Toys

Cupcake Sunday

What is it about cupcakes? For a couple of years we have been obsessed, and I am not sure the contenders for the crown (Whoopie etc) will really overtake its place in our hearts. I think it is because they are a small bit of indulgent sweet heaven, which you can have just to yourself. (Let us not dwell on what that says of our generation).

I was at a party yesterday afternoon, and the generous hosts had provided the most beautiful cupcakes for the adults to eat. Now I didn’t feel hungry, I certainly could have done without eating one, but the butter cream and glitter spoke to me. I had to hold it in my little hand. Foolish girl.

What I do know is that both the baked form and the knitted/crochet variety still appeal to me. The very first jumper I designed had a cupcake on the front. My very first crochet design was a cupcake which began a small series of food items to liven up Little B’s play kitchen. He had such fun serving them in his imaginary restaurant. However as I walked through our garden this morning, I found that first little crochet cake abandoned, soggy and forlorn on the grass. It had a good life.(Pause). But this summer new versions should be made in the interest of health and safety and the imaginary world.

Today, good friends of ours came for lunch. Their youngest daughter was attracted to the little cake I made last night and then spent a happy half an hour drawing me her own designs. They were very good, and I thought I might use them as inspiration for a series. Having these little cotton cakes in your life certainly make putting on jeans a little easier.

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One Good Bear deserves another

As part of the recent significant birthdays I commissioned a portrait of one of our family members from a talented friend of mine. Tracy is an amazing designer and is always someone who has half a dozen things on the go. I admire her energy. But the most amazing thing is that she distilled the essence of the very characterful Teddy and just created a most wonderful portrait of him. The owner was very pleased.

Now in the new economy we have got into a bit of a bartering process – she wouldn’t be paid, but said that she would need something knitted. I harranged her for what she wanted and she finally relented and said that she might need a teddy making for one of her family. So with this in mind I hot-footed it to the LYS (Local Yarn Store – yes my friends knitting jargon!) and bought some Sirdar Snowflake DK. This has a VERY nice feel. I was lucky one night that a ball of yarn didn’t find its way into Little B’s bed, paper ball band and all. Now I don’t think I can crochet with this. I will have another go when time allows. This is a cobbled together knitting pattern, but he is very cosy.

As yet un-named he is destined for my generous and talented friend, what he ends up being called or whether he is passed on to the family member I will tell you later.

Finally thank you to all my friends for leaving lovely comments in the past few days. I am so grateful to you x What a wonderful way to stay in touch

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Edgar the Monster Egg Cosy

I really good friend of mine from University left a lovely comment on my blog about the Cheeky Chick Egg Cosy. She said that her daughter liked it a lot and her sons were also drawn to the image. But it got me thinking…if you were a surfer dude in Australia, sporty and just a little bit cool ( I am aware their genes) then frankly you would not be keen to see the Cheeky Chick staring at you across the breakfast table.

Who am I kidding, would you actually put a cosy on your boiled egg if you were cool? I don’t know. I have never been cool. But say you were happy to be amused by your mother, I think Edgar would be the kind of chap who would bring a smile to your little face. So if you are a cool Mc D living down-under – this chap  is dedicated to you. The pattern is for free and so simple.  Enjoy!

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Cheeky Chick

Well Cheeky Chick got finished last night and first light this morning I took a quick photo of him…When my own cheeky chick got up and flew down the stairs for breakfast the egg cosy got whipped from its egg and thrust into the school rucksack. The zip was done up and the last I heard was, ‘Good I was looking for something for ‘show and tell’. I cannot tell you what was ‘told’. I cannot imagine that anyone was that impressed really. However the good news is that Cheeky Chick did return and was still intact. What I need to do now is actually concentrate and make a few of these cosies for unsuspecting friends. Yeah!

If you would like to make your own the pattern is available here.

I will make either a Bunny or a Chick for the first four friends who leave a comment requesting their own cosy

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Sneaky Cosy Preview

I couldn’t resist it. I just wanted to share with you a little sneaky peak of one of my new patterns. What a fluffy little chap! Easter is one of my favourite times of the year and I thinking and wondering about how to celebrate it ‘through the medium of yarn’. Anyway this little chubby bunny should keep your easter eggs cosy  and I hope to take a few more photos before he gets mauled by little hands. I will aim to write up the pattern by the end of the week!

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Ella and Bea – Fairy Dolls

I have some dear friends who have the most beautiful twin daughters. One is a dancer, a dreamer, an ethereal beauty with Pre-Raphaelite locks. The other is cute and focused, an organiser and a planner. Both are delightful. Their Mummy asked me to make something for them…it took me a little while to think, but it was whilst I watched them dancing recently that I felt inventing a new pattern especially for them, inspired by them would fit the bill.

The dolls stand about 6 ins tall, and they use very little yarn. They are not time consuming but can feel a bit fiddly ( I won’t deny it). However the only really challenging bit is the wings. They are really made to honour those little girls who bring so much delight into the world.

To stiffen the wings, I used  a spray starch, but I wonder if a diluted craft glue might be more permanent (perhaps more scratchy). Anyway if it is your pleasure, please download the pattern free here. Your comments and photos would be very welcome.

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Monster Love


In our house of recent weeks it has been all about monsters. After making the Littlest Green Monster and Hat, small person decided he had his own opinion about what was very scary. Purple is his favourite colour (we must thank his grandparents for that – it is a long story), and he thinks that having just one eye is surely the most frightening thing in the world. So as requested a little hat was knitted and a little companion crocheted.

Be warned however. Eye Spy Purple Monster was used to full effect this weekend, as this little one eyed body was thrust into my face on Saturday to wake me up. He proved very successful. (Be still my beating heart! – literally)

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Thursday is Space Day – Hey Presto – Pocket Rocket Badge

The seasoned mothers and fathers amongst you will not give in the whims and whimsy of your children coming home from school and announcing – ‘Thursday is Space Day, I need to wear something Spacey!’ Currently I am relatively new to this kind of life and instead of shoving the thought completely to the back of my mind or saying, ‘Here is a roll of tin foil, my love, do what you will with it’ – my little mind gets a-racing.

So this is the product of my very small labour of love for Little B. Most of the time his ever changing passions and heroic imaginings provide inspiration rather than frustration and desperation. I feel that perhaps five years on I might not feel the same, but lets go with it while the creative juices flow and BLAST OFF !!!

Free Pattern to download for you here if you feel so inclined.

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My Funny Little Valentine Monster

I have to say that I have been really enjoying crochet at the moment. Encouraged by Little B, I made a monster for me. Hilariously he said it should be in pink and have long hair. Well it wasn’t long before the little chap evolved into a design for a valentine gift. I think he looks rather bashful. Anyway he is a quick an easy make  for a loved one.

I have evolved a technique of crocheting the tops of limbs with the stitches of the body. I hope I have explained it well in the pattern. If not I will try to do a photo tutorial. I can’t think why I haven’t done this before, it makes the whole doll much more durable. I am sure someone else has described it much better, but my version just evolved on the sofa. Anyway enjoy x

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