The September Made It challenge – WINNERS!

September, we have a winner!

After another wonderfully fun and fantastic Made It challenge, the winner is…

MADELEINE OF PRETTY BLUE BIRD STUDIO!!!

(pssst, don’t think we didn’t notice that you have the word ‘made’ in your name!)

Your bright and beautiful knitted sock are worthy winners and I’ve no doubt will be the inspiration for many a pair to come! Congratulations ♥

 

♣  ♥  ♣

In an extremely tight contest, stealing hearts this months, the VOTERS showed their love and appreciation for Jane of Rainbow Junkie’s  Sand and Sea Ripple Blanket, a truly awe-inspiring project. Well done Jane! Please accept the Voter’s Choice Award badge for your blog

 

♣  ♥  ♣

Once again I’d like to THANK everyone who entered, everyone who voted, everyone who liked each post, everyone who commented and everyone who enjoyed this months feast. The talent, the dedication and inspiration out there is amazing!

‘Til next time…

Love Maryanne

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The September Made It – Hold on to your hearts

Hello! Are you ready for another dose of fabulous Made It entries? Thought so…

The following 5 entries are from one of our regular Made It challengers who is UBER creative, SUPER talented and a WHIZZ with yarn…not to mention a very entertaining writer too 🙂

Linen Crochet Sunhat by B*A*M Crafts

Looking ever so smug – and who can blame her! (you’ll have to click on the link to see what I mean 😉 ) in her STUNNING blue crochet linen sunhat is Beth of B*A*M Crafts. Her hat is beautiful, the stitches look exotic and the linen looks amazingly soft – I’ve never actually used linen before, hmmm.  Lucky for us there’s a link to a free, chart based pattern YEEEHA

♥

Brian The Amigurumi Bear by B*A*M Crafts

When I first saw Brian (an excellent name for a bear!) the amigurumi bear, I was immediately taken in by his bright colours and big beautiful eyes, and once I read Beth’s post I learned that he was styled and inspired by her niece. I love the addition of his blue waistcoat and pink daisy – a very funky bear indeed

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Warden Owls by B*A*M Crafts

And while we’re on amigurumi toys, here are two gorgeous air raid warden owls making their cameo appearance – also made by Beth

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Tunisian Crochet Phone Pouch by B*A*M Crafts

Ahhhh, I love this technique. Here is a stunning Tunisian crochet phone pouch that was quickly made by Beth as a “pick-me-up”  for herself while in a pit of despair with the sudden realisation that she had (at least) 15 WIP’S…..some of which are actually lost!

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Lace Shawl by B*A*M Crafts

Just in case you thought that crochet was all Beth could do (pfffffft) here is her beautiful KNITTED lace shawl in such lovely colours.  If you’ve never blocked anything before (putting my hand up) then click on the link for some seriously good advice – with pics!

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Bunting by B*A*M Crafts

And if you have a heart beat, then you automatically LOVE bunting!! Here is Beth’s very own pattern for knitted bunting – click on the link for a whole lot more to woo you. Oh, and if you make some please be sure to share your pics on her facebook page. Go wild!

Thanks Beth

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Pretty Bunny by Angella de Jager

Say hello to this sweet toy bunny, made by Angella de Jager, who is joining our gowing family of bunnies in this months challenge. Angella is an incredible artist who sews, crochets, paints, writes etc etc etc and whose work always inspires, invokes a smile and a lovely feeling of happiness.  You can view some more of her work here.  As for this very cute & quirky little bunny, she ticks all three boxes and more 🙂

♥

The next three entries are from the wonderfully colourful and very talented Madeleine from Pretty Blue Bird Studio

Rose Heart Bunting by Pretty Blue Bird Studio

You see! We all LOVE bunting and this rose heart bunting captures that feeling perfectly. This particular bunting was custom made and is the crochet version of her client’s logo – how cool is that!

