Lee Mac. Twenty-nine year old fibre artist. Crochet portraits = Obsession. I am surgically attached to my Ipod and crochet hook. Bookworm. Pop culture addict. M&ms are as important as oxygen. Einstein hit the nail on the head with "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."
So although this snapshot depicts the piece at a measley 2.5%!, i'm CHEERIN!! It tells me that the colours i've chosen are actually gonna work!!! Which is a friggin MIRACLE considering there are 15 of them to mix and match together!!! BEYOND THRILLED to see this baby grow!!
In other news, i'm so totally registered over on Pottermore!!!!!!!!
Now to sit back, relax and hope I score an early invite!
Isn't my life thrilling?! Side note - this is just me having a whinge, but Goblet of Fire was on free-to-air telly last night and I couldn't believe how much they had cut from it !!!!!!
They cut out Cedric dying, they cut out Wormtail's hand getting chopped off and Voldy's transformation...
I know none of it is particularly lovely to squizz at but having a poorly edited chopped up version which totally confuses the hell out of the plotline is ten times worse!!
Next time I really should just switch the thing off and shove the DVD in instead Lee xox
30th July, 2011
Movie Time!
EDIT /////////////////// The free pattern for the month of AUGUST is now available!!!
END EDIT \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Exhibition Movie!!!!!!!!!!!
Lee xox
29th July, 201
Still Buzzing1
WHAT A NIGHT!!!!!!!
I was going to wait to post about the night until I had some photos and video put together, but that probably won't be till sometime next week!
But AGGH!!! It was a top night !! Everyone I invited came which was so lovely!!! I met a few more people associated with the gallery and they were so lovely!!! I made a rushed and excited speech, in which I nearly balled my eyes out, that wasn't so lovely!!! I think as I stood there with a bunch of awesome people, and actually took 3 seconds to take it in and see all those pieces staring back at me, the hours of time and the amount of work really whacked me in the face! Luckily my little ramble wasn't filmed! However the little bit of video I did take, will show where everything is! Will try and get it up as soon as I can!!
I digress... The overall feedback from everyone there on the night, invited or not was Really positive!!!!! I've just gotten off the phone from discussing my 4th commission query that has come in!!! AGHH!! It's FUNSANE times 10 at the moment!!! !!!!
The lady who just rang said that she was there at the moment and said that everyone walking through the door was heading straight for the pieces and talking about them really excitedly and it was creating "quite a big stir" down there!!!! Totally dancing on cloud 9 right now!!!!
Plus, as soon as I hung up from that phone call, I had a 'ding dong' at the front door and opened it to reveal a man with the BIGGEST MOST BRIGHTEST BUNCH OF FLOWERS!!!!!!
From my incredibly supportive and Amazing Auntie who couldn't make it to opening night, but was certainly there in spirit Aren't they gorgeous!!!!
And not to break the happy smiley floating feeling that i've got going at the moment, but this little frowny cutie was finished a couple days ago!!! Prof. Snape Puff!!
In more crocheting news, I have just commenced work on my biggest and most detailed piece to date!!!
If you're a BEATLES FAN, set your face to 'excited anticipation'!!!! This thing is going to be MASSIVE, be choc full of 15 AWESOME COLOURS! and will totally ROCK!!!!!!!!!
Man i'm sorry this post is all over the place, but i'm still BUZZING!!!!
Shall aim to make more sense next post!!
Speaking of which, the pattern for Snape Puff will be up and available for free this weekend, so stay tuned for that fellow Potterheads
WOOOOOOOOOOO!!! !!! Lee xox
26th July, 2011
Eeeek
EDIT \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Aaaaaaaand the first picture is in !!!!
I didn't have an opportunity to take many as there were quite a lot of patrons there while we were putting them up and I didn't want them to cop a flash in the eye as they went to take a bite of their vanilla slice.
But here's the lovely Ann Margret and scrummy Elvis nice and cosy above the fire in the corner!!!
I'm SO EXCITED for opening night tomorrow night!!! Which is in 24 and a half hours time!!!!
(Just between you and I, I believe that counter on the side menu is f'd in the head )
Anywayz!!! I'll hopefully have a lovely long, large and another word beginning with 'L' post full of pictures, video and accounts from how it all goes down tomorrow night coming in the next day, or two or three WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
END EDIT \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
TODAY IS THE DAY THE PIECES ARE HUNG UP !!!!!!!!! AAAAAGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I'm BUZZZZZZING!!!!!
I just need to go and wrap a couple more up in plastic then at 2 o'clock on the rocket clock, i'm off to the cafe with my swag, to HANG THEM UP all together for the FIRST FREAKING TIME!!!!!!!!!!
PUMPED!!!!!!!!!
Will be sure to post pictures as soon as I CALM THE FUDGE DOWN!!!!! AAAGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Lee xox
23rd July, 2011
Wrap It Up
Snape Puff @ 65%!
He should be done by tomorrow!!!
In other news, took a couple of snap snaps of my new hair! It's STILL kinda at the lollipop looking stage and will be until I get some much stronger hair shtuff, but how ACE is the colour!!!
The added bonus is that there are so many differing shades of pink in there thanks to having a ton of blonde in there before, so there's this real deep almost magenta colour undernesath while there's this almost fluorescent bubblegum pink that swoops over the top
Tried something a little more funky with the cut too! I've been in love with Dani a contestant on Masterchef Australia - she's just so fun and bubbly and lovely and I love her hair!!!
So although I went a bit shorter than Dani's, the basic look is there and as my hair grows at the speed of an Indy car in it's final lap, I went a bit shorter
So, hair is done
Outfit has been chosen
Ou!! Totally forgot to post the picture of it on here! Mum brought me back a lil pressie from her interstate trip this week...
Talk about NAILING IT!!! How super stylish and sophisticated can you get!!!!
Yes, it will clash with the hair, but so will absolutely everything
I actually have a cute headband that will help tame the hair but also add a bit of black to break it up and tie it into the dress, so it should all come together and not look too ridiculous!!
Even if it does, who gives a toss?! I'll feel smashing!!
This guy totally gets the fabulousness that comes from a fresh coat of colour
Lee xox
21st July, 2011
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
My girl had a big day today and has decided to have any early night....
Sometimes she is just too freaking adorable....
How she can be comfortable with her tail sticking out like that is beyond me... then again judging by the aches and pains I have in the morning i'm guessing I sleep like a pretzel too...like Mother like daughter...lol ANYWAYZ!! The potions master has just crossed the half-way line!!!
He's going to be off-the-charts-adorable!!!! In other news, I got my hair done today!!
Figured i'd better spruce it up a bit for the big night next week!
I haven't taken a photo yet, as it's the shortest i've ever gone and at the moment, with the way it's styled, I look like a cross between Justin Beiber and a strawberries and cream chuppa chup lollipop IN A GOOD WAY!!! But I think i'll play with it a bit before I let a camera near it Lee xox
20th July, 2011
Puff
The passion for Potter Puff's has returned to Totallee.net !! Prof. Snape has already puffed up to 25%!!
