The Lion is nameless no more....

Thank you to everyone for all your name suggestions and you'll be glad to hear our little dog douglas is a lot perkier... the anti-biotics seem to have kicked in... we just have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't cough them back up half an hour later!

It was extremely difficult to choose the best boy & girl names but after much thought & getting help from my husband Paul the decision was eventually made...

Congratulations to our 2 winners..... Share for 'Marlion' & Brenda for 'Leona'. Your pdf pattern prize is on its way via email :) Putting both names on the pattern was a bit of a mouthful... so we decided to make the Lion a 'he' to keep it simple.

I have listed my Marlion Pdf pattern in my etsy store which is now up and running and I'm working out how to add it to Ravelry for purchase too. The pattern costs $5.50 full crochet instructions include photos where needed for assembly & felting instructions.

Thanks again to you all... it was so much fun I might just do this again!

Fiona

x

Twas my birthday yesterday!

I would have posted this yesterday but it has to wait until I'd painted my toe nails to match my new Crocs sandals :) (how vain is that?!). It was a fantastic day... but so busy I didn't get a chance to do them until after lunch today!

Paul had organised to take the day off work so we could spend the day together... so I grabbed the chance to go and get my hair done in the am (my birthday present from mum & dad... thanks)! It was way overdue... last done mid Dec'07 and desperate for a good cut. The layers were getting straggly and it needed about 3 inches off the bottom which might sound like a lot to most people but if you see my picture on Ravelry you'll see my hair hovers at waist length so it's not much overall to me. So while I was being pampered in the salon... by also having copper & brown low lights :)... Paul had daddy time with Finn.

Then the boys took me for lunch at our local fusion tapas restaurant Pravada. I forgot to photograph what we ordered as it was all so yummy... sorry. F tried a bit of all of the dishes except my scallops and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

We walked off some of our lunch with a potter round the shops & a few purchases including my new shoes & the much needed peat plant pots... more coming about that in a future post!

After getting F into bed after tea we settled down on the sofa to watch a Nicolas Cage DVD 'Next' which was surprisingly good fun. The only down side to the day was the fact I started Anti-Biotic's on Thursday for an upper respiratory tract infection which has given me a nasty cough and very sore throat. So intead of a glass of chilled pink fizz it's been Lemsips, Benylin and Lockets... Oh well!

Right I'm off to play with my new GHD hair straighteners (thanks Paul & F) & I should probably watch the DVD first as I've never used any before... but hey how hard can it be? :)

The lion prototype is felted!

The washing machine is fixed and I just couldn't wait to show you how the lion prototype turned out. I used up some of my stashed 4ply/fingering yarns just to work the pattern out hence the multicolour!

I'm busy typing up the pattern.. so I'm now setting a closing date for the competition to name him/her... so this is your last chance to have a go if you haven't already. All entries must be submitted by posting your suggestion on site by 11am (GMT) Tuesday 20th May. I will announce the 2 winners (1 boy name & 1 girl name) Wednesday 21st May & email them their prize of the Lion PDF pattern :)

Only one more question.... I'm wondering whether I should have done the shaggy mane all over the back of the head too? It is a proper mane as it is & making the back of the head shaggy would use more yarn... is it worth doing? I can easily amend the pattern if you think it's worth doing...

Fi

x