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Floral Bunting by Pretty Blue Bird Studio

And another string of loveliness. Madeleine is a master with colour – mixing and matching so beautifully and her photos are magazine quality. This floral bunting is stunning and should be hanging in gardens everywhere. (Pssst, although The Inspiration is stunning, I prefer her version!!!)

♥

Hand Knitted Socks by Pretty Blue Bird Studio

And wasn’t I just saying how clever she was with colour?! WOW, these hand knitted socks are bold, bright and beautiful. I love how they are slightly different too with a splashes of red at the top. Even though summer is approaching us in here in Cape Town, I’m pretty sure she’ll get away with wearing them all the time.

♥

Thank you all so much for your amazing entries. There’s still time to enter so click on the link below to add your. Until later…

 Love Maryanne

CLICK ON FROGGY TO ADD YOUR LINK

 

The July Made It Challenge has a WINNER!

I told my daughter that I was supposed to announce the winner of the Made It on the 7th. It’s now the 9th. I asked her how bad it was. “Pretty bad, Mom”. The truth is, when I had the gap to put this post together, I took the kids for a walk on the beach instead. The warm summer sun was out and it was simply irresistible!

 My most humble apologies and thank you all for your patience.

♥

We have WINNERS, yay.

Congratulations goes to …

Well done Michelle, your baby chair cover is stunning pretty and will no doubt have you busy busy with orders for new little angles on the way!

Enjoy your wonderful prize – this gorgeous Crochet African Violet by Jane of Rainbow Junkie which will be winging its way to you soon

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Loads of votes were cast and it was a close call – in fact, so close we have joint winners of the Voter’s Choice Award again this month. Congratulations to Lucie from Love, Lucie & Madeleine from Pretty Blue Bird Studios – seems your amazing crochet stuffed toys were the order of the day !

 

     

You both have won this badge to wear with pride on your blogs!

Well, that’s it for now. What a super challenge! Thank you to everyone who entered and voted, to all our new challengers and visitors and to all our wonderful regulars. Thank you for sharing your talents, your projects and your hearts. Look forward to the next one

Love Maryanne ♥

The July Made It Challenge – It’s VOTING time

Eeek! It’s time to let your fingers do the talking – soooooo exciting.  But before you rush off to VOTE, here are our final 4 entries ♥

Knitted Hooded Cowl by Pretty Blue Bird Studio

Yes, it actually DOES snow in South Africa but it’s kinda like the Blue Moon thing! Here with her comfy, cosy, woolly and of course, FABULOUS looking knitted hooded cowl, is Madeleine of Pretty Blue Bird Studio – made just in time for a touch of  snow to hit the Cape’s mountains.  I love the drawstring element to it, gives it a very trendy look in my opinion and that it’s so easy to tuck nicely into a coat with none of the extra dangly bits. Click on the link for more pics and a link to the pattern

I get a bit teary on so many levels when I read about The Little Yellow Duck Project. Basically, people are making little ducks and leaving them in random place for other to pick up and take home – all to increase awareness of the need for blood, bone marrow and organs tissue donations. Also made by Madeleine of Pretty Blue Bird Studio is Kiki, a cheery yellow duck  beautifully knitted and waiting to be taken to her new home. For more info and how to take part, click on here

♥ ♥ ♥

Infinity Arm Knitted Snood by Bev Banet

Arm knitting – genius! So happy that there are so many of you out there having lots of fun and huge successes with this fun new trend to rock the yarn world. How wonderfully cosy and colourful is this infinity snood, made by Bev Banet one of our Facebook members! I personally had an awful experience, ending up only with two knotted and sore arms, a pathetic looking spaghetti thingy  ♥ ♥ ♥

Moss Box by NanaCathyDotCom

Thank heavens for people like NanaCathy who bring us the world through different eyes. If that’s weird (according to her family) then that’s wonderful, bring it on!  Her moss-inspired box cover is beautiful and created with such an amazing amount of passion. I was thoroughly entertained by her post and was left feeling once again inspired to allow my imagination to flow. Thank you Nana Cathy and please bring us more!

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And with that, the link is now OPEN FOR VOTING!

