6ichthusfish

Haden Hill House Museum...

After the children had done some school-work this morning, we decided to take an educational trip to Haden Hill House Museum in the afternoon.  One of the great things we enjoyed about that museum was how "up close & personal" you could get to the exhibits.  Below, the twins are in the housekeepers room... 

 

Smurf liked all the hands-on artifacts...

 

Roman loves History & absorbs facts like a sponge.  He's not as keen on being photographed though :(  

Thre was a box of stuff in most of the rooms and Smurf enjoyed a rummage through...

 

Tiger-girl & I both liked the old toy where you swing the ball around and the chickens peck the board...

 

There was a range of old toys to interact with.  Smurf looks a lot like the artful Dodger in the pic below... (!)

 

Some of the manequins were interesting (!)...

 

 

One of the rooms was an exhibit about the 1960's.  Brill scooters & MOD stuff.

 

  

The Museum was free and well worth a visit.

 

Colourful Crochet Sock Monster....

The crochet Sock Monster is finished!  I really enjoyed working from my own design and writing the pattern as I went along. 

There has been some disagreement in the house as to whether he's a boy or girl. Most people think he looks like a boy, (but it is hard to tell)...

 

Hopefully I've captured a true 'Sock Monster' look...

Here he is with with 'Phil Green'...

 

The crochet toys I've made so far (except for the Bunnies I gave my nieces)...

 

I'm just pondering what my next project will be.       :]

 

 

 

Sock Monster is nearly finished...!

Here's an update about how my design for a crochet sock monster is turning out.  I have been scribbling down the pattern as I've gone along (just hoping I can make sense of my scruffy notes!)  I decided to give him jointed arms... 

 

I made them by putting a button on the inside of his body and one inside his arm, then sewed through both buttons with black DK cotton yarn & tied everything tightly...

 

I did have to crochet his hand closed while it was stuffed & attached to the body which was fiddly!  Now I am working on his facial features ... choosing the mouth colour from felt...

 

He's bigger than I'd envisaged (partly because I kept extending the length of his legs... a bit like the opposite of the joke where you saw one table leg, then have to saw a bit more off another table leg, till your table is really low... well I crocheted a bit more on one leg, then the other & more on the first leg again- but I did want long legs!) 

 

I'm beginning to think a pink mouth will work. 'Spot the difference' (!)

 

 

Just got to sew the facial features on this crazy crochet sock monster dude!

Crochet Sock Monster... !

I've seen a few sock monsters on the web recently & decided to try to crochet one (I know what you're thinking...  "Why would she wanna crochet a monster that's s'posed to be made from a sock?") ... Well, the only answer is "Why not?!"  Oh & I'm really into crochet & ...I don't have any unworn cute/stripy socks around the place & ... did I mention I love to crochet?  [Plus it's a challenge to work out your own design/pattern!]

So, what is a sock monster & what does it look like?

  

<<<----  This is a sock monster called Jack, made by Nicky at monstermunch.com

 

<<<---- Here's a bunch of sock monsters  click here for sockmonsters at woolywarriors! 

 

 

 

 

AND if you're still awake interested, then you can click here to see a gallery of classic sock monsters.

So - onto my crochet Sock Monster that I'm making... I began with the head and after a bit of gnashing of teeth trial & error, I crocheted two bendy bits for the head which I joined with a little rectangular patch...

 

 

<<<----I was working from a simple sock monster sketch (drawn hastily by me)

 

I then kept going in single crochet, sort of shaping the head by doing a few half treble stitches to (kind of) get the shape I was after...

 

It looks like a purple doll with rickets from that angle!

So, now I've done the stripy shoulders (shaping into & out of the neck again) and have placed a coupla buttons and a paper mouth to give some idea of what this crazy crochet sock monster may end up like (or not... we'll have to see)...

 

I have been keeping a record of the pattern as I've gone along, but already there are LOADS of things I'd change!

I'm off to do some more on him.

 

 

 

Work experience for the big son...

Roman went to stay with his auntie & uncle (blog name for uncle is 'Foghorn') to gain some work experience as Auntie is a chiropodist with her own practice.

 

It was such a great opportunity for Roman to learn about the medical profession & his Auntie provided lots of new experiences.  He learned all about record keeping on the computer...

 

Answering the phone ...

 

Sterilization of tools and the importance of hygiene...

 

 

He learned to check the different pulses in the foot ...

 

 

There was a feeling test...

  

 

Roman also got to observe his Auntie carrying out many different procedures.  He really enjoyed his week of work experience and is keener than ever to be a doctor.

 

He also enjoyed spending time with his cousins  :)

 

Meet 'Bouncebot' the Amigurumi ROBOT...

I thoroughly enjoyed making 'Bouncebot' [pattern from the book 'Crobots' by Nelly Pailloux].  He fits snugly into the palm of your hand...

