Worldwide Knit in Public Day 2019

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dining carriage, dining cart, handdyed, handknitting, handmade, heidelberg, heidelberg beers, heidelberg breweries, heidelberg station, heidelberg station museum, heritage beer, heritage beers, knit, knits, knitted, Knitting, luna fibers, project bag, project bags, scarf, Shawl, steam locomotive, steamtrain, steamtraintrip, the culinary express, train, traintrip, travel, umbala yarns, worldwideknitinpublicday2019

This weekend saw the 2019 Worldwide Knit in Public Day on Saturday.

The local steam train group Reefsteamers joined in, and planned a steam train trip for all to the town of Heidelberg, with stalls and a market and lunch and much more.

So Saturday morning was a lovely early start to the station to meet “Susan” the 100 year old steam locomotive and train carriages that would take the group to Heidelberg and back.

It was a beautiful day.  The train ride was stunning, and we all got a load of knitting done.  I started two new projects, and took the one with the least concentration required.  Snacks and cupcakes and coffee were available in the dining room.

The lovely Luna Fibers rode on the train with us, and had a bunch of yarns and other pretty goodies for us to look and purchase from her.  She even had little gifts, specially for all the knitters. I got a very aptly names skein from her, “Traveler”  🙂

At Heidelberg, the “Old Shed” was converted into a mini market, with stalls and goodies.  I got a beautiful skein on Umbala lace yarn, new to me.  I also met a local seamstress that makes the most interesting bags.  I loved this one, with its pockets for patterns and goodies, and big enough for a notions baggie and a project bag.

The museum that is now housed in the old station building was a delight, and the tour guide most knowledgeable on history.  I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation.

 

Lunch is served in a train carriage / dining car or outside under the huge palm trees.  The menu has everything from snacks to perfect burgers and grills. The salads were nice big portions.

No trip to Heidelberg is complete without a quick visit to the Heidelberg Brewery to see their impressive kettles, and enjoy the aroma of the various beers.

I finished off the day with some goodies for Miekie.  She got a new sweater, and who could resist this lovely princess bed.  🙂  I traveled home with it, and she was so impressed with it, she made herself comfy in it and immediately slept in it.  Definitely a good purchase.

A stunning day from very early to a very late arrival back on the outskirts of Johannesburg.  Loved the train ride, and the old station.  A day to remember.

 

 

 

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Beautiful Namibia

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big daddy dune, birds, deadvlei, desert, dune, dune45, dunes, flamingo, flamingoes, guinea fowls, lodge, namibia, oryx, roadtrip, roadtrips, sossusvlei, springbok, sunset, swakopmund, tropic of capricorn, walvisbaai, walvisbay, wildebeest, wildlife, windhoek, zebra, zebras

Not a lot of crafting happened in the meantime, but I had a very good reason for it.  🙂

I was fortunate to travel to our neighboring country, Namibia, for a holiday and break.  Namibia is just a 2 hour flight away, and now I wonder why I have never been there.  It is a stunning place to visit.  It is a desert and very dry, but still so beautiful.

Wildlife and more in Windhoek

So amazing to see the birds in Windhoek, with guinea fowls visiting every morning, waking you with their chatter.

Road from Windhoek to Sossusvlei

Taking the 400 kilometer road trip to Sossusvlei to relax in the desert. It was a long and dusty gravel road All the Way!

Sossusvlei (sunset, and the view from the lodge)

Our oasis in the desert.  The views are stunning, and the wildlife comes right up the lodge to drink water at the local watering hole.

Sossusvlei Dunes and Deadvlei

The dunes and deadvlei.  An experience to remember forever.

Desert animals

Not to mention the wildlife in the desert, that would always find the trees close to water.  Oryx, Springbok and Wildebeest.

Tropic of Capricorn, Desert, Beach and Walvisbay Flamingoes

Heading north again, and crossing the Tropic of Capricorn.  An experience I will always remember, that was something I never thought I would get to do.

The desert view was the view from my bedroom, looking straight out over the dunes and desert.  The front dry area is the river bed, dry at the moment.  Not much rain there for a while.  Got to spend time at the beach in Swakopmund, even though it was very chilly and windy.

And visited the large colonies of Flamingoes at Walvisbay.  Lovely viewpoints where one can stop and see them and get a bit closer for photos.

Swakopmund Beaches

Last quick visit to the beach at Swakopmund to enjoy a coffee on the beach and collect some shells and pebbles.  Then back to SA again.

I am definitely planning to visit Namibia again, and spend a much longer time here.

 

Europe is so gorgeous!

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air france, amsterdam, antwerp, antwerpen, belgium, brussels, dutch airlines, Europe, holland, klm, netherlands, rotterdam, schroder, stephen and penelope, Stitching, travel, yarn, yarns, Yarnstash

I have not been around here for a bit, and the good news is that I was travelling to Europe for a vacation.