CLICK ON FROGGY TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITES 🙂

 

The lucky winner will win this beautiful African Violet made by Jane of Rainbow Junkie and will be announced on the 7th August. The link with the most votes will be award the Voter’s Choice Badge to wear on their blog/website/fridge!

~ THIS MONTH’S PRIZE | AFRICAN VIOLET POT PLANT by Jane of Rainbow Junkie

 

Thank you all so much for entering your beautiful creations. Now go on, get voting!

Love Maryanne xxx

The MAY Made It – One more entry and VOTING is open!

Yes it’s that time already, when voting open and lip trembles because you know that it’s going to tough voting for your favourites!!!

But before I go and let you go crazy wild,  dishing out your here is TEN ♥‘s A DAY, here is our final entry…

Essential Project Basket by Pretty Blue Bird Studio

LOVE THE COLOURS! And I’ve come to expect nothing less from the wonderful creative, pink-haired lady herself, Madeleine from Pretty Blue Bird Studio. Her gorgeous new project basket, crocheted with TARN is fabulous. Please pop over and have a read and an ogle at her photo’s and other projects too – warning, you may not get anything else done today!

♥

Right everyone, on that note …..

Good luck everyone and THANK YOU to everyone who has entered. Remember that we the winner of the Voter’s Choice will be awarded with a badge for their website/fridge! Winners will be announced on the 31st May

CLICK ON FROGGY TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITES   

~ THE PRIZE~

Thank you to this months prize giver,  Lucie from Love, Lucie 

This fabulous Owl Cushion is up for grabs this month!

The MAY Made It Challenge – Prepare yourself for more WOW’s

Welcome back to the May’s Made It challenge! I thought I’d have this post out a few days ago, but alas, life sometimes yets in the way. At the rate the entries are coming in I am going to be blogging for the rest of the month –  I’d better get my A into G fast!!!

Ok, next up…

Hexie Quilt by Measure And Slow

Okay. I know you are all 100% behind me here when I say…WOW WOW WOW. When I first laid my eyes on Alyssa from Measured & Slow’s incredibly beautiful quilt, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. Firstly, me and sewing have never seen eyelet to eyelet so I am no expert here, but still, I’m pretty sure this is a mega-major project.  About 1500 tiny hexagons went into making this quilt AND they were all initially HAND SEWN together – the mind boggles! Hats off to you Alyssa – this is an amazing feat of love, passion and hard work!!!!

♥

I personally had the double satisfaction of seeing Michelle Niedermann’s knitted stipey baby blanket –  knitted for a brand new baby –   not just because the yarn, a gorgeous shiny bamboo fibre (Vinnis Serina) came from my little shop, but because it is STUNNING! Even knowing how beautiful the yarn is and how delicious the colours are, I never imagined the blanket could turn out quite so beautifully! (you are mentally making a plan to knit one, aren’t you?!). Click on the pic for another photo of Michelle’s blanket, in all its lovely glory!

♥

Ruthie’s Birthday Bag by O’Noodles

I know that there are loads of crafters out there that are super talented at many different media. Jill from O’Noodles is not only one of them, she also brings her own unique zaniness to everything she creates! I absolutely love this exquisitely made bag (you lucky thing, Ruthie!) with it’s gorgeous print and beautiful rosette with vintage button. Pssst, the bag is lined with the same fabric at the rosette – very indulgent! More from Jill soon ….

♥

In Love With Leg Warmers by Pretty Blue Bird Studio

Ooooooooooh PINK, COLOUR, PINK, SUNSETS, PINK!!! Okay, I’m calming down± But really, wow. Those colours are sublime. These, may I say, very sassy looking leg-warmers were hand knitted by Madeleine of Pretty Blue Bird Studio and look fantastic –  of course, I does help if you have the legs and the toes to match! I so enjoy everything she makes, writes and photographs – go have a look for yourself. Never before have the 80’s looked so cool.

♥

See you VERY soon!

