Tea Cosy. YES!!!! I was getting worried that it had gone awol in the post. Gee it took 20days to get to her.
You can see my efforts
here post by Craftrica. My cosy is the scottish theme with embroidered Thistle on one side and scottyu dog applique on the other.

Free form CAL is still going strong. Our organiser had some home issues, so we were missing instructions for a couple of days, but everything is back to normal and I will be doing some catch up later. Will post pics once I'm caught up.

12 days of Free Form CAL

2008-06-13T11:29:00.004+01:00

Well actually it's the 13th day, but no instruction yet to do. If you want to see the instructions have a look HERE.

Anyway I'm still loving the CAL. I've learnt some new stitches and I love the funkiness of my Free Form and how completely different everyones look.

SO to the Pics. Days 1 to 4 are further down my blog, so here we have days 5 to 12

I'm thinking that maybe once I have done this I might use the same instructions and do one in shades of green.

Skull Swap Goodness Two

2008-06-12T19:07:00.005+01:00

Well if you thought I got a fab load from Deadbathducky, then you'll be blown away by the loot I got from gossamer_gull.

Oh my goodness, fab material, coasters, knapkin tidy, stickers, journal, pot holders, iron on rhinestones, boxes of sweets for the kids....So much!!

Off course these lovely ladies didn't just send me this out of the goodness of their hearts. I actually had to make them things too. So here are some of the items I made.

DBD loot.

Close up of recyled bangle. Made using a ring cut from a plastic bottle, some left over material and a bit of stuffing.

Alas poor yorik. A crochet skull with a hidden compartment to hide a pretty daisy scarf.

Some of gossamer_gulls loot.
A set of crochet Jack Skellington Juggling balls.

A Scottish Day of the Dead piece. This is applique, with embroidered detail on a tartan bakcground.

A cute Skelanimal apron.

I'm working on another swap atm. ALthough my partner seems to have gone AWOL. oops. Hoping she'll get in contact real soon.
Plus I'm also working on my Free Form CAL. I'll post heaps of photos showing my progress tomorrow. It's reaaly fun and everybodies are so different.

Skull Swap Goodness One

2008-06-04T20:57:00.005+01:00

Tired, need a lie down!! Been off ill for two days with cold/virus/generally feeling yuk. Went to work today and had a full day of being in a pharmacy with computer fixing going on. Not normally too tiring, but with the feeling rough and not enough sleep over the past couple days, I think I'm feeling it more.

Anyway I had a lovely surprise when I got home. My skull swap package from Australia arrived. It's fab. Loot consists of:

1.Skull Beanies from my honey (modelled by DD) and my son.
2. Skelanimal for my DD.
3. Treasure chest full of fun things like beads, polymer clay bone necklace, aussie chocolate pennies, skull eye patch, skull badges and most fabulous crochet skull with beanie hat.
4. Aussie Tea towel.

Photos.

It's all fantastic. I really love it all, but I want the little skull hat in adult size.

Still doing my Free Form CAL, it's great fun.
For day three we had to cluster the number of shoes we owned. I guestimated 20.

For day 4 we had to change to a finer yarn and smaller hook and lace (1sc, 1ch, 1sc) the number of your birthday.

It's going swell.

New Crochet-a-long

2008-06-02T08:57:00.004+01:00

Thanks to my pal Kookie, I have just started a new CAL on craftster. Sounds like it's going to be a hoot. The CAL is Free Form. Each day we get a new set of instructions to crochet.
Day 1.
1. Using your favourite hook and whichever yarn comes out of your stash first, chain the average age of your household

2. DC an amount of stitches equal to the number of letters in your full name

Day 2.
"using the brightest yarn we have and whichever hook suits it best. I'd like you to measure your foot in centimetres and do that amount of trebles. If the number exceeds the amount of stitches you already have then either start a new row (count the turning chain as another treble) or carry on round the corner of your base chain using the other side."

This is great. I have no idea how the piece will turn out or what I will do with it. Yeah
So here it is so far.

great fun. Here's the
link to CAL thread on craftster.

I've been Tagged.

2008-06-01T19:45:00.002+01:00

by Roobeedoo ARgghh what should I do. Well I followed the signs and apparently I should tell you about myself.

1)What was I doing ten years ago?
I was still in University. I had been a perpetual student for 10 years by this point and I was fast approaching actually finishing my first and only degree. I loved being at Uni, but it took me ages to find something that didn't bore me ridgid.
2)5 Things on my non-work to-do list today
1. Watch Dr Who
2. Dry kids school school clothes
3. Get recycling from hall to car to recycle centre
4. Make some dinner
5. Finish tea bag cosy fro swap

3)Snacks I enjoy
I'm really getting into Taxi chocolate biscuits and I love olives, bombay mix, pretzels and home made cake (one of the reasons I'm so fat, that and I do no excerise at all. Someone needs to invent some fitness routine I can do whilst crafting or on the computer!)

