staying within the lines

Do you love giveaways? I must admit I sometimes think I'm addicted...but you don't win unless you enter! I was very pleased to win JordanDene's superhero ammo belt because it meant I had a perfect excuse for a spot of colouring in!

Perhaps there's a bigger question here - why do I own a steampunk colouring book? You'd have to ask my son, he gave it to me last year. And why not?

I promised some online friends a picture of me wearing it when it came, but I'm afraid I no longer fit into something designed for a 2-9 year old, so I shall be passing it along to a little friend just as soon as I've finished my picture!

You can see in JordanDene's instruction leaflet how to wear it - and actually, Jordan does make an adult sized version, but the giveaway I entered was for a childsized superhero.

Thanks Jordan - if you know someone who would love to wear their crayons instead of leaving them in the sofa for the cat to eat, why not head over to JordanDene on Etsy where she currently has 54 different styles of crayon ammo belts and much much more.

Giveaway panda winner

thanks for entering!

4 of you desired the panda. Goblinf posted a second comment which I didn't count, so I put 1,2,3,4 into random.org (goblinf=1, Rachel=2, Josh=3, TattooedMummy=4)

The screenshots are not the best, but if you click on them they'll grow.

Result =1 Congratulations lucky new panda owner!

Knitting Book Review: Make your own knitted animals

Make your own Knitted Animals, by Bethany Hines

This is a book intended for children, I was given it to review as a knitter and ex-teacher and I'm going to pass it on to a genuine child next! I'm hoping her mum will pass on her own opinion, but these are my thoughts, unscripted and "mine own".

The front cover promises "Learn to knit cute little animal characters" and sure enough there are patterns for 5 little critters: lamb, monkey, panda, bird with chicks and a rabbit. 

There are short tutorials with photos to show how to knit, but this is not, in my opinion, a book to learn how to knit. If your child can already knit (or if you are keen to help) then it's fine. (The back cover does say "prior knitting experience helpful and adult supervision recommended) I would especially question the method they suggest for casting on - but it does work, though very loosely.

I like the presentation! The plastic box at the top where the materials are stored is resealable so you can continue to keep your bits and pieces safely. There are 4 pieces of felt, two sizes of sewing needle, some sewing thread and two 4mm knitting needles (they're not marked, but I checked the size on my gauge)

No knitting yarn, but it is only £5.99 though, and yarn would put the price up.

The patterns are in the form of templates which may or not be a good thing, it depends how your mind works! What disappointed me a great deal is that there are no obvious clues to orientation. In the template below, looking at the finished panda tells me the body and arms templates need to be read sideways, but the ears and feet and tail are read upwards. I think that would be very confusing for a child (it was slightly confusing for me to be honest!) The templates are VERY small. The body template below is a mere 2.5 inches (less than 6.5 cm) wide and I found those tiny squares very difficult to count.

The ear liner template is clearly a circle above...yet when we get to the instructions - not so. Of course by then I'd already cut out my pink circles, so tough. I can hear my imaginary child wailing "I've gone wrong!"

The diagram seems much longer than my knitting...but it was ok when I sewed it up. 

Skipping straight to the last page, the author encourages us to now design our very own characters or animals, and shows four examples. Strangely, they're all crochet with the exception of the tall chap's hat.

The designs themselves are cute though...and here's my panda: I tried hard to stick to the pattern to give it a fair go but couldn't bring myself not to cast on properly! If you'd like to win her, just leave me a comment below with a way to contact you. I'll randomly pick a winner on Friday. ***NB GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED***

I name this rabbit...

Nameless rabbit waits impatiently whilst MrNifty stirs the pot. 

Sometimes he takes his job very seriously indeed.

MrNifty makes his choice...who can it be?

BigBlueBed! Congratulations, Hector is now a rabbit who knows his name.

Thanks for entering, everyone.

Giveaway Bunny

9TH FEBRUARY UPDATE: GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED 

Isn't he (or is it she?) cute? Around 8 inches (20 cm) tall this bunny is up for adoption. I adapted the pattern from KnitandStitch magazine's teddy as part of my recent reviews (issue 1 and issue 2) and the one-of-a-kind rabbit is now ready to go to a new home cos he's outgrown my egg (not included).

How can you win?

Your first, compulsory entry is to choose a name for the rabbit and leave it in a comment on this blog post together with a way of contacting you. Any form of contact is fine, email, twitter, facebook whatever. Because I moderate all comments due to the daft amount of spam I otherwise receive, it is possible that you choose a name that has already been picked but not published. That won't matter, because I will put all the names (together with your name) in a hat so I'll know who has chosen the winning name.