Love Maryanne

*****   CLICK ON FROGGY TO ENTER YOUR LINK   *****

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~ THE PRIZE~

Thank you to this months prize giver,  Lucie from Love, Lucie This fabulous Owl Cushion is up for grabs this month!

The March Made It WINNERS!

To everyone who entered, to everyone who voted, all the LIKERS, the commenters, the encouragers…..

 ♥ THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU  ♥

Another successful Made It done and dusted!!!!

As I’m sure you will all agree, the level of talent in the challenge just keeps on getting better and better. I love that there is such a great pool of inspiration to draw from and we see new people joining in every month! I am also blown away by the everyone’s dedication to their passion – the time, the focus and the talent that’s put in is remarkable and the results truly amazing. Right, before I get all teary eyed let’s get on with the WINNERS!

The randomly chosen winner (drawn by Inlinz) is……

YAY CONGRATULATIONS LUCIE –  your holiday purse is a worthy winner for sure! Here is your badge to display on your blog!

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 This funky, blinged-up Newsboy Hat made & donated by Jill from Nice Piece of Work is yours!!!! ENJOY

Newsboy Hat by Jill from Nice Piece Of Work!

♥

Ooooh and once again it was close close close but the winner of the VOTER’S CHOICE AWARD, with a total of 13 votes, for the second month in a row is…

WOOOHOOOO well done Madeleine! Please ask the new owner of your stunning top for a pic from Afrika Burn! Here is your badge to add to your collection 🙂

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Thank you all once again for another fun-filled Made It challenge. I’m going to take a small break for the rest of the month of April but will be back in May to do this all over again….will you be ready?!

Love Maryanne

The March Made It – Beautiful Bikini :)

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Seen as though this month has just whizzed by, I’ve decided to extend the March Made It challenge until the 4th APRIL so  there’s still time to ADD YOUR LINKS WOOHOOO!

Here’s the next entry from the talented Madeleine from Pretty Blue Bird Studio – an awesome blog to follow 🙂

Essential Halter Top by Pretty Blue Bird Studio

 

How absolutely STUNNING is this knitted halter neck top?!!! Made by Madeleine for a lady who’s attending AfrikaBurn  – one of South Africa’s most popular outdoor parties held out in the desert. She is going to look amazing in this!  I also LOVE the  packaging, oooh and the photo too  –  I would so love to receive a package like this in the post…sigh!

“Happy Girls are the Prettiest” – Audrey Hepburn ❤

♥  ♥  ♥

This months PRIZE for the lucky randomly drawn winner is this FABULOUS Newsboy “Blinged Up” hat made by the wonderfully talented Jill of Nice Piece Of Work!

This months prize!!!! Bling Newsboy Hat by Jill from Nice Piece Of Work

 

Love Maryanne

 ♥ CLICK ON FROGGY TO ADD YOUR LINK ♥

 

The FEB Made It WINNER IS….

JEEPERS, THAT WAS TOUGH AND THAT WAS CLOSE – so many amazing projects in the mix made it almost impossible to cast votes for all the favourites! Thank you all so much for voting, for visiting blogs, for your encouraging comments and for taking part. FEB was EPIC!

Now, for the best part. Drrrrrrrrrrum Rollllllll please – The *randomly drawn winner of The FEB Made It challenge AND winner of Trevlyn’s beautiful shawl is

♥ TAMARA FROM CROCHET WITH TAMARA ♥

Wooooohooooo Congratulations Tamara, your ADORABLE Galilee Slippers are stunning are such worthy winners! Your new shawl by Trevlyn of Babushka Crafts will be whisking it’s way to you very soon!

Here is your FEB WINNER’S BADGE to wear on your blog!

♥

The voting not just soooooooooooo close, we actually had a THREE WAY TIE! Told you it was tough!!! So, naturally the VOTER’S CHOICE AWARD goes to all of them! Congrats Rene from Hav2Havz, Madeleine from Pretty Blue Bird Studio & Sandy from Live Love Lake who each received SEVENTEEN VOTES! Your projects are so incredibly inspirational –  thank you for sharing them with us!

