Living in Switzerland - Fields of gold

I stop my car to take pictures. I open my car windows to smell the raps field blossoms. And even if the sun is stubborn enough to stay out of sight it is still a beautiful time of the year. It is almost like the yellow flowers are trying to make up for the grey clouds and dull weather...

And then we have the cows. And the farms. Everywhere I see cows and cute small farms. The cows must truly be the happiest cows on earth grazing on grass in this country. Rolling hills, wonderful views (like cows would care about views...??? Maybe! Who knows for sure???), plenty of green lush yummy grass to chew on.

The fields of gold. The green valleys. I see them when I drive to work, to my Cross Fit classes and I am stunned by the patchwork landscape I see. Soon it is over. Soon the yellow disappears. But for now I am taking it all in and sigh out loud every time I pass a field like this.  Life is beatiful. Nature is fantastic.

Kärlek
Annette

Stripy crochet pillow - VOILA!

Ideal yarn from Bergere de France from left:
Cyklamen, Girolle, Everest, Dinosaure, Gerbille, Calanque, Danseuse, Brouilly, unknown, Olivine, Belladone.

A stripy crochet pillow has been added to my collection. The old ones are getting a bit worn out and most of them need some repairing of holes and broken yarn threads... Hmmm. But this new stripy friend that I started on a few weeks ago, is cheering up the league.

I used 10 different colors of Ideal yarn from Bergere de France and one odd color from my "this and that unknown scraps" basket... It is hooked on a hook 3,5 mm with treble (UK) stitches only in the back loop which gives the ridge effect, 5 rows of each color.

To make it a pillow I made a white pillow cover with a simple envelope backing and hand sew the crochet front on it with slip stitches.

The only tricky part with this project is to make sure your edges are even. It is one of those basics you really should know as a experienced crocheter but I have to admit I constantly forget and fail on this one. Therefor I have prepared a small tutorial regarding this that I will post soon.

Well, dinner time is getting closer. Time to let go of blog land for now. See you again soon.

Kärlek
Annette

A week in May

The days are passing by faster than ever. It is hard to keep up with everything that happens and natures all wonders. I love this time of the year but it is also a time when I wish I could do nothing but sit back, observe and just take it all in... But of course that is impossible...

The cows, the farmer's lovely cows, are back brightening up our everyday life with their appearances. Every time they arrive I always get extremely heart skip happy. They run down the hills around dinner time and we can't seem to get enough of this funny happening at it looks really weird watching cows run. Up and down they go for a few times before they come to an halt to graze on the grass... It is a great life living in the country.

The kids are fearless, climbing their favorite apple tree with cows staring at them with curious eyes. Me on the other hand do have some respect, if I say so, to this rather large type of animal...

We also have the donkeys out. They are great fun to feed with carrots and apples. So cute and just nice to have around.

I managed to save only two of my fifteen Geraniums from last year which resulted in me investing in some new beauties to brighten my house front. We are still hoping for more sun, more warmth and just more summer spirit around here. The vegetable garden is still lying untouched... Yesterday it snowed. It is a bit depressing actually. The coldest spring in 40 years the neighbor says...

At least the apple trees have been blossoming without any frost bites which is good news for a great apple harvest in fall.

We celebrated little Emmy Bo big time with gifts, balloons, Jello in coffee cups, cake, party and games. Next up is Luca in a few weeks time... The balloons might just stay up until then to save us from blowing up another 50 balloons in a couple of weeks...

And then we had the concert... Yep. It was great. An experience beyond what I have ever experienced before. Imagine 10 000+ 14-15 year old girls screaming and crying non-stop for 2 hours... It was loud. Ear plugs were necessary and free in the cafeteria. Bless the boys. They did such a great job entertaining. They might sweet as candy to look at but they truly know how to move an audience and sings very well. True entertainers. We had a blast my oldest daughter and I. We decided to make a concert trip a tradition. A trip for only her and me to hand out with shopping, dining, dancing and being together. That feels like a great idea.

I have squeezed in some crafty hooking time here and there in all this and finished this stripy crochet pillow. A great project that now brightens my sofa. I'll share it in its own post in a day or two.

Well, life rolls on. We are still waiting for weather to change. I have started on a new crochet designing project. My Studio is a mess. I wish I could take time off and just create, create, create... What about you? What have you've been up to.