He's moving along reeeeeeally quickly, so be prepared to be served with the free pattern shortly sexy people
Lee xox
19th July, 2011
You Guys ROCK
I have a few displays of total AWESOMENESS to show off!!!!
The lovely SHARON has taken her Union Jack CAL and has only gone and made THE CUTEST LITTLE PURSE FOR HER GRAND DAUGHTER!!!!!!!!
When I opened my e-mail and saw it I was WOW!!!!!!!!
BEYOND GORGEOUS SHARON!!! YOU ABSOLUTE STAR!!!!!!!!
Hat's off to the talented Sharon people!!! Just too adorable
Another absolute star's hands have been busy creating....
Bloody hell. Honestly... How FREAKING BRILLIANT IS DAVID BOWIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Benny...
That's really all i'm capable of at this point in time HOORAY for the awesome talents of some awesome people!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!
Lee xox
18th July, 2011
Just Noises
My reaction leaving the cinema today...
DON'T WORRY I WON'T BE GIVING AWAY ANY SPOILERS!!!!!!
Other than to say that I thought it was FREAKING BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And that I didn't shed a tear!! Which I thought was a massive accomplishment! This is going to sound cheesier than cheese, but honestly, I just felt so damn happy through the whole film. Especially as it ended I just felt this enormous wave of satisfaction - which is something I really wasn't expecting....a blubbering mess rocking backwards and forwards was what I was expecting, but nope! Was just so freaking happy !!
I don't want to go into details and ruin it for those yet to see it, but the special effects, the acting, the music, did I mention the KICK-ARSE SPECIAL EFFECTS!!! are just all so incredible, i'm seeing it again I just have to...once is never enough to take something like that in! It's...I just....AGHH!!!! I'm still struggling with the words at this point...just noises come out when I think about it Hats off to EVERY SINGLE PERSON INVOLVED OVER THE LAST DECADE!It was one hell of a ride!!!!
Cheers Mr. Potter. Cheers very much.
Lee xox
16th July, 2011
May I Present...
May I present....Ms. Marilyn Monroe
You can't half tell that I was up reading till 3am last night can you?!.... ...
But my ugly moosh aside, She's FINISHED and is looking FAB-U-LOUS!!!!!! I love love love the detailing of the frame in that top left corner. Really brings the whole thing together nicely I reckon
Thank frig I finished when I did, because i've severely deteriorated my stash of purples on this piece!! She got close to having a blue forehead there for a while, but I managed to stretch what I had left *PHEW* So here's to Ms. Marilyn Monroe!! In a year that would have marked her 85th birthday, may her beauty, inspiration and films live on forever and ever
Beyond ACE!!! I've never been part of a Top 10 before! Score!! In other news, I got a call from Mr. Business card printing man today! He wanted me to come in and proof the card before he goes ahead and prints stacks of them. It actually looks pretty darn FUNKY!! He's kept the pops of colour in my logo and has popped it on a white background....this will make absolutely no sense as I don't think i've shown my design on here yet, but I'll scan one in and post it tomorrow Also had 2 more people confirm that they will be coming along to opening night today!!! Unfortuntely a number of people who I would LOVE to be there can't make it But i'm already at the twenty mark which is worth a dance In other news,
Poor old Maz is getting a little tired of waiting for me to finish I do believe...I swear my fingers are stealing what precious free crocheting time I have to get her done!! 85%!!!
Yeah my camera is being a tool again and has decided to show her in darker shades of purple than she ACTUALLY is ... ...
I hated photography in school....nice to see some things don't change Lee xox
13th July, 2011
I Guess this is growing up
Marilyn @ 80%!
Spent a good chunk of today repeatedly stabbing my thumb with a needle again
The OUTSTANDING news is that I only have THREE smaller pieces left to back All the BIG buggers are now backed and ready to staple Can I get an "AMEN"?!?!? But the-most-exciting-news-of-the-day award goes to hearing that....
THE NEW BLINK 182 SINGLE IS RELEASED IN TWO FREAKING DAYS!!!!!!! AAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Like every other Blink fan on the face of the planet, i've been WAITING since the announcement back in Feb 2009 of them reuniting for this freaking album and now...FINALLY the new song is days away!!!
I really am having a hard time containing my inner "SDFR@#$REWF!!!", as are millions of other Gen-y'ers around the pop punk world Am now having thoughts of a Tom Delonge crochet piece....I do believe it is inevitable
Apologies for my un-related spazzing-over-music-rants! Just sometimes you need to get the "AGH!" out! Lee xox
11th July, 2011
Pretty Colours
SEIZE THE COLOUR!!! CARPE DIUM!!
Am in a ridiculously good mood today!!! So thought i'd splash a bit of colour about the place !
I think it's tea. I've been drinking a lot of tea lately. Good mood MUST be due to tea. Yay tea Lee xox
10th July, 2011
Marilyn Revealed
ALMOST time for Marilyn to start celebrating
Marilyn @ 75%!
Isn't she SHIMMERY GORGEOUS!!!!!
I'm SO stoked because this is the first picture i've managed to take that actually shows the TRUE colours of the piece
Till now it's always come across as really purple and really drab, but the lighting must of been spot on tonight because THIS is how she looks in person !! I have a crazy busy day tomorrow, followed by more hand sewing. Yes. MORE!....AGH!!! I HATE IT!! So i'm shuffling myself off to bed early to get cracking at the break of dawn tomorrow. Later gators Lee xox
8th July, 2011
Updates up the wazoo!
Get your tissues ready....
UPDATES!! UPDATES!! UPDATES!! UPDATES!! UPDATES!!
Marilyn @ 70%!
Aaaaaaaaand the Ravenclaw Crest is @ 15%!
Another busy day today as I have to print out the rest of the invites and back this GORGEOUS couple
for those angels who are waiting on the 3rd CAL video, it should be up tomorrow for ya's
Alright, time to get moving and get my fingers into sewing gear ! Lee xox
7th July, 2011
Get Backing
A MASSIVE round of applause is needed!!!
The lovely Alice has finished the union jack CAL!!!!
It just looks too darn FABULOUS Alice!! Well done !! I have been a little slack in uploading the next CAL vlog. Be on the lookout for it by the end of this week
Yesterday I managed to hunt down the last of my backing fabric!! Which will allow me to back the remaining pieces for the exhibition
Today i've been busy with this big bugger
It's since been completed, which leaves me with SIX pieces to go before getting the last of the boards and going super stupid with the staple gun again That's about it for now, but check back tomorrow as i'll have updates on Marilyn AND Ravenclaw !!!
There's two things I never thought i'd say in the same sentence....
Lee xox
6th July, 2011
HP Creeping In
So after seeing a couple of interviews with the cast popping up over the last few days, teamed with seeing new footage of the final film (including Neville getting super aggressive!!! EXCITED!!!) the need to do something HP related with the hands has crept back in
Remember these guys?!?!
