June Projects + May Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Craft Group

Here is the new thread:
June Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Craft Group



Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 2 of the May projects.
Have fun with it.

You can read the earlier posts at the link:
May Projects + April Projects 2021, Part 4: the Crazypatterns Craft Group

Thanks, Anja. Hope you’re feeling better too and that your low mood has passed... I’m just wondering why the background is black for both of them, grrr

Oh Sonja, I’m absolutely blown away by your blanket! It’s definitely going to be a heart, and with the hand on it, it looks twice as beautiful. I don’t think the transition between the two shades of purple is that bad at all. Yes, you’re right—that’s what makes this blanket so special. Your daughter will be thrilled and will always love snuggling under this blanket. I’m actually thinking about trying my hand at making a blanket myself. I’ve got quite a bit of yarn lying around with a length of 90 m...

Wow, Gabi, that’s quite a bit of work, stringing all those mosaics together. But with such a pretty result, it’s worth every bit of effort.

Marion, I’m not that fast right now. It’s going way too slowly for me. But since I have other work to do as well, knitting often gets put on the back burner at the moment. Yeah, the little ones will definitely be happy. And a little nest like that is a great little side project. I think this time I’ll knit two cozy swings. You can imagine them like a tall nest—open at the top. Then I’ll attach four hangers. The little ones love things like that, too.

Ines, what beautiful things you’ve conjured up! I’m absolutely thrilled with everything! Your Waldemar is just as adorable as Sunny. I’m blown away. If I had more time right now, I’d start bringing them to life myself right away. Maybe that’ll happen later. They’re just too cute. You’ve given them such lively faces… that’s quite an art. Yeah, the background would look better in a lighter shade. Of course, I like your loop scarf just as much. For one thing, it’s full of my favorite colors, and the pattern is brilliant! Simple yet with a great effect.

Ines, thanks also for your feedback on the jacket. I’m already 10 cm further along on the body. Since it’s supposed to be a bit longer, there’s still quite a bit to go. As soon as the donated felting yarn arrives, I’ll start working on the swings for the squirrels at the same time. Yeah, that’s exactly what I love—always something new.

Anja, it’s great to see you back out of the woodwork again. It’s wonderful that Sunny and Waldemar are having such a positive effect. :)

I don’t have anything to show right now; I’ve just been admiring your creations here. They’re all fantastic!

Have a wonderful week, everyone, filled with joy!

Welcome back, Anja—it’s great to hear from you again.

Ines, your cowl turned out really pretty. You can create wonderful things even with simple patterns.
You know I like your two friends.

I can finally introduce my Stupsie here too: She’s already made herself comfortable in the rhubarb and is still waiting for Waldemar, but he’s already on his way.

Just had to put Part 2 in the spotlight again :)

Warm regards to everyone here,

It’s hard to keep up with everything when you haven’t been here for a few days.
As always, there’s plenty to marvel at and read.

Ines , you have such a beautiful pool. Now all you need is for the weather to cooperate, and then you can finally use your pool.
Your Waldemar and Sunny—they look so adorable. Those two are totally cute.
Sonja , it’s great that the Paris set is now available as a crocheted version too. I used to knit motifs myself, but these days I don’t really dare to try it—crocheting has definitely taken over.
That “Hand-on-the-Heart Blanket”—that’s quite a mammoth project. But it already looks very promising. Hats off to your perseverance.
Sandra , that little crocheted coin purse turned out really well, and it looks so cute. Anton will surely be happy when he can use it to pay for Mom’s ice cream.
Anja, thanks for the tip about crocheting bag handles using the entrelac stitch. It works great and is sturdy. I gave it a try.
Monika , that’s great that you can crochet Kobel again for these little ones. It really makes you happy when you know who you’re making it for and where it’s going. It’s such a lovely idea to then get a photo of your creation with its resident :-)

My bag is pretty much finished. It’s still going to get a zipper, and I still need to sew on the handles. Thanks to Anja’s tip, I crocheted the handles using the Entrelac/Tunisian crochet method and the edge in a mosaic pattern. It’s sturdy, too.

Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions on the handles.

Have a wonderful afternoon, everyone!

Marion, oh how sweet!! Your Stupsie turned out soooo cute and looks really great in your rhubarb. Absolutely adorable, just like her little sister.

Andrea, your bag looks really perfect now, wow! It looks fantastic with the pretty carrying strap.

Today I got a new treasure from my swap page. Yes, I couldn't resist again. I just couldn't turn down the offer.

It's almost 1 kg of yarn—95 m yardage, variegated colors (one black, one turquoise) and a really great blend of almost 70% cotton, the rest viscose with acrylic. I'm sure it will knit up nicely. I recently got a yarn package from the same swap partner too, with a lovely virgin wool blend in turquoise, red, and beige. So you can see, there's quite a bit waiting for my needles and my hands. :)

Wow, Monika, you must have been so happy.
I like the turquoise. I’m sure you’ll work some magic with it.
Have fun with your new yarn.

Have a nice evening

Wow, Andrea, I think your bag turned out really well—the handle looks great, too. This crochet style tends to be sturdy; it’s just a shame you still can’t make the bag larger.

Monika, well, that’s a swap that was definitely worth it—so much yarn! I like the turquoise, too, even though it’s not really my color; I tend to prefer warmer tones. Now I’m curious to see what you’ll conjure up with it all.
I also have to work on something small every now and then between the bigger projects—I’m just like you in that regard. Right now I’m crocheting a cover for a children’s hot water bottle using the tapestry technique, but yesterday I had to use up some leftover yarn in between. Maybe I’ll be able to show something again tomorrow.

Today is Mother-Daughter Day—we want to go over everything for the upcoming wedding together one more time, and then we’ll have lunch together. Our son-in-law doesn’t like fish, and she asked for marinated herring.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

I’m continuing to work on my doily, which is slowly turning into a blanket:


Have a lovely mother-daughter day, Ines.
Turquoise and black—they already look so great together, Moni.

Thanks, Marlene. I see your doily is growing—how big do you plan to make it? Do you know yet? Sometimes the ideas just come to you as you’re working on it.

I still have plenty of yarn, Ines.
How big it ends up being depends on my patience.

I’m jumping back into the current threads again :)

Turquoise seems to be really trendy right now—the last three projects shown all go in that direction.

  Andrea, your bag is amazing. So beautiful. It makes you want to head out with it right away. Is it finished yet? :)

Monika: Wow, that yarn is so great. It’s enough to make anyone jealous. Do you already know what you’ll make with it? :)

Marlene, I already really like the doily. I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s finished.

  Ines and Marion: Fitting for May, the insects are out in full force, aren’t they? Very nice. If we’re not getting nice weather, at least we have a woolen spring :)

I’m back to being productive again right now.

My Jax the Dragon is growing: 

Since a baby will be playing with it, I’m making him without glue, wire, etc.

And my sewing machine is slowly getting back into the swing of things. I sewed pillows for the moms (mom, grandma, and mother-in-law) for Mother’s Day :) Unfortunately, no photo—they were gone faster than I could make them.
  And out of sheer boredom, I cut up an old pair of jeans and made a few cats to practice :) 



One of them is hanging from Leo’s preschool backpack. He’s totally crazy about cats and loves his new keychain :) 

Wow, Monika, you’ve really gone all out again. I like the yarn—and the colors, of course.
Like everyone here, I’m excited to see what you’ll whip up with it.  Your jacket has really come along nicely.

Ines, have fun on your mother-daughter day—don’t stress about it.
I usually work on several projects at once, too. I just finished the Waldemar. Now I guess I’ll have to get back to my UFO.

Marlene, your doily is turning out so pretty—it’s already come a long way.

Hi Tina, it’s great to have you back here.
Your Leo is already going to kindergarten—it just goes to show how fast time flies.
Your dragon is looking pretty good, too. It seems like things are going great with your sewing machine. You did a fantastic job on the cat pendants.

I wish you all a wonderful day—it’s perfect for crafting.

Thanks, Tina.
The fact that my doily includes turquoise is more of a coincidence.
I’m crocheting it from an old multi-strand skein that I’m taking apart.

Well, today I finally get around to writing something again. So much has happened here in the meantime. I hope I don’t forget anyone.

Sandra, I think the idea of making a wallet for Anton is great. I wish you both a relaxing time at the health resort. When does it start?

Gabi, I also crocheted a skirt like that about 45 (!!!) years ago and loved wearing it. They weren’t African Flowers, though—they were granny squares. Back then, I had a teaching internship in Riedenburg and only came home on the weekends. So I wouldn’t get bored during the week (I didn’t have a TV there either), I’d crochet granny squares in the evenings. I then sewed them together into a skirt. It was long and wonderfully warm and cozy. It’s a shame I don’t have it anymore. I think I’d still love to wear it today.
Here’s an old photo of it:



Sonja, you’ve really made good progress on that blanket. You knit faster than a world champion. I think it’s turning out beautifully—your daughter will surely be delighted.

Ines, your Waldemar is just as sweet as your Sunny. The two of them make a stunning pair and go together perfectly.
Your loop scarf turned out really nice, too. I’m still knitting mine with that wonderfully cozy yarn that Ina recommended a while back. But I’m on the last few rounds now, so it won’t be long before it’s finished.

Marion, your Stupsie looks so full and content, resting there among your rhubarb leaves and waiting for her Waldemar.

Andrea, your pretty bag really makes me want to try my hand at entrelac too. Yeah, if only I had more time...

Monika, I’m curious to see what you’ll conjure up with that turquoise yarn. I probably wouldn’t have been able to resist turquoise either—it’s a color I always have a soft spot for.
I think it’s great how dedicated you are to your handcrafting for the wildlife rescue centers. Too bad we don’t get to see the photo. Maybe you could ask for permission to post it. Who knows, you might even gain some new crocheters that way.

Marlene, I never cease to admire the delicate pieces you create with that thin yarn. That wouldn’t be my thing at all—first of all, I don’t have that much patience, and second, my stitches don’t turn out as nice when I have to crochet with a hook that’s too thin. Mine always end up all holey.


Tina, it’s nice to hear from you again. That dragon is going to be amazing! And the sewn cat keychains are super cute! I think it’s great that you dared to tackle such tiny pieces right away.

I finally managed to finish another pattern today. The crochet project had been sitting around for a while, but I still had to write up the pattern. Voilà: a soldier from the Queen’s Royal Guard:

You can remove the torso to hide a small gift inside.

Well, here I am again...
 
Andrea, Ines, Marlene, Tina, Ruth, and Marion, thanks for sharing in my excitement about my new yarn. Yes, it’s like Christmas every time a treasure like this arrives. I already have ideas for what to make with it.... I’ll tell you when the time comes. I do prefer warm colors, but I think this color combination has something special. I’ll definitely knit it in combination.

Ines, your mother-daughter day was surely really lovely. You need something like that every now and then, especially when a wedding is coming up. You’re lucky that your daughter lives close to you.

Marlene, your doily is really taking shape now. The color combination looks very nice, and of course the pattern does too. You have such a pretty little round table; the doily would fit well on it, even as it gets bigger.

