vlijtig

Spirograph

2012-02-01T08:44:00.003+01:00

I didn't expect this to work with the textile glue I have, but it did. I love the delicacy of the result. I'm sure I will make more. I still have to find a way to use them. Because the necklace of the tutorial is too much for me.

Birthday present

2012-01-30T10:30:00.002+01:00

This make-up pouch is made following this tutorial of Needle and Spatula. Kate explains very clearly how to make it and provides an easy way to sew in a zipper. The apple fabric was bought at VanMarieke. The green dots are from an Ikea duvetcover. The last one was bought just for the fabric, after seeing it here at Lightbluegrey.

Quality time

2012-01-29T09:43:00.002+01:00

The girls and I made peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies together. Mmm... They didn't last till the end of the day. Very good, but these oatmeal cookies are still our favourites.

Re-focus

2012-01-28T07:07:00.001+01:00

Although I'm working a lot with textiles, paper really is my first love. While I was pinteresting, I found an amazing collection of envelope tutorials and printables. Haven't checked out the list completely, yet. In the meantime I used my own template, made out of cardboard, to make the gift-envelopes you see here.

Outside decor

2012-01-27T08:02:00.000+01:00

The birds don't really need extra food, because of the warm winter. But we still had a basket of old apples and the girls had been asking to make peanut garlands. Yesderday's rainy afternoon needed an indoor activity and we combined those apples and peanuts (the ones left by the ladies) into this snack for birds.

Mini-tutorial

2012-01-26T08:44:00.001+01:00

More felt hairpins. These small roses are so easy to make. You'll find the tutorial I made for you over here.

Looking for an authentic theme

2012-01-25T07:57:00.000+01:00

Searching for suitable birthday themes for the girls (any ideas?) I toyed with the idea of an Amelie-party. Making a memory-box, french music, parisian snacks and talking about making people happy. But I'll save that theme for later, when they're a bit older. Just like the stamp I quickly made after this picture of Amelia Poulain.

Forgotten vegetables

2012-01-24T19:45:00.005+01:00

Only three things are still inhabiting our vegetable garden. Cabbage, parsley and jerusalem artichoke (aardpeer of topinamboer in dutch). When you see the irregular shapes of the jerusalem artichoke you immediately understand why it was no competition to the potato. Impossible to peel. But very tasty when baked, in slices, in a bit of butter with parsley, salt and pepper.

I could organize a party like this for you too...

2012-01-23T08:50:00.000+01:00

I'm preparing a DIY-birthday-workshop for next weekend. Getting together, talk, eat and celebrate is the main objective. But in the meantime the ladies can choose from three, not too complicated, projects and make themselves something to take home. I have made a small instruction booklet from which the women will be working. And I will be guiding the process. Making a dreamcatcher (from my book) is one of the possibilities this time. The ones you see here are made as examples. With felt feathers (because I'm allergic to real ones), that turned out rather nice, I think.

Love

2012-01-22T15:23:00.002+01:00

Her sister went to a birthday party. J. didn't know what to do and I suggested making a stamp. She did, all on her own, make this present for N. Ain't that sweet?

Wild crochet

2012-01-20T19:58:00.000+01:00

Some yarn scraps and one evening of free crochet to give the tree in our backyard a warm coat. The wrong tree (too vertical) in the wrong place (not enough sun for it to bloom as it should) looks a bit better now. I have to say that I felt really silly when I was sewing the crochetwork around the tree. But still, to be continued.

A tiny bit of self-reliance

2012-01-19T11:35:00.000+01:00

For the first time this winter there's a little bit of frost, but we are already making plans for our vegetable garden. What do we want this year, what seeds do we still have, are they still good or do we have to order new ones? I love to look around in this beautiful shop with rare vegetables. And the seeds from this biological brand grew very well last year. I'm already looking forward seeing the plants grow and eat from them.

Ideas, please!

