Little Miekie

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Little black Dog, Miekie

On December 26, 2019 the Little Black Dog passed over the rainbow bridge.

For the last year or so, Miekie and I have been spending a lot more time together than usual.  I blogged less, and maybe crafted less too.  We spent a lot of time outdoors and went out at every opportunity we got.  Miekie loved being outside, and we visited many dog parks and met many new friends.

Old age was catching up to Miekie, and she was a doggy with her fair share of issues, including seizures, that was hard on such a small body.  Specially her heart.  She had medication and it helped a lot, and made life easier.

We spent a very happy holiday together, with lots of treats and walks and cuddles and Christmas goodies.

I miss her dearly, and the house is very quiet without her.

I may be around the blog here on the odd occasion, but I am sure I will return again too.

Take care and may 2020 be a good year for us all.

 

 

 

 

 

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Hello again

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blogger, blogs, dog, hello, home, I am back, Little black Dog, Miekie, writing

Hello again to everyone.

I have been a bit on the quiet side here, and have not been posting as much.  For no specific reason, just busy with live and work and such.  But all is good, and I will be catching up again with posts and news.

Just in the meantime a greeting from me and the little black dog, whom is still very happy and living the spoiled live.  Here she is, napping on my bed.

Stay well and enjoy the weather, wherever you may be.  It is slowly cooling off here now after a very hot (heatwave conditions at times) summer.

The Little Black Dog

Time for some finished projects

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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.

Heading for Summer

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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

Busy August month.

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art pens, beading, birds, buds, chameleon pens, display, dog naps, giraffe, giraffes, hand knitting, home, knit, knits, kntting, Little black Dog, Miekie, mini garden, mini skeins, My home, nests, potted garden, sharpie paint pens, sharpie pens, Shawl, shawlette, spring, stitch markers, stitchmarkers, sweater, sweater knitting, tree, trees, weaver birds, weavers

Even though I have not been knitting as much as I really would have wanted to, I did keep pretty busy with so much else.

I did work a little bit on my grey sweater, and the sleeves are about halfway up the arm length.  🙂  I may only wear it next year for winter, as it is to late now, and the days have turned to Spring already.

I knitted this beautiful little shawlette years ago as a test knit for Naoko in Japan, and then I gifted it for a friend in Germany.  I have loved the pattern so much, I am going to re-knit it.

Sweater sleeve progress

New minis in my yarn stash

Not knitting meant I finally got around to doing some things I had been meaning to do.  Like rearrange my (ever increasing) collection of giraffes.  This is just some of them, but now they look a bit more organized.  🙂 yes there is still open spaces, you never know when one follows me home.

And I got around to making some stitch markers, some of which is for a swap buddy and friend.

Giraffes

Stitch markers in the making

Spring is definitely already here, and she arrived right on time this year.  This tree in the garden is full of tiny leaves and buds.  I got the urge to make a mini garden in a large container, and these plants look pretty happy.

Spring is here

Mini Garden

Weaver nests

The weaver birds built some nests in the big palm tree in the garden.  But it would seem they were not happy, I found two nests on the ground, and the next day the last one was totally destroyed at the end of the day when I got home.  I still see the weavers in the garden at the feeding tray, however no nests.  It may be that they do not like the stray kitty that has taken up residence in the garden too.

Something I don’t have many of is Mini Skeins.  They are becoming very popular, and proving very helpful for those colourwork items and socks.  So I splashed out and ordered some as well.  Thank you Gina at Natural Yarns for these sets of gorgeous colours from Nurturing Fibres and KarooMoon.

New minis in my yarn stash

Another thing that I am absolutely loving, is the yearly sale at the local Art Supply Store Herbert Evans.  This store is amazing, and every year during August, they have such huge discounts, I truly spoil myself.  This year I have seen stunning new art pens and paints making their debut, and I loved the discounts, as it meant I could get a few sets.  They are sold separate as well.  I also got oil paint Sharpies, as they can write on glass and ceramics.  Just what I have been looking for.

New creative ideas!!

And through it all Miekie do not really care what all the busy-ness and fuss is about, as long as she can nap on the sofa.  🙂

So what is all the fuss about. I just want to nap.

Have a great September all!!

 

 

 

 

 

Winter is here!

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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

Got a lot done!

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a new year, welcome 2016!

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baable hat, Books and gifts, crochet, daughter, handmade, Handmake, Happy Holidays, Hats, Knitting, lace knitting, Little black Dog, mohair, scarf, socks, speckled yarn, yarndye, yarns

It is 2016!  A New Year!  How quickly the holidays have gone.  Thankfully I had a good break and a typical warm and sunny Festive Season here in South Africa. The most exciting thing that happened was probably Miekie having to have some of her teeth out on New Years Eve.  She recovered super fine, and is enjoying all the attention and great food and treats.

I intended to just rest and do as little as possible, but that will never happen.  🙂  I can not sit idly and let my hands do “nothing”.

So I did do a bit of this and that.  I decided I need a little splash of soft colour for my home, and worked on these three canvases.  I did the basics and some background, but I am not done yet.  They still need a bit of finishing off.  I have some pretty bronze paint to still add to them.

Thanks to AndreSueKnits and her lovely podcasts, I got totally inspired to also dye “Speckled Yarn”.  She made it look so easy and I could not wait.  These are done using food colouring, and I had lots of fun, despite having “speckles” all over myself as well in the end.  🙂

I did knit and crochet during the holidays, but only on small projects that I could take with me while on vacation.  I had been wanting to make colourful and summery coasters for glasses or mugs, and decided on these.  I also knitted the Baable Hat (Pattern by Donna Smith) This is a super pattern that I knitted up so fast.  My daughter promptly asked for one as well, so I knitted another.

Currently I am still working on my winter blanket, but since we have been having a pretty warm summer with heatwave warnings, the knitting had been few.  I am working on a pair of socks in Silverspun yarn from the Feel Good Yarn Company. This yarn has the perfect name, and I know they will be perfect gifts.  (for my daughter again)

And I am knitting with super soft Mohair from Istanbul, that my LYS had stock off, making myself a Smocked Lace Scarf.  The pattern is by Veronik Avery and is featured in the book “Knitting 24/7” that I was gifted.

And that is how my year ended and the new one started.

I wish you all a Wonderful and Fantastic 2016!  May it be an Awesome Year for us all.

Happy Crafting!

Finished Abyssal

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for a sister, Knitting, Little black Dog, Shawl

Another finished project.  This is a lovely pattern, I loved knitting it.

Abyssal Shawl by Karen and Karyn

I want to surprise my sister with this shawl. She knits as well, but currently she knits mostly hats, mittens and scarves for her 2 sons.  They seem to grow faster than she can knit.  🙂

Getting colder!

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Little black Dog

It is getting colder, Fall is here for sure.  The Little Black Dog is having a good time enjoying the last bits of warm sun here in Sunny South Africa.

Wishing you all Happy Days.

Little Black Dog Enjoying the last bits of warm sunshine.