Tina, yes, it’s great that you’re back here with us. Your dragon is so cute! Absolutely adorable and totally “in” color-wise. I could imagine a baby sucking on the horns. They’re just made for that. And wow—your idea with the kittens is great! Such simple things can bring so much joy. And sewn, it’s quite quick too. It would also make a lovely little party favor at one of the next children’s birthday parties.

Ruth, there really is something special about an old photo like that. It brings back lovely memories. I’ve only just discovered what a granny skirt is. You always have such great ideas for small projects. The Queen’s English soldier turned out really well. And he can even be filled. Wow!

I’m already pretty far along with my jacket. The pocket is now being worked in at the bottom. As soon as I’ve reached the bottom, I’ll show another photo.

Now I wish you all a wonderful day and some cozy clicking of needles.

Tina, the insects really are out in full force—even when the weather is so bad that the “real” ones can barely fly....It’s a shame about all the unvisited flowers. I like your dragon and the little sewing projects; I think it’s great that there are no wires or anything else that could be dangerous for the baby.

Ruth , you look so cheeky in your skirt—thanks for sharing! And the English soldier is a great idea for wrapping a little something, too.

Monika, you’re the same way—you always have several projects on the needles—so I can totally imagine you already have ideas ready for the yarn. Unfortunately, sometimes there just isn’t enough time or enough hands, and that annoying neck pain doesn’t help either, haha.

I’m also working on something bigger right now and had to tinker with a little something else in between—that’s how my dishcloths came about.

I had a really nice day with my daughter yesterday—though this time we weren’t out and about in Leipzig; instead, we had all sorts of things to discuss regarding her wedding. So on June 30, my kitchen will turn into a pastry shop—I’ll whet your appetites, I promise :)

Now, have a pleasant afternoon, everyone!

You’re all so incredibly hardworking and always showing such beautiful things!
Monika, you can tell that a diet like that really makes you hungry… I like the turquoise yarn—I like the color, and I’m actually knitting with it right now, too.
Ruth, thanks for the photo of your skirt. I crocheted a skirt once, too, but it was just dark gray and not nearly as colorful, with a jacket to go with it. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of it, but I did show you my crocheted dress once. 
Ines, your dishcloths look great—I want some!!!
Marlene, I wish I had your patience right now—and your eyes, too… If I’m going to use such a fine needle, it has to be for something small.
I’m still in the middle of my DF potholder craze, but I’ll have to start something else soon since my sister’s golden wedding anniversary is coming up.

Hello, my dears,
so here is the end of the long line of your creations since I last checked in here. If you don't read along or write every few days, it quickly becomes hard to keep track. It's somehow a shame that this well-visited forum thread can't have a different basis where everything is always continuous. Then you wouldn't always have to search for where it continues.

So, now to the main thing: your creations! What has been made in the meantime?

@ Sonja
The therapy blanket for your daughter—finally color and pattern are coming into play. Now that we can all see the blanket, we understand how much the solid-color block must have bored you. But now it's moving forward. Did your daughter pick out the colors?

@Marlene
I think it's a brave idea to take a gradient cake apart. But if you only need one thin strand, what else can you do? And then you probably take a new color every now and then once you've crocheted enough with the old one—otherwise the doily/blanket would be all one color. Hook size 1 is very fine; you'll be busy with that for a while yet. So far, the doily/blanket already looks very beautiful.

@Sandra
The party-favor bag—I assume for Anton's birthday guests—looks super cool! They would all definitely like to have one. If all the fire trucks look just a little different, the children won't mix them up. With Anton, surely ALL the children always want to be invited—because he's a sweetie, but certainly also because there are always such great guest gifts at his place.

The wallet for the mother-child health retreat is also a super idea, I think. Then Anton will also feel that he has money and can get something for it. The Bravo is certainly good enough for that. With the face on it, everyone will know right away that it can only belong to a little cheeky rascal.

@Andrea
Oh, the new yarn is in use. Very beautiful color, and stacked like that in the entrelac technique they look very good together! This is definitely not just a swatch; you're already too far along for that.
The little round tapestry piece also looks promising. Nicely colorful and interesting. After crocheting so many square mosaic pieces in this technique, the round ones are of course now a welcome expansion of your skills. You're really good at this technique!

... Andrea, before I know it, the entrelac swatch has already become a lovely little bag. It would have been much too nice for a swatch anyway. If I were 6 years old, I would love to have a little bag like that too :-)

@Marion
You're right, those are lovely, fine little dishcloths that you can always use or give as gifts. They probably become a bit addictive because you can knit them on the side while watching TV. Petra can use your photo just like that for her pattern—in every color they look beautiful, and everyone is sure to find a scrap of cotton in their leftover basket.

@Christina
Your dishcloth is the same as Marion's, but because of the size it just looks larger and you can see the pattern better. I like the square shape even a little better.

@Monika
I'm happy that you were able to enjoy Lake Chiemsee and the bike ride and spring. That's how it should be. There is so much to discover, and the computer isn't going to run away.
The cardigan in your favorite colors really shines right at you. And you will only shine when you wear it—I can already imagine that very well. A lovely project!

You never get bored, also because the felting wool wants to be made into animal nests, or you're already thinking about what to make with the new yarn from the swap exchange. It's a shame every day only has 24 hours. And it's spring too—and the garden and cooking and baking and family and husband ... but there always has to be time for a little crafting.

@Gabi
It's nice that you're venturing out here from behind your tree in the little avatar picture too—and showing us your beautiful work. I like granny squares very much too. Crocheting them is calming, and the colorful mix makes it a lot of fun. I'm curious to see how the skirt looks in the end. What length are you aiming for?

@Ines
Your Waldemar is what makes the little scene in the flower meadow perfect. Before, Sunny was just lying around. You didn't know whether she had come from flying and was resting, or wanted to sunbathe—but no, she wanted to have a relaxed little chat with her buddy Waldemar. It turned out really great! The flower-meadow decoration looks wonderful with it too! In the photo with the lighter background, you can also see Waldemar better. Maybe the two of them would like to take a photo outside sometime?

Your yellow, colorful loop scarf turned out very beautiful too. Yellow is very trendy right now anyway. And that little bit of color brings in freshness if you yourself would be too pale for a yellow loop scarf. The yellow airy pattern also goes well with the combination.

I also think your dishcloths turned out very well: beautiful colors, beautiful pattern, and practical too. What more could you want?

@Marion again
Stupsie is just as cuddly as Sunny. Two very sweet bees, and Stupsie looks so expectant ... where on earth is Waldemar? The way she has made herself comfortable in the rhubarb leaves looks great too. Looking at the picture, you almost want to be a bee yourself.

@Tina
the dragon already looks so wonderful now, even though it isn't finished yet. I'm really thrilled by the many lovingly made details on the head: the eyes, the eyelids, the horns ... and in this beautiful color too. Oh, this is truly going to be a uniquely beautiful gift for the baby.

I also think the cat keychains are very cool, especially that the tail is on the other side. Any cat lover would be happy about them.

@Ruth
thank you very much for the photo. You were/are a pretty, elegant woman—even without the special granny-square skirt. Back then, of course, that was in, and all fashions come back someday. Gabi will show us how good you can look in one again today too.

That little English Bobby has quite a lot to him—at least once you've found the hiding place. Really wonderfully made, and recognizable right away.

****************************

I haven't gotten much crafting done lately. We're still busy with our terrace by the pond. But it's nearing the end there, at least as far as the tiles are concerned. But I did have to do a little something after all, so I could keep my good mood. I'll show you that in the next post.

Best regards, Ina

Here I am again. I had to go take some quick photos first.
Since we’re currently busy with our big creative project—the pond—I haven’t had much time for handicrafts. Here’s what the natural stone patio looks like today:



Tomorrow we plan to grout the tiles, which means pouring cement into all the gaps around the stones. That will then need to be smoothed out so it’s flush with the top, and the tiles will need to be washed clean by the stonemason shortly afterward.

******************************

Mentally, I couldn’t focus on any new craft ideas. So I tackled a few “tasks from my to-do list.” Among other things, there were some requested pink felt boots with a roll-top cuff in size 36/37. Since I didn’t feel like sewing on the cuff, I crocheted it on right away. It’s important that the yarn used for the cuff doesn’t felt. Now I just need to sew on the leather soles. But you’re welcome to take a look at them without the soles for now.

Before:


After:


A close-up of the crocheted cuff:



Then there’s still my trusty temperature blanket . I can always manage one row a day. Here’s what it looks like now:



And since I felt like crocheting a temperature blanket without the colors being determined by the temperatures, I checked a while back to see what soft colors I still had in stock. I then started a blanket with the same design using those. The advantage here is that I can crochet as many rows as I want. I’ll definitely keep crocheting on this tonight. You don’t have to think about anything—just move your fingers. In the end, I’ll need two of these blankets anyway.







I wish all my readers a pleasant evening.

Warm regards, Ina

Ruth, your granny skirt was definitely all the rage back then. I really like the colors. These granny squares are still in style. Who knows, maybe you’ll make something for yourself again someday.
Your little Bobby turned out so cute, and the fact that you can stuff it is really practical.

Ines, your dishcloths have a beautiful pattern—I really like them.
I’m glad you like my Stupsie (thanks, Ines)—I thought she was so cute right away.
And Ina, she doesn’t have to wait any longer for her beloved Waldemar.

Ta-da, here he is.





 Now they can finally chill out together.

I just have to chime in again.

Ina, your patio already looks really great.

So you’ve managed to finish quite a few things on the side after all—congratulations. The felted pieces look lovely with the collars.
Your second blanket looks really nice in those pastel colors; I almost like it better than the first one.

I wish you all a wonderful evening.

I was just reading that today, lol.....

Ina , your patio is turning out really beautiful. Cleaning up after grouting is quite a chore—at least, I remember having to walk over it repeatedly to get rid of that gray haze. But since it’s outdoors, the rain will help a bit too, I think—at least, assuming it’s not covered, which is what I’m going off of.
Your felted items are lovely again—I should try that sometime, but everything in its own time. Just imagine if I had colorful guest slippers like that—that would be nice.
The temperature blanket is nice, too—I have to agree with Marion a bit; I actually like the second one in pastel a little better, at least color-wise.

Marion , Stupsie, and Waldemar have made themselves comfortable at your place—it looks like they’re really enjoying themselves. My two are sitting in the hallway on their little meadow; today, between the rain showers, we went out briefly to a real meadow to take some photos—I still need to upload the pictures.

As for me, I was just too lazy today to focus on any kind of craft like crocheting, so I made a few butterflies for my hallway decor.

Have a lovely evening, everyone.

Guys, you’re killing me! I guess when I switched to Part 2, I forgot to click here to get notified of new posts. I was already wondering why there was nothing in my email inbox. I went looking for you guys, found you, and spent half an hour reading through everything.

At first I thought my “name Alzheimer’s” had struck again, because Sunny is suddenly called Stupsie... *puzzled* But it looks like there are both of them—and two Waldemars?

Ruth, the granny skirt is amazing—so nice that you still have a picture of it. I wanted to crochet a granny dress from my stash of Catania yarn, but then I thought it would probably be heavy—such a long piece—and that I wouldn’t dare wear it after all. There are holes in it, after all—and what are you supposed to wear underneath? Then people will see your underwear, waaaahhh!

