Wake up and smell the roses.... and other flowers

It would seem that Mother Nature has been listening to me...... and all my sorrowful lamenting about winter. This morning when I woke up the sun was out(after a few rainy,windy ,cold days) The birds were chirping, and everything looked beautiful and green, exactly like it does after a few gloomy days!

Beautiful Roses

My gorgeous garden is also filled with flowers, Roses, Hibiscus, little purple somethings,and more little colourful somethings( My darling Freida would be flower name dropping as she is so clued up - me -not so clever) Even my little Hyacinth is about to bloom. Now I find this absolutely inspiring, that in the middle of all this cold and miserable wintry weather, she gently touches plants and they spring into glorious bloom, its almost as if she were saying look at what is coming your way. So today's post is certainly not long and has no message, recipe, knitting, crochet(although I am working on a funky little project) It is just filled with flowers and happy thoughts that SUMMER WILL RETURN..... Thanks Mother Nature, we love you so much!

Part of Little Madame's Garden

Not Strictly Flowers but I love Rock Roses

These Happy Little Yellow Flowers Hang In
From our Neigbours Garden

The Back Garden

Japanese Flower Scarf-

During my recent  craft room renovation, I came across a long forgotten project! A beautiful Japanese Flower scarfy thing I started about 2 years ago!

A Pile Of Japanese Flowers

Pink, Purple And Cream Softness

 I first saw this gorgeous piece of hooky on Attic24- Lovely Lucy had made herself a beautiful shawl. It was gorgeous and I just had to have one but as I was just starting to crochet and it all looked VERY complicated to me. It kept playing on my mind, these beautiful elegant flowers! Lucy had no pattern for it but had bought a Japanese book, and worked it all out for herself!(She is SO clever) I needed it, I wanted it, I had to have it! So what does a modern hooky girl to do, I googled it! Now as you know , there are just millions, if not gazillions of things to sift through on the web. but I eventually found a lovely blog(Elizabeth Cat) and she had a pattern for them!

They were fairly easy and I think after 1 or 2 attempts I got it right! So off I went! Now I must tell you about a little downfall of mine, I always  have about 5 or 6 things on the go at once, its not because I  get bored, its because I get so  terribly excited by a new and beautiful thing, that I have to drop everything, and start on the new and beautiful item, be it knitting, sewing, or crochet. So why am I rambling on so much.... I got really far with my beautiful Japanese flower shawl and BAM! Something else caught my attention! I can't even tell you what it was, but I forgot all about my flowers....... until a few days ago during the craft  room clean out, I felt awful when I opened a sad looking packet and saw them, half finished,just begging to become something wonderful.......

So Pretty!

Pinned Together and Patiently Waiting

For those of you who would like to try these gorgeous flowers here is the pattern(Need to just say that it is the above mentioned blogs pattern, I am not sure if it her own pattern or if she got it elsewhere.) I have tweaked it  a bit here and there. I am going to try to show you how to do them, I have never tried to write "crochet" before so forgive me if it is complicated......

Treble crochet is as follows- (tr) yarn over, Insert your hook, yarn over, pull yarn through(3 loops on your hook) yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over pull through 2 loops - done!
Slip stitch is as follows-(sl st) insert your hook, yarn over,pull yarn back through the stitch then through the loop on your hook

Japanese Flowers Ashley's Way

::So to begin, chain 6 and join with a slip stitch

Round 1:: Chain 4(counts as 1 tr and 1 chain) then 1 tr and 1 chain into the chain circle. continue until you have 11tr, 12 little stitches all in all, as in the above picture

Round 2:: Chain  5 (counts as 1 tr and 2 chain) then work 1 tr into 1 chain opening, then 2 chains, (1 tr 2 ch) continue all the way around and fasten off.(looks like a little wheel)

Round 3:: Join the new colour and chain 4 then work 3 tr into that same space, then work 4 tr into the next 2 chain spaces, continue all the way around the little wheel! Sl st and fasten off

Round 4::Join next colour, and chain 5, sl st into the next space after 4 tr(you are making a base on which to work the petals) continue all the way around and sl st into the same space that you started in

Round 5:: Petals- make 8 tr onto the first base you have just done, then sl st into the same space as the next base sl st(make sense?) the sl sts will make the shape of the petals! Continue all the way around, sl st into the space of the very first petal and fasten off. VOILA!

