Pebble Mouse

When Grace was staying at the weekend, she went down to the beach and collected more pebbles for us - she's keen to make her own pebble creatures.

Following my pebble fish, I have now made a pebble mouse.

I crocheted this cute little mouse last night - very quick to make.  I used 4 ply yarn and a 2mm hook and gave him a twisted cord for a tail.

Besides looking cute, he's also very practical - I can use him as a paperweight.  So now to start work on all the other pebbles!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Just had a wonderful weekend - Grace came home to stay for a few days, so it was great fun to see her smiling face around the house again.

We went to the cinema last night to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

It was wonderful.  What a great line up of actors - many of them our favourites.

Loved it - a very charming film.

Needles Jar

I decided to decorate an old glass jar with some crochet so that I could store some of my knitting needles in it.  This is what I came up with.

It's a great way to use up old odds and ends of yarn and looks really jolly.  I may decorate some more jars - I have plenty of stuff  I can fill them with.

Pebble Fish

I've just joined a new group on Ravelry, called Pebble Dressing.  Feeling inspired by some of the finished projects of the other members, I grabbed a pebble (we have lots around the house - I seem to accumulate them) and crocheted up this little darling.

The pattern is called Merfish and it's by Knitalatte.  There's a photo tutorial available on how to make your own pebble fish, here.

I'll have to get down to the beach and accumulate some more pebbles - I'm feeling all inspired.

Petal Wristlets

A few blog posts ago I mentioned the adorable wristlets featured in Mollie Makes issue #10 designed by Monika Siwak.  Here are the objects of desire. 

Well I have now managed to make a version for myself.  The original pattern called for #50 crochet cotton thread - not easy to get hold off and very fine and labour-intensive!  My version of the wristlets is made using #10 thread, so although the final wristlets aren't as fine and dainty as Monika's, I think they still look pretty damn good. 

Obviously I made them yellow and pink!  I changed the lacy frilly bit - mine has more 'petals' and I didn't do a picot edging. 

It took quite a number of attempts to get it right but I am pleased with the finished results - well worth the effort. 

Happy Valentines Day

Have a lovely Valentines Day. 

I used my sweetheart earrings pattern with double knitting weight yarn to make these quick and easy cards for my Valentines. 

Valentine Hearts

As a little decoration for the approaching Valentines Day, I crocheted some little hearts to scatter love around the house!

I used double knitting weight yarn, a 3 mm hook and my pattern for Sweetheart earrings.  Each heart takes less than 10 minutes to make - couldn't be simpler. 

February Birthday Card

Here's a quick pic of the card I made for my friend, whose birthday it was yesterday. 

Ribbons, flowers and lacy bits - always look good. 

Wonderful Gloves

I've recently bought the latest copy of the magazine Mollie Makes...

And I've fallen in love with the wonderful crocheted gloves featured on the front cover. 

Last night I had four attempts at starting the gloves but my crochet cotton is too thick, it needs a really fine yarn - which I don't have at the moment, but I'm not sure my eyesight could cope with anything too fine. 

I've tried adjusting the pattern to suit my yarn but I can't get it right.  I shall have to rethink this because those gloves are utterly irresistable and my life is incomplete without them!!!