I'm addicted...

To crocheting. I've done a bit before, but after starting my 4 week course it's safe to say I have become obsessed.

The aim of the course was to make Granny Squares, and this week we accomplished just that!
It was surprisingly easy to follow, once you know the basic stitches and how to read the pattern.
I have been making granny squares ever since. Even to the extent of taking my needle and yarn to my University lecture Oops!

My first Granny Square!
After a couple attempts it finally came out good!!

It was amazing to see how different everyone's square's looked like. I guess it all depended on the tension, but mine was much smaller and tighter than the others.

Group Granny Squares.

At home I got experimentin' and worked out, via the wonderful internet, how to add a new colour onto the square. I'm not particularly sure I started it off correctly, but it still looked great at the end.

Two coloured Granny Square.

I also taught myself to create cute little flowers! They are so quick and easy to make. Again, I think I read the pattern incorrectly as I was only able to manage five petals instead of six, but I guess it made my lil flower more special!

My cute pink flower.

So, it's been a very busy but fun week of crocheting.

Really looking forward to see what I can come up with next, and to find a new pattern to try something new!

I would love to see other people's first creations.

What did you make when you were first learning to crochet?

Emma 

Hello New Bloggers - The Liebster Blog Award

How nice are people? How lovely is the blogging community?

Well, the answer to both those questions is - MAJORLY.

I have been nominated by the lovely Iona at Iona Blogs to recieve the Liebster Blog Award.

Now, I'm not 100% sure where the award originated, or who Liebster is, but it's all about newly established bloggers meeting other new bloggers. Basically anyone with less than 200 followers is eligible. Which is perfect for me as my audience is rather small.

The rules are as follows - 

- Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves

- They must answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for them

- They must create 11 questions to ask the bloggers who they tag

- They must choose 11 bloggers to tag with less than 200 followers

- There are no tag backs

I tag these lovely bloggers :)

Cassie at Thrift Thick
Melda at Little Lady
Jane at Life's Entropy
Abdabs
Greta at La Vie de Greta
Victoria at Little Bird Blue
Kathy at My Peach Days
Shu at Shu Likes Clothes
Natalie at Afternoon Tea Total
Carol at Lacquerised
Lynne at Cocktails and Daydreams

and I ask them...

1. What is your favourite book?
2. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
3. What's your guilty pleasure song? Be honest, everyone has one!
4. What's your most embarrassing moment?
5. Do you play a musical instrument? If not, what would you love to play if you could?
6. Have you got something that you have had since you were a baby?
7. If you could invite one famous person to dinner, alive or dead, who would it be?
8. If you could eat the same thing over and over for the rest of your life, what would it be?
9. What's your favourite perfume?
10. Team Edward or Team Jacob? (Hhahahhahah!)
11. What is your dream career?

11 (Not to interesting) Facts about me!

1. I am really small. Like under 4 foot small. Doctors have no idea why I have been made this way, but you gotta shake what yo' mama gave you. As they say.
2. I am on my 2nd degree at uni. In first year again and being 23 I certainly can see the difference between myself and the new-new first years. Oh to be young and 17 again...
3. I have a slight (major) phobia of balloons. Fireworks wind me up too. Think it's the noise.
4. McFly are my favourite band in the whole world, and have been for nearly 10 years. Met them on many occasions, and once I was really drunk Danny and Dougie bought me a drink. They remembered the next time I met them. Awkward.
5. I lived in Austin, Texas last year for 5 months and it was the greatest experience of my life so far. I was so tanned when I came back to grey Scotland. Boo hoo!
6. I have two tattoos. One on my wrist saying "no worries" and a little acorn on my foot.
7. I (pretend to) play the ukulele. Mainly because they are so darn cute and they make a nice sound. Some times.
8. I have had open heart surgery and 7 operations on my back.
9. Bridesmaids is my favourite movie ever. I can watch it over and over and not get bored of it.
10. I will NEVER get bored of Friends. Je de floop fleeeee.
11. I fancy far too many famous people. Including...Dougie Poynter, Darren Criss, Ryan Gosling, Brendon Urie, Paolo Nutini.

