In the Making

After some internet searching I’ve finally adapted a mitered granny square to get a really nice square ‘unholey’ granny square. Phew. So far so good. And I’ve played with the possibilities of a wall photo studio :)

Today I’m connecting to Our Creative Spaces.

Sprinkle Cake

This is a cake I made for my son’s second birthday. The base is a simple sponge, there are so many recipes around that it doesn’t make sense to write one here. But what I wanted to be special is the cream. Not an easy task, as I didn’t want the cake to be too heavy and too sweet, and butter cream is oh so typical. I was very pleased by the result, light and still keeps the cake moist. Secret ingredient? Ricotta and banana-cherry filling between the layers!
Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
2-3 ripe bananas
a handful of cherries without pits, fresh or preserved, I didn’t use that many
30 g powder sugar (yes, that little! but don’t forget the bananas, and preserved cherries add sweetness, too)
500 g ricotta
125 g cream
Beat ricotta with the powder sugar well. Beat the cream and fold carefully into the ricotta/sugar mixture. That easy!
Assembling the cake:
Make a sponge base and cut it in two. Put one sponge layer on a plate. Cut bananas in half lengthwise and put them on the cake in rounds. Distribute the cherries around. Like this:

Cover with cream. Put the second sponge layer and distribute evenly the cream on the top and the sides (the amount was more than enough for everything!)
Enjoy!

For more inspiration head to My Creative Space here. 

Think outside the frame

Watching children play is fascinating. But especially if you are a creative person (or call yourself one), being a part of a child’s imaginative play reminds us how little we know about creativity. Actually, I prefer another word choice: how much we have forgotten since we were children.
I mean: give a kid a bunch of bread sticks and you get a piece of art. At least to me it’s one.

Joining in with My Creative Space today. 

Color Obsession_Yellow

Spring is in the air (at least in the Northern hemisphere), and though poor Germans are all covered in snow, we are enjoying rather mild weather, and whatever snow fell recently it has already almost melted away. For me spring will always be of two colors: green and yellow. Sometimes a splash of orange. But yellow and green are a must.
The table runner and two pillows are made with IKEA fabric, their fabric is my favorite when it comes to making home decor! The backs of the pillows are just simple solid color cotton.
And daffodils! I don’t have a garden, and buying potted ones are rather a waste of money for me anyway, as I have to throw them away as they don’t bloom anymore.

And what are your spring colors?

Simply Grey

I am a trained teacher, and worked long enough in education. Almost every teacher will agree: even though you have a secret favorite, and maybe aren’t on very good terms with some of the students, but in the end, you love them all. Just differently. And the same applies to colors. When asked about my favorite color, I’m always at a loss – I don’t love ALL of them, but I have hard time to pick only one. If I say ‘royal blue’, them immediately yellow comes to mind. If I say ‘green’, I feel I’m betraying deep red. And so on. Take grey: it has always been on my list, just the last 6-8 years due to various life circumstances it was … well… not very present. So now, I guess, it’s compensating for all those years in exile. Namely, it has taken over. I’ve realized it when taking photos of my recent craft projects for this post. Just look for yourself:

• grey hats for my men, big and small

• dark grey table runner

I have a elaborate here a bit: the Christmas tree on the right (yes, it’s a Christmas tree) was built by my DB from our son’s Lego pieces. Big boys like to play, too :)

• dark grey pillow cover with a grey linen back. I’ve mastered zipper installation with this one, thanks to a marvelous tutorial from Design Sponge! I’ve made 3 pillow cases already, and it worked like a charm!

Zipper view :)

• grey and white checkered cloth napkins

On New Year’s Eve we are hosting a small party. Guess, which color scheme I’ve chosen for that one? In case you are having a hard time, I tell you: silver. Now, I’m wondering: is it a reaction to the red and green Christmas? Or just to the red and orange colors of my son’s pram?
And what color is YOUR Christmas?
This one more time I link to My Creative Space.

