Gingernut

A New Challenge

2011-01-14T15:51:00.002+01:00

I know we are almost half of the way through January but I have decided that I am going to make something everyday. Doesn't have to be big or fancy but that is my aim for the next 365 days. I will try and post a picture everyday of my achievements to inspire and encourage me to carry on. I will come back later with todays make.

At a Loss

2011-01-13T19:38:00.002+01:00

Lately I feel very lost and my usual inspiration has disappeared. For example, before Christmas I bought a gorgeous skein of wool from Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend in my colours (burnt orange, deep red and a rusty brown colour). It was quite a luxury buy just for me. I take it out at least once a day and look at it, touch it and dream of what it could be transformed into. Yet it is still untouched. Everytime look I cannot find that perfect pattern or inspiration. What is going on. Anyone who knows me knows that this is just not me.

It is the same in baking. I see so much deliciousness but feel no inspiration to create my own little treats. I am hoping it is just the unusual weather or time of year with all the darkness but my inspiration and joie de vivre better return soon.

In My Garden

2010-07-02T11:11:00.005+02:00

In my little garden, okay it is more of a patio than a garden. At least the lack of grass would qualify it as a patio or yard. This doesn't stop me from trying to grow something to use in the kitchen. In the past few years we have grown peas and strawberries really well. So this year we have been growing tomatoes. We bought them as well established seedling and they were growing really well. My dear friend recommended cutting the lower leaves away and within the next week my good sized tomatoes plants turned into monsters! They have loads of flowers and even some little baby green tomatoes. I have 3 types of plants. A cherry, Italian and hybrid verity. My cherry has the most fruit.
We dont just have tomatoes either this year. We have already been enjoying the strawberries. C also has a special plant, a sunflower which he planted in school from seed. He is very proud of his sunflower which grows a little more each day.

On a sad note I do have a herb pot, which I love, and it had some beautiful lavender about to flower when my darling husband thought it needed cut back. Argh, so now my lovely lavender plant has no flowers. The lavender is on the far left looking rather small now. Also he cut the lovely purple flower that was on the sage plant. So I have learnt to keep the husband away from my herb pot!

Holiday Conundrum

2010-06-24T20:40:00.003+02:00

My little family loves the holiday time together. Every year we have been camping to France and loved it. But every year we have the same problem, which campsite will we choose?? Seems a simple question doesn't it, well not in our house. We all have our requests that must be met. For the boys they want a pool, Papa wants somewhere modern, clean and most importantly quiet and me, well I just want some peace and quiet with good food near by.

Again this year we are having the ongoing debate about which campsite to choose. This year has a slight twist and it is that this year we will be camping in England, either Devon or Cornwall. I think we might have narrowed it down to just 2 sites to choose from. Riverside Holiday Park (a choice for the boys) and Treveague Farm (for me).

I have a funny feeling this year we will have the car packed ready to go and we still won't have a picked which place we will be resting ourselfs for the week!

World Cup Fever

2010-06-20T21:23:00.004+02:00

Something very strange has happened to my little family. Over the last week they have been watching more and more footbal taking a keen interest in who is doing the best. Now you have to understand that rugby and motor racing are the only sports normally watched in my little home so this sudden interest in football is rather unusual.

Over the weekend we were camping just across the border in the Nederlands and this coincided with a match Japan and Holland. The boys, big and small, loved every minute. Of course Holland won 1-0. Packing up to come home the boys were playing football with their freinds and all we could here were 4 boys all shouting "Hup Holland" (Go Holland!), even little C was at it in the car on the way home.

As I type this my lovely husband is watching the current match of Brasil and Ivory Coast with the score being 2-0 to Brasil. I suppose for the next few weeks I will have to be a footbal widow or I could join them. So on that note Hup, Hup Holland!!!

Preparing for a Wedding ....

2010-06-18T11:39:00.011+02:00

My beautiful sister is getting married in 1 month and 2 days time. Having the little ones it can be difficult to find a formal suit or clothes for them to wear for the occasion in Belgium plus for some odd reason I was over come with the desire to make something special for them to wear. Back in March time ( or there about) it really did seem like a good idea and as if by some magic spell or touch of destiny I already had a sewing magazine with the perfect little waist coat. It also had shorts with the outfit but being Northern Ireland (where the wedding will be) the weather won't be the most reliable for sunshine on that day. But I thought sure the shorts are easily made longer into lovely trousers.

