'O' whats occuring, Barry gets a crochet duck.

Duck drop Oct 2011

Wales , Barry Island to be precis..........
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Island_Pleasure_Park

For all the Gavin and Stacey fans no explanation will be needed as to why Barri?, but just in case you have not had that pleasure click below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_%26_Stacey

I'm not sure Nessa slots, should be this close to the photo of Jack Sprat but he's only little so I think he'll forgive me.  

Jack at 18months thought he'd help on the ducklings release date.http://theknittingforartexhibition.blogspot.com/2009/08/crocheted-duckling-trials-continue.html

1st Jack checks the workman ship of my latest duckling , the stitches pass the inspection always attention to detail, just like his father 100%.   

This one should float and be completely clean at the same time, seeing it's made of recycled shower puff.

And hes now ready to release the duckling, set it free.

In the duck pic below the duckling appears to be winking, 

signaling it's readiness to leave the family pack.

A beautiful little beach the sand is white the sea is 

pretty blue and the duck is set down.  

At this point I have to pick up the baby and run, 

whist taking the photos! of course.  

Now that's what I call multi tasking.  

The tide had turned, so wet shoes for me.

And the waves washed in.

The duck tipped.

And washed back in again, chicken.........

The duck chuck

Nothing else for it the duck got chucked, chucked not ducked;-)
kind Gem Lou assisted me here.

Oh well! you cant win them all as they say.

Job done , that left time for the arcades, especially the grabber..........

And look what the arcade had to offer, yet more flipping ducks.

I don't see spots, I see ducks!.(better than dead,people so I wont complain)

For the love of crochet

1st thing, this is unforgivably not my home made bread;-) but an example.

don't get me wrong I can bake bread, but I seem to only have to Make.......

Not make and bake like the perfect home maker.  (I try)

Above risen perfect example of bread.

Below not risen and flat (no love)

I'm comparing crochet to bread making. (why because I have crochet issues)


Lately I think it's all gone "Pete Tong" wrong with my tension.
I don't make Sample squares or swatches (free-form) as I don't want to blow my own trumpet but" I'm usually pretty good at what I do."

But

Big butt(mine;-)
 
Lately, the last few projects, my blanket tension is simply embarrassing. 
A frog has happened(unheard of ,I just change what it is I'm making).  but I couldn't save this piece.
 Another blanket.
And now a scarf has emerged instead of a blanket!(ref pic below)

Three reasons, to big, using to much yarn and the third it banana'D, aka completely curved....
 
Why ? because of my angry tension!

I think I have to compare the likeness (alchemy almost) to cooking.

Like bread making,  it takes basic ingredients the world over.  As does knitting and crochet, ball of yarn, hooks or needles, patience and love its works.

I once took a cookery class.(really) With a very elegant French lady.

And her words" if you don't love it it won't work."

Needing with love
Want it to work.
The bread rose beautify, she inspired me. 
(I think I have lost my way, had a blimp of a crochet month)
I need to find my love;-)

Below are some of my one off things that I have added to Etsy

Boho waist coat made with a vintage doily

and below, "Grease lightening "halter neck.

When do you know that you love your dog to much?

ill tell you when!.  When you commission some one to paint his portrait.

This doesn't sound to mad;-) ,but when you consider I have two children either of which I don't feel the need to put there lovely faces onto a canvas.

But Rasmus is a different story. 

This is the photo I think that Ill be using.
watch this space

busy busy my catch up life and crochet blog..........

A love for EdinburghThe dead space that's between the city street the hill/gap then the castle at night its just breath taking/ like hog warts the castle is in the air. black all around.  Very cool. funnily reminded me  a little of stockholm Gamla Stan cobbled old town and some of the architecture very similar/Gothic I guess.

Edinburgh mini break with my teen, I have been very lucky and visited quiet a few places but it seems never close to England so this years mission I set my self, train trips to the following.

Scotland
Ireland (fly maybe!)
Wales......(once a day trip in my youth) no memory's just a train trip;-(
Edinburgh, a beauty.   I wasn't sure that I had any idea of how it would look! never really thinking about it, but it was a real juxtaposition of old (cobble) and Modern (Parliament building)
 
Took a train (A mission)
You really need to know where your going? have done the trip before, then easy but 4 minutes to spare when we got to kings cross
a panic.  Saying that, arriving in Edinburgh all forgotten.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh

Book review

Wind the bobbin up, the book title cracked me up, I was very aware people where looking at it, with ore!(or pity) 

I'm a little weird(never) I pick up charity shop books on the colour of the cover the illustration or title.  I never read the back as like a film trailer it ruins it!.  

Not at all a funny take on marriage, as imagined but a serous side of what we(women) give up and gain two sides of the story, a good read.

Knees to wind

Knits
Train trip (of cousre any long travel is a plus when your a knitter or a crocheter)
I forgot to wind yarn? Deeeeeeeeeer!!

But managed with amicable space;-)

Began a pattern of cousre, why I still don't know progress went well and then miraculouslyI ended up with half the stitches and half a hat. 

Quick fix by me but sub standard;-( 

Here's my "About a boy hat" (Jean Moss pattern) 

I felt that the wool beautifully soft and
a lovely colour combi was just to thin for the project?
my personal opioion......(no offence Jean)

Cup cake Scotland................
As good as they looked, scrumptious.

