Vibrant Cotton and a Must-Have Book

Helllo my LOVELY people.

Hope you ladies are fine and all that...

Today, its a bit of a rush post as my hands are waiting to hook - i have an almost 99% finished ripple to show off and yummy delicious cotton threads waiting to be made into something fun, useful and decorative!

I had to show you guys my new yarn. Its the RICO Creative Cotton ordered from Deramores. Link HERE.

 

The colors..oh the colors...they are toooo good to be true...Yummy, colorful and delightful. Every crocheter's delight! For my readers who are in India, the thickness is very similar to the Laura Cotton you are familiar with. But the texture, it is very different.

Very soft and very thin threads not so split y as Laura but it is much softer than Laura. The color shades are much wider here and have a great finish to it. But the similarity is that both are fast colors. I tested the usual suspect - Red and Purple, first wash of the strand yielded a bit of color bleed, the second time not much. So guess the first wash has to be at the dry-cleaners :) Recommended for home decor projects, mandalas , buntings, purses and such stuff. Not recommended for use on clothing.

Now, as i promised earlier - A Book Review of Around the Corner Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman.
A must have book for any one who loves making blankets and adding a touch of crochet to home items.

Doing the border from my ripple using the Border #42.

 Best part of this book is how she has told us to do the corners. I now have a perfect cornered blanket :)
2 more rows to go and i will have a Ta-daah for you very soon!!

 The hand towel is done with Border #73 and Rico Cotton.

A few more on my to-do list..

 This would look great as an edging for any girl's dress, what say?

There you are my lovelies... New yarn, new projects, new books - a world of possibilities i must say :)

Finally, a dear fellow blogger Nata from Nata's Nest gave me a pleasant surprise and passed on a sweet award to me HERE.

Thank you so much dear for this appreciation! She is very creative and you must pop over at her place for a visit and wont be disappointed!!

So off i am dearies, got to get busy with the border and be done with it.
Till then, have fun, be crafty and stay happy :)

Events, Awards and some Fun

Hello my dear friends..

Yes, i am popping in again today! What a great day right?

This post is a personal one, i wanted to NOT be lazy and also spread some blogger love. Awards are a special way of telling bloggers that they are read about, waited for and inspired from. Sometimes money and gifts cannot buy life's little treasures like making someone happy with a kind word, a sweet gesture or a pat on the back..

So without much ado i am going to carry on the rules of the Liebster Blog Award i had received from the lovely Anna of Hindustanka's Sunny Days and also from dear Garden Chef.


 Well, the Liebster Blog Award is not without its own rules. Here they are:

    1.Answer the 11 questions posed by the person who nominated you
    2.Nominate 11 other bloggers for the award
    3.Post 11 questions for your nominees to answer
    4.Tell them you have tagged them and pay it forward

Anna's questions for me were:

1. If you were offered unexpectedly to go somewhere for a trip, which destination would it be? Definitely Swizterland - the Alps and the land of Love.

2. What is your favorite book? - Been a while since i read one, but in the past it was the Harry Potter Series..yes i am not your serious reader!

3. Are you a dreamer? - Not much, more of a Doer

4. What was the best food you ever tried? - Thai food @ Magnolia in Bangalore

5. Do you have many friends (in real)? Few close friends

6. Would you like to go to the Moon (and back)? - Naah...love my mother Earth!

7. How does your ideal day look like? - Hooking, coffee, no kids, no house work and lotsa good site-coms to watch while i hook n drink coffee...hhe he he

8. Would you like to learn any new language? - Would like to learn German

9. Are you (and your house) ready for Christmas/New year celebrations yet? - No

10. What is your best memory so far? - Best and worst - Birth of my children + Labor Pain before that!

11. Any new skill/craft you would to learn? Want to do more paper crafting.

Garden Chef's questions for me were:

