Busy Sunday!

I've had a very busy Sunday!
I bought a slow cooker from Asda for £9 a few weeks ago, and I have been desperate to try it out! Well I finally did today... I chucked in a couple of packets of the cheapest diced casserole beef from Asda, a bag of their ready chopped casserole vegetables and a couple of pints of beef stock. 9 hours later I  had the most delicious casserole I have ever eaten!! The beef was amazingly tender! I am officially a slow cooker convert! I can't wait to try making something else!

I also made cheese and garlic scones. These are a favourite of mine (and my Other Half!) so yummy!
No pictures of those I'm afraid, they didnt last that long!!

I've also spent the last hour or so listing items on Etsy. My beaded keyrings and charms are ready for the market I'm doing in 3 weeks, but thought I would put them on Etsy as well. Why don't you go and check it out? My Etsy Shop

Well thats all from me tonight!

Louisa xx

Yarn question...

Is it just me, or have Stylecraft increased the number of colours in their Special DK range? I'm sure there didn't used to be 56!!
(I'm just going on what Masons have on their site...)



Louisa xx

Crochet Coasters

After reading PaisleyJade's post yesterday about these coasters, I just had to give the pattern a try! I love the fact that the pattern has been adapted from an original pattern published in 1893!
I used Stylecraft Special DK (what else?!) and a 4mm hook.
Each one only took about 20 minutes to make, they are so quick and fun!
I have 3 now, and I will make another one to make a set of 4. I would also like to try them with multiple colours of yarn, make them more flowery!
So beautiful!

Thanks Kristy for linking the pattern!

Louisa xx

ETA: I made another one with different colours! what do you think?

Granny Square Blanket Update!

Here it is, a very very long overdue update of my granny stripe blanket!
I hadnt worked on it for quite a while, then about a week ago, I picked it up again and have done quite a few rows! I was sat in the car on Wednesday night waiting for my Other Half to finish work, and worked on it some more. I really love crocheting in the car, listening to Radio 2. I think it is my favourite place to crochet!
Here is a picture of it, draped over the steering wheel! I'm onto the 4th repeat of the colours. I'm going to do 5 repeats, and if I have enough yarn left, maybe a 6th repeat, then edge it in cream.... what do you think?

Louisa xx

Beads, Markets and Alnwick Gardens...

I haven't updated since June!!! I don't know where the months have gone! I'm still keeping up with all of your blogs though, so i've not been totally away from the blogging world!

I've been very busy since June... I've done 2 more craft markets, and have another 3 to go before Christmas! Busy bee!
I haven't really done any crocheting recently, because I have been so busy making stock for my stalls.... You may remember that I also make things with Hama beads... well those seem to be my best sellers!
Here is a peek at some of the new things I have been making....

Keyrings:

 and Bag Charms:

They have been a lot of fun to make, but I still need a LOT more!
The craft markets have been going really well, especially a new one I signed up to. It was held in Cramlington, and it was a full day event. It was the very first one of that kind being held there, so no-one was sure how well it would go, but it turned out to be a really excellent (and profitable!) day! It was so good I have signed up to the Halloween and  Christmas markets!

It's been a good summer too... I went to Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth with my Other Half and we had a great time :-). We also went to see the final Harry Potter film, which was amazing, but also really sad now that it's finally all over :-( I guess I will just have to wait for Pottermore.com opening next month! (I didnt bother trying to get the early access!)

Last weekend we took a trip up to Alnwick (which isnt far away) to visit the Castle and Gardens. It was a very hot day, and I ended up being quite poorly the next day! :-( but the day itself was brilliant and I would love to live there!
Here are some of my photos from there...

It was brilliant :-)

Well I will stop rambling now! Hopefully I will be better at blogging and won't leave it so long until the next post!! :-)

Louisa xx

I love Fridays!

