Make scarves! In summer?

 So it's like this, as far as knitting goes all I can do is the garter stitch and even then I can only really go back and forth in a straight line. I intend on broadening my knitting horizons! I learnt to crochet last year and can now write my own patterns and wing it with ease, this year I'll hopefully be able to do the same with two needles. Why are all the patterns I want to try out scarves? Why am I knitting and crocheting scarves in summer? I'll tell you later. So this is my knitting and crochet scarf list to work through... and yes I am aware that I am going to have to branch out from the garter stitch and my lovely straight lines (complete with a hole or two). There may be a lot of cursing involved... but I have a plan. Albeit a secret plan but a plan! And my damn 5.5mm crochet hook has gone walkabout... I have oodles of hooks trust me to lose the one I use most. My ever present power to misplace has struck again!
To Knit:
The Gentle Strip Scarf
The Classic Seed and Leaf Scarf
April Showers Scarf
The 'Marijke' Scarf
To Crochet:
Fruity Pineapple Scarf
Shells and Chains Scarf
Thread and Cotton Scarf
Lacy Treble Crochet Scarf


That's it! That's my list. Knitting needles engage!

Summer Flower Toothpicks

I'm in such a tizzy! I am so very busy... but here's a little craft idea that's just oh so easy!

Ok so terrible poem aside... I seem to have a million and one things to do today, one of those things being to create little pots of candied frozen raspberries in syrup for a 'Down the Rabbit Hole' teaparty tomorrow. Don't even ask me what I'm wearing, I usually spend days creating a fancy dress costume but I haven't had a chance AHHHHHHH anyway, at this very hot and sticky summer moment in time I am working on some Summer Flower Toothpicks to pop in each little pot of candied fruit for an added touch of adorable... super easy, been done a thousand times over by I'm betting a thousand other crafters, bloggers and Martha Stewart but I don't care, I'm adding to that number :3
Cut a strip of scrapbook paper 5cm by 30cm. Fold one end down 1cm and continue to accordian fold the paper. Place hot glue in a strip on end of the paper, glue on a toothpick. Fold the paper around and glue the two ends together with the toothpick sandwiched between. Cut a small circle of paper and holding the fold in towards the middle, glue the circle of paper on the back to hold the flower in place. Pop a sparkly little embellishment in the centre... stick into cupcakes, cocktails or frozen delights!


I've been kind of obsessed with these scrapbook paper flowers lately... I made a vintage inspired photography backdrop yesterday using these. You can check out a sneak peak of that one right HERE, you'll have to wait to see it all...I don't want to ruin the effect!

Happy crafting!

Another beautiful free shawl crochet pattern

I pinned a whole heap of free shawl and capelet patterns recently with every intention to make each and every one of them either for myself, as gifts or both! After finishing the Pineapple Lace Shawl I moved on to this gorgeous design that really caught my eye. I left off 2 rows around the bottom but it turned out beautifully and as a very simple pattern, I highly recommend working one up for yourself or as a gift! You find the free pattern by clicking HERE.. the only thing is you will need to sign up to the Lion Brand website to access it, but with so many other free patterns available on that site, it's probably not too much of a problem :o) Feeling inspired by the purple and black on the last shawl I made, I was eager to use that colour combination again and after a few hours of happy crocheting, I finished up with this:

It has been wrapped in white and red striped paper, tied with a box and had a tag attached to it under the Christmas tree :o)