My Final Year Project for University

I'm studying electrical engineering and electronics at university and, like most other engineering subjects we undertake a project in the final year (or in my case final 2 years as it is a 4 year course).  One of the popular ways of showing off the projects is to make a blog and write about your progress - I had to help a friend set up a blog the other day as I am considered 'an expert'.

Last year I worked in a group to make an augmented reality phone application with the following blog:

http://arlivuni.blogspot.co.uk/

which was mostly kept up-to-date but a lot was filled in at the end of the project.

This year, however, I am working on my own and developing a radio telescope similar to NASA's Radio Jove Project which they run with schools.  The project was run last year so I am taking over from where they left off and then hopefully improving it but at the moment it seems like there is a lot to do and I will have to be very disciplined with my work.  The blog I will be taking over soon is:

http://liverpoolradioastronomy.blogspot.co.uk/

I can't wait to get started on this project!  On my 11th birthday (I think it was) I visited the radio telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory - I wanted to be an astronomer when I was growing up so getting to make a telescope is rather exciting.   Today, my supervisor asked me if I have an optical telescope - of course I do! so I'm hoping my Mum knows where our telescope is.  If I do one of the possible options for developing the project it could mean staying up all night at uni (hopefully not on my own) and observing pulsars.

Woolly Hibernation!

I've noticed recently that I've been doing a  lot more knitting than crochet.  This is quite weird for me as I've always considered knitting to be the one I am not as good at and often avoided doing if possible.  Lately, however, I've discovered how easy and versatile knitting can be and I just can't stop knitting!

It has mostly been using chunky wool so maybe this is my version of going into hibernation - by burying myself under a chunky-woollen garment.  Right now I'm sat knitting myself a cowl in a lovely burgundy colour using circular needles (knitting on circular needles always seemed so difficult).

The pattern I'm using is Simple Ribbed Cowl by Orange Flower and it is such a simple pattern but the result looks amazing.  I don't know if you can see the ribbing in the photo but it is more visible on the inside.  The colour of the yarn isn't as dark as the photo shows but it was taken on a phone rather than with my camera.

I hate having a cold!

For the last few days I have been looking after The Boy as he has had a cold.  It's just a bit of 'Freshers Flu' that always happens at the start of the new university term.

He's a bit better today (I'm assuming because I looked after him so well but Lemsip and Paracetamol probably had a lot to do with it).

I woke up this morning feeling pretty rough but The Boy has been looking after me all day - bringing me tea, making sure I'm warm enough and doing all of the cooking.

It was nice being spoilt even though I feel all sleepy and ill.

Simple Scarves

I mentioned the other day that a few of the boys at uni asked me to knit them scarves and they'd pay for the wool. I found a free pattern I really liked - Sinful Ribbed Scarf by Classic Elite Yarns.  I started making one for The Boy to see how it would be to make.  It turned out to be very simple but look complicated.

I'll be making one for another friend once this one is done.  He said there is no rush to finish it though.

Start of Blogtoberfest!

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
                             ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables


This year I'm doing Blogtoberfest again.  I'm hoping to blog every day for 31 days.  I signed up late last year but managed to blog every day once I had joined.

You can sign up by clicking the image below.

I had a productive day at uni and made great progress on my final year project and tonight we're going out for a meal at Pizza Express for our friend's sister's birthday.  

Good Luck Eve! and FO Friday

My little sister, Eve, goes away for university tomorrow.  This is quite a scary step for my family and makes me feel rather old.  She is being rather braver than I was and is going halfway across the country to Cambridge - I was only brave enough to move about 10 miles from my parents.

I gave her a box full of presents last weekend which included some things I had crocheted for her as well as a lot of other presents I had rounded up from Amazon, Etsy, and high street shops (which took a lot of planning but somehow I pulled it off).  She loved all of her presents.

