two teeny weeny mice

Dear Family & Friends

Mid day is just too hot and unbearable to fiddle in the garden these days...instead, I took my crochet hook and a bit of thread and came up with two crochet mice in just a matter of minutes:) It is so 'kawaii' - CUTE - measuring just half an inch big (perhaps a little bit under)!!

The two girls loves my creation...so one of them took the little mice for photo shoot in and amongst the flowers in my garden.

The two mice visited my Hostas!

They also checked out my daylilies which are blooming everywhere...a flower a day!

Oh you won't believe it...these mice are too small that they managed to wedge in between the rose petals for a sniff!

This one managed to get into the centre of this very bright yellow flower...I don't know the name of this flower but it's bright colour is colouring our garden here and there!!

After wandering in the garden, the two mice got into my bright lime green garden reclining chair...opppss...they better move on as I intend to go back to this favourite chair to crochet a few more of these teeny weeny mice...

We're all having fun here...I hope you are too -  right where you are!

Yours

Just What You Do In Summer

Dear Family & Friends

We're keeping busy... but I'm shying away from my garden chores these days... just too hot for me, and by late afternoon when sun's gone down, 'mossies' (mosquitoes) start coming out too....so, I have to let go of the weeds however big they want to be:!

Crocheted basket by recycling old T-shirts 

I've then went and find some of the old unfinished craft and that fills my time indoor these days. 

Sunset by the lake

The rest of us who are cyclist enthusiasts... they wait till sunsets and dash out for a quick bike ride. There's always the big lake to cycle to...not far from home...and sunset view is spectacular there.

Once the sun's gone...it's time to head back home. Tomorrow will be another new day:)

Hope you had a nice day today and a new happy tomorrow:)

Yours

Projects Done

Dear Family & Friends

For months and months, I've worked on this crochet project whenever I get the free time. I've enjoyed it a lot. It is another of my frugal project. Not a single penny was spent on it because it was an old cardigan of the girls that won't fit them anymore. I really like the cotton cream thread, so I undid and retrived the five strand-thread and crocheted each separated strand of thin thread for this project!

The frugal crochet project is done

Crochet is an activity that I find so restful for my mind...a de-stressing exercise. As I finished using up all the thread, the size of my project had to end too. ...oh... a bit sad for me...but, I will find another one to work on later. 

My favourite crochet design project to date

Perhaps not everyone can crochet or enjoy crocheting...but I know we all have this creative aspect within all of us... The recent easter celebration proved once again that every grandmothers/mothers in our village, are all gifted in decorating easter eggs. We received quite a few boiled eggs painted and decorated in various ways...all very beautiful! I'm too impatient to do this kind of craft, not even for my children.

A few of the many creatively decorated easter eggs the girls received this year.

So, I wish you a beautiful and creative day today.

Yours

Crochet Edging Pattern

Dear Family & Friends

If you are like me who just can't resist antique crochet patterns...well, I've found a website: www.antiquepatternlibrary.org.  This have kept me really busy. Yes, very busy coveting everything I saw...I want to do all of it, if only possible.

The truth is: with just two hands, homemaking, gardening and supervising two children homeschooling...it's not always possible. But when time gives in...I definitely want to do this edging design. It's not too complicated and who could resist real crochet laces?

Be positive and have a nice day too:)

Yours

Failed Crochet Idea

Dear Family & Friends

I've been doing a few crochet squares which gave me a few challenges...yes, I like crocheting various complicated designs...but what to do with so many crochet squares? That's when I thought that I could piece them together like a patchwork quilt.

My failed crochet squares made for a quilt patchwork idea:(

Only to realize, that actually it didn't measure up as nice as I thought it would be. So, I undid all crochet squares and started another new crochet project instead.

a glimps of my ongoing flower lace crochet. Don't you think it matches the flower cupcakes?

I've started a pretty lacey design and am still working on it...it's getting bigger by the day...so perhaps if I don't get fed up...it will turn into a nice table cloth or bed drape?? I hope I could finish this before my gardening chore calls me soon.

Hope you are having a good fun working on the task you're given too:)

Yours

Snowflake Crochet

Dear Family  & Friends

Here's a snow flake crochet I've been doing recently. It didn't occur to me that it seems so timely as this design was started and finished in a wintery January month.

It all started with one. Then came another....

Soon, there were a few to join together and viola!....I'm so pleased with this project. Now, I must find a place in the house for it to settle,  to make us a homey home:)

There's more crochet projects that I would like to share with you... crochet might be old fashioned but I think creating and keeping busy is as well...but I like being old fashioned...Don't you?

Yours

Chocolate Indulgence

Dear Family & Friends

Do you find that when you feel cold you just want to eat chocolates and more...? Or is this just my lame excuse to get into indulgence?!

With the recent holiday season, chocolates are just tempting us everywhere. I specially like this one ... and I think there's just too many nice European chocolates around...so I can't help myself....

Crocheting and chocolates are my best friends for the moment....

This one is filled with marsipan...so, I'm not going to blame myself for liking it  ;P

Well, there's the Swiss makers who continues on producing products like chocolates....now...Am I to be blamed again?  OK...once winter is over.....I better replace this habit with some healthy food indulgence from the garden....but for now....this will be my good excuse to enjoy life.

What have you been craving lately?

Yours

Crocheted Lampshade

Dear Family & Friends

Sometime ago, I shared with you a big crochet doiley made for a friend with the intention of turning it into a lamp shade. Well, recently, I found myself at their home and caught sight of the lit lampshade. So, I couldn't resist taking some photo of it to show you.

