Bad Blogger

Time to step it up a gear. I am terrible at the moment. I think the lack of posts is to do with my lack of creativity.

However.

There has been a spark at last!

This is all down to Yayster over on deviantArt. She came up with the most brilliant idea of the Twelve Months Of Deviousness and Mays project involved a secret santa type of thing :)
Anyway, it helped me to look outside of my boundaries and create something a little different.

More sparks:

These are my current sneak peeks at some works in progress. I'm thinking of making a 'Sneek Peek WIP' post every week, to help drive me to post at least once a week :)

Oh yeah. I finally have some sort of job! Its only 12 hours at an arts and crafts store at minimum wage, but thats fine by me for now :)
...Still looking for full time work though.
Also looking at some local short courses to do over the summer. This will hopefully build up a nice portfolio.

Enough babbling.

New Home Of Tomatotea's Blog

The trial for Tomatotea.co.uk is going to run out soon. I haven't been updating it as much as i should have. So, instead of paying for another year or two I have decided to make Blogger my new blog of choice.

No portfolio. No point.

Then again, theres still deviantArt. I hear they're making a 'portfolio' option for subscribers so that could be an option.

Anyway, i WILL update more often ;)

*Posts from Tomtotea.co.uk archived*

Happy April Fools

I hope no one has been caught out today ;)

It may be April Fools day but no more fooling around.

April will be a better month of blogging than March. That is a promise to myself.

I am now a part of the Ravelry community. Anyone wanting to sign up really should. I think it only took a week for me to get an account. They're not being an exclusive community, they're just taking their time to let things grow as Ravelry is still fairly new :) But wow. If you are a knitter or crocheter (or both ;) ) sign up now. It helps you keep track of your finished projects, WIP's, your stash, things you would like to make (no more bookmarking thousands of patterns and not getting back to them :) )

In other news, I am now co-admin to the most excellent Artisan Crafts Club on deviantArt. I'm the one who posts the new submissions. It may not sound a lot, but it sure means a lot to me. Its a nice little 'job' and I love it. I get to see all the new submissions first! Hehe. Its wonderful to see so many people create things, and it really spurs me one to keep up what I do. If you're part of dA and a knitter etc then you should join. Its a lovely community. Go take a lookie :)

Chinchilla Hood with Round Ears
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

There seems to be a fair amount of interest in the Furry Hoods. So, I decided to write up a pattern for them. Its available at:
Etsy
Pinkdoodle
BigCartel

Socks.

They are coming along nicely. As stupid as its sounds, as soon as this sock is done (yes, just the one), its being photographed and going straight in the washing machine. REALLY need to test this yarn. Oh, the pattern for the socks is over here.

And as far as I know thats all I have to update on. Now, to enjoy this spring sunshine ... :)

New Item Added Today and Happy Easter :)

First up:

Seafoam has been added to my Etsy shop today. Its slightly chunkier than what is already on offer, but is still classed as aran/worsted weight.

In other news, i'm slowly working on some projects. Hand dying has kind of taken over, but i cant help it. Its definitely a labour of love.
As you can see two projects have been scrapped in the sidebar.
The Crochet Me shrug was scrapped, as I figured i could knit or crochet my own design and not have to buy expensive yarn to make it ( heck, i could use my own hand dyed yarn if i wanted).

And the Sirdar cardigan has been 'secretly' scrapped. I love Click and cabling is fun but i dont think i picked the right shade for the cardigan...its too dark to show off the cabling and seems a waste. Thats my own fault and i now have 10 balls of Click to play with... luckily Click is such a standard DK weight that im sure i can find something.... I need to find something! Just a standard knit cardi would be good.

The Roxy wrap needs attention. And photographs. The sleeves are done, and half a front XD. I think i will make this top priority .... right after a couple of things...

I have half a Bigga shoulder bag done. I think i will get the other half done tonight. Bigga is fantastic. It knits up so incredibly quickly. I think i did the first half in a matter of 2 or 3 hours!

