The good, the bad and the ugly...

I didn't have a craft/work room in our old house. If you speak to the husband, he'll be quick to tell you that's because the entire house was my craft room. I had projects everywhere. There was evidence of yarny activity from the front door all the way through to the back door. Which was kinda cool, but also totally annoying. Many days I had dreams of my own space. A space where no-one touches or moves my stuff. A space where I can just leave projects lying around. A space where I can be creative, undisturbed. 

When we moved here, I quickly appropriated one of the bedrooms as my own, personal space. (Make no mistake... there are still yarniness throughout the house, but these are projects with a purpose. Like the blanket I'm making only when I'm making dinner).

So, do you want to see my space? Come on inside!

My desk can only be described as messy. But everything has a purpose and a reason. The wip's on the left is  the new designs for Saprotex.

It's the smallest bedroom in the house, but it's perfect for me. The dresser was my very first antique piece of furniture. I don't think I'll ever be able to part with it. I'm ridiculously proud of the curtains and the blind. Anyone that knows me will tell you I'm sewing impaired, but these came out rather nicely, don't you think?

Hubby recently put up two shelves, but I think I would like some more. Or maybe some of those box shelving units. 

This chair has traveled with me for so long. It's slightly battered, but very comfy. I should probably have it recovered, but it's too full of reminders. Many, many craft projects started in this chair. This is where I fed the girls, where I day dream, where I make plans.

The new addition to the family spends his days with me in the room.

This is my view, where I watch the seasons change. It's a comforting view. It may not be the mountain from Paarl, but that doesn't matter as much as it used to. Things change and we with it.

My wip's are stored in plastic containers, and the larger ones on the floor. Another reason I love this room. It's in no-one's way and I can just leave it there undisturbed.

And no craft room is complete without a substantial stash. I have mine in a box and containers on my desk (and there's some in the cupboard).

The room is far from finished yet, but it's evolving with me as my needs change. I still want to replace the light with a Chinese lantern and a crochet cover. The doors on the cupboard needs replacing and I want shelving put in where the hanging space is. (for stash of course!)

I absolutely adore my room. It's my favourite place in the house. It's my sanctuary.

Happy hooking,

Bxx

New Stuff, WIP's & FO's

How exciting! My new box of yarn for work has arrived today. And the designs I'm asked to make is simply and utterly delicious. With this new workload, I had to quickly re-evaluate my current, personal WIP's. As I was taking my projects out to photograph, a thought struck me... I'm pretty damn sure I have undiagnosed ADD. I'm completely and utterly unable to focus on one project at a time. Experience have taught me that I work better when I have a number of projects on the go. That way, boredom doesn't set in AND everything gets finished. A bit slower, albeit, but done nonetheless. So, what's on my hook?

The big pic - a rug I'm hooking for our bedroom using chunky XL pure cotton and a size 10mm hook. I can't work on it for long periods of time, it's a hand/finger killer. So I'm doing about 3 rounds per day and by my calculation, it should be finished sometime next week.

From top right - bottom left:

1. A multi-colour granny square blanket that I only work on in the kitchen at night while I'm making dinner.

2. A single colour granny square patchwork blanket. I only use left over bits of Pure Gold DK, so this little project may take a while still to be completed.

3. Pure Gold Aran Hexagon blanket - this only gets worked on in front of the telly. I'm about a third done with it, and it should be finished during May. *holding thumbs*

4. My very special Drops Delight top - the yarn itself has had adventures, but I'll tell you all about it when it's done.

5. The baby stuff. These little goodies are made if and when I stumble across a cute baby pattern. I'm hoping to have loads of cutesy stuff ready for my niece when her babies are born. (and out of hospital).

6. The out-of-my-comfort-zone cardi. I still need to complete half a sleeve and the collar. It should be finished around the weekend.

Which then brings me to my new work. I received my box this morning. It contained some awesome Pure Gold DK and some Premier Cotton. The new pattern guidelines (see top pic) look fantastic. I can't wait to get stuck in. The bottom pic shows my latest stuff that's available in yarn stores now. I'm not keen on the kiddie patterns at all. I don't like the designs or the yarn it was made with. But like with all jobs, not everything is always fun. Sometimes you have to do stuff you don't like. That's life, I suppose.

