Latest Forum Posts by: Bastelfan

Thank you, and I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday, too.

My deepest condolences, Veronika. It’s always sad when a loved one passes away.
Of course, life goes on. I wish you lots of strength nonetheless.

My January was a mixed bag—illness, dance afternoons, job interviews—and I’m
starting February on a positive note because I’ve changed jobs, took some time off, and will start my new job next Wednesday (back in nursing).
I’ve already done a trial shift; everything’s calmer and more relaxed, no stress, and my former colleague is starting there too. Great. Things can only get better.

Stay healthy, everyone!
Hugs, Andrea

Enjoying the sun x times

I don’t have any tricky patterns right now either.

I just finished crocheting this granny square. I only had a picture to go by.
It’s so much fun. Sometimes I have to force myself to take a break. But see for yourselves.

I also agree with the previous commenters. They always say, “If you want to keep up with fashion, you’ve got to be quick on your feet”—and at our age, we just can’t keep up.
No, joking aside.

These trend colors and fashion cuts are sometimes awful. I prefer things colorful and bright. I only buy what I like and what suits me. If there’s nothing for me, then I don’t buy anything.

Have you guys noticed, too, that fashion seems to be geared only toward young people? Most of the time, anyway. Tight, crop-top pieces, tops—yes, I like glitter too, but it has to be comfortable and suitable for everyday wear.
And those oversized jackets and the like that look three sizes too big—that’s just not on. Normal shoes that I like are rarely available. Everything has such chunky heels. Who even comes up with something so impractical? It’s supposed to look chic and make money :-(

I think I’ll have to start sewing, too. I can ask Ina and Monika for advice :-)

Have a pleasant rest of the week, everyone
Best wishes, Andrea

Unken (I googled it; they’re fire-bellied toads)

Rainbow (it’s just as colorful as spring)

Inline skating

You’ve all finished such great things again. Amazing work.
The sweater by ruthk looks great, too. Brilliant idea with the horizontal stripes, and lengthwise at the sides. It really flatters the figure.
And Ina has sewn another one of those pretty drawstring bags. Not everyone has one of those.
Triangular scarves and socks and gloves. Man, you’ve all been busy.

Of course, everyone else has created masterpieces too. I just didn’t want to list every single person.
I’m always amazed at how varied the projects are, and so pretty. Mine are usually little things.

Have a pleasant rest of the week, everyone, and a fantastic weekend in advance

Love, Andrea

Dust off the bike and get it ready for bike rides

Wow, you’ve made some amazing things. Those knitted gloves are absolutely awesome.

I’m back to mosaic crochet again. Finished the third part today. Ta-da!

Yes, those resolutions you don’t keep anyway, or don’t even want to keep. You only live once—why lose weight when chocolate tastes so good? You want to enjoy life for as long as you can.

All you read in the media is negative stuff: price hikes here, restrictions there. And in the end (at the end of your life), you can’t take anything with you anyway. So what’s the point?

Wishing everyone a woolly weekend
glg Andrea

Yeah, I’ve noticed that too—they’re becoming fewer and fewer.
Here in the city center, there’s still a small craft store that carries my cotton yarn; I shop there every now and then when I run out of yarn.
Otherwise, I sometimes find something at Rossmann, Action, Tedi, or Woolworth. But I have to search for it—mostly blended yarns, which I don’t like.

I’m still working on projects from my stash. I only go into town when it’s worth it (shopping, visiting residents at the nursing home and colleagues…), since I won’t have a monthly pass anymore starting in January (it’s gotten too expensive, going from 49 euros to 56 euros). So I’ll buy a ticket through the app, or when it gets warmer, I’ll walk (it takes 30 minutes) or ride my bike.

You look great, Inge. They suit you well.

I prefer to crochet using a pattern. But for little things like kids’ bags or straight pieces, I just start crocheting. There are plenty of patterns to choose from online.

For figures and dolls, I work better with a pattern.

For mosaic granny squares, I also like to crochet from pictures sometimes—I don’t need a pattern for those. I already know how to do it. You can find plenty of inspiration there.

Dear Anja,
just read this. I’d also like to send you my very best birthday wishes, lots of luck, and please stay just the way you are. Hope you had a wonderful day.

Have a great weekend!

That meerkat is so cute. The bunny pillow is pretty.
There’s so much you can make. Keep it up.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

It smells deliciously like fresh bread in here.

Wow, Wollefaden, I love your sweater—I’d want to put it on right away; it looks so cozy. Great work.
Veronika, you still have quite a bit planned. By the way, my husband admired the ship in the window (he’s a model builder).

I’m still feeling under the weather; all my abdominal and back muscles ache, and this stupid cough is really getting to me.

Have a great week, everyone!

Thank you so much for your get-well wishes. I hope I’ll be back on my feet soon.

As soon as the holidays were over—I didn’t want any more Christmas decorations—I put everything away right away.
I don’t have that much space anyway.

Thanks, Josefa—I wish you all a wonderful weekend, too.
Unfortunately, the new year started off by forcing me into bed with a bad cold and a fever. I’ve been sleeping most of the time, so crafts are out of the question for now.

You’ve all made so many different projects again.

I adapted a pattern from here into a bunny.

Once again, a happy and healthy New Year 2025 to everyone.
You’re already hard at work again. Claudia, your little mushroom man looks so cute. Not everything in nature is straight, either.
Dyeing fabric sounds interesting. By hand or in the washing machine?

