Project C.O.G.

Remember how I was trying to clean up the Craftroom / Office / Guestroom?

Well, it's a long term project.
But I'm trying to do some serious de-cluttering and reducing.
A couple of months ago my mom and I switched the furniture and there is a lot more walkingspace now.

I also have already  reduced this (it was FULL ! ! !):

















Into this:

















I'm quite proud of myself.
The papercase is sold, as well as some papers, magazines and embellishments.

Love, Caroline

Granola

I hate eating bread for breakfast... Well I hate eating bread early in the morning...

So I'm always looking for other breakfast options, instead of just not eating...

I love muesli / cruesli / granola, but the store bought variations have all these additives in them I don't want to eat.

So I made my own. I tried it once before, and it was kinda okay, but not exactly what I wanted...

I searched a little more on Pinterest and found this recipe. It uses coconut oil, which I love!

I made my own granola inspired on this recipe, with the ingredients I had in my cupboard.

This is what I did:

In a bowl I mixed 1/4 cup sesame seeds, 1/4 cup pumpkinseeds, 1/2 cup crushed hazelnuts, 3 cups rolled oats, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup coconut oil, 1/2 cup brown sugar (optional), 1tsp vanilla extract, a pinch of salt.

When it's thoroughly mixed, spread the mixture on a lined baking tray and bake it for about 35 minutes in a pre-heated oven (175C). Turn/mix after about 20 minutes.

The granola will be loose when you take it out of the oven, but will clump a bit when it cools.

I hope you like it as much as I do. I'm currently on my third batch...

Love, Caroline

Last Queensday

On April 30th we celebrated our last Queensday. Next year it'll be Kingsday, which will be celebrated on a different date..
Kinda weird, since I've celebrated Queensdag since I was a little girl, actually: Since I was born...

Because of the coronation of our King, there were some extra festivities on the days prior.

Joshua's daycare invited all the kinds and parents/grandparents for a High-tea.

We decorated a pictureframe, had our picture taken and ate lots of sweets...
Joshua even played with the big boys...
I got lots of compliments on Joshua's crown, which I crocheted using this tutorial I found on Pinterest.

Tradition on Queensday are thriftmarkets. In Almere these start the evening before, so I went thriftshopping with Elisabeth and Rebekka. I only went for about an hour and a half, and haven't seen 3/4 of the market, but I scored BIGtime...!

Queensday itself was spent in Harderwijk, more thirifting, with my mom and cousin this time...

Love, Caroline

More hats...

Remember the owl hat I made for Joshua last winter?

Oh wait, that's how I started my last blogpost in November.... Shame on me...
Well, lots going on here in our household. And unfortunately no nice things... I don't want to talk about it online, but just thought I'd let you know why blogging time has been scarce...

But I have made a LOT of hats for different kids...
I started with a Hello Kitty hat for our girl next door.

















After that one, I finished daddy's matching Owl hat and I made a Hello Kitty hat for our niece's birthday.

















And then I made Joshua a new hat to match his green skisuit...


































And I made another Hello Kitty hat for my mom's neighbours daughter....

Currently I'm working on a Minion hat for my crazy brother, which I only have to sew the eyes, goggles and mouth on. And on a dog hat for a friends son...
And I have to start on a purple hat for my mom's neighbours other daughter... (that sentence doesn't seem right :S)

I'm also still working on the ripple blanket, but progress is slow...

Love, Caroline

Owl Hat and something matching

Remember the Owl Hat I made for Joshua last winter?

Guess what? It still fits...

















Sorta...

Well, last winter I also promised someone I'd make a hat for her daughter to wear next winter.

I got a huge pile of clothes for Joshua, and the didn't want anything for it, just the hat.

I started on the hat, but then spring came, and summer. And I never finished the hat.
But when summer neared it's'end, the crocheting-itch started to come back and I picked up the owl project.
I felt kind of bad for taking so long, so I made a matching surprise.


I think the little lady looks very happy wearing this!

Thank you Mariella for letting me use this picture!

Love, Caroline

Ripple blanket

Last year I found a tutorial for a ripple blanket on Attic24... I was instantly in love and wanted to make an big blanket for Joshua, for when he get's a big-boy bed (that gives me PLENTY of time to finish it!)...

I started a test piece, which was really easy. I just started crocheting then, and it looked really hard, but really isn't....


















After the testpiece, I felt confident, I picked 4 colors (initially 5, but the brown took away the vibrancy of the other colors...) and started crocheting. I can't remember how many stitches I chained and I made a few mistakes ending rows, so counting won't be really helpful... But believe me, there are a LOT!
The blanket is about 1,5 meters wide.

Progress is slow, I haven't crocheted a single row half of the spring and all summer, but I've picked it up again when the days started getting shorter and colder...
It is getting large enough that I can drape it over my legs and feel all warm and cozy while I work on more rows...
I intend to make it about two meters long, so when Joshua is all grown up he can still snuggle up under it...

Currently working on ripple number 23

















Love, Caroline

Gnomeforest Silhouette

I've seen these amazing silhouettes / transparents on Pinterest.
All kinds, for all seasons and holidays.

And I've been wanting to have a go on one of my own.
This is what I've got so far, still need to add the colored transparent paper...

Please ignore the dirty table...

Love, Caroline