Terrific Tuesday

11 Tuesday Dec 2012

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On a Monday I can still remember the fun I had over the weekend, Wednesday is the middle of the work week, on Thursday I start getting hopeful and on a Friday I can taste the weekend. But what about a Tuesday? It’s so…. just there. Weekend memories are too far away and the upcoming weekend might as well be a year away.

What we need is a bit of colourful inspiration to get us going on a Tuesday, don’t you think? A pretty picture, beautiful scenery or colourful imagery. Yup, that’ll liven up Tuesdays and turn it into a terrific day!

From now on I will go through my photos and Pinterest likes every Tuesday and find us a pretty picture to add colour and joy to the day.

xxxxxx

Christmas came a’knocking at our house.

xmas door snow and frost

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Crochet earrings ta-daaah!

10 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, Ta-daah!

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

crochet, crochet jewellery, Etsy, jewellery

It feels like forever since I last showed you a completed crochet project. I guess that’s the way when yarnbomb cravings hit, you have 58 squares to crochet and husband goes for an operation.

Fear not, I have been putting my crochet hook to good use and today I have something to show you. Five things actually.

Ta-daaaah! Behold five pairs of crochet earrings.

crochet earrings and crochet thread

Four of these are Christmas presents and one pair is for me. Seeing as the four recipients read this blog, I won’t tell you which pair is mine. What I can tell you is how I made these earrings.

The nitty gritty of the earrings:

Yarn: The Anchor crochet thread I used for all of these, is from The Making Spot’s giveaway that I won in October.

Pattern: Dainty Dangles Crocheted Earrings by Chanteuse Crochet. There are eight crochet earring designs in the pattern, so the $2.50 is very good value for money. I only used three of the eight designs. The pattern tells how to attach the earring hooks and also give instructions for blocking and the use of spray starch.

Hook: 1.5 mm Clover soft touch

Pair 1 – Delicate Fan Earrings, using Anchor Freccia 6 in shade 00320:

mustard crochet earrings

Pair 2 – Funky Granny Earrings, using Anchor Mercer Crochet 20 in shade 0149:

navy granny square crochet earrings

Pair 3 – Simple Circle Earrings, using Anchor Baby Soft 8 in shade 0048:

Pink crochet earrings

Pair 4 – Simple Circle Earrings, using Anchor Freccia 6 in shade 01442. These are bigger than the light pink earrings seeing as the crochet thread is thicker:

turquoise crochet earrings

Pair 5 – Simple Circle Earrings, using Anchor Freccia 6 in shade 00255. To get the earrings so big, I replaced the US dc in the pattern, with US trebles:

green crochet earring

I actually have very bad luck when it comes to earrings. For some reason I always seem to loose one. Just one. Seriously. When I get home in the evenings the first thing I do (after saying hello to hubby of course) is take off my shoes, wrist watch, rings and earrings. Many a time I only need to take off one earring. Heaven knows how you can loose an earring without knowing it. And I’m not talking only dangling earrings, studs as well!

But now that I have this pattern, and I’ve seen how quickly the earrings can be whipped up, I’m going to make myself more. If I loose one I can make its replacement within minutes!

Bring it on ye wizard of disappearing earrings. I have an crochet earring pattern and a big stash. Bring it on.

crochet earrings and crochet thread

Thank you

06 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

kidney donation, kidney transplant, organ donation

Thank you to every one, most, if not all, of whom are total strangers to me, for the good wishes, prayers and words of encouragement during John and Pieter’s operation. You have no idea how much your comments meant to us all.

Both John and Pieter are now home and they are both doing extremely well, which we are truly thankful for. Their story is a success story, but unfortunately this is not the case for everyone.

Kidney failure and the need for kidney donors is a huge problem in the UK as this report from Kidney Research UK states:

“Kidney Research UK has raised serious concerns about public attitudes towards organ donation, after a survey revealed the majority of people in the UK are prepared to receive an organ but not donate one.

