PomPom!

There are good pompoms, and bad pompoms.
There is also a limit to the number of pompoms one individual can handle.

Don't know about you, but I tend to sign up for a magazine, or read a blog, and remain relatively loyal to it.   This week for some reason I drew a line (was it because of another tiny project I'd never want to make?  A home idea I felt would make my living room look like I had children - we're talking about a lot here, 'cause this is coming from the girl who knits three different kind of fox...).  Maybe I've just been in a rather bad mood :p

Ironically, I cancelled one subscription due to over-familiarity with pompoms and ended up subscribing to.. you guessed it, PomPom Mag.

There are some very pretty projects included this month, and it's a very well presented, well thought out little publication.  Also, it comes prettily wrapped!  I'm a sucker for packaging.  And pencils.  And notebooks.


I've also been watching the Great British Bake Off!
Best of intentions abound, I did want to bake the challenge cake.  However, my work is killing me, and I can't bring myself to bake :'(  There will be a coffee & walnut cake though, because I really want to eat one...

Maybe I'm judging too harshly, but I definitely have my favourites (and least-favourites) already!


It also inspired this wee range of stitch markers!  They're in the etsy shop at the moment!

Last, but not least, I was SO ASHAMED today when I listened to the Caithness Craft podcast by Louise - and was named and shamed for only just joining the group!   I don't know why I wasn't a member before, I love this little podcast :)  You can find Louises group on Ravelry here.

I first met Louise at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival where I still feel bad because I literally didn't have a minute to talk to her properly.

Sounds like I need to make some stuff up to someone, eh?!




Do you have magazines and podcasts you love?

Watch out! Dinosaurs About! & Knitting & Dumplings

Standing 8 metres tall, arms outstretched and teeth bared, the moulded plastic dinosaurs at the crazy golf course were quite impressive.   On a whim, we decided to drive to mini-golf for no better reason than I had passed it the week before in the car and spent the next hour squeaking about giant crazy golf.

Losing spectacularly to the boy, I ended up 40 points over par (which was 42).  This was not helped by my 9 attempts at the hole on the volcano challenge.

After this, I felt the time was right for some driving practice.  I don't drive.  I don't like it, and I'm not fond of learning it.  You can't knit in the drivers seat.  Now, considering I haven't sat in the drivers seat for 5 years, I feel my short tour of the car park and my three point turn went remarkably well.  What did not go well, was following the directions the boy gave me, which resulted in me very almost driving the wrong way onto a dual carriageway.

At this stage, I would like to point out that my original sign following was correct, and the boys directions led my little car astray.

Regardless, we ended up facing a rather perturbed van driver on a side road.  Luckily, it was a little side road which only led to the mini-golf.

Following this fiasco, I was even more determined that driving was not for me.  Boy drove home, and I carried out a very neat parallel park outside the house.  If they'll just let me stick to small roads and parking during my test, we'll be fine. 

That'll do me for a while.  Here is an arty photo of a road, which I photographed, but did not drive.

Knitting wise, I finished a very cool project, which will be released on the 20-odth of June.  Eyes peeled.  Anticipation mounting-machine at the ready.  Drumrolls.



In other news, I am a pig.  I have eaten an incredible amount of sweets & take-aways this month, and I am not ashamed.  That is, in fact, a lie; I'm slightly ashamed.  There's a great ice cream shop on Byres road called Crollas, which has some yummy ice cream flavours, including 'Scottish Tablet' and 'Jaffa Cake'.  Yum.  And double nougat too!!  How many of you used to race to the ice cream van for these when you were little??

My gran used to pick us up from school.  In summer, when the tinkling van parked nearby, she'd always send us out for one of these.  They're a summer food, and a childhood memory.  They're all that is right with ice cream, and probably taste better to me than they otherwise would because of it.

Yep, that there is another ice cream.  It's floating, dinchaknow.  

Originally, I had planned to let you know how yummy this pint was, but instead I shall quote a friend, Grace (who has an amazing knitting blog here).  I have no idea how that girl gets so much knitting done.  Colour me impressed.

