The SC&more n°337: traffic jams

Ange has given us a rather interesting and puzzling theme for this week's challenge: traffic jams.
Now, we were on holiday in France two weeks ago, a great time with the family and a looooong drive! BUT we never get into the traffic jams. Two perfectly good reasons: first we usually are driving towards the other directions, second we drive at night. Over 1000km by car with two children under 6yo and who have the tendency to be sick quickly, it is the safest option. It is tiring but Oh! so quiet! No "are we there yet" for 12 hours :)

Then I thought again, what would I do IF I were in traffic jams (as a passenger of course) and IF I could do something without getting sick (I am like my children, or rather they are like me?).

Here is my answer: Treasure Bags!

 

I still need to perfect my pattern (yarn was 50%cotton, 50% acrylic and I used a 4.5mm hook), but each bag took me about one hour of work and my children were over the moon. Even my little brother asked for one! The children always gather small things when we go around. So having a light small bag comes in handy. 

Now, that is also a bag which is great for the parents, it is an Intelligent Bag! 

If it goes through the holes: it is too small to go home!
It doesn't fit in the bag: it is too big to go home!

:)

  

On the next day the bags were tested the hard way. The children filled them with loads of stones. The bags did pass with high colours, but the shoulderstrap became a little elongated. I will see if it goes back to its previous shape after washing the bags.

So that's it, that's what I could be making if I were stuck in traffic jams. Take a look at the museum to see what the others came up with :)

And see you next week for the next challenge on Isabelle's blog. Have a lovely day.

Kitchen crochet

I love the Catania yarn from Schachenmayr. It is my favourite to make toys for children (mine and my friends'). I got several books for Christmas, one of them is full of patterns for the children's toy-kitchen. I started a muffin-form when my son went to Kindergarten in January, but I didn't go far, lacking time really... Then last weekend I took my crochet bag with me and decided to finish it. I made a four-muffin-form instead of a six one. My children's oven isn't that very big and I also do not intend on making too many muffins (four to eight will do).

The felt sweets I made several years ago fit quite nicely, so I might not even bother making cupcakes or muffins ;)

I like the colours, citrus fruits and bright summer-sky blue! The perfect baking-form for summer!

In addition I used a bit of left-over yarn to make lollipops. N. and T. love them!

 

Dragon Blanket

 Several months ago I discovered a great pattern thanks to Pinterest, from MJ's off the Hook the Dragon Blanket! It looked amazing and a friend of mine asked me to make one - child size. It did take me a little while because I was juggling many things at the same time, but the result was well worth it, despite a few small mistakes (things I'd do differently another time).

I used  yarn from Schachenmayr, the Big Bravo Color (Feuer). I just think it is gorgeous, those warm red colours with glimpses of yellow and purple.

I love it!

I will probably be making some mermaid blankets some time soon as well. I love how quickly they build up and how they look. My children are very keen on getting their own blankets ;)

All-Sorts

My father is rather fond of All-sorts, those british sweets made mostly with liquorice. For his birthday I gave him some of a special sort: I crocheted them!

Through Pinterest I found this lovely dutch website and used the instructions on there. I do not speak dutch, but once a few words of vocabulary are sorted, the rest comes fairly easily. 

I went to get a pretty glass container to store and present them nicely:

I just love the result!

Crochet food

 I am starting to have a lovely stash of colourful yarn, I mostly have cotton yarn. I love working with cotton and making toys for the children. I also had a lot of fun making those pictures with my new camera (Samsung NX3300). The colours are so rich:

I made this play-food set for my Godchild. I think she likes them very much. After Christmas her Mum told me that she was spending every day "eating" macaroons and chicken! 

 And for my children I made a cauliflower. I couldn't resist the temptation when I saw the pattern in a friend's book!

 

It was a rather long effort but well worth it. I think soon I'll post an article on crochet books. There are really nice ones!

I now own about 4 or 5 crochet books and with checking out Pinterest, I certainly don't lack inspiration! Just lacking time ;)

The SC & more n°302: La Vie en Rose

Isabelle wants us to see Life in Pink with week. It is my favourite colour! I am quite busy these days, getting everything sorted for Christmas (23 days to go before Christmas Eve!!) so I only made something really small:

 This macaroon is about 3 to 4 cm wide :) It will soon go and colour up a little girl's play kitchen.

And because I really cannot say "La Vie en Rose" without humming this song, I am sharing it with you:

Check out the other participations in the museum.

The SC & more n°295: First frosts

Ange asked us to make something to fend off the first frosts. When she published her post last week, I could not find any idea as it wasn't that cold yet, we still had about 16°C outside! Then suddenly over the weekend, winter came around and temperatures dropped to 0°C at night. My children did not need anything so I made something for their dolls.

Both T. and N. are happy about those new pieces of clothing, but N. wasn't too happy about the colours: there is NO PINK!

N.'s doll needs some warmer clothing, this summer dress is a little thin and short ;) but I don't know yet when I will have the time.

A picture for the Museum

Thanks Ange for this theme! And we will all meet again tomorrow for the next challenge on Isabelle's blog.

The SC & more n°293: Nathalie's birthday

This week is Nathalie's birthday and she is hosting the SC & more!

So Nathalie, I wish you a happy birthday with many beautiful virtual presents! here are mine for you: a colourful drawing I made on the weekend, and a little plane to help you in your travels around the virtual world ;)

Visit the museum to see her other presents! and see you next week for the next challenge.

Cuddly planes

If you remember, the other day I made three mini-wheels but without telling you what they were for. 

 

 Well now I can tell you. A young E. just celebrated his fourth birthday and here is his present:

 

 I had found a pattern via Pinterest a while ago, but had not gotten round to use it until two days ago. Now, the thing is that while making it, my little boy asked very kindly (and desperately) if he could have one too. So I made him one as well and he just loves it.

I also made a small pink car for his sister, she was so happy about it! She liked it so much that she spent the night with it :)

I used a pattern from "Look at what I made". I made a few mistakes but on the whole, it was rather easy to make the mini-car.