Monday, September 22, 2014

Around the world blog hop

Last week I received an email from Shane inviting me to join the 
                  'Around the world blog hop'.


I have followed Shane and her beautiful blog for a while now and I always love visiting her. She shares wonderful photography, mosaics,  inspiration, lovely projects she is working on and seeing her wonderful photos from France, when she visits her family there.

One of her lovely collages
I'm sure if you haven't already come across Shane and her lovely blog you will be happy to visit her - please pop over and say hello to her at ~
  roseslaceandbrocante.blogspot.co.nz

As part of this blog hop I have questions to answer 

 What are you working on right now?
 

I am  knitting booties for a friend that has had a baby - there is something nice and relaxing about knitting and I find it a good way to spend the time on the ferry crossing, when I go across to the City.

Another work in progress is an Old Fashioned Antique birdhouse  cross stitch - it is fine work and I really do need to wear my glasses when I am working on it.


I also enjoy making Mohair bears - have taken a little break from them and will hopefully get back into it again soon.
My daughter has designed a new web-site for me which looks much cleaner and more how I would like it to look.
Just need to get a web designer now to make it a working site.


Why do I create what I do?

As a child I  loved to sew clothes and knit for my dolls  and today I like to have something on the go and keep myself busy with creating something or working on a project.


Now I will share a few photos from around Waiheke Island, where I live. There is something wonderful about seeing the tall ships which often sail around our waters.

Summertime on the Island is a great place to be, where you can swim at the many gorgeous beaches with lovely white sand and clear blue sea. Onetangi beach below is the beach we mostly go to and it is a relaxing way to spend the afternoon with a picnic lunch and a swim
 
Onetangi beach


For the energetic there are lots of wonderful walking tracks that overlook the most fabulous views.  In Oneroa bay, many people come and enjoy the holidays on their boats moored out on the water


I now want to introduce you to Sarah, whose wonderful blog http://downbytheseadorset.blogspot.co.nz/ 
I love to visit.
She shares her stunning photography from Dorset, where she lives.  
Love the ripples on the water and the wonderful boats, on a trip to Weymouth, she shared recently.
Next is Ana from the beautiful blog A petite Cottage - she really does have a Home sweet home. She loves to sew and decorate and is always finding some great things when out thrifting.
My third friend is Claudia, who  lives in Germany.

Here is her blog http://nunusgarnundstofflabor.blogspot.co.nz/ and go and say hello to her also.  
Claudia shares her gorgeous garden and is a wonderful knitter,  and makes the sweetest bears.




Thank you Shane for inviting me to the blog tour and to Sarah, Ana, and Claudia for playing along and continuing the blog tour next Monday.

Also I appreciate all for stopping by and hope it will be a wonderful new week for all.
                                 Carolyn x



48 comments:

  1. Hello dear Carolyn

    Thank you for your kind words.
    I was 'over the moon' when you accepted my invitation as I knew others out there would love meeting you and hearing about the interesting things you do!

    The little blue booties are so cute - what a thoughtful gift.
    It's great to see you do cross stitch too!
    But it's your darling teddy bears that brought me to your blog in the beginning, I love their individual personalities and how you dress them!

    We hope to spend more time around Waiheke this summer, so long as our boat is ready and back in the water - fingers crossed, it's such a long process!

    Sarah and Claudia both have such a lovely blogs and I'm off to meet Ana now!
    Thank you again for being part of the World Blog Hop Carolyn - you're a gem!

    Hugs
    Shane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Shane for your kind visit and inviting me to join in with you for the blog hop.
      It has been really fun meeting some new blog friends.
      Hopefully we will be able to catch up one of these days

      hugs
      Carolyn

      Delete
  2. Dear Carolyn,
    I just adore your booties! I have tried over the years, and I could never get it right.. Your bird cross stitch is going to be beautiful when completed... Even when my eye sight was good, It was just to fine for me to work with... I admire those you can... My Mother-in-law did beautiful cross stitch.
    She also hooked rugs..
    You know how I feel about your dear little bears... They touch my heart... Your daughter did a great job on your new web site.
    You live in such a beautiful part of the world... Thank you so much for sharing a little more of yourself.
    I love to visit dear Ana and Sarah...They are such wonderful ladies.. I must go meet Claudia...
    Thank you for this most enjoyable post, and thanks to Shane for inviting you to play along on this blog tour.
    blessings dear friend,
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Penny,

      Many thanks for your kind visit and lovely words you left. Booties can be a little hard when it comes to increasing the stitches and then the instep. They are quite quick though when you get the hang of them.
      hugs
      Carolyn

