sentimental

 My paternal grandmother, or Omi as she was affectionately known was wonderful at crochet.  I'm sure just by looking at those intricate doilies you will not disagree.  It's been fifteen years since she left this world and as a child and teenager I was mostly oblivious to her many crafting talents.  Now that my own crochet love is blossoming, and the timely inheritance of some of her wonderful creations are now in my possession I felt a certain sentimentality in joining our crochet journey together.

So with little planning, as usual, and one quiet night spent at the machine, this little crochet hook pouch was made.  My Omi's crochet doily remains intact on the front, joined with a snip of linen and some screen printed fabric from the stash, little pockets for each hook I own...a velvet ribbon secures it all together.

I wonder how my Omi stored her hooks?
How do you store yours?

Joining in here. 

autumn calling

Signs of Autumn are fast approaching.  The chilly morning breeze, the shorter days.  Leaves are turning amber and slippers are hunted for in the back of cupboards and under beds and more cup of tea are enjoyed.  Cooler days call for wintery like craft and what could be more welcome than a new beanie to keep your head warm on a frosty morning.

A beanie for me, hubby the kids and also my nieces (if you're on Instagram you'll have noticed all my crochet beanie posts!).  Crochet is the perfect holiday and portable craft.  It requires just a hook, yarn and scissors popped in bag and can be accomplished whilst passenger on a road trip, or curled up on the couch and even as I so put the test during Easter festivities taking orders from special nieces.  I used patterns for most, and made it up if I needed to, but the result was lovely homemade beanies for all my lovelies.

Do you have any wintery craft projects on the go?
xx


linking up with Kirsty here 

yellow beanie pattern here
similar men/boys beanie pattern here
girls beanie pattern from here (modifed the rainbow beanie by using a verigated yarn instead of using various coloured yarn) 

Easter Eggs

An afternoon with nothing planned than a strong cup of tea, my girl and me.
We selected pretty fabric, the glue and a brush
and with loads of chatter and a laugh we merrily created an Easter Delight.
A hunt in the backyard found us lovely fallen branches and with a bit of twine and
yellow trim our table decoration was complete, and embracing the upcoming holidays.

Do you 'decorate' at Easter time?


Joining in with these creative folks

xx

failure and success

In life there are bound to be failures and success.  Time when you nail a project and moments when you don't.  If there were a time to coin that phrase to a particular event in my week it would be to my crafting adventures.  This week has seen a monumental fail, but also a delightful success.

A project started on whim, false confidence hoping it would see me through...the actual making was not so hard, rather the deciphering of the pattern...  resulting in a garment two sizes too small and no way of rectifying it.  Surprisingly I wasn't disappointed, or even upset with myself.  If anything, I had accomplished what I set out to achieve.  I crocheted a garment.  A wearable garment....just in the wrong size.  I'm happy though it has found a new home (thanks to Instagram)

To balance it out my daughter and I set about creating a wonderful Winter Pea Coat for her.  That, was a success....more photos to come when I can coax her into modelling it for me!

How do you handle crafting failures?


Happy creative day lovelies xx

The Cats Pyjama's

This is the Cat, 

And these are the Cat's pyjamas. 

On Tuesday the Cat wears ocean pyjamas and dreams a dream of humpback wales, swishy tails, sea turtles, eels and flippery seals.  What a dream of ocean delight for the Cat in the night....

....On Thursday the Cat wears road pyjamas...and dreams a dream of a big red rig, diggers that dig, a tractor, a trike and a fast motorbike.  What a dream of road delight for the cat in the night. 

On Sunday the cat wears Monster pyjamas and...stay awake all through the night! 

__

After many a trip to the local library to borrow this book and read it umpteen times a day and each night before bed, I finally purchased a copy for my daughter.  Before giving it to her, I crafted the idea of bringing the book to life...the story of Cat and his pyjamas.  So I set to work with a little Cat toy that was in our collection and with a snippet of fabric here and there, seven matching pyjama's in the same theme of the book were made.  Cat can now wear Space, Ocean, Garden, Jungle, Road, Sky and Monster pyjamas whilst enjoying the book.  A little carry bag made from the scraps to transport his night time wardrobe around.

Have you ever brought a book to life?  Created something to help tell the story?  Now that I have, I'm looking at my children's books in a way I never have before...

And if you have children and haven't read this book, please do.  It's one of our favourites.  The Cat's Pyjmamas by Catherine Foreman 

Joining in with this creative community. 

xx

something beautiful

Amongst the daily grind of routine, schedules, to-do lists and washing - stoping to make or enjoy something beautiful is so worthwhile.  It helps invigorate the soul, to cheer us up when the chips are down and gives us that giddy feeling like we are five again and not a trouble in the world.  A few projects are always on the go...a birthday gift, a crochet cardi, the late anniversary present still "in progress" and plans I have for the kids for Easter....but time can wait for another day.