1.If you were a Miss Universe finalist and one of the judges asks the question, "What is the greatest challenge in your life?" what will be your answer? - Living upto the expectations of people i love
2.    What was your favorite subject in grade school? - Economics
3.    Favorite quotation? - As you sow, so you reap!
4.    If you have a husband or boyfriend, your theme song? Otherwise, your favorite song. - My Fav song (one of them) Billy Joel's Just the way you are// 

5.  How did you become a blogger? To find a creative outlet for my time, i took up blogging.
6.    Have you ever written a poem or lyrics of a song? Could you write a stanza or two? - Not my cup of T
7.Your favorite craft website and why? - Ravelry for the never ending resources on yarn projects!
8.Your fairy godmother gave you a crown that you should pass on to a person you admire most. Who would that person be? My mother.
9.Given funds for a new wardrobe, what design or style would you collect? (e.g., executive, casual, sporty, formal, etc.) - Casual
10.Name an award you received in high school - Proficiency Prize.
11.If you have enough savings to build a house, where would you prefer to build it --- in the city, along the beach, in the valley, top of the hill, mountain top, lake shore, etc.? - Can i build on a lake shore and mountain top also? :)

 
My 11 nominations for the award are.....Drum Rolls please..........!!

1. Boocoos @ Boocoos Blogthing - From Fort Worth, TX, an amazingly talented lady.

2.I love Handmade by WeaverBirdie  - Her dolls are so cute and i want to learn one soon!

3.Maree from MareeLovesColor - Her eye for color and crochet patience for blankets are inspiring.

4.Heather from my little red suitcase - A very special blog from a very gifted and creative Heather.

5.Lisa from My World of Colors - Cannot believe how much of energy she has for giving us so many new crochet projects! Love her works.

6.LizzieBee from One Square at a Time - Avid crocheter and talent in abundance!

7.A global nomad @ Pigtails - A quirky and unique crochet blog!

8.Deepti @ MY ART - A must visit site for all paper crafters.

9.Sangeetha @ Crochetkari - Love her humorous way of writing and of couse all her lovely crochet works too!

10.Tammy @ Life's Simple Pleasures - Blogs about true joys in this world!

11.Chinmaye @ Love Food Eat - if you are a vegan, calorie conscious person - PLEASE check out this blog. Total food love!

There are so many lovely blogs around that it was really difficult choosing only 11. But i had a great time selecting some beautiful blogs..

Now for my 11 questions my dear friends...Here they are..

1.What is the best part about blogging?

2.Which is your all-time favourite movie?

3.One quote you believe in?

4.If you had a credit card for which you dint have to pay, what is the most expensive thing you would buy?

5.Favorite childhood memory?

6. How would you spend your ideal "FREE" day?

7.One thing which will always be in your bag?

8.One dish you can eat again and over again?

9.Dream get-away?

10.Your favourite place to shop yarn/craft supplies?

11.Most loved site-com series?

 

Phew...that was a job well done i hope!

 

Congrats my lovely friends and here's thanking Anna and Garden Chef again :)

 

Also wanted to share a very special and fun party hosted by Vicki from 2 Bag's Full. It is the "Grow Your  Blog" party. Please pop over there and join in the fun!

Leaving you with some fun posters and a link of awesome crochet quotes:

Love and more..

xxx

Vintage Collar

Helllo my Dear Lovely People!

First of all, i want to thank you guys for such lovely words and kind compliments on my previous post - Giant Granny Blanket. It made me and my effort all the more special :)!!

After this project was done, it left me drained and i needed a quick Pick-Me-Up in terms of crochet.
This is what i did to satisfy my creative urges..

 This is a very simple shell edging border basically. Worked to the length of your neckline or whose ever it is being made for.

 Found a black and white button from my stash and it seemed to tie the whole thing wonderfully well.

 

 This can be worn on any cute toddler's dress/top. The benefit of having a girl child is never ending i tell you :) Little Miss loves it, tho i just might have to stitch the collar so that it stays in place.

