roman sock

Roman Sock's Blogaversary

Wow - Roman Sock has been around for a whole year!! I am so completely chuffed. This is the longest I have kept any sort of journal and I never thought a virtual thing could reach across oceans and make me the most amazing friends.

So over 40 projects, 14 patterns, 87 posts and 653 comments (Oh my gosh!) later, I owe everybody a massive thank you!

This is going to sound like a crazy thank you speech (stand back Gwyneth) -  but I don't care!

Thank you June, Maritza, Bethany, Lindsay and Bri for helping me through this crazy blog thing. Your help and support has been invaluable.

Thank you to all the amazing people that actually made my patterns! How cool is that!!! You can see some of their brilliant work on the Roman Sock Flickr Link and everyone who bought something from Little Diversions from Roman Sock on Etsy.

Thank you Cassie from Bella Dia for sparking a Owlet craze!!

Thank you to all the amazing sites that featured my work including Craft , CraftyCraftyTV , DIYLIfe , Squidoo , Softie Central, Plush You, Crochet Pattern Central , Craft and Found, A Crochet Toy Chest and Lime&Violets Daily Chum.

Also thank you those lovely bloggers who blogged about this site! Fia Lotta Jansen , Groke Park, Crafting Creatures , LoopyJess, Cthulhu Crochet, CfKnits , Yarnigras , Quirkiest, Way Out Wear, LizzyJo, Knitting Frog, ChefHades, Ellielabelle and of course Soto Softies

A special thank you goes out to Monika for supplying me with glimmers of sheer joy!

I must have left loads of people out so please forgive me and know I appreciate you too!!

So, over the next year I promise lots more patterns made even easier to use and tonnes of crochet cuteness! Any other ideas?

little bunny foo foo - the truth

I love the natural world and adore making mostly realistic looking creatures but lately I have been wondering if I could design a slightly more traditional amigurumi. So cue this little bunny - I think I am going to call her Meitje.

She was lounging in the glorious sunshine today!

playing in the dadylion leaves

and of course shaking her booty

I have heard some very funny stories about the white lies parents tell children and the 'Doh' moments people have when they find out what they held as a firm belief was not true at all!!

My mum and dad told me that the little sprout bit in each peanut was poisonous - I still have problems eating peanuts even though I know its not true.

I have a friend who's dad told her that a car's lighter was actually a self destruct button ( An exhaust with smoke coming out) She only found out that wasn't the case when she had her own car and someone pressed the lighter in and she freaked out.

Someone else was told their Alsatian had been selected to be a police dog even though he was 7 or 8 years old, her boyfriend had to break it to her the other day.

It's a terrible and hilarious responsibility negotiating the path between protecting a child's feelings and wellbeing and them make a fool of themselves in their 30's!

It is the last day of voting for the Softie Awards so please please vote if you haven't already! Click Here

Vote Mini Twinks (Only if you want!)

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!

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!

Something practical and something inspirational

My day has been split between fun and watching something truly inspirational.

So starting with the fun! I have finally made something practical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Simple things make me happy. Here it is, a little frog pincushion. It was ridiculously easy to make, and I think quite cute?

I made two versions: one which was sewn on to the lily pad; and one which stuck to the lily pad with magnets.

The magnet one works....if you don't flail your hand. If you flail your hand it rains cats and frogs....

But you can use the lily pad as a pincushion on its own and the frog as a stationary pin cushion so all is not lost even though my magnets are a bit rubbish.

If anyone is interested I can put together a tutorial; he was scarily simple to make.

Now moving on tho the inspirational. My brother sent me this link for a talk by Randy Pausch called The Last Lecture. If you haven't heard about Randy he is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who is also struggling against pancreatic cancer. The lecture is about achieving your childhood dreams, but more than that its a guide to living, a guide that makes you want to be better, have fun, and more than anything learning to appreciate and love those around you.

I found it completely inspiring, you don't realise how much we just move through life without really thinking about making ourselves and those around us happy. If you have a free hour, use it watching this. It has genuinely altered me, which is truly astonishing.