Whew! A lot of brain power used there.  I really hope that makes sense to you and that you get them right!
So even though I have seen some beautiful little mice that I am dying to knit, I am totally, 100%, absolutely going to finish those flowers before I start anything else...... I have however changed my mine about the shawl, I am now going to make it into a snood! A continual scarf warm and soft and comfortable! Watch this space......

I could not resist putting these pictures of my friend Kate's little puppy( a Boston Terrier), we were all sitting on a blanket waiting for the girls to finish ballet, when sweet little Miss Perdy, made off with a ball of my wool! It was so funny and when we caught her, I immediately rolled it up and gave it back to her, I mean she knows a good bit of soft yarn when she see it! Clever Girl! xxx

It''s June - When did this happen?

I have suddenly woken up to the fact that it is JUNE!! Where, oh where has this half of the year gone? A wise woman (my Mother) once told me "Have children and watch time fly"  Not only is it June but we actually are half way through the month too..... In a way this makes me happy because that means we are heading back toward Summer(well I am being very optimistic about that one!) I miss Summer, in a big awful way! I suppose that is because in our 'little fishing village' everything is geared toward Summer...... Long hot summer days by the swimming pool are just the best thing ever, I don't even mind the humidity!
At the moment the days are short and the nights long, cold and chilly! Heaters are out, warm woolly socks and winter PJ's on and Winter linen on the beds!  Lovely hot soups and stews are on the stove and we are not even half way into Winter yet! The rest of my family all live in a very chilly part of South Africa(about 6 hours away) and always laugh when I say it is cold here, were they live, winter days mean -3 degrees and highs of 5 degrees( Actually for them, that is a heat wave!) Brrrrrrrrr!!!!

Yummy Things and Beautiful Shadows

Yes, I Have Silly Winter Slippers

Winter in the United Kingdom is a different story for me, I love it. We often go and visit Scotland over winter, and my British friends, shake their heads at us..... Mad South Africans.  Icy blue winter skies, snow and warm breath fog shooting out of your mouth is wonderful, but I am under no illusion, it is just a HOLIDAY! How they do that long cold Winter is a mystery to me.

Icy Snow in Scotland

Looking Very Chilly

So back to my Winter blues. Winter shadows come creeping into my house very early in the afternoon causing me to rush around putting on lights and heaters! Long hot baths are little Madame's favourite thing, and then under her blanket to watch TV.  She keeps asking if she can swim? "Uh if you want to freeze - sure go right ahead!" -which in Ashley speak, means NO WAY!! So if you are not bored to tears by my Winter ramblings by now... Why this long mournful post?

Long Winter Shadows

A few days ago I was reading a post but if I told you which one, I would be lying! The lovely lady that wrote it, said something to this effect, "the days are long, but the years are short" How true are these words? We are all so busy that we forget to enjoy what is staring us right in the face! A warm heater,  cold little feet placed on your back in the middle of the night, warm soup and toasty bread, a cup of steaming hot chocolate, a hot bath, a warm cuddle, beautiful winter shadows, true friends, and the unconditional love of your husband! So many people have none of this......

So I am going to try really hard to remember all this when next I am lamenting about Winter and remember to be THANKFUL, because I am pretty sure that this is as good as life gets xxx

To Blanket or Not to blanket ? That is the question...

When I first learn to crochet, it was by trial and error as I have mentioned in a previous post I am a lefty!!! And whenever I expressed a desperation to learn to crochet I was told, find a left handed person to teach you, or was met with lots of hearty, belly filled laughter – now I must tell you  I do not like being laughter at, laughed with yes, but laughed at NO!