I do! They are possibly my favourite day of the week (for 7 weeks out of 8 anyway!) I love the feeling I get at 5pm on a Friday when I walk out of work and have the whole weekend in front of me!
In case you were wondering, the craft market was brilliant! It was very quiet but I had a great day, met some lovely people and made some sales! I've definitely caught the craft market bug... I've signed up for 2 markets in August!
Before all of that though, I've got a trip to Sonisphere festival in 2 weeks which I am so excited for!
A lot has happened since I last posted too... I went to Glasgow to see Elton John who was amazing! And do you remember the baby blankets I was making months ago? Well their recipient is here! She is absolutely gorgeous :-)
I really do promise I will post photos of my granny stripe progress this weekend. I really really promise!

Louisa xx

Stall sneaky peak, a finished blanket and a brief magazine review!

Hello!

It's been such a long time since I've blogged properly! I have been so busy these last few weeks, I have barely had time to read your blogs! 

As you will know, I have my very first craft market stall next weekend. 1 week today! I'm very nervous!. At least I have all of my stock finished. I did a trial run of my stall this evening and I wanted to share some of the photos with you! 

 

Do you like my bunting? I made it yesterday. I have never crocheted bunting before, althought I have been wanting to for a while! It was so easy to make and I love it! I think i might make a few sets and sell them on here, or my facebook 'fan' page or possibly the next craft market I do (which I think will be August 7th...) 

I think my stall looks pretty funky! You see the pink cloth covering the table? That is a huge piece of satiny fabric I had that is covered in holographic dots. Its very pretty. Last sunday I tried using hemming web for the very first time so I could hem that piece of fabric! I am converted to hemming web... even after melting my thumb on the iron. ouch. 

I also decorated my own paper bags for the market....

I used glitter glue, you know, with my business being called 'Glitter Kitty Designs' ;-)

Onto something else... I was asked months ago to crochet a blanket suitable for a cot. It was for a boy, so it had to be in shades of blue. I started this I think back in february, and I finished it today! I hope the recipient likes it. They are paying me for it after all! 

The colours are actually nicer in real life :-) I used Hayfield Baby Bonus DK for the cream, and Hayfield Bonus DK for the blues. I love Hayfield Bonus yarns. When they are washed and tumbledried they become so incredibly soft! 

Finally, the magazine review! Yesterday I got the first issue of a brand new magazine called 'Craftseller' 

As you can see, it is geared towards making and selling crafts. It is a fab little resource! In the first issue there are 20 patterns! And they are all available for you to make and sell. They tell you if you need to credit the designer, and also which book they have come from, in case you fancy looking for more similar patterns. They cover all kinds of crafts... sewing, knitting, crochet, cross stitch, polymer clay, jewellery making....

There is also the first part of a series of articles 'A Guide to Etsy' as well as some fab articles from people who have made a success out of making and selling crafts online. I am also a member of their facebook group, and I hope I can pick up some fab tips from the other members on there! The timing of this magazine couldnt have been better, with me having my first stall next week! 

Well thats all from me for this evening! I'm sorry if I have rambled on too much and bored you, but if you have made it this far then thank you! and well done! 

I promise I will start blogging more regularly again. Next time I will have a progress report of my granny stripe blanket, which is coming along very nicely! 

Louisa xx

Craft Market!

Untitled, a photo by hellolouisa on Flickr.

here is the poster advertising the very first Market I am selling at! Wohoo!

Royal Wedding

I was so excited to watch the Royal Wedding yesterday! Its that sort of thing that makes me proud to be British! Me and my other half had an indoor picnic while we sat and watched the guests arriving, and the ceremony, and then the balcony appearance :-) it was all so lovely and I am completely in love with her dress!
Not so impressed with whatever Beatrice was wearing on her head though. Odd girl.

My favourite British thing: tea in a china cup!
I love tea. I have a small obsession with it... It's ok though, I'm British!

