Hello 2015!

Happy New Year! Here comes the "what happend last year and what am I planning for this year" finally from me too. I think it's not too late yet though most of the blogs I regularly read have posted this already. 

I've been on holidays a bit over christmas and New Year's and last week work has quite absorbed me. I also needed a bit of time to think about the last year which was my first year of blogging. I've just had my first blog anniversary (can't believe it's already this time!).

... and before you think you're at the wrong blog - yes, I changed the name again - I know - again! I just wasn't happy with the old one any more. In contrast to the last two names, I didn't think about it a lot this time. Within the last two days it suddenly struck me. As most of my projects on the blog are green and the blog is green and I love this color, it just seemed natural. However this name also stands for my general love of bright colors. 

Crochet Slippers

Infinity Scarf

Bunny Egg Cosy

But back to this post's topic:

What happened last year? Here are my publishing statistics:

• 25 posts (this makes about 2 posts a month)
• 16 creative projects, including
• 5 knitting projects
• 8 crocheting projects
• 2 paper projects
• 1 other project (the knotted bracelet)
• 1 tutorial (the Easter Bunny Egg Cosy)
• and 2 travel reports.

I believe this is not too bad for a blog's (and blogger's) first year. Plus I even reached my goal of more crocheting (as I've been a knitter initially).

Certainly, I have plans for the blog in 2015:

• Publish more blog posts: As I often thought "this should go on the blog" last year but then didn't get round to post it, I'd like to blog at least once a week this year. However this makes a lot of more posts so I can't promise ;-)
• Show more finished projects: Throughout last year I made quite a few things that I didn't show on the blog yet. Some of them were presents (you don't want people to see it before you give it to them) and there are some, I just made without thinking of posting them. So I'm planning to show you some of those things throughout the year because they turned out really great (e. g. my very first sweater!!!).
• Blog more about travels: I have itchy feet and my husband and I normally go on several (short or longer) trips during the year. I found that I really liked blogging about Brussels and London, so I want to show you where we're off to more often. 

Grand Place, Brussels

 Besides, I've made some plans concerning my crafting - which naturally goes hand in hand with the blog: 

As my yarn stash is really overflowing at the moment, I'm planning to straighten it up and use yarn from my stash for new projects as often as possible. I love buying new yarn but there's no point when I'm not using it, so I'm gonna try to keep yarn buys down and only go yarn shopping when it's REALLY necessary. I'm excited what I'll find in my stash and which ideas I'll come up with.

Another point is that there are some UFOs lying around or hiding in my stash (you probably know what I mean). I want to finish some of them or unravel them and use the wool for something else if I don't want to finish them. Whenever I start a project this year, my focus clearly lies on finishing it.

Yarn stash

So that's about it. I'll do all I can to stick to these plans but you know what it's like, so maybe to reach 80% of them are a good goal for this year.

Now it's your turn: What are your (crafting) goals this year? What would you like to read and see on my blog? Love, Kerstine

Currently knitting and baking...

It's beginning to look like christmas here in Germany. We've even had a little bit of snow this week. In between working and finding the perfect christmas decoration, I'm doing a lot of crafting and baking at the moment.

Unfortunately I can't show you all of the knitting and crochet projects I'm working on at the moment because they're mostly gifts for family and friends and I don't want those who read my blog to see their gifts before christmas. However, you can have a look at my knit and crochet gift ideas on pinterest. 

I've almost finished knitting this herringbone cowl, it's a really cool stitch (never seen it before) and you need only 100grams of wool (if you have any leftovers). I chose a different colour because it's a gift to wear with neutral colours. 

I also want to take part in this Knitalong where we are going to knit a cushion with a fair isle Norwegian style pattern. I've ordered the wool for the small cushion from their shop. It's a fantastic. I hope to be able to start knitting soon. 

Besides, it's cookie time!!! I've already made a lot last weekend. 

What is your favourite activity during christmas time? Baking or making gifts? Do you have proposals for home made gifts?
Have a nice time eating cookies, drinking mulled wine at the christmas market and decorating your apartment. Love, Kerstine

Project #16: Coin Bracelet

A few weeks ago I put an idea into action that I've been having in my head for months. This is what I'm showing you today. You may already know about my love of Norway and as I happen to be there several times a year, I've always got some Norwegian crowns lying around waiting to be spent during my next visit. 

I like their design a lot, especially the ones with holes in the middle have always been pretty for me.

So I came up with the idea to use a one-crown-coin for a bracelet. This way I can always carry a memory of the country and our great holidays there with me. It's a special souvenir.

The method I used for the bracelet is nothing special but I have never tried it before, so it was new to me. I used a blue cotton thread from my local craft store and the (very good) instructions from the blog Tippy & Tassel. I tied a clasp to the ends and fixed the ends with clear nail polish to prevent them from opening up.

You could surely use different coins, e. g. the five-crowns-coin which is bigger (see the photos), or even a small key and any robust thread. However, I like my new bracelet a lot and I think this would also make a great gift. Which coin or object would you use for a bracelet? Love, Kerstine.

72 hours in London

I've been to London before but I had totally forgotton how fabulous this city is! I enjoyed last weekend so much! Can't wait to come back!!! I'm totally in love... (that's why there are more photos than words this time). We enjoyed...

...great Italian food and coffee...

...nice old buildings and architecture 

...cosy pubs with great local beer and food...

...the must sees...

 

...the mix of contemporary and historical buildings in the city...

...Shopping in Harrods (a littlte bit)

...English breakfast - yum!!!(we don't have it like this in Germany)...

 Hope you like my photos, they're just snapshots of what I particularly loved.
Which European City do you love and why? Where shoud I go next with my husband?

Love, Kerstine

Projects #14 & 15: Crochet Owl Rattle and Baby Slippers

A few weeks ago I crocheted a baby rattle and some tiny slippers for a friend's new born girl. So here's how they turned out. I found the owl pattern on pinterest and immediately wanted to make it. It can be purchased from Tamara Gaal on Ravelry. I already know that I'll make more of those when there are more babies. It's sooo cute! You need many different yarn colours and a rattle ball which I ordered on the internet.

It was quite easy to make, the only boring thing was sewing all the different parts together in the end. But I can live with that if it turns out to be so cool.

The other present I made were a pair of really nice slippers. I used this pattern but you have to be a little creative here as this is only the pattern for the right shoe (the left one naturally has to be a bit different). For the flower, I just figured something out myself. You find a lot of patterns for flowers on the internet, the ladybird is just a crocheted circle with four red stitches plus two black stitches and embroidered dots. I really enjoyed making these things. Love, Kerstine