Want extra entries for a better chance of winning?
You can do each of these once a day if you want!

Extra entry method #1 Share the giveaway on twitter and leave me a new comment with the link to your tweet* and your contact details with the same name you chose in your first entry.

Extra entry method #2 Share the giveaway on facebook and leave me a new comment with the link to your post and your contact details with the same name you chose in your first entry.

Extra entry method #3 go to my Etsy or Folksy shop, choose something you like and share it on twitter or facebook and leave me a new comment with the link to your post* and your contact details with the same name you chose in your first entry.

*to find the link to a tweet or facebook post click on the time/date of your tweet or post. You should see the link pop up in the address bar. If you can't find it, just come back and tell me you've done it.

Ready, set, go! I'll pick the winner next weekend (9th February). As always, this is open internationally. Good luck! Don't forget - I MUST be able to contact you, or you won't be able to win.

P.S. I know some of you have been looking for the bunny pattern. I adapted the teddy pattern from issue 1. All I did differently was switch to lighter yarn when I started the front of the head (don't cut off the dark pink). I increased to 2 stitches less than the pattern, and crocheted 2 rows fewer. I then returned to using the dark pink, crocheted all around the edge up to the top of the head to the first ear position. Crochet a chain (I did 7, you might want more) then DC back to the base, up the other side to the top and back down again, continue across the top of the head to ear 2, make that one the same and then DC back to the other side of the neck and finish. For the tail, I used a fluffy white yarn and picked up stitches in a circle in the appropriate place (it's easier to do this before you stitch front and back together), crocheted into them for a few rounds till it's big enough and then pulled the yarn through to pull the top together (stuff the tail first!)

Knit and Stitch magazine issue 2

If you saw my post about issue 1 you'll already know I've been given the first two issues of Knit and Stitch to review for you. This time both balls of yarn are for the final patchworks, one knitted in stocking stitch, the other in double crochet. Also included are knitting patterns for a lovely waterfall jacket, a scarf, a man's sweater and a baby outfit, and a crewel work drawstring bag.

I particularly like the waterfall jacket, but was disappointed that the sizing was given in the form of S, M, L etc with no explanation...or so I thought. When I investigated further I realised that the explanation for sizing was in a "know-how" page, but that is in issue 1. So it would appear that unless you buy the full series, there might be problems with referring to information in other issues - be warned. (and LOL guess what? I'm large. Humph.)

I checked online price of the recommended yarn for the waterfall jacket and it'd come to around £60, way out of my budget, but not bad really for a fun project and a beautiful handmade garment.

I decided to crochet the patchwork square, partly because I wanted to use the pretty pink crochet hook! (All my needles and hooks are plain) The instructions said to cast on 30 stitches for a 20cm square, but to change to fewer or more if necessary. Sure enough, 30 stitches was too big for me, so I started again with 26 and that worked out fine as you can see. It also shows that I do indeed work quite loosely, so that is why I ran out of yarn yesterday. (Yes, I know I should have done a test piece, but that's like reading a recipe all the way through before starting cooking, or finishing the sanding-down before painting...)

So, what do I think about the magazine? I've enjoyed having the chance to look it over, and I've enjoyed the challenge of crocheting from a pattern. Would I make any of the other patterns? No, very unlikely I'd say. Not because they're not good designs, but because my knitting time is already accounted for with filling my shops. I think it'd be a good series for someone starting out in their crafting life, who isn't sure just yet which craft they wish to pursue, to give a taster of several disciplines and allow the chance to develop your skills in a structured way in your own time. I've not been converted to a crocheter! Although I enjoyed making the bunny, all the time I was thinking that I could have knitted half a dozen in the time it took me - I'm definitely a knitter!

Anyway - here he (or she) is. Come back tomorrow and I'll tell you what to do to be in with a chance of winning him in time for Easter!

Even more Christmas

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway from Etsy seller ElectronicGirl, isn't it fun? The light transitions between red, green and blue in a fairly random sequence, I can see us placing bets on what colour will be next! Other variations still available, they're not just for Christmas so why not check out ElectronicGirl's shop

Who won?

I decided to go "old school" for my giveaway and wrote everyone's (abbreviated!)names on raffle tickets, scrunched them up and handed the hat to MrNifty...

Congratulations Sarah! I'll be in touch to ask for your mailing address, then the prize-winning meerkat will be on his way to you.

My own prize, from Homecrafts, was to spend £50 on supplies from their shop, can't wait to get my goodies - and I can promise you some new designs as a result!

Competition and Giveaway!

