Country & Cosy

Preparing Easter decorations

2012-03-04T11:07:00.000+01:00

What: is it Spring yet ?

Yarn = Rowan's "British Sheep Breeds Bouclé"

Well, not really but anyway it's time to prepare some Easter decoration.

First thing (finished this morning): this funny sheep.

Country & Cosily yours !

A Springy Saturday

2012-03-03T15:03:00.000+01:00

Purple crocus

As some flowers are showing in the garden...

Hydrangeas

... others are fading away.

Birds are singing here and there...

... and cats enjoying the nice weather...

... after the rainy days of last week.

Spring is in the air...

...and on my crochet.

Rowan's "Handknit cotton"

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Country & Cosily yours !

Top-down raspberry cardigan

2012-02-28T18:32:00.000+01:00

Rowan Pure Wool dk

I love starting a new project:

selecting the yarn...

...choosing the color...

...watching, row after row, the project taking shape...

...and enjoying every stitch.

Country & Cosily yours !

Top-down striped raglan cardigan #2

2012-02-26T21:53:00.000+01:00

Finally finished and already worn !

Country & Cosily yours !

Bamboo

2012-02-22T17:06:00.000+01:00

Today I'm on holiday.

One day to enjoy waking up late in the morning...

spending time with my little family and...

"Bamboo soft" by Rowan

... going through yarn.

I bought this bamboo yarn last week

and had the surprise of receiving it on Monday.

It will be the first time I work with bamboo

which is, I've heard, pleasant to work with and to wear.

And among other pleasures of being on holiday:

watching the cat taking a well-deserved nap ! ;-)

Country & Cosily yours !

Fire !

2012-02-19T22:13:00.000+01:00

Today we had a funny family gathering at my mother-in-law.

We waited long after sunset to gather around a fire set in her garden.

Such a nice souvenir and a good photography exercise.

Country & Cosily yours !

Be Creative...

2012-02-15T21:05:00.002+01:00

by Schleiper

When you enter Be Creative, the first things you notice are colours..

... everywhere !

Source: Be Creative

I discovered this new shop some months ago and was immediately seduced:

all crafts are highly represented.

Source: Be Creative

Are you a wood worker ?

Fan of scrapbooking ?

Source: Be Creative

Ribbons, beads, perls or buttons... you name it, they have it !

Be Creative happens to be the biggest craft shop in Brussels...

with a huge book department.

Quilting... sewing... crochet... knitting books...

in French, English and Dutch...

Source: Be Creative

...with a nice place to sit while browsing them.

Or course sewers will find what they need.

A problem with a creation ? "Open tables" are organised to help you...

Source: Be Creative

... as well as workshops...

Source: Be Creative

... for adults and children.

Source: Be Creative

Last, but not least: the yarn department !!!!

Be Creative it's the complete Rowan collection.

Difficult to resist and leave the shop empty handed ! ;-)

Hum-yummy... I would buy them all ! ;-)

I wanted to share with you this source of inspiration...

... a place that should absolutely be seen...

... and I hope you enjoyed the tour.

But before leaving, I would like to thank Hélène

who allowed me to take pictures of her shop

and provided me with some of her own.

Mille mercis Hélène pour votre gentillesse !

Country & Cosily yours !

Who want's to be my Valentine ?

2012-02-14T08:42:00.000+01:00

Agathe... Naomi... Dame Peluche... ?

Ok girls, just let me know ! ;-)

I'll wait patiently

Happy St Valentine to you all !

Country & Cosily yours !

Mini granny blanket

2012-02-11T20:46:00.000+01:00

12 granny squares...

...linked together by simple crochet stitch.

A simple pattern...

... for a future blanket to be finished.

Country & Cosily yours !

Thank you Tatyana !

2012-02-06T20:21:00.000+01:00

No Bonbon, it's not for you !

It's a present FOR ME from Tatyana ! ;-)

A big parcel full of surprises, for my biggest pleasure...

Even Gaston thinks the presents are for him ! ;-)

After a very long trip from Australia,

Little Owl has found a place to rest... next to his new friend.

Country & Cosily yours !

Ta-daah !

2012-02-05T20:11:00.000+01:00

When I left you yesterday, it was the beginning of a new project.

Today I can show it finished:

A top-down crocheted cardigan for my new friend.

Country & Cosily yours !

