Mousehole Village crafting~

Right now, the crickets are starting up for the evening. Its the chorus of Summer~.... You know that time of year when it is really hot and the kids play out until late. You are figuring out what to cook for dinner and the heat in the kitchen is causing you to just cut open a watermelon and hand that out and pray that nobody wants anything else~! I have had three projects on the go keeping me busy. Thrilled to have them conquered before Winter this year. Two quilts and a crocheted knee blanket for those cold Winter days. I have not used patterns. I happened upon a see through square in the shops one day and was told to cut exactly that size....yes I know I am a quilters nightmare. Its been tough using such warm fibers in this heat. I used pure cotton for the quilts, backed with bamboo and cotton fleece. Its heavenly soft. The yellow bright quilt is mine and I made the bright reds, turquoises and yellow's etc for Olivia's room. All I did for her quilt was cut lengths of fabric strips and sewed them together. A bright bedroom for Winter just seems so much more inviting. I used merino for this blanket and it too is just so soft and heavy. It is my first crocheting project and its just bumpy, lumpy and perfect~! even my little white fluffy dog loves it..

I hope homemade projects are filling your home. Cozy, comforting and an experience that will be remembered by those making it and those little ones wearing them...

A beautiful perfumed rose from my garden ....capturing the beauty of Summer

Happy crafting~
Suzanne
X..

Shabby chic Snowman pattern

I knitted this little snowman with pure handspun thickish wool. I tried to find a 'dirty' natural color to give him a little character. He is also stuffed with wool fleece. I mentioned in my last post that I am not that great at writing patterns so here we go...

(Work in st st using size 4 mm straight knitting needles)If you find that he needs an extra stitch or two please add them in....

Cast on 7 stitches
~st st 2 rows starting with a plain row
~row 3 - increase into every stitch ( the knit into front and back of stitch method)
~row 4 - purl
~row 5 - increase into every stitch ( the knit into front and back of stitch method)
~row 6 purl
~row 7 -18 st st (12 rows)
~row 19 knit 2 together until the end (if you have a stitch remaining somewhere, just knit it.)
~row 20 purl
~row 21 knit 2 together until the end (same if a stitch is remaining just knit it.)
~row 22 purl (about 6-7 stitches remaining)
~row 23 increase into every stitch to the end (this starts to form the head)
~row 24 purl
~row 25-32st st
~row 33 knit 2 together until the end (about 6-7 stitches remaining)
~row 34 purl
then thread needle through the remaining stitches and pull together and sew up the whole little body. Leave a small opening at the bottom to stuff the snowman with fleece. Sew up.
Add eyes and a smiley face with black embroidery thread .Take a piece of orange fleece and wet felt it by rubbing it with soap and hot water between your palms to create a pointy nose. Dry and glue on.
I then threaded a loop of hemp or ribbon to hang on the tree.


Scarf
cast on 4 stitches and garter stitch about 35 rows. Wrap around the snowmans neck and sew into place

Thank you and happy knitting

Mousehole village Christmas crafting

Welcome to 'Mowzil" Christmas Special~ I hope to share my Christmas ideas with you throughout this coming Christmas season. Like many of you, my hands have worked non stop trying to get my Christmas swaps and pressies out in time to cross the channel to various homes around the World. Last night I finally finished and as my needle embroidered the last little snowflake, I turned to Andrew and confirmed that I just Love, adore homemade gift making ( this of course was not the case a week ago when I thought this was all never going to end...) The feeling of the fiber, the colors of the fabric, the smell of the pure wool felt, the complete world I escape too. Most often late at night...I can just imagine the fresh pine branch these decorations will hang on year after year.

Well, I suppose these decorations could be Christmas tree hangers, strung onto a garland or placed at your Christmas nature table.

The geese knitted with pure cotton are from the book 'Irreststable gifts to knit' by Alan Dart....I used ribbon to add detail.
The Christmas trees and disc felt characters although a variation in pattern are from the book 'Fa la la la Felt' by Amanda Carestio.......
The embroidery hoop is a design of my own made from natural linen and cotton, pure wool felt and pure wool dyed with 'cochineal'. Most welcome to try it. The carrot is wet felted by rubbing a bit of fleece together between your palms. This creates the pointed carrot nose. The scarf is just a cast on of 4 stitches knitted st st until desired length for across the neck and a seperate piece for the piece hanging down. The lavender sachet I used natural linen and odd bits of fabric sewed together and filled with dried garden lavender.

The Cute Snowman pattern I am happy to share just leave me a message. I am not the greatest at writing patterns and If ever I find a stitch out of place or left over, it just gets knitted in...so, its a shabby chic design of 'hope it works out!'

Happy gift making to you
Suzanne
XXX

Mousehole Village crafting~

I was fortunate enough to be watching 'fantasy homes by the sea' recently and what a surprise to find a couple purchasing a home in 'Mousehole village'. I sat in awe as they walked through the village and I even got to see the inside of some cottages. That truly left me feeling so good about my crafting posts here as I could just imagine this cozy little village, quaint English country gardens and as I have said before in other posts, sitting next to a Sunny window or warm fire place knitting or crafting.

This week has been an Elderflower cordial delight. I have blooms by the dozen and so my Christmas ideas set in. I thought these bottles of cordial would make a lovely gift under the tree. I too have made some tea towels out of Egyptian cotton, scraps of material, ribbon and felt. When I was on Holiday, I saw something similar and decided to make my own. Please view the photographs of the tea cloth. it really was a simple quick make.

My Summer yellow quilt is coming along nicely. I have had to get some help with sewing the layers together as my machine could not handle the thickness....Can't wait to show you...

Elderflower cordial recipe ( I double or tripple the recipe if I have more flowers. I do find it difficult adding so much sugar so if need be, please look up an alternative for using honey or other natural sugars)

25-30 flower heads
1.5kg's organic unrefined sugar ( one could also use honey or agave)
55g citric acid
1.5 liters water

Wash the flowerheads. Place them in a pot or large bowl.
Place water and sugar in a pot and heat the water to melt the sugar.
Add the citric acid.
Pour the liquid mixture over the flowerheads and close the lid of the pot or cover the bowl and let stand overnight.
Sieve and place into sterilized bottles.
Enjoy~


Happy Homemade crafting ~

Suzanne
X

Mousehole Village crafting~

So here he is...this is for Daniel. This gorgeous baby needs a cute gift this year. This soft toy is an adaption to a pattern I have spotted so I have no illustrations. The fabric I used is Amy Butler, some lovely natural linen and organic valor. I suppose you can call it a 'Bunny gnome!'. So, my Homemade Christmas gifts are well underway. Last year I belted out that it was 'homemade Christmas' and I got so few done...This year I am determined to walk the talk~!

My mousehole inspiration moment is my old kitchen cabinet that I brought in from the veranda. I gave it a good clean out and added some greengate favorites.. The added fairy lights always bring the best atmosphere into my kitchen. I love tins and jugs. I always say a change is as good as a holiday so, this home gets moved around allot~!

A happy day to you~
Warm regards
Suzanne

Mousehole Village crafting~

Ooh have I taken way too long to make something for our 'Mowzil' village craft spot. Ever so sorry. Well, after purchasing all that heavenly fabric from Etsy not so long ago,(Amy Butler, Heather Bailey and many more) I decided to start making a list of all the people I want to make Christmas presents for. I must say I struggled to cut the fabric...?? anyone gone through something like that! It all looks so beautiful packed together all color co ordinated and whole. So firstly I thought I would cut a small strip off one piece and see what I could come up with...Once I got going, it got all way too exciting and I burst into making the biggest thing....a Quilt for my King size bed. My gosh, then all the fabric started going~! Fancy that! Feast your eyes on my freshly cut squares. Sunny African yellow theme. One whole week of cutting...when I had the time.

Anyway first up for one of her Christmas presents is my Sister Cally. I sincerely hope she is far too busy learning about Rhino and Lion's to read my post and spoil her surprise. She is moving up to a small Town in South Africa. Off to the bush you see...At the moment she is studying to become a nature conservationist. I thought of her sitting on her quaint little stoep (veranda) looking out over into the dense bush and African sky and suddenly her lights going out. So I created this....to hang at her bedside.

I wrapped a pack of simple white candles individually in brown paper. Tied them together with some jute.Then I folded a neatly sewn double strip of pretty fabic to wrap around the candle pyrimid. I brought a large pack of matches, cut out the exact size fabric piece for the top of the box. Sew a firm piece of tracing fabric with the fabric of your choice(sorry I have no idea what it is called but it is the fabric you use to trace a pattern onto)it makes it firm. Then once sewn neatly,I glued it onto the top of the box of matches. I then made a small bag..just cut a piece of fabric on the fold. 25cm in length and 18cm in width. Sewed up the sides and added a fabric handle.

I hope you can use this idea. It is simple and I think I need one for my home too~

A happy day to you
Suzanne

Mousehole Village crafting~

Reading through my vast amount of Country living magazines, I came across an article about a quaint English village called 'Mousehole village' in West Cornwall. Is that not just too cute! I've decided that should I make anything worth sharing with you, I will post it and call it 'Mousehole village crafts'....Please look out for it. I can just picture the village. Old stone walled homes, smoke seeping slowly out of their chimney's, inviting front English country gardens with a crooked wooden gate, tea always on the ready, craft basket sitting at the comfy chair at the low window ready to be worked on. Of course, no home would be complete without a cute little dog lying in a warm blanket... Boy, can I only dream of Walking though this village. Its a small fishing village and a true treasure of a place. Please join me as I craft this fine day. I am not too patient with writing tutorials so the basics will be covered in picture.

Today, I have decided to share a part of my home which I love. This little spot is in my kitchen right next to a large glass paned door. Being Winter, I needed to bring my garden in doors. This old battered cupboard was a treasure find I payed R200 for.. Just LOVE it! So, these pots looked a little dreary and I have made a plan to cover them. I have some recycled wrapping paper and some cotton lace. I must say all looked easy until I tried to wrap a round pot..so, take it slowly and use allot of tape discreetly. I hope you love the end result. I intend covering them all. Maybe even knit a pot holder too.

Happy crafting~!
from
Mousehole village

Felt handbag

I made this felt handbag for Brogan. I had seen a picture before and decided to try it out. She loves it. I used 100% pure felt. The lid opens to put goodies inside. My Grandma worked with felt and I can see why she loved it so.