How I upset the neighbours...

My living room looks like a bomb has gone off; there is hessian, rickrack, ribbon, tiny little pegs and general crafty goodness everywhere! I have been making hessian covered cork boards this morning to be used as pin boards, notice boards, jewellery displays... you name it.

I really love the shabby chic, neutral design. Unfortunately, they require the use of a staple gun which has rendered me quite unpopular in the flat... whoooops. Does that count as an occupational hazard? HaHa.

These boards are so versatile...

... a wall display

... a jewellery display

... a notice board or picture display

What do you think? I hope you like them!

They will be going on sale in my Etsy shop verrryyyy soon.

Weekend adventures

I haven't posted for a few days, it has been pretty busy with University work and working in the bar, but I have crammed some good things in. Tom called by my flat the other day and told me he had a present for me!! He was caught by the caretaker trying to bring it into my building and was sent back outside... I was very intrigued when he rang me to come down and meet him. 'What did he get you?!' I hear you ask?... a pony? a puppy?...

...a pallet!!

He thought I could make something with it, n'aaawhhhh. Cute thought. Unfortunately, I live in a Liverpool City Centre flat on the third floor with no room for a pallet. BUT one day I will have space to make wooden crafts *sigh*. Back to the skip the pallet went.

The same day we also made pie and crumble. Steak and stilton pie with apple and pear crumble. Delicious! With Tom's culinary background in a North Wales restaurant and my love of eating we make a good team.

I lost my voice at work on Saturday (too much singing) and had to resort to mouthing at customers into the wee hours of the morning. Luckily, I had Sunday off... the first Sunday off in ages and it was not wasted. Tom and I went for dinner with his parents who came over for the day. We started off in a little Irish pub near my flat, called Shenanigans.

Shenanigans is decorated with newspaper articles instead of wallpaper and full of random bits and bobs. I particularly like this mosaic as soon as you step in the door.

The good thing about the cold weather setting in is... Log Fires! I got cosy in front of this one with a nice vodka, lime and lemonade to soothe my husky man voice.

During the week we managed to secure a booking for afternoon Sunday lunch at a place called Alma De Cuba. It is an old church in Liverpool City Centre which has been turned into a restaurant/bar. I had my 21st birthday family meal there and it was fantastic; not just because I got a free birthday cocktail. It is wonderfully decorated and a gospel choir sings whilst you eat your meal. 

If you are ever in Liverpool for an evening I can highly recommend this place for drinks. At 11pm on the weekend Cuban dancers perform a carnival/parade and confetti rains down from the balcony restaurant area above... think glitter, feathers, sequin bras etc.

My favourite features are the chandeliers designed to look like Antlers. Above is a view from the restaurant with the bar on the ground floor.

I also think the tables in the bar are beautiful, they are covered with slate pieces. Dinner lived up to the decor, Sunday roast was the best ever. Even the bread and oil to start was amazing. The simplicity of bread dipped in oil shared with friends will never go out of style.

We had warm bread rolls accompanied by chilli jam and sundried tomato flavoured olive oils. Sunday dinner didn't last long enough for me to take a picture of it; I remembered half way through. Thinly sliced pink beef, Yorkshire pudding, the crispiest roast potatoes I've ever eaten, baby carrots, minted peas and cabbage and pancetta. 

Everything was washed down with a bottle of red wine which I chose. It is so much pressure to be the 'chosen one' when it comes to table wine, but I didn't do half bad (if i do say so myself)...

I would love to hear from any readers who can recommend good places in Liverpool to eat or drink.

The innocent big knit

Some of you may have seen the innocent smoothie hats previously, well, they are back!! You can visit http://thebigknit.co.uk and knit your own. 

This is my first hat which I will be sending along with others, more photographs to come soon. I'd love to hear about and see your innocent smoothie hats, leave a comment with a link to your blog. 

The following statement is taken directly from the innocent big knit website (10/10/13)

As many as 24,000 older people die needlessly because of the cold every winter. Many others spend the time lonely and isolated, unable to heat their homes and struggling to get out and about.

So ten years ago we had an idea. We asked some older people, and some younger people, to knit little woolly hats. We put those hats on our smoothies, and for each one sold we made a donation to Age UK.

For each behatted smoothie bottle we sell, we give 25p to Age UK to spend on things like hot water bottles, blankets, hot meals and social gatherings. Many older people also knit hats themselves through knitting groups organised by Age UK. The impact of the knitting groups is incredible and for some, they're a real lifeline.

#bigknit

Feeling ever so wise

This post is coming to you from the library. (shhh!) Unfortunately, the post title is to do with my very painful wisdom tooth rather than the font of knowledge which this library is turning me into!

I am in the midst of writing my research proposal for my Honours Project: 'an investigation into the optimum chemical treatment method for the enhancement of latent fingerprints deposited on a range of plastic surfaces'.

It has been a few hours now and my concentration is at an all time low so I am having a little blog and picnic break. Tom called to inform me he was delivering snacks. What a star!

Motivational diary cover and my delicious picnic

I have found a quiet corner of the library because at the moment I am the annoying one who keeps sniffing and coughing. I didn't expect it to be this quiet, but it is Thursday morning which in student world means 'post Wednesday night out hangover day'.

Yesterday I attended a careers fair, being asked 'so what do you want to do with your life?' mutliple times was horrible. There is a specific place I want to work upon graduation but the job propects were few and far between. I checked their website again yesterday and found the perfect job role! Tonight will be designated to knitting and filling in this job application. My degree and year working in a fingerprint laboratory still leaves me underqualified but if I get to interview stage I will be delighted. fingers crossed!

Pitter patter of tiny feet wearing little knitted booties

The title of this post may be a bit misleading; Mum, if you are reading this, don't panic... you won't be a Grandma at 42!

It is nearly coming up to my one year knitting birthday (start of December, more to come on my knitting discovery at a later date) which means I haven't had very long to develop my skills. I enjoyed making little things because they were easy, quick and CUTE.

Many people who I was at school with are having babies at the moment which made me decide to create my own baby set knitting pattern. I created a simple pattern consisting of booties, mittens and a hat which enabled me to make custom orders which I have been taking online.

The first ever set I sold is about to be put to use because mummy is past her due date!! eeeek! I can't wait to see a picture of some chubby little feet wearing the booties which I made.

My First Post!

In the last few weeks I have been studying, knitting, baking and I have also taught myself to crochet!

Chocolate and caramel shortbread. Sugar high just from looking at this picture!

Cath Kidston knitting needles and a glass of wine... what more could a girl need?

The reason I needed knitting and wine!! 

My very first bit of crochet, I am very proud. Decided to make a few granny squares a week so that one day I will be able to make a blanket. Any comments from experienced crocheters would be really helpful.