Tina, the dragon is seriously awesome! I admire your artistry!

I’m glad I could help with the tip about the bag strap using Tunisian crochet.

I’ve been lazy—or rather, sick—and haven’t done a thing. But when I read your posts, it makes me want to get back to crafting. I think I’ll get started again tomorrow.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find that heavy blanket anywhere that you’re all raving about… well, I’m sure there’ll be another photo of it once it’s finished.

The idea of the temperature-less blanket is great, too—if something is that much fun—and it looks really nice as well. 

I love granny square designs… I have a huge collection of inspiration on Pinterest. I even designed a jacket myself once—and since it was so much fun, I ended up making two of them. But I never wear them. Because the holes let the draft in. And where there aren’t any holes, it’s too warm. It’s a catch-22. ;-)

Good evening at this late hour

it’s really hard to keep up, but your posts read like an exciting book, pictures included. Simply wonderful. My evening reading.

Wow, Ina, you’ve already made a big chunk of progress on your pool terrace. It already looks super. The grouting, and then cleaning up afterward, will be another huge job, but later you’ll be able to relax completely and watch the little fish swim.
The pink felties turned out beautifully :-)
Your pastel-colored blanket looks so pretty. Since I’m also crocheting with pastel shades right now, I immediately used your pattern inspiration for the back of my cushion cover. But I don’t know if my yarn will be enough for that—probably not. Never mind. It’ll become a small blanket with fringe, and then I’ll crochet with a different solid-colored yarn.

Stupsy, Sunny, Waldemar, turned out totally adorable. The way all three of them are relaxing there and spreading good cheer. Lovely.
I was already wondering why you were all crocheting so many bees, until I heard on the radio today about “Bee Day.” The things that exist! True, we need the little bees for many delicious things (honey, fruit...).

Anja, get well soon. How are your UFOs coming along?
My owl UFO is still waiting to be finished too. We’ll see whether I manage that this weekend. If you can do it, then I can get mine finished too.

I’ve taken a crochet break for now. You shouldn’t overdo it, after all.

so all of you get some rest, tomorrow it continues. I’m curious to see what’s next.

best wishes

Hello everyone,

@ Marion
your Waldemar is so photogenic! Seeing him in full size and beauty, and in his natural setting in the garden, makes him look even more impressive. He just wants to be out in the fresh air and sunshine. No artificial lawn with crocheted flowers can compete with that. In the summer, everyone is drawn outside—and especially beetles and bees.

And of course, the two of them make a great pair: Stupsie and Waldemar. You instantly feel cheerful when you spot them in the garden. If there were several such little gems in your garden, groups of children would sign up to come explore. Everyone would run off looking for the little colorful creatures. But then they wouldn’t want to give them back. A great collaboration with Ines.

@Anja
I’m glad you’re back on top of things. And we’re all happy that all the colorful things and ideas are inspiring you to pick up your needle(s) again. The fun and joy of making things yourself really kick in once you get started. But just getting interested in it again is already a good start.

@everyone
Yeah, I like my pastel-colored temperature blanket better, too. But then again, I get to choose the colors myself. With the real temperature blanket, I have to use the color specified by the temperature scale. That’s kind of tricky, because often a different color would be much prettier here. Maybe that’s why I’m crocheting a second one at the same time—at least here I get to decide.

I have to quickly make lunch now and then head over to my personal construction site. Have a wonderful day.

Warm regards, Ina

Hi everyone,

I just had to hop on my laptop and see what’s going on here. My husband and I took a day trip today for the first time in a long while and went shopping across the border. I never would have thought it would all go so smoothly.

Ina, yes, that’s right—with blanket no. 2, you’re the one calling the shots and can design it to your own taste. And with this constant up-and-down weather, it’s not that easy—but you’ll manage it, chuckle.

Anja, it’s wonderful that our work has inspired you and that you’re now in the mood for crafts again.

Andrea, Bee Day??? I missed it, and my Sunny came from my annual bee-making mood—I realized that this is now the third year in a row I’ve made a bee in April/May, so I suppose another one should appear next year. Oh dear!!!!!

I’m going to go take a look outside now—we’re in the middle of a real storm, and I need to move the flower pots a bit so nothing tips over.

I wish all of you here a pleasant Whitsun weekend—maybe even a little sunshine with nice temperatures.

Ina, your patio has really come a long way. It looks so inviting. Now we just need summer to arrive so you can really enjoy it.

Your little felt boots are amazing once again! You have such a great eye for which colors go well together.

That’s probably why you were tempted to crochet a blanket that works in any temperature. It’s turning out beautifully. I can’t decide which one I like better. I especially love bold colors. And it’s also fun to look forward to the daily midday temperature. Just wait until warmer days finally arrive and you can work those shades of red into your blanket!

Thank you so much for your compliments, too! That picture with the granny skirt is from a few years back, though—back when I was still young and beautiful. Now I’m just beautiful…and old (laughs!). (Yes, Anja, the skirt was a bit heavy, but in the evenings on the couch, it was very cozy—just like a warm blanket.)

Right now I’m digging out old photos because my grandchildren gave me a “Grandma Book” for Christmas, which is meant to be filled with old photos and memories. It brings back lovely memories, but also a bit of wistfulness, because time has passed so quickly and keeps racing on unstoppably. And over the years, some of the polish has chipped off, too. This is what I look like now:

Oh well… A little patina can’t hurt.

Marion, your Stupsie didn’t have to be alone for long. You sure hurried to get her to Waldemar. Those two make such a delightful pair!

So, the Pentecost weekend looks like it’ll be perfect for crafting. I’m curious to see what you’ll come up with in the meantime! In any case, have fun with it!

You look really lovely, Ruth! And I’m just admiring your thick hair. I’ve lost quite a bit of hair due to menopause. 

Wow, where do I even start... I’ll try to go through them in order and hope I don’t overlook any of your masterpieces!

Ines and Marion, your Stupsie, Sunny, and the two Waldemars are sooo cute. Especially the bee—with that cheeky look, she goes straight to the heart :-) You both did a fantastic job on these, both in the design and the execution. And I only found out by chance that it was Bee Day. It’s nice to learn things like that in a craft forum.

Ines, I think it’s great that you can be so closely involved in the wedding planning with your daughter. Are you baking the wedding cake, perhaps? Well, I’m really curious to see that!!! Your new dishcloths are also very beautiful again. I just wonder how you always manage to do it all. Somehow your day must have more hours than mine *ponders* ;-)

Andrea, your bag is so cool. It looks really chic, including the handle. It even has a zipper—I’m pretty impressed. What a shame you can’t use it right now, but hopefully that’ll change soon. 

Tina, your Jax is going to be a really great dragon. With that face and those little horns, he already looks totally adorable. A cutie like that definitely doesn’t need any wire or glue—he just wants to cuddle. I think the cats are a really funny idea! It sounds like you’ve caught the sewing bug :-)

Ruth, thank you so much for those two wonderful photos of you! You’re still beaming like a wonderfully happy woman. I’m familiar with this kind of book (in the form of a “Mom’s Book”), and I can imagine how exciting—sometimes joyful, and sometimes perhaps a little sad—it must be to flip through the old days and bring the past back to life. I’m sure you’re looking at some of those experiences in a whole new light now. It’ll be a beautiful, precious keepsake for your grandchildren. Ha, that granny skirt is awesome! I’m sure you’ll find even more treasures like that in your albums. I think your British soldier is so cool—it’s making me want to take a trip to London even more.

Christina, unfortunately, I didn’t see the photo of the crocheted dress you mentioned. Would you dig it out again and show it to us? I’d really love that. How far along are you with your pot holders? Do you already have a gift idea for your sister?

Ina, I’m sure your hand-laid stone tiles have been grouted by now. It’s going to be such a beautiful, cozy little spot that you can surely hardly wait for the weather to finally be warm enough for a bath—or at least to dip your feet in. There’s still no sign of improvement here, but maybe things are different where you are? Your felted items turned out great. As Ruth already wrote, you have an incredible knack for matching colors. With the colors of the temperature blanket, you’re kind of stuck with what’s given. On the one hand, that’s part of the fun of it; on the other hand, I can imagine you’d rather choose the colors yourself. That’s why the second blanket makes perfect sense, and it looks wonderfully harmonious. I can’t even begin to imagine why you’ll need two blankets for your finished project in the end (at least that’s how I understood it), and I’m sooooo curious to find out the answer. Which will probably come at the end of the year ;-)

Marlene, when I crocheted with a three-strand bobble, I already thought it was pretty thin. I really wouldn’t have thought of crocheting with just one strand. But what you’re making looks really delicate. It’s great that you have the patience for it.

Monika, 1 kg of yarn is 1 kg of happiness for us, isn’t it? Great colors—I love turquoise. You’re going to show us some beautiful projects; I’m already looking forward to them. How far have you gotten with your jacket? Will we see another picture soon?

Anja, I hope you’re feeling better again!? Why don’t you show us a picture of the jacket you designed yourself? If you’re not going to wear it, it can at least be shown off here on the forum. It’ll definitely be happy to get out of the closet for a change :-)

I went through a granny phase myself once. They’re just so much fun to make. I still have a small and a large granny jacket lying around somewhere, too. But first, I’d like to show you the current status of my blanket—I’ve finished the pattern, yayyyy :-) It already weighs over 900 gr, so I’m just glad there’s no heat wave on the horizon yet...



My daughter is so excited that I’m actually looking forward to tackling the last 94 monotonous rows.

I wish you all a wonderful Pentecost weekend! Do something fun and enjoy your time :-)

Sonja, that blanket is amazing! It makes your daughter feel hugged and safe all the time. ♡

Tina, I thought the kittens were super cute, too. :-)

Sonja, the blanket looks absolutely great, and so do the colors. I see blue—is that right? I hope you have lots of fun working on the rest of those “boring” rows!!
My pot holders are almost done—and I’ve already almost started the next ones, with more planned. It really is an addiction, but a wonderful one!  I also know what I’m going to give my sister, but I’m not revealing it just yet. Plus, I still need two small gifts, and since both are colleagues in the book club, a bookmark is practically a no-brainer. I haven’t decided exactly what it should look like yet.
Today I was able to pull a few more weeds—next week I finally want to start planting.

Oh my gosh! I haven’t been here for a few days, and now I’ve got enough to read to fill an entire evening. :-) Before I wrap up my sweetheart’s birthday with him, I absolutely have to admire your beautiful creations.

Ines, your dishcloths look great. They’re still on my list of ideas for the pretty colors I have now. When the time comes… dishcloths will follow. I’m really looking forward to your wedding-themed home bakery. It’s sure to be super delicious! I’ll show you the custom cake I made for my sweetheart later, too. We’re not eating it until tomorrow, since we had some delicious fish with asparagus today. That would have been too much all at once.

Christina, yeah, that’s true. Dieting really makes you hungry. ;-)
And I keep falling back into my double-faced knitting addiction, too. It’s just so exciting to see how a pattern like that comes together. Once my jacket is finished, I’ll be knitting double-faced again.

