A ‘’few’’stolen (sun) moments in the garden.

Oh what wonderful weather we have had the last few days! Sunshine and no wind, which made it ‘perfect’ weather (I will keep quiet about the in between rain showers).We are in the UK after all and that on a little island as well.

  Not many crafts saw any daylight as the last few days were spent running around (hubbie left for Qatar on Thursday,) then reality set in – I now have the time/ house to myself again, then more reality set in when the grand children arrived with bags for stay over and time was spent in the glorious outdoors……

As I have the holiday feeling when it is hot, I act accordingly, lots of Barbeque's / late breakfast outside in the garden, one would think that I am a woman of leisure, but let me quickly correct that…in between I have been doing my cleaning jobs, and whilst I polish up a house my eyes feast on the sun outside shining through the windows - whilst I am sweating it out inside and that is when the garden calls when I get home – so not much  sewing or knitting, just drinking in the blue skies and fresh air.

Oh what a glorious life this is…sitting outside dreaming of things to make and create! I did however managed to sew up a bit more of my African themed appliques on bags.

How I love to cut them out, applique them, they are so special for this African girl at heart. My creations have no limits – I design as I go along.

I was inspired today by a lovely visit to our local museum which had a lovely 'extra 'exhibition on shoes. ''The Shoe Collection at Northampton Museums is the largest collection of shoe heritage in the world and is designated as being of national and international importance.''  (this copied off the Internet) If you ever pass here in your journeys, it is a worthwhile visit. You will be inspired by all the colours /shapes / sizes from long ago to present. That is a real craft - shoe-making.

Many times in our lives we feel like doing something else whilst we in fact should be doing something else. (Hmm that sounds strange but that is how my tic tok brain is thinking at the moment) It is important to balance the tightrope walk of life in everything we do.

Happy crafting and careful on that tightrope!

Luvvies

Patterns

Our lives are all boxed into little patterns.

First years / then months / then days…It all form patterns. When we follow those patterns, everything seems to be ‘running smoothly. Even when there are ‘patterns’ in chaos it is acceptable. It is like a comfort zone to the soul.  People go to university to study patterns in behaviour and everyday life.  Are they any wiser than the people who live them? They can give advise and some words of wisdom, but each individual has his/her own pattern in life.

One can see the most beautiful patterns in nature, it is just never ending! The petals of a  flower. The leaves on a branch…..Most of my creations (like I mentioned before in previous blogs) are inspired by the patterns in flowers. These are photos taken in our garden - the patterns are just stunning! Repeated beauty!

Sometimes patterns can be broken into new ones to  make way for bigger brighter better patterns.

Following a knitting / crotchet pattern,  one soon becomes familiar with the repetition of a specific pattern that after a while it becomes easier and more easy to follow. Set up a ‘pattern’ in our life and more will be accomplished and done especially if goals are set within those patterns.

Here is a lovely ''patterned'' waistcoat knitted by my sister Clarissa Rudd in Jeffreysbay - I love wearing it (and so does my grand daughter!)

Our lives are like that as well. Stay within the boundaries of patterns (that is sleeping /eating /exercising habits and life will be so much easier to cope with. All it needs is some self discipline and that only you can instill in yourself.

Here are some patterns I made up as I went along...on some beanies I knitted. NOt one is the same - all different! (as the mood takes me) It is like freedom of speech!

Heart and hearts

When I think and look at anything with a heart in it, it makes my tic tok brain think of LOVE. Unconditional love which is not always easy to practise, but boy oh boy how I try!

This last week I have not been able to do my usual amount of crafts, as hubbie and I were rushing 24/7 to get this and that done before he returned to Qatar. And then there were the Olympics to enjoy.  I did manage to slip a few knitting stitches in between it all. My hands cannot be idle.

Last but not least, my favourite little flower...I made long time ago.....

.MADE WITH LOVE!

Happy Eid – Mubarak to all my Muslim Readers. May your life be Blessed with Happiness, Your Heart with love, Your Soul and Spirit and Your Mind with Wisdom

Happy Crafting with LOVE and Spread it around!

Luvvies

Roads

No time for crafting, being on the road in the car in –out –long -short –distances…for the last few days. I only  managed to knit a few stitches here and there….Winchester was one of our destinations.

When one  goes somewhere one usually takes a road. Not always with a map, but we do adhere to the sign posts. Yesterday we were on the road down to the South-West of  England and passed many a HUGE truck that just forced their way onto you (who will argue with an articulated truck when you are in a car?) or a truck that used the right hand lane blocking the traffic behind them for miles and miles. It is only once they move out of the way that the traffic gets flowing again. Oh how we get annoyed by them!

Our lives are like that too. We all get a road to choose into which direction we are going. Some are foggy / some are rainy and some are just too beautiful for words!

Happy Crafting and be on your way, on a happy open road!

Luvvies

Shoes – Walking in someone else’s shoes.

What is nicer and more posh than a brand new pair of shoes! We all love shoes- whether it is some old slip slops or some comfy slippers, it protects our feet from outside elements and dirt, keeps our toes nice and warm as toast.

No shoes are allowed upstairs in our house. ‘Please take off your shoes when you enter’ The dirt/germs  that they contain at the bottom is too big to mention, therefore: No shoes upstairs!