Keep It All

This is one of my favorite artists to sit and chill and knit to. Lisa Hannigan. Lisa is an Irish singer/songwriter who used to be in Damien Rice's band before going her own way and I am really glad she did. She has since released two albums, Sea Sew in 2008 and Passenger in 2011. Sea Sew is one of my favourite albums, its great to listen to in most moments of my day, but for knitting time it is really good. Have a listen to one of the tracks off it, Keep it all...



Do you agree? I hope you do. If I were you, I would get buying the albums and sit and listen to them all day long! :)

Things I have eyes for this week

The last few days have been so lovely, sunny and warm... it makes me forget about the cold winter and think that spring is finally here... so what beautiful spring finds have I found on Etsy this week?

These are all things I would love to own. The quilt is really simple but effective. Last year I attempted to make my own quilt but I really want to do another one and I am looking for inspiration, this makes me want to get on it asap. The dress is really cute, a basic wrap over with a cute polka dot effect. The bag would look great with a cute pair of light tan sandals and a big beautiful necklace. The birdhouse is really cute, I love the ramshackle effect of the wood. Last year we had some baby robins in our garden, I noticed their nest a day or two after they hatched and watched them being fed most days, and then one day I was lucky to see them fly the nest. The family haven't come back yet, they come back every year, so this year I would love to give them a swanky pad to come back to. The bow ties are technically kids but I would love for my man to have one, he would look so cute with a shirt and bow tie, he wore one at new year and he looked awesome!
Come on Spring, I miss your sunny days :)

Old Times

I love old things, and for Valentines day my lovely man took me to the Electric Cinema in Birmingham (my fave place for watching films) and we watched Casablanca. I have seen many an old film in my time, but more recently I have wanted to watch more and more, there are some great classics out there.

A lot of people have asked how I managed to get through 26 years without seeing Casablanca, and I don't know why, but now I have seen it there is no looking back! I bought it on DVD and a whole stack of others.

One of my DVDs is Some Like it Hot! It's a fab film, Marilyn Monroe really was an amazingly beautiful woman! Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon don't look half bad as women either ;) I really enjoyed this film, it has songs, dance, lots of laughs and scary moments. It made me smile.

Charade was another of my DVDs. I love Audrey Hepburn, I have seen Breakfast at Tiffanys so many times I don't know why I didn't branch out into more of her films, but now I am going to! She is so lovely and so beautiful!

Me and my lovely man have also decided to have a classic film night once a week, this week it was the Godfather. Yes once again how have I never seen it?! (He hadn't seen it either!) It was awesome! We even watched the second one :) It is a long one, but set yourself down with some drinks and some snacks and your set!
There are many great films out there, although I can never pick a favorite. I think that there are just too many that I haven't seen. But I really want to see lots of old ones and extend my film knowledge before I try and decide that.
x

Snapshop of my week...

I am hoping to use this once a week post as like a diary of my week, filling you in on all the little bits in between. This week I actually had a week off work and therefore done more than I usually would. So this is a big post :)
Here goes...

Well what a week I have had! The beginning of the week was just crafting, knitting, crochet, some baking etc. I have found the most amazing cupcake recipe, works great every time which for me is a big thing! I was also given a recipe for honeycomb and had a go at that, its really easy, just make sure you don't burn your sugar or you will regret it! Then on Thursday I went to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. It is a memorial park for everyone in the UK who has died since 1945. It was a really moving place, and fairly new. There is one huge memorial which contains the names of everyone who has died since 1945, reading through that took a looooong time but it was really good to know. There are also many many other memorials, the one I really liked I don't even know who it was for, but it was a beautiful tree made from plastic and there were little metal leaves hanging off it each with a name of someone on it. It was beautiful and in the wind the leaves all clinked together making a lovely noise. Friday I went to the Coventry Transport Museum as I had heard that they had an exhibition on about Surf vehicles and surf history by the Museum of British Surfing. It was only small but it was great to find out about vehicles other than just the VW Campervan that everyone knows and loves. It closes soon but I would advise people to go...
Hope your week has been just as great :)

