April Craft Challenge Features

Wow, April is already over, another month gone - unbelievable!

Thank you for all the wonderful links that I found linked in the Tutorial Party throughout the month, it is wonderful to see and visit all the amazing, innovative ideas from you wonderfully talented bloggers out there.

We nearly hit the 100 link mark, missing it by 1 link - so AWESOME thank to you all who contributed.

The April challenge was any tutorial having to do with Mother's Day.

These are the wonderful links that had to do with this theme :)

Gail @ Purple Hues and Me shared this awesome "Mama's Memories" Jar

Hannah @ Sew Lah Tea Dough shared this cute idea of some special packed Tea for Mother's Day

Thank you so much ladies for your lovely crafts :)

Feel free to grab yourselves a "Featured Button" below.

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I look forward to seeing all of your great new links this Thursday where I welcome you to take part in the next month's Craft Challenge as well as share all your great creative crafts :)

x

April Craft Challenge - Last chance :)

Welcome back to this month's Crafting Challenge

You only have a couple more hours to enter your links for this month's challenge.....(read below)

Feel free to grab yourself a Challenge button :)

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<a href="http://www.marigoldsloft.com" title="Marigolds' Loft"><img src="http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/marigoldsloft/takingpart.jpg" alt="Marigolds' Loft" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

At the end of April I will feature all craft tutorials I find linked below that have to do with Mother's Day.

For a Tutorial to be featured it needs to be photo-rich and in a step-by-step format. The craft that you share is totally open to you :)

Don't forget - If I feature 3 or more of your tutorials you will get yourself a "Featured" Blogger Post (This only applies if you haven't been featured on Marigolds' Loft over the last 4 months)

Of course you can share all of your creative links below regardless of the theme (if you are looking for a feature your posts will have to be in the theme category though) and I look forward to visiting the links I find below and it would be wonderful if you also shared some visiting "LURV", so don't stop linking your stuff and visiting your neighbour! :) 

Please note that due to time constraints it may not be possible for me to leave comments on each blog I visit, but I will try my best to do so.

Have fun!
See you next week.
x

An InLinkz Link-up

Weaving Wednesdays

A quick post today, as I must run again :)

Let me get you up to date on my WIPs of this week.

First up - Weaving:

I finally have a new project on my loom.

This time I am making some bathroom guest hand-towels.

I am not sure if they will be the right thickness for the bathroom as they do have the feel of dishtowels and with 8/2 Cotton I guess that is how they should feel :)

I am creating them with the colours of our bathroom and am loving how the project is growing so far.

Seeing the project grow on my loom is awesome as I am used to seeing this kind of fabric only only the floor looms at work.

Knitting wise: I am busy knitting some socks for hubby as his socks from last year are wearing through and I am so not the darner!

I am also putting finishing touches to the new super quick, super easy sock KAL taking place in the middle of May. If you are interested in signing up for this KAL come on over and join in the fun HERE

Have a great rest of the week and thanks for visiting.

x

Phew FO Fridays

Well this week past has been a rather hectic one to say the least.

I have a Spring Sock KAL running over on Ravelry and the pattern needed to be ready for Monday, which gave me very little time to finish the sock, the pattern, the tutorials and everything else that goes with my patterns!

I managed though, adrenaline running and now the KAL can go forth :)

If you are interested, my pattern is also now available for purchase.

It includes photo and video tutorials to help even those of you who have never knit a sock before to work your way through the sock and finish them with me on your side.

Next up - more pewter work :)

I have registered myself for a suitcase market here in June, and as such I need to pick up on my creations if I have a hope of filling the case!

So here are some of my latest creations:

"Two Roads diverged in a wood and I,

I took the road less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference."

How has your week been?

April Craft Challenge - Week 4

Welcome back to this month's Crafting Challenge

Are you taking part in this month's challenge? (read below)

Feel free to grab yourself a Challenge button :)

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.marigoldsloft.com" title="Marigolds' Loft"><img src="http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/marigoldsloft/takingpart.jpg" alt="Marigolds' Loft" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

At the end of April I will feature all craft tutorials I find linked below that have to do with Mother's Day.

For a Tutorial to be featured it needs to be photo-rich and in a step-by-step format. The craft that you share is totally open to you :)

Don't forget - If I feature 3 or more of your tutorials you will get yourself a "Featured" Blogger Post (This only applies if you haven't been featured on Marigolds' Loft over the last 4 months)

Of course you can share all of your creative links below regardless of the theme (if you are looking for a feature your posts will have to be in the theme category though) and I look forward to visiting the links I find below and it would be wonderful if you also shared some visiting "LURV", so don't stop linking your stuff and visiting your neighbour! :) 

Please note that due to time constraints it may not be possible for me to leave comments on each blog I visit, but I will try my best to do so.

Have fun!
See you next week.
x

An InLinkz Link-up

Knitting-Know-How: Creating a Double Stitch on the Wrong Side

Here is the second part of the tutorial on how to create a double stitch for the boomerang heels in English Style knitting.