So two years ago a South African magazine called Ideas ran a “teach yourself to crochet!” article.  I raced out bought myself some wool and a crochet hook – but as any mother will tell you, to find time to do anything with a toddler is Mission Impossible (I think Tom Cruise would have trouble!) A few weeks later I was invited on a weekend away with a few friends, I begged an hour to sit by myself and indulge..... After a pain staking hour, I was actually getting it right!! The angels sang and a ray of light hit me –well at least in my mind! But I was actually crocheting, all be it slowly. I have persevered and with the help of my talented domestic worker I have learnt to crochet –at this stage, I would very much like to stick my tongue out at the you-will-never-crochet-brigade, but that would be silly- or would it?

My first project was a granny square blanket, multicoloured and happy. I vividly remember my Granny Sheila having one, and wanted Little Madame to have a memory blanket too. It took me forever! But I am nothing if not resilient!   My big Ta Dah moment was met with an 'Oh that’s nice' but then again she was only 3! I now have the absolute joy of seeing her drag everywhere with her and sleep with it all the time –mmmmmm very satisfying!


Sweet Granny Square Blanket

Sweet Little Toes

While browsing (OK-buying!) at Sew Time, I saw some gorgeous green yarn and decided there and then to buy a few balls, the next blanket was born! I made 45cm striped squares, if that makes sense, 8 in all and then crocheted them together, the resulting blanket is very masculine and it was promptly claimed by LSO! I must admit it is my favourite blanket so far, and very warm and cosy, last winter, it became a bit of a race as to who got under it first in the evening!  This resulted in the next blanket.......

Warm and Cosy

I have mentioned Cute and Easy Crochet Book a number of times, and I found another granny square blanket, with pretty little flowers in the middle, lots of lovely neat little granny squares later, Ta Dah, my blanket was done – no more battle of the blankets in our house. It now lives in our spare room, draped over my antique rocking chair, the perfect accessory

Calm and Comfortable

A pretty baby blanket followed, you have all seen that one.......

Funky Baby Blanket

I must admit I have started one and lost interest, it often calls me and begs to become a gorgeous huge warm comfy thing, but it is a hexagonal pattern that needs loads of attention....  and time. I love the colours and really need to get it finished, but maybe not a blanket...... maybe a cushion cover.

So the title of this post is now clear, its autumn here and I feel a blanket coming on, but what sort- a ripple, a granny square, (which I am totally partial too) granny strips, just plain rows..... The mind boggles! Maybe I should  just go yarn shopping...... The gorgeous sunset yarn I bought in the UK I hear you ask? Well, I am still just looking at it, and yes it still makes me happy.....

 I will let you know......

PS:: I am working on a left hand Crochet tutorial; it is a work in progress.......

Beautiful Orchids

  

At the end of Summer, just after we had moved into our new house(about two years ago) SPINE  CHILLING SCREAMS erupted from our back garden...... Little Madame was hysterical....... Apparently there were lots of BIG spiders in a bush in the garden. Spiders and I - uh, not good friends! So armed with a can of Raid and my slipper I went to investigate, only to find LSO holding, comforting  and reassuring Little Madame.(with a rather bemused look on his face)  The spiders were in fact flowers, that belong to a very uninteresting looking plant in the back of our garden.  This rather plain and dreary plant had burst into glorious bloom! And the pictures in this post are the breath taking flowers that they produce!

Now I am sure that you can see that they do indeed look a bit like a rather large spider! I have no ideas what the 'proper' name for them is, so they are now simply called Spider Orchids.  Poor Little Madame took a wide berth around this plant every time we went outside but has since realised that they will not hurt you!

So for the last two years my home if filled with Spider Orchids, every room gets a vase full! They are also wonderfully fragrant, not a cloying sweet smell but subtle and heady. The bottle you can see in the picture above is an old bottle we found while digging a deep hole for a tree. We found two, this one(which my Father-in-law seems to thinks is an old chutney bottle) and a milk bottle with a date of 1945 on it, I am amazed that they stood the test of time, they are old weathered and just beautiful. They have become makeshift vases, and always get comments from visitors to out home.  I just love the surprises that keep popping up in my garden!

