Oh, the indulgence of it all! Sunshine, bird song, tea and
*s p a r k l y * yarn!
Doesn’t take much to
make me exceedingly happy!
This past weekend a new haberdashery opened in a nearby
village. I took the girls to the grand opening Saturday morning, and of course
I just had to show my support by making a lovely yarny purchase!
I simply could not resist the sparkles. I mean, look at
them! Sequins and metallic threads are so on trend, but I hadn’t
succumbed...til I saw this beautifully textured yarn, in my favourite taupe
shade, with the subtlest silver sequins. I remembered a lacy scarf pattern in
Erika Knight’s Crochet Workshop book, which only uses two balls of yarn, so I
added that to some fun fabric and a needlefelting kit for Bunny and a purple bead
kit for Little Flower. A lovely little haberdashery that I will be happy to
visit again...and again...and again...!
Also basking in the springtime sun is a freshly made mandala:
This little lovely was designed by Wink for Simply Crochet, Issue Seven. I made this for a close friend’s birthday, in colours that
suit her kitchen. I also wanted to test out one of the mandala patterns for
next Monday’s Crochet Clinic,
because a handful of the hooksters will be learning how to make mandalas.
I will be making one for myself – it really is a wonderful project,
and I can understand why mandalas are so fun to create. Each round is repetitive
enough to allow you to hook without constantly looking at the directions, yet
not so large that it becomes boring to work over and over again. The colour
changes allow any palette that strikes your fancy, and cotton yarn is usually
inexpensive.
I’m using Drops Paris, which is used frequently in these patterns. The
colours are wonderful, but golly is this yarn splitty! The strands separate
like crazy, which I can deal with, but I wonder if a pricier cotton yarn would
yield easier results. I’ll have to investigate that one. But I do love the
colours of Drops Paris, and it works up into a soft, sturdy fabric...
I’d love to say that I must dash because I have chores to do
or children to fetch. But honestly, I’m leaving the dishes in the sink, the
dust is quite comfortable waiting for me on the shelf...I’m going back to sunshine, my
tea and sparkles!
Happy crafting!
Chrissie x
Enjoy the sunshine Chrissie! I'm loving the sparkly yarn very much :o) Sam xxx
ReplyDeleteGood for you Chrissie ! For the last two days we have been covered in a big grey fog that just won't lift :-(
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to have a lovely new shop so close by, and I adore the wool you chose, it's really very special.
Do you know I have never been drawn to Mandala's before but something about your one is calling me... it's beautiful.
Hope the sun keeps shining for you,
Kate x
Cross over, Kate, come and make mandalas...I think it's the grey shades that call out to you... ;-)
DeleteWe have lots of sunshine today, but sadly is it complemented by extremely sub-zero temperatures. My spot of crochet will happen on the couch, fighting with the dog over a sun spot!
ReplyDeleteI love the new yarn and the mandala! I just discovered a yarn shop in town that sells Drops and I would'n't mind trying it out. Perhaps another mandala is in order... Good luck with your class on Monday, and enjoy your beautiful weather:)
Jenn@JennsCraftyWorld
oo I love the wool! and isn't it lovely now the weather is being kinder to us! What is a mandala, is it like a coaster? x
ReplyDeleteHi Claire, my friend Hannapat over at Cosmos & Cotton recently wrote a lovely post about the meaning of mandalas, I urge you to check it out, it will explain it better than I can! http://cosmosandcotton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/finding-my-inner-peace-through-mandala.html
DeleteGood for you Chrissie!!
ReplyDeleteOf course you had to buy yarn, it would have been extremely rude not to! ;)
Love the mandala! :)
V x
I think I'd have to go out in a sleeping bag hehe still not warm enough for sitting out here yet. The sequins in the yarn are such a pretty touch. I really like the mandala it's got great colours x
ReplyDeleteI hope that your workshop goes really well. Your mandala is so pretty, I am sure that it will be great inspiration to your class!! xx
ReplyDeleteYour wool is so pretty, I love the sparkles!
ReplyDeleteI love the soft sparkly yarn! I love Wink's patterns. They are always so well written and photographed. Be careful, you will start making mandala's and won't be able to stop! Love that last line...isn't the dust always waiting? I am like you though, I am off to crochet in the sunshine! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe mandala is really pretty and the sparkly yarn is perfect. Is that an Emma Bridgewater mug in the background? I haven't come across that design if it is! xXx
ReplyDeleteWell spotted Suzanne! It is Emma Bridgewater, but I got it as a souvenir from the Hay Literary Festival a few years ago, which is why it's not one of her 'normal' designs...Cx
DeleteOoh, lucky you - it's really pretty! xXx
DeleteOoooh that is some lovely sparkly yarn, and always nice with a cuppa outside!