True enough adapting the shorts to trousers was fine and I have the material all ready to be sewn and C's waist coat is ready to go I just have the buttons to find. Now my problems all started whenever I decided the babe and C would wear the same. No problem, oh how wrong could I be. First the pattern doesn't come in little Babe's size, oh dear oh, it is very complicated to resize a pattern for a little tiny person. But through many hours cursing and trial making I have done it.
Now by this stage I have lost the love of making these blessed outfits!! I think from now on I will just stick to the pattern given and knitting! Here is Little Babe's new manly vest freshly finished for when Autumn arrives. You can find it on Ravelry

Spring has Sprung!

2010-03-22T16:28:00.004+01:00

Finally spring is here. As is some lovely warm weather, well above 10 is warm right! I feel the need for some flowers and spring creating to bring some of that loviness inside. Perhaps I will return very soon with some bright and cheery creatings!!

A long time gone.

2009-10-14T09:50:00.005+02:00

After a long absence, with no excuse other than laziness, I have decided to pick up my blog pen and begin again. What has changed - not much really. Well slight exageration. I am now almost 7 months pregnant with number 4 with a very big belly to show for it.

A new hair style aquired last night, which I have to say I love very much. (Thank you to Ilse.)

And lots of knitting finished, half finished or waiting in my head to be made. Along with trousers for Charlie, baking for christmas, my sister and her pregnancy and how I would love to be sharing this special time with her, christmas presents for children, trips home to be planned ....

Now is it any wonder I have a head like a sieve. Thank goodness for lists!

A Poem I can relate to.

2009-02-11T16:45:00.009+01:00

I am wearing a pair of shoes
They are ugly shoes uncomfortable shoes I hate my shoes
Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.
Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step.
Yet, I continue to wear them
I get funny looks wearing these shoes
They are looks of sympathy I can tell in others eyes
that they are glad they are my shoes and not theirs
They never talk about my shoes
To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable
To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them
But once you put them on, you can never take them off
I realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes
There are many pairs in the world
Some woman are like me and ache daily as they walk in them
Some have learned how to walk in them so that they don't hurt quite so much
Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go
before they think about how much they hurt.
No woman deserves to wear these shoes
Yet, because of these shoes I am a stronger woman
These shoes have given me strength to face anything
They have made me who I am
I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has lost a child.
-Author Unknown -

I fall into the group of women who have learned to walk in my shoes so they don't hurt so much. I don't know if I will ever be a woman who will walk in these shoes so long I will forget for days at a time how much they hurt. At least once a day my mind wanders to my baby girl. What could have been... I never wish for one more hug, it would never be enough.

My baby girl Elly born asleep 3.09.05

Sickness and wantings.

2009-01-23T13:32:00.004+01:00

Well all this last week my DH and I have been ill so I have set aside all work and rested. Mind you this does not mean that my crafting mind has rested. I have been planning in my head on how to beginning my new adventure, spinning.

I have my wheel, a second hand from a local thrift shop and I think it is a castle style with a single drive. I am now researching wools that are good for learning with and I have planned a special task for wonderful DH, a drum carder. Ideally I would love to buy a Louet but my funds dont strech that far.

I am very excited about starting but I am going to get everything together first before I do my usual thing of jumping in head first totally unprepared. I have great visions of my boys wearing my jumpers that I have spun and lovingly made, hopefully it wont be too far in the future!!

Christmas

2008-12-27T11:40:00.005+01:00

Christmas so far has been relaxed and full of over indulgence. The boys had a fab Christmas morning to find Santa had come during the night and left them some surprises. The farm for Charlie has yet to be completed but that has not stopped them from loving it and playing with it non stop. Charlie also got a 'Papa' made cooker and it has already found a prized place in his favourite toys!

