Terrific Tuesday

05 Tuesday Jun 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

We’re back from our fantastic week in Corfu. It was pouring down with rain in Corfu when we left – there was even thunder and lightning! I think it was the Universe’s way of easing the pain of leaving Paradise. When we got to London the weather was actually better here than our last day in Corfu!

All the other days of our holiday was sunny with blue skies and blue clear water. Even the pebbles on the beach in Corfu are happy. Happy Pebble came home with us and he is now perched on a shelf next to the bathroom mirror so that we can smile back at him every day.

It’s a bit late on Tuesday, but I hope you had a great Tuesday and if not, things can still pick up 🙂

Natasja

Image

Corfu, crocs & crochet

01 Friday Jun 2012

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crochet, holiday

Posted by Natasja | Filed under My crochet, My ramblings

≈ 6 Comments

Terrific Tuesday

29 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 2 Comments

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flower, Spring, Terrific Tuesday

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

When my sister in law and her children visited us in April, Cayla chose these pink and white snapdragons for our garden. They were very boring, plain green plants plugs when we saw them in the garden centre, but Cayla looked at the card that came with the tray of plants and chose them anyway. She had a vision of how it would look in our garden when they eventually would bloom. She could easily have chosen plants that were already flowering, but she chose these for us, despite the fact that they would only bloom once she was back in South Africa.

Cayla’s choice was excellent. I love these snapdragons! I’m sure they’re blooming even better because Cayla helped me plant them. All her childlike innocence and optimism went into the ground with the little plant plugs.

There’s a little to be learned from this 8 year old girl.

Cayla’s Snapdragon Philosophy Of Life:

be optimistic,
trust nature,
don’t always choose instant gratification, and
put the happiness of others above your own.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Vintage pattern Summer Vest Ta-daaaah

27 Sunday May 2012

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

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

crochet, vintage

It’s done! The Summer Vest from this vintage pattern circa 1960 is done!

I know I said I would take this project with me to Corfu to work on there, but once I had made the gauge swatch, I just couldn’t stop. One dc led to another and before I knew it I was wearing it!

Here I am striking the same pose as the classy lady on the left. Check out the beads and I even have wind in my hair. Hahaha

Initially I wanted to make the vest with the flowers but I changed my mind. Typical. I like wearing beads and necklaces, so I’d rather jazz up the Vest with jewellery than be stuck with the flowers. After doing my modification (again, typical) of the bottom edge, flowers would have been a bit much.

The pattern asks for a ribbing which I didn’t feel like doing. Ribbings is a bit too old-fashioned for me, so in stead I started with the main pattern immediately and when it was all done, I added the neck & armhole edging pattern at the bottom, plus one row of the main pattern.

The strange thing about the pattern is its shaping. In stead of shaping in at the waist, it goes out at the waist. I did as the pattern said, so I included that shaping but it’s not the most flattering. Hubby and I actually call the vest the “Pull In Your Tummy Vest” because it looks like I have a bit of a belly.

The body also retains its shape very well. When I stand up after sitting down for a while, the yarn “remembers” the folds so it looks like I’ve got sausage tied round my waist. I’m hoping this will change as the cotton softens and drapes more. I REALLY hope so.

Here are the Summer Vest (a.k.a Pull In Your Tummy Vest) facts:

No ribbing and a modified bottom edge – see above.
I used a 3mm crochet hook and just under 6 balls of Rowan Sienna in Grasshopper for size L.
I started the gauge swatches on 13 May, and finished the Vest on 26 May.

All in all, I like the vest. The colour is my favourite thing about it. I’m looking forward to wearing it with summery skirts in Corfu next week. Keep an eye on the crocheTime Facebook page for photos.

I do think however that I like the idea of using a vintage pattern, more than I like the finished item. It’s such a nice thought that the last time someone followed this pattern there were no such things as Ravelry, blogs or Facebook to tell others about it. Now this Vest is retro and vintage, then it was just “the latest pattern by Sirdar”.

Wednesday I’ll start working on Dusky, “the latest pattern from Rowan” (which 40 years from now will be retro and vintage. There’s a thought!)

I’ve done the gauge swatches but this time I stopped myself from going any further. Dusky is done in a 6mm hook with Worsted weight yarn and just like the Vest it also doesn’t have sleeves, so it’s going to be a very quick project.

I’m not going to allow my crochet addiction to get out of hand again: Dusky’s foundation chain will be crocheted in the presence of olives, houmous and feta. THe plan is to start my holiday with a bag of yarn, and end it with a new crochet top. How cool would that be?

Size matters

26 Saturday May 2012

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

holiday, travel

We’re off to Corfu on Wednesday for a week of sun, sea and blue skies (can not wait!)

I’m super excited and have been thinking of what to pack for a while now. Made lists, made purchases and even did some holiday wardrobe planning. (In my mind the holiday starts when you start visualising the outfits you’ll be wearing in foreign lands.)

We’re going to travel with hand luggage only, so that pesky 100ml liquids rule will apply and limit the amount of lotions & potions I can take with me. (As it is, we’ll be buying 200ml sunblock and aftersun at the airport AFTER security.)

Luckily the Marie Claire magazine people had some excellent freebies with their magazine which is perfect for hand luggage travel.

First off, I got this travel size Pantene shampoo and conditioner free with Marie Claire two months ago (yes, I was already thinking of holiday packing two months ago). The travel size is just enough for a week away.