Crochet dresses that hit the fashion cat walk, Just how granny used to make them......

Train trip meant a free selection of magazines and papers, I even used my time to collate a what's new , what's on and simply what I liked blog.  Magazines I have always loved but now wool and canvas I love more 
(only so much cash) So a free selection, supplied by travellers a plus;-)


Crochet Dog

Colour in your own wall paper? I love this, now it would be no good to me as teenagers are perfectionists but the toddlers that are so free, no judgement I would have loved this little left behind arty reminder of just how young and free they used to be.

perfect pampering.............
Just what the doctor ordered.

Sunday times recommends the  Verbena spa Helmsley.

Knit Wit words of wisdom

Jennifer Aniston in Crochet.

Crocheted Dresses

Always never missing an opportunity to promote Crochet , here is my latest find the new chick flick( I think) film 

And doesn't Jen look lovely in her perfectly crocheted dress.

(I'm hoping hand made)

Yes I here you

Yet another bag, a theme of not concentrating and being awfully bored of my current situation.

Need something new...........

Freeform

Peacock colours

A 70 Brussels sprout bag inspired.

My skirt and other bag, previously posted but better quality photos this time.

You can see the blue if you look close on the waist band that I'm still pulling in so no falling off on the hips.

The Belt strap is a pretty cool feature.

Wall paper 
 
I found wall paper for my bed room!(not brought it yet) but finding it's a positive start.  Black and white now thats weird!, I like a colourful house.

What could have influenced me......  I strangely think that it came from Rasmus, very black and white.  Perfect! I guess it's a comfort thing.

Rasmus and the wall paper, it would be like a black and white where's Wally! 
He will blend right in;-)

Sirdar Designers & Cup Cakes.

Sirdar Designers and Cup Cakes........

Coils, coils ,coils it's currently a huge production line.

(Work force myself)

They are needed to hang from trees, I figured the acrylic coils will weather well and at the same time spin in the wind. That's my plan (watch this space)

A night away so a Train trip.

Reading to Yorkshire (Barnsley) to be exact.  My good friend had moved away and begun her dream job and I was honoured to be her plus one for a late Xmas do with none other than the complete Sirdar work force:-)


Oh yes she is officially Sirdar knit wears newest designer!

(hush incase thats a sercet)

 

http://www.sirdar.co.uk/

Oj oj oj.

The quirky little place fits the quirky little person, just heaven.

Always one for enjoying methods of transport that mean I can make Crochet in mass.  Completed , my scarf and boulder cover number four.

My library project is rocking.....

I think I might not have mentioned this yet but come February my art will be all over the  Woodley library.
 
Blog entry Library project 
http://theknittingforartexhibition.blogspot.com/2011/01/project-decorate-woodley-library.html
The centre court yard, secret garden will be a shining exhibition of crochet graffiti, incorporating my ducks.  Not foreign waters, but water all the same.

 My tumble dryer broke at xmas, sadly unrepairable.
( I know not Very PC, but its a luxury I allow)
And we got a new one, but no time to fit it.  So it's become a shelf to stack yet more knitting goods.  (project Library)

Photo from phone of part of a boulder cover, that's train crochet.

Cup cakes galore at the Elsecar Heritage Centre

Shop stop Ania's Cup Cakes, my choice lemon.  texture of sponge fab, icing a lot but that's the plus of a cup cake.  My disappointment was that the only thing about the cake that was actaully flavoured lemon was the little sweet on top.

I would recommend some jif lemon( a little goes along way)  to the icing and the sponge but the presentation and content was great, just as it should be..... 

Just add more lemon;-)

Stuff, "welllllll it is nearly christmas"

 Hectic

I certainly manage to busy myself with stuff...........

We all love a snow day, oh yes the weather has followed me, when I left stockholm I had thought I had seen the last of the white stuff for a while..........

WRONG

And Luckily I kept my coat and Primark has affordable long Johns.


Had this book for a while, so this snow day I had to take a break from the bulk knitting/crochet and read a little.  My hand (intensively crocheting) it's playing up,  achy I hope it's just the cold;-)

I'mnot that old! that the arthritis kicked in, it's just over doing the craft and the cold combined.

 I love a Martini , so that's a winning title, tis written by a super model and I'm  more wash and go;-) but I wouldn't judge a book by the cover as they say.

But it dose have some relevant stuff..........  Stitch N bitch

Funny part about the regulars sat in there seats (oh so true)

  Rasmus

 Be a doll.......

Very relevant to me, a little about Blythe.  She is a doll that's not so well known, unless like me you've researched or brought the dolls that you never had as a child.

My excuse;-)

  Below"this is me"

Relevant again because as I type I'm sitting through a Twilight marathon and everyone needs an 
 Edward.........

Jacob.........

Carlisle........

My skirt collection is expanding and a few of the graffiti banners are now becoming skirts.

 A little mess up as this is actually the inlay from the book,(above review) it  reminded me of knitting, knitted stitches.  So I figured it earned a place to on my knit blog.

Quick and easy Baby Blankets.

  A little crocheted baby car seat blanket, ready for my new nephew or niece that's due after xmas.