Hi guys!
We have had the most amazing summer weather in the UK the last few months! So much so, in fact, that everyone who's never had hayfever is getting hayfever, green green England is Kalahari brown, and people have been asked to save collapsed bees by feeding them sugar water from a teaspoon.
Like always in these few-and-far-between newsletters, I have LOTS to tell you, so grab a glass of ice-cold water and come and join me in front of the fan.
1. Ubuntu
After almost two years of behind-the-scenes work, I can finally reveal what I have been up to. Two years? For one project?? Yes, you gorgeous thing! Two years; one whole year of which was spent experimenting and trying to find something that was visually unique, yet celebrated my favourite elements from my two yarn babies: Sophie and Charlotte (the bit I'm still growing of her).
I am delighted to tell you that I am the designer for the official Scheepjes CAL 2018: UBUNTU.
"The word Ubuntu in a Nguni Bantu term meaning “humanity towards others” or “I am because we are”. Through Crochet-alongs, I have found a community that constantly reminds me of the essence of Ubuntu: connection, community, and mutual caring for all. We wanted to honour and celebrate that in this CAL, both in the design and how we choose to engage with each other as we embark on this journey."
Scheepjes released the first teaser for this CAL on Wednesday 18 July 2018, which was also Mandela Day (and would have been his 100th birthday). I think this is so fitting because Mandela showcased the spirit of Ubuntu in his daily life and interactions with people, as well as in the legacy and teachings he left behind. When I was a child, Nelson Mandela came to visit our small and glorious school in Calitzdorp (Klein Karoo, South Africa). I wasn't fortunate enough to shake hands with him, but one of the boys I later ended up looking after in my gap year was.
This is Jon-Paul (HERE on Instagram) shaking hands with Madiba. Jon-Paul is all grown up now and it is hard to believe that he was once that small!! One of my two brothers was also fortunate enough to meet Madiba in person that day. This is the only photographic evidence I could find: a photo of some photos. As an aside, doesn't my brother look too cute as a toddler in his cabled sweater? And rocking the guitar even then!
When I designed the Charlotte Square featured in Charlotte's Dream, I did so specifically for the Guinness world-record blanket organized by 67 Blankets for Mandela Day. (You can read more about the record HERE.) As you can see, this is not the first time I have chosen to honour and celebrate the values taught and lived by this great man.
If you would like to read more about the Ubuntu CAL, please feel free to read my post about Ubuntu, or the one about the Reveal. If you would like to read more about Nelson Mandela's life, I strongly recommend the book Long Walk to Freedom, available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com in paperback, kindle, and audio format.
2. Granny Square Flair
Shelley Husband from Spincushions has released her new book, Granny Square Flair, and it is a beauty! The thing I love most about it is that Shelley designed all the squares in a single colour and then got her designer friends to create featured colourful versions in their favourite yarn/colour combinations (maybe she even snuck in a few - many - of her own favourite colourways). I was lucky enough to participate! I will be posting a review and a giveaway on my blog on the 28th of August, so please pop by then if you want to know more.
If you are too impatient to wait for my review, you can buy the US/UK versions here:
You can also read more on Shelley's website HERE.
If you want to see an example of a blanket I made using some of Shelley's earlier squares, please have a look at my Baby Blanket for Erin HERE.
Ooh, and I almost forgot: Shelley is hosting a Giantess Quiet CAL at the moment, so you might want to check that out too.
3. Emma Crochet Square
I have now released the pattern for the Emma square I told you about in my last newsletter. You can find the pattern HERE.
It is a simple square and works really well with scrap yarn or Scheepjes Cutie Pies. I have bribed my wonderful friend/maker Minno to make me one in each shade of Catona. I wish you could have heard my maniacal laugh when I opened the parcel and saw all the gorgeous colours turned into squares.
I spent a ridiculous amount of time photographing each individual square so that I could have a colour-accurate library to play around with when deciding on a layout. So far there is only one square that stubbornly refuses to be photographed/edited/tweaked to reflect the real colour: a cerulean blue in the most gorgeous shade. That square is stubborn, but I am more stubborn.
In the meantime, I wanted to show you the fruits of my labour so far. Only 100 of the 109 colours, because I was limited to a 10 x 10 grid.
All I want to do with these is make one of those pixelated art pieces! Sort of like this picture I painted (of my mom as a young woman) in 2005, but with more colours (and less pixels!).
4. Boy and Bunting Read Along
I believe that we are all creative. Not everyone embraces their creativity, though, and some people are never lucky enough to stumble across the creative outlet that makes their heart sing!
If you are subscribed to this newsletter, the odds are very good that you are already creating beautiful things. Maybe you shine most when choosing colours or making neat little rows of perfect stitches. Maybe you design grand and glorious designs. Either way, you are creative and your creativity grows through diligent exercise.
Matt from A Boy and Bunting is hosting a read-along of Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way on his blog. I first heard about the read-along when Matt shared a story on Instagram. I vaguely remembered reading the book a good 20 years ago, and after a good search, I found my (very old) copy. I will be joining him on this creative journey, and I hope you will too!
You can find out more about the read-along HERE.
5. Milana (The Adorable Dog That Stole My Heart)
This is a bit of a departure for me, much as it is for Tatsiana (who shared about Milana on her blog HERE). Milana is a homeless dog from Belarus and Tatsiana has spent the last two weeks trying to find a forever home for her. You have to read Tatsiana's post to truly understand why this is such an important cause for her, and the consequences should Milana not find a home.
I can only tell you why it is important to me.
Christiaan and I have been talking about getting a dog for ages and ages.
"When we move out of London, my darling,
When we have a bigger house.
When the boys all settle down.
THEN... What say you, my spouse?"
It has always been a vague (slightly frivolous) idea; maybe a Jack Russel (over my dead body) or a Rhodesian Ridge-back (over his dead body) or a Staffie (yes, that will do)...
...but then I heard Milana's story and saw a photo of her! My heart leapt in my chest and for a second I couldn't breath. "This is my dog!", I told Christiaan. He looked at me as if I had lost what little marbles I have left. "I know," I said, "But THIS is my dog!"
We have no idea if our landlord/landlords will allow us to have a dog (still waiting to hear). We have no idea how we will get her to England if he/she/they (it's complicated) says yes. We have no idea if we have space in our 3-bedroom-5-person-1-cat-3-rats-million-yarn-balls house. We have no idea if we are up to the challenge of adding more to our already laden plates. All I know is that if I cannot have her, SOMEONE needs to give her a home (preferably very close to me) because "she carries my heart".
Tatsiana has set up a donation fund for Milana (and other homeless animals in Belarus). Please read the blog post linked above if you want to find out more. And if you have any insight/advice/ideas about big dogs and/or getting them into the country (legally!), please let me know!
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Dedri
Ps. All the place for my Australia/New Zealand cruise have now sold out. In fact, we've had to add a few more places and my mom will now be joining my sister and I on the cruise and helping out with the workshops (just like she did on my South African workshops with Be Inspired in 2016).
Pps. It took me so long to finish writing this newsletter that I will be in bed by the time you finish reading it, so if you joined me in front of the fan, please can you switch it off when you go to bed (and check that the back door is locked)? Thanx!
Ppps. We raised £250 with our #nhsbig7tea radiotherapy celebration at Charing Cross Hospital last month (£100 pounds of which came from donations from you guys through our Instagram appeal). My department and I (and the NHS) are so very grateful for your support. A special thanx to With My Handz (stockist of the Scheepjes Ubuntu Kit in the UK) for stopping by to say hi on the day.
Now (really) goodnight!!
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Feeling a Bit Nostalgic...
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