Spoiled

Saturday was my birthday and I was spoiled by my love, kids, parents, in laws and sister. I got a lot of pretty, lovely and crafty gifts. I got breakfast in bed, took a looooong bath, listening to my new 'mixed tape' (this is my new favorite song). Than out to the market and baking an apple pie. In the afternoon we had some company and then a lovely relaxing evening with my love. It was a great day. And when I said on sunday 'I wish today was still my birthday!' my love said 'Ok', and did all the hard work for one more day. Isn't that sweet??

Don't you just love the little yarn puppets my girls made (with a little bit of help from daddy...). They are very suitable as a gift don't you think? I also got some craft gifts: lots of pompom makers, a glue gun and a punch. Also another edition of my collected Edition Paumes books and some lovely candleholders, candles included. This week I will do some more craft shopping from the money and gift certificates I got. Something to look forward too... (Isn't it terrible to never have enough??!)

I did very little crochet, but kind of finished my craft room and was very much in peace with all my chores. The last few months I neglected my household quite a bit to keep on crocheting and posting. And although I love it very much, as well as all the lovely contact with you all, I have to take a step back at the moment. My youngest goes to school in 8 months and I decided that 'till that time I will try to post once a week... I'm not sure I can keep that promise, (like my resolutions) 'cause I love it so much, but I'll try. I was more at ease this week and want to keep it that way. So, I'm still going to be here, but just a little less.

I did proceed with the series I'm making on the Color Bomb Stool colors. I made coasters and a 'pot sleeve'. It lloks lovely next to my new candle holders and the new Mollie Makes (I bought a present for myself too...).




I wanted to thank everyone for commenting while I was gone. I read them during the week, in spite of my resolution not to, and it was very comforting. It's so lovely to get all your compliments and understanding. This week I will try to get some more crafting done, so I can show you a little more next time.

Have a lovely week!!

Little break

A few weeks ago Barbara from Made in K-Town asked me to write a guest post for her lovely blog. I did last week and happened to be the first to apply. Today it will be published here. Take a look around and be inspired by her colorful and original crochet and quotes. You won't be disappointed!

Right now it's time for a little break for me. I will take a blog-free week to give some attention to other important things like my kids, my love and household... I'm planning to make a schedule so the balance between 'blog/work' and 'family/life' will be better. I'm totally addicted to this place and my hooks 'n yarn. Time to take a step back and LET IT GO for a few days. Recognize this??

Anywho, I'll be back soon. This is a preview of my new Color Bomb project. Don't you just love the colors!?

See you soon! Look forward to catch up with all the posts I'll be missing, haha.

PS: Don't be offended when I don't answer your comments. I'm leaving the computer off during the next week!

Color Bomb Stool

YESSS!!! I've finished one of my projects again. And I LOVE it! I love the colors and have been wanting to do this for quite some time. 2 Weeks ago I found the right stool in the local thrift store. And around christmas I found a round stool at my mother in laws', so there's going to be a sequel... But first check out this one.

Do you see the washi tape around my finger? It works perfectly for when the yarn starts carving into your skin... I know, I'm hooked, but it works much better than a bandaid, 'cause it's smoother.

I'm absolutely in LOVE with my new stool. Sorry, I know, STOP! But sometimes you just get the colors right. (I think I will make a series of this color combination). And it was so easy to make. It's going to be used in my new and improved workspace. There will to be more pictures once it's completely done, but here is a preview.

I have so much more space now and it is possible to leave my sewing machine on my desk. Although I really loved my vintage desk (it's going to be picked up this afternoon:( ) I love the extra space I have now. Gives me some calm I guess. And because it's white I can take better pictures too.

Well I'm totally happy today. The sky is blue, the world is (snow) white and the sun is shining. A beautiful day to finish such a happy project...

Hope you too have a sunny day!!

Crafty Night

Yesterday evening was the third monthly crafty night at my house. 4 friends came over to crochet and sew. The last time two of them persevered in learning crochet and with nice results. One of them even made a whole stool cover out of her very first granny square (pic's will follow next week when I've visit her to check out her restyled kitchen)! It's so nice to just be together, chatting about our kids, school, everyday life, while crafting. And of course I forgot to take a picture of the pillow case that was sewn by one of them...

