Keeping those I love warm (part two).....

When I took Enny and Mary up to Cranberry Cottage in November, I realized that Enny had a hard time keeping warm even if it was not so cold outside. So when we got home I grabbed some tweedy, chunky yarn and made her some long wrist warmers to hopefully keep her warm. I wanted to make them in beige so she could use them with any color she was wearing. 

Then of course, I had to make some for Mary too. She wears black a great deal so I thought making the same wrist warmers in a finer yarn would be just right for her. How fun to see the exact same pattern influenced by which type of yarn you use. Both of them were very happy to have these to keep them warm. 

I myself have a number of pairs of wrist warmers and decided to make myself a blue pair to add to my collection of colors. I wanted a nice long top to fall well over my knuckles. I tried just making up a pattern as I went along. I was really pleased with how they turned out. 

Heidi

Keeping those I love warm (part one).....

Inspired by this tutorial, I bought a hot water bottle and crocheted a cover for my mother as a gift. There had to be adjustments made for the size of my hot water bottle but I love how it turned out. I added a snowman and white lacy edge as my mother is a snowman collector. Jos had to travel to California last week and found it was cheaper for his ticket to stopover in Ohio. He played Santa early and delivered it for me as a little "just because" gift. 

Heidi

It's in the bag!

Back with another crochet finish. Some time ago, I started working on some Japanese blocks which I decided to make into a tote bag. It was a fun way to use them since I just wanted to try out some of the stitches. I have taken time making this one since I was making it with a friend and did not want to get too far ahead of her since she started after I had enough blocks for one side already. It was a fun project. We just crocheted the blocks together and then made a band of single crochet for the sides and bottom. I lined it with fabric from my quilt stash. I ran out of yarn so had to buy handles which I sewed to the lining with tabs. I added some small lace to the tabs too. Now I have a tote bag to carry my crocheting in when I take it to my friend's house...

I had made one block too many and turned it into a potholder (RAK gift) for Mieke who I crochet with regularly. It is a nice heavy design which is perfect for a potholder.

I also started a new afghan since the weather has cooled off. I am making Lion Brand's Harvest Patchwork afghan using Stylecraft DK yarn. I found out that this shop was selling it now here in Holland. What great yarn this is! Since this pattern calls for a chunky yarn, I am using a double strand to get the thickness and a 6,5mm hook. It is working up a treat and I am so looking forward to having another autumn feeling blanket to use in the coming season.

Back though to my stitching. I have another fun project in progress for Halloween. As soon as I get the spray painting part done, I will share this latest project. And yes...I did say stitching and spray painting. Intrigued? *grins*

Heidi

It's C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S!

Remember that little peek at the ornament I made for a swap with a blogging friend? She emailed me that it arrived already. That went so fast and it got to her on Christmas Eve...lol. Well a girl can wish in the middle of a heat wave, can't she??? Or maybe the heat has really gone to my brain and I am hallucinating? *wink*

Anyway...my swap partner was none other than Jeanne over at WillowTreeStitcher. I wanted to make an ornament that looked European for her. The St. Nicholaas is stitched in reverse on the other side so even if it turns on the tree, it will always be facing the right side. I added a little snowflake to the bottom and all is sewn together with some of the French ribbons I bought in a needlework shop up in the north of Holland.

I also decided to use the opportunity to RAK Jeanne as well. I sent her a couple of non-stitchy things but also made a fob for a pair of embroidery scissors. It is made with silver, white and blue beads and a porcelain Delft Blauw wooden shoe with a windmill on it.

I am thrilled you got it all in time for Christmas in July (25th) Jeanne and hope you will enjoy using both items in the years to come. Just as the feeling of Christmas, I am anxiously awaiting the postman ringing my doorbell with your ornament. Can't wait........

Heidi 

Want to peek?

Here is a little peek at my surprise in an ornament swap with a blogging friend. I have been fun playing with my of my French trims and laces. I am so excited for her to receive it so I can finally share the finish. In the meantime, a little bit to wet your appetite...

