Spring Time.

Tags

African Expressions, Bryanston Organic Market, christmas, colourspun, colourspun yarns, early christmas decorations, furry children treats, Gourmet coffee, Grandiflora, Heritage 2017, Heritage day, Heritage day swap, Home made ice cream, lace yarn, Market stalls, moya, Moya cotton yarns, Moya yarns, ombre kits, ombre yarns, petfriendly, sock yarn, south africa, south african yarn, stitch markers, XMas, yarn cakes

It has been September, and a beautiful Spring.  The temperatures got warmer.  Much warmer than I would have expected.  Some days actually felt a lot more like Summer, and we had a odd day or two with temps as high as 30 degrees C.  We did have a few chilly morning starts as well, and with the weekend around the corner, we woke up this morning to a beautiful foggy day.

We celebrated our Heritage this month, and swapped packages.  I can now happily show off the goodies I sent to my buddy, and the amazing goodies (all SA) I got from a visiting German lady.  She loved the Heritage swap just as much as us all.  I sent my buddy mini skeins, stitch markers, dutch biscuits, coffee, fudge and treats.  And since she also has a furry baby, Miekie shared her best loved snacks too.

Heritage Day Swap

Heritage Day Swap

Heritage Day Swap

Heritage Day Swap

Heritage Day Swap

I got stunning yarn and mini skeins.  And my buddy even caked my yarn for me already.  🙂  It is on the worktable, I pet it every day.  And delicious coffee, and the cutest little tin with stitch markers too.  I popped the tin right into my current project bag, just in case.  Miekie got tiny treats, which is perfect for an older doggie with only a few teeth left.

Heritage Day Swap

Heritage Day Swap

Heritage Day Swap

Heritage Day Swap

Heritage Day Swap

 

I finally made my way to the Bryanston Organic Market.  I have been planning to go for a while, and each time something seems to happen and I don’t get around to this specific market.  It is not as close to my home as the others we normally visit.  What makes this one extra special, is that I could take Miekie along.  She loved it and got so very dusty and dirty.  It was a very hot Saturday, and not much of a breeze though.  The market has bowls of fresh water all around for the furry children to drink from.  Miekie rather enjoyed the home made ice creams more.

Bryanston Organic Market Shopping

Bryanston Organic Market Shopping

Bryanston Organic Market Shopping

And Miekie and I got to meet the very talented Dana from Colourspun, who has a stall at the market.  I had a hard time deciding on what I want to get first, and settled for some soft summery colours in stunning sock yarn.  And a skein of beautiful lace yarn, just in case.  Dana also has the cutest selection of kits, including all kinds of pretty little animals, including giraffes, zebras and teddybears.  I loved the ombre kits, and I know I will be visiting Dana again to get one, at least.

Bryanston Organic Market Shopping

Bryanston Organic Market Shopping

Bryanston Organic Market Shopping

Colourspun Yarnstash

Colourspun Yarnstash

It is less than three months before Christmas, and I got to see the first Christmas display already.  This one was huge, and so much to see.  Even though very early, it was so pretty I did not mind at all.

Early Christmas Decorations already

Early Christmas Decorations already

Early Christmas Decorations already

Early Christmas Decorations already

Early Christmas Decorations already

Early Christmas Decorations already

Early Christmas Decorations already

Early Christmas Decorations already

Heritage

Tags

lovelocal, proudlysa, proudlysaswap, proudlyswap2017, swap, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps2017

In 2 weeks’ time, we here in SA will be celebrating our Heritage.  We have Heritage Day, and it is one of the most enjoyable days and times in the year.

We all get to celebrate our own and unique Heritage.

This year I have joined the #proudlysaswap2017.  I had the most amazing fun putting a package together for my swap buddy.  We especially focused on all things local and proudly SA.  What we love about SA and our heritage.

My package is all put together and ready to go.  I will only be able to show more of the contents in a few weeks, as we will only open the packages and parcels on Heritage Day.

But here is a sneak peak!!

Busy August month.

Tags

art pens, beading, birds, buds, chameleon pens, display, dog naps, giraffe, giraffes, hand knitting, home, knit, knits, kntting, Little black Dog, Miekie, mini garden, mini skeins, My home, nests, potted garden, sharpie paint pens, sharpie pens, Shawl, shawlette, spring, stitch markers, stitchmarkers, sweater, sweater knitting, tree, trees, weaver birds, weavers

Even though I have not been knitting as much as I really would have wanted to, I did keep pretty busy with so much else.

I did work a little bit on my grey sweater, and the sleeves are about halfway up the arm length.  🙂  I may only wear it next year for winter, as it is to late now, and the days have turned to Spring already.

I knitted this beautiful little shawlette years ago as a test knit for Naoko in Japan, and then I gifted it for a friend in Germany.  I have loved the pattern so much, I am going to re-knit it.

Sweater sleeve progress

New minis in my yarn stash

Not knitting meant I finally got around to doing some things I had been meaning to do.  Like rearrange my (ever increasing) collection of giraffes.  This is just some of them, but now they look a bit more organized.  🙂 yes there is still open spaces, you never know when one follows me home.

And I got around to making some stitch markers, some of which is for a swap buddy and friend.

Giraffes

Stitch markers in the making

Spring is definitely already here, and she arrived right on time this year.  This tree in the garden is full of tiny leaves and buds.  I got the urge to make a mini garden in a large container, and these plants look pretty happy.

Spring is here

Mini Garden

Weaver nests

The weaver birds built some nests in the big palm tree in the garden.  But it would seem they were not happy, I found two nests on the ground, and the next day the last one was totally destroyed at the end of the day when I got home.  I still see the weavers in the garden at the feeding tray, however no nests.  It may be that they do not like the stray kitty that has taken up residence in the garden too.

Something I don’t have many of is Mini Skeins.  They are becoming very popular, and proving very helpful for those colourwork items and socks.  So I splashed out and ordered some as well.  Thank you Gina at Natural Yarns for these sets of gorgeous colours from Nurturing Fibres and KarooMoon.

New minis in my yarn stash

Another thing that I am absolutely loving, is the yearly sale at the local Art Supply Store Herbert Evans.  This store is amazing, and every year during August, they have such huge discounts, I truly spoil myself.  This year I have seen stunning new art pens and paints making their debut, and I loved the discounts, as it meant I could get a few sets.  They are sold separate as well.  I also got oil paint Sharpies, as they can write on glass and ceramics.  Just what I have been looking for.

New creative ideas!!

And through it all Miekie do not really care what all the busy-ness and fuss is about, as long as she can nap on the sofa.  🙂

So what is all the fuss about. I just want to nap.

Have a great September all!!