Friendship Friday Tutorial Sharing

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Friendship Friday!

I am really enjoying this space on a Friday where everyone can come over and 'share the love' and link their blog to a tutorial or crafty process they have created. It can be new or old and can be anything you would like to share, knitting, sewing, craft, art, anything creative is most welcome:) Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent with us! Just add the name of your blog to the widget and then add your blog link with the http:// at the beginning of your link address:)

Looking forward to all your amazing creativity:)

Warmly

Linda

Thursday Afternoon...

Yesterday, try as I might, I could not manage put a blog post up, Blogger was using a new uploader for photos and turning all of my photos sideways... very frustrating, so I just decided to abandon the idea. Today, I see the old uploader is back, what a relief!

Yesterday our group of knitting and spinning friends met at the most beautiful, quaint little shop, it is called Taryn Jean, the owner sells the most amazing trinkets, both old and new. So many treasure finds to be discovered here. I have my eye on an embroidered tapestry hand bag:) They also serve tea and cake and I will be visiting this wonderful venue each week to knit with friends:) When we arrived they had set the most beautiful table for us and we sat and knitted and chatted for hours...

I just love it...

I have finally hung my Roman blind! I still have to put the rods into the fabric and was just testing the fit in the window. Richard drilled holes into the lintel for me and up it went. I think I am going to rather enjoy sewing! As soon as it is finished I will post another photo:) We have been having a rather slow week, three of my little ones are coughing and I have discovered the most wonderful immune boosting remedy that you can make yourself here using elderberries, honey, ginger and cloves:)

Warmly

Linda

Spring, Summer Acorn Gnome Tutorial

We have had overcast, rainy weather for the last four days and it has been really cold here in South Africa. My hubby is home from his race and we are all so happy to have him here with us:)

I thought I would put a little Spring tutorial together for everyone who is moving into spring and summer in the north. This could even be an Autumn or Winter acorn gnome if you changed the colours to suit the season:) I really enjoyed making this little gnome, he has brightened up our day, enjoy the process:)

Materials:

Scissors

Spare felt pieces

Small tack nails

Cork

Acorn

Needle and thread

Hammer

I attached the acorn to the cork with a metal pin / tack.

Cut a piece of felt the height of your cork and wrap it around before you cut it to make sure it fits all the way around.

I have sewed it on with blanket stitch.

Cut another wider piece for your gnomes jacket, also the height of your cork.

Sew along the top of the jacket / cape and then pull your sewing thread tight to gather the felt.

Sew on the cape.

I have sewn around the cape in blanket stitch.

Cut out little petal shapes from your felt pieces. (I always save my scraps of felt:)

Start sewing them together on the top.

All sewn together with a green felt stem on the top.

I folded two petals back and sewed them securely where the little gnomies face will be.

And there he is!

Enjoy!

Happy Tuesday everyone:)

Warmly

Linda

Portrait Sunday...

A boy and his dog... Kye loves to be outside with Gus, our Jack Russel... Kye talks to him about so many things... so sweet...

Thank you to everyone who wrote to me yesterday and commented about Richard being away, you are all so supportive and that's what I really love about the blogging community and the friends that I have made here, the kindness shown by everyone is such a blessing, love to you all and have a wonderful Sunday,

Linda

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder...

Richard left early this morning to take part in a three day mountain biking stage ride. He has been so looking forward to this weekend for weeks and it has finally arrived! We are all very excited for him but on the other hand, a little sad because we won't see him until Monday night... Since we met, all those years ago, we haven't spent much time apart and it just feels strange when we do, but the days do go quite quickly and he will be back before we know it:)

It is amazng how when you think you know how much you care about someone and they go away for a few days, you really realise just how much you love them! I feel very lucky to have this wonderful husband and father for my children and I know that this time away is going to make his heart soar with joy to be out in nature doing what he loves and that makes me love him even more...

We are going to be busy with quite a few things this weekend, baking, making bread, reading, sewing, family coming round for lunch tomorrow AND I need to clean out the worm bin... We also need to go and buy some more chickens as the ones we have are not laying as much anymore and will soon be retiring from egg laying and will spend the rest of their days sandbathing in the sunshine and scratching for worms, they are awesome!

Outside for our outdoor challenge....( taken a few days ago when we had sun:)

I have also been working on my first pattern for my shop. Last night I sat down and finally put it together with full instructions and clear photos. I have decided to add my African Lion Pattern to my Etsy shop for sale. I am also going to be putting kits together that will include the yarn, stuffing and the pattern. But for now I have listed the pattern.

I got such a wonderful surprise this morning, my lovely friend Heidi, stopped by and gave me a gift! It is a beautiful ammonite! I absolutely love ammonites, I really treasure them, to think something has been on this earth for so many hundreds of millions of years just amazes me. Ammonites are very close to my heart as I studied Archaeology many years ago when I was first married and I am continually intrigued by the subject. For more info on ammonites visit here.Thank you so much my friend:) I love it!

The days are cooling tremendously as winter approaches, it is raining outside, I think we might light our first fire in the fireplace this weekend. I love winter...

Some lovely treasures that I have purchased and received in the post from amazing creative mamas':

I just love this print from The Blue Egg, have you ever seen this beautiful shop? Norma has origional drawings and prints avaliable, stunning!

We purchased some beeswax from Tonya's Etsy shop and this beautiful creation arrived in the parcel, how wonderful! Thank you so much Tonya!

From the lovely Garden Mama aren't these items beautiful!

Have a wonderful weekend friends!
Linda