Latest Forum Posts by: Bastelfan

True, there are so many factors to consider. Besides, it would all be a bit last-minute for this time around.
Maybe next year.

That’s right, Ursulapetra. I agree with you there.

I know, I just wanted to share the idea with you.

How could we do a “Secret Santa” here in the forum? So that we actually have participants. They’re put into a “pot” with a number (e.g., 24 participants). One person acts as the judge.

So the participants are listed in the order they sign up. The slips are labeled with each person’s name, rolled up, and marked on the outside with a number (each number between 1 and 24), then placed in the drawing pot. The judge then draws, for example, the slip with the number 3.
So the first participant on the list is assigned number 3. Only the first participant receives an email with the name of the person for whom they’re to make a Secret Santa gift, and they send this gift personally to their Secret Santa partner (if they have the address).
The recipient doesn’t open their Secret Santa gift until December 24. Pictures will be posted in the forum afterward.

Or a craft swap or one with crocheted figures. I just don’t know how that would work.

Hanging bells on the tree

I read about an Advent calendar swap today in one of my subscription forums.

Have you guys ever heard of this? It didn’t sound too bad. It’s similar to our yarn swap.
Maybe we could do something like that sometime.

Here’s how I understood it: an Advent calendar has 24 little doors. I think there were 10 participants. Each participant is assigned a number from the calendar by drawing lots (e.g., 6), and that participant then has to put together 24 little packages labeled with the number 6. The next person does the same for number 13, and so on.
All the little packages are then sent to the “organizer” (who, in our case, was Ina), and this organizer distributes all the Advent packages (so each participant basically receives 24 different packages in their Advent package).
And to make sure no one gets their own package, the organizer also made 24 packages, which they then swap out. So they also have 24 different ones. If you know what I mean.

However, the participants did meet up to admire them. Otherwise, the organizer would have to send 10 packages back, which probably wouldn’t be the point of the whole thing.

Maybe someone has another idea or variation.

I don’t feel like counting them right now either.
I don’t have quite as many as you do. I still have a few from my mom, and the rest are mostly mini buttons for my amigurumi and clothes (a small sorting box full of them).

You can do a lot with buttons. I’ve also seen that you can crochet around them, or stack them on top of each other from largest to smallest—then it looks like a Christmas tree.
There are lots of ideas, but not enough time for everything.

Pictures speak louder than words, because I’m at a loss for them right now.
What a wonderful gesture of mourning. It looks so beautiful. Your beloved will always remain in your hearts.

Warmest regards from me

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on a crochet commission called “Danish Hearts.”
Other than that, just little bits and pieces—pumpkin charms, crocheted smiley faces...

Oh look at that, dear Ina. I had no idea you named a pattern after me *laughs*.
I really missed that, since I usually look for crochet patterns. But thank you.

I’m what you might call an occasional knitter. Basic stitches come easily to me. I used to even knit little cable patterns, using a toothpick as a helper needle. Whether I could manage that again today is questionable. I’d have to ask Mr. Google first. Even with color changes (knitted pictures). No idea how I did that. These days I prefer crocheting, even though I like knitted items much better and they feel nicer, too.
Like I said, basic stitches are no problem, but with difficult lace and openwork patterns, I have to really dig in.
Otherwise, you can always get kind help here on the forum.

Warm regards from me

Your dolls turned out so pretty, with lots of details. How big are they?
Inge, did you knit them in one piece and then divide them or sew them together?

Thank you, Petra :-)

Another big thank you to everyone who sent belated birthday wishes. I had a wonderful day with good food and drinks.
And on Sunday, it’s off to the dance tea party again :-)

And a huge thank you for all your warm birthday wishes, flowers, and cakes…
I was so happy that you all thought of me.
I had a quiet, sunny day today.

Tomorrow I’ve invited my parents out for dinner at a Greek restaurant. My husband is coming along, of course :-).
In the afternoon, it’s coffee time with fruit tart and whipped cream, Prosecco, and then “the bowling alley” will open. That’s always a blast, and there’s even a small prize for the winner.
(Xbox game) It’s going to be fun.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone—stay healthy
Yours, Andrea

First up: muffins for everyone

Wow, Inge, you’ve been busy again. Great colorful items, and I think those cuddly ducks are totally funny with those feet. I might just take the white one home.
I think it’s great to make things for charitable causes. Keep it up, Inge.

We’re running the “Christmas in a Shoebox” campaign again here. I could do some good there, too.

Nah, Anja, don’t worry about it. :-) I have a nice, bright floor lamp.

