All creatures great and small...

I had a weekend off crafting in order to go home and visit my family. Here are some pictures of some mimi pygmy goats (Cookie and Crumble) and two mini Shetland ponies (Dolly and Donna) who belong to my Mum's partner's neighbour. He lives in a small hamlet which we went to visit after a delightful Sunday roast.

Mini pygmy goat, I don't know if this is Cookie or Crumble.

My sister loves horses, unfortunately this stable does not belong to us.

A view across the fields on a crisp Sunday afternoon.

Cookie and Crumble playing in the field.

My sister with a normal sized horse and Dolly, the mini Shetland pony.

My brother feeding Dolly.

My mum talking to Dolly. She uses the same tone of voice to talk to animals and babies.

Dolly's mum, Donna.

My brother and Dolly again.

A proper Sunday roast with all the trimmings... it makes me hungry just looking at this picture.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at pictures of mini animals, what could be cuter?! More crafty posts to come in the future, pinky promise. xx

Movember

I have got in the Movember spirit by crocheting this moustache... brilliant for women (and those males who can't grow a moustache) to show their support for this fantastic cause and raise awareness.

Crochet Coffee Cup Cosy Pattern - No More Naked Coffees!

In recent weeks I have discovered coffee - and I love it! The University library has a Starbucks inside and I have visited more times than I care to admit. Sometimes my coffee can get neglected for a while if I 'get in the work zone' and ends up going a bit cool, I found this pattern on pinterest for a cute coffee cup cosy. I'm going to start a 'no more naked coffee cups' revolution!! (I'm getting a bit giddy now... maybe it's all the caffeine)

This is not my pattern, the original pattern can be found here. I have simply translated the pattern from US to UK crochet terminology.

The one I have made uses scraps of Rico cotton so it is easy to chuck in the washing machine to get rid of all the drip stains. It keeps my cup looking cute and my coffee warm.

You will need...

• Scraps of yarn, I have used some Rico cotton leftover from making my granny square blanket

• Crochet hook

• Cute button

• Needle

Abbreviations:

• ch - chain

• dc - double crochet

• tr - treble crochet

• htr - half treble crochet

Pattern (UK crochet terminology)

Ch 8.

Row 1: 1dc 1tr in second ch from hook, *skip next ch, 1dc 1tr in next ch, repeat from * to end of row, ch1 turn.

Row 2: *Skip next stitch, 1dc 1tr in next stitch, repeat from * to end of row, ch 1 turn.

Rep Row 2 until work measures 8 inches from beginning.

Next row: Skip 1st stitch, slip stitch in the next 2 stitches, 1 htr in each of the next 4 stitches, turn ch1.

You will now be working on these 4 stitches to make button hole strip.

Next row: 1 htr in each stitch, ch1 turn.

Rep last row until button hole strip measures 2″.

Next row: 1 htr in 1st stitch, ch 2 and skip next 2 stitches, 1 htr in last stitch.

Work dc border evenly around, working 3 dc in corners and 2 dc into ch2 button hole space. Join with a slip stitch in 1st dc.

Fasten off and weave in ends. Sew on button.

Enjoy! xx

Sneak Peek

As mentioned previously, I have revised the pattern I made for baby mittens. The other evening a new pair were cast on in yellow and a dusky purple (Sirdar snuggly baby wool, I can't find the labels)... and here is a sneak peek!

Unfortunately my phone camera hasn't captured the colours quite right :(

Pictures of the completed mittens coming soon!

This is also my first post via the android blogging app so I do hope it works okay. I am currently on my way to the craft shop as a break from uni work. X

ATTENTION: FREE YARN

Okay, so it might only be free if you win but still... 'gotta be in it to win it'. Just click on the link below to visit a lovely place in blogland and follow the instructions.

http://vintagesheetaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/yummy-yarn-giveaway.html

Good luck! Not too much though; I have my eye on it ;) haha. x

Busy, busy baker

I have been meaning to write a post for a while now but I just didn't have anything crafty to write about. I didn't want to bore you with details of my life: get up, go to uni, go to library, make dinner, go to sleep. Unfortunately, since learning to crochet last month I have developed an acute granny square addiction so any crafty time has been spent doing those.

With the lack of variety craft-wise I have been doing a bit of baking. A few weeks ago I made mini victoria sandwich cakes which were a massive hit! So when I asked Tom what he would like me to bake yesterday he requested those again but I also wanted to try something a little different... I decided on apricot chelsea buns. 

I used the Paul Hollywood recipe  as I have never made dough before. I added apricots, raspberry jam and chunks of chocolate. They turned out very well but I will probably omit the chocolate next time because the chunks poking out look a bit burnt.

The first time I baked the sponge cake mixture in a swiss roll tin and used a circle cutter (it was actually the plastic lid from a deodorant can which I washed) to make the shapes before individually filling with jam and buttercream.

The second time I decided the first time created too much mess and fuss so baked the mixture in a square tin, split the cake in half, filled and then cut squares from it... quicker, less mess, not as cute but equally as delicious!

To prove I don't spend my life eating cake (oh how I wish I could) I snapped this colourful picture of some veggies. They were turned into bolognese or chilli, I can't remember.

Aside from a lovely weekend of baking (and not so lovely uni work), Tom and I took a little trip on the train to Southport. It was freezing cold, windy and raining but we had a fab day! We went to watch Southport v Cambridge because one of Tom's friends currently plays football for Cambridge and he managed to get us some tickets. 

Our football day out in pictures: 

1) Underground train station. At this point I had every intention of photographing everything.

2) Checking our accumulator bets... we didn't win (as usual). 

3) It isn't a trip to a football match without lager and crisps right?! We had pies too but they didn't stick around long enough to be photographed! 

4) A double rainbow at half time.

COMING SOON

Late last night I cast on a pair of baby mittens after a slight pattern revision. 

Should be finished soon, eeeek!!

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.