A little crochet catch-up

Boy have I missed crafting! When I first learnt to crochet from this talented blogger I fell in love hard and fast! There's something about sitting on the couch on a Sunday afternoon with your fingers busy hooking away at a little something special.

I have been off the 'hooks' for a little while due to all of the happenings in my life in the past year or so, but as soon as my good friend Jodie announced she was starting an Autumn yarn club, I knew it was the exact excuse I needed to get some 'me time' back and pick up the crochet hook again!

It took me an entire month before I actually got around to starting the first project of the seasonal club, in fact, the second instalment to the club showed up on my door step last week so I knew I couldn't put off starting any longer!

I got a little nervous just thinking about crocheting again. It sounds silly, but I thought I might forget everything I learnt. I was even panicking thinking I might not remember how to tie the little knot in the yarn to connect it to my hook! I laugh at this now because, like they say about riding a bike, I hadn't forgotten a thing!

I sat down on Friday night after a long day at work with a glass of red (I know, how classy of me) and a chick-fick on TV, and started hooking. If it wasn't for the red wine putting me to sleep I probably would have finished that night, but in stead, I poured myself into bed and finished the next day.

A lovely, plum coloured facecloth to adorn our bathroom for the start of the Autumn season.

This little pattern was so nice to work on and was such a cinch! If you're thinking of learning how to crochet any time soon, this pattern is a must for beginners! It works up super fast and you learn some good basics, plus the pattern made by the 'tulip stitch' looks quite detailed (so you can fool all of your friends into thinking it's a tricky pattern - how clever of you! *wink*)

You can find the rest of my project details here on Ravelry.

Also last week, as well as finding my yarn club parcel tucked under the door mat by my postie, so too was my book delivery from  Local Is Lovely.

The book is just gorgeous and with some great yarns about Aussie producers and some amazing recipes too! I was so excited to get two parcels at once - the old fashioned 'snail mail' gets me every time!

E, x

A perfect circle

I have been resorting to my old love of crochet to keep me busy when uni work slows down. I had a gorgeous ball of Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino yarn here with me and I wanted to whip up something quick yesterday.

The yarn was probably too precious and soft for this mini project but I used it anyway because I love the colour!

I made some super-simple circle coasters for my house (a set of 4). They turned out perfectly and were the easiest thing to make, EVER! I modified the pattern slightly (you can find my project on Ravelry with notes).

I still have a tonne of left over yarn from the ball so I am going to make a matching dishcloth too!

I love a quick, handmade project!

Elle xo

Procrastination

I should probably be doing some work on my uni stuff but I am too distracted by this gorgeous new yarn that I purchased today.

'Noro Silk Garden' is such a pretty yarn to look at and work with. The colours throughout are gorgeous and its exciting to work with this type of yarn because the more you work with the more the variations in colour come out!

I am using this Noro ball for my crochet Queen Anne lace scarf (posted on revelry here).

I haven't done much of the pattern just yet and its looking a little wonky but I am happy to plod along with this project as it helps me to stay calm and get some sanity back in stead of stressing about uni work all the time!

I'm so happy to be crocheting again. I love this craft!

Are you knitting or crocheting anything at the moment? 

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time, before I started studying full time again, I was an avid crafter.

I loved knitting, sewing (or attempting to sew) and my biggest love was crochet. Now, don't think for one second that crochet is only for the Nana's and the lonely old biddies. Crochet is a great, relaxing craft that I hold close to my heart and is very trendy if done right.

A good friend of mine opened my eyes to the wonderful world of yarn and handmade crafting a few years ago and lately I have been missing it! I haven't picked up the crochet hook in I don't know how long and I really miss the humbling feeling it gives me when I finish a project that looks great.

There is something about crochet that reminds me of home, the country and I guess the way things were once upon a time.

One of my goals this year is to attempt to moderately get back into crochet (and maybe knitting - its the sad truth that I am not a good knitter, you can ask the tangled and hole-y, unfinished pieces in my yarn stash).

I have a lot of things on the go at the moment, including hopefully something very exciting that I can share with you all soon, so crochet will be something to make me happy as a small side project.

Until then, here are some 'pins' I love for inspiration in all things yarn and crochet.

Source: muitaihania.blogspot.com via Jodie on Pinterest

Source: houseofanais.onsugar.com via Foxs on Pinterest

Source: whatsnewtablet.com via Brenda on Pinterest

Source: this-is-unique.tumblr.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Do you craft?

In search of the perfect birthday card...

It's a very good friend of mines birthday coming up very soon (this week to be exact - I'm a little slow on the organisation side of things!!) and I've got her present all ready to go but I wanted to find a sweet little handmade card to go along with it.

Where else to look than the place that houses all of the great handmade things... Made It of course!!

Here is what I found from Misiu "Handmade Thingmebobs"

I'm loving the cutsie owls and the real "handmade" look it has. Too cute and perfect for my bestie. Go check the store out, you might find a neat little gift as well! :o)

Ellie.........x

I heart handmade...

Tonight Rog and I are spending the night in. Spending it doing the stuff that we enjoy - relaxing, chilling out and enjoying the fact the neither of us have to work tomorrow. Don't you just love that feeling?! I do! Knowing that tomorrow I can sleep in as long as I want with no stinky alarm waking me up for my work routine!

I've spent this afternoon having some dip and biccies (and a few glasses of wine *wink*) with my good friend Jen chatting about work, uni and life.

Now I am home listening to Rog yell things at the TV screen as he plays his Xbox Fifa soccer game (hehe I love how excited he gets about silly Xbox games! lol) whilst I have an urge to blog!!

On my Internet travels, I find myself back at Madeit checking out all of the handmade goodness that the site has to offer. I thought I'd share with you some pretty handmade finds that I have been admiring tonight!!

1. Button Cluster Necklace by Shagpile

2. English Rose Cushion by Emma Kate's

3. Rose Dress by Three Little Ducks

4. Carrie Bradshaw Coffee Sleeve by Tutu's and Muddy Shoe's

Find more handmade goodness here.