One problem sloved.

I have a problem with my cats Cassi and Cal climbing all over me and the computer keyboard while I'm trying to type up patterns. This has got so bad that I put off writing patterns because I know how much hassle they will be.
I don't know if anyone else has Bengal cats but they really demand attention and they don't mind if they get that attention from doing something bad or good. Most of the time my cats are good but if they can see I'm doing something that looks interesting they want to be part of it. This makes somethings difficult. I used to wrap presents really prettily but with the cats helping now you'll more than likely to get a garnish of cat hair and ripped wrapping paper than crisp corners and a decorative bow. I've given up having flowers in the house as my cats believe vases look better on there sides. I love tulips but unfortunately so does Cassi, she eats them. The windowsills in this house belong to the cats I must understand if I put anything on them its going to end up on the floor including seedling. Feet must always stay under the duvet, if I forget this rule a cat will be waiting to remind me the hard way. Breakfast, dinner and tea times are set in stone and lie ins or working late will not be tolerated.
So how do I stop my cats getting on the keyboard while I'm writing? Well I thought I'd try putting a cushion on my desk and lo and behold it worked. Cassi went straight to it sat down. She's quite happy there supervising my work. Of course now I'll have to put another one the other side for Cal or there will be fallings out.

Creepy bobble bunch

I've got the cats settled down. Cal is asleep on my arm smiling away to herself as you can see, so I'm cracking on with the pattern writing and have finished the 5th and probably my fave group of the bobble bunch so far.


This bunch of creepy bobbles were such fun to create. I did the skull, eyeball and brain a while ago but couldn't think what to go with them till I had the idea to make this zombie this morning.
Ooh I loves him he's so cute and ugly. I really like the way the just by using red yarn to sew the eye on it makes it look like its falling out. I'm gonna make him into a keyring for myself but you can make your own too cause this pattern set it now up on etsy along with the rest of the bobble bunch.

The aliens are here

The bobble bunches creepy cousins are here. I've locked myself in the craft room to crack on with some pattern writing and this is the first set complete today.
Its been quite a challenge getting this pattern written as Cassi and Cal my cats have kept sitting on the keyboard and so there were a lot of words like sedgnjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjgb in it and I have nearly worn out the delete button getting rid of them. I'm glad I've got it finished though as this is a really fun set of patterns. As with all my patterns its up on etsy now for half price for a limited time.
Happy crocheting x

Strange inspiration

I get inspiration for my amiugurumis from all over. The Internet, books, going for walks, TV, radio, museums and stupid things my cats do but I'm pretty sure I've never had a dream about making a new amigurumi.
That is until the early hours of this morning when I woke from a very strange dream where I was trying to teach Jon Richardson of comedy fame how to crochet an octopus.
Now I'm a big fan of Jon Richardson, I've been following his work since his radio show with Russell Howard and I always feel Sunday mornings aren't quite the same since it went off air. I've been to see him live a couple of times and have laughed so much my face still hurt the next day. I think its fab he's on telly a bit more now. I'm quite a perfectionist myself and have a lot of strange habits but I just don't quite understand why he turned up in my dream, wielding a crochet hook, shouting at me cause I haven't explained how to increase properly and telling me my octopus looked to cheery. Still it gave me a giggle when I woke up and now I have a great idea of an amigurumi octopus.

Plus I've been meaning to read this for ages and just noticed the kindle version is out so thats next book on my reading list sorted and I've seen Jon is touring again so I can go and see him in March and have another giggle :)
Now to crack on with my too cheery octopus x

Cress pots

I wanted to make cress heads where you grow the cress seed on cotton wool inside egg shells but when I went to the kitchen to boil myself some eggs I discovered I'd already used them all up. Now I know I could have just gone to the shops but then I spotted some shot glasses on the window sill and thought why not use them.

I used double knitting yarn and a 3.5mm crochet hook

I've started by crocheting 6 into the ring
Then increase around (12 St)
1SC increase around (18 St)
2SC increase around (24 St)
SC through back of loop only around (24 St)
SC around increasing 1 randomly (25 St)
SC around (25 St)

repeat the last 2 rows till it fits your shot glass. If your shot glass has straight sides you don't need to do any increases up the sides of the glass.

Decorate how ever you want. I was gonna make mine have faces but then I played around with sequins and buttons and that was that.

Pack with cotton wool, water then sprinkle with cress seeds.

In a few days I'll have some have some yummy cress to eat so I'll have to make sure I replenish my egg supplies to go with it.

Happy crocheting x

Back to work

Not been blogging much this week cause I've gone back to my day job after my compassionate leave. I was the manager of this little haberdashery that specialises in buttons but I've decided to give up the managing side of things now and just be a sales assistant. I'm glad I made this choice as now when I'm at the shop I can do the things I like, like helping customers and making things look pretty rather than be bogged down in boring paperwork and staff dramas. Plus it gives me time to work on my crochet patterns and amigurumi.
It really is a great shop to work at we have over 12000 button designs and believe it or not I know them all and where they all are. We stock all the ribbon, haberdashery, crafts, beads, needlework and wool that a person could ever need, over 3 floors and a in beautiful medieval building in York.

I'm gonna be busy

Look at what I won on ebay 50 random packs of flower and veg seeds. I love growing stuff from seed. I've already got things started off on my windowsill that are starting to come to life. I'll have every windowsill covered in propagators and a very full greenhouse by the time I get through with this little lot and I can't wait.
Its a bit early to start a lot of these off yet but I had a little squee of excitement when I found a packet of cress seeds in amongst them. I'm can make cress heads right now :) Boiled egg and toast soldiers for tea it is then.