Spiral crochet soccerball

After lots of delays, and more than a month after the end of the World Cup the ball is finished at last!



Although I like the finished ball I think the process was a lot more satisfying than the end result. I loved the process of designing the pattern and figuring out the spirals. I also loved making the individual hexagons/pentagons. I like the colours and I am happy that I added the solid colours to the variegated ones. But somehow the finished ball is not as spectacular as I imagined it would be...



I had to make a lining as the crochet was to 'holey' to keep the stuffing in. I chose black as I just wanted it to disappear in the background and not make a colour statement. Now I think it makes the ball dull. Maybe I should have picked one of the main colours - yellow? blue? I don't know...



Initially I had in mind a whole series of balls made with different techniques of needlecraft. But now that the football fever has died down it sort of lost it's appeal. I still feel there should be at least three balls and I really want to make an embroidered one, but I am not sure about the design yet. And I have a whole list of other things I want to get to...

So the jury is still out on the third one. The inspiration might come while I am working on my next project...

A fresh start

These cupboards have travelled with us for many years now. They started out as unfinished pine cheapies, were painted to suit the boys' toddler rooms and since then were used for general storage in all the different places we stayed.



They were heading out the door when we suddenly needed toddler cupboards again. This time they had to be girly, so while I was on my painting spree this past few weeks, I attacked them with some pink and green paint...



...and voila! One dresser and one toy cupboard. As good as new. For the angel.

Holiday update

We are 9 weeks into our 12 week school holiday. The outside temperature still averages at about 42C - the radio weather station is on repeat: "hot and sunny" everyday. The only change is in the humidity: moderate or high... We are also into the second week of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, which in the UAE means no public eating, drinking or smoking during daylight hours. All of this means Dubai is not the most exciting place to be at the moment! Children has to be entertained indoors, and with most friends away ...



it looks like this most of the time..


The boys did get to spend two and a half weeks with their cousins in Western Australia, which they thoroughly enjoyed. They are both used to flying internationally but this was the first time they did it without parents, and it went very well! They consider themselves seasoned travellers now...

While they were away I repainted their bedrooms. This month marks the sixth year in Dubai and in this house - the longest we've ever been in one house - so some revamping is in order.

Blue for one room...



...and green for the other room.



The staircase also got a new coat of paint. It still needs some decorating which will hopefully happen in the next few weeks.



Look - there's an angel on the landing!