I just meant that dark colors aren’t really my thing. I like working with bright colors (pastels, neon, bold bright colors, etc.)

I like to crochet in the spring and summer. Those are also my go-to bright colors, even though I really like the autumn trees with their colorful foliage—but they’re too dark for crocheting.
Christmas works well with green, white, and red, too.

Thank you all. It was a bit unusual, but I actually felt very comfortable in it.
Everyone at the dance said I looked chic.

Ina, you’re right—there aren’t that many opportunities like this here. Maybe again for Carnival :-)

Have a great weekend, everyone
I’m off to dance class again, and on Sunday to the tea dance

Dear Inge,

belated best wishes on your birthday from me—wishing you happiness, good health, and hoping that some of your dreams will still come true.
Stay just the way you are, and keep up the great work with your creative ideas, which always bring us so much joy.

Warmest regards from me
Andrea

Thank you for your comments and the great photos. You all have some very pretty dirndls there.

Back here in the lowlands, we didn’t used to have Oktoberfest either. It only came here over time.
But as a child, I had one—unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of it anymore. I remember black fabric with lots of red roses on it, paired with a white apron. I loved wearing it, along with white knee-high socks and black patent leather shoes with little straps.

Pretty doilies. Maybe crochet them all together into one big doily. Place a round one in the center and arrange all the others in a circle.
Or crochet each doily onto a wooden or metal ring for window decor or as a dreamcatcher. Those are some of my ideas.

Hey guys,

Oktoberfest is dirndl season.
I wore my very first dirndl dress on Sunday at Oktoberfest. I took first place in the women’s category, and my prize was this cute little heart.
It was a lot of fun.

Warm regards from me

Thanks, have a great weekend too.

We’re having a dance-and-tea Oktoberfest on Sunday. It’ll be my first time wearing a dirndl. I’ve already watched some videos on how to do a braided hairstyle. Hope I can pull it off. I’m really looking forward to it.
Today I went shopping again with another coworker—the weather was sunny, a bit windy, and 10 degrees. I was still warm, though.
I had some delicious white hot chocolate, bought some craft supplies and six skeins of yarn, and a pair of new dance shoes.
It was a wonderful day today. It really did me good.

For small doll bags or similar delicate items, I crochet the cords to use as handles. There are lots of beautiful and simple crochet tutorials out there. I then sew them on. They turn out nice and round and don’t look so bulky.

I wish all of you a peaceful holiday—for those who don’t have to work. Sleep in, relax, do some crafts while sitting comfortably on the sofa with a coffee or cappuccino, and forget all your stress for a while.

Warm regards from me

Yum, Inge. That smells great.

I have a small crochet commission right now—I’m working on Danish crochet hearts.
In between, I’m already crafting with beads for Halloween and Christmas: beaded angels, painting stones, and much more.

They look nice and fluffy, Anja. I like them.
I’d crochet flowers and leaves, too. Is there a time limit, or does it matter when they have to be finished? After all, people die all the time.

It’s a great way to use up leftover yarn.

Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks, Petra—I’ve already spotted those, too.

Here are some more ideas.
My brother is getting a little beetle as a birthday present.

What do you think?

Anja, your flowers look great. I like the smaller leaf best, too.
I think that’s a great idea.

How would that work, then? We’d each crochet a bunch of flowers (me too), and then send them all to you? You’d then hand everything over to the funeral home or florist?

I’m just picturing the whole scene right now, with tons of little packages arriving at Anja’s place and piling up there.

:-) Andrea

Mmm, that looks delicious, Inge. It’s making me hungry just looking at it. I’ll have to try this sometime.
I’ve never heard of baking malt before—where can I get it, or is there an alternative?

The weekend is almost over now. On Saturday, I went to my dance class (ballroom dancing—a mix of styles: waltz, samba, tango, merengue...)—I signed up for it. That was the second session. So it’s every 14 days.

And today was another afternoon dance class.

Very nice, Ina, and with a matching lining, too. I like it. How big is it, roughly?

Petra , I bought this Keraflott. It’s probably similar to what used to be called Keramofix. It doesn’t bubble and is a nice white color.
I still have various casting molds from the DM days (not silicone). Maybe this will work with Keraflott too. I’ll give it a try when I get the chance. I’m already itching to get started.
But right now, I still have a crochet commission to finish. In between, I’m also doing some beading and other crafts.

It never gets boring around here.

I haven’t tried it myself yet, Anja. But when the time comes, I’ll be sure to let you know.

