My Best Friend's Birthday

Last Saturday was my best friend's birthday and so I went and visited him.  We spend the day wandering outside in the sunshine, watching films, playing darts, and eating cake.  I managed to win at darts - despite being out of practice - by hitting the bullseye twice:

For his present I decided to crochet a pattern I've had my eye on for a while - 'Fierce Little Dragon' by Lucy Ravenscar as we both play an online fantasy game called Legend of the Green Dragon.

I love how the dragon turned out - think I may have to make myself one at some point!

I also bought him some jelly beans as they are his favourite sweets and I crocheted a bag to put them in to make it a bit special:

The bag is a free pattern called 'Crocheted Treasure Bag' by Erin Kortering.

For my best friend's card, I was inspired by a geometric block card but instead of all squares I decided to change 2 of the blocks to be iconic images from the artwork of Magritte, as we went to a Magritte exhibition together a long time ago.  

I'm pleased to report that my best friend loved his presents and card.

This Week (and Happy Pi Day)

This week has been hectic due to a coursework deadline (today) but I'm glad that is out of the way.  I more essay for next week then I finish uni for 3 weeks of Easter.

Last Saturday was my Mum's birthday so we went out for a nice meal together just me, Mum and Dad.  Although I have not had much time to crochet recently, with uni work and revision, I decided that Mum needed a little crocheted present so I made her some daffodils after seeing the pattern on Attic24 only a few days earlier.

They turned out really well and Mum was pleased as she loves daffs.

Daffodils:

• Craft: Crochet
• Pattern: Daffodil by Lucy of Attic24
• Yarn: Stash DK
• Weight: DK
• Hook Size: 3mm
• Ravelry Project Page

Here is the fun birthday card I made for Mum:

The rest of the week has pretty much been spent on the coursework but I did get a chance to make something that has been in my head to make for a while.  I'm sure by now you all know me to be silly, well, I loved my stripey granny bag so much that I decided my teddy bear needed the matching one - you agree it makes sense?  Anyway she looks great.

Stripey Bag for Teddy:

• Craft: Crochet
• Pattern: 29-210-44 Striped Bag by Pierrot (Gosyo Co., Ltd)
• Yarn: Stash DK
• Weight: DK
• Hook Size: 3mm
• Ravelry Project Page

Last weekend I also realised I had enough scrap cut-offs of yarn to make something I saw on Pinterest a long time ago - this yarn bowl.  It turns out that one jam jar full of scraps is enough to make one the size of my fruit bowl.  I love how simple it is to make - yarn + paper mache paste (flour+water).

The worst bit was waiting for it to dry - I just wanted to use it! 

And finally, to link to the second part of the title.  Today's date the American way is 3/14 so it is known as Pi day.  I have been waiting for an excuse to make a crocheted Pi and decided that today would be perfect.

Amigurumi Pi:

• Craft: Crochet
• Pattern: Amigurumi Pi 
• Yarn: Stash DK 
• Weight: DK
• Hook Size: 3mm
• Ravelry Project Page

FO’s 2013 = 14+3 =17

WIP’s = 10

Queued = 12 +1 = 13

Catching-up

I feel like a lot has happened since I last posted so we'll have a quick catch-up.

As you may know, I graduate from university in July so have been searching for graduate jobs for several months.  I have been to a couple of assessment centres including one adventure to Leeds.  I got a job offer after the interview in Leeds!!!  I have accepted the offer to work in the company's Sheffield office starting in September.  I've never been to Sheffield but I have friends who went to university there and loved the city.

I'm the first out of my uni group to have a job offer which is exciting but I was one of the first to start applying and the company was unusually quick in offering the job - some companies make you wait a month before letting you know whether or not you were successful.

Another fun event was Rob's birthday (which happens to be Valentine's Day).  His mum and brother came to visit and took us out for a meal - it's amusing seeing people's reactions when you say that you and your boyfriend are being taken out by your boyfriend's mum for Valentine's Day.  

I made Rob a card using an idea I saw on Pinterest:

I also used the fact it was Valentine's Day to include some heart-related gifts:

I used an old jam jar and filled it with hearts

The hearts are made using this pattern - I will include full details as part of tomorrow's FO Friday post

I also decided to make shortbread as I didn't have the right ingredients for any other cookies

These are a couple of the projects I'm working on now that I thought I'd keep you up-to-date with

My granny striped bag

I have now sewn the lining to the crocheted granny square so now I'm about to start crocheting the sides to make it more bag-like.  I'll be using this tutorial for how to do the sides of the bag

Converse Baby Booties

A friend is expecting a baby in March so I'm making some little booties for the baby. 

 The booties shown above use this pattern.  They are really quick to make and so cute!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday and The Boy and I have just got back from a meal out with my parents in town.  It was a good meal and we sat and had a drink in the pub afterwards.

Here is the card I made for Dad:

Happy Birthday, Bestie!

Oh dear I feel like Amy from The Big Bang Theory saying that - although she's the character my uni friends say I'm most like anyway.

Today is my Best Friend's 25th birthday.  I start my summer job on Monday so will see him every day but I wanted to give him his card and present early.

He was very good and didn't open it until today - I'm rarely that patient.

This is the card I made for him:

And here it is with his presents in little origami boxes:

We are both huge Lego fans so when I saw Lego cufflinks on Etsy I knew he would love them as he wears cufflinks to work - he is about the only person I know who wears cufflinks.

I also got him some old style lemon bon bons because who doesn't love sweeties?

A lovely thank you

The friend who I made the bunny disguised as a zebra for was thrilled when she got it.

Today, when I saw her, she gave me a card to say thank you:

She was also wearing a dress with rabbits on -  how adorable!!!

Mothering Sunday

I know it just looks like I've forgotten to post since last week but we decided to put off Mothering Sunday for a week so it wasn't the same day as Eve's birthday.

As I have been feeling rather creative with my card-making recently I decided to make my card for Mum:

I love the little buttons and I have to admit I'm still surprised by how symmetrical the heart looks

We had a lovely day and watched the F1 (what an exciting race it was!!!) and generally made Mum feel special.