I also watched his lecture on Time Management which is a great condensed guide, with all the best bits from 7 habits and the 1 minute manager perfected. Its like a crash course in leadership, business and achievement. I think its relevant for everyone and really pulls out some crucial life lessons that mean you have more time to have fun!

I was moved a lot watching them both, but wow did I learn. One of Randy's objectives was to help others realise their childhood dreams, and I for one definitely feel more on that path! 

Highlander - The Cow

I have finally finished this little guy for a swap over at The Needle. I should have sent him on Monday, but he just took me so long! I think it's because he is bigger than my usual creatures. I love Highland Cows and this little baby seems to be a very fluffy specimen.

I still remember the first time I ever saw a Highland Cow. It looked like something from the past, a great big beast too fluffy and too innocent for this day and age, like it should have died out with the Mammoths, but they are very real!

I went for a walk in Dalkieth Country park yesterday, and after carelessly strolling through a field noticed that there was a sign on the gate "Danger: Bull In Field" hmmm. Even though I could clearly see there was no bull I was petrified. Somehow I imagined this huge bull, would just appear right next to me and charge. Absolute irrational fear - maybe I am never going to make a country girl.

The walk was stunning though, and you could just imagine Edwardian ladies taking a turn around the estate. Sometimes I wish I was born 150 years ago - then I realise just how much freedom we have and I remember to be grateful to be here now.

The feet and the joints are made with vintage leather buttons, which are just amazing! I love that they have had a previous life, probably snipped off old tweed jackets and now a part of a new softie. It's a bit mind-boggling, really.

I have become obsessed with this whale, I just have to make myself one isn't it just adorable? Sea creatures! You just have to love them!

A Job and a Weevil

I have had a very manic time of late, leaving a job, trying to move city and just get by! So I have been slightly AWOL from Roman Sock. But I am back and have a whole week and a half off!! Before I start my new job. Ahh, at last time to crochet.

I have done a little work on the site and you can now find me on Etsy!!! Yayyyyyyyyyy Little Diversions from Roman Sock.

Here is my new little creature:

(The Suncatcher eyes are extraordinary! I am so impressed with them!! and shall be ordering tonnes! Thank you Michelle!)

I once made a batch of muffins, a long time ago when I lived with my parents, which my dad really liked because they tasted so crunchy. Later on that day my mum found the entire baking cupboard was infested with Weevils. I never told my Dad.... Extra protein!!! Can that ever be really bad?

The Wise Weevil, sitting sage-like.

Scurrying

Contemplating the sky

Locked in an epic battle with Twinks.

This is the first of a series of rain forest creatures I would like to make from the book Rainforest.

Granny Square Tortoise Love

The Granny Square Tortoise pattern has arrived! Download here: Download Tortoise.pdf .I have also discovered something new about the Granny Square Tortoise species - They are very amorous indeed!

Here they mainly look hungry! But you turn your back for just a second! and it goes all discovery channel!

( This picture is very juvenile and I apologize)

I spent the day looking for flats, in Glasgow. Just hearing birdsong and seeing green was so refreshing. We may get to live by a park and see sun and green everyday. I had no idea how much living in the middle of this city was affecting me. It's so beautiful, but I long for nature. I just feel disconnected from the seasons, from the time of day and, most of all, from the most glorious green of the trees and wind through your hair.

On the way there I managed to work a bit on my ripple project whilst also holding Twinkle on my lap! I was quite impressed with myself. There was a lot of laughing from other cars though so we must have looked funny! Twinkle with his head stuck out the window ( he insists - won't travel any other way). I hasten to add my other half was driving!! 

Polar Bears three ways

Okay, I know I should have had enough of winter animals... but here is just one more batch. You may remember my polar bear... she now has a family! Those bears!

I am sure there is a fairytale joke in here somewhere, but I for one am not going to make it! I would never get it just right. (Oh the shame!)

There is just something about three stuffies together...

I also like these long style pictures. I think I may print one and use it as a book mark.

As these bears are to be sold. I wanted to do something to link them to me somehow, so if you have been wondering what the blue pills on their bums are...