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Thank you Midnight cowgirl - they seem so tiny.

      hugs
      Carolyn

      Delete
  4. Dearest Carolyn,
    Always interesting to answer some questions. Well, this time I have a question back for you. How long does your ferry crossing take, since you can enjoy your knitting while going across?
    Sending you hugs for a new lovely week ahead. Exciting news that your daughter already got the new prototype for your website!
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mariette,

      Many thanks for your kind visit. The ferry trip takes 35 minutes so it is not too long, but a chance to get something done or read a book and have a cup of coffee.
      Carolyn

      Delete
  5. Great post Carolyn...thanks for the invitation. Can't wait to meet Shane, Claudia and Sarah. Have a wonderful new week.

    Hugs,
    ❤️Ana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ana, and I am happy that you are going to be part of the blog hop. It is good to meet new blog friends.
      hugs
      Carolyn

      Delete
  6. Hello my dear Carolyn,
    thank you so much for this wonderful post :O)
    Sorry, I did not get back to your kind email earlier about the Blog-hop, will get back to you later!
    Now I will go and meet Ana and Sarah :O)
    Have a lovely new week, my dear friend,
    sending Love and hugs and blessings,
    Claudia xo

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Claudia,

    Thanks for your kind visit and nice that you will be able to go and meet Ana and Sarah.
    Hope you have a lovely week
    hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  8. Carolyn!! I so enjoyed reading this post! Your knitting is amazing! As are your bears! I am so glad this award was passed on to you! You have such an inspiring space here friend! Happy day to you! Nicole xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your island home is very beautiful! I have always wanted to live by the water. The scenery is always changing. The baby booties are just adorable. Have a happy week!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Carolyn, My you will be busy joining a group and having to post regularly. although I post once a week and some times that is too much. I love reading your blogs.
    HUgs Kay

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's such a sweet post ..
    I love the cute booties so much
    Sweet hugs x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Lovely pics Carolyn, all is so adorable!!!
    Happy monday doll!
    Love, Paola.
    Expressyourself
    My Facebook

    ReplyDelete
  13. merci pour le partage de ces blogs que je vais aller
    visiter
    les oursons sont trop beaux
    que votre blog est agréable
    à très bientôt
    tendresse edith (iris) France

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi,Carolyn.
    I am so impressed to know that you are good at sewing, I remember your silk gray color, and knitting too!! I enlarged the photo to look them more closely. They are so sweet!! Glad to know you have a beautiful summer. The harbor with many boats is beautiful.
    Have a lovely season!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I SO love these blog hops; it keeps us thinking, creating, CONNECTED, which is the most important thing to me. I LOVE YOUR NEW WEBSITE LOOK!

    Dearest Carolyn, enjoy your summer!

    Now off to school I must run...Anita

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a coincidence! Shane and I have just started following each other. You are right she has a lovely blog. I shall pop over to see the others which are new to me. Those three bears are adorab le. I too used to sew clothes for my dolls (and later for myself although its a while since I took out my sewing machine!) You live in a beautiful area - what a fabulous beach.

    ReplyDelete
  17. First of all, belated happy birthday to your son, Carolyn. Time goes so quickly, doesn't it?
    Your blog hop is such fun; I loved being introduced to new blogs and am so impressed with your talent! I love your island...so beautiful.
    Happy Monday and have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful post, darling!
    Love the boats and bears!

    xoxox,
    CC

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Carolyn! Your bears are very very nice and I think they also are very soft!

    ReplyDelete
  20. It is lovely to read more about you and what you get up to and why Carolyn! I hope that you can get your new website up and working very soon, let us all know when you do so that we can stop by and pay you a visit! xx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hello dear Carolyn,
    What a lovely post showing your darling tiny booties, for your friend,-your beautiful and sweetest bears and that stitchery that I could not do anymore, unfortunately ,-even with glasses! You are so lucky to also live close to the sea, and with a totally different view ,than I have here :-)
    Thank you sweet friend for the links to some of your friends...I know dear Shane and her beautiful blog, but I will visit the other ones you share links from!
    Thank you for a wonderful tour, and hugs from Dorthe

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have missed your bears, remember
    that you used to show us so cute
    bears. And you live in a very beautiful
    place, the sea is so close.
    Hugs/AM

    ReplyDelete
  23. OMG, I absolutely need a pair of shoes like that for my baby! ;D

    Kisses,

    Benedetta

    http://www.daddysneatness.com/2014/09/retro-flowers.html

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love those little bitty booties, I never knitted but it does seem quite relaxing. You certainly live in an interesting part of the world, very serene looking on that beach. I love your bears and just starting working with mohair about a year ago. It's rather addicting!

