The Joy of Winter :)

Tags

Bee Eater, box project bag, box project bags, cables, celtic cable, cheerful, grey, handknit, handmade, Johannesburg, johannesburg mornings, johannesburg weather, Kingfisher, knit, Knitting, linda's treehouse, project bag, project bags, sheep, south african yarn, stash, Sunshine Grows, sweater, travel, wool, yarn, yarns, Yarnstash

I find winter in Johannesburg very pleasant and a joy.  It is not extremely cold, and the sun is pleasant and comforting.  I would not mind very much if we had our fair share of snow, since I do love snow.

But in Johannesburg we make the most of the pleasant winters days.  Like spending a glorious sunny cozy morning, having a cup of coffee and enjoying the stunning view of the country clubs’ lawns.  I bit dry in patches, which is to be expected in mid winter.

Winter Mornings in Johannesburg

I have been patiently knitting away at my grey sweater.  I have already reached the under the arm length, and have now cast on for the sleeves.  The progress is steady, and I am loving the way the cable insert is turning out.  I have no pattern for this, so I will need to look at the top construction as soon as the sleeves are long enough.

Grey Sweater Progress

Grey Sweater Progress

Grey Sweater Progress

Grey Sweater Progress

And I spoiled myself with a little bit of happy mail.  Stunning bright, cheerful yarns from Linda’s Treehouse, in Kingfisher.  I chose Bee Eater and Sunshine Grows.  I think these would be great summer wear items.  🙂  Or winter, as they are so cheerful.

New Stash Yarn

My latest find in project  bags are these Box Project bags.  They are square and deep with a zipper.  If you open them all the way, you can fold the top back and they double as a portable fabric yarn bowl.  The cute sheepies print on these were just irresistible.  I got two sizes, one for sock size projects and one for shawl size projects.

Box Project Bags

Box Project Bags

Box Project Bags

Stay Cosy Winter Swap

Tags

alpaca, bags, Made in Peru, Notion Bags, Peru, Peru Yarn, Pompoms, project bags, Rowan alpaca, Rowan Alpaca Colour, Sirdar Colourwheel, Sock pattern, stitch markers, stitchmarkers, swap, Winter swap, Yarnbling

It is winter here, and of course, time for a nice Stay Cosy Swap.  It was just a quick and comforting swap, as no knitting or crochet was needed, just the kind and warmheartedness of buddies swapping something warm and cozy, with would mean Yarn, of course, and something nice and warm to drink.  My buddy likes coffee, so I got her a lovely toffee flavoured coffee to enjoy and my favourite Dutch cookies (Koffieleutjes).  And since she has recently indulged in knitting her first pair of socks, I could not resist sharing a pretty sock pattern with her.

Winter Cozy Swap Goodies

But since I was in the yarn store to get her some Alpaca, which was on her list, and she has never knitted with it before, I could not resist bringing some lovely Alpaca home for myself as well.  These lovely neutral colours just had to be part of my stash.

Rowan Alpaca Colour

Made in Peru

Rowan Alpaca Colour

The yarn store also had some new goodies, like these super cute (fake) fur pompoms.  Not so widely available here, and I was lucky to come across these.  They also had a Sirdar Colourwheel, that I had not seen yet, and I opted for something cheerful, but not overly bright.  I think this cake will knit up pretty well into a comfy shawl for those very grey chilly winters days, when you just need to feel like Spring is around the corner.

Furry Pompoms

Colourwheel Yarn

And the lovely Sally at Yarnbling updated her store.  New Project Bags!!  The fabric of these are stunning, with butterflies and dragonflies.  I got a really huge bag this time, for those big projects.  And some notions bags to match.  She also had a few bags left in a previous range, and I ordered this stunning white bag with embroidered flowers on.  Just the right size for a lace shawl, or my sock projects.

Goodies

Project Bags and Notions Bags

Project Bags and Notions Bags

I was very pleasantly surprised when I opened the one little notions bag, and got these super cute stitch markers inside.  What a lovely surprise and way to spoil a person.  I love these small markers, they work so well on lace projects.

Stitch Markers

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.

 

Birthday week

Tags

brioche, gift, Knitting, package, pattern, project bag, project bags, stash, stephen and penelope, undercoverotter, wool, yarn, yarns, Yarnstash

This week will be my birthday and I finally opened the package.  Remember this one?

Happy Birthday from Amsterdam

I was so happy to open this package and discover all the wonderful goodies inside.  Two very soft and very squishy skeins from Undercover Otter, a new project bag from Stephen and Penelope in Amsterdam, just what I needed for the upcoming winter and the scarves and shawls that will be on needles again soon.  And a brand new pattern for Brioche.  How interesting, as this is the one stitch I have promised myself to learn and master this year.  I am really looking forward to getting this stitch done properly.

Happy Birthday from Amsterdam

Happy Birthday from Amsterdam

Happy Birthday from Amsterdam

Happy Birthday from Amsterdam

Happy Birthday from Amsterdam

 

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.

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

Happy Mail

Tags

bags, flamingoes, flowers, Handmake, hartlam, Knitting, natural yarns, nurturing fibres, project bag, project bags, protea, proteas, yarn, Yarnstash

It has been Happy Mail days around here!!

I received these gorgeous goodies from the couriers, and I am totally loving them all.

Thanks to Michelle at Hartlam Yarns  for my beautiful Alldays Sock Yarn in Howling North Wind.  I am looking forward to starting something soft and warm with these.

Hartlam Sock – Howling North Wind

Thanks to Carle at Nurturing Fibres for my Humbug colourway.  I have always loved those old fashioned sweets, and this yarn totally reminds me of the good old days.

Nurturing Fibres – Humbug

Gina at Natural Yarns is my go to person when I need Nurturing Fibres.  And of course, how could I resist getting myself some new bags while I was at it.  A new project bag with the cutest flamingoes, and a notion bag with our national flower, the Protea.  Thank you Gina, for always spoiling us with the cutest of things.

Project Bag

Notions Bag

New Baggies

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.

New Yarn Stash

Tags

alpaca, eden cottage yarns, linda's creations, manos, maxima, merino, project bags, serena, stash, yarns

Despite telling myself that I have more than enough yarn in my stash already, I could not resist myself when Gina at Natural Yarns had her Birthday and spoiled us with discounts!

I decided on Manos Maxima and Manos Serena.  Can one ever really have enough Manos, so very soft and lovely.

And at the same time, I simply indulged myself in some new yarns that I have not used before.  I got a stunning Rust coloured yarn from Eden Cottage Yarns – Milburn – in 4 ply.  ( I should probably have ordered more than just one, it is so lovely.)  And a cute new project bag from Eden Cottage Yarns, to keep my goodies in.

Another new yarn that I got was pure fingering Alpaca from Linda’s creations.  The colour is Topaz, and I cannot wait to knit these up into a project.  The colours are so stunning, I am already having visions of the colours in a pretty scarf or small shawl.

And I happened upon this cute little bag while visiting the Natural Yarns online store.  What a cute little Bunny.

Both project bags are now already in use.  🙂