Bits and Pieces

Today is my Auntie's birthday, and here is the card I made for her.

It's very simple but looks really effective. I used a backing of gold sparkly card and then layered two padded fabric flowers. I think it looks quite retro.

Sometimes the simplest cards are the best - if I try to do something too complicated it doesn't always work out the way I had planned.

I bought the bits and pieces from the Paper Mill Shop in Liverpool. They have a pick and mix bag for £1 that is full of interesting bits. I bought two bags earlier in the week and was so impressed by the selection of goodies that I went back and bought five more bags yesterday!!

Last night Eve went to her friend's Halloween party. The family put a lot of effort into it - the whole house was decorated, loads of food and games. She had a great time.

There was a competition for the best carved pumpkin. I've never tried carving a pumpkin - seems like a lot of hard work. So instead, I crocheted one for Eve to take for her friend.

It's about 4 inches in diameter and 2 inches tall. Eve asked me to add the face. I used some old dk cotton that I had bought in a charity shop ages ago. The pattern is by Armina Parnagian. It is available as a free Ravelry download. See full details of my project on Ravelry here. Very quick and easy to make. A great idea for a last minute gift for Halloween.

Antony and Cleopatra and a New Hat

We had a great night out last Monday. We went to the Playhouse in Liverpool and saw Antony and Cleopatra.

Cleopatra was played by Kim Cattrall (from Sex and the City), who apparently was born in Liverpool!

It was a fun night out - I always enjoy visiting the theatre.

I haven't had much of a chance to get on the computer this week. The assignment I had to complete took up more time than I had anticipated (but it's finished now) and my DH is working at home this week, so he has a habit of hogging the computer all day.

Despite the assignment (a 2000 word essay on children's literature!), I have managed to fit in a new hat.

This pattern is called Naked Star and is by my friend Ira from the Ukraine. The pattern is available as a free Ravelry download and is very easy to make.

I used the same yarn I have used to make my Olive cardi - Sirdar Click dk. The Olive cardi is now finished and is just waiting to be photographed. Full details of the hat project can be found on my Ravelry page here.

New Course

I seem to be very disorganised at the moment. So much to do, so much to plan, so much to make. The days are too short - and housework takes too long!

I've now started my new Open University course - Children's Literature. How much fun is that? I get to study Harry Potter, Northern Lights (The Golden Compass), Little Women, Treasure Island and even the Tale of Peter Rabbit. So much better than science!! Unfortunately I have an assignment due in next week (so soon) - but it seems more like fun that work - so no complaints.


Whilst I get on with my essay and think about knitting and crocheting, here's a lovely Lucy Grossmith picture called Magical Garden.

The joy of Autumn and snug, warm sweaters.

More Compass Rose Earrings

Before I show you the earrings I have made I would like to say what a joyful and moving experience it was to watch the Chilean miners being rescued yesterday. I wish them and all their families very best wishes for the future.

Here are a pair of earrings made from my Compass Rose pattern.

They are bright and cheerful and remind me of pizzas!

I didn't knit during the final week of revision before my exam and it seems to be taking a while to get back into the swing of things. Today I feel like I'm back to normal. The Olive cardi is back on track and I've started more glittens. I'm also starting to plan my Christmas makes - yes, it's getting nearer!

Exam Stress

I have an exam next Monday. My Open University module exam on Earth Sciences. It is perhaps a little late in the day to realise that maybe Sciences are really my subject - but I'll try my hardest anyway. This next week is going to be all about revision (but it would be a shame to neglect the knitting!)

On the knitting front, I'm making excellent progress on Nonna.

The colours are actually brighter than this in reality - hopefully it will photo better next time.

I love Fair Isle knitting because it seems to grow so fast. I've completed a full pattern repeat now and I've reached the armholes. Concentration is now called for, so it's been put to one side for the time being.

This last weekend was dominated by the Ryder Cup golf. Nonna requires too much attention to be suitable knitting for the event. So, a new project was called for. I chose Olive, a cardi from Rowan magazine #26 (from 1999). It's plain stocking stitch with a Peter Pan collar - very straight forward. I actually made this cardi back in 2000 using Rowan's felted tweed. It was a great cardi, I wore it all the time, until it shrank in the wash.

I'm now knitting it again - but this time in a washable yarn!

Finally I'm crocheting a tablecloth from a pattern dating back to 1917.

It's progressing smoothly at the moment but it is quite large so it will take a while to make.

Well now I had better get back to the revision. No doubt I'll be distracted into making other things over the next week, but I'll save the blogging until after the exam. Until then, have fun and be creative.