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101 woonideeën Easter Special and Giveaway

Friday, 30 March 2012 by Leave a Comment

For Dutch interior magazine, 101 woonideeën, I’ve designed crochet egg cosies for the Easter special booklet that’s included with this month’s issue. There are such fun Easter craft projects in this booklet and the layout is just too cute.

You can find the English instructions here and a interview with me over at the 101 woonideeën blog here.

The Giveaway

I was given quite a lot of these booklets so I’m giving them away to 20 of you, yes TWENTY!!

You only have to leave a comment and I’ll pick 20 winners on Tuesday the 3rd. The booklets are in Dutch but a total feast to the eye so this giveaway is open to readers worldwide.

Have a lovely weekend xox

This giveaway is now closed.

Filed Under: Books & Magazines, Crafts, Crochet, Giveaways, Press

The A List March 2012

Thursday, 29 March 2012 by Leave a Comment

1. A Cook Book to Cook From

The Little Paris Kitchen

2. A TV Series to Download or Buy When Available

New Girl

3. A Film to See in the Cinema

4. A Book to Read

Religion for Atheists

5 A. Film to Watch on DVD

Filed Under: Books & Magazines, Press, The A List

Link with Love

Thursday, 22 March 2012 by 1 Comment

I guess by now the news circulated for those of you who follow me on Twitter that I no longer use Pinterest. The day before yesterday I pulled the plug mainly because I got scared after reading this article. It’s scary right?

I started to use Pinterest as an inspiration pin board and as a guideto help me decorating my home. I also used it as a wish list. I never used it as a platform to curate beautiful images other people take because I don’t have content of my own. I also never used it to become popular or to get loads of followers. But all of a sudden I had so and so many followers and was ranked second of all Dutch Pinterest users. Odd for something that initially started out as something I used for myself.

I also started to find lots of photos by my hand that were incorrectly linked back. I even one day was browsing for felt pom poms and stumble upon an Etsy shop that was selling them using a photo I took in my home of my Christmas tree using my own handmade pom pom garland as if she took it as if it was her home, her Christmas tree and her pom pom garland.

It felt so wrong.

Pinterest is so beautiful but it feels so wrong.

Please link with love. If you wish to link something from my site do it directly don’t re-link, re-link, re-link, re-link.

Please consider reading this article and do something right today.

Filed Under: Life & Style, Yvesworld

The Stripy Cowl

Thursday, 15 March 2012 by 4 Comments

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”

Charles Dickens

It was such a lovely sunny day today. I went out with just a warm sweater and my new cowl, as it kept me warm in the shade.

I’ve added the instructions to my shop as it made so many people happy on instagram.

Thank you and enjoy the last bit of sun for today xox

Filed Under: Crafts, Crochet, The Shop, Yvesworld

Falcon Enamelware

Wednesday, 14 March 2012 by Leave a Comment

I’m really excited to introduce you to a new blog sponsor, Falcon Enamelware.

I bought one of the Falcon Enamelware Bake Sets, in the white & blue rim, over a year ago. Ever since the day those dishes arrived everything else I used for baking went out.

Falcon Enamelware was kindly enough to sent me a Pie Set, in Pillarbox Red, to promote on my blog. I’m so delighted to now have
both sets as I have the perfect array for baking, cooking and grilling.

All Falcon Enamelware products don’t burn, don’t fade are dishwasher and oven proof up to 270 C. They can also be used on gas and electric hobs. The extra bonus is that they look amazingly rustic and are so easy to clean. They are also unbreakable, boy do I love this product.

I’ve made a really simple apple crumble in the large dish of the Pie Set and ate it, with some lemon sorbet ice cream, out of the smallest dish of the Pie Set.

Follow Falcon Enamelware on Twitter and Facebook.

Filed Under: Baking, Food, Press, Sponsors

A House for Birds

Thursday, 8 March 2012 by Leave a Comment

Yesterday I found the time to sit down and do some crafting after two months of non-stop working on projects that actually pay the bills. I have to say that these projects are far from being boring and that I’m one lucky piggy to have the opportunity to make people pay me because they like my work so much. Bless them and bless you for reading my blog.

It feels time to pay back and make something pretty for you to download. I’ve made some birdhouses for Easter decorations.

First download the template and print out on 250 grams A4 sized paper. Cut out the template and fold where needs folding (instructions can be found on the template). Glue the fabric on to the house and roof (no need for fabric on the back). Glue the house parts together and with a pin, on the inside, attached a twig. Glue the roof on top of the house and you’re done. If you like to you can put a bird on the twig.

I used various Cath Kidston fabrics for the houses. The plates are also old CK plates, but the blue one is by Burleigh and the top plate is a hand painted Will and Kate wedding plate by The House that Lars Build. The famous green pendant is also from an old CK collection and no longer for sale.

I’m not religious and haven’t been brought up religious, so I’m one of those people who don’t exactly know why we celebrate Easter. I know it’s the end of lent but I also don’t know what lent stands for. I do however like to decorate and I love holidays where everyone is off and we get together and eat. For the same reason I like Christmas. I couldn’t give a care in the world that Jesus was born on Christmas day as other religions say he wasn’t and for all we know he didn’t even exist. But it’s nice as we get to decorate and spend time together, I don’t see nothing wrong in that.

And you know what? There will be more decorations from me to you in the next few weeks.

Filed Under: Crafts, Kitchen, My Home, Paper Craft

A Chalkboard For Spring

Tuesday, 6 March 2012 by Leave a Comment

Two years ago I bought a lot of old, damaged paintings at a flea market. I thought they would be perfect to frame new paintings in as the frames were still in good condition. The frames also work well as chalkboard or pin board frames so I’ve made one for the kitchen.

This is what it looked like before. I took the oil painting out of the frame and replaced it with 2 cm thick MDF plate that I first gave a coat of primer and next painted with black chalkboard paint. The cool thing about chalkboard paint is that you can get it mixed in whatever colour. I’ve used black as chalkboards, in my head, are either black or green.

After painting the frame in my favourite pink, I distressed it a bit by sanding it roughly around the edges.

The “welcome” decal is by Shanna Murray. Shanna is spring cleaning so hurry up and get a 10% discount on all of her wonderful goodies.

Filed Under: Crafts, DIY