"It comes in pints?!  I'm getting one!"

Touché, m'dear.  Touché.  Why won't the little e look like the rest. It is stubborn. 

Last but not least... the dumplings.  Oh my goodness the dumplings.  And that stupid coffee with the tapioca balls in.  Who wants jelly balls flying up straws when you're busy trying to enjoy a nice sip of coffee?!  Who invented that??

Regardless, there was a very nice afternoon spend with two very nice friends with some very nice food.  All in all, very nice. 

Aaaaand last but not least, there are some new stitch markers in the etsy shop :)  It's a wee bit smaller than before, but I do still have all the markers hidden away, so let me know if you have something in mind and I shall dig it out for you.  

What have you been knitting lately?  Or are you gearing up for Tour-De-Fleece?  

New Stitch Markers by AGirlCalledBoz

"Yey Squizzles!"  They are indeed here, the new wee designs by AGirlCalledBoz.

After the oh-so-pretty badgers & kitty cats she sent last time, I didn't think I could love her designs any more than I already did.  These are amazing!!

You can find them in the etsy shop now :D  

Remember you can still enter the giveaway & join the christmas swap!

Cuppa & Cake with A Girl Called Boz

Laura (A Girl Called Boz) is a brilliant artist who, among many other pretty goodies, made the brilliant Doctor Who theme stitch markers in my etsy store at the moment.  Using computer graphics and plastic as a creative medium, Laura creates some brilliant earrings, cufflinks and great other bits & pieces for her store (I might have the bunny earrings...)

Tardis Earrings :o

Tardis, Dalek & Stetson Stitch Markers :o

Hi!  Thanks for inviting me over for a cuppa and cake. I love that you call it a cuppa. Where I come from (North East England) they call it a cuppa, but over here where I'm living now (North West) they call it a brew! My family get most confused if I offer them a brew before midday, to them a brew is a beer!

 1. Helloo!  You mention a love for graphic novels, what's your favourite?
When I say I love graphic novels its like a subtle way of letting the internet know I'm a geek. I love all sorts of nerdy things like sci-fi movies, fantasy books and role playing games. I do love a good comic though. My favourite at the moment is Gotham City Sirens. It's part of the Batman franchise and revolves around the three main female characters, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman. I was so excited to find a graphic novel with three of my favourite female characters as the protagonists.

 2. When did you start creating these wonderful little bits and pieces of jewellery?
I decided to start making and selling my own jewellery pieces in university. Unfortunately, real life got in the way and I had to find a boring full time job to pay the bills. Last July I decided I was settled enough in a boring job that I needed a creative outlet and set about crafting. One day I just decided I needed to start work on my own creative business. Even though I was still working full time I fit the creating and marketing in the evenings and A Girl Called Boz was born. It isnt the dream job I wanted in uni, but its the start of something amazing.

 3. Your favourite cuppa & cake?
Oh I've just come off a diet so I feel spoilt for choice at the moment. I love a good cup of tea. Two sugars and a splash of milk please. Blueberry muffins are always nice, or something chocolatey. I've got a really sweet tooth!

 4. I particularly love the shrink plastic animals, where did you get the inspiration for these and is creating them a difficult process?
I follow a lot of illustrators on twitter that inspire me. People like Jam Grantham (@1985jam) and Stacie Swift (@Stacie_swift). One day I decided I wanted to learn how to draw using a computer program and just started having a go at it. When I'd done a few of them I discovered shrink plastic. The plastic is perfect for earrings but it doesnt make very good necklaces because its so light. Currently I shrink each piece by hand using a heat gun but I plan to try using an oven to make the process faster.

 5. Are you from an arty background, or is this something you picked up later?
I am from an arty background. I studied fine art at college, then applied art at university. I've always loved making things for myself and for other people and I can't imagine living a life where art or craft wasn't a part of it. If I didnt have A Girl Called Boz to keep me busy I'd be making furnishings for my home or planning Christmas presents for the family.