Today...just something beautiful....for no reason whatsoever...

A re-cycled tonic glass, a tulip and some snippets from the garden...a touch of twine and hung on the branches of the glorious fig tree...enjoying the dappled light...perhaps I'll make more xx 

Linking in with the lovely Kirsty over at Village Voices  

xx

Ted

It all started with Ted.  And a baby named James.

My girlfriend had a baby late last year and for school pick she carries baby James in her baby born a little someone had a crafty idea.  And so with deep brown eyes gazing up at me one day, she whispered in her sweetest voice the request to make a baby carrier.

Ted.  The story of Ted is a sweet one.  Originally my brothers bear, I traded him when I was about four years old.  I wanted him, and my brother wanted my bigger panda bear.  We swapped and both of us were happy.  Ted, has been an integral part of my childhood and when I had children, he moved from my room, into theirs.  I share stories of Ted, the time I ripped his arm off and my mum had to sew it back on....and all the home made clothes that she made for him.  Ted is special and the kids know and understand that he holds an emotional attachment for me.  So when my daughter suggested we make a baby carrier for Ted, well, it seemed just right.

With a fumbled drawing, more imagination and a lot of making it up as I went along....those eager eyes never straying...glued to the machine, watching patiently as I ironed and asking a bizzilion questions every step I took I marvelled at our crafting expeditions together.

The carrier is not perfect, but then again that's what happens when you make it up as you go along.  However, my customer is happy, thrilled in fact and loves that she can multi-task and keep Ted close to her and kiss his head whenever she chooses.

And so the adventures of Ted continue.

finding creative inspiration here. 

xx

make, mend & re-fashion

A simple philosophy so often forgotten.  In this materialistic world we live in even the conscientious of folk can be blinded by the convenience of replacing versus repairing and discarding versus re-inventing.

This week I focused on what my home already had to offer me.  Whilst wardrobes were being sorted and re-tidyed in an effort to start afresh for the commencement of Term 1, a small pile of clothes required my attention and my imagination could realise their potential.

A torn bit of fabric requiring a patch, a loose button and a snagged thread all begging to be fixed.  I often forget how fortunate I am that I can fix these with ease, that I have the tools, the knowledge (albeit self taught knowledge) and even when I don't know the correct way, I just have a go.

The black dress that I've owned pre-children was seeming a bit lack lustre but with still so much wear left in it, it was crying out for a bit of a re-fashion. I cut sections out and by adding bit of colour and contrast and I've a new dress to see me through Summer.

A pair of jeans that were too short for my son got the chop and made excellent shorts and a top with stains that could not budge were craftily covered with fabric and felt flowers.   My daughter is smitten with her 'new' dress.  A white tee (size 2) that still fits her small frame sewn onto a wonderful dress that was handcrafted by a dear friend years ago.

Make do, mend & re-fashion.

Joining in here.

Tell me your make do and mend creations.

berries for jam..

Summer holidays have been spent in glorious sunshiney ways.  Berry picking was so much fun that we indulged in the delight on more than one occasion.  The first time the raspberries and blueberries were bursting off their vines and bushes.  The cherries were so plump, that we first filled our bellies and then our buckets.

We went again this week however, after the crowds had come and the warm weather Mother Nature had delivered the berries were not so easily harvested.  So we wandered down paths labelled with names not so familiar.  Waldo, Bramble and Boysenberries were discovered with eager delight.

Their deep intense colours of purple-y blues, and red and the sharp tangy sweetness were enjoyed by all.

We picked and tried, with only a little selection but still enough for some jam.  This recipe has become my favourite.  Use it for berries, it will not disappoint.  Of course you can use less or more lemon and you don't have to add the hull during cooking if you don't want to, but it does add a delightful acidic tang.  Cook in small batches to retain all that goodness, flavour and superior colour!

:: 1 kilo of mixed berries
:: 750gm of caster sugar
::  Juice of one lemon, keep the juiced hull

Over a medium heat with a heavy saucepan, place the cleaned berries and sugar and stir till dissolved.  Add the juice and the cut lemon pieces and bring to a rolling boil.  Remove any foam if you like and continue to simmer until it becomes sticky (about 15 minutes).  Test by dropping a tea spoon of jam on a plate that has been in the freezer.  If it sets, then your done...otherwise cook for another five minutes.  Remove the lemon pieces and pour hot jam into freshly sterilised jars.

Enjoy on toast, scones or dollop liberally on greek yoghurt and fresh apple!

xx

creative wonderland here