19 August 2013

Book Review - Little Felted Animals

Happy Monday Lovely!

Today I have a book review for you - Little Felted Animals: Create 16 Irresistible Creatures with Simple Needle-felting Techniques. Martin bought me this book for my birthday in 2012, along with a needle felting kit. I wrote about my needle felting exploits here.

 photo littlefeltedanimals-cover_zpsbfb36e07.jpg


The book starts with a few pages covering supplies needed, and hints and tips. I found these pages immensely beneficial as a newcomer to needle felting, and I think that they are clear and informative. 

 photo littlefeltedanimals-supplies_zps05969c7c.jpg

There are three different basic body 'patterns' in this book - birds, short legged animals and long legged animals. For each type of animal there is a full-colour double page spread, showing in detail how to create each body part. 

 photo littlefeltedanimals-stepbystep_zps4b138192.jpg

One of the things that I love about this book are the photographs. Each section starts with full page colour photos of each animal in a little still life.

 photo littlefeltedanimals-mousesheep_zps872e8852.jpg

These are then followed by the instructions, which consist of a page with a photo of all the items you need and a photo of the finished item, and a page with the instructions written out, with little drawings to show you how big each body part should be.

 photo littlefeltedanimals-koala_zpsb355478d.jpg

Although there are only three basic body shapes, there are quite a range of animals: Penguin, bunny, cats, dogs, koala, fox and sheep to name a few. There are quite a few similar animals though, for example, there are a few different cats, which have the same basic pattern, just made in different colours. I would have liked to have seen different animals instead. But that is the only complaint I could possibly have!

 photo littlefeltedanimals-sheep_zpsa580f837.jpg
I love these little sheep strolling across the sofa!

Thanks for reading
Ax

p.s. I have not been paid to write this review, I just love craft books, and hope that I can help you find some that you love too!  The link to the book on Amazon at the top of the page is an affiliate link, and if you do end up making a purchase, I will get a little % of the amount, but it won't cost you anything, so it is a win-win!

5 August 2013

Weird and Wonderful! Tag!

Happy Monday folks! Was your weekend totes awesome?

I don't usually do these sort of posts, but when the very lovely Sunae tagged me in her 'Weird and Wonderful' post, I couldn't say no. So here are some random facts about me:

1. What's a nickname only your family calls you? Well, my Dad used to call me Anna the Spanner when I was little, but apart from that there aren't really any nicknames - Martin calls me babe but that's about it!

2. What's a weird habit of yours?
Err, I have a few little OCD things, like the way I make a cup of tea, or the way I have to carry out certain tasks in a set order, but everyone has that, right? Oh, when I 'm concentrating REALLY hard, I stick my tounge out to the side. So does my mum, my sister and now Zoe too!!

3. Do you have any weird phobias?
Ahh, I don't like groups of holes - there's a proper word for it - trypophobia - do NOT google it!!! This means that I don't really enjoy crumpets anymore!!
 
4. What's a song you secretly love to blast and belt out when you're alone?
I do like Maroon 5 - but only their Songs About Jane album - this gets blasted quite regularly when I'm on my own. 
 
5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?
People who abuse the benefits system here in the UK. Martin and I work out butts off to pay our bills and our mortgage, and there are some people who can play the system to get all their rent, council tax etc paid!! I don't have anything at all against those people who really need the benefit system, god forbid I shuld ever need it; it's just those people who abouse it.

6. What's one of your nervous habits?
I ask a lot of questions! I like to know everything about something before it happens. So, if we are going somewhere new, I will ask Martin question after question until he gets annoyed and shouts at me! Thank goodness for google!!
 

7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
I sleep on the left, but only since meeting Mr Martin, who sleeps on the right. Oh, actually when we went camping last week (photos to come!!) he slept on the left - wierd!!

8. What was your first stuffed animal and it's name?
I remember a yellow teady bear I had called Mr Whittles - he came free with my first bed that was from a shop called (surprisingly) Whittles.
 

9. What's the drink you always order at starbucks?
I don't go to Starbucks (yuck), I go to Costa (yay)! I usually get an iced tea if it is hot or a hot chcocloate if it is cold.

10. What's a beauty rule you preach, but never actually practice? 
I don't have any beauty rules really, ones I keep to or not!

11. Which way do you face in the shower?
Well I stand with my back to the actual shower, if that's what you mean, not facing it - who does that?!?!

12. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'?
I can do a wierd thing with my fingers - I sort of bend down the first knuckles and then stiffen the bottom part - it's hard to describe but tends to freak people out a bit!!

13. What's your favorite comfort food that's 'bad' but you love to eat it anyway? 
Oh god, all of it!! Chocolate, cake, crisps! Everything! Although my biggest weakness is peanut M&Ms (they're a nut, right? Which is a fruit, right? So they are healthy, right?)
 
14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say? 
I make up names for people and things, like Sticky McWiffy-Pants or Grumpy McPouts-a-Lot. I do this quite a lot - does that count? Maybe that should go under the wierd habit section instead!!

5. Time to sleep, what are you actually wearing? 
I usually sleep in the nud actually - but if it is super cold I will usually stick on a top of some sort - I have a couple of big shirts I wear - easy booby access (for Zoe not Martin!!)

16. What did you used to wear that you thought was cool but now you realize it wasn't that hot?
God I was SO uncool when I was younger. So, basically, everything!!
 
Well, I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about me! I tag... everyone! If you do this on your blog, pop a link in the comments so I can go and have a peek - you don't get all the fun you know!! 

 post signature

2 August 2013

Cumbrian Bloggers Unite!!

Howdy peeps,

Are you having a lovely Friday? Is the sun shining for you? 

Instead of my Etsy Finds Friday post, this week I would like to share a blog post written by the amazing Pierre le Cat which features... Me!! Helen has written the post which features a few of us Cumbrian Bloggers for Cumbria Live: 


So go and have a read, then have a read of the rest of Helen's fab posts. She's taking part in CumbriaLive's Big Blogger - the least read blog gets eliminated! Oh no! Go and give her some love!

THANKS photo thanks-signature_zps76499913.jpg
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...