Chocolate dessert..

Oke oke and as it's Friday the 13th (what a great day!) and to go with the previous article: 3 video happiness recipe a superb chocolate dessert:

View the newest Cadbury and just remember: when you where a child weird things didn't freak you out and you just had fun!!!


Soooo cool! Go Cadbury's


and if you want more we also have the runway video (who wouldn't dream of working on an airport after seeing that!?) and the Gorilla drummer (a classic!).




Such fun at work these guy have...




Classic!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!

I like to wish you all a very good 2009! May it bring you health, wealth and happiness. May you have a year where good things come to you with ease and may you feel joy at being alive.


Celebrate Life!
If I may suggest one new years resolution that I feel all people int he world should try, then this is my choice: May everone stop for 10 seconds every day (this is one deep in out out breath) and in that moment feel what it is to be alive. Connect with that feeling and realise that all the people around them do the same every day... then go about your day. Do this for 10 seconds every day for 1 year and then look back and see how you feel.

Wear your poppies with pride!!

When I came to the UK in 2006 I didn't know why at the end of October people started wearing poppies on their coats. As The Netherlands never got involved in the Great War (we remained neutral and escaped the fighting) we never suffered like other countries during WWI. The poppies represent the fields in which so many young men lost their lives. These simple flowers was all that covered their graves. Fallen lives remembered each year when millions buy a poppy and wear it on their coat. Now the poppy stands for remembrance of the fallen and support of the men still in out there serving the country.

The poppy strikes a cord with me. In the Netherlands we have something similar: remembrance day. And I always feel quite emotional about the fallen. The day after on the 5th of May we celebrate Liberation day. The day our country was free again after the German occupation during WWII. And funny enought it's that word that has less meaning here in the UK: LIBERATION! The British Isles have not been occupied by an external force for such a long time, that it's hard to explain what liberation day feels like. To feel that men from countries like the UK, the USA, Canada and many other corners of the world came and fought for my countries liberation brings me to tears. That I grew up in a prosperous country where I as a woman have rights and I can speak my mind, have a career and/or a family if I wish it. To live a life in peace with loved ones is all because of the sacrifice of these brave men (and women that supported them back home) over 60 years ago. The word gratitude doesn't even begin to describe it.


Liberation of Stiphout, The Netherlands by the 11th British Amour devision on September 22nd 1944

So when I wear my poppy, I wear it for them. For those who fought for my countries liberation and I think of all the others that have fallen on battlefields for freedom. I also think of all the men out in the troubled regions of the world trying to bring balance and peace.



As a knitter I want to mention a very special poppy on the Knit on the Net website: one you can make yourself. When you donate £2 (about $4) to The Poppy Appeal you get to download it for free. But you have to be quick. The pattern is available until midnight on Tuesday, 11th November, 2008.


About The Poppy Appeal

(from their website)
Poppy Man has launched the 2008 Poppy Appeal among friends in Basra. This year's theme "Serving those who Serve" emphasises the need to help men and women who are serving today, as well as ex-Services and dependants.

The British public holds great affection and respect for its Armed Forces. The Poppy Appeal is your opportunity to show your support, so please give generously and wear your poppy with pride.

So please knit your poppy and wear it with pride!

iKnit day

On Saturday September 6th I went to my first ever iKnit day in London. It was great. Unfortunately I went alone as my knitting buddy Louisa moved back to Australia (Gosh I miss you girl!!). After arriving on time I joined an enormous queue at the Royal Horticultural Halls. It was snakeing around the building. It seems that most knitters will not be late when a day off knitting goodness is on the menu. All where exactly on time, which can't be said of the doors opening. We only had to wait about 10 minutes which was fine as it didn't really rain much.


So much to see and do

After entering the building I went to listen to Jane Sowerby who had a presentation called "Victorian Knitters vs Today’s Knitters". It seemed very interesting, but I couldn't hear a word. After about 20 minutes I could not guess by her lips what she was talking about anymore and I left. They really should have given her a mic. Such a shame as it seemed very interesting and I'm working on my first lace shawl. I then walked around the market a bit and payed for the first edition of a new sewing magazine to be send home later this month. After inspecting the market (which was extremely busy) I sat down on the stairs and enjoyed my duck wrap I had bought earlier at M&S (yum!). Then I knitted a bit on the shawl and watched a very good fashion show. It was old fashion knits (from the early war era). I took several pics with my mobile but for really good quality shots go to the Iknit Flickr page! I think I fell in love with at least half a dozen of the models (not the girls, the patterns!!)


a fantastic knitty day!

