African Flowers..

African flowers are popular little things aren't they!? I have to admit I haven't made any for quite a while and my African Flower blanket above has been relegated to the UFO pile. I really do have a short attention span. Anyway, I still - months after even mentioning them here - get the odd message asking how you make them. So I thought I'd post some links.

First Heidi Bears (where I learned how to make them) has a picture and worded tutorial HERE in English and Spanish (I think!)

Secondly, there is a Flickr group HERE that not only has lots of completed African Flower inspiration, they have the tutorial right at the bottom of the page I have just linked to. Scroll down. They also have a number of discussions with translations of the tutorial.

Hope this helps! x

Experience.

Just a quickie to show an update of mumzy's birthday blanket (which may well become mumzy's christmas blanket!) I'm still loving making these cute little flowers, although now I 'get' why people join as they go. It's going to take me just as long to sew all the ends in the back as it has making the blanket! Never mind, that's experience for you. The granny stripe did come a little further along but is now in the process of being stripped back because I didn't like the colour combos. Again, experience. I am also looking for a pretty flower motif that I can sew on to my daughters' curtains. They are rather plain - too plain for me! I'll post an update when I'm done.

On the life front, uni work is pretty much consuming every waking minute. Sometimes I wish I went into a subject that is a little more arty. But then I think would I want to be creative if I had to be creative? Most of the things I make are spontaneous. If I had to complete projects I may well feel a little restricted. Or perhaps not. We'll never know. I do enjoy psychology though. Even if it sometimes makes my head hurt!

Anyway, I'm off for a whistle stop blog tour and then to the books! Hope you are having a fabulous Tuesday!

More african flowers.....

I'm still not too good today, so to cheer me up even more we have a collection of my favourite african flower beauties found over at flickr. Sigh. Aren't they just gorgeous?




1. IMG_5752, 2. My first African Flower bag!, 3. From Winter to Summer, 4. Crocheted Soccer Ball, 5. a new bag to be, 6. Done at last ?, 7. African Flower Cushion, 8. Crochet blanket, 9. African flower bag "Spring"

African Flowers and Eugh.

I had to say it didn't I. Those four little words. I. Feel. Just. Dandy.......Well not anymore! In the words of my 11 year old. I jinxed it. I spent yesterday in bed thinking I was going to die (a little overdramatic, I know) and today I still feel off. Not running to the bathroom sick. Just off. So in order to cheer me up a little I am posting an update of my african flower blanket.




It makes me smile. I love this pattern.

Now I am off to induldge in some self pity and duvet washing. Hope you are all well x

Busy Busy Busy

Phew! Things have been hetic here in the creative haven. But there are a few piccy's I want to show and tell. First off we have a pic of what I have to work with at the moment. You will remember from my previous post that I'm trying to use up my stash...


Next is an update of my granny stripe - I was hoping to have got further with this but like I said busy busy busy....
(I have no idea why that was all underlined and I have no idea how to get rid of it!)



and finally it's my mumzy's birthday at the end of the month so these babies are going to be whisked up into something special for her.....



Righty, well that's it for today's show and tell - have a wondeful weekend!

Terrie xx

Rain Rain Go Away...

Still raining here in my neck of the woods. Summer is starting to feel a far and distant memory. Which is typical because me and my lovelies are going camping on Friday! I'm thinking jumpers and thick socks will be making it into the suitcase after all. Oh and a blighty must, raincoats.

Anyway as the summer holidays start to draw to a close and the excitement of six weeks without school wanes, nerves are starting to show in my house. With the changing weather comes changes in other parts of our lives. New classes, new schools and final year of uni for me. I like this time of year though, it's refreshing after the summer holidays. Oh dear I'm rambling....

The reason for this post is to show off the indoor craftiness we have been partaking in at home in order to shelter from the weather. A couple of years ago I decided I was going to try my hand at scrapbooking - after spending a fortune on pretty pretty papers, my interest waned and my goodies were stashed away in a deep dark box. Well I decided it was time to say goodbye to my fresh pretty pretty papers and let the kids loose on them. This is what they made......



Cute eh? I love to see them all creative. I should have let them have my scrapbook stash yonks ago. Anyway, while they were occupied cutting, sticking and making a humongous mess, I pulled out the old hook and yarn again. Here we have MORE African flowers! I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them,they certainly won't go together, I'm just loving making these little pretties at the moment.




Oh dear it seems my camera might have a smudge on the lens, but you get the picture. Well now I must go and start dinner and stop chatting, drooling over flickr and chatting some more.

Have a lovely (dry) Wednesday!

African Flowers and Sunshine on a rainy day

Ohhh I've had a lazy day today, the weather here has been terrible. Lot's of rain and very chilly. We (my three munchkins and I) spent the day watching films and having cuddles. Which was a lovely reprieve from the usual craziness. So whilst Nanny McPhee entertained my children, I attempted my very first African flower.


Not perfect and I really don't like the pale pink border but I enjoyed doing it and shall be making more. Of course my inspiration for even attempting an African flower comes from the likes of Min Inspiration, Elizabeth Cat and RettGrayson but I thought I'd add just a couple of my faves from Flickr (also you can see what mine is supposed to look like!). I'm not entirely sure of the 'etiquette' regarding featuring other peoples pictures in your blog so if your picture is here and you don't want it to be just let me know.

1. African flowers, 2. "African flower" bags, 3. Berry Boost Bag, 4. African flowers crochet hexagons, 5. African Flower Love, 6. POSSIBLE LAP BLANKET CHEAT!

...and lastly I just wanted to thank the ladies who left me lovely comments! What a scrummy feeling it is to open up blogger and see someone has taken the time to comment - it really brought sunshine to my rainy day! Thankies again.

Hope your Thursday's were drier than mine! xxx