Ina, wowwwww!!! Your natural stone patio by the lake looks incredibly inviting. It’s definitely going to be your favorite spot. I’d feel right at home in that little cottage, too. It’s so meditative. In any case, it already looks finished—you’ll manage to finish up the last bits, and then you can enjoy this beautiful spot every day while listening to the birds. Sooo lovely!
Your new felt shoes are just as vibrant as the temperature blanket. Such beautiful rainbow colors! I love that. The blanket is really taking shape now, too. One row a day. If you add it all up at the end of the year, that adds up to a lot of hours. And then you’re crocheting another blanket, too.
So it certainly doesn’t look like you don’t have time for crafts. You’ve really gotten a lot done again.

Marion, OMG, Waldemar is sooooo cute! He’s got such a nice spot in your garden. If you’re not careful, he’ll surely get snatched away in no time. You can’t let him out of your sight. Especially not with your Stupsie… the two of them are absolutely adorable.

Anja, it’s great to see you reading along here again. Tomorrow is UFO Sunday, after all. Which UFO is up next? Maybe you’ll finally finish one. In any case, I hope you feel better soon.

Ruth, you look really lovely in the picture and totally happy. It’s nice that we get to see you properly for a change. Yes, I admire your thick hair, too. Unfortunately, mine has gotten pretty thin over the last few years. I feel the same way as you do about the old photos. I’m a little nostalgic for that time, too. Back then, we were still young and fresh. ;-) Time flies—I feel the same way. And that’s exactly why I enjoy every moment—even more than I used to.

Sonja, your blanket is absolutely amazing! I’m blown away. Such a beautiful and heartfelt design. Your daughter can’t help but feel comfortable, loved, and safe when she tucks herself in with it. It looks really cozy. And you’re actually almost done with it. It went by incredibly fast for a project this size!
Yeah, you’re right. 1 kg of yarn is 1 kg of happiness. That hits the nail on the head. I’ll get back to my jacket in a minute.

I want to have finished the bottom part of my jacket by Whit Monday. Then I’ll take another photo. I’m just so excited to finally be able to wear it. Let’s see how things go with the rest of the yarn. Linja will get a similar jacket for Christmas. And if there’s enough left over, I’ll knit one for Juna, too. The design will be a mother-child matching look, so to speak.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Pentecost weekend. Enjoy yourselves!
We’re at least going to have one day of garden weather, and I’m looking forward to it. We actually had that today, too.

Hi everyone,
A lot has happened here again;

Ina: I really like your dishcloths, too. I’m also really looking forward to seeing your daughter’s wedding cake. I think something homemade is always so much better than a perfect cake from a bakery. A coworker of mine baked our wedding cake.  It was so personal and beautiful. Well, and if Mom bakes it for you, it’s even better.

Sunny, Stubsi, and the two Waldemars look really great. I’ve added them to my wish list for now. We’ll see when I have time for them. I have so many ideas again. 😂

Ruth: That skirt looks great, and I think you’ve hardly changed at all—just a little more gray in your hair. You radiate so much joy for life. Your little soldier is awesome.

Sonja: You’re insanely fast, and that blanket is truly beautiful.

If I’ve overlooked anyone, please don’t be mad.

I’ve finished something, too. A little pick-me-up for my family doctor’s office. The cover isn’t glued on—after all, everything in a doctor’s office has to be hygienic and washable. 



Best wishes and have a wonderful Pentecost weekend 

And just a moment ago, a raccoon hopped off the needle. 😂

Anton is in the “Raccoon Group” at daycare. And at the end of the week, one of the teachers is having her last day. She’s getting a snack from every child... but I think there needs to be a raccoon in the snack basket, too. And there he is 

Such a cute idea, Sandra ♡

Oh my gosh, Sandra, your raccoon is sooo cute! Did you design it yourself?
And your treat jar for the doctor’s office is also a really great idea.

Good morning, everyone!

After being away for a few days, I’ve had to catch up on everything.
I hope you all had a wonderful Pentecost weekend?

Ruth , even a few years later, you still look great—thanks for sharing your photo. I can well imagine that looking at older photos like that brings back so many memories—ones you like to recall, and sometimes with a touch of nostalgia.

Sonja, your blanket—I’m blown away. It’s a very meaningful design, and you can really see how much love you’re putting into it.And I’m sure that even though you have to get through 94 rows of monotonous work, you’ll manage it by thinking about just how thrilled your daughter will be with it.
Since Sunday, I’ve known that I, too, will get to design something for a baby in the near future, and my notepad full of flashes of inspiration is ready to go, haha.
No, Sonja, I’m not baking the wedding cake—which is supposed to be the highlight of the coffee table—myself. I ordered it from a bakery; we’re friends with the master baker, so it was practically a must, and I’m just not that talented anyway. I’ll be handling the rest of the cakes—of course, I’ll also be making a sort of wedding cake myself, with a fondant covering and a fondant design; you can order that online.

Sandra , that’s a lovely idea—adding that really cute raccoon to the teacher’s treat basket; you did a great job with it.The “nerve food” jar is also a lovely idea, and I think this “nerve food” is especially needed in doctors’ offices right now.

I was also busy with my knitting needles over the weekend, but I’d like to wait until this week to show you the final result—it doesn’t look like what it’s supposed to be while it’s still half-finished.

Well then, I wish you all a good start to this shortened week

Good morning,
I hope you had a nice Pentecost holiday.
The weather isn’t exactly great, but I’ve been crocheting a few little things again.

A swatch (alternating vRstb and hRst in a grid pattern)

A mouse crocheted from Irina’s pattern, and

nautical coasters. Inspired by and crocheted from an idea by stjerne61

Sandra, I actually wrote a comment yesterday about your really super-cute raccoon, but apparently didn’t send it…

Andrea, you’re really hardworking and quick: it’s amazing how much you’ve created in such a short time. You can check out my little weekend project in the gallery: One of the butterflies is fluttering back to its owner in the borrowed book, the second is meant to offer some encouragement during a difficult health situation, and the third is intended as a birthday gift for the library director. On top of that, the gift for my sister’s wedding anniversary is slowly taking shape… (for once, it won’t be a sheep—that much I can already reveal!)

Yes, Ina and Monika, you’re right. Stupsie and Waldemar are really enjoying themselves in the garden. They were only allowed outside in the garden for the photo shoot, though. Now they’re sitting in the sunroom, because they won’t get wet there.

Sonja, your blanket has indeed grown quite a bit, just as I suspected. It looks absolutely gorgeous. At the rate you’re going, the boring rest will surely be finished just as quickly.

Ruth, that little bit of “patina” suits you perfectly—you still look very pretty.

Sandra, you’ve made such wonderful things again. The stress-relief snack jar is sure to bring joy at the doctor’s office, and the little raccoon turned out so cute.

Ines, I’m so happy for you—your notepad is sure to grow quickly, and I hope you all have a wonderful time at the big celebration.  

Andrea, your mouse turned out lovely, and I really like the coasters, too. The pattern on the pot holder looks nice as well.

I’ll show you tomorrow what I’ve managed to finish.

.   

Hi everyone,

Andrea: the coasters look great. Your mouse looks really cute, too.

I’m having a bit of a meltdown right now.

A friend of mine got proposed to on December 6. They’ve been talking the whole time about wanting to get married in the summer next year. Today, an invitation arrived for June 11 of this year. They’re having a civil ceremony and want to celebrate with a small group (in staggered sessions). I won’t be there anyway (I’m away for a health cure). But I did want to crochet a wedding cake—luckily, it’s almost done. Just the decorations are missing. So now I’m going to crochet a few roses.

That has to be finished by Tuesday, too. It all starts on Wednesday.

And I thought things were finally going to be stress-free 

Oh, Ines, are you going to be a grandma? If so, I’m so happy for you. You’ll see—knitting and crocheting are sooo much fun. And you’ll definitely never run out of ideas. Well, I’m curious to see what you’re keeping from us right now...

Andrea, your new creations all look great. That little mouse is so cute. And the coasters are pretty, too, as is that interesting sample piece.

Christina, I’m curious about your secret, too. I’ll check out the butterflies in the gallery later.

Marion, are you keeping a secret as well? Well, that makes three of you who are going to surprise us.

Sandra, let’s be honest—is crocheting really that stressful? :)
You’re so quick with your amazing creations; you’ll easily finish that cake before your spa retreat. Maybe it would be a good idea to crochet some wedding gifts to keep in stock. Who knows who else will surprise you with such happy news.

And I’m keeping my secret jacket under wraps, too, until I’m at least done with the bottom part. I just need to knit the cuff, then I’ll show it to you. So there’ll be plenty to admire here over the next few days.

Have a lovely, relaxing, woolly evening, everyone!

I have a secret, too. It’s so secret that even I don’t know what it is!

Just kidding 😉

What’s going on with all you secretive folks?

Crochet stress isn’t really that stressful. 😊 But I don’t like working under time pressure. That’s actually why I usually start on my Christmas gifts as early as summer. But I’ll manage just fine. 

Good morning,

Monika, yes, I’m going to be a grandma—I’m so excited, and I’m sure my idea folder will be a lot fuller now. However, my daughter has already told me in advance that I should only knit or crochet clothes if she actually wants something. That’s fine by me—I accept it. After all, a lot of work goes into these little projects, and she doesn’t want me to go to all that trouble only for her not to use them. I’m sure that will all change, though, because I’ve already received a few “orders.” So I’ll show you the first one at the end and reveal my secret.... It was supposed to be for a friend, but she said the idea just came to her on the spot, so she needed an excuse. She’d love to have two blankets in neutral colors and and and.....well, we’ll see. I also have my own ideas that I’d like to bring to life little by little.

Sandra, a crocheted wedding cake is something that lasts—will you show us a picture when it’s finished? I don’t really like working under time pressure, though; I want it to turn out beautifully, so it just takes a little time. But I’m sure you’ll pull it off—your work is always so lovely.

Andrea, your projects have turned out very pretty again, and they’re all so delicate—I really like the coasters.

So now I’ll show you what I’ve made over the last few days: it’s a cover for a children’s hot water bottle made using the tapestry technique.



I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday

Sandra, I’m sure you’ll finish it in time. You’ve already completed most of it, and you’re a pro at crocheting. I’m also curious to see what the cake will look like.

Ines, your secret project has turned out beautifully again. You’ve come up with another cute design… Your daughter will definitely love it.

I can show my secret project now, too—Ines has already posted it. I got to test-crochet the dishcloths. I really like the pattern,

Ines, welcome to the Grandmas’ Club! I’m so happy for you, and I can’t wait to see what you’ll create!

Marion, the shawl looks completely different in multiple colors, and I’m really looking forward to crocheting it—I’ve already downloaded the pattern!

Hello everyone,

a quick browse through the forum in the evening is very entertaining—so I’d like to write a few lines about it right away.

@Ruth
You’re still a very pretty woman today, with a radiant smile and a very likable personality—what more could you want? No one stays young forever, and memories have to come together somehow.

@Sonja
The therapy blanket for your daughter is already beautiful. The main pattern really stands out in all its glory. If you’d just told me about it, I wouldn’t have imagined it to be this beautiful—simply because the motif itself isn’t very detailed. But here, the motif is so striking that it just blows you away when you look at it. The emotional impact of this blanket hits you all at once. It shows that sometimes it’s the simple things that can express so much feeling.

