Crochet Slippers

As I only have four weeks of funding left I'm busy writing up my last two chapters. Everything is coming together but it is hard work, half of me wants it to be over and the other half is sad because it will be. It makes dull blog posts though so that's why I haven't posted in a while.

To combat the stress I've been doing a lot of crochet in the evening and have been practicing making slippers. These are so much fun to make especially thinking about all the different colours and buttons I can use. I've also been writing down some themes I could use as inspiration.
I've had some interest from friends so I'm thinking of opening an Etsy store in few months as a way to sell them to people, nothing serious or pricey just as a way to make back money for the resources plus it might be fun.

 

I've been exploring some perspectives surrounding running a handmade enterprise and the worth of handmade items within my thesis and I think it is really interesting. I've just discovered this amazing blog post by Twinkie Chan discussing some of her opinions surrounding this topic.

Jubilee Knitted Kittens

I am sometimes absolutely astounded at some of the amazing things made at and for Knitted Kittens. I had to show some photos of these brilliant cakes that member Josephine made and brought down for us all to share.

These jubilee cupcakes in both red and blue are topped with white chocolate corgis.

 

And the highlight of the evening were the glittering cakepops that looked like royal scepters and tasted incredible.

 

Jubilee Cupcake

I'm not what you would call patriotic but I've been dying to make some thing for a while. I'm making a cupcake headband for a jubilee tea party I've been invited to at the weekend. I've crocheted a cupcake from a pattern in one of my favourite craft books by Twinkie Chan. I've chosen blue, red and white. I'm going to use my glue gun to attach it to the side of an Alice band. Just a bit of fun but it was good to make something again.

Link to journal paper

My first journal paper has finally been published! It can be accessed through Emerald:
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=17035892&ini=aob

Hopefully this will be the first of many and the start of a successful career in research (fingers crossed).   

Knitted Kittens Craft Group

I'm still so busy so sorry blog posts have been slow to non-existent but I'm happy to report that I've nearly finished my first draft of my 4th chapter (Data Collection and Analysis) and I'm pretty happy with it so far. As this chapter has been formed from the opinions and perspectives of my participants it's been the most interesting to write by far and has come together really quickly.
Anyway here is another fabulous poster designed by Sophie Daniels for the next Knitted Kittens craft club.

 
I've been busy spending a lot of time on applications applying for jobs and sorting out my first three chapters so they can be assessed within the department and it pulled me out of working on my analysis, as a result I had become somewhat distant with my data. However, when I read the transcript for the Knitted Kittens focus group it really inspired me again and reminded me about all the great things in my study. It rekindled my passion and interest in the domain and since then my work has been coming together really easily. Knitted Kittens is the best thing that I have ever done for this study (maybe one of the best things I've done ever!) and I'm glad it's going to be with me when I have finished my research.

Zombies!

Here's a pic of a zombie I crocheted a long time ago. The building in the background is Salford Cathedral and was the view behind my old flat. I probably won't be making anything new for a while so thought I would put up a picture of something I made a while ago.

It kind of reminded me of an insight that a friend who has just handed in his thesis shared with me: "I am now convinced that theses are a living organism who refuse to take form until they have watched you suffer. They feed on blood and stress related medical conditions - the more you start to deteriorate the better the thesis gets". 
 

Knitted Kittens Craft Club 2nd Birthday Party

I'm really busy with my thesis at the moment. I'm working day and night trying to get the final drafts of first three chapters finished so I won't spend too much time on here moaning how difficult I'm finding it all. Instead here is another amazing poster (by Sophie Daniels) advertising the Knitted Kittens second birthday party! I have no idea where that last year has gone but am really looking forward to celebrating with my friends. New members are always welcome so come and join us!