2012-01-18T11:11:00.004+01:00

In april I will be giving workshops for children at the Van Katoen sewing marathon in Gent. We will work with woolen felt. My favourite felt supplier sponsored the good cause by donating a very big box of felt remnants. Perfect! But among the remnants are also a lot of these strips that are just too narrow for the workshop. I'm looking for ways to use them. Because throwing away such beautiful material is no option. Any suggestions? I already came up with these hairclips. Clips bought over here.

Again next week

2012-01-17T07:26:00.001+01:00

I had copied a recipe for pizza-rolls from a magazine. But couldn't find it when we wanted to bake these rolls. We had to improvise and kept it simple (rolled white bread dough, filled with thick tomato sauce and grated cheese, cut into slices and baked in the oven). For an easy saturday dinner. With homemade tomato soup and a fresh salad. Mmm... Even our youngest, who's not a fan of eating, ate heartily.

Event hopping

2012-01-16T07:28:00.000+01:00

After a short stop at my publishers new years reception in the beautiful Felix Meritis building, my friend A and I went to the Westergasfabriek to attend a live tv-broadcast of DWDD. Another friend, MJ, is working there and arranged some last minute seats for us. It was exciting to be there and watch how smooth everything fell into its place. Although we later heard that it had been difficult to put the broadcast together that day. At least our kids got to see their mothers (flower in the hair and green vest) right behind the anchorman.

HIstory fan

2012-01-16T07:13:00.000+01:00

Our daughters favourite book is 'Lang geleden...' (Dutch history in 50 story's). She reads it and we have to read it to her every evening. She likes the story about count Floris V. So yesterday we visited the castle that was founded by him: the Muiderslot. The museum has a nice scavenger hunt for small children and they can dress up. The picture of our countesses reminds me of Vermeers paintings.

Ballerina slippers

2012-01-14T22:00:00.000+01:00

I made a small girl very happy. Our youngest said she had been dreaming about house shoes like these. I found the free tutorial on Ravelry. A good project for beginners.

Materia Prima

2012-01-13T09:32:00.002+01:00

I was looking forward to this package falling in our mailbox. I treated myself on a beautiful pendant from Studio Fludd. An alchemy inspired, handpainted wooden shape. But I had to think of an architectural structure. All carefully wrapped in paper, transparent bag and fabric pouch. A little treasure. I love it!

Crochet again

2012-01-12T09:03:00.001+01:00

I didn't make the same booties as last time, because at Pinterest I came across these lovely baby-shoes. I bought the pattern in Etsy-shop YarnBlossomBoutique. Grey merino-wool and French vintage buttons are responsible for these beauties. I only made the booties a bit lower than discribed.

Tiny tutorial

2012-01-11T09:12:00.000+01:00

It is not easy to photograph a dark blue, glittery scarf in a good way. The real colour is way more beautiful. The scarf is a copy of one I saw in a shop. Really easy pattern: Chain as wide as the shawl has to be. Three triple crochets in the sixth chain from the hook. Skip three chains and again three triples in the next chain. Repeat till the end of chain. Turn, chain three and crochet three triples in the space between the sets of triples of the last row. And so on. ps. Don't you love our daughters new haircut?

Good looks

2012-01-10T20:18:00.000+01:00

We never use our bread machine for baking bread. But very often we make dough in it. After 1h20 the risen dough is ready for whatever you want to do with it. Pizza for example or focaccia. Or this cinnamon-sugar-pull-apart-bread. On my to-do list for a while. Would have made it much earlier knowing how easily made and tasty it is!

Are we lucky!

2012-01-09T07:22:00.000+01:00

I already knew my parents have a good eye for beauty. This amazing find only confirms that. Less than a week ago I mentioned to my mother that some wooden danish design furniture would complete our livingroom. Yesterday my parents happened to be in a thriftstore and what did they discover on the top shelf? Two Hans Wegner chairs in perfect condition! What they payed? I hardly dare to say... €5,- each.

Some snow first, please!