@Monika
It’s nice that you included my little tea house in your review. It was there before the patio, after all. I chose this hexagonal shape because I just liked it so much. The garden pavilion was delivered as a kit last March. My husband then painstakingly put it all together. I couldn’t help, of course, because I’d broken my wrist. It was actually supposed to be furnished, but the grandchildren would rather use it as a playhouse, and for that they need space to run around and dance. Lots and lots of blankets and pillows are the current residents.

@Sandra
Your candy jar instantly puts a smile on your face. I just pictured it nicely filled on the counter at the doctor’s office. It would put all the patients in a good mood right away.

The little raccoon is super cuddly. I think it turned out great. The thick eyebrows, the big button eyes, the “fur color”—you nailed it. It’s going to be THE centerpiece in the teacher’s treat basket. She can eat everything else, but the raccoon will always remind her of the Raccoon Group. And when she works somewhere else, she’ll always think of Anton’s creative mom, who could crochet such beautiful things. I’m sure

you’ll finish the crocheted wedding cake for the bride and groom in time. Even though the date’s been set for so long, it somehow slips your mind—and then it always comes as such a surprise. But you can do it!

@Ines
We’re all thrilled by the good news that you’re going to be a grandma. A truly wonderful and exciting time lies ahead for you. Feel free to start making a list of the handmade items you’d like to make for the baby. And after your husband’s 60th birthday and your daughter’s wedding, you can really get started on them. We’re happy to share in the anticipation when we get to admire the handmade items for the baby.

I think your daughter’s approach is good and sensible. If the young parents want something handmade for the baby, they’ll say so clearly. That saves you work, and you’ll know for sure that they’ll be happy with it. Back in the day, people used to get knitted outfits they didn’t even want, without being asked. Those would just sit in the closet and never get worn.

The hot water bottle cover is a good start. My family would have looked at the buttons skeptically. Buttons are off-limits in our house. I can’t really make out the pattern on top because the cover is lying flat, but I do like the colors.

@Andrea
You’ve been busy again! You can tell it’s still cold in Norway—you have to make yourself cozy indoors with some handicrafts. The swatch looks good—a bit like coarsely woven linen. I’m curious to see what the swatch inspires you to make.

The little mouse is cute, too. Of course, she’s wearing some pretty big shoes, but if that’s how it’s supposed to be, then so be it. I do prefer your dolls with the red curls, though :-) But out of the three things, what I like best are the modified nautical coasters. I really love the border all around—that’s what makes them so chic.

@Marion
The new dishcloths by Ines that you got to test-crochet look absolutely great! The pattern is perfect for them. And you can choose between solid colors and multicolored. Great idea and well executed.
Ines is lucky to have you—you conjure up such beautiful variations of her creations.

@Ina
I don’t have anything woolly to show you. But our lakeside terrace is now fully tiled. Everything still needs to dry thoroughly, then we’ll give the natural stones a good scrub to remove the cement residue. Here’s what it looks like now:





The next step is to line the pond pit with geotextile so that no small stones push through into the liner later on. Otherwise, gurgle, gurgle—the water’s gone. Since it’s raining constantly, we’ve temporarily stored the rolls under the roof for now.



In the garden, on the other hand, the 12-meter-long pond liner is lounging about and letting the rain pour down on it. Because of our pond’s unique shape—with the corner of the patio—we have to tape two sections of liner together. The seam needs to dry first. Then we’ll continue.



As you can see, I’m becoming a pond pro and will keep you posted. But slowly but surely, I’m really starting to crave the feel of wool in my hands again. Tomorrow, though, it’s back to the garden… the tomato plants are waiting for their summer home, and so on and so forth.

I wish everyone a lovely, relaxing evening with a captivating craft project. I’ll grab my “freehand temperature blanket” later.

Warm regards from Ina

Hi Ina.

You got something wrong about the wedding cake. The date hadn’t been set at all yet. It was always said that they’d be getting married in 2022 (and they’re having a church wedding too). They decided on the civil wedding spontaneously. The invitation arrived yesterday, and it’s on the 11th, so in two weeks. But I only need six more flowers (a smaller version of your flower), and the bride still needs a veil, and then I just have to put it all together. I especially like your natural stones. Wishing you continued success 🙂

Marion: Your dishcloths look really great too.

Ines: The hot water bottle cover looks good, but I can’t quite make out the design. Is it a dinosaur?

Best regards, Sandra 

Sandra, not a dinosaur, a puppy

Sandra, Ines: I thought it was a dinosaur at first, too!

Ah, Ines , now we get it. The puppy is an adorable motif for the baby hot water bottle. Thank you for the extra photo—now we can all take a close look and share in your joy.

Sandra, I now understand how that fits together for you, too. Well, those are some spontaneous decisions. I’m excited to see the crocheted cake. With your talent, it’s sure to turn out especially beautiful. And there’s so much work that goes into it. Good thing they only get married once.

Last year, I made a concrete wedding cake as a gift for a couple who are friends of our son. So first I poured concrete into three molds, then assembled everything, painted it, and decorated it. Hidden inside are Kinder Surprise eggs filled with bills. That was meant to be their secret stash in case money ever got tight. To get to it, you’d have to smash the cake with a hammer and chisel. The couple hasn’t brought themselves to do that yet. Here are a few quick pictures...

I wish everyone a wonderful day.
Warm regards, Ina

Oh Ina, that’s a wonderful cake, a real masterpiece.

It’s understandable that you don’t want to just slap it together. Can it be done from the bottom too?

Ina, I really like the cake—I’d be happy if mine turns out just as nice on Tuesday. I picked up all the ingredients today and even managed to get some white fondant; sometimes they only have tacky colors, and since the one from the baker is already going to be pink, it should be white.
Well, honestly, to destroy the concrete cake, there’d almost have to be an endless streak of bad luck for someone to go at it with a hammer.

Wow, this concrete cake is amazing! You’d have to be really strapped for cash to destroy it! Maybe you could drill a hole in the bottom of it?

Ina, you can’t be serious: destroying such a masterpiece with a hammer???

OMG, there’s really a lot going on here. Now I’ve got reading material for the next hour. My evening is saved. :)

Oh Ines, I’m sooo happy for you that you’re going to be a grandma. It’s the same for us. My daughter-in-law always lets me know when she needs something. Otherwise, I’d probably be knitting waaaay more. Your kids’ hot water bottle is such a cute idea. You really nailed it, and I’m sure it’ll be a hit. I would’ve guessed a dinosaur, too. I only just recognized the dog now that you mentioned it.

Marion, yeah, I really like the pattern on your dishcloths, too. I love how colorful it is.

Ina, your patio is really taking shape now. You’ll always appreciate it because you know how much work went into it. We used to have a small pond in our garden, too, and that was a lot of work. Especially the leaves in the fall… as beautiful as it is, I wouldn’t want to deal with that anymore. Instead, I enjoy admiring the ponds in other people’s gardens.
That beautiful wedding cake will probably stay intact for a very long time. I really could only bring myself to destroy it in a dire emergency. Maybe there are other ways—for example, opening it from the bottom or drilling into it?

Well, my dears, tonight I’ll hopefully manage to finish knitting my jacket all the way to the bottom. Then I can finally take a photo. I really like it.

And I have something else to share. There’s a new addition to my doll collection. Today I discovered a 50-cm-tall baby in my swap group that just had to come home with me. She’s very cute and has a completely soft body. I’ll show her to you as soon as I have her. Anyway, I fell in love with her on the spot and am already looking forward to knitting for her. She’s actually perfect as a baby doll model.

Now I wish you all a lovely evening with your yarn.

Good evening to you all

—it’s late in the evening now, and the sun is peeking out again. It’s supposed to get a bit warmer here this weekend. Let’s see if we can sit outside. That would be so nice.

Yay, there’s plenty to read here again.
Congratulations on the new addition “in real life” and to the “doll mom.” That’s sure to bring joy back into the house.
Monika , I’m curious to see when you’ll introduce your little doll to us. That’ll mean lots of crocheting again.
Ina, we’ve already had a chance to admire your concrete cake. To be honest, I couldn’t bring myself to smash this masterpiece either. It’s just too much of a shame—not to mention all the work that went into it. You’ve really got a knack for this.
You’re already making great progress on your patio—it looks fantastic. It’s going to be such a cozy spot.
Ines, now we can see the design much better. A very nice idea.
Marion , I really like your colorful dishcloths from Ines, too—especially because of the great pattern. I always enjoy trying out new crochet patterns. It’s already made its way onto my wish list, which just keeps getting longer.

I don’t have anything to show you today. I’m still figuring out how to do the back of the pastel C2C pillowcase. None of the yarn I have in my stash seems to be quite right.
My owl UFO is still waiting, too.
I’m taking a break from my swatch. The pattern is quite a workout for the hands (front post double crochet and back post double crochet). It’s going to be a little bag. Maybe I’ll use it to hold my onions.
I have tons of ideas, but the time to actually make them—well, you know.

So let’s get those hooks clacking! Have a lovely evening—

greetings from the far north!

    
 
The anniversary gift was entrusted to the postal service yesterday. (Pattern by SomethinksDesign)

Monika, I’m really very excited to see your new baby! I have to admit that every now and then I’m tempted to expand my family, using the excuse that I need a suitable model!

Andrea and Christina, I’d love to show you my baby once it arrives. It’s still on its way to me. Sternchen is already looking forward to her little sibling—and so are Lena and Paula. Haha… I caught myself yesterday telling my husband that I need another project. He just grinned… and wanted to see a picture right away. So cute.

I still can’t show you my jacket. Right now, I just haven’t been able to knit much because other things are taking priority.

Christina, your gift looks really pretty and is sure to bring joy.

Well, I wish you all a cozy evening and a sunny weekend!

Ines: Now you can see the puppy better. He’s really cute.

Ina: The cake is a dream—I wouldn’t want to ruin it either.

Christina: The wedding anniversary gift looks great, too. Is it meant to be hung up?

I’ve been working hard these past few days, and my cake is finished:



The bride’s veil is a piece of my dress. It had to be shortened back then, and I was allowed to take the leftover fabric home. And it’s been sitting in my closet for 6 years now.   

Good evening, everyone,

I hope you’ve already had a little taste of summer today. For me, at least, it was very pleasant out in the garden. I spent some time weeding, planted my cucumbers in the greenhouse, and kept tinkering with our never-ending construction project.

Now I’m taking a quick peek at my computer to admire your new creations.

@Christina
That’s a lovely little wedding anniversary gift. Hearts are always a hit, and when they’re crocheted so prettily, draped, and adorned with a little bow, I find them very charming. I’m sure the newlyweds will love it too.

@Sandra
Congratulations on finishing your wedding cake. A three-tiered white cake with decorative little roses, a matching bow, and a bride and groom—it’s truly beautiful and fits the occasion perfectly. The bride and groom are, of course, a special highlight. I think that piece of your veil will bring the couple good luck. The bride is even wearing a necklace—it’s very nicely made.

@Monika
Now we’re all excited to see your new baby. I know you’re just as excited, since you’ve only seen it in a photo. It’s a whole different experience in person. And 50 cm is quite a size!