Hey Steffi, that stone really is quite an impressive size. That’s great—I’d love to have a gravel pit like that nearby, too.
I bought some casting compound and I’m going to cast the stones myself using this silicone mold.
Your macramé pieces look lovely, but I wouldn’t have the patience for that anymore. We used to do a lot of that back in the day (hanging flower baskets, necklaces with beads knotted in...). I still know how to do those knots from back then. Just like those friendship bracelets.

But… we’re not running out of ideas anytime soon, are we? It’s great to get so much inspiration here and to be able to marvel at your creations time and time again—and every piece is different. Such variety!

I love soups—mmh, that makes me hungry just thinking about it; I can practically smell it from here.

Best wishes :-)

Good morning to you all, and have a great start to the new week

Steffi, you’re very creative. It looks great. How big is the rock? I paint rocks.

We’re already a big, diverse, creative group here—keep it up :-)

Lots of love, Andrea

Those are some great patterns :-) Pretty scarves

I moved my crafting to the balcony today—the weather is gorgeous 🌞😎.
These are my tools.

OK, I don’t have that one here right now. It’s definitely weatherproof.
I’m currently using Marabu Aqua silk/satin varnish.
There’s also a really glossy one; I’ll get that later when this one is used up.

Do you use acrylic paints for the stones, too?

Your projects look great.

I’ve finished another little project to work on in my spare time, and I used up some leftover yarn while I was at it.

Thank you all so much.

As Ina already mentioned, there are various tools and supplies available for this. I’ve already done some research on that. I already have all the casting powder and tools I need; I’m still planning to get this stone-shaped silicone mold, or an old container for mixing the mixture.

I have these acrylic rods—they all have different diameters—and these little pricking needles for the tiny dots. They work great.

I just started painting this pattern here on a whim. They’re varnished now; this matte varnish doesn’t shine too much, but they’re still weatherproof and smooth. So you can wipe them down with a cloth—nothing sticks.

It’s fun and relaxing.

That’s exactly how I’d handle it, too.

But if I need a crocheted border for my amigurumi or dolls, I’d use very fine crochet yarn with a 1.75 needle—it looks very delicate that way.

@Mel: Your shark looks really funny, and that bunny blanket is just great.
@Petra: Your stones look very pretty when crocheted around.

You can see my painted stones in a separate thread. I’m still in the practice phase.

Maybe I’ll paint some to look like ladybugs.

Thank you so much, Josefa—and to everyone else, of course.

The weather’s fantastic again today—really warm—we just had coffee on the balcony, but you can’t stay out there for long. There’s a bit of a breeze. I love the colorful autumn leaves on the trees. It can stay this way for a while.

Yesterday I went for a stroll with a coworker—we had a cappuccino, ate soft-serve ice cream, and sat by the water; it was wonderful.
Right in the middle of the city, you can sit by the Havel and take a leisurely walk.

My stones are dry and varnished.

Hugs, Andrea

So here are my first two attempts at dotting. They haven't been painted yet; they're still drying on the balcony.

I'm still practicing.

For movable amigurumi, there are these joint discs in various sizes that you crochet or insert between two body parts, allowing you to move the arms, legs, or head.

You can make crocheted figures slightly movable by crocheting or knitting all the body parts individually and then sewing them on separately—for example, both arms— First, use a long doll needle to sew through one arm, through the body, and out the other side (the second arm); you can sew on a button at the same time, then bring the thread back the same way and sew on another button on the other side to secure it. Do the same for the legs.
I did this once when sewing a little teddy bear, and I was able to move the arms and legs a little.

If anyone has any other tips, please share them.

Hey Petra, your stones look really pretty, too. That’s a great idea with the flowers. I like them.

wow Steffi, that already looks really great. And in two colors, too. I like it.

Back in the day we used to knot plant hangers; I still remember a couple of knots, or knotting those friendship bracelets.

What I’d like to try soon are these dotting tools, painting stones with dots. I already have all the materials. I’ll report back or post pictures when the time comes.

have a pleasant week, everyone
best wishes

The weather change is always drastic. But at least we can breathe freely again and sleep better.
The rain is holding off here for now. Just the occasional light shower—that’s it—otherwise gusty winds, cloudy skies, and brief spells of sunshine. Just changeable weather.

Yesterday was the first time I had to put on a cardigan outside. Otherwise, it’s been pleasant.

Have a pleasant weekend, everyone
Best wishes, Andrea

Hi Nicole, :-)

A little late, but from the bottom of my heart, belated birthday wishes from me.
Best of luck, and above all, good health—that’s what matters most.
Stay just the way you are, with all your ideas, and continued success with your shop. You make wonderful things.

Warm regards, and have a lovely weekend
Andrea