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

It is still very much Summer here

Tags

blue skies, city life, colours, crochet hooks, flowers, garden, herbs, leather straps, local wildlife, moya, nurturing fibres, purse, purses, rooster, roses, summer, vinnis, white clouds, yarn store, yarns

It is still very much summer here.  Beautiful blue skies and fluffy white clouds to wake up to.

Summer!

And warm lazy days.  This weekend I decided to drop in at our local Garden Centre, just to stroll around and enjoy the colours and abundance of summer.

Summer!

Summer!

Summer!

Summer!

Summer!

I did not buy plants but did enjoy the roses and their fragrance tremendously.  Still so many plants around.  I did buy “plant food” for the plants at home.  🙂

I was pleasantly surprised to see a new shop at the centre.  Yay, another Yarn store.

Letesha (owner of the new store “In my Knapsack” was in the store, unpacking and moving yarn around.  I popped my head around the door, and was welcomed in immediately.

New Yarn Store

As she was busy setting up and all, I did not stay to long, but did enjoy the chat to her tremendously.  So many ideas.  And so many pretty goodies.  I got myself some Moya yarn in colour Jade and Nurturing Fibres in colour Tea Rose. I also got a little purse kit, including Vinnis Cotton in colour Summer Mix with purse handle and embellishment and all.  I could not resist the extra purse handles (look at the little duckies) and the most prettiest leather purse straps with brass clasps.

New Goodies

But probably my best buy was this huge wooden crochet hook, solid and light, and perfectly smooth.  Not sure of the exact size, but it is perfect for chunky yarns or T shirt yarns.

New Goodies

New Goodies

And no outing to the Garden Centre is without a visit from the local “wildlife”

Wildlife

This cute rooster crossed the road just as I was leaving.  None of the hens were around.  The Garden Centre has a huge vegetable and herb garden with lots of ideas on how to grow your own, and the chickens love to be able to help keep the pests and bugs under control.

Just thought I would share with you a little corner of my part of the world.  I hope you enjoyed.

Happy crafting all.

 

 

 

 

Holl and Lane online magazine

Tags

article, christmas, Happy Holidays, holiday, holiday traditions, magazine, summer, summer holidays, summer vacation, traditions, writing

I joined the online magazine Holl and Lane a little while ago. It is a stunning online magazine by the very talented Sarah Hartley.

I started reading her online magazine, as I was totally intrigued by the articles about live in the USA, especially by the stunning photographs that was the perfect way for me to get a bigger and better picture of so many places I love to maybe even see one day, and be able to visit them.

So for now I am enjoying my “desk” visits to so many places.

How great was my  surprise then when Sarah asked me to write a few paragraphs for her about Holiday Traditions in South Africa?  What a huge honour.  I could hardly believe it and was not sure what to write, but I sat down and wrote what I thought would be interesting enough.

And now my Holiday Traditions in South Africa are featured on page 64!

How awesome is that, and what a wonderful way to end a beautiful year that was full of good times and lots of fun.