Officially an Adult!

Hello Creatives!

I hope you’ve had a magical Christmas and a wonderful new year! I was lucky enough to spend mine in Spain with my mum and dad, however the wonderful trip has come to an end!

The trip was filled with beautiful views:

Wonderful food:

And the best company – My parents ❤️

I’m sat writing this on my Ryanair flight back to Bristol from Malaga whilst waiting for everyone to board and I can’t help but realise that this was my last holiday before full time employment begins, where holidays may not be so spontaneous anymore!

I’m so excited to get back to George, and I can’t wait for us to celebrate Christmas again together! Well… open presents (as I couldn’t bring mine to Spain, apart from ones mum and dad brought for me – some beautiful wool and a Fitbit!).

This evening will be relaxed, and tomorrow we set off at the crack of dawn to Aylesbury to view a few properties to move into for our next adventure!

Oops I better go! Doors are shutting and fingers crossed take off will be shortly (we’re already delayed by 10 minutes… typical!).

Until next time, where I’ll update you on our adventures,

Love Lana xxx

And breath….

Hello Creative!

Guess what?! MY MASTERS DEGREE IS COMPLETE! That feels sooooooooo good to say! I submitted my thesis last Monday, celebrated so hard that it took me 2 days to recover, and now I’m enjoying all the guilt free sofa time!

I popped to our local Aldi (a cheap supermarket, for those who don’t live in the U.K.) as a little birdie told me that they were selling 400g balls of yarn (or packs of 4 x 100g balls) for £3.99!!! Bargain!… and picked up more than I could carry!

So far I have only tested out their baby yarn, which is super soft, and this was the outcome!

I’m in love with this little guy! I haven’t a clue what animal he’s meant to be, but I don’t care! You can’t really tell in the photos, but the cream has shiny flecks all through the wool which are surprisingly not scratchy!

I also attached (in a very strange way) my label to its booty, however, I really do want to look into the faux leather style labels as the ones I have are a nightmare to attached to crocheted items… especially chunky ones! (Suggestions very welcome!)

Below is another one of the many balls of wool I picked up (a total of 1.2kg worth!) and I can’t wait to see what patterns this candy floss coloured ball of fluff can make!

So there’s a little update on my life and my crochet projects! I have a very busy few weeks coming up, including moving house, and now that I’ve picked up the hook again I can’t imagine it will be put down any time soon! I will surely keep you updated.

Until next time,

Lana xxx

I Tried Rug Punching!

Hello Creatives!

So I've heard many names (I believe latch hooking may be one?) and seen different techniques but I've given it a go with what I have, and I have found that I love Rug Punching! I've also found it's a great way to use old scraps of yarn that are too short to crochet!

So don't go getting all excited and expect some wonderful creation, I've simply spelt out LOVE on a piece of burlap/hessian and forgotten to take photos of my progress…

Or maybe I'm saving that for another post

I used a crochet hook as I am yet to purchase a rug punching tool (which looks totally cool, in a really nerdy way)

Here we go:

I did this completely free hand, as apparently I don't own pencils anymore! However I managed to get myself some and then proceeded to add some floral decoration to the outside by drawing outlines to follow!

I haven't decided if I want to fill the background in yet as I love the way it looks currently and I may end up turning it into a wall hanging or frame it!

I'll post an update once I've decided what I'll do next… or if I can't decide and need some opinions!

Rug punching seems to be growing in popularity lately, and I want to make a stool cover/topper at some point! But unfortunately my Masters Thesis deadline is fast approaching and I have some serious writing to do – I reaaaaaally don't want to!!!

Have any of you tried it before?

Until next time,
Love Lana xxx

My First Crochet Pillowcase

Hello Creatives!

On the 2nd of July it was my 22nd birthday so George and I decided to jump on a plane to Spain to spend it with my family! I really wanted to bring a gift along with me, but had been so busy that I hadn’t been able to pick anything up, so naturally I decided to crochet something! 

I started the night before we flew off, and realised I wouldn’t be able to finish my project before we had to leave, so I decided to bring it with me!

I decided to crochet a pillowcase that matched the houses ‘theme’. 