Happy New Year (god nytt år)

Thank you so much, Josefa—I wish the same for all of you. Stay healthy, and keep sharing such great ideas and inspiration in the world of crafts.

Warm New Year’s greetings
Andrea

Yes, I need to lose a little weight since I took a little break and I’m missing the exercise, even though I go dancing now and then.

But above all, that we all stay healthy

Lots of love, Andrea

That looks delicious. I’m a total chocoholic myself.
Enjoy!

Veronika, I hope your husband gets well soon, and I wish everyone a peaceful 4th Sunday of Advent.

I went to a tea dance with my parents again today. It was a nice way to take my mind off things. Christmas is already the day after tomorrow—my parents are coming over for coffee, and in the evening we’ll have the Christmas roast with dumplings and red cabbage. On December 26, my youngest is coming—I’m really looking forward to that.
So there are still some joyful moments.

Good evening, dear Ines

Even at this late hour, I’d like to send you my heartfelt birthday wishes.
I hope you had a lovely day with your family

and I wish you a peaceful 4th Sunday of Advent

Best wishes, Andrea

Not really. After what happened in Magdeburg. It’s terrible. :-(
Where is all this headed?

Messing around

Love for others

I know the feeling—cleaning up and rearranging things, and then you end up looking for them. Though I’m constantly looking for something, since my craft supplies are scattered all over the apartment. I’d love to have everything in one place, but oh well, that’s just how it is.

Anyway, we don’t exchange gifts. I just need to prepare for Christmas dinner, and maybe bake some more cookies.
Yesterday I baked another batch of cookies, and today I’m making my honey cake (Norwegian: Krydderkake);
I already have a store-bought stollen. That’s enough. A small, colorful plate for the two of us.

My kids can’t come until after Christmas (because of work), so it’s going to be a quiet affair.

I’m looking for a high-quality pair of pinking shears—can anyone recommend one? I only have a pair meant for “hobby” use, and they don’t cut fabric properly, plus they’re really stiff to use (they were cheap). Just cheap cast stuff.

Thanks

Oh Inge, I’m so happy for both of you. That’s certainly true—there’s no better Christmas present.
Now you’ll both have a clear view again *grin*, but good health is so important these days.

So I wish everyone a happy Third Sunday of Advent (is that right?), wow, time sure does fly.

Best regards
Andrea

Class reunion

Wow, that looks fancy. Is that glitter I see? It looks great on you :-)

Unity

Wow, such great things again

I’ve been trying out a few little things again. But see for yourselves

I’m not really a hat fan either—I prefer hoods—but in Norway, those Norwegian hats have a braided ribbon on both sides with a pom-pom at the end, and I like that. I used to have one like that.

I hadn’t heard that saying before. Well, people used to think differently back then. Today I see it the same way you do, Inge.
It’s okay to let things get a little dusty sometimes. Our time on earth is so precious—why waste it cleaning?

The motto: as much as necessary, and as little as possible.

Thanks, Petra. Your projects look really pretty, too. How did you come up with the idea for a Christmas cucumber?
Above all, your cookies look delicious—better than mine :-)

Yeah, the crochet projects go by in a flash. The round one is Tunisian crochet—I tried it out, and it’s so much fun, plus it’s easy and quick to crochet. Found it on You...e via Örgü Diyan...
It definitely won’t be the last one.

Wishing you all a peaceful Second Sunday of Advent

Wow, you’ve all been so hard at work, and Inge, it’s great to hear you’re feeling better again.

I’m baking cookies too—the first batch is already gone.

I’m trying out an online pattern and found this here.

Belated birthday wishes from me, too. All the best, good luck,
and above all, good health.
Hope you had a wonderful day.

Warmest regards
Andrea

Now that the kids have left home, St. Nicholas Day is just like any other day.

Thank you, Josefa, and to everyone else here as well—I wish you all a peaceful Advent season, and I hope that everyone gets along, sticks together, and treats one another more peacefully.

Today we were at the Potsdam Christmas market with our parents, enjoying glorious sunshine and crisp, cold air. It was wonderful.

Very pretty, Inge.
I’ve got all my string lights up, too.

Wow, Inge, your stollen look delicious and very professional. Enjoy!

Wow, Steffi, that looks like a bag pattern (templates), doesn’t it? I’m curious to see what it will be and how it will turn out. You can do it.

I’ve finished my crocheted hearts, and I’m crocheting little bags from yarn scraps. Pictures are coming soon.

Your turtles are so cute!

Table runners are a thing of the past. I don’t own any anymore either, only tablecloths (I think 2–3 are still from the GDR era) that still have the right dimensions. Modern tablecloths today are mostly almost square (odd dimensions).
I’ve also repurposed well-preserved, discarded regular colored bed sheets and used them as tablecloths.
Otherwise, I have a pretty patterned white oilcloth tablecloth on the table and placemats.
Tablecloths are only used for special occasions.

My mom sometimes uses table runners, or those long crocheted doilies, and depending on the occasion, she threads colored satin ribbons through them. It looks really chic (unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of it).

Happy birthday today! Let yourself be pampered. I hope you have a wonderful day surrounded by your loved ones.

Oh my, I have 1,136 on my Watchlist—and I’d already weeded some out.
But there are some really great patterns out there.