ruffled feathers

Ruffled feathers described how I feel about my subscription to simply crochet . I have been looking around for something else. Then by chance I won a set of knitting needles . They are knit pro and very posh and I planned to give to my mum but I do miss knitting but I love crochet and not touched needles since I learned my first chain . Then I found a new magazine

Let's get crafting it does both knitting and crochet. Each issue you get needles and hook and wool. So I have it a go. I loved it .the projects are small and quick and quirky everything I like so I set about on the cover project

Diago the parrot

I love the detail the ruffles on his wings were a nightmare but the effect is really nice

the wool came with the mag and I love the colour and the shine it has although I could have done with more of the blue 

Looks like I have found answer to my subscription problem and by signing up I get some free hooks to match needles I won  so it was meant to be lol

simply ranting

I love crochet magazines. There us a real.lack of decent modern mags in the UK. My opinion is simply crochet is one of the best
 I subscribed a year ago and I look forward to flitting through its glossy pics

But lately is got later and later and now after four months of being messed around it is due to arrive a week after its been in sale. The customer service is terrible . You say you may leave they say sorry to hear that. The face book page a joke. I don't doubt they work hard but surely there job security rides with us buying. So when we ask what the problem.is .do we not deserve a answer . In age of social media subscribers will gather and compare notes .no longer can we be fobbed  off with royal mail have a issue.

The annoying thing is I could just stop membership but when they get it right . The magazine is a joy. Last month the was best for ages .And the poncho craze seems to have taken internet by storm if I leave am I cutting of nose to spite face. Do I find new mag and just use ravelry or just except that simply crochet cares nothing for its readers.

To help me decide. I have looked back at my.makes this year from.the magazine

 some of these projects were my favourite makes  . I can't bring myself to leave to angry to stay lol I think this is what it means to be British we are good at moaning  but nit so keen to act .

tree top treats

While I am working on a larger projects I am also making tree decorations . I originally was using the free kit with simply crochet magazine but the wool isn't very nice  so am back to and generic dk and results much better . I love the simplicity of red and white .

I love the little swirl sweets  so quick and easy ..m sure by time tree goes up will be swamped with decorations  best get hooking then. 

a celebration bird

This is my 100th post I don't think I have ever kept at a diary so long and certainly not a blog but I did wonder what I should do as my post . I am also getting to the anniversary of first learning to crochet so I wanted it to be something good I attempted some very tricky most but messed them up and the result  was not picking up my hook


So then today my new copy of simply crochet came . It's a bumper issue ready for Xmas . How could I not find something I wanted to make. And what really stood out is the free attic 24 kit to make a board bird


It seemed fitting Lucy work opened my eyes to what was possible Crochet . I really thought it was all granny squares and bunting untill then.  So I set to work a three hours later here it is

Forgive the photo . It's really hard to get it right but it is actually really cute. The pattern was in a book of various decoration . I love the early and the colour so think I will make a few for my tree.


So that's it the my 100th post thanks for reading . I hope you enjoy reading it here's to the next 100!!

twit twoo

Am on a roll at finishing off works in progress the latest is this owl keyring that cane free with this month's simply crochet.

 Ok so it looms simple enough but looks are deceiving. The pattern was simple. The hard part came with the materials supplied it is made with embroidery  thread  I was pleased at first as I had some small hooks I never used but it was harder than no thought . And the eyes were impossible .  So I cheated and used buttons. This is not the first kit that has  caused me problems in fact it's only one I finished.  Looking on website I found every one had same issue. If you made it would love to see yours 

quick update

Just a quickie I put the button on  and I think it looks much better this comes from.the simply crochet  mag . It was a cover freebie. I was at a loss what to use it for but actually it's perfect

 I will be awol for a few days .as tommorow is my birthday so heading down to the unwind festival at Brighton !!! I have even more reason than my birthday to celebrate I have after six years finished with the open university and proud owner  of a hours degree


I am sure the next post will be my festival snaps enjoy your weekend whatever your plans x 

time for something new

My new magazine came yesterday and one thing caught my eye Tunisian crochet. There was a how to section and some Sun glasses case . So I set to work


Me and sunglasses case ha e a long crochet history it was about this time last year I first picked up hook and I did make a rather pathetic Sun glasses case which I was insanely proud off . However after thinking I had cracked crochet I was unable to make anything else.