2012-01-08T07:15:00.001+01:00

Dad and the kids went grocery shopping and brought me a bouquet of tulips. Felt like spring entered the house. Even more when the girls took the other flowers home, picked from the garden. Nature seems confused.

Slow food

2012-01-07T11:56:00.000+01:00

A few days ago we planned to visit friends, who are living close to the sea. But due to the extreme weather we had to cancel the trip. I had already baked this cake for them. Unfortunately :-D we have to eat is ourselves now. I loved the paper 'tins' I found in the local grocery store, but I'd better place them in a real tin while baking. Since the before looks much better than the after.

For a little boy

2012-01-06T11:51:00.002+01:00

The pattern for these booties was actually for a bigger size. But I took thinner wool and a smaller size hook to crochet these. But they turned out too small. For a really small newborn baby or a doll. I have to do them over again. Which is not a punishment, since it is easy and quick project.

Basket-factory

2012-01-04T13:14:00.003+01:00

I almost forgot how much fun it was to make these fabric baskets. Yesterday I made 16 of these, for a birthday later this month. Actually, I have to say, after 10 pieces it was not fun anymore. It was work. But I liked the result of all 16 together.

Golden

2012-01-02T10:42:00.001+01:00

A traditional Dutch new years snack is 'appelflappen', filled with apples, raisins and cinnamon. They're very easy to bake. A nice activity to do with the kids. Our girls made these small ones. For (themselves and) their grandfather, who came to do some work in our house. The apple-folds look so good on my thrifted cake plates, don't you think?

Happy and healthy 2012!

2012-01-01T18:27:00.004+01:00

Celebrating new year is not my thing. Never was. All evening waiting for it to happen and than it's there... Whether at home or at a big party, it's always an anti-climax to me. But I love it when the new year has started! New plans, new planner and a fresh start. It was a relaxed new yearsday with a family visit. And undressing the tree already, because our cat, scared of the fireworks, didn't dare to go out and discovered the soil under the christmas tree as her toilet.

From the kitchen cupboard

2011-12-29T20:33:00.003+01:00

More about our christmas food. For the kids we had juice and chocolate spoons. I found the idea here, via pinterest. And were a big succes! A very good treat for birthdays at school, too.

A bit of snow inside

2011-12-28T10:47:00.003+01:00

We had a big christmas lunch for the family. A lunch, because there are a lot of small children and we like them to be present too. We served date-cake with the coffee. The dutch recipe can be found at the site of Bagels & Beans. Looking for a good way to serve the sticky cake I found an easy tutorial to make origami boxes. I folded them from fat free paper.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T16:16:00.002+01:00

Twins for one day

2011-12-24T09:05:00.000+01:00

I don't like to dress the girls in the same way. They are different en should look different. But an exception has to be made sometimes. Christmas dresses for christmas dinner at school. With matching hair pieces. I cut out felt circles in different sizes and colours. Sewed them together in the middle and attached a paillette plus bead on top. Glued to one of my new bobby pins it makes a nice 'flower' for your hair.

Making the best of it

2011-12-23T08:51:00.003+01:00

The girls have a christmas dinner at school. Parents and children cook or bake something to take with them. We chose the easy way this time, by making chocolate and sausage croissants (dough from a tin). I was down with a throat-infection this week, so there was not much energy for complicated projects. But managed to cut these hearts from a brown paper bag, to decorate them with red felt tip pen and glue the paper on a wooden pin.

Glad to have girls

2011-12-22T15:59:00.002+01:00

Googling for bobby pins, I came across this chinese webshop. Their products are not very stylish, but you can find some pretty nice craft supplies for little money. Especially because they don't charge any shipping costs. These pins came in yesterday and of course I had to try. Some felt scraps led to these flowery pins. As seen somewhere on pinterest.

How to let plain cookies look good

2011-12-21T15:47:00.005+01:00

The christmas market was last saturday, but I still wanted to show you how we presented our felt houses (small tutorial here) and favourite cookies (link to recipes). The girls almost sold everything. First time they really earned money. Even after donating half to the good cause, there was a considerable amount left. The girls are already dreaming of pink barbies...

