Go little Hippo

Go little Hippo

Go on your way
and make the little children
next door
happy

If this side doesn't make them

giggle with enjoyment

show them your

right side

• 
  
  

  

(Right side Painted with textile paint on calico using linders to create 3D)

We went today to congratulate the neighbours with their new baby.

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Made cards with the girls today.

The room where we had our creative overflow

looked like an explosion in a soup factory but we had fun!

We made 2 birthday cards,

1 bon voyage card,

1 congratulations-It- is- a- boy card and

1 card in memory of my painting teacher's cat:

she died at the age of 20.

GIP

Go In Peace

This guy is no longer with us.

He flew off yesterday to nest at a friend's house.

I wish them both lots of fun together. lol.

(Guinea Fowl Linnen bag painted by me, see more here:HouseOnTheMountain)

Crafty Mamas Swap

Ooooh I've totally forgotten to share with you my swap:
I think it is because mine is still on its way to Australia so I can't tell what I've made.
I can show you what I've received in the post. Such a nice supprise I got from CM Violet(give her blog a visit).

the theme was a recycled item to swap
She made me a bookmark and a pain brush roll-up from a children's curtain and sent if with this cute card!

I just love the colours and it is usefull too!

I absolutely can't wait till she receive hers...hope it will not get lost in the post!

Sun!

Today I went with the girls to a strip of beach at the Rhine river.

*A river of western Europe formed by the confluence of two tributaries in eastern Switzerland and flowing about 1,319 km (820 mi) north and northwest through Germany and the Netherlands to its two-pronged outlet on the North Sea. It is a major commercial shipping waterway linked by canals to other important European rivers and passes through a number of scenic valleys.*

Behind the sail boat you can see the dyke.

*The word dike is associated with the Netherlands "dijk", where dikes were built as early as the 12th century.A dike (or dyke) is an artificial earthen wall, constructed as a defense or as a boundary. It is also known in American English as a levee. The best known form of dike is a construction built along the edge of a body of water, to prevent it from flooding onto an adjacent lowland.*

I forgot a watch but luckily I had

the Cunera tower to check the time.

I took a crochet pattern to try out from Jo-Ann Idea

Just a little rosette. This way I was able to try out

something; keeping one eye on the girls and one eye on my hands:

For the rest I've worked on my mother's gift that I should finish this week

to be able to post it in time for her birthday.

Spoiled

This past week I got flowers:

Sunflowers (ooh la laaaa) from husband.

He went to shop for clothes, came back with what he went for and

for his dear wife he brought flowers!

Not just any flowers but the sunflowers I so cherish.

Aaaaaaaaah

The girls went out to play and came

giggly running back with little sweaty hands holding

picked flowers for mommy...aaaaaaah

I couldn't visit the lady from the Zonnebloem I ussually go to.

So she came to me and supprised me with a bunch of roses.

She shouldn't have.

Aaaaaaaah

Flowers says it all.

Especially if one is the daughter of

a flower farmer.

mealies and dots

This past weekend was b-day time for one of the girls.
It was quite dotty:

The b-day girl got the flamenco shoes and the dress to match. Her day was made! (parents happy....)

We went to a play farm called maisdoolhof. Lots of mealies.

Answers.com:

mea·lie also mie·lie (mē'lē) n. South African.
An ear of corn.
mealies Corn; maize.
[Afrikaans mielie, ultimately from Latin milium, millet (perhaps via Portuguese milho).]

I mostly enjoyed that the kids were having fun and I was in awe with the clouds:

Sssssjjjjjjjjt

It is a secret.

I'm working on 2 projects and I can't show because the receivers-in-future will see it here...

Then the other project I did for the craft swap is a week on its way and I'm so excited but I still can't show it to you.

So why did I right this entry in the first place...

mmmm I think just to let you know that when my fingers aren't busy typing they're busy with something else.

(((hug)))

Don't do this at home

My little girl was invited to a party. Normally I make the gifts myself. This time I wasn't in the mood for painting so decided to sew something. As always I started too late, had to many bright ideas and have to be very creative to cover my tracks; I'm not a veteran in this...at all!
Yesterday evening at 22:00.... I designed a dog and made it. Design in my point of view is just a snazzy term for I was to hardheaded and lazy to use somebody else's pattern. I tend to invent the wheel all over again. I must be a snob. I went to bed completely dissatisfied with the end result and decided to BUY a gift for the girl.

Then this mornings I was all fit and bubbly with new ideas.... 2.5 hours later while making a lot of frustrative noises I wrapped the self made gift with my daughter. EVerything was finished JIT!!

I covered the dog's belly with crocheted flowers and made him a collar with the girl's name and beads I had. I added some more flowers to make it convincing that the flowers were part of the design. The girl was turning 5 so I thought maybe the dog is for a baby so I made a dress. First I thought to make the dog a dress too so that there will be some kind of connection between the dog and the dress. Didn't have enough time....so I sewed crocheted flowers onto the dress. That made the dress less simple. Well.... there is enought glitter to distract the attention ;-)


The dress has a long body and fits under the arms. (not shown completely on this photo)

My youngest daughter said the dress looked a bit funny...

the oldest daughter asked if the dog was a deer...

