Creampuff Revolution

A Final Creampuff #TBT...FOR NOW

I have loved doing NaBloPoMo every year but maybe this wasn't the best month for it. Just way too much other fun stuff going on and not enough time for the kind of  inspiring, uplifting content I know all three of you come for. I had a whole list of things I was going to blog about this month and just didn't really have time. But MAYBE that means I'll actually use my blog at OTHER TIMES this year! It could happen!

Anyway, one of the things I wanted to write about involved yet another story about my grandfather's slide collection and how at one point, he and my grandmother traveled to Northern Ireland, where I have also been and took pictures at places I have been. That's a longer post but here's a tease - a photo of my grandmother Jero at the Giant's Causeway, about 30 years before I was there.

I don't look a lot like my grandmother Jero and she passed away when I was only about five, but I recognize this expression because I see it in the mirror ALL THE TIME. Genetics!

Festive Creampuff

It's Christmas wreath season, motherfuckers! And as is our tradition at the end of November, we went out to the Wreath Sale at the UBC Botanical Garden to pick out a festive look for our front door.

As usual, there was a keen selection to choose from:

But in the end, it came down to this one:

Versus this one:

SCROLL TO THE END TO SEE WHICH ONE WE CHOSE #clickbait

We were also charmed by this little bird in the basket. Because if you want to get me to buy something, stick a bird on it.

On the way home, we also hit up Home Depot for our usual front door display. But I got sidetracked by this UNICORN ARMY OMG WTF

Safely at home, we got our front door looking suitably festive. I like the potted evergreens with the birch sticking out of them, because in previous years, they had a single birch log sticking out of it, with a bow on it, which kind of ended up looking like "Welcome to my Christmas dick!" This year, we kept it classy.

Next year, though, you'll be greeted at our door by this:

Creampuff Reviews Bernat Baby Blanket Stripes Yarn

Back in the summer, the good folks at YarnCanada.ca asked me if I'd like to review their new Bernat Baby Blanket Stripes Yarn.

The yarn comes in eight different colourways, including some lovely gender neutral options. They included a free pattern that looked very doable for a slow-ass knitter like myself.

I had just discovered that my friend Kajo was with child and since she is also a knitter, I thought that I would like to knit something for her new bairn, since I totally missed out on knitting for the first one.

Free yarn? Easy pattern? Baby to knit for?

SIGN ME UP.

I chose the "Sunshine" colourway, because I knew knitting this thing would take me into the winter and the kid would probably be depressed by all the rain by then. Yarn Canada mailed me three delicious cakes of soft, cuddly yarn and I was good to go.

The Kiddie Korners Knit Blankie pattern was perfectly set up to use all three cakes of squooshy yarn. But here's the thing. I have a paucity of needles and the pattern called for 8mm needles.

The yarn is very bulky and I'm a tight knitter (or a TOIGHT knitter, as Jake Peralta would say), so I figured it would be okay to use my 10mm needles instead. And it WAS okay, except for that I went through the yarn more quickly because that's how bigger needles work, so I ran out of yarn before I finished the blanket and had to buy a fourth cake. Of course, I ordered it from Yarn Canada whom, in case you haven't noticed, I heartily endorse.

After I finished the blanket, it turned out...pretty big. I put a penny on it, for scale.

See if you can spot it.

You could probably get more than one baby in this thing, if you wanted, just sayin'. Or a plus size lesbian.

I really enjoyed this knit that took me a long time in the heat of summer. The colours were fun and the joy of self-striping yarn is that, when you are getting bored with an easy pattern, you have a new colour to look forward too.

This is really the perfect time of year to enjoy this fuzzy, snuggly yarn. I probably wouldn't have bought it for myself but having knit with it, I would certainly get it again for a fun, chunky knit that is also machine washable and dryable, in case your baby spits up or you spill guacamole on it. 

Kajo - I know we haven't talked since April but congratulations on your new baby! I knit him this blanket! Let's get together before he goes to college.