Winter village

2011-12-20T12:23:00.004+01:00

We're always late sending our christmas cards. Probably because I want to design it myself and have to find a good idea for it first. It needs to be in standard photo size, because we have it printed by a regular photo-service. This time it became a series of cut-and-fold houses. You can put a light in the middle. Now we just have to address and send them...

All we wish for

2011-12-18T17:20:00.003+01:00

The neighbourhood Christmas market and drink were a big success yesterday. We started with a creative afternoon for the kids, making christmas lights and painting wooden figures for the tree. The children could sell their handmade items on the small market afterwards. Which was in the same room as the get together for the adults. Gluwein, quiches, pies, 'stamppot' and soups were made by our neighbours. Two girls sang christmas songs. The pictures do not reflect the atmosphere, but we were all so happy to live in a great neighbourhood like this!

Red, white and beads

2011-12-15T15:31:00.000+01:00

Janne and her very creative friend Sanne decorated these felt houses. With a lot of persistance and precision they managed to decorate eight within the hour. I was amazed. The kids will be selling these at the neighbourhood christmas market ext saturday.

Swedish blue

2011-12-14T14:47:00.005+01:00

Floortje flew from Stockholm to Amsterdam for a 'business-meeting' with me last monday. More about that business aspect later. She brought me these wonderful Julen-plates. Rorstrand used to issue a limited edition christmas plate every year. Actually these plates were for hanging on the wall but they are also great for breakfast. Thanks for the fantastic present!

Light up your day

2011-12-10T15:08:00.002+01:00

The lights I made before were easy. But these are even simpler. And the effect is just as beaustiful! I used baby-food jars, paper doily's and linnen yarn to get this result.

Thai theme

2011-12-09T14:54:00.003+01:00

We'll be hosting Christmas-dinner for 16 people. I planned to set the table with things we already have in our cupboards. But then I came across an outletshop selling tableware. Not just cheap, but very, very cheap (6 pieces for €1,-). I couldn't resist this chance to have similar plates for everyone. And, lucky me, my favourite local fabric shop had a coupon-sale. Three ton-sur-ton coupons were sewn to a 5 meter long table cloth yesterday evening.

Gems

2011-12-06T13:11:00.002+01:00

The girls are fond of stones. My parents in law brought them these, among others, from their holiday on Sicily. Seaglass and lava-stone. I turned them into hangers by wrapping silver and iron thread around the stones.

Sewing kit, part 2

2011-12-03T10:49:00.000+01:00

And yes, when one daughter gets something, the other one wants it too. That's why I turned this dolls clothes closet into another sewing kit. I found it in the local secondhand store. Maybe I'll show you some details later. The tutorial for the needlebooks can be found here already.

Sewing kit, part 1

2011-12-02T10:40:00.002+01:00

Not completely finished yet, but today was the last moment to take pictures using daylight, without the kids being around. This is a present that I made for our eldest, acting upon instructions of Saint Nicolas. She asked for a sewing kit and, of course, I had to answer to that question. I filled a very old wooden box (I like the hidden compartiment in the lid), that my parents thrifted in France last summer, with everthing you can think of when you hear the word sewing, knitting or crochet. I used Petit Pan fabrics to line the box.

Hij komt!

2011-12-01T14:24:00.003+01:00

Last weekend we went to see a performance by dance group 'Project Sally'. They make productions for kids and youth. Not childish, but playful. We'd seen them before and the kids love it. Really, when you have the opportunity to go you should. This time it was all about presents and Sinterklaas. And he came. And sang! We had a good time, also afterwards, having a drink with our friends in the Verkadefabriek.

Leftover lunch

2011-11-28T16:51:00.003+01:00

For yesterdays birthday lunch I prepared celeriac-almond soup and quiche lorraine. Luckily there was some left, so I could mindfully enjoy it once more today. Using my beautiful Donna Wilson plates, Ikea bowls and loved Pott (25) cutlery.