The sewing part took longer than it did to crochet him in the first place (!)    In the end I chose to give him sparkly eyes (2 brads).  Yep, making amigurumi toys is  satisfying.

 

This little dude is so cute, I spent a while playing with him posing him in different places... HeeHee...

Turns out Bouncebot likes to play chess!

 

... but he did get in the way a bit...

He enjoys a healthy snack... (!)

 

...and likes a mug of tea...

  

He wants to be one of the lads in the garden...

 

...but got a bit overwhelmed & needed a cuddle...

 

He tried his best at 'hide-and-seek' (but was "out" pretty quickly!)...

 

However, (if I can hang onto him due to the interest he's generated in the family) he does make a very nice companion when I'm blogging...

...and he has difinitely captured the heart of a certain eleven year old boy...

 

The book CROBOTS by Nelly Pailloux was a good buy  :)  I'm gonna make some more of these little guys.

 

 

 

 

Amigurumi Crobot (the beginning...)

I got a new amigurumi book from Amazon recently called "CROBOTS" by Nelly Pailloux.  It's full of cute little robot/monster(ish) dudes.. just right for boys and (daft) adults too!  [Not right for little chidlers tho' due to all the beads & metal bits - a definite swallowing hazard]  So, here's the beginning...

 

He's called 'Bouncebot' and can be found on page 68 of the book...

 

Mega fast to crochet up & nice clear instructions and diagrams showing where to sew all the extra bits & bobs that make these little guys so appealing.  I spent a good half an hour this morning rooting in the garage for possible metal bits for these little projects... this is what I came up with...

 

So, here's a pic with the bits & bobs laid out on some white felt, ready to sew together...

 

My Bouncebot will have a purple base as I haven't got any black Bamboo Cotton.  I'm still not decided about his eyes yet.  The pattern calls for black, multi-faceted eyes but I do love buttons and I'm toying with sparkly eyes too.  I'm off to get stitching.  :)

One Happy Girl & her Bridesmaid shoes...

Tiger-girl was SUPER excited today when her bridesmaid shoes arrived in the post.  The box was hardly open before she plopped herself down on the stairs for a try-on!

 

They are really pretty with teeny beads sewn on.

 

She was one happy girlie! (in need of a hair-cut!)

 

I can't wait to see her in the bridesmaid dress (which has been made-to-measure).  It too has tiny beads sewn on.  My brother is marrying such a lovely person... looking forward to having her officially in the family  :}

 

Wanna see my etchings...!

For my Birthday a coupla weeks ago, my sister & bro'-in-law gave me a present of a 'Silver Etching Workshop'.  Well, today was the day & IT WAS BRILLIANT!!!  Husb took care of the children's schooling & I really enjoyed some "me" time.  The artist and teacher was called Victoria Kershaw - a really inspiring artist & patient, friendly teacher too.

Below is a close-up photo of four finished bangles.  Mine is the one with the teeny scissor design.  The two bottom bangles are made from a photocopy of Victorian lace. 

The process was way more detailed and complex than I expected.  Firstly, we had to choose a design to etch onto our silver strip.  Below you can see I have a selection of high contrast black & white images & I chose the teeny scissors...

 

Then you have to thoroughly clean your silver strip using pumice powder & scratchy pads...

 

The pic below is a bit poor quality because I was in the 'dark room' where we had to adhere some light sensitive plastic film (blue in colour) to our silver strip.  We then put our image and silver strip into the light box to expose for about 50 seconds. 

 

You can see my silver strip below, where the blue area will not be etched, but the teeny scissor design will be etched...

Then followed some bathing in developing solution for a while and vinegar spray (!)   A rinse under the tap and careful dry with kitchen towel...

 

Then we painted the back of the silver strip with gooey black stuff to stop the acid etching the back or edge of the bangle.  The black goo dried and we had a quick lunch, then used brown parcel tape to make a handle as it was (finally) time to dip the silver into the acid for the etching part.

 

After etching in the acid for a while, we had to rinse the silver under the tap, use meths to get the black goo off, then acetone to get the blue film off... then... (YAY) you could see your etching!!  We cut the ends of the silver strip with a little hack-saw and filed and sandpapered all the edges and finally polished the silver with wire wool...

 

I bent the bangle into shape...

 

Here are some of the finished bangles that were made...

 

Everyone was so friendly and I don't think I've enjoyed myself so much for ages   :]

 

 

3 Boys & a Big Blue Ball...

Just a few quick pics of my 3 boys playing in the garden this morning...

 

 

Simple rules...Keep the ball in the air... no 'catching' just biffing/bopping it... no rebounds off fence/trampoline or grass... try to beat the highest score (currently stands at 17)...(!)

Enjoy brother time.