Sunday, April 24, 2011

Blogs and Buddies. (part seven)

My deadline has come and gone and I have yet to review 4 more blogs so without further ado i am going to complete my mission and turn tothe task at hand.
Lets see who today's blogger is shall we..

Day seven: Wallflower DIY by Kaatje.

Kaatje is a  blogger from Belgium who currently has 2 blogs. Kaatje is a keen zinester and for those of you who who do not know what a zine is, it is definitely worth looking up and don't blame me if you get hooked (*wink wink). this is going to be a blog I will have fun following since it is packed full of tutorials and how-to's.One of the tutorials which really caught my attention is for a little letter needle book that stole my heart and will be number one on my list for a 'rainy day' project and considering we, in the southern hemisphere are entering Winter, is going to be anyone of these days now. The more I browse this blog, the more I am drawn in by really professional photos and the personal touches that really make the author of this blog more relatable.

I  really had to do a bit of searching through this blog to find the first entry which I feel usually sets the pace for the blog and is usually written when the blogger is at their most inspired.
The first post introduces us to Kaatje and gives us a feel of what she is about, telling us about her interests and  hobbies.
All in all a very inspiring blog with lost of uplifting aspects and definitely worth a browse.
This adventure was basically just a swap I entered to get some recognition in the blogging world and while I can plainly say that I have seen alot more traffic since the start of my project, I have gained so much more. An insight into the lives and musing of others, things which mean so much to them that they are willing to share it with the world. I have really have learned more than I expected in this journey and I am so excited to see what the next few days bring but till the next blog...Chow

http://wallflowerdiy.blogspot.com/ is where you can find this dolly loving zinester.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Blogs and Buddies. (part six)

The deadline for my blogging adventures is drawing nearer and I have decided to put my head down and really make an effort to represent these blogs as best I can. By the way, I have noticed a lot of traffic through my blog since the start of this adventure and I want to thank everyone who has taken the time out to blog about me or just those who have decided to stop by and have a squizz, thanks for the support. Here we go...

Day six : ...consciousness collection... by Em

Memtree, as she likes to be called , is all about sustainable lifestyle which is very honorable in my opinion. Most of us 'say' but how many of us 'do'? I believe it starts with yourself and any small contribution adds to the big picture which I believe this is what the blog is doing. This blog started in 2010 and has grown to 58 followers....that is quite a feat in itself. Memtree is a photographer ,and a pretty cool one at that, and an avid crafter. I was even surprised to come across a recipe that even a newbie cook ,like myself could follow and believe me, I have every intention of trying. It is safe to say this blog stimulates the mind, soul and stomach. I will walk away from this blog with a feeling of inspiration and and enlightenment and feel as though maybe I should do my part too in saving  this world we all love because as a fellow swapper said, "it's the only planet with chocolate" and if that is not a reason to be a little more self sustaining then I don't know what is.So for now...Chow.

Drop by http://consciousness-collection.blogspot.com/ and give memtree a shutout from me.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Blogs and Buddies. (part five)

Okay everyone, so it has been a while but now I am back in the swing and am ready to introduce the next blogger.


Day five : Betwixxt by Gracie

From the get go this blog has a lively and upbeat feel. Gracie is a wedding planner with a flair for the (in her own words) irregular. reading through her profile was like reading  letter from an old friend mainly because it is written in handwriting as apposed to text but also because she does such a good job at explaining herself that i fell like i have known her for years. Her most recent endeavor is opening an etsy shop. Betwixxt offers an eclectic mix of beautiful sewn creations and while browsing her goodies, led me to fall in love with a particular 'Betty Bag', a polka dot patterned clutch bag with a red accent....truly desirable.


There are so many topics to choose from so I just chose 'inpirational' and while I intend to read this blog from start to finnish, I decidedd that for today i would just explore one aspect of this blog. The 'inspiration' section has some lovely pics to look at and some daily ramblings which really give you a feel for this bloggers style as well as a pic of said blogger so you can put a face to a name.

http://betwixxt.blogspot.com/ is where you will find gracie

This blog is really fun and I am going to go explore it some more, why don't you join me and let me know if my analysis was spot on or off the mark so while I go read a bit more.....Chow

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Blogs and Buddies. (part four)

As another lovely Sunday evening comes to an end and all the planning for Monday begins, I take a moment out to explore another blog.

Day four: BPositivie. BFree by Becca

Becca's blog appealed to me from the get go. Her writing is on a very high level and you get the feeling that this blogger writes with ease and the flow of her work is very natural. I love the comfortable feeling she makes the reader feel and I am compelled to read more. This blog gives you the feeling of catching up with an old friend who you have not seen in ages and I can almost see her in my head as if having a conversation. Does this sound weird? If it does then I apologize but it is the only way I know how to explain. Becca also has a link to her etsy shop which is really worth a look, vegan recipes  and tips on how to be positive, what a great idea!
You can really tell that Becca loves writing, the passion shows in her work. Reading the entire blog will be quite a task but it is one I look forward to and definitely something which I plan on doing , I urge you to do the same.

Find Becca @ http://bpositivebfree.blogspot.com/

So while I go off to finish up Sunday chores and prepare my day for tomorrow I will love you and leave you and look forward to sharing more blogging adventures on this or that...Chow!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Blogs and Buddies. (part three)

Now that we have taken a little break, lets get right back into it.

Day three:  Urban Granola by Selina

Today's featured blogger is  Selina

Selina is an american blogger and is very family orientated, which I really admire. What caught my attention form the get go was her creative cooking and flair for decorating. I was dumbstruck by her cupcakes and being the cupcake-oholic that I am, I just kept staring at her amazing confectionery creations.