Lastly.
I have hand dyed some sock yarn for myself.

This is more of a test than anything else. I want to know how colourfast my dye method is and whether or not the 75% Pure New Wool, 25% Polyamide blend will survive a 30 degree gentle wash cycle in the old washing machine.... i will be absolutely GUTTED if they felt but it is something that must be found out.

Still here

Blast it. I haven't updated here in a while, I've been meaning to but never got round to it. I think its because i was so worked up about a job interview that i fudged.

A proper update will be posted tomorrow. This is kind of a 'I'm still alive' post ;)

But in other news, veronica1566 of Etsy has featured Grapevine in her Etsy Treasury. Be sure to check out her selection :D

Dying, Baking and Tagged

Busy busy again.

I've dyed some more yarn today, expect to see photos of those soon :) In the meantime, heres yesterdays fun:

Grapevine will be available on Etsy 2008/03/08

And todays fun, aside from dying yarn, involved baking:

The kitchen smells wonderful at the moment!

In other news I have been tagged by fellow UK Etsy-ian spiralsun65!

The rules are:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So, 7 facts:

1. For about a year, i tried on and off to learn knitting. In the end, it was a pair of 20mm needles that saved the day and of course, my mum ;)
2. I love polaroids
3. I believe college was the best time of my life
4. I bite my nails constantly
5. I can roll my tongue and also touch the tip of my nose with it. How i found that out is beyond me >.>;
6. I drink too much tea
7. I prefer to get up early as i find i feel more motivated to accomplish things

I tag...

alexandrahull
charlotte-narunsky
huntersdesigns
pouchbags
machi54
tiinateaspoon
aishawood

Hope you guys havent been tagged with this meme before!

Hand Dyed Yarns

....are so much fun to make.
I love the process.

Tropical will be available on Etsy 2008/03/06

Globe is now available on Etsy

I think i'll be taking pictures of my yarn dying process tomorrow :3

Lava Reef Scarf

Todays addition to the Etsy shop:

Flickr: Lava Reef Scarf
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

Egg Beret and Scarflette Set

I love this set. Oh, i love everything, but i especially love the stitch of the scarflette. Not your conventional stocking stitch :) The scarflette has a cute crochet border created with a mohair, wool and nylon blend of yarn to finish it off. The beret and main body of the scarflette are hand knit from Rowan Spray, a 60% wool 40% acrylic blend of yarn.

Flickr: Egg Beret and Scarflette Set
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

This set will be available on Etsy:

• Egg Beret and Scarflette Set:
  • 2008/02/27
  • At approx 17.00 GMT
  • £20 (US$40)

More Items on Etsy

Whoops. I've been listing every day like clockwork on Etsy at 5PM GMT, but i havent been blogging :o
Clicking the images will take you to their Etsy page :D

Flickr: Orange and Red Chevron Mits
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

Flickr: Grey Basketweave Scarf
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

Flickr: Seascape Beret
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

Flickr: Lava Reef Hat
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

Pinkdoodle.com

While exploring the Etsy forums, i came across a topic about the website Pinkdoodle.com. Its a UK based creative marketplace. Its ALOT like Etsy, and i hope to goodness that Etsy don't kick up a fuss about it. But its perfect for UK crafters. I think that if i were to send a UK customer to my Etsy store, they *may* assume that the items are based in the US, as Etsy only deals in US$. Pinkdoodles prices are in GBP. Another good point, fees ect can be paid through PayPal. I hate having to use a credit card on Etsy. Also, listing is currently free until March 5th - but its only 5p after that anyway :D

So. I have added a couple of items already:

My Pinkdoodle Shop

Thank you, Simply Knitting!

Wow.