Red Riding Hood and Co Knitting Patterns

 
When it comes to knitting for children, there are some items that have been along for longer than my own childhood and are still going strong. Take hats, for example. For a kid, it’s not enough that it covers the top of the head. If it covers the ears well, we are already getting somewhere. If it stays put with all the squirming and running and jumping the little people are so prone to, it’s a WINNER. At least in my universe. I can still remember a bonnet-like hat my Mum knit for me when I was a child (I have a strong suspicion that the one I remember is one of the many) – it was indeed practical, keeping toasty everything it should, and not getting of too easily :) Rewind years ahead, and here I sit, making a similar hat for my own son, a well-pronounced hat-hater, but he still has to wear them. It’s a vintage pattern, and versions of it are numerous, I’ve decided to share my take at it, may be other Mums will find it just as useful.  And since there is a hat, there has to be a scarf. Or at least a neckwarmer. My Mum had it covered, too – she simply knit the hat on, creating a collar to cover the chest. But I wanted JUST A HAT and JUST A NECKWARMER, separately. Here I was stalled for a while, as I wanted to knit it top down, flare a bit but not be bulky on the shoulders. Finally, I managed to squeeze something out that even proved to be wearable! The neckwarmer pattern follows after the hat. Word of warning: I’ve needed JUST a smidge over 2 balls, and, in fact, ran out of yarn, so consider having some similar weight yarn at hand unless you want to invest in one extra skein.

The hat’s construction is extremely simple and very easy to adjust to any size possible – even for an adult! (at the end of the post I will share a simple formula for this kind of hat).  The hat starts in a straight strip that goes around the head, ear to ear, and the back part is, basically, turning a heel of the sock, though without any wraps and picking them up later, so it’s a good beginner pattern. In the end two… ehem… fake I-cords are added to tie under the chin. The skills you have to possess are knitting and purling, and picking up stitches – there’s a little bit of it at the end. And that’s all! My hat was designed to fit my 1,5 year old son, with a head circumference of 49 cm (I have no idea, if it’s a typical size or he’s a bit ahead, no pun intended), this should be a good reference, anyway.
 Abbreviations:
K- knit
P – purl
k2tog/p2tog – knit 2 stitches together/purl 2 stitches together
CO – cast on
BO – bind off
st- stitch(es)
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
PM – place marker
kfb – knit forth and back (stitch increased)
Size: 1,5 –2 years, or 49 cm head circumference
Material: Cool Wool from Lana Grossa, I’ve used slightly more than 1 skein,  with the gauge 24 st per 4”/10 cm
Needles 3 and 3,5
3 markers (optional)
Directions: With the smaller needles, CO 94 st.
RS: *k2, p2* , repeat between ** until 2 st remain, k2.
WS: *p2, k2*  , repeat between ** until 2 st remain, p2.
Repeat these 2 rows until your work measures 3 cm, ending on the WS row.
Next row, RS: change to the bigger needles, knit all stitches.
WS: purl all stitches.
Continue in stockinet stitch, until the strip measures 13 cm.
The last WS row is a setup for the back of the hat:
P 31 st, PM, p 31 st, PM, p 29 st, k2tog, p the last st – 93 st. Now you have three equal sections. What you are going to do next, is to knit the last stitch of the central section together with the first stitch of one of the side sections – decreases are done both on RS and WS, alternating the sides. The main idea is that the central section keeps the initial 31 st, while the sides are being consumed. If you see that your central section is losing stitches, you are doing something wrong. I put the markers only for the first row, later on you will get a hole, or the stitches that have to be knit or purled together will be somewhat apart, which eliminates the need for a marker. But! The hole will disappear!
Now starts the fun:
RS: Knit across 65 st (1 st before the 2nd marker), remove the marker, knit the next 2 st together, TURN WORK.
WS: Purl till one stitch before the remaining marker, remove marker, purl the next two stitches together, TURN WORK. 
These two rows are decrease rows, that you have to repeat until you have only the central 31 stitches. You will see the back of the hat now, shaped, indeed, like the heel of the sock.
Now, put the live stitches on a holder and break the yarn. With smaller needles and the RS facing you, join a new yarn, pick up and knit 22 st, on the live stitches work like this: P2tog, P2, *K2, P2*, repeat between ** until the end of the live stitches, pick up and knit 22 st.
WS: *p2, k2* until the last 2 st, p2.
Repeat these 2 rows, until work measures 2,5 cm. CO, apart the last 6 st – they will become the fake I-cord.The reason I resigned to faking an I-cord is that I failed in my precious attempt to make one, and wanted to finish this hat sooner than later. If you are good at I-cord, please, make a real one. I just give instructions for what I did in case I’m not the only one :) Work in stockinet on these 6 st, turning the work as usual, until the strip measures about 46 cm. Next RS row: kn2tog across, turn work, k 3 remaining st together. On the opposite edge of the hat, pick up and knit 6 stitches and make another strip. Sew in the ends, wash and block. And now go and try to put it on the most adored head in the world of your own!

