shoe heaven {+knit leg warmer pattern}

They came today...my shoes.
I bought them on bidorbuy.

I tried them on as well as some "idea" clothing sets of what to wear when we go to Paris.

with the crocheted fingerless mittens I crocheted.

Like walking on clouds... {surprisingly}
It was hot today but I didn't want to take them off...

Oh and I wanted to show these leg warmers I crocheted too. They are super chunky. I used two skeins of yarn 4.5g a chocolate brown and my favorite green.

PATTERN
Cast on 20 stitches with the two skeins.
I used 12mm knitting needles.
Knitted them 1 row knit, 1 row pearl until desired length.
I left the one side loose and the other side I just did a row of single crochet around to make it a bit tighter. (the part that sits under your new)

My blanket is coming on nicely...I managed about 10 squares today.

I have a question in ending this post....

So the cat is out the bag...hubby and I are going on a romantic week-long break to Paris. {Please don't hate me!} I have been before but it was only for about 8 hours! I took the Eurostar from London to Paris for the day with two of my best friends. It was amazing and I really thought it was the first and last time I would ever see Paris...so I am thrilled to be going back for 8 whole days and nights with my hubby!!! {kids will be with a trusted friend of mine}.

We are going to be in Paris for 4 days and nights and then 3 nights in Chennonceau visiting the chateaux {hiring a car and driving there} and then the last night back in Paris.

{images taken from google images}








So my question is....March is pretty cold in Paris this time of year yeah? Do I need like really thick jackets, hats, gloves, scarves, or could I wear what I want to wear like in the above photos?
(those are thick legging type stockings, not just ordinary stockings) I realize I might need a jacket over all of that.

I heard three words for when I go: layer, layer and layer.



{last time I did not get a chance to see any of the main attractions ie up the Eiffel Tower or the Lourve}.

Any suggestions on what clothing to wear would be appreciated and if you have been before, what did you enjoy and what would you skip?

Summer days...

It is so hot here hovering around 38 degrees on a daily basis.
Some days are just too hot to do anything.
Too hot to crochet,
Too hot to blog,
Too hot to do pretty much everything!

But then it passes...the sun goes down and the cool, night air folds her arms around everything and blows gentle breezes filled with relief and promise of a cooler day to follow...





I know before long, these long summer days will pass....so for now I enjoy them with my children.


Today we donned our cozies, and instead of swimming in the pool, put the sprinkler on the lawn like "back in the day" and ran through it. Nothing as exhilarating as just BEING and enjoying the moment. Remembering those carefree, sweet days of childhood and reliving them with your children.


As simple as running through a sprinkler and I feel brand new today.

Why don't you try it? Try something that you haven't done since you were a child....be carefree, be spontaneous, be imaginative.


JUST BE...

Crochet stacks. The begining.

hmmm....I can't seem to just work on one project at a time! I have now started a THIRD blanket...I know...tsk tsk....
I get bored doing the same stitch over and over again and then find myself either falling asleep and waking up to some jumbled mass of stitching in my hands or putting it down and forgetting about it altogether....for days, weeks or months.

So my solution is so switch from one to another -that way it keeps me interested and motivated and i get all three done (albeit a bit slower!)

so here is my current blanket...meet my little stacks...


gotta have a cuppa coffee while I do these...keep the energy levels up!


oh and I joined pinterest.. you can find me here.
I have a board with some of my own crochet projects and other crochet and knitting inspiration here.

crochet: fingerless gloves{+pattern}

Yesterday I made some fingerless mittens, so quick and easy! I started them yesterday and finished them off today! They are so cozy and comfy, almost like you are not wearing them at all. I think these are for me as gloves always make my hands feel claustrophobic and sweaty, even in cold weather. These feel like they will still do the job and allow you to carry on with chores and craft things without feeling like you are all fingers!!


the pattern
I started with a chain of 34 or 35 and then started a half treble stitch(htr) into each chain.
Ch1 at the end of the row,turn and carry on with a htr into each ch.
At the end of each row ch1.


I can't remember how many rows I did, but you can keep trying it on {just wrap it around your hand} to see the length you desire. When you are happy with the length cast off and then wrap it around your hand and use a stitch marker either end of the opening for your thumb. Then all you do is use afgan stitch to stitch along the side, leaving the opening for your thumb.

I also used an afghan stitch all the way around the wrist part and then went and did a shell edge
which is: 3 dcr into one chain, 1 st into the next chain repeated all the way around.
oh and I used a size 4mm hook and a double knit 4ply yarn.

And I did an afghan stitch around the opening for the thumb just for a bit of contrast and to strengthen it.

I like the chunky look and feel, but if you wanted something more subtle, I would suggest a smaller size hook and a thinner yarn.

Crochet inspiration...

Googling crochet over the weekend...can't get enough...


Found some serious crochet inspiration....

Virginia Blue

i crochet {pages and pages of just linked photos to tutorials and projects done by others}
{don't go to this site unless you plan to stay up till about 2 in the morning!}

Emma lamb - I am in love with her beautiful photos and projects.

Sarah London - I didn't think it was possible to make a sweater out of granny squares look cool and wearable, but she did it!

