You know how I love messing around… The more I teach crochet, the more I want to learn too. I’m my quest for developing the humble granny square to something much more…. I’ve made a couple of really exciting new designs…. 
I have used Noro silk garden to make this gorgeous poncho. I’m wearing it a lot as a mid season thing… It’s soft, warm and so easy to pair with jeans or pants. Again it’s on my Instagram account with the tag #wearthegrannysquare and #mymindfullcraft 

I’m on Instagram and am called mymindfullcraft. 😊
Enjoy the inspirations 

P x 

It’s all in the details isn’t it? Here is my detailed happy owl…. The middle is a snowflake and the side wings are hearts! I loved sowing on the beads for eyes. This owl makes me smile! I hope it does for you too. Try crocheting owls, they are fun and easy. You can decorate them with any embellishments you want… 

Someday I’ll put up a photo of all the Owls I have made… It’s an entire family! 

Love and inspiration always, 
P X

I’m feeling like making a statement… So I’ve made this… It’s a granny square jacket or you may call it a vest. It’s using Japanese Noro yarn. The fun part was crocheting the beautiful granny squares and it was a bit tricky to stitch them together with no shaping to make this vest. Thanks also to my lovely neighbour who happily posed for the shots. Like she said, the point of this vest is to use it as a cover up… It hides a multitude of sins….😊 Its my movement to encourage everyone to think about wearing granny squares. I have posted this on Instagram with the hashtag #wearthegrannysquare. Please use this hashtag to post anything you may have made with granny squares that you are wearing…. Let’s shift from the idea of using granny squares for blankets! 

Lots of love and inspiration. 
Payal X

So now I have something to look forward to each week https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/course/ARHC20

Last week was my first class of this course. I rocked up, heart beating, clutching all my precious yarn, repeating to myself ‘I can do this’ again and again… And I had the best experience! Nine lovely ladies turned up and I had the best fun. I didn’t even know when the class started and when it was time to pack up. Thank you God almighty for such a fabulous opportunity. In celebration of having fun, I’ve decided to challenge myself. 

Here is my new challenge: I have to use some beautiful fine lace yarn and make myself something wearable. I’m aiming for a rectangle top like this in the picture below. This is a free pattern on the lion brand website. This picture is taken from their website. Now I’m at the stage of trying out new stages and I’m really enjoying it. 

Here are my experiments 

Wish me luck on my experiments! 

Lots of love and inspiration to you.

P x

So usually people turn away from this subject about now. Who wants to chat about boredom… It’s BORING! So what does that mean? When I’m bored my brain is hungry for something to entangle itself in. Is that the way you feel? I spend a lot of time with friends, family and pets. I also exercise regularly, work part time, crochet full time and cook and clean my home when the fancy takes me. Do I sound like I have the time to be bored…? But I am. The moment I’m alone, I feel like I’m bored. I’m crocheting but my brain is not interested in the rhythmic actions. I’m watching TV but thinking about my sons first day back at school. I’m cooking but I can’t remember if I already added salt to the dish or do I need to do it again. What is wrong with me? I can’t be fully in the moment in anything. I’m worried that I’ve got ADHD or some such thing. 

So you’re still reading this? I guess that is a sign you can identify with me. And then the answer came to me during a tough yoga class. The yoga teacher kept talking about being mindful, trying to control your mind and control your breathing and finding calmness from within in the process. Of course while my body was aching in a particularly twisted pose, everything he said made sense. 

Coming home, greeting my dog and my crochet basket makes me realise how nice it is. I’m actually blessed in many ways and when I choose to see it, boredom isn’t something bad. In fact it’s something good because it gives you a chance to enjoy time doing things you want to do. I’ve made a list of boredom busters which including watching the first few Game of throne episodes, making cakes and doing an extra 10 min walk everyday. It makes me feel positive. I hope this positive practice makes it better for me and if you do the same, I hope it’s making things better for you too. 

I’ve also been working on lots of crochet projects. I am really looking forward to posting these soon. 