Andrew loved what he got and when he was telling his Oma and Opa he kept saying to them he got a CD and DVD his girlfriend, who is Hannah Montana. Mind you the best present they both got was from Oma and Opa and it was Aqua Play canal system. We set it up for Christmas and Charlie played with it all afternoon. The little boats were used for transporting the oranges around. I am sure it will be well used and loved especially in the warmer months when they can go out the back more and make more of a mess.

Christmas Creating

2008-12-18T16:19:00.005+01:00

I have been so busy with little and not so little Christmas presents and festive surprises. Firstly I have been making a farm for Charlie. It is sewn, looped and knitted onto rug backing. It is taking me a long time to make it as the looping seems to take forever and then I had to take a break as I hurt my wrist! I really hope it it all finished before Christmas morning! Here is a photo to see my progress.

You know what? I think I am addicted to making things. Not happy being busy with the farm creating I had to go and make my darling husband a pair of Santa slippers (pattern here) and this was because he came home from work to tell me he didnt feel 'christmasy' yet. Then the next day to help his christmas feeling I made him some fresh mince pies!

Sunny Sunday

2008-04-20T19:15:00.004+02:00

Wow what a lovely sunny day it was today. We all cycled to the park and had a go on the little trains. Andrew met his friend from school and is holding on to him in the picture, Charlie and I am waving at Papa. Also this was the first day this year Andrew has worn shorts and me a skirt with no tights, I think the weather is finally changing.

After the trains my boys played in the play area for a while, it was so lovely to be outside in the fresh air. Below are all my boys on the slide.

A farm for Charlie

2008-04-19T21:26:00.009+02:00

I ordered The Knitted Farmyard a few weeks ago and was very excited to start making some little animals for the farm project. So I started off small. I made 3 chickens and two ducks.

I think my little chicks looked good but one of my ducks looks more like a seagull! Makes me smile. I didn't like the donkey from the book so I used another pattern. Now these are for Charlie but Andrew wants some animals as well so I am now making another set.

As I make more of the farm I will post more pictures. I dont think I will follow the book but it is lovely for inspirational ideas.

At last a little bit of spring!

2008-04-13T11:01:00.002+02:00

Yesterday was a lovely day, even with the wind. Out on our travels we passed colourful tulip fields and we even made it to the beach. Today we got up to more rain again but yesterdays weather made me desire for the summer so much!

My latest project and Easter holiday!

2008-04-05T19:43:00.006+02:00

At last I have some time to myself. After alomst 2 weeks of solid child demanding hours I have a little for me, Mama time! School has been on Easter holiday and yet Easter seems like a long time ago. I have had 2 weeks of fighting, someone explain to me how an 8 year old and a 19 month old can fight??, and 'mama what can I do now?'

Of course all my little projects have gone on the back burner and only now I have a little time to finish some. I did start one little project. I found a lovely pattern for a doily to make. I am really pleased at how it is turning out so far. I only started last night I already I have about 60% completed. While I have been making it I have had lots of ideas to do with it, a bag or make some more to make it into a skirt, it is too nice to only use it on my table, or how about a cushion!

The only other piece of Mama time I had was a lovely cycle home from a friend's house which is about 10km away from me. The sun was setting and it was quiet with just me, some ducks on the canal and I thinkI passed a few people. Just cycling along enjoying the cool air and my thoughts, pure bliss! And I got some excerise.

Hello Spring?!

2008-03-25T10:01:00.005+01:00

We did just come into spring didn't we?? Yesterday, Easter Monday, we got up to discover snow on the ground. It didn't snow all winter but it wanted to snow in spring. We had decided to go for a picnic to Luxembourg for the day and the snow wasn't too bad so we went on our day out. Roads were clear all the way down, in most places there wasn't any snow, to Liege but once we got about 20km on the otherside of Liege (near Ardennes region) my goodness there was alot of snow! We stopped at a parking layby so we could all get out and investigate the wonderful white, fluffy snow.

This was the first time the boys had ever seen so much snow. Charlie stood in it and it came up past his little knees! Andrew loved throwing snow balls at Papa and Charlie wasn't very sure.

