Wool Week 2013

Almost missed it!

This week is Wool Week, an initiative from the Campaign for Wool. This campaign was started by prince Charles in 2010, when sheep farmers were in trouble because of the low price they got for the wool of their sheep.

This campaign asks for awareness of how nice wool is as a product, calls for attention for designers who work with wool and now there seems to be a Wool School that raises money for education by selling handknit sweaters nationwide.

Wool Week has only one weekend left in the UK ( this weekend) with lots of activities.

You can find more information overe here: http://www.campaignforwool.org/

I was surprised to learn Wool Week crossed the North Sea and has its own branch over here in the Netherlands!

Wool Week in the Netherlands is from the 28th of October until 3rd of November.

You can find more information over here: http://www.campaignforwool.nl/

P.s. Sorry for the non-clickable links! My Ipad does not seem to know how to make a hyperlink in the Blogger app....

Busy Fingers Showing Off! #19

First of all, a little anouncenmet for all the Dutchies:

* Oproepje! *
Op de blog van Fie las ik over de Kerstmis swap georganiseerd door Hoemmelke en Mimi's. Bij deze swap maak je iets voor een medeblogger maar ook voor een kind dat het thuis wat moeilijker heeft. Een prachtig initiatief waar ik graag reclame voor maak! Klik hierboven op de namen van de mensen die meedoen/organiseren en je krijgt alle informatie!

Now, on to the Link Party itself! I saw more wintery projects, I saw a blanket, some owlies, a pillow cover, and my own shawl! You know, the heartwarming cuddly kind of projects. Winter is coming!

Who got in the top 3?

Number 1

 

 Linda's baby hat with a lovely story about Odoh and Odah @ Linda's Crafty Corner

Number 2

 

Autumn wreath made by Liz @ Howling at the moon

Number 3

 Beautiful earrings made by Mie @ Moois van me

 Thanks so much for linking up!

Here is the new party, let's show everyone what you got!

Birthday Kitchen Time

 

I had some leftover pears from my sister in law and a quite a bit of apples from our own apple tree this weekend. What to do with it? 

We were going to have visitors on Sunday for Big Man's birthday so I knew I had to bake an oldfashioned apple pie. Easy peasy. It is such a delicious pie, I always make it for Big Man's birthday (here is the recipe, it is in Dutch unfortunately!)

From my sister and brother in law I got an silicon cake shape and I really wanted to make a cake for the kids to decorate but alas...... It collapsed when I turned it over on a rack......

With the pears I made my first ever pear compote (pears cooked with sugar, lemon peel, cinnamon stick and vanilla)!

I was glad two plans out of three turned out okay :)

And since it was raining so much yesterday we were stuck with all the family, two derailed kids who were trying to get attention from everyone at the same time (you probably know what I am talking about :) ), one very unhappy Rover and one hyperactive Mies.

Luckily I could convince Little Man and Little Lady to experiment with making cookie houses. I think it is perfect for a kids' party but I really need to find a good recipe for morter. Creme au beurre doesn't stick very well, although the tutorial advised it!

All in all it was a nice weekend.

How was yours?

P.s. The Pink Delight Shawlette has been posted on other blogs!

Over here on Regula's blog and on Haakbaak (in Dutch)

~ Monday Music ~

For the coming weeks I am going pick up some oldie/classic/everyoneknows songs. To put on in the background at work.
I really need some music nowadays and it is so nice to listen to a lovely song....

Today:  On Every Street - Dire Straits

Busy Fingers Showing Off! #18

Temperatures are dropping and I am crocheting like mad! Do you feel the same? I want all winter accessories done haha! I am oozing with creativity at the moment and it is fun to see what you are all doing :) Lots of fun!

Here is the top 3 from last week's Link Party

Number 1 AND number 3

 

A little bunny and an alternative border to the famous South Bay Shawlette by Renate @ Renate's haken enzo

Number 2

 

Beady earrings made by Mie @ Moois van M(i)e

And I do not want to stop here, because when I headed over to Mie's blog and saw the other things she had made my jaw dropped to the floor by this picture:

 

Isn't it pretty?????

 Want to get featured to0? Link up your pretties in the Link Party below!

Astonished by Yarn

There was this single little ball in my stash for about three years....

One ball of the uber famous Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn in some lovely pink n blue n cream stripes. I bought it on a whim actually, together with completey non-yarn related craft supplies simply because of its reputation. Just one ball, you know, to try and see what looked it like and how it would feel to the touch. 

I picked it up every once in a while but could not think about anything to do with it. I loved the colours but since it was such a tiny ball I was afraid I would run out of yarn in the middle of a project.

Until yesterday.

I got this sort of brilliant idea (probably not unique, but it does not matter to me!) and started off today.

Turns out this little ball is capable of producing not one, but probably TWO projects! After putting it on the scale with an almost finished project dangling next to it, it still weighs almost two thirds of the whole weight of the ball.

I was and am amazed. Are they making superpowers balls over there at Sugar 'n Cream?

(I have to admit I ran to the computer to find out if there were any stores in the Netherlands. There are two out there, although with a small selection. I bought a couple of balls anyway!)

Walk through the Park

The four of us had a sleepover at my father-in-law this weekend.
Since the weather was superb we made a lovely walk through a nearby park. Lots of things to see, lots of views to capture.....