ReplyDeleteYour mandala is beautiful! I have always admired Wink's work too! Rico has some nice cotton yarn, but it is quite splitty too.....I think its just the way of cotton yarn.
A lot of people are wishing they had your weather right about now. That yarn is lovely. And the mandala is very pretty. Best wishes, Tammy
ReplyDeleteGorgeous sparkly yarn, it will make a perfect scarf. Isn't this weather glorious? It makes everyone so happy. It was 16.5°C today and I didn't need a coat!! Magic. And a cup of tea and crochet in the garden, how perfect. x
ReplyDeleteOh Chrissie that mandala is gorgeous...I'm adding having a go at one of them to my growing crochet to do list ( get me!!) Thank you for asking me to add my cowl to todays CAL. I hope you enjoyed your cuppa in the garden, it really was a lovely day. Sarah xo
ReplyDeleteLove that yarn, it is like the one I used for the sedge stitch scarf. I am yet to crochet outside this year, I seem to be doing so many other maintenance type jobs at the moment. Lovely mandala - can you believe of all the things I have made, i have never made one of these! I need one for the cabin Jo x
ReplyDeleteOutside crochet, bliss. I'm knitting a scarf with that exact same yarn I think. Lovely isn't it.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful. I love to crochet outside. I haven't done it lately, must get on that soon. Your new yarn is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWho would have betted on the weather being warm and sunny enough to work outside. Natural daylight makes the best conditions. Looking at what others are doing makes me want to pick up my hook too. Blast, why not ..... My dishes can wait too, I've a waistcoat to finish.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your inspirational posts.
S xx
What yumptious yarn, the finished scarf will be just fab. Lovely mandala too. Have a wonderful weekend in the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteJane x
Lovely post...
ReplyDeleteHave a nice, simple and shinny weekend !
Anna
oooh lovely new yarn, well it would have been rude not to get some sparkle, it's so pretty. Nothing like a bit of alfesco crochet enjoy
ReplyDeleteClare xx
Sounds idyllic and whilst sitting in a sweltering office I am feeling somewhat jealous of sparkling time fun. Still the weekend will soon be upon us and it will be hooks away for me this weekend and needles at the ready.
ReplyDeleteHello my lovely friend, it seems that this sunshine is just what most of us have yearned for and it was most certainly too hard to resist, hence the reason that I am so behind with this blogging lark thing. I love your pretty mandala, to be honest I have made three now and none more for me, so I think I will have to whip another one up for me too soon. Looking forward to see that sparkly yarn in full swing! Its gone a little cold and grey here again today, hope it is better down south. Enjoy your weekend sweetie xoxo
ReplyDeleteLovely post Chrissie and I adore your mandala x
ReplyDeleteI love that sweet little mug Chrissie, and I love your mandala and its perfect colours - you've worked it beautifully! Although I've admired Wink's patterns for months and months, I haven't yet got around to making any yet but do admire them greatly. Your colour choices are always 'out of this world' as far as I'm concerned. I'm looking forward to seeing more of that gorgeous looking scarf too, and how lovely that you have a new haberdashery that you will just 'have to' support on a regular basis!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the welcome sunshine lovely, the household chores will wait, and really, as soon as you knock back the dust it starts to settle again anyway, so there's no panic!
Love to you and yours, Joy xo
Gorgeous yarn - I love a bit of sparkle - glamour on a daily basis as my friend says! Interesting what you said about the Drops yarn. I've been tempted to buy some as so many people are using it but I hate splitty yarn. It's difficult to find yarns that come in a good colour range though and I'd love to have a go at one of the mandalas - oh the dilemma! Hoping the sun shines on you again this weekend :)
ReplyDeleteOh sparkly yarn has to go with that sparkly fizzy stuff...?
ReplyDeleteI so wished we lived nearer, we could crochet as the sun goes down alfresco drinking the sparkly stuff??
oh well one day...
Daisy xxx
that's a lovely mandala Chrissie! Is it this months Simply Crochet, is it too late I wonder. Your crochet group sounds good, very brave! Heather x
ReplyDeleteLooks idyllic! You can't beat a bit of crochet or sewing al fresco! Glad you enjoyed it, and I love that sparkly yarn.
ReplyDeleteThe mandala is very pretty Chrissie, sounds a great small project with the right variety of rounds and different colours so you can create something totally different looking from the next person - I'm sure it will go down well with the others.
Gill xx