Kärlek
Annette

Maybelle blomman på svenska

Många har bett om en översättning av den söta Maybelle Crochet Flower - Maybelle blomman - som från början är en design av A.B Mc Kenna på bloggen 6ichthusfish.

Sedan jag hittade detta mönster har jag inte kunnat sluta virka Maybelle blommor. Det finns så många idéer om hur man kan använda denna fina kreation och inom kort utvecklade jag mönstret till en Maybelle Ruta. Maybelle rutan är som en mormorsruta som du kan använda till att göra plädar , kuddar och annat med. Du hittar mitt gratismönster på Maybelle Rutan här.

MAYBELLE BLOMMAN
Mönster av A.B.McKenna © 2010 - Översättning Annette Ciccarelli
Tid ca 20 minuter

Du behöver:
♥︎ Garn (jag har använt Tilda från Svart Fåret, ett bomull/akryl mix garn.)
♥︎ Virknål som passar garnets tjocklek (jag har använt virknål 3 mm)
♥︎ Sax
♥︎ Stoppnål/trubbig broderinål att fästa trådar med
 
Förkortningar
sm -  smygmaska
m   -  maska/maskor
lm  -  luftmaska
fm  -  fastmaska
st   -  stolpe

Start
Virka 10 lm, slut till en ring med sm i 1:a lm.

Varv 1
Virka 3 lm (=1:a stolpen) följt av 23 st i ringen, slut varvet med sm i 3:e lm av första “stolpen”.

Varv 2
Virka 5 lm, skippa 2 m, fm i nästa m, [virka 4 lm, skippa 2 m, fm i nästa m] - rep 6 ggr, slut varvet med en sm i 1:a m.

Varv 3
Virka sm i luftmaskbågen, virka 3 lm (=1:a stolpen), 1 st, 2 lm, 2 st i samma luftmaskbåge, [1 lm, 2 st, 2 lm, 2 st i nästa luftmaskbåge] - rep 6 ggr, slut varvet med 1 lm och sedan sm i 3 lm på 1:a “stolpen”.

Varv 4
Virka 1 sm i nästa m, en sm i 1:a luftmaskbågen (2 lm) följt av 3 lm+6 st i samma luftmaskbåge, 1 fm i nästa luftmaskbåge (1 lm). [ 7 st i nästa luftmaskbåge (2 lm), 1 fm i nästa luftmaskbåge (1 lm)] - rep 6 ggr, sm i 3:e lm på 1:a “stolpen”. Klipp av garnet och fäst.

Grattis till att ha virkat en Maybelle blomma! Jag är övertygad om att du vill göra fler. För bästa resultat kan du "blocka" din Maybelle blomma.

Gör så här:
Lägg din Maybelle blomma på en strykbräda, dubbelvikt handduk eller anslagstavla av kork. Forma blomman så som du vill ha den och pinna fast den med nålar i blombladen. Spreja med vatten eller stärkelsevatten och låt torka över natten.


Kärlek
Annette

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Lets get back to crafts shall we?

It hasn't been so much crafty posts lately and after coming back from the FABULOUS One Direction concert it is really time for something really crafty, thrifty, colorful and inspiring. Are you with me?

A new project has been started... many other WiP's remain unfinished... But i don't care  because I am quite excited about this one. A plain beige will be accompanied by rows of colors to finish this shawl. I am planning to mix my stitches. We'll see how it goes. For now I have a few more solid rows to go before the great fun begins.

Emmy is having her birthday party tomorrow and I found the perfect mini coffee cups for her party on a thrift hunt last week. I will fill these cups with raspberry jello tonight. I think it will look smashing! And then it will be cake, balloons, garlands, sweet bags and big sister clown show...

And when thrift browsing I also found the cute homemade barrel and filled it up with yummy vintage fabric and some Dutch style ribbons. Love it all!!! Sometime you are just lucky when visiting a thrift shop right? This visit was pure jack pot.

Now Ia m back to my crochet shawl WiP and if I am not to busy with the birthday party tomorrow I might be bale to finish another crochet project I have on my hands. So see you soon. Happy weekend all.

Kärlek
Annette

Harry, Zayn, Louis, Niall and Liam...

Do you know about these boys? Do your daughter's sing their songs and cry themselves to sleep at night because they are completely in love with Harry, Zayn, Louis, Niall and Liam? If so than you understand what it is like to be a mother of that idol worshipping phenomenon... This post is about something far from crafty but still quite entertaining.

