roman sock

A Softie Award Shock!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow - I have just found out that my little pom has been selected as one of the Softie Award finalists! My mind is completely blown. What an honour! I am just floored - there were so many incredible entries!

You can vote for my little guy or any one of the other amazing entries here.

This is Twinks' campaign poster - please feel free to use it if you fancy!!!

I also wanted to congratulate QDPatooties I am a massive fan and she was nominated for 2 awards!!!

These things are always really bitter sweet for every one person who became a finalist many amazing entries didn't get through! It is just so random and everyone has their own taste!

Below are my pick of the bunch:

While She Naps

Cutseypoo

Soto Softies - I am saving up for my third!

Squirrel Momma

and finally...

Elbooga

Little Lamb

Little Lamb is an amazing charity run by Lindsay and Maureen. They make donated crochet and knitted squares into amazing blankets for babies, children and adults who need them! I was completely chuffed when Lindsay asked me to make them a mascot. It has taken me a little time....but here she is.

She likes relaxing in the grass

Smiling

Standing round

and having a good old sit down

I hope she was what Lindsay had in mind.

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I watched Miss Austen Regrets tonight, what a brilliant show, so powerful, well worth watching if you can possibly track it down.

Today I have felt incredibly lucky for being here, happy and healthy. I am unbelievably lucky and I need to spend more time enjoying it, rather than worrying about the future. It's strange how difficult it is just to let go and enjoy - afterall there is no way of knowing what is going to happen, so it's all about the journey!

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I thought in the style of Julie Andrews and her favourite things - wow it's not often you can say that - that I would end each entry with something that makes me happy.

On my bedside table I have three little trolls: one supposed to represent my Oma (Grandmother); one my mother; and one her sister Fredy. I used to play with them every time I visited my Oma and thought they were just the most precious things. Now they live with me and every time I see them I am reminded of just how amazing women are! My mum is also coming over to vist me soon - it's going to be fun!

Frog pincushion pattern at last! and a tiny bird

I am so sorry it has taken so long to post the frog pincushion pattern! It's finally ready - and you can download it here: Download frog.pdf

I have been taking more glasgow pictures ( I know! It's boring now!) which you can catch on flickr if you fancy a little scottish distraction!

I have been utterly enchanted by Maritza from Soto Softies other blog inside the softie machine. This post on Yellow really struck a cord.

For the first time in ages I actually had a very small amount of time to crochet - so I made this very small little bird. I am going to try some different sizes!

Brushed Crochet

I thought it was high time I did a proper tutorial on my 'Brushed Crochet Technique'

http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/brushed-crochet.html

I was frustrated one day, around a year ago, when I discovered that fluffy yarn didnt make fluffy crochet creatures. So I used Twinkle's slicker brush to try to pull out the hairs - and wow! I was really impressed with the results.

I have been using the brushed crochet technique, creating fluffy crochet creatures, since then and these are some of the creatures I have made.

Here is a little sample of the tutorial:

 

Hope you like it! - I love seeing other fluffy creatures!

Twinkle Twinkle

I have been trying to develop a new elephant pattern for the last couple of days - but I just can't make it work! I have tried it every which way but it just looks rubbish! So instead, something that always looks beautiful.

My little Twinkle. He is doing very well at the moment even though he has a collapsing trachea - we have been following Cesar Millans tips to keep him calm and its working so well - he is almost a new dog. Playing hide the toy every day and even learning to look on the bottom of shelves. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!

Intently watching

thinking - mainly about cheese!

dreaming - again probably about cheese!

This is the new bird feeding station that we have put into our little garden. We have had great tits, blue tits and this robin who is undeniably leader of the pack. If he is not on the station, he is hiding in the hedge next to it, or watching it from the tree across the street. His song is gorgeous even if he is a bit of a bruiser, when it comes to chasing other birds away.

Glasgow is beautiful! No really!!

I have been bowled over by how beautiful Glasgow is and my camera has been permanently attached to me. Here are some of my favourite snaps.

I love the way the sun can be beating down one minute and the next, everything is filled with atmospheric mist and you could be walking into another time.

Cue a bridge just a few meters from here, this pic was taken at twilight, it could be anytime in the last 400 hundred years.

I am also addicted to moss. Its something about its sheer tininess - like it belongs to a miniature world we don't understand.

This was a little burn (Scottish word for stream) we found on the banks of Loch Lomond. It was so pure that you could see each stone at the bottom of the burn.

If it had been just a smidge warmer I would have not been able to resist diving in.

Could you?

Raggs and an apology

I have been a very lax and naughty crochet blogger far too concerned with real life and learning a new city. I am now on a crochet program - and have amended my naughty ways.

This little creature is a mini version of a very adorable dog called Raggs belonging to the wonderful Monika. He will soon be winging his way over to her, and is already dreaming of adventures with alpaca.

He has been hanging round my new back garden (Well I say mine - it is actually shared with all the flats in this block, but hey! I am going to enjoy it)

I think he has been enjoying his play time! He has no need for the brilliant Cesar Milan! Unlike Twinkle, with whom we have been using lots of Cesars techniques and now have a relatively well behaved Pomeranian - who would have thought.

I think he enjoyed himself!

The post keeps crashing so part 2 in a minute!