Freestyle, Freeform Crochet shawls, wraps, stoles….

Rainbow freeform shawl floralI have been determined to complete some unfinished projects, despite the summer heat & holiday season, so… the New Year began busily with these Freestyle, Freeform Crochet shawls which I started in November 2015, only to just finally finished in January 2016. Oh well, 3 months for 3 shawls isn’t too shabby, I guess…

All 3 shawls were created in a gorgeous 60% Superwash wool & 40% Polyamide… with long, gentle colour variegations that are bright & cheerful… just the kind of yarn I love working with.

Freeform shawl purple pink

I used a combination of motifs from these patterns: Spirals & Scallops Ebook, 16 Crochet Lace motifs Ebook & Sharp Peaked Chevron Pattern, then chained the motifs together…

I love the way the colours twist & turn & meander this way & that… I love the individuality of each piece… I love that they are going to bring much joy & creativity to the wearer…

 

freeform shawl purple olive green 2freeform shawl purple pink 2freeform shawl rainbow

Greetings from DownUnder

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Hello Everyone, … another year is almost at an end…I hope it’s been a productive & fulfilling year for you & I’d like to wish you all a joyous, peaceful festive season surrounded by your loved ones… &, that 2016 is full of creativity, love & kindness…

Let me also take this opportunity to send out a HUGE THANK YOU for the ongoing support I’ve received throughout the year;… to all my lovely crochet class ladies… you’ve made it such fun & a pleasure to teach… to all who have sent complimentary emails & posted comments on my website/blog… always welcomed & appreciated… to those of you who, from time to time, have posed some challenging questions  & prevented me from becoming complacent…. &, for the many sales that encourage me to keep going…

Let’s make 2016 the best year yet… Renate

Beanies… Plain & Simple….

chunky purple flowerWell… not quite… the simple styled beanie hat with a little embellishing & tweaking can become a flattering winter accessory that doesn’t date too quickly over time…

I’ve been rather busy lately, with local displays, markets & classes, so elaborate projects have been put on the back burner for a while or, at least,  until I have a clearer creative head space… but that’s not to say I’ve had idle hands… hence, this collection of Beanie Hats…

With some, I’ve experimented with large hooks & double threads of chunky yarn & with others I’ve used double threads of sock yarn. I hope this beanie hat collection gives you some new ideas for the beanie that is more than just plain & simple… enjoy!

All hats are now available for sale in my Etsy Shop

turquoise hatpurple turquoise flapper

purple chunky beanie

Red chunky BeanieMulti chunky beaniemulti chunky clochepurple turquoise cloche 1rustic clochepurple brooch clocherustic brooch clochepurple brooch beanierustic brooch beaniered flower beaniemulti beanie scarf set2ply beanie scarf set4ply beanie scarf set

Dreamcatchers ~ something new for me…

dreamcatchers

Dreamcatchers… something new & different from me that I’ve wanted to try for some time. I’ve created these Dreamcatchers, not as authentic representations but as my own personal artistic interpretations.

I’m an Aussie, so my interest in dreamcatchers isn’t cultural… I simply love them & more over, I love the idea of them.

Dreamcatchers originate in Native American tradition, believing both positive & negative dreams flow through the night & that a Dreamcatcher, hanging freely over or near a sleeping person, will allow the good dreams to pass through while capturing the bad dreams, which will perish & vanish with the rising sun…

I used patterns from this collection of 16 Crochet Motifs & embellished with wooden, glass & plastic beads & attached swivel cams so the dreamcatcher can rotate freely…

Dreamcatcher 1Dreamcatcher 7Dreamcatcher 6Dreamcatcher 2Dreamcatcher 3Dreamcatcher 4Dreamcatcher 5

Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2015….

Fire & Flood felted beanieHi everyone, it’s been quite a while since my last post… time is just flying…

So, it’s that time of year again… The Alice Springs Beanie Festival… & all the excitement that it generates across Australia… I did find the theme ‘Opposites Attract’ a bit challenging this year but, as it so often happens, in a quiet moment the ideas slowly emerged… These are my 2 entries that I know have safely arrived in Alice Springs, thanks to Aussie Post’s tracking system…

I’d like to wish all contestants much success &, all those lucky enough to be at the festival, a fabulous time…

1) Fire & Flood ~ Wet Felted & beaded Beanie.

Fire & flood 1Fire & flood 2 

Fire & flood 3Fire & flood 4

2) From Coral Reefs…to Tropical Beaches…to Forest Hinterlands ~ Hand-spun beanie, embellished with freeform crochet & wet felted motifs.

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