@everyone
My concrete cake is completely filled with Kinder Surprise eggs on all three tiers. Some were poured into each of the three cake pans. So trying to fish them out from the bottom won’t work. You have to decide: cake or money. After all, it’s just “a nest egg for a rainy day.” Either way, you’ll always remember a wedding gift like this.

Have a great weekend, everyone. I’m going to do the same.
Warm regards and have a lovely evening, Ina

Sandra, the cake turned out absolutely beautiful. And the fact that you incorporated part of the veil is something truly special.

Well, everyone, the time has come. My new baby hatched today, and I’m sooo happy about it. It was love at first sight, and it’s even greater in real life. When I took the little one out of the box and held him in my arms, it really felt like giving birth. He feels like a real baby—he’s really heavy and has movable arms and legs attached to a soft body. Even my favorite guy was visibly impressed and held him in his arms, too.

What really won me over is his incredibly joyful aura. I just need to look at him and I’m instantly in a good mood. Actually, I’d name him “Sunshine.” But the first name that came to mind when I saw him was Thomas. Now he’s my little Tommi. Of course, I changed his clothes right away. In the first photo, you can see him as he arrived. Now he’s wearing the things I knitted for him, and I’ve tucked him into his sleeping bag. He’s now sitting in the rocking chair with Sternchen. I’m sure you can already guess what’s coming next. I’m going to start designing baby clothes for newborns. Because 50 cm is actually quite a size. Sternchen is 46 cm tall. I wouldn’t have thought that 4 cm would make such a big difference. Here are the photos of Tommi—including some with Sternchen.









And there’s something else to show you. My jacket is now finished except for the sleeves—including the built-in pockets. I tried it on, and it fits perfectly. Of course, the buttons are still missing.

If you want to see the photos larger, just click on them. Or open them in a new window—they’ll be even bigger then.

Good morning,

Christina—your gift turned out lovely.

Sandra, you’re already done! Your wedding cake looks beautiful, and I’m sure the bride and groom will love it.

Monika, your jacket came together quickly, and it even has pockets—very practical.
Mine has turned into a UFO. I’ve finished the sleeves and part of the rest.

Your Tommi is so cute. I’d take him right away—he really looks like a real baby... Sternchen probably just needs to get used to him first.

Hello everyone,

I’m dropping off a lovely Sunday greeting here and, of course, I have to start by admiring your beautiful work—if I overlook anyone, it’s not on purpose; I think everything you’ve shown here is beautiful.

Sandra, your crocheted cake is quite a sight too—you really did a great job with it. Is that a pair of doves? So beautiful.

Christina, I’m always up for little decorative items like that, and they’re sure to be a hit as gifts.

Monika, I had to smile when I read the name of your new addition to the family.... Tommy, with a “Y,” is also the name of our new family member, whom we’ll officially welcome into the family circle this Wednesday: our son-in-law.
But your doll is really cute, and I’m already curious to see what clothes he’ll be showing off in soon. The size is really ideal for baby clothes, at least for newborns. I think Sternchen is already somehow looking forward to her “brother,” her playmate.....
Also, your cardigan is looking lovely so far, again in your colors and with something a little different in the pattern section.

I also started a larger knitting project yesterday. It’s going to be a twinset, with a top and a short jacket, hip-length in the middle, let’s see how it turns out.
I’ll show pictures once I’ve made a bit more progress. Right now it’s only possible in the evenings; during the day I still have quite a lot to do, and the nice weather is tempting me outside too.
But I still have something to show you. It had been hidden away for a long time and just didn’t want to move forward because there were always other ideas in my head. Now I’d decided it had to be finished so there wouldn’t be any more UFOs lying around, and this is what came of it—it’s now decorating our front entrance.



I now wish you all a sunny Sunday—what a play on words, since today is the first day we’ve had really lovely weather.
Warm regards to everyone

Have a lovely Sunday evening,

I’m only just getting around to checking back in here. I was pretty exhausted after my first two days back at work after such a long time. Of course, it was wonderful to see some colleagues again and chat with each other. That felt really good.

@: to everyone
you’ve all finished such wonderful things again. The crocheted cake looks beautiful, and it was finished so quickly. The couple will definitely be happy about it.
The gorgeous crocheted decorative hearts are a very pretty eye-catcher in the window.
Ines’s crocheted flower decoration really makes an impression. From a distance it looks “real.” Great. And... you don’t have to water it.

Now to Monika. Then let me congratulate you very warmly on the new addition. Your Tommy really looks like a real baby. Next to Sternchen, he is already quite a respectable size—you wouldn’t think so. Of course, he looks even cuter in your pretty crocheted baby clothes. Clothes do make the man. The two make a sweet little pair of siblings. That was a good choice. What can your Tommy do?
How many “children” do you have in total now? Why don’t you take a group photo, sorted by size *hehe*, it’s sure to look funny.
Monika, your cardigan already looks great. I really like those warm orange tones too. I’m already excited to see a photo when you wear it for the first time.

So, dear all, have a calm end to the evening. I’m starting to feel ready for bed.

see you
Andrea

Wow, there’s a lot going on here again! I’m curious to see whether it will stay that way in summer too, when the weather gets better.

Christina, the heart pendant looks very elegant. The couple will surely be delighted.

Sandra, you did a great job on the wedding cake, a real bird wedding! Is there something hidden underneath, or is it purely decorative?

Monika, your new baby is really cute, and the knitted things look great on him, as if they were made for him. So we can look forward to new baby fashion. Your jacket is almost finished again already. I really like the colors, although the pattern at the bottom and the pockets are a bit too busy for me. But that’s ultimately a matter of taste.

Ines, I really like your decoration for the entrance to your house. But is it weatherproof?

Andrea, it’s nice that you can go back to work. And I’m sure you’ll get used to it again with time. And being able to see your colleagues again really is nice.

I’m showing you the progress on my temperature blanket again today at the end of the month. I’m still really enjoying it. And now it’s finally supposed to get warmer.

And I’ve also finished a new member of my flower children family: the poppy flower child:

Have a lovely evening, everyone.

So, today I wove in the ends, and now (since it’s getting warmer :-) ) my cowl is finally finished! It was a lot of work because of all the stitches. Such thin yarn really tests my patience. But I’m very happy with the result. The cowl is wonderfully soft and cozy. Bring on winter ;-))

Oh Ruth, it seems we had the same taste in colors—I also knitted that red into a loop, and the thin yarn was quite a challenge, but it was worth it. I really liked that yarn when I saw it at Ina’s. 

Ruth, you’ve been busy. Your blanket is slowly starting to take on some color and looks great. The little poppy turned out pretty, too.
I also like your loop scarf—great color, and it looks wonderful on you.

Ines, your floral decoration turned out pretty again.

I made a little something, too. Number 1 is finished; the next one is in progress.

Well, here I am again, after a wonderful day in the garden. Summer is finally here! Time for the computer to take a little break.

There’s so much to see here again—how lovely!

Yes, Marion, Sternchen had to get used to her new brother at first. But the two of them are happy to be together now. They surely have a lot to talk about.
Your case looks really pretty with that pattern—I like it.

Ines, that’s funny that your son-in-law is also named Tommy. Mine’s spelled with an “i,” though. His real name is actually Thomas. Thanks for your feedback on the jacket. I’ve added a sleeve to it in the meantime.
I’m excited to see your twin set—and the colors, too. Your UFO, the flower decoration, looks absolutely gorgeous—wow! You really pulled that off. It’s a lot of fiddly work—it wouldn’t really be my thing.

Andrea, that’s great that you can go back to work. You’ll get used to it again in no time.
My Tommi—unlike Sternchen—doesn’t have any functions. He feels completely different, though, like a real baby. He’s really soft and heavy, too. There’s probably some kind of heavier granulate in his lower body.And when I pick him up, I have to support his head. It’s sooo cute! Plus, seeing him with his happy face always puts me in a good mood. Just adorable. My four doll kids are Paula (a stately 60 cm), Lena (50 cm), Tommi (50 cm), and Sternchen (46 cm). I’d love to take a group photo of them one of these days. It’s sure to be cute.
Thanks also for your feedback on the cardigan. Once it’s finished, I’ll be happy to take a photo.

Ruth, thanks for the feedback! Yes, I’m really looking forward to knitting for Tommi, too. I could use at least 10 hands right now. At the moment, he’s wearing Sternchen’s clothes, which fit him just fine.
Your temperature blanket is really taking shape. It looks great. And I admire your dexterity in crocheting such tiny figures. The new flower child is very pretty again.
Tell me, have you gotten younger in the meantime? The loop scarf looks great on you, and the photo of you is fantastic!

And now I wish you all a lovely, woolly evening!

Hello, everyone.

Andrea: I’m glad you’re back at work. I can well imagine that it was an adjustment. But I also think you’ll get used to it again quickly.

I’m starting a new job in July. I’m really looking forward to it. But first, we’re heading to a health resort tomorrow.

Ruth: Your little poppy doll is so cute again. I really like your blanket, too. It’s nice that it’s getting warmer now and there’s a bit more color in the mix. Your loop scarf looks great, and the next winter is sure to come 😃

Marion: Your cover is a great idea, and I really like it. For now, I just bought one of those ugly plastic things.

Monika: I really like your jacket. Have fun dressing Tommi 😄

I have something to show, too—I got to test crochet for Sonja:

Monika, your Tommi is really a sweet little guy. Does he weigh as much as a real baby? I didn’t want my reborns to be that heavy. So now we can look forward to Nany dresses for boys, too!

Sandra, compliments on your elephant. I’m amazed at how neatly you managed to crochet that design.

Ruth, I think your picture with the gorgeous cozy loop scarf is awesome! Is it knitted with mohair lace? I still have something like that on my wish list. I also like the poppy flower child.

Ines, how big is your “little something”? Would the case also fit an iPad? My (ugly) plastic case is already pretty worn out. You’ve chosen a beautiful color combination!

Christina, my Tommi is heavier than Sternchen, but I don’t think he weighs as much as a newborn. He does feel very “real,” though. Yes, I’ll come up with some clothes for boys, but also some neutral ones.

Sandra, the shawl with the elephant looks really pretty. I’m also amazed at how delicate the motif comes out in the crochet version.

I received the donated felting wool today and have already started on the first squirrel swing—in the garden, of course. I’m really enjoying the fact that summer has finally arrived.

Hello, dear everyone,

after a few days’ break, I’m checking in again too.

Now our daughter is “off the market,” and I can say that despite all the restrictions we still had to accept, it was a very lovely and successful celebration. Right now I’m enjoying a few days of calm before the next storm; my husband’s 60th is coming up next week....
But I wanted to show you my baked creations.


Here are the baker’s cake and my poppy seed sour cream cake



this is my personal wedding cake

and a little something fresh too, the strawberry cake that my daughter absolutely wanted; she only eats mine, lol

despite the wonderful weather, they stayed more or less in shape until the end.

Pictures of the bridal couple may follow soon, provided the bride and groom allow me to put them online.

I’ll only be getting crafty with the needles again today, so I’ll soon be able to show something again too.

Just a quick hello,

Andrea and Sandra, that’s so nice that you can both work again.
Sandra, I wish you all the best for your rehab stay with Anton—rest and recover well.  You were still very busy before you left—your elephant turned out beautifully.