What do you think? Is it a bit over the top? I was nicked named wibit by some members of my family who could not say 'Brigitte' also the 'wibit, wibit' noise from the frog world in Mario 3 could possible have something to do with it. I may have played that level non stop for rather a few months.

I have also had a couple of emails asking where I buy my supplies.

I get my safety eyes from  http://www.craftbits.co.uk/ but I am longing to try http://www.suncatchereyes.net/.

I tend to get my yarn on ebay - I find Paton's do lots of lovely fluffy yarns. I also find myself drawn to Angel Yarns  http://www.angelyarns.com/ I know some people have had a few delays with them, but I have always had excellent service.

My challenge this month is to blog a little more often. I am aiming for every other day. so hopefully you will hear a little more from me.

Penguins can be difficult

I have been working away trying to make a baby penguin, but sometimes what seems simple is actually very hard. Gosh, I think I may have just learned a life lesson...while I remember.

I did my usual little doodle of this guy, but for some reason I just couldn't get him to come out right! So many, many, many versions later... and quite a few feverish crochet fueled dreams... here is the little fellow.

In a traditional icy environment acting in a traditional penguin way.

Suddenly transported to the tropics! A Penguin with a hunger for a different way of life. Clearly a lover of tropical fruit and relaxing days in the sun. Why put up with the ice and snow when you don't have to?

A penguin asking if his bum looks big?? Now I have seen everything.

Looks like he can wave too... Is there no end to his human-isms??

 

Soon he will be bundled off to his new owner. I hope he will make her happy.

I have the first free weekend for ages. So I hope I will be able to get a fair bit of crocheting done, and will try to get another pattern finished.

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I wanted to tell you a little about Marian, she a very cool 6 year old craft artist. Marian is preparing for a bone marrow transplant in March, and is working to raise money to keep herself occupied in a crafty way while she recovers, and then to help an amazing project called Caitlin's Smiles. You can read all about Marian's exploits on her blog: http://imacraftartist.blogspot.com/

She makes amazing snow globe necklace kits which recycle her medical supplies (The tutorial has even been published on Whipup.net) you can buy them from her mum's shop here: Purple Petunia (Amazing pottery too!)

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I also recently found this amazing crochet link: http://www.mypicot.com/ A wealth of gorgeous free crochet patterns ( Mainly lace, stitches and granny squares) Simple divine! 

A ray in soup

I once had an exhilarating experience with a ray...When I was very young, my parents took us to the Maldives, before it really became a popular tourist destination. At that time, the hotel on the island we visited was just a couple of huts on the beach. It was a glimpse of paradise that has stayed with me always. I can still see the plethora of beautiful colours, bright yellows, greens and reds. The classic combination of the azure blue ocean and the white sand has been immortalised many times, but it truly is a sight to behold.

It was a trip of many mishaps. I lost the specially purchased underwater camera (then spent the rest of day crying and swimming around randomly trying to look for it), my dad was bitten by a Grouper (Then my Mum claimed that Groupers don't bite, and went to investigate herself- where she promptly got bitten too). I managed to get a rather large amount of sand in my ears that took years to grow out. But it was fun!

One day I was snorkeling along looking at brightly coloured fish, when slowly the sea bed turned dark. At first I looked up because I thought it was a shadow, but soon I saw it was moving - a massive ray. I have never felt quite so dwarfed and certainly never so humble. I watched it swim of into the distance, knowing that I would probably never get to see anything so amazing again.

 

So this little chap was inspired by that ray. He started of like most of my work does, as a little doodle, and soon grew into a (badly) crocheted first draft. Although, as soon as he was finished, I realised I had made yet another mistake. Giraffes have blue tongues and rays have different mouths! Now I will have to rework it. Oh well. As my Great Oma said if you don't use your head you use your legs!

I had a pivotal taste reawakening at lunchtime today. I had forgotten how heavenly this nectar of the gods was. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup...

Takes you right back to being eight. And only 200 calories a bowl! Why did I ever stop eating it!