I still have lots to make in time for the craft market, but I am suffering from a flare up of a wrist condition I have. I hope it feels better soon!!! I have another 3 days off work to enjoy though, so I won't let it get me down!

Louisa xx

Craft Market!

You may remember from a couple of posts ago that I mentioned a craft market I want to sell at, well I was able to book myself a space at the next market! It's on June 5th!! Im so excited and very nervous! Expect a sneak peek of my stall coming soon!!!! :-)

Louisa xx

Overdue!

Jut realized I haven't blogged for over a month!! Bad blogger!
Well I have an excuse.... The last month I have been really really busy crocheting 30 (yes - 30!!) phone cases for my stall. Today I attached crocheted stars and sparkly buttons to each of them... Photos will be coming! I've also made a LOT of cupcake necklaces too. Next up are the mug cosies and a couple of small bags for the stall too. I'm getting so excited!

I had some really good news on Thursday too. For the last 5 years my mum has been in remission from a very aggressive form of cancer called Burkitt's Lymphoma. Well on Thursday she got the all-clear! :-) yay! I figured that news was worthy of a blog-post!

I also had some bad news... As of tomorrow I am being moved onto another job at work for 3 months. It's a job I've done before and don't enjoy in the slightest :-(
I think cake may be the answer. Lots and lots of cake.
And daydreaming about crafts.
And then some more cake.

Louisa xx

2nd post in a day!

Wow - i'm on fire today!

I've spent the whole day crafting, and creating items for my stall. I had to email the organisers you see, and forward photographs of my stock so they can decide whether I can be put onto the list to be able to apply for a stall.
One of my items, is mug cosies. I love this idea, but I couldnt find a pattern for any that I really loved. So I just came up with my own....
What do you think?

 

I just made up the daisy as I went along, and I think it turned out ok?! 

I only made the first one this afternoon, and i've already had orders for 3 more! Woohoo!

Louisa xx

oh and p.s. they put me on the mailing list! :-)

Sparkly!

I am applying to have my own stall at a local craft market. It's held every other month in a local pub/music venue and its always packed! It's very popular with students and 'alternative' types, so I hope my stuff goes down well!
Here is something I have been working on over the weekend.... While I was in Nottingham on Saturday I visited The Bead Shop for some Swarovski gems and AppliGlue as I have had an idea for some necklaces....
What do you think?

 

 The cupcakes themselves are made from mini hama beads, and then the Swarovski gems are used as sprinkles, and on the cherry. I used 2mm and 3mm gems. 

The photos don't do the gems justice - they are so so so sparkly in real life!! I made one for myself and put lots of gems on, so its really glitzy ha ha :-)

I will be showing you another item I am making for my stall soon! In the meantime, my copy of Twinkie Chan's book arrived on Saturday, so i'm busy deciding which scarf to make first!! :-)

Louisa xx

Sneak Peek!

These two pictures are sneak peeks at what I am currently working on! I'm not going to disclose anything else yet, but when I am ready, I will have something hopefully very exciting to share with you all!

One more picture.... This is something I have been working on, here and there, for the last few weeks.....

My granny stripe blanket has begun!! The picture isnt great, because its in artificial light, and I took it on my iphone, but still, you get the idea! woohoo!!

Louisa xx

An apology...

I am very sorry I haven't posted much lately! I will do a proper post with pictures very very soon, I promise!! I have been very busy and have some lovely things to show you!!
Trouble with having an iPhone, is you can do all kinds of internetty things on it, but can't post pictures to blogger, so while I'm checking in every day, I sort of forget to update myself! I do have some photos lined up though!
I'm off to see KT Tunstall tonight, with my other half. I'm very excited! Then we are off to Nottingham next weekend. I love Nottingham! I have made a plan to visit The Bead Shop and buy some lovely sparkly swarovski crystals. The reason for this purchase will be revealed in due course!