I love the layout of the blog which made it easy for me to follow and navigate.It is very clear that Selina loves her family and upon reading more of her blog, it seems as if she will be adding another addition to her family, that is right, she is preggers. Congratulations Selina !!!(BIG SMILE) I am a sucker for a cuddley baby and this blog has just the right amount of cute and ooh aah factor with cute smiling baby. There are more than enough photos for you to browse though of a really true happy family and in this day and age I think it is just what we need to give us hope in humanity.

I am not yet a mother but will definitely stay tuned and if the time ever comes then I will know where to turn to for advice. Great advice and nifty tips,this domestic queen gets 2 thumbs up.Until the next blog...Chow!

http://selinaisurbangranola.blogspot.com/ is where you can find Selina

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Stitching and sampling

For today I have decided to take a break from blog sampling and will spend a little time on my newest craft, cross stitching. I have already explained in an earlier post about my my little cross stitch kit that I found at a dollar store and today I will further on that topic in todays insallment.

I  found really early on that cross stitch is not as easy as people have made it seem and that while it is indeed a satisfying hobby, it is in so way an instant gratification. I though that I would do a cross stitch pattern in a few days and by that weekend I would display it proudly in my craft room. Little did I know that my first project would be a disaster. Where do I start? My first pattern was a scene with butterflies and flowers. I found my starting point and decided to do the border first. Disaster! My counting is not as good as I thought it was and this resulted in a frame that did not match up to its starting point. "No problem," I thought "let me just pull out a few stitches and back track" Okay now I was a few blocks off but that was okay by me, I would just move a few motives around to make it fit. So another great idea was to do all the black detail first and fill in the rest. Great idea, only that I ran out of black thread and my butterflies were more like a Picasso on a bad day. Needless to say I gave up on that pattern and decided to try something easier. That is when I came across the cutest little Deery Lou pattern. Now this I could do. So I bought another cheapo kit, threw away the naff pattern and invested in some proper thread this time. This pattern was much easier and even though I was totally off in some areas, the fact that the surface space of my little deer was so big, gave some room for mistakes. I am confident with this pattern and so far so good. What do you think? It is not done yet but at least it looks in proportion. I think I might want to get a tote bag made using denim and line it with pink gingham to correspond with the pattern and get a seamstress to sew the pattern on for me.

Deery lou in progress
Here is the link for a free pattern download by Raindropmelody on deviantart  http://raindropmelody.deviantart.com/art/Deery-Lou-Cross-Stitch-Pattern-169294096
So upon scouring the internet for some cool ideas, I found that a first project is supposed to a be a sampler. A sampler is an alphabet pattern that is usually very detailed and very embellished. I really do not want to do anything too old fashioned and dated, I would rather do something funky and updated like a neon sampler with cool icons like stiletto heels, cellphones and cupcakes  . I think what I might do is find an existing pattern and incorporate my own style into the pattern.Just an idea but I think it might work.

My stash has grown quite a bit too and I must say that out of all my crafting endeavors, cross stitch seems to be the cheapest. I have bargain hunted my threads, card bobbins, stash box and needles and have not spent all that much. A stash box usually goes for quite a bit but I found the exact same thing for a third of the price at the crazy store. By using a little imagination, you could really build your stash by using unconventional items. For eg, a friend of mine gave me some great advice and told me that instead of hunting around for card bobbins , that I could print my own on empty cereal boxes and just cut them out. There you have it, card bobbins that cost nothing to make.
my stash so far.
I really do hope to finish some cool patterns before I get into another craft and this one starts gathering dust. This may seem frivolous but at least I am honest and have come to terms with the fact that I will always be looking for newer and more exciting crafts to try out. I wonder what will grab my attention next? If you want to find out, stay tuned but for now...Chow!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Blogs and Buddies. (part two)

Lets see who our next blogger is for today.

Day two: Angel in a glass creation by Angelina.

Anglina is an American blogger .She is an fellow crocheter and nifty knitter, her work is amazing to say the least. She promotes her shop on her site which is really handy and sells  amongst other things, wrist rests ( try saying that ten times fast!) which I am loving because I keep getting dents in my hands from a not so user friendly keyboard. The shop is filled with crocheted cuties and really useful home made things, I suggest you have a peek though her shop which is located on etsy and trades under the name of  'MrsGlass'.
The layout of this blog is really pretty and is full of useful links and tips like a sewing pattern review. Scrolling through her blog, you will find many different subjects and topics from links for give-aways to charity work to free patterns. I am definitely going to follow this blog because of the diversity of topics.

You can Angelina at http://cinderella73077.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Blogs and Buddies. (part one)

A new adventure awaits me this week. As most of you know I am a member of the swap-bot community and my latest swap is to visit 10 blogs, leave a comment and the blog about it. I have been in quite a muddle because I am not quite so sure of how to do it until I started reading my fellow swapppers blogs and this seems like the best way to give each blog its own identity. I will write about a new  blog for 10 days, introducing you to them individually.

Here we go.
Day one: My frizzle by Rozemarijn.

This blogger is from Netherlands and has very cleverly blogged in dutch and english so it appeals to a wider variety of people. I am lucky in the fact that my other language is Afrikaans which is a form of dutch and while I can understand dutch as a written language, I would have trouble understanding it verbally, remind me to tell you of my language drama sometime because that is a whole different subject for another blog entry.
Back to My frizzle, Rozemarijn shares fun  tutorials and tips for craft minded people and for the not so crafty  there are recipes and  ramblings for you read, in fact she even showed us how to make fat balls which is a very interesting type of bird feeder that I honestly, never knew existed but now I am on a mission to make.

Pay Rozemarijn a visit at  http://myfrizzle.blogspot.com