Creampuff Goes to the Dogs

I feel like I'm really falling down on the "actual content" side of NaBloPoMo this year. Am I busier? Am I less inspired? Am I too busy ogling my incredibly gorgeous Dickens Village?

Anyway, here's a photo of a corgi my grandpa took in England in the 1960s.

Sharpei Sunday Urban Photo Shoot

Sometimes, Effie likes to stroll around Gastown and give the city folk a thrill. Here she is, posing with the famous Steam Clock.

"DAMN, I look good in front of murals."

"You didn't want to sit here, did you?"

Being an urban puppy is exhausting.

Creampuff's 2018 Dickens Village Part Trois: Diagon Alley!!!!!11!!!

When I heard that Department 56, purveyors of my beloved Dickens Village, were introducing new Harry Potter Village pieces this year, I totally lost my shit. Not only am I a HUGE Harry Potter fan, but the style of the Harry Potter pieces is very in keeping with my preferred Village, i.e. Dickens Village. It's like I've been PLANNING THIS FROM THE START.

Usually I give Katr (and her alter ego, Master Potts)  free reign on building choices and I remain in blissful ignorance and enjoy being surprised, but once Department 56 made their Harry Potter announcement, I knew we would have to coordinate.

There are only three building options for the Harry Potter village this year: Hogwarts Castle (waaaay too big), Hagrid's hut (too hutlike, plus Katr doesn't dig on Hagrid for various reasons) and the PERFECT building for a Village nerd trying to recreate Diagon Alley: OLIVANDERS WAND SHOP. And on Friday, I GOT IT OMG. I plugged it in and LUMOS!

Ooo, let's see it from another angle!

Aaaaaaah. The little wand boxes in the window! The little sign with the wand and the O! Love.

Now, Ollivander's is not the only Harry Potter item in Diagon Alley. Katr also made sure that I had a few accessories to really give it an authentic feel. The only problem with the Harry Potter village accessories is that I can't make up dirty stories about the characters because they're just kids and I never got into Harry Potter slash fic. But the lady in the background with the birds is definitely sleeping with Tom, who runs the Leaky Cauldron. The birds like to watch.

Here, Dumbledore cautions Harry about excessive manspreading when he's doing spells.

Nearby, Hermione and Ron practise their spells on Scabbers, who looks like he's been gored pretty bad. Episkey!

As I said, the Harry Potter style is very similar to the Dickens Village style, so when it came to choosing the other two buildings for my Diagon Alley vignette, I had a few options.

PLUS, in a couple of other prescient moves, my friend Chpl sent me the Lily Bros. Gazing Balls shop for my birthday a few years back - an obvious hang-out for Professor Trelawney.

And last year, for some completely unfathomable and therefore delightful reason, my friend Jech included a dragon in my box of Christmas goodies. HOW DID THEY KNOW

I like the idea that the dragon has just escaped from Gringotts and is hitting up the crystal ball shop to decide what to do next.

The final building in Diagon Alley - for NOW - is Fagin's Hideaway. Katr got Fagin's Hideaway real cheap along with some other lovely building several years ago now and because it has a bit of a rough and tumble vibe, I've never really found a place for it in my village. But this year, I thought that Fagin is probably the Muggle most likely to have his spot staked out in Knockturn Alley.

Out in front of Fagin's is a kid selling the Daily Prophet to some dude who is clearly a total douche. I mean, just look at this kid's face.

 

 On the other side of Fagin's is the chestnut seller, but because this is Diagon Alley, probably the chestnuts have fangs.

 And here, finally, is Rosewood Cross in all of its two-shelf glory!

 I'm so happy.

Creampuff Blames It On The Danes

Welp, I missed another Friday and you can blame it on the Danes. I'm sure that no one reading this watches The Last Kingdom but if you do and you haven't started Season 3 yet, DO IT, IT IS SO GOOD SO FAR OMG THE DANES