It's only the beginning

2012-02-04T17:12:00.000+01:00

Today we woke up surrounded by a snowy landscape and freezing temperatures.

A very good excuse to stay at home and start a new project.

To be continued...

Country & Cosily yours !

Thank you Meggie

2012-02-03T19:55:00.000+01:00

A few days ago, I had the honor of receiving the above award by Meggie

and I thank you for that !

In order to play the game, I first need to distribute that award to 15 blogs I love to visit

But 15 it's not enough so I will save myself that torture

and invite you to consult the list of blogs in the left margin

(I love each and every one of them)

Then, I need to tell you 7 things about myself. So here we go :

1- I'm wearing glasses: can't see clearly without them; can't read with !!!

2 - I cannot live without a watch !!

3 - I'm married for almost 15 years to this handsome man.

4 - I lost 8 kilos and cut my hair (I've been wearing long for 30 years !)

5 - I'm a big cat lover: I cannot imagine a home without at least one.

6 - I'm a gadget woman

7 - Purple is my first favorite color and I love many more !!

Country & Cosily yours !

Desperately waiting to be finished

2012-02-02T21:51:00.000+01:00

I really should get back to quilting !

Country & Cosily yours !

First snow

2012-01-30T16:49:00.000+01:00

Today we had our first snow of the season.

Perfect time to go out and discover the streets under a white coat.

Simple moments of life in my village.

Taking little roads just for the pleasure, before getting back to the warmth of home.

Hoping you enjoyed the walk.

Country & Cosily yours !

Saturday story

2012-01-28T12:32:00.001+01:00

Today, 2 men of the municipality came with a big red machine.

They had to cut a tree in the neighbourhood that threatened to fall down.

Petronille didn't seem worried about all the noise but interested by the birds.

In order to take some pictures, I went outside.

Very impressive, don't you think ?

And while DH was picking up the cut wood

(that will end up one day in our stove),

2 Border Collies approached.

One was watching me and by the time I shot the picture

DH passed in front of the camera !!!!

So this is how a picture I thought completely missed ends as the Picture of the day

Country & Cosily yours !

Thank you Ann !

2012-01-27T20:05:00.000+01:00

I like it when coming back home from work I see a surprise on the table.

This was the case last Tuesday when a parcel from Canada was waiting for me.

And look what I found:

A country garland I plan to put in my future craft room.

Merci Ann pour ce merveilleux cadeau.

Country & Cosily yours !

Whou-houuuu...

2012-01-25T18:46:00.002+01:00

... says the owl !

A great tutorial, simple and fast to make.
(enter the gallery and then click on "next" to access the step by step pictures).

Thank you Cecile for the inspiration.

Country & Cosily yours !

A purse for my new camera

2012-01-22T13:45:00.001+01:00

Sunday, perfect day for sewing...

...after a little walk in the garden...

to take some fresh air.

And while I was putting the last hand stitches to my last project,...

... I noticed a little "spy" in the garden.

A new purse for my new camera.

Wishing you a nice Sunday.

Country & Cosily yours !

Reading while knitting...

2012-01-17T13:31:00.000+01:00

Source

... or knitting while reading

Source

Combining two pleasures...

Source

... one way or the other.

Yarn = "Pure wool DK" by Rowan

Country & Cosily yours !

Top-down striped raglan cardigan

2012-01-16T20:20:00.000+01:00

Here is the project I'm working on this evening...

on the sofa and in front of the television.

The perfect program...don't you think ?

Country & Cosily yours

Organisation and storage ideas

2012-01-13T20:34:00.000+01:00

Source

If everything goes like we expect...

Source

I hope to have my craft room before the end of the year

Source

So now I can start browsing the web, looking for storage ideas.

Source

Country & Cosily yours !

"Handknit cotton" and "Pima cotton" by Rowan

2012-01-11T10:55:00.000+01:00

Today, it's Spring ! No kidding: Spring is in the air.

So I put my boots on, took my camera and had a stroll in the garden...

... to take some shootings of knitted projects...

... well, knitted samples would be more correct.

As a "good resolution" of 2012,

I decided to make gauges before starting a project.

Something I rarely did in the past

but now that I would like to knit more sweaters, it's really important.

The yarn I'm testing: Handknit cotton (blue) and Pima cotton.