I have taken Nelly Bo out of school because we are going to Zurich today to see One Direction live. Yep! We found tickets for this lucky girl, and me, and the principal said yes, she can skip school for two days to see her idols.

She is 11 going 12. One Direction is her first big heart throbbing idol crush. First it was Zayne, then Harry, now I am not sure which one she fancies the most. I TOTALLY understand her. These boys are pure eye candy. If I was 12 I would have a big crush on Louis. Call me cougar...

These boys happen to sing well too. I am really looking forward to this event. We go by train. I have booked a nice hotel. We will go shopping of course. And have coffee and cake. But most of all we will sing a long and dance a long to One Direction for a slong as Nelly Bo don't think I am embarrassing. Then I sit down.

So before we jump on that train, I thought I'll share some One Direction love (far from crafty love this is...) with some of your teenage daughter's out there. I am sure they will love every picture and I am sure they will think that Nelly Bo is the most lucky girl there is today. Well, she thinks so anyway. This is a once in a life time happening. I am so excited for her.

Kärlek
Annette

It is all about her today!

Yesterday was her birthday but today is the big day of celebration. It is all about Emmy Bo today. She got to many presents and ate muffins for breakfast. At Cross Fit they made us do 6 burpes (push up - stand up - jump and clap your hands above your head - down on the floor - repeat...) in honor to the birthday girl in the kids corner. :D

She is the cheeky one. Pure entertainment and LOADS of character. My favorite model in front of my camera. She has no limits. She is actually the only child that we planned. The other two were happy surprises. She is our last one. The baby. Who is now 6. (Can you hear me sob???...)

This morning we sang Happy Birthday and entered her room with candles and presents. She told me she had aches in her legs last night:
"Maybe because I had to grow a little bit more before I turn 6, because I am so much bigger today Mama."

Darling! ♥ ♥ ♥

7 years ago I knew I wanted one more child. My body screamed to carry a baby and nurture a teeeny tiny little human being. I so wanted a little cute baby to dress and oooh and aaaahhh with again. When asking Jay why he wanted another child he said something like:
"Well, every child is a new character added to this family. No one is like another and I am very curious to see what character comes next... It is a little bit like adding a new spice to a stew, it changes the whole dynamic." Bless him, he is a cook right? I remember thinking "Wow! He really put some thought into this." and I thought for a moment that my reason was a bit childish and immature... Like a child who wants a puppy but not really a grown up dog...

Well, my "puppies" are growing up and I can't stop it from happening. Sometimes I want to stop time and freeze everything in the present time as I know I will miss having young kids around me one day.It is an intense time in life right now... I am doing my best to memorize all the great moments...

Today we will make Pavlova and play with new toys. And I feel great compared to yesterday. Thank you for all your sweet words by the way. You really helped me turn things around here.

So today I sing Happy Birthday to my cheeky little Emmy Bo. You are bigger today my love. I bet that was why your legs hurt last night. You needed to grow that last millimeter and now you are here. Today you are 6. I love you so much and I am so lucky to have you.

Kärlek
Annette

Shit!

I killed a bird. It said bump under my rear left tire on my way to work this morning. I could see the poor bird waving his wing in his last sigh of life in my rear mirror. I killed him. Or her. What if she was a mother hunting for food for her baby chicks in a nest somewhere? Maybe I killed a whole bunch of baby chicks. It makes me feel terrible. I almost turned around but the bird was ran over by many more cars after mine... It came flying from nowhere. I am so sorry...

I was yelled at by a client today. He called me a lying bitch, cursed and screamed so loud that I couldn't even hear what he said. And I thought to myself: "What am I doing here? What right does this person have to yell at me when he doesn't even know who I am?" It made me feel terrible as I am just the sweetest person at work. Always overly nice and helpful. If you are nice to me that is... Beware, I am not a door mat... I have a hidden tiger inside...

And this showed later when I had a verbal loud blow up with one of my coaches in front of the whole office. Things have been really tense and bad since so many was laid off in January and there is just so much you can take... And once again I wondered "What am I doing here?". I don't regret a single word I said. I do regret I didn't say more.

So SHIT! I am allowed to say so. Today is not a very great day so far. The good thing is that the sun is shining. The apple trees are blooming and I have received a new Lantliv magazine in the mail. I think I'll go outside to my bench and sit down and wait for my kids to come home from school to cheer me up. Especially little Emmy Bo. It is her birthday today. But still... I killed a bird this morning... Maybe a whole bird family... That still makes me terribly sad... Have you ever killed a bird?

