One Saturday Evening

I am home after a slowish Saturday in the shop.
And it was/is a beautiful spring day.  I am really hoping that the weather holds the next 2 days so I can finally make it out into the back 40 and clean up winter.

Oh!  My DH just walked past me with something to go on the BBQ.  Wonder what it is?  (just found out...Italian Sausage!)

Son is home for a few days.  It is good to have all the babies under the same roof as me.  It is hard having them away.  Well not hard really.  It just feels like something is missing when they are gone. Parenting is a strange job.  From the moment children are born it is a parents job to start setting them free slowly but surely.  The last few years happen too quickly it seems.

Was teaching a sock knitting class this morning and now I want to start a new pair of socks BUT I have too many projects on the go already.  I have 2 commissions on the go. I am knitting 1 sample for the shop. I am test knitting a pair of Entrelac hand warmers.

I have a shawl on the needles. SO that is ...5.  Well I have been up to 10 before so not bad.
 Projects waiting in the wings are another sweater commission which I also have to design, small items for the Peony Festival booth and I have a shawl design percolating that I will have to start swatching for soon.

Supper was good. It is 7:30 PM and still sunny. Hockey is on the TV. My knitting awaits,
Til next time.

So... It is raining...yet again..

It is said that if you live in Canada you always have something to talk about.

The weather.

Our weather is ever changing and slightly unpredictable

Today it was predicted to be sunny with cloudy periods. Hmm....


The above photo was taken at 11 AM. hmmmm....


Thunderstorms. Rain. Cool. What we like to have in April. NOT JUNE.


I suppose the good side is that everything is lovely and green. And, you can't spend time in the garden so you can knit as much as you want to!!!


Edited to add: AND NOW...it's 3:15PM!

The End of February

Yesterday we had a beautiful late winter snowfall. The weather was warmish so the snow was heavy and clung to all the trees in a very marshmallow way.

I enjoyed my walk with my wee Kessie. Yet didn't enjoy the filth that gathered on her underside! The dirty dog days are upon us I fear.

Ah well....I am needing Spring weather so much it is not much of a hardship!

I spent some of the weekend working on my Cloisonne sweater. I may add another layer of lace at the bottom in the brown because I think I want it to be a bit longer. Loving it though. Love love love knitting with Berocco Ultra Alpaca! It is difficult to resist burying my face in the softness on a regular basis.

If I get it done before summer (here's hoping)....(My heart skipped a beat with the idea of summer!)...it will be my Spring sweater.

Enjoy your last day of February and, if you live in the north, start taking stock of your spring clothes.

Oscar watched last night...... Colin Firth is a funny man! Yea for The Kings Speech!

Bunzillys!

The Bunzillys are getting all dolled up!

Tara and I are having so much fun creating the first of our Forest Morsels!

Bunny Sknit

Your Spontaneous Drivel

Is assaulting our silence

You sit there and Snivel

Seeking our alliance

And

All we can think

is

SHUT UP

SHUT UP

SHUT UP!

by: Martina Munroe

I Need to Lie Down.

It has been a while since I have posted any knitting content. Not because I am not knitting because I am ALWAYS knitting. But, because....I am knitting and running a shop and being a semi present Mother and Wife. And reading and beading and taking nutrition classes and furtively thinking about cleaning and giving input on the main bathroom redec.

Don't know about you. I need to lie down now.

At the moment I am waiting for my 11 o'clock Thursday student to arrive so I will have to pause in my post very soon.

What have I been knitting? Yes, I heard you ask.

I have been working on the Cloisonne Jacket from Interweave Knits. I am only doing it........

Blogus Interuptus...
Please enjoy this while I teach!

and I am back again.....

I am only knitting the Cloisonne during the evenings at home because of the colour work that is involved. It is not that difficult but there is no repeated row in the pattern so I can't do it from memory. I find it hard to even watch the TV at the same time.

I have gotten a bit further than in the photo but alas I have not taken a photo yet...Soon I promise!


I spent a good part of the weekend knitting eggs to be embellished with beads. I knit them with Noro Silk Garden and got a wonderful array of colours from the one 50 gram ball.

Then I started knitting Bunny Nuggets....

I am loving this tiny knitting!

