roman sock

Granny Square Tortoise Love

Hi everyone, Thank you so much for your appreciation over the years. Just to let you know I have relaunched the Roman Sock Shop and you can now find it at romansock.com.

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.