Crochet Roses

Happy New Year, Woollies!

I've been away for a long time, but not wasting time :D I have discovered a new obsession on my crocheting journey - roses! 

I found and fell in love with the beautiful Babushka Rose blanket by Sewing Daisies about four months ago, and I knew immediately that I wanted to have a go. Now, I'm one of those crafters who, when I see a colour combination that I really like, wants to copy it exactly, down to the last detail, to satisfy my inner control freak. But naturally, I would't be happy with a baby-sized project. Of course, I thought to myself - wow! imagine how beautiful that would be as a grown-up size blanket! (I seem to suffer from perennial eyes-bigger-than-my-hook syndrome). 

Well, I loved her use of colours in this blanket, but I didn't love the idea of making a big blanket on a 3.5mm hook (because who has time for that?!) and so my first attempt was to try to recreate her colours using my go-to bargain favourite, with Stylecraft special DK. I used Matador, Lipstick, Fiesta, Spring Green, Sunshine and as well as a few other balls of similar-weight yarn I picked up in the markets. I did like it (sorta), but something was niggling at me inside. It wasn't exactly right. 

Do you see what I mean? 

Tuesday Huesday

Hi again Woollies,

It's been a bit of a slow week or two around here. Not in real life though - at work we're manning the decks, so I haven't been able to craft as much as I'd like. I've been trying out some new things, while I'm working away on my blanket(s)...I did warn you I am a chronic never-finisher! It's just that the minute I have an idea or I see an inspiring project I have to start it immediately and the poor old project I'm currently working on just get laid to the wayside while I go on a joyous little deviation through crochet land. 

Since it's Tuesday Huesday today, I thought I'd get into the spirit of things and chat about all things colour!

I recently discovered the Color n' Cream blog by Jennifer Poort-Larche, and I love her colour combinations very much. So I wanted to attempt some squares inspired by her colours, just to see if they 'sit' with me. I am happy to report that I love them! 

Egg balls

Hi Woollies, 

now I know what you're thinking. This does not look like something Claire would either make or bake. And you'd be right. But if I didn't share this yummery-scrummery treat with you, I'd really be doing you a disservice. 

Egg-balls are my jam. These little beauties, pronounced 'gai daan jai' (鷄蛋仔) are unique to Hong Kong (as far as I know) and they taste just like Heaven in your mouth. Imagine waffles mixed with pancakes mixed with cake mixed with awesome - that's an egg ball. 

The island where I live makes the best egg balls in Hong Kong. They're only open when there are a lot of tourists around, so when I happened to see those shutters up last Tuesday, of course yours-truly made a bee-line straight for the counter! They're made with a special moulded industrial size waffle-iron that they pour the batter into. Wait a couple minutes and hey-presto! Delicious eggy-buttery-cakey dessert-time! 

I couldn't wait until I got home to gobble them all up, so I decided to get two bags - one to devour on the ten-minute walk back to my house, and the other to take some photographs of when I got home, just for your viewing pleasure :P 

Just look at those little puffs of goldenly goodness! The texture is kind of chewy (in the middle of the puff) but it's also crispy around the edges...it's pretty much all of the good things! 

Of course, the minute my camera was put aside, little puffs kept mysteriously disappearing until all of a sudden! There were no more left. Just like that - POUF! Imagine ;)

I'm going to attempt to make these some time soon in my tiny Asian kitchen. I cannot wait to see how those turn out! 

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