the essex hooker

Musings

2011-12-22T08:28:00.001Z

One of the reasons I stopped updating this blog is purely because I lost the joy of creating things for other people.
After continually not even getting a thankyou for the hat/scarf/blanket I'd spent time, and money creating, I decided that I'd cut the amount of crocheted items I'd gift to people. Same with sewn, felted, painted etc etc.
I think that when you spend 30 hours+ crocheting a baby blanket, you impart a little of yourself into the item. Not literally, that would be gross. People don't understand the labour of love that is behind hand made stuff, especially when they can buy "just as good" in the local tat peddler.
Since my last update, my output has dwindled to next to nothing. I'm mainly creating things for me, and messing around with stitches and patterns, and doing a lot of reading crochet theory and patterns without actually doing any. I've also gone back to sewing felt things, something else people profess to love but will never pay for.
When I take an order from someone, I consider how much it's going to cost in yarn, then I add a little bit on top for the hours of my life I'll use making the thing, I don't add tax, VAT, duty or a huge profit on the things. Most things I make, I barely break even:- thus why I have a "proper" job where I work 36h a week, not including the almost 10h a week traveling to/fro (which, btw costs me £2016 a year).
The last commission I took, my partner in crime (mum) actually took to completion as I was too depressed by the requester's attitude to do it. My attitude became "fuck it, she's not given me any money up front, I'll tell her to suck one". The person in question wanted a baby blanket, finished in a couple of weeks, for less than £15. The baby yarn itself cost me £19. She asked me every day if it was done yet. She refused to pay an extra £5 to cover the three extra balls of yarn I had to buy. If she had, I'd have probably wrapped the thing up beautifully, as I am wont to do with my hand crochet presents. And now she's asking me what else we can make her to give as gifts, and I really don't know what to say...

So there you have it, my explanation for radio silence.

Moral of the story:- if you commission a hand made item, be aware you could have to pay a little more than you first thought, and be a bit patient! If that doesn't appeal, buy your baby sweaters in GAP.

And don't ask me to make something, slag me off, refuse to pay for it and then moan at, and about me, as being called a miserable c u next Tuesday often offends :)

Happy Yule
Merry Christmas
Happy Chanukah
Season's Greetings

... oh sod off and leave me humbug-y!

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Hello!

2011-05-21T18:53:00.001+01:00

If anyone is still out there, I'm back! Again! I hope I'll be able to blog more regularly now that I have something that allows me to get online and actually post! I has iPad! Yay!

So stay tuned for an update, if you're still out there!

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Location:Chez Moi

So much for that resolution!

2011-03-13T16:25:00.001Z

Well, so much for that. I keep promising myself and any readers I may have left that I'll be updating regularly. That has turned into an epic lie!

Well here's an update anyway!

Crochet: still going. Just finished a Berocco "Phannie" beret commission in cream 50:50 acrylic/wool mix for a colleague at work. Have two baby cardis on the go for little H, one baby hat for Lyla who will be a year in April, and two kids size beanies/skull-caps for the same colleague's daughter.
This is my second "Phannie" beret for me in Fyberspates wool yarn. This is what a finished "Phannie" looks like.

Dyeing: have just Kool-Aid dyed three hanks. In the process of balling and test swatching now.
This is they, drying.

Horses: still riding despite breaking my toe! Or should that be, having my Barney break my toe for me!
I'll be competing on Sunday 20th, so wish me and Angel luck as we do our first jumping competition. I jumped Biscuit the little dun pony today who is as stubborn as anything so I have hope!
This is me and April, Angel's best friend and stall-mate. Turns out I don't have a pic of me and Angel on my phone. Anyway, she's a strawberry roan pony with a white blaze, about the same size as April.

Work: don't ask. I don't know where I'll be this time in a month as my office will no longer be open :( we're gutted. Everyone on my team has a bête noir at the moment it seems...

My babies: all fit and well. Min's ear is fine, Cash is poopy well, Jaz is a bit fat but no real health problems. All four pigs are fine aside from some sore toes/toenails. They're so clumsy they're always hurting their feet... Just like me!
My three bunny babies: Jaz, Mr. Cash and Min :D

I'll try and blog more regularly from now, but no promises! I have a private lesson on Friday, just me, Warwick the Norge Fjord pony and my instructor. Lovely. So Friday is out!

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New Leaf Again

2011-02-20T15:48:00.001Z

Ok, I am bad. Life gets on top of me sometimes :(
I'm still crocheting away, riding and working my bum off. I still live. Did break my big toe four weeks ago though, so thats fairly interesting news for you...

From this week I will attempt to make weekly posts at least. I will even set a reminder on my beloved iphone to make sure I do!

Here's a "Phannie" beret (Berocco yarns), worked in RY Cashsoft that took me a day to do. Very proud as I didn't ask anyone for help either, woo!

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Cold!

2010-11-27T22:04:00.000Z

It's cold here! -1oC!
Just the right weather to buy a hand crocheted item like the popcorn stitch cowl I've just finished! :)

My commissioned baby blankie is started at least but it's slow going, and I think a friend may be requesting a hat soon... So back to the grind!

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Urban Jungles

2010-11-13T15:43:00.001Z

The boyface has decided that he DOES want his hat now! What a pain in the butt!

This is the third Caron 'Urban Jungle' I've done, and I've found the pattern to be easy to follow and work up quickly. I'm sure I decreased somehow, and didn't always make the puff stitch part as long as the pattern called for, buy I'm still proud of them!

Here's him in his hat:

And all three Urban Jungle wannabes together:

Mine is the bluey/mustard Aran one, boy's is the black and White Aran, and the black acrylic dk is for boy's friend, more as me showing off and rising to a challenge than anything else!

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Hello!

2010-11-13T10:18:00.001Z

Hello again people of the internets. Bonjour toute le monde! That may not be 100% accurate, my French is a petit peu rusty.

I have nearly finished my commission ruffle scarf, in just a couple of days! And I had to go to work and run errands! My boyface says its time for me to start making stuff "professionally" now, which I choose to take as a compliment. However, as I told him, if I was doing I just for the money, I wouldn't want to do it anymore. Also, he decided that he doesn't want the hat I was making for him, so I now have a spare Caron Urban Jungle style hat in a 3-ply Aran (2 plies white, 1 black) that actually has a wool content (smells amazing) if any wants it. I was thinking of listing it on Etsy for £5. I'll get a pic up in a couple of days and hopefully get some feedback.
Speaking of amazing smelling yarn, a friend at work did a house clearance and gave me loads of vintage patterns (that still had prices like 2'6 on them!) and some random hanks of yarn. My favourite has to be a cream heavy dk/Aran that smells so strongly of sheep, I'm prepared to bet the poor deceased old lady spun it herself (the house was in rural N. Eire).
Here's a pic of it worked up in just dc, and the ball itself:

It's forming a lovely stiff fabric, but since I don't know how much I have exactly (probably less than 100g) I don't know what to make out of it. I was doing a ruffle scarf, but it's making up too stiff- the ruffles stand up on end!
Anyway, must dash again, crochet calls. Also, I have a cup of tea I don't want to get cold!

P.S: the docs have found a reason for my incredible back pain- I have something wrong with my kidneys. At least its something "real" that they can treat, eh?

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More Blogging!

2010-11-11T20:48:00.001Z

Well it's Remembrance Day, a day that makes me particularly sad, since my grandad was a soldier, like his dad before him. My grandad is thankfully still with us, but he saw horrible things on active service, like his friends getting shot yards away from him, terrorists hanging British army officers, not to mention his requests for leave to marry my nan being refused time after time. My great grandad had a horrible time of it too; he was gassed on Hill 60, sent home to recover and then redeployed back to Gallipoli. Luckily, he made it home too, but hardly mentioned his service. Not surprising.
During the two minute silence, I always take my poppy off, hold it and look at it while reciting 'In Flanders Field' in my head. It's my own way of paying my respects. This year I had trouble at work, since one of my colleagues continue to type throughout. I was absolutely livid that someone couldn't take two minutes out to pay respect to men who gave their lives for us. And the whole muslims burning poppies thing- absolutely disgusting. Vile.

In crochet news I have another commission (this time for a frilly neckwarmer) for when I've finished my other half's hat. I also have an ark full of animals to see up for the same lady's grandson.

I'm annoyed that for the second year running I've missed the NaNoWriMo! I even had an idea for this year! Oh well, I may still write it.

Here is a picture of my grandad, not even 20, on active service in Palestine. Today, more than any, I honour the sacrifice he and his fellow soldiers made for us, and acknowledge that men and women today are doing the same damn thing.

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Back Again!

2010-11-05T08:31:00.001Z

Hah, tri-weekly blogging! Still not feeling 100% and I have to go to hospital on Monday and be poked and prodded under anaesthetic. Not looking forward.
Oh well, that's three days away yet. Riding first! I am going this week, even if it kills me! It was horrible last week not being in the lesson, just having to watch. At least I got to go "wrong diagonal" at my fellow students, which is a plus.
I finished my version of the Urban Jungle (Caron/Vickie Howell) yesterday as planned. Yay.

I've decided to do another Aran weight one, not for anyone in particular, just because they're relatively quick and simple to do.

Must dash, Cash keeps getting his head stuck in the gate :|

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Unrelated

2010-11-04T10:43:00.000Z

Completely off topic, I wanted to brag about my clear round in my first ever contest at our riding school. Here's me and my lovely Barney. Barney is a 14.2 hh Cleveland Bay X who is 17 this year, would you believe!

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See, I Can Blog Bi-Weekly!

2010-11-04T10:34:00.001Z

Ok, I've started both my blanket commissions and both look pants! So now all I want to do is felt! I have a puff of Cheviot and my needles here, but all my stuff for wet felt is at my mum's in a box! And all I want to do is make another wall hanging :(
I suppose I could re-wet and try to set my nun scarf again... for some reason the roving will not stay stuck to the silk!

All being well, my Urban Jungle hat will be done today, so may update later if I manage to get it done. I also have chores to do. Blah. Can't I just be off sick and laze around?

Anyway, here's a pic of Domino reclining in her litter tray, as is her new pastime. Notice how she's only laying in the poop free part?!

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New Month, New Leaf

2010-11-01T08:42:00.001Z

Ok, it's November and I've neglected this blog horribly over the last year, mainly from being busy at work. However at the moment I'm house-bound on doctors' orders (have a "fit note" saying I'm unfit to work due to me damaging a muscle/nerve in my neck [they don't know which yet] so not allowed to go to work) so this seems like as good a time as any to retry the "blog at least a couple of times a week" idea.

In personal news, bad neck aside, we're trying to move as our house is covered in mildew which is bad, not just for me and boyface's asthma and allergies respectively, but our big white house bun (Jaz) has allergies too!

All three buns are now inside, and as soon as Minibun is spayed (and Jaz stops trying to eat her) she can leave the pen and run free in the bunny room. All three are happy and healthy, Casho had a sore tummy and Mino some ear problems (but she came with those when I rescued her) but we're all happy and well now.

My best friend has had her baby. I predicted correctly, and on 09/10/2010 at 06:33 we welcomed baby Harvey Leonard Smith to the world. Here's a pic:

He is a happy, healthy, and quiet babe who enjoys snuggles and cuddles. He's my little mate now. Starting out at 7lb 6oz, he's gaining well and now weighs in at just over 8lb!

My other friend had her baby too, and on 20/10/2010, baby Shay Joseph La-Rocque came into the world- better late than never! Here he is too:

Little Shay was a tiny thing like his mama, weighing only 6lb 13oz.

I've completed a baby hat and blanket each for them now, so I'm focusing on bootie sockies for the mo (if I can ever make them small!) and finding cute new hats.

I've been commissioned to make a hat (like my interpretation of the Caron Urban Jungle hat) for baby Shay's daddy, so at least I'm keeping busy while I can't work!

My Urban Jungle in Patons Colour Works Aran shade 80:

The yarn is very greeny/turquoise/navy/mustard
See!?

Now I'm off to do more of J's Urban Jungle, so I'll leave you with a pic of my big bunnies "trick or treat"ing last night:

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Still here...

2010-10-19T21:44:00.002+01:00

Still here. Still alive. Still crocheting. Still me, only being tested for glandular fever and other things. My bunnies have moved indoors, and we have another tiny bun in the tribe now... love

My best friend has had her baby: Harvey Leonard Smith arrived on October 9th at 06:33am weighing 7lb 6oz. And I am crocheting madly for him... baby blankie done, winter warmers planned!

Sorry for the terse post, and sorry for the absenteeism...

Got to go, Cash has just upended a bowl on his head!

More Blogging

2010-08-11T22:01:00.001+01:00

Hello again. Here I am. Eating Ass-Kickin' popcorn (burnt), drinking tea and crocheting this baby cardigan:

The back is done and one front is half finished. Another front to do, then two sleeves, collar and some finishing. I started it Saturday night and I've only been working it really in lunch st work, and probably not even an hour a night, so should work up nicely. Then I can get back to the stalled baby blankies and moley work.