And then I do have some FO's as well. Which just proves that I do finish things! Both these scarves/cowls were made with Kismet's Lambslook. It is the most amazing yarn ever. Soft, soft, soft and an absolute delight to work with. Just a pity the yarn stores in SA only imported a very small amount. I still have 4 balls in 2 different colours left, but I'm holding on to it. Don't want to use up all that luxury in one sitting!

Happy hooking,

Bxx

Happy Days...

Finally. After 9 and a half months, my son have finally moved up from Paarl. How absolutely amazing to have all three my kids under the same roof again!

I'm busy with the most awesome hooky in a long time. This yarn (Sempati's Barcelona Star) is just fabulous. I'm making a little pullover from Interweave Crochet's Winter 2013 issue. The front and back is done, doing the sleeves now. This is one of those projects you wish would last forever, it is just such a pleasure to crochet.

I've mentioned before that we live across some protected wetlands. Isn't it just the most peaceful thing in the world, watching cows grazing? And in the middle of the city, too. I feel blessed.

Happy hooking,
Bxx

A perfect tea-cosy for an awkward tea pot

At the beginning of each season I do a big clean. This literally means that I scrub down everything from ceiling to floor. Cupboards get re-organised, stuff get thrown out, items get re-purposed and I also make The List. Now, The List contains everything in each room that needs fixing, changing, done or bought. A wishlist. Because by no means do I ever get to everything on The List. Time constraints, budget issues or just plain old changing my mind affects The List. I started in the the kitchen this week (the big clean literally takes around 2 weeks) and added to my list as I went about scrubbing, changing, fixing, etc. One of the items on The List was a tea cosy. Unfortunately, my tea pot does not have a regular spout so finding a pattern that really fits is near impossible. So what's a hooker to do? Create a new pattern, of course. Pfftt. 

Just because there may be some of you with equally awkward tea pots, I photographed and documented the pattern:

Ignore the last instruction above to turn - DO NOT TURN

Happy hooking,

Bxx

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week

After much deliberation, I've decided to take part in my first Knitting & Crochet Blog Week. Should be interesting and fun!

And the final blanky is done!

Can you still remember the blankies I was making for the triplets? Anyway, I have FINALLY finished the last one! Whoooohooo! I LOVE how the the one for the little girl came out. 

Some statistics about the 3 blankets:

• 30 balls of 4ply Baby Soft
• Around 650 loose ends were woven in (I KNOW!!! HECTIC!!!)
• 70 squares for the girly blanky
• 3x super soft yarny goodness

I loved doing this, but I won't be working with 4ply in a hurry. It's way too much work. Totally worth it, but too much work. And I feel too clumsy to be working with thin yarn. Feels as if it takes forever.

Happy hooking,

Bxx

Finishing stuff

I'm quite impressed with myself at the moment. A known procrastinator - not because I'm lazy; I'm just easily distracted by new projects - I actually FINISHED a number of wait-listed projects. My first Johannesburg secondhand store find finally received it's final coat of paint. And I just love the way this chair looks now. I wonder what the original owners would think of it now? This probably would not have happened had it not been for my utter irritation that after 9 months in this house, our room was still unfinished. I hate rooms that look undone. Uncosy. Unhappy. (Note to self -  find out if uncosy is an actual word... *side eyes*) So Monday, I got off my butt and actually did something about it. So the chair is now finally done.

The table I reserved as my dressing table is now finally distressed.... I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how it became all vintage-y and romantic, just like the picture in my mind.

And the chair that was covered, covered in a dark yucky varnish is now a beautiful light cream. It works perfectly with the distressed table.

And this is what the final result looks like. I wanted a light, airy feel for our bedroom. It had to be vintage-y, romantic, but not too girly - after all, the hubby must feel comfortable too. He loves it, I love it and the room is finally cosy and happy. Whoohooo!!!

I've been saving African Expressions' Harmony for about a year now, waiting for the perfect project. And I finally found it. It's 100% wool and feels amazing. And it crocheted up soooo quickly. Must say, this is one of the projects that I wished would take longer. It was an absolute pleasure to make. The yarn just glides over the hook and it feels exquisite in your hands. With this cardi I actually acquired a new skill too. Who knew that you can actually crochet ribbing? And it looks fabulous! I just love this finish and will definitely use it in future projects.

The ribbing technique is amazing:

It really works on the cuffs too.

Happy hooking,
Bxx