I want to thank Garden Chef for the lovely Liebster Blog award! She runs a great blog with crochet, needlework, cooking and not to mention her love of dogs. Appreciation goes a long way in motivating people i feel. I am going to do a separate post for the award and questions..About time i did...Lazy me!!

So my lovely friends, thanks for popping by..
Will be back with lots of fun questions and answers for the blog. Would love to hear from you guys, what projects are you starting off in this new year :)

Love,
xxx

Rainbow buntings and an award

Hello my DEAR lovely people!

How are you doing today? Hope everyone is in the spirit of the season :) The year end is always special, when we review the year which has gone by, wait for the next year to unfold. Hopes, dreams, aspirations and the like :) Time for resolutions i think. I had a great list of things to be done this year. But maybe all that in another post :)

For now, i am happy - no in fact i am gleefully and super duper pleased with how this little project turned out.

 What started as an idle afternoon's triangle making...

 Turned into a rainbow of triangles, which in turn turned into..

 A happy rainbow bunting of course!! :) I think bunting is one of the cutest things you can do with crochet and i am unhappy with myself for not trying it earlier.

 The wall of the living room now looks festive now, my little girl is super happy with her mommy for getting a rainbow into her home. Ahh...pleasures of a stay at home mom i must say!!

Speaking of pleasures, i was thrilled and super pleased to receive an award from a dear blogger friend Anna of Hindustanka's Sunny Indian Days. She is a very talented lady, living in India but originally from Russia. She has a very beautiful and magical love story:)

Thank you so much Anna!! Will do the questions and the nominations soon!

Till then, take care..lotsa love and cheer,
xxx

Oops! I knitted :)

Hello my lovely bloggers!

Hope you are all keeping well and join me in welcoming my new friends

Sharon Braxton of From my Front Porch - love the title of your blog and all your adventures! 

Alicia from Warm and Playful Creations

Esthi777, Janusa,Timinou,Jacintha and Sandy - please let me know if you blog so that i can link back and share the crafting passion :)

Evi Sison from Garden Chef's Needle and Pen

Archana from Things I do In My World

Pearlin J from Knottyville - she has an awesome blog and some must do crochet bag projects!

Also Thankyou dear Maree for the lovely "Liebster award"! 

Maree has a wonderful blog and both of us have embarked on the Granny Patch Blanket inspired from Sandra of Cherry Heart

Now there are certain rules to follow when you get this award.
* Explain 11 things about you
* Answer the 11 questions about yourself
* Choose 11 blogs and name in the post
* Follow the blog of the person which awarded ​​you
* Visit at least three blogs awarded by this blog






Continue at your own risk!!

11 things about me:

*I am the only child of my parents
*I lived all my life in Bangalore and now in Hong Kong to support my Banker hubby.
*I hate cockroaches, actually petrified of them!!
*Love dark orange chocolate
*Love the late hours compared to the early mornings
*Can drive my car real fast even on Indian roads
*Have a fetish for all things red
*Stuck with creative anxiety disorder - need to do all things creative!!
*Cannot rest till i complete what i have in mind
*Love mushrooms and spicy food
*Cannot do without strong cup of coffee as soon as i get up
*Suffer from Obsessive compulsive disorder!

Hope you guys are still my friends :))

Now, answer to the 11 questions:

* How do you define yourself? Typical Aeries, strong willed and determined!
* What is your favorite dish? Pav Bhaji from Honest :)
* Would you rather cook or you cook? Would love if someone cooks all my meals, i go to the kitchen only bcos i HAVE to!!
* What is your favorite dessert? Tiramisu
* If you had to stay with an ingredient, what would it be? Rice
* What is the best trip I've done?  Trip to Mauritius with just the Banker and me, did i really live w/o kids..man i need to see the snaps again!
* What is the best restaurant you've eaten in? Magnolia in Bangalore - miss it everyday!
* Do you prefer meat or fish?Veggie by birth and nature:)
* What is your favorite cheese? All things sticky and stretchy
* Black or milk chocolate? Black
* What is the worst dish you've tried?hmmm, mainly whatever Banker orders invariable turns against my palate..