As I’ve promised, here is a formula for this bonnet: you have to measure the recipient’s head from one side of the jaw to another, around the head, that is, not in the usual direction you would measure for a classical hat (is that clear enough? I simply don’t know how else to explain it!). This is the length of the beginning strip. It is usually about 12 cm-14 cm. Here you can measure too: it should be able to cover the part of the head from the brow up to the point it starts to… slope.Then divide your stitches in 3 and proceed according to the pattern. As you see, as long you can get the measures, you can knit such a hat in any size you want!
The neckwarmer is knit in the round first, and then split into 2 pieces that are finished separately, with some increases providing a slight flaring. Due to its seamless construction, it’s reversible.

Material:
Cool Wool from Lana Grossa, 1 skein
Circular needles nr 3
Stitch marker
CO 78 st, join, being careful not to twist stitches, and put a marker for the beginning of the round. K1, p1 across, until the collar measures 11 cm.
Increase row: kfb, p1 – 117 st
Next row: k1, p2 across (I know, this is not the best way, but I was utterly unwilling to make a purl increase  in the round; and it’s not even noticeable!)
On the split row, I’ve tweaked a bit to get clean edges on both halves: I’ve started on the purl st instead, making it into an edge st. So, p1, k1, p2 across 57 st, finishing with p2, k2. Work in pattern as established, until the piece measures about 20 cm from the CO edge. BO loosely. Finish the other half in the same way, with the only difference that you have 60 st there.
Weave in ends, wash and block. Done!
If something is unclear or if you find mistakes, I will be happy to help/correct! I really hope I’ve made everything clear enough, but it was kinda tricky to try to explain something after having knitted it!
Ravelry links to the hat and neckwarmer (there you can also see some modelled pics).
And, since I’m shameless and after self-promotion, I connect to Our Creative Spaces today (it’s a great source of inspiration, anyway)

My Creative Space_Cottage Cheese Bake

I have several knitting and sewing projects (in progress…), but they all linger in their respective baskets, and are way too unfinished to photograph and write about them. So this time I reside to just browsing all the wonderful projects other crafters share – a highly inspiring activity! In return, I will share a family recipe, passed on to me by my Mum. It’s a bake with cottage cheese as a base, and is very versatile – you can make it either sweet or savory, depending on other ingredients. This was a popular dish at our house when I was a child, and now I make it often for my son. Cottage cheese provides protein, and added fruits or veggies the vitamins – just what mummies are looking for!
Here is my basic recipe: 
500g/18 oz cottage cheese, 3 tbsp sugar (or less, if you are against sugar), 3 eggs, 5 tbsp semolina. Yes, that’s all!
Mix the cottage cheese with sugar, add eggs, better one by one, and finally the semolina. Mix everything well, add raisins, or fresh berries (the picture version was with fresh blueberries, oh so yummy!), or grated apples/carrots – whatever you know you little ones like! Pour everything into a buttered heatproof form and bake at 200°-220°C/390-420F for some 20-30 minutes (sorry about being so approximate, but ovens vary so much, you should see that the top is getting yellow and the edges brown a bit, just like when baking cakes!). Let it cool a bit, cut up and serve!