Felt fun

2011-11-28T08:52:00.000+01:00

This will be another project for the creative-with-textiles course I'm teaching. Felting is not something I do very often. So I had to practice a bit and also wanted to make some examples. Everytime it surprises me how easy felting actually is. Wool, warm water and soap is all you need. Here's a tutorial about the basics. And this is another one about felting a pouch.

Light

2011-11-27T22:40:00.001+01:00

Another yarn-wrapped jar. Little effort, shiny effect. The only thing that wasn't easy was lighthing the candle inside. Chopsticks did the trick eventually.

Frrry

2011-11-25T09:34:00.001+01:00

Since my dear bag was stolen last year I hadn't found a new one. My basic black bag had to be perfect. Simple but with clever details. Preferably not a mass product. And now I've found it! I got it for my birthday! When asked the designer personally put it together within a few days. Isn't that great? The picture doesn't do the bag right, but have a look at the site of designer Ferry Meewisse. I love everything. The A4-wallet and the Mammoet S are definitely on my wishlist too. But today I could finally unwrap my new favourite bag!

Felting with kids

2011-11-23T20:39:00.004+01:00

Can you imagine how proud the girls were when these felt pieces of art came out of the ziplock bag? The cold and foggy weather kept us inside the house between school and hockey-training today. Perfect time to try this recently found tutorial. Is it that easy? Yes! But some patience is needed for the felting stage. To keep the ladies' attention I came up with a new felting-with-your-feet method...

Christmas craft

2011-11-21T16:07:00.003+01:00

Searching for projects for our neighbourhood kids club, I came across these lights. Take an old glass or jar and tie yarn around it with a knot, leaving a 10cm loose end. Than start wrapping the yarn around until you like what you see. Then tie the end to the beginning. Slide a small paper heart or another note on one of the ends and knot. Put in a candle or, for smaller kids, a led-light.

Transformation

2011-11-20T09:20:00.000+01:00

I was looking for a moment to make these tassels. Last week I did that with the girls of the creative-with-textile course I'm teaching. With the tassels the white-with-glitter-eighties scarf, from the thriftstore, looked up to date again. The model loved to show it and wouldn't let go afterwards.

By mail

2011-11-19T07:16:00.000+01:00

A small present, fitting through the mailbox. I used antique french buttons to make this ring. Congratulations, A!

Yes, a fork

2011-11-17T14:28:00.003+01:00

I probably saw this idea somewhere on Pinterest. A quick way to make mini-pompoms. Decorate your scarf, present or mittens with these pompoms. Or knot the long ends together for a garland.

Greedy

2011-11-15T20:23:00.000+01:00

When we were in Sweden, Floortje took me to this fantastic shop for kids clothes: Polarn o. Pyret. Beautiful basics in fantastic colours, perfect fitting and reasonably priced. I also like the fact that a lot of pieces are unisex. I love these trousers for example. Plain and simple. Just as I like it. Unfortunately Polarn only delivers in Sweden, the UK and USA. But I'm so lucky to have a contact close to one of their shops ;-D

Sint is here again

2011-11-14T08:11:00.000+01:00

That calls for 'pepernoten'. It is a lot of work, but I try to bake them myself each year at least once on the day Sinterklaas foot on Dutch ground. I had helping hands but they soon gave up, only to come back when the spice nuts came out of the oven. I always like to add orange zest to the standard recipe. Mmm.

Thanks to the mist

2011-11-13T19:59:00.004+01:00

We planned to go for a walk in the woods, but skies were so gray (the picture on the left was not taken today) we changed plans. We went to the oldest city of our country (Nijmegen) to visit the Valkhof museum (by architect Ben van Berkel). It's all about the romans who resided there 2000 years ago. Right now there is a great exhibition for kids (high tech romans). And you can have a very tasty 'Roman platter' for lunch. So if you happen to be around...

Rags

2011-11-11T19:43:00.000+01:00

A bit of experimenting with pieces of torn fabric. Braid and stitch. Elastic and button. So simple.