We got to Luxembourg and again most parts were clear of snow so we had a lovely day visiting our favourite valley and a castle. On the way home there was a traffic jam on the motorway so Robert decided to come off at an exit and go another way home. That was a bad idea. The road was really icy from compacted snow and everyone was going really slow. There was one point when I thought we were all going to die, ok slight over reaction but we were on a hill skidding everywhere and there was a big drop on my side of the road. All I can say is I am glad Robert was driving.

When we got to Namur all the snow disapeared again. We learnt 2 things from our day trip. 1 - Robert will have to wait in traffic jams, sometimes it is safer!, 2 - If there is a tiny bit of snow in Turnhout, it will be a blizzard in the Ardennes area!

Mei Tai is Finished!

2008-03-19T10:07:00.003+01:00

I am so pleased that I have finished my first ever Mei Tai, an asian style baby carrier. After looking on the net for a pattern I liked and was so unsuccessful that I designed my own. It took me a good part of a week to draw it on paper. In the end I changed again it when I had the material.

The material was an absolute bargin. On Sunday I went, with 2 friends Ilse and Diane, to a Stoffen Spektakel (an indoor material market) that was in Antwerpen. There was so much on offer from material for wedding dresses to material for quilts and prices to suit everyones pocket. My material I got is a heavy cotton, the weight of a pair of jeans, and some pretty cotton print. Overall I got 5.5 mts for 13.50 euro!

As soon I got home on the Sunday afternoon I cut out my pattern and then first thing Monday morning Charlie and I went to get some extra strong thread. By Monday evening I had most of it completed with just the body to finish. The head rest part of the carrier really stumped me. I wasn't sure whether to keep it square, round, have none at all or to make it triangle shape. In the end I went with a rounded shape and I think it looks good.

Poor Charlie has been in it so many times just so I can see how it feels! His favourite position is on my front with his hands tucked in. He snuggles in for a cuddle! It is so comfortable. Charlie weighes between 11 - 12 kg now but all the weight seems to be spread evenly over the carrier so no one place feels strained. I fell so pleased that I did it. They only thing is I wish I had discovered it when Charlie was smaller, then I could have used it more!

W.I.P. and My New Toy!

2008-03-13T09:54:00.008+01:00

Since my last post I have been doing very little but more ideas keep coming! To my ever growing list I have now added a Mei Tei to make so that I can carry Charlie. We do have a metal framed carrier but it is too big and heavy for me but Robert manages just fine and another reason for it is that Charlie hates his pram. So much so that when we try to put him in we have to tip it back slightly so he can't escape, not very safe. So I have been searching the net for different ways to make it. So far I haven't found one single pattern I like so I have been drawing my own plans from the inspiration of others. When it is completed I will definitely have a post about it. It will be first big project that I will be using my new toy for, my new sewing machine.

So far I have only been doing simple things to get acquainted with how it all works. I made Andrew a rice pillow for bedtime and a cover for it. That is my work in progress. I have started to embroider it to brighten it up. On one side he wanted some chicks because it is coming up to Easter and he has just come home from a farm trip with school and is still all talk about the animals. Orange Flower has a lovely chicks and Easter bunnies pattern that I used. For the back I took some inspiration from one of the boys t-shirts but I haven't started the other side yet.

Here is a beautiful present Robert came home with last night. I hasten to add he didn't buy me it, it was a gift from a person he works with. His brother grows them in the Netherlands. I have some from another time but the flowers have since died but the plants are still alive so it looks kinda dull, I think it takes up to 6 months for an orchid to re-flower so we will hang on yet!

Rainy Day.

2008-03-10T15:01:00.009+01:00

Today is such an awful day with heavy rain and wind. I am not looking forward to getting Andrew from school, I will either walk or cycle. Poor Charlie wanted to go out the back and play but all he could do was watch the rain falling but he seemed to enjoy it!

I have so many things running through my head that I want to make. I think I better write them down and maybe I will get round to starting something soon. The cold, grey weather is so uninspiring and dull.

Yesterday we went to a flea market in Eindhoven and I bought the boys a play ironing board for 1.5 euro. They are very pleased with their new toy and have ironed everything in sight! Even Charlie's cloth nappies have been ironed. I was thinking of recovering it just so I can use my new toy Robert bought me last week, a new sewing machine. I have also dispatched him with an order for a book called Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing today but I am sure he will forget to order it.