Last month I got this lipgloss + cheek stain combo from The Body Shop also free with a Marie Claire. I love products like this that can do more than one thing, especially if you’re travelling.

Then I found a little tube of magic at Boots: Nivea Visage Q10 plus Anti-Wrinkle tinted day cream with SPF 15. This means I can leave everything on the right of this photo at home and replace four tubes with one 100ml tube!! How’s that for smart holiday packing?!

All my purchases haven’t been beauty related though. Of course I’m taking crochet work with me!

As I’m travelling with hand luggage only I wanted to make sure that a non-craftloving grumpy security guard at Gatwick wouldn’t confiscate my crochet hook or embroidery scissors, so I emailed Gatwick to check what I can and cannot take with me. Here’s the reply.

Dear Mrs King

The scissors should be allowed if they are under 6cm, however this rules doesn’t stand if the blades are very shape. The Crochet hooks should be allowed, again this all depends on the size and sharpness of the hooks.

Kind regards

Jamie Moore
Customer Services

I use the Clover soft touch crochet hooks, so I know they will be absolutely fine as they are so short and stubby. Yeah!

My embroidery scissors might be small, but their blades are pointy and very sharp, so I can’t take them with me. Replacement scissors needed.

I think this one would definitely satisfy Gatwick:

Hahaha, just kidding.

I bought these baby scissors with rounded blades on eBay. Aren’t they cute? And absolutely perfect for taking through airport security?!

I think I’m ready to go: just add passport and sunglasses.

Terrific Tuesday

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

jewellery, Terrific Tuesday

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

Source: etsy.com via Natasja on Pinterest

I just had to smile when I saw the miniature food jewellery pieces by Le Pon Pon on Etsy. Tea, doilies and jewellery all in – enough to make me smile all day long.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Taking the bus has never been this pretty

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by Natasja in Other people's crochet

≈ 5 Comments

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crochet art, Lace Bus

These crochet decorated bus seats, is art installation by the Finnish artist, Vesanen Virpi Laukkanen. It’s called Lace Bus and is part of the OTTO shows, hosted by the Art Museum Vantaa, Finland. On the artist’s website you can see more photos here. Virpi sourced the doilies from flea markets and second hand shops.

From what I can gather from the Google translation of the original article, the bus is used daily by commuters in Vantaa so it’s not a stationary piece of art in a museum somewhere. How cool is that?! People’s reactions to the seats were recorded on video and showed at the Art Museum – I would love to see that video!

The objective of the project is to add color, joy and humor into the routine of people who use public transportation daily – I think they would have achieved their objective! There’s no way you could get onto this bus and not leave happy.

Should I have a word with London Transport and get them to reupholster bus seats in crochet doilies? London would be such a happy place if everyone travelled bum-to-doilie don’t you think?

More yarn

17 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 5 Comments

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yarn

I bought more yarn. Again. (It’s the “Dark Old Pink” in the photo below to crochet this tunic.)

I think I’m addicted, but I have no desire to recover from the addiction so I guess I’m just obsessed.

I’m okay with that.

My Belle Ta-daaaah!

15 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, Ta-daah!

≈ 19 Comments

Tags

crochet

Do you know the song “Michelle” by the Beatles? I think it was written for my Belle!

I’m really loving My Belle!

The extra 3cm at the bottom has made a huge difference. (Now that I look at the photo I see that the camisole I wear underneath has scrunched up a bit over the trousers, so please ignore that.) By the way, you have to wear something underneath as the holes are quite open – unless of course you’re going for the *sexy hooker* look (I can just imagine the amount of disappointed Google searchers when they see this blog in the result page for their * * search. Hahahaha).

But I digress.

The Rowan Belle pattern was an utter pleasure to follow – so much that I even made a video singing its praises. At times I did however think I made a mistake with the yarn, Drops Cotton Viscose.

It is very splitty, there’s no denying that. It’s the Rayon threads that seem to fluff up and snag but it’s exactly that thread that gives it its luxurious sheen (being the “viscose” in Cotton Viscose). The Rayon also helps to keep the shape beautifully. Seeing the completed top has converted me: I will use Cotton Viscose again. Splitting yarn can be forgiven. Suck it up, cause it’s worth it in the end!

So to sum up My Belle, here are the facts.

I made a couple of changes (see yesterday’s post).

I used a 3mm and a 4mm crochet hook (see this post)

I used 9.5 balls of Drops Cotton Viscose in shade no. 29

It took me less than a month to crochet – I started on 14 April and completed it on 14 May. In that time I took a week off to make Lynn’s Retro Looks cushion, so it was about three weeks.

I loved this pattern. If I only make this one item from the Rowan Holiday Crochet book, the book has been worth it.

♫Michelle, my belle.
Sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble,
Très bien ensemble.
I love you, I love you, I love you.♪♪

P.S. I forgot to say: thank you to everyone who commented on yesterday’s post and also on the sneak peak photo this morning on the Facebook page. It means a lot to me that you love My Belle just as much as I do.

Terrific Tuesday

15 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

flower, Spring, Terrific Tuesday

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

Here in London it’s another dreary, wet and grey day (isn’t it supposed to be Spring?!). On the up side, the rain has been good for the garden so I can pick flowers to brighten up the livingroom… and share with you.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday!

Natasja