Addition to post 14/5/2013 16.42: Wow! I would never have guessed so many of you have killed birds and other wonderful creatures while driving. Group hug.! This really cheered me up actually. Thanks. :D

Kärlek
Annette

Pin cushions for you and me and everyone

When I can't seem to have focus enough to make a quilt, lacking the time and concentration to cut fabric for a new project or just can't seem to get into my studio at all because of chores and life, then I make a pincushion.

These darlings are so delightful to make. You find a scrappy piece of fabric and match it with another. You cut a little bit and sew the fabrics together. You stuff, stuff, stuff until the cushion almost explode, hand stitch a few stitches to close.Add some Pearl Cotton thread and buttons and - VOILA!

All of these pin cushions are listed in my ETSY shop now. And I have more waiting to be finished... Making pin cushions has become an obsession... You could say I have enough pin cushions for you and me and everyone who wants one. If I don't make big pillows I make small... Pillow queen I am.

Kärlek
Annette

Dinner conversations

" And then you like aaaahhhhh... and I like... uuuuhhh? when you like aaaaahhhhh." says big sister, rolling her eyes and showing funny faces as she giggles herself to tears.
"Ha ha ha... You were like aaaaahhhh and then I was like uuuuuhhhh? Ha ha ha ha ha!!!" responses little brother opposite the table folding himself like a pocket knife from laughter and almost falling off the chair in belly aches.
"Ha ha ha! Wait, wait! Ha ha ha. You are like uuuuuhhh..." big sister continues the intelligent conversation... with the weird faces...

What is this exactly...??? This is dinner time in our house now a days. Yes we have dinners together. And yes, not everybody have dinners together but for us this is a priority. Dinner is family time. Dinner is an important time for us, this is where we re-connect after a day full of happenings. And these goonie chats between my oldest and middle child... I just don't get it at all.

Some days it drives me in sane and I force them to hush up and eat their food. Other days I let go and it is a joy hearing them laugh together instead of the normal squabbles. I can also remember the days when "I was like and you were like and then I was like when you were like...". Can you remember? I am not sure what the conversation is about but obviously they know... And this will past, right? They won't have goonie chats over the dinner table forever. Or?

Life with dinners together continues, with or without goonie conversations. Now we can sit outside when the weather actually allows, which is more and more often - YAAAAY! I still have hope that summer will arrive soon.

Kärlek
Annette

I am in the press

I am so proud to say I am featured in the the Swedish newspaper Expressen's insert Leva & Bo today. I haven't seen it myself yet but from I hear from dear and proud friends and family via Facebook and messages on my phone it is quite an accomplishment. So if you are in Sweden, go out and buy today's Expressen and teh Leva & Bo insert magazine. It will be for sale all week or until it is sold out. I'll tell you more about it when I have pictures to show. Here is just a sample from the proof reading... Happy Saturday!!!

Yay for me!

Kärlek
Annette

Gypsy blanket colors

It is all about the colors. I am quickly popping in to write a few lines. After many requests on which colors I used of the Ideal yarn from Bergere de France for my Gypsy blanket I have now collected them for you. I used ALL of the 20 colors shown above. Unfortunately some of the colours are out of stock and I am not sure if they will be re-stocked again... Like the apricot orange and mint green and the sea turquoise... Bummer... The good news are that Bergere de France French homepage currently are having a sale on this wonderful Ideal yarn. So pop over there and take your chance. I certainly will. It is only 2.71 EUR (original price 3.39 EUR). On the US site you pay 8.30 USD per ball and on the UK site you pay 3.20 GBP so this is absolutely a GREAT price.

And while I am here let me just say I had a wonderful weekend with my LOVE. I have had some technical difficulties this week which has been holding me off from blogging but now things seem to be working again. I will post more about it later but for now a little sneak peak of my newest WiP, inspired by this wonderful Ideal yarn...

I am back to stripes and loving it. At first I wasn't happy with the purple and beige at the end and decided to frog it. Now I am more happy adding a orange red stripe followed by other colors instead. I'll show you more of this after the weekend.

Got to take off for work but speak soon. Hope all is well.

Kärlek
Annette

Update April 4, 2017: Ideal yarn form Bergere de France can also be purchased at LoveCrochet.