 6. Anything we excited fans should know about?!
Well I've just started selling cufflinks in the shop so theres now even more ways to wear your favourite animals. Im excited to extend the range so that there are more choices for men. I have also got a new line in the planning stages at the moment which is tea party themed. And I plan to make the animal faces into temporary tattoos too. I'll update the blog and facebook as soon as there's more details.

Thanks for having me over for virtual tea and cake. It was lots of fun!

Take care, 
Laura, aka A Girl CalledBoz.


You can visit Laura's shop here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AGirlCalledBoz?ref=owlprintpanda
blog here: http://agirlcalledboz.blogspot.co.uk/
and follow her on twitter:@agirlcalledboz
and facebook!: www.facebook.com/agirlcalledboz

And if you're a knitter, the stitch marker versions can be found here :)  

Little Sampler Goodie Bags

An amazing idea has appeared :o

On the 1st of every month, I shall be putting up on etsy a small number of little surprise goodie bags.    They will be £2 + postage, but you don't know what'll be in them!!



:o

such a good surprise :D


Over the following months, if it goes well, perhaps more shall be added to the bag, and perhaps it will all get a little bit bigger.

If you sell anything, and would like samples added to these bags please do get in touch for more details :)  This could be awesome :D


eeeeep :D

Lovely day for a wander

Sunshine!? Who'da thunk it?

Such a lovely opportunity for knitting outside and wanders in the forest. I have no idea how to use this blogger app on my phone, so hopefully the pictures will appear somewhere for you...

Whilst wandering I found a gorgeous little overgrown gate! How sweet, I wish I could've taken it home :D

Then we did some gardening. 'Gardening'. It was rather Jeremy clarkson-esque. Mainly involved my dad hammering things, with a hammer.

Favourite phrase of the whole fiasco was probably "ill probably need to go grab one of those hole-digging things". Ach well, everyone's good at different things...

I also tried to make myself a bracelet from half pennies today, but had very little luck piercing my pennies. Off to buy a drill and try again...

Last but not least, I was so cheered up by the whole day that I decided to spread the joy an offer 10% off stitch markers in the etsy shop with the code: SUNSHINE this weekend! Yeyyy :p

What are you getting up to this weekend?

Easter Stitch Marker Sale!

Yey for bunnies and chocolate eggs :D.  For one day only, there's 20% off all stitch markers in my etsy store!

Just use the code OWLPRINTPANDAEASTER at the checkout for your discount :)

Edinburgh Yarn Festival

Whew!!  What a crazy day!  From arriving at 8am, I don't think I had a chance to look at my watch until around 4pm.  The queue down the street was so long, all those poor people waiting out in the rain!

The hall was lovely, but so busy with people!  I think people were getting lost just wandering around in the crowd :D

I had such a brilliant day, met two lovely podcaster ladies who I've spoken to online - it's so nice to put a face to a name!!   (and a voice in these cases!) with Aimee from KnitSpinCake and Louise from CaithnessCraft.  Hillarious situations arising where I can hear people I know, but have no idea who I'm looking for!    I was rather excited through the whole day, and after narrowly dodging knocking my charm-hanging tree over to hug Louise, loudly invented the 'Dangerhug'.  Cause odd things pop into your head when you get over-excited... clearly...

Many, many, many great conversations with lovely ladies from ravelry, a man buying charms for miniature sculptures he makes (how cool!), questions for interviews and visits from friends with much-needed food packages - there was a 30 minute wait for cups of tea in the cafe :o

I know a few people couldn't find me at the festival yesterday!!  So I have spent the day re-organizing and photographing over 60 different sets of stitch markers to pop them up on etsy!

Feel free to pick and mix, just contact me on etsy with your 5 charms and the numbers I've given them on etsy, and I shall make up a little baggie for you!!  It's 80p postage to the UK.

Some of my favourites:

Were you at the festival?

What did you buy?!