After the fashion show I spotted this girl spinning. She was part of a booth that sold handspun and fibre. I fell for one of the beautifull fibres and although I had promised myself not to get involved in spinning (don't need another hobby) I couldn't help it I was hooked. The girl was Moonspinning and the fibre was made by her booth partner Rockpool Candy (Inga). Both their fibre was for sale but the one I choose was made by Inga. Anyway Moonspinning was showing this girl how to spin and I was hooked. She didn't sell any spindles so off I went to look for one. In the end I bought a very beautifull spindle at the iKnit booth. They had quite a number and all where made out of different types of wood. I felt a bit like Harry Potter choosing his wand. The spindles where all much lighter than the one Moonspinning was using. This made it a bit harder to learn (I went back to her and she taught me! Yay!), but it was fab. So in the end I bought 200g of merino and 200g of alpaca fibre (undyed) and I am now practising.

I also bought fantastic yarn called Manos del Uruguay, Manos Silk Blend. It was £18 ($32) for two skeins and I hope to make a small Clapotis after I finish my shawl. And a Clover yo-yo maker. This funny little gadget is for leftover bits of fabric. You can sew them into decorative disks which you can use for decorative projects. I also watch a catwalk presentation by Maggie Jackson from Maggiknits. And although her work is very high standard and funky it was not my cup of tea. A bit too much going on in her creations. I like more classic knits I guess.

There was so much more: Yarn Harlot gave a talk (I missed out as the tickets had sold out), I had a chat with the Dutch Knitters over from Holland and it was great to speak to my fellow Dutchies. I made new friends, saw enormous knitting needles and saw gorgeous knitted projects. Can't wait till next year!



One of the Clover Yo-yo projects

Links:
Shaped yo-yo Clover projects
Normal yo-yo Clover projects
Ravelry links:
Manos Silk Blend yarn
Adamas Shawl I'm working on...

Where the hell is Matt?

I love this video. Our world is so beautifull and everyone dancing is so much better than everyone fighting. We should dance more!

Beautifull Iran

Kelar Dasht by Ali Madjfar

We all hear about that evil country Iran on the news every so often. And I'm not saying that the news channels are at at fault. I'm sure that what they are reporting is news. However I would like to point out that in Iran there are countless of people like you and me just living their lives. That besides the political view there is another that of our fellow human beings.


Isfahan by Ali Mudjfar

No one shows this better than Ali Madjfar. This extremely good photographer tells the story of his country in pictures. His beautifull landscapes makes me fall in love with his country even though I've never set one foot in it. If the pictures take your breath away, how magnificent must the real thing be? Ali also has the knack of capturing beautifull arab architecture. The colours and shapes are stagering and speak of a sparkling culture. And that is only his Throughout Iran gallery!! There are others on Persia: the ancient Iran, Caves, People, Nature, Insects, Birds, Skies and temples... and more!



Handicraft by Ali Madjfar


So for a new perspective visit Ali's site and get inspired!

Visit to Canterbury

Ever since I moved to the UK two years ago I wanted to go and see Canterbury. This because it's not to far from where I live and well because of the fact that:
Ever since I learned about Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales in English lesson at school.

So we decided to go during the Christmas break of 07, but we didn't because my boyfriend got ill. Then we decided to go during the May Bank Holiday in 07, but we didn't because I got ill. There where a couple more half formed plans after that, that never worked out due to unexpected (family) events. So when this May Bank holiday came up and my boyfriend mentioned going to Canterbury I decided not to get too excited about the idea. But the day came, we went and it was a superb day out indeed.

We left around ten as it's an hours drive. When we got there we parked at the station as it's easy to walk into town all you do is go to the roundabout where the tank/gas station is and turn left. You will then see the impressive city gate that STILL welcomes visitors from all over. How many people must have passed underneath that stone arch over the centuries?


Hidden treasures...

Behind the gate is the high street. Besides your usual British shops and some independent cute little stores there are hidden treasures here. Halfway down we found a great old church and a Elizabethan looking building. There was also a little stream and when I looked out I again thought: how many years has this view not chanced? The only difference is the clothes of the people futher along in the boat. That's all.

In the middle of the high street there is an alley going to the left. When you follow this at the end there is a huge gate, which is the entrance to the cathedral grounds. After you pay your way you gain access and low and behold the view opens up and the cathedral in all it's glory is before you. Quite impressive. I can see why.. when people still lived it huts and low buildings.. this building inspired awe.


The Cathedral, quite impressive.