Time to get my Rav on!! 10%!
I'm actually a little further along with it now, but i'm too damn lazy to take a progress pic at the moment
So with the final film fast approaching...expect me to be Potterfied for a while... Like John and Paul Weasley here...
Lee xox
3rd July, 2011
First CAL In!!
The first finished CAL is done!!!! 3 CHEERS FOR ALY!!!
Loving the addition of the Fab 4 to keep a tight hold on it Pretty darn perfect! Be sure to send yours in as you complete them!! Would love to show them off I have something a tad exciting to show off too... Marilyn @ 65%! - with a face!!!!
Not long to go now, as there is a TON of black in the top half of this piece - CHEERIN`!!!!
Just makes you feel like dancing on a beach doesn't it eh?!?!?
Lee xox
2nd July, 2011
Cal-a-rific!
Who's ready to get their CAL on?!?!?!?!?!
The CAL page is up! Along with the pattern and the first vlog, so be sure to have a squizz and pick up your hook and join in if you like Now sadly there won't be a 'Pattern of the Month' for July, as I have a truckload of stuff for the exhibition to focus on, plus the site is in desperate need of a spruce up! So i'm afraid the CAL pattern will have to suffice for this month Speaking of the exhibition, look who has been mounting up a storm!!!
COOL or what eh?!?!?!?
I was a little concerned with covering 'Gone With The Wind' with the plastic - especially as the only plastic that was wide enough was the stuff people use as painter's drop cloth and or table coverings
But it's turned out surprisingly awesome! PHEW
The AC/DC one there hasn't been covered or stretched over properly yet, but it's already looking pretty sharp too BRING IT ON!!!!! AGGH CAN'T WAIT!!!!!! Lee xox
1st July, 2011
Crazy Day
A THOUSAND GAZILLION apologies guys!!!
I've had a heck of a day today and as such haven't had the opportunity to edit together the introductory vlog for the CAL !
Which means that it won't kick off until tomorrow! Which I think is the first of July for most of the people that visit anyways But even so, i'm sorry it isn't up yet for those who were ready to get cracking !!!
Will most definitely be up tomorrow afternoon (my time) at the latest !!
A thousand apologies again guys!! Lee xox
G'Day and welcome to my lil gallery
Feel free to browse away to your eyes content, leave me a comment on the tag-board or just soak up some crocheted portraiture! I also really need to take 2 seconds here to extend the biggest of "THANK YOU!!!"'s to Lokesh Dhakar whose 'Lightbox2' script is the sickest thing since sliced bread I would seriously be stuffed without the aid of this coding brilliance, so MASSIVE KUDOS to you Mr. Dhakar You're a star man!! Lee xox
This lil' animation is topsy-turvy! The little dude should be chasing the BOOK, because that is what I plan to be doing more of in 2015 !
I was on the lookout for a reading challenge for 2015 that would: a) have a goal of reading 52 books b) pose a list of books that would challenge me to read more diversely (I usually drift towards biographies and classics), and c) have a cool title. Yup. I really am that shallow. !
So whilst drooling and scrolling through my latest batch of pins on Pinterest, I was pretty darn elated to happen upon the POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE!!
(Totallee cool name right ?!) I am already stoked to announce that I am totallee off and runningREADING and have already nailed my first challenge #WINNER!
Wow. Suffering a severe case of shiny face right there 'James Dean' by George Perry! So much for 'reading more diversely' eh?! Technically, this is a biography, but biographies are based on true 'stories' yeah?!? *sigh* I'm hopeless.
Alright i'm totallee cheating with this one, but I have been on such a Jimmy D kick lately that I had to read this!
As a result, I am now slightly obsessed
My goodness he was an amazing person! He faced such tragedy in his early life AND of course in his sudden death, but my word did he squeeze a lot of life out of his 24 years.
Twenty-four years... man it still makes my stomach drop to the floor...
The book provides a great insight into the light and dark shades of Jimmy's character and highlighted aspects of his life and his nature that really brought home what a complex and yet utterly relatable guy he was. Despite his tendency to be quite an introverted, surly and by some accounts outright rude kinda dude, there are stories of truly heart-warming gestures and a vulnerability about him that those close to him said shone through in his onscreen performances For a teeny bit more Jimmy gushing, check out my first Popsugar-related Youtube vid!
Yup! I have almost finished 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee and I have thoroughly enjoyed it I shall save my thoughts till I have finished, but can we all just take a moment to appreciate just how insanely AWESOME SCOUT IS!!! WHAT A LIL FIRECRACKER! LOVE HER ! If you are participating in the Popsugar reading challenge or any reading challenge this year, I would love to hear of your progress and what kind of books you are reading ! Be sure to leave me a tag or leave a link to your youtube book reviews! Now back to knocking over challenge number 2!!
Archived Vlogs!!!
Tutorials, ramblings and randomness...
G'Day G'Day!
This is the place to watch old vlogs!
Proceed with caution - as they're bloody awful!
Vlog #20 [1st May, 2012]
Vlog #19 [12th Mar, 2012]
Vlog #18 [2nd Jan, 2012]
Vlog #17 [28th Oct, 2011]
Vlog #16 [22nd Aug, 2011]
Vlog #15 [17th Aug, 2011]
Vlog #14 [30th July, 2011]
Vlog #13 [18th June, 2011]
Vlog #12 [30th Mar, 2011]
Vlog #11 [29th Mar, 2011]
Vlog #10 [20th Feb, 2011]
Vlog #9 [25th Jan, 2011]
Vlog #8 [15th Dec, 2010]
Vlog #7 [10th Nov, 2010]
Vlog #6 [17th July, 2010]
Vlog #5 [9th July, 2010]
Vlog #4 [8th June, 2010]
Vlog #3 [8th May, 2010]
Vlog #2 [9th Feb, 2010]
Vlog #1 [2nd Feb, 2010]
Pattern Archive!!!
Hooks @ the ready!!!
Welcome one and all to my pattern archive!
Here you will find the patterns I have popped up for you to get your hooks into !
Create your own crocheted portrait of the littlest Monkee! Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net!
I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
♥ Peter Tork [The Monkees]
Create your own crocheted portrait of Peter "The most lovable, gorgeous, hunk o' spunk" Tork! Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net! I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
♥ Micky Dolenz [The Monkees]
Create your own crocheted portrait of the zany, gorgeous, incomparable Micky <3!! Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net!
I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
♥ Michael Nesmith [The Monkees]
Create your own crocheted portrait of Mr. Wool Hat himself! Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net!
I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
♥ Jacob Black [Twilight]
Create your own crocheted portrait of this hunky werewolf to adorn your walls,
pillows, hell anywhere you wanna shove him! Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net!
I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
♥ Bella & Edward [Twilight]
Create your own crocheted portrait of the sparkly Edward and his awkward Bella! Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net!
