a 2012 round up ...

... kind of. Because not everything can be documented in a blog. Life happens and some things are not "captured", and rightly so. But here's an attempt at rounding up some of those things because it's great to look back, with some positivity, with some lessons learnt, some memories and then to move forward with more determination in sha Allah. 

I tried some new things ...

like holding crochet classes with the hopes of more crafty sessions

and having a craft stall at a bazaar 

and homeschooling, which forced me to get more creative with my children (and to get to know what makes them tick, much better!)

and changing the way I eat, which has helped me to get to know myself better (and started me on a road to a healthier me)

I got more involved in the community ...

with the TROCHET project (the major work-in-progress which was mentioned here, here and here and has it's own space here)

and taking part in a craft auction

a pay it forward

the third knit and crochet blog week

a tea wallet swap

the handmade joy swap

Geekfest Jeddah

signing up to the usual link party, one for the first time, not being able to commit to some as much as I'd like and not being able to contribute at all. This may carry on in to the next year!

There were some highs:

flowers

sweets were sent over

Helen's giveaway

Elena made a video tutorial of one of my patterns ... in Italian!

the children got creative in the kitchen

And there were some lows ...

Saying goodbye to so many expat friends but the hardest goodbye was to my parents 

Some projects were finished ...

a shrug/bolero in a panic

a shalom cardigan

a beret

a dress for a new niece

a something pretty bag

an order of crocheted goodies for a bridal shower!

large orders of crocheted arabic coffee cup covers (that had me questioning taking orders!)

another beret

a throw for my parents

 a knitted shawl

and more cards

Needless to say a lot of projects were started!

A few places were visited ...

Yanbu

Makkah

an istiraha

Thuwal

Madinah

Some baking was done too (but not as much of the fancy stuff this year)

Khoubz El Dar

Well, there you have it. Some of what we were up to. I feel that a lot of lessons were learnt this Gregorian year. I just hope I can keep it all in mind. I also feel that there are changes to be made bi idhnillahi ta'aala.

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barley, health & diy links

The weather has changed. It's changed from very, very hot to warm! Well, we've also had bursts of rain and when there's this *drastic* weather change, everyone gets the sniffles! I kid you not. It's just a part of living in Jeddah.

Here's a super health food that I gave my bunged up and weepy-eyed household.

Barley. Washed. Soaked. Boiled. 

I used extra water to boil it so that I could strain the barley water to drink. It's nice in the summer with lemon and honey, served cold. But for cooler months, it's nice mixed with hot milk and honey.

Drinking Talbina (barley drink made with barley flour and water) is from the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم. I made the barley water the way that I did so that I could cook the actual grains in a bit of butter, milk, cinnamon and honey, and serve barley porridge for breakfast!

And another go to drink: The ultimate immune system boost drink

Anyone with the love of crochet, check this out: Can crochet improve your immune system? Now we're talking!

I LOVE natural remedies! Do you? Here are some other great ideas that I haven't tried yet but hope to:

8 ways to freshen your home 

Home-made deoderant

Natural toothpaste

Something strange happened. Good, in many ways, but I've been hit a bit of a curve ball too! In my last post, I mentioned that we are homeschooling full time. Well, things have changed. Just when I was really getting used to having my kids at home during the day, they're going back to school. And that surprisingly made emotions fly too!

And just when I thought I could use those rolls of sticky, book adhesive for something as beautifully organised as this weekly planner, possibly in our new home, I will probably have to use them over the next few days, to cover books!

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my creative space - finding ...

... that crocheting with plastic is FULL of challenges but it's growing on me!

... that it's great to do something different on the weekend

... that I don't always appreciate the nature of glowing, pre-dusk sunlight, even if it is in amongst the concrete

... some tiled patterns on a walk

... that I don't miss this kind of thing as much as I thought I would

... that even after shopping for that dress, I keep having the urge to take pictures of dresses. Is my subconscience telling me something?

... a nice day bed, not buying it, just admiring it

... that after 14 years of marriage, I didn't know that my husband once had a summer job carving traditional, wooden furniture and that his mother used to make her own looms, all by herself and weave mats, some of which were made out of recycled plastic bags ... YES, she was in the game well before us trocheters! 

... that it's been raining today!

... that Palestine is in the thoughts and prayers of many

And here my other new and not so new "finds":

a shop full of handcrafted items, where they have done new things with traditional Arabic accessories (yes, those wrap-around trousers)

and they have this great gift idea of a recipe and spice mix (this is one is for Kablie Rice)

and everything is made by needy women!


a creative mint - beautiful, creative blog

annie's place - and another one!

alternating cast-on for ultimate stretch - a knitting tutorial I'd like to try!

a great way to use up those awful adhesive book covers that I didn't have to use this year because our paperwork hasn't come through and so we decided to homeschool the kids full time!

thought walking - a great way to solve problems (article)

My contributions to #amonthof #mycreativespace can be found on instagram! I'm Fruitful Fusion .... what else? Look me up! 

And more creative spaces here!

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