Also, here's a pic of Jadzia and (J.R) Cash. It's sad for me that she's forgotten her sister, but I'm also happy that she's making a future with the little git that makes her happy.

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Here I am Again

2010-08-09T19:33:00.001+01:00

Well here I be again. Still working on this baby cardi. Back is nearly done now.

See!?

As a lame explanation, I've not been online much as I've been having crippling migraines. I've had four in 2 wks.
I have an appointment to try and sort them out tomorrow- fingers crossed, will keep you posted.

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I am going to blog again.

2010-08-08T08:58:00.001+01:00

I am going to make the effort. I owe it to all the people who support me online.

I'm crocheting again. After losing Ezri, all I could do was work on my mourning blanket. Now I'm working on baby stuff for two of my friends who are both due in October.

Here are the baby blankets:

black/white for the one we know is a boy, coffee/cream for the unknown baeb.

I'm also currently working on an LBY cardi (little princess cardi?) for the boy. I think it's pretty gender neutral actually.
Here's my first bit (back):

Lovely and simple htr (hdc for you in the USA) across. Now that I'm crocheting a lot straighter and not so tight, it looks so much better!

I intend more bloginisation, please come back again...!

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Bad, bad blogger...

2010-04-16T15:37:00.001+01:00

Yes, I have been a very bad blogger. Since I last blogged, I've finished a baby blanket, for the baby that has since arrived (this week), a ruffly scarf and lots of puddings and packets of crisps. No, I'm not pregnant and feeding up, I've been a bit low!

My baby bunny has been seriously ill- to the point that we thought we were going to lose her this week. Where her sister has been eating, gaining weight and being happy (bar one little knocked bonce), Ezri has been small, timid and snotty. We knew she had pasteurella ("snuffles") but after one of her routine jabs, she got really ill.

To cut a long and not very nice to recall story short, she ended up going in for surgery last Friday, but the vet didn't actually know exactly what he'd be removing. It turned out to be an abcess the size of a plum on her liver. He spayed her at the same time so she won't have to go through another horrible surgery, but she wasn't a happy bunny, to use the cliché.

She didn't pick up for days afterward, I've had to take time off work (boss not happy- do I care!?) and they're both living in at the moment. So there is mess where there shouldn't be. And their daddy is v. anal about tidy!

Anyway, here is a pic of my healthy fat bun (Jadzia) and her poorly sis Ezri- before and after her op.

If Jaz were a Seasick Steve song, she'd be Hobo Low!

Taking a walk in the sun the day before her op. Since she wasn't eating, this was how I spoiled her.

Poor snuff after her op- the little bald patch isn't even 1/4 of her entire shaved area.

I won't subject you to a pic of her y-incision (I kid you not, she looks like a zombunny) or her nasty abcess and it's goo.

Nice pics of crochet items soon, promise. Maybe later today?

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Hi again...

2010-01-06T23:12:00.001Z

I really want a DaNoches hat from krochetkids.org, even though I could work something similar...

Anyhoo, we had some more snow today, and it made my journey to and from work quite a pain in anterior! But I'm in now, and working on a stripey hat for baby Kiwi- not his/her blankie like I really should!

Here be some pics of the snow in Essex/London today:

And there's kiwi baby's not yet finished stripey elf hat!

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First Post of 2010

2010-01-01T23:24:00.000Z

Hello again...

My phone just ate my entire post. Joy. I'd been typing it for like 10 mins too! Damn!

The jist was that I've been a mite busy, I need to finish a moley to mail this week and remind people in my group to meet the ten day(ish) deadline- including me. I'm not good at meeting turnaround dates. What an awful modmother choice I was.

As it's new year's day, I felt like sharing my resolutions with you so you can help me if I fall down on them!

1) lose 14lb before 31st December 2010 in a safe, healthy way and trim up my chunkier bits.
2) save £10 a week in my savings account- and by year end 2010 I'll have £520!
3) look for a better paid job and do more training to make me more employable.
4) think of one happy thing daily (today's is that I have lots of great friends and loved-ones)
5) cut down my excessive spending! Luxuries and non-essentials are just that: not essential.

Also, I need to tidy, vet and chuck (read; "donate to charidee") my wardrobes and everywhere I store crap! But that's not really a resolution...

And hopefully I'll be able to finish the baby blankie I started in October before too much of 2010 has elapsed! Especially since baby bump Kiwi is due in 18 weeks!

It's not really brown, it's purple!

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Cardiff Cowl

2009-12-13T00:17:00.001Z

It's finished because I ran out of yarn on row 8/10 (or rather, 18 of 20) but I don't think it notices... Maybe?

I gave it a wash to see if dye was leaching out- pictures speak for themselves. I wanted to give it a fourth wash through but it looked like it was starting to felt/full itself so I had to stop.

Anyway, judge me as you see fit- including the world's worst pic of me for some time/aka/the best pic of me eyebags and spottiness (karma bites me in the arse again, damn relatively spot free teen tears) known to man!

Enjoy:

Does this ^ look felty to you? Should I shave it? ;)

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My E=Mc2

2009-12-11T21:31:00.000Z

Ok, I got my moley back from Marf (thankoo thankoo thankoo) and wanted to share a pic of it's gifty loveliness. So here we is. Internal pics soon!

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Crochet, popcorn and backache!

2009-12-09T22:05:00.001Z

No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the planet, I'm just working too much to blog often!

Also I had suspected swine pig disease a couple weeks back; complete with hallucinations, which really put me on my arse. Ugh.

Anyway, I started the Cardiff Cowl (free pattern from Lion Brand Yarn) yesterday in what I believe to be Fyberspates hand dyed.

Good news? I'm halfway done. Yay.

Bad news? The dang yarn is leaving orange residue on my hands! Ew! Whut?

I think a rinse before wearing is in order. Grumble. If the yarn wasn't a gift, I'd be really peeved!

Anyway, lookylook:

Urghness! But it rubs off pink?! Er, whut? (nails DYED by it!)

I've sent all my gifts off to the USA & Canadia so I'm not worrying much, except about if they get there!

Hope, Gina, Leslie, Marf, Debxox, Heather (cc)- watch out!

Englanders, yours is coming soon...

Hokays, who wants a cowl in a non-staining wool?

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Blog hiatus, it seems...

2009-11-23T19:44:00.000Z

... yes I am a bad blogger sometimes, but I don't think you'd be interested in every boring detail! Suffice to say plans are in motion and exciting things may happen soon... ooo, cryptic! ;)

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Frogging

2009-11-15T15:28:00.001Z

I'm ripping this as soon as the post is done. Waste of 2 1/2 hours. Awfully written pattern, v badly done.

Have been ill for a week with suspected piglet, hence no noise.

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New Hat

2009-11-09T20:31:00.000Z

I made my colleague Ron a grey hat like he asked- yay!

See how happy he is!

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Kiriban! Winner!

2009-11-07T19:32:00.000Z

Ok, Erin wins the kiriban! Yay!

I haven't forgotten my promise for five random people to get gifts (Leslie & Gina), and there's still three spaces left...

Anyway, here Erin, is a selection of stitch markers for you to pick from!

Or how about a stinky lavender bag made from my garden lavender and hand made felt?

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Kiriban...

2009-11-04T19:19:00.000Z

Ok, am balling up my new dyed skeins. Going to start writing again, too... Expect ball and swatch pics later.

Anyhoo, when I get 2050 visitors by the count of the 'I see bored people' counter I will award that visitor a prize of their choosing (from a selection) and no p&p charges or anything.

Ok, so what do you do? Just keep visiting! And when you see that counter read 2050, post a comment like a mofo! In caps please. Something along the lines of "woo, I won the kiriban!"...

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New Colourways

2009-11-01T21:13:00.001Z

Yay for a productive Sunday! I dried and balled (and swatched) yesterday's colours and whipped up two more!
Presenting, "blooo":

and "Heath":

And here they are together!

Swatches of "Blood Orange" and "Blurple"...

And I needle felted a simply decorated pin cushion! Form an orderly queue! ;)

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New Kool Aid Dying!

2009-10-31T20:02:00.001Z

I've been a little busy bee today, making three new KA yarns. I've made 100grammes of bicoloured wool yarn and 50grammes of sploshy wool yarn. Here are the pics!

Two skeins of what I'm calling "Blood Orange", what with it being Samhain and all! The red side is one pouch each of lemonade and black cherry Kool Aid and one of cherry Flavor Aid. The orange side is done from one pouch of orange Kool Aid.

And this one, I'm thinking of calling "Blurple"! Mixed up from one pouch each of grape and blue raspberry lemonade Kool Aid (I think that's what it's called!)...

And this is what happens when you lick up neat grape Kool Aid powder...

Urgh! Hehe!

And here's a pic of me on a horse for the first time in at least 15 years! Kali is 16.2hh, so not a small one to start on! Not a brill pic (a photo of a photo!) but I wanna get it up on facebook soon so you'll be able to see better!

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New things

2009-10-27T00:06:00.001Z

Yes, still working on things. Really want to show off Helen LPGs homey moley gifts but don't want to spoil the surprise! Also I forgot to get a pic of one of them... Um, lil help please girlfriend? Package is on it's way, promise!

I whipped up a simple beanie for a guy at work in Wendy Mode and he loved it so much he paid me £5 for it! Yay! And he wants another one done in grey! I forsee a stashdive and possible ballspedition! I hope to get a pic of him in it at work tomorrow.

Still working on the baby blanket, the pram set and fluff blanket (curse curse evil yarn) too for poor mama kiwi who slipped in a hotel shower this weekend and dislocated her knee! Poor love! And because she's enciente (as they say en France), she's not allowed to take pain meds! Get better! And sue the arse off those no slip mat providing arses!

Anyhoo, here be pics...

Gigantical red beanie for a friend at work. No credit for this one, all mama's work!

Hand felted lavender bags made with lavender from ma jardin!

Assorted fluff goodies from the UKRAK over at ravelry! Thanks ehalks!

Beads from PMCblonde in the UKRAK! Thanks!

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Sicky :(

2009-10-19T20:27:00.001+01:00

I got sent home from work ill, feeling quite quite awful and managed to get an emergency doctors appointment. Turns out I've had a migraine for two days, not an aneurism or something awful, which is a relief except that I didn't know I had them. I guess it explains the bad headaches I've had in the past?

I now allegedly have a sinus infection too- three big old amoxicillin tabs a day for ten days. Agh for impending illness because of the antibollocks.

So here is a picture of my dinner. Are you all jealous?

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The habitual whinge blog!

2009-10-18T20:42:00.001+01:00

I have a head pain that feels like someone is intermittently prodding me brain on the left hand side above my ear. Owchie. Got a bit worried for a while because my vision went all shimmery like a heat haze for a little bit! That's gone now but the headache persists. Bloop.

Also, trying to finish my Miski scarf, starting a new pram blankie for baba in Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake. Finished a banana silk hat experiment too, yay! Then I opened and looked in my WIP bag and got depressed that I still have to finish two scarves for myself, the baby jacket to match the yellow bonnet I made (with my birthday wool from my sexy homegirl Gina SleepyEyes), the Miski scarf, the purple blankie, the fuzzy Snowflake blankie, start another banana silk hat, another Big Softie hat, and a Palette clearance yarn hat... All for me! Ugh!

And I still need to finish poor Helen (LPG's) homecoming moley gift! Ack!

'Sunny Disposition' bonnet.

Banana silk hat experiment.

Mirasol Miski scarf for me! <3 soft soft soft!

Snowflake blankie, hardly started! Thanks mama leg for modelling hehe!

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Zoo!

2009-10-16T21:53:00.001+01:00

I lolcat-ed one of the Timber pups at the zoo! He didn't see his sister work out how to get meaty treats out, bless him! I know he doesn't look much like a puppy, but he and his sibs are only a couple of years old! Pics of mama Tallulah and other zoo residents (including Zamba the new baba White rhino!) will be going up soon, hopefully on facebook if it'll let me!

Still working on the baby blanket... le sigh

Felting!

2009-10-15T21:01:00.001+01:00

I made a couple of feltiez to make into lavender bags as handmade Christmas things! I mean, they'll need to be divided up to make smaller bags, but I'm quite happy with them! Though I think that they might need some additional needling... Check 'em out!

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Working hard...

2009-10-13T21:44:00.001+01:00

This is how the blankie looks so far. Yay. The light isn't great, so it's too dark and not purple enough. Yay.

Only a short post today, me and the Mr. aren't feeling the country love right now so we're both a bit grumply. Anyone have a sofa we can come live on? UK residents need not apply.

Also, my iPhone has turned itself upside-down, rather than horizontal how I like to type! Naughty iPhy! Clever girl... (what movie does that come from?)

Later Additions:

1) I wish I hadn't handled those red curry paste jars in the supermarket (one leaked on me) - despite four/five hand washes, I stink. Urgh. I smell like urgh.

2) I'm going the zoo (google Colchester Zoo) on Friday avec mama, yarrr! Day off! Woot!

3) I forgot to show you my beautiful glass pendants from trmackstudio over @ etsy! (trmackstudio.etsy.com) Quite, quite stunning, and reasonably priced! Couldn't decide between the twain, so got both! Perfect reflection of my dual personality! How lovely!

Project updates!

2009-10-11T17:34:00.001+01:00

The evil sari silk scarf is finally done! Woo hoo! Picture to follow... Ugh, jumpin Jehosaphat it was an evil yarn. Mama had to take over, the knots and general weird smell put me right off! I think it'll need a scrubbydub and a felt lavender bag in the box before it goes to it's new home! I'm determined to get a fancypants box for it, rather than paper wrapping it.

Also, I'm working a surprise gift of a baby blankie (which you might know if you read my facebook updates) for my friend who's just a little bit pregnant (10 weeks); so I've got lots of time to finish it either before Christmas (2 months) or before baba comes to meet us (about 6 months by my rough reckoning)... I haven't started getting broody, I just love making baby clothes and bits!

Also, still need a home for that button-up scarf... hint hint! ;)

Finished evilsilk scarf (made from 100% pure evil)...

Blankie to be in my big bag! Cute, no?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Rejection, ack...

2009-10-10T01:01:00.001+01:00

Okay, first taste of professional crochet rejection... turns out the guy who wanted the button up collarette doesn't like it. It's too short and the colours look like "old lady colours"! Cheek! I picked those two shades especially, and it's not like Zena is a crappy yarn- it's wool and alpaca! Oh well, these things are sent to try me. Have to try again in a natural iron/chocolate/noir fleece yarn. It won't be nearly as cheap though- Hobbycraft is selling some yarns off cheap again. I hope this doesn't mean the death knell for half the decent yarns I like!

So yeah, the 'Forest Walk Scarf' is now for sale. The equivalent of £5 ($3 US /$3 Can /€5) plus p&p, which will probably add the same again on top... bargain! Please someone buy it, it's too lovely to sit around in my fini-bin!

The pic really doesn't do it justice!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Another New Project...

2009-10-08T20:35:00.000+01:00

Not a commission this time, just birthday presents. The beginnings of a sari silk scarf to be done by the end of October, and a fuzzy hat that needs to be done by the end of November. What do you
think?

Fuzzy hat worked in three strands of Palette series 093pt/219 in shade 'Pink Berries' (100% wool) for a friend-colleague.

And the evil sari silk mess that's being worked on a 7mm hook cuz it's such a pain... and looks like it might be lang syne before it's done... I hope not, I haven't got the time! (Sari silk from ethniccrafts.co.uk)

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Commissions and Various Silks

2009-10-06T18:46:00.000+01:00

As promised, pictures of both sari and banana silk as well as an update on my commissions.

I've selected a pattern, and a bright scarlet acrylic yarn for the beret, so all I need to do is make it!

My friend's birthday is in roughly two weeks, so I need a quick an easy scarf recipe for like now! Help! Anybody?

I'm working on my manly collar because it's a nice easy 'brain switch off' pattern without a firm 'finish by' date. It's niiice!

Anyway, here are the pics!

Banana silk!

Sari silk, allegedly turquoise!

Manly coloured collar; fail or win colour-wise?

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New Commissions!

2009-10-04T11:32:00.001+01:00

Hello wonderful friends, followers and faces from the winternet. I have a cold again. I thought it was going, but then I got rained on.

I went to my friend's mum's 'last chemotherapy session' party last night. It was such a lovely atmosphere since the last 20 months have been so terrible for everyone involved in the diagnosis and successful treatment of her breast cancer. I remember this time last year, my friend and her sister were shaving their mum's gorgeous hair off, and I was threatening to do the same to raise money for Breast Cancer Care...

My friend was 10 weeks pregnant yesterday- is it too soon to start crocheting baba clothes? She's the mama of a kiwi fruit sized baba!

Also, back on topic, I've been handed two commissions- a manly collarette and a scarlet or turquoise lady's beret, both for people at work. Isn't that brilliant!?

I'm also waiting on a delivery of some recycled sari silk yarn to make my friend at work a lovely winter scarf for her birthday at the end of October.

I am a happy Lini for the time being... despite the lurgy!

Later note- have started the manly collarette in double strands of Zena; one green/cream and the other sepia/cream and it is FLUFFY! Can't remember actual shade #s right now, will update when I'm not in bed at ten to midnight, and 6 1/2 hours of sleep seems an amazing prize. How much sleep will I win tonight? Place your bets...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hand Dyed!

2009-09-29T18:55:00.001+01:00

My hand dyed yarn, woo! The green is 2x lemon/lime, burgundy is 1 jamaica + 1 cherry flavor aid, lighter orange is 1 mandarina/tangerine + 1 strawberry/kiwi and the darker orange is 1 mandarina/ tangerine + 1 watermelon/cherry. Mmm!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Kool Aid Dying!

2009-09-20T10:20:00.003+01:00

Well, my 'speriment is over! I have two skeins drying and two ready balled and ready to work!

(Pics coming soon)

1. Lemon/Lime Kool Aid x2
2. 1x Mandarina-Tangerine + 1x Strawberry-Kiwi Kool Aid
3. 1x Mandarina-Tangerine + 1x Watermelon-Cherry Kool Aid
4. 1x Jamaica Kool Aid + 1x Cherry Flavor Aid

So now I want more colours! Anyone in the US who feels like being a good samaritan, send me some Kool Aid pouches! (plz)

I am such a bad blogger!

2009-09-13T09:36:00.005+01:00

Ok its been forever and a day since I last blogged.

If I had regular followers, I probably don't now! I'm sorry, please come back, please please!

Ok so I've got to catch you up on my boring life over the last two months!

Work is still as it was, I work 8.30-5ish every day for my money and they get their money's worth out of me! I've been regularly doing work of the grade above me, but not getting paid for it. Maybe I can get TDA'd up... hehehe!

I'm still crocheting away, nothing can squish that out of me! I've made a scarf out of Jet (shade 9, a reddypinkyorangey shade that I can't find any pictures of online!) that uses my grid pattern, which I'll get round to posting up, maybe when I get to the end of the post! Its really really easy, and can be shimmied about to change the size of hook or yarn type! I'll have a look for where I wrote it down and see if I can write it up today in case anyone wants to have a go!

My Miski scarf is on hold at the moment, as I need to order two more balls of wool to finish it! It feels wonderful and smooshy and cuddly! When I'm on the big PC I'll get some newer photos up, but alas, you'll have to look at my rav projects for now (click the link at Miski up there to go see).

My scallop stitch scarf is still in progress because it's become a behemoth and is trying to strangle me whenever I pick it up! Either way, you can check the monster scarf out by clicking its name!

My Spirit scarf is still being done too, I have so many WIPs on the go, its untrue!

I bought some lovely white wool for Kool Aid dying- alas, I has lost my Kool Aid! I'm going to order a couple of packets from Kool Aid World and then I can play at dying! Yay!

I had a birthday last week (Sept 7th) and got lots of lovely presents and wishes. Gina's present turned up yesterday and she'd knitted me an OCTYPUS! OMG! I loves teh octies! Thankyou Gina! THANKYOU! Ok, well I better get on I suppose, have to order some Kool Aid and orgasmic Miski yarn and then bake some cakes for mummy's birthday tomorrow. I wrapped her present this morning before she got out of bed, so its a big surprise! I'll show you what I've got her though! I got her this purse in brown/pink so it sort of matches the one she bought me for my graduation!

Thanks for tuning in again! Loves to you all!

post holiday blues

2009-07-19T18:06:00.004+01:00

I've only been back since 3am and already I'm depressed! It's all horrible weathery here! It didn't drop below 24 oC all week in Turkey (even at night!)- its not even 20 oC here!

I'm trying to wait patiently for all my pics to upload to photobox so I can print them cheaply BUT THERE'S SOO MANY! Also, facebook is being a whore's son and won't let me upload any.

Here are some, just to make you all so jealous. :P

Cold Spring Bay.

"Cleopatra's Baths" (Hamam) island.

Me & Marko on top of a mountain at Kayaköy village.
(The sea behind is coming in at Ölüdeniz beach)

Me & Marky on the beach at Butterfly Valley.

Me and Mark (again) on the beach at Butterfly Valley.

Disgustingly jealous yet?

web buuuuuuuuuux!

2009-07-02T22:27:00.002+01:00

My ickle web book is here- so hopefully, I'll be able to update more often, because I bet you've all missed me sooo much! I'm still making that scarf, plus tossing ideas around for Fre's moley welcome home present. I may felt...

ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

2009-04-27T21:17:00.003+01:00

AI HAZ START DATE FOR NEW JOB! As of May 5th, I'll be in the employ of Her Majesty, working for the Department of Work & Pensions- yay!

When I know more, I'll update you all.

The most important part of the post is to let you guys know that I am now immortalised in wooly yarn. The wonderful Kristina of Flutter-by Crafts has made me into a yarn! I am so chuffed! And I am beautiful, if I may say so!
HUZZAH! HAPPY LINI!

project update...

2009-04-24T19:40:00.005+01:00

... Jessica's onesie just needs press studs and buttons put on and then it will be DONE! Thank all the gods liek EVAR (except the ones that advocate cruelty to animals) and my mommerton too.Onesie front!

Onesie tuchus!

My scarf is growing, and I'm really enjoying it. It's such a nice simple 'turn brain off' repeat. When I remember where it came from, I'll get the link up. For now, be satisfied with a pic!
EDIT: The scarf pattern is the Isar Scarf, available as a pdf ravelry download from here!

the first perfect spring day in Essex...

2009-04-20T15:59:00.003+01:00

... and it happened to be the day of my auntie's funeral! She'd have been very pleased that her coffin was all shiny and polished. For some reason she wanted the curtains to be left open on the crematorium podium, so we could all have a good look at her box! Typical, she had to be different. So I'm dedicating a beautiful photo I took today to her.

My auntie Margaret Joyce Jefferson (nee Doggett), 1923-2009 <3

In other news, I've been given another award! I like that my friends are awarding me recognition, rather than faceless internet drones. Thankyou Leslie! I'm now a proud receiver of the Renee Award! This is what one of the founders of said award has to say: "This is a brand new award and I have the pleasure and honor of spreading the seed, watching it grow. I hope it finds its way to those who are like Renee: the acorn, a small package becoming a tall and sturdy oak, giving more acorns, becoming tall and sturdy oaks, giving acorns..."
For more details, check out Leslie's blog at New Works & Thoughts.

Now it's my turn to distribute it to the others who inspire me:
Leslie- again!
Gina
Hope
Frewen
Martha
Heather
Rebecca
Kristina

And of course, my best buddies (Ani, Amy and Martina), my mammy and my boyface too :D

PS- onesie is finished (thanks mum!) and I'm doing another scarf. Gotta love scarves! Pics up soon!

dying...

2009-04-17T16:41:00.008+01:00

... literally! I've got two cotton vests in nasty (peach tangeriney) and boring (grey... sigh) colours that I decided to dye!

I checked that they were both 100% cotton (mmm cotton) and got hold of two pouches of Dylon dye to make them funky! I may also do some more customising afterwards.

I chose to mix together one pouch of Flamingo Pink and one of Intense Violet make a nice purpley pinky. I like purple on me, I think it makes my eyes look greener.

Here are the process photos for you all (stay tuned for hilarious thumbs!):Dye mix- isn't it exciting!The boring and nasty vests in their pre-soak.Getting 'blooded' in the dyebath! Little did I know that there were teeny glove holes!After 15mins of soaking, the grey one is still greyish.The nasty orange-ish one after 15mins, getting purpley-er!After half an hour total, the grey one is still grey, but I *swear* it looks slightly purple?After half an hour, the orangey one starts to exhibit a much nicer hue!I'm convinced that the grey one is changing colour (45minutes in the dyebath)Getting quite pleased with the colour that the peach one's turned (after 45mins)

Two final pictures for the moment, both the vests after an hour being sloshed about in their dyebath (aka, the kitchen sink):
I'll get some pics of them rinsed out and drying a little later on, promise!

And don't think I'd forgotten about the hilarious thumb:
AWW YEAH! I am the coolest mofo in town right now! Er, now, any ideas how to return my digits to their original hue?

photo slutting

2009-04-16T10:37:00.006+01:00

...as promised, some of the pics that have been keeping me from my hook recently.
A bud... I think it was an Acer of some kind?
Anoushka, Colchester Zoo's female Amur tiger.Alpaca love at the zoo.
Ibises, also at the zoo.A Geoffroy's cat, snoozing in the spring sunshine, also at the zoo.

I've really not been feeling right recently. I did have a big long chat with my ma last night about everything, and for the first time ever, I felt no better afterwards. Weird.

I need to make a doctor's appointment and stop procrastinating...

However depressed and down I feel, I can always rely on one thing to make me feel better:
My little pabu (puffball) Chaos. Okay, she's not mine, but she should be, I love her the most. Click to see it big for the most epic cuteness.

my rainbow, and other news

2009-04-15T10:53:00.003+01:00

Your rainbow is shaded red.

What is says about you: You are a passionate person. You appreciate energetic people. You get bored easily and want friends who will keep up with you.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

My rainbow is red apparently. I like red. This is fine. Also, the most perfect Dewy classification for me:

Lini's Dewey Decimal Section:

303 Social processes

Lini = 2949 = 294+9 = 303

Class:
300 Social Sciences

Contains:
Books on politics, economics, education and the law.

What it says about you:
You are good at understanding people and finding the systems that work for them. You like having established reasoning behind your decisions. You consider it very important for your friends to always have your back.

Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com

Ok, enough silliness and quizzes. To be fair, I haven't actually been doing very much. I've been ill. I'm still feeling ill. The doctors haven't even got my x-ray results yet, and I had them done nearly three weeks ago.

I have made a nice piece of felt, which is going to be used to cover something as a something something in the IME something something. Cryptic enough? I don't want to give anything away to my DSP if she ever reads this. So if you want to see said felt, please leave me a message, and I'll get you a snapshot across. I want to tell you what I've called it, but that might give it away... oh to hell with it, I've been cryptic enough, it's called "Embers and Ashes". Now you guess what it might be like!

I bought some yarn yesterday. I was bad. BUT it was only £1.74 for a 50g ball and is 50/50 wool/acrylic, so it should (in theory) be lovely for a spring scarflet? I bought two balls of a browny-red colourway called Cinnamon, and two in a bluey/lilac called Cardamom (why cardamom? They're GREEN!)- oh, it's Wendy Fusion if I've piqued your interest!

I have been taking quite a lot of photos recently. I usually do in spring. It's all the blossoms and re-emerging flowers. Next time I update, I'll photo slut for you all.

I'm still looking at that damn onesie. I hate it. With a passion. Vehemently. I wish I'd never started it and done a bonnet instead. It can go to hell. I think we've established that mother will probably have to intervene to stop me ripping it all out and dancing naked in it's yarny guts.

The IME continues, Heather and Rebecca have both got Lini goodies in their moleys now, and they've gone on their merry way to the DSPs. I now have Gina's second moley, with a fun theme, so I'm going to enjoy playing with that!

minor blogging hiatus

2009-04-05T16:26:00.004+01:00

... not for any real reason, life just gets in the way sometimes.

I'm still crocheting, still working on the E and C moleys I have, and I'm still thinking, if not actually making, so don't anyone worry!

I've stolen this from Leslie (who in turn stole it from Erin), so feel free to grab the offer while it's available:

The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me. (You do not have to have been tagged.) This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. What cha get, is what cha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It'll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it's going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. It may be baked goods.
5.I reserve the right to do something extremely strange, if inspired to do so.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text into a note of your own and make something for me and the first 5 to respond to your note.
7. Send me your mailing address if you don't live close to me!

Also, I'd kinda like you to take the project on too, so post a link to your blog when you take it on, and leave a comment in the box if you want something. It may be felt. It may be crochet. It may be some crazy freeform sculpture. It may be a painting or sketch... who knows?

And in sad news, my auntie finally decided to give up the fight last night and passed away peacefully in her sleep. While it is sad, and I am upset, believe me, it's also a relief that she's not suffering anymore and we can finally grieve for her. If only everyone in my family felt a bit like me, it would be a lot nicer... but that's another story...

agonies and packages

2009-03-27T13:14:00.005Z

I've been a lucky girl the last few days- lots of RAKs!

Alas today, I was woken up in agony at 5am- it felt like I was being crushed and stung at the same time in my chest and back. It hurt so bad I actually cried. I couldn't even take my reliever inhaler because it hurt too much to breathe in deeply... long story short, I've been prodded, poked, tapped, had my chest listened to, had an E.C.G and now I have to go for a chest x-ray in an hour. Oh joy and wonder.

Anyway, here's some pics of my recent RAKS:Yellow UK RAK (March) Random Act of Kindness from Kris.

A US care package from the wondeful DMXOX- the taffy is now down to two pieces, one of which I MUST save for the boy... please send more ;) Also, I've never had a Twizzler that wasn't red, so this will be fun! Especially when I eat the blue one... blue colouring= craaazy Lini!

A close-up of my hot sauces from DMXOX- Tabasco (<3), Mega Death sauce and Kick Ass sauce... can't wait for chilli night to try them!

And my lovely RAK from Gina, another of the fabulous Chicklets. I only wanted the Crochet Today mag! ;)

I have been well and truly spoiled and I feel truly blessed. Thankyou everyone.

nuno felt attempt!

2009-03-20T20:33:00.003Z

Ok, so, by popular demand, here are the pics of my first nuno felt attempt!

Maybe a pinch more roving next time? But not bad for a first try I reckon...?

train train, take me away...

2009-03-20T11:51:00.005Z

Ugh, I've had a right morning of it.

Allow me to elaborate (i.e- moan endlessly about tfl):

I got up a little later than usual (only by five minutes), got washed and dressed and all that jazz and was quite surprised to be ready by 0735. Mum had made me a half-hot cup of tea while I was makeup-ing (a half hot cuppa is where you make tea about half way up the cup, then add cold water or milk etc to fill it up), which I was immensely grateful for. I love my mum.

So we left, and I got to the station at about 0750 and caught the 0758 towards London Liverpool Street. I have to change at Stratford, to get the Jubilee line to Canary Wharf, so I did what I usually do and changed. The train was waiting at platform 14, so that was good at least. The train went off as per usual, a bit slower though, and dragging it's heels a little. Nothing seemed particularly out of the ordinary until it stopped... then the driver's voice came over the intercom, telling us that there was a "slight problem" with the signals at Canary Wharf, so there'd be a little bit of a delay. It was fine, I was really early; it was only 0815. Then about five minutes later, the driver told us we'd be going to West Ham (next stop) but we'd have to wait there for a while. Ok, no problem. I might even get to work early enough to get a pastry. Only it wasn't a while, it was 0835 before the driver even got back to us. He still hadn't heard from central control, so had no idea when we'd be moving, only that there was a fault in the signal at Canary Wharf. Great, so much for my early start. I was going to be late. Joy.

Ok, so I used my head here. If I got the Eastbound train back to Stratford on the opposite platform, I could get the Docklands Light Railway to Canary Wharf- yay! Clever Lini! Ok, so I left the stationary train and made my way over. The next train went right through, deserted, not stopping... how rude! The next one in was packed. Literally, not another mortal soul could have fitted on. That doesn't stop people trying though, not in London. Turns out (as the station announcer from West Ham control said) that all the platforms at Stratford were full of trains trying to go Westbound (the way I wanted to go really!) so there was no room for the Eastbound that was at West Ham... am I confusing you all?

Ok, so I had another flash of inspiration- get the District line to Bow Road and get the DLR from Bow Church. Excellent idea! Clever Lini! Everyone else had the same idea, but at least I was at Bow Road by about 0915. Now Bow Road and Bow Church aren't the same station. They're like 300metres apart. That's a bit of a walk for asthma face here (especially when I'm in the process of changing my meds cuz they're not working!) but I did it. Without dying. Go me. God, can you believe I used to be an athlete? High jump (held the school record at one point), long jump, 100m sprint, gymnastics, badminton... I even spent most of each weekend walking the beach roads in St. Osyth... ugh, now I'm just lazy.

So, at Bow Road, I'm waiting and waiting... getting less patient as time progresses as it's now gone half nine and I'm actually really late now. The first train comes in and stops... but doesn't admit passengers. The second comes in five minutes later, and there is NO room at all! The third comes again in another five minutes, but is only going to All Saints- not helpful. Two more trains go with crammage. Now it's 0950 and I'm really pissed off. The next train towards Lewisham is going to have me on it, even if I'm standing on a pregnant disabled person's lap I reckon. The train comes in. I cram on. Someone's poking me in the back and I'm near a smelly man but it's ok... for now. Only five or six stops to go. I get to Canary Wharf at 1000-ish and have to navigate my way out of the shopping centre part of the complex. I have never been to a place (and I've been there a few times) that more deserved the title 'shopping complex'!

I finally made it to work at 1015. That's an hour and a quarter later than I need to be there, if you hadn't worked that out for yourself. So that's £10 I've lost from my paycheck. Not to mention the two hours I lost going to the doctors, and the two and a half from attending a job interview last Friday. So my pay check is going to be down by about £40. That's how much it costs to pay my (cell) phone bill.

Is tfl going to reimburse me? No. That's why I think they're all a bunch of words beginning with c that are synonymous with a lady's genital bits. Yes, you heard right.

Here's a map of the undeground system. Maybe it'll be a fun thing for you to check out. It's not for me! I know my way around it, and having to change my route is irritating!

Though there was no room for crochet, I did read nearly 100 pages of 'Tears of the Giraffe' by Alexander McCall-Smith. Good book- I <3 Mma Ramotswe. So that's another of the 52 in 52 down.

Éirinn go Brách!

2009-03-17T12:31:00.004Z

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY TO YOU ALL!

or, rather; “Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh”- St. Patrick's day blessings to you all in Gaelige (Gaelic).

As I am a little bit Irish, I thought I'd wear a green frilly sweater to work today, and tie a green bow in my hair. So I did. And I must say, I think I look rather fetching! :D The one I tied around my wrist has fallen off, so I've tied it around my mug handle, where it also looks rather fetching!

I am still crafting, don't worry, I haven't become a mindless automaton in the world of work. I made a nuno felt scarf for the first time on Saturday, and was quite pleased with the results! It looked quite funky! I wouldn't wear it myself because it's pink and purple, but I hope the BFF (it's for her birthday) will, because she LOVES pink! I've ordered (I think?) 100g of green/yellow merino and silk roving from World of Wool to make one for myself- then we'll see how it turns out now that I know what I'm doing!

I did get some pictures of it, but as yet haven't been on a PC with a SD card slot! It's really annoying, cuz I know at least two or three people really want to take a dekko at it! (Dekko means look in Essex slang) Not to mention the baby onesie that I'm about half way through... saying that, it is in my ravelry projects...

Either way, I'll try and get the pics up soon! And hopefully I'll finish my Mirasol Miski scarf soon... maybe... I think I need more woolies... maybe it'll be an installment plan scarf!

hello and welcome....

2009-03-12T12:11:00.005Z

...to a random post that probably won't have a lot to do with crochet.

I'd just like to get something off my chest in a neutral setting. I'm not going to apologise for having an opinion, because it's mine. So here we go... I'm sorry if you don't like it, but really, I'm not sorry at all.

Yesterday on my commute to work, I wasn't feeling very happy anyway. Crammed train carriages with no space to crochet, a man smelling of wee in my face, someone on my foot, etc does not a happy hooker make. Yet when I read the free paper (The Metro), I was even more annoyed.

WHY?

A welcome home parade for a group of soldiers in Luton. What a nice way to welcome back our boys. How nice for them to see rows of smiling, cheering faces. Even though I don't support the war in Iraq, and actively protested against it in 2004 (the big march on Downing St), I will support our troops. It's not them that decided to go to war, it's them that are told to FIGHT the war.

So, the parade is invaded by a group of muslim guys shouting abuse and waving placards reading "Baby Killers" and "Butchers of Basra"- what a nice thing for the soldiers to see eh? And the thing that made me laugh sardonically more than anything was the guys holding up "British Government Terrorist Government" signs. Most of them were born here. If you don't like life in the UK, then find somewhere else to live. Simple.

Surely the protest would have been better aimed at the government that voted to go to war, i.e at 10 Downing Street, rather than in Luton, a normal town, full of normal people who could no more change the outcome of a government war order than move a mountain.

What made me really sad, was that this parade had twelve empty spaces. Twelve brave men sent home in boxes, not seats. Twelve dinner tables with a place left, hoping against hope that the letter was all a lie; that one day their son/brother/dad/uncle/cousin/husband/fiance would be coming back.

I couldn't do what the soldiers do. I'm not brave enough. And let's face it, you have to be pretty damn brave to face a horde of guys willing to kill themselves to kill you. I'm not saying that every soldier is a hero- afterall, they're doing a job, but those who go above and beyond the call of duty and show significant strength and bravery, those are the heroes. They don't deserve to be treated like that.

Two generations of men in my close and distant family have been soldiers and sailors. Not all of them made it home in one piece. Not all of them made it home period. A distant relative of ours, Private Charles Kimpton Doggett was never even found when he died on October 4th 1917. He died, aged 32, and is remembered on a wall at Tyne Cot cemetary (which will make you cry if you visit- it did me). The walls commemorate those who were never found (MIA), partially found, or only their dogtags found. He has no grave. He was sucked down into the clinging mud, possibly still alive and in agony, and that is where he rests.

This is why protests like this make me so angry. My great-grandad was in WWI; gassed at hill 60, and sent home to convalesce. He recovered, and was sent to Gallipoli. Thankfully he made it back, to live to a ripe old age and die peacefully, but without breathing a word to anyone of what he saw in Ypres or Turkey. My grandad was in WWII, in Palestine- even then the word 'peace' was unknown there. He'll never forget seeing the bodies of officers hanging by the neck in an orange grove; murdered by terrorists, or forget how his friend looked, dying by inches right in front of him, and there was nothing he could do.

One of my school friends is a career soldier, serving out in Afghanistan at the moment I believe, and I dread getting the local paper in case it has something about him coming home prematurely in... I don't even want to think about it.

I'm all for freedom of speech, it's one of the things that makes Britain so great. But this was jsut distasteful. I think the guys behind it should be made to do a month in jail. At least.

What makes me laugh though (and try not to cry) is that the people arrested at the parade were British (Christian, we assume) guys, trying to get at the muslim protesters to do some damage. HAH. It's not politcally correct here to arrest an ethinic minority when they're in the wrong!

Here's a couple of links (one, two, and three) to some news stories if you're interested.

And as for the crochet, I'm makling a Mirasol Miski scarf, and still doing the Spirit scarf.

Sorry for the completely off topic rant, I just HAD to get it out!
The following lovely poems are all WWI poems, written by the men who saw death at the Front and were claimed by him there. I've highlighted a couple of key phrases, just to emphasise my point that soldiers don't choose where to go, they are just chosen by those in charge.

"The thundering line of battle stands,
And in the air Death moans and sings;
But Day shall clasp him with strong hands
And night shall fold him in soft wings"
-Julian Grenfell, 'Into Battle'

"And your bright Promise, withered long and sped,
Is touched, stirs, rises, opens and grows sweet
And blossoms and is you, when you are dead."
-Charles Sorley, 'Two Sonnets'

"I have come to the borders of sleep,
The unfathomable deep
Forest, where all must lose
Their way, however straight
Or winding, soon or late;
They can not choose."
-Edward Thomas, 'Lights Out'

I found fluff, aka, dangit Gina!

2009-03-06T11:42:00.002Z

I went to have a read of our sleepyeyes Gina's blog and got distracted by the links to fuzz.
Now I want some.
Especially the Purple Peas and greenblue flufflocks!

So thanks for informing me about the site Gina, but also, dangit, now I want some fluffies!

awards, scarves and daily rudeness...

2009-03-06T10:39:00.003Z

I got an award, thankyou Leslie!

The text accompanying the award reads as follows:
"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award."

So, I'm picking the following people:

1. Martha
2. Caroline
3. Frewen
4. Kaz
5. Kris
6. Bianca
7. Kirsty
8. Kristina

Just because I didn't pick you, doesn't mean I don't love you. Hopekins, Leslie, Gina, Rebecca et al, you were got to first, so I thought I'd share the love with others!

Ok, so I'm making a scarf for myself out of the frogged Twilley's Spirit (was armwarmers that looked CACK), but it's a work day project, i.e- I'm only doing it at work when there's nothing to do. I've worked out a pattern (ten rows dc -sc for you USAliens- and five of htr -dunno what that is? Double?-) and it's starting to look quite groovy! Hopefully will get snaps this weekend. I'm also making a scarf for my godmum's birthday (ok, it's the 9th so it probably won't be on time) and to cheer her up because she's signed off work sick at the moment after being in a bit of a fender bender. Nothing too serious, but a bit of whiplash and not feeling too great. I'm making it out of a lovely middleing pale orange crochet cotton, which was a RAK from the lovely Nicola. I'll get a pic of this one too at the weekend. When she said it was a cone of cotton, I thought it'd be one of those little three inch high ones. Noes- it's HUAGE! It must weigh at least 300g! So thankyou Nic, from me, my mum (she's reminiscing again- two mum friendly RAKs in one week. The first was two vintage patterns from the 1970s) and soon too my godmama!

And the daily rudeness I'm alluding to is the commute into London every day for work. I hate it. I will tell all one day... but for now, I'm just going to seethe lol!

it's square root day....

2009-03-03T13:53:00.003Z

... and it only happens 9 times a century, so math it up everybody!
I won't be adding because I have maths dyslexia and will look stupid, so I'll just sit here and count all 12 of my toes... I mean 10 toes ;) I'm not a mega mutant, honest.

This is a little update from my workplace in Millwall (near Canary Wharf) just to let you know that I'm still alive, still being harassed, and still crocheting. I've started a onesie from the US mag 'Crochet Today' Mar/Apr 2009. And it's CUTE!

Incidentally, if anyone in the US/Canadia can get hold of a copy of the Jan/Feb edition of CT I'd be willing to pay you shipping etc to send it to me! It only comes into our 'big'ish newsagent very intermittently, so... *bats eyelashes*

If I can, I'll get an update with some pics over the weekend :D

And also, in sad news, I've frogged my armwarmers that I stared in Spirit shade 'Air'- I think they'll be nicer as a scarf. I just have to finish untangling the woolly monstrosity!

well, it's been a while!

2009-02-25T11:19:00.005Z

Ugh, it's been so long since I blogged that blogger's forgotten me! I had to username and password like a normal person! Woe!

Apologies to my loyal readers (all like 2 of you lol!) but life's been a bit of a poop storm recently. Everything's getting in the way of me doing the things this blog's about.

I have been finding time to do some crochet and felting (and also art now too, since the IME has rekindled my love of putting pencil to paper) so it's not a complete bust.

This post is gonna be full of photos...

Here's some things I've been working on:A felted cuff! Made from merino tops in yummy berry colours!My stripey hat- I'm so proud I can do stripes all by my self now! I only had to undo two rows twice to correct a mistake, so it's not too bad!RY Lux beanie for Martina (at last) to match her christmas scarf.This is Tinkerbell destroying a needled felted ball I made for her. It's ok though, it was a test run. I think I know how to make them more dog-proof!

So that's what I've been doing lately, as well as some art and moleskine doodles. I spose I could show you all one or two of my roughs...Old English/Celtic stule horse heads. I love to draw these, have been doing it for years. They're like MY symbol now!This is a crysanthemum believe it or not! It's Chinese style, and since my Chinese painting stuff is somewhere I'm not, it's in pencil, trying to look like brushwork lol!Lotus bud, also vaguely Chinese style.Horsie in the style of George Stubbs (one of my favourite painters)- actually modeled on 'Whistlejacket' (said painter's best painting imho)

Well, there we are, all caught up.
As I say on my dA (where my subscription has run out and I'm too poor to renew atm!) "constructive criticism appreciated, flames will be laughed at"

...bad Lini!

2009-02-18T11:54:00.003Z

Yes, I know I said I'd be here every day this week, but due to unforseen Mark related circumstances, I couldn't be here yesterday. He has man-flu, and since I had nothing better to do, I thought I'd spend the day looking after him because I AM the best girlfriend in the world.
I think he's feeling a little better today, but is still off work because he's trying to be better for tomorrow- he has a union training day that won't be available for another six months if he misses this one, and we've got tickets to go see Roots Manuva at the Camden Koko that night too! Everyone send healing vibes his way.

As a gift for my knitty friends, here's a lovely pattern. If you're feeling generous, you can make one for me, lol! ;)
I don't know if you have to be registered or not... sorry. Yes I know it's strange me getting the Knitting Daily newsletter, but ocasionally they do have crochet stuff!

I'm making a new collarette at the moment from wool that used to be a poncho mother made me. I decided that since I never wear it, I'd rather pull it out and remake it. She was a bit miffed at first (I think she thought I didn't like it anymore) but she kinda got my logic after a bit of explaining. I think it's a Rowan wool... bearing in mind it was bought and poncho-d about three years ago, I could be wrong...

Anyway, I've got something on the hook again (not including my half done armlets- I'm going to run out of wool at any minute and I don't want to go buy more) so I don't need new patterns for a while, woo! Although I could do with some ideas as to what to make from the lovely red/purple wool I got from Caroline in my red RAK... anyone?

a late update...

2009-02-16T20:26:00.002Z

Sorry y'all- I have a month's temping work (woo!) and was doing orientation today.
I start for real on Thursday 26th, so I'll still be updating every day until then, and from then, as often as I can.

So I guess I'll be crocheting on my morning and evening commute now then... if I can find any space... see this link for what I mean! This is typical, not unusual. Sigh.

So, I'll be here tomorrow searching for a new pattern or two... doo doo doo... :D

quick update- again

2009-02-13T12:29:00.003Z

I'm not feeling brilliant today... blugh. For some reason I've come over all sweaty, as well as having the tail end of my eyeball headache to contend with. Joys.

I want to make this hat (pattern). It's a bit awesome. I need a new earflap hat... well, I don't, but I WANT one! I think the boy would laugh until he had an aneurism if he saw me in it though... and possibly disown me if I went out in it... oh well.

Just need to learn how to crochet "stripes" without making a mess now... le sigh.

Hope everyone's good, I'll be back Monday.

the London Hooker

2009-02-12T11:51:00.004Z

Ok, so I survived my trip on the London Eye. Woot!
We went and had coffee and pastries, bought oriental goodies in China Town and then went to Forbidden Planet to ogle comics merch. Then we went home and had Indian. YUM!
So a good day had by all really.

Here's a couple of pics from the Eye, and one of my newest needlefelt thingy, the mini Metroid, which is incidentally Mark's handmade Valentine's present.

Things will be getting back to normal(ish) as of Monday when the boy is back at work, and I've got lots of unemployed bum time to make things from wool in it's many iterations.
I hope you enjoyed the welcome distraction from reality!

25 Things About Me

2009-02-09T20:58:00.001Z

Or, I'm making up for not posting tomorrow and Weds maybe!

If you're tagged, I want you to do one too. No pressure though. If you've done one already, link me instead.
LESLIE, HOPE, FREWEN, MARTHA, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO; DO IT! :D
(also on my facebook)

1. I've been a vegetarian since I was 15/16.

2. I'm a published poet- have had three poems published by Zodiac Young Authors.

3. I love to cook, and having a big knife in my hand makes me smiley.

4. I prefer to cook for others, and just eat simple stuff when I'm alone.

5. I try hard to know the provenance of what I buy.

6. I prefer green tea to black.

7. I want to go to Santorini, Akrotiri, Canada (but I might not come back), New Zealand and Japan on holiday.

8. I love/hate the Jeremy Kyle show and think that the people who appear on it should be taken off the stage afterwards and shot in the head at point blank range. Whammy.

9. I just plain DON'T LIKE KIDS. It's nothing personal, your kids are probably great, I just plain don't like 'em. Don't bring them near me, because I WILL say something insensitive. Do not expect me to go gooey over your icky baby photos that wouldn't look out of place in a paedophile's spank bank and then tell me that one day I'll change my mind. I won't.

10. I love dogs. If I ever see someone abusing a dog or mistreating one in a park, I always go wade in. Even if there's a chance I'll get stabbed...

11. I hate living in Romford. The town is fine, the people are what makes it hell. So many lazy lazy people who make a living breeding child after child, don't vote and just leech off taxpayers. If you're not going to contribute to the economy (we are in a recession you know) then eff off out of the country. Go live in France.

12. I spend far too much money on wool and yarn products and do not think that £3 for a 50g ball of 100% wool is extravagant at all.

13. I love unusual and impractical shoes. I buy them and hardly wear them as they are too pretty to go out and get drunk in.

14. I would crawl over broken glass on my belly for my best friends and selsct members of my close family. I would gladly take a beating or a bullet if it meant that someone I love didn't have to.

15. I don't really class England as a top holiday destination, with the exception of beautiful beautiful Derby. And possibly Dorset.

16. It's been my dream since I was seven to emigrate to Canada, possibly to NS, Quebec or some small town with a silly name by a lake.

17. If I don't live within an hour of water I get very depressed BUT have serious drowning issues, and shy away from rivers wider than my leg-span and oceans you can't see the bottom of.

18. I have come close to drowning twice in my life. I slipped into a paddling pool when I was a wee chit of a girl and nobody noticed for about a minute. My ma was indoors sorting me a snack, nana was taking care of cousins, uncle should hae been watching but he was too busy sunbathing. My ma was so angry I thought she was gonna kill someone. My ears were clangy, I was spitting up water (and grass, and bugs) and I had a bump on my head. It was terrifying. The other time I got cramp in a swimming pool... that was less terrifying as I could walk to the shallow end.

