Orangebloom

On the weekend I finished these wrist warmers, the pattern is from the knitters bible.

My latest knitting project…

I used a pattern from the knitters bible.

The wool I used was elle Escapade, River Rafting.

While blog surfing today, as I do, I came across this wonderful website - knitty.com - where I read an article regarding mindful knitting…

In the article Tara Manning talks about the process your mind goes through while knitting. Then I thought about why I knit…

I started to knit because my mother knits, my mother started knitting because my granny knits, and she started knitted because my GG (great granny) used to knit and so on… Its a family tradition.

But that is not why I continue to knit. I knit almost everyday because it relaxes me. It calms my mind and helps me to focus. Although sometimes I get quite frustrated if I am distracted and have to recount or re-knit a row.

Knitting helps me to make sense of life. Even if I am just knitting for the sake of knitting and not knitting anything in particular. I mostly knit infront of the TV, but somehow knitting takes my mind away from the TV and inward, it forces me to look inside myself and helps me find what I am looking for… stillness.

So, I will keep knitting until the day that I don’t need to knit to look inwards. Mind you, I will probably carry on knitting anyway…

All KREJCI bags are handmade, strong and have a high-quality finish. The objects are rough, but attractive.

These bags are made from the inner tube of a tyre. A gag gift given to Dutch designer Doreen Westphal at Christmas. What a wonderful story of innovation and creativity…

Krejci is available at the following stores in South Africa:

• Croft & Co (66 Tyrone Ave, Parkview, Joburg, T: 011 646 3634)

• Stefania Morland (153 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town, T: 021 422 2609).

www.krejci.nl.

My recent wool shopping spree. This could become an addiction…

Receiving a letter from a loved one or package in the post always gives me a warm feeling, considering the fact that the majority of the post I receieve are bills, the change is welcoming.

I recently won a Tulip Bag from The Wren Design, which was amazing. Wendren from The Wren Design posted my prize to me on the 27th June 2008, registered mail. After being sent from pillar to post by the South African Postal Service I received my package on Saturday 12 July 2008. I was so excited!

You can purchase a Tulip bag or one of her other designs at The Wren Etsy store, Wrendren is great! She followed up on the postage and provided a professional service, something I can unfortunately not say about our postal service.

The Tulip bag came beautifully wrapped, like a special present.

Here are some photos of my glorious Tulip Bag:

My favourite part of the Tulip Bag is the adorable button, Wendren creates the design on the buttons by hand, check out her process here…

I also love the secret pocket…

I have ordered another bag from The Wren for my sister, as I just love her bags. Although Wendren posted the bag on 1 July 2008, I am yet to receive it. I have a tracking number and customer service is determined that the package is at my local post office, my local post office is determined that they haven’t received it yet. I will be back at the post office tomorrow to see if they have located it yet.

Hence, my frustration and Love/Hate relationship with post…

* Thank you Wendren for your wonderful service, it is a rare gem in this day and age.

I love books! Anyone who knows me - knows this fact…

I have some recent treasures:

The knitters bible: knitted accessories - by Claire Crompton

Bags Bags Bags - by Dorothy Wood

Eco deco - Stewart and Sally Walton

Paper: Handmade Style - by Jeanette Bakker, Jill Elias, Helen Roberts Hill, Jean Riley and Marie Waterhouse

Complete Contemporary Craft - Textiles: Murdoch Books

The Essential Guide to Craft - by Katherine Sorrell

Essential Craft and Textiles are a gift from my sister and dad from Australia, Knitter’s Bible was from my Husband and Paper, Eco Deco and Bags I bought recently.

Books have a magical power to make me happy and inspire me. I aspire to one day write my own book, whether it be a novel or a craft book…

I bought ‘Cool Hunting’ earlier this year. This book is a guide to high design and innovation.

‘Cool Hunting’ means to look for things from around the globe that are cool.

I paged through it once or twice and then put it on my shelf. Yesterday, I decided to devour it.

My favourite find is the Reading Light by black + blum. I love it when designers take things literally and I would love to have one of these little guys to join me in my nightly reading.

“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” - Frank Zappa

Seven-ate-nine

Wool: Elle Homespun and I have forgotton the name on a piece of paper at home and I am at the office - silly me and Chich Heaven Super Chuncky

Colour: Natural and again I have forgotton 284 Eyeshadow

Stitches: 22 st

Rows: 36 r

Needles: 7mm Plastic needles that were my mothers

The colourful wool was a gift from my sister-in-law, I am busy knitting a wrist warmers with this wool as well. I keep saying that I want to sew a big square together, but this weekend I will for certain!