On the inside the cathedral is massive and divided into various floors and parts. The hight of the building is dazzling and one wonders how they managed such a feat in the days before even the steam engine was invented. But then the Egyptians build the piramids.. still it's pretty amazing. One of the greatest beauties where the lead and coloured glass windows. Being more a spirtual person than religous I particulary liked the geometric ones which look modern and timeless at the same time. In fact I think these windows can be of great inspiration for modern design and crafts.


Beautiful windows all around

We followed one of the exits on the side of the building that lead into an enclosed section with out buildings. On one side there was a kitchen/herb garden with a great ruined wall with a huge tree next to it. I thought the scene quite pittoresque.


A peek at the back: ruins and tree..

After our visit to the Catherdral we had a very nice lunch and then proceeded to the gate again, but we didn't go through this time. Instead just before the gate we took a turn to the left and walked into the garden park that follows the river bank. It was a lovely warm, sunny may day and the park was full with people taking a stroll and enjoying the warm weather. It had little bridges over the stream that happily flowed along completing the picture of a lazy spring day.

On our way back we took small roads, instead of the motorway, to Ashford where there is a shopping outlet. The roads where lovely with overhanging trees and rolling country hills. Kent is absolutely beautiful. To complete the day we scored some bargains at the Ashford Designer Outlet. Which made a nice ending to a perfect day!

Link:
Read The Canterbury Tales online.

Wallpapered Magazine Holders

Having slight 'Magazine-holic' issues I always feel I need to find good storage for them. So with the new office almost finished I was on the look out. Bless Martha and her fantastic idea's. In July's Living I spotted the tutorial for Wallpapered Magazine Holders.


My new fab Mag Holders

So of to B&Q I went to buy my selected wallpaper. But when I got there you could tear a bit off for free to take home (and test against your wall I imagine). So that saved my almost £20. I took my scrap home and bought four KNUFF Ikea Magazine Holders at £2.99 each. After some crafing the result is quite stunning! If you want to do the same this is how you go about it:



Wallpapered Magazine Holders




You will need:
4 Magazine Holders from Ikea.
Wallpaper scrap
craft glue
pencil

First choose which part of the design will look best. I placed the wallpaper right side up on the table and used one of the magazine holders to roughly see what part would work best. If your scrap of wallpaper is quite large mark where the top and bottom of the magazine holders will be, taking an extra margin about about 2.5 cm (1 inch) and cut.

Turn the wallpaper right side down and trace around the Magazine Holder with a pencil four times. Match each side line up, so that they fall on top of eachother. Cut exactly on the lines.



Pick which end you want to start with and lay the wallpaper out in the right order. It's not a big deal if you mix them up as you can simply switch the Magazine Holders around at the end to reastablish the right sequence.



Take one of the strips and dot some glue on the back. Spread it around with a brush or scrap of paper making sure it's evenly spread out.



Position the wallpaper RIGHT SIDE UP on the back of the Magazine Holder. It's an easy mistake to place them upside down, so pay attention.



Make sure the wallpaper is alligned with the sides and no wood is showing. If you do see wood, lift it back up and shift it around a bit until it's in place properly.



Once it is in place, press down and smooth out from the center to the edges to avoid any air bubbles showing. Repeat the whole process for each folder.



All finished!!


It took me less than half an hour so it's a quick and easy project that brightens up a livingroom, bookcase or office in a cheap and fast way.

Happy Living Tip 3: One Sip Awareness

Are you busy? I sure am. Do the days rush past, giving you hardly any time to actually realise what is happening? No worries you are not alone. Many of us are in the same boat and to be honest it’s not new either. So it’s not surpising that there is a well known trick to make you less stressed and more at peace with yourself and your busy day. This trick doesn’t take any extra time after you practise it a few times. It’s really simple. By focusing on something small, in this case taking a sip of water from a glass, you bring awareness to what you are actually doing right that moment. By doing this your body calms down and you become less stressed. It also works on your mind. By focusing completely on this one action there is no room for anything else. So for one sip you mind is quite. And you have the choice of doing it as often as you like. One sip or ten. Whatever you feel you need.


Get a glass of water

One Sip Awareness

All you need is a glass of water (or another non-alcoholic drink)

Be ready to grab your glass and take a sip, here we go:
Reach for the glass and look at your hand reaching for the glass
See your fingers wrapping around the glass
How does it feels to your touch?
Pick up the glass
What is the weight like and can you feel your muscles respond?
Bring the glass towards your lips
Is there a shift in sensation in your mouth as you are about to drink?
Does it feel dry or is there more salavating now that you know you are about to take a sip?
Place the glass on your lips and sip
How does the drink feel? Warm, cold, cool, smooth, textured?
Taste the liquid in you mouth and be aware of the sensations
Swallow and feel the throat constrict
Can you feel it go down?
Return the attention back to your mouth
Is it the same?
Are you still thristy?
Do you want to drink more?
If so how do you know? How does your body tell you?