Results from the survey, carried out by Usurv, indicate that while 87 per cent of people in the UK would accept a transplant if told they needed one, only one in three are actually on the organ donor register.

Around 50,000 people in the UK require some form of ongoing treatment for kidney failure, of which approximately 7,000 are currently waiting for a kidney transplant – accounting for 90 per cent of all patients on the NHS’s transplant waiting list.

With more than three million people in the UK at risk from kidney disease and an aging population expected to further increase demand for donor organs in years to come, Kidney Research UK fears demand for organs will continue to outstrip supply – placing the lives of more and more kidney patients at risk.”

90 Per cent of all patients on the NHS’s transplant waiting list is for a kidney, 3 million people in the UK at risk from kidney disease, 50,000 people in the UK require some form of ongoing treatment for kidney failure? Those are shocking statistics.

John and Pieter’s wish is that their story will inspire and give hope to those suffering from kidney failure and to their loved ones. All they ask is that you consider registering as an organ donor. They’re not asking you do what John did, just donate your organ(s) when you pass away. You can join the NHS organ donor register here.

Thank you

The biggest yarnbombed tree in South Africa

05 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Natasja in Other people's crochet, Yarnbombing

≈ 6 Comments

I was sent these photos by Leigh Ann, who lives in South Africa, of a huge yarnbombed Jacaranda tree. Leigh Ann says the tree was featured on South African TV and this photo is the article in the Tribune newspaper.

Hillcrest aids centre tree yarnbomb

Isn’t it fantastic? And best of all it’s made up of granny squares!

The tree was revealed on 1 December 2012, as part of Hillcrest Aids Centre World Aids Day event.

The yarnbombing was the idea of Woza Moya’s art co-ordinator. Woza Moya is an income-generation project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT). The project’s main aim is to teach craft skills to individuals affected/infected by HIV/AIDS through the production and sale of beaded items, ceramics, wirework, crochet work and fabric painting. Ten to 15 families are supported with this project.

This is a quote from the letter written on their Facebook page:

We have so far “Yarn Bombed” a restaurant , a campus and by the end of the month we will have yarn bombed a corporate foyer. We will have a yarn bomb unit on standby for your next event that needs a splash of colour. Jess the Yarn bomb co-ordinator met with old age homes in the community, wool shops and quilting guilds, many of whom gave their support. … Our tree will be a symbol of hope for those living with HIV and a reminder for those who haven’t bought an AIDs ribbon for a long time.

I love, love, love that they have a yarn bomb unit on standby. How great is that!

In preparation for the big reveal on 1 December, they had to start sewing the grannies onto the tree on the 26th November… with the help of a crane!

Yarnbomb

This is the end result. Isn’t it amazing?!

yarnbomb tree hillcrest aids centre

Hillcrest aids centre yarnbomb tree

Public displays of craft (oooh, that’s a great way of saying Yarnbombing) can really bring communities together, raise awareness for a cause and of course bring colour and pattern to any space. Got to love it.

Terrific Tuesday

04 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

altruistic donation, kidney donation, kidney transplant, organ donation

Today’s Terrific Tuesday post is again going to be a bit different this week.

It’s now been exactly a week since the kidney transplant….. and all is well!

John was discharged on Saturday and is recovering well at home. Pieter remains in hospital* until his blood pressure and one of his levels normalises. It’s nothing too serious, as 99% of what his new kidney has to do, it is doing. Little Johnny (as the transplanted kidney is now known) is doing a great job.

John had a really tough time with post operative nausea but thankfully it is getting daily. He is eating more each day and taking fewer anti-sickness meds. I should know, I’m keeping a chart. As you do.

The feel-good photo for today was taken on 28 November 2012, the day after the operation. As soon as John was taken off the morphine drip, he wanted to go and see his good friend Pieter.

A picture really is worth a thousand words.

Donor and recipient fist bump