rose hip

1,2,3...

 

 

... rows of 14 flower squares all crocheted together to make a lampshade for my workroom! I've needed a light source directly over my work table for quite a while now as my workroom is in our basement where it tends be quite dark, especially at this time of the year (I had a heck of a time trying to get some decent shots of the lampshade with it being so rainy and grey of late!). Initially, I had planned on making a different type of light fixture which would involve more work, but as I never seemed to get around to doing it and I have all this scrap yarn begging to be used, I decided to try out the idea of crocheting a lampshade onto an old wire shade form. I'm quite pleased with my new light source; while I have lots of lamps around the room, nothing beats an overhead light (especially a handmade one...) when you are working at a table! I'm particularly pleased with it when it's lit up at night and light shines through all the little holes... a bit of a magical touch to my dark space!

 

 

With the lampshade all done and hanging now, I have started to work on a batch of pillowcases with many new styles which I hope to share with you very soon and offer (at least) one up to you as a pillowcase giveaway to celebrate this wonderful time of the year.... So, stay tuned!

 

P.S. Thank you, Laurie, for including my pillowcase in your lovely treasure photos!

 

cotton candy...

 

...I've been spending some of my time lately revisiting my flower square crochet pattern; I'm slowly filling up a basket with a whole new batch of these colorful squares. This time, however, I'm dipping into my cotton/cotton blend reserves instead of my woolly yarns to make them.

   

 

I've been using my cotton or cotton-like yarns because I have so many single balls and skeins lying around that I decided it was high time to use them up. Why so many singles? Most probably because I'm always looking for new yarn to trim my pillowcases (I'm always searching for more colors...), end up buying a single ball or skein, and by the time I find that it works with a certain pillowcase I just made up, it's been discontinued and I can no longer use it because a single ball/skein only goes as far as making 3 or 4 pillowcases... Grrrrrrr! Doesn't discontinued yarn and fabric drive you nuts?! It seems to me that the turnover in yarn and fabric design is much too fast... Don't you?

 

 

Anyhow, coming back to my floral squares... What am I planning to make with them? Well, I had this idea and I only need about a handful more to start crocheting them together to try out this idea of mine. I will share it all with you as soon as it's all done and I know that my idea is a good one!

However, whether my idea works or not is all fine by me because I simply love making these floral squares! I've dumped all my singles into a big bag which I lay beside me as I make myself comfortable on the sofa -- hopefully by a nice fire while the weather outside is November-like and very stormy -- I dip into my bag full of yummy colors, get my hook going, and end up with what is pure cotton candy to me! 'Hope you've also been relishing your November by taking the time to do the things you love... Thanks for the visit and I'll be back hopefully very soon with some more goodies...

 

look what I got!...

 

 

...I've been meaning to post about this book for the longest time now, but in my usual delinquent way, I just haven't gotten around to it! After all, I've had the book up in my sidebar forever now, saying that my pillowcases are featured in it, and I haven't even written a post about it... So, if you haven't seen the book yet, you'd have every reason to think I'm pulling your leg about the pillowcase feature!

Well, I will come to the proof that my pillowcases are actually in the book, but first let me tell you just a little about  Selina Lake's Homespun Style: it is simply GORGEOUS! If you're at all like me in that you love looking at inspiring spaces filled with charming flea market finds and accessorized with lovingly crafted objects, this book is for you. If you can't get enough of looking at pretty piles of fabric and lovely baskets full of yummy yarn, this book is definitely for you! I had an impossible time trying to select the pages I wanted to share with you because Selina's styling and Debi Treloar's photos make each page a visual treat.

I have to say that this book holds a special place for me because it is all about embracing artists and crafty entrepreneurs who, with the help of the internet, have brought back the importance of that which is "handmade" and "recycled" into our consumer-mad society. Selina's book encourages each one of us to tap into our crafty sides and create ourselves cozy living spaces stamped with our own personal styles. I think Selina should be applauded for conceiving a home decor book from this angle in such a beautiful way and I therefore encourage you to take a look at it at your local library or bookstore if you haven't seen it already... I have a feeling that you'll have a hard time putting it down! Here's a small sampling of the many gorgeous photos you will find in the book:

 

 

 

And as for my pillowcases, here we go...

 

 

Isn't it all so beautifully styled?! And when I look at the book's sources, I have to pinch myself!...

 

Happily for us, Selina is a very busy lady as she has a new book coming out in March 2013, Pretty Pastel Style, which I can't wait to get my hands on! This week she revealed the book cover for this new book on her blog and I was tickled pink when I saw her post...

 

Thank you, sweet Selina for all the homespun loveliness!...

 

 

 

 

P.S. Wow, I've amazed myself this week -- I've posted twice in 5 days!