I did take some other pictures though!

Our pup Billy joined in with the fun. She was a bit lazy though, sleeping most of the evening...

I think it was another successful night. Everyone starts to feel at home and comfortable with each other.  I'm so happy to have started this! And there's nothing as rewarding as sharing your talents and interests...

Just one more thing... It's snowing here!!! Isn't that the best? The girls absolutely love it, as do we. But Billy doesn't care too much for it. It's too cold I guess.

Have a nice day!

New beginnings

As I said in my last post, I love the time when I've finished a project and am eager to start something new. I came up with a few things and wanted to give you a peek into my new plans...

I hope to have some of it finished soon, this week hopefully. Maybe even tomorrow... I am in love with all my color options. As ever. It's just endless and so satisfying.

Did a little bit of inspirational reading this weekend, started my first doily, redecorated my workspace finally... I've been quite productive!

Show you the results soon, once I'm done!

Have a nice sunday.

Color Bomb Blanket

Well, I did it! Yesterday I finished my first Color Bomb Blanket. It's a baby blanket and the main color is pink, although there are some more colors... I never had so much fun making a blanket! It's so easy and there are hardly any loose ends to finish of. And the result... A 130 join as you go squares and I think it's stunning!

I chose the edging to be a little more romantic this time. I think it's a pretty contrast with the plain square pattern. And instead of starting the edging with double crochet, I started it with half double crochet and that what I am going to do from now on when making a granny blanket. It's a little bit tighter and works much better if you ask me.

I must admit, I was inspired by others with this pattern. There are soooo many examples of it online, but there are 2 which I loved especially. That's the one from Matt (according to Matt)and Maaike (CreJJtion). They both made beautiful versions. And now I'm totally hooked to this pattern. The color options are endless. I think I'll make another 3 versions and then put them in my Etsy shop...

And the little pup got a hold of my blanket when I wasn't looking and went to sleep on it. Naughty dog!

I also solved the lonely potholder issue. I decided to turn them into wall decoration! Smart, don't you think? Now I don't have to make seconds...

Today I'm thinking of new projects. I'm always a bit lost for a little while after finishing a project. I have so many options and ideas that I paralyze a little bit. But I like these moments, where everything is possible. So I brainstorm, I browse my books, make samples sometimes. But I'll show you soon!

Have a crafty day!

Busy Busy

It took me some time to write this post, but I've had a BIG (small) distraction. Last thursday we went to pick up or new family member, a little puppy. She's quite a handful but super sweet. I have to follow her moves all day and since I have CFS that sometimes costs me all of my energy.

We thought having a dog might help me get up on my feet again a little bit sooner. It will get me outside more and there have been tests showing that owning a pet is good for your health. I think it will be, but for now it is a bit much, haha. But everybody loves her and she already belongs to our family.

Don't worry. I have been busy crocheting as well... Almost done with 1 of my unfinished projects. Here a quick peek...

I will show you more once it's done. Hopefully SOON...

Have a nice day!

Tutorial Vintage Flower Potholder

Well, here it is: The Flower Potholder tutorial!! It took me so much time, but I'm so proud to share it with you!

I used regular cotton and a size 3 hook. Be sure to crochet this potholder tight, than it will function better. Choose your colors carefully. Put them together and make a sketch if you can. You don't want to be halfway discovering you don't like the look of it.

Well, there we go...

Chain 4, join with a slip stitch.

Round 1: Chain 3, then add 14 double crochets into the circle. (total 15 dc) Join with a slip stitch.

Round 2: (Change color if you like) chain 3, *2 dc into next stitch, repeat * 13 times, than 1 dc into the same stitch as the first ch 3, join with a sl st (total 30 dc). 

