Preciousss

When you get a new gadget, are you like me and totally covet and swoon over it?  I do.  I just got myself a new phone.  Getting a new phone is a Big Deal for me.  I was going to have to be commited to this new piece of technology for Two Years.  I previously had a little Blackberry (the only thing it had going for it was that it was purple), and the amount of things I couldn't do with it was getting ridiculous.  I didn't want an iphone, because Apple.  (Also, googling to find an appropriate 'evil Apple' link I found this.  Now I wish I got a Nokia E70!! I love you internet)

Anyway, I've now commited myself to a Samsung Galaxy S3.  (It's designed for humans - can you say the same about the iphone?  hmmm?)  I'm very pleased.  It does lots of fancy things.  I can finally play Angry Birds.  I can use Instagram.  Words with Friends!  All the things that you've probably been doing for the last couple of years are finally at my fingertips. 

Anyway back to the coveting part.  Now that I had this new shiny toy, I needed to protect it!!  My precioussss!  I'm super paranoid about the screen getting damaged etc.  So, enter my mad crochet skillz and exit my resulting amazing tapestry crochet phone case! 

If you want to make one, it's pretty simple.  I used some generic DK acrylic yarn from a chain store and a 4mm hook.

Using two colours, ch 17 with both strands. 
Row 1:  dc into second ch from hook and next 2 ch using first colour, change colours* and dc into next 3 chs using second colour.  Keep doing this (3 dc in each alternating colour), and when you get to the last ch, dc 3 with colour 2 and then 1 dc with colour 1 (so putting 4 dc into the last ch).  Rotate your work and dc down the other side of the chain, continuing 3 dc of each colour.  When you get back to the first ch, dc 2 in colour 2, then dc 1 in that same colour on top of the first st of row 1.  You should have had to change colours 12 times (ie you will aave 12 stripes). 

Row 2 and all subsequent rows:  continue pattern of 3 dc in each alternating colour around in a spiral until your phone case is the desired length.

Once you've got it the size you want, choose one of your colours and sl st around the top.  This will prevent the opening from stretching out and will help it look finished.  Weave in your ends!

* if you don't know how to change colours this might help.  Essentially when drawing through your last loop of the dc you use the colour you are changing to.

Hopefully this chart might help out.  The most difficult thing I found was getting the foundation chain the right number so my stripes were even!

Now, at the end my phone case was a bit snug for my phone, so I crammed a piece of cardboard inside to stretch it out and steam blocked it, seeing as I used acrylic yarn.  It worked perfectly!  If you use wool blocking will do much more wonderous things for you, so it might stretch out a bit more.

Do let me know if you make one for electronic gadgets! 

Also, this pattern is now on Ravelry here :)

-Linking with-

Tami's Amis FO Fridays | Fiber Arts Fridays at Wisdom Begins in Wonder | Natural Suburbia for Creative Fridays | I've Made Friday at SusanD1408 Crochet Addict | I ♥ Fridays at Petals to Picots

yarn p0rn

Hazel from Hazel's Crochet recently had a giveaway for her blogiversary!  And wouldn't you know it, I won!  And what did I win?? 

Stop drooling! 

Congrats to Hazel on a year of blogging and thank you so so much for your generosity!  Look at the colour!  Absolutely stunning!  This is the most luxurious yarn I've ever had the pleasure of fondling.  For now I will be doing just that (fondling) as I just don't have any capacity for a new project right now.  This yarn is definitely calling out to be seen and felt against the skin, so I'm thinking a cowl or shawlette.  Here are all the patterns in my favourites that might suit this type and amount of yarn.  I really like Brandywine, Magrathea and Travelling Woman, but I'll need to level up my knitting skills before attempting.  I also thing something like Euro cowl would really allow the yarn to speak for itself.  Do you have any suggestions?

I love love love thinking about pattern possibilities!   It's just that... so many patterns, so little time!  AmIright or AmIright? 

That reminds me that my 2nd blogiversary is coming up in January.  I might just have to pass my good fortune forward.  What should I do?  Yarn giveaways are pretty delicious, so I might just have to copy Hazel :)

The hunt for the ultimate Melbourne CBD eggs benedict: Overdraft Cafe

Last week's benny was at a cafe so classy they weren't even listed on urbanspoon... We'll I fixed that and now the whole world will know about...