I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
♥ Edward Cullen [Twilight]
Create your own crocheted portrait of Mr. Moody Bloodsucker Edward Cullen Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net!
I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
♥ Captain. Jack Sparrow
Create your own crocheted portrait of the sexy swashbuckler! Savvy?! Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net!
I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
♥ Sir. Paul McCartney
Create your own crocheted portrait of Sir. Paul McCartney! 'We're not worthy, we're not worthy!' Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net!
I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
♥ Marilyn Monroe
Create your own crocheted portrait of the eternal beauty, Marilyn Monroe!!
Word of warning! This piece is a big'n!! 175 rows!! So if you are new to this form of crochet, I strongly suggest you have a go at the union jack swatch above, to get your fingers a workin'! Please send pics of your finished pieces to be featured on Totallee.net!
I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to see em! Mail to poprocker85 [@] totallee [.] net
2015 Totallee.net Crochet-along!!!
On your marks, get set, HOOK!!!!!.
Oh my goodness!! Only 5 spaces left already guys!! The FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC woman, the one and only VALERIE was the first member of the crochet-along!! and guys, we need to all rise from our chairs and applaude her for at least 5 minutes because Valerie has kindly offered to share HER chosen pattern !! THANK YOU VALERIE!! Wanna know the ultra fun-sexy-cool part?!?!
Take a squizz at who she has chosen....
JIMMY D!!!!! WE WILL BOTH be crocheting Jimmy!! So far it looks like I should have made it a Jimmy themed crochet along !!
Once I establish the measurements for Jimmy with Valerie, the pattern will be made available to you all A.S.A.P ouuu arm-flappingly-exciting!!!
I shall also be posting my Jimmy Dean pattern as soon as it is ready!! However, be warned, it will be MASSIVE!! I already got slightly over-excited and went and gathered my palette already...
Yep! I'm going to have a sexy smouldering sepia cowboy on my hands !!!
Wanna see the picture?!?!
Oh my word, tell me that is not the most perfect picture right there...
Wowzers....
Honestly.....
Not sure how well I will function on a day to day basis when I will eventually be faced with this staring back at me from my loungeroom wall !! Now at this stage, i'll wait to see if we reach 10 participants before deciding on a start date, but be assured that I will allow plenty of time for folks to gather their supplies etc.
Be sure to keep checking back to check on the participant numbers and to see which patterns will be on offer! Ou and be sure to shoot me off an e-mail if you would like to join us! Whilst there are still places left!
The e-mail is poprocker85[@]totallee[.]net! Woo!!
Question mark central!!
Frequently Asked Questions!
This is the place to come to ask your burning questions !!
I get asked a LOT of questions about my work and whilst most can be answered with one sentence, I really would like to help people out as much as I can !
Before submitting a question please be sure to have a quick scroll down to see if it has been answered.
If you have a question relating to the kind of crochet I do (because quite frankly I SUCK at any other kind !), please feel free to send your questions to
poprocker85[@]totallee[.]net
How can I make my own patterns?
This is DEFINTELY the number one question I receive on a daily basis !
Due to my reasons listed in the question below, I will not go into step-by-step details of how I create my patterns however due to mounting pressure I have put together a little list of some links to some freeware found around the web that many folks have found useful in converting their pictures into patterns! WARNING Please note - I have not utilised all of these programs. Therefore I can not validate the safety in downloading or using all of these programs. This is a list I have compiled based on recommendations that others have made to me. Therefore, use AT YOUR OWN RISK!! KPG Sourceforge (the pattern generator I use ) PictureCraftwork KnitPRO Free Pattern Wizard Pic2Pat Stoik Stitch Creator PM Stitch Creator 2.0 Please note - this is a short list! There are many graphing/cross-stitch/knitting generators out in the world wide web! However after trying a few on for size, you should be able to find a program that suits you down to the ground! It really is a matter of trying them out and playng around with them until you produce something you are happy with
How do you make your patterns?
I first began crocheting portraits when I discovered Todd Paschall and his incredible CBN technique in late 2008. I was gobsmacked (and continue to be) by his outstanding work and did not hesitate in paying for his services in creating patterns for a few special pictures I had until I figured out a way to generate my own patterns.
The last thing I would want to do is take business away from Todd's website CROCHET BY NUMBERS, where he has worked so hard to get CBN off the ground. Which is why I won't go into step-by-step instructions about how I convert my pictures. I figure that if folks are that desperate to figure it out, they can do it on their own like I did, then I won't feel like i'm intruding on Todd's hard work. Todd has been nothing but kind and supportive of my work, so I think it is the least I can do to support him.
Do you back your pieces?
I have made a lot of attempts at backing my pieces. I say attempts, because i'm still yet to find the perfect way, however I think it comes down to what the piece will be used for as far as choosing the right method goes.
In backing the Hogwarts Bunch Blanket, I hand-sewed black jersey (or stretchy t-shirt material) onto the back of each panel. It was tricky to keep the fabric flat, however I didn't want to add fleece or another bulky material to the back as I wanted to avoid adding weight to the final blanket. Thing thing already weighs 6000 tons
In the case of the pieces that were featured in my first public exhibition, I needed to back them onto solid boards in order to suit the needs of the hanging system in place at the cafe.
Here's cold-ridden me with a naughty labrador to try and explain how I went about it
I recently made my first commissioned pillow, which was backed differently again!
For this piece, I made the front panel, aka. the pretty 'Erika' panel, then crocheted a backing piece for it, using the same number of stitches and rows. I then hand stitched this onto the back of the pretty panel. The effect it had on the front was FANTASTIC!!!
It smoothed and stretched it out perfectly!
In the past, including the pieces featured in the exhibition, I had attatched the jersey material to the backs of the pieces before wrapping and stappling them to the mdf boards. Crocheting a back produces MUCH better results!
After attatching the crocheted back to the front, I then crocheted a third piece to be the BACK of the pillow. Attatching it on three sides, before filling with polyfill, before stitching up the final side!
I think THIS will be the way I back my pieces in the future! Whether they are intended to be hung on the wall, used as cushions, blankets, etc. if they have a crocheted back attatched to them first, you will get a flat, flawless frontage!
Naturally I would have preffered to have professionally framed most of my pieces, but having already shelled out to frame my Freddie Mercury piece ($500 Smackers!!), short of winning the lotto or putting everything I own up for sale on Ebay, including the house and possibly a kidney, I wouldn't be able to afford it! Therefore, D-I-Y Lee to the rescue!!
Can I have a copy of your patterns?
As you've proabably noticed, most of my pieces center around Musicians/Actors/Actresses/Film and Television. I am a pop culture Freak. I do not sell any patterns or pieces I have made that fit into these genre's as in most cases I do not know if the image I have used is under copywright. Any pieces I have made, I have NOT profitted from. Any patterns I have made I have NOT profitted from. Therefore any patterns I generate will not be made available to buy. However, if you take a stroll over to the Pattern Archive located on the navigation menu at the top of this page, you will find a selection of my patterns that I have popped up for free!
