Hallway

Our hallway is getting ready for cold winterdays. It is a very narrow space, so we decorated the wall with IKEA wallstickers and hang some coat hooks in 'the tree'. My two favorite self-knitted scarfs are already there, wrapped around my two favorite wintercoats.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Christmas-swap

Hello there you crafty creJJtion readers! There is someting exciting going to happen: a Christmas-swap, initiated by Annet and Hilde. You will be assigned a 'swapsister' and create something Christmas-like for her. Isnt's that a great idea?! Subscribe until this Monday November 1st. I am in!

Wrapped

I have been really busy tonight, but it's done: both Pink Ribbon magazines are wrapped and packed. Ready to fly to the UK and Malaysia. I hope they will arrive in the same condition as I sent them! I took some pictures, which I will post after Aisyah and Hazel received them. Let me know girls, I am all excited!

And today at the AlbertHeijn, I saw Wathandig. I immediately fell in love with this new magazine. Look at the left and middle picture: aren't they adorable? Who would not want to crochet a striped dog-jacket?!

Left and middle picture from magazine Wathandig #1 - 2010

Preview

So, how was your weekend? My weekend was full of nice gatherings with friends and I made some progress on the projects I am working on. I started to crochet a little baby-toy, which will be finished soon... And I made a package of the PinkRibbon magazine for Aisyah (My Tinker Space) which will be flying from Amsterdam to Malaysia (!) this week. How exciting?! Here is a sneak preview. Enjoy your week!

Crochetcourse

Yesterdaynight was a special night at our place: the boyfriend left, the girls came in... together with wool and cotton, hooks, patterns, cakes, and a lot of enthusiasm... what was going on??

Lesson one of my very first crochetcourse took place in Amsterdam!

Luckily my experienced friend Margriet helped me out and we tought two friends Wija (innersparkle) and Karlijn to start crochet. We had a great night and I am already looking forward to the second lesson and see what they have created in the meantime. Happy weekend to you all for now!

Pink

My dearest creJJtion readers, followers and new followers (warm welcome!!) I must admit I am quite selective when it comes to charity. There are a few organisations though, which I tend to support generously. Pink Ribbon is one of them. Some of you already posted about it: October is breastcancer awareness month, so therefore the PinkPost just now. Note: if anyone of you is interested in one of the (Dutch) magazines, I have two spare ones to give away. Let me know by leaving a comment.

* LIVE PINK TO INSPIRE *

Scarf

Most Sinterklaas and Christmas presents I am creating now are top secret, except for this one: a scarf for one of the girls in the family. She is kind of always cold in wintertime and requested a huge scarf that would match both her black and dark brown jacket.

We found wool in three matching colours and I designed this knitted cable pattern. I made more progress in the last few days, but of course that is part of the surprise for her (and you) on December 5th :-)

Oh and the leather and wooden buttons: I found them at the craft-fair in Rotterdam as well!

Efteling

Again we were lucky to have a sunny-fall-weekend! My aunt and I went to the craft-fair in Rotterdam where we got really inspired. We took with us some beautiful soft wool, enough to start a few projects -smile- Also, I found these vintage woven ribbons. I just l-o-v-e them...

Yesterday I visited the Efteling (Dutch theme-park) with some friends, which was also great. Lots of rollercoasters ;-) and wonderful flowers. Have a great week!

Annemarie

Some of you may now her: Annemarie. From Annemarie's knittingblog. I will never forget her as my first 'foreign' follower. She is absolutely great in crocheting and knitting and creates the most wonderful things with an extremely high, jealous making production rate. One feature on her blog where she is quickly becoming famous for, is link your stuff: every Friday/ Saturday she invites you to add a link to your own creation - of any kind - on her blog. It is very easy. So every week I am looking forward to Sunday: big cup of tea, together with all the links to the most beautiful creations made by all of you. Simply love it!

      

FRYD

When it comes to picture arranging, matching colours and breathtaking combinations: FRYD is where I go. If you ask me, Jeanette masters all three and shows it on her blog. Just go and see for yourself. Besides that, she is launching digital magazines: after 1 by FRYD now number 2 came out. Truly eye candy!

Keep up the good work Jeanette, I can't wait untill 3 comes out: full of Christmas and DIY...

Kladdkaka

Scandinavia is my second big love, next to my boyfriend J of course :-), and especially Sweden since my brother moved there with his girlfriend July 2009. One of the things I like so much about Scandinavians is the delicious things they bake at home. The kladdkaka for example. We enjoyed it big time this weekend with the family. A great, quick and easy-to-make-chocolate cake. Therefore I like to share the recipe with you.

Any ideas or trics to make it even better? Scandinavian blog-readers? Let me know.

Kladdkaka

2 eggs

3 dl sugar (yes, dl. Even though not fluid)

2 dl flour

3 table spoons cocoa powder

1 table spoon vanilla sugar

100 gr butter

Set oven to 175 C. Make the butter melt slowly on low temperature. Take a bowl to gently stir eggs and sugar. Take another bowl to mix flour, cocoa powder and vanilla sugar; add this mixture to the eggs/sugar. Gently stir in the melted butter and put the mixture in a round cakeform. Put in the 175 C oven for about 15-20 minutes. It is finished when the inside of the cake is still a little soft/ fluid when you move the form. Tastes also great when still warm, together with whipped cream and cherries as a dessert...

Sun

Wauw, we had the greatest weekend!! The sun was everywhere and we enjoyed it to the maximum with the family on a weekend-trip. Here is just a quick view of what I love about fall: the turning of the leafs and those perfect creatures...

And I found a book (in Dutch) about crochet and knit patterns for flowers and vegetables... exciting don't you think?

Colour

And yet another colour explosion: I bought this tin pencil box and did not like the print on top. So I took my acrylic paint and brushes and made myself a pencil box that matches the gorgeous Vera Bradley hope garden- folio I bought last year in the USA. No copy, just matching. What do you think?

Oh and by the way: those pretty little crochet flowers I got from my mom, she made them herself!

Happiness

To all of you who visit my blog, and all of you who leave those warmest and lovely comments which make me really happy and smile: thank you with warm pillow-hugs and that nice fall-sun! Happy Tuesday.

pictures are taken in the wondeful garden of my parents

Paris

It takes two in Paris! Or at least it did yesterday when my friend Hannah and I visited this lovely city. We went to Le Marais - les III^e et IV^e arrondissement and had a great day:

* we bought presents at Fleux;

* loved all the little jewellery shops;

* got inspired by all the food and flowers at le marché des enfants rouges;

* enjoyed the delicious pistaccio framboises and tartelette citron meringuée;

* found wall stickers at les invasions ephémères (with a cute website and the possibility to order online!);

* and walked along the beautiful streets of Paris in a light October sun...

Red

A powerful, cheerful red post! This summer we bought a beautiful painting made by my cousin Irmgard Lamers. I am really proud of this piece, and of her of course J. She is an artist and makes the most wonderful oil-on-canvas, check out her website if you're interested. But, since our livingroom is mainly coloured white, I decided to knit a cosy blanket in the same bright reds. I took a heart and star pattern from Rowan and will knit alternate in colour and pattern. I think it will match the painting perfectly... Enjoy the weekend!