Crochet Granny Christmas Tree

This original idea seems to be a very old one already. Anyway, thanks to Laura from Sew Ritzy Tizy who spied this granny Christmas Tree in an old woman's house, I was also able to replicate such a sweet ornament. As the name has already given you a hint, it is realised from simple green granny squares with white borders.   The baubles are simple sc or dc circles, and I also added a star (I used this free pattern) and a small string of sparkly yarn as a garland, to give it shine. I used a very small hook (1.1 mm) so my Christmas tree is only about 20 cm high.

PS: I just wanted to show you some goodies I just can't help adoring:

...and a little preview of the glittens I have made this weekend using this pattern - aren't they just lovely? :)

2 crochet cushions

I worked this cushions last summer, the rainbow one even did some trips in the car, but I only managed to finish the daisy one yesterday. They both seem to be very happy cushions, that's why I share their free patterns with you. Enjoy crocheting them!

1. Link to rainbow cushion free pattern: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/blooming-flower-cushion.html

2. I made the daisy pillow using this photo tutorial on facebook, but I just found another blog that treats the same pattern, so it's up to you to choose which one you use.

Iv cel Naiv - Book launch

It's hard to translate Iv in english, but maybe eventually he would find someone to translate his poetry into a foreign language. Iv is a contemporary poetry writer who doesn't want to reveal his identity for over 3 years now. He calls himself "the Naive". He launched 3 books by far and has a nice blog, but I prefer reading his poems one (or two, or three) at a time, before going to sleep, instead of following his blog... 

Last night he launched his 3rd book, Nesfarsesc, that would translate something like "Unending". Andie prepared with this occasions a lot of french macarons and a little surprise for five volunteers in creating unique flavoured and colourful macarons, based on a poem in Iv's book. I chose a poem about happiness, "Happiness is for the happy people", Iv sais. I used almond, roses and a bit of red pepper to flavour my poem, brown, vanilla and pink macarons for mixing together and red colour for the filling. I even drew a yellow heart on one of my macarons - my boyfriend got the message and ate it in a second. And the surprise was that the volunteers could keep the books they found their poems in!!!

Here are a few photos taken by me and my boyfriend during the event. Thank you, Iv and Andie! :)

Christmas ornaments: take one

I started doing Christmas ornaments from the very first times I did something crocheted, but I realised I don't have enough patience to finish up most of the projects. For instance, the light bulbs in this tiny Christmas tree that I just bought yesterday were supposed to be part of a garland that, eventually, would have represented an advent calendar, but I managed to finish only 8 bulbs out of 25...

The star looks amazing, but I found it so hard to make, that I don't know if I could do another one.

The little owl was just a test for a pretty square, that I also found difficult and meticulous to make.

I have other Christmas themed ongoing projects, but I will show you when I manage to finally decorate the Christmas tree I have displayed at home for over a month already...

This is how it looks like in my office now:

Links to free patterns:
1. Light bulbs advent calendar: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-light-advent-calendar
2. Star: http://www.sascha-lovetoknit.blogspot.nl/2012/12/de-kerstster-christmas-cal-4_11.html
3. Owl applique: http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/11/owl-granny-square-crochet-pattern.html

4. To make the skates, I only looked at a photo, so I don't have a pattern for it. If you want to try something a little different from what I made, apparently there is a free pattern here: http://blogalacart.com/2011/12/ice-skate-ornament/http://blogalacart.com/2011/12/ice-skate-ornament/