4)Things I would do if I was a billionaire? I would buy myself a little bit of land and have more chickens and more veg and I would hire someone to look after them when I was away checking out the carpathians, egypt, peru, etc etc

5)Places I have lived
Gairloch, edinburgh, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire

6)Jobs I have had
Restaurant everything - cook, manager, dishwasher, waitress. Supermarket veg area (arghh never again, stopped when I started dreaming about apples). Clinical Audit for NHS and IT Facilitator NHS.

7) Peeps I want to know more about:
Kookie

Up and Down

2008-05-27T15:21:00.002+01:00

Haven't felt much like blogging recently. My Araucana continued to get worse and finally succumed to her illness on Sunday night. I spent ages feeling down and helpless whilst she was ill. I'm gutted that she died, but least it has stopped the suffering for both of us.
I now have a group of current bushes to mark her grave. I miss her.
This was my beauty:

I have a asked a friend in Shetland if she will sell me, some Shetland chickens when I'm up. They lay greenie eggs. I was also thinking about buying some araucana eggs when my other silkie goes broodie. But we'll see.

On the other news front I have completed the skull stuff for my two swap partners. One parcel is winging its way to USA and the other to Australia. Mine have also been sent, so I should be getting fun pressies in a few days time. :o) Hmm can't wait.
I've got two more swaps on the go. The tea cosy one which I have to snd out by Saturday (AARRGGHHHH)....Gee I had better make a start. I know what I'm doing so it should only take me a couple of evening to complete it, (famous last words).
I'm also doing a Pick and Choose swap. It's rather funky. We had to pick 5 themes and then put togther a list, of at least, ten items we would like to receive. So our partners have to make 5 things, one for each theme. The actual items have to picked from our list. This should be so cool. My partner wants:
1. Rock n'Roll/50's kitsch
2. Recycling/Reuseable Fashion
3. Powerpuff girls/super heroines
4. Tattoo
5. I <3 my hairy little fat monster Cats

Her items are:
1 painting or photography
2 jewerly
3 mixed media tee
4 subversive embroidery/ cross stitch
5 kittys plaything
6 some home decor thing to collect all these sheets and notes and little thingies that make it look messy on my desk OR something similar for my jewerly...
7 tote bag
8 handmade journal w/ maybe some nice vegan/ vegeterian recipes
9 an obi-/ kimonobelt
10 scarf/ shawl

Awesome, what I different set of themes. I've thought of heaps of things to make from her list. I decide on theme and then change my mind, so i have no idea what she will end up getting. Although I have made a definite start on the 50's kitsch theme item. Could take me forever.

Made a fab couple of tarts for my crafting evening last night. The savoury one was an onion and wensleydale cheese one. Hmm lovely and the other was a Rhubarb, Lemon and poppyseed tart.
The dessert was easy to make. Sweet pastry case, with a layer of lightly sweetened and poached rhubarb ( could use tinned if no fresh available. Topped with sponge mix flavoured with fresh lemon juice, rind and poppyseed. Then baked in a medium oven for 30 to 45 mins. Yummy. Still have a bit left for supper.

Ah well back to the grind. :o)

Blinking Chickens

2008-05-16T15:19:00.002+01:00

Don't get me wrong I love my chickens, but they can be somewhat heartbreaking to keep.
I usually have a nice group of around 10 chickens, as off about 3 weeks ago I had 7 chickens laying regularly (2 not laying due to being cockerels). I had a fab looking basket of eggs with small white silkie eggs, large light brown Isa Brown eggs, smaller brown barnevelder and other black chicken eggs and funky olive green Araucana egg.
Over the past couple of weeks the Araucana stopped laying, but they can do this for a variety of reasons. Unforunately she has now stopped eating and has developed Sour Crop. This is not good and I could loose her.
Today one of my Isa Brown died. She was looking a bit unsteady on her legs the past two days, but she was eating OK and had no lumps or swelling. This morning she was no more. :o(
Blinking Chickens!!!

What I made ...

2008-05-15T10:03:00.002+01:00

Originally uploaded by zombiecazz

for the Name Swap.
Now to my hard work. The brief I got was that the lady would like things for herself and her two boys. Both boys were into transfomers and starwars and one of them liked to draw. As for the mum she liked fairies, owls, baking and scarfs.
So this is what I cam up with:

So we have:
An Owl card with details of the loot
Some scottish sweets and biscuits
a little scottish recipe book
a transformers blanket
a crochet cupcake box
a crochet owl stuffed with a scarf
a little crochet fairy
a wingdings wash bag
a drawing set.