Ines, your cakes look so amazing—they really make your mouth water.

Now I’ll show you my second cover. I finished it yesterday.

Hello, my dears,

Over the past few days we’ve spent a lot of time outside and on the terrace—you have to make the most of this wonderful weather. We also took the opportunity to do a bit of “spring cleaning” in the cupboards and file folders. It felt really liberating.

Now I’m finally getting around to checking in here again. A whole lot has been happening here again.
I hope you all had a lovely holiday. I first had to check the calendar. No holiday here.

Ines, your cakes look good enough to eat. Delicious. I could start nibbling right away. I’m sure you’ll be working your baking fairy magic again for your husband’s 60th birthday.
Monika, thanks for the info from Tommi. I’m excited to see his new outfits.
Marion, your little bag looks fantastic. What an interesting pattern is that?

I’m going back to work on the weekend, so I probably won’t get much crafting done. But the yarn isn’t going anywhere.

Best wishes

Hello everyone,

today you’re finally hearing from me again. By now I feel like it’s summer, and the PC is taking a back seat. Let’s see what you’ve all been making ...

@Monika
Your new cardigan is practically a vest already. If I only saw the picture, I’d know right away that it could only be yours. They are exactly your colors and your style. I also like that the cardigan is a bit longer; that makes it feel “cozier” to wear.

Your new baby Tommi is a wonderful addition to your little group of children. You took him into your heart right away; it couldn’t be nicer. That will make it all the more fun for you to dress him and show him with “his siblings.”

@Ines
Dear Ines, first of all, heartfelt congratulations on now having a son-in-law. I’m very happy that the wedding was lovely and that everyone enjoyed it. That really was perfect wedding weather. Everyone was probably very touched—and the bridal couple looked magical. A very special day! All the cakes look fantastic too. Almost too beautiful to cut into. Everyone helped make this special day unforgettable and beautiful for all.

But now you’re surely also happy that it’s over. A little rest and some crafting. And then your husband’s 60th birthday. After that, things should finally settle down for a while ... until the baby comes :-) Just enjoy all the happiness you’re experiencing right now!

Your door decoration looks very inviting. I’m just imagining myself as a visitor at your door. It wouldn’t bother me at all if you weren’t there right away—I’d have the floral decoration to look at. A very beautiful little treasure, though it looks like it took a lot of painstaking work. So many individual pieces. I can well understand that it was once a UFO.

@Ruth
I really love your temperature blanket. I almost think it’s prettier than mine. Because you use the same color for several degree ranges, it looks calmer than mine—and still beautifully colorful. If I make another one next year, I would use your temperature principle. You only see how something like that looks once the blanket is already a bit bigger.

The poppy child is absolutely enchanting. I would think flowers are flowers, and there aren’t many differences you can bring out. But no, your poppy shows that it’s possible to give it a character all its own. Blossom, hat, and skirt in poppy red, very nicely coordinated. All in all, a lovely still life.

Your photo: At first I couldn’t even concentrate on the new red loop scarf . You look so friendly and cheerful into the camera; one is immediately enchanted by your radiance. Of course, the red loop scarf suits your type perfectly. You certainly won’t wait until winter, because I know it can be worn well before then too. Good thing you showed perseverance; the most beautiful things simply take their time.

@Marion
I really like the little bag with envelope closure . A book or reader could fit in there. The colorful pattern—as far as I could tell—is it knooking? It looks a little woven. In any case, I like it very much. Was it a gradient yarn?

I also think the second cover is nice, but I find the first one more interesting in terms of look and closure.

@Sandra
The little elephant is very pretty to look at. A very cute motif that instantly puts you in a good mood. I also really like the color combination.

I wish you and Anton a relaxing spa stay. Just switch off and enjoy the time together and on your own. On mother-child health retreats, everything is taken care of, so the children have fun and rest, but the parents also get some time for themselves. I’m sure you have some handwork with you in case you do get bored.

@Ina
For me, it’s still all about heavy-duty handiwork :-) After we lined our pond first with fleece, then with liner, and then with bank mats, today was the first time letting water in. That’s always very exciting, because only then do you see whether everything is really watertight and whether the water overflow works too. We made a filter trench, which had to have a very specific slope so that it would overflow. So far it looks good.

Tomorrow we’ll plant pond plants on the lowest level. Good thing it’s very warm here right now, because for that you have to step into the water. After that we’ll let it continue filling up, and then we’ll have to plant the upper level.

Have a lovely evening and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Best wishes from Ina

A quick note to Andrea and Ina

My vaccine passport covers are both crocheted in Tunisian crochet. The blue one is in basic stitch with different colors, so it’s not made with gradient yarn. For the other one, I used a pearl stitch pattern.


I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Well, everyone, here I am again. It’s perfect knitting weather here today, and I have something to show you once more. But first, I’ll take a look at what lovely things are on display here.

Wow, Ines, those wedding cakes are true works of art, but yours looks the most delicious to me. You’ll surely whip up something beautiful for your husband’s 60th birthday, too. I’m curious to see what you’ve got on your needles and will be showing us soon.

Marion, your case is pretty again, too.

Ina, I feel the same way. When it’s summer outside, the computer takes a back seat. And I rarely even have my cell phone turned on. I feel most at ease “off the leash”… ;-)
Your pond looks huge! Wow! Now I can really see it for what it is. You’ve put a ton of work into it. Basically, the greatest joy now is designing everything with plants—and maybe even some living creatures? You’ve created a real idyll there.

I’ve been busy too. My cardigan is almost finished. I still need to add the buttons, and I have to sew the pockets on the inside. I’m totally in love with the cardigan and will definitely be wearing it quite often. Here’s what it looks like now:




And on the side, I’ve finished one swing for the squirrels, and the second one is in the works. I want to have it done by the day after tomorrow at the latest, so both can go into the washing machine to be felted. Then they’ll be off to a wildlife rehabilitator. Here’s what the two swings look like now:




And here’s a recent photo of my two babies. I think these colors look good on Tommi, too. After all, men wear pink shirts and T-shirts, too.




Since we’re having guests over on Tuesday, I probably won’t get much knitting done for a week. After that, I want to start a double-faced project again—probably the Paris motif. I’m already looking forward to knitting it in the garden.

Have a great rest of the weekend, everyone, and a good week ahead!

Ina, the cakes look absolutely gorgeous. And I’m sure you’ll come up with something wonderful for your husband’s birthday.

Monika: I really like your jacket.

The swings look very cozy, too.

And your Tommi is really a handsome little rascal.

I’ve been at a health retreat on the Baltic Sea since Wednesday, and I’m really enjoying it. So far, I haven’t had many treatments yet, so I’ve been able to do a lot of crocheting 



A while back, I got to test-crochet the Paris motif for Sonja. It’s going to be a pillow, and this is the second side. The text says “Best Friends Forever.”

Unfortunately, I totally messed up the border when I was creating the motif. That really annoys me. But there’s nothing I can do about it now ... that’s just how it is 😂

Once I get home, I’ll crochet it together and stuff it. 

Ines, your cakes look absolutely professional and I’m sure they tasted great!

Ina, you’ve created a wonderful pond! Ours, by comparison, looks more like a puddle; the water level drops back down to a low level very quickly, but that doesn’t seem to bother the many newts much. And of course, we’re hoping for the water lilies again…

Monika, you’ve been busy again! I can totally picture you in your new jacket, and the little ones will surely love the swings. And you have such a cute baby pair—they almost look like twins.

Sandra, enjoy your spa treatment and don’t let it get to you—that’s just how it has to be. I especially admire the lettering—I’ve never tried that before. I haven’t had a chance to try anything new at the moment either; I’m still working on my DF pot holders and dish towels, with little thank-you gifts like hearts and butterflies in between…

The lettering wasn’t that hard at all. I used a cross-stitch pattern and pieced the individual letters together by hand. 🙂 And then I crocheted it using the tapestry technique as usual 

Thanks, Sandra, for the information. That’s pretty much how I imagined it, and I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Hopefully you’re having better weather than we are here, so you can really enjoy the fresh sea air.

Hi there, dear all,

I have the day off today, so I can finally pop in here again too.
After the first exhausting days at work, I’ve earned it. I’m still having a hard time with the change, but it’s stressful anyway, even though the hotel isn’t full.
Now all my limbs are aching again. Since yesterday, my right leg when I squat down. We’re not getting any younger.

Weather-wise, it’s been summery and warm here these past few days, so we sat outside on the patio a lot; the PC had to rest for once, and after work I’m so wiped out that nothing more gets done.

Cloudy again today. Time to tidy up, and my muffins are in the oven right now; we’ll have them with coffee.

You’ve all been so busy again. I’m lagging behind a bit with my crafts. But hopefully that will settle down soon.

Ines, your cakes look so professional and so delicious. Your guests surely enjoyed them very much. Yummy strawberry cake—I could eat that right now too.
Unfortunately, the strawberry harvest hasn’t started here yet, and I don’t buy the others because they don’t taste like the Norwegian ones fresh from the field.
Monika, you’ve already made great progress on your cardigan. I’m already looking forward to admiring you in your finished cardigan. Your orange tones are some of my favorites too.
Your swings for the foster babies already look very cozy. Great idea that you’re taking part in that.
Your pair of siblings just looks so sweet, and you’re crocheting/knitting for them so lovingly.
Sandra, it’s nice that you read along here now and then. I hope you’re recovering well during your rehab stay. In the past I always wanted to do a mother-child rehab stay too (because of my divorce), but it never worked out. That makes me all the happier for you. They say that Baltic Sea air is especially healthy. Which area are you in, actually?
You brought your crafts with you too, so you won’t get bored. Enjoy the time. I also really like your tapestry crochet piece with that lovely lettering.

So that’s it from me for now. Muffins are done. Time to put my feet up a bit—see you soon

best wishes
Andrea

Hello, I’ll just send a little summer greeting to everyone.

@ Monika
Your cardigan looks very cozy and very much like you. Your style and your colors are instantly recognizable. And it’s nice and long, with pockets and a collar too—perfect!

Your new animal homes look good too. But the animals probably won’t care what they look like, as long as they can live in them safely and snugly.

I hope you have a wonderful time with your visitors. We had to wait so long until this “new freedom” was possible again. There is so much to catch up on.

@Sandra
You really got perfect Baltic Sea weather for your health retreat. That’s something to enjoy too: switching off from everyday life and simply enjoying it. Anyone who has a craft project with them will never get bored. And the back with the saying already looks good. If you hadn’t written that something was meant to be different, I wouldn’t have noticed. So don’t be so hard on yourself. But then you should only give it to people who can translate the saying. A saying in French naturally goes with the Paris motif on the front. So in that sense, it’s a unified piece. But I could also have imagined a German saying working well.

@Christina
Until last year, we also had a little pond like that, where everything had gradually become overgrown. All the plants and animals felt at home there, but it just kept getting more and more crowded. The water lilies covered more and more of the water’s surface. The pond silted up over time, and there was less and less water. Since the old pond was already 20 years old and we had also already had a leak in the pond liner (which we then patched), it was time for a new one. The garden had changed too, so there was now room for a larger pond.