Something blue

10 days since my last entry and have I been busy! In a nice way of course trying new things with crocheting. It seems the crochet but bites everytime there's nice weather as this is a hobby I easily can take outside. This time I've tried a crocheting a little gift basket. On the photo you see my first try, I've filled it with yarn just to be able to make a photo. Next time I'll use a smaller hook or/and I guess the yarn is not really made for this. Nice yarn anyway.

I'm going to fill it and then give as a gift with a friend's mother in Turkey.

I'm working on something else too which takes up my time and gave me a blister. I can't tell you what yet as it is a part of a swap for July. I have to finish it and send it to my swap buddy in Australia tomorrow...

After she has received it I'll let you in on the secret ;-)

I've tried this weekend some new liners I've bought with a friend. I'm quite use to the ones I bring from South Africa so It was a bit getting use to these. They're from "Tulip". I've tried them out on a used pair of jeans belonging to my youngest. She'll be delighted when she sees it I think because it is a favourite and showed wear and tear

I've tried them out on a used pair of jeans belonging to my youngest. She'll be delighted when she sees it I think because it is a favourite and showed wear and tear

Because we DID have sun on Sunday, we sat outside.

The only hobby I know that I can easily take outside it crocheting! That is if I don't do crossword puzzles.

So I crocheted this bird (finished it today). It is a crazy crow pattern and you can see why it is called that way. It was quite fun to make. Its paws make me thing of a slaughtered chickens' lol.

yes

It is now 24:01
it rained today - Friday -
and it was cold.

I saw it!!

The sun!

Not a picture of a sun

the newspaper "The Sun"

the rap artist King Sun

not a logo of Sun Microsystems

not Forest Sun the rock star

not the Sun river in a travel magazine

or a sunflower

or a sun bear

or a sun bird

or sunscreen

not a sun on television

or in a magazine
but outside in the sky propped in a blanket of grey clouds

and then...

it went away again;

Hello Sun; bye-bye Sun

So we made cookies today..

you make think they're in the form of a sun because we so desperately need sun

but it is a star;

Here comes the story behind the stars:

I'm participating at a craftymamas forum and they have ideas, challenges etc

very nice.

The theme challenge for July is: Christmas lol

It can be anything you've made,

so we made coffee flavoured(my idea) Christmas(star shape + metallic balls) cookies

dipped in chocolate

*The "we" = the girls and me

* A cookie (answers.com) = A small, usually flat and crisp cake made from sweetened dough.

ok I've also done some Christmas "graphicing"

And to make sure it is not seen as last December's baking I've

dived into the "old paper" (yes, we separate here in The Netherlands)

and found the newspaper of yesterday.

I took a photo with a cookie and the date of yesterday

like in the "kidnap" detective series on television.

Today

The fourth day of the week
and I'm going to use it to complain once more about the weather and then I'll stop

According to www.Answers.com

The definition of complain is:

To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.

I'll share with your our weather forecast(yahoo):
Keep in mind it is Summer.... who says WHAT about global warming??

And have a look at the rest of the week:

• jipieeee tomorrow is the best day of the week(NOT!): light rain,17degrees
• Friday is not a good day for an umbrella because of the wind so I'll just cover my head with a plastic bag
• Saturday is very simple: just rain
• Wow and Sunday is a supprise day: when and where will the shower be and I'm not talking about a baby shower or something to get clean in!
  

I don't want you to get drenched in my sarcasm so I'll stop here and go crawl into bed after making myself a cup of coffee and warming up a sugar waffle (as I couldn't find a liaison)

My glasses must be dirty..

I can't recognize the season we're in

we've had the Winter: check

Spring: checked

it is suppose to be Summer: check?

but it looks like Autumn: check!?

so I'll share some pumpkins I've painted

for the Kreamarkt

with lilies to go

* I've painted them on a table cloth but the color is closer to that of the lily photo*

May dear friend stepped in and rescued me for painting in vain;

she bought it the same day ;-)

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I must remember today it is

(Yesterday I've made this cute tag)
and I have to go to a parent's evening tonight at the girls' school

Spill the coffee

No it is certainly not a matter of "spill the beans" but the coffee.

It happened twice in 4 hours.

First my husband overthrew the coffee regime on our bed and then

I did it while reading a magazine at the table. So what does this tell me?

To be very careful around the coffee today!

I'll share some pics of a dog who spilled coffee on its coat:

It is the beautiful African Wild Dog. Not very known outside of Africa.

The most successful of African predators but also endangered as they need a large territory.

They are often (I don't know how lol) confused with hyena's if you haven't heard of/seen them before.It is also know as: the Cape hunting dog and the painted wolf (I love this one!)

Every individual has its own unique spots.

Do yourself a favor and read more about them: here!

We've visited a wild animal rehab centre called Moholoholo when we were in South Africa.

Moholoholo ("The Very Great One")

This is where I took the photo's. In the past we have been fortunate enough to see them in the Kruger Park as well. Any questions?

