First up – my finished projects

Tags

basket, basket cover, bunny, crochet bags, crocheting, cross stitch, cross stitches, cross stitching, festive season, floppy bunny, gnome, granny squares, hand knitted, hand knitting, hand stitched, handknit, handknitsocks, handknitted, handmade, handsewing, happy holiday socks, hat, holders, kitchen cloths, knitted, Knitting, minions, pinboards, sewing, Shawl, socks, Stitching, tissue holder, toaster cover, triangular shawl, work carry all, Wrap

So since I last posted about life in the little black dog household, sometime last year, I have been slowly and steadily crafting here and there, and keeping busy.  It was lovely summers days, and hot, so crafting was not always done, and when I was crafting, it was small items that was easy to work on.

Very few are currently WIP’s and I did indeed finish most of the projects I started during the last few months.

 

Some cotton dishcloths for the kitchen, with little crocheted flowers.  And a cheerful make up bag for a sweet and friendly colleague of mine.

 

One of the bigger projects, a very soft shawl with an autumn coloured edge.  Nearly time to start wearing it, it is just a few degrees cooler here now.  And a granny square, paisley pattern lined toaster cover.  🙂

 

When I dropped in at the LYS, she was working on this stunning basket pattern and kit.  It was super quick and easy, and I now take it every day I come to work, it is perfect for lunch and snacks and all the other odds.  I also finished Bop a Long, the furry bunny I had been planning.  It was a trying project, as the fabric shed fur all the time, and I had fur everywhere.

 

For the holidays, I got the notion to “invite some friends” and some cute gnomes came around to visit. This one with the red hat was very popular.  And I had to have a pair of red socks to wear as well.

 

My daughter gave me this stunning yarn from Italy, and I just knew it would be perfect for this wrap the moment I saw the pattern.  It really shows up the details and texture.  And I even had enough for a little hat too.  Even my old pin notice board got a new vintage look cover with storage pockets.  (it really needed a make over)

 

I bought this little kit last year in Brussels, Belgium and got it stitched up in no time once I got started.  The pieces were all pre-cut.  How nice.  Now it travels in the car with me every day as a little good luck charm.

 

And during a visit to the local huge fabric and craft warehouse, I happened to come across these cute minions.  I immediately knew they needed to come home with me.  So I got a few balls of Turkish cotton and crocheted some little pockets and added the minions to them.  Now my tissues and hand wipes are neat and tidy in my handbag, and I can have the little minions around all the time.

And this is the current progress on the cross stitch work I started last year.  Still much a work in progress, but making steady progress.  I absolutely love the embroidery floss and the gradient it creates.

And that is it for now, happy crafting to all and take care.  🙂

ps:  This was the start of my day this morning, a beautiful Fall day.

On my way to work on this lovely foggy morning.

 

 

Advertisement

Happy Winter Crafting

Tags

bear, bears, crochet, crochet blanket, crocheting, hand knitted, handcrochet, handknitted, handmade, handmade bear, Handmade Bears, handsewing, handsewn, knit, knits, knitted, knitted shawl, Knitting, Mini Bears, miniature bear, sewing, Shawl, vintage look bear, Work in progress

So winter is here now, and the days are lovely, chilly and sunny.  I do enjoy a good winter’s day around here.  Although lately we have had some pretty cloudy overcast days, specially in the afternoons, and with drizzle during the night too.  Winter rainfall is unusual in Johannesburg.  The trees have started losing their leaves, and the lawn has a leafy blanket now.

This then means more crafting time for me now.

I have had enough daylight to stitch me little bear, Old Ned.  All the parts are sewn, and ready for stuffing.  Then his face and ears, which is my best loved part, as it gives character to them.  Then I am ready to assemble the last bits.

Little bear progress

And of course, winter brings shawls.  And even though I have many already, and love to wear them, I guess I can never have to many.  The latest one is a pretty blue-ish one.  The yarn is a yarn cake, and fades into shades of blue.  I found the perfect pattern, Chasing Blizzard Shawl.  The pattern makes use of various colours, but since my yarn is already coloured, I just follow the pattern without changing yarns.  It is an amazing easy pattern and knits very nicely.

New shawl

And when the cold is a bit to nippy, I can now change to the Woodpecker blanket, which is growing steadily at a lovely pace, and now big enough to keep my legs warm.  It will definitely be finished this winter still.

Woodpecker blanket progress

Happy crafting to you all.  🙂

 

 

 

 

Summer is stitching time

Tags

bat bear, candle wicking, candlewicking, christmas elf, handmade, handsewing, handsewn, hope angel, Mini Bears, miniature bear, old ned, orchid, orchid flowers, orchids, summer, summer flowers

Summer here has gone into the low 30 degrees C already, and it is only November.  It is going to be a very hot summer.

This is my daughter’s orchid, happily growing at my house.  It is blooming beautifully.

Summer Orchid Blooms

Summer also means less knitting, and more time doing something else.  I have started working on my mini bears, and have begun to work on Old Blu.  When I saw the little Bat Bear, I was lost and loved the little critter.  I decided to get him, as I know once the kits have been sold, many are not redone for sale again.  So better to get the kit, even if I only get around to sewing him later.

When I visited the lovely Michelle at Honeydew Bears, she also had these pretty darlings.  Old Ned, which is beautiful, in green and red.  He is a cousin on Old Blu, and came to visit for the Holidays.  And no festive season is complete without a Christmas Elf.  🙂  The little Hope Angel, with the cutest little wings, is a limited edition for Breast cancer awareness.

