Christmas Crochet

Had a lovely chilled out Christmas where James and I watched loads, ate loads and did little else. We came across this funny family story on Reddit where this families tradition was to open a present on Christmas Eve much like many other families. What made this family different was the fact that their parents went to such lengths to trick the kids to open the pants and socks on Christmas eve by putting these in games boxes and tearing a corner of the wrapping paper. They even once made a bike shape with toilet roll. If I ever have kids I would be tempted to do this. link

This Christmas I made this little Crobot for one of my friends back in Glasgow. She has a thing for Robots, even used to own an alternative clothing store called Dead Robot. Shame it had to close, it was a cool wee shop. This is Mechanobot a pattern from Nelly Pailloux's Crobots.

Before adding his arms and legs

Using springs and things just adds another element to this pattern. I think this is my fave thing I have made so far!

He looked so good on my mantle place. I was tempted to keep him.

He was easy and fun to make this little guy. Was so satisfying how quickly he came together. I have started working on a scoodie - now until I came across the tutorial for this I had had no idea what a scoodie was - a mix between a scarf and a hoodie for all of you out there like me. Got myself some lovely chunky wool and a chunky hook to set to work on this project. Coming along quite nicely so far.

For Christmas James got me these gorgeous hooks from Knit Pro, I can't wait to find new patterns to put them to work.

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas too and have a Happy New Year!

Less than a month till I move to London!!!! Yikes, I had better get some money sorted and find a flat - not panicking at all...

James is back on Wednesday

It's been a strange five weeks - it has felt both fast and slow. Is that even possible? Getting up early and hitching a ride to the airport from a friend to meet him off the plane. Yay the bearded one is almost home.

In attempt to get a respite from all the panic for this big move I have been trying to do more crafty stuff but I'm super duper slow! Mastershake is still not done! I have been working on other things lately because I am sick at looking at that thing and making mistakes. It will be finished...one day.

Using a pattern by the fabulous Skunkboy Creatures featured in Mollie Makes issue 19 I made this wee guy:

James also introduced me to this cartoon called Bee and Puppycat. I hope they make more episodes. I love her attitude!

Determined to at least finish the crochet for Mastershake tonight just leaving the construction, will the lazy bum actually complete this project? Poor Colin is gonna be well disappointed in it after all the delay in his pressie. (His birthday was in February btw) dun dun dun.

Foxy Friday

Hello weekend! Next week is quite scary and exciting! Start a new placement for six weeks. So glad to be out of uni for a while. Now eager to finish all this education nonsense and get out there and work. It will be better than juggling uni, with work and a social life. Instead of being productive like I had planned tonight, I attempted an apparently easy crochet cat toy - easy my behind! Instead of having the steps in the right order, there was a wee star with a note to say you should do this before step whatever. But that was at the end. A 20 minute project took me over an hour and resulted in me ripping all the stitches out - Frustrating! Back to a YouTube tutorial I reckon!

I've came across some amazing little crochet and felted foxes in my many wasted hours staring at different blogs for ideas instead of doing uni work and thought I would share:

A trio of Lovely Foxes by SleepyKing. I bought the little mustard one for James' last birthday.
SleepyKing

A very professional little Fox Lamp. Liking the apple garland in the background too:
Crafterholic

Nice idea if I could be bothered with Valentine gifts. I'm more excited about the Valentine Club Noir.
P.S. Blog

Look at these pair of cuties:
Paper Forest

The fabric used for her tummy is perfect. Love her eyes too:
Ginger Kelly Studio

This one looks a tad drunk haha. Wonder if I looked like this last night at the Ceilidh!
Lucy Kate Crafts

And here is Fibi the Fox Doll! Isn't she sweet! She makes me think of the hats the human characters in "Adventure Time" wear or perhaps "Where the Wild Things Are"
Laly Lala

Forest Friends Cross Stitches. I actually spotted these a while back in a Mollie Makes Mag.
Crafty Licious

Snow Fox
Another Lucy Kate Crafts Creation

A little Sleepy Fox
The Crafty Llama

So yeah last night I was at my first Ceilidh. I made the mistake of going straight after my Body Jam exercise class - Mistake! The Ceilidh itself was more energetic! It should become a new exercise craze. It was a lot of fun though even though I only managed like four dances. At the end though we did have a boogie to an old 'classic' Saturday Night by Whigfield. I spent most of my time drooling over these amazing truffles one of my class mates made. Can't wait to give the recipe a try myself. They were melt-in-your-mouth-fantastic!