Here was my view whilst I crocheted away on the plane:

They loved it! I’ve found that I’m not the best at joining squares together. It seems to be even whilst I do it, then once I’ve joined it all together I just don’t think it looks right!

Above is my pillow case on the sofa in our Spanish home!

Any improvements I could make? I should have taken a photo of the back, but the pillow is fully removable so that the case can be washed if needed!

Love lana xxx 

How I organise my yarn!

Hello creatives! 

So up until a week ago, my yarns were A MESS. I kept getting new baskets to put it al in, but because I’m not organised enough they’d get all tangled and I’d forget half of the stuff I owned because I couldn’t see it! I’m sure you’ve all been there…

But after managing to kill my Aloe Vera plant (mum replanted it when she visited and it DID NOT agree with its new soil) and wanting to replace it, my boyfriend and I made a little trip to IKEA – my favourite place!

We left without the aloe vera plant (whoops), with some new sofa throws, a table runner, some tongs, AND MY NEW CREATION STATION! 

I wasn’t even looking for a new way to stash my yarn, however – you can fight me about this – thanks to the BEST BOYFRIEND IN THE WORLD, I was treated (without any prompting, and he was the one that suggested it) to my wonderful new storage: 

It’s still a little messy, some colours have now been used and I’ve added few more additions to the stash (he was kind enough to point out that I was missing a ‘proper’ orange 😂) but I am ECSTATIC about it. 

The rail which normal people would use for clothes was £6.50 with each column of pockets at £4 each! – just incase there’s any of you who like it as much as I do and live in a place that’s tight for space… (but we’re moving soon, woohoo!).

I couldn’t not share this, it brings me so much joy! And I’m so glad the other half is so supportive of my messy hobby, he’s even agreed to let me have a crafts room in the new place – A WHOLE ROOM FOR CRAFTS! 

I’m currently working on a granny square blanket in different tones of grey after a bit of inspiration from Pinterest, which I will definitely be sharing with you once it looks more like a blanket and less like a hankercheif 😂

Lana xxx 

My very first stall!

Hello creatives, 

Long time no see/write! I’ve been super duper stressed with my masters second semester deadlines fast approaching (and counting for a third of my masters degree 😭!). However, I have been busy crocheting away as today I held my first stall! 

It was held at my university campus, and was the first of its kind – BRACKFEST! 

My campus is beautiful and very much an agricultural/environmental based campus with grounds to compliment the courses of course! There were so many other things going on such as tracktor rides, a petting zoo, a climbing wall, live music and food! 

Anyway, back to my stall! Here’s a photo f a sad excuse of a stall! I was so underprepared as I only decided I wanted to take up on the offer of a stall (all free of cost) two weeks before the event! Silly silly me… ! Also, look at my stalls view! Wonderful! 

Despite thinking it was awful, it was apparently a hit! I even had some requests which I managed to finish within the period of the event as well as a few asking for my contact details! All in all, I sold everything apart from one headband and one hat – I’d say that’s a WIN! 

Because I managed to sell so much, the lady in the stall next to me kindly offered to keep an eye on mine so that I could have a look around the rest of what was going on! 

Here’s a few photos of what else I got up to (yes.. I got my face painted!):

Thanks for stopping by! I can’t wait to tell you about my new loom knitting rings I purchased and fingers crossed a post about getting a job! (The job search is currently ON!) 

Love, Lana xxx

My first commissioned piece!

Hello creatives,

So recently I was asked if I could help out with a birthday present. They said they looked everywhere for a nice toy camel but couldn’t find anything nice or cheap enough to give as a birthday present, so they approached me! ME! 

Now as you may have seen, I have only ever made a teddy bear (and a rabbit, which was pretty much a bear with long ears) soft toy, so a camel was something completely new! Oh – and they requested a 2 humped camel!

I dove straight in, googled photos of camels and wondered how on earth I was going to start. I began with single crochet (US Terms) and realised it would take too long and was turning out a lot smaller than I’d hoped, so started over with double crochet. 

Here he is in all his glory after 3 evenings of creating:

What do you think? I managed to write the pattern out for his legs but failed to get the body or head, oops! 