Treat

Today I decided to treat myself and go to the Cotton Patch. This is somewhere that I have wanted to go to for a while but haven't been able to as it is always closed on my day off. What an AMAZING place! They have all your fabric needs including rolls and rolls of fabric, fat quarters, thimbles, cutters, books and books on quilting, templates for squares/triangles/diamonds/hexagons and all sorts... I could have spent hours in there...
Last year I attempted to make a quilt, it wasn't the best and it still isn't finished, but I did jump into the deep end and take on a little too much. I love fabric and have decided that if I see any amazing fabric that I will get bits and pieces as I go and when I have time I am going to have another go at a quilt. Properly this time.
So I treated myself to some Fat Quarters...

They are very retro designs, my last quilt was all blue and white and floral. I want my next one to be lots of colours, in many different designs and styles. A bit of every side of me :)
Now I can't wait! Deffinatly going back to cotton patch whenever I can!

Things I have eyes for this week

So.. its Monday and I need to cheer myself up! Look at these beatiful things that I really want...

The Lomography camera is something that I have wanted for years, they are such a cool brand that take really retro old school photo's. I love the Diana cameras, the mini ones are cute and take 2 photos per print. You can add a flash, filters and use pre coloured film to add extra fun to it. Its a lifestyle rather than just a camera, its awesome! The skirt is sooo cute, I love maxi skirts and dresses in the summer, just throw them on and you can go from day to night in most. I love the crochet design on this one, its so cute and floaty, makes me really wish summer was here. The shoes are amazing! I have been wanting some mary jane shoes for ages but I love these tan brown ones, they are really cute. The notebook is really cute because all the bunting is sewn on. I love stationary!!
Ahh I feel much happier now :)
Hope you find some things that you want today too!

Cushion

So I was without project and I didn't know what to do next and my mother asked me to have a go at creating a cushion for her. So I gladly accepted :) I went to my favorite knitting shop which is sadly closed now and purchased some Artisano Aran wool in a gorgeous bright red colour, I got 3 balls as I a have no idea how far wool goes so I always guess... its something I really do need to work on :S
Anywho... I searched for a pattern but could not find one that I liked, so I decided to wing it and create my own. I went for a moss stitch border with 3 cable stitch columns in the centre. I do love a moss stitch.
Check it out!

I am really proud of my cushion, its 45 x 45cm and the first large piece that I have completed. Mum was very impressed and I have been asked to make one by her friend now, I am going to start charging.

:)
Happy Valentines Day x

Crochet Slippers How To...

Hey Guys,
I am very sorry but I forgot to pop the link for how to make the slippers; so here it is.
The Purl Bee do have some great ideas and inspiration for lots of projects from Crochet, Knitting and Sewing. I wish their shop was in England!
x

Crochet Slippers

Summer came and although I love to walk around barefoot, sometimes my feet feel more comfortable when I have something upon them. So I found a really cute pattern and learnt to crochet... (Thanks to my friend Clare). This was the outcome...

Crochet Slippers

And if you want to learn to make them then its easy peasy. You start with 6 granny squares in and colours/yarn that you fancy and then crochet them together to form a slipper (that's 6 squares per slipper by the way) I am a size 6 feet and i used size 4 crochet hook and they are a fab fit for my feet. Obviously make smaller squares for smaller feet and bigger squares for bigger feet. 

They are my favourite crochet make to date, I even made them for my man, and my two cousins... they make great gifts and there are so many different designs and combinations to make...

First Post

So, my names Zoe (with umlouts on the e) and I am a 26 year old with a love of knitting, crochet, tea, cake, friends, loves and all things handmade. On my blog I want to share these things with you. When I make something new I will show and tell and hopefully inspire you to have a go yourself! I am also interested to hear what you have got up to also :)