How many colours do you use in your pieces?
I have used as little as 4 and as many as 38 The more colours you use the more definition and detail the piece has. However it is a good idea to have a good look about at the colour range available to you in your local area before falling in love with the idea of doing a piece all in greens, only to find that there are only really 3 shades that go well together! (I have learnt this lesson the hard way people!! lol).
What yarn do you use in your pieces?!
The wonderful Kate has put forward a question I get asked quite a lot! Cheers Kate !!
QUESTION: "What brand/type of yarn do you use??"
The MOST IMPORTANT aspect of yarn choice when it comes to colourwork is the colour !
The CBN technique relies on you choosing progressive shades in the colour palette of your choice, be it greys, blues, pinks, etc... Typically a pattern will instruct which brand of yarn to use, and for those folks who find it frustrating or get a little overwhelmed when it comes to choosing colours, Todd has A LIST of blue and brown shades that work in the Red Heart range which may make life easier for you ! As for my yarn choices - they do tend to change with every piece!
After much browsing I have found a palette of greys that I am very happy with, however it does vary depending on whether i'd like the piece to have a black & white feel or a slight blue tinge running through it. It really does come down to trial and error for me!
I have never made a piece using the same brand of yarn for all colours. I always use many different kinds!
I get yarn from craft supply stores, discount stores, Kmart, Woolworths, my Mum's accumulated stash over the past 30 years, freebies from friends old stashes, etc...
Then it really is a case of mixing and matching to get the right degree of shading
The size of the ply I use also varies! For instance, in my GWTW piece, one of the lighter blues I really really wanted to use only came in 5 ply, much thinner than all the other colours that were 8 ply. So I bought 2 balls and worked two strands of the colour every time I used it, in order to balance the thickness. The important thing was that it was the RIGHT COLOUR for the job
Hence the reason as to why I cannot give brand names of the yarn I use in each pattern as it really is an eclectic ever-changing mix!
I guess the biggest barrier a lot of people have in giving work like this a go is the risky business of choosing colours and being afraid that they won't work as well as they want them too. Trust me, i've had my fair share of disasters! Exhibit A
I thought I was on a winner with my choices for a piece featuring Danny Jones from McFly I attempted a while ago...
So far so good...decided to keep going...
Yup! Loving that shine on the retro microphone! Kept going...
WAY TOO DARK!!! BIGGEST BUMMER!!! So the best advice I can give is to take your time in comparing and contrasting your shades! Sometimes projects will fail, sometimes you may have to put a project on hold until the right shade turns up in stock, sometimes you may have to change your entire palette depending on the colours you have available to you. Ply size you can work around, brands you can mix and match, but it's the colour choices that will be the difference between a good piece and one that POPS!
Aching Hands and Wrists?!?!?
The lovely Donna sent in a question!
QUESTION: " You work on so many different projects and seem to get them
out uber quick, do your hands hurt? The muscle around my thumb hurts
and I'm actually noticing rub marks from my hook on my fingers. What do you do for your
busy hands?"
Ah yes! The dreaded hand cramps ! When I first started crocheting properly at the end of 2008, I noticed that my hands started to cramp up quite quickly! I searched every forum you can imagine to get some tips on how to prevent my fingers seizing up after only half an hour of crocheting, so quickly tried them out. Some worked for me, some didn't. Some made perfect sense, others were perfectly ridiculous ! Here are some tips that help me BUCKETLOADS when it comes to hand cramps!
Take a break! Over time I have learnt to rest my fingers before going overboard. I start to get tingly sensations in my fingers and my wrists start to click, which is my flashing warning sign to give it a rest The worst thing you could do is try to push through the pain, even if you only have one row left! I was so eager to finish my AC/DC piece, I remember pushing through the clicks and cracks to knock off the last 12 rows and by god, I could hardly bend my fingers without searing pain for the next week, rendering me useless!! Pretzel-finger syndrome!!!
I now crochet in 15 minute blocks. After 15 mins, I stop, stand up, and do some basic hand exercises
Hand Exercises - after a quick search for "finger stretches, hand stretches, etc," I compiled a series of finger, hand and wrist stretches that I do in between 15 minute blocks of crocheting. First I tend to splay my fingers out, stretching them as far as they can go, before then curling them up to form a fist (repeat x 10), I then gently massage the palms of my hands, working from the middle of the palm out to the end of each finger. That usually takes about 5 mins for both hands. I then bend my wrists backwards and then forwards using my other hand like this...
Funnily enough, I don't tend to get too much pain in my crocheting hand. I actually get the most pain in the index finger of my left hand ! I tend to stick out my index finger as I hold my working yarn, which leaves it a bit stiff and sore! Which leads me to think that maybe trying a different grip on your hook may alleviate any pain your experienceing in your crocheting hand.
I've also noticed that MY NECK gets extremely stiff!! After I complete a row i'm finding that I have to do a few simple neck exercises (which make me look like a pidgeon...so attractive...)
I must get into the crocheting zone and look like a bloody statue sitting there cause my neck is completely set in stone sometimes! Very strange! So as long as you don't push yourself too hard and you take lots of little breaks, hopefully some simple exercises should help ease the pain and it'll be smooth sailing from here on in !
Press!
Making a splash!!!
The 26th day of July 2011, saw the launch of my very first exhibition! To say that I was BEYOND STOKED would be a tad of an understatement.
After months of planning, backing, staple-gunning, up's + down's, high's + low's, trialing and erroring, the 26th rocked around pretty quickly and my god WHAT A NIGHT!!!
I was lucky enough to have an opening night with close family and friends in attendance. So special and actually a bit overwhelmning to see the hours, days and months worth of your own work, created by your own hands, on display for everyone to see.
The exhibition was titled 'Off The Hook' and featured pieces such as 'Gone With the Wind', 'John Lennon', 'Elvis & Ann Margret' and 'The 2 Radcliffes'. It was warmly received and generated a lot of positive feedback which is obviously more than I could of hoped for!
Details of the exhibition were published in the 'Arts Section' of the city's newspaper and has generated a new awareness of crochet in the community and it's far-reaching possibilities!
Print!!!
Early in 2011 I awoke to a little opportunity sitting patiently in my inbox. Adrienne the deputy editor of Let's Knit UK magazine had asked if they could feature the Hogwarts Bunch Blanket in an upcoming issue!!
I preceeded to freak-the-shiz out and accepted immediately!!!
Published in a magazine!!!!! From the other side of the freaking planet!!!!! AGGHHHH!!!
As you can see I handled the whole propsal extremely professionally....
Adrienne sent along some questions and I sent her some pictures and you can imagine my surprise when I first laid eyes on issue #44.....
I scored an ENTIRE PAGE!!!
