4.25.2014

Sherlocked! The Ultimate Fangirl's Day-trip (London Filming Locations)

Let's face it, the two main reasons I chose England to study abroad in is Harry Potter and Sherlock. There, it's out there. So besides Harry Potter Studios, which I plan to visit sometime in May, there's of course the matter of hitting all the filming locations of Sherlock~~

So, to the heart of London!  (This trip took place in February, and, yes, I'm only posting now XD)

I got the earliest bus I can get without oversleeping, which got me to London at about 9 A.M.. The bus stopped at Victoria Coach Stations, which conveniently placed me near Eaton Square, or, Miss Irene Adler's former place of residence.




Yep, that's where it happened! The exact spot Sherlock fired a gun to 'call the police'. Miss Adler doesn't live here anymore, however, since she is reported to be in a witness protection program in America XD 

There were two men in suits talking in a low voice in front of the house, and they looked at me suspiciously as I took photos...for a moment I was like 'oh no, the CIA!' and got nervous in case they'd think I 'know too much'. I wandered around a bit after that, passing the street where Sherlock and John fought, before setting off to steal an ashtray.



Sadly, there's no helicopter ride for me. XD
I didn't go inside, so no, I couldn't steal an ashtray, but I kidnapped Her Majesty's dog!


Isn't he adorable!!!!? I named him Hamish. =)

Now, where to next? It's time to stop an imminent terrorist attack. After all, the terror alert has been raised to critical. (wink)


Oh and I stared at the Big Ben for awhile imagining where Sherlock's bolthole might be XD



Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. This is where Sherlock took John to find his own 'consultant', the paint expert. The museum shots are actually not filmed in the National Gallery but in Cardiff, but, hey, it's supposed to be in London, so I'll take it.


Opening scene anyone? I couldn't find a place where I can get a bird's eye view like in the opening sequence, but I was still sooo excited, humming the opening music over and over.

Criterion Restaurant, where John and Mike Stamford reunited in the novels. In Sherlock, the coffee cups they were holding in that scene has the word 'criterion' as a nod to the novels.
I am just about starving at this point. So where does a Sherlock fangirl go for lunch (late, very late lunch)? Why Speedy's of course!

Looks familiar? This is where Sherlock and John's dangerous new neighbors lived in The Great Game, just across from 221B.


 The door number isn't 221B now that they're not filming anymore, but the knocker is still crooked! Looks like Mycroft hasn't been visiting! I wanted to knock and have Mrs. Hudson answer the door sooo bad!









There is fanart and photos of the actors on the walls. I wonder if I'm sitting in a chair where one of the actors have sat in??


My meal. I have decided to pretend that Mrs. Hudson made it XD


A photo with the owner, whom I heard explaining to the non-fangirls/fanboys in the cafe why so many people are taking pictures of everything.

Next, I went to Russel Square Gardens, the place where John and Mike met in the show.



Where John would presumably have gotten his coffee.


So here's me relaxing a bit from all that walking. No old friends of mine showed up. Just as well, I don't have a flatmate to recommend.

Time for the fall.


This is the window of St. Barts Hospital, right by the place where Sherlock landed. All the windows on the ground floor are covered with little messages like this. Gotta love Sherlockians!


Where Sherlock landed. I seriously considered lying down on the ground but there were people around XDDD




And here's where John stood when Sherlock jumped. 


Where John got hit by that cyclist. 

Finally, it's time to to to the real Baker Street.




The tube station is full of Sherlock-designs =) 






It was dark and I didn't get many good photos, but I had such fun exploring the place. Sherlock's violin was there and I was itching to play it. The Persian slipper used to hide Sherlock's tobacco is on the mantelpiece.

In Mrs. Hudson's room there's a bust of Sherlock, and letters between Sherlock and John. Figures she'd be the first Johnlock shipper XDD


Shaking hands with Sherlock  <3


The Hound. Doesn't look all that scary to be honest, reminds me of Fang, really.


And, like a good Sherlockian does, I got myself 'the hat'. It's an ear-hat, John!

And so ends my glorious Sherlock trip. There are a few places I missed in London, such as 'Angelo's' where they had their first meal together in 'A Study in Pink', the Tower of London, and so on. Will be hitting those places on my next London trip~

The game is always on!

4.24.2014

Hermione's Hat

Oops, just found this as a draft, can't believe I forgot to press 'publish' again, silly me. 

I don't know about you guys, but I'm always staring at hats and scarves of movie characters. I remember watching a rather sad scene in a movie with my family. My mom was quite emotional and turned to share her thoughts but found me staring at the screen, oblivious to the plot because the actress had a beautiful scarf on and I needed to figure out how it's done.

Anyway, naturally the hat Hermione had on in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince caught my attention.

Look how pretty!!! Emma Watson as well as the hat =)

Anyway, I'm not the best knitter back then, so thoughts of making it slipped my mind as days went by.

Until I found the pattern for it while browsing the pattern section on Ravelry! The Hermione Hearts Ron Hat designed by Christy Aylesworth can be found here.

How can a Potterhead like myself not make it right away? It was whipped up in less than a week.

Ta-da~~


A side view.
And me reading my spellbook!
I absolutely adore this hat!!! =) Been wearing it throughout this winter and wouldn't stop until it got a bit weird wearing hats out. 


A Little Update.

I realize I've been slacking! I've made lots of stuff but haven't posted anything. Aiming to change that now.

Few months back I started knitting gloves. I'm forced to retire from amigurumi for now since the local yarn shops don't stock the yarn I use for them, or anything with a skin color I'm happy with. So instead of spending lots of money on an amigurumi using expensive yarn, I opted to make clothing and accessories instead. Starting with gloves, because winter in England is so much colder than it is back home... brrr....


The gray pair pictured above is a present for my boyfriend. Sadly, when I return to Taiwan it'll be summer so it won't be much use to him then XD I love the design, the whole thing was quite simple but had that added twist. You can find the pattern here: http://goodforaboy.com/blog/?paged=3

And for myself I made a pair of long fingerless gloves in forest green. 


The pattern is the Seeta fingerless gloves by Maria Sheherazade and can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seeta-fingerless-gloves

I love fingerless gloves. Sure, my fingertips are a bit colder but at least I can get things done. I don't know if my fingers are extra pudgy or something, but for me the fingers are always just a bit too long which made doing anything nearly impossible. 

I've really started to come around to knitting in rounds. In the span of a month 3 circular needles were added to the collection. 

I've also made a caplet, and recently started sewing. I haven't photographed these yet, waiting for a nice and sunny day and a photographer. (I miss you so much, Esther!!!)

That's it for now~ In the next few posts I'll document some traveling I've been doing whilst in the UK =)