Please accept this badge to wear on your website/blog or fridge!

♥ you can check on the voting stats by clicking on the PINK LINK  ♥

  The FEBRUARY Made It Challenge

Thanks to everyone once again for making the Made It extra special – see you all in a few day!

Love Maryanne

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* Although I encourage multiple entries in the Made It challenge, only one LINK for each person goes into the random draw which is generated by InLinkz!

The FEB Made It – More Entries!

It might just be me, but it seems that the interwebz has gone on strike!! I’ve been pulling my hair out since yesterday trying to sort out these taunting technical  issues.  Ok, to be fair, I’ve been doing none of the actual sorting – my hubby has – but still, waiting to get a post out against when the router keeps flashing an evil red eye at you can be rather insanely annoying! So quickly before I loose my marbles, connection again,  here are the next lot of entries.

Enjoy!

Aquatic by Measured & Slow

Isn’t this simply wonderful?! This “Aquatic” quilt was made by Alyssa from Measured & Slow and was part of a challenge she took part it. I’ve said it many times before, but I am totally in awe of the sewers (sewers? hmm, that doesn’t sound right!) quilters out there. I love the ripples and the meandering pattern, not to mention the striking colours. Can’t wait for more!

♥

This teeny-tiny-cutie-pie cardigan, entered by movie-holic (you HAVE to read this post heehee) Kaiserin from Empress27 is adorable and very pretty in blue. I’m sure most of us crochet/knitters out there happily agree to watch movies/sports games just so we can carry on with projects! Am I right?! Ps can’t wait to see what the Dorset Down fleece becomes too…

♥

Rainbow Fish by VuChickens

Ahhhh wow, these colours are sensational, an amazing rainbow fish lookalike.  I adore everything that comes from  Melissa from VuChickens and these knitted Crofton Cuffs are no exception.  Her homespun Merino looks just as divinely soft as described! I am definitely going to attempt to make a pair of these this winter

♥

Croc Owl by Craft Maniac Mommy

Heehee, I love the wonderful energy of  Craft Maniac Mommy just as much as I love the title of her blog post..A whole lot of Croc! Of course, she’s not referring to anything other that the fabulous Crocodile stitch that she used to create this adorable cuddly owl. This is such a winner gift for kiddies (yep, big or small!)

♥

The following two entries are from Sandy of Live Love Lake and if you’ve been following the Made It, you’ll know that Sandy makes the most amazing knitted animals. Meet the lovable Valerie, her Valentine Bunny – and look at her dress!!! Please pop over and browse her blog, it’s truly inspirational and filled with loads of tips and link.

Valentine Valerie by Live Love Lake

Next is this stunningly beautiful shawl, the result of a Downton Abbey Knit Along Mystery . The colours are so lovely and YES Sandy, you so look incredibly warm and cosy (see pic on post) and YES, we are super impressed and a little envious of the snow too!!

Downton Abbey Shawl by Live Love Lake

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Star Ripple Blanket by BAM Crafts

A lovely warm welcome to Beth from B*A*M! Crafts who’s joining us for the fist time and has entered her gorgeous Star Ripple Blanket! The shape of the blanket alone is so striking and the colours just add that extra WOW factor. I had lots of fun browsing around her blog which is filled with lots of colourful and happy crafts, I’m sure you will too!

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Here is another FABULOUS entry by Madeleine from Pretty Blue Bird Studio. This Sideways Triangle Scarf, knitted in colouful cottons is a designed I’ve never seen before but am now completely in love with. A perfect scarf for all seasons (ahem, which is exactly what we can get in just one day here in the Cape, right Madeleine!) and the colours & stripe make my souls sing!!!

♥

Happy browsing everyone – be back soon!

Love Maryanne

*click on the PINK LINK to add yours*

  The FEBRUARY Made It Challenge

ps, here’s another looky at this month’s stunning PRIZE for the randomly chose winner, made and donated by Trevlyn of Babushka Crafts!