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| Claire and Colin - the most frequent holders of the Dingbat award! |
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| Colin and Chris |
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| Simon and Atilla |
Still sorry to see them all go though. Noone to have intelligent (or otherwise!) conversations with in the office.
29 Dec 2010
Farewell to some Friends
Still sorry to see them all go though. Noone to have intelligent (or otherwise!) conversations with in the office.
Apologies for the break in transmission!
Wow, I've not blogged since September 27th - phew, I think that's the longest gap in the history of this blog. I sort of have an excuse - I've been crafting like mad for Christmas (is that a poem or a song title??) and therefore have been unable to blog about any of the creations which have been flying from the ends of my needles!
For whatever reason, the inability to blog about that has actually stopped me blogging at all - that and the fact that I've been crafting like crazy (another song title?) has meant I've had less time to blog.
Anyway, here I am, back on the wagon and thought I'd start by telling you I've created a 'Cyber Stitch and Bitch' Facebook group! It's a sort of all crafting together and sharing the results online. There are other real life groups which actually meet (like this one) - where often cake or wine is involved - but as we are geographically dispersed, it makes sense to have a virtual group.
The remit of the group is to share stories, big each other up when we complete (or struggle to complete) projects, ask and answer questions, and generally be a supportive, creative crew. There have already been some interesting discussions, and we have had our 1st piece of crochet from a novice crocheter so it's all very inspiring.
It's a closed group, invite only, so If any readers of this blog would like to join then as long as you are on Facebook, just send me an email and I'll invite you in.
Craft-wise then, what have I been up to??
Well it was both Janey's & Michelle's (Dan's mum's) birthday in October and I was a little bit crafty there - I made them both this super duper cowl/scarf thing...
The stitch, which produces the MASSIVE rib, is called a seeded purl (v easy once you get the hang of it!) and with the super chunky yarn and size 10 needles, makes it very quick to finish, and I did each one in 2 evenings!
Not so some of the other things I have had on the go (or still on the go!) but more about those soon.
For whatever reason, the inability to blog about that has actually stopped me blogging at all - that and the fact that I've been crafting like crazy (another song title?) has meant I've had less time to blog.
Anyway, here I am, back on the wagon and thought I'd start by telling you I've created a 'Cyber Stitch and Bitch' Facebook group! It's a sort of all crafting together and sharing the results online. There are other real life groups which actually meet (like this one) - where often cake or wine is involved - but as we are geographically dispersed, it makes sense to have a virtual group.
The remit of the group is to share stories, big each other up when we complete (or struggle to complete) projects, ask and answer questions, and generally be a supportive, creative crew. There have already been some interesting discussions, and we have had our 1st piece of crochet from a novice crocheter so it's all very inspiring.
It's a closed group, invite only, so If any readers of this blog would like to join then as long as you are on Facebook, just send me an email and I'll invite you in.
Craft-wise then, what have I been up to??
Well it was both Janey's & Michelle's (Dan's mum's) birthday in October and I was a little bit crafty there - I made them both this super duper cowl/scarf thing...
As you can see from the link to the pattern...http://www.cocoknits.com/knit/garments/accessories/fear-of-commitment-cowl.html it can be worn in multiple ways and there is no button needed - hence 'Fear of Commitment' ie you don't have to commit to putting in a button hole!!!!
So, I made Janey and Michelle one of these each. Michelle's in green (pictured) and Janey's in purple to match her new coat.
Not so some of the other things I have had on the go (or still on the go!) but more about those soon.
27 Sept 2010
Craftyness
I've been in a bit of a craft black hole recently - fighting with the same few things over and over - pulling them out, starting from the beginning - pulling them out - and starting them again! Now I'm getting better at crochet, knitting and sewing (and I AM getting better) it's not just enough to finish something, I've got to get it almost perfect (note: I said almost perfect - I'm trying not to get back into my perfectionist ways).
So, what have I been making? Well, anyone who follows me on FACEBOOK will know that this weekend I've mostly been doing Formula 1 and Knitting!!!!
Jan's Glove-things!
My lovely friend Janice asked me to make something with some 'camel wool' she'd bought. Camel as in dromedary and not just the colour, although, as you will see, it is, actually camel coloured too! Who knew?We scooted around the internet for a pattern or 2 and she found these - very trendy wrist warmers - the latest fashion accessory.
So, armed with...
I used some tutorials on YouTube to help with the double pointed thing. Love Love Love Youtube for tutorials!
