Ripple failure - frogging

So I started my ripple blanket having done a quick trial as below, it all seemed straight forward really, I was feeling good about the challenge

I've learnt that you build the ripple in multiples of 14 so having built my chain of 16x14 = 224 I started on my first row of trebles increasing and decreasing every 4 regular trebles.
I got to the end of the first row and something was wrong....I didn't end on an increase as I should... Oh dear.... I battled on thinking I could in it in the next row...but I've had a little voice telling me that I'll always know I went wrong.
So I'm pulling out my one and a half rows of trebles (300ish i guess) and my 224 chains....it's painful, am going to be more careful next time

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Yummy Chocolate Treats

Now, back in November / December I saw a recipe in a magazine for some nougat and marzipan chocolate treats. These are some of my favourite foods so noted down the recipe and added the ingredients to my shopping list. It was only this weekend that I got round to actually making them.

 

You need

200g soft nougat

400g marzipan

150g quality dark chocolate - I used 75% cocoa

Icing sugar for dusting

 

1. Dust surfaces with icing sugar.

2. Divide marzipan into 3 and nougat into 2

3. Roll out each piece to about 15cm square / 5mm thick

4. Create sandwich of layers - marzipan / nougat / marzipan / nougat / marzipan.

5. Trim edges and cut into chunks

6. Melt 2/3 chocolate in a bowl over water until it reaches 50C then add reminder of the chocolate and allow to cool a little.

7. Dip in your marzipan sandwiches and set aside on grease proof paper to cool

 

I had a varying degree of success in presentation, but who cares when they taste this good!

I used a chocolate fondu fork to dip the sandwiches - this has left a mark in the top of the chocolates....have you got a better method?

I'm thinking my new year diet might start in February!

 

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#imapiece for Save the Children

Take a moment to look at the #imapiece campaign being run by Craftivist Collective in association with Save The Children. There is still a little time to join in, pieces are to be received by end Feb

 

Right I'm off to the post office...

 

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Welcome to the Blog Party

Hello, as you are probably aware there is a little party happening in the blogosphere today, it's a global Blog Party organised and hosted by the lovely Vicki from 2 Bags Full.

It's so easy for us to just continue as we are, chatting away in our little blog worlds forgetting there are people out there who don't know us but would like to. You wouldn't do that at a party would you? No, you'd pause and introduce yourself, then share and chat until your found some common ground and a spark.

So that is the idea of the party really....

Pause and introduce ourselves .....

Share a little bit about ourselves and hopefully find a little spark with someone who might like to pop back every now and then to see how we are doing.

Lets start a conversation.

I'll certainly be looking for some lovely blogs to follow and I assume, by the fact you are reading this, you are too.

--------------------

So hello, how are you?

I'm Becca Lou, I'm a Mum of one from Hampshire, England. I enjoy making beautiful items for my home and as gifts in my free time. I've been blogging for a couple of years but took a bit of a break when work, parenthood, moving house etc just meant I didn't have the time to dedicate to you. I missed blogging so started again just after Christmas and having had the time to reflect I have some idea seedlings which will hopefully result in some lovely ideas to share with you over the coming months.

I thought I'd give you a whistle-stop tour and share what I'm all about...

Crochet - I discovered crochet a couple of years ago and have been hooked (please excuse the pun!). I find it so relaxing and portable, sitting in front of the TV it acts as a snuggly blanket, waiting for my car to be serviced it keeps boredom at bay, it's a lovely craft...

This is a blanket I finished recently...

 

Jewellery - I've created a few items of silver metal jewellery using silversmithing techniques as well as playing with silver metal clay.

Beading and Accessories - I do like to show off my hand made items and very little gives me more pleasure than beading a headband to wear to an event and to receive a compliment about it.

I made this one to wear to a friends wedding, this and others have made appearances at many parties and events I've attended. Usually get compliments, always makes me smile to say "oh this? Yes I designed and made it, thanks for the compliment"

Quilting and patchwork - a lovely way to re-use fabrics and use up scraps, I do love a bit of quilting. The images below are from play mats I made for friends on the arrivals of new babies.

Conferences - I'm off to a couple of blogging conferences this year....looking forward to sharing the learnings with you, improving my blog, and hopefully meeting you there? Let me know if you are attending, you will find me at...

Cybher

Brit Mums Live

 

So this is me, there is so much more I'd like to tell you but hope that with any good conversation started at a party we will get to know each other over time.

 

So tell me a little about yourself, do you have a place in the blogosphere I can visit?

Please come back again soon

Ta at for now

X

 

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Cute crochet collar

Whilst browsing for a ripple crochet blanket tutorial to help with my latest challenge I stumbled upon this ever so cute crochet collar on Lulu Loves I simply couldn't resist, it's just adorable.

I hunted through my yarn stash for some cotton, this navy cotton was perfect. I love cotton for accessories, it is firmer once the item is finished and with this sitting so close to my neck I find cotton wears better and is less likely to have me itching part way through a conversation.