I'd like to extend another massive thank you to Adrienne and her team for this opportunity! TOO TOO AWESOME!!
World Wide Web!!!
The 22nd of August of 2011 saw the publication of my first guest blog!! Kathreen of Whip-up.net graciously asked if I would write a guest post for her site and I was stoked!
It went a little like this...
Hello Whipup.net'ers! Kathreen has graciously invited me to be a guest blogger on her fabulous site and I'm very thankful for the opportunity! Thank you Kathreen! xox
The Girl
My name is Lee and I'm a twenty-six year old textile/fibre/crochet artist born, bred and based in Canberra, Australia {find out more about me and my work on my blog}. I was about seven or eight years old when I first asked my Mum to show me how to 'do that thing with the hook'. The fascination lasted about two weeks and produced a basic knee rug that was comprised of more holes than actual crochet. The world of crochet was quickly forgotten as I moved on to tennis lessons instead. Which, come to think of it, also lasted about two weeks...
In late 2008 I remember stumbling upon the world of amigurumi (small crocheted animals/toys). I made a few little pieces before yet again my severe lack of an attention span kicked in and I found myself on the search for something new and exciting to try.
The Technique
My search came to an abrupt halt in 2008 when my jaw hit the floor and my eyes were glued to the incredible crochet portraits by Todd Paschall of Crochet by numbers. I remember the first time I clapped eyes on his smiling portrait of President Barack Obama and I was in awe.
A squillion questions sprang to mind, the biggest one being, How in the world do you DO that?! When I discovered that Todd was sharing his technique and also offered to convert any picture into an easy to follow pattern, I knew I had to give it a try.
I began by getting the basic stitches down pat. The crochet-by-numbers technique only requires you to know how to 'chain' and 'single crochet', so I began by practicing with little square swatches. Within a matter of days I was ready to have a go at the training patterns featured on Todd's site. At first these were the 'scary ones' I was a little anxious about trying as they involved the dreaded practice of colour changing! I soon discovered that it was nothing to fear and was actually quite fun!
Todd's technique does not require you to 'carry yarn' or weave in any loose ends, instead every colour change is accompanied by a cut and tie-off. Although many folks have shivered at the prospect of cutting and tying-off at every single colour change, I've found it can actually be quite relaxing! Although I do often warn those who are thinking of giving it a go, to be prepared to be patient, have a fully stocked chocolate stash beside them and one hell of a comfy chair!
As my confidence grew and I knew I was hooked (sorry, pun was begging to be used), I moved on to much larger pieces, with much more detail (aka. more colours and more colour changes!). Pretty quickly I discovered that crocheting portraits had become incredibly fun, exciting and important to me. Ideas about future pieces, possible colour palettes and the never ending string of possibilities had actually started to keep me awake at night. Visits to local yarn stores quickly became a compulsory stopping point every time I left the house. It soon became glaringly obvious that a hook and a ball of yarn offered so much more than a way to while away spare hours.
The Result
As my work will illustrate, I'm a bit of a pop culture fanatic. I have a wide interest in film, music and literature as well as the era's that go along with them. Musically speaking I am drawn to the 1950s and 60s in particular. The Monkees, The Beatles and The King to name a few!
I also have a love for the glory days of Hollywood and the actors that created true magic with their presence on the silver screen.
It is also a poorly kept secret that I am a bit of a Harry Potter fanatic. I use the term 'fanatic' there, when really the word 'MASSIVE' should go in front of it. I don't know what it is about the books and movies that continues to take hold of my hook, but I keep being drawn back to the wonderful characters and world of Hogwarts, time and time again.
This piece featuring Daniel Radcliffe as a young Harry Potter and as the young man he has become has certainly earned a spot in my top three favourite pieces to date. Not only does it have the most clarity of any piece I have done, it is the first time I was aiming for the 'sepia effect' and it was the first time I nailed it! It is also the largest piece I have tackled to date at a staggering 32,000 stitches.
I also get immense joy out of creating pieces that conjure up personal memories for loved ones. In particular, is a piece I put together for my Dad's 50th birthday. It features a picture of him as a finger-snapping two year old boy in the backyard of his childhood home in Sydney. As a life-long radio fanatic, I decided to surround him with radio paraphernalia, including a retro-styled radio, microphone and the logo of his favourite radio station throughout his adolescent years.
It remains my favourite piece to date. Not only because it's so monumentally personal, but because of the reaction it received from my Dad upon seeing it for the first time. I stood in the living room and holding it up and outstretched before calling him into the room. He stopped dead in his tracks, gasped, muttered a few choice expletives against the palm of his hand that had shot up to hide his open mouth and smiled. We then both proceeded to get a little misty eyed (balled our eyes out actually!). His reaction meant that the sixty plus hours spent on it was forgotten instantly and I knew then that I had found a truly remarkable way to express love and pay tribute to the many people, musicians, actors, films and loved ones that I have and continue to admire.
Recently the world of crochet portraiture has begun to open some really exciting doors for me too! Earlier this year, my Hogwarts Bunch Blanket was featured in 'Let's Knit UK' magazine and for the past three weeks, ten of my pieces have been adorning the walls of a local cafe/bar in my first ever exhibition!
If you have ever wanted to give crochet a go, by all means pick up a hook and get cracking! You never know where it might take you!!
(It is well worth clicking the picture at the top of this post to take you to the published blog on whip-up.net to get the flow of it all with the pictures included -_^!)
Hogwarts Bunch Blanket!
Here's the story, of a boy named Harry...!!!
It's only now as I come to write this that I realise the first time I picked up a copy of 'The Philosopher's Stone' was in 1999. It's only now that I realise that that was 13 YEARS AGO. By God. I could really use that time-turning hourglass of Hermione's right now....
Anywayz! Mid way through 2009, I decided to have a crack at making my own crochet patterns and guess who I decided to do first?!? Young Mister. Potter As far as first impressions go I was pretty chuffed! At least it looked like him and of course the bigger plus - it only used 4 colours (which therefore made it cheap as chips to make!)
At first I thought it would make a cute cushion for the lounge but then inspiration reared it's beautiful head! Why not make lonely Harry a couple of friends to accompany him on said couch?!? It wasn't until I had them all lined up on the floor that I thought 'this screams Brady Bunch...'
So taking inspiration from the opening and closing credit's of "Here's the story, of a lovely lady..", I went about choosing 9 characters for a Hogwarts Bunch Blanket! NOT AN EASY TASK!!!!!
SOO many too choose from! So many faves! But as of December 2010, I managed to whittle the selection down to 9 and complete them!
The next step was to border and back them all individually before the daunting task of Hand Sewing (blurgh. )
I bordered each one with about 4 rows of black before sewing some cheap black jersey material to the backs. I then joined the panels together with black yarn by going in and out of the holes conveniently made by the single crochet stitches. This produced a lovely flat join that can hardly be seen ! (on the right side up of course -_^!)