Lots of projects are on the go but in the meantime, I am adding to my potholder quilt which is my quilt group's theme project for 2013. I would have been done but I changed my mind about how I was going to put it together. This means I need to come up with more ideas for the blocks. My latest ones include this one of buttons. I decided instead of simply stitching buttons that I would attach real ones...

I am adding more sayings since it is going to be a little larger than I thought. I found this saying online and loved it...love is the thread that mends worn hearts.

I made a friendship star for my next patchwork hexie. This block was chosen as the red and brown fabrics I used for it were some I swapped with a good friend for our potholder quilt. I have known Sonja for about 16+ years. I met her at my bobbinlace lessons. A couple of years ago, she wanted to learn to quilt. It was fun teaching her but also very easy to do since she has the touch when it comes to quilting. This was the first time we have been able to swap fabrics to get more of the right colors for each of our potholder quilt blocks. She has been building up a stash and it is nice to be able to raid her stash as she also does mine.

I will remember next time to show you the new set up for my potholder hexie quilt. It is really fun to make and make personal too. Our group's project was provided to us by Tammy who kindly shared it with us. Her own potholder quilt is really beatuiful.

Heidi

March's giving.....

My two RAKs for March have been received and I can now share them with you. These are both projects that were also in my UFO challenge list for this year.

I found Matruska beads at a German Christmas market almost two years ago. This keychain was made for Susan who I thought it would have a special meaning for. She has two adopted boys (well they are actually becoming young men now) who are Russian born. I have enjoyed watching them grow up under her love and care.

Patricia shares my love of old fabrics, trims, laces, etc.. I made these lapkins from remnants I bought in Rebeauvillé, France at the Beauvillé factory. They made beautiful table linens which are very pricey. I bought some factory samples to sew some napkins. Each of the samples has been cut into various shapes. I decided to share some with friends and Patricia's are being called lapkins because of the oblong size fitting just right over your lap. I felt I wanted to do something more with them so I got out some yarn that matched and created simple crocheted napkin rings that are closed with vintage brass buttons.

I am busy making my April RAK gifts right now. It is so much fun to match a blogging friend to a gift each month. I am so happy people are enjoying being surprised with a gift but my tell you that the greatest gift is in the giving!

Heidi

Oh this is so much fun!

This year is my year to give things to others ... handmade things. I am having so much fun being able to surprise people who up to now have had no idea that I was doing anything for them.

This is a WIP roll. It is a mini quilt that is used to roll up your stitching either while you are working on things or for finished pieces waiting for their final finishes. I had this laying in half done for Barbara for ages. My RAK year seemed the perfect time to dig it out and get it finished to send to her. She shares my love for autumn so I knew what I wanted to do with it from the start.

I just got an email from Maine saying it arrived so I can now share it with you. I need to get my March RAKs out now. Wonder where those will show up??? *wink*

Heidi

Of flowers and fairies and sewing needfuls.....

My February RAK gifts are a little late arriving but the first has reached its new home. I made a set of flower coasters for Catherine and sent them on their way. The mail was a little slow but they arrived safe and sound. Catherine and I have fun contact back and forth so I wanted to do something for her to say I enjoy our friendship. Too bad I cannot stop by and share a cup of tea in real life...

I am working on my UFO challenge each month. This little finish was one I forgot to show you last month. I had bought these charms to make a bracelet and never did it. They sat around for about 3 years I think. Yikes! So I had to get out my beads and charms (you will see why in a moment) and decided to finally make my bracelet of sewing needfuls.

 I have included a snail to remind me to slow down and enjoy each stitch, a quilt block, tape measure (to remember to measure twice and cut once), a sewing machine (for my own beautiful Singer called Florence), wooden shoes (as I live in Holland), a cat (as Dagi is my best stitching/quilting/crocheting/lacemaking friend ever!), a spool of thread, heart and hand (handmade with love), embroidery scissors (a love of collecting), thimble, spider (the symbol of good luck), button and iron (oh yes...I love to iron...is that strange?).