Carina

yarn around hook

I think I have a problem,....at the moment I have 3 blankets in progress...I keep switching from one to the other as all 3 are so different and I get bored...but I am worried how long it is going to take to complete them!! I will post some more pics soon!

Vintage Journal

Hello as I said..the dork would be back so I am! hee hee.

Here is my new little journal for sale. They seem to get snatched up pretty quickly and I so enjoy making them, making sure each journal is unique and special.

Here are some images of what is inside.





A detailed PDF can be downloaded from my shop.

Confession: I'm just a dork...

{picture of my cat, just because!}

t's true. I admit it. Hello, my name is Bonnie and I am a dork!
I love computers, I love photoshop, I love code.

I'm not the kind of girl to go and get her nails done or spend hours at the hair salon. I would rather work in the garden or get my hands all sticky with glue and paint. I would rather be in a beautiful garden taking photos of a rose from a hundred different angles.

I would rather sew or craft or make something than watch TV.
In fact, If I watch 2 hours of TV a week it's a lot.
However, I never miss 'Fringe', it's about the only thing I am hooked on.
And 'Come dine with me'-what a fun program!

Speaking of sewing and crochet..I made this little hello kitty bag for my daughter last night. It's just two small granny squares sewed together with some chains for the handles and I sewed some lining into the insides. She adores hello kitty and loves her little bag!


I would rather stay at home and crochet than be at the mall shopping.
In fact I hate malls, I can't stand shopping and I dislike crowds.

I think my dorkiness seeps into all areas of my life...I am a dorky mom too.
I slip little notes into my kids lunch box's, imagining their smiles as they see a little piece of
paper from their mom in there...
What's on the notes? Just random things....a quote, a picture, sometimes just a smiley face...
I just want them to know I thought of them.


Even my dreams are dorky...Last night I had a dream about planets that fell to earth but they were tiny, about the size of watermelons. The outer layer fell off, the middle disintegrated and the planet became mangoes which we ate. Who dreams such things??!! Obviously only a real dork.

So my friends...I leave you in all my dorkiness!
I will be back later today with a second post (as only a dork would do) to show you a new mini journal I have made for my shop.

She woke up today feeling inspired...

{image fromhttp://www.gudrunsjoden.com/}

It's 9am and already I am feeling inspired, crafty, my head swimming with possibilities of future projects, current projects and the feeling I must do something productive with my day!

I stumbled across these amazing blogs this week...

Day to Day
A very crafty lady and mom who makes beautiful things!
And even her daughter (who can't be much older than 12) has an adorable blog! Blythe
you must check it out, it is so sweet. I love her art journals!


The ramblings of Dottie Angel

Such a beautiful blog, so vintage-inspired. I fell in love with this beautiful crocheted blanket she made.

Off to create!!

I am in love....

...with these shoes from Ruche...



One day I will buy something from them!


But for now, I got these gorgeous shoes on bidorbuy and am waiting patiently for them to arrive... Oh I cannot wait to sink my feet into them...winter cannot come faster enough just so I can wear them...ha ha!!
I will definitely be wearing these in about 4 weeks time... walking over cobbled streets and wearing leggings and long, flowing shirts and some knitted or crocheted leg warmers...drinking very expensive coffee at a little sidewalk cafe, gazing adoringly at my husband and missing my kids very much! {but enjoying the break!}



I cannot wait....


want to take a guess where I am going?
clue: it involves a long flight...

Hydrangeas

A little while ago the kids and I went to Vergelegen -a lovely place to go for a walk.
Here are some photos from our outing.

Some beautiful Hydrangeas {one of my favorite flowers}


some pretty roses

me...
and a gorgeous fountain.

spider web.
It's great to enjoy summer still but some days are just so hot all we can do is stay indoors! Sometimes it's even too hot to swim in our pool, only by 5pm when the shade is covering it, can we venture outside! But the days are slowly changing...March marks the start of autumn for us, although March is normally quite warm still.

I must say April is a lovely time of year...not too hot and not too cold sort of like September which is the start of our spring...two of my favorite months weather wise!

So are you a winter or a summer person?

living on the edge...

A while ago I crocheted some edging onto some towels...love how it came out.



I actually haven't picked up my hook and yarn in weeks now...these projects are all from the holidays. Since school started again it's been so busy and it's been so hot, I haven't felt like working some hot yarn around my knees!

But I really do want to and need to get back into it...After seeing my lovely Friend Emma's beautiful stripey blanket coming on so nicely...I thought I must get on with mine, or before I know, winter will be here and I have no nice, warm, cozy blanky to keep me snug while curled up watching episodes of Fringe!

These squares are huge though...around 16x16cm, I still have about 80 to go!!


Psstt...just uploaded some new embellies to my shop! Some in my Etsy too.






If I haven't dropped by you in a while...sorry..I promise I will!
Thanks for the comments as always! :)

Shop update: Rose Journal and new embellishments

Hello!
I have some new goodies I just added to my store.
This one-of-a-kind journal.


(for detailed photos of the pages inside, you can view the downloadable PDF on my store page with full color photographs!)

Only one of these available!

And these funky pop-onto-your-page embellishments! (set of 6)



Please visit my store page to see them and also to sign up for my NEW store email newsletter which will let you know new products as they go into the shop, specials, sales and lots more!
Sign up here.