Daisies

Daisies
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Wednesday 24 December 2014

Merry Christmas to all!

I've been trying very hard to get back into blogging, but life decided differently. I have no beautiful pictures of Christmas ornaments or decorated trees although I would have loved to have some to post.  Anyway, have a look at the blog 'Little Woollie', she has the most beautiful tree thingie going there! Lovely homemade ornaments, just as I like them. Thank you for that!

I would love to say to all who at times manage to look in on this blog, that I hope  the birth of Jesus will always be your saving grace too! Enjoy the day set out for the celebration and eat all things nice and healthy! I will try and do the same!! Cherish the time with your family.

Till we speak again,


Marl
xox

Tuesday 30 September 2014

More Bags

Already the 1st of October. This year is going even faster than the previous one.

Anyway, I have finished another  bag and here are the pictures to prove it!




A very red beaded festive little bag!



Flip side of red ribbon bag.


I have another 3 lined up for finishing, but at times just sit back and stare at them for lack of inspiration! I like to make each one a bit different from the other.  I might use the same decorations, but place them in different positions so that they sort of look unique!  Sounds terrible!

Time to get ready for Christmas markets and the list of goods I need to make grows by the day. Stocking fillers are a priority, also little items for Xmas tree decoration and some lovely homely presents.

Sun today after days and days of rain! Love the rain, but I am so glad to see the sun!

Well, off to work I go! Hope everyone has a lovely week filled with lots of sweet things and lots of fun things for hands to do!

Marl
xox

Thursday 11 September 2014

Spring and September in the Southern Hemisphere

So much for regular blogging! So many things get in the way, least of all, my camera is never ready to download pictures.  

Yesterday I harvested some of the last of the winter carrots and made a good lentil soup (my favourite) using those plus a few late beans, a few lonely tomatoes and a few leaves of spinach. Nothing as good as a good wholesome soup for lunch and other times when you feel pecky! Now to start cleaning up the veg patch and plant summer crops.  Looking over at the borage which grew so profusely over the winter, I feel sorry that I have to take them out.  The bees will be without a wonderful food source for a while.  Did you know how wholesome borage actually is?  The lovely blue flowers can be used in drinks and salads. Tastes like cucumbers.  The flowers, according to an article I read recently, replenishes the nectar content every half an hour.  Is that not something to know? Specially when you keep bees? Imagine how lovely that honey will taste and how healthy. You should read up about it and all the wonderful uses.  I am always amazed at what the herbs that you grow in your every day garden, can really do for you.  We are sort of stuck with just one use for those good herbs, never learn to use them for anything else.

 Profusely cannot describe this patch of borage, full in flower and blown to bits by our winds.


On the craft front, I have also been busy. Really got stuck somewhere last month when I just could not get myself to do anything.  I felt deflated and really had crafters' block, if there is something like that.  I thought a good rest will do the thing, but you know, I find it very, very hard to get back into production, so to speak. 

I have made a few crochet coin purses for an order and then got carried away and made 12. As easy as that!  Could not stop after the first two.  Now I am back on recycling denim into bags. As fancy as I can do them!  I try and use as many old things as I can possibly lie my hands on and that means beads, felt, buttons and ribbons of all sorts!

 One side of a recycled handbag using bits of ribbon, stamp, buttons and something from a relatives wedding invitation.

 Cushions I made decorating them with old charity shop doilies. They look very nice to me although I have decided to redo one of them as it seems to flop to much.

 I bought this beautiful piece of material showing different birds on them.  I initially wanted to quilt them to use as place mats, but never got round to doing that.  This turned out to be a small cushion and was sold in a jiffy.  It really is a little gem.

 Another easy crochet blanket I would call "my stash buster"! This took care of quite a large box of wool that was too little or just not right for certain projects.  As a blanket, I must admit, it is beautiful and lovely and warm. Sleep under it every night!

One of my totally over the top decorated denim bags, but as with some things, once you start, there is just no stopping you!  Love it!

 This is another piece of beautiful (quite expensive, too!) material that I used to make a big cushion. It spells New York, London and Paris all over. Really lovely.

 Another piece giving us a bit of South African heritage with the founder father Jan van Riebeeck, showing the Cape of Good Hope and of course, the lovely proteas found in that area.  Another cushion as you can see!

Here I used DK wool double to create a shrug.  Feels quite snug and warm.  Hope that sellers like it too.  I made 2, sold 1 on first view, hope this one goes too!

That's all for today! Hope all hands will be busy and kept out of mischief!

Till we meet again via the internet,

xox Marl

Wednesday 18 June 2014

Cold, cold June!

It has taken me 6 months to get back to blogging.  Not that I didn't want to, but there always seemed to be something missing.  I would look at the screen and nothing would pop into my head.  BUT, all the while things were happening around me!

The kitchen garden has flourished during summer and even well into this cold winter we are experiencing. Yesterday I still harvested some beans, small carrots and most probably, the last of the baby marrows.  I also picked the first two edible pea pods and shared with my granddaughter.  She just loves fresh goodies from the garden. The salad greens are going over the roof.  I must admit, I fed them plenty of worm tea.

On the crafts side, I have managed to make quite a few blankets.  Will take photo's and post soon.  Also lots of little bits and pieces.  We (my friend and I) attended a rural market last week and all went well with the selling of our goods.  Petrol is so expensive these days, you really have to budget well to make those trips. At the moment I am busy making some denim recycled bags and find that some days you just have more creative energy than others.  Hopefully mine will return in the next hour or so, because I need to get those bags done!!

Well, I am back and hopefully will keep on posting blogs for another while!

May your days be filled with lots of blessings:  big and small!

Marl
xox