And navy, well, it goes with everything!

You start the crochet collar with a chain which will form the top line of the collar. I used stitch markers (paperclips in my case) to mark every 10 stitches in the initial chain. I often get distracted during my crafting and have to quickly put my work down, I mark every 10 stitches so I'm not constantly counting and with 91 stitches in the initial chain counting would have been a bit of pain. I'm sure you can buy proper crochet stitch markers, paperclips work just as we'll and can generally be located loitering at the bottom of a draw!

The pattern consists rounds of increasing numbers of treble crochet and spaces which creates this scalloped edge design

Sewing in the ends, nearly finished

It only took me an hour or so, isn't it adorable? Ever so simple but ever so cute crochet collar

 

 

 

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Luscious lemon curd recipe

Hubby loves lemon curd. He loves it on toast, he loves it in sandwiches and he loves it in cakes, I have to admit I do rather like a lashing of lemon curd on toast myself. A little while ago I decided it was time to attempt to make my own jar of lemony goodness, it went quite well and I've been making jars every couple of months ever since.

It's ever so simple, it takes about 40minutes from walking into the kitchen to putting it in the fridge, so here is my lemon curd recipe shared for you to enjoy, have ago, let me know how yours turns out.

 

You need

4 lemons

100g unsalted butter

200g caster sugar

3 eggs + 1 additional egg yoke

Makes about 500g of lemon curd - have appropriate jar/jars ready and sterilised

 

1. Remove the zest and juice from your lemons

2. Cut the butter into little cubes and place this and the sugar in a heat-proof bowl over a pan of boiling water.

 

Ensure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl and add the lemon zest and juice

 

Stir over the heat until the butter has melted

 

3. Lightly whisk the eggs and add these to the butter, lemon and sugar mix. Whisk together.

Keep over the heat and stir occasionally. The eggs will cook and your mixture will gradually thicken. Takes 12ish minutes.

 

4. When the mixture is glossy, thick and coats the back of your spoon remove from the heat and cool.

Stir occasionally

5. When cool spoon into your jar and keep in the fridge

6. Enjoy the fruits of your labour

Simply divine...

 

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New ripple crochet blanket

I've always admired crochet ripple blankets, I had a go a couple of years ago but failed miserably, it's time to concur this challenge. The blankets I see other people create are stunning and look so effective. The design always reminds me of classic Moschino chic and seem so elegant thrown on a chair or bed

I've treated myself to new yarn and a new hook, there's no excuse not to master this little demon

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Granny Square Blanket

Just before Christmas (22nd December I think) I crystallised the colour theme for the spare bedroom at home. I've been pondering for months and couldn't quite visualise it so was reticent to start tearing up the wallpaper, but suddenly it all became clear, going to be a simple and clean theme of navy and white.

So the blind fabric is on order, the wallpaper is down, the paint is making its way from the tin to the walls in gradual evening bursts.

Once I'd clarified the theme I got started on making a small lap blanket to go in the room. I wanted something simple so this crochet giant granny square seemed the perfect idea

It's quite a cosy craft to complete over the dark winter nights, hooking up some crochet in front of the tv, or chatting with friends and family are the perfect evening for me.

I've kept the navy and white theme in the majority of the blanket but also added a touch of red from my stash for a splash of colour, I think it adds a cute touch.

The edging was a challenge, I wanted to keep the lines clean but wanted something a little more than a couple of rounds of double crochet. During my research I found this clever oh-so-simple edging by the expert hooky lady over at Attic24. This had created almost a ribbon effect around the edging which I'm loving.

So here is the finished article my giant granny square blanket

Hasn't quite made it to the spare bedroom yet, but its quite snuggly to be under whilst drinking tea and watching evening tv.

 

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Roman blind part 1- the plan

So the mass renovation of our new home has started. New Year's Day was spent stripping wall paper from 2 rooms, thankfully the previous owners had bought expensive wallpaper and had it professionally installed, it pulled off like a dream, no need for straying or steaming, just pick at the corner and the whole strip peals off, awesome. The little man thoroughly enjoyed the destructive power bestowed on him and relished the opportunity to pull off paper literally running to and from the bin with a beaming grin on his face.


Whilst the destruction was fun the reality of the work ahead has struck me with excitement and nervousness. The window was previously covered with metal horizontal blinds (think 1980's office or school and you have the right image), infact we have the joy of these on all windows (yay!). Before we can redecorate fully we need to remove said blinds, but removal will leave us in a fish bowl so I need to have an alternative ready to go back up.

The plan is to make a roman blind

I've done my measurements and drawings but the toughest task so far appears to be selecting the fabric, I chickened out of going through the rails and rails of hanging fabric, I want a plain fabric and life seemed too short to wade through the racks.

The lady in the shop kindly allowed me to borrow these rainbows of samples, there has to be something here which works.


Need to order tomorrow, so tonight will be an evening of deliberation, and maybe a glass or two of wine to support the creative flow ;)

 

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