Here is what I made for her (I'm posting it conveniently on a Friday)
Two of the patterns are by my favourite 2 bloggers - My Mum and Lucy 'Inthesky' and the other is one of my own patterns

I made her some snuggly mittens to keep her warm in the old buildings:
Pattern : Granny Chic 'Granny Stripe' Wrist Warmers by Lucy Inthesky

This bunting is to match the colours in this blanket my Mum made for her to take to university
Pattern: Pretty Lacy Bunting by Janet McMahon

And finally, this bunny in disguise as a bee was just to make her laugh
Pattern: Simple Striped Bunny by Grace McMahon

I was pleased with how all of the projects turned out - my favourite is probably the bunny but I'm sure she will get most use out of the mittens.

Good Luck Eve!  

We'll text/talk/Skype lots (maybe even write too) and come and see you in a few weeks xxxxxxxxxxx

In other news, I have decided to go against my nice system of not starting a project until another is finished and am currently neglecting big projects that need finishing in order to make other projects.

I started knitting a scarf for The Boy after there were several requests from the boys at uni for hand made scarves (The Boy's one is a practice-run to see how long it takes to make a scarf and how much I should charge).  I'll be using chunky wool for any requested scarves as this is my absolute favourite weight to knit in and grows so quickly.

I am also meant to be making a present for The Boy's little brother (using this pattern)  who is staying with us tonight until Sunday.  I'm making it as a footballer in a Celtic FC kit although annoyingly I left one ball of wool I needed at home today so I couldn't do much on the doll in the 6 hour gap I had between lectures.

A Teeny Tiny Dinosaur (and other crafting)

As I mentioned in my last post, I got two Mochimochi Land books for my birthday. I just couldn't wait to get making something from them (although I was beaten to it by my Mum) so I decided to start with the Tiny Dinosaur. It didn't take long to make but I did get some funny looks when I was using 4 needles to knit at lunchtime.

I made myself a crown to wear on my birthday using this quick and easy pattern:
Cai's Birthday Tiara by Carrie Piper

The final thing I've made is Olive Damper Bread using this Lorraine Pascale recipe I actually don't like olives but The Boy does so I thought I'd treat him. I did try a bit of the bread and it was so tasty - I'll be making some without olives very soon.

We're off to the Liverpool Food Festival this afternoon which should be good.

A Lovely Birthday

I have to admit, being 21 doesn't feel any different from being 20 except that everyone is now telling me I'm all grown up.

I've had a great last few days, starting on Wednesday when I spent the evening baking cakes for work.

Thursday was my birthday and everyone at work was so kind and loved my cakes - they didn't last very long, I took 24 cakes and after less than 10 minutes of them being in the kitchen over half had been eaten.  One of the admin women gave me a hug when she found out I was 21.  It was great getting to see my Bestie too and he gave me a lovely card and present.  In the evening my parents and Eve came over to see me.  They gave me lots of lovely presents: my Mum knitted me a jumper (you can see it here), I got new double pointed needles, and I got 2 Mochimochiland books - can't wait to get making stuff from these books!

On Friday, Eve came over to help me tidy, clean, and bake for the family party the next day.  I couldn't have coped without her help (also thanks to Mum who helped with the cleaning and dealt with the maintenance man).  When The Boy got back from work, he took me and Eve to Nando's for a meal and then we went to a fancy cocktail bar (Las Iguanas) and spent a few hours there with another of our friends from university.

On Saturday, we did some more baking and cleaning (and watched Beauty and the Beast which was another of my presents) then all of my grandparents came over to visit (and see our house).  I don't think I could have managed without help from my parents during the party.  Or after the party really, they helped me with the cleaning and getting the house back to normal.  Below are the cakes left over for me and The Boy from the party and after my parents had taken their share.

By Sunday I was glad we had 2 days left of the weekend so we can sort the house out a bit more - we had some furniture removed on Friday and now have a lot more space so can unpack some of the boxes we left under the stairs out of the way when we moved.

I need to get some more photos from Eve and Mum but I'll hopefully post them soon.

Lots of crafting!

Since I've been working this summer I feel like I haven't had much free time to crochet.  I've occasionally taken some to work with me but mostly I've been too tired to do anything and in the evenings I tend to just eat, clean up, then sleep.

However I do have a new appreciation of weekends!  Previously, I let my time fly by and wasted my weekends but now they seem to be long and relaxing with lots of time to crochet, sew, knit, and bake.

