Batik

Migraine is awful. In spite of having medicins, I panic each time I see the aura predicting the headache that will emerge half an hour later. But there's one positive side effect: afterwards you can feel enlighted, full of energy. That's how I got a lot things of my to-do list done these last days. With a little creative experiment in between. Candlewax drops on white cotton and then put into a colour bath. Techniques could be improved but I like the result already.

In your hands

Our baby-cousin Aafje will be baptised tomorrow. We won't be present, but sent her a card with a small gift. A pink beaded bracelet, made following this tutorial, for the little princess.

City trip

After 16 years I went back to Stockholm. I used to live there for a few months as a student. I had almost forgotten how beautiful, clean and comforting the city is. Especially because we were warmly welcomed by our friends. The girls rode horses, walked in the autumny woods, played with the boys, we went to the Vasamuseet, to the many designshops (fe Designtorget), had dinner at Berns (try the miso-baked entrecote with egg-yolk!) and enjoyed the company. Floortje had made this very cute guest-towel with Dalarna-horses for us. What a nice idea. She made the wrap using this cute viking-stamp. Thanks guys, for some wonderful days!

No crafting

It has been a little quiet over here. Busy times. Yesterday afternoon we came back from a trip to visit our friends in beautiful Sweden. Today I had to give stamp-workshops for 60 kids. And late this afternoon my husband left for Istanbul with his fraternity-friends. Now it is just me and the cat, because the kids are staying at my parents place for the night. Finally time to write you this note.

No hurry

Some buttons, drawing-pins and one-minute-glue result in these lovely pins. But wait long enough to put the pins in a plastic bag. More than a minute, let's say half an hour. My buttons and bag were completely oxidised when I looked at them after a while.

Mail from Sweden

Carving stamps is not something I do a lot these days. I had to cut so many stamps for my little stamp-shop that, for a while, I lost all interest in carving. But I love to make a stamp for some occasions. Like this one for my friend in Stockholm.

For Jilles and Stije

The allways original and funny Mme Zsazsa is the designer of this fabulous hat. Or should I say mask? So simple and yet so perfect. A basic rectangular piece of knitwork, getting its shape by putting it on. The beautiful Eskimo wool should be warm enough to withstand the scandinavian cold in Stockholm.

Zoo

I have lots of things to do, but I can't get anything done this week. Only work-avoiding projects, like these thriftstore necklaces for the Christmas(!)-market, can keep my attention. The necklaces will be sold or swapped by the kids.

Within the hour

My daughters friend had been asking to do some sewing before. So when she asked again this afternoon, we went ahead. She wanted to make a big pendant. Except from putting yarn into the eye of a needle, the project can be done by seven-year-olds, without any help. And proud they were.

More, more and more

Apple-crumble, apple-cake, cottage-pie with apple-slices on top and apple sauce (cut, peel, cook and mash through the 'passe vite'). Endless two-childrens-portions of apple sauce in bags to fill the freezer. And yesterday my parents brought another 15kg of apples from their garden. Time for a classic tarte tatin, for a start.

Beauty

Seeing this picture and then remembering another image (I can't find anymore), made me decorate these small pebbles with a gold pen.

MegaNeel & SuperJan

When I saw these glittery fabrics in the secondhand shop a few months ago. I have been deliberating in my mind whether to buy or not. Very cheap, but my stock is so big already. I couldn't resist. Again. Today the girls could wear superhero (the theme of the national week of childrens books) costumes to school. And guess who had the perfect fabrics to sew some suits? Inspired by this tutorial, €0,50 worth of fabric and 1 hour of work my superhero's went to school happy this morning.

Getting colder

My least favourite colour, but the little girl loves it. She chose it herself and the colour looks good on her. It became a light midseason cowl. The girls prefer cowls above scarfs. Because they can't get loose while playing. Mom likes cowls because they take less time to crochet. I used this pattern at Ravelry.

Get together

The Indians used talking sticks to help resolving problems and keep order during meetings. The one holding the stick is the only one who can talk. A useful tool in every family, I guess. We made them today with kids from the neigbourhood. First a scavenger hunt to find a stick. Then decorating them with yarn, feathers, bells and pencils. All the kids had a really good time.

Just try

A Dutch saying says 'what a farmer doesn't know, he doesn't eat'. My dad is a hobby-farmer like that. He planted pumpkin in his vegetable garden because I asked him, but not to his delight. Until I serve him this soup after a recipe from Donna Hay. Didn't tell it was pumpkin and he loved it!

Grandma's recipes

A small cigar box filled with handwritten and cut out recipes. Collected during a long period of time. Old fashioned handwriting. Lots of traditional recipes. Probably collecte by a conservative person. But then I discover a recipe with frog legs. A bit daring, I would say. I enjoy distilling a profile of the former owner of this little box! Bought for €0,50 in the local thriftstore.

Hooray for homemade

I'm spending a lot of time on Pinterest these days. DIY, fashion, kids, food. I also came across this tutorial for homemade sugar scrub. So easy and all ingredients in the house. I made it right away the next morning. It's a bit coarse and oily in use, but afterwards your hands will feel so soft...

For Limore

Another girl turning five, another schoolbag. Hope she likes it. N enjoyed the party a lot. Especially the fact that her face was painted into a white cat. And that my brother picked her up afterwards in his impressive car.

Presents

Yesterday we celebrated my brothers birthday in our parents garden. October 2nd and having lunch outside in the orchard! Underneath the apple and pear trees. It felt like an extra birthday gift. The house-shaped artwork in the garden is from Jeroen van Lente.

Old, new, borrowed & blue

I offered my cousin to make a ringpillow for her wedding. I had this tutorial in mind. For the pillow I used old silk curtains. The flower was made of the new fabric of her dress. I embroidered something on the back in blue. And here you can see the borrowed part: a golden cross I inherited from my deceased grandmother. It's the brides grandma too. So, I sewed it on the pillow, under the flower. In that way grandma was also present in our minds during the ceremony.

Congratulations C & C!

What an honour to be witness to my cousins wedding! It was my first time. Closest I ever came to a marriage (we are not married, nor is my brother and many of our friends). And what a perfect sunny day. Made me realize how beautiful my place of birth actually is. 's-Hertogenbosch. With the amazing city hall with gobelins all over and the fantastic cathedral where the marriage took place (with a friend-of-the-family pastor for the occasion, how special!). All almost as beautiful as the bride. Have a wonderful honeymoon!