It’s Friday again? already?

How did that happen, that the last week flew by faster than a hungry leopard? (This is Africa, okay? I’m allowed to use metaphors with wild animals in them – even if they aren’t brilliantly clever).

What happened back there? First off, Jam Tarts had a very happy day at the Kirstenbosch Market on Sunday. After weeks of fruitless foraging for a clothes rail through the junk shops of Cape Town, Rob made us one out of pvc piping. Genius! You can see it here, to the left of our tables. We weighted it down with sandbags because this is, after all, the windiest place on the entire continent sometimes.  Looking at the photo now, I can see they need a bit of dolling up (pom poms, maybe?) And if you look very carefully, I think you can just see Rob sitting under the tree.

Some customers got beautiful new cotton beanies, made by the Beanie Queen, Anne!

Myself, I’m still on the search for the perfect hat pattern. I’ve just finished this one, and guess what? – it’s not it. A luta continua.

A happier outcome: Vinni’s amazing burnt orange Nikkim inspired me to make this simple cotton scarf shaped like a wide V.  Loopy sort of edging in Blue Canard. Took 2 hours!  Love that, love anything quick. I seem to be wearing a lot of grey and sludge green this autumn so the orange pop should be good for brightening me up.

Sheep needed something to keep warm, it’s getting pretty chilly at night here now. This was the beginning of a shawl that Anne was making and halfway though she decided she didn’t like it. I’ve been getting much better at not just losing patience and ripping things out if I don’t like them, and I’m sure when Anne sees this picture, she will see the value in Finding Another Purpose for Something that was originally meant to be Something Else.

That’s probably about it for now.

Later this morning I’m meeting someone who is redecorating her 10-yr old daughter’s bedroom and would like some crochet cushions and various trimmings to “funk” things up a bit.  Her word. I don’t feel very people-persony today, but I’ll start by getting dressed and putting on some lipstick, and maybe it’ll come…

Happy weekend to you all.
Back soon. x

shawl/scarf share and Alex knits

This is a fabulous pattern for a shawl – it’s the Sausalito Shell by Gail Tanquary. It was free via Crystal Palace Yarns, and here’s a link to the pattern if you want to download it: Sausalito Shawl.

A while ago I made it with acrylic yarn and a 4.5mm hook, and it turned out really well:

On the weekend I decided to make it again, but differently. I used 2 strands of Vinni’s dk cotton and a 5.5mm hook, and chained 199 instead of 274, to compensate for the extra thickness.

After 4 rows I realised I wasn’t going to have enough cotton in Slate to make the full shawl, but NO WAY was I going to scrap any labour! I added half a row of shells in the centre to give it a bit of a curve, and then 2 rows of double crochet along one side in a contrasting colour.

It’s made a lovely chunky scarf which I have already worn twice. No-one has commented yet on how awesome it looks round my neck…but for the moment it’s enough for me to love it and admire it every time I walk past the mirror.

And then, in an extraordinary burst of enthusiasm from my previously totally disinterested daughter, Alex asked me to teach her to knit last night. I cracked my head quite badly on the side table as I fell off the couch in surprise. This is, after all, the girl who thinks handknitted things are not cool.

Anyway, I now have the pic to prove it. She is making a hat and has cast on and completed two rows of k2 p2 rib without a single mistake. She did say she found it hard to get it right and needed to take a little rest after the first row, and I like to think she has a new found regard for the cleverness of us knitters and crocheters. Hear me roar!

Back soon x

sharp

For many days now the creative side of me has been hibernating. None of the usual prompts are helping, so it seems I just have to endure this used-teabag feeling until it dissipates all by itself.

I have managed to do one thing, however, which frankly hasn’t required much in the way of creativity but at least my hands haven’t been idle. I recently ordered a Sharp crochet hook and very happy I am with it. For ages I’d been wanting to be able to crochet directly into the edge of blouses and blankets and cushions, and fiddled around with chain stitches and needles and all kinds of things before finally finding this little treasure.

I have edged some polar fleece blankets and two infinity scarves that definitely have potential:

 

The black stripey one has a shell edging in a silky yarn (I have no idea what I used, the label got lost) and I used Vinni’s dk cotton Nikkim for the paisley one in shocking pink. I quite like the little pyramid things but they were fiddly.

To be continued…(hopefully sooner rather than later)

a wonderful saturday after all

Our Constantia Open Day was — exhausting, wonderful, and best of all worthwhile! Even the sun came out for us. Megan’s original illustrations were the biggest hit of the day, and she sold thousands of cards and notebooks. Jane and Mary provided home-baked choc chip cookies and red velvet cupcakes, which were so good they have been commissioned to provide the treats for a Womens’ Day lunch late this week. An interesting offshoot!

Some pics in slideshot format for speed:

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I would highly recommend holding regular Open Days for small, growing businesses like ours because they are an excellent medium for showcasing concepts and getting feedback (with minimal cash outlay). What might seem like a genius item when you first produce it at home late one night might not actually appeal to Real People at all – and things that you don’t think will sell can surprise you. It’s damn hard to know what people want!

Jam Tarts is grateful to Jane and Craig Butters for the use of their house and garden. Thanks, guys. (Same time next month?) (and Craig, thanks for ordering a knitted warmer for a certain part of your body, I’ll get onto it right away and will be sure to make it XXL).

To be continued…

Jam Tarts give-away

I’ve been spending loads of time immersed in the world of blogs lately and have picked up some excellent ideas. One of them is inspired by Jenny of Jenny Arnott Textiles  (striking designs and finished products and, boy,  is her work room tidy….).

As you know, we have been sowing the seeds for a little business called Jam Tarts.  Now we are starting to see some shoots making their way out of the soil towards the sun. Anne and I have been planning a give-away for a while now, but I think you guys won’t mind if we link it to a couple of “conditions” so that we can expand our profile on the internet.

We have come up with three items, a hat trick! :

One of Anne’s frothy scarves, lightweight enough for summer, but wrapped round a couple of times warm enough for autumn, in a soft creamy yellow. Makes me think of lemon meringue pie:

A mini button frame, measuring 15 by 15cm, with a little metal fitting at the back so you can stand it up if you don’t want to put it on a wall:

and third, a pair of jaunty hoop earrings that have a distinct African tone:

Retail value of the give-away is R225.00 (which probably doesn’t sound too much in the UK or the States,  what with our poor Rand getting weaker and weaker right now).

So, if you’d like chance to win:

1.  Become a follower of this blog. If you already are, you will automatically be included in the draw.

2. Like the Jam Tarts facebook page. If you already have, you will automatically be included in the draw.

If you do both, or have already done both, your name will be included twice.  The cut-off date is Sunday 24 June 2012. And you can enter from anywhere in the world, the postage will be on us.  This is our first foray into marketing strategies – will be interesting to see what happens next. Any comments? Lousy idea? Brilliant idea? Please let me know what you think.

To be continued: