The Green Dragonfly

Yesterday’s post by The Green Dragonfly  with all its flowers really got my imagination going. The photos she shared were absolutely stunning – every detail so vibrant and alive! I especially loved the one with the tiny dragonflies seemingly admiring the butterfly. It was such a perfect, little moment captured on camera that I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The Green Dragonfly and her family live all the way in Australia – down under, it’s full-on summer right now! While we’re bundling up against chilly weather, she’s enjoying warm sunshine, blooming gardens, and long, bright days. It’s fun to imagine her little dragonflies and butterflies thriving in that heat, a whole other season happening on the opposite side of the world.

This morning, inspired by her post, I went outside to take a picture of the „flowers blooming“ in front of our own house. Of course, they don’t quite compare to her magical garden – the little patch is more ordinary, less artfully arranged—but still, it felt good to pause, notice the colors and shapes, and try to capture a bit of that same joy.

Flowers GaslaterneIf you like to compare – here is what it looked like in summer (we only moved in June, no „real“ garden planted yet):

Gaslaterne summer

Oscar Niemeyer

CrochetCrown häkelmonster.com

With the passing of Oscar Niemeyer, I keep coming back to this quote:

“Life is very fleeting. It’s important to be gentle and optimistic. We look behind and think what we’ve done in this life has been good. It was simple; it was modest. Everyone creates their own story and moves on. That’s it. I don’t feel particularly important.”

Tom Dyckhoff, “Why Oscar Niemeyer is king of curves”, The Times Online (London, 2007-12-12)

Here was a man whose work changed the skyline of a nation, who created bold, iconic forms, and yet – he understood the fleeting nature of life. This perspective, that life’s value is found in simplicity and modesty, in quietly creating one’s own story, reminds me that impact doesn’t have to be loud to be lasting. Niemeyer’s legacy lives on in his curves and in the inspiration he leaves behind, a testament to a life thoughtfully and beautifully lived.

 

African Flowers

Are you familiar with African Flowers?

African Flowers babyblanket häkelmonsterThis morning we woke up to snow! It didn’t last very long, but still – SNOW. Just seeing everything dusted in white, even for a little while, felt like a small surprise gift from winter.

I guess that means it’s officially time for me to start another blanket – something warm and cozy to work on while the weather still insists on being cold. There’s just something about working on a blanket when it’s chilly outside that makes it feel extra comforting, like you’re creating your own little bit of warmth one stitch at a time.

This time it’s going to be African Flowers in true ’70s colors – pink, purple, red, and turquoise. I’ve already started, and I have to say, I really love how it’s coming together so far!

A new creature

Surfing the net in search of anything crochet-related, monster-inspired, or – best of all – both, is one of those things that can easily keep me up far too late at night. There’s just so much amazing creativity out there, so many ideas and artists to get lost in. One piece that really stuck with me is the green alien by Noisy Pitta – I hadn’t checked back in a while, but that creature stayed in the back of my mind.

It’s such a fabulous creature, full of personality and charm. I found myself going back to look at it again and again, drawn to all those little details that make it so special. And then, last month, something clicked – out of a leftover ball of raspberry red yarn, a distant relative of that alien began to take shape in my own hands.

Raspberry Red Monster

Bazillus

One of the kid’s classmates seemed to be in need of a Boo Boo doll, so last December Bazillus moved in with him. From that moment on, he became a constant companion—going to school every day with his new owner, tucked into a backpack, sitting through lessons, and quietly munching away on any worries that came his way.

By now, he’s with a second grader turned third grader, and it’s safe to say Bazillus has seen a lot. Between bedtime cuddles, long days in a school bag, and all the adventures (and germs) of public places, he’s definitely lived a full and rather demanding life—his name really suits him these days. Maybe it’s time I took a new photo, because he’s clearly been through a lot and doesn’t quite look as fresh as he once did.

This is what Bazillus looked like when he was younger: