Merry Christmas Everyone

I can’t believe how close Christmas is now!  I spent all of yesterday reminding people that it was Christmas Grace (it didn’t seem fair that Eve had a day and I didn’t so the 23^rd of December is officially Christmas Grace).

I wasn’t well for a couple of days so I couldn’t go and visit my best friend so he posted me my present which was so nice of him – THANK YOU!

So here is what I got:

Ok the little graduate minifig I bought myself but the rest was all off my best friend - the Christmas tree, the mini R2D2 and the racing car.

Also, my friend sent me a picture of the R2D2 that I made, sitting in his Christmas Tree:

Have a great Christmas everyone!

Christmassy-ness!

I haven't blogged in so long due to courseworks and project work but I have still been crocheting!

I've also been away this weekend with The Boy's family having a Christmas together.  As everyone lives scattered over the country, it was great to have everyone in one place to celebrate an early Christmas.  I also got some presents which was lovely including a wind-up pair of mini spacehoppers off The Boy's little brother which Eve and I were racing today.

They are so much fun!

I decided to make one if my Mum's patterns - Patchwork Ball in Celtic colours as a present for The Boy's brother as he is a huge Celtic fan (I blame his Dad for corrupting him).

You can't really see the colours in the picture though - it's white and dark green.

Oh also, thank you to everyone who has made my Christmas Tree Angel or who plans to.  It has kindly been translated into French for me by Particules so there is now a French pdf pattern on ravelry or available from her blog here.

FO Friday - My first present finished

I was working on wednesday at the place I did my summer work and it was great to see everyone.  I figured it would probably be the last time I'd see my Best Friend before Christmas so I had to rush to complete my present for him.

He's been making me watch Star Wars because apparently it's such a crime that I haven't seen them already so I had to make him a Star Wars present.

I chose to make R2D2 by Penelope Senior (pattern here)

The colour-work looks really effective and I was thrilled by the way it looked when I finished it.

I think I'll be making myself one! My Best Friend loved it too.

Weekend Pie

Yup I baked a pie.  Well I love baking and The Boy has wanted to make a pie between us for a while now (he'd make the filling and I'd make the pastry).

It was so tasty!  I managed to kill the top part a bit though as I tried to lift it over the pie so spent a fair amount of time with a glass of water and any spare pastry pieces trying to patch it up again,

I cut out the little heart by hand and it really confused Boy as I didn't let him see it until after it had been baked.

 

It also meant I got to use my cookery book I got for my birthday for only about the second time (last time was scrambled eggs I think).  We'll definitely be making another pie again soon!

December!!!

As it's the first of December today I am finally allowed to put my Christmas Tree up - and guess who is on top of it:

I got a 5ft tree as it's just the cheapest I could find (students!) and just got some simple baubles for it.  I need to crochet some decorations but I've been so busy with my uni project presentation that I haven't got much done.

As you can see my teddy bear is supervising me while I decorate the tree.

Also when I met up with my Mum in town last week-ish she gave me a lovely owl decoration for the tree:

It's so cute and it has a bell in it so when she gave it to me in a plastic bag I was so confused by the jangling.

Brewing Review

The day of beer tasting finally arrived and the one of the bottles was opened.  However, we didn't realise that you're not supposed to tip up the bottles but to keep the yeast settled at the bottom so the first couple that were opened were undrinkable.

We were then told by a friend who has done this before that it's best to pour it into a glass and leave the yeast in the bottle so it's now drinkable apparently.  Well, drinkable enough for The Boy to take a box of 20 around to a friend's to split between a few of them.

So overall it was a success (although we all though it wouldn't work) and no doubt there will be more beer brewing in the flat again soon.

Om nom nom Crumble!

I decided to bake an apple and mixed berry crumble the other day and it was DELICIOUS!!!

We actually haven't finished it all off yet.

Here is the recipe I used:
http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/516845

Although I used tinned mixed berries rather than fresh or frozen.

Christmas Tree Angel

I've finished my lovely little Christmas Tree Angel and typed up the pattern.  She turned out exactly how I wanted her to.

Let me know if there's any problems with the pattern.

It's also available to download as a PDF here 

The finished size is about 4 inches (10 cm) tall
Notes: inc = dc 2 in same stitch, dec = dc 2 together (dc2tog)

 
Need:

• 3.0 mm or 3.5mm crochet hook.
• Double Knitting or Worsted wool in the following colours:
• White
• Skin Tone
• Hair Coloured
• Black (for eyes – or you can use toy eyes)
• Stitch Markers.
• Tapestry needle
• Stuffing.
• Black cotton for the mouth.

Pattern: (English terms used)
Head
Skin Tone WoolRow 1: 6 dc in a magic ring                               (6 stitches)
Row 2: inc around                                             (12 stitches)
Row 3: (inc, dc 1) around                                  (18 stitches)
Rows 4-6: dc around                                          (18 stitches)
Row 7: (dec, dc 1) around and stuff head.         (12 stitches)
Row 8: (dec) around until hole is closed. Slip stitch and finish off leaving long tail to sew.

Body
White Wool
Row 1: chain 6 and slip stitch into first to create a loop.
Row 2: dc 8 into the ring (8 stitches)
Row 3: (inc, dc 1) around (12 stitches)
Row 4: Dc in every stitch around (12 stitches)
Row 5: Dc 1 in every stitch around (12 stitches)
Row 6: (inc, dc 2) around (16 stitches)
Row 7: Ch 1, tr in every stitch around (16 stitches)
Row 8: (dc 2 in the same stitch, dc 3) around (20 stitches)
Row 9: Ch 1, tr in every stitch around (20 stitches)
Row 10: (dc 2 in the same stitch, dc 4) around (24 stitches)
Row 11: Ch 1, tr in every stitch around (24 stitches)
Row 12: tr 1, (ch 2, miss 1 tr, tr in next stitch) around (24 stitches)
Row 13: (tr 2 in ch space, ch 1) around slip stitch into first stitch (24 stitches)
Row 14: ch 4, ss into ch space. Finish off and sew in tail.

Arms (make 2)
Skin Colour and White wool (start with skin colour)
Row 1: 6 dc in a magic ring. (6 stitches)
Row 2-3: dc around. change to white (6 stitches)
Row 4-5: dc around. (6 stitches)
Row 6: (inc, dc 2) around. (8 stitches)
Row 7-8: dc around. (8 stitches)
Fasten off leaving tail to sew to body.


Wings (make 2)
White wool
Row 1: chain 6 and slip stitch into first to create a loop.
Row 2: dc 8 in ring (8 stitches)
Row 3: inc around. (16 stitches)
Row 4: ch 1, tr in same stitch, (ch 2, miss 1 dc, tr) twice, double treble.
Fasten off leaving tail to sew to body

Halo
White wool
Chain 20, ss into first stitch to create a loop.
 
Hair
Hair Coloured wool
Cut several pieces of wool of the same length (I cut them about 8 cm long)
Tie together and sew onto the top of the head in the centre
 
Making Up
Stuff the arms – I didn’t stuff them firmly.
Sew the halo onto the head (over the hair).
Sew the head, wings, and arms onto the body.
Sew the facial features onto the face
To make the cheeks pinkish I coloured them in with a red coloured pencil.

  

Updated WIP Logo

I've adjusted the image so it is now clearer.

Here it is:

The miracles of photo editing software!

A New Project

I realised that I don't have an angel for my tree and it's not worth buying one as they're either cheap and nasty or horrendously expensive so I decided to see what Ravelry had to offer.

The angels don't have hair or a proper face so I'm making my own one.  So far I've only made the head (with hair) and started on the body but it looks pretty good.  Only got: arms, wings, and halo to do after that!  I'm writing up a pattern as I go along so hopefully it'ss be done so I can post it soon.

Also it means I get to debut my 'WIP' logo on Ravelry!

A WIP logo and a request

Typically as soon as The Boy saw my apple cosy he said he'd like one too.  He did say that he didn't want it to be the same 'girly' colours so it will be red, two shades of blue and black.

I also need to get planning what I'm making for Christmas so I've started a list and it's already scary!  However Eve and I started Christmas shopping yesterday (mostly just buying stuff for each other).

Last night I decided to draw a WIP symbol to put on Ravelry rather than a picture of a half-made object.

I wasn't sure if the writing is visible enough or in the right place (comments welcome) but it's quite cute.

A Finished Project and a Haircut

Today I went to the hairdressers for the first time since I was about 5 and was a bridesmaid (my Mum has always cut my hair).  Naturally I was very nervous but I chose to go to a place called Janet's Hair Design in Liverpool because my Mum is also called Janet.  The staff were so friendly and I was chatting away to them for ages.  £9 for a dry cut - I will definitely be going back there!

So here is my lovely hair:

It's nice and short so I shouldn't accidentally eat it any more!

I also finished a crochet project today.  I made one of Mum's patterns:
Jolly Little Goody Bags by Yellow, Pink and Sparkly 
I made this bag to protect my apples in my bag for uni. It was really quick to make and a simple pattern as it just depends on the basic motif for each side.  I made the large size bag as I only own DK wool and the middle size for 4ply would have been a bit too small.

I love the colours of the bag.  I chose to just use white, lilac, purple and black.

The Ladykillers

Last night I went with my Mum and Eve to see The Ladykillers at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre.  As the Playhouse is in its 100th year it premiered the play ahead of it being shown a

It was so funny - I knew it was a comedy but I wasn't expecting anything as good.  It's the stage version of the 1955 Ealing Comedy of the same name (not the 2004 film).

The cast were mostly people I'd heard of: Peter Capaldi, Ben Miller, James Fleet, Clive Rowe, Stephen Wight, and Marcia Warren.

Here is the official website: http://www.theladykillers.co.uk/

I'm still here! Brewing update

I've been so busy again with my project that I'm actually surprised how long it is since I last posted.

Wednesday was beer bottling day which was pretty messy.  You have to use a siphon to transfer the beer from the plastic barrel to the bottle but to start it moving you have to suck the beer with your mouth and if you're not careful you end up with a mouthful of half-brewed beer - I did.

We did put the bottles in order into the boxes and numbered the first and last in each box.

The First Ten Bottles

All the bottles ready to be filled

Here is the barrel near the start

Onto the second box

And the barrel later on

So we now have 45 bottles of beer fermenting away in our spare room (sorry Eve for when you stay) and in two weeks it'll be drinkable (hopefully).

Remembrance Day

It’s Remembrance Day on Friday so I wanted to make a poppy badge for that. This pattern is easy to follow and so quick to make.
Crocheted Poppy for Veterans or Remembrance Day by SP Sandsteel.

It ended up being about an inch and a half and I sewed on a safety pin so hopefully it's more sturdy than normal poppies (even though I bought one of them today too).

A Comedy Gig

Last night The Boy and I went to see Lee Evans.  I got him the tickets ages ago for his birthday and I have to admit I'm not really a Lee Evans fan from what I've seen of him on tv.

But I went with an open mind and it turned out to be so funny.  The Boy laughed most of the way through (except when he insulted Time Team) so he clearly enjoyed his birthday present, which is good!

I missed WIP Wednesday!

Admittedly it was because we were doing project work together for about 4 hours then I just had time to rush home and get changed before the electrical engineering society at uni meal out.

Besides I haven't done much crochet this week because of our prototype deadline.

For the meal we went to Red Hot Buffet in Liverpool One which is a world buffet so I ate plenty of exciting food from around the world and I got talking to some new people from my department.

First of November

Well, Halloween is over now so I can start on my Christmas planning.  I also I want to make poppies for Remembrance Day.

Last night I sat and watched Nosferatu from 1922.  It is a film that I've always wanted to watch, being a big fan of Dracula.  It's the first ever film based on the book Dracula.  I haven't sat and watched a full-length silent film before so I did feel very cultured sat in bed watching it and drinking tea.

Last Day of Blogtoberfest - Happy Halloween!!!

I have loved doing Blogtoberfest!  I wasn't sure if I'd be able to keep up-to-date but it made me more motivated to complete projects and keep posting.  I'm going to try and carry on posting regularly - if not every day then every other day.

As promised, here are the pictures of The Boy starting the brewing process:

So in about a week it should be ready to bottle.  I mentioned the brewing to some people at uni and the only thing they said was how much it is going to smell - lucky me!

My Sunday

Today has been pretty relaxed - starting well by the clocks changing last night. 



The Formula One in India today was good and the new circuit in India brought more excitement.  Team Grace did well on the whole!  I got 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 12th so only one driver was out of the points.

After ironing last night, I sat and crocheted some halloween decorations and this morning I sewed the spring for the mouth onto my Bopbot.

So here is what I made:

The Boy has also decided to brew beer in our flat so we've just got it started.  I don't even drink or like the smell of beer so lucky me!  I took some photos but I'll post them tomorrow

While the cat is away the mice... iron actually

The Boy has gone out to visit some friends so I decided to have a cosy night in and try ironing.  I haven't ironed since textiles at school in year 7 - about ten years ago.

It went well actually.  I did have visions of it ending up like the ironing in cartoons with a burnt imprint of an iron on my t-shirt but my clothes all survived ok.

Also a pattern I've been waiting for got published today-ish on Ravelry (Huhuhuuu Eulen by clarice39).  It was in German but had the promise of an English version pending and happily it is out so now I can start making it.