The blanket has received an enormous amount of love so i'd just like to send vitual hugs , kisses and high fives to EVERYONE who has followed and supported me though the making of this project via the many places i've posted my progress! Major kudos to you guys
Our New Celebrity
Earlier this year I awoke to a little opportunity sitting patiently in my inbox. Adrienne the deputy editor of Let's Knit UK magazine had asked if they could feature the Hogwarts Bunch Blanket in an upcoming issue!!
I preceeded to freak-the-shiz out and accepted immediately!!!
Published in a magazine!!!!! From the other side of the freaking planet!!!!! AGGHHHH!!!
As you can see I handled the whole propsal extremely professionally....
Adrienne sent along some questions and I sent her some pictures and you can imagine my surprise when I first laid eyes on issue #44.....
I scored an ENTIRE PAGE!!!
I'd like to extend another massive thank you to Adrienne and her team for this opportunity! TOO TOO AWESOME!!
♥ Potter Patterns!
Due to overwhelming demand, I decided to pop up my HP panel patterns for free ! If you're a beginner or are new to the CBN technique, it might be worth having a go at the Union Jack CAL found under the 'Get Hooked' tab at the top of the page first. It has a step by step vlog to help you learn the basics, which will get you all ready to rock n roll with the Hogwarts Bunch !
For those ready to dive right in, pick your Potter pal and get hooking ! Harry Potter Ronald Weasley Hermione Granger Ginny Weasley Draco Malfoy Severus Snape Albus Dumbledore Rubeus Hagrid Tom Riddle
For those wanting different characters, if you're a member of Ravelry, have a search for a raveller named 'Candice' She has a BUNCH of character graphs for free in her patterns section Please note- I do not produce patterns on request. For reasons why, please see the Frequently Asked Questions Section
If you do have a crack at a character, please feel free to send me pictures to be featured here on Totallee.net! Like the beautiful angels below!!!
poprocker [@] totallee [.] net !
Your Potter Panels!
Get ready to get your applause on whilst browsing this section!!
This section is to show off the incredible crocheting magic of those who have had a crack at the Potter Panels and have beyond succeeded !!
If you have sent me a picture of your potter panel and don't see it featured, first, please forgive me and secondly, please resend it! I'm a fully qualified scatterbrain and have clearly misplaced it! Again if you would like to have your finished piece featured, please pop a couple of images into an e-mail and send it to poprocker [@] totallee [.] net!
Lee Mac. Twenty-nine year old fibre artist. Crochet portraits = Obsession. I am surgically attached to my Ipod and crochet hook.
Bookworm. Pop culture addict. M&ms are as important as oxygen. Einstein hit the nail on the head with "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." 
31st July, 2011
So although this snapshot depicts the piece at a measley 2.5%!, i'm CHEERIN!! 
It tells me that the colours i've chosen are actually gonna work!!! Which is a friggin MIRACLE considering there are 15 of them to mix and match together!!!
BEYOND THRILLED to see this baby grow!!
In other news, i'm so totally registered over on Pottermore!!!!!!!!
Now to sit back, relax and hope I score an early invite!
Side note - this is just me having a whinge, but Goblet of Fire was on free-to-air telly last night and I couldn't believe how much they had cut from it 
!!!!!!
DVD in instead 
Lee xox
The free pattern for the month of AUGUST is now available!!!
Exhibition Movie!!!!!!!!!!! 
I was going to wait to post about the night until I had some photos and video put together, but that probably won't be till sometime next week!
Everyone I invited came which was so lovely!!!
I think as I stood there with a bunch of awesome people, and actually took 3 seconds to take it in and see all those pieces staring back at me, the hours of time and the amount of work really whacked me in the face! 
I've just gotten off the phone from discussing my 4th commission query that has come in!!! AGHH!! It's FUNSANE times 10 at the moment!!! 
Totally dancing on cloud 9 right now!!!!
From my incredibly supportive and Amazing Auntie who couldn't make it to opening night, but was certainly there in spirit 
Prof. Snape Puff!!
In more crocheting news, I have just commenced work on my biggest and most detailed piece to date!!!
If you're a BEATLES FAN, set your face to 'excited anticipation'!!!! This thing is going to be MASSIVE, be choc full of 15 AWESOME COLOURS! and will totally ROCK 
!!!!
He should be done by tomorrow!!!
So although I went a bit shorter than Dani's, the basic look is there and as my hair grows at the speed of an Indy car in it's 
final lap, I went a bit shorter 
Mum brought me back a lil pressie from her 
interstate trip this week...
Talk about NAILING IT!!! How super stylish and sophisticated can you get!!!!
My girl had a big day today and has decided to have any early night....
sleep like a pretzel too...like Mother like daughter...lol
The potions master has just crossed the half-way line!!!
He's going to be off-the-charts-adorable!!!!
In other news, I got my hair done today!!
The lovely SHARON has taken her 
Union Jack CAL and has only gone and made THE CUTEST LITTLE PURSE FOR HER GRAND DAUGHTER!!!! 
!!!!
WOW!!!!!!!!
Another absolute star's hands have been busy creating....
Bloody hell. Honestly... How FREAKING BRILLIANT IS DAVID BOWIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My reaction leaving the cinema today...
cheese, but honestly, I just felt so damn happy through the whole film. Especially as it ended I just felt this enormous wave of satisfaction - which is something I really wasn't expecting....a blubbering mess rocking backwards and forwards was what I was expecting, but nope! Was just so freaking happy 
KICK-ARSE SPECIAL EFFECTS!!! are just all so incredible, i'm seeing it again 
reading till 3am last night can you?!.... 
...
In other news, I got a call from Mr. Business card printing man today! He wanted me to come in and proof the card before he goes ahead and prints stacks of them. It actually looks pretty darn FUNKY!! He's kept the pops of colour in my logo and has popped it on a white background....this will make absolutely no sense as I don't think i've shown my design on here yet, but I'll scan one in and post it tomorrow 
But i'm already at the twenty mark which is worth a dance 
Poor old Maz is getting a little tired of waiting for me to finish I do believe...I swear my fingers are stealing 
what precious free crocheting time I have to get her done!!
Yeah my camera is being a tool again and has decided to show her in darker shades of purple than she ACTUALLY is ... 
Spent a good chunk of today repeatedly stabbing my thumb with a needle again 
award goes to hearing that....
THE NEW BLINK 182 SINGLE IS RELEASED IN TWO FREAKING DAYS!!!!!!! AAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! 
Like every other Blink fan on the face of the 
planet, i've been 
WAITING since the announcement back in Feb 2009 of them reuniting for this freaking album and now...FINALLY the new song is days away!!! 
Am now having thoughts of a Tom Delonge crochet piece....I do believe it is inevitable 
Apologies for my un-related spazzing-over-music-rants! Just sometimes you need to get the "AGH!" out!
I have a crazy busy day tomorrow, followed by more hand sewing. Yes. MORE!....AGH!!! I HATE IT!!
