Friday 16 January 2015

It's a small world

Welcome back!

How was your week? Did you all have a good one? (I hope so). Are you looking forward to the weekend? Have you planned in some crocheting or knitting in your spare time! Great!!!

Here is a little look back at my week so far:

It's a small world

I wanted to push my skills into a new direction, so I went SMALL. I was inspired by Japanese Crochet Books which feature many cute and tiny little projects.

This is my own take: A doublesided Sunflower, crocheted together in the middle with shell stitches to make the petals. Add a loop to attach a cord - Voila! A new pendant on a necklace which also doubles up as an useful pincushion!!! (The inside is filled with lots of toy stuffing!)


13.01.15 Finished Sunflower Pendant/Pincushion
My oldest daughter left early this morning. She had brought her own (and first big) crochet project along! She made this Bender hat for someone as a present!!! (I only gave her some small tips when it came to crocheting the eye balls and attaching the arial at the end!) I'm really proud of her!!! (Own pattern!)

14.01.15 My oldest daughter finished her Bender hat!!!
Yesterday we recovered after having gone to Brussels the day before. My daughter carved some stampers (more of that later).

First I crocheted a tiny teacup (with saucer). Then I decided I wanted to make an animal! I had come across this adorable small elephant via Pinterest. So I started making one without a pattern! My elephant is barely 3cm long (5cm including the tiny tail and the trunk!) I think the original one is most likely more than 2 or 3 times as big!!!

Last, not least, I saw this - an octopus, so I made one, too! My little octopus is only 1.5cm small in the body (and 3cm with all tentacles spread out!)

For all this projects I used a tiny hook size (1.5mm) with wool that normally needs 3-3.5mm (Mille Colori).


15.01.15 Finished Tiny Elephant Amigurumi
It's a small world!!!!
15.01.15 Elephant, Octopus and Teacup Amigurumi
Here you can see a 5.5cm spool of Guetermann thread for size comparison
10.01.15 Fingercrocheted Rubber Necklace and Fabric Brooch

Knitting WIPs

1. My second Black Alpaca Boucle Shawl

Thankfully Julija's Woolshop finally received their shipment of new DROPS yarn, yay!!! So I continued with the shawl.

16.01.15 My second Black Alpaca Shawl
2. My knitted 'Stripy Thing' (which will probably become a sleeveless jumper/pullover)

16.01.15 My Stripy Thing WIP
2 colourways of Invicta alternating
A visit to Rotterdam

Last saturday we had a family trip to Rotterdam (NL). We wanted to visit a museum and went to Het Nieuwe Institut (Architecture). We walked around the exhibits which showed various solutions to the housing situation in Rotterdam. It was fascinating! I loved looking at the models and sketches!

Crafting in the Museum

Then my oldest daughter found the workshop corner!!! We were in heaven!!! There were plenty of materials to make things with. The idea was to contribute any 'artwork' to the exhibition.

We decided on carving our own stampers out of erasers!!!! This proved so much fun that it was a revelation!!! We printed some of our designs onto sheets of paper (see mine below).

I then made a white fingercrocheted rubbernecklace and started on sewing a fabric/felt hexagon brooch which is not quite finished yet (see photo above). I also made some 'eye' magnets using printed fabric!

Het Nieuwe Institut, Rotterdam
 

10.01.15 My finished sheets of selfcarved stamper printing

Because of this experience we have been making stampers since Monday!!! I managed to find a good supply of large plain rubbers. These were mostly made by my daughter (hers are amazing!!!), I made the squiggly one, the snowcapped mountain, an abstract one and a little house (only half seen).

You can find a lot more images on my brand new instagram page!


 I found this inspirational (outside the museum):

Don't worry, everything will be alright!
Sunset in Rotterdam

A Day trip to Brussels

On Wednesday we went to Brussels by bus! I took my knitting for the journey! :) We wandered around the 'touristy' bits, such as the Grote Markt, saw Tin-Tin and a million chocolate shops!


Tin-Tin

14.01.15 Brussels Grote Markt (plus following photos)

Two (of my 3) daughters leading the way (and wearing my knits!)