Finish your drink in peace. Bring awareness to however many sips you feel comfortable with. Even if that means only once every drink or even twice a day. There is no wrong or right.

The idea of drink awareness is well known to help become more in tune with youself and your surroundings. Oprah has an audio version of this excersise on her website connected to her 'A New Earth' Class. It's free and very helpfull! Please make sure to check it out.

Halo

I love Dutch Design. It's so hip and happening. A while back I spotted this great blog called Minirobot. It has all sorts of great, crazy items. Like the very funny and thankfully only visualy offending (your nose is safe) 'fart pants'. Yes! I know and I'm not joking either...


Odor free!! (thankfully)

But what I really liked was a lamp made by a Dutch designer named Wieland Vogel. I wrote him to ask the price, but he wouldn't say. The lamp is called Halo (Aureool in Dutch) and it's a fantastic concept. When you hang it in a room you can concentrate the light by leaving it small (great for dining) or pull it out which makes the light spread wide (great for lounging/parties). If you are interested you might like to inquire, although I'm not sure you would get an answers. I believe they might plan actual production or something of the lamp, however so far (and I've waited a few months for this post) I've not seen any evidence. However it's great for inspiration! I wouldn't mind a less industrial (more elegant) looking lamp that works in a similar manner.



Images from Minirobot

Dalai Lama: change the world... start small

Besides work, maintaining the vegetable plot, redecorating the house and still playing lots of World of Warcraft, I’ve been busy switching my diet. This new healthy diet requires more cooking, planning and preperation. More on that in a later post.


This cute Bee Happy image I found on Lollygaggin, a great artistic blog!

In short I've been a very busy bee, who’s been out and about a lot too. First I went to see the Dalai Lama in the Royal Albert Hall on the 22nd of May. I have never been to the Royal Albert Hall before, nor have I ever seen the Dalai Lama before. And it was quite an experience.

My colleague and dear Friend Louisa and I left work at lunch time and travelled to the Royal Albert Hall (RAH). The last part of our journey we took one of those old London Busses called Routemaster. These are still used on Route 9. We passed all sorts of demonstrations near the RAH. Chinese students (possibly hired by their government) protesting against the Dalai Lama. Some sort of Buddhist sect, Shugden Buddhists... protesting against the Dalai Lama. It was all a bit loud and chaotic. And angry too. Quite negative which says something about the protesters in my opinion. What sounds better: Dalai Lama stop Lying... or ...Dalai Lama tell the Truth. I would think the latter as it's a wish for good. Maybe they never heard of the Law of Attraction. This latter group seemed very religiously fanatic, something which I never understand. In the end religion is your own business but when it brings up hate and violence (intent) that to me is just the ugly side of humans and there is nothing religious or sprititual about that.


Bright lights are blinding...

After all that turmoil it was great to take our seats in this vast dome and watch the peace and cheerfullness of the Dalai Lama. He held a very good speach, sometimes hard to understand (because of his accent and bad sound). But this is what I took away from it:

You can not change big things if you don't change small things first. Change starts with yourself and it is your responsibility. We are all in the same boat together. Life brings ups and downs. We are all connected and all you need to do is recognise yourself in the other person.

In order to find happiness you must realise that everything is transient. Simply put: everything will pass away or change. That is what life is: change. We have a choice when it comes to dealing with change. We can either accept it or not accept it. If we choose the first option we take life as it comes, look at this moment and see the facts, our mind state and our feelings that are before us and move on from there. If we resist we do not accept the situation, mind state and our feelings and we go against what is (reality). This brings suffering.

So to end the suffering in the world do what you can to eliminate it in you. Because if you can not take away your own suffering, what makes you think you have any chance in making the world a better place. And the best thing is, anyone can do it. You don't have to be the president of a country or someone in a position of power. Start with you! Eliminate any unnessesary suffering from yourself and become happier. You will also become more an more able to help those you love and strangers who as was said in the beginning are in the same boat as you and I. By these small actions you really do help the world.

Namaste'

Alan Titchmarsh & Chelsea

I've always been a fan of Alan Titchmarsh. When he speaks the world slows down and without effort I'm in a relaxed state of mind. Everything is as it should be when Alan directs your attention. The world flows and it feels natural. If you do know know who Alan Titchmarsh is you might be wondering who this influential character is. Well, the answer to that is rather humbling I guess: he's a tv-presenter and gardener. Nothing more, nothing less. For years he presented Gardeners’ World on the BBC and I still find it a great loss that he no longer presents that program. Thank god he is still available to present the Chelsea Flower Show every year.


Chelsea is ON!!

The Chelsea Flower Show is named the greatest in the world and for good reason. The sheer scale, involement, knowledge, passion, vision and expertese that goes into this show are staggering. Not to mention money. Out of nothing a whole series of show gardens, small gardens and exhibition stands appear in a mere three weeks. Ofcourse I can talk on and on about new idea’s etc etc. But there is only one way to experience the Chelsea Flower show and that is to see it. The “>preview to the weeks broadcasts was shown on Sunday, but you can still view it via the BBC iPlayer! And I highly recommend watching any episodes that become available on the iPlayer this week. The preview show is nice, but the main show has all the jewels that form the crown that makes Chelsea the Queen of Garden Shows. Just type in ‘Chelsea’ in the search field at the top right of the page and hey presto!.


The Daily Telegraph Garden designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd
center>

Links:
All the Chelsea Flower Show info on the BBC Website
“>Chelsea in pictures on the Guardian website
BBC TV coverage scedual
Chelsea in pictures on the Telegraph website

bon bon(d) wrappers

Pretty colours... nice scent

Like Gwen Stefani sang: If i was a rich girl.. la la la la la la lalala la. Well if I was a rich girl I might have bought this little box full with colourfull wrappers. Inside is a little glass vial of perfum. However I would need to be quite rich in order to spend £182 ($264) on something so indulgent and unnessesary. Until then I thought the pretty colours could brighten up my blog for nothing. Hehe. Inspiration is free!!!!

Spotted on the Kiss and Makeup blog in February, made by Bond no. 9 and sold by our very own Harrods.

Yarn Crawl

The Thursday before easter we got the afternoon of at our office and so me and my friend Louisa thought it a good oportunity to head to some yarn stores in London and buy some yarn.


iKnit, you knit, we knit!!!

We discovered that iKnit London had moved... closer!! It used to be in Vauxhall but now it’s moved to Waterloo. So we did a test run (walk) and it is now possible for us to walk there in 20 minutes from our office near London Bridge. So that means: 20 x 2 = 40 min walking which leave: 20 min shopping! Hooray! Ofcourse on our first visit we stayed much longer and inspected everything they had. A very nice customer (who was knitting on the comfy sofa they have gave us advice and joined in a chat. What a nice vibe it was. Hooray once more for iKnit.


Summery colours...

In the end I bought wooden dps (tiny ones for portability), a pattern booklet with something I liked and something Lousia liked and a skein of lovely yarn: The Natural Dye Studio Dazzle - Blue Faced Leicester 4ply/Sock. This yank reminded me of watermelons, summer, nice bright weather and all things cosy. Talking about watermelons... my Ravelry friend Just Claire posted some very fun watermelon stitchmarkers on her blog! Very nice! Makes me think of getting back into fimo.


Super cool 'summery' stitchmarkers

After this nice purchase we left to proceed to our next yarn shop: Loop. Ofcourse it rained. It’s London in March what do you expect. It was very windy too and I just managed not to get soaked and not loose my umbrella (or fly away like those horrible nannies in Mary Poppins). The bus (number 341 a direct line to the next stop on our yarn crawl) just didn’t want to come and we wondered if we would felt. In the end we didn’t felt and the bus did come and we managed to find Loop (with the help of a lovely lady. She saw us on the bus and hear us talking about the stop. It then seem the most important thing to her to get us off at the right one. She kept word and we left her happy in the knowledge she’d done her good deed of the day.


Loop: cute but lacking a warm welcome


Stepping into Loop was completely different from what I expected. It was the tinest little shop and very cute. It was stuffed full with yarn (<- very good), but there was no place to sit and socialise (<- not so good). The vibe was not bad, but it lacked that ‘feeling welcome and at home’ vibe. The single member of staff (owner?) didn’t seem very happy, perhaps because of the weather, but it was a little bit of a let down. We saw the cutest things though like this little felted chick filled with sand that could sit on a ledge with it’s feet dangling down. Soooo cute. We also saw the famous Knitted Vases. I was planning to do a blog post on this, but a pic will do just fine. When you can see there is not much more to add.


Knitted or not...

Anyway back to yarn. I also found two good candidates for my One Skein shrug that I am planning to make. The first was a very nice fluffy Alpaca (if I remember correctly) that was loosly spun and very lovely. The second and the one that ultimately came home with me was two skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes. The first felt very nice, but the colour of the second suited me better. And I have to say I’m well pleased with my purchase. It’s a bit ropey and looks ‘thight’ not loose and fluffy if you get my meaning. But this means a very ‘structured’ knitted feel to the ‘fabric’ once I knit it up... well I hope.


Yummie yarn soon to be my shrug

And finally we stepped into a ‘cornershop’ type yarnshop just around the corner from Louisa and I tell you it’s a good find. It looks cheap and is filled with ‘cheap’ acrylic, but they also carry the good standard brands, like Rowan. And it’s very affordable as they are not overpricing like the ‘posh’ yarn shops. The shop also sells tons of other craft stuff and it’s a good thing we are redecorating and I can’t get my sewing machine out... Such nice notations. Sigh... And on that note I’ll end my long long post. Happy Knitting everyone (and me!!).

If you are not in the UK you can visit these shops online:
iKnit Online Shop
Loop Online Shop

Noro Striped Scarf

Sometime in January I went to John Lewis and took a peak at the yarn department sales. There I fell in love with Noro yarn (that wasn’t on sale). Up until now the Noro virus had passed me by and I just didn’t get it. To me Noro was an expensive yarn with too many things going on both colour and structure wise. And it’s still true that there are heaps of Noro that I feel the same way about still, except for this one skein I grabbed and took home. It’s Noro Silk Garden Lite 2010. It goes from Lilac to grey then red, bright pink, purple, dark inky blue to sky blue then aqua, light grey and finally lilac again. Gorgeous.


Pretty colours... love Noro Silk Garden Lite in 2010!

So there I was with one skein and no idea what to make of it. As so manny knitters I had just grabbed it and didn’t want to let it go. After some cuddling with the yarn (yeah.. I know, but it’s not called a virus for nothing.. you end up doing things you normaly might not do) I decided to see what I can make with one skein... So I visited the one and only place to start such a pilgrimage.. Ravelry!?


The Slim Noro Striped Scarf...

There I saw the Noro Striped Scarf. A fantastic scarf that used the colour changed of the Noro to make this quirky funky scarf that just screames: COLOUR! I usually wear muted colours because I think they look good on my. I love a bit of bright, but a whole top in a screaming colour is just a bit much for me. I try but it’s hard. So a Noro Striped Scarf of my own would be a fantastic way to add a splash of colour without feeling like a Telly Tubby. In the end I decided to knit a punk-scarf. So the Noro Striped version, but thin and long. A hip look for my nice (but boring) black coat.

So I set to work to start my sample to see how wide I should make it and ofcourse if I liked it. I loved it! But one skein would not do. I knitted it all up because I couldn’t stop... I wanted to see how the striped turned out, etc. Now I also knew how much ‘scarf’ one skein would knit into. I calculated that I needed about three skeins, but I ordered three (ending up with four) to be on the safe side. I ordered via Fabstract who sold me the skeins for £5.95 and didn’t charge for P&P.


One of my failed attempts...

So I ripped back my original 1/3 of the scarf and started again. Happily knitting away. There was one section that didn’t stripe. When knitting I thought this wouldn’t be bad as there might be other non-striping bits. I was wrong, it was the only one and it looked odd. So I fixed it. I didn’t rip back as it was about 1/4 into the scarf, so a lot of reknitting if I frogged. I used two dpns and stuck them through the rows above and below the plain section and cut the yarn, then ripped out the section between the needles. From the bottom one I re-knitted the frogged bit (taking care to make it stripe) then coming to the top needle I sewed the two ‘halves’ together by studying the way k1,p1 knitting looks from the website How Stuff Works. I had to redo it about 10 times due to errors. It’s really though and quite hard because the stitches dont stay put the same way as in the drawing. They hang around the needle from front to back as the needle sticks through them sideways. And on paper ofcouse all the stitches are neatly lined up side to side. But I managed and the result is fab, it looks just like a knitted row and even I can’t find it no more.


I love how the colours change again and again

The Beauty of Handmade

In this world of Made in China handmade products are heaven send. I hope that financially I’ll soon be better off and able to afford some handmade myself. In the mean time let me show you this treasure and then tire you with some issues.


The most sophisticated cupcakes I've ever seen...

On Ravelry we find all things knitted. Great patterns and great gifts! One of the most inspirational and beautiful finds are products made by Julie of Little Cotton Rabbits. I first spotted her work when I did a tag search in Rav for cupcakes. These beautiful cupcakes appeared and where sooooo yummie I almost ate my monitor! :P I checked out the maker and found other items she made every better. Julie is the maker of the cutest toys ever seen (hence the name: Little Cotton Rabbits). She makes all sort of toys (not just rabbits) that seem alive with goodness and kindness. I tell you they are so cute you don’t care you’re not 6 years old no more. Some toys are ageless and these are like that. They have a good old fashion feel to them and yet are hip and happening. So if you fancy owning one or giving one, or you just want to check out Julie’s work, then visit her webshop and keep up to date with Julie’s Blog and don't forget to check out her free patterns!


Little Cotton cuties! The perfect gift!

So why buy handmade? Well I guess I could now start a whole talk about capitalism and consumerism or whatever –ism may be in right now, but it’s not that complicated. We live in a world where you can not escape mass produced products without making it your lifes purpose. So you can choose that route or simple not bother with any of it at all, but there is also the middle way. Where you can (and can afford) choose handmade. This also goes for organic and fair trade. If the whole western population where to choose handmade for every 1 item in a 100 they bought, it would change the world. You may not realise this as an individual, but you are part of a great mass of buyers. You are in a way like a star in the sky... one amonst billions. If we all choose to buy handmade once in every 100 buys the volume will be vast! So for the next birthday perhaps you will consider something hand made. And there are great gifts. Look on Etsy and you will have trouble choosing between all the great (extremely affordable) finds.

Happy Living Tip 2: Heart breathing

Have we lost touch with our heart? Being generous, kind and compassionate seems a hard thing now a days. We are always in a hurry and get upset when someone doesn’t move out of our way fast enough (whilst walking or in traffic). More and more we react with anger and feel insulted by the other persons lack of understanding/respect for your situation. Surely they can see you are in a hurry? And why would they block the road like that in the first place: can’t they think!! Sounds familiar. Well don’t worry you are not the only one. Today lots of people are stress and rushed. And all you need to do is go back to your heart! The Institure of Heartmath has discovered that focussing on your heart takes stress levels down by leaps and bounds. So to help you create some breathing space in your life. You feel peacefull and joyfull which makes you a kinder person without any hard work. Infact it’s a feel good excersise.



Heart breathing

You can do this excersise a few times a day. Sit, stand or lay down (depending on where you are and how you feel) and breathe deelpy three times, slightly pauzing after the inbreath before starting on the outbreath. Now focus on your heart space. Imagine the breath going through the heart: each inbreath is filling it up with energy and oxygen and each outbreath disposes of waste products (negativity and/or carbon dioxide). Whilst continuing breathing through the heart space and keeping part of your focus there, think of something that makes you happy. This can be anything: a beautiful place, the love for your child, a nice piece of music... whatever you choose makes sure it’s a good thing. It can be a human, and object, a place, sound or even the idea of being in tune with the universe. Feel the feelings that come with the thought and how it opens up your heart. Focus on your breathing again for three more breaths to finish of the excersise. Now go out into the world and be happy, peacefull and open!

Happy Living Tip 1: Flowerfeet

The first tip is about connecting to your body (in this case your feet) and the earth. Gardeners know we are all connected to the planet, because they see how it works, year after year. Everything you do in the garden effects so many things. Crop rotation, composting, watering, feeding these are the steps with a major impact. But what about smaller things, like the bees that furtalise our crops and flower gardens. Only in the last few years with CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) have we realised how important bees are. Without them we would not eat as they are responsible for pollanating lots of our basic foods. We depend on these tiny little creatures and they depend on flowers who depend on the earth.



Flowerfeet

Sit in a comfortable position with both feet flat on the ground. Imagine a flower growing into being underneath both soles of your feet. It's a type flower you like and it is slowly opens when in touch with the warmth of the earth. Feel how your feet seem to feel connected with the earth like the flower. Your feet seem to open up and the connection with the earth feels warm and natural. Feel what happens. Does energy seem to flow from the earth into your feet or is it the other way around. Are you in need of energy or are you releasing stress? No matter what is happening, let it be. Feel when it is enough and imagine the flower closing slowly. Wiggle your feet about and pay attention to how your feet feel now.

Back to Basics

We live in a very thought-orientated world. We sit at our desks and work with our minds. We study and discuss, read and write. We live in thoughts when reading papers and watching telly. We have an opinion on everything, because that is what we think makes us unique and who we are. We are always busy planning and solving problems in our heads. In fact we are now so busy thinking all the time, we seem to have lost our ability to give ourselves a break. In fact we seem to fear it, as if we stop being who we are if we let go off all those imagined important issues and just Exsist.