Just wow. I wasn't expecting this at all. I'd completely forgot about entering a competition in Simply Knitting Magazine. I have never won anything in my life and it was only on the off chance I entered.
It was funny when the Postie came to the door. I was sure i didnt order any more yarn etc, so i wasnt expecting a package. But as soon as I opened it i realised! It was such a great feeling, especially with things not being so fantastic at the moment. Maybe someone out there does like me :p

I think I will enter more magazine competitions in future :)

Hoodwinked

Two posts in one day.... I'm on fire :D

This has been an on going project. I randomly made a Chinchilla Hood (below) about a year ago as I saw a knitting pattern for something similar but I didn't know how to knit at the time.

Chinchilla Hood with Round Ears
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

So I made that prototype in crochet... but didnt write down the pattern. D'OH!
Now a year later, another prototype was made in very bright blue DK yarn... and being a little bit smarter, I wrote the pattern down :p

So a Mink colour hood is born, complete with pompoms instead of ears.

Plain Mink Hood
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

I'm sure you've guessed, these will soon be on Etsy. Im dying to make some different colours but my bank balance is telling me otherwise :o Hopefully they will sell well to help that problem out ;)
Of course, the design of an individual hood can be different from the example above. You could have:

• Pointed ears
• Round ears
• No ears
• Pom-poms
• No pom-poms
• Longer Ties
• Shorter Ties

Heck, you can even specify if you don't want the ties - I can put a button on the bottom to fasten the hood instead :)

I'm thinking of starting these at £15 for plain ones (no ears, no pom-poms), £18 for either ears or pom-poms and £21 for both - the yarn isn't that cheap (its really nice and soft!), and they take a little time.

These will be available on Etsy:

• Chinchilla Hood:
  • 2008/02/21
  • At approx 17.00 GMT
  • £18 (US$36)


• Mink Hood:
  • 2008/02/22
  • At approx 17.00 GMT
  • £18 (US$36)

Nocturne Hat And Scarf Set

This is a little late, I should have posted this a couple of days ago, as I posted the set on dA already.




This set will be available on Etsy 20/02/2008, at approximately 17:00 GMT

Not in stock? Would you like a different colour? Feel free to email me!

Because Quizes Are Fun

Busy Busy

Well its been a busy few days.

My partner is on holiday from work this week, so not much blogging i'm afraid! But thats not to say I haven't completed a few things!
I found some bargain yarn in a local superstore before the weekend. And i'm not talking about the usual 99p, 100% DK acrylic stuff. There is loads of Rowan Spray at 99p a ball... It usually retails at £7.95 a ball :o Best part is i love it. The unusual colours knit up beautifully into... well you'll see in a moment! I bought 12 balls of it already and depending on how the items i have made sell, i will definitely invest in some more of the stuff...

Landscape Graffiti Hat
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

Mellow Graffiti Hat
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

Seascape Graffiti Beret
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

I may experiment with crocheting it, but im not sure it would do it the same justice as knitting it up does...

Anyways. I've just uploaded pictures of most of my older crafty projects on to Flickr and soon, I hope to properly write about some of them in the 'traditional archive' of this site, especially the ones that will go into my new Etsy shop. Talking of older projects...

Freedom Spirit Bolero
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

This was completed.... about 3 weeks ago now i think. It was my first knitted garment and i am so proud of it. The yarn is Twilley's Freedom Spirit, shade 'Earth' and i am in love with the stuff. I have a book of the first patterns and there are a couple of other items i would like to make. I already made a Beret in 'Energy' :D

Freedom Spirit Beret
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

I've also got a pattern for a hooded cardigan XD

Obsessed, no?
So. How are the other projects going i hear you ask? Well, as you can see i got side tracked with the super awesome cool yarn. But i do miss knitting with smaller pins. I know larger ones knit quicker, but they don't 'glide' as well as smaller ones do. But heck i don't care. Chunky is awesome.
I'm now active again on deviantArt and as i said earlier, i have a new Etsy shop in the making.... which is linked in the sidebar but... theres nothing there yet >.>;
I'll keep you posted : D

Current Works In Progress...

