I have a favorite blog that I at least once a day visit and happily scroll through the pretties. Its call Design*Sponge. It pretty much interior design candy. Mmmm candy… I had the pleasure of writing a “Christchurch Design Guide” for Design*Sponge recently and its just been published! Hoo rah! Thanks so much Grace. (There was a bit of nail biting and wondering if it would “fit the bill”). If you don’t already visit this beautiful blog then it will be worth a look. Especially if you are looking at giving any living spaces a bit of “zing”. Heaps of styles and ideas.

I created a flickr album with a bunch of Christchurch photos I took especially for the guide. However my flickr is full of Canterbury shots to if you want more piccies have a look-see through those. As most know I love my home town, its small but so close to so many playgrounds and a great city vibe. If I have missed out on any places, my fellow Cantabrians, please comment on the post in Design*Sponge, it will be great to have different perspectives.

Little cat is sitting across the table from me as I write this (so cute). After setting the scene i can tell you the much anticipated build is soon going to start, the plans, as I type, are being completed by my beloved, who is currently endeavoring to get me a 3d outline of our house on the hill that I can sketch on. You see we need to decide on cladding (thats the stuff like weatherboard or brick… it goes on the outside… “YES SIMONE” i hear you saying) and retaining wall design. We thought it would be fun for me to sketch up a “artists impression”. At one point in my life I have been a passable technical drawer, I even used to enjoy it. So finally i get to use those skills again!

The Arts Festival is now all go in my wee home town. I went into town on Sunday to help with the installation of the crochet flowers that have now started “growing” around the square. It was a typical sunny and crispy Christchurch winter day, with the added Arts Festival buzz. All the stands are up, the “ice dome” (temporary skating rink) is working and wonderful Jazz music could be heard filtering out the Telstra Clear venue as we sewed and strung up our goodies. People happily wandering around soaking up the atmosphere.

The vines are knitted, leaves and flowers crocheted. The vines are sewn on. Flowers pinned, so that people can “pick” the flowers and attach them to their jackets, shirts or whatever they are wearing. A little bit of brightness for the winter season. They look great! If they stay in good condition they may make it to the New Brighton library. I loved the vines so much, I was imagining creating my own for my office. Which can be as pretty and girly as i want, seee… its MY lady cave. I can crochet and knit flowers whenever i feel like a small pretty crafty project, they can “bloom” on my vine and when i am tired of them they can be given away…

The “slip” Project Website

Arts Festival Website

The flickr Set

For this years Arts Festival a local cool Christchurch crafty chick Lucy Arnold is organizing a bunch of us crochet peoples to make some flowers to “grow” up some trees around the square (website/blog). Crochet flowers are quick and satisfying to do, so I’m obviously in! I am not sure what I like more, the growing amount of colours in a yarny flowery pile or the churning through a bunch of flowers at once. Feeling quite satisfied that I can achieve something yarny and colourful in such a short amount of time. Happy *sigh*.

I have been looking around for patterns, because I tend do have fun going on my tangents wondering what would happen if i chained a few more and attached it here and there, crochet is so easy to make the odd thing up, the quickly pull apart and try again. At this rate I will not win the most crochet flowers rumoured competition, but I will do my share anyhow.

Some cute-si crochet patterns out there..

• Lion Brand
• Fable handmade
• Lily
• Crochet leaves
• Crochet Leaf video (and more)
• Autumn oak leaves
• crochet rose and leaves
• Attic24