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

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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.

 

Swap update

Tags

African Expressions, bag, beads, buttons, handmade buttons, project bags, ribbons, socks, south africa, stitch markers, stitchmarkers, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps2016, yarn

The package I sent to Finland, made it safely.

I am happy that the socks I knitted for her, fits just right.  Now I can reveal the goodies.

I knitted these socks for her, in one of her favourite colours. And I included a SA handmade batik project bag for small projects.  African Expressions yarn, it is lovely and soft and knits up so well. Sweets and treats that are some of my favourites, and a handful of knitting goodies and notions, including stitch markers that I made myself.

Finland Swap Package

Finland Swap Package

 

Finland Swap Package

Finland Swap Package

Finland Swap Package

 

I have been knitting on goodies for another swap, and so my sweater and blanket has been slow going.  I will show the swap gifts a bit later, it is for a local SA swap, and I should be sending out very soon.

Also working on the #stitchingsanta swap package, and until that package has arrived safely at its new home, it will have to remain a secret until Christmas.  🙂

Soon I will be back to my sweater and blanket.

Summer days………

Tags

African Expressions, Aran wool, buddy, Curry Cup, cushion cover, daughter, Ellispark, embroidery, Emirates Park, Enchanted, fireworks, Johannesburg sunset, Lions, madelinetosh, Rugby, silverspun, socks, Winners, yarncakes, yarns

Summer in Johannesburg is in full swing.  We hardly had much of a Spring to enjoy, days are already hot and long and sunny. Normally we would have had lots of rain by now, but this year the rain is late.

Hot summer days did mean less knitting and crafting.  I have been working on the odd project though.  I finished the embroidered front cover piece for a small cushion, and now I can start the construction of the pillow case itself.

I also finished the very dark purple socks for a swap buddy, and they are making their way across the ocean to their new home.

And I even caked some yarns for future projects.

So when I am not crafting, what am I doing?  Of course, the obvious would be yarn shopping.  I got a few very pretty local skeins, and these “Enchanted” skeins from African Expressions are really living up to their name.  Also got a 400g ball of Aran with Wool for a small blanket for the cooler Fall days.

And then, like many a South African, we love our Rugby.  I have been supporting the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup and watching games on television.  Plus I spoiled my daughter and got us tickets to the Curry Cup Final in Johannesburg, with our regional team, The Lions, playing with “home ground advantage” and winning the Cup.  This was her first live match, and attending a Final is always so much better. I loved the fireworks that went off each time a goal was scored.

ps:  I have been good, and even cast on the blanket last night.

Swap package to Canada

Tags

African Expressions, beaded gifts, beaded sheep, crochet, handmade buttons, Knitting, sugar spoon, swap goodies, yarns

I could not share these with you before, as I was working on a swap package for a buddy in Canada, and since she knew I was her buddy, I needed to keep the goodies under wraps until the package winged its way across the big blue ocean all the way to Canada.

I kept the package kind of South African, in order to give her a taste of things here and what we do and love.

The washcloths and potholders are all 100% pure / raw cotton.  The washmitten is Raw Cotton, and I use it at home as well.  It is just lovely.

I could not resist some beaded items, and when I came across the little beaded sheep, I just knew it was meant for her.  We all know how much we love our sheepy friends, thanks to their lovely woolies they share with us.

The yarn is our local produced African Expressions, that I love to use just as much.  And I just had to share some of my favourite chocolates with her.