I began to knit. It came out looking like a camel coloured tube - this was what I wanted!!!
I kept going - it seemed to fit my hand/wrist - this was also what I wanted!!!
I had to do a couple of alterations to the original pattern around the thumb hole as the pattern called for 8 rows of a gap to stick your thumb out and I decided this would have caused circulation issues, so I increased the count there, but all the rest has been more or less the same as the pattern.
With things being a bit busy the last couple of weekends, though, I've had no time to do any knitting since I got so far a few weeks ago, but yesterday, during the Grand Prix, I managed to finish the 1st one...
...and, get on with the 2nd! Yay!
I'm now up to the thumb hole on the 2nd one (it was a looooooooong race, wasn't it?) and hopefully, it will be done in a day or 2!!!
They look a bit irregular - I think that's partly due to my inexpert knitting style, but also the wool is of varied width and thickness - so it makes them a little 'rustic' looking. I hope Jan likes them! I think they're fab and will be making myself a pair very soon!
Booties for Sam
Sam...
The first pair I made were WAAAAAAAAAAY too small. Massively cute tho...
He has little (big) feet! So, I drew around his toes and then started another one. I made one, and still have to finish the other.
A bag for me
Yes I'm actually making something for myself!!!! It's a gorgeous wool in shades of brown and cream. I'm going to attempt to crochet in some round wooden handles. I will also line it and do all the proper pockets etc. This too, has been taken out and redone, twice. I'm going without a pattern so I just have to see what something looks like, in order to work out if that's what i want!!!
Some other stuff
A couple more bags on the go - can't tell - they're surprises!
So, what have I been making? Well, anyone who follows me on FACEBOOK will know that this weekend I've mostly been doing Formula 1 and Knitting!!!!
Jan's Glove-things!
My lovely friend Janice asked me to make something with some 'camel wool' she'd bought. Camel as in dromedary and not just the colour, although, as you will see, it is, actually camel coloured too! Who knew?We scooted around the internet for a pattern or 2 and she found these - very trendy wrist warmers - the latest fashion accessory.
So, armed with...
- Zero experience of knitting on double pointed needles and
- No idea whether the wool thickness or needles were the right ones for the pattern,
I used some tutorials on YouTube to help with the double pointed thing. Love Love Love Youtube for tutorials!
I began to knit. It came out looking like a camel coloured tube - this was what I wanted!!!
I kept going - it seemed to fit my hand/wrist - this was also what I wanted!!!
I had to do a couple of alterations to the original pattern around the thumb hole as the pattern called for 8 rows of a gap to stick your thumb out and I decided this would have caused circulation issues, so I increased the count there, but all the rest has been more or less the same as the pattern.
With things being a bit busy the last couple of weekends, though, I've had no time to do any knitting since I got so far a few weeks ago, but yesterday, during the Grand Prix, I managed to finish the 1st one...
...and, get on with the 2nd! Yay!
I'm now up to the thumb hole on the 2nd one (it was a looooooooong race, wasn't it?) and hopefully, it will be done in a day or 2!!!
They look a bit irregular - I think that's partly due to my inexpert knitting style, but also the wool is of varied width and thickness - so it makes them a little 'rustic' looking. I hope Jan likes them! I think they're fab and will be making myself a pair very soon!
Booties for Sam
Sam...
The first pair I made were WAAAAAAAAAAY too small. Massively cute tho...
He has little (big) feet! So, I drew around his toes and then started another one. I made one, and still have to finish the other.
A bag for me
Yes I'm actually making something for myself!!!! It's a gorgeous wool in shades of brown and cream. I'm going to attempt to crochet in some round wooden handles. I will also line it and do all the proper pockets etc. This too, has been taken out and redone, twice. I'm going without a pattern so I just have to see what something looks like, in order to work out if that's what i want!!!
Mum's Cardie
Mum's cardie is becoming a real stop and start job. I've completed the back and the left front. I'm only about 5 rows away from completing the right front. Then, I only have the sleeves to go. It's not that it's taking a long time, it's more that I get going on it again, only to drop it when another new project comes along!!!
Some other stuff
A couple more bags on the go - can't tell - they're surprises!
26 Sept 2010
25 Sept 2010
Squids and Things
So, Dan posted this rather innocuous looking link on Facebook...
I'll explain for those of you who don't know how facebook works - (Mum, Jane, Uncle Ste, I'm talking to you!) On Facebook, you can link to websites, and you can link to other people on Facebook - and this is then posted onto a public noticeboard which can be seen by your friends. You get notified if someone links to you (you can tell by my name in blue that Dan linked to me) and so I was notified, and was intrigued; I clicked on the link. It took me here...
