suitcase light

My friend Zanmari can make something from nothing, or something amazing from stuff we may just store in a cupboard or donate.  Always tinkering, always imagining, always collecting, a magician with a needle, thread and scraps of fabric.  I just love this wall light that she recently made for her friend Terri, "The birds around us."  Keep track of all her creations on her facebook page: Hint of Mockery

leg warmers for Livi

I tried my hand at a bit of knitting this last week.  It has been years.  When I got to the end of the first leg warmer, I literally had to google how to cast off.  I sat there looking at needles, completely stumped.  The knitting and the purling where old hat (i knitted a lot as a kid... boring holidays in small mining town), but shoo, ask me to cast off and you may as well as have asked me to fix a carborator... i don't even know what a carborator is.  I know now. How to cast off, not a carborator.

So these were pretty easy.  I have one pair of knitting needles, size 4.  And a whole lot of double knit wool, that I have collected over the years.  I keep buying wool, with these admirable projects in mind.  Which i never complete, or even begin.   So here is to new beginnings.

This fits Liv who is now 4.  I would guess that these would fit a child between the ages of 3 and 6.  Though they do fit sophie lou, who is only 1 1/2, but she is a little chunky around the calf.

cast on 40 stitches.
(If you have 3.5 needle, it seems suggested to do you ribbing on a smaller needle)
10 rows rib: 1 stitch knit, 1 stitch purl

(change to size 4 needle, if ribbing with 3.5 needles)

50 rows alt 1 row knit, 1 row purl
6 rows rib 1 knit, 1 purl (on 3.5 needles if you did so for the previous ribbing)

cast off!

I then embroidered some flowers.  just 3 scattered on each leg warmer.  This was a first for me, and it was pretty easy.

knitting & crocheting for charity

I have eventually gathered up enough pennies to order wool for our crochet project!  So by next week this time, hopefully the project will be under way... we are starting off small with members of the three anchor bay dutch reformed church teaching crochet, learning to crochet and crocheting granny squares to make blankets for all the many babies born in their congregation.  Crocheting at home and meeting for tea to crochet together.  The idea is to eventually have enough people on board to crochet blankets for orphans, children of those less fortunate, and hospital baby wards.  As well as set up functions where the craft of crochet can be taught and enjoyed.  If you have wool that you would like to donate to these bigger projects, let me know.

Knit-a-row-and-go.  I had heard a rumour about this project, and I was so excited to see it in action yesterday when I went the hair salon, The Fox and the Vixen.  When the stylists and customers had nothing to do, waiting for hair to set, the knitting was whipped out.  The premiss here is that there are wool and needles in spaces such as hair salons, waiting rooms and coffee shops, where you can pick up the knitting, add a few rows and leave it for the next knitter who happens to be passing by.  What are they knititing? 1000 Blankets for orphanages and places of safety for abandoned children.  This project gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling, and well done to everyone who has contributed and created it.

easy peasy playdough

Olivia's party is coming up one of these days, and she has been begging for a rainbow party for over 6 months now.. So thank goodness the day is finally arriving... I have sent out actual invites this year.  Not just quick emails and phone calls to some confused parents 2 days before.  And we are preparing for it bit-by-bit.  We made some rainbow playdough to give as party favours, and here is how we did it.  Olivia and Yanela helped mostly, but obviously you must deal with the hot pot bit, and it also needs a bit of upper arm strength.

You will need:  

1/3 cup salt

1 cup flour

1 cup water

1Tbs sunflower oil

2 tsp cream of tartar

colouring

you can also use scented oils if you like

Place all the ingredients in a pot, stir together and warm on the stove 

As the dough start to thicken (this will take about a minute), add your choice of colouring.  And if you wish a drop of scent.

[adding the colour now, allows it to combine more easily.  If you wish to make more colours with a single batch, first finish making the dough, then divide the dough and knead in the seperate colours.]

Continue stirring till all combined, and knead into a ball.

It really is that quick and easy.  You will never buy the shop stuff again.  And your kids will think you are a super hero.  And you will feel rather chuffed with yourself.

tinkering tuesday: ballet bag for olivia

My Olivia is starting ballet for the first time, next week.  She and Martin went to buy her first ballet shoes this morning, and she made Martin so proud. New ballet shoes in hand, she looked up to him and  with all the gratefulness in her heart, it seemed, uttered out of the blue, "Thank you, daddy."

I made her this little bag to keep her shoes safe and try my hand at a little embroidery.

I cut out 4 pieces of fabric the same size for the bag, 34cm x 22cm.  2 pieces for the bag and 2 pieces for the lining.

First I found an image of a ballerina silhouette, printed and cut it out, and then traced it onto the fabric.
I then chose an embroidery stitch that didn't  seem too complicated: Whipped Running Stitch.  Just a basic running stitch, and then you use another colour to weave through the stitches.

I found this stitch quite forgiving if your running stitches aren't perfect (and starting out, like me), and also that it is more effective if you weave with a lighter colour and stitch with a darker shade.  On the other piece of fabric, I traced her name, and embroidered that too.

I am still learning to sew properly, yet I somehow got the bag stitched together, probably not in the correct technique, but it seems to be working. If anybody knows of a nice tutorial for a drawstring bag, let me know.  

today we made... tiny little flags

little baby flags to decorate your cupcakes, handmade by us.

baby crochet bunting

my latest obsession: crochet... hours will have gone by and i will still be standing there... crocheting away. done many pink ones for little sophie emma-lou.. i'll keep you updated!  will try and make for the shop too..  found an easy pattern at crochet with raymond... and many more.. tea cosy next!

Cross stitch

i just can't stop cross stitching... think the husband may ban this at home soon...