I’m quite impressed with myself and the girl who received it was pretty chuffed also! Bit of pocket money for something I enjoy makes me so happy!

Love, Lana xx

And I’m off!

Sooo I really wanted to put up another update post before today, but typical me left it last minute, and now I’m finding myself in the queue to board my flight to Spain attempting to get my post up!

Silly silly me…

Well here’s a mini update, as I’ll put a proper one when I next get internet connection!

Mittens = COMPLETE AND GIFTED! Oh boy am I proud of myself for finishing the second mitten!

Chinky ribbed beanie = COMPLETE

Excuse the wonky photo! I also hadn’t previously mentioned I was making this as I didn’t think I’d be making anymore hats till next winter!

Right I must go as I’m boarding my plane woohoo! Update you again soon!

Lana xxx

It can’t just be me..?

Hello Creatives!

So I just neeeeed to vent on my situation with my crochet projects! 

First of all, I am a completely impatient person with ADHD.. 

So, when it comes to crocheted items that come in a pair, I am so excited to get one done (I’m currently half way through mittens!) and will complete it within the shortest time possible, but when it comes to the second one, I have ZERO motivation to start it, but REALLY want to complete the set! 

Here’s a few photos of my mitten process (just the one, because I can’t motivate myself to start the second):

My partners mum is coming to stay with us on Saturday so I am using that as motivation to complete them to give to her as a present! 

I’m that person that is constantly thinking of ways to improve the project I’m currently working on, or thinking of new projects to start, so as soon as I’ve woven in the ends and completed a project (or in this case, one mitten) I’m ready to start something new (aka not another mitten…) 😂. 

So although it has passed 9pm, I am going to try my best to continue watching The Killing on Netflix and start the second mitten! 

On another note, im definitely going to need a larger wool basket, or at least a separate basket for completed/semi-completed (ADHD got the better of me) projects! 

Please tell me this happens to you too? Whether it be crochet or something else?

Lana xxx 

P.s. If you read my previous post, George is well again and this set of norovirus didn’t stick around for long, thank goodness! That also meant that we were able to go keep our Valentine’s Day dinner booking and it was delicious! 

Project and life update… 12/02/17

Hello creatives,

So I’ve been really slow with progressing on any projects recently! With having my masters research project proposal due, and being between cars whilst mine was in the garage, I’ve been slacking!

Throughout the night last night my other half was up every hour after being hit with his third lot of norovirus! The poor thing is so unwell and the doctors will definitely be called first thing in the morning. It is not normal to have norovirus three times in 3 months! We think he could be picking it up from the hospital/medical school that he’s currently studying in. 

We have recently started trying to be healthy again after being seriously lazy with our eating habits. Healthy smoothies for breakfast and more home cooked meals! Yesterday’s was a homemade chicken and spinach masala and booooy was it gooood! (I was very impressed with myself) and I even made enough for leftovers today! 

As george was up sick all of last night, he has been in bed all day today, therefore leaving me with the day (and the telly) to myself! 

With all this time, what I should have been doing is starting my home workout routine, however I picked up the crochet hooks instead! Whoops! 

Between cleaning the flat after a week of visitors, and checking up on george I’ve managed to come up with this single crochet soft toy (not complete as you can see…). Don’t ask me what it’s going to be, because I couldn’t tell you haha, and the arms look a bit like chicken wings hahahaha! I’m just playing around with it at the moment, but I really like the idea of the limbs and body all being one piece!

More progress has been made on my chunky double crochet blanket, and I’ll definitely need another 200g ball of wool to get anywhere near done! I’ll have to find somewhere to take a full photo of what has been completed so far!

Fingers crossed that george recovers as it looks like we may have to scrap plans about his mum coming to stay with us next weekend as we can’t afford to spread the illness! It also looks like our Valentine’s Day dinner booking will have to be cancelled on Tuesday unfortunately (I’m gutted because it’s the yummiest fancy steak house, but obviously health comes first). 

Hope you have had a weekend full of rest!

I’ll keep you updated,

Love, Lana xoxo