I don't have any long Tunisian. Hooks so I used my normal trusty 4mm hook and or a raised a swatch peice. I was pleased it seemed easy and set to work

Here is the result of side one

 It's not to bad  but by second side was much neater as I got into the swing of it

 It makes a nice dense fabric  . I will definitely be buying a set of nice long hooks  if you fancy a go why not get copy of  @simply crochet  set your self a challenge bet you will be glad you did 

up up and away

 Was really pleased how quick this has worked up

 To make this I have borrowed from various sources. The general idea comes from.Lucy's happy flower .  The sun  from. Bunny mummy  blog and the cloud came from.a motif in simy crochet.  The star of the show is the hot air balloon which was ally designed by o e of my.closest friends . The pattern can be found on ravelry

Blog land myself I included having a bit of Mandala mania  but I love that this one can have a practical use as my house if getting covered by these no surface is safe lol.

I think all together it works really well . I plan to give this to my nephew to put in his nursery I think it will brighten up any room. 

a rose by any other name

 My mum has been staying with me over the bank holiday . I hardly see her so it made a nice if not sometimes challenging time lol. My crochet been neglected as I played hostess but back to it today but what to make ?

I wAnt to make her a present to take down later in year but what to make. I looked at shawls but nothing grabbed me . I finally decided on Lucy's  Mary rose wreath . 

 The picture shows the large rose done in chunky . The normal.rose and the micro rose ( which are my favourite.)  The only thing I have changed is I have put a shiny bead in centre of flower to give wreath some bling lol .i have loved how quickly they fly off hook.

 This is not my first wreath . Again this is from Lucy pattern I. February simply crochet. But it's my first proper wreath   and so far I am loving it . The roses are quick and simple and easy to complete in front of telly lol .My friend has already made this wreath and given me some tips in construction so do get a crossed it will  look as good as I hope. 

a light interlude

After a big project I  wanted something  . I chose s unicorn from simply crochet

 The plan is it will be for my daughter's little girl. . I think it looks like a pig with horns lol but it is actually cute and was fun to make . I started it yesterday finished today even with my mum distracting me and I have to say it was nice to finish a project quickly. However am bit lost on what to do next

mandala mania

  Blog land is full of mandala at the moment.  This heighten awareness comes in a big part to Lucy over at attic 24 . Who is busy preparing for yarndale I am very excited as hoping to go this year. Any way it got me thinking as I have a fair few of these myself . The above one  was my first attempt and I feel in love  them

 The next two examples  are from another blogger and both appeared in simply crochet magazine

 This is my latest and this came from.Lucy's blog. Not sure if I will send to yarn Dale  as I quite fancy making them.into some kind of display here as certainly running out of places to put them . Are any of you going to yarndale ? I would love to see if  you create your own mandala.

all things bright and beautiful

I learnt to crochet just before Xmas and launch myself into Xmas tree and robin and every thing Christmas by New year I was sick of seeing the red and green and gold  colour  Pallett I vowed to stay away from Xmas  projects but this weekend I reverted back to Xmas stars . That was untill my new mag plopped on to my  floor














To aS actually making lunch but at sound of postman I.abounded food and ripped open  the cellophane. It's a good issue  and although there was a number of things I want to make  .sausage dog being top of list but as soon as I saw this spring mandala I had to make it. Those dedicated crochet a in blog land will probably recognise  it as being  from.wink  I had never tried surface crochet as  if you can keep a secret  I have actually done  it wrong  but still pleased with result. The colours don't show  as good as I would like but if you get chance look at proper one in simply crochet  it a work of art. More importantly it awaken the desire to embrace spring just in time for my holiday at end of week where if weather kind hoping to crochet on beach .....shhhh bliss!

marvoulous Mandela

I do supply in schools and we did a project  on mandalas . I love how detailed and pretty  they are. I was itching to have a go at one . I have seen some  Really intricate ones . This one seems quite simple but I like  the colour and overall effect it gives.

This crochet one come from the simply crochet mag. Research suggest the mandala represents order  and balance  . Which  I guess is true as i find these really relaxing to make.






However what I found less relaxing is how long it took to get a decent photo. I blocked the project as you are told to in my case had no choice it wouldn't lie flat lol  but it really helped the project look good but try as I might I couldn't get a good photo . I have seen so many good blogs with amazing pics  mine never seem to show the work as it truly is. I saw on mummy bunny blog a post about photography think I will be preceding tips lol