Close ups.....

I really enjoyed making all these items and I hope my partner feels well rewarded with the loot she received.

Whoo Hoo Name Swap Complete

2008-05-15T09:42:00.003+01:00

So over Most of April I was working on my goodies for a name swap I was taking part in. As I've probably mentioned it was a bit of an odd one as I was making for someone and they weren't the person making for me.
Any way here are some pics of the loot that I was sent. I asked the lady to make stuff mainly for my DD. and a little something for me. DD got a pen, a pencil, a bookmark, a hair tie and the most fabulous Bender cushion cover. I got a great little bag that is prefect for carrying a couple of balls of wool and some implements to my crafting evenings.
All together

Bender Cushion Cover.

Great little bag

Swap Relief

2008-05-07T19:33:00.002+01:00

Finally got my Name Swap stuff all finished and parcelled up ready to send in the morning. Can't post any photos yet, as I don't want my swap partner spying them.
I'm very. very happy with what I've made. I do love swapping. It allows me to let my creative juices flow like mad. None of the things I made were from a pattern....all out of my head.
So now I'm onto my Skull swap. I've asked my partner whether I can send her 2 mediums instead of 1 large. If so, then I have all my ideas sorted and I just need to get cracking.

RATS

2008-05-02T09:38:00.003+01:00

So where to start.....
On freecycle the other day, a lady was offering up three young female rats with cage and accessories. I wrote her a really nice email and begged to be allowed to rehome the rats.
Thankfully she liked my email and we now have 3 lovely rats and their cage in my crafting room.
Here's some pics:

They're absolutely adorable. The whole family loves them and even my Mum is happy for them to come round for a visit.

I can also now show off my fantastic bargain fom ebay. I bought it a couple of weeks ago, but refused to get too excited until it had arrived at my door. I have been wanting one for ages, but generally they are way out of my price range. So image my joy when I managed to snap up this beauty for £31 including postage.

It appears to be in working order, but some little hooks are missing from the shuttle, so I need to buy some before I can get going with the spinning. It's absolutely perfect for me as it's quite compact. I just hope I can learn to spin with it.

I'm on my last two items for my Name swap. I'll get them finished this weekend and hopefully posted by next Tuesday. Then I can start on my Skull/Skeleton swap. The Name stuff is going to USA and the Skull stuff will be going to Australia.

Macros

2008-04-21T15:11:00.003+01:00

Been a couple of days, but not to worry I have been busy.
I've only got a couple of things to complete in my NAME swap, I've also signed up for a SKULL/SKELETON Swap on Craftster. So I've been busy with my hook.

Had the Kenwood out again this weekend and made: Celery Bread, Seeded Wholemeal bread (3 of them), Walnut and coffee layer. I also made some chewy flapjacks and a cannelli bean, tomato and basil casserole. The Gasgbags (my local crafting group) will get to sample the cakes and celery bread tonight.

Finally, I entered a Macro (close up) photography challenge on craftsters. I had a choise of which to enter. I finally picked the eye one called "The street where you live". These are my latest macros

Thoughtful Chirpy

Willow 1

Willow 2

Cute little Ear

The Street where you live

Which one do you like best?

Headphone Cosies

2008-04-15T21:22:00.001+01:00

Should have posted this last night, but was feeling a bit pooped.

I got some fab inspiration from this post on craftster.
I had one of those DUH moments when I thought, "Why didn't I think of that?".
Anyway if you look at the post, a craftster had crocheted some funky headphone cosies and I just happened to be using headphones on the lappy that only had one cosy left. Eureka I thought I'll make some for myself.

Since I'm a bit of a Skull freak, I just had to make something that bit different. So this is what I came up with:

Aren't they Uber Cool. I love them. They're made with Acrylic, so they are very soft and warm.

Baking Day

2008-04-13T23:35:00.002+01:00

I decided today would be the day that my new toy was put to the test.

A baking day.

With the help of my lovely assistant DD we made a whole kaboodle of tastey treats.
Chocolate and coffee layer, chocolate and coffee Bantemburgh, Mediterranean Loaf, parkin and crunchy fruit cake. All made with the aid of my kenwood.

It's great I can beat up my marg and sugar whilst weighing out my other ingredients. I know, silly pleasure, but after years of using a hand held whisk it was great to be using a Kenwood again.
I even had time to soak and cook some chickpeas, so I made chicken and chickpea casserole in the slowcooker for dinner and I will make hummous with the rest tomorrow. Busy, busy, busy.