I bought a ball of each in order to test them before choosing which one I prefer.

Both are machine washable (very important to me) and pleasant to work with

but I'll definitely go for Handknit cotton.

Now I can make my calculations for my next project...

and choose the right colour !

Country & Cosily yours !

Today is yarn day !

2012-01-08T12:47:00.000+01:00

Going through my drawers, I discovered some forgotten treasures...

100% Superwash Merino Wool - needles n° 4,5 - +/- 225 m

... like this Lorna's Purple Mustang yarn.

But also some yarn I bought not too long ago...

... waiting patiently to be worked with.

I just need to find the right project.

London greetings

2012-01-05T22:12:00.000+01:00

Still enjoying our trip to London...

with lots of places to visit...

... and beautiful things to see.

We're lucky with the weather...

... and appreciating every moment.

I even took the time for some shopping...

... but no yarn !!! No, I don't feel sick ! ;-)

Hope to be back soon.

Hello from London !

2012-01-04T17:22:00.000+01:00

After 2 hours train...

here is where we arrived.

There was no mistake possible...

... no doubt at all.

It's exactely how we thought it would be, and we love it !

Hello from London, where we are spending a few days !

First project of 2012

2012-01-02T13:25:00.000+01:00

"Pure Wool Aran" by Rowan - needles n° 5

Because I still have more than 960 m of the yarn used for this project,...

... because making myself a top-down cardigan

was one of my "good resolutions" for 2012...

... here is my first project for 2012 (started 2 days ago after midnight !):

a top-down striped raglan cardigan (nothing less, nothing more).

Happy 2012 !!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.001+01:00

I'm wishing you all a Happy and Merry 2012

full of simple pleasures that make life so magic !

Last finished project of 2011

2011-12-30T15:11:00.000+01:00

Vormorgun Létt-Lopi Vest

I enjoyed every stitch of this project,...

"Pure wool Aran" by Rowan - needles n° 4 and 5

... and discovered a great yarn.

A pleasure to make and to wear.

My last finished project of the year.

Bye-bye 2011

2011-12-29T22:53:00.000+01:00

Time to look back on some finished projects of the year, before making plans for the next.

Mini stitching

2011-12-27T15:21:00.002+01:00

A mini-stitching, just for the fun.

A small decoration for the entrance.

Finished right on time... or not too late !

With the help of Anne-Pia

2011-12-25T16:45:00.000+01:00

I wanted to sew something funny...

... something useful...

... something quick and easy to make.

"Hånd I hanke - Sy og quilt" - Anne-Pia Godske Rasmussen - ISBN: 978-2-35032-163-9

And Anna-Pia's book was of good help...

... for this new wallet !

Merry Christmas...

2011-12-25T01:00:00.002+01:00

Source

... to you all !

Kindle pocket

2011-12-24T17:11:00.001+01:00

While waiting for the delivery of the pocket I ordered for my Kindle...

I decided to make a temporary one myself.

Advent 24

2011-12-24T01:00:00.000+01:00

Souvenir from Christmas 2010

Like every year, I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.

Unfortunately, it won't be the case for 2011.

But Christmas will be magic anyway.

Advent 23

2011-12-23T01:00:00.001+01:00

A Christmas present from me... to me ! ;-)

Advent 22

2011-12-22T01:00:00.000+01:00

Advent 21

2011-12-21T01:00:00.002+01:00

Even my craft space has some Christmas decoration.

Advent 20

2011-12-20T01:00:00.001+01:00

Advent 19

2011-12-19T01:00:00.002+01:00

I also put some Christmas decoration in the veranda.

Advent 18

2011-12-18T01:00:00.002+01:00

Yesterday, we woke up with our first snow

Knitting in progress

2011-12-17T12:49:00.000+01:00

Yarn: Rowan Pure Wool Aran

After some hesitation, I decided to make myself a Létt-Lopi vest.

Pattern: Vormorgun Létt-Lopi vest

Because I'm an absolute beginner in jacquard I didn't want a complicated pattern.

I have to admit I'm really having fun.

Advent 17

2011-12-17T01:00:00.000+01:00

This candle is a little creation our youngest boy, Hugues, made at school.