    ReplyDelete
  25. How many interesting information about you Carolyn thanks to this blog hop! Thanks for the links, I'll pop over those nice ladies. I also enjoyed your pictures, really lovely.
    Hugs
    Olympia

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a lovely post....have a Nice week Darling....love Ria...x!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Dear Carolyn,

    What a lovely post this is! I enjoyed reading more about you. You live on a fabulous island. The photo's look like a dream to me :-)

    Happy week!

    Madelief x

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dear Carolyn, Thank you for inviting me to join your round the world hop, I shall enjoy visiting others and making new friends.Those are lovely pictures of the coast and beaches on your island. Have a good week. Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  29. What fun Carolyn! Your mohair teddy bears are adorable as are the sweet little botties. I'm looking forward to checking out the other blogs:) xxleslie

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hello dear Carolin. How many beautiful things we have learned about yourself. The Teddy, who love ... like you! ,) While I wait to see your new blog, I'm glad you invited to narrate and describe Claudia, a sweet friend to both. Very good week dear. A big kiss NI

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hello Carolyn, I am Shanes other blogger taking part in her blog tour, & popping over to visit you :-)
    I really enjoyed your post today & seeing around the beautiful Island where you live. I have never been across but hope to one day (I live in the Waikato). Your booties you are working on are just delightful. Julie x0x

    ReplyDelete
  32. Lovely post Carolyn! The photos are wonderful, especially the ones you have shared of Waiheke Island. It sounds like a fantastic place to be for summer!

    Thanks for your comment on my post. I can now identify the forget-me-not. The previous owners must have planted them. They are really gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Carolyn - It's so fabulous where you live! Such beauty everywhere! I'd want to spend way too much time gazing at that beautiful water. Your little booties are so adorable. I like to crochet and I feel the same way you feel about knitting. Can be so relaxing. I am always in love with your bears Carolyn. They have such personality! I'll have to hop over to see your blogging friends, they sound so interesting. Have a great week!

    Blessings, Edie Marie

    ReplyDelete
  34. Dearest Carolyn, thats a great presentation of your blog and the blogs of your friends! And i fell in love with the babie-booties!!! OMG and Waiheke Island must be the greatest place to live - close to the sea and the beach and to all those gorgeous ships ... sigh! I am full of longing for the sea, but soon my longing will be satisfied again: o))
    Warm hugs, my dear!
    Traude
    ჱܓჱܓჱܓჱܓჱܓჱܓჱܓჱܓჱܓჱܓჱܓჱܓ

    ReplyDelete
  35. What a lovely post and I will for sure visit your blog friends!
    It look´s so beautiful where you live, the boat, the beach...I love it!
    Have a great week and take care,
    Titti

    ReplyDelete
  36. Are those macaroons I see in that first pic?? I love those things!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hello Carolyn,

    Love the style of booties you are knitting, this way they actually stay on the feet. Good luck with the cross stitch, it is a lovely design.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love this post Carolyn, I am so fascinated by the bears you make! I think that is such a talent and I had a weakness for bears growing up, so I am smitten with them. Hoping this fall has been a good one for you. I am finally back blogging again, hope you will stop by and say hello!
    xo Mary Jo

    ReplyDelete
  39. Carolyn,
    I participated in this blog tour recently also. It's fun and it lets me know more about what you're doing. There's your precious bears, I can't believe you make them! The knitted booties are darling. It's such a talent to knit and crochet. Anna from A Petite Cottage is one of the sweetest blog friends ever, and has been a friend early on.

    I enjoyed your post today, Carolyn. And happy birthday to your sweet son. Thank you for coming to visit even though I've been away from the computer while moving into my home. It's been hectic, but so nice to settle in.

    love,
    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hello Carolyn,
    You are such a talented Lady.
    Darling Bears!!! You make beautiful bears.

    Enjoyed reading about you,
    d

    ReplyDelete
  41. Lovely to finally catch up here, and particularly with this all about me post :)

    And thank you for the introductions, Sarah I know but Shane, Ana and Claudia are all new to me.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi Carolyn, so lovely to visit your beautiful blog and see where you live. Your knitting and cross stitch is lovely and I love the bears you have made. It's so nice meeting another kiwi blogger too, Wendy

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting Draffin Bears.
It always makes me happy to read your comments
and I look forward to visiting you.


Carolyn xx