I've Made Friday Week 8

Good morning/afternoon/evening :-)

I hope you have had a good week.

This week has been full of colds and sore throats in our house.

We are all curling up in the living room

and keeping warm.
Little Red is off school so I'm afraid the chipmunk isn't finished yet.

I have got some big news.
I didn't realize but I've been blogging for a year now.
And as my facebook group Crochet Addict
is nearing 7,000 members
I have decided to have a huge giveaway with at least 18 Prizes.
As soon as we reach 7,000 members I'll start the giveaway.
So Spread the word and join the group
Crochet Addict

I have had some exciting news this week.
I won an award!
I was so surprised & honored.
The award was from Michael at Craft Corners.

Before I start I've made Friday

I've got to let you know about

a new blogs special:

Jay's Boutique Blog

PROMOTION!!!

Ready for my first promotion?

Here it is: For each person who signs up to follow my blog in the next 7 days, I will post one FREE pattern! (I am not guaranteeing when the patterns will be posted, hopefully all of them will be posted within a month). All YOU have to do is click "Join this Site" on the left-hand side of this page. Then please be sure to comment on this post and let me know that you did!

Once you follow it, feel free to suggest ideas for free patterns you would like me to post! You can leave a comment on this post or email me at jaysboutique.etsy at gmail dot com.

ALSO, in addition to getting a free pattern, you will be sent a 15% off coupon towards anything in my etsy store just for following the blog! (this offer always stands :D) Email me at jaysboutique.etsy at gmail dot com for this coupon once you sign up to follow the blog! (If I don't get an email, I won't have any way of sending you the coupon - so be sure to email me if you want it)

Sound easy? Want free patterns? Then hurry up and follow my blog now! This promotion will close midnight (PST) on Monday, May 14, 2012.

Enjoy, and please take advantage of this special offer :)

I hope you will become a follower of her blog 

and join in the promotion.

Now this week as you know I have finished my 

alien space ship & alien

ZAON THE ALIEN & UFO SPACE SHIP

by Adorable Amigurumi

Free Ravelry download:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zaon-the-alien--ufo-space-ship

and my cactus:

CACTUS

by Ana Paula Rimoli

Ravelry Free Pattern Link:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cactus

& direct link to pattern on blog

http://amigurumipatterns.blogspot.co.uk/2007/11/thank-you-little-cactus.html

I have read The Outsider by Ademola Balogun


I won my copy in a competition but I can't seem to find it for sale anywhere.
The story is based around one graduate called Johnson
& his struggle in the business world in Nigeria.
Even though it was based on a story-line I wouldn't
normally be interested in I quite enjoyed it.
My one big criticism is that there wasn't enough emotion.
You didn't get the feeling that when something important happened
that anyone was really affected.
You could tell it was written by a business man.
If the emotions had been deeper I think it would
of affected the reader more & got the reader deeper into the story.
As it was it was just an overall good read.
I would give it 3 out of 5

This weeks question is what childhood memories do you have.
I have quite a lot of childhood memories
The ones that are the most special to me now are the ones with my Granddad.
I wish he'd met my husband & I wish he'd met my son.
I remember Granddad when I was a toddler running round the park with my hat on.
He looked so silly and we all couldn't stop laughing at him.
I love the way he took time to make us laugh, talk to us & play with us.
He also took time out to show me how to make things.
My Grandad was always making or fixing something :-)

Now it's your turn to tell us what you've been making this week

and what you've been reading or doing.

Please don't forget to go and see what

other people have been making this week.

<a href="http://s1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg559/susand1408crochetaddict/?action=view&amp;current=IveMadeFriday.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg559/susand1408crochetaddict/IveMadeFriday.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Auto-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

    

    

    

Read More

Tuesday's Patterns Week 8

Well I hope everyone from the UK had a fantastic Bank Holiday Weekend.

I hope everyone else had a fantastic weekend & a good start to the week.

I hope everyone that had Mothers Day on Sunday had a good one.

As you know this weekend my husband has

been working on the living room.

It looks fantastic but I'm

still going to keep you waiting till tomorrow for the pictures.

Little Red has caught a nasty cold.

Steamy hot showers before bed

& Karvol at night has been helping.

