Pretty Pressies

A little while back, the postman brought me a package, from my friend Paula (of the beautiful Sugar Sweet and Pink blog). 

And, of course, I had to share some photos with you.  Let's take a peek inside.....

Such pretty, pink, spotty tissue paper!  And, inside it.....

More prettiness.....

Some Martha Stewart yarn - in SUCH lovely colours.....

And the sweetest sweetie tin EVER!  And inside.....

Some cute cakey buttons.....

And the presttiest of sweet, vintagey prettiness (tags and ribbons and handkerchiefs and fabrics)!  Surely NOTHING can be sweeter?!?

Oh YES it can!!!  This is Miss Pistachio - and NOTHING is sweeter than her..... apart from Paula!  ;-)

Thank you SO much for all of my WONDERFUL pressies, dear friend!!!

So, what do you think I should knit (or crochet) with my gorgeous Martha yarn???

Carly

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A Birthday Present for a Kniting Friend

Last week, a good friend of ours turned 40.  I'd bought a couple of little gifts to package up for her, but I wanted to MAKE her something too.  While browsing on Ravelry, I found just the the thing to knit for a friend who knits - a teeny, tiny sweater-in-progress brooch.....

..... knitted on a pair of snapped-in-half toothpicks!!!

I found the pattern here.

Of course, I had to make her a card too.  And I couldn't resist making ANOTHER paper and buttons bunting card.....

..... just in a different colour (you can see the red - ruby wedding - version here).

Happy birthday, dear Saffron, happy birthday to you!!!  

Carly

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A Bike Ride..... and a Piece of Cake

Last weekend, we had two extra days off school.  Thursday was a bank holiday here in Germany, and we had Friday off as a ‘bridge’ day.  The wonderful weather we’d had for the previous week didn’t stick around for the WHOLE weekend, but we made the most of the sun and warmth and beautiful blue skies whenever they showed themselves. 

Now, I love the IDEA of bike-riding.  But, I don’t think I was..... designed to sit on bike seats for long rides across bumpy countryside lanes.  Although, to look at it, there’s NOTHING bony about my bum (I’d say it’s fairly well-padded), saddles always manage to seek those bones out.  And, well, the two don’t get along very well!!!  So, when Simon suggested a bike ride, I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic.  He promised, though, that we wouldn’t go far – and that I could have cake!  No more persuasion needed!

Sometimes, I appreciate a bit of firm persuasion.  Because I really enjoyed our little adventure in the end.....

We cycled to the little cafe at Schloss Heltorf, in Angermund.  I DO miss English cakes (especially iced-buns, jam tarts, scones, Victoria sponge, butterfly cakes, Devon splits.....)  BUT, they DO have a yummy selection at the ‘Schloss Stübchen’! 

Now we’re hiding away inside, keeping out of the lashing rain, I’d love to go for a big piece of cake healthy bike ride.....

As a little aside, I’m wearing my first-dress-made-by-me dress in the photos.  I know you can’t see it very well.  But which version do you like best (you can see my second attempt in my last post, here)? 

Hope the sun’s sunny where you are!

Carly

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Cowboy Dress

Two years ago, I made my first ever dress.  I loved it, and have worn it A LOT!  As soon as the sun comes out, IT comes out.  But, apart from a couple of fancy-dress costumes, I haven’t made any other clothes for myself since.

I’ve always wanted to get into making my own clothes, as I rarely see anything that takes my fancy in the shops.  So I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to have another go.  I think it was partly because I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to do a good job (perhaps the fact that the first dress worked out okay was just a fluke) – and partly because I could get a quicker 'fix’ from making accessories and smaller bits and pieces.  

THEN, along came ‘The Great British Sewing Bee'..... and inspired me to get a move on.  What a fantastic series that was!!!  I loved EVERY second of it!!!  As soon as the first show had ended, I got to work planning a dress-making project.  I decided to use the same pattern I’d used for my first dress (New Look 6888).  I used some red and white spotty fabric that I’d had in my stash for a while, and the Cath Kidston cowboy-print fabric that my lovely friend Lisa gave me as a gift a few months ago (you can see the gorgeous goodies she gave me here). 

And here’s the dress.....

I LOVE it!!! 

And guess what???  I’ve made TWO more garments since.  Show-and-tell sessions to follow shortly, of course.....

Carly

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Now THAT’S What I Call Yarn Bombing!!!

We were out on a little ‘Sunday Drive’ last weekend, just a few miles from home, when we came across THIS:

Now THAT’S what I call yarn bombing!!!  As you can see, pretty-much EVERYTHING was covered in pieces of knitting or crochet:  the wall, the fence, the gate, the door, the shutters, the windowsills, the big tree, the planters, the ivy, and the.....  horse!?!  

I didn’t even need to say anything to Simon.  He knew what had to be done, and pulled over to let me and the camera out.  He knows me well!!!

This wonderful place is a clothing and gift shop called Punch and Judy, in Lohausen.  I’ve never been inside, but I do plan on a visit in the VERY near future.  The same people also have a ridiculously quaint-looking cafe, just down the road from the shop.  You should definitely check out the website, here.  I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but it’s VERY cute – and VERY German.....

Now, I wonder what the neighbours would say if I decided to get myself a big plastic horsey and a stack of yarn, and tried to create my own woolly wonderland right here.....

Carly

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Crafty Collaboration

Some time back, my friend Christal asked me if I could make her some of my fabric and button rosettes.  She wanted to use them in her jewellery-making.  I LOVE her work, so I jumped at the chance to have some little Crafted by Carly bits used into her designs!

So, I set to work making 10 rosettes.  I packaged them up, and sent them all off. 

I was SO excited, over the next few weeks, to see beautiful new makes popping up on Christal’s Facebook page – with MY makes incorporated in them!  There was one necklace in particular that I just fell in love with, in my latest favourite colour-combo of grey and yellow.....

..... and now it’s MINE!!!  YIPPEEEE!!!

Would you like to see it? 

Isn’t she clever?!?  If you’d like to have a look at some of Christal’s other necklaces (and earrings too), take a look at her Facebook page by clicking HERE.

Wishing you all a wonderful (and sunny, and warm, and crafty) weekend.....

Carly

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