19. I wish I could ride horses still. It's one of my big ambitions in life. I WILL re-learn how to ride!

20. My two biggest achievements in life are never having puked from drinking and never having gotten a detention at school- not even for eating sweets in Mme. Bayat's French class. Bonjour la classe indeed!

21. I used to be ginger but I got better... sometimes I wish I hadn't!

22. If more people had silk panties, there would be less stressed people in the world.

23. If more people in power had more orgasms, more often, the world would be a happier place.

24. I have a crippling phobia of heights over 10 feet. They make me all rigid with fear, hyperventilatey and about to throw up feeling. I'm going on the London Eye on Wednesday (11th Feb) so it'll either cure or kill me...

25. I am now completely addicted to wet felting, and needle felting. Another skill set!

My Red RAK

2009-02-09T19:18:00.005Z

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU CAROLINE!
(craftyfox on Ravelry)

My RED RAK is absolutely wonderful!
I got:
Red Quality Street sweeties (on nom nom strawberry cremes)
A bag o'Skittles (luuuuuuuuuv Skittles!)
A dotty red pen
Red teabags
Red-purple fyberspates wool
A lickle red sock keyring
A heart cushion thingamajig that is now by my bed, holding on to my mini moleskine and phone of a night
The leftover wool from making said cushion dooberry
And a lovely thoughtful card!

FANX!

the essex cooker, ha ha...

2009-02-09T18:57:00.004Z

Yep, I had another nummy cooking triumph. And here it is:
Caramelised red onion tarts with goat's cheese and toasted pine nuts. I was amazed how easily it just came out of my head, and how good it tasted. Need to probably slice the cheese a bit thinner next time though. I bought the puff pastry for the first time ever (I like making pastry, but Mark's kitchen is not good for doing it- 5 boys, and only 2 know how to be hygienic!) and it turned out ok. Jus-Roll, I will purchase your goods again!

I did make some more felt, but it's going in the IME E= and CCC moleskines I'm working on... so no spoilers!

IN ADVANCE:
Probably no blog on Wednesday as that's gonna be me and Mark's fake Valentines.

Clan Doggett- not!

2009-02-06T14:38:00.002Z

As you may or may not know, my surname is Doggett. Yeah feel free to laugh. Whatever. I've heard all the taunts before. And yes, the guy in the XFiles is called John Doggett- so what? All I know is he makes my genealogy searches really hard.

So I enjoyed Leslie's Clan Blair update, it made me wish I had a clan Doggett of my own. But alas, it's just my family. And I've severed contact with one side of them, mainly because they're pigs. Not literally, because I love pigs. I mean pig in the offensive sense.

So instead, I thought I'd let you all see my direct great-great(add a load more greats here) grandad, who was famous! And from Dublin, so all of you who thought I was a Plastic Paddy- ner! I do have Irish blood in me... it may be well watered down, but that's not the point, is it?

So here you go, a link to Sir. Thomas Doggett (or Dogget as they sometimes spelled it- even he had problems with people spelling his name right, things never change!).

And here's another link to the Doggett's Coat & Badge Race. You'll have to click on the 'history' tab as the site is about a pub. One I've never been to- shock horror! Will have to look for it when I'm in London next week...

So I'm really going now... promise!

snow is melting away...

2009-02-06T14:19:00.001Z

Yep, there's nearly no more snow. Sad. I love the snow, I do.

I'm back onto the felting again, have done a couple of wet felts this morning, and am waiting for them to dry off a bit before I can take a pic.

I got a Red February RAK from Caroline (craftyfox on ravelry) but I haven't opened it yet because I'm saving it as a treat for when I've done these horrible job applications. Blugh- I swear I'm getting RSI!

Mark's on holiday this coming week, so I get to sort of live at his, yay! But that means I need to think up/look up some cheap easy recipes for dinner every night as we can't (but could very easily!) live on stir-fry, Chinese/Indian take-away and pizza for a week!
I was thinking of doing a roasted butternut squash risotto, but then realised that he hates risotto. I'm sure he wouldn't mind it if it was ME making it... surely?

I woke up in the middle of the night with 'Ae Fond Kiss' by Robbie Burns going through my head... I have no idea why. "Had we ne'er loved sae blindly" indeed...

itchy hooker

2009-02-05T18:07:00.005Z

I'm skritching away in a 30% alpaca sweater... I didn't realise alpaca made me itch (my alpaca collarette doesn't) but I'm not taking it back to the shop. It's too nice.

I may only be online sporadically for the next I don't know how long, so I apologise in advance. I'm having a few problems at home (nothing to do with the boy), so that impacts on the internet. Don't ask me how, it just does.

As requested, here are some pics of the felty fun I've been having over the last few days. The cuffs are recovered from my first two attempts to make a 3-D felted bowl, so my failures aren't all utterly hopeless, yay!Both cuffs.Claret and teal cuff... needs a name.Blue and green cuff... also needs naming!"Seafoam" felt square (part of a diptych if that's the right word?)"Firedancer" felt rectangle (still wet in this pic, looks a lot better now!)

Offtopic, I'd just like to bring this >LINK< to your attention. As a horse lover, I get the fugly horse of the day to my igoogle every day, and this link to Tessa's Ordeal really upset me. I'm not going to lie, there are some horrible pictures of a mule with human-inflicted injuries, but it really is worth reading. Horse-loving friends across the pond, please read FHOTD and don't buy a horse from any of the people she rants about!

Sorry to be maudlin, normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

felty fun- again

2009-02-04T10:44:00.002Z

I spent most of yesterday needling and smooshing wool. I had lots of fun :D

I'll get some pics of the things I made, and hopfully you'll all like them.
I'm trying to make fangs for one of Mark's handmade V-day presents, but it's not working. Damn head sucking Metroids.

The snow in the back garden is still extant but most of the stuff out front and in the roads is gone or has turned to slush and ice. Urgh, great!

And I need to go out in it to go supermarket... yuckles. Thank the gods for wellies. My wellies are v. boring though- how to rectify this? I have a pair of boring navy shiny ones and even more boring hunter green matt ones. I was thinking of graffiti-ing them with permanent pen, but it might not last? Ideas? And not "felt them" because that won't work! :P

essex snow: day 2

2009-02-03T11:01:00.005Z

It hasn't gone, but not a lot more has fallen. Mark had to go to work today, the best we can hope for now is him getting to leave early in case the buses and trains stop running again. Everyone cross your fingers!

I'm having a good old woogle round the interwebs today, managing to find lots of lovely things!

The wool I was going on about a few days ago, turns out to be Wendy Happy, a blend of 75% bamboo and 25% nylon in a 4-ply weight. A 100g ball is about £5-something anywhere I look, so I will have to keep it in the back of my mind for now. I want someone to knit me some socks in the 'Scorpio' colourway. I think the 'Aries' is quite pretty too. I'm slightly miffed that there's no Virgo (me) or Cancer (Marko) though, how rude! So far, this link has the best pictures of colourways- there's only 8, but nowhere seems to stock them all! I want to see!

I found another nice pattern, but alas I cannot knit, so someone else will have to have them. Cabled wrist warmers anyone? People in cold climates, I'm looking at you!

I found a list of the gorgeous shades of Twilley's Spirit- YUM! It seems strange that a US site would have a full(ish) range of a UK brand. Weirdness...
The list of desired colours grows!
Essence, Bliss, Verve, Nature, Earth, Destiny... mmm! Already have things made of Air and Desire, and the only other colours I can get easily are Fire, Dignity and Promise which are a bit... well... dull in comparison lol!

The colours of fluff I bought for felting are limiting me to certain colour combinations... poo. I feel I need to buy a couple more colours, maybe ones I wouldn't necessarily get for myself like pinks or anything in the yellow family. At the moment my colourways seem to be 'fire' (orange, red, yellow), 'sea' (greens, blue, turquoise), 'land' (green, yellow, brown), 'sky' (blues, 'whites') or 'wine' (claret, purple, red) and I think I need to expand in order to make things that will actually sell. I know my misi site isn't actually functional yet due to in part my laziness and propensity for sitting on ravelry for hours, and in part because I'm scrutinising anything I've made so much.

I don't know what to get/make Mark for Valentine's. He always whinges that it's commercial and stuff, but I'd feel like a negligent girlfriend if I didn't get him a present. We're going on the London Eye before actual "V-Day" so there hopefully won't be as much of a queue. I'm terrified of heights over the 8 foot mark, so this will either cure or kill me. Joy.
I was thinking of making something for him. Not crochet because he's got hats and scarves etc aplenty and there's no time to make a jumper that he won't wear! Maybe something foodie instead, as I am (without being big headed) a good cook, and he's aspiring to be too.

After translating from American 'cups', these nuts sounds just up his street. Might amend the mix a little and make it spicier, but who knows. I think I've got all the spices in the spice cupboard too, so all I need to buy is nuts and something to keep said nuts in. Maybe one of those jars with the metal lid release thingy? I know what I'm talking about... maybe Wilko has some.
Then again, he likes toffee, and nuts, so maybe this would work, if I translate it?

So maybe I will be able to whip something up afterall? Phew.

Today I forsee wet felting in the bath, yippee!

essex snow

2009-02-02T21:19:00.005Z

Yeah, because we don't see snow here very often on the outskirts of London literally everything stops. Buses, trains, jobs... Mark didn't go to work in the end (yay!)

So here's some Essex Snow Pics for you all to enjoy:
Tree by the slightly frozey lake.
View across the lakey thingy.
I am such a spaz for snow.

proper snow!

2009-02-02T09:34:00.001Z

Ok, so there's about 4" of snow here.
Mark's not going to work because it'd take him ages, and his team leader said it was ok, so it's all ok. Mum still struggled in bless her. I want to get my wellies on and go play...
Mark's stupid housemate has loads of people over from Aus for some reason and apparently they're acting like "special" kids because they've never seen snow...

I finished my collarette, and managed to get a matching hat done last night, so it looks like I might be able to test them out in the snow! Woo!
Here's a pic of the lovely purple woollyness:
I will get a better pic of both hat and collarette, but at the moment I wish to get winter attired and play in the snow.

Also, some snow.

yarn shopping

2009-01-30T11:15:00.002Z

I'm going to buy another ball of that Twilley's Spirit. I can't decide if it should be reds or purples. Hmmn... We'll see.

Will get a pic of the wristers into ravelry when I can, but am a bit busy today!

I found a nice crochet pattern (well it was shown to me by One Pretty Thing) but alas it crashed firefox. Poo!

Will try again anyway when my list of open tabs has diminished!
(it's here if you wanna see)

ideas flowing

2009-01-29T11:10:00.005Z

Yes, I'm having ideas left, right and centre. Weird huh? What a change?
The first Woolly Wrister is complete, the second is just a slipknot at the moment, but that will hopefully change soon!
I've written a rough draft of the new pattern, as well as a schematic for a sort of matching collarette that I was thinking of making in a different shade of the same wool. Or maybe from a ball of Jet if I can find a nice enough colour in Hobbycraft. I might go look later. I do need to top my oyster card up (for my non UK friends, an Oyster card is like a bus pass card, you put money on it and it takes the value of one trip off when you board a bus)... One 50g ball should be enough in theory- afterall my alpaca collarette was only a 50g ball!

My other idea is to inspire you all to do a meme. Have you any idea what a meme is? Well, check out the wikilink. I particularly love photo/art memes and am always inspired to do them myself after looking. That's what I hope to do for you guys!

So, this is talumirage's photo-meme:
1) Something I use daily.
2) A view from a window of my house.
3) My favourite colour.
4) My mode of transport.
5) My wool (felt, paint etc) stash.
6) My bad habit!
7) My extravagance.
8) My breakfast.
9) My pets.
10) One word to describe me.

I REALLY want you guys to do it!
Send me a link to wherever you've put it (blog, flickr account, photobucket, facebook album etc) and I'll take a peek!

So this is my one:
1) Something I use daily: my asthma medicines.
2) A view from a window of my house: from my room.3) My favourite colour: green! Although it's a hard choice.
4) My mode of transport: the Underground (or my feet, or buses but who wants to see pics of them?)
5) My (insert craft here) stash: yes, all those bags are full of wool...
6) My bad habit: biting my hangnails until they bleed!7) My extravagance: undies! The spotty ones are silk ;)8) My breakfast: usually just a cup of green tea.
9) My pets: Patti the platypus, Trevor the thing (I crocheted him) and Zero!10) One word to describe me: well, it's true!

Come on peeps, you KNOW you want to do it!

slightly OT

2009-01-28T15:24:00.003Z

I found a book on Amazon about wool... does anyone think I should invest in it? It looks interesting. Here's the link.