Don't forget to check all the craftiness here!

Update:
I'm happy to see that someone already wants to try the recipe! There's only one little BUT here: cottage cheese I'm talking about here is of this variety:

My Creative Space_An Accomplished Woman

Feng shui or not, but an accumulation of WIPs doesn’t make you feel better. Trust me, I’m, talking from experience. I had quite a pile of projects, basically finished, but not blocked, with ends so long you could think they are going to take root one day, not seamed… My first excuse was lack of space (due to moving). Then I got mighty lucky and was presented by another excuse: hot weather, and that for almost whole summer. I mean, really, who needs woolen socks and vests when it’s +30°C outside??? No one. Exactly. But they were really bugging me, those unfinished things, called so glamorously WIPs (a very clever psychological maneuver, actually, almost like putting a 9,99 $ price on something – your head tells you it’s basically 10 $, but your heart whispers 9$ and off you go; and those WIPs bring you to thinking of a VIP lounge, don’t they?)

Anyway, my luck turned and weather cooled off something, I managed to find some place for drying, and what a RELIEF it was to get them done. I’ve almost felt like a classical accomplished woman a la Jane Austen.

SO, without much further ado, let me proudly present my FOs:
 
This cowl was started originally as a scarf, but I didn’t like the look of it, and sewed up the ends. Much better! It was crocheted lengthwise, in simple shells pattern, yarn is variegated Regia 4-ply, I used almost exactly 2 balls!

Another sock yarn creation, a simple vest for my little guy (now 1,5 years), knitted bottom-up in the round in 3x1 rib, and then finished separately. I knitted a similar one for him when he started crawling, and it proved the most useful item in his wardrobe. It’s easy to wash, variegation of the yarn is very forgiving to stains and it’s warm without being heavy! Besides, washing it in shampoo (if it’s good for the hair, it should be good for the wool, right?) made it very soft and not scratchy at all. What else can a mother want except one more vest?

And just a pile of hand knit socks. The last ones are for my boy :) These socks were my knittotherapy – I was working on them when all around me were boxes and piles of stuff to be sorted out and either packed or thrown away in preparation for the move. I had several WIPs on my hands, but simply couldn’t face anything more complicated that stockinette, and that in small portions. I managed to challenge myself on a small scale, though – every pair of socks is somehow different. One has a short row heel (not my favourite, and I haven’t mastered it really yet), others don’t sport any fancy stitches, but I did throw in some knit/purl playing around. They turned out nice, if I say so myself!
And how long do YOU let your project sit unfinished?

More creative spaces here.

My Creative Space_Sky is the Limit

Like-minded people think alike, right? Just last week, preparing my My Creative Space post, I was debating with myself if I should write down a recipe instead of a routine knitting/sewing thing, kitchen is a creative space too, after all! In the end sewing won, as I wanted also to show off my new towels. And then I open Kirsty’s post for the week and bang! what she suggests if not thinking about all the other places we do get creative! Well, the last week post was about sewing all right, but this week I change my direction.
Besides, this week’s challenge is my top tip for staying creative. The first thing that came into my mind was keep going, keep making stuff, try something new – but it all seemed so banal, so everyone-knows-that-already and, most of all, not really me. And I realized that when my creative springs run dry, I go backwards, into the past. Look through the photos I took maybe years ago, remember the sweaters I knit so many years ago I don’t even want to count them. And believe me, the effect is close to a kick in the butt. IF I COULD DO IT THEN´, WHY CAN’T I DO SOMETHING EVEN BETTER NOW????? is the inevitable question. It’s like a breath of fresh air.
The recipe has to wait for another round, I’m afraid. This time it’s going to be photography, another dream of mine, for realization of which I don’t really have time right now (does it sound as lame to you as to me?) I do try, but it’s lots of baby (who became a toddler in the meanwhile) photos in chaotic domestic surroundings recently. If you are a fan of portrait photos, I’m sorry, I’m not your guy. I’ve always been fascinated by landscapes. And the sky. I grew up deep in the North, where in summer the sun goes down only for a couple of hours. It simply doesn’t get dark, you have a summer of perpetual day. Unfortunately, at that time my camera was totally incapable of capturing THAT sky. Many years later and a different camera, I decided to try my hand at some sky photography, in town. Here are some pictures taken two years ago (sorry, nothing recent!), but every time I look at them I remember how much fun I had in the process! (For those interested in technical details: Nikon CoolPix P100, edited in Picasa, as I I don’t have the Photoshop).