Round 3: (Change color if you like) Ch 3, *1 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next st, *repeat 13 times, 1 dc in next st, 1 dc in same stitch as first ch 3. (total 45 dc)

BE SURE TO COUNT YOUR STITCHES!!!  It's very annoying when your finished and the flower has only 14 petals... (believe me, I know)

Round 4: Join with the color you want to use for the edging, Ch 1, 1 single crochet in every stitch, join with a sl st. (Or use the method shown on these pictures for a prettier result when joining). This round is optional. You could leave it out if you want to. I like it better with, but you might not.

Round 5/6: Change color and begin in any stitch you want. Ch 3, 1dc, ch1, 2 dc, * skip 2 stitches, 2 dc, ch1, 2 dc, repeat* 13 times, join with a sl st in the third ch from the first ch 3. (For round 6, start in one of the ch 1 spaces)
Round 7/8: Change color, start in one of the ch 1 spaces, ch 3, 2dc, ch1, 3 dc, *3dc, ch 1, 3 dc, *repeat 13 times, join with a  sl st in the third ch from the first ch 3.
Round 9: Change color, start in one of the ch 1 spaces, ch3, 2dc, ch 2, 3 dc, * 3 dc, ch2, 3 dc, repeat*13 times.

If you don't want to change color, like I did in the back of the potholder, this is a nice method to start each upcoming round: join the first round with a sl st, sl st in next dc, sl st n the chain 1 space, then start  the new round as written above.

Round 10: Change color, start in the ch 2 space, Ch 4, 4 trebbles, *sl st, 10 trebbles, repeat* 13 times, 5 tr, join with a sl st.

Congratulations! You have finished your front now. Time for the back. Again, choose your colors carefully. After finishing both, finish of the loose ends before you start joining them. The joining part is a bit tricky at first. Be careful with your hook. You don't want to pull along all sorts of loops...

For joining: Place the 2 sides back to back,( make sure you have the front pointing towards you) start in the middle of a pettal (both sides), ch1, 2 sc in next stitch (this goes for all the trebbles!) When you come to the middle of 2 pettals, make sure your yarn is right from the hook (first pic), the hook goes in, the first space between rounds 9 (back and front), from the back, yarn over, pull it through so you get 2 loops on the hook (this is tricky at first, you have to make a little turn and it's easy to take other loops with you...), yarn over and pull it through both loops. (It's just a sc around each round), ch 1 and repeat this until your flower is done. Look at the pictures closely. It's sc than ch 1.

When you're at the middle of the flower start by working your hook through the back, and the second one from the front. That's where you turn around.

This will take some practice, but you will get better at it every time.

That's it! Wow, I'm going to get me a cup of tea...

Hope it's clear to all of you. Please let me know if you miss anything, or I made mistakes. And I would love to see the results of course!!

And there they are. Perfect to use! They always cheer me up!

Have a very happy weekend!

Resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody!!! Thank you for joining me in the new year. Time to throw out all the christmas decorations and in with some fresh new stuff.

Normally I don't make them, New Years' Revolutions, but crafty wise I have to this year. As you might have noticed I started about a thousand projects, but haven't finished a lot of them lately. So I'm making a to-do-list... And it's totally illegal for me to start anything new until I've completed at least 3 of them. Yep, that sounds about right.

First some of the projects I did finish, for encouragement. I love that I learned to put some pictures together in a frame last week! Now the pictures don't take up so much space...

Doesn't it look pretty and colorful all together?? They make nice collages.

But now for the unfinished ones...

I'm only showing you a few, 'cause it's too depressing otherwise. The first picture shows you all the beautiful fabric I bought a few months ago. I want to make some pillows with matching yarn. I'll make a tutorial on how to make the crochet/fabric backings.
The second picture shows a pretty potholder, missing a brother and also a tutorial I promised (which I am working on... It's just a lot of work).
The third is the Color Bomb Blanket, which has been lying around, untouched for weeks. That's not right! It's so beautiful and fun to make.
The last picture show you my newest project. The rainbow blanket for my little one. It's going to be quite big, so I might want to stall that one a little bit....

Anywho, enough to do for me. Don't have to bore myself this year.

What are you guys working on??

Have a very lovely day in January!