It was very hot, and I got a lovely tan to show off now.  🙂  I only visited Belgium and Holland, and tried to see as much as is possible.  I absolutely loved every moment of it, and I think I left a little piece of myself behind in Rotterdam.  I fell in love with this city the moment I arrived.  Everywhere we went was stunning and gorgeous, and I did everything I could to see it all.  But in Rotterdam I had the best time.  I definitely plan to go back and spend time there again.

The first stop was Belgium, and we stayed in Brussels. I did not have any idea of where the woolshops or such was.  I did however discover these gorgeously soft yarns in the back of a huge store, and also got the sweetest little kit for a doggie to stitch.

European Vacation Shopping

European Vacation Shopping

In Rotterdam I took some time one morning and visited the store Schroder.  It was a quick walk there, and I had such a lovely time.  I spent time with the lovely ladies assisting me, and we had lots of good chats and laughs.  The choice was difficult.  🙂  I wanted it all, but had to keep in mind going home with it all.  So I settled for some Scheepjes knitting yarn, and Scheepjes crochet cottons, and of course, I could not resist a few stunning pieces of pretty blue dutch themed fabric.  I did not get around to Jawol in Rotterdam, as it was summer holidays and most stores were enjoying the holidays too.  I did go to the Markthal and was overwhelmed.  🙂  A must see to all.  And if you are not afraid of heights, Euromast!!  I went all the way to the top, and we even had lunch in the restaurant there, way up in the sky.

European Vacation Shopping

Amsterdam had to include a stop at De Bejinkorf, of course.  I checked out the routes there the evening we arrived already, so I knew where to go the next day.  🙂  And the lovely Stephen and Penelope is walking distance from there.  I am so happy I finally got around to the store, and loved the visit.  Such a lot of yarns, notions, pins, bags, needles and hooks.  I loved the yarn I got, “the Night Watch” as inspired by the famous painting.  And how cute are those little house needle size gauges.

🙂  yes I did see all the paintings and visited the museums too.

European Vacation Shopping

So worth the trip, and so worth the long haul home.  It was 37 hours from getting up the morning, last few hours before travelling later in the afternoon, layover in Paris, overnight flight, and getting back to Johannesburg the next day.  Collecting Miekie and finally home again.  I will do it again anytime.

Going home again

Thank you Air France and KLM for taking such good care of us.

Time for some finished projects

Tags

bag, bags, blanket, crochet, crochet bag, crochet bags, crochet blanket, crocheting, dog, dog bandanna, dog cowl, doggie, handdyed, handknitsocks, handknitted, handkntting, handmade, Little black Dog, nanhua temple, roadtrip, roadtrips, socks, yarn, yarns

It has been a very good and progressive couple of weeks.  The cooler weather has finally arrived, and it meant more time for crafting and relaxing.

Plus we have had some lovely long weekends to enjoy, and I made very good use of all the extra days.

I took a long road trip to visit the Nan Hua Temple.  It is an absolutely beautiful place to visit, and I spent the day there and enjoyed a beautiful vegetarian lunch.  I find it very peaceful and tranquil.

Temple Entrance

 

Nan Hua

Nan Hua

I crocheted a new bag that I could use the funky cheeky piece of fabric I had.  This time the fit was perfect, and I even inserted a zipper.

Crochet Bag

Crochet Bag Lining and zipper

Off my needles is my first pair of socks for the winter.  I tried a little something new / different on the heels, but I may need to practice a bit more.

Socks

The left over sock yarn became a cowl and bandanna for Miekie.  She seems happy with the new goodies.

Miekie New Cowl

Miekie New Bandanna

Do you remember this yarn I got from my daughter?  🙂  I decided to make a crocheted blanket.  The colourway is called Woodpecker, and I am calling this my “woodpecker” blanket.  The colours does remind me very much of a little woodpecker bird.

New Crochet Blanket

Happy crafting all.

Happy 2018!

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Happy2018, Thankyou

Wishing each and everyone a most wonderful 2018.  May it be a wonderful year, with lots of good times, friends, family and happy crafty days.

Thank you to everyone that made my 2017 such a lovely year, I look forward to spending the new year again with you all.

(the photo has taken during my recent trip to Tshukudu Game Lodge during the holidays.  The Cheetahs are 2 males, fairly friendly, will come to the lodge to enjoy the shade and cool off at the pool, but not tame, nor to be petted, as they hunt for themselves and are not fed at the Lodge.  This specific morning they had just hunted and taken down a Zebra, so they had eaten their fill, hence the big tummies and peaceful attitude.)

The Game Ranger was there with us too.  🙂

 

A lovely weekend.

Tags

bath salts, cables, cape town, celtic cable, fall sweater, grey sweater, konoha no shawlette, on my needles, project bags, rain africa, rock mint, seitz museum, Shawl, shawlette, sweater, sweater knitting, travelling cables, V & A Waterfront, zeitz

 

It has been a chilly cool weekend in Johannesburg, in the midst of our very hot Spring.  I did not mind the cooler weather much, as I put it to good use to work on my grey lambswool sweater.  It is starting to look like something.  The front is done, the back needs a few more rows and the sleeves needs final shaping.  I opted to not try and knit them all as one piece, as I have not knitted a sweater like that before, and the wool does not like being tinked or frogged.  So I stuck to what I know.  🙂

Grey Sweater progress

Grey sweater progress

And finally the Konoha no Shawlette got cast on.  I’ve knitted this pattern a few years back, and gifted the shawlette to a swap buddy at the time.  I have been wanting to knit it again.  It is a lovely pattern that is easy to knit and follow.

