January SoloLearn course Ruby

Still have a cough/ cold but slowly getting better. Haven't felt like crafting to much, but I have stayed indoors for the last 5 days and today I completed a course in Ruby with #SoloLearn 💟 Its another programming language. It's really cold outside so will stay in for a few more days, starting the another programming course jQuery also with SoloLearn.

SoloLearn do online and offline courses (you can download the app for tablets and phones to) in programming languages and are creating a community of programming actives and forums and it's all free!!!

Happy New Year 2017

Autumn or is it Winter???

I have not been blogging (except for one very small post last week) for several weeks. I have been visiting blogs but sorry I have not been commenting as much as I would have liked to. I love Autumn but it also seems to come with colds and coughs, which I always seem to get. I am OK in the day but the night air makes me cough cough cough. As this is when I usually do my blogging I have been feeling too ill to even turn the computer on.
I'll post some crochet make updates soon plus I have had several very good subscription boxes.

Is it still autumn or is it winter? (I think its a few days before it's winter) here's the Autumn coaster I should have posted weeks ago.

 Matches the charts  "Beckia", "Gwein" and "Belinda"

Here is the August coaster graph and symbol chart 

The chart below could be also worked for other crafts - cross stitch, knitting, beading.

 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
Note: Where the pattern states Treble crochet UK/ Double crochetUSA if you follow UK crochet instructions do a treble, if you follow USA instructions do a double crochet DO NOT do both!

Starting at bottom of chart/ graph chain 82 and another 3 chains to turn (this will count as the first treble crochet UK/ double crochet USA) of first  the row. 

Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA into the 5th chain from hook. Double crochet in next 2 chains to complete bottom right solid square of row 1.

Continue following pattern for first row reading chart/ graph right to left. After completing first row, chain 3 to turn to start next row.

Continue following chart/graph until all rows are complete. At end of row 27 fasten off.

MATERIALS :

(Crochet cotton size 10) About 76 metres/ 83 yds, hook size 1.5mm/ US size 7 steel crochet hook or SIZE FOR GAUGE.

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZES:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: width = 40.1 cm/ 6.2 inches, height = 43.5 cm/ 6.8 inches

GAUGE:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: 10 squares = 14.8 cm/ 2.3 inches, 10 rows = 16.1 cm/ 2.5 inches

HOW TO READ PATTERN:

Each solid square is equal to 4 Treble crochets UK/ 4 Double crochets USA. Each open square is equal to 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA, followed by 2 chains, followed by 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA. The Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA at the end of each square also counts as the first Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA of the next square. For example, a solid square followed by an open square is 4 double crochets,

2 chains, 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA.

For those that prefer to follow a symbol chart I have included one for you

If you do make the coaster, don't forget to link via ravelry, or let me know how you got on :)
The Winter coster is coming soon

Autumn

I love Autumn, so many colours all changing each day 🍁🍂🍁🍂🍃🍁 very inspirational, but secretly just I want to kick the leaves in the air like a child!!

Half a Dozen Roses

Spoonflower had a buy one "fat quarter sized fabric" (approx 21" X 18") get one free offer recently, so I got some fabrics for a few projects I have been planning, also to test out colours are correct they are now printing European orders through their new German based company. USA and Canadian orders will be sent through their USA based printing company. This was printed on 100% cotton fabric
This is is my "1/2 a Dozen Roses" design. The six roses fit on one fat quarter of fabric I will post some of the other finished projects as I complete them :) and I yes am very happy with the colours and print quality

The roses can be used as brooches (just sew or glue on a brooch back) or to decorate clothing, bags, hats, cushions, on curtain tie backs anywhere you want to add a splash of colour and shape. I have more 1/2 roses fat quarters and the works with different fabric prints (had lots of requests for  steampunk prints with cogs and gears as roses) 

This design is also available at Woven Monkey a UK based printing company.

Rhubarb Harvest

This summer has been very good for our rhubarb plant, lots of big strong tasty sticks, plus its organic we know what goes on it (nothing). So I used the first of it for a rhubarb cake and it had to have custard. Still trying to keep healthy I added a couple of tablespoons of a Flaxseed, Almonds, Brazil Nuts & Q10 blend (Linwoods brand) to the cake mix, very tasty.
What to make next? 

Libbie Club August Box

This is Augusts Libbie Club box with three full sized items (and a few small samples, nice extra) I have tried and tested them all out.










Mizon Placenta Ampoule Cream - is a double functioning cream that improves skin tone and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Highly enriched plant placenta extract supplies rich nutrients to cells
What is Plant Placenta - Plant placenta is produced in the heart of young buds. It is used to nourish the fruit during its growth. Plant Placenta is rich in amino acids, peptides, minerals and trace elements.
Tested results - After researching found out this was a plant placenta and not animal parts I was happy to try this. It is made by Mizon a Korean brand they are know for the unusual products like the snail cream (from snail slime not snails, although snail slime......), which a small sample was sent in the box to try (not used yet). I Loved this cream, the smell is a mild lavender and it has a rich smooth texture that sinks quickly into the skin. It make my skin feel hydrated and smooth I think it was my favourite product and I would repurchase this I think it will be a very good cream for weather when my skin gets sensitive and dry.

Nizz Cosmetics Lustre Lipstick - this is a Vegetarian, Hypo-allergenic and Paraben-Free lipstick. Made with a blend of fair trade butter, oils and waxes, for an ultra smooth application and the creamy finish.
Tested results - I like that this is a veggie lipstick and paraben-free I am trying to buy more veggie and vegan brands. The lipstick has a highly pigmented colour, we were given nude shades, mine was a a couple of shades lighter than my natural lip colour so very retro looking. I found it super soft and it did go on very smoothly, I was surprised it had a nice matte finish. Again I think this will be good in winter as it keep my lips hydrated.

Indeed Labs Nanoblur Instant Skin Finisher - optical prism technology gives your skin a naturally airbrushed effect. Using light diffusing ingredients.
Gives a smooth and mattified appearance to the skin
Diffuses the appearance of enlarged pores and shine
Softens appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Works in seconds
Can be applied to multiple areas, including face and neck
Covers and reduces the appearance of redness and broken capillaries.
Tested : I found this product really good on top of sunscreen, sunscreen makes me shiny looking (not a great look) and dabbing some Nanoblur on top gave my skin a matte look so no shiny head.

How Libbie Club works - You pay a one off fee and they send 3 full sized produces to test and review via their site you get a boutique area (Libbie Shop link above), you are encouraged to share the reviews on social media, my instagram and twitter to help them promote the products (I love testing the products and trying out new things). If you review the products, share and someone buys only one item (you can even be the person to buy the item, which I already have this month some more Girl meets brushes they have 20% off and are really good makeup brushes, so I will be getting next months box) you get another box the next month to review you don't pay anything else.
They encourage you to give real reviews which is what I am going to write anyway.  There are longer reviews on my Libbie Boutique and all the current discounts on products :)