A skunk with pink gloves

I am having a very relaxing holiday and Christmas was snuggly and amazing. I have finished the Munro Bag Tutorial; you can download it here:Download MunroBag.pdf. This bag is so simple I cant even really call it a tutorial! Think of it as a 2 second easy peasy guide.

I am working on a couple of animal projects and this is the first draft of a skunk. He still needs a fair bit of work... but I thought I would give him an airing.

still a bit shy...

likes peering at people

These crocheted gloves were one of my favourite christmas presents, the back is the softest buttery leather.

Every time I see something crocheted in a shop I have to go and examine how it was made and these are just gorgeous. What can I say, deep down I have a flamboyant pink side!

I also got this beautiful set, handmade by the wonderful little green. She made them with a Japanese fabric and soft blue baby cord. The cosmetic bag was made using a tutorial from here http://smallhand.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_smallhand_archive.html#112473596029582231 (scroll down to August 24th) and the pin cushion was made using Planet June's tutorial, without the wrist strap or button, you can find it here http://www.planetjune.com/blog/offset-square-wrist-pincushion-tutorial/ . The rest was made up, but is pretty easy; just some rectangles. 

I have been trying to write a personal mission statement. I think sometimes it is easy to feel a bit lost, and like you don't really have any direction, so I hope it will help to focus my mind!

More robins and a snake

I have had horrible cold-flu all week. I think I must have emptied Edinburgh of tissues! I was even too sick to crochet - Enough of poor me!

I am a very bad, sick person and constantly demand attention... I whine.... request exotic flavours of ice cream....am always too hot or too cold.....and constantly go on and on and on about not feeling well in the midst of ordering everyone around.

It's a good thing I couldn't get near the computer!

I have had lots of pattern requests for the crocodile and the kitten, so those are the patterns I will tackle next.

In the meantime, this is what I did last night. If you are taking part in the Christmas card swap - look away!!

I mean it!!!!!

Now!!! While you have just seen a peak!

I am really pleased with the effect, just layered cord, fleece and felt. I promise I will soon be over my robin addiction.

I also spent some time making some very tiny toys for friends. They are all small enough to fit in the spoony bit of a spoon. So they are not as detailed as I would like.

First up... The joyful snake

Owlets and preparing for the tree

I managed to write the owlet pattern up today because it was just so simple! Barely a pattern at all. But here it is: Download owlets.pdf. I am still working on the other ones too!

I have spent today preparing to decorate the tree tomorrow.... Yay!!!!! We are trying to go for a pretty much all hand made tree.... Will need to see how it turns out. Decorating the tree always requires a trip to Dobbies for inspiration.  It is the most divinely beautiful store and the Christmas trees are astounding - I can't wait! I will post a picture as soon as its finished.

As these little guys are not on this blog any more I thought I would tell you their story:

They are scarabs (fakes) that my Oma and Mum bought in Egypt in 1950's. Every year or so she would take the boat from where she lived in Indonesia up to the Netherlands, and they would sail up the coast of Africa.

They always visited Egypt, and saw some amazing things Tutankhamen's tomb and the pyramids before it became a place where you couldn't touch anything.

I got these when she died and absolutely love them. I adore all ancient history but particularly that of Rome and Egypt. Thats why this blog is called roman sock, because they now believe that Roman's wore socks under their sandals (Made from a technique similar to Crochet )!!! A very British faux pas.

Owls and envy

I have been so envious of all the lovely little fabric owls everyone is making!

Like these little darlings from Moonstitches http://moonstitches.typepad.com/moonstitches/2007/11/zakka-style-owl.html

But the calls of non-crochet life have been strong this week and I had to go Christmas shopping last night, so didn't have much time.... so I whipped these up just after midnight.

roosting

I am working on some big projects and should have an easy weekend so hopefully there will be something a little more interesting than wee owls on Monday.

Talking about Owls, Owly has a lovely new blog Owlish http://owlishly.typepad.com/ as one of the first posters she gave me some of her amazing patterns, free! How nice is that!!!!!

Bri has also been making me drool, on her lovely http://figswithbri.com/ with her yummy Lemon Curd recipe!!!!

