Terrific Tuesday

06 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings, Terrific Tuesdays

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

coasters polaroid

These are lacy coasters that I designed for a guest blog post. (More details to follow soonish.) A patio table in sunshine, drinks and colourful coasters make for a cheery image.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday

Natasja

Granny Square In Bloom cushion

04 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, My ramblings, Pattern, Ta-daah!

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

crochet, crochet cushion, crochet flower, free crochet pattern, granny square

You know that square motif I’ve been telling you about that had me so excited? Well, here it is. It’s called Granny Square In Bloom.

I used the squares to make a cushion for my very good friend Liezel, as a birthday present (you can see her photography blog here).

She reads this blog and follows me on Instragram so I couldn’t post regular photo updates. I gave her the cushion yesterday which means I can finally reveal it to my lovely blog readers. The cushion was a huge hit! I’m so glad that I could make her happy with something handmade.

Liezel went home and took these photos of the cushion in it’s new home.

As you can see, she has a bird theme for the cushions on her bed. I wanted to stick to her theme, so I used three Red Robbin buttons. Aren’t they cute?!

Nitty-gritty of the cushion:

Yarn: Stylecraft Cotton Classique in White, Rowan Handknit cotton in Ice Water, Raspberry, Linen and China Rose.
Crochet hook: 3.5 mm
Pattern for the front: Eight traditional granny squares of 4 rounds each in white, finished off with a row of SC. (Each of the four colours were used for two squares.) Plus the eight 3-dimensional flower squares which are my own design. I call it Granny Square in Bloom squares. The pattern is available for free on the Photo Tutorials tab, in this blog post and also on Ravelry. I didn’t add a row of SC on the flower squares.
Pattern for the back: Traditional granny square of 19 rounds. Each colour round is seperated with two white rounds. I edged the granny square with SC in Linen.
Construction: The 16 squares which together forms the front, and the three side seams were sewed together with a slip stitch seam as described here on the Simply Crochet website. For the opening I slip stitch-joined up to the first shell on each side so that it would form neat corners.
Inner: Microfibre 16″ inner bought from Design-a-Cushions. Design-a-Cushions recommend purchasing an inner one inch bigger than your cover. I therefor made sure my covers were 15″ squared. Doing it this way gives you a perfect puffy cushion. I can highly recommend Design-a-Cushions. They are my favourite cushion inner supplier in the UK.
Red Robin Button: Natural Shell Zakka buttons that I bought on eBay from this seller.

I thoroughly enjoyed designing the square, knowing that my friend will be the very first person to own something made in that design. Liezel, I hope you have the sweetest of dreams when you’re resting your pretty head on the cushion.

Lots of love

Jou maatjie, Natasja

Terrific Tuesday

30 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings, Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 3 Comments

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

The pattern for these colourful Marquerite daisies can be found on the Garnstudio website, here. Did you notice the quote underneath the title of the pattern? “The earth laughs in flowers”. Love that!

Wishing you a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

I’m still hooking

24 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 6 Comments

Dear readers, this is just a quick note to say that I am still crocheting, making things, planning things, buying yarn, adding to my To Hook List and all the other wonderful crochet related things, eventhough I haven’t blogged about crochet much lately.

I’ve completed two of my projects (the Japanese V-neck and the guest blog design) and started work on a project which is based on a square motif that I designed myself. The pattern has even been made into a photo tutorial, but I don’t want to publish it until I have the finished item to show you. (I’m very excited about this project – it’s going to be so pretty!) The only thing stopping me from blogging about my crochet activities, are the photos; I just haven’t got round to taking any.

I’m sure you will understand that Summer in England, birthdays, charity walks and surprise weekends by the beach must take precedent over photo shoots. This weekend I’ll be doing another crochet demonstration at Tudor Williams from 11 am to 1 pm, we are having friends over for a BBQ and I have to do the weekly chores. Maybe I’ll get round to taking photos on Sunday. Then again, maybe not.

A blog post without a photo seems wrong, so here is a photo of Molly the giraffe. She lives at London Zoo and loves carrots. I met her on Friday. If I was allowed to, I would have hugged her long neck and stroked her nose.

If you’re in the southern hemisphere, I hope you’re enjoying the sunshine and if you’re in the northern hemisphere, I hope you’re warm and cozy indoors – but always with a hook and ball of yarn to hand.

Terrific Tuesday

16 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings, Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 3 Comments

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

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/969390_554339767938754_1641481774_n.jpg

Indeed.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday

Natasja

The day after the London Bridges Walk for Kidney Research UK

15 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

charity, kidney donation, kidney transplant

Yesterday was the day of the London Bridges Walk for Kidney Research UK. I told you about it in this post.

