crochet ttm

I first learned to crochet when I was about 10. I made a little square for my mom (a pot holder, I'm sure I called it), and that was the end of my crochet career for the next decade. I picked up a crochet hook again during my first year at college, and made a few scarves for my mom and grandma (the only people interested in handmade knitwear). This went on for a few years, with random scarves for people (all in the same heavy chenille yarn from Michael's - I'm not one for messing with a good thing!).

Then last year, we found out our friends Glenda and Dave were having a baby boy. I decided to get cracking and make a nice blanket for him. It took me months, and while I'd probably have done it slightly differently, all in all, I was pretty happy with the results:

cute patootie blanket

and apparently James still sleeps with it everynight :) Glenda even said they have a little song for it, sung to the tune of Puff the Magic Dragon: James' Special Blanket - knitted by the sea (*sniff*, so sweet!).

I also practiced some hat making skills and made this cutie (isn't he SOOO CUTE???):

James in his wee hat

It was so much fun making stuff that wasn't just scarves! There is such a great sense of satisfaction for making something yourself, and seeing other people enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Then, last month, we found out our friends Stephen and Donna (who went through some serious tough times last year) had a baby girl, Grace, in secret! No one even knew they were pregnant (they live in Northern Ireland so we don't see them that often). So I knew what I had to do and jumped on making another blanket. I worked at record speed and finished it in a week! (the other blanket took me at least two months). But boy oh boy and I proud of it, it is so soft and so sweet and looks like neopolitan ice cream, yum yum!

zig zags galore!

close up of yummy blanket

With my leftover pink yarn I decided to make a little cardigan, too. Let me tell you, our house has become overfilled with cuteness. I can't stand it! (yes I can, please can I make some more??)

even the little wooden button is unbelievably cute!

So now that those are out of the way, it's time for me to move on to 'big girl' projects. I need to finish my fat bottom bag for my brother-in-law's wedding coming up. I also want to make a shawl in a lovely lacey/sparkly yarn for my sister-in-law to be. Their wedding is outdoors, so I thought it would be nice to have a shawl to cover up as we dance into the night. I'll definitely post my finished projects!

Alicia has been trying to convince me to move into the medium of knitting, but I'd rather get better at my crocheting. I'm starting to get properly into it, and want to see what kind of stuff I can make with my hook before I start moving on to needles! BTW, Ravelry is my new love affair. (I'm solstice930, look for me!)

tatty devine

One of my favourite shops in Brighton is Pussy (there are two of them in the Laines). They stock a brand of jewelrey I absolutely love, called Tatty Devine. They make necklaces, bracelets, brooches, cuff links, you name it, all with a twist. Feast your eyes below!



This is my all time fave necklace ever. It's magnificent. It's also £96. Yikes! So, while it remains high on my wish list, alas, my wish list is where it must remain. But isn't it fantastic???



I got this necklace for Lauren for her birthday last year. I secretly wanted to wear it before I gave it to her. But don't worry, I didn't! (how rude!) But it's seriously cool, and wearable as an actual mustache (see Facebook pictures for reference).


This little guy is part of the new Spring/Summer 09 collection, and boy is he cute. A little brooch, perfect for summer cardigans. At £44, he's perhaps slightly out of my price range, but I love it!

Check out their current collection, as well as their Best Of to be majorly awed and inspired!

Revolutionary Road

For our bookgroup meeting this month, we read Revolutionary Road. Love the cover!!! I really enjoyed the book, too, but it took me a little while to get into it. It's set in the 1950's, American suburbia, about a couple dealing with the banalities of the American Dream, and deciding to do something about it.

We saw the film the day before our meeting, and I was very very impressed. Although it was faithful to the book, I feel the best book to film adaptations need to translate the material into a different platform - what works for a book, and makes it a great book, more often than not doesn't make a good film. However, the film found its own voice, and the two leads were great.

I also thought the film was a bit more intense, and definitely more harrowing. I ALMOST cried, but not quite :) And the costumes were amazing! I was totally born in the wrong generation (apart from loving feminism, working, sports, etc...you know what I mean...) I actually just wanted Kate Winslet's entire wardrobe. And hair. And makeup.

So, our next book is White Tiger, the latest Man Booker Prize winner, and I'm looking forward to getting stuck into that! Although I sometimes feel reluctant to go to the meetings (ugh, it's cold out, I'm tired, blah blah) I do always enjoy myself, and I'm really glad I'm getting to read things I would never have thought to pick up.