Advent 16

2011-12-16T01:00:00.000+01:00

Thursday, lunch time: looking for my Christmas presents ! ;-)

Advent 15

2011-12-15T01:00:00.000+01:00

Our Christmas lightnings on the chimney

Advent 14

2011-12-14T01:00:00.000+01:00

Our last Christmas decorations.

Advent 13

2011-12-13T01:00:00.001+01:00

Another simple Christmas hand-made decoration

Advent 12

2011-12-12T01:00:00.001+01:00

On my shoulders today.

Advent 11

2011-12-11T01:00:00.001+01:00

Our Christmas lightnings in the entrance

Advent 10

2011-12-10T01:00:00.003+01:00

View on some of our Christmas lightnings outside

Advent 9

2011-12-09T01:00:00.001+01:00

Under the Christmas tree

Advent 8

2011-12-08T01:00:00.002+01:00

I couldn't imagine an Advent Calendar without a cat !

Advent 7

2011-12-07T01:00:00.000+01:00

Don't forget to take time for yourself !

Advent 6

2011-12-06T01:00:00.000+01:00

There's nothing like a fire in the stove to keep one's warm !

Advent 5

2011-12-05T01:00:00.001+01:00

Finally finished: my country Christmas banner

Advent 4

2011-12-04T01:00:00.002+01:00

Finally finished !

Advent 3

2011-12-03T01:00:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, I put the Christmas lightnings in the house and in the garden.

Advent 2

2011-12-02T01:00:00.000+01:00

Advent 1

2011-12-01T01:00:00.010+01:00

The countdown 'til Christmas has started. Would you like to count with me ?

A delicious rainbow

2011-11-29T12:44:00.000+01:00

Milk, coffee, hot masala, cinnamon, nougatine, orange, lemon, ginger, aniseed...

... cardamom, earl grey tea, lavender, pink peppercorns and cocoa.

These are the various chocolate flavours I found on my desk this morning when arriving at work.

It's almost a pitty to eat them, don't you think ?

Country craft

2011-11-27T14:23:00.000+01:00

With a little bell around its neck...

... and a blanket on his back to stay warm...

here is the result of my crafty weekend.

Wishing you a nice Sunday !

Advent Calendar

2011-11-25T15:41:00.000+01:00

42 little presents (I still need to find 6)...

... ready for 01/12.

I know 2 boys waiting impatiently.

Getting organised

2011-11-24T20:49:00.000+01:00

One of my evening occupation: organising my Anchor threads (434 in total !)

A border that changes everything

2011-11-23T20:25:00.000+01:00

This shawl was looking for some finishing for some time.

Problem solved !

Never without my knitting

2011-11-22T12:40:00.000+01:00

Rowan Baby Alpaca

12:30 - a little "knit break" before going back to work.

Monday inspiration

2011-11-21T08:35:00.000+01:00

Source

Monday morning: my mind is not at work !! ;-)

Granny stripes

2011-11-20T13:00:00.000+01:00

Merinos double thread + crochet n° 7

A perfect long-time project to get rid of my stash.

Wishing you a nice Sunday !

Stripes again

2011-11-19T01:00:00.001+01:00

Cashmire and merino: a pleasure to knit...

... and soon, I hope, a pleasure to wear !

Round and around

2011-11-18T01:00:00.000+01:00

One of my many ongoing projects: a sweater totally knitted in round.

My new knitting basket

2011-11-17T01:00:00.002+01:00

Take your favorite wicker basket,...

... put some lining...

And you will get a nice working basket to always carry your knitting/crochet with you.

Don't forget to feed the birds !

2011-11-16T01:00:00.002+01:00

Temperatures are climbing down.

Time to put some food in the garden.

Hoping we'll soon have the pleasure to see them back.

Transformation

2011-11-15T01:00:00.000+01:00

When a project isn't funny as expected...

... don't hesitate changing it.

I may not have hand-knitted socks but Mop has a new hat ! ;-)

A walk in the garden

2011-11-14T01:00:00.000+01:00

On a sunny afternoon, I discovered that ladybug taking a walk in the garden.

It was not easy to follow her because she was very active.

For the story, I'll say that it's the same ladybug on the left hydrangea !

Henri, the little hedgehog

2011-11-13T16:49:00.000+01:00

With this simple and funny pattern...

... you will get this cute little hedgehog.

Fluffy

2011-11-13T01:00:00.003+01:00

A simple Christmas project

2011-11-12T01:00:00.002+01:00

Take a simple frame, a Christmas present tag, some fabric and you will get a quickly done decoration.