Pieter, Lizelle, Trinity, Uncle Les (a close family friend of Pieter), John and I completed the 7 mile (11.26 km) walk in 3 hours. We were kinda knackered, but it was a very scenic route and we had a lovely breeze from the Thames which made it easier. As you can see from the slideshow of photos we had a lot of laughs along the way. I’m a bit, okay a lot, stiff this morning but it’s worth it (and nothing compared to what people on dialysis have to go through every day).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I found out today that the law firm where I work will contribute £250 if any of its employees raise £250 for a charity! I mananged to raise £255 out of the £571 we have so far. £5 over the mimimum needed to get an extra £250 for Kidney Research UK. Yeah!!! Our target is £1000 and it looks like we’ll make it! I’m so grateful to everyone in the Banking and SCM departments of Baker & McKenzie who donated, and even more grateful to the M.A.D. (Making A Difference) committee for doubling my contribtutions.

Kleenex does crochet hexagons

11 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

crochet, hexagon

I know!!!!! Your reaction to this photo, was my reaction in Boots a few minutes ago.

I was in Boots to buy something for John, when I saw a 6-pack of the smaller “Collection” Kleenex pocket packs. Two of the six were wrapped in this crochet hexagon print. I nearly knocked over a woman in my attempt to quickly throw it in my basket (not that any of the Suits in Boots Fleet Street would put up a fight for a crochet covered pack of tissues, but I grabbed and ran anyway).

I’ts only £1.29 for the pack of six. I’ll be using the other four – they have photos of a leaf and russian matryoshka dolls on them (I’m telling you this because I know you will be going to Boots to look for it) – but the two with the crochet hexagons will remain untouched. Obviously.

The Rainbow Room Installation

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings, Other people's crochet

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

crochet art

http://www.designboom.com/art/the-rainbow-room-installation-by-pierre-le-riche/?utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_source=subscribers

When I saw this I just had to share it with you. What drew me was the crochet covered furniture and, what seemed like, crocheted balloons in the ceiling. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be crochet covered rugby balls.

http://www.designboom.com/art/the-rainbow-room-installation-by-pierre-le-riche/?utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_source=subscribers

It all makes perfect sense when you read what Designboom says about the art installation:

the ‘rainbow room’ installation by cape town-based designer pierre le riche takes a critical look at the sociological implications of afrikaner masculine hegemony on homosexuality in post-apartheid south africa. the intervention, built from 17km of acrylic thread in colours of the gay pride flag, represents a traditional afrikaan family living room in the midst of the 1995 rugby world cup final match displayed on a television; an incredibly significant point in south african history, and perhaps the last chance the afrikaner male had to ‘prove his superiority’. through an implementation of colorful and playful yarn bombs onto traditional pieces of furniture and over 150 rugby balls, the concept of homosexuality and masculinity is juxtaposed, questioning the acceptance of same-sex relations.

I was in Grade 12 when South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 1995. It really was a huuuuuge deal. What better way to juxtapose masculinity and homosexuality than with pink crochet covered rugby balls?! South African men are crazy about rugby, so I totally get what Pierre le Riche is trying to say with this installation. Well thought out and and brilliantly executed, Pierre.

Terrific Tuesday

09 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings, Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 3 Comments

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

I took this photo about 30 minutes ago. London in Summer is a bustling and very lively place. St. Paul’s Cathedral is transformed into the lunch venue of choice for tourists and city workers. I didn’t stop to join the masses on the steps, but rather bought salad and meat at M&S for a BBQ at home this evening. A Tuesday evening BBQ tops a sandwich on the steps of St. Paul’s every time!

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Eastbourne weekend

08 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Eastbourne, holiday

John and I went on a mini holiday to Eastbourne in Sussex over the weekend. It was amazing! Eastbourne is under two hours drive from where we live, but it felt like we were in different country. It reminded us of France and of Belgium. They even had a Continental Market where you could buy food from all over Europe. We enjoyed Provence style pasta, German Frankfruter hot dogs, carrot cake, apple strudel, doughnuts, viennese fingers and churos over the course of the weekend. I think we were the pastry stallholder’s best clients – we went back three times! I thought of it as carbo loading for next Sunday’s walk 😉

Best of all, John found us a fabulous hotel right on the beach. It was truely an amazing weekend away (without the long drive, airport security or foreign languages) and just what we needed. It’s amazing what a difference it makes to a day at the beach, knowing that you won’t have to drive home that evening. Saturday felt soooo long and Sunday morning, after enjoying a super breakfast at the hotel, we were out in the morning sunshine by 10:30. (I just looooove hotel breakfast! Even the toast tastes better.)

On Sunday I even did some crocheting in the shade under the Bandstand.

If you live in the UK, I hope you enjoyed the sunshine. Did you see the weather forecast for this weekend? It looks like the sunshine is here to stay! Yeah!!!!