Location: Overdraft Cafe
354 Flinders Lane
MELBOURNE, VIC, 3000
Ph: (03) 9629 5136

Overdraft Cafe is another of those little take away-ish places - you know, sandwiches on demand.  This place was also really busy, lots of regulars it seemed.  These places don't all do eggs benny, so we had to give it a go - and $7.80 including coffee!!  This was the reason we chose this place - what on earth would $7.80 eggs benny taste like??  We had to know!

Base: Some sort of toast.  I think the bread was Helgas.
Eggs:  Overcooked.  Not a runny yolk was seen at all that fateful day.  Plus a lot of the water from the pot was brought over to the dish, making everything damp, squishy and just unappetising. 
Sauce:  Not good.  I mean, the flavour was ok, but the consistency was really off.  It was watery and look how much they gave us, like a tablespoon? 
Ham:  You generally can't go wrong with ham, so Overdraft gets a tick in this box at least.
Price: $7.80 including coffee. 
Coffee:  Pretty rank, but not as undrinkable as last time.
Service:  Very very good, friendly.  All of the staff made an effort to say goodbye to us even though the place was really busy.  I would go back again for this reason, but for something standard, like toast. 
Other:  Served with a side of spinach.

Individual ratings:

Tanya:  2.5/10 The lesson learnt was:  When you see eggs benny and coffee for $7.80, keep walking.  I feel terrible giving such a low score, but this is the first time I've ever struggled to actually eat eggs benny. Each element would have been ok, but because the eggs weren't drained properly it made the bread all gooey, which is kind of gross.  But as the adage goes, you get what you pay for!

Lil sis:  2/10 Today's Eggs Benny lived up to the true definition of cheap & nasty! Cheap white bread tiny over cooked eggs, not even enough hollandaise to compliment the dish and the ham was meh! It was an overall disappointing experience for me and I will not ever be returning to this café.... I still ate the whole thing coz I was hungry and it was cheap so I didn't care ya dingus!

And how does that look on the benedict-o-meter?  Rounded up to 2.5/10 Benedicts!




Check out my map to see the other eggs benny locations lil sis and I have checked out.

Caturday XXIX

It's Caturday!  The day I dedicate to The Kitten and her cuteness, and invite you to do the same with your kitties!

Today, a random snap, not the best picture, but I just love the face:  'scuse me, I'm trying to nap if you don't mind. 

Got a kitty related post to share?  Fill in the Mr Linky below!

September Movies

I originally started these posts inspired by Kim Sonksen's similar posts.  As most of you know, Kim passed away from cancer on Tuesday 11th September.  I personally didn't know Kim outside of having a small connection through the blog-o-sphere.  Nevertheless, it's extremely sad and I send my thoughts out to her family. 

I guess now every time I write my movie posts, and I will, I'll think about where I got the inspiration from, and that will be my way to remember her.

Return to Oz
This is actually my favorite movie of all time. Sorry, I meant this is my FAVOURITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME!!  There comes a time every few months when I think' oh, haven't watched Return to Oz for a while, I better fix that!'  I think this movie is perfect and I love everything about it, from the talking chicken, the lunch pail tree, the wheelers, the nomes, the fact that people from Oz turn into green ornaments, the gump, and TIK TOK!  He's my favourite.  And can you believe Dorothy was played by a young Fairuza Balk?  Trippy. 

Expendables 2
I came out of the movies with really really sore cheeks - from laughing so hard.  This movie was so so action packed.  Chuck Norris was particularly awesome, even though he couldn't act himself out of a paper bag.  Excellent excellent popcorn movie, and much more fun to watch than the first instalment.

Time Cop
Van Damme!!! I love JCVD. His hair in this movie was totally rockin'! And it was a really good story too.  I love time travel stuff.

Resident Evil:  Retribution
Another great instalment of Resident Evil.  Dudes, there were soviet army zombies riding motorcycles with guns. Also a lot of clones and the title sequence at the start was this frickin awesome backwards thing.  I don't think I need to say anything else.