And my heavily edited favorite, it looks… electric, don’t you think?

Head over here to read more tips for staying creative!

My Creative Space_Bearing Gifts

You know, a question like Who doesn’t like to get presents? just a little while ago was … hmm… rhetorical. Now It’s turning realistic. The number of people warning their friends BEFOREHAND that they actually don’t want any presents seems to be growing. (Though I have to say, I’m never sure if they really don’t want any presents or it’s their idea of being nice and considerate, in the times of financial crisis. Whatever). But I simply can’t bear turning up at a birthday party or, even worse, a wedding party empty-handed. It just seems rude, to me, at least. Maybe I’m too old-fashioned? Or the people around really have it ALL? And then I remembered a discussion I had with an acquaintance of mine, about crafting some, say, 30-40  years ago and today. Before women used to knit/sew a lot often because it was cheaper or you simply couldn’t find what you wanted. Today we craft to get something UNIQUE, that stands out of the crowd (and it’s not necessarily cheaper than buying, but that’s another discussion altogether). So now, when I feel baffled with the choice of a perfect gift, I think about something handmade, original, at the same time practical, that will tickle the recipient or simply will brighten the day a bit.

I’m really happy I started sewing, as we’ve been experiencing rather tropical temperatures lately (though it has cooled off a bit now), and I’m not in the fan club, I am not. I don’t like cold, either, for me it’s all about moderation. I should have been born in Sweden – they have a WORD in Swedish, lagom, which means … well, just in the middle, moderate. You know, the magic  balance, not too much, not too little. But I’m deviating (as usual), let’s get back to gifts I’ve been laboriously creating lately :)
I was so blown away by these dishtowels from Purl Bee, that I decided to make my own, with coarse linen I bought at IKEA, and some trim band and lace – the last too were literally BREATHING Alpine charm. Let me tell you, I LOVE linen. Before I loved it in (store-bought) clothes, it’s simply indispensible for summer, but for home… a bit expensive. Especially dishtowels. Even for gifts.  The linen I’ve used is cheaper, as it’s the coarse variety (I’ve did some cross stitching on this kind of linen when I was young and my eyesight was better; not many years ago at all), and I actually have no idea whatsoever how absorbent it is, as I’ve cut it all up for the towels and haven’t left any scrap to test, but I think they will be used mostly as decoration by the recipient, anyway. But it is perfect if you are after  a somewhat rustic look for your kitchen. Ahh, they turned out lovely!
 
Here’s the trim/lace:

The hangers are in fact done with the help of a tutorial I’ve found some time ago, but I haven’t saved the link, alas! The idea is however very simple – you just tuck in the ends of the twill tape (or whatever you are using for a hanger) DIAGONALLY when you are hemming the towel, let’s say, top and left side. Very easy and very practical. I like in particular that there’s no hanger sticking out.

I’ve got so carried away by these towels, that I made another set, in lovely soft waffle fabric (actually I was planning just simple towels for myself, but so happy I changed my mind!):


And here is a small make-up bag, doubling as a present package in this case, made for my DB’s niece. She’s 15 now, and pretty often she gets money or a gift card, which is not that bad, at least she can choose what she really likes. But in the long run, it’s boring. Wouldn’t you be bored too? She has decorated her room recently, in trendy purple-green color combo, and I had a pale lilac linen and a sweet polka dot cotton in my stash already, so I guess it’s a rather practical item however it will be used… I love the green zipper!

I still have some fabric and bright yellow trim left, but I think these towels will be for me:

If you haven’t got enough of picture overload, more creative spaces you find here.