The old one was prettier at first, because it had already become so idyllically overgrown. Now the plants in and around the new pond first have to grow so that it will soon have that enchanted feel too. Water just always brings things to life. All our guests always stand by the pond, and the children are excited about the animals they can see—everything live and not just from a picture book.

@Ina
During the day, I’m still busy working on the pond installation and planting, watering plants and trees every day ... but in the evenings I always enjoy a little craft project. For me, that is always pure relaxation. But there’s nothing to show right now.

I wish everyone a lovely sunny day. Now I’m about to turn my attention to the last 11 meters of shoreline mat that still need to be laid out, covered with sand, and then planted. I need my sun hat ...

Best wishes from Ina

Dear Andrea,
We were both typing away at our computers at the same time. Oh yes, I totally believe you when you say this is a big adjustment. After such a long time, going back to physical work with all the physical strain and unfamiliar movements. Your muscles and tendons aren’t used to that anymore. Every circus performer has to practice daily to keep everything supple. But you’ll get back into the swing of things with time. It’s good that you have some time off now and that your knee can rest, too. I’m sure you’ve already rubbed some pain-relief ointment on it.

Enjoy your muffins this afternoon. I’ll stop by for a little chat. Then we’ll both do some crocheting, and the pain in your knee will be quickly forgotten. Beam me up, Scotti... :-)

Best regards, Ina

That’s so sweet of you, Ina. Feel free to stop by.
You’ve made me smile again.

Well, there’s a lot going on here again. My evening reading is all set. ;-)

Sandra, thanks for your feedback! The swings are going into the washing machine tomorrow and will look a lot smaller afterward. Wow, the pillow for your friend is turning out to be a really beautiful piece… It looks totally awesome as a pillow! Enjoy your spa treatment. The weather’s perfect for it, too.

Christina, thanks for your feedback. Today I sewed buttons onto the jacket and will take a photo of myself wearing it soon. Right now it’s too warm for that.

Andrea, thanks to you too for your feedback. I can totally imagine that you have to get used to working again. You’ll get back into the swing of things.

Ina, thanks for your feedback. Yes, I’m really looking forward to the visit. And you’re already looking forward to your newly planted pond. That’ll be your very own summer idyll. Really lovely!

So, here’s a photo of the other two “doll girls.” The smaller one, now wearing her new little dress, is Lena. And the baby (60 cm) is Paula.




The second squirrel swing is now finished too, and tomorrow I’ll felt both of them. I had to make the hangers using other leftover yarn—I didn’t have enough of the same color.




Have a wonderful evening, everyone!

After a long silence, I’m checking in again... :-) 

I’m using the tried-and-true two-window technique again and hope I don’t miss anything!

Ines, you’ve had two wonderful experiences in just the last few days! First you found out you’re going to be a grandma, and then you had a wonderful wedding celebration! Congratulations on both! I’m so happy for you and can’t wait to see what pretty things you’ll be crocheting for the little one. It’s great that you’re taking your daughter’s wishes into account. That way, she’ll appreciate and use the things you make for the baby all the more. That pretty hot water bottle cover is just a little taste of what’s to come—there are soooo many lovely ideas for babies, and I’m sure you’re already hard at work, at least in your mind... :-) The cakes look gorgeous; you did a fantastic job!

Monika, you’ve already welcomed your new addition to the family :-) Luckily, you didn’t have to wait nine months ;-) How wonderful that you’ve welcomed another little boy into the family. And your gorgeous new favorite jacket is almost finished—those are such classic Monika colors! Your hard work is admirable, and I’m sure the squirrels find your swings really cool. That would definitely make a nice gift for some pet rodents, too, wouldn’t it?

Christina, your golden wedding anniversary gift turned out beautifully. Fifty years of life together is truly something very special. How are your many pot holder projects coming along? What I love about pot holders is that such a small item can be finished relatively quickly. The not-so-great part is that you always need two of them ;-)

Ruth, I can only agree with what’s been said—you’ve shown us a beautiful photo of yourself, and that loop scarf looks absolutely stunning on you! What a sweet little poppy flower child, and it reminds me of a dreamy flower meadow in our village that’s also dotted with bright poppies.

Sandra, the wedding cake turned out absolutely amazing. Did you already give it to your friend? Or is the wedding still to come? The fact that the bridal veil is a piece of your own wedding dress is, of course, the highlight. What a wonderful, personal gift! Speaking of gifts, the second part for the pillow is just perfect—you picked a really beautiful, matching font. And the pattern definitely belongs exactly like that! I’m already convinced your friend is going to shed a few tears of emotion... Well, that’s how I’d feel, anyway ;-) I’m glad your spa treatment is doing you so much good so far! Keep enjoying it!

Marion, you’ve crocheted two very pretty vaccination record covers. Who would have thought that this little booklet, which has been so neglected for decades, would one day get so much attention that people would even design pretty covers for it... 

Andrea, you’ve now made it through your first few days back at work after such a long time. I can imagine you’re feeling a mix of emotions. On the one hand, you’re surely very happy to see your coworkers again, to be around people, and just to be able to work at all. On the other hand, though, you’re now missing that free time and the leisure and freedom that came with it—things you’ve surely gotten a little used to. I think this slower pace of life during lockdown has shown us all that there’s definitely a bright side to not constantly rushing around and having to get everything done. For you, there’s also the physical exertion to consider. I really hope you settle back in quickly, but don’t let the stress of everyday life overwhelm you—instead, make sure to find little oases of calm every now and then! 

Ina, I’m guessing the teleportation thing didn’t work out yesterday, did it? If it did, please send us all the link so we can meet up regularly somewhere for a few muffins. Sometimes at your place in Berlin, sometimes in Bavaria, sometimes in Norway, and sometimes here in Switzerland. I’m assuming you don’t have to worry about any special COVID entry regulations when teleporting.
As for your concrete wedding cake: the couple probably can’t ever be so broke that they’d dare destroy this work of art ;-) What a dream you’ve created there! 
Your pond is slowly becoming quite easy to picture now, too. Compared directly to the previous overgrown pond, the new one will surely still look a bit bare at first. Luckily, pond plants grow pretty fast—by mid-summer, it’ll surely be a lush green splendor again. But 11 meters of bank matting sounds like quite a bit of work... ;-) By the way, I’m amazed by your comment that you need a sun hat. Yesterday we needed a lot of things here, but definitely not a sun hat. We had the worst thunderstorms and record-breaking rainfall...

Now, about me. I’ve hit a bit of a snag with my therapy blanket. The last 50 or so rows just didn’t appeal to me at all, so I had to squeeze in a little side project. I finished this yesterday:




A little double-face shawl for my daughter. She loves it :-) Now I really have no more excuses, and I’ve firmly resolved to finish the last few rows of the blanket as quickly as possible. Please scold me if I let myself get distracted by another idea again *laughs*

Best wishes and have a lovely day! Sonja

Sonja, your new shawl—and especially the motif—is absolutely amazing once again! It’s perfect for summer, and I can think of so many ways to use it. I’ll definitely try making it someday. You finished that really quickly for a side project—hats off to you.
Today I felted the swings for the little squirrels, and now they’re ready to be sent off. Yeah, that’s definitely a good idea for pets, too. Cats might feel right at home in them as well.

Good evening, dear friends,

in summer, things are naturally quieter here in the forum—everyone is outside enjoying the beautiful weather. But it’s always nice when you can admire something new here or be entertained a little. For that reason, here’s a little evening greeting from me today.

Sonja, the new little shawl is very pretty. A lovely life motto for your daughter: to enjoy her life. The little butterflies and the dandelion puff emphasize this lightness. I think the dandelion puff is brilliant, even with little parachutes blown away—that really has something special!
You’ll surely finish the therapy blanket soon, too. I saw the motif—the hugged heart—on a postmark recently and immediately had to think of your blanket. The main motif is finished, after all, and you’ll do the boring rest soon as well. It’s a big project, after all; you don’t have to push through it all in one go. You’re allowed to do something else in between.

*******************

For me, it has been truly summery and warm for a week now. That’s why we have to water every day. The new pond has been planted by now. There were an enormous number of individual aquatic plants. But now they’re all sunk in and can thrive. The fish and frogs already feel very comfortable in their new realm and are doing their rounds or puffing out their cheeks :-)

My husband and I now often sit in the evening sun on the new terrace and enjoy the special atmosphere by the water. Of course, there are still some design questions open and to be put into practice, but everything step by step. But now we can already sit there and enjoy the summer evening.

Because I was missing some color there, I rummaged through my stash and pulled out a colorful gradient yarn cake. From it, I crocheted a tablecloth for my small side table. A table at the right height and size has been ordered, but it will still take a while to be delivered. Until then, we’re using the mini table. It’s definitely enough for 2 wine glasses.





Then recently a few 4 mm rocaille beads fell into my hands. I had once swapped for them in the swap exchange, but they were too big for my project at the time. Now I’ve strung a first wind chime from them on wire. Since rocailles are glass beads, they catch the light beautifully. But it was hard to photograph because the camera preferred to focus on the leaves in the background rather than the little beads in the foreground.  The wind chime hangs under my terrace roof, and the wind makes it dance gently. A lovely eye-catcher. I still have beads left over, and I’ll also craft something for the garden from them.

For today, I wish you all a lovely evening.

Warm regards from Ina

A late-night greeting from me as well—
my evening reading is all set again.

Ina, that’s right—during the day, everyone’s outside enjoying the great weather. It’s been warm here too; except for yesterday when it rained a bit, then the sun came out again.
It doesn’t really get dark here right now—I always love that. You could sit outside for hours, and… there aren’t any mosquitoes here that bite.
Ina, you’ve captured some wonderful photos for us. Your beautifully colorful tablecloth really catches everyone’s eye. I love the colors. Do you remember what kind of yarn cake that was? Your favorite spot together on the new patio by the pond has become an idyllic oasis of calm—that’s what I’d call it. When the frogs croak and the little fish frolic, it’s so soothing. I can even feel it all the way out here in Norway.
All that’s really missing now is a garden housewarming party with all of us *hihi*
Your beaded wind chime sparkles so beautifully in the sunlight. I had a similar idea the other day, too, since I still have tons of beads left. I’ll hang that in the window. Then, of course, I’ll post a photo.

Sonja, thank you for your kind words. I’ve also had some pain in my right leg these past few days, and a sore throat (a lump in my throat, had trouble swallowing), but now I’m feeling a bit better thanks to chamomile tea.
Your knitted washcloths look so great again. Knitted items always look fancier than crocheted ones.
I believe you when you say you need a little break from your big project and have to crochet something small in between. I always feel that way, too.

Monika, your pair of little girls looks absolutely adorable. You’ve practically got a doll kindergarten there, and you can take care of them all. I’m just picturing a group photo of all your little dolls—how different in size they all are—with Monika right in the middle.

You’ve probably already noticed that I’m in a slightly better mood, and the urge to crochet has grabbed me again today. I’ll post a picture later (I’ll do that from my iPad, not my PC).

Tomorrow, Wednesday, I still have the day off, and on Thursday I’ll get my first shot—finally. Let’s see how I feel afterward.

Well then, have a peaceful evening—we’ll catch up again soon, see you soon

Andrea