Today - the wrong side, purl stitches

For more stitch and knitting-know-how tutorials visit HERE

Knitting-Know-How: Creating a Double Stitch on the Right Side

Here is the first of two photo tutorials showing you how to create a double stitch for the Boomerang Heel short rows in English style knitting.

How to create the double stitches on the right side of your work (knit stitches)

For more stitch tutorials and knitting-know-how go HERE

Knitting in the Loop - The Magic Loop

Anything in my eyes can be knit in the round or on circular needles. I have actually donated all of my straights and DPNs to charity and am quite content to knit everything, yes everything, on my circulars.

Today I would like to share a quick, and easy way to get you started on the magic loop.

For more Stitch Tutorials and Knitting-Know-How go HERE

April Craft Challenge - Week 3

Welcome back to this month's Crafting Challenge

Are you taking part in this month's challenge? (read below)

Feel free to grab yourself a Challenge button :)

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.marigoldsloft.com" title="Marigolds' Loft"><img src="http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i51/marigoldsloft/takingpart.jpg" alt="Marigolds' Loft" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

At the end of April I will feature all craft tutorials I find linked below that have to do with Mother's Day.

For a Tutorial to be featured it needs to be photo-rich and in a step-by-step format. The craft that you share is totally open to you :)

Don't forget - If I feature 3 or more of your tutorials you will get yourself a "Featured" Blogger Post (This only applies if you haven't been featured on Marigolds' Loft over the last 4 months)

Of course you can share all of your creative links below regardless of the theme (if you are looking for a feature your posts will have to be in the theme category though) and I look forward to visiting the links I find below and it would be wonderful if you also shared some visiting "LURV", so don't stop linking your stuff and visiting your neighbour! :) 

Please note that due to time constraints it may not be possible for me to leave comments on each blog I visit, but I will try my best to do so.

Have fun!
See you next week.
x

An InLinkz Link-up

Book Review - Why Cleaning has Meaning

ISBN: 9781782500506

Why Cleaning has Meaning by Linda Thomas

Yes, this is a book about cleaning and a good one at that!

As some of you may know, I work in a anthroposophical (Waldorf) home for mentally disabled people and I work part-time in the "Cleaning" Studio. My job is to motivate some of the residents of the home to clean. But not just to clean, to enjoy what they are doing and to understand that there is a deeper meaning and sense to cleaning for themselves as well as for the other residents.

I was given Linda Thomas's german version of this book (Putzen!?) to read when I started my job and although I can read german well, I can't read it at the speed I can in english, and so I was thrilled when Linda sent me a copy of her book in english when it was published earlier this year.

Cleaning is seen as a very menial and thankless job in our society and it is not a small feat to get disabled people to find joy in the task of cleaning.

Linda shares some amazing advice on how to care for rooms - how, if your attitude is the right one, the rooms feel cleaner, cared for and yes, she even teaches you that you can learn to enjoy cleaning!

I try on a daily basis to instill the values Linda shares with us in my "Cleaning" team and it seems to be working. We try to work in rhythmic motions, and try to have consistent chores. 

This book is a really easy and enjoyable read and not only talks about cleaning in all its forms but also explores the various cleaning rituals in different cultures, as well as homemaking in early times. 

The residents have been getting a special treat from my studio colleague who has been reading to them from this great resource once a week, and they are thoroughly enjoying it.

If you are looking for a book that gives you some great practical tips on how to clean your home and helps you to develop the deeper sense of cleaning, then this is a book I would warmly recommend.

I give this book:

4 Owls 

(You can find my book rating scale in the side bar.)

Have you read this book yet?

Thank you Linda for a great resource.

x

Finished Objects on Friday

 

Kay asked me to whip her up another cowl as the one which I crocheted her last year and has been worn nearly every day since then :)

Of course I obliged and sat down to crochet her a new one in slightly different colours.

Less than 2 hours down the line - Violà a finished cowl!

Don't you just love Instant gratification!

Over the past couple of weeks I have been using up all of my stashed rests of felting wool to create a warm, fluffy cat bed.

I did have to order another ball of yarn to give it the final layer at the top of the sides but I finally got this finished on Monday.

This is the bed pre-felting, measuring in at 84cm

After the first wash it measured in at a might 54cm, and resembled a cool Rastafarian hat :)

I decided it was too big and threw it back into the machine.

After the second wash (please excuse the blurry photo) Measuring in at just under 51cm it seems perfect. Our cat jumped right in even though it wasn't yet dry!

A day later and the cats understand that it is totally their property and are actually bickering about who gets to get inside it first!

I so love work that is this appreciated ;)

And lastly.....

I have been dying to make some coffee soap, with coffee grounds and caffeine.

I made this bar over the weekend and love the way it turned out.

I can't wait to see how it feels to bath with :)

How has your week been this week?

What projects have you managed to complete?

Thanks so much for visiting, have a super weekend.

x