Stitch-A-Squid - Stitch London
The general premise, if you don't want to go onto the site and read all the blurb, is that a social knitting club were getting together with the Natural History Museum to enjoy their Deep Sea Exhibition.
You were to meet, with needles and wool, in the main exhibition hall of the NHM, and join fellow nutty knitters to create a squid. Yes, that's correct!
If I *could* have been there, I would. Leeds is a little far away from the NHM. However, this wasn't a problem, it seemed. Deadly KnitShade, the driving force behind Stitch London had created some patterns for various squirmy deep sea creatures and was going to publish the squid one on everybody's favourite Knitting Website - Ravelry!
I bought eyes and orange wool.
I set the "waiting with squiddly anticipation" flag.
I waited.
Finally, the pattern appeared. I paid my dues (no it wasn't six quid, arf arf arf) and downloaded the pattern. I had no idea what was beginning. I began to knit...
...and knit
I'll explain for those of you who don't know how facebook works - (Mum, Jane, Uncle Ste, I'm talking to you!) On Facebook, you can link to websites, and you can link to other people on Facebook - and this is then posted onto a public noticeboard which can be seen by your friends. You get notified if someone links to you (you can tell by my name in blue that Dan linked to me) and so I was notified, and was intrigued; I clicked on the link. It took me here...
The general premise, if you don't want to go onto the site and read all the blurb, is that a social knitting club were getting together with the Natural History Museum to enjoy their Deep Sea Exhibition.
You were to meet, with needles and wool, in the main exhibition hall of the NHM, and join fellow nutty knitters to create a squid. Yes, that's correct!
If I *could* have been there, I would. Leeds is a little far away from the NHM. However, this wasn't a problem, it seemed. Deadly KnitShade, the driving force behind Stitch London had created some patterns for various squirmy deep sea creatures and was going to publish the squid one on everybody's favourite Knitting Website - Ravelry!
I bought eyes and orange wool.
I set the "waiting with squiddly anticipation" flag.
I waited.
Finally, the pattern appeared. I paid my dues (no it wasn't six quid, arf arf arf) and downloaded the pattern. I had no idea what was beginning. I began to knit...
...and knit
and knit!
I put a photo of my 1st 3 squid back up on the Ravelry Website where DeadlyKnitshade had posted the pattern in the 1st place, and guess what? She wrote to me to tell me how nice they were! How cool is that? I love the internet!!!
As I write this blog, I have yet another squid in production - just sewn the head together. I think this will be No. 10!! I had no idea how addictive squid could be.
Not so long ago, Dan, posted this on Facebook
Pigeons. Tiny. Round. Cute. I think I'm done for!
Mind you, once you start looking online for cute little craft projects, you never know what you will find...
Cork Ninjas. OMG!
Mum's Birthday
Way back in August, I arranged to meet Mum and Dad here...
The Concorde Viewing Park at Manchester Airport.
Why was this a nice surprise, you may ask? I remember back in the late 1970s / early 1980s. Concorde used to visit Liverpool for the Grand National. Mum would either drag us out of the house (or later on, the Shop or the Restaurant) on the Saturday afternoon, to watch it fly over - usually twice in the day. Going back a little further, I remember camping out at Eastham Woods, waiting for it to fly over. I seem to remember there were Fish and Chips involved (mind you, F&C are ALWAYS involved if you're going to Eastham Woods, it's the Law)
Note the excellent vantage point for seeing the planes taking off and landing at Liverpool Airport!
Obviously after the double tragedy of the Paris crash in 2000, and then the 9/11 attacks in New York in 2001, the aviation industry was decimated and noone was flying. The Concorde programme was shut down in 2003. This meant that Mum was never going to get on board a Concorde.......or was she?
I discovered that the BOA-C Concorde, the flagshop of the fleet, was flown to Manchester and then housed in a hangar there and being made available for visitors to go and see it.
So, after a little bit of planning and some stealth, we found ourselves clambering up the stairs, to the flight deck of Concorde.
And here are our other photos.....
I told them we were meeting up for lunch - but it was all a ruse! We were meeting in the above car park because it was really close to my planned surprise destination...
The Concorde Viewing Park at Manchester Airport.