Konoha no Shawlette

My daughter and son in law were in Cape Town during the chilly weekend, and enjoyed lovely sunny weather.  They got around to visiting the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa and the V & A Waterfront amongst others.  I got this absolutely delightful bag from the museum, just the right size to fit my shawlette project.  And it is even big enough to hold a pair of straight needles.  How amazing.

Zeith Musuem of Contemporary Art Africa

And of course, no visit is complete without a trip to Rain Africa on the V & A Waterfront.  This store is one of my favourites, specially when it comes to spoiling oneself.  They have a superb range of products, and I love the bath salts they have.  The fragrances and combinations are truly amazing.  I got a great selection from my daughter and son in law, and have already put the lovely pink one to good use.  It has an amazing fragrance.

 

 

From Germany with Love!!

Tags

birgit freyer, die wolllust, laceyarn, scarf, scarfkit, schoppel, schoppeledition6, schoppellace, schoppellaceball, schoppelwolle, schoppelzauberball, Shawl, shawlkit, stole, stolekit, wolle, wool, Wrap, wrapkit, yarn, yarns, zauberball

Along with my Danish / Peruvian yarns, I decided that my second order would have to be with Birgit Freyer of Die Wollust in Berlin.

I have been wanting to try out Schoppel Wolle for some time.  Whenever I saw these beauties being knitted, I could not keep away from the beautiful shades and colours they had.

I choose very carefully.  I would have chosen way to many if I could. I got a selection of stunning colours, in Laceball, Edition6 and various Zauberball.

De Wollust Berlin Germany

But I wanted some of Birgit’s fine lace yarns too.  I spoiled myself with a very pretty sage silvery green lace yarn.  And a kit for a lace stole / scarf / shawl that is in the most beautiful colours.  I was gifted the pattern for the shawl, and it is so well written and easy to understand.

Thank you Martin and Birgit, for making shopping with you (even from very far away) such a lovely and warmhearted experience.

 

 

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

Rainy weekend.

Tags

chilly weather, cold weather, Johannesburg, johannesburg weather, jozi, rain, rainy weather, travel, winter, winter is here

It has been a rainy weekend here.  I spent the time hibernating and knitting.  It was excellent weather to stay indoors and craft and create.  Not good light though for taking many photos of my knitting, but the wrap is receiving lots of love and attention.  I have ordered yarn for a crochet project, and it should be arriving today.  Yay.

So this is how it started on Friday afternoon, the rain and cold winds rolled in just as I arrived at the stores for delicious weekend goodies and warm snacks.

Big storms rolling in.

And on Sunday I spend a large part of the day having a Mother’s Day breakfast and shopping with my daughter.  The weather turned icy cold just as we arrived and it then rained some more, after raining the whole of Saturday as well. We spend the time well, shopping for winter beanies and warmers.  Breakfast was delicious and warm, and included lots and lots of very good coffee.

The mall is stunning, and I can never get enough of the architecture and beauty of the design.

Still wet and chilly.

Cold and wet and grey out there.  It is definitely winter here now, and I am very happy with the colder weather. The trees are turning colour, and soon everything will be covered with a blanket of leaves.  I love this time of the year.

 

Stitches Emporium @ Kyalami Corner in SA

Tags

embroidery, fabrics, Knitting, new store, out and about, quilting, shopping, stitches, stitches emporium, tapestry, yarns

Last weekend was a lovely long weekend, and I was invited along to visit a new yarn shop that has just opened.

The new shop is in Kyalami, at Kyalami Corner, and although not close to my home, a very easy drive, freeway all the way there.

The lovely Gen, the owner of the store, treated us extremely well.  She has a large work table in the store, and there is coffee and tea if you are in the mood to linger and get creative.  Looking at her beautiful yarns and displays I would think many a shopper would be lingering for a while.

Stitches Emporium at Kyalami Corner in SA

Stitches Emporium at Kyalami Corner in SA

Stitches Emporium at Kyalami Corner in SA

Stitches Emporium at Kyalami Corner in SA

Stitches Emporium at Kyalami Corner in SA

I came home with a stunning haul of goodies, and I can hardly wait to get another opportunity to take a drive out to the store again, for a cup of coffee and a chat and some stash enhancements.

Goodies from Stitches Emporium @ Kyalami Corner in SA

 

We were wonderfully surprised with a free gift as well.  Just look at this pretty bag.  It is hand printed fabric, and beautifully lined.

Goodies from Stitches Emporium @ Kyalami Corner in SA

Goodies from Stitches Emporium @ Kyalami Corner in SA