Why I just love winter!!

Tags

3d art, canvas, canvas art, cowl, crochet, crocheting, greenteatipple, hand crochet, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, scheepjes, scheepjes yarn, secret garden, Shawl, stormy day shawl, stormydayshawl

Winter is my favourite time of the year.  It is that time of the year when its just a little to chilly to spend so much time outdoors.  And when it happens to be a long weekend, you really get around to all those creative projects that had been lingering for so long now.

This weekend I got around to working on these canvasses I had done about a year ago, if not even longer.  🙂  I have had various ideas, but none of them really took off.  Then finally I decided to add to the canvasses and make them slightly 3D.  I have been looking for interesting pieces to add, and so far, these are the ones I have accumulated.  I painted them is the same colours as the original canvas colours, and added them so long.  It is still a long way to go, as I will be looking for more pieces to add, but I am very happy with the content so far.

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

 

My Stormy Day Shawl is looking good.  I have been working on it steadily, and have progressed into the various gradient changes.  This is an amazing pattern, and I love working on it.  It is the perfect name for a shawl for winter, as we have been having some pretty windy days here lately.

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

I ordered a ball of Scheepjes Secret Garden yarn a little while ago, and it has been calling to me since the day I received it.  So this weekend I broke down, and cast on an open cowl with some 100% Wool (Turkish) and my pretty Scheepjes.  I am using a mock cable / open eyelet pattern that was my Mom’s favourite stitch.  I love the way the stitches show up with the white yarn.  The Secret Garden yarn is amazing with it.  It is going so quickly, and this weekend I will get some buttons to add to the side for fastening.

New Cowl

New Cowl

New Cowl

 

 

 

 

 

Winter is here!

Tags

baking bread, bread, cozy food, crochet, crocheting, curry, dog, handcrochet, handmade, Little black Dog, Miekie, stormy day shawl, stormydayshawl, winter, winter is here

Winter is here.

Woke up to this stunning sunrise and the promise to a beautiful day.

Winter Sunrise

And with the colder weather, came time to spend with the family.  Good times, to bake and cook and crochet.

This is what the weekend held.  Baking beer bread, making lamb and vegetable curry, and crocheting on my Stormy Day Shawl.

Winter cooking

Winter cooking

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

 

And of course, Miekie enjoyed the cold weather, being a little thief and stealing the hot water bottle for a cozy afternoon nap.

Winter Naps

A busy crafty weekend

Tags

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.

Getting lucky.

Tags

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.

It is still very much Summer here

Tags

blue skies, city life, colours, crochet hooks, flowers, garden, herbs, leather straps, local wildlife, moya, nurturing fibres, purse, purses, rooster, roses, summer, vinnis, white clouds, yarn store, yarns

It is still very much summer here.  Beautiful blue skies and fluffy white clouds to wake up to.

Summer!

And warm lazy days.  This weekend I decided to drop in at our local Garden Centre, just to stroll around and enjoy the colours and abundance of summer.

Summer!

Summer!

Summer!

Summer!

Summer!

I did not buy plants but did enjoy the roses and their fragrance tremendously.  Still so many plants around.  I did buy “plant food” for the plants at home.  🙂

I was pleasantly surprised to see a new shop at the centre.  Yay, another Yarn store.

Letesha (owner of the new store “In my Knapsack” was in the store, unpacking and moving yarn around.  I popped my head around the door, and was welcomed in immediately.

New Yarn Store

As she was busy setting up and all, I did not stay to long, but did enjoy the chat to her tremendously.  So many ideas.  And so many pretty goodies.  I got myself some Moya yarn in colour Jade and Nurturing Fibres in colour Tea Rose. I also got a little purse kit, including Vinnis Cotton in colour Summer Mix with purse handle and embellishment and all.  I could not resist the extra purse handles (look at the little duckies) and the most prettiest leather purse straps with brass clasps.

New Goodies

But probably my best buy was this huge wooden crochet hook, solid and light, and perfectly smooth.  Not sure of the exact size, but it is perfect for chunky yarns or T shirt yarns.

New Goodies

New Goodies

And no outing to the Garden Centre is without a visit from the local “wildlife”

Wildlife

This cute rooster crossed the road just as I was leaving.  None of the hens were around.  The Garden Centre has a huge vegetable and herb garden with lots of ideas on how to grow your own, and the chickens love to be able to help keep the pests and bugs under control.

Just thought I would share with you a little corner of my part of the world.  I hope you enjoyed.

Happy crafting all.

 

 

 

 

My Blues Blanket

Tags

blanket, blue, blues, crochet, crochet blanket, granny squares blanket, greys, progress, wip, Work in progress

My squares for my crochet blanket is coming along nicely.  This is a bigger project than my usual knitting, but I am loving it and enjoying the crochet again.  I have not crocheted for a while, only smaller items for around the home.  This blanket is going to be one of my favourites.

I did run out of the darker blue, but have gotten more and am working on making the last few blue rounds and then adding the grey.

It is time for Happy Holidays, and I intend working on these during the festive season.  It is still very hot here, and with this being such small squares, it is the perfect project to carry with you.

Blues Blanket Progress

Blues Blanket Progress

Blues Blanket Progress

Blues Blanket Progress

 

12 Days of Christmas

Tags

12 days of christmas, Gifts, goodies, Happy Holidays, Holiday Swap, Holidays, swap, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps2016

Santa came early.  My package for the 12 Days of Christmas swap has arrived, and I am super excited.