So i'm shuffling myself off to bed early to get cracking at the break of dawn tomorrow. Later gators 
Get your tissues ready....
UPDATES!! UPDATES!! UPDATES!! UPDATES!! UPDATES!! 
That's about it for now, but check back tomorrow as i'll have updates on Marilyn AND Ravenclaw 
So after seeing a couple of interviews with the cast popping up over the last few days, teamed with seeing new footage of the final film (including Neville getting super aggressive!!! EXCITED!!!) the need to do something HP related with the hands has crept back in 
I'm actually a little further along with it now, but i'm too damn lazy to take a progress pic at the moment 
The first finished CAL is done!!!! 3 CHEERS FOR ALY!!!
Not long to go now, as there is a TON of black in the top half of this piece - 
CHEERIN`!!!!
Who's ready to get their CAL on?!?!?!?!?!
vlog, so be sure to have a squizz and pick up your hook and join in if you like 
Now sadly there won't be a 'Pattern of the Month' for July, as I have a truckload of stuff for the exhibition to focus on, plus the site is in desperate need of a spruce up! So i'm afraid the 
CAL pattern will have to suffice for this month 
! 
January
I also really need to take 2 seconds here to extend the biggest of "THANK YOU!!!"'s to 
This lil' animation is topsy-turvy! The little dude should be chasing the BOOK, because that is what I plan to be doing more of in 2015 
!
a) have a goal of reading 52 books
b) pose a list of books that would challenge me to read more diversely (I usually 
drift towards biographies and classics), and
c) have a cool title. Yup. I really am that shallow. 
!
drooling and scrolling through my latest batch of pins on Pinterest, I was pretty darn elated to happen upon the 
?!)
I am already stoked to announce that I am totallee off and 
#WINNER!
Wow. Suffering a severe case of shiny face right there 
'James Dean' by George Perry! So much for 'reading more diversely' eh?! Technically, this is a biography, but biographies are based on true 'stories' yeah?!? 
*sigh* I'm hopeless.
tragedy in his early life AND of course in his sudden death, but my word did he squeeze a lot of life out of his 24 years.
man it still makes my stomach drop to the floor...
Despite his tendency to be quite an introverted, surly and by some accounts outright rude kinda dude, there are stories of truly heart-warming gestures and a vulnerability about him that those close to him said shone through in his onscreen performances 
For a teeny bit more Jimmy gushing, check out my first 
Popsugar-related Youtube vid!
Yup! I have almost finished 
I shall save my thoughts till I have finished, but can we all just 
!
If you are participating in the Popsugar reading challenge or any reading challenge this year, I would love to hear of your progress and what kind of books you are reading 
! Be sure to leave me a tag or leave a link to your youtube book reviews!
Now back to knocking over challenge number 2!! 
G'Day G'Day!
Welcome one and all to my pattern archive!
Oh my goodness!! Only 5 spaces left already guys!! The FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC woman, the one and only 
Wanna know the ultra fun-sexy-cool part?!?!
JIMMY D!!!!! 
WE WILL BOTH be crocheting Jimmy!! So far it looks like I should have made it a Jimmy themed crochet along 
!!
pattern will be made available to you all A.S.A.P 
ouuu arm-flappingly-exciting!!!
Yep! I'm going to have a sexy smouldering sepia cowboy on my hands 
!!!
Oh my word, tell me that is not the most perfect picture right there...
!!
Now at this stage, i'll wait to see if we reach 10 participants before deciding on a start date, but be assured that I will allow plenty of time for folks to gather their supplies etc. 
e-mail if you would like to join us! Whilst there are still places left!
This is the place to come to ask your 
burning questions 
!!
!
!), please feel free to send your questions to
This is DEFINTELY the number one question I receive on a daily basis 
!
WARNING Please note - I have not utilised all of these programs. Therefore I can not validate the safety in downloading or using all of these programs. This is a list I have compiled based on recommendations that others have made to me. Therefore, use AT YOUR OWN RISK!!
)
Please note - this is a short list! There are many graphing/cross-stitch/knitting generators out in the 
Do you back your pieces?
naughty labrador to try and explain how I went about it
winning the lotto or putting everything I own up for 
sale on Ebay, including the house and possibly a kidney, I wouldn't be able to afford it! Therefore, 
D-I-Y Lee to the rescue!!
. I do not sell any patterns or pieces I have made that fit into these genre's as in most cases I do not know if the image I have used is under copywright. Any pieces I have made, I have NOT profitted from. Any patterns I have made I have NOT profitted from. Therefore any patterns I generate will not be made available to buy.
The MOST IMPORTANT aspect of yarn choice when it comes to colourwork is the colour 
colour palette of your choice, be it greys, blues, pinks, etc...
Typically a pattern will instruct which brand of yarn to use, and for those folks who find it frustrating or get a little overwhelmed when it comes to choosing colours, Todd has 
mixing and matching to get the right degree of shading 
eclectic ever-changing mix!
WAY TOO DARK!!! BIGGEST BUMMER!!!
!
!
BUCKETLOADS when it comes to hand cramps!
The worst thing you could do is try to push through the pain, even if you only have one row left! I was so eager to finish my 
AC/DC piece, I remember pushing through the clicks and cracks to knock off the last 12 rows and by god, I could hardly bend my fingers without searing pain for the next week, rendering me useless!! 
quick search for "finger stretches, hand stretches, etc," I compiled a series of finger, hand and wrist stretches that I do in between 15 minute blocks of crocheting. First I tend to splay my fingers out, stretching them as far as they can go, before then curling them up to form a fist (repeat x 10), I then gently massage the palms of my hands, working from the middle of the palm out to the end of each finger. That usually takes about 5 mins for both hands. I then bend my wrists backwards and then forwards using my other hand like this...
Funnily enough, I don't tend to get too much pain in my crocheting hand. I actually get the most pain in the index finger of my left hand 
!
The 26th day of July 2011, saw the launch of my very first exhibition! To say that I was BEYOND STOKED would be a tad of an understatement.
Early in 2011 I awoke to a little opportunity sitting patiently in my inbox. Adrienne the deputy editor of 
I scored an ENTIRE PAGE!!!
It's only now as I come to write this that I realise the first time I picked up a copy of 'The Philosopher's Stone' was in 1999. It's only now that I realise that that was 13 YEARS AGO. By God. I could really use that time-turning hourglass of Hermione's right now....
It wasn't until I had them all lined up on the floor that I thought 'this screams Brady Bunch...' 
! (on the right side up of course -_^!)
, kisses 
and high fives 
to EVERYONE who has followed and supported me though the making of this project via the many places i've posted my progress! Major kudos to you guys 
send me pictures to be featured here on Totallee.net! Like the beautiful angels below!!!
If you have sent me a picture of your potter panel and don't see it featured, first, please forgive me and secondly, please resend it! I'm a fully qualified scatterbrain and have clearly misplaced it!