FO Friday - Halloween preparation and another Robot

I managed to get some projects finished today so here they are:
Bopbot by Nelly Pailloux

Technically it doesn't have the mouth on it yet but it's basically finished.

Also I managed to get this little cutie made:
Boo the Ghost by Leigh Cain

 It was so quick and easy to make.

On a completely unrelated subject, my Dad sent me this link which I found quite interesting:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15391515
and found out that when I was born I was the 5,399,600,088th person alive on earth.

I've got my eye on...

This adorable little pattern:
Boo the Ghost by Leigh Cain

I also love this one:
amigurumi ghost with picot ruffles by Julie Kundhi

I think I may have to make both to make the flat all Halloween-ish

WIP Wednesday

I was rather hoping that this robot would be finished by today but I've been working on my university project for the last few days so that I haven't made that much progress.

Hopefully it'll be finished soon as I want to make some Halloween projects before it's too late.

Newest Project

I'm currently working on Bopbot by Nelly Pailloux using my new Wicked wool I bought last week.

It should be finished soon so I'll be putting up pictures when it's done.

The wool inspired me to make something amigurumi so I chose this project as I recently bought some snazzy headphones which I tend to take everywhere with me.

Happy Birthday Dad

It's my Dad's birthday today so we all had tea together as a family.

We're sat watching more Downton now.  May as well make the most of our time together.

Also we've decided to use Skype to talk when I'm back at the flat and so we'll probably talk during Downton to save us texting each other during the breaks.

Not much to say today, sorry - back to the flat tomorrow and The Boy has another interview so Good Luck to him! :)

Back for a few days

I've come back to stay with my parents for a couple of days as it's my Dad's birthday tomorrow.

Eve and I are looking forward to watching Downton Abbey tonight as we've been watching it separately and texting each other throughout.  The episodes are getting more and more intense which isn't too bad for people with few emotions like me but apparently Mum and Eve were crying last week.

Anyway I'm off now to watch some of season 1 in order to get hyped-up about tonight's episode.

Rainbow

A few days ago it was pouring down when I was on my way to uni but there was a lovely rainbow at the end of my road.

It was actually a double rainbow but it doesn't show up that well on my photos.

When I turned up to uni, another of my friends had also taken photos of it so we all compared photos.

FO (finished object) Friday

I took the crochet camera cozy to uni today in order to get it finished. 
Free: Stash Buster Camera Cozy by Shweta Shankar Khatri
So here it is:

The colours are really nice and match up well.  I was very happy with the way it turned out!

A very aptly named wool

I decided to have a walk to Abakhan Craft Shop today after my lectures were over.  You know already this isn't going to end well but I did need some white wool for amigurumi and then I saw there was a sale on Sirdar wool so bought some novelty wool for more soot sprites.  I also invested in (it is investing as it will probably last me forever) a bag of stuffing.

Well, Here is the damage:

 

 Anyway as I was browsing I found some King Cole Wicked wool and decided to be naughty and treat myself.  It's just so colourful and inspiring!

The rest of the wool I bought was either discounted or the most basic wool/acrylic they sold that can just be used for little toys.  So now I'm more motivated to get crocheting!

WIP Wednesday

I discovered this concept while blog-browsing and thought it was a good idea to keep me up to date with my blogging.

It's terrible - I have 4 projects on-the-go at the moment and they're all a little neglected.

Firstly:
Beau by Kim Hargreaves
I've done the back so onto the front now but the rib takes FOREVER as I have to keep changing stitch after every 2 stitches.

Secondly:
Checkerboard Placemats by Lily / Sugar'n Cream

I'm technically not using the pattern as I didn't like the way it was executed.

As you can see I haven't done that much - another 4 of what I've done and then the edging.

Next:

Robert Banner - Alphabet by Melody Griffiths

Only 1 letter made so far - damn him for being named 'Robert' and not just 'R'.

And Finally:

Free: Stash Buster Camera Cozy by Shweta Shankar Khatri

This is because I love my new camera so much and don't want it getting hurt

It looks pretty good but the colours don't really show up here - I went for lots of different blues and a grey to provide a contrast with the red camera.

Also - *mini rant alert*

How come you can't buy a newspaper at a newsagents?

Or was it naive of me to try?

I decided I'd buy it from one of the local shops rather than the university guild or a supermarket so I tried two different newsagents today and one didn't sell newspapers at all and the other only sold one type of newspaper.  Most disappointed!