Eastbourne weekend

08 Monday Jul 2013

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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!!!!

Terrific Tuesday

14 Tuesday May 2013

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

beautiful scenery, holiday, Overberg, Terrific Tuesday, wide open spaces

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

The wide open spaces of the Overberg region of the Western Cape; truly inspirational scenery.

One day I will crochet something to remind me of these roads.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Terrific Tuesday

07 Tuesday May 2013

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 7 Comments

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Cape Town, holiday, Overberg, 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

My favourite images from my time in Cape Town. The photos were taken at the Dassiesfontein farm stall, Cape Aghulhas, the roads in the Bredasdorp / Napier / Villiersdorp area, Greyton, the V&A Waterfront, and Haas Coffee Shop.

To my Mom, Dad and brother who made my week so special, thank you for everything. Love you.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Terrific Tuesday

30 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Cape Town, holiday, 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

This morning I visited Boeresjiek (which translates to Farmer Chic) in Brackenfell, South Africa* with my oldest and dearest artist & interior decorator friend Tia Gerber. We’ve known each other for 24 years. She’s one of those people I can meet up with today and we just pick up where we left off when I last saw her in September 2010. I just love her to bits and she just gets me.

If you are ever in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, you should really visit this huge space filled with the most amazing decor items. You could spend hours just browsing, but you’re bound to walk out with a little something and you will definitely want to sit down for Red Velvet Cheesecake or Carrot Cake, or both, like Tia and I did.

*I’ve been on holiday in Cape Town since Friday and I’ll be returning to the UK on Sunday so it’s short, but very sweet, holiday with my friends and family.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Terrific Tuesday

26 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays, Yarnbombing

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

crochet, crochet flower, Genoa, holiday, Intrecci Urbani, Italy

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

A close-up of one of the yarnbomb pieces I saw at Intrecci Urbani on Friday.

Such a cheery image, isn’t it?

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Terrific Tuesday

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

holiday, 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

It’s supposed to be Summer here in the UK but it feels like Winter. Again! The sun sets lovely and late but we can’t enjoy the longer days because those longer days and grey and cold and windy and rainy.

I’m resorting to holiday snaps like the one above to remind me that the sun really does shine and the sky doesn’t have to be grey every day.

If you also have a grey and miserable Tuesday, hopefully I’ve brought you some colour and hope.

Have a terrific Tuesday all!

Natasja

Dusky in Corfu

06 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, Ta-daah!

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

crochet, holiday

Ta-daaaaah! My Dusky top is finished! As I promised myself, I started working on it on the first day of my holiday in Corfu, and I managed to finish it, and wear it, on the last day. So happy!!!!

Here are some photos showing how Dusky grew into the lovely top that it is.

The pattern for the body is really easy to do, but it looks very fancy and intricate.

Close-up of me and my Obey Crochet temporary tattoo on the beach. I love it! Felt like such a rebel with my tat 🙂

And here it is. The finished top. I’m wearing it with a flesh coloured camisole, but it can be worn over any coloured t-shirt (long and short sleeved) or camisole. It’s a very wearable, versatile top.

Case and point of versatility: the same Dusky over a black camisole with black trousers for work. See what I mean?!

So now you probably want the nitty gritty:

The pattern is available for free here. To access it you’ll have to join Row@n Members area and download the pattern from the May 2012 newsletter.
I made a modification to the pattern in that I didn’t do it as a tunic, but rather my standard length of just above the hips. It was a joy modifying the length, as the top is crocheted top down so I just had to stop when it reached the length I wanted. I love top down construction!
The yarn is Drops Paris in shade no. 60. I used 8 balls.
The pattern suggests a 5mm hook. I had to use a 6mm to get the gauge for the yoke right, and then used 5mm for the lacey body.

All in all, I can highly recommend this pattern and the Drops Paris to hook it with.

I’m definitely taking a crochet project with me on holiday again. Now that I’m sitting at my desk, wearing Dusky, I’m reminded of my fabulous week in Corfu and I will be every time I wear it.

No more postcards or fridge magnets for me as momentos of holidays – I hook on holiday!

Terrific Tuesday

05 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

holiday, 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

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

Tags

crochet, holiday

Posted by Natasja | Filed under My crochet, My ramblings

≈ 6 Comments

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: