A busy crafty weekend

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bear, bear fur, bears, birgit freyer, blanket, ceramic, ceramics, crochet blanket, granny squares, granny squares blanket, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, Handmade Bears, hartlam, hartlam yarns, Knitting, magazines, mongoose, Shawl, shetlace yarn, travel, undercoverotter, visits, weekend, yarn, yarncakes, yarns

It has been a lovely and busy crafty long weekend, and I am extremely happy with the time I could enjoy at home and out and about, still enjoying the last warm weather, as Fall has not arrived just yet and the days are still warm and so comfortable to be outside.  While visiting a friend in the countryside, these two came to visit and loved the fruits we shared with them.

Mother and Baby

 

Of course, I made the most of the time and cakes some yarns, cut the fabulous fur that I got from my sister for my next bear project and knitted on my Tanis Triangular Shawl.  The bear is slightly bigger than those I usually make, and I am so loving this fur.  My shawl is growing so fast, I am already at the lacy edge.

New Yarn

New Yarn

New Yarn

New Yarn

New Yarn

New Yarn

Becky Bear

Blue Shawl Progress

 

Sitting still and knitting and crafting was not all I did.  Having bought pretty little ceramic pieces and tiles over the last few months, it was time to get these into good use. A colleague (who knows me way to well) gave me two precious little wooden boxes, and I decorated them for use in my guest room / craft corner.  And as I love drinking tea, I made a stand for my teapot and another for my mugs.  (the last one still needs to dry a little longer before I dust off the grout)

Storage Boxes

Storage Boxes

Ceramics

 

And all my magazines got sorted and stored properly.  This little shelf is a self assembly project, and took a little work, but the holes were all pre-drilled and it was not to difficult in the end, with a little help of course.

Storage of Magazines

 

The granny square blanket is my daughter’s blanket, made for her more than twenty plus years ago, by my Grandmother, my daughters’ great-grandmother.  It is still in use and now have a precious place in my reading corner, along with my little porcelain doll that is more than 30 years old already.

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Getting lucky.

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antique, antique furniture, desk, furniture, My home, writing desk

And some days you just get lucky.

I have seen this writing desk in a little shop a month or so back, it is a “second hand” store, but with the most lovely goods and stunning furniture.  Some may even be a little on the “antique” side.  It was a bit expensive, so I have been contemplating the expense a bit.

But after passing there again on the weekend, I finally broke down.  I had a good negotiation with the shop assistant, and got a good 25% of the desk.  And immediately loaded it and took it home.  (thank goodness for a hatch back car that can put the seats down, for lots of loading space)

It still even has its original handles and the drawers are not painted or papered, still in its original state.

Writing Desk

Writing Desk

Writing Desk

Writing Desk

And so the little desk has found a new home, where it is just perfectly suited. As you can see, already in use.

Still doing “the Blues”

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crochet, crochet blanket, crocheting, duck egg blue, granny squares, granny squares blanket, handcrochet, handknitted, handmade, hartlam, hartlam yarn, knit, knitted, Knitting, on my needles, plain sailing, Shawl, triangular, triangular shawl

I am still doing “The Blues” it would seem.  And definitely a Blue Period I am enjoying tremendously.

My Blues Blanket is now onto the next round of colour, which happens to be Duck Egg Blue.  I am totally loving this colour.

The Blues Blanket – Progress (Duck Egg Blue)

The Blues Blanket – Progress (Duck Egg Blue)

The Blues Blanket – Progress (Duck Egg Blue)

And I have started some knitting for Fall and Winter.  With the Autumn Equinox coming up this weekend here in the Southern Hemisphere, it is only fitting to start some warmer knits.  On my needles (the new ones from Germany) is a Tanis Triangular Shawl in Hartlam Plain Sailing, a stunning shades of blue hand dyed yarn, with a silver sparkle.  I have not put the beads in the body of the shawl, but I may add some to the lacy edge of the shawl.

Plain Sailing Shawl

Plain Sailing Shawl

Plain Sailing Shawl

 

Happy crafting all.

Crafty weekend indeed!

Tags

African Expressions, alpaca, Alpaca Yarn, bear fur, birds, ceramics, embroidery, handmade, handmade bear, Handmade Bears, hearts, inserts, magazines, mollie makes, project bag, project bags, scissors, sewing, shopping, south africa, turkey yarn, washi, washi tape

As I took Friday off from work, I had a lovely long weekend ahead of me, with lots of crafting time and crafty shopping planned as well.

Of course, it is still rainy season here, and it rained especially hard on Thursday when I left for my “long weekend”.  Flooded roads, again, and this time on the freeway, just around the corner from my neighborhood.  All 4 lanes under water, and the emergency lane too.  I felt like I was about to cross a river, in my car, which is not very high off the road surface.  But I managed to get through and not stall either.

Johannesburg Rain

It rained a bit on Friday, just as I arrived at the annual Hobby X expo.  I enjoy the Hobby X, so much to see and do and get and enjoy.

Firstly I had a coffee with my sister, and we both dried out, as our shoes and pants were pretty damp.  Then we got around to the shopping. My sister spoiled me by getting me a new piece of fur for a bear.  This is my favourite type of fur, the sparse and scruffy looking type.  Now I can re-cut the pieces for a bear I cut a while ago, but did not really like the fur to much.  I decided I could do with a few new scissors while I am there, and these two went home with me.  Super light and comfy to use, and nice and sharp.

Hobby X Shopping

I was looking for some pretty ceramic inserts, and even though these were a bit expensive, the quality is so good, and the glaze so smooth and clear, I got a few pretty pieces that I have some small projects in mind for already.  And of course, some extra rolls of Washi Tape.

I did not plan on buying any yarns, as I have enough for a bit of knitting, but the African Expressions skein was just to pretty to not take home.  I also came across this stunning ball of yarn from Turkey and the colours in it attracted me immediately.  It is soft and warm, and I am looking forward to knitting it up.

Hobby X Shopping

Hobby X Shopping

Mostly the attraction for me, is the international magazines I can get at a mere fraction of the normal price.  I love Mollie Makes, and splash out each time to get as many copies as they have.  This year I came home with a whole stack, and I am so looking forward to long cool Fall days to enjoy these.

Hobby X Shopping

And then I even got around to getting out the sewing machine and overlocker and some of my fabrics.  I made some projects bags and a carry bag for my I Pad.  I had embroidered a small cloth, that I intended for a cushion, but now it is a little I Pad bag.  Some of the baggies still need zippers or closing cord, and I will do those as soon as I visit my LYS for a few supplies.

Sewing Project Bags

Sewing Project Bags

Sewing Project Bags

A great crafty weekend all round.