U-handblog

Little and Large

Happiest Chinese New Year! It was actually yesterday, but I was soo tired I spent most of the day napping.  In my waking hours I still managed to craft on.  During preggo-nancy crochet has remained my crafting saviour. I miss sewing a lot and I know I'll loose the crochet hooks and return to sewing when I loose the appendage. But for the meantime I spend a lot of time on our sofa. (Al sits on another one so I dont have to share-bliss!)  It's become my napping, lolling and crafting command centre. On it and around it are:

• 5 pillows
• a blanket
• loads of yarn and a pair of scissors
• 2 crochet books and hooks
• 1 bottle of water
• lots of cake and biscuit crumbs
• a pot of hyacinths (yummy scent)
• and (finally after 15 years of our beautiful relationship) I have commandeered the TV remote

 

Taken earlier today (at 32 wks).  Little and Large.  I'm large and these crochet bootees that I made are little!

 

Yes, so I'm feeling rather large and short of breath right now. But it's all good, she seems quite happy in there and still enjoys her daily moving and grooving.  She seems fond of: Radio 4, my high BPM dance music, the hum of the sewing machine (I got that one sorted as a priority!) sizzling and other cooking sounds, Al's making funny voices and playing spider on my tummy and my shower singing. That aside it would be nice not to have have to lump her around anymore, my arms and legs are short enough as they are thanks!

How can such a large bump have such tiny tootsies?

 

Pink is nice and all, but I don't think I'll be making many items in pink for the girly.  I can leave that to the shops (which are awash with shades of Barbie pink (or blue).  Why do shops do that? 

 

...and the winner of the book cover vote is...

Hey, thank you so much for you super-duper helpful feed back on the mock book covers. We have read through every single one.  My publisher and I were blown away by the level of detail you gave in your feedback - sooo useful.  As ever, the customer is always right! 

The book designing team are now re-creating some book covers based on your comments (I'll try and show you the re-worked covers if I can).  I find that exciting and it also makes so much sense!  After all, it doesn't matter a jot if my publisher and I like the cover if you folks don't.

I also want to thank you for your for very kind comments on the new book.  It's really been a joint effort; lots of you told me what projects you fancied (and you even specified bag features), the publisher has pulled out the stops in making it look great and I just stayed in all Summer tried to write and design projects that you like the look of.  :)

So, for the vote I promised there would be a commenter (drawn at random) who would win some bag making goodies. 

The trusty RNG stopped on:

Number 53.

Which means that Purpleali who said:

"I like number 3 the best. It looks fresh and exciting. It also shows off 3 very different designs of bag. The only bit I wasn't too keen on was the backgroung in the top left hand corner where your name was - I wasn't very sure about the green colour, maybe a lighter green would be better."

Congrats Purpleali, will you please get in touch with me (for my email address please click on the ABOUT at top right hand corner of blog) so we can arrange getting the good gear sent to you.

Mock-up covers for my new book. Please vote (and win).

Hello Loves!

How lucky is this author?  So I get to write about something that I'm obsessed with, someone takes some yummy photos and then a team puts all of the words and piccies together into a nice sprial-bound book.  And best of all, you lovely readers seem to like the results. Hoo hoo! 

I've been sent some book cover ideas to comment on and approve.  My publisher has asked me to ask you discerning crafters to get invloved and give us your esteemed feedback.  How fun is that (and how often does the reader get to have a say on the cover)??!

So yeah, there are 5 different book covers to peruse.  Lets say the cover at the top is number 1 and the bottom cover is number 5.  If you could please have a look, vote and comment on the covers as instructed in the contest details below - your comments might win you some bag making goodies!  Thanks for taking part!

Up for grabs is:

• this tasty leather shoulder handle
• these pretty bamboo bag handles
• this yummy bobble trim

 

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Contest Details (please read carefully):

1 commenter/winner will be drawn at random. The draw is open to everyone.  If winner is overseas I will mark the package as a 'gift' so there will be no customs to pay. 

To enter you need to is comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST by:

1. Voting on your fave cover - remember to state which number cover: 1- 5
   
2. Comment on why it is your fave cover
3. Include any other comments: change of colours etc.

 

Contest Official-ness :

1. I'll randomly select 1 winner: 16th Jan and announce them the following day-ish.  Good luck! 
2. I'll need to ask the winner to make a donation for the postage.
3. Sorry I can't notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement.  This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don't have to keep checking back, although it's always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
4. Prizes which are not claimed within 3 weeks of the winner announcement will be carried forward to the next draw.
5. Sorry I can't reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one :)

Make your own Dragon Paper Model - Happy New Year!

Happiest New Year to you and your family!!

I wish the best of everything for you this year.  I know that 'things out there' are far from perfect but, hopefully we can still feel that there is so much to be happy for.  Be that a tasty chicken pie for tonight's dinner, a hug and an "I love you" from your children/friend/partner, a completed UFO, or gaining a new skill for example.

This year is going to be delightfully bonkers - I've heard that nothing can prepare you for your first child...  But despite the added distraction, tiredness and feelings of love that she will no doubt bring, my 2012 aim (I don't do resolutions) will be to try and keep it simple.   Because book writing forces you to stay in a lot (as does advanced stages of pregnancy), I've had to focus on the simpler pleasures in life (in order alleviate the writer's cabin fever).  And this has left me a in good place.  I love my slippers more than ever, the only things I want to shop for is food, craft supplies, and baby stuff.  The more I can keep things uncomplicated the more I am free to enjoy the simple stuff.  Long may this continue!

 

Make your own Lucky 2012 Dragon.

In Chinese mythology and zodiac-ness Dragons are believed to be the super-luckiest of creatures.  I'm not particularly superstitious myself but, it's still nice knowing that Beansprout will be born in the year of the Dragon.  She may turn out to be a creative hothead, ohhhhh boy!  Here's a cool lucky dragon for you/the kids to make to celebrate the New Year.

 

Taken from this site.  Isn't this Dragon groovy!  I'm going to make one for Beansprout's room.

Click for the dragon template PDF

Click for the assembly instructions (they're in Japanese, but the diagrams are easy to follow)

 

 

This reads: Kung Hei Fat Choy  "Happy New Year"  Innit!   OX