Seasons Greetings!!

Here's wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a damn fine 2011!!! Thanks all for keeping up with me... I very much hope to see you again in the new year!

Revival!

Hmmm... I feel another 70's revival coming on. Firstly, I've been thinking about macrame for the past few days. I remember a girl teaching me how to macrame in the playground at school when I was about 7 years old. Back then every home seemed to have at least one macrame plant pot holder and one macrame owl.



I want a macrame owl!! I want to make a macrame owl. But I can find hardly anything about macrame on the net. Let me know if you find something!!

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And how about this in all its 70's rainbow glory.


I found this image over on Thrifty Fox's blog this morning. I am definately going to have a crack at one of these great pillows!

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And finally, while we're at it I recently received some beautiful samples of vintage wallpaper from Johnny Tapete. I just love vintage geometric wallpaper and was hoping to cover one wall in Leo's room with it. Alas, too costly at the moment, but not wanting to waste the samples I covered a couple of empty formula tins with the stuff and hey presto, two lovely new containers for odds and ends!

New Flickr Groups

Good morning! It's high time I got back into my online activities. To kick start this I've just created two gorgeous new groups over on Flickr. The first is one loop ahead, a showcase for all the best in contemporary crochet and knit culture. I hope to create a book from the best of the pool's submissions eventually, so in order to keep the standard as high as possible, it's an invite only group, but do let me know if you'd like to be considered for inclusion. Once the group takes off I may start a dedicated new blog to include artist interviews and features.


1. yippee sonia arrives home today, 2. Phydeaux Twist Cowl Honey Dijon redux, 3. more pincushions, 4. Petri dish No.3, 5. all together now, 6. Cinder, 7. the twins..., 8. megadoilyrug_pillows, 9. just say it like it is...

The second of my groups is button it, a place for all creative button enthusiasts. If you use buttons in your creative projects or just appreciate the beauty of a good button why don't you sign up.


1. Necklace of Buttons, 2. Buttons & Doilies, 3. Antique Mother Of Pearl Buttons, 4. a little wall vignette..., 5. For Button Phobia exhibition, 6. Violette talc box & treasure!, 7. altered envelopes, 8. sew-easy-close-up, 9. miss Evelyn...

Feeling creative again!

I seem to have a constant string of crochet projects on the go. I've just finished this little cushion for Leo's room, which seemed to take an age to do!



And I'm playing around with these buttons that I've just unearthed in a jar somewhere... but what to do with them?


Suggestions please. I'd love to string them into a necklace but haven't the faintest idea how to do it!

100+ followers!!

Woohoo!! Despite my continued absence from blogland, my followers keep slowly mounting and now we've passed the 100 mark!! Thank you all for your interest in my little piece of virtual world!

I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things... lots of crochet and knitting ... and I'm finding new and gorgeous things on the internet daily, I just never seem to find much time to post about it. My Pinterest and Tumblr accounts are gathering dust. However, in an effort to try and make amends I will show you what I found today. These amazing bags from Australian based company Glory Daze. Such a simple idea, but executed so well. Just choose the style you want and cover with the fabric of your choice from their extensive gallery. My favourite was found in their vintage fabric section.




This week sees us celebrate Leo's 5 month birthday and my 42nd!! I have everything I could ever wish for now. So happy birthday to us :)

Phew...

I'm tired and my back kills me... ALL the time!! But at least I have time to knit now. Even if it's only for him :)



Buzzbee & Baby Yoda

Little Model

One of the joys of being a bit crafty and being a mum is that you can make stuff for your baby. Here's a couple of things I made, modelled beautifully by Leo!


I created the onesie by uploading some of my artwork via Cafe Press, who will then print it for you.


The cardigan is the Rosebud cardigan from Erika Knight's book 'Simple Knit's for Cherished Babies'.

It's Been a While

On Tuesday Leo turned 3 months old. I can hardly believe how quickly time has passed. Of course I'm still too busy to really focus on my blogs, but I wanted to say a quick hi and post these lovely pics from our recent holiday in the west of Greece.



Motherhood is really wonderful and although we still have our 'difficult' days I really do have one beautifully easy baby. He is a true joy. I'm only really finding time to post pictures on my Facebook page (you can find me under 'Leanda Xavian') at the moment so please do 'friend' me over there if you want to keep up with his progress.

the prettiest star

Here he is folks...my precious little boy. Two and a half weeks old. We are all doing fine. Exhausted and no time to write any more, but will be back soon :)

Tuesday is the day!!

So, by this time next Tuesday I should have my little boy! I can be exact about this because I am due to be induced. So a last weekend of just us two and final preparations. Slightly hampered by an exploding water tank today in 40 degree heat. Not a lot of fun... I hope you all have a great weekend and I will be showing you the small one very soon!

Happy Summer!

As you can see I've been rather quiet here on blogland since the wedding as we're just concentrating on getting ready for the big arrival in a couple of weeks time!! But I want to say a huge thank you for all your lovely comments on our wedding... I genuinely am so touched by all your kind thoughts and wishes. Until my next post, I hope you all have a wonderful summer!

We did it!!

Yesterday I married the most wonderful man in the world! George has been my rock for 6 years now.


Finally, with me at 7 1/2 months pregnant we got married. We've been through a lot in the past three years, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.