Here are the questions (any my answers) that Iona has asked us.

What is your favourite shop?

It would probably be HobbyCraft. I'm not the most creative of persons, so when I go in I can just spend hours thinking of all the wonderful things I could attempt to do, but never end up finishing a project. Ever.

How old is your blog?

I posted my first post in June this year, so it is 5 months old.

What is your profession? If you are a student, what are you studying?

I am studying my second degree (English) at Uni. Yes I am bonkers for going back for 4 more years. I also work at a cake stall, we sell cupcakes, brownies and loads more lovely treats. Best. Job. Ever.

What did you want to to be when you 'grew up'?

I have no idea what I want to be NOW, let along when I was younger. I was obsessed with the Spice Girls, so I imagine I wanted to be one of them. Girl power!

Is there one thing you always take with you when travelling?

My iPad. Great way of having everything your laptop does but on a much smaller scale. 

What makeup product could you not live without?

It's not a makeup product per-se, but a utensil. My Beauty Blender sponge. It applies foundation/primer so perfectly and smoothly. I urge anyone to buy it.

What is your favourite band?

MCFLY. I am a huge, out and proud fan, and have been for nearly 10 years. Yikes that's a long time. They have given me so much happiness that I can't ever not love them. Definitely heroes of mine.

What tip would you give to other bloggers?

Just have fun. Write what you want to write and don't care if no-one reads it. As long as you love your blog, others will love it too.

What excites you most about Christmas?

Christmas jumpers! Any excuse to look a bit silly during the holidays

Is there a colour you wear most? If so, what is it?

Navy, maybe. Or black. Gosh, how exciting...

What product (anything!) do you rave about? (clothes, makeup, food, anything!)

The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green. This is a beautiful, inspiring emotional and altogether brilliant book. You just have to read it.

I look forward to reading everyone's responses

Emma :)

Crochet - A new beginning...

Today I attended my first ever crochet class. I was supposed to start last week, however I was silly enough to stay awake until 4.30am to watch the US Presidential Election the night before, that by the time it came to six o'clock I was absolutely shattered. No crocheting for me!
So it was essentially week two of four, but only my first lesson.

I have had previous experience in crocheting, having taught myself the basic stitches to get going from watching trusty videos on YouTube. God Bless the internet! So I fully expected to be told what I already knew, and then progress as the weeks go on. I was right. I was taught how to start a chain, and then crochet a double stitch (I have been told that in the US that it is known as a single stitch...weird)
I was then taught how to do a triple stitch, which was basically the same as before, but with a extra bit added. Easy. It was nice to see how the crocheting improved and increased in such a short period of time.

My crochet in progress.

Next week we are going to start to learn to make "granny squares" which can eventually be added to create quilts and other fancy things. Ohhh. Really looking forward to it.

This took place in a lovely art space called I heart art. They do lots of other lessons from knitting to candle making, there is something for everyone.
During the day the shop is open for anyone to pop in and be creative. There are loads of ceramic items available to paint, and pretty much any medium is on hand to let your artistic juices flow. Lots of fun.

I'm really looking forward to the lesson next week. Who knows, this could be the start of a whole knew obsession for me. Oh dear.

Emma

I've been a bad, bad blogger.

It seems that I haven't posted in nearly two months! Shocking!

Having started my new University course in September I have had literally no time to myself.
It has been near impossible to sit down and read, which is really upsetting as it's something I just love to do.
Blogging was a fun part of my week, so I really want to schedule the time in to getting this blog going again. I promise.
The last book I read, and finished, was The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. I am hoping to write a review on it in the next couple of days and post it. Normally I can go through at least two books a week, but in last month that's the only book I have read. Currently reading Bridget Jones Diary. A easy, entertaining read to say the least. Hopefully it will get me back into the swing of things.

I really hope that studying English doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for reading, and that it doesn't become a chore.
Are there any other English students out there?
Have you ever had a "dry reading patch" during the semester?
Any tips for over coming the drought?

I can't be the only one out there who feels this way.

Happy Reading (hope you will get through more than me!)

Emma