Lots of love 

Payal 

Finally I’ve achieved something… It’s warm, soft, glorious and very satisfying. Not to mention it was very easy to make too. I’ve made this shrug in 4 ply alpaca. It’s easy to wear especially when layering. Sydney winter is in full swing and I’m loving this shrug at the moment. Although I’m very glad it’s finished! Enjoy the inspiration,

P x

Hello everyone, wonder if you guys have felt like this before: I hit the point of saturation on a crochet project recently. It was halfway through the first part of a shrug and because I knew there was quite a lot more to go, I just exhausted myself. The brain starts to send little tweaky messages about how long this is going to take, and how I can’t wait to work with something else. 😩 Then the 4 ply yarn rolls through my hands like the finest of threads (even tough it’s not) and as I weave my 3.5mm hook through the fine crochet I’m doing my hands start to cramp!! ✊🏻👋🏼👐🏻Ouch! I stop, look around, try to engage myself in the TV and keep crocheting like its something that’s happening by itself and I’ve got no part to play in it. 🙄 Of course that doesn’t work. Then I remind myself how much this alpaca yarn cost, even when it was on sale. And how I promised myself that I will finish this project and not just leave it to add to the stash! Yes that’s right I tell myself, slow and steady wins the race. And while I’m conjuring up imaginary visions of myself crocheting as a steady tortoise the hands still keep moving, slower now. 😏😖 Needless to say, I put the project away for a while and moved on to something else. I took photos of some recent completed projects: 

That seemed to make me better. What makes you feel motivated if you ever need an extra push to finish a crochet project? 🤔 To wrap up my experience, I finished an easier crochet project: a granny square cowl in a gorgeous yarn. 

I suppose having a couple of projects going at the same time can help. Especially as I find that finished projects are hugely satisfying so finishing off small projects on the way to finishing off a big one helps. And then I’m planning on attacking that alpaca shrug once more. With the help of strong coffee and more TV. 😄😌

Hope you are all enjoying yourselves too. 

Love 

P x

This is the story of my life. The things I love the most all together on a mildly cold Friday afternoon. The latest crochet project, my dog and my son. (Not necessarily in that order)

Life has been beautiful and we are so blessed. I thought I’d share this photo with you as it depicts the most relaxed admosphere we’ve had almost all week! 

Share the love everyone and hope you are having a relaxed time too. 

Love

Payal 

Hello everyone 

Sydney is bright and beautiful today. Winter sunshine= happiness and I’ve been smiling a lot today 😀☺️ 

After a very wild weekend of rain, like lots and lots of rain, ( I personally love rain, I don’t like getting wet, but I like watching it fall when I’m warm and dry, preferably curled up with my favourite series on Tv and a juicy crochet project) but there’s rain, and then there’s exponentially exploding rain see here : http://m.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-hit-by-wild-weather-from-north-to-south-east-to-west-20160605-gpbvo1.html

It meant a lot of time spent indoors, eating, cooking and of course baking. I’m rather proud of myself actually as I concocted a recipie for an unusual cake, which actually worked, and boy is it yummy…. 

Lychee and Pineapple olive oil cake 

I have to say I’m a big fan of making cakes with olive oil, much like my fellow blogger Connie@bohemian food. 😊

On the crochet front I’m feeling the positive energy. I’ve dived into my yarn stash and have organised my alpaca see here 

And I’m making a crochet cocoon shrug which may or may not turn out ok. Why the big question… Because there is no pattern. It’s just fresh out of my brain… Inspired by lots of reading and Pinterest reseach…. 

This is what it looks like now 

At the moment I’m going to bed for some beauty sleep. I will pray to God for the patience to finish this shrug. Using thin yarn and a small size hook is not fun, making me take so long over one project, I feel like giving it up sometimes! 😩 Can’t complain too much though, I’m loving the feel of the alpaca in my hands. I also have the young inspector morse to keep me company. I’m watching the dishy Sean Evans with much interest in the ITV series ‘Endeavour’ and I’m lovin it! 

Lots of love to you all, hope the sun is shining on you. 

P xx

There is something so comforting about ‘scarfing’-(making more scarfs). Maybe because they are easy, versatile and quick. I’ve made another one but this one is making me really happy. I’ve tried new techniques like a simple cable in the body, and a contrasting colour to crochet the bead and tassles to add oomph. What do you think? 

P xx