40x40cm of warmth

40x40x3cm Acryl paintings for a "new baby" order. I really enjoyed painting these larger paintings and they make quite an impression ;-) My photo's (again) doesn't distorts a bit with uploading so you're not able to see the glitter and the added gold and silver 3D liners used for a beautiful finishing touch.

Too late or too early

I've at last sent my Dutch friend, named like me, her birthday gift (visit her beautiful site here). Her birthday was in April...
I wanted to give her something made and eventually made her a set of pot holders. I've crocheted it with orange/red mix (pity that the photo doesn't show it that well as it looks like fun) and red. I've added a cute ladybird and a dotted satin button (she likes the bugs, by the way I'm a huge fan too) and she had the option to choose between these colours and blue/lime.

She has a darling large black dog called Blacky and I've made this door knob hanger with his name around this dog's colour. (though some people thought this was a cat). I've embroidered the mouth with gold yarn and blanket stitched around with cherise metallic yarn (yes I'm not telling stories here it is just a bad photo). I've added on both sides studded flowers, bug buttons and beads. The string he is hanging on is a dotted ribbon from Farbenmix and Sun catcher safety eyes.

by the way, she likes her gift ;-)

Felted Fun

Yesterday I've completed this filly with his two sides as part of the November Theme Challenge at Crafty Mamas: felty goodness

19x19cm felted fun!
I've added to his cute butt and to make him sparkle:

• embroidery


• buttons


• studs


• jewels


• satin ribbon,


• safety eyes and


• blanket stitched it around with Cherise crochet yarn


• crocheted his mane with fake fur (bought here)

Then I can share with you a swap I've had from Eccles. Do yourself a favour and visit her blog as she make the most gorgeous creations and is raising baby lovebirds. The theme of the swap was: "we don't have that here". After she forgot it in the back of her car and didn't send it for almost 2 months ;-) I got it and in my 2 seasons too late or 2 seasons too early Spring Clean, I mislaid it as I've totally reorganised my hobby room....

Ok, I've found it too take a photo and here it is:

• 3 awesome Australian mags
• 2 cuts of fabric
• a sweet back pack
• a koala label, a metal wombat, roo's clasping dolls, and a dolphin on a piece of shell

quatro fun order

Michelle (Crafty Mama) asked me to paint her two bags with sea creatures in greens and blues. So I've done that with lot of enjoyment. 2 bags with 4 different scenes. I used a lot of pearl paint to give a nice effect.

Then as I was busy she asked me to add another bag. She's making a quilt with fun animals and a lot of dots I believe (can't wait to see the finished quilt). She asked if I can paint a zebra in lime and purple and add dots. Well, how exciting...I'll used the dotted effect more as I had a lot of fun.

Then...she asked me if I can paint a bag for her mom. Mom loves bluebirds, gulls and bishops. So..I had to look up a bluebird as I've never heard about them. They seem a lot like a red robin to me ;-) apart from the colour of course! I decided to do the blue and the red birds ;-) really enjoyed it and when crazy on the background.

Thanx a million for this great order Michelle!

In total I've painted 4 bags but with 8 different scenes as the two sides of each bag is painted totally different! Please see my Flickr album for more photo's. Don't be afraid; enjoy the colours ;-)

Zizi's crocheted bodywarmer

This is zizi. This month she'll turn 2 on the 22nd. Her father was a mini Maltese and her mother a normal sized one so I guess she ends up being a M size ;-) I take her to the doggy parlour for a trim 3-4 times a year. It seems then that we have 2 dogs; when she's shaves she looks very mini and French and then in a month's time her hair is already longer and she turns into a mini boomer. I looked for a cute suitable not too glamourace name like Fifi and then ended up with Zizi. I stumbled on the name when watching the South African movie Duma,about a boy and his Cheetah. Then I asked a friend of mine then living in Botswana to give me the meaning of zizi. Zizi is the name given to mosquitoes in a native tongue in Botswana and Namibia. It means unseen power. (I guess because the mosquitoes they refer to travels in clouds) Ok it is not very flattering to the dog but she is very small and she has a lot of nerve for such a wee thing. She absolutely hates big dogs and constantly pulls at her leash like a husky when we let take her for a walk and she sees a big dog. The Benner Senner of people living down the street is her favourite target. She actually goes for his throat and the noises she makes seems like she already swallowed 3 quarters of him. Very embarrassing.
Anyway in Hungarian Zizi is a diminutive of Elizabeth. The girls coming to visit my daughters love her and calls her Sissi (the Empress of Austria). Girls love the cartoon version. So all ends well ;-)

Anyway what I actually wanted to share was that she got shaved again and as we have cold weather (when not?) I decided to crochet a body warmer for her. I started out making this one but got lost at the "Middle". I think I've crocheted it on the wrong side. Then I continued with side 2 and then I totally abandoned the pattern and crocheted away. It has a halter on her lower breast so it won't move around. I've also made it shorter so it won't get too dirty on the walks and she only needs it for her upper body. Well, I like it, the girls like it and Zizi couldn't care. At least she's one snazzy doggy now ;-)

These are a few of my favourite things

I bought myself at DeStoffenkraam some fabric. The top two are stenzo 2007/2008 rib cord prints as they had 50% discount. The ribon is from farbenmix: orange with pink dots and green with strawberries. Aren't they' cute? You probably can't see if they're cute because of the photo ;-)
Then they have a supprise parcel which you pay 10 Euro for and you get 4x 1m fabric from BIzzKids/Stenzo/Polytex. They choose which fabrics. This is the 2nd time I've done this and I'll to it again.

I've also ordered some buttons from Grootmoedersknopendoos (translated:grandmothersbuttonbox) as I use them on all sorts of projects. Oh they were terribly adorable and really difficult to choose which ones I'll take. What a joy to receive these two packages in the post the next day after ordering! Great service.

What I've been up to

I've completed 4 bags for a great order: sea creatures, birds and a dotty zebra. Had a lot of fun with alle these great colours and had to part with them throwing them on the post to Australia. I wish their receivers a lot a warmth and joy!then I've absolutely stunned myself by sewing a bag. Not any bag; it is a reversable bag. I've bought a pattern from SwapMamas' shop because it was on sale and I love bags. Never thought I had the guts to try anything else but the morsebag. It is a double duty bag from sewbaby and I can really recommend it. As it is reversable you it has a great finished look. I was just sewing in a clip-on for car keys in one of the pockets when my friend came in. Well, she bought if fresh from the oven! It is such a great bag, either using it with the pockets outside (see photo) for easy access or reverse it with the pockets inside. I've used 2 fabrics to create the different look like you have two bags for the price of one ;-)
They say it is easy and I can confirm it is.

Announcing the winner of the Fall Giveaway

Entries are closed and I've had 12 of you entering in this giveaway so thank yo all for your participation. This was my first giveaway and I'm very sorry that there is only one winner ;-) Maybe next time it is you!
Have a great fall! (this read funny I know)