Shop Update Bikinis!

While it isn't really bikini weather here in Bonn at the moment, seeing the latest bright additions to my shop (and the Facebook posts from my Australian family and friends) I really wish it was!

Lots of bandeau style strapless bikinis -available in the shop now :-)

xx

Crochet bowl

Here is another result of my exploration into the world of crochet -a simple soft bowl.

I have been wanting something to put my jewelery and hair clips into for a little while now and when I saw some crochet baskets and bowls floating around on Pinterest, I knew I wanted to make one.

Some of my inspiration...

 Left from Les Tissus Colbert and Right from My Country Cottage Garden

The result...

I found this bowl easy to make as you only need to know how to make the single crochet stitch and increase. Bunny mummy has a good tutorial here to make similar bowls.  I don't like counting the rounds though, so mine is free style! I used a polyacrylic yarn (I fell in love with the colour and had to use it regardless of what it was made from!) so my bowl is quite soft, but it holds its shape well enough for my purpose. What do you think?

xx

Snow!

At the start of this month we got some proper snow, it snowed for a whole day covering everything in white. It only lasted a few days and now it is all gone but luckily I got some photos so I can remember how pretty everything was...

Even barbed wire looks pretty under some snow!
xx

Rear Guard

From; Bound & Determined: A Visual History of Corsets, 1850--1960

I thought I'd share this fascinating Ad from 1942 for "wonderful Jantzen panty-girdles" from the book Bound & Determined: A Visual History of Corsets. The underwear women wear today seem so free when compared with some of the corsets which were commonplace in the past. Corsets were a way to achieve a desired shape, usually a cinched waist and flat stomach. This, however, came with the price of discomfort and restriction. To look your best for an occasion -sure but for everyday, no thanks!

Stuff You Missed in History Class have done a fun podcast on corsets and things, if you are interested you can check it out here.

xx

Neuschwanstein Castle

My Mother in Law is visiting and seeing as she has come the long way from Australia to Europe we did some travelling with her. The first thing on the list was Neuschwanstein Schloss. This is the castle which is cited as inspiration for the Disney castle. It was built by a King Ludwig II of Bavaria who was declared crazy and died a mysterious death before he could completely finish the castle. As a result only some of the rooms inside the castle are complete and the incredible throne room is missing its throne.  King Ludwig's bedroom was one of the first rooms to be finished. It has its own ensuite bathroom, very advanced for its time, complete with running water and a green leather flushing toilet!
We did a tour and the finished parts of the interior are amazing but unfortunately you aren't allowed to take any photos inside the castle.

This is his Dad's castle, we ran out of time to see it up close as we did a day drip from Munich.

A fabulously kitschy house in the little town near the castles.

It was starting to get dark by the time we headed off. November isn't the best time to go, as it is cold and gets dark early but we did avoid the crowds!

xx

Crochet Adventures

A friend recently taught me how to crochet (Thanks Audrey!). She started me off with the very basics -making a slip knot, chain and single crochet. The plan was to make a small amigurumi style bunny with the pattern from Bunny Mummy -Here (it includes quite a good tutorial for beginners).  Being my first ever crochet project the tension was not quite right and instead of a nice round bunny head I got something more elongated. Looking at it I decided it looked like a snakes head so instead of making the small bunny body I kept on crocheting and made a snake! I think it turned out really well for my first ever crochet project :-)

It's now on its the way to my little niece in Australia!
xx

Etsy Spotlight - Andies Speciality Sweets

Aren't they totally amazingly beautiful? I thought those buttons were real... I'm sure they taste delicious as well. They come in flavours like peppermint and vanilla....
Available from Andies Speciality Sweets on Etsy.

xx