So over and out

a polar bear...picked out of a hat... and frogspiration

First things first.... The names out of the hat for the pass it forward thing are....

Congratulations to Pat, Moomin Mamma and Pepper Pup, I shall get to work on your gifts. Thank you all so much for replying!! I will try to pop a little something something into everyone's Holiday Card too, as I hate to leave anyone disappointed.

The 'Jute Mill Song' link doesnt seem to be working, because the BBC only stream in the UK (How annoying!). I found an alternative verion here: http://penny-price-jute-mill-song-mp3-download.kohit.net/_/317899 . Its not quite as pure as the other, but is still very beautiful.

The lyrics are here: http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/song-midis/Jute_Mill_Song.htm . The story of Mary Brookbank is quite remarkable. Mary and a small group of female workers fought to increase the wages of factory workers in Dundee so they could get a living wage. She stood up to authority and got everyone to raise their voices together in protest. The youngest of their little gang sang the song in the BBC version, which made it really special. Try to hear it again here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/player/?item=44533384.

I have also been working on a new animal, my very first bear, called Stargazer.

I am very pleased with how he worked out. He is made with a brushed cotton yarn, and has a little bit of rice in to make him heavy to pick up. I will try to take some better pictures of him.

I also got an amazing book by Thomas Marent called Rainforest. It is an unbelieveably beautiful book, and makes you want to give up everything to live in the forest. It has one full page of the most stunningly shot frogs, which could all be variations of my Tree Frog Pattern.... feast your eyes on this frogspiration...

the third thing: a robin

Well the third and forth things happened.... bad luck seems to be never ending.

There was an attempted burglary on the flat. Luckily they only managed one lock, and were scared off by the dog.

He is very loud and scary sounding, even though he is only 11 inches high! So thank you twinkle! That is the second time he has saved us. The first was when we had a gas leak and I didn't notice, until he almost lead me out of the house...and when I went back in I could smell it.

And then to make matters even worse, a car crashed into ours while it was parked over night!

Oh well, enough of the doom and gloom. I heard the most amazing song. http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/music/tv/index.shtml?episode_number=03. It is written by a Scottish woman called Mary Brookbank who worked in the jute mills in Dundee. She campaigned to get higher wages for workers and won!  The workers in the mill worked incredibly hard for so little and she rallied them together, uniting their voices, with her incredible songs. I am so interested in the history of women. I think so often the stories of ordinary women who do extraordinary things goes unrecorded: the history of real life. So please listen to it if you get a chance.

I have also finished the Robin pattern it is available here: Download robin.pdf

I am working on a polar bear now, but have a very busy week so I may have something to post at the weekend! Apart from that I shall be rushed off my feet.

Greta the pup

The lovely Gurganus on Ravelry asked me to make her a miniature amigurumi of her adorable dog Greta who was adopted from her local APS at just 3 months and is now 14 years old! So without further ado....

You can't get more gorgeous than the real thing though:

She loves to play....

and snooze...

and smile...

I also just wanted to say thank you all for reading this blog and all your kind words and support!! Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!!

 

Crocodiles and Commissons

I am very excited!!! Recently I got my first commissions one for a darling little doggie and one for some Meerkats!! I am over the moon!

I have added a step by step guide to the Athenian Scarf ( Broomstick Lace) here: http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/step-by-step-broomstick-l.html

I have also just finished this guy:

He is very fiesty, but I like him.

A quick update on the boiler situation....I now have heat! Thank you Mr. Boilerman. It makes a massive difference.

Bird brain....robins on the mind

I have been trying to perfect my robin... In fact, I have been somewhat robin obsessed (even dreaming about robins). But, after many trials and tribulations of the red breasted sort, this is what I have come up with:

This robin-loution has been a slow process. Here are some of the least mishapen versions...

I bought this book from a charity shop here in Edinburgh for just £2, it was published in 1900. I love old books absolutely, it's almost about the people that have read them, rather than the work itself - almost! I think when you read a book, you give a little bit of yourself to it - the time you spent reading -the emotion you invested. How many times has this one been read in its 107 years?