Why was this a nice surprise, you may ask? I remember back in the late 1970s / early 1980s. Concorde used to visit Liverpool for the Grand National. Mum would either drag us out of the house (or later on, the Shop or the Restaurant) on the Saturday afternoon, to watch it fly over - usually twice in the day. Going back a little further, I remember camping out at Eastham Woods, waiting for it to fly over. I seem to remember there were Fish and Chips involved (mind you, F&C are ALWAYS involved if you're going to Eastham Woods, it's the Law)
Note the excellent vantage point for seeing the planes taking off and landing at Liverpool Airport!
In subsequent years, Mum has always followed the Concorde story in the press, and always imagined that one day she might get to fly on it. I think the thought of a long haul flight (something she'd never contemplate) was always made better by the knowledge of how much less time it would take to do the same journey on Concorde.
Obviously after the double tragedy of the Paris crash in 2000, and then the 9/11 attacks in New York in 2001, the aviation industry was decimated and noone was flying. The Concorde programme was shut down in 2003. This meant that Mum was never going to get on board a Concorde.......or was she?
I discovered that the BOA-C Concorde, the flagshop of the fleet, was flown to Manchester and then housed in a hangar there and being made available for visitors to go and see it.
So, after a little bit of planning and some stealth, we found ourselves clambering up the stairs, to the flight deck of Concorde.
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| Check out Captain Mum! |
And here are our other photos.....
23 Sept 2010
23 Aug 2010
21 Aug 2010
In my happy place
I'm in my happy place. No, really, I am! Right here, now, as I write!
When I go to sleep at night, I often imagine myself sat here, on the top of Portsdown Hill, jut at the back of Portsmouth.
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| Image from http://en.wikivisual.com/index.php/Portsdown_Hill |
When I lived in Biddyville (aka Bedhamption) I used to drive the long way to work, via the hill, just so I could get a shot of “the view”. It was as good as a tonic. A pick-me-up. A feel good moment which set me up for the whole day. I used to try and do it at least once a day – usually I managed twice!
Every time I came up here the view was different – I saw different things, spotted different landmarks. A bit like one of those Find Waldo books, I would strive to follow familiar streets down into the city, until they were too small to differentiate.
Of course, the weather made a big difference. Some days (like today, unfortunately) the hill is virtually in the cloud – you can only see about ½ way down Portsea Island – not a scrap of the Isle of Wight is visible, and even the most prominent landmark for miles around is shrouded from view, the Spinnaker Tower. :-(
Other days, however, the air seemed to be so clear, that you could reach out your hand and grab the Isle of Wight. Eastwards, you could see into Langstone Harbour, and Chichester Harbour beyond that. Looking West, and Southampton water was clearly visible beyond Portsmouth Harbour and even Fawley could be spotted in the distance some times too.
The city (one of the most densely populated areas in Europe) always looked magical from up here. A tiny toytown of streets and buildings. The sun would be glinting off all the various bodies of water, hugging the coastline.
I would drive along the Portsdown Hill Road, and the tension...would....just....ebb......away! I recommend it to anyone who is stressed.
So even though today isn't quite one of those sparkley shiny days, I'm *still* in my happy place :-D
19 Aug 2010
1 Aug 2010
Another finished thing!
I did a blog entry a while ago about projects which I have on the go and there were a few pics of a green bag I was making using stripy fabric as a lining. I had come to the conclusion that I was going to have to remake the lining with some interfacing in it to add some extra body to the internal structure.
Well last Saturday, I unpicked the lining and got started on cutting out the interfacing and ironing it in. I then re-stitched it together and put in a popper and a handle...
I had already put some beads on the front of the bag...
So it was ready then for the lining to go back in...
I'm so neat at stitching!!!
And so it all went in nicely...spot the use of my new press stud gun!
Once the lining is all finished, it looks like this....
Well last Saturday, I unpicked the lining and got started on cutting out the interfacing and ironing it in. I then re-stitched it together and put in a popper and a handle...
The rather ham-fisted stitching you can see, is actually where I've added an internal pocket, in the original crochet green. It's just a little different from the usual pocket...
I had already put some beads on the front of the bag...
So it was ready then for the lining to go back in...
I'm so neat at stitching!!!
And so it all went in nicely...spot the use of my new press stud gun!
Once the lining is all finished, it looks like this....
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| How cute?! |
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| Perfect for an evening |
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| End-on view |
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| Spot my "Handmade by Liza" label |
31 Jul 2010
I've been creating again!
No, not chaos! Nice things!!!!
I have been having a few online debates with my facebook buddies about 'old lady' crochet. Now, I don't want this to sound derogatory or nasty - it's just my description of the sort of crochet that I remember being sat on the sideboards of the various elderly relatives we used to go and visit. Doilies and the like.Lacy, frilly stuff. Both of my grandmas were into it. Mum's mum used to crochet the lace edging for the priest's vestments - this sort of thing... (NB this is not one of hers, just the sort of thing she used to do)
A few weeks ago I treated myself to a gorgeous set of crochet hooks in a little case...
I know, I know, but I had to do it. I only had the one (which came with Auntie Bo's bag pattern) and so I wanted to get a better collection. I bought a set which went from a size 5.5mm right down to 0.6mm (that's quite small!) and I have also bought some thread (thin string) which is suitable for crocheting little tiny things!
Anyhoo, I grabbed a small-ish hook - 1.75mm - and here's my 1st attempt...it's a bit of lace edging...
Pretty dinky, I think you'll agree.
Well after having worked out it was just about the same as normal crochet, but with more squinting, I launched into my 1st doily - strictly speaking it's a coaster.
Here's a bit of close up detail...
And being me - I couldn't just stop at the 1st one, now could I?
Just so that you get an understanding of how much smaller this work is compared to the bags I've been making, this is an extreme close-up of the 2 hooks - one is 3.5mm and the other is 1.75mm...
What do you think of my granny crochet?
I have been having a few online debates with my facebook buddies about 'old lady' crochet. Now, I don't want this to sound derogatory or nasty - it's just my description of the sort of crochet that I remember being sat on the sideboards of the various elderly relatives we used to go and visit. Doilies and the like.Lacy, frilly stuff. Both of my grandmas were into it. Mum's mum used to crochet the lace edging for the priest's vestments - this sort of thing... (NB this is not one of hers, just the sort of thing she used to do)
 |
| Courtesy of Christ the King linens http://cklinens.tripod.com/ |
A few weeks ago I treated myself to a gorgeous set of crochet hooks in a little case...
I know, I know, but I had to do it. I only had the one (which came with Auntie Bo's bag pattern) and so I wanted to get a better collection. I bought a set which went from a size 5.5mm right down to 0.6mm (that's quite small!) and I have also bought some thread (thin string) which is suitable for crocheting little tiny things!
Anyhoo, I grabbed a small-ish hook - 1.75mm - and here's my 1st attempt...it's a bit of lace edging...
Pretty dinky, I think you'll agree.
Well after having worked out it was just about the same as normal crochet, but with more squinting, I launched into my 1st doily - strictly speaking it's a coaster.
Here's a bit of close up detail...
 | |
| Edging |
 |
| Centre |
And being me - I couldn't just stop at the 1st one, now could I?
Just so that you get an understanding of how much smaller this work is compared to the bags I've been making, this is an extreme close-up of the 2 hooks - one is 3.5mm and the other is 1.75mm...
What do you think of my granny crochet?
30 Jul 2010
Dad's 70th
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| Oh Grandma, what big teeth you have! |
Anyway, it happened! His birthday party was fancy dress, of course, and the theme was 'R' ~ anything beginning with the letter R, thus leaving quite a few options open to all and sundry.
Dad of course came as himself - R for Roberto
I came as '
Mum and Dad's (slightly mad) guests came in all sorts of costumes - most of them cleverly contorted into titles which had the letter R...
On the left here we have R-Dan ...
...with his arm around the aging Rock star Ringo Starr!
A double whammy for the RRRRRRRs there - although by the end of the night he had been renamed Juan Lennon (the lesser known Spanish sibling of John!) as the person behind all the hair is none other than our lovely friend Jose Ramon Torres Castro!
Then we have the famous backing group The Robettes Dad's fan club; who came in waving a banner and singing!
In this next picture we seem to have a man in red chatting to a Racer who was actually Valentino Rossi, and they are passing the time of day with a Ranger!
In this slightly more crowded shot, we have (from Left to right)
A lady in Red, one of the Robettes, dancing with the Rhinestone Cowboy, another Red Riding Hood, a Rani, and then we have a Rep sitting down in front of the aforementioned Ringo! On the right you can see the long red cloak of the 3rd Red Riding Hood
Next we have a red-head and a Rabbit - can you spot the family resemblance????
I reckon Uncle Ste's legs are as good as Mum's!
And here is the Rasta Man...(bringing cakes and trifle!)
Finally, and I have to say, the best costume of them all - was Janey's. Can you guess what she came as...?
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| Roberto on one side, and Roberto on the other. That makes Snap! |
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