Would like to pass this award to all my lovely readers! Each of you have an awesome space and i hope that this creative and crafty passion and friendship lasts a long long while:)

This was fun, hope you guys enjoyed reading this as much as i enjoyed typing it.


OK, if you are wondering where is the thing i knitted?

Here i present to you, my first knitted vest for my boy. Time he featured in my blog too, don't want to land in the middle of a sibbling fight here:)

 Yes he loved to tear, pull, throw, climb and fall - basically anything destructive - Typical Boy ! How fascinating right?? ha ha

 The car buttons was something which i had to stitch on:)

 This vest would not have been possible if my dear mother-in-law wasn't with me. She is an awesome knitter and guided me thru every step! It is really difficult to work with 2 needles, also need to see that your stitches don't slip..i will not go to this area. Knitting is not really my cup of tea, but i had to try it to see how it works. My opinion - knitted sweaters are better, crocheted blankets are better!

Some details:
Basic vest pattern can be found HERE. - My MIL modified it highly to get the correct size!
Crochet car applique pattern can be found HERE.

What do you guys feel? Do drop in a word, love to hear from you:)

Love,
xxx

Pretty in Pink

Hello my lovely people,

Hope you are all having a terrific Tuesday so far.

I have been fascinated by these flowers. The pink stargazer lily. 

 

You can read more about this flower here. The fragrance of this flower is so delicate and romantic. It fills the house with a freshness which can only be felt. This flower is quite popular in Hong Kong and i used to see people buying it all the time. But i never indulged in them. Then once i have bought these home, i am hooked! 

 

Will post more pics once they are in full bloom.

I did a quick crochet project today. A super addictive butterfly pattern can be found here.

 

Fluttered on to Little Miss pink corduroy trousers. Added a cute button and the pant is nicely accented i think. Benefits of a stay at home mom who is crafty and blessed with a little angel :))

A sneek peak into my next work. Its not crochet. It is cross-stitch. Hope i can remember enough to do this right!!

A big THANK YOU to Sir Vai. Gopalakrishnan for this award. Please find his beautiful and informative blog here.Thanks for always finding the time to visit me and leave me lovely comments. Encouragement comes from people like you!!

Keep well and keep happy.
Love
xxx

Liebster Blog Award

I am soo thrilled to receive the Liebster Blog Award.

Thank you Sangeetha of Crochetkari for the lovely award and pleasant surprise!!

My little world of crochet and blogging are indeed honored with this special gift from dear Sangeetha!! It means a lot of encouragement and hopping happiness to me!! yayay!

The origins of the Liebster Blog Award are somewhat unclear, but the general consensus is that it originated in Germany. Liebster, means favorite or dearest, and the Liebster Award is designed to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Upon accepting the award, the recipient must pass it on to five more blogs of note. Don't you think it is really sweet and a good thing to do.

So here's my list of 5 great bloggers who are doing amazing work in crochet and managing homes/kids and the like...

In no particular order:

*Ranjana from Ranjana's Craft Blog. She is a versatile artist and does some amazing works - be it crochet, tatting, embroidery or printing. Always supportive and a great blogger.

*Ninu from My Experiments with Needle and Thread. Her crochet works are inspiring and her patience is admirable.

*Jackie from Button Tree Crafts.  Love her write ups and her cute buttons. All the beautiful crochet and knitting work is eye candy for crochet lovers.

*Yasmin from Hooks and Laces. A very talented crocheted, paper crafter and versatile blogger too.

*Janette from The Green Dragonfly. Amazing crocheter, great photographer and choice of colors and balance between them is very new and fresh.

Well, thanks Sangeetha once again and here's wishing all my fellow bloggers and happy and wonderful hooky day ahead!!