truitje voor Nils

Vorige week vroeg Femke me om een truitje te breien voor haar zoontje, Nils.  Hij is 2 jaar en ze wou graag een lekker warme handgebreide trui.  Met veel uitleg over wolsoorten stuurde ik haar naar de wolwinkel.  Ze koos mooie bruine wol met 50 % acryl in.  Misschien niet zo zuiver wollig, maar wel lekker zacht en vormvast voor een knulletje van 2 en ik denk ook wel makkelijker dat je het in de machine kan wassen.  Ze wou ook een versiering op het voorpand, een soort blokken in een lichtere kleur. 
Dit is het resultaat.  Vanavond komt ze er om.  Heerlijk om eens zo'n klein project er tussen door te nemen;  Wat schiet zo'n klein truitje lekker op.

wristwarmers

I haven't stopped wearing the noro wristwarmers !  They are sooo pleasant to wear.  So I thought about making another pair. Cuffs, or wristlets are so simple to make, no trouble about thumbs or fingers -much easier than mittens.  You can finish a pair in an evening. So I spend some time on ravelry (hours, as usual)  searching for the best pattern and found this ajour pattern that I liked.  Originally it was with beads, but I left that part out.  I am a bit fed up with beads after the holidays.  I used a skein of greenish beige cotton that I found in my stash.  This is the result :

very elegant, don't you think ?

the pattern is available as a free ravelry download.  You can find it here :
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/madrid-2

noro wool finished !

Remember the 2 skeins noro wool I bought in Ghent ?  Well, I have made a really warm set with it.
They became a shawl and wristwarmers.  I wanted the stripes to change every other row, and therefore I knitted with the 2 skeins, alternating colours every 2 rows.  It is just plain and easy knitting.  To finish it, I crocheted a trimming in a mohair greyish brown that goes well with the colour scheme.  

the brooches I made of old buttons.

the wristwarmers are making it an 'ensemble'

the many colours go with almost all my outfits

With the remaining wool I knitted I-cord (I used my magic loom, it took me only a couple of hours to make)
and joined the long ribbon together.  Then I twisted it into a necklace.  It keeps me real warm, and the many colours go with most of my outfits.

This idea came from my sister. 

you can twist it any way you like

Then there was still some wool remaining, and I thought about using it up.  When I saw 2 empty little glass bottles I had a go at crocheting and gave them a little cover.  turned out fine, and just enough wool for the 2.  I am now the proud possesor of 2 original vases. 

originally just bottles of cream, they have upgraded to unique vases.

fimo experiment

Well, during these calm days, I have spent a bit of time with my new hobby : fimo clay.  I just love the colours and the way you can blend all this together.  I have made another necklace in dark blue beads, with some cupper paint on it.  The result is very nice with a jeans outfit. 
Then i got tired of the necklace, and put the beads together over a little glass bowl, and baked that in the oven. The clay took on the shape of the bowl and now I have a little green fimo pot.  I put some marshmallows in. 
Still thinking of other applications for fimo now. 

 

the lace doily I made too, long time ago

this necklace was fun making 

 

 

and yes, the nose are finally made, with orange fimo

happy new year ! gelukkig nieuwjaar !

Aan al mijn lezers : een spetterend nieuwjaar toegewenst, met veel creatieve ideetjes en voldoende tijd om alles uit te werken en te vervaardigen.  Een goede gezondheid voor jou en voor al wie je dierbaar is.  Een plezant jaar, vol dagen om naar uit te kijken. En tenslotte ook nog veel zin om te bloggen... !

to all my readers : a wonderful new year, with loads of creative ideas and plenty of time to make all the wonderful things you imagine.  A good health to you and all those that you hold dear.  A pleasant year, with many happy days to look forward to. And last but not least, time to keep us informed via the blog..!

more zahia workshops

I haven't had the time to publish these images of another workshop I followed at Zahia.  But in December I made another set of lovely jewels.
This time it was all about working with old venetian glass beads called millefiori.  They were originally ment to be buttons, but never got to that stage.  Forgotten in an obscure Italian basement, they gathered dust untill one of the buyers of Zahia found this treasure and brought them to Belgium where we could have a go at turning them into lovely rings and earrings.
A very easy technique (involving a 2 component glue), a patient teacher and great results, as usual ....

a lovely pair of earrings

a matching ring

all presented in a nice box !

fimo kralen maken - polymeer clay beads

Well, it has been a very busy time.  Glad to be back in a more normal routine.  And as it is a holiday periode for me now, I have some free time to spend.  Winnie asked me to accompany her to a workshop where we were going to make a necklace in fimo (polymeer clay).  I had done that years ago, and remembed it to be great fun. 

The workshop was given by Christine.  In the attic of her beautiful house she has created her own (gigantic ) craft space.   There were 9 of us, all very creative and eager to learn.  We all started with 3 different colours of fimo, and spend the morning rolling balls and 'sausages' until we had some very lovely beads.  It reminded me somehow of my kindergarten days...  back in the middelages of course... After lunch  ( great soup made by Christine's father !) we baked the beads and started on the necklaces.  As we all chose different colours, everyone's beads and necklaces were unique and so different.  Amazing technique, to produce such a variety ! I took some pictures, they will speak for themselves...

these are the colours I choose

Me and Winnie rolling away

Winnie choose turquoise, cupper and white

Some  beads were black, white and red

we learned some 'tricks of the trade'...

the results of our efforts on the baking tray

I had a lot of beads to choose from

putting them on a string or ribbon

nice earthly colours

how do you like mine ?

I had enough to make a matching bracelet, ring and earrings...

A very good workshop, well prepared  and an excelllent teacher who knew what she was talking about.  A lovely day, thank you Winnie for the invitation !