He'll be fine in a few days I hope.

This week I've got 2 patterns to review for you.

Well 3 if you count the spaceship & alien as separate patterns.

I only ended up making one alien but may make another one some where down the line.

Firstly is the Alien & Spaceship

Zaon the Alien & UFO Space Ship

by Adorable Amigurumi

Free Ravelry download:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zaon-the-alien--ufo-space-ship

I used a slightly thicker yarn for the spaceship & larger hook.

This was a really easy pattern to follow.

I had to change the terms slightly but that is just my preference for how I read patterns.

On the increase rows I prefer to know how many sc and then the increase.

This is a fun project that any child will enjoy playing with.

It is also an easy thing to make your own.

The only thing I would say about the pattern is if you want to stuff the arms or feet

don't finish off till you have done this. 

I would also not decrease on the feet until you have stuffed so that it is easier.

This is how mine turned out:

   

  

As you can see Little Red wanted buttons on the inside so it looked like a computer.

I didn't change the colours for the feet, 

as I was feeling lazy and I don't think he looks too bad all the same green.

The other pattern I used this week was

Cactus

by Ana Paula Rimoli

Ravelry Free Pattern Link:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cactus

& direct link to pattern on blog

http://amigurumipatterns.blogspot.co.uk/2007/11/thank-you-little-cactus.html

This is a really easy pattern to follow.

I loved making it 

and it is going to make a fantastic pin cushion :-)

The pattern is clear and easy to follow.

The outcome I think is very cute:

Sorry about the bad picture but I still haven't got my dinning room table yet.

I'm going to use mine as a pin cushion :-)

I would also like to let you know about a fantastic giveaway

that I am taking part in:

http://hidden-beauty-photo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/giveaway.html

The giveaway is worth over $800 & there are 21 prizes.

Now it's your turn.

Have you designed or followed a pattern

that you would like to promote

It doesn't have to be a free pattern.

<center><a href="http://crochetaddictcfs.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank" title="Button">

<img alt="Button" src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e171/susand1408/Tuesdayspatterns.jpg" /></a><center>

  

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Auto-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

  

I am also linking up to:

    

  

Read More

What You Doing Wednesday Week 6

I hope your week is going well! 

We have seen some sunshine this week which is always a bonus.

I do love the sun!
But then it disappeared again, hopefully it will return again soon.

There is one thing I want to talk about before Wednesday starts.
I think it's ok to post about the good, the bad and the ugly.
I read so many blogs where people apologize for talking about real things
that aren't happy things.
Do you know I enjoy the real blogs more!
My life isn't perfect and I will never pretend it is.
If someone is going through something I would rather
they talked about it so I could at least reach out
and say something.
I know words in blog land can't always help but at least then they know someone is there.
Us bloggers still live in the real world & it isn't perfect.

That's enough of me ranting.

So what are you making this week.

I've got a number of things on the go.

I am still working on my surprise.

I will hopefully have it finished soon!

It's making progress slowly but surely.

I am also making an alien & UFO for my son.

I was browsing Ravelry & Little Red saw it.

I know I am a softie but it does look cute.

I haven't got very far:

This is the UFO.

Here is what is meant to be look like:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zaon-the-alien--ufo-space-ship

I've made mine with a larger yarn and hook so the spaceship will

turn out bigger. If it is bigger enough I'll make him 2 aliens for it.

I have loads I want to make at the moment.

I just need the time and energy to be able to.

I can't tell you about the book I'm reading at the moment.

I am going to review it but I need to wait till it's published.

It's the first book I've reviewed before being released

and it's very exciting!

I am still in the middle of the 3rd in the Vampire Academy Series

and I'll hopefully have the review soon.

You know it's going to be good. I do love this series!

Melissa at Lazy Daisy is having another fantastic giveaway!

Click on the picture & go and enter

Now it's your turn to show us

what you are making this week.

It doesn't have to be crocheted we love seeing anything you make.

<center><a href="http://crochetaddictcfs.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank" title="Button">

<img alt="Button" src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e171/susand1408/WhatYouDoingWednesday.jpg" /></a><center>

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Auto-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Please go and take a look at what other people have made this week & link up:

  

 

Read More