Now I would be lying if I told you I took these gorgeous pictures, the camera is mine, a new Cannon Ixus(highly recommended) My dear friend Kerry, was playing with said camera and produced these amazing shots! She is a wiz at mosaic, sewing and I  even saw a knitted scarf happening once, but am not sure if she ever finished it.(Let us know if you did)  What I am trying to say is that she is very creative, and  after seeing these picture I am sure you will agree with me that she should be doing more photography! Thank you Kerry, they are gorgeous pictures!

The blooming season for them is over now and as always,  I am sad when the last beautiful bloom fades, alas I know winter is on the way and I will have to wait another whole year for my favourite flower to bloom...... But...... Worth the wait, wouldn't you say! xxx

A Dream-Come-True Room

Ever since I began to craft, I have spent an extraordinary amount of time fantasising about having my own little craft room,  a place where I could have all my equipment out, a peaceful little space of my own! For as long as I can remember I have had  storage boxes with my "stuff" packed away, with effect very time I wanted to do anything vaguely crafty, I would have to haul boxes out, unpack what I needed and then pack away again, irrelevant of whether I was finished or not!  I dreamt and fantasised about how it would look, in actual fact I  have spent an obscene an amount of time dreaming about what MY DREAM ROOM would look like!

When we bought our house it came with an extra little room...... to LSO this meant study... to me this meant, no, SCREAMED craft room. Who do you think won this prized room?  Alas not me! Luckily, the previous owner liked wine( I mean, honestly, who doesn't like wine?) and had dug out a tiny wine cellar under said study!!! LSO had delusions when he though he was going to fill it up with wine, I wanted it, I had to have it, after much negotiation, I got it!!!

Now a lot of renovating needed to be done to our house as it was build in the 1950's (and with all due respect to the previous owner, it was stuck in a 50's time warp) so my little room took a serious back seat! It smelt damp, was dark, had a leaking window, so every time it rained it flooded and was decorated BADLY(look at the picture below, the flooring says it all) A desk and a rickety old book case, came with the room,  but I was besides myself with joy...... I had a CRAFT ROOM!

For the past 2 years I have lived with this room in the sad state it was in,(in all honesty, I hardly went down there, and it  just became a dumping ground) but about 3 weeks ago I decided that I had to take serious action, clean it out, get it painted and make it the happy place I had always wanted! And due to very generous friends, this has happened very quickly over the last two weeks, A dear friend let me buy left over laminate flooring, another dear friend's mother(thank you Trish!), gave me a counter top and shelving unit  that you will see in the pictures, and my dream started to happen!  

The Room As It Was-SAD

I began by clearing everything out! Mission! And got rid of so much junk that I have collected over a short space of time, ripped up the awful linoleum(YAY!!!!!!!!) and painted it white!

Candy Pink Stripes!

Then Little Madame and I measured out vertical stripes on 1 wall and painted them pink!(a much debated colour between her and I-she wanted purple, me -not so much! Did I mention I share this space with her) she actually paints really well for a little peeps! Next came the floors, a contractor(Graham) laid them in a few hours, with me peeping every other minute! And literally the next day a delightful man named Adrian came and fitted my counter, shelves and a set of drawers that I decided to purchase from him!  These 2 gentleman have totally restored my faith in contractors, Graham(Floors) arrived 2 days earlier than expected ,and when I called Adrian(Fitter) to tell him, he said he could squeeze the job in the next day. It was done in 2 weeks! I was besides myself with joy and happiness!!

Laminate Floors - Done

Counters,Shelves and Drawers - Done!

See The Stairs, It Really Is Underground!

I told Little Madame that we would only move in over the weekend, but as everything had been sorted into neat store bought drawer sets, one for sewing, one for yarn, it was easy and anyway, I was so excited that we moved in there and then!



All My Bits And Bobs Awaiting Their New Home



Sewing Machines New Home!

Books and Little China Girls



Working In Her Space

Her Laptops - Made At School



Yarn and Sewing

 So we are all moved in, and am dreaming about many happy days of sewing and crafting that are going to take place. Oh and did I mention how school girly excited I am? I did? Did I mention how verryy H-A-P-P-Y I am? I did?  Well let me say it again, very loudly I AM SO VERY HAPPY! xxx

Ta Dah!