ETSY SALE ENDS TONIGHT!

LAST CHANCE - OFFER ENDS AT MIDNIGHT
(30th of Nov. 2018 GMT+1)
  
ETSY sale!

 

Use the following codes:

50% discount on handmade items:

HANDMADE50

20% on patterns
BIRTHDAYTREAT2018

Kärlek
Annette

FOLLOW  My Rose Valley HERE:

Alone time on my bench

I stole a moment on my bench, before the November cold came. Sitting there helps me to take a real time out. A pause. It's a moment of just being me, doing what I want. No distraction, only nature. And cats. They wander around my legs, tip toe under the bench, climb the tree, lay down under the table...

I most often make it cozy. It's a procedure I enjoy: dragging out blankets and pillows, a table cloth in summer, some flowers, a cup of coffee or tea, a project of some kind. It can be crochet, a book, a deck of cards, a note pad to draft ideas and plans in...

I bring my phone and listen to Swedish radio, or an entertaining podcast. Or I sit in silence, observing birds, hearing cars in a far distance, seeing airplanes drawing white fluffy lines in the sky, saying hi to the neighbor when he walks up to his bee hives...

The older I get, the more I realize how much I love hanging out with myself. How much I need to be in my own company. Alone. Maybe it has to do with the new phase in my life, the one where kids are growing up and time for me is becoming more accessible? People talk about how important it is to reconnect with their spouse at this time in life. I feel an incredibly strong need to reconnect with myself.

I am not a social butterfly, I don't need endless with activities and stimulation to stay content. Actually I've always been more of a loner. I can be nice, chatty and somewhat hilarious to hang out with at times. I tell stories, curse and laugh out loud in good company. I can probably be mistaken for being a very outgoing person, but the larger part of me loves to be solely me.

My bench represents a free zone, a place where I can withdraw to when I need some space. If I could I would spend days on my bench, on my own... For some reason I feel guilty saying that. Like I am letting someone down. Afraid of hurting someones feelings. But just because I am in great need of some alone time, that doesn't mean I don't want to hang around my little ones and my partner in crime or that I don't want to hang out with friends and engage in long conversations.It doesn't mean I love my family and friends less. I just simply miss being alone. I miss me. Myself. I. It's totally normal, isn't it? Say it is...

Sitting on my bench on a sunny afternoon in November in solitude is a real treat to me. "Embrace it", I tell myself. "It's good to be friends with yourself. It's a gift. Embrace it." And so I do. I sit on my bench and hang out with myself. I'm having a great time.

Kärlek

Annette

I'm offering a 50% discount on chosen handmade items in my ETSY shop 

and 20% off on all patterns until 30th of November 2018. 

I will add a few more handmade items in the shop the next few days, to stay tuned. 

Use the following codes:

50% discount on handmade items:

HANDMADE50

20% on patterns
BIRTHDAYTREAT2018

FOLLOW  My Rose Valley HERE:

SPECIAL OFFERS!

Hi my lovelies!

Popping in really really quick as I am rushing out to a freelance job.

It was my birthday last week (I know... cake, gifts, love... it was great!) so I thought I should celebrate it with you too.

I'm offering a 50% discount on chosen handmade items in my ETSY shop and 20% off on all patterns until 30th of November 2018. I will add a few more handmade items in the shop the next few days, to stay tuned. Use the following codes:

50% discount on handmade items:

HANDMADE50

20% on patterns
BIRTHDAYTREAT2018

Kärlek
Annette

FOLLOW  My Rose Valley HERE:

Dream catchers for making dreams come true

Hi my lovelies
Do you believe in dream catchers? Do you have them? Do you know anything about them? I believe in dream catchers and so does also my oldest Nelly Bo who preferably spends her free time either at the piano, listening to music or singing but also creating, painting and re-decorating. She loves everything "boho" and spiritual and so naturally she started to make dream catchers to find peace and to release stress between school and studies which is taking up most of her time these days.

Last fall I showed you some of her creations on Instagram which resulted in a few sales and customized orders to Nelly Bo's delight. She is saving up money for traveling around the world once school is over and her future goal is to work in the humanitarian sector to help people in need and environmental rescue projects. My girl wants to save the world, and with that ambition I think traveling the world and seeing other cultures, volunteering in a humanitarian project or similar is a great start.

In Native American culture it is said that dream catchers were hung above the beds of sleeping children to protect them from bad dreams and evil spirits. Legends held that the spider web design of the dream catcher would allow good dreams to pass through and float down the hanging beads and feathers to the sleeping children, while bad dreams would be caught in the web and disappear with the first rays of the morning light.

