These Weeks

hello from warm and sunny Sweden where I am typing this blog post in the shade. I am enjoying a couple of weeks mixing holidays and book-work-days in good company. in the silence of the woods, we hear more birds than people. it's just perfect here. I have even started a little adventurous knitting project with some exciting fibers: copper embroidery thread, organic cotton and a variegated cotton. more images to come. but of course, there's some crochet too. the third square from the Simply Crochet Magazine app; Mabel. a little larger than the other too. I am curious to see where this app is taking me and if I'll be able to join the squares in the end.

is it Spring going on Summer where you are?

xo

Last Week

thank you for your enthusiastic comments on my previous post. you are such a lovely bunch, never fail to cheer me up and make my day! highly motivated to get back in the blogging swing, I am starting this week with my regular Monday 'last week' update.

the first squares relate to a photo shoot I did for a friend, who hosts beautiful parties with delicious and pretty cupcakes. she is also the one who organizes the monthly local knit and crochet cafe. if you're in Noord Brabant, please have a look to see if she's hosting a craft or baking party to your taste here.

the beautiful display is to be found in the pretty Tussen Koe & Kroonlunchter brocante shop, just like the image directly above this text.

I am working on a spontaneous upcycle idea to make a chunky doily out of Zpaghetti yarn, to match the cute little lilies of the valley that I have dozens of in my backyard, fashionably styled in a peanut butter jar. really, our whole house smells like lilies now, I just can't get enough! I took some images with my camera, so a blogpost about the lilies and the doily is on the way.

I also made some good progress with the flower cushion to match our new chair, even the cushion is already sewn and pressed, ready to be finished off with some buttons. now to finish the cover and block it, so I can hand sew it to the cover. I even managed to finish a matching stripe cover with the left over yarns… can't wait to see it all finished and share some images with you!

last but not least, have you heard of the new free app from the Simply crochet magazine? they partnered with RedHeart yarn for a granny square app, and will upload a free granny pattern every week. week 1 has just started, so you're not too late to join in. this could be fun! I have selected some yarn for my squares and will try to crochet along with the app. have a look here to read more about it. will you join me?

have a lovely week

xo

Update of Everything

well hello there :). life and other things were happening while I was absent here on the blog. it happens every now and then, that I stay away from blogging for a couple of days or weeks. always unintentionally, always because real life takes over and there is simply no time left in the days to take pictures, crochet or even sit down. 

do you bloggers recognize this?

the past weeks have been like that, and at the end of next week I will explain to you the reason why. if you like crochet you would like to tune in next week, to read all about it. quite exciting news is coming up, I think…

from now on things will slowly get back to normal and I plan to pick up my blogging routine as of next week. until then, let me show you some snap shots and highlights from the past weeks.

above you see some lovely tiny flowers, they all come from our garden. definitely part the joy of moving, is seeing what comes up in Spring!

below you see Floyd checking out on my styling with some pretty yarn colours. they are beautiful cotton bamboo yarn called Vinnis Bambi, which I got through Scaapi. it is my plan to show and tell you more about it next week.

I did make a tiny bit of progress with my flower squares that aim to become a cushion cover for our new upholstered chair. I am almost there, a blog post about these squares is in the making!

below you see the most pretty eggs from a lovely farm we found close by our home recently. if you're planning a little outing to Noord-Brabant you definitely want to stop by this place for a warm welcome, to visit their beautiful shop, to stay at their cottage or have a personal meeting with the cows. you can find this lovely family and all about their activities here.

have a lovely weekend and I'd love to see you next week, with some regular posts and non-phone pictures.

xo

Beautiful Bruges

pictures. lots and lots of pictures of Bruges today. and a new yarn adventure at the bottom…

classic, beautiful and delicious with a lovely outdoor terrace in the morning sun Servaas van Mullem

beautiful house number signs everywhere, I just couldn't stop taking pictures of them

the best and fresh made Belgian waffles from Jantje Vanille ~ ice-cream and waffles

what touristic Bruges is all about: lace, chocolate, beer, chocolate, lace, beer and middle aged architecture, 

oh and did I say beer, lace and chocolate?

the weather was gorgeous so we walked around the city all weekend. the canals, the popping greens of Spring, the mild sun, good coffee and chocolate…. hmmmm, just perfect. beautiful old buildings everywhere you look, most of them maintained very well or under construction. I realized I was very much looking at the old houses with my 'Canadian eyes', who aren't used to seeing much of 1617 and 1485 painted on beautiful gables.

Madam Mim, where I shopped my yarn souvenirs

100% natural flax yarn, the cream one quite rough, the brown one very fine and very old. google images is my friend, when I type 'flax crochet' a gazillion lovely ideas pop up of what to make with it. I am excited to work with it, another lovely natural fibre is here to explore :). have you worked with it before? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

below: the vintage lace pieces I found at Madam Mim are a lace edging for a handkerchief, a lace corner and diamond, probably both for inserts in handkerchiefs or little table cloths too.

and top right, a tiny little crochet piece. it is so delicate, unbelievable how fine it is. I put the business card next to it so you'll have an idea of sizing. I took the crochet piece with me for inspiration who knows I will come up one day with a square pattern derived from it.

Bruges, a city I can highly recommend for a day or two. also, it is very close to the beach. we didn't get to go this time, but all in all it makes for a beautiful weekend road trip for you Europeans :).

xo

Last Week

a happy haircut, Easter themed crochet, sunny weather and a lovely weekend in beautiful Bruges, Belgium about which I will tell you more this week. after I download a gazillion pictures from the camera; that's what you get in such a pretty city!

I hope it's sunny and Spring where you are too

xo

Easter Crochet Doilies

after having seen this gorgeous little doily on numerous blogs and websites for quite a while, I was delighted to see the cover of this book Crochet Living by Nicki Trench recently. I must have been hiding under a stone not having found this earlier, and I ordered right away.

then the fun part started; selecting colours for my own Easter version of these doilies. I used my stash of left over Catania yarns, cotton instead of wool and a slightly lighter weight than the recommended Debbie Bliss baby cash merino yarn. adding yellow to the selection was new to me and I still have to get used to it haha, but Easter without yellow seemed odd to me.

I loved making them, playing with colours and the pattern is very well written and rather simple. they recommend to block the final doily, but I actually like those scallops popping up so I'll leave them like this. up next, maybe some matching egg cozies?

have you been thinking about decor for Easter lately? any crochet plans included?

Last Week

another week has gone by and unintentionally I didn't blog. days seem to pass by like hours… 

I am enjoying them greatly though, in good company and with lovely weather. a little bit of Spring cleaning and de-cluttering here and there feels good. fixing the sleeve Floyd chewed a bit was easier and quicker done than I thought. fun times exploring new places and spaces in Den Bosch, taking the blossoms all in, and crocheting up some Easter themed pastel doilies. the pattern is from the lovely book Crochet Living by Nicki Trench, one of my favourite designers. it's a book made with Debbie Bliss yarn and the doilies are named Dashing Doilies. the colour possibilities are endless, I love them.

I will try to arrange a blog post about the doilies and Den Bosch this week. 

But first I'll enjoy a latte in the sunny backyard. Life is good!

xo