Well its about time I posted what my current projects are as there are couple going on simultaneously at the moment.

First up, my current knitting project. Its a cable cardigan made with Sirdar Click DK (Pattern no. 8956).

Click Cable Cardigan WIP
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

Its slow progress on the back as I'm only just getting used to cabling! I'll have you know this is only my second knitting project ;) ... I really should get some pictures of me wearing the first..

Click Cable Cardigan WIP
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

My second WIP is a crocheted shrug, which can be found in the wonderful book 'Crochet Me'.
It wasn't smooth sailing to begin with on this garment you know. I did a couple of tension squares, one in Sirdar Snuggly DK and one in the stated Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. The Snuggly was WAY off. The length was okay but the rows were way out. And to be honest, even with the stated yarn, my tension isn't quite there. Its slightly bigger but as it stands what you see being made could be called a size 32 (so Small to Medium). Thats close enough for me!

Crochet Me Shrug WIP
Originally uploaded by tomatotea

Im hoping to get a new Etsy shop running very soon. I have a lot of completed projects I could sell. Which would be great as I need room for my current ones and future ones :D Im also hoping to get back on deviantArt by the end of this week. I miss that place so much. The people there are wonderful, i made so many friends, yet I haven't been there properly for about 6 months :( ... i'm coming back guys!

Shrove Tuesday... Pancake Day!

I love pancake day.

Well, I love pancakes, and you can eat them when you like :D
Which is good because I forgot to get some eggs :(

So instead I decided to crochet some instead. I guess this is a healthier option.

I can't wait until the spring. There will be more natural light for longer - meaning better photographs :)

Terms and Conditions

This post has been backdated by one year. It was written on 17th July 2008. These terms and conditions apply to scratch cards and vouchers given out by TomatoTea.


1) Each code/voucher can only be used once.

2) Each code/voucher can only be used on one transaction on any of the following:
http://tomatotea.etsy.com
http://tomatotea.bigcartel.com
http://tomatotea.dawanda.com
http://www.pinkdoodle.com/ShopProfile.aspx?pdid=395

3) Multiple codes/voucher cannot be used in conjunction with one another.

4) Scratch card/voucher cannot be exchanged for 'real' face value (ie I will not send you $1 etc).

5) Scratch card/voucher cannot be exchanged for a different prize/voucher.

6) No credit given if transaction total (not including shipping) is less than face value.

7) Records are kept of when scratch cards/voucher are used - do not try to use your code/voucher twice, you will not be able to and you will be named(user name only) and shamed on this page.

Press

30th June 2009 ~ Train Riders
My handspun yarn, Pastel Sunset was featured!
~ Coriandr Express

26th June 2009 ~ Train Riders
The Teal Crochet Purse was featured!
~ Coriandr Express

16th June 2009 ~ Train Riders
The Birdie Keyrings were featured!
~ Coriandr Express

5th June 2009 ~ Train Riders
Violet Sap, was featured!
~ Coriandr Express

28th May 2009 ~ Happy 75th Birthday Dad!
~ Autonomous Artisans

27th May 2009 ~ Coriandr Express pt.2
The Furry Hood Crochet pattern was featured!
~ Coriandr Blog

23rd May 2009


~ Coriandr Front Page

22th May 2009 ~ Bits Blog - A Facelift!
~ Bits 'n' Bobs

19th May 2009 ~ Train Riders
My Furry Hood Crochet pattern was featured!
~ Coriandr Express

18th May 2009

~ Coriandr Front Page

17th May 2009 ~ Featured Etsy Shop - Tomato Tea
~ DZFANTASY

16th May 2009 ~ Blackberry Crafts: Crafty Picks
The Birdie Keyrings were picked!
~ Blackberry Crafts

10th January 2009 ~ Blackberry Crafts - Folksy Features: Saturday Six
~ Blackberry Crafts