YOP - Crochet - & - Cafe's

Sorry I've been missing for a week or more from here, we've been off gallivanting on our travels again, and having fun while also helping our dd. It was a great catch-up and a very productive time with her.

Stitching had to take a bit of a backseat while I was away, but I did manage to 'almost' finish this little purse/bag during the evenings. 

It just needs blocking, a little fringe on the bottom I think, and I'm on the lookout for a nice button to close it, and also put a lining in it before I can add it to my FO list.

I can't remember where I got the pattern from as it's been in my 'files' a long time.

Summers End Mandala

Since arriving back home on Thursday I have added the ecru thread to the outside edge (two rounds), and now

 I have completed Part 13 of Mandala Madness cal - Summers End.

'Only' 5 more Parts to go.

Here is how the full piece looks so far.

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A couple of cafe recommendations for you if you are ever travelling around New Zealand.

The Fat Pigeon

41 Moa St.

Piopio

Such a lovely variety of freshly home-baked foods, and a top quality barista.

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The Wooden Heart Cafe

28-30 Ellis Rd SH 30

Benneydale

We had a delicious meal here. The home cooked pies are heartily packed full, and so tasty. The meats used are all processed locally and therefore very fresh.

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This was a Year of Projects Post

YOPping along

It's Sunday - and this is a Year Of Projects post.

  Summers End   crochet mandala.

3 rows added since last Sunday. One row of orange, two rows of yellow.

As this gets bigger it takes longer to complete one full round, hence only three rows rows done this week. It also takes a fair bit of concentration to follow the pattern (peace and quiet helps too, but there isn't much of this available at my home at the moment).

  Crazy Quilt Colour Journal  

This is a portable project that I take to meetings to work on. 

Each block has a selection of neutral fabrics for the background hand stitched together, and each block is a different colour scheme. 

This block will predominantly read as lime green (I hope) and is number 8 of 12.

Each block will include a paisley or two.

Each block will include a crochet motif or two.

Basic stitches to these seams were done while I was travelling/living in caravan since selling our farm last year. Additions and embellishments have been added this week.

And my new graphic for YOP

YOP - Summers End Mandala

I managed to find some time to get Part 12 done on my Summers End mandala madness piece.

The edges are curling up a bit, but I'm told this will be rectified with the next additions.

Part 12 is the white and peach edge - rows 77 to 82.

It's Sunday

A Year of Projects (week 1)

A Year of Projects (or YOP for short) starts here with my first post.

This is with a group I recently joined on Ravelry here.

There will hopefully be a new post about this once a week as I try to complete and tick off the projects on my TO-DO list between July 2016 and June 2017.

I have some projects lined up that need to be started or completed in a particular month - like the International Freeform Fiberart Challenge that starts January 1st. and ends May 1st. and is a very important project for me every year.

My TO-DO Lists

Crochet - 

A freeform piece for a national arts festival here in NZ.

Lots of baby items for a craft table at our local Child & Baby Expo.

Two afghan blankets.

Mandala Madness CAL WIP needs the last 3 weeks of instructions to complete it.

Down by the Seashore CAL WIP

Knitting - 

One afghan blanket.

Various other items not decided yet. 

Embroidery - 

Hand embroidered seam treatments and embellishment on my Crazy Quilt Colour Journal.

2 x Cross-stitch miniature rugs.

Various other items as my mind introduces them to me.

Patchwork & Quilting - 

Finish my Butterfly Crazy Quilt.

Complete the backing and hanging for my Snorkeling wall-hanging, possibly for the arts festival.

Mug rugs, table mats, bags, and lap quilts for a craft stall.

Other items as the mood takes me.

Art - 

Practice more flower sketches and paintings.

Pen and ink drawings, possibly for arts festival.

Other Crafts - 

Sculpture.
Needle felting.

Soft-sculpture sewing.

Calligraphy.

Weaving.

Spinning.

Tatting.

Bobbin Lace.

Christmas presents - 

this list will be detailed later in the year when I have decided what to make and for who.

Other projects -

Get my craft room designed, sorted and unpacked (after it has been in storage for over a year while we had a touring holiday of North Island).

Now with a large garden to upkeep - plant lots of wildflowers and colourful borders. 

Keep the roses tidy. 

On-going planting and harvesting my new vegie plots.

Well.....    I think that's enough to keep me busy for a year, don't you?

Freeform Down by the Seashore

Week one of the Freeform K/CAL Down by the Seashore has started with a Gastropoda inspired shell (or shells)

This K/CAL is on Ravelry here

Freeform Crochet Exhibition

Every year the International FreeForm Fiberart Guild produces a book and an online gallery for its annual exhibition.

I have, once again, entered a piece of freeform in the exhibition.

The theme for the show is 

Flora and Fauna - native to your region or country.

I chose the New Zealand flax for my inspiration and created this ornamental vessel.

You can read more about my piece on the gallery website HERE

The online Gallery for the show is HERE

and

The book can be purchased HERE
(all profits go to a charity voted by the member)

Mandala Madness part 11

Here we are with another part of the mandala completed.

Mandala Madness Part 10

I have finished Part 10 of the Mandala Madness CAL.

The popcorn and diamond motif was the part 10 addition and a bit of a challenge, but very enjoyable.

Love how this is turning out.

Only 8 more parts/weeks to go on this, lol. 

It should be a lovely tablecloth for my round Ercol walnut table when finished.

Mandala Madness part 9

Part 9 is complete. 

The 6 rounds of Part 9 starts above the long white stitches on my mandala.

And I am half way through Part 10. Up to round 66, which is quite labour intensive with all the changes of colours and multiple repeats, and is causing quite a stir with others who are in this CAL. Personally I quite enjoyed this challenging row, and hence was singing along to the song of a similar name. 

But I have a few rounds to go until Part 10 is complete, so on to it.

And Part 8 of Mandala Madness

Part 8 of Mandala Madness is complete.

And here's a close-up of the outside edge.

Those long 'spiky' stitches were a bit on the fiddly side to keep in place.

I have been in the garden a lot lately and have started a new wild-flower area that I hope will be a great show of colour in a couple of months.

Also, have been working on my vegie patch.

One other thing for this week.

We have been adopted by Billie. Her previous owner lived in this house, and Billie wants to stay here.

We renamed her Billie because her original name was Furry, which seems rather 'non-personal' to me. The name Billie came about from Billy Fury (hahaha).

Mandala Madness CAL - part 7

Mandala Madness crochet along - part 7

Part 6 - with a pink blush

Mandala Madness - Part 6 added

Complete with a 'blush' of peachy-pink and with an orange glowing edge as the sun sets once more on another beautiful day.

We are told that the 'points' will curl a bit at this point in the proceedings.

And another MM round

Another round on the Mandala Madness CAL bites the dust.

Part 5 complete.

I'm calling it 'Summers End' because that is where we are in this part of the world (NZ) at the moment, and my colours, so far, resemble the glow of the sun on the lower arc as it rises from behind Mt. Egmont every morning, and then sets over the beautiful white surf sea in the eve. 

Not sure where I want to go with my colours next though. Will ponder on it some more.

Mandala Madness Part 4 - Summers End

Mandala Madness Part 4 complete.

Summers End

Mandala Madness Part 3

I'm still playing catch-up with the Mandala Madness CAL.

Here it is with Part 3 added. 

Love the yellow addition to my neutrals here. I wasn't sure if yellow would work with the other colours, but I needn't have worried.

Onwards and outwards - part 4 awaits me.