Remember the Homecrafts competition I was invited to enter? You can see the entries here. We were each sent a box of random yarns and asked to work our magic. I asked if I could use other yarns as well (no) and if I could use stuffing and wire (yes)...and as you know, came up with the two meerkats. They're one-of-a-kind because the yarns are so different from my usual.

Anyway, long story short wanna know who won?

 I want to share the love! I'm offering one lucky winner the choice of either of these very special niftyknits meerkats. To help you decide, you can see more pictures of them here.

How to enter?

Two ways. I'll put your name in the virtual hat for each entry, so if you choose to use both ways of entering, you've got two chances!

#1 leave a comment below saying which meerkat you'd like *and* a way to contact you. Don't forget, if your blogger profile is set to private I will NOT be able to find you there. 

#2 Go to any of my shops Folksy or Etsy or Zibbet , select your favourite item and come back here and leave the link. Again, please make sure you leave a way to contact you.

Good luck! I'll choose the winner randomly on Sunday evening (UK time) 12th August. Open to all, international, as always. Thank you once again, Homecrafts!

******************GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**************
Thanks everyone - I'll announce the winner tomorrow.

Giveaway time!

I'm a big fan of wildlife artist Stephen Message and proudly display several of his wonderful bird prints on my walls. We were lucky enough to find a stash of them at an auction, but discovered one of our wins was already on the wall - so the duplicate, a beautiful great spotted woodpecker, is what I'm offering as my giveaway prize.

It's ready mounted as you can see in the pic and is signed by the artist. The back is a little grubby (I don't know where it was before it was in the auction) but the front is covered in cellophane which I've left intact. 

The actual picture is 6.25" x 4.5" (16cm x 11.5cm) but including the mount it's 10" x 8" which I found fits perfectly into a standard 11" x 9" frame (not included)

So - what do you need to do to enter? I'd like to you to leave a comment telling me your favourite item from my zibbet shop please. Don't forget to make sure I can contact you. (If your blogger profile is set to private I will not be able to find you). Any contact link is fine, twitter or facebook or shop or email - whatever.

Good luck!! I'll close the giveaway Sunday 20th May and randomly select a winner, ready to send out your print on Monday.

did you win?

I've actually done real live writing with a pen, look:


I've gone all old-school today - I cut the paper into strips


and got Mr Nifty to pull out the winner...



congratulations Dannie!

I should have known Dannie would know about games - she's crocheted angry birds!

too big a beach?

We went house-hunting in Greatstone yesterday. The tide was out, sandy beach looked nice...until we realised how utterly huge it is! I took this photo because I was amused by the way walkers had decorated the fence with lost gloves.


I had incorrectly thought the wet line (marked in red) we could see was the sea - but no, it went out for a good half mile and there are lots of mud pockets as you walk seawards, kept thinking I was going to be swallowed up by quicksand!

Back to the drawing board...

meanwhile - don't forget to enter my giveaway, it's running till Sunday. Enter here

Valentines Day Giveaway

Cos I lurves you all...

I need help escaping my Plants v Zombies addiction, so I'm offering a chomper keychain and sunflower pin as an incentive to help me beat it. They're not for sale any more so you won't get one any other way! All you have to do is recommend a replacement game - it has to be inexpensive and for the PC, I don't have a fancy new phone which is just as well or I'd never get anything done!



So - leave your recommendations below (one per comment) and why you think I'll like the game you're suggesting. You can enter as many times as you like as long as you come up with a game I might like. I'll choose a random winner at the weekend, Sunday 19th February. Don't forget to leave me a way of contacting you if your blogger profile is "private" I can't find you through it.

***CLOSED*** I'm finding the winner now!

Dr Who Giveaway winner!

A big thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway and left me useful moving tips. We're busy scrubbing the house and de-personalising it ready to get the estate agent round (so of course now I can't find anything)

Although of course the giveaway is over PLEASE leave me more tips if you have them. We really want to move!

I've asked random.org to choose a winer, and it's...


*drumroll*



Funnily enough, the winner DinaFragola has left the hardest tip to follow...decided NOW what needs chucking rather than pack it and worry about it later. So maybe it's a sign?

Your goodies will be on their way shortly!

Dr Who Giveaway

"Escape from the neighbours" plan#1 is underway, and I am tidying/chucking stuff like a madwoman, ready to get the house valued and hopefully sold.

So - here's where you help!

Leave me a comment with your top "house moving" tip - for whatever stage of the process you wish. How to impress potential buyers, how to keep my sanity, how to make moving-day itself go smoothly - anything. You can enter as many times as you wish, but each *DIFFERENT* tip has to be in a separate comment. Telling me to brew fresh coffee 98 times will only get you one entry! *Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you*

Prize is two fab AUDIO CDs of new Dr Who stories that were given away with my newspaper last weekend, and I'll throw in a DVD of the cult 70s film "Abigail's party" in case you're not a Dr Who fan. (Sadly, all the way through the film MrNifty and I were recognising ourselves and our furniture and decor from the 70s!)