It grows

2011-11-10T16:28:00.002+01:00

I'm working on a birthday present. A cute little girl will celebrate her first birthday soon. And what better gift than a reusable birthday crown. The Velcro on the back makes it possible to change the numbers each year. I didn't plan to add leaves and flowers, but the crown was a bit boring without. I think it became pretty festive now.

Bernrode

2011-11-09T06:54:00.001+01:00

The college I attended during my teens celebrated its 125th anniversary. Last saturday I went to the reunion, organised for the occasion. We could attend lessons taught by our former teachers. We felt like students again. It was so good (and age-confronting) to see my classmates again! Some of them I still see, but with others it was for over 10 or 15 years when I last spoke to them. Amazing how little people change after secondary school. What a lovely day it was. Lots of good memories. foto's: Wiek van Lieshout

Kitschy

2011-11-08T11:53:00.004+01:00

For a course I'm teaching (working with textiles for youngsters) I made this cakestand. A low four-armed candle-holder, combined with three plates, a small vase and ten-seconds glue, was easily turned into a cute table-piece. Everything from the second-hand store.

This one has to stay

2011-11-06T13:45:00.004+01:00

I have been cleaning closets all week. It was necessary. A pile of games, the kids hadn't been playing with, were waiting to be thrown away or brought to the thrift store. The girls picked Bingo out of the stack and since then it is their new favourite. The bag, containing the numbers, was ripped. So I whipped up a new one in 15 minutes. Makes Bingo a bit more acceptable to me.

Grid

2011-11-01T12:45:00.001+01:00

It is so easy to create your own stamps! No creativity needed for this one. Just lines in an eraser. Looks like nothing, but when serial printed, it appears to be a design. As a variation you could cut out some of the squares.

Batik

2011-10-31T12:33:00.003+01:00

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

2011-10-29T09:23:00.001+02:00

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

2011-10-28T20:53:00.003+02:00

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

2011-10-27T20:29:00.002+02:00

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

2011-10-24T06:46:00.000+02:00

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

2011-10-23T06:38:00.000+02:00

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

2011-10-22T20:35:00.001+02:00

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

2011-10-19T18:28:00.003+02:00

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

2011-10-17T19:51:00.002+02:00

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

2011-10-16T21:17:00.004+02:00

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

2011-10-13T09:48:00.000+02:00

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

2011-10-12T09:38:00.003+02:00

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

2011-10-09T19:22:00.001+02:00

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

2011-10-08T19:13:00.003+02:00

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

2011-10-07T12:50:00.003+02:00

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

2011-10-06T10:38:00.000+02:00

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

2011-10-05T10:26:00.000+02:00

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

2011-10-04T21:34:00.000+02:00

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

2011-10-03T10:09:00.001+02:00

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

2011-10-02T14:14:00.000+02:00

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!

2011-10-01T13:44:00.004+02:00

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!

Miracles

2011-09-30T09:23:00.000+02:00

My brother and his girlfriend are expecting their second child. What a wonderful surprise! For this little one in her belly, I whipped up a small present. A genderless monster, because we don't know what it is going to be yet. I was a bit insecure about how this softy turned out, but our girls loved it and asked me to make them one too. Inspired by the book Doudous a coudre.

Sweet and simple

2011-09-29T09:10:00.003+02:00

Since we have apples galore, we eat a lot of apple crumble (in Dutch) these days. Every time dinner comes out of oven, I use the fact that the oven is already warm, to make this delicious desert. In the perfect Polish stoneware casserole. The picture shows unbaked apple crumble, because I don't get time to take pictures when it comes out of the oven.

Small tutorial

2011-09-27T11:15:00.000+02:00

After the walk in the woods we glued together these pinecone-dolls. Just heat a gluegun and glue a wooden bead on top of the pinecone and than a hat of acorn or hazelnut-shell. Draw a little face on the bead. Later I added red embroidery yarn to hang them.