It is so much fun digging in the packaging snow, finding the packages.  Some really feel very interesting. I can not wait for the 13th when I get to open the first one.

My package is all the way from Melkbosstrand (Western Cape, South Africa) put together by the very interesting and very talented Sally Jane.  We all know her as the girl with the pink hair, and you can see what she and her family get up to here.  She has a wonderful podcast that is just amazing to watch.  Pop on over and enjoy.

Thank you so much Sally Jane, I am going to try very hard to be very good and open them on the 12 Days of Christmas, and only one per day.

🙂

 

 

Happy Mail

Tags

bags, flamingoes, flowers, Handmake, hartlam, Knitting, natural yarns, nurturing fibres, project bag, project bags, protea, proteas, yarn, Yarnstash

It has been Happy Mail days around here!!

I received these gorgeous goodies from the couriers, and I am totally loving them all.

Thanks to Michelle at Hartlam Yarns  for my beautiful Alldays Sock Yarn in Howling North Wind.  I am looking forward to starting something soft and warm with these.

Hartlam Sock – Howling North Wind

Thanks to Carle at Nurturing Fibres for my Humbug colourway.  I have always loved those old fashioned sweets, and this yarn totally reminds me of the good old days.

Nurturing Fibres – Humbug

Gina at Natural Yarns is my go to person when I need Nurturing Fibres.  And of course, how could I resist getting myself some new bags while I was at it.  A new project bag with the cutest flamingoes, and a notion bag with our national flower, the Protea.  Thank you Gina, for always spoiling us with the cutest of things.

Project Bag

Notions Bag

New Baggies

It’s Winter

Tags

alpaca, beanie, cowl, daughter, foggy, glitter, handmade, Handmake, Johannesburg, knitpro zing, Knitting, lace yarn, manos, manosdeluruguay, misty, rowan kidsilk, rowan yarn, sparkle, speckledyarn, winter, winterwrap, Wrap, yarns

Winter has now arrived and settled in good and properly.  We have even had a few very cold and eerily foggy misty days.  I loved it.  This is definitely the most favourite time of the year for me.

These are just a little view of how it looked, the photos of the roads was in the afternoon going home, and the others were taken in the mornings when I arrived at my place of work.  And yes, we drive on the “other side” of the road for those who may have wondered.  🙂

Winter June 2016

Winter June 2016

Winter June 2016

Winter June 2016

 

It did then also mean lots of knitting and crafting.  I finished the dark grey cowl for my daughter.  She really got cute yarn, and the speckles in this dark one is even prettier and brighter than the previous one.

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

 

Of course, new WIP’s are on the needles as well.  I started another beanie for my son in law, in lovely warm Manos del Uruguay.  It is knitting up so fast.  And I started a wrap for myself.  This is Alpaca yarn from Turkey and I am absolutely loving it.

Rare Earth Beanie

Grey Alpaca Wrap

Grey Alpaca Wrap

Grey Alpaca Wrap

 

When I dropped in at my LYS during last week, they had Rowan Kidsilk available at a discounted price.  How awesome. I simply could not resist getting these dark jewel colours, each with a bit of sparkle of its own.  Then I also spoiled myself with some new KnitPro Zing needles, in the smaller sizes, ideal for lace and sock knitting.  They were a bit extensive compared to others, however I just know they will be worth the price.

If you are using these needles already, let me know what you thought of them.  🙂

Rowan Kidsilk Yarns

New Lace / Sock needles

 

Happy crafting all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got a lot done!

Tags

crochet, daughter, handmade, Handmake, Knitting, lace, lace knitting, lace yarn, Little black Dog, scarf, Shawl, vintage, yarns

Here I am!  Back Again!

I had a little medical emergency that landed me in hospital for a week. And then another week at home resting up.  But I am all well and healthy and on the way to recovery.  I have DVT (Deep vein trombosis) and could not walk, but I’m back on my feet now and making very good progress.  I had a nice window and could see a little bit of garden outside.  The weather was cold and some days were cloudy.  I was very well looked after and the treats and snacks were just superb.

My view

My view

Treats

Of course my little doggie had to go and visit with my daughter and son in law, and she absolutely love being with them, but I did get the impression she was much happier keeping my legs warm when I returned home again.

Missing my Mommy

My Mommy is Home!!

I got a lot done, I must admit.  I knitted my daughter’s light grey speckled cowl, and cast on a dark grey speckled cowl as well.  And I started a beanie for my son in law.

Light Grey Speckled Cowl

Light Grey Speckled Cowl

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

Nic’s Beanie

Nic’s Beanie

I was able to finish the little tapestry I was working on.  I am thinking I want to make a project bag maybe, and have the tapestry as part of it.  I also blocked my lacy leaf shawl and vintage look doily, and the doily is already in use.

Lacy Leaf Pattern Shawl

Lacy Leaf Pattern Shawl

Lacy Leaf Pattern Shawl

Tapestry Work

Vintage Look Crochet Doily

Of course I also had lots and lots of time to read, and I absolutely loved these 2 books that I had time to work through from beginning to end.

The Knitters Bible

Crochet 2

These are beautiful, and I intend using some of the new ideas and techniques in them that I found very interesting.  One always seem to learn something new somewhere in a day.

Happy crafting to you all.