I also examined how she creatively shaped it into a bowl shape. I understand she starched it well and draped it over a bowl till it dried up.

Afterwards, she lined and stitched a net clothing underneath.

The cherry top of the lampshade is actually a ping pong ball which she cleverly painted to match the wooden stand.

If I have an old lampshade stand in need of a shade, I would definitely like to try a project like this one. The light that shines through the lacey shade just gives the room a lovely cosy feel:)

If my clever friend happens to read this post... please know that we were at your home while you weren't around and I've evidently enjoyed your artwork ;P

Yours

Cool Summer Outing

Dear Family & Friends

When the weather warms up, where do you fancy escaping to? Bulgaria got the sea as well as the surrounding mountains to escape summer heat. As for us, we prefer to seek the coolness of the mountain areas.

We packed picnic lunch and was aiming to go to a national park in the mountain...but we couldn't find the place and ended up in this river place!

We were not ready for this...but the girls just can't resist getting into the water and got themselves very wet!

I didn't! After eating our picnic under the shade of these trees, with huge stone as our picnic table and chairs..the explorers went exploring and carried on with their fun and games!

I guarded the picnic leftover. Then, I saw this huge tree... it was staring at me like a big octopus...I didn't find it comfortable...nor was my stone chair comfortable...so I decided to leave the group and sat in the car instead...

While waiting for them .... I crochet a pretty red bon boni bag! I also had a great time:)

Well, you keep cool and happy this summer too. Chill out!

Yours

Rainy Days For Housework

Dear Family & Friends,

It's been raining gently the whole day long. There's enough water for us to collect into our rain barrel as well as good blessings for all the seeds and seedlings that I've been planting for the past few days. The grass seeds laid on the lawn will also be so happy with this rain...and so is my husband:) 

As for me, it's time to have some quiet time and get back to the many home projects that I have been doing...here and there. I think this tiny flower crochet throw, which was done with one little flower at a time, can be carried on to a much bigger size project.

Another red crochet lace that I'm working onto the red toille material that I love so much...could also be continued.

In between this and that, I think a cuppa after another, and another, would be welcomed too... as the rain is forecasted to continue on all day long.

Mind you, we don't have rain everyday...so, I might as well take the pleasure and fit in things needed to be done...as they say:  God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done.

Yes, after tea break and crafting...there's dishes in the kitchen sink calling my name too. Got to attend to all these things...I know   ;D

Well. you also go and enjoy all that each day brings.

Yours, 

Moth & Roses Vintage Crochet Lace Starts

My Dear Friends S&B

I'm saying this again: I am forever grateful to you and still feeling such great excitement with the unfinished vintage crochet you've gave me...I'm on it literally day and night...hooking away in between daily chores! It's addictive ...I know!

I started the Daffodil design of your great ancestors'...but made a lot of mistakes! Many a days, I find myself doing and undoing it again and again! The problem was I couldn't understand the design nor have I ever done a large lace with corner crochet....

In the end, I came to a conclusion that I had to start learning how to do this project right from the beginning on my own, before I could continue somebody's work.

So, here I am...as I didn't want to have two Daffodil Lace Design... I started the other option of practising on the other vintage design in the same magazine. The Moth and Rose....

At this point of time, I'm confident and I can say that I know how to do this type of laces...I will be posting my progress now and again till it's finished for record purpose...By then, my next obvious project will be to tackle the beautiful Daffodil Design that your Great Grandma started.

All for now...to be continued.

Take care always,


Annie

Granny's flower crochet needs new leaves

Last week, when we went to visit a recent friend, aside from the unfinished vintage crochet lace I inherited... I also became a recipient of a 40+ year old child's bed crocheted cover!

It's beautiful! I can understand the value of crochet workmanship and to think of the many hours it took to finish this!!

Unfortunately, some of the green leaves surrounding the flowers got worn out....but it's something that I could H A P P I L Y  fix!

Another "can't wait" to get my hands on to.... I start fidgeting with great excitement just thinking about it!! but... I have to contain myself...after all, I'm still working on something else...yes, my daisy white flower crochet with red background...it's coming along good...so far, got 81 flowers done...with 300 more to go?? who knows...! :)

Hopefully I could post and show you the finished work soon... 

Century Old Crochet Heirloom

Guess what?! I've just received a vintage heirloom from a grandma or possibly even greatgrandma of our retired English friend!! Sooo precious a gift!

Here's what I've got!! A dozen plus of very fine white crochet threads that was wrapped in a paper bag and kept so well for years!

With it came an unfinished crochet lace for a table cloth. This must be so old (100years??) and has turned cream in colour by now.

 

See how fine it is! I suppose this crochet project is about 1/3work done. It was passed on to 3 ladies in the family of different generations... 

I wonder why it wasn't finished? Time constraint? Lost skill thru generations?? 

It also came with this "Daffodil Tabelcloth Crochet Design" pattern. It's so fragile...pages got worn out...I couldn't find any printed date but it was bought for a sum of  4 d !!

I also got a crochet stitch booklet. I suppose this was bought by a lady of the later generation to enable her to finish the crochet project. This booklet is priced at 6 pence. (even currency term has changed at this time)

Basic crochet stitches were illustrated... 

along with some crochet patterns

I've also found an old exercise book....

As the Daffodil Crochet Design pattern got so worn out, it was then recopied to this notebook for future guidance.  

I find the handwriting so interesting too:)

Ohhhhh....I feel so giddy with excitement, looking forward to a free time where I could continue and finish this crochet project of the century!