It happens by accident sometimes. When we see a beautiful sunset over a fantastic landscape, so awe inspiring it takes our breath away and our thinking. You just seem to BE as the splendor unfolds in front of your eyes. For that brief moment there is no thought, and still you are there. One with the earth and her beauty for those few heartbeats.


Sunset at the Secret Beach

Besides not being in touch with what usually happens around us, because we are living in our heads, we also seem to forget our bodies. Sometimes we manage to fit in a gym session or a walk, but that is about it. But even then we are not really feeling what is going on inside, we are planning the day or thinking of what happend with so and so yesterday. Our body has become a tool to a means and we see (and feel) it less and less as a part of us. It has been proven that body awareness prevents stress and other modern diseases like migraines and psychological issues. Being in touch with your body is a very natural state of being which is why it is used in meditation. Every single cell has life and all these cells give you form.

So to give your mind a break I'll be posting Happy Living Tips from now on. These are meant to give you fun idea's and take you back to basics. So let it all go for a few moments and use a Happy Living Tip...

Charlotte's Warning

A few weeks ago I posted some Sad News. My friend and colleague Charlotte had lost her baby girl Mira. Now Charlotte has bravely told everyone at work what happend and she gave premission to publish it on my blog. Why? Because it might save another baby's life. So please take a few moments to read this and tell people. Even if you read/hear this once, the moment it happens to you it will trigger and save lives. I'm sure of it.


photo from Riley Photography


Charlotte's mail:

I know I haven’t spoken much about what happened on the night my baby daughter Mira died as it's been too painful for me to keep reliving it. But now we have a few answers, I'm breaking my silence in the hope that this post may help to raise awareness.

After Mira was born, I developed tonsilitis and was kept in hospital for 4 days under observation and so they could give me antibiotics. There were a few delays as the maternity ward was so busy, and I ended up getting worse rather than better. On the day I left hospital, I developed my first ever cold sore. I asked the midwife who was looking after me if there was any treatment or if it was dangerous. She told me it was just because I was rundown after the birth and lack of sleep from being in a ward full of screaming babies (not Mira, of course - she was always so good and never cried ;-) ). There wasn't any treatment as it was a viral infection and it would just go away on its own. It did - it disappeared after a day - almost as quickly as it had come, and I didn't think anything more about it until after Mira died and it was suggested as a possible cause.

Anyway, Mira seemed perfectly healthy when she was born and a very placid, peaceful, content baby. She hardly ever cried, but we just thought we were lucky and that she was laid back, chilled out half-Egyptian baby! We settled her in well at home, and were loving every minute of being a new little family of three. Even up until the day before she died, we were unaware that there was anything even slightly wrong with her. She wasn't feeding very well, but we were told this was quite normal in newborns and that she'd settle into a pattern before too long and that it was nothing to worry about.

She became ill very suddenly, and although she had been seen by two doctors and a midwife on the day she died, nobody realised she was actually a very sick little girl. Her symptoms were so non-specific - poor feeding, restlessness, a slightly sticky eye - conditions seen in thousands of newborn babies and more often than not absolutely no cause for concern. What we didn’t know was that possibly even before birth, an infection was creeping its way through all of her internal organs and only became apparent when it was about to totally overwhelm her tiny body.

Five weeks later, we've just had the results from Mira's post mortem - the cause of death was disseminated Herpes Simplex Virus 1, contracted during or at the time of birth, with staphylococcus aureus septicemia as the secondary cause of death. What this means in plain English is that she died from the common cold sore virus that is present in 85% of adults. Only 6 babies a year die from this here in the UK, it's so so rare it's almost unheard of.

My GP told me yesterday that because it was my first ever cold sore, I wouldn't have had any antibodies in my blood to pass onto Mira before the birth and that was why she wasn't protected and so vulnerable. They said it was so rare for me to be developing my first ever cold sore at my age, which is why the midwives wouldn't have thought it was any risk at all to my baby.

So, sorry for such a long mail, but I just wanted to pass this information on. We had never heard anything about this before - and nor had any of the doctors or health professionals who saw Mira before she died.

I want people to know about this danger - I know it won't bring Mira back, but I wish I'd been aware of the devastating consequences of cold sores.

Please pass this information on to anyone you know who might benefit from being aware of this tragedy.

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Charlotte is still not sleeping very well, which is understandable. She's a very strong and brave woman that has gone through a lot lately. I'd like to thank her so so so much. I never had a cold soar and didn't know it was so dangerous. Thank you Charlotte.

I (and I'm sure many of you) wish her all the best this year and hope she will recover and heal. Bless you Charlotte!
*Big Big HUG*