We are in love and money doesn't buy happiness. (Dress, shoes, ring and flowers (arranged by me) = 100 euros ;)

It's a stashbusting day!

I may already have mentioned once or twice that I am having a baby very soon (did I mention that... sorry I'm just really excited about it)! And I want to make something very special and heirloomy for him. A gorgeous blanket made with love. Having very few pennies and not really enough to splash out on lots of lovely new yarn I decided to face the bitty stash that I have already. After rewinding it, it turns out I have quite a few lovely colours to turn into something.


With the addition of a huge ball of chocolate Cascade Eco Wool, I have found the perfect project to inspire me... the Sunshine Day Afghan by Alicia Paulson.


I love the combination of bright solid colours against a muddy tweed background. Just gorgeous!! Hopefully I'll have it ready in time for winter!

A Very Large Doily

I'm into doilies again... with not much else to do right now, except get married and wait for my baby to come, it's the perfect time-killer.


This is a whopping 17"/43cm across! Maybe I'll frame it.


And it is infact a lovely shade of mustard/chartreuse and not bogie-green as the pictures seem to portray :)


Pattern details on Ravelry.

Happy Hangers

As soon as I saw these Happy Hangers from Dottie Angel, I knew I had to make some...


... Tif's pattern is really easy to follow, but if you suffer from 'daft & pregnant' brain syndrome like me, I had to make one or two small changes, which you may or may not find helpful.

1. However hard I tried, I just could not work this over a foundation of 65 + 3. For some reason I had to work a foundation of 73 + 3 for the required amount of 13 shells. Go figure... I don't think anyone else had this difficulty with counting :)

2. Tif's hangers are probably fairly vintage and therefore weeny. My bottom hanger in the picture above is quite old and is the same depth as hers, but the top one is more modern and a bit fatter. To compensate for the extra depth I first edged the shells in my second colour with single crochets before joining the two halves together.

3. I found the joining difficult... and Dottie does explain that you need some patience. However, I don't have any. I found it easier to start joining one chain to the the left of the post of the hanger at point (a) and working all the way round until I reached point (b) before inserting the hanger. That way, I just had the little bit on top to do (which still requires the patience of a saint I might add).


These are a sinch to knock out, beautifully practical and a fantastic stashbuster too!

Spotlight on... White Owl

I'm more into modernism than vintage these days, but just check out these stunning, stunning reclaimed lace pieces from White Owl...




...and so beautifully photographed too!

The First Cardigan

It's been a while since I knitted anything, but now with the baby on the way there's a new incentive! And my first constructed garment too :)


I'm particularly pleased with the odd buttons...



Details on Ravelry.

Home From Home

George and I have had a wonderful relaxing Easter weekend in our 'home from home' town of Nafpaktos, a beautiful little place in western Greece. One day I would like us to live there permenantly. The town itself is built around a beautifully preserved Venetian castle and port, and the location is perfect.

Photo: Wikipedia

Situated on the Corinth Gulf with views of the Peloponnesian mountains beyond, Nafpaktos is half an hour from Patras (Greece's 3rd largest city) from where you can sail up to Corfu and Italy, an hour by boat from the islands of Kefalonia and Zakynthos, and has a multitude of outdoor activities in the surrounding countryside from rock climbing to white-water rafting to kite surfing and more. We have some wonderful friends there too and I can't think of a more perfect place to raise a family.
So, as mentioned, we have just spent Easter there, which is a big occasion in Greece. Here are just a few moments from the weekend.


The port staged a spectacular (if not slightly tacky) light and fireworks show on Good Friday night.


The view from our hotel balcony - the tiny port of Hiliadou (about 10 mins from Nafpaktos)



Lunch on Saturday next to Evinos River.


George and I... relaxed and happy!

I hope you all had as good an Easter break as we did! I looking forward to hearing about it!

In a whirl!

Phew... I'm exhausted after the antics of the past two weeks so tonight George and I are treating ourselves. We're off to see the whirling dervishes from Turkey. I've always wanted to see them and they come to Greece at least once a year. Our seats are about 100 miles from the stage, but I still think it will be worth it!


These amazing images are from talented Turkish photographer Umut Kebabci.


Hope you're all off to do something nice this evening and have a great weekend!

a BIG thank you!

I'd like to shout out a big thank you to the lovely Through the Loops and Knit and Tonic blogs for featurning my little hexagon pincushion pattern... and of course to all you lovely people who purchased it!



Photos: Through the Loops

Featured here are two beautiful examples from Through the Loops. I've had more sales in the past week than in the past six months and a much needed boost to my piggy bank. Thank you all so much!

Cast your votes please!

Unashamedly, yet again, I am asking for you to vote for me in the Spoonflower Boba G2 Baby Carrier fabric design contest. I stand to win $500!


You can vote for me here. Hit the link that reads 'Vote For Your Favourite Nature-Themed Fabrics' at the bottom of the post and you will find me on page 6 of the selected 260 designs. To vote for me click on my design called 'Footprints'. You will see a green box appear around it to let you know it's been selected. You can select as many designs as you like, but to submit the votes you have to click through to the final page and hit save. Thank you!

Edit: Oh dear, seems I'm not stationery on page 6. If you can be bothered to scan through for me all the more thanks to you :)