I'll make myself a cup of coffee while you're reading all about these dogs lol!

My version

of a Konik horse I guess or maybe Spirit was an inspiration

I don't know but it wasn't intentionally.

This was painted with acryl on a 24x30cm canvas and finished with a gold liner.

By the way I've used gold paint on the clouds too.

a shot of colour on a grey day

I thought I'd make photo's of the linnen bags I've painted a couple of weeks ago. It is officially summer now but sadly enough the sun is not rizing to the occasion. I can really use some sun.

Below you can see a hippo and some dragonflies (who look more like mosquitoes).

On the back of the bag you can see(no you can't!)

the hippo's backside with some more draguitoes.

I've painted a guinea-fowl, quite common where my parents live in SA.

I think she is thinking of eating one of the draguitoes coming from the hippo.

Hippo will be happy. On the back I've painted large (freehand style) flowers with more flying feathers. Maybe a caracal caught one of the Guineas.

The turquoise and the red are painted with a metallic paint which gives a nice effect.

Here you can see just part of the giraffe.

She's surrounded by metallic butterflies (stamped too like the draguitoes)

At the back you can see her tail side ;-) and some more butterflies or are they margarineflies?

On all the bags I've used gold and copper liners to create a nice effect, see for yourself:

That was it, I still have to make photo's of the 10 paintings.

The techniques used and this type of hobby is very common in South Africa.

It is just so you know that!

Guess what we did on a Tuesday

Yes, we went to a theme park, one called the Efteling.

I've been there when I was 4/5 yrs of age and I'll be honest,

yesterday I was a little girl again ;-) Most of all I enjoyed the fairy tale forest with all the classic fairy tales.

It is situated in a beautiful forest and the trees are full of birds singing (real birds!)

This butterfly is sitting on the knee of long neck while he tells his story. Of course when you're in a fairy tale forest
you can't expect the (real) doves to be ordinary!

Want to peek into the little house of Mrs.Holle?

(I'm sure she's called by another name in English?)

Below you can visit the scenery of the little match girl.

The story is too sad for me so I didn't go inside.

I'm sure you know the story about the frog prince,

well here below was an interesting water feature with the golden ball. We were able to visit everything we liked as there were almost no waiting in cues. We went on a perfect day! We spent 7 hours in the park so needless to say we were quite ready for our beds at the end of the day.

Evidence

According to Answers.com: ev·i·dence

• A thing or things helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment
• Something indicative; an outward sign
• To indicate clearly; exemplify or prove

So here is the outward sign and prove that we've walked the 5km each day for 4 days:

We were welcomed yesterday by a band playing and lots of people waiting with flowers and sweet things!
We had a little trouble getting the medallions as we've received them this time from the Sport Club and not the school. We were too late to assign at the school as we were in South Africa. The stand of the Sport Club were very hard to find among all the craziness. In the end my husband rose to the occasion, jumped on his bike into the crowd and came back with the prized medallions ;-)

flower power

What a nice but busy week.
In our town it is the "avondvierdaagse", 4 evenings and we (everybody who wants to and children from the primary schools) walk 5 km, some walk 10 km.
I walk with the two girls 4.5 and 6 yrs and they are doing good. We start at 18:30 and end at 20:00. As it is 4 days we will end today and it always ends with music and people waiting with flowers at the finish line. There are also medallions and so the girls are majorly excited.

On Tuesday we went to a wedding celebration after the walk... went to bed past midnight and we were all dead tired the next day but really enjoyed the wedding.
One of the gifts I gave the young bride was one of my painted tablecloths, she likes Blond Amsterdam.
ok I have to go and cook something for the bellies before we enjoy the last day.

They were not ready for me

On Saturday I went to the "Creamarkt" (creativity market) with my painted creations.

I worked quite hard and my husband even though he was dead tired on Friday night made holes and wire curls for my two country-hanging-things.

I was satisfied with my arrangement and Chanah was excited to help me the whole day.

But... I think my colours were to bright for the people with the money in their pockets. Oh and I think that all the young people were sleeping late (until 16:00) as the visitors were all 60+ I guess. Anyway they have no clue that their grandchildren and great grandchildren like funky colours ;-)

I did sell one item....

The little lamb that hubby helped me with the previous night. I then said to him leave it as I have enough to sell....luckily he did make it otherwise...

On the photo you're not able to see the nice wire curls my husband made for it to hang from. The little card slides under the lamb's chin, so it is possible to take it out. The funny thing is that they lady who bought the lamb thought that the words written on it was Fresian... but it was South African and I did tell her that ;-)

It says: Friendship is the fine art of giving with an open heart.

Then my friend came just before closing time for moral support and bought a painting and a table cloth! Now that is a true friend lol! When I came home my husband had cleaned the house for me and supprised me with a beautiful mixed bunch of pastell coloured Lisianthus (eustoma is the botanical name) flowers and a beautiful card with encouraging words. I just had to cry.

Well anyway now I have a lot of items for my Internet shop.

I am glad I did it and had nice chats and met a neighbour down the street who are an artist and I'll invite her for a visit ;-)