Over the weekend I crocheted things for when Eve goes away to uni (she got her results on Thursday and was very pleased), sewed a dress for my teddy bear, Ole, as she turns 21 on Thursday too, planned what I'll be baking over the next week (cakes for work and cakes and shortbread for my party with my family on Saturday).

As a birthday present to Ole (in case you didn't already guess I was crazy) I decided to get her a bear friend.  I had to go to the parcel depot to get him on Saturday morning and they have been inseparable ever since.  His name is Theodore which I let The Boy pick out of a list of approved names (if The Boy had free choice he would have been called Ethelbert).

Aren't they a cute couple!  He'll have some clothes soon but I'll have to finish some other projects first.

FO Friday - A Present for The Boy

I'm in a generous crafting mood at the moment so just want to make presents for people all the time.  I decided to make a present for The Boy as he needed a bit of cheering up because he wasn't feeling well the other day.

I made the lovely Little Amigurumi Wolf by Lion Brand Yarn as I have been eyeing up this wolf for a while and just needed an excuse to make it.  It didn't take very long to make and The Boy loves it.  He has decided to call it Romulus after the founder of Rome.

I'm also trying to follow my Mum's example of not starting to make anything new until I have finished something else so now that this wolf is finished I can plan my next project - probably some more amigurumi as I love how quick it is to make something utterly adorable.

A little bit of everything

I have many exciting things to report so this may become a messy blog post.

Firstly, a couple of weeks ago I went on holiday with my family to a little village called St Dogmaels in west Wales, near Cardigan on the River Teifi.  We had a lovely time, our mornings were spent relaxing and our afternoons spent on picturesque walks in the countryside.  Here are a few photos from the holiday but more can be seen on my Mum's blog post

When I got back from my holiday I was met with a beautiful bunch of flowers from The Boy which made me smile.  He had previously bought me flowers when I had two uni exams on the same day.  

Exam Flowers

Holiday Flowers

I like the colours of the holiday flowers best but both are beautiful and so sweet of The Boy to surprise me with them.

I'm halfway through crocheting a little surprise present for The Boy which is difficult to do when we live together so I can't hide things as easily.  It's mostly done so hopefully I can find a bit more time to finish it off.

I've got a significant birthday coming up in 3 and a half weeks and to celebrate I'll be inviting my family over to our house.  The house is definitely a lot tidier than when I first moved but we have surplus furniture that we need the landlord to take away that is cluttering up the living room at the moment.

This weekend I've been making an extra effort to get organised - I'm carrying a notebook around in my handbag and made a to-do list board based on an idea I found here at heartmadeblog.com.  As soon as I saw this daily prioritiser I had to come up with my own design using robots instead of people.  I also decided to use clips to hold the notes rather than use post-it-notes.

The other thing I did this weekend was a spot of baking.  I've been meaning to make little cupcakes inside teacups with jam in the little glass ramekins I've saved from eating Gu desserts.  They turned out exactly how I had hoped but I had forgotten how difficult it was to mix by hand and after a long time with no exercise this tired me out! 

I'll have to make these again soon but I have already planned what I'm baking next weekend.  Also, The Boy's Mum said next time I bake she is coming over to eat at our house - I'm just glad people like my baking!

WIP Wednesday

This week I have been working on the jumper I started ages ago for The Boy. I've completed the back and am making good progress now on the front. Hopefully I can continue to make good progress. If you can't see the image below it can also be found here

Keeping Busy

I've been very busy recently.  As my Mum mentioned on her blog here The Boy and I moved out of our flat into a much bigger house.  We're both working full time over the summer and we only have evenings and weekends to unpack so the place isn't that tidy yet - that's our excuse and we're sticking to it!  We'll get the place sorted in the next week most likely.

Here is a picture of me in the doorway of the house:

Work is hectic - the two projects I've worked on so far have been tested and worked successfully so it has been worth the effort.

Need to dig out all of my wool and get back to crafting soon though but so much to do!  No finished objects to report but lots of progress made on my ongoing projects.