Butterflies are growing...

This week I have experimented with the Butterfly pattern to create a bigger version.
My next try did come out a little larger, but i found, although not very noticeable there was some gapping.

So on my next attempt I crocheted a triple stitch into every stitch in between. This made the wings a lot bigger and more elongated. But i'm not too happy with the centre still, as its too chunky especially the antennae.

I purchased some pink and peach multi-toned yarn, as I liked the way mixed coloured yarn worked up when I was making the birdies. I hadn't noticed it was a thicker yarn though, so had to make some adjustments to the pattern as I went along.

On my last go I chose to do double crochet stitch in each stitch instead. This gave more roundness to the wings, which I was much more happy with. But I still need to play around with centre to get it just right.

I've photographed the latest butterfly against the original small pattern, so you can see the size increase.

Movies

John Carter

Civil War vet John Carter is transplanted to Mars, where he discovers a lush, wildly diverse planet whose main inhabitants are 12-foot tall green barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, who is in desperate need of a saviour.

****1/2 thoroughly enjoyable (and I want a Mars dog)

Ice Age 4

Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates as they explore a new world.

****1/2 cant go wrong with an Ice Age film!

Spa's and Butterflies

I havent been able to hook up with 'Handmade Monday' for the last couple of weeks due to the trials + tribulations that life sometimes throws at us. I did manage a quick post in this time, if you'd like to see where my spring birdies have flown to.

I was given a special treat this Easter. As I work with chocolate, people don't like to give it to me as a present - thankfully! So as life has been quite difficult and stressfull at present my lovely hubby decided we needed a treat in the form of a spa day.
It was only a few miles away, and a quick trip on the train, but it was so lovely and relaxing, we felt like we could have been anywhere and felt like it was a proper trip away.
We checked in on Saturday night after work into a lovely little cosy room, with a big plump bed, with robes and slippers too...

After freshening up, we went down to the dining room, for our 3 course meal.

And then finished the night in the bar.

After a lovely breakfast, and checking out of the hotel, we were to spend the day in the leisure centre.

We did a full round of the sauna, steam room, swim and jacuzzi

We dried ourselves off as we had a treatment booked. A lovely, relaxing

massage, which was much needed, and we'd been looking forward too. I say relaxing, and mine truely was, but poor hubby took a bit of a pummeling, as his shoulders get so knotted and tense.

We stopped for a spot of lunch, before doing another round of the leisure facilities.



Its definately something we'd consider doing again, as taking some time out certainly did us the world of good.

Craft wise I have been continuing with the spring theme, this time working on Butterflies. They are based on the same method that I make my birds, but using more of a crochet flower rather than a granny circle. I read Maria's pattern on her blog, and gave it a go, the pattern was great and easy to follow.

I will use a similar idea but will experiment with the pattern as I want my Butterfly to be a little larger.

Movies

Bridesmaids

Comedy written by and starring Kristen Wiig as a hapless maid of honour struggling to keep things on an even keel in the lead up to her best friend's wedding. Annie (Wiig) is still reeling from the failure of her bakery business and the subsequent loss of her boyfriend and all her savings when her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), announces that she is engaged and wants Annie to take charge of her pre-wedding preparations. As if the responsibility of the role at such a tough time wasn't trying enough, Annie faces the small matter of dealing with Lillian's other bridesmaids - led by Helen (Rose Byrne) and Megan (Melissa McCarthy) - who have their own ideas on the kind of events befitting Lillian's final weeks as an unmarried woman. As a variety of mishaps, including mass food poisoning and a plane grounding, riddle Annie's attempts to help, she gradually finds herself usurped by Helen. But will her loyalty to Lillian pull her through in the end?

**1/2 vaguely amusing

Eat, Pray, Love

Liz Gilbert had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having - a husband, a house, a successful career - yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.

** slow, self indulgent, very disappointing

Ghost Rider - Spirit of vengeance

Struggling to live with his flame-headed alter ego the Ghost Rider, Blaze is offered the chance to rid himself of his curse forever - but to do so he must defeat The Devil in a terrifying battle for survival.

***1/2  i've not seen 1st one, was hubbys choice, but most enjoyable

Red Riding Hood

Set in a medieval village that is haunted by a werewolf, a young girl falls for an orphaned woodcutter, much to her family's displeasure.

*** Figure out who the werewolf is

Spring birdies have migrated...

I have been focussing on adding to my crochet birdie collection. I have made some of these previously. These are made from crochet granny circles, adding ribbons or other suitable materials for the tails, and buttons for the eyes.

I made a pair of pastel birds, from a pretty mixed coloured ball which was lovely and soft.

I added some organza and satin ribbon for their tails and some coloured wooden buttons for eyes.

I had another mixed ball, this one in brighter shades and the colour changes happened more frequently, so it had a completely different effect.

By adding different coloured beaks and edging, different style tails, and different patterned hanging ribbons, it made them completely unique.

This flock has migrated south to the Handmade studios, where each bird will be hoping to be picked out and find lovely new homes to nest in. Hopefully I will get the chance to visit next month, as it is near where my Mums lives, and I can see how they've settled in...