Shopping in Paris part 1

Two weeks ago I went shopping in Paris and I had a big crush on this gorgeous tray. I had seen it before in some magazines. And when I saw it in Bensimon, Home Autour du Monde, I just couldn't resist. I love the combination of the wolf and the lamb, the renaissance way of painting, the recto/verso.

Victor

This handsome young gentleman is Victor, named after Isabelle's and Frank's first born. I finally decided to make his hat out of felt instead of crochet because it looked fancier that way.

Benjamin

This cute little hippo is called Benjamin, named after Celine's first born. It took me a while to finish him because I just couldn't find the right proportions. But here he is.

Cross Stitching for Bitches

My sister gave me a great book for Christmas called "Borduren for Bitches" (translation "Cross Stitching for Bitches"). It is absolutely awesome! Julie Jackson discovered a new type of anger management therapy with cross stitching. Instead of doing the cute and kitch type of paterns, she uses outraguous phrases. Look at her website http://www.subversivecrossstitch.com/

I was totaly inspired and decided to make one for Siska, with the appropriate word "zuurpruim", litteraly "sour prune". It's an inside joke about one of her female bosses who made her life misserable... I think the contrast between this nasty word and the cute little pink bunnies and blue birds is a total hit!

Naughty Kitty

It took me a long time to make this new amigurumi simply because I had to find exactly the right design. I had promised my friend Siska on her birthday (July 24th!) that I would make her a Hello Kitty, but a naughty one. Well, it's not that easy to find out how you can "sex" up a "sweet little kitty". I finaly decided I would make it a black kitty instead of white, and with a lot of bling. Then I found on some japanese sites this half demon half angel kitty and that was it. As you can see she has little horns and a demon tail and is wearing a red, naughty dress. But she also has cute white little wings, underpants with lace and a big white heart with some bling. Needless to say Siska LOVED it! I think it's one of my masterpieces so far.

Christmas decorations part 3

I've made those 2 cute little Christmas mice for Julie & Sarah so they can each hang their decorations in their christmas tree. What makes them extra special is the little bells on their head so they make noise when you shake them... hihi.

And I've finally finished my first cupcake. Thanks to the pattern I ordered from Crochet Alley. I've also made a second, bigger one for Morgane's birthday, but I'm still waiting on the pictures. Scrumptuous isn't it?

Christmas decorations part 2

Since the doctor diagnosed that I had a viral infection and that I had to stay home for the rest of the week, I've had more time to do some crafting.

I made 2 new amigurumi decorations: Santa & a little Angel.

And here are my two favourite decorations that I bought in the States when I was a foreign exchange student in 1995-1996.

Christmas Spirit

It might not be snowing in Belgium, but how cute it this little snowman I made for my christmas tree? I've decided to try to make some of my own decorations this year.
Wait untill you see the cookies I'll make during Christmasbreak!

Hat for little Zoe

Here it is, Zoe's cute little hat. Hope she'll like it

Hello Mathilde

Hello Mathilde! Welcome to this world.

I made this cute little Hello Kitty angle for her and tomorrow I will send it by mail to Paris. I hope she will like it.

From the heart

This weekend the weather was so bad (tons of rain pouring and pouring and pouring), so I had a lot of time to do my crafts. As I needed to make a heart for my Hello Kitty, I tried out the pattern from MyGurumi. That's how I got this big red asymetrical heart. Pretty cool isn't it?

Of course, this one was to big for my small Kitty, so I tried to make a smaller pink one.

craft basket

Little Mathilde is born, the daughter of my friends An & Thierry. I'm making her a little Hello Kitty amigurumi doll. To be continued...

Cardigan Corine

Yes! I'm finished! This is Corine's cardigan.

Apple & blueberry pie

I'm back! These last few weeks have been so exhausting. I've been working way to much. And I had to take coarses on Saturdays. Pfff. But now I have a week of vacation (fallbreak) and I can get back to my crafts & other stuff.
On Sunday I baked this delicious apple & blueberry pie. You can find the original recipe in the last issue of Martha Steward's Living Magazine. Mmmmmmm.
I interupted my reading and started another book: "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown. Wow, it's breathtaking, again. I have to stop reading after 10 pm because otherwise I can't go to sleep!
And it looks like Corine's sweater will be finished by this weekend! Yes!
I have a lot of amigurumi to make after this for all my friends who are about to give birth. And a hat for Morgane and for Zoe. Busy, busy.
To be continued...

Monsieur Moustache

On September 13th, the famous fashiondesigner Monsieur Moustache turned 30. As I am a VIP, of course I was invited to his big party in Antwerp. On this special occasion, I made 3 little monsieurs moustaches, one with a tie, one with a bowtie and one with a bowler hat. This gift was very much appreciated by MM.

more pictures of the birthdaygirls

For true ladies

Run mad as often as you choose

but DO NOT FAINT

Birthdaygirls

This Sunday I went over to Tinneke's to celebrate 3 birthdays: mine, Tinneke's and Sarah's. I bought loads of party stuff and arrived with a party hat, a party wissle, was dressed in pink, had apetizers and made a birthdaycake. Sarah was a little bit overwelmed at first, but she loved it.

Sarah's birthday gifts were handmade amigurumi mushrooms. The stem is shaped with an Actimel bottle so it can stand straight. Right now I've made only two mushrooms, but Julie's birthday is in a couple of days and I will make some more for her too. They're supposed to be a set of bowling pins. You will see the total result after Julie's b-day.

I also made a delicious mouelleux au chocolat (heavy chocolate cake) with chocolate glazing. Sarah helped with the decoration. Boy, did she love to put those sprinkels on there!

The party was a big succes. The girls loved it. And it turns out that Ninie is also too hard to remember for the little ones, so it's Winie...

Tussen de soep en de patatten

This Flemish expression means in between things, while your busy with doing a lot of things. My life has been very hectic the last few weeks and I haven't allways had enough time to do my craft stuff.

I have allready finished two mushrooms, but I can't show them online yet, because they're a gift. I'm going to do something with moustaches also, but I can't tell anything more... Stay tuned! And of course I'm still working on Corine's cardigan... not an easy job.

I went to Decooh! in Brussels this weekend and was very inspired. Loads of Christmas decoration ideas. (My favorite time of the year)

I just discovered this amazing photographer on http://www.robyncumming.com/. Check it out! It's mindblowing.

La Paon

Check this out! My beautiful peacock necklace finally arrived today by airmail! Isn't it gorgeous? I found this on the Etsy site and its made by Courtney & Christina Spivak from White Owl http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5633312