My Creative Space_Colour Purple

Some simle and still so lovely sewing: small fragrant lavender sachets, with lace on top, in pale lilac. I'm not the biggest fan of such pastel colours, and know almost no one who is, apart one friend of mine. She looooves purple in many shades. Good excuse to make something in this colour! And also an excuse to try my hand at sewing linen. Oh, linen, how I love thee! (though I think you are a bit of a pain in the butt to sew, my pieces, though so tiny, kept shifting). But the end result is wonderful and spreads such a tender smell. For myself, I am picturing lemongrass sachets :)

And here is some planned sewing: kitchen towels in waffle for myself, just plain towels, only to be hemmed, and linen for my Mum, with some Alpine charm borders; a stripy tote from Sew Mama Sew! tut (like a prisoner, remarked my husband about the fabric).

As for the plastic pockets for my sewing-to-do, it's my latest AHA-experience concerning my sewing projects organisation. If I find the time to do some cutting during my son's nap, I put then the cut parts in plastic pockets together with a post-it, wriitng the name of the project and some notes to myself (like Don't forget the hanging tags!; no, I don't think this counts as talking to oneself).

Linking up to www.ourcreativespaces.blogspot.com.

My Creative Space_Swedishly Nostalgic

Some time ago (I think some weeks already, but I'd better not think in numbers, they scare me) I've firmly (ha!) decided to blog more regularly. I even made a blogging schedule for myself - Quotation Monday, Colour Friday, you know. Well, life got in between me and my blogging. It's all life's fault. Damn you, life! It's not that I was not blogging, I was. Just mostly in my head, and I can't establish a very good connection between my brain and Internet, oh, it would be great, don't you think? Telepathic blogging... You know a researcher who would be interested?

Anyway, I've finally managed to cut into some earlier acquired fabric and also acquire some more. Some of it is still waiting to be butchered turned into something gorgeous. It was very domestic sewing: pants for my occasionally walking 1-year old and a pillow case for our ergonomic pillows.

The pants were done with pattern from Burda Style, they are really the best. The patterns I bought from them always have detailed instructions, which is immensely helpful for a beginner! I've wanted to make pants like these: somehow babies/toddlers in those ballooning trousers never cease to make me go all  mellow. The fabric is flannel my Mom brought for me from Russia,  it says "Brave Captain" all over. When I was cutting out the pieces, I've realized the fabric is in the colours of the Swedish flag: blue and yellow. Totally appropriate, considering the 8 years I spent in Sweden.

For further consolidation of the Swedish theme, of course IKEA fabric for IKEA pillows is the best choice! Some years ago I started to use these ergonomic pillows from IKEA, you know, that look like this: (image is from www.ikea.at)

Image from www.ikea.at

and never stopped ever since - they are the best if your neck is aching. But the problem is, that due to their highly individual sizing the regular pillow cases don't really fit, yes, you can fold, but it's pretty annoying. It took me several years to realize that a pillow case is very easy to make. I had already one store-bought, so I simply deconstructed it (without cutting, though), and

ta-da! I have two well-fitting AND colourful pillow cases! (those from IKEA are sold only in white; since my childhood I have a strong aversion for white bed linens). Just please ignore the fact that the houses are pointing in the wrong direction... The fabric is nice, soft but not sloppy, I think they will hold well. And another 9 metres or so of fabric with a very similar design are awaiting to become duvet covers...

Linking up with http://ourcreativespaces.blogspot.com/.

My Creative Space_Colour Friday

To animate myself to blog, I've decided to make a colour post every Friday - the colours that are around a lot at the moment, or catch my attention for that or another reason.

Here are the colours of this Friday - orange, several shades of green, yellow - all bright and summery. The crochet squares will eventually (and hopefully, soon) morph into a pillow cover, a companion to this one. The rolled up orange-green creation is a ripple blanket, pattern by the lovely Lucy of Attic 24.