Also, I just read a really nice poem, so I wanted to share it with you all.

'There Will Come Soft Rains' by Sara Teasdale

There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,
And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;
And frogs in the pool singing at night,
And wild plum trees in tremulous white;
Robins will wear their feathery fire,
Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire;
And not one will know of the war, not one
Will care at last when it is done.
Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree,
If mankind perished utterly;
And Spring herself when she woke at dawn
Would scarcely know that we were gone.

Also, youniverse.com has a really great personality test. It's all picture based. I enjoyed myself playing. Here's what I found out about myself:

"Your Core Skills:

You are a natural problem solver. Nothing beats the feeling you get when you are deeply engrossed in resolving an analytical conundrum. You have very strong levels of emotional intelligence and thrive on team-work and debate. You enjoy processing problems as part of a group. You are very empathetic and understanding to the needs and ideas of others.

Potential Areas Of Weakness:

Though a strong team player, you may lack the confidence or experience to take on the public speaking and facilitation roles that would allow you to fulfill your leadership potential. You know how you want things done and this means you can be quite impatient. You are often over-precise and obsessive about details, which can lead to stress.

Areas You Might Want To Work On:

try to keep your eye on the clock so that you don't lose track of time when you're engrossed in work
make a conscious effort to be more flexible and easygoing in the workplace
take positive steps to improve your confidence levels such as enroling for a drama workshop or joining a choir

Careers That May Suit You:

detective, occupational psychologist, workshop facilitator, probation officer

Your Detailed Personality Assessment:

It's important that you take the time to listen to yourself as well as to those around you. Make a conscious effort to regularly tune into your personal life goals and how you are going to achieve these. Use your diplomacy and intuition to your own advantage to move your career forward in positive ways. You enjoy a challenge and always rise to the occasion so make sure that your attitude stays fresh so that you are exhilarated in everything that you do.

When it comes to leadership, you believe in mucking in and being part of the team. Nothing earns the respect of your colleagues like actual hands-on involvement and experience. If you want something done well, you like to show the way and let others follow your lead.

You have a deep connection to your spiritual self. This balanced outlook is an extremely powerful force in your life. You have a healthy sense of perspective and are driven by a strong moral value system.

As far as you're concerned, hard work is the best way to achieve your goals. Short cuts to success are just a false economy. You tend to be quite traditional in your perspective and like to have a clear sense of your career milestones. You believe that effort should be rewarded and that if you put in the hours you'll reap the benefits. However that doesn't mean you always follow your own wisdom. It can be hard to maintain intense levels of focus all the time.

You are in a very steady place right now. Life feels very ordered and compartmentalised. But it may also be lacking inspiration. You could do with some fresh thinking to breathe life into those grey cells. But overall, you get a thumbs up for being calm and collected whatever life throws at you. You've probably got a lot on your plate. But you're quite good at staying on top of things and not letting the stresses of the job take over too much. Sometimes the greatest pleasure is in being really busy and not having enough hours in the day!

The way you approach each day can have huge implications for your success in the workplace. You're a naturally enthusiastic and energised person and you definitely know how to live life to the full. But if you're really serious about implementing positive change in your career, you might need to look at the way you balance your time. You can't expect too much from yourself. It might be a case of shifting priorities for the time being and there's a chance that a spot of exercise could do you the world of good. Getting some fresh air and letting those endorphins flow may be just the thing you need to put the spring back in your step.

The Future:

It can be daunting to be looking for your first job but this really is an exciting time in your life. There's so many decisions to make that will shape your future. You have the opportunity to really think about what you want from life and how you're going to achieve it. You may feel like you're a bit stuck for ideas right now. It's important that you really try to listen to your inner voice and ask what it is that you want from life. By being true to yourself, you'll find that the inspiration will flow and allow you to develop and shine in the most amazing ways."

I'm stunned that it's actually quite accurate in places. Whoa.

new wristers

2009-01-28T12:34:00.005Z

Yep, you read right, I'm working on new wristers. Instead of being called Handy Wristers, these are named Woolly Wristers, as they're made out of 100% wool! Twilley's Spirit, if you wondered. In shade "air", just for completeness's sake ;)
The pattern is slightly different, with a longer dc cuff area, but is still basically along the same lines. I'm a bit miffed that Hobbycraft have overhauled their wool selection, so I can no longer easily buy certain yarns I have become attached to. This annoys me! Although every time I go in there I do pick up a ball of this lovely looking yarn that I always forget what it's called. I know it's like 4ply or sock weight, Hobbycraft have 3 colourways (named after signs of the zodiac, aquarius and pisces stand out to me at the mo) and it's mainly bamboo (I think 85%). You'd think this'd be enough info to google it and get results. Nope. I think it's called "Happiness", but without a maker (Sirdar, Patons, Wendy, all tried, all failed) I can't find it! It's about £5 for a ball (think it's 50g) so I can't actually justify buying it as I don't knit socks, and that's what I want it for.
Lovely Hope and Leslie do sock knitting... they should knit me socks. I have a 50g ball of "Mississippi 3 Print" by Katia (colour 3203 here) from a UKRAK that looks like it should be for socks. It seems a waste to not use it...

Martha's moleskine is here, and I shall commence drooling on it and wiping it on my face... now! Only kidding... maybe.

I've now finished my scarf commission (yay, very bored of scarves!) and some new freaky looking animals that were meant to be colourful sheep but didn't quite turn out that way.
Introducing:
Blaise, the sheeplet, sort of inspired by something Nordic as I was reading Thor at the time!
Erin, the "My Little Pony" thing. She was meant to be sheeplet. Doesn't seem that it was meant to be.Phil, the "teddy-sheep" thing. I dunno what happened here. Adding Blaise coloured wool seemed like a good idea at the time, and I thought I'd finally got those damn Shetland curls (the mossy green stuff) to work properly! BAH!

If anyone has a request for me to make one, or would like to rehome one of the mutants, please comment below. Comment below if you just want to too, but if you want one, that seems the best place to let me know.

tra la laaa

2009-01-27T10:51:00.003Z

Hello again people of the interwebs.

I must go to the post office today and mail frewen's moleskine off, or else Leslie will break my legs. How she'll reach from Colorado I don't know, but I'm not willing to take that chance.
So I've finally finished my entry in the first E I.M.E, had to wait for bits to dry etc, and I'm only a day late sending, so nobody can be that cross with me, surely?

I hope my CCC moleskine is ok... I wonder who has it right now? I could check the list, but I'm lazy. And the order's changed, so I dunno if it'd be who I thought it was.

Andyway, someone in my Essex hookers group brought this blog to my attention, so I think I'll be stopping by regularly to take a peek! I particluarly like this pattern, but not being religious myself (as we all know that each person is a god in their own right, and I'm even more godly than anyone :P) I thought I could make one for Mark's nana for Easter. She's a Christian (and diabetic, so chocolate is right out) so I guess she'd appreciate it?

Anyway, I have a list of thigns to do, and a list of his shopping to get, so I must press on. Maybe I'll find some fleece time today too... phew.

quick update

2009-01-26T09:21:00.007Z

I finished my wristers- they both look the same from a distance, so all is well. I've started something else now... I dunno what it'll be yet, at the moment it's about 6 rows of 30 dcs...

I've decided that it's all well and good knowing how to knit, but I like being a hooker better. XD

I got two RAK packages today! YAY!

One is from Kristina, who is my source for random feltable scraps, lol and the other is from Birgit, who very kindly hand knit me some socks (am wearing them now, I likes) and sent me some other random bits, including a Fleece Dog kit! And we all know how much I love Fleece Dog! Incidentally, I bought the book this weekend...Socks, made by Birgit!My box of goodies from Birgit! Including SWEETIES!My fluffbag from Kristina! Also pictured, fluffy dressing gown, lol!

Just a quick update for the moment, as I have a job interview (that is apparently going to last from 12.30-4 or 5pm... weird) to get sorted for, and I want to play with fleece for a little while first ;)

crochet, at last!

2009-01-23T12:38:00.006Z

Yes, believe it or not, I sat down with hook and yarn (Wendy Mode DK, v nice) and made myself something. Ok, there's meant to be two (as I have two wrists), but one is an achievement so far! They're called Handy Wristlers, and they're all my own design! And I shall write the pattern out as best I can. It may not make sense. Remember I write in UK english.

Handy Wristlers:

Main Part: (red on my pic)

Using larger hook (for me, 6mm) chain 33 (or enough to fit your wrist!)

dc in each ch, ch 1, turn
dc in each ch, ch 1, turn
dc in each ch, ch 1, turn
dc in each ch, ch 1, turn
dc in each ch, ch 3, turn
tr in each dc, ch 4, turn
dtr in each tr, ch 3, turn
tr in each dtr, ch 1, turn
dc in each ch, ch 1, turn
dc in each ch, ch 1, turn
dc in each ch, ch 1, turn
dc in each ch, ch 1, turn
dc in each ch, ch 1, turn

End off, crochet/sew together at short sides.

Hand Edging: (black)

Using smaller hook (4mm for me), join second colour on at seam.

dc in each (colour 1) dc, join with slst, ch 1, turn
dc in each dc, join with slst, ch 1, turn
dc in each dc, join with slst, ch 3, turn
*dc ch dc in 3rd st, ch 2 (*repeat across), slst together, ch 2, turn
*dc ch dc in gap, ch2 (*repeat across), slst together

End off, weave in ends.

Arm End Edging: (black)

Using smaller hook (4mm again), join second colour on at seam.

dc in each (colour 1) ch across, join with slst, ch 1, turn
dc in each dc, join with slst, ch 1, turn
dc in each dc, join with slst, ch 1, turn
dc in each dc, join with slst, ch 1, turn
dc in each dc, join with slst, ch 1, turn

End off, weave in ends.

Now this is just a basic hand/wrist warmer pattern, but you can alter it as you see fit- lengthen it by repeating the pattern section (the rows of treble-d treble-treble), make it smaller, etc! The possibilities are endless... sort of.

Also, I learned to knit last night. I still think I prefer crochet, but anyway, here it is, just for a laugh, the little knitty bit I did:

And yes, that is a pair of chopsticks. Where would a hooker get knitting needles at 11pm?
Now I'm determined to buy a pair of needles and a "learn to knit for complete morons" book and teach myself.

Is it meant to feel all ribbly?

Also, I'm back on the needle felting today. Sheeps for all!

still alive

2009-01-22T16:42:00.005Z

Yep, to quote 'Portal', I am, very much still alive.
I know I've been a bad hooker this week, but I've been a bit busy! Monday was my graduation, Tuesday was job interview (and Mark had a day off work so we played XBOB all day), Wednesday was muma's day off, and now things are back to normal!

I apologise profusely for the lack of crochet recently. I have still been doing it, but not of anything exciting (except one exciting project but I didn't want to put pics up until Hope has her present because otherwise it'll spoil it!), so no pics for the moment.

I am now the (junior) Essex Felter. Blame frewen. And also in a way, Leslie too. Ms. feltypants got me started on wet felting, and by a dint of effort, they both manhandled me into needle felting too. I don't think my fingers will ever forgive them.

So anyway, the point I'm making is thus. Today I made a family of needle felted sheeps. All by myself! YAY ME! And they all have names too... I shall introduce you to:Aengus Fleabag McBaaWee JockieMa MoragArchie
And the whole clan McBaa!
(L-R: Archie, Wee Jockie, Ma Morag and Aengus McBaa)

Well, I'm going to go make some more things... possibly distant relatives of the McBaa clan!

Essex Hooker, BSc (Hons)

2009-01-19T20:54:00.003Z

Yep, finally, I'm a graduate. I'm allowed to put letters after my name.

Sorry for no fibre related updatery, but I knew a couple of friends on teh interwebs would want to see a pic of me in mortar-board and gown, so here we are.

Normal serive resumed tomorrow... I hope!

not around tomorrow, so here's a post!

2009-01-18T14:23:00.004Z

New felted shizzle, dizzles! It's my graduation tomorrow, so I probably won't make it on here to post, but here's what I've been fluffing up over the last couple of days. Also, there are more felted rocks, but I haven't got pics yet!Sheep idea, didn't work out as well as I'd hoped, but can probably (?) be salvaged!Another felted stone!Layout for my countrysidey panel.Panel all felted together.Sid the dogcatmousething. He was a felted pebble with too much overhang, so I needle felted him into a... thingy. He's mummy's little friend now. He lives on her desk.

my felted pebble

2009-01-16T11:04:00.005Z

This was awesome fun. I suggest you all do it! I'm going to be making these all day in loads of colours (thankyou World of Wool!) and distributing them as paperweights.

Step 1) Lay out fibres and arrange nicely. Make sure it'll fit around the stone!
Step 2) Felt the middle part of the fibres, leave the edges a bit dry and unfelty.
Step 3) Wrap felt around stone. Now work edges and middle more.
Step 4) Scrubbings!
Step 5) Rinse well in hot, then cold water.
This is the second side, or uglier side ;)^
This is the prettier (first) side, IMHO!^

i can has new wools?

2009-01-16T10:51:00.003Z

My last order of wool came. No more money now. That's it. Kaput.
I've been told I need to put more pics of the felt experience up, so ok, here we go!^Felt with shiny shred worked in- look close or you'll miss it!^^Was going to be a phone pouch, but it went a bit awry lol!^^Needle felted heart- all say "aah" now^

I'm making something warm for Hope's head as a thankles present, but now have found a little cardi I want to make myself! Look here, isn't it twee?

hellooo

2009-01-15T12:21:00.002Z

Hello good people of the internet, how're you? Good. I'm ok, thanks for asking.

This is going to be a quick post as I need to pop out, and see if my felt experiments are dry yet. I need to buy some foam or something for needle felting, as the block of stuff I've got is poo, and bits keep getting in my felty things. Grr.

I've ordered some more fluffies in different colours from World of Wool and Texere, so hopefully, more colours soon! I want to felt a pebble...

Have you seen Fleece Dog? They're sooo cute! I want to do one! But it'll suck because I've only been felting a week!

Things I have learned this last week of felting:
1) Shetland wool doesn't like Merino wool. How to fix this? Felt the Merino first, then felt the Shetland onto it later. Then we don't end up with big holes which I still need to fix.
2) Don't use polystyrene or oasis block for needle felting, it makes bits fall into your work. How to fix this? I don't know...? High density foamboard? I'll ask the market foam man if he still has a stall.
3) Tesco (discontinued so cheap at 75p a pack) 'Shiny Shred' looks good but doesn't felt in very well and breaks when you try to needle it in. How to fix this? Um, secure it with Merino wisps? Not bother lol?

Does anyone know where I can get shiny stuff to put in my felt? I got a lovely felted bowl as a RAK from Zoe (woolbird) and it has some shimmery shizzle in it, and I'd love to know where to get some!

Ok, that'll do for now. Sorry my crochet blog has turned into my felt blog, but I'm just so excited!

felty fun!

2009-01-14T11:21:00.003Z

Yes, I'm having felty fun!

My newest attempt is a bit poo (I blame the Shetland curly wool) but the previous coaster type thing is good! Still needs to dry out properly, and this pic is a bit dark because it was still wet, but I likes it! It will be a gift for mummy to put her (foul out of the coffee-insta-matic machine) coffee cups on at work. I am such a lovely daughter, even if I do say so myself.Yay, felty fun coaster tastic!
I was thinking of calling it 'entrails' but that sounds a bit yucky, so maybe not!

Now I'm going to make some more!

i can haz wools?

2009-01-13T09:19:00.003Z

Hey y'all! I got some pics of my felting experiments, and Mark in his hat, so you'd all better be ready for this extravaganza!

^My first needle-felting experience! Not pictured, blood lol!^^My Mark in his hat. I told him to smile nicely and not have a double chin, but never mind ;)

^Second attempt at wet felting!^

^First attempt at wet felting!^

^I like it when the fluff's all puffy!^

Coraline arrived today, as did some more wooly fluff for felting, and a package from Hope! Haven't opened it yet, am savouring the moment! Eeee!

Ok, now it's open. I've been attacked by Smarties! Thanks Hope! x

So yeah, today I'm a bit busy in the morningy/afternoony period but I'll pop back later if anyone's missing my ravelry absence.

busy busy busy

2009-01-12T11:52:00.002Z

I've finished Mark's hat. He should be wearing it about now, so I'll try and get a pic later (then you'll all also be able to see who exactly it is that I'm planning on spending forever with- urgh how sappy) so you can see my handiwork!

I've started nana Duane's scarf after a few false starts. The one skein one-der pattern seemed to be growing by about an inch outward every three inches length-wise, so we had to stop that one.

Tried to make some armies out of my lovely World of Wool Shetland Moorit DK but I have problems crocheting tubes, so that particular pattern was abandoned, and mother and I are going to have a look at making one up later.

My wooly fluff from World of Wool arrived, along with Kristina's gift, so all I need to do is fish out some bubblewrap and then I can make some felt! WOO!

Also the beautiful and wonderful frewen sent me a felting needle along with her IME moley today, so thankyou! I now have three moleskines sitting on the table. Confused? Slightly.

Now I must away to finalise the stitch markers and teabags for the E group IME or else Leslie will murder me slowly.

elbow soreness!

2009-01-09T11:35:00.003Z

For some reason blogger is having a paddy and won't let me post what I just spent half an hour typing out. Oh god I've got to type it all again if I can't get it to work!

Check the comments area for the actual post in full! Stupid blogger.

Here's a pic of the fluff I'm talking about in the commentpost:

snow's all gone now

2009-01-08T10:34:00.003Z

Which means I can put my big faux fur lined pseudo-Timberlands away until next time! They are the only shoes (boots, whatevs) I can wear when it's icy, or else it's falling on le bum time.

Just need to finish Mark's hat and my list of projects to do will have decreased a bit. On the cards so far:

1) Mark's hat
2) A hat for best friend to match her xmas scarf
3) A scarf for best friend's fiance's nana (woo the thought of getting paid!)

as well as my tailored gifts for each of my dsps in the i.m.e group e which aren't crocheted but are still on the list. Now my moleskine actually has some stuff in it, so I might be able to send it off on Jan. 12th like I'm meant to!

I really want to do some felting... I've found some sites selling supplies but I'm completely in the dark here. I think I need help.

Rainbow Silks has a lot of things.
Feltcrafts also has a lot of stuff.
And then you've got the rest of the google search result. I'm confused.

Hayulp!

snack time

2009-01-07T11:58:00.002Z

And I choose 'no-no' crackers and chivey Primula... mmm!

About three more rows on Mark's hat and it'll be done. The poobag he is made me undo about 7 rows to increase it so it wasn't too tight. It wouldn't have been too tight, it stretches! Oh well, the public wants what the public gets... Paul Weller anyone?

I got my graduation guest tickets today, 264-266. My ticket will be waiting for me at the Barbican allegedly. Oh well, if it's not I guess I don't have to wear the dumb outfit. So it's now less than two weeks away and I STILL don't have a pendant. Bah!

I bought some legwarmers in the sales yesterday because I liked the colour (sage green) and pattern (some knitted chevron-ish thing), and also because they were £1 for the pair. Yus. Unfortunately, they're too small to get over my shapely calves, so they're going to be arm warmers instead.
This leads me to the actual crochet-ish part of the blogpost. I want a pattern for some nice armwarmers that I can make myself out of whatever yarn takes me fancy.
Now, I like all three of these patterns, which leads me to believe I could knock them together to make one pattern I REALLY like!
Fingerless Gloves
Cable Gauntlets
Mohair Handwarmers (wouldn't be done in mohair cuz of allergies, obviously!)

If anyone knows of any other good patterns, send them my way!

hello again once more

2009-01-06T17:08:00.002Z

I'm still here, not snowed under in the garden and froze.

I'm making Mark's hat, hoped to have it done by now, but now DMXOX and Leslie have got me caught up in the race for 400 posts on ravelry! Curses!

Proper update tomorrow I promise!

being crafty!

2009-01-05T21:58:00.005Z

Ok, it's not crochet (I'll be doing that when I go sit on the sofa later) but I've made a hook roll. It's a bit poo cuz of the fact that my machine skills have waned (and my Singer hates me!)... and I made some stitch markers too! I'm happy to give you guys first refusal if you want any- make me a reasonable offer! There are a load more that I made too, and a list of what size needle they'll fit, but it's pointless to fill me blog with all that if there's no definite interest!

snow... bluh

2009-01-05T11:42:00.003Z

Okay, snow means I can wear all my hand crochet goodies without feeling like a fool (not that I ever do, and this includes wearing my new beanie with the huge zonking great bow on it) but it also means it's cold outside. And wet and slushy. Eww. The snow was absolutely pathetic here, less than an inch and fading fast.

I have a big list of things to do today, would you like to know what they are?
-buy Smarties for Leslie
-go make a doctor's appointment about my freaky mole
-make an appointment with my asthma nurse
-get my repeat prescriptions filled
-take my jeans to the drycleaners (don't trust the washing machine with my favourite £40 4 year old jeans)
-buy wool for Mark's hat (I told him I'd make him a hat and he WOULD wear it, so he said he wanted it red and black... why? I don't know... he likes neon greeny/yellowy/orangey usually)
-talk to the jobcentre people because I'm poor, and can't seem to get a job :(
-order some more vitamins from Healthy Direct

So yes, this is what I NEED to do today. What I've actually been up to is prowling ravelry and buying myself a lovely sheepie tote bag from Shana Logic. If you've never been, you must go. They have THE BEST goodies!

So anyway this is not crochety goodness. I apologise for contravening the trades description.
I'll be back to my crochety self soon... I hope.

Normal service will be resumed, please stand by.

a weekend update?

2009-01-03T19:29:00.007Z

Yep, how random!

So I got to felting my pouchette... it kind of sucks. I did read the woolband and it said nothing about the wool being felt resistant. Maybe it was the soap? It was pure vegetable/palm/glycerine soap. I used as hot a water as I could stand (freshly boiled out of the kettle- I have asbestos hands, especially in rubber gloves) and beat the living hell out of it. I dunno what happened... oh well! I still think it's sweet (and it's grown I'm SURE!). Here's a pic- you're all dying to see I bet!

I also made another hat this weekend just because I liked the wool colours together. I threaded a piece of ribbon through it too to make it extra pretty. Check out my ravelry projects if you want to take a peek.

I did buy a book on felting ("Felt Frenzy") which helped a bit... but has now made me want to go pull some wool out of some sheep's dreads and make a needle felted something. I have no felting needles but this kind of thing doesn't usually stop me, hehee!

I've also got a schematic for a hook/needle roll wobbling about on my PC now (yay for MS Paint!) which I'm willing to share with you if you treat it nicely. No stealing. It's mine. If you use it, credit me (and also let me see, I want to see!) etc etc yada yada yada... so 'ere it is, my 8"-ish hook roll plan. I'm going to get to work on making one tonight to see how it works, so there should be photos accompanying this schematic by Monday. YUS!

So I'm gonna go eat a chocolate sponge pudding covered in Anchor sniffy cream now and make a hookroll.

Proper update on Monday!

new year's eve...

2008-12-31T12:26:00.007Z

...is upon us!
So here is a pic of what I've been doing since yesterday. Crocheting a rectangle out of 100% wool wool with the intention of making a felted pouch as my first felting adventure. YAY! See it's stripey goodness! The wool was a bit on the expensive side (£2.63 for 50g) but it'll be worth it for the felting adventure! Ms. Frewen says I need glycerine soap, so will have a squiz in the cupboard and if I haven't got any, I'll pop into town and have a dekko when I pick up 'Coraline' for the I.M.E Chicklet Book Club (lol). I'm gonna take a peek at the 52 books in 52 weeks group and see what it's all about. If it's not structured (like telling me which book to read and when) I might join in!

Quick update today cuz of needing to bath and do my moleskine for round 2, but should be back on January 2nd with more stuff!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

hello hello hellooo

2008-12-30T12:12:00.005Z

Hey y'all!

I.M.E groups for round 2 are up on ravelry! I'm in E (which will probably end up being called the eclectic elephants or something!) and some of the chicklets have made it into the same group, so YAY! I haven't been parted from my beloved frewen, FPK and DMXOX thank the gods! But there are also new peoples to meet, and I look forward to that too!

I hope you like the pics up there by the way. Aren't they groovy? They're of peoples' christmas lights (in the dark) taken with a slower shutter speed. I could offer them as weird futuristic prints to people! And I have more! Top one is a row of lights, middle is some blue net lights (think they were over a tree or soemthing maybe?) and bottom one is -believe it or not- a row of streetlamps! I was in a moving vehicle with a slow shutter, so there ya go!

I has a mole on my right shoulderblade and have all my life, and now it seems to want to annoy me. It feels different. It looks a bit different... I'm wondering if it's doctor trip time?

This is not crochet related. I am a bad Lini.
I'm wondering what to make for my Y RAK receive-ee Bianca... hmn, I have some nice yellow DK so I could make something cute and cool. I mean, you don't HAVE to make something, but I guess it'd be nice if I did. There's no way I'm gonna come close to Zoe's F RAK I got, but I can try!

So I was thinking of making something useful... maybe like a pouch or something? Lion Brand has some dinky bits, like a coin purse and an ipod sock (but does she have an ipod? And could it be used as something other than an ipod sock?)...

Ok so here's the links:
ipod sock
coin purse
(you may need to login/register)

Answers on a postcard PLIZ!