Today is a Good Day!

Last night I spent with my oldest daughter, crocheting, laughing, instagramming together. We went to bed really late (and she had to get up only a few hours later to leave for the airport)! I really loved having her here, I hadn't seen her since her graduation in the summer which is a very long time indeed. We cooked some fabulous vegetarian meals together and we both got stampermania now!!! I miss her already, of course I do!

I thought today would be a difficult day to get through. However, this morning I woke up with energy and decided to get out for some errands. Later in the afternoon I went into town (Antwerp). This is what the weather looked like! No, I didn't alter the photos, they are completely unedited! What a wonderful blue sky!!!

16.01.15 Schelle 3pm
Our street
Schelle Church
Schelle Main road


Well, I hope you have enjoyed reading this post about my week. Let me know what you think, what your plans are for the weekend, etc. I love hearing from you all!





35 comments:

  1. Second generation crocheters - you must be so proud!
    And the elephant, the teacup, the octopus, just too cute Ingrid!
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Hi Amalia! Thanks, and yes, I am pleased I got a daughter who not only crochets as well, but got a degree in Textile crafts last summer! :) I love her creativitiy, the majority of the stamps are hers!!! :) xx

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  2. Wow, jijmaakt vaak zulke lange blogs dat ik onderaan niet meer weet wat er bovenaan stond, hihi. In ieder geval heb je weer veel leuks gedaan. :) Je mini-beestjes zijn grappig! Knap gedaan. Mijn dochter (10jaar) houdt maandag haar spreekbeurt over haken en heeft ook de foto's van die mini beestjes van Suami in haar powerpoint gestopt. Ik denk niet dat ik dat zelf ga proberen, ik ben niet zo'n fan van zelf amigurimi haken, laat staan zo klein!!
    Leuk zeg die stempels. Denk dat je niet meer kunt stoppen als je eenmaal bezig gaat, haha!
    Fijn weekend

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    1. Hallo Lizette! Ik weet het well, maar anders moet ik 3 posts schrijven en er was echt geen tijd als mijn dochter hier was! Dankje voor jouw reactie!!! :)) xx

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  3. Weer een hoop leuke dingen! En inderdaad de 'stampermania' heeft echt toegeslagen! Ik ben zo blij er ééntje van te hebben!!! Tot binnenkort! Xx

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    1. Jaa, het was leuk zo zamen te knutselen!!! :) Amai, ik ben er helemaal op nieuw verkoud, echt waar!!! xx

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  4. Its always wonderful when you are able to pass on a skill to your daughters and then you can share a hobby. The amigurumi is a real delight, I particularly loved the teacup and saucer.

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    1. Thank you, Lorraine! I understand how you can relate to it, it is fun when you can do stuff together!! :) xx

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  5. So cute creations !!!! Good luck with your new skills !!! you're talentued !!! Take care !

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  6. Time well spent! Being with your familiy is the most important time ever.
    I had a wekk with my mum in November and I tressure it. They live 1300km away from where I live. I really like your stripy thing, Have to ask about that yarn, you know I am a rainbow freak ;o)
    All the best from Norway

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    1. Thanks, Monica! You are absolutely right! About that yarn: http://www.scheepjeswol.com/nl/collectie/sokkenwol/invicta-colour-28561/ (It is basically knitting with 2 different coloured sock wool Invicta!) Take care! xx

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  7. I am so happy you had a wonderful visit with your girls, and laughd, loved, visited and toured. I was in Rotterdam briefly a few years ago for the Tour de France Prologue, it was so much fun but I did not really get to see the area much, just the backside of bike riders.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Wow, you've been to Rotterdam! How amazing, Meredith! I think it's a brilliant city and I already want to go back there to see a lot more!!! :) xx

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    2. Hahaha! I can relate to that Meredith - the Tour Down Under is on today in and around my city (Adelaide). All those people who don't ride their bikes all year decide to come out and bike-riders' backsides are everywhere! hehehe

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  8. Hello Ingrid! Looks like you've been busy, as always. I don't know how you do it all. Those little animals are so adorable! The knitting is beautiful as well, but I REALLY love those gloves in your previous post. The color is amazing. Have a nice, creative weekend!