In the mean time, I would like to be rather pushy for a moment and tell you all to go and visit the myspace of a brilliant band... It's my other half's band and they are launching their debut EP on Sunday night :-) they are called Honest Thief, and one of their new songs is available to listen to on their myspace

Ok that's all for the pushy and proud girlfriend moment!!

Louisa xx

Bits and pieces

Hello!
I just realised I haven't blogged for 2 weeks! I've been very busy getting the 2nd baby blanket finished (which I forgot to get a photo of!) and I'm almost finished a 3rd baby blanket (which I WILL get a photo of!). I've also been working on a few other little bits and pieces that I will be posting about very soon :-)
As for today, I'm off to a Craft Market with a friend of mine. It's being held at The Cluny in Newcastle. It's run by the Newcastle Craft Mafia and they hold the market every other month. I'll post about that too soon :-)

Louisa xx

TV, Film and Period Drama

I love TV and Film. Absolutely love them. No, I'm not just lazy and spend all my time watching the TV! It's what I studied at university!
Anyway, I dont watch that much TV, only if it's something worth watching, and even then it's usually once it's out on DVD that I'll watch it! But this last week I had the absolute pleasure of watching both a TV series and a film that were truly excellent in every way (I tend to get a bit 'film buff-y' sometimes and start raving about production values and mis-en-scene!)
First of all I watched Season 1 of Downton Abbey. My mum bought it for me for Christmas because she knew I would like it. She wasnt wrong - it was absolutely fantastic!! And I would love to live in that house! Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Smith were both superb too. I watched the whole season in less than a week!
Secondly, I went to see The Kings Speech on Wednesday night. I can honestly say it was the best film I have seen in years, and deserves every award going. It was absolutely perfect from start to finish. The acting was brilliant, and the casting choices were very clever! If you haven't seen it already, go and see it now!!!

So lately I've been very much absorbed in period drama and all the lovely 'englishness' of the time :-) luckily for me, the new Cath Kidston catalogue dropped through my door yesterday! I plan to have a lovely hour this weekend with a pot of tea and some custard creams, indulging in some Cath K wanties! One day I'll be able to afford some goodies!

Next on my TV to watch list is the brilliant BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (yes the Colin firth one!) I love this series, and my other half bought it for me at Christmas :-) I also downloaded the Kindle app for my iPhone and got Pride and Prejudice for free! :-)

That's all from me for now!

Louisa xx

Ready for my blanket....

Hello!

After an eventful day on Friday which started with me getting a new iphone (!!!!) there was a loose circuit in mine, and although the phone worked fine, the volume had a mind of its own.... and since it was less than a year old, the Apple Store just replaced it. Mine had been backed up on my itunes (luckily I have a friend who works for Apple!!) so I didnt lose much (only a few apps). I was sorted again by yesterday so I could get the photos of my Special DK stash!!

So here it is!

I have:
Top row:  Cream (for the border)
                Bluebell
                Aster
                Cloud Blue
                Turquoise
2nd Row: Pomegranate
                Lipstick
                Shrimp
                Saffron
                Spring Green
                Meadow
3rd Row: Fondant
               Pale Rose
               Clematis
               Magenta
               Plum
               Emperor

I'm 99% sure this is the order that the colours will go in (if you reverse the middle row!) I'm a bit OCD and need my colours to follow a pattern....
I just have a couple of baby blankets to finish off first, then I can get started on my big granny stripe!!! So excited!!!

Louisa xx

p.s. I made some of Lucy's Cheesy Nibbles this morning, and she is not wrong - they are incredibly moreish!! And so easy to make! I can see these becoming a staple in my kitchen!!

sneaky blanket stash pic!

Hello!

I know I said I would get a proper photo of all my balls of special DK at the weekend ready for my blanket? Well I couldnt resist posting this one that I took on Tuesday night. I took it on my iphone, in artificial light so the colours aren't totally true to life, but you get the idea! (proper photos still to come - we all love a bit of 'yarn porn' don't we?!!)

