Amsterdam - Create n' Date, crochet and blog ladies

Colorful Claire and Saskia shared their crochet knowledge with us this day. Chalk board picture from Maaike at CreJJtion.

This was Saskia's contribution to the work shop, a pretty double layered flower. Find the tutorial here.

Claire (right) is hooking along and guiding one of the crochet ladies in the work shop.

I think this is a creation made by Claire at Haken en Meer. Correct me if I am wrong...

How lovely it is to be in the company of people with the same passion as yourself.

This wonderful shawl was made by Marlies at T-jonge. Small pictures: Saskia with some of her creations.

I rented a bike at the hotel and made my way to tram 24 and 16 to take me to the Olympic Stadium. I walked along the Stadium trying to find this very special creative event I came for. With butterflies in my belly I stopped to look at my reflection in a glass door, correcting my hair making sure I looked representable... Vanity... And then I noticed two colorful girls in the background in my reflection... I turned around and there it was, the Create n' Date event.

I walked over and instantly felt at home. The girls I saw was Claire from Haken en Meer and Saskia from Haken bij Saar en Mien in their colorful dresses and adorable crocheted aprons. It was a lot of hugs and kisses, laughter and smiling faces. "Oh, so this is you? This is so cool to meet you live!!!"

More and more ladies arrived and in the end we were a good 45 crafty women sitting down outside this cute little café which was the location. Maaike from CreJJtion had made such a great job with flower arrangements, cakes and coffées, lunch buffée and event bags filled with yarny goodness. Thank you Maaike for your fabulous effort on making this an unforgettable event.

The work shop began and Claire (Haken en Meer), Saskia (Haken bij Saar en Mien) and Annemarie (Annemarie's Hakenblog) shared their patterns on crochet flowers and bracelets, guiding us through step by step. It was pure bliss to just sit together with all the other ladies with hook in hand crocheting along...

There were lots of yummy yarn, beautiful creations shared, crochet chatting and just a lot of amazement of meeting up in real life like this.

Time passed by way to quick, 4 hours felt like 30 minutes. I could easily have stayed for longer but every party has to come to an end at some point...

I could go on and on about what a great experience this was but I think I put an end to this post here aswell. With a big thank you to everyone attending, every lady I talked to and didn't have time to talk to - it was LOVELY to meet you all and please leave a trail for me to stay in touch as I didn't swop details with each and everyone. Thank you to the lovely Claire, Saskia and Annmarie for their professional tutoring and to Maaike for her flawless organization of this event. I am so hoping for a Create n' Date no 2... Please just say maybe, Maaike. :D That is what I tell me kids when I want them to shut up and stop asking and begging. Ha ha ha.

Kärlek
Annette

Amsterdam - the city, the people, the bicycles

Beautiful window displays and lots of cute souvenirs.

There are more than 6800 old buildings in Amsterdam.

Evveryone rides a bike, young, old, big, small, business, hippie, family, child. I had the most wonderful Dutch apple cake with almond paste and whipped cream. Yum. And I met with dear Maaike at a cute café for lunch.

Stunning architecture from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, 165 cute canals and more than 600 000 bicycles
can be found in Amsterdam.

The workshop - I'll tell you all about in my next post.

Last weekend I went to Amsterdam to join a Create n' Date event that dear Maaike at Crejjtion had organized, some of you might know about it already. I am still high on this experience which was absolutely the best I have had in a long long time.

I arrived early in the morning and although the day was cloudy and grey, I couldn't resist strolling the streets from the Museum district towards the Central station. I fell in love with this town within minutes. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I love everything about this town. The buildings, the trams, the canals, the cafés, the shops, the squares, the puls, the people and the bicycles. I think the bicycles made the biggest impression on me. I just could not get enough of them and they were everywhere. I mean everywhere. Mostly traditional black granny bikes with some exceptions of color sprayed ones and some decorated with flowers. Family bikes with kids put in trailers or on handle bars.

Everyone rides a bike in Amsterdam. I find it so so so charming and healthy. Old ladies showing their panties (ooops!!) riding in knee long skirts. Young men with girlfriends snugging their loved ones waist sitting in lady position in the back. Business men with suits and ties and tied up legs on their pants to avoid getting caught in the chain. Young beautiful girls with long blond hair flying in the wind as they swish down the streets in confidence. I could easily go back to only look at the Dutch riding their bikes. That is pure entertainment and bliss right there.

The people are so kind, everyone I met spoke English really well, the shop employees were so helpful without being pushy, just cool and extremely nice. I met a sweet girl called Agneta at a Sassy Boy shop down town, and we happily chatted about this and that for a good 15 minutes like old friends. And I didn't even buy anything... But  she asked for my business card and maybe she will visit My Rose Valley here in cyber world. I hope you read this Agneta, it was nice to meet you!

I met with Maaike from CreJJtion for lunch and it was like meeting an old friend. We had so much to talk about and 2 hours passed to fast... She is such a lovely girl Maaike. I am sure I will meet her many times more in the future.

I had caffe lattes, fabulous pastries, ate a nice dinner with some friends in the Red Light District... I went shopping and I went to the big event, the Create n Date workshop. More about that in next post.

Kärlek
Annette

Destination Amsterdam

It is 04.20 and I am getting ready to go to the airport. Destination Amsterdam. I got my latest crochet WiP packed and a belly full of butterflies. I am one of the lucky ones with a ticket for Crejjtion's Create n' Date event this weekend. I am meeting some cool ladies. Crafty ladies. Blog ladies. In real life. I am so excited and nervous.  I'll tell you more when I get back.Have a great weekend all.

Kärlek
Annette