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    1. hi Pammy Sue! Well, this post covered a lot of things done over a week or so! (I tend to think to myself, just do one post, but then it takes ages with editing the photos etc!!) Yeah, I loved how those fingerless gloves came out. :) xx

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  9. I just LOVE the cat stamps the best! Awesome!

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    1. Hehe, my daughter made those! She is really good with carving stamps, she made so many (and has plans to do lots more!). We're all slightly cat mad around here!!! (you might have noticed!) xx

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    2. It is a good skill to have (carving your own stamps) - ready made stamps are quite expensive and everybody I know who does stamping ends up with a large collection - how much must that cost! At least you and your daughter can save so much expense by doing your own and they look great. The other benefit is that they are unique and you won't see your stamp motifs everywhere on everyone else's things so your stamping will be fresh and individual.

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  10. My goodness Ingrid, you have been incredibly busy!!! All those stamps are wonderful aren't they, how clever are you!! Love your little animals too! I hope that you have a great week! xx

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    1. Thanks for your comments, Amy! :) My daughter made most of the stamps, but I made also quite a few... it is really good fun but also tricky! (Once you cut a line off, you can't go back and change the design!!) I made a sunflower stamp yesterday! xx

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  11. what a lovely post, you've been busy! i can't believe how small that crochet is, it's adorable! glad you had fun with your daughters, the stamps are wonderful :) xx

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    1. Hi Helen! Thanks for your comments! It's also nice to see you journey along with me on instagram, your crochet is coming along nicely!! :) xx

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  12. Love the crochet Ingrid! I too am heavily in love with Japanese crochet books!

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    1. Hello Maya! I can see why!!! I'm so happy that I discovered that Julija's Woolshop in Antwerp sells them!!! So far I have bought 2... ;) xx

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  13. I don't know why I missed your post...it didn't turn up in my blog feed on the day you posted but I found it today. What a busy lady you are!
    I like your pendant. Your 'little things' are cute. It is a nice to change hooks and thread sizes from time to time to keep one's skills and mind fresh.
    I am intrigued by the Het Nieuwe Institut (Architecture) and would love it if you could elaborate on "the housing situation" in Rotterdam. What exactly is the situation? Water, geography/geology, overcrowding, something else?
    Glad you had some lovely mother:daughter time.
    Cheers! xx

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    1. Hi Jodie! Don't you worry about it, I know you will always come back here!! ;)

      What I meant was this: Rotterdam is the second biggest city in the Netherlands and is constantly growing. It is necessary to plan for the future and regenerate old areas, providing attractive and suitable housing for all. I have seen some of these new buildings when we drove around and they are amazing! :) xx

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    2. That's interesting - Adelaide is going through similar even though it isn't as densely populated as Rotterdam or even Sydney or Melbourne. It is an attempt to reduce urban sprawl and save land and keep our farming land close to the city.

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  14. Beautiful creations!!!
    Happy week.:*

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  15. You've been so busy as usual making lots of gorgeous things. I remember Tin Tin from when I was a child!! I crocheted a scarf for my sister using DK yarn with and 8mm hook (instead of the usual 4mm). It turned out really well and she loves it.

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    1. Hi Gillian! That sounds cool! Yes, changing size/hook can be fun! xx

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  16. Oh wow! I would have loved that making corner, your rubber stamps are excellent, what a great idea. am now keen to have a go myself, looks like so much fun. Loved the idea of your versatile necklace made with lots of crocheted flowers too. I am currently thinking about Valentines days and all the things to make for that!!! Good to have discovered your blog.

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    1. Hi Selma! Well done for finding my blog, I just added yours to my bloglovin list! :) Thanks for your kind comments, glad you found it interesting. If you want to make your own stamps, buy some very cheap soft rubber erasers and a thin lino cutter tool. You can use a craft knife, but the lino cutter can scoop out more easily! Draw your design onto the erasers until you are happy with it, then start cutting! Have fun!!! :) xx

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