The Market and the ATC Swop

Gee, so sorry folks, missed a week or two and for this I am just a bit embarrassed.  But .... I am taking part in my very first Craft Market, with my crochet work being the focus of my table.  Such a lot to plan and remember, nervous as a rabbit and nearly crippling my ten short little fingers, making hats and Christmas bunting, and rechecking my wares two and three times to make sure everything will be PERFECT on the day!  Much inspiration has come from wonderful Lucy at Attic 24 and the hugely successful Yarndale event held recently.  I will be decorating my table with her colourful bunting triangles draped across the front. The Market takes place on 27th October..... so much to do, but enjoying being so hectically busy!

Not well lit, but the idea is there!  

Such colourful little triangles.  

White stars ready for stringing together, just the beading to finish off for a little sparkle!  Now wait a minute, I see a small piece of x-stitch that has snuck into the picture .... oh my gosh, Santa is pleading for me to frame him in time for this Festive Season!!  

.. it's really a very lovely little project I started many years ago, old fashioned and vintagey looking, and I hope to frame it in time for Christmas this year .. watch this space! 

Here is a better pic.

Can anyone spot the teeny, teeny, detail I have to stitch to complete it?

Ten crochet squares are ready to be posted off, my first contribution to our exciting Yarn Bomb 2014 record attempt at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria next year.  There are workshops and get-togethers and knit-and-natter groups ... I'm thinking I should hold such a get-together myself, tea and coffee and cake, and lovely friends gathered in my lounge making squares ... 

Ali Burton at Very Berry Handmade is holding a 2nd ATC swop, click on the button on the right for more info ..... now for those (like myself) who have no idea what an ATC is, it stands for Artist's Trading Card.  In our swop, the participants are to make miniature works of art, no bigger than 2.5" x 3.5", mainly textile based, but with any embellishments like buttons, embroidery, beading and the like and the theme is "Autumn".   I am intrigued by the concept, and very excited to be part of it.  Gathering of bits and pieces of fabric, beautiful autumny-coloured threads in golds and yellows, russets and deep reds, sketching out little designs, and wondering how to fit an idea into a teeny little space is quite a challenge!  Once the little project is finished, I will post it along to my secret partner randomly chosen by Ali.  So I have just the address of my swop buddy and of course she has mine.  I hear making these little artworks is quite addictive.  Oh dear,  another addiction to add to crochet, chocolate, beautiful magazines and Downton Abbey!

Today is World Crochet Day - hope you have been creative!

It's also Friday 

have a wonderful weekend

Pat x

Yarn bombing !

A 

Colourful Tale

Yarn bombing is an amazing way of using colourful displays of knitted and crocheted wool and yarn in many shapes and sizes to decorate and beautify a public area.  A sort of 'fibre graffiti'  if you will.  Initially - around 2004/5 - the practice was used to cheer up cold and unfriendly places, pops of colour here and there, to lift the spirits of the local folk. 

In Dallas, a clever crafter - her name is Meredith, has just hosted her Sheepish Bloom Drop, where her readers all over the world were invited to make up flowers and anything flower related and tie/hang/attach their makes wherever they wished.  Pop over here, see the amazing flower creations ~ on gates and post boxes and door knobs ~ some with little notes attached with a kind word or two.  A little message to bring a smile to a passer-by's face.  

A magnificent tree resplendent in a crochet coat of many colours.

In August 2014, our very own Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria will be the location for a world record attempt for the largest yarn bomb! The aim is to cover the steps in crochet and knitted squares .... wow 

After the event, the squares will be donated to various charity organisations to make many, many blankets.

So, it's time to pick up those needles and hooks and get busy.  Just five or ten squares or however many, every one will make difference.  All names will be noted and entered as part of the attempt. Here is the link to find out more and a Facebook Page called Yarn Indaba also has information. 

  

Come on

 we CAN do this!!

 Let's place South Africa on the Yarn Bomb map! 

Participate and help to set the record.

A wintery looking Voortrekker Monument ...... 

Can you imagine 22,000 multicoloured squares covering the steps?  What an astounding sight it should be!

Have a brilliant day,

Pat xxx

Spring is here!

“Can words describe the fragrance of the

 very breath of spring?”

Neltje Blanchan

Aren't those just beautiful words?  As the days shorten to the north, we at the tip of the African continent, have our trees bursting forth teeny leaves and spring buds hinting of a glorious display to come. Just love the Azalea blooms and the flowers on the tree in my courtyard.

And in keeping with spring and bursting forth!! 

I have been busy as a bee making Granny Squares in many hues and colours, to send to lovely ladies I have met in a Granny Square Swop around the World.  Can't wait to start receiving my squares .. I will be donating the blanket made from the squares when it's done.

Until next time

Cheers Pat

Okey dokey ... we're off!

Introducing ........... me!

Hi and thank you for visiting my brand new blog.   I am new to this amazing platform, and hope you will be forgiving ….my IT savvy son is steering me along while I find my way.

I am so looking forward to sharing my projects, chatting about this and that, and making new friends along the way.  I am in awe of some of the wonderfully talented crafters I have encountered in the blogosphere, their blogs have inspired me to step up my game and to tackle projects I would have considered beyond my capabilities.

I have a very special project in progress.  Every year around the 18^th July, the citizens of the land are called upon to give up 67 minutes of their time, to be of service and assistance to those less fortunate among us.  It’s all in honour of our dear erstwhile president Mr Nelson Mandela, who dedicated 67 years of his life in service for humanity.  

So my contribution for 2014 is to crochet 67 little prem and newborn beanies which I will take to a hospital in an impoverished area and hand to the new moms in need of a helping hand.  

 And then I took part in a CAL (that’s Crochet-A-Long for the uninitiated!) with the Inner Hooker last year and made my first afghan ….. it was such fun being part of a group of great ladies, checking in every day, and encouraging each other. 

Did you know? The popular crochet African Flower Hexagon was designed by two South African ladies, Lounette Fourie and Anita Roussow and first published in a South African Magazine called Sarie in 2009.  It has been reworked into a couple of different Granny Square patterns, and is wonderful to use in making afghans.

That's my post done ..... phew  My photographs are improving daily (so happy) and hopefully my blogging skills will keep pace!

Thank you for reading, till next time ......

Stay strong, think happy thoughts and keep smiling!

Pat x