Have a grand weekend!

Kirst xx

Pointy Kitty

This week has been a tad stressful. The uni messed up our bursary and there were a few tense days were our whole class had no idea if we would get paid at all this month. With it being so soon after Christmas everyone is a bit skint. Luckily, we found out yesterday that it will be coming in just a day late. (Wipes brow) few! My aim to stay off the fizz isn't going as well this week but I'm still better than I was - I class this as a win.

Anyway - here is a wee pattern I tried out a wee while back. It turned out quite well but the fabric I used for the underbelly (some of the stuff I brought back from Malawi) kept splitting. Sigh.

This pattern was from Wee Wonderful's - you can give it a go yourself just follow this link: http://www.weewonderfuls.com/2007/10/friday-flickr-f.html

Things picked up yesterday after the news we were getting our money so I would be able to pay bills. I went to Aqua Zumba which was awesome! I love to shoogle and call it exercise - amazing. I got an amazing next placement starting in two weeks (a tiny bit scared but very excited). Also, this came in the post. How cute does this issue look - I already wanna make so much from it!

Right, I best scoot off for bed. It's sooooo cold and I can't seem to ever get up in the morning! Night all.

Kirst x

Thursday's shiny little things

A little music video to improve your Thursday - It's almost Friday!! That's the day I'm allowed Coke a Cola :-) Not that I'm addicted to the fizzy nectar or anything. I've managed to stick to it a second week! This is big people! It's been years since I have been able to be this dedicated and not cheat when it comes to fizzy juice. When I would try it before I would state innocently to my boyfriend "No of course I haven't drank Coke today. No I wouldn't dream of chugging down one can on the way up the road from Uni when I know you can't catch me and won't see the remains in the recycling bag" For once I can announce this with a clear conscious! Next week I'm gonna get rid of the goodies (apart from on a Friday of course!) One step at a time. I did go to aqua zumba this week - love it. I have no coordination so being shielded by the water so no one can tell if my footwork is right is perfect. Also on the upside we get to shoogle our boobies a lot in it which is fun.

I got a NEW phone. It's faster than my wee computer I work off of. I LOVE it! It's a Nexus 4. I've been having fun the past day doing very little uni work and crafting and discovering my new little beauty. Best of all I got it on a cheaper contract than I thought I would for all the same stuff. Jammy! I've been playing with the camera on it and slowly getting used to it:

My new cat socks from Orjanna - love them, they match my dress

Poser

Hindering my 'study'

Here is a little of what I have been up to lately that hasn't involved being back at Uni after the Christmas Holidays:

My version doesn't look 'exactly' like the one in the book but I was pretty happy with the little guy. I would like to try these two eventually once the right materials fall into my hands. I particularly love Mr Sprinkles, he is ace: 

Roll on Friday! After uni I have a gym class booked and then I'm gonna enjoy a freezing glass of Coke.

Kirst x

Mad about Mag's

At the moment my favourite magazine is Mollie Makes and James got me a subscription to it for my birthday :) Yay! Here are a few things I have made from magazines that I sent to my friend Orjana in a happy little parcel. I love snail mail.

I finally finished the cherry crochet broach, the pattern is in Making magazine issue 3. I think it turned out pretty well.

Didn't take too long. If I can manage it ok it must be easy peasy.

This little Russian Doll keyring's pattern is in Mollie Makes issue 11. I love the cherries on her front! 

Here she is hanging out with the other key's and keyring's before getting wrapped up to be shipped off to Orjanna who loves Russian doll things.

One of my favourite patterns I have come across was for these little cacti pincushions which featured in Mollie Makes issue ten. I used the blanket stitch for the first time on these after a quick consultation with You Tube to find out what it was. I had to reduce the size of the pattern with my scanner so that it would fit in the little pot's I got for them. One word of advice if you get the mag and attempt this pattern - don't think it's clever to glue the flowers on so they don't fall off if you take the pins out. It means you have a hell of a job getting the pins through. It ended up hard as a rock! Plus I got felt stuck to my fingers with super glue. FAIL!

Yoshi wanted in the shot

Luma just before she knocks them off the window ledge.

I also wanted to pop in a little note about the absolutely fabulous card I got given from Orjana herself! How cute is this little elephant on that backing paper! Love it! Card crafts are just not my thing, as I don't have the imagination to put things together.

Wonder what the next issue will bring! Can't wait for it to come through the door and take me away from essay's and studying for a little while.

Kirsty

xx