Louisa xx

More Stylecraft!

Just a quick update tonight. I ordered the rest of the yarn I wanted for my blanket on Sunday from www.masonsneedlecraft.org.uk and it arrived today! Such amazing service!! I bought: spring green, aster, turquoise, cloud blue, fondant, and 2 balls of cream for the edging.
Will get a picture of all 18 colours at the weekend!!
Can't recommend Mason's enough!!!

So excited now!!

Louisa xx

Birthday Stash!

 (disclaimer: this is not MY birthday cake!)

Hello!

Well my birthday was yesterday and I had a brilliant day! I got some beautiful presents, including a bottle of Viktor + Rolf Flowerbomb perfume (which is gorgeous) from my other half and an incredibly sparkly Hello Kitty fob watch on a long chain from my mum! :-) I also got treated to a fabulous meal in my favourite restaurant last night! I'm a very lucky girl!
After present opening, me and my other half went yarn shopping! We first of all visited my favourite yarn shop - Knit n Purl Wool Shop in South Shields where I stocked up on 12 brand new balls of Stylecraft Special DK!

Top Row : Clematis, Pale Rose, Meadow
2nd Row :  Saffron, Magenta, Aspen
3rd Row :  Emperor, Plum, Bluebell
4th Row :  Pomegranate, Lipstick, Shrimp

Aren't they beautiful?? I'm almost tempted not to use them because they are so pretty and new and colourful! I just want to lay them out, and moved them around and squish them and love them :-) but I know they will be even more beautiful when they become a blanket :-)
I need to add 5 more colours (i'm thinking Cloud Blue, Spring Green, Aster, Fondant and possibly Turquoise?) and then I will have enough for a blanket. A blanket especially for me :-). A beautiful, snuggly, burst of colour 'birthday' blanket. And it's going to be my very first Granny Stripe Blanket! . My main 'resolution' for 2011 is to start and finish a blanket for myself within the year. And this is going to be it. I'm very excited! I can't wait to get the rest of the colours I need and get started! I have to order them from the internet, because only one yarn shop in my area sells Stylecraft, and I bought up almost all of the colours they had yesterday!

We then headed into Newcastle City Centre and made a beeline for John Lewis' Haberdashery Department so I could 'Ooh and Aah' over the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. But I didn't buy any! Instead, I decided to treat myself to something else. Something by Rowan. Something in the sale! I treated myself to these 2 beautful skeins of Rowan Silky Tweed. (and I got both of them for the bargain price of £5.70!)

These skeins have a special destiny. You see, another of my 'resolutions' is to get back into knitting. And I think this might just be the yarn to persuade me... I'm thinking i'd like to make a cowl and matching hand warmers. Hmmm... I do love this yarn :-)

Well thats all from me for tonight. I'll stop rambling on as you are probably bored by now!

Louisa xx

Excitement!

Hello!
It's my birthday on Thursday. (I'm going to be 27 - eek!!)
I'm excited because I'm going yarn shopping!! Not for anything expensive... Just a brand new stash of Stylecraft Special DK!! And possibly going to treat myself to a ball of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino to add to my collection :-)
One of my 'resolutions' for 2011 is to start and finish a blanket for myself this year. I have potentially 3 more baby blankets to make too!
I also want to make a cushion cover for a huge squishy cushion pad that I have my eye on in John Lewis! (I love JL's polyester cushion pads!)
I'm going yarn shopping today too, but for baby blanket yarn. I've decided Hayfield Baby Bonus DK is a fantastic yarn! (well it is made by Sirdar!)
I might also have to pop into the new Whittard shop in Eldon Square and see if they have any pretty mugs in the sale! (incidentally, morrisons have some gorgeous mugs - 2 for £3!!)
Back to work tomorrow too :-( oh well :-(

Louisa xx

Happy New Year!

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art—write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”

- Neil Gaiman