Nelly Bo's dream catchers are made with great love and attention to details. Every creation is unique and one of its kind. She is a strong believer of a dream catchers' power to protect and spread good spirit. If you are interesting in purchasing one of her creations you can now wind them in my Etsy shop. Nelly Bo will continue to make dream catchers in her spare time and when buying one of Nelly Bo's handmade creations, you are helping her to raise the money she needs to make her dreams come true.

Kärlek
Annette

FOLLOW  My Rose Valley HERE:

This and that on a Sunday

A lot has been going on here lately. Time is running so fast I find it hard to keep up with all the happenings. So here is a little round up of my "lately".

There has been lots of granny square makings here. All the pieces for my crochet patchwork project are done and nicely blocked. Now the joining can begin. It is a very satisfying project and I'm enjoying every minute of it. I'm also working on the Daisy square blanket and I've just started on the border. All the squares are made by Nelly Bo and I will hold on to it and give it to her one day when she might have a baby. At least that is what I'm thinking as I don't just want to give it away. It might take 15 years or so, but it will be worth waiting for. It's a nice thought. :)

As many of you've seen on my Instagram, I made an attempt to crochet outside. It didn't last for long, the sun was very seductive at the time but the air was still to chilly to enjoy. I made one daisy square and not even the many layers of fleece and duvet could make me stay for longer. The coffee got cold in just minutes. But it was a nice try. :)

Nelly Bo has been making dream catchers. They are everywhere in our living room, dangling in windows and on walls. She is very good at it and I will list them all in my Etsy shop for you to buy. She is saving up money for world travels once school is over. I'm a proud Mama I have to admit (smug face!).

We had school break and took a short trip to Lucerne. What a beautiful place. We strolled the streets, visited museums, had coffees and donuts. I'll share more in a Lucerne post another day, but you can see some sneak peeks from the beautiful architecture and charm this small town has.

Last week I released my latest pattern the Olivia's shawl (read about it here and buy it on Etsy and Ravelry) and I'm so happy to see so many of you are liking this latest design of mine. Thank you so much for supporting me and my Rose Valley through your purchases. My cheeks are blushing of pride. :)

And the snow. Shall we talk snow. Really? We had our fair amount. I've shoveled the front of the house more than once (see video on Instagram). It is a hard job but a job I kind of like. Afterwards there is always the joy of indulging in coffee and crochet all warm and peaceful with red cheeks. That is the best part. 

Well, that was a glimpse into my life lately. More is to come. This week I'll share some more crochet inspiration and I'll try and get those dream catchers in my Etsy shop pronto. I'll let you all know hen they are going live. Happy Sunday and until next time - Stay cozy & warm!

Kärlek
Annette

FOLLOW  My Rose Valley HERE:

Olivia's shawl crochet pattern

On a cold autumn day I longed for something cozy and warm. I wanted something feminine and delicate, simple and functional. Last fall was the year for mustard, okra, saffron and a million other shades of yellow, and I also wanted something yellow to match the beautiful autumn leaves on my wood walks. And so, the idea for Olivia's shawl popped up in my head, was doodled and scribbled down on the back of our health insurance bill (!). I put the doodles to the test, did some trials and errors but quite quickly Olivia's shawl was created.

Olivia's shawl is the perfect "on-the-go" project due it only needing one color and not being such a big project. It works up quite easy and quick and as soon as I had finished my saffron yellow shawl, I immediately started on a new one in blue.

I used Ideal yarn from Bergere de France, which is a wool/acrylic/polyester mix in 5ply/Sports weight. To get the right drape I went up a full hook size (4,5mm) from what was recommended by the yarn brand. I love the stitch definition that Ideal yarn has. It never NEVER fails to impress me and is one of my all time favorite yarns to work with. It is  a bit pricy but well worth the cost. You could, of course, use a super soft merino as well. I think I'll try that for my next one. Maybe in baby pink. Because today is the 1st of March and I am craving pink. I always do this time of the year. Do you crave pink too?

Find the pattern for Olivia's shawl in my Etsy and Ravelry shop. I hope you will enjoy it and that it will become one of those timeless patterns you will make over and over and over again...

OLIVIA'S SHAWL

 • • •
6-page PDF file
UK and US terms
Written pattern
Step-by-step pictures
Tutorial "How to make tassels"
Material: approx. 200-250g of Sports Weight/5ply yarn and a hook 4,5mm
(I used exactly 200g of Ideal 60% wool/20% acrylic/20% polyester from Bergere de France)
Tips and photos for inspiration

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Ravelry

 
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#myrosevalley

Kärlek
Annette

FOLLOW  My Rose Valley HERE: