The Floral Hook

 

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