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!

Article for HAND/EYE Magazine 03

The latest issue of HAND/EYE Magazine is now available. The whole issue is dedicated to the artisans and crafts of Central Asia. It is a beautiful piece of publishing and if you are even remotely interested in the craft or culture of this region, it is a must-read.



I am double excited about this issue, because not only do I love craft and this whole region of Afghanistan and surrounds, but... my first print article has been published in this issue of HAND/EYE! I have been published in online magazines before,but this is my first article for a print-edition.



See -that's me. In print.



The magazine is beautiful and rich. Lots of wonderful articles and stunning photos.
Get yours now. Visit the HAND/EYE website to find an outlet near you. Or order online. And while you're at it, join their Facebook fan page.

sign language - the South African way

Minibus taxi's are as much part of the South African landscape as thorn trees and Springbok supporters. So why has it taken us so long to incorporate the taxi-culture into our design world?

This is a new set of postage stamps recently released by the South African Post Office. It shows the differt hand signals used to flag down a taxi. Every area or township has a different signal, this way you can indicate to the taxi driver where you want to go as he approaches. If he is going your way he will stop otherwise he will just carry on.

Every denomination of stamp has a signal for a different township. Maybe you can match your stamps to their destination now...

Du-bye embroidery finished

Finished, framed and presented. This is what the completed picture looks like:



I tried to tell the story of their life in Dubai as I saw it. They came to Dubai 7 years ago to work on the construction of the Madinat Jumeirah...



...they came here as couple, but only got married in Dubai. They stand under the cross of Jesus, on the top of the dune, to symbolize their relationship with the Lord



The writing in the clouds are the time they spent in Dubai...



...and is written by his own aeroplane



The FJ Cruiser with the roof tent represent all our camping and fishing trips we shared with them. It contains a few details representing specific incidents which has become treasured memories for us and them





The Harley is a treasured possession and represents his love of motorbikes and travelling. The Harley and the plane goes back to SA with them and are shown 'in motion' to symbolise them flying and riding into their future.



I used an Arabic-design border to frame the picture, showing how their life and time in the UAE has limits. No expat can stay here forever and we will all come to the end of our time here...



Finally, just a few close-ups of the stitching. I used mainly back-stitch with a few chain-stitches here and there.

Eureka!

I just made this wonderful new discovery!
It is possible to print directly onto the embroidery stabilizer. Yes, really
This is what I did:

I cut a piece of stabilizer and a piece of freezer paper to exactly A4 size (to make sure it doesn't get eaten by the printer) and ironed the two together.

I then put it in the printer with the stabilizer (print side) facing down and printed as normal. I don't have the best printer in the world so I was prepared for things to go terribly wrong here, but everything worked out perfectly.

I peeled the stabilizer off and voila: A perfect embroidery-pattern ready to start stitching!

I made a sketch of the photo because I made a few changes to the original picture, but it is possible to print the photo directly onto the stabilizer too.

Now no more light boxes and window tracings for me! Yippee!! (You can see why I was looking for an easier way to copy the picture, can't you?)

As you probably know by now, I am a completely self-taught embroiderer. Except for some help from my mother and grandmother when I was still small, I never had any formal embroidery training. Now you can understand why I am so thrilled with this discovery - I figured it all out by myself and it is going to make my life a lot easier.

All I need now is for someone to tell me this is the way everybody else does it, and I have been the only one living behind a rock for the past 20 years...

Du-bye embroidery progress

I have about two weeks left before I have to hand it over, but it still has to go to the framers too... that means I have to finish THIS week! Still lots of work to do...


Since the last time I've added the Harley, with some help from a friend who had to convince them to pose in this exact position.



Their wedding. They came to Dubai as a couple but only got married here.



As it looks now. I still have to fill in the top part 'above' the clouds. And do a border. And get it framed...
The embroidery stabilizer is still on, so I'm still in suspense to see what it will look like when I dissolve that.

Our bird family - new development

Remember our Bulbul family from way back in November? Well, I am happy to report that they came back, made a new nest and produced a new offspring!



This time they built their nest deep inside the bougainvilla bush at the back of the garden, where nobody could see or harm their baby. I watched them through the window carrying first their nest building material and later their baby's food into the bush.



Then on Friday we noticed the Young One out in the open. The parents let it out of the nest and away from the protection of the bougainvilla bush onto the ground. They hid it in a pile of leaves behind the water tank from where it jumped onto the handle bar of the bicycle next to the tank. It sat there for a long time. It looked as if it didn't know what to do next. It looked like the poor thing was really suffering from the heat. It was about 45C outside. The parents collected water dripping from the tap at the tank to drink but they never gave any to the baby while I was looking. The parents were very nervous and hovering around the baby. They wouldn't let any one close. I took these photos through the window as they got very upset when I opened the back door.



This morning they were gone. No Baby. No Mom or Dad. I hope they moved on to safer ground and that the little one is doing fine...

My first article for HAND/EYE Magazine

The June issue of HAND/EYE online magazine is now out. I am privileged and honoured to have an article published in this quality publication. The whole issue is dedicated to all things textile. Click on the screenshot to have a look:



The June print issue of HAND/EYE Magazine will be out soon. This issue is dedicated to Central Asian art, craft and artisans. Another one of my articles about Central Asian Embroidery will be featured in there. For subscription details click here.