Happy Weekend-Eve, lovely Yarnarinas!

🌼 This week has whizzed by, oh my goodness! How is it almost July!? My days definitely feel whizzier than ever, and I suspect it's doing everything as a solo person. I feel a bit guilty missing my husband's involvement in some of the household chores. But honestly, someone else doing a few dishes here and there, cooking an occasional meal, taking the dogs for a walk, or stopping at the shops on their way home from work makes a huge difference! I was listening to a podcast a few days ago where the host suggested taking a short pause between tasks to mitigate burnout, anxiety and/or stress. I LOLLED!!! I've 100% earned the cap, bumper sticker, t-shirt and lifelong achievement award for juggling several tasks simultaneously. Day in and day out.

🌼 However, in between what sometimes feels like soft chaos rolling the days along, there are our gentle morning walks. The dogs and I are all-weather walkers. Lately, we've been exploring higher up the slopes of Kasteelberg, following narrow pathways made by either small animals or infrequent woodsmen looking for dry wood. We've deliberately become happily "lost" exploring these little pathways, but our trusty Leader Laia has a nose on her that always leads us safely back downhill. 

🌼 Along the way, we met a towering, grandfather Bluegum tree with the most beautifully wrinkled skin and sturdy arms raised happily to meet the sunbeams (told you this weather makes me a little woo-woo!!).

🌼 This past week, we've been anointed with pure winter sunshine! It does feel like a mystical experience; it's so delicious! Taking advantage of this free resource, my little twin tub washing machine, nestled at one end of the studio porch, industriously pummels the dogs' blankets. Clean laundry is pegged on the washing line strung between two very old Almond trees. The grass in this area is cut only once the clover has bloomed (for the Bees, you know...), and today, the sun shines while a gentle breeze ruffles through. Gotta love free stuff, right?

🌼 So, the last time we chatted, I mentioned a new cushion-sized block pattern in the pipeline. Tadaa, see below the official sneak peek!! As always, I've had loads of creative fun with richly textured florals. As far as my own colourway goes, I think I'm sort of trailing in Floralai's wake! Or maybe these are just my favourite colours right now? We could call it a Winter palette? Speaking of our dear Floralai...carefully washed and stored away only for darling Noella to mournfully start looking for her blanket! I was mortified, having completely forgotten that she'd grown up snuggled in Floralai! It now occupies a permanent space on my worktable. For Noella.

🌼 In a few days, I'll release the Prelude for this pattern, which I've named EMBERWOOD. As many of you Lovelies already know, the Prelude is usually released two weeks before the official pattern release. This will give you a little time to plan your colourway and gather your favourite yarn! But...it's time for me to leave you in peace now before this becomes a novella! 😁

Thank you so much for your lovely comments, and one lucky Yarnarina has received her sweet gift (you know who you are). I've chosen our next gift from Tatsiana's collection, the BLOMMA SQUARE. So please do remember to add your Ravelry name with your comment. 

As always, Fridays carry a little weight of sadness. It used to feel like an unbearable weight, but time really does seem to lighten the load. On 29 July, it will be two years, Lovelies. The furry-bums and I have settled. Not rooted, mind you. Rooting is a whole other thing. But the ground beneath our feet feels less shaky, and our footsteps are a teeny bit surer as we lean into our daily routines. More than anything, establishing a routine (of sorts) has been the glue keeping body and soul together. To anyone else it might look like a boring life, but to us, our boring little life is beginning to feel like everything we will ever need or want. We are so grateful.💖

Take care of your precious selves, Lovelies; stay safe, stay calm, stay creative and crochet on!

💛Jen xxx

 

Happy Friday, Lovelies!

Winter has settled into the valley. Properly.

🌷 The mountains have been wearing their morning clouds; the fynbos is looking beautiful after the rain, and the dogs are enjoying the cooler weather far more than I am. Finally, their furry coats make sense!

Between walks, cups of coffee, and LOTS of time in the studio, I've managed to put together a little tutorial for the bowls that so many of you asked about after my last post. In comparison to making crochet tutorials, this was so easy peasy! As mentioned, YouTube has a gazillion tutorials covering air-dried clay projects. I'm a complete novice. As usual, I just jump into crafts and muddle my way through. Clearly I'm of the Learn From Mistakes club.

🌷 One of our Lovelies in the last comments section was asking about whether these Farls are baked in an oven or on the stovetop. The little video will explain it all. I think a cast-iron skillet, a heavy griddle or a heavy-bottomed pan works perfectly. You'll need a matching lid. The Farls "bake" best in a Dutch Oven situation...if that makes sense.😁

🌷 In other news, I am absolutely bursting with delight that I'm finally finding a happy work-life balance. These days I'm treating my studio as a proper "workspace". We (the doggies, kitties and I) open up each day, and lock up at 5pm. Weekends...are weekends. Time to rest, recharge (or catch up on laundry). I can't tell you how much this has helped bring a great deal of steadiness into the chaos that clouded the past few years. Also, I'm working on a brand new design! My forte...a cushion-sized block. Many of you Lovelies already know that it's my favourite size: 50 cm x 50 cm. If all goes according to plan, the pattern should be live in two weeks! I'm in love with my studio space and although it may look "messy" to others...I know where everything is! That's the most important thing, right? Below is one corner of the "divine" mess, but in the opposite corner there is a top-secret project in progress. But...I'm happy to share the colourway: Elle Yarn-Charity DK: Neptune, Ocean, Guava, Oxide, Wheat, Cider, Musk, Moss, also Beige and another colour with no name.😁

🌷 It's taken me a while to see clearly through the tangled mist of tears, loss, grief, relocation, fear and anxiety, but yesterday as I sat on the porch of my studio with the furries (my lunch break), I gazed at my tiny house through eyes of deep gratitude. I have a 53sqm, off-grid BLUE house! Oh my goodness! Mind you, it seemed impossibly tiny when I first moved in. But lately, it's revealed itself as just the right size for my little furry family and me. It's not fancy at all... but it suits us to a T!

🌷 I love that my BLUE house is set against the backdrop of the Kasteel Mountain, whose slopes have given us abundant natural healing through our long meandering walks. This mountain, this village and its people have made me feel more settled and enfolded into a place than I ever felt before. And that is no small thing.💙

There really is a mountain hiding behind the mist. We've had days, and days...and days of intense mist! Who knew it could be so misty in the Klein Karoo!

The only blooms so far are on the wild Rosemary, which is absolutely abundant on the slopes of the Kasteelberg! I wish you could smell the air, laden with the fragrance of wild Rosemary. Below the slopes, the little hamlet of Riebeek West, the Ceres and Cedarberg mountain ranges in the distance.

🌷 And last but not least...thank you so very much for all your lovely comments on the last post. Honestly, it felt like a very welcoming homecoming! I've gifted the adorable Bee Motif Pattern to one of our Lovelies (you know who you are), but I've dived right back into the same designer's offerings because her motifs are so sweet! Fiona's gorgeous Floral Butterfly Motif will be winging its way to one of you Lovelies, so please don't forget to add your Ravelry name to the comment section.

Until next time, lovely Yarnarinas, take care of your precious selves. Protect your peace like you protect your yarn!😁

Keep those hooks warmed up!

💛 Jen xxx