Why the toys, you ask? Well, my (normally) favourite colours are blues, greys and dark greens, even in summer, actually, I have several dark blue and brown summer dresses and pants. I can even wear black in summer! Such colours are great for combining with some white or some brights - you don't need a lot to stand out. And being a colour freak, as I've said before in this post, I have to 'balance out' the brights by some neutrals or dark shades, otherwise it's like chalk screeching on a blackboard (not the nicest sound on earth, don't you think?)

But enter the baby - and other colour preferences! My boy is a spring child, and all those oranges, greens and yellows just say SPRING all over. I didn't want any baby blue for him from the beginning (we were gifted enough of blue things, anyway), and  I much preferred green as a baby colour. But some thinking over why this colour choice actually stuck brought me finally to the toy box. Presto!

Oh, I've forgotten to mention that tiny turquoise triangle on the needles. It's a dishcloth-wannabe. I think I'm hooked (feels like a terrible word since it's knitted) on homemade dishcloths. I've always been skeptical about handmade dishcloths. Yes, they are environment- and budget friendly, but that's basically all, I thought. Inspiration struck when I realized that I don't have any more storebought cloths and somehow I always returned empty-handed (at least without cloths) from my shopping (crafty gods's doing?) So instead I remembered to buy some dishcloth cotton. I've already made one, and it's superb! It does the job so much better! And of course, you can recycle them many more times than those from the supermarket. You know, budget-friendly.

And here's someone caught ... what should I say... red-yarned? This is what happens when you have stray yarn lying around and mummy's blogging...

I wish you a Friday in your favourite colours!

A whole bunch of creative people is just a click away.

My Creative Space_I'm dreaming of a green summer...

Just to prolong the illusion of summer (we are experiencing below zero temperatures here): simple pasta with cherry tomatoes. Of course, if you are experiencing summer right now (you lucky bastard, who ever you are), it's the perfect dish, as tomatoes are ripe and sweet. If not, be content with anemic ones from the supermarket :)

Anyway, it's an instant gratification cooking. In fact, there's not much actual COOKING involved - you just have to boil water for the pasta, throw it in and try not to forget to take it out in time, to keep it al dente. And while it's getting ready, just cut the tomatoes in half if they are rather big, and leave the tiny baby ones whole. Put a package of ricotta cheese in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, add some spoonfuls of pasta water just to make it a bit more saucy, and mix in the tomatoes. When your pasta is ready, mix it with the sauce and you are ready to savour it! I've used the green fetuccine, for some colour play, but short pasta is actually more convenient to mix here...

Even more creativity is set loose here.

My Creative Space_Colour Therapy

 

We've finally got snow here, after quite many sunny and snowless days. And even though I grew up in a climate giving you -30°C winters, I'm not a fan of cold and am pretty content with the climate I have in my current place of residence. So, while outside it was looking like this:

I was working on this:

A crochet pillow cover, in cool cotton and bright summer colours. My boy loves to fall down on big soft pillows, especially face down, and I've realized that there are not that many covers to change. In fact, there's only one (before the pillow was just for decoration, simply lying around, and one cover was more than enough, who knew it would get such a workout?).  I've added some neutral, to calm down my inner colour freak, but you've got to start somewhere, right? All those colour really make me think of summer (oh, summer, where are thee?) and all the good edible things associated with it. The back will be fabric, with a zipper, I have some IKEA red and green fabric with funny hippos.

The only thing that bugs me about this cover, is the fugly 'seam' running on one side, typical of those granny squares. Mine is not even straight... Unfortunatelly, I've came across the granny square crocheted from the corner a bit too late, and didn't want to rip it all out. But if you are bothered by the seam, spoiling all your granny beauty, check this out and start making grannies from the corner!

And when I got some 15 minutes of quite time (it was more, in fact, but the other 45 min were used for something else), I've picked up this:

Have you ever read Gerald Durrell? If not, I highly recommend it, especially for children! His writing is highly entertaining and well-structured, it's simply a pleasure to read! Anyway, taking place at heat-infused and fragrant Corfu, this book will certainly make you forget about all the cold and snow outside. I've read some of his books as a teenager, and now want to relive those long gone days of my life, I guess... Now, where's that chocolate I've stashed away?????

More creative spaces you find here.