I am so pleased with my charm bracelet and love wearing it. I used to have one as a little girl but have no idea what happened to it. Why did it take me so long to get this one made?

Here is the reason why I had to get out my beads...

This fob is made for these adorable little scissors. A quilting friend of mine bought these for her granddaughter at the handwork fair in Zwolle. I offered to make a fob for them before she gives them to her. I hope they will both like it.

Heidi

A reading yarn.....

Wednesday has rolled around again already. I had a productive week. Still trying to fight off this infection in my ribcage so lots of crocheting and reading going on here.

I was talking to my mother and she told me that my little namesake (who is not so little anymore as a mother of two sweet little girls and herself in her 30s...when did that happen?) wanted a cowl after she saw Saskia's. So I decided to make her a fancier one as a RAK gift. She lives in Arizona but wants to have it to wear at work where the A/C is on very high. I made her this lacy cowl from Lion Brand. She does not have it yet as it is still sitting here on my lady in the living room. I need to get it packed up and sent on its way...

Row 8 is almost done now on my circle in a square granny blanket. I just have to add the last row on the blocks. I laid it out to see if I want to make 9 rows total or crochet more to get 11 rows. I am not sure yet.

I spent most of the day yesterday switching back and forth between crochet hook and my book. My rainbow shawl is growing but I will save that for another time. I am going to finish reading Chocolate Wishes by Trisha Ashley (what a great read!) this morning and pulled out The Vineyard as my next read. I am starting to think about gardening while looking out at the snow so wanted a book to take me outside so to speak.

I have another finish to share but I am going to save that for my next post along with the pattern I made up for it. Hope you can stop back for that.....

I am linking to Ginny's YarnALong today.

Heidi

Variegated.....

I like the word variegated to describe life at the moment. *grins*  It is January and I am in project overload already. But being the new year and starting on my new GoodReads book challenge, I am also in reading overload. When I am too busy with my projects, listening to my Kindle audible book The Magic Little Christmas by Julia Williams fits the bill. Don't let the title fool you...it is not only a Christmas read. At times, I really need to hold a book and turn the pages which I am doing now reading Chocolate Wishes by Trisha Ashley. Fun to visit the village of Sticklepond (from her book A Winter's Tale) once again in this book.

My circle in a square grannies are coming along nicely. I have decided on making the blanket 7 squares wide so the first 5 rows are ready and row 6 is half done. I am also working on a new lacy cowl but more about that later.

During our week up at the cottage in September, I had purchased two balls of sock yarn having seen the beautiful shawls made from Noro sock yarn. Noro is very expensive but I found an alternative that was half the price and still had a long continuation of color in the variegation as with the Japanese yarn. I waited to start with this until the new year. I am loving the way it is turning out. It is fun to watch which colors come next. I had a few false starts with the hook size and pattern as I got it right for this yarn.

I will be needing it to keep me warm as winter has arrived here in Holland. We have cold temperatures and snow right now. Maybe having hung the lace coasters as snowballs in the window must have brought me luck since I love the snow. I am inside for the time being though watching the birds looking for crumbs in the snow and doing my handwork as I have an infection in the muscles of my rib cage. I am supposed to take it easy so it is the perfect excuse to read and crochet most of the day away.....

I am linking to Ginny's Yarn Along today.

Heidi

RAK January

I decided this year that I was going to start doing RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) gifts. There will be at least one a month. I thought it would be a positive way to go through my year by spreading some of the joy I get with my hobbies to others. And I get the best gift of all ... the gift of giving.

My first RAK gift is a cowl made of grey wool yarn for my quilting friend Saskia. She and I both have a pet that is of a certain age and each day is a gift with them. She walks her dog each weekend in the woods so I thought I needed to keep her warm as the February cold will be arriving soon. It turned out very soft and falls so nicely. I hope you will enjoy it Saskia and that is keeps you nice and warm.....

Heidi