Saturday, January 29, 2011

Starters vs Finishers

Are you a starter or a finisher?

I am definitely a starter!! I have so many half finished projects - I love to start a new project, but don't often finish them, unless there is a deadline like a birthday party.

Anyway, I have decided that this week is finishing week - I'm going to finish all those half finished things lying around the house - so stay tuned for some crafting action!

If anyone cares to join me, leave a comment and then a link to your project busting posts - I'd love to see what everyone else is finishing!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The shrug

I crocheted a shrug! My ravelry link is here.

To be honest, I'm not sure if it is a shrug or a bolero - I always get the two confused!

My mother in law asked if I could make her a shrug - we looked through some patterns together and she decided on one of the Drops studio patterns. You can find the pattern here.

I was too lazy to do the flower edging properly. Instead, I just did the first layer of petals - and instead of doing many separate flowers and then sewing them together, I made them in one string - because I HATE sewing the ends in!!

All in all I think it turned out pretty well! A huge relief because it took a fair bit of time to make, would have been very sad if it had been a disaster.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

My top 5 books of 2010

I thought I'd write a post about the best 5 books I read last year. They weren't necessarily written or released in 2010, that's just when I read them.

Would love to hear what others thought of these books! Also, if anyone out in blogland is reading, post your top 5 and then post the link to your blog in the comments so that I can read your favourite 5 :)

In no particular order:

1. This Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Nifenegger - the follow up novel by the author of the Time Traveller's wife. I loved this book, it was eerie and kept me guessing all the way through

2. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke - a tale of the last magicians in England. This is a gripping book - it's long, but I didn't get bored for a second.

3. Major Pettigrew's last stand - whimsical and delightful

4. The Book Thief by Markus Zsuzak - a very poignant story about a girl in Nazi Germany.

5. What is the what by Dave Eggars - this book should be compulsory reading for everyone! It is about one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. It is amazing what some people have to endure just to live.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Retrospective Part 1

I was very very slack last year with posting on this blog. This year I will be better!

A little retrospective of what I crafted last year.

From One yard wonders,  I made this very cool apron

  
 
It converts into a tote bag


Pretty quick and easy to make - made good gifts for two little girls I know!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Donkey vs Llama

I love Amigurumi - it is the cutest!

I had some long overdue crafting to complete before I could even think about Christmas presents in 2010! My cousin had a baby girl turning one and my best friend from high school had had a baby months before! Slackness, I know.

Anyway, I ended up making the amigurumi donkey from Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts! Amigurumi - there are lots of bits to it, but it was quite easy. Since the donkeys were for babies, I embroidered the eyes instead of using bought ones.

I think I did a good job - but everyone thinks they look like llamas. I tend to agree - llamas a very cute though!

What do you think?