Autumn sun

2011-09-26T10:49:00.002+02:00

We had a guest this weekend. Our youngest is in the bear-class at school. The class-bear stays in another house every weekend. N brought him last friday and he came with a suitcase and diary. We wrote in his diary what we did this weekend, accompanied by a series of pictures. Here you see bear in the woods.

Talking sticks

2011-09-23T10:13:00.001+02:00

A spontanious project. As seen on Lightbluegrey. Yesterday after school we went outside to look for sticks and feathers. At home we wrapped them with coloured yarn and drew figures on the sticks. The girls loved it and the result was beautiful. A nice asset to a corner in our house.

Two addictions

2011-09-22T10:01:00.000+02:00

We bought an iPad for the kids. But mom is enjoying it too. Instead of printing a pattern I just crochet from the iPad. Snowflakes and christmas bells this time. For the neighbourhood christmas market we are planning. The bell is stiffened with sugar water (half a cup of sugar, dissolved in half a cup of warm water, soak the bell and let it dry around a plastic cup).

Not only for pre-schoolers

2011-09-21T09:56:00.002+02:00

When I saw these kites, via Ozowiezo, I had to try. Made in five minutes. And they flew in the air easily.

Practical presents

2011-09-19T11:38:00.000+02:00

I overheard my brother saying that his little daughter needed some extra hangers for her clothes (yes, my brother is a real metro-man). When I came across these in the second hand store I immediately knew I could make some nice hangers for her. After cleaning and removing all stickers, I punched out flowers and hearts from magazines and glued them to the tips of the hangers. And on some of them I stamped her name. Hanger shortage is gone.

Bracelets

2011-09-18T08:27:00.004+02:00

Till now I wasn't patient enough to discover how a magic braid was done. But when I saw this clear tutorial at Martha Stewart, I had to try. The pieces in the leather sample set (thanks Irma) were just long enough to braid a cuff. So, as you can see, I kept on braiding when I finally learned the trick.

Why didn't I think of this?

2011-09-17T10:22:00.002+02:00

Simple ideas are the best. Just use the small eraser on your pencil as a stamp. I found the concept here at Creature Comforts, via Pinterest. My planner is now full of colourful dots.

Afterparty

2011-09-15T09:01:00.002+02:00

We had some ingredients from the party left and I remembered to see these marshmellows at pinterest. Mine turned out less perfect. But they tasted wonderful.

vintage buttons

2011-09-13T11:04:00.000+02:00

It is possible to crochet one bracelet while cooking dinner. That's why I like these small projects. It is easy to stop and go with crochet. Always having just one stitch on your needle. The lace-pattern is from one of these books. Only I don't remember from which one...

A day to remember

2011-09-12T10:50:00.002+02:00

My cousin is going to get married in a few weeks. So yesterday we threw her a small bachelorette party. We started off with a brunch at my place. I enjoyed preparing it for her and the others. On the table (among other things): cold cucumber soup, thick yoghurt with pistache, mint and honey, crazy chick sandwiches, sachwich vitelo tonnato and quiche lorraine. After that we left for Scheveningen. Where we laughed, ate, drank and visited the beautiful museum Beelden aan Zee.

For Lev

2011-09-11T07:32:00.001+02:00

A handmade gift again. A small bib this time. Whipped up easily and it is a useful present. This one came from a japanese book, but I did a quick google and came up with similar and other (this, this and this one) nice bib-tutorials.

Headache

2011-09-10T07:18:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was not a good day. Too much to do. Work, hobby, baskets full of washed laundry to be ironed, apples and grapes waiting to be processed. Pfff... Took some paracetamol and started on top of the list. The grapes were turned into a delicious jam with pecans and cognac. At eleven in the evening I put away the iron and went to bed.

For Zuri

2011-09-09T09:15:00.001+02:00

A cute little bag for an almost 5-year-old. N. will attend her party today. I hope she likes her new bag. The pattern can be found in Het Grote Zelfmaakboek voor meisjes. Her name and the small flowers are made with iron-on-velvet.