Transferring the pattern onto the fabric for the little bit of old school Candlewicking did not take long at all. Now for a bit of french knots and colonial knots, with a bit of stitching here and there.

Candlewicking

Candlewicking

I am still working on my grey lambswool sweater.  All the knitting has been done, and it is off my needles.  Now to sew it together and add the neck details, which I think will be uncomplicated.  Keeping my fingers crossed to have something to show soon.

 

Heading for Summer

Tags

bear, bears, candle wicking, candlewicking, crochet, dog, festival, grey sweater, hand crocheted, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, handmade bear, Handmade Bears, handsewing, international, international festival, Knitting, Little black Dog, love summer, Miekie, miniature bear, needle booklet, sewing, Stitching, summer, sweater, vintage look bear

October is coming to a close already.  How very quickly this Spring season has passed.  It is warm and sunny here in Johannesburg, and we had good rain on the weekend.

We were really fortunately to have stunning weather during the annual International Festival at work.  Each year we host a festival for all the students from outside South Africa that study here.  They then cook a meal from their country and share with us.  The food is amazing.  Each flag represents the students from that country.

International Festival

International Festival

With the warmer weather, I have been knitting a bit less on my grey sweater.  I did still get the sleeves long enough and am now ready to get to joining them all together.  Still not being able to just not be busy, I have knitted a few dishcloths, decided to  try my hand at making a small needle book, (it needed to have the corners starched to stay flat), and sorted my mini skeins into large jars.  Each jar got a crocheted doily for its lid.

Sweater progress

Needle booklet making

Needle booklet making

Needle Book

Bottle covers

Bottle covers

And since I am still in the mood to stitch, I cut out the next mini bear.  Old Blu is already cut and ready for stitching.

Old Blu Bear

Old Blu Bear

Something I have not done for a very long time, is “candlewicking”  It is a type of embroidery.  I have opted to use a bit of colour, in shades if blue, and not stick to the traditional unbleached creamy colours.

Some stitching ideas being planned

And of course, despite all the busy crafty hustle and bustle Miekie is just relaxing and enjoying the sunny mornings in my bed.  That look simply says it all.

Miekie

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

Hobby X 2016 – Johannesburg

Tags

Air Alpaca, alpaca, bears, birdie, birdies, bowl, bowls, buttons, fabric, handmade, handmade bear, Handmake, handsewing, Hobby X 2016, Johannesburg, Katia, lace, miniature bear, oneofakind, owlie, printed fabric, ribbon, ribbons, sewing, yarns

It was with the usual excitement that I awaited this years first Hobby X.  The first one for the year is always held in Johannesburg, and I always look forward to going and having a good day out, meeting new suppliers, and seeing old friends and suppliers that comes up to Johannesburg to exhibit.

One of my favourite suppliers is Skapie, an online store.  I only see them once a year when they visit Johannesburg, and we catch up.  They have the most gorgeous Katia yarns, and this year was no exception.

I was introduced to oneofakindyarns.  Also available online. Gorgeous beauties.  I got these for me.  (there is more from oneofakind, and you will see them soon)  The colours and combinations were fascinating.

There were not many other yarn suppliers, but I did shop around, as I needed other things as well.  Fabric and ribbons were on my list, and these old school ones were perfect for me.  I got some really cute fabrics, for both myself and my daughter, and these pretty picture pieces are going to be very pretty items.  I am thinking the pretty doll fabric should be the inside of a project bag, never a dull day each time you open your WIP.

Since I cut my previous bear (Becky) I have not started with the sewing together of the pieces, as I did not really feel the fur was what I wanted her to look like.  So I indulged in a few new bears, and I adore these.  Wilbur is ready for cutting and sewing, with maybe a little modification here and there.

And then I got a few other pieces for the home.  Birdies to hang in the window and the cutest bowl with birdies to store my small scissors and goodies on my workdesk.

 

 

 

Back to Normal…….

Tags

autumn, bear, fall, fall sweater, handmade, handmade bear, Handmake, handsewing, knitted bags, Knitting, lace, lace knitting, lace scarf, lace shawl, lace yarn, mohair, mohair knitting, project bag, project bags, Rowan summer tweed, scarf, sewing, Shawl, Summer Tweed

There is probably nothing quite like a bit of cooler weather and the promise of a change in the seasons to get me creative again.  It has been a great summer and I had a wonderful, long summer break.

But I find that things are slowly getting back to normal.  For me at least.  I am on a creative crafting roll, and have so much that I would like to start on.  But I have to keep myself at bay and set limits, to some extent at least.  I am slowly working on the blanket, although with my fingers itching for other projects, I have to wonder if it will be ready for winter.

I did finish off my Smocked Lace Scarf in Burgundy Mohair.  It is amazingly soft, and I look forward to wearing it in the coming winter.

Since my scarf is off my needles, I am starting a shawl.  I don’t have a set pattern for this, as I just have an idea of what I want it to look like in the end. I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one.

And I really think it is time for a bit of needlework and stitching.  This cute 30cm bear has been around for a while, and I finally cut the pieces.  Now for some sewing!  She is pretty easy and straightforward to make.

 

Two other knitting projects are also lurking in the shadows, and may just find their way onto my needles in no time.  The Rowan Summer Tweed is for a Fall top/sweater for when the days turn cooler, and the bulky yarn I have taken out to knit a project bag or carry all, slightly bigger in order to carry the bigger knit or crochet projects.  I will be on the lookout for a pretty piece of interesting fabric to use as a lining.