Country living #9

2011-11-11T01:00:00.000+01:00

Simple flowers

Simple pleasures

Christmas stitching

2011-11-10T01:00:00.000+01:00

Here is a banner I finished some years ago I really need to finish this year.

And here is a new Christmas project I hope to finish this year.

Two projects to decorate the house during my favorite time of the year !

Stripes

2011-11-09T01:00:00.002+01:00

Source

I decided I'll make myself a striped shawl...

Source

... so I'm looking for inspiration on the web.

Source

To be continued !

Blues

2011-11-08T01:00:00.000+01:00

Essentials Merino dk by Rico Design

On my crochet...

Essentials Merino dk by Rico Design

... or on my knitting needles.

Essentials Merino dk by Rico Design

Blue is the color of the moment...

Schulana Kid-Seta

... at least for these projects.

Simple pleasures

2011-11-07T01:00:00.001+01:00

Last Friday: a sunny afternoon off in the little parc across my office...

... while the boys have fun on the playground, I'm enjoying a crochet session.

Bonbon & Pétronille

2011-11-06T15:34:00.000+01:00

Since the departure of their old friend, these 2 have been fighting all the time... until now !

Country living #8

2011-11-06T01:00:00.006+01:00

When the sun goes to sleep...

... it's time to put some candles in the garden...

... and enjoy !

A new vest

2011-11-05T01:00:00.000+01:00

7 balls of Debbie Bliss' Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran

Stitched following my imagination...

80 stitches using needles n° 5,5

...using my favorite stitch.

No button hole but a crocheted flower brooch to close it.

The only hesitation is "shall I add sleeves or not ?"

More primitive decoration

2011-11-04T01:00:00.001+01:00

Simple sewing; happy decoration !

Back to the attic

2011-11-03T01:00:00.002+01:00

Halloween is behind us; so the decorations go back to the attic.

Romantically Primitive

2011-11-02T01:00:00.000+01:00

When visiting my friend Danielle, I saw a beautiful cover for tissue boxes.

So I analysed it thoroughly and decided to make one myself.

I have to admit I'm really happy with the result.

The pumpkin and the bird

2011-11-01T01:00:00.001+01:00

There is nothing like some primitive craft to bring an "Autumn" touch in the house.

A pattern from the Winter edition of Primitive Quilts and Projects Magazine

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T01:00:00.013+01:00

Trick or Treat... !

Toes up !

2011-10-30T01:00:00.004+02:00

Friday, I decided it was about time for me to try knitting socks.

"Random Stripe" by Kaffe Fassett for Regia - Color = 02902 (Heather)

I needed therefore some socks yarn and selected this funny one.

As a novice in that matter, I hesitated on the pattern to follow...

... and I went for the toes up method.

Colours of Autumn

2011-10-29T14:15:00.000+02:00

On this lovely Autumn day...

... let's take a stoll in the garden...

... where Autumn is deploying its beautiful colors.

All this in good company.

Wishing you a nice weekend !

Primitive craft #2

2011-10-29T09:43:00.000+02:00

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Sometimes, simple ideas are best.

Primitive craft #1

2011-10-28T01:00:00.001+02:00

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A simple idea; on my to do list !

Devilsearwig

2011-10-27T14:11:00.000+02:00

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A "blog" to discover on Tumblr

Primitive decoration

2011-10-27T01:00:00.010+02:00

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There is something about Primitive style that I like.

Country living #7

2011-10-26T01:00:00.002+02:00

Discovering a cute hedgehog in the garden when arriving back home from work.

9 patch crochet cushion

2011-10-25T01:00:00.002+02:00

Katia 100% Merino Extrafine

Crochet n° 4,5

And some vintage linen for the back.

Because I love purple

2011-10-24T01:00:00.001+02:00

Source

And you, what is your favorite color ?

Weekend nap

2011-10-23T01:00:00.007+02:00

Between 2 hard working sessions, my personal assistant decided he deserved a little nap !

I totally agree ! ;-)

Country living #6

2011-10-22T01:00:00.004+02:00

Autumn is really there:

temperatures are seriously climbing down...

... and we are experiencing our first frost.

Well, not as much as on these pictures...

... but it's cold... you can trust me !