"The Hounds of Artemis" is read by Matt Smith and Clare Corbett (Dr Who and Amy) and "The Ring of Steel" is read by Arthur Darvill (Rory)

Being "of a certain age", I am also discovering lots of hidden treasures which are being added to my vintage shop, so check it out here!

Giveaway winner will be randomly selected next Monday 7th March *Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you*

***GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED***

Who won the fairy?

Did you enter my giveaway?




I've counted through to the 74th comment and it's from DancingRainbows - congratulations!

Many thanks to everyone who entered - and better luck next time! Follow my blog to be sure to spot the next giveaway, or sign up for my newsletter.

I'm a winner!

Aren't giveaways great? Winning is even better of course - so I was very pleased to hear I'd won Team Bacon's giveaway!

What's that you say? You haven't heard of Team Bacon? I'm not a member, but this is what their charter says: "Team Bacon stands for having fun with creative like-minded individuals and supporting charitable endeavors through our collective obsession with bacon. Bacon brings together so many people from diverse walks of life. Some prefer pork; some prefer turkey, some prefer soy; but all can agree that in all its forms, bacon is wonderful. Bacon connects the masses in a communal love for a tastier life."

What's not to love? Mr Nifty knows the way to my heart inevitably involves bacon, so I consider myself a worthy winner!

So - what did I win?



My very own Sassy Sally Bacon, carved from the loins of awesomeness, fun and never-ending good times. (It must be true, it says so on her birth certificate)

I'd just like to point out to those people who think I'm slightly eccentric for knitting meerkats in costumes that I am VERY sane indeed compared to BaconMama!

Not only did my bacon come with a birth certificate, I also have a licence entitling me (compelling me!) to build a better world through laughter and bacon.

I also got a couple of sachets of bacon salt - a product I had not known existed but for which I shall now scour the UK supermarkets!

BaconMama asks "What do Bacon do?"

Well - Sassy Sally came on a day trip to Whitstable, Kent (one of my favourite places, and where we hope to live in a few years time)

We had a picnic on the beach (no bacon in the sandwiches...it seemed wrong)



...posed for photos with Nifty and an inevitable meerkat hitchhiker...



...and considered diving into the sea (fortunately decided against it!)



then home again, where *somebody* discovered an opportunity for a photoshoot with the latest meerkats!



Thank you team Bacon!

Giveaway result

Thank you everyone who entered - it was great to hear what "says home" to you.

I listed the total of 24 entries (including the second goes - it seems we're all manet fans) and asked random.org to choose the winner:



11th entry was jms, also known as blogger joyknitt, congratulations!

GIVEAWAY!

Ever wanted to train yourself in a quality British accent? Now's your chance! Our weekend newspapers gave me two audio books of classic British stories read by classic British gentlemen: Alice in Wonderland read by Alan Bennett and The Wind in the Willows read by Sir Derek Jacobi. (Although Alice Meerkat leapt at the chance to get in the photo, she is not included)



One of my favourite sections in 'Wind in the Willows' is when Mole suddenly senses he's near home and gets all excited - so to enter my giveaway I'm going to ask you to leave me a comment telling me something that says "I'm home!" to you.

On Friday I'll put the entrants into random.org and choose the winner - that's it! Easy peasy! I'll also send you one of my fridge magnets which go out with each of my knits. I read recently on Etsy forum that some people chuck magnetic business cards like mine straight in the bin, so for a second entry please leave me an honest answer (don't worry about hurting my feelings) - do you throw fridge magnets away, or would mine end up on a fridge somewhere?



***WORLDWIDE*** (forgot to add this earlier!)

Another good thing about coming home from holiday

...was finding a card on the mat telling me to go pick up a parcel. The parcel was a goody bag which I'd won, all for filling in a online questionnaire for the craft shop at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester!

Here's my prizes:



a loopy corsage from seventyseventyone design

a bookmark from Moots

an Edwin print by Stuart Galligan

and a love token by Beau Jangles

(I couldn't find a link for Moots, but if anyone knows of one - please let me know and I'll edit)

My advice to anyone living near Manchester is go take a look - the website shows lots of fabulous handmade goodies, I wish I was nearer!

And my advice to everyone is "ENTER GIVEAWAYS" - it could be you next time!
Just in case these lovely people have another giveaway, why not follow the Craft shop on twitter : http.twitter.com/rxcraftshop and facebook