   

Instant crochetfication: Trumpet from the roof tops

I have finally gotten my act together and have written up the elephant pattern:  Download elephant.pdf (In the Instant Crochetification section on the side bar - Under one hour projects for fun and instant gratification, great for little presents and trinkets)

Slight change to pattern it should read:

Round 8: Lets call the st you are on st 1. Chain 4 skip 3, single st into 4th -  St no 26. (This should have created a loop from the base, Loop 1). No st 1 into each chain (from st 25, 24, 23 etc to st 1) until loop1. Single st 4 (d,c,b,a) around chain in gap (the chain from st 1 to 26.) Cast off. Secure eyes on either side of loop.

I always underestimate how long it takes to write up patterns! My problem is I have far too many ideas..... and end up trying new things when I should be diligently writing patterns. This week I have made and frogged a strange mitten, several odd bags, and some hideously misshapen creatures... I need to focus on one thing!

Little Kissmas Meerkat didn't get into the next round of the Softie Awards........ but, the lovely Donielle picked him as one of her favorites http://www.comfits.typepad.com//comfits/2007/11/my-contest-winn.html on her blog Comfits. I am very chuffed indeed.

My favorite was http://flickr.com/photos/51758969@N00/1570259465/ Freddy the Bat by Maritza at Soto Softies. I have loved softies all my life, but have never fallen quite so hard for one as this.

As some of you may know, I have been thinking of emigrating for a while, the UK can feel a very small place, but sometimes you see things like this:

With a sunset this beautiful it can't be all bad. I took this photo on the train, on yet another trip to Grimsby. I must have looked totally mad, but I couldn't not capture it (excuse the double-negative).

I have also started to memorize poetry, I got this great book by Ted Hughes called By Heart. At the start he explains a great technique for memorization. It certainly makes the day a bit more pleasant when you can fill your head with beautiful words, at whim. I have also found this website dedicated to it http://www.passonapoem.com/re_learningpoetry.htm. In terms of poetry I am very predictable... My favorite is the old classic The Road Not taken  http://www.bartleby.com/119/1.html ...popular, but really good.

Thanks for all the positive feed back on setting up an etsy account ( Sabrina, June, Ann, Monty and MoominMama - especially a big thank you!) I am working on it! as well as the other patterns, Kitty, Giraffe, Hedgehog and Robin. I am hoping to get them all up as soon as I can. But with my penchant for distractions, I think it's best not to make any promises about when. Is soon good enough?

Let sleeping pups lie

Sunday has been a very lazy day, spent reading, crocheting and going out for a nice lunch. However I have not been nearly as lazy as the pup. Isn't he cute? A sleeping little angel.

Good news! I now have two elephants and the pattern should be up tomorrow, along with the robin. The giraffe is proving a little more problematic, as I need to wait for a delivery of the right type of yarn... so I will start as soon as it lands on my doormat.

I have been thinking about starting an etsy store... My shelves are starting to heave with crocheted creatures and it would be nice for them to have a home where they have a bit of space to be loved. The patterns would all still be free, just a way to cope with the multiples of everything I am ending up with. What do you think?

I have put out the winter bird feeders, and I am just hoping that some birds flying through the city will find a minute to stop, rest, and have a bite. Here's hoping. Its just not winter without robins.

Christmas on the mind...

I have been totally waylaid by my entries for the Holiday Softie Awards http://softiescentral.typepad.com/blog/. All the entries are absolutely stunning, I just marvel at the creativity of people. The whole thing has got me feeling all Christmasy, and the nights really feel like they are drawing in.