Love Actually
Just to prove that I don't only watch horror and action movies, this movie!  It's just a nice movie.  The bit I teared up at?  When the rock star character played by Bill Nighy tells his manager he loves him.  Does that make me weird?  And I forgot Martin Freeman is in this!  Always good to get a reminder about Martin Freeman, because, you know, he's made of cats.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Ever wondered how the Planet of the Apes happened?  Watch this movie to find out!  Actually quite a good little movie, with lots of nods given to the original, which as a fan I really loved spotting.  Plus, James Franco.

Rock of Ages
I watched the extended cut at home and it was actually pretty boring.  Too long.  Tom Cruise is good though.  I really only like Tom Cruise's acting when he's taking the piss out of himself a bit.  Also I love Alec Baldwin forever.

Yeah, I have no f**king idea either.

And my top movie pick for September?  Very difficult (and I have to exclude Return to Oz, because it's my favourite and that is always my top pick).. is Resident Evil:  Retribution.  It was a super fun zombie romp that I totally enjoyed.

wip: hulk

I think I need to rename this piece 'the Hulk'.  It's big and green, and it makes me a bit angry.  I started this over a year ago, when my crochet skills were not as superior as they are now.  I'm regretting many of the choices I've made with it.  Mainly the choice of yarn and hook.  The yarn is going to felt, and the tension is so so loose.  But there is no way I'm starting again.  At least the end is in sight now, with only the edging to go.  I just need to wait for the toggle buttons I've ordered to arrive to make sure they'll work with my buttonholes.

It's going to feel good to finally give this one to my mum.  Although she has requested a matching beanie and mittens!  GRRRRR.... TANYA SMASH!

(Enter the gratuitous pictures of The Kitten to soothe the savage beast)

Ahh that's better.

Linking to- WIP Wednesday (Tami's Amis) | WIP Wednesday (Ambassador Crochet) | Yarn Along (Small Things) | Keep Calm and Craft On {Crafting on} (Frontier Dreams) | What you doing Wednesday (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) | Hookin on Hump Day (My Merry Messy Life)

The hunt for the ultimate Melbourne CBD eggs benedict: Koury's Coffee Lounge

Keeping with our mission of sampling eggs benny offered at every Melbourne eatery, be it fancy or cheap and nasty, last week we saw ourselves at one of those cheap and nasty cafes.  You might be surprised by the outcome...

Location: Koury's Coffee Lounge
40 Market St
Melbourne, VIC 3000
03 9620 0360

Koury's Coffee Lounge, or KCL had a very take away-ish feel, but the service was friendly.   Cheap and nasty is one way to describe this cafe, look at those filthy plates!

Base: English muffins!!  Our favourite.
Eggs:  Perhaps a touch undercooked.
Sauce:  Quite tasty, though for the price I doubt that it is homemade.  Even so, it was creamy and flavoursome, a bit lemony.
Ham:  Grilled!  Huzzah!  Very tasty.
Price:  $8.50 - seriously!!
Coffee:  Oh terrible.  So so terrible.  I am definitely not a coffee snob, I'll drink anything, even McDonald's coffee, but this was undrinkable. 
Service:  Very friendly, albeit a bit slow.

Individual ratings:

Tanya:  7/10 Wow, the coffee was extroadinarily bad.  However, these reviews are about the benny!  KCL's version was what I consider very standard fare, and for the price actually really good!  I haven't scored it higher simply because it didn't have that special something that I just can't describe, not sure, maybe atmosphere?  Comfort?  Meh.

Lil sis:  8.5/10 I was very satisfied with today’s eggs benny. First off they had the English muffin base, secondly the eggs were nice and runny, but best of all they were the cheapest we’ve had on our hunt so far! Oh and the sauce was very delicious, nice and tasty. The downfall of our breakfast was the cheap and nasty coffee, I even went all out and got the ‘large’ size because it was so cheap.

And how does that look on the benedict-o-meter?  Rounded up to 8!

Make sure you check out my map to see the other eggs benny locations lil sis and I have checked out.



Just to reiterate, the coffee was terrible!!