A quick update before a very long weekend. :)

Tags

blanket, crochet, crochet blanket, crocheting, granny squares, granny squares blanket, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, Johannesburg, Johannesburg sunset, knit, Knitting, love jozi, Shawl, stratus wrap, triangular, triangular shawl, Wrap

With the Easter weekend, I have been able to craft a bit on my WIPs’ and I am so happy with the Granny Square blanket that I am making.  The blanket squares have all been joined, and I am working on a border.  The border may take a bit longer, as I have decided to just keep going at it with the colours and wool I have for this project until I run out.

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket

My Tanis Triangular Shawl is complete.  It blocked beautifully, and I would recommend this easy to knit shawl to anyone.  I am considering knitting a second one, and doing the large lace border, as I stopped after a short piece of the lace border, and although I love this shawl, I think another one is definitely a must knit.

Completed – Tanis Triangular Shawl

Completed – Tanis Triangular Shawl

Completed – Tanis Triangular Shawl

I also started on a Stratus Wrap for myself.  This is a great pattern, and it is so easy and knits up so fast.  I am able to take it with me, and during the Easter weekend my sister and I enjoyed a good lot of knitting while the men in the family tended to the fire and a typical South African braai.  It will probably become a bit to big to carry around for much longer, but I have yarn and ideas for the next projects ready as well.  I added a spot of colour to the stratus wrap, specially since our Johannesburg sunsets are just so beautiful and you can not resist the evenings and the fiery colours.

The Stratus Wrap

The Stratus Wrap

The Stratus Wrap

Johannesburg Sunsets

I am working on a small embroidery piece and unfortunately the grey rainy chilly weather on the weekend was not so good for getting good pictures, it was a good time to hibernate with tea and stitching.  I will hopefully be able to show my embroidery soon.

It is a very short week for me, only 2 working days and a day workshop (work not craft related) and then a 5 day weekend.  LOL.  Yes I am ready for the long weekend here, and have loads and loads of projects and ideas to keep me busy, regardless of what the weather is bringing this time of the year.  It has started to become cooler, and some trees have now started to turn colour and drop leaves.  It is beautiful and I am so happy to have Winter coming to visit.

Take care and enjoy the new week.

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.

I Love Bags!!

Tags

beads, crochet, handknit, handknitting, handmade, handsewing, Knitting, new project, project bag, project bags, skulls, stitch markers, stitchmarkers

I may suspect that I have recently been on a bit of a “bag loving binge”  I have been adding to my stock of Project bags recently, and these pretty ones are some of the lovely bags I got.

These bags I ordered from Gina at Natural Yarns.  The are handmade by “alovesupreme”. I loved the use of our national flower, The Protea, on the fabric.  The fabric is sturdy and the bag is fully lined.  The smaller bags have zipper closures, and the bigger bags are drawstring.  They are ideal for your notions and smaller projects.

New Project Bags

 

One bag that I have had my eyes on for a while now, was a cute bag with a “London” streetmap theme by Sally at Wooldiaries.  But I just never seemed to be able to meet up with her.  The perfect news came last week!  Sally’s online store Yarnbling is now open.  Of course, I could not resist placing the order for the London bag immediately.  And of course, a few extra.  The Skulls bag is so cute. And I love the bigger bag with the stars, it can take a nice large project.

New Project Bags

New Project Bags

New Project Bags

New Project Bags

 

Sally also spoiled me with a super cute gift.  She was in the area and dropped by the office to deliver my package, and I got the cutest notions baggie, with Stitchmarkers.  Just look at these little skulls.  I have never had little skulls.  The next lace project will see these dangling inbetween the thread.

New Project Bags

I got Spoiled!

Tags

Birthday, birthday gift, daughter, gift, Gifts, handknit, handknitting, Handmake, Knitting, lace knitting, lace shawl, lace yarn, Shawl, surprise, swift, yarns, yarnswift

If there is one knitting and crafting tool (toy) I have always loved and dreamed about, it was a Swift.  Yes, my very own yarnswift.  Around here, they are extremely scarce.  They are expensive and only imported.  The LYS just don’t keep them.  So i have always just made a plan and got by.  The ball winder was a good way to roll already, and I was happy.

But then (for my birthday) my daughter and son-in-law surprised me with a big package.  My surprise knew no end and my happiness has totally over the moon when I opened it and pulled out a Yarn Swift.  Beautiful, brand new, and gorgeous.  I don’t think I quite had the words to say Thank You enough times.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

Birthday Gift

Birthday Gift

 

Now I am ready to roll lots of yarncakes and start knitting and crocheting even more.  With Fall soon arriving here in Johannesburg, now is the ideal time to stash dive and get projects planned and patterns ready.

I have been knitting on my leafy lacey shawl.  It is coming along just nicely.  I have now done a few pattern repeats, and you can start to see the leaves develop.

Elk Leaf Lace Shawl

Elk Leaf Lace Shawl

Elk Leaf Lace Shawl

Elk Leaf Lace Shawl

 

This weekend will again also see the Hobby X craft and hobby expo in Johannesburg, and I plan to go and see what they have on offer this time.  I am sure I will see lots of new and awesome goodies, and lots of yarny goodness.