Tonight we went for a walk down the Royal Mile (The street that links Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace) and in the soft night it could easily have been a couple of hundred years ago. We then headed into Arthur's seat and just gloried in the night air. Sometimes the world still seems magical.

and a little robin

 

All this means I have neglected the Instant Gratification Crochet page... I am a very bad girl. The good news is that the Robin will be included in the set. I am writing up the patterns and they should be on-line in the next couple of days. So keep an eye out!

not the smartest giraffe in the herd

I have been beavering away all of last week on this little creature. He is very silly and a bit daft, but I like him the better for it. Out of all the creatures on the planet, in some way the giraffe seems the most unlikely. Like something a child has drawn, that should have been a horse or a deer and ended up all out of proportion.

up for some fun!

handsome darling

isn't he eager

reaching...

posing

silly in search of a leaf

When I was little I was lucky enough to live in Africa, and coming face to face with these creatures makes you realise they are not a joke. They are beautiful.  Elegant, gentle and soft. I have amazing memories of playing in Great Zimbabwe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Zimbabwe with my granddad running between the ruins and climbing as high as I could. Those days are full of desert and laughter for me.I don't know if it was the dust that made them seem golden in my mind, or some trick of memory. We also saw Victoria Falls http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Falls I just have a few memories of what it looked like. But when I shut my eyes I can remember the sound, like the whole earth was roaring.

I am hoping to get the Instant Gratification part of the website done over the weekend. It will have a loads of super quick patterns. I will start with the elephant and hedgehog as well as a robin, I have almost finished. I have a long list of other things to include! 

A quickie - Elephant

It felt so good, yesterday, holding the little hedgehog after just a little while of work, I thought I would try another super quick softie. I think I am going to start a page of patterns for these tiny little things that can be made quickly from scraps.

I wanted something a little more challenging, so he is made all in one piece, apart from the ears. The wool is alpaca silk - to my mind the best combination on the planet - and he settles in your hand with a satisfying weight.

Showing his lines

diva moment

I am having one of those times again, the wanderlust is hitting me. As a child I moved around every two years or so, and now every two years I feel the urge to flutter off and find a new life. Although, deep down, I am sick of fluttering. I want a home - a proper home, with a garden, and birds, with grass and trees, filled with books and wool. Somewhere that feels safe and mine.

Because we moved so often, a bit like elephants, I suppose, I don't have a 'home village' or even, for that matter, a 'home'.  We always lived in a house, rather than a home: it was always temporary. I wonder if a home is something you can acquire if you've never had one? Anyway, this sounds very morose and I don't mean it to. I am listening to some students, that live across the lane, singing their hearts out to "unbreak my heart". Long live karaoke! As long as they stop soon so I can sleep.

Hedgehogitis

I have far too many crochet projects on the go at the moment. So tonight I just wanted to make something small, simple and cute.

Hedgehogs are becoming rarer in the UK, because there is less habitat for them and road sense isn't their strong suit. I never get to see them, living in a flat high up in central Edinburgh, but they always remind me of simpler times, when I would stay with my Oma in the Netherlands.

Oma adored hedgehogs and had many in her garden. She loved to feed them, and made small ponds for them to drink from. To me they always seemed like fairy ponds. Oma and I would watch from the window as they came out from under the shrubs and sipped at the water. The list of things I associate with Oma is strange and long, lemon balm, budgies, fleeces, silk, Oma cream, books and lempers...So in a sense, I suppose this is a nostalgia hedgehog.

He is made from Sirdar Baby Bamboo, which I find brushes out to fluff really well, as well as some brown wool scraps, and my very favorite Paton's Spirit.

I really love this picture of him, he looks like he is scampering.

Now climbing: a real adventure hog!

A hedgehog in the hand isn't worth two in the bush, but he looks cute anyway.

I have lived in Scotland for a long time now, and absolutely love it. I never usually feel like an outsider, except when England is playing sport. When England plays, Scottish people tend to furiously support the opposite team ( whereas, in England, within my experience, when England bows out we support any other members of the UK). It always slightly upsets me because I wish we could support each other, if we cant play together. It makes you remember how tenuous the union is.

The bag is coming along too...

Tabby Cyclops Kitty

This is an idea I have had for a while, I wanted to make a cyclops kitty but wanted him to be a tabby...

Snuggled...

shy...or evil

 

The stare...

playing...

I have also been tracing my family tree and found out that four generations of my ancestors were lace makers, and my Gran's mother was a crochet addict! So I guess the crafting bug comes down through the ages... I am away on business for a couple of days and hope to come back with a new bag pattern I have been working on!