I have also knit 2 1/2 socks,
a sweater for Bruce (which his wife ripped out...so needs to be reknit)(le sigh), a shawl, a scarf, a few cowls....several hearts (I still need to knit more of them)... Ah yes...I do have a photo of the hearts .

Happy Valentine's Day!

Christmas in Several Countries while Home Alone

I have the day alone at home today. It is a much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of pre Christmas busy-ness.

Not that I am not being busy.

So far I have done some kitchen and bathroom cleaning. There will be more general cleaning through the day. As well as getting serious about finishing some last minute gift projects.

While cleaning,crafting and calming down I am listening to CBC2's day of Christmas performances from Europe and Canada. So I have heard a concert from Finland and Norway.

AND THEN....or NOW...I will be spending a few minutes researching Christmas traditions in the featured countries. I will share the links with you along with a photo of knitting from that country.
Finland:

Norway:

England:


Czech Republic:

Seems that the Czech Republic is known more for bead than knitting.

Iceland:

Germany:

Austria:

Spain:

Canada:

Steps Away

I have been knitting Rhea a blanket this summer. It is getting rather large and heavy at this point and I feel like the knitting is getting slower not to mention warmer.

The end of this project signifies Rhea's first steps away from her birth family. Her first step into her next phase of life. Her first big step towards independence. Steps...

I grudgingly knit on.

I want her to grow and be independent but I want her to stay my baby. Maybe if I never finish the blanket she will never leave.

I knit on.

That is what parents do. Despite every cell in our beings needing to protect and to keep our children close we let them push away. We let them declare that they are completed. We let them set the time when we need to cast off and enjoy the end result.

Rhea picked the colours and I picked the design. I am calling Loyalist Log Cabin blanket since she is going to Loyalist and the design is based on the log cabin quilting design. Built into the design are steps and home and comfort. And...washability...yes..knit in Mission Falls MACHINE WASHABLE wool. She may not choose to clean it but she will not destroy it if she does.

With the gift of this blanket I will be sending love and security with her. Even a 19 year old needs comforting from time to time. I hope that the blanket gives it to her in a pinch.




Do you think I could get her to knit me one?

The Perfect Afternoon

Some afternoons are meant for being in the backyard.

Yesterday was one of those.

Though it was scorchingly hot in the Toronto area my backyard was just the perfect temperature for sipping Mojitos, knitting and drying laundry.

So.....

that's what I did.

Won't tell you yet what I am knitting but I can tell you it is Katia Tobago 100% brushed cotton.

I have enjoyed how the colours have come together.

Mom's Day Oddments

Happy Mother's Day to me!

I bartered myself a new earring and necklace set! Thanks Tara for wanting the Whitby Wrap!

Mmmm...Jewelry!

Rhea in the Whitby Wrap

I am not finished my triangular shawl obsession! I am currently working on one that is tree colours. I am combining Naturally Tussuck with hand spun that Cathy bartered with me.

My Bartered Tree Striation Shawl!

Also working on a sock and lace weight in mauve and terra cotta. As I was working on it I cam across a photo of roof tops in Burgundy France. The colours are almost exactly the same.

My Burgundy Striation Shawl!

Had a relatively successful Studio Sale this weekend as mentioned in last post. Now I have to start gearing up for the November show.

Oh, And Jen has invited me to her place in Newfoundland in October! I can't wait! Her house is on the ocean!

The Studio Show

Brainwave
2008

Today was the Studio tour. It turned out fairly well I think! Lots of people through and a few pieces sold. Of course only those that didn't get sold. Rhea took a few photos.

Brainwave is still one of my favorite pieces . It was one of those pieces that grew organically. My hands were just the medium. I don't really want to sell it because it is perfect for over the Fireplace and I love it. I have therefore put a really high price on it!

Time Exhales

This piece above was a piece that required alot of research and thought on my part. It is a depiction of how events that happened 40 years ago affect every day that follows. How one cataclysmic event can exhale over the world for minute, hours, years, generations... I loved creating this piece because it was done for a competition and I had to work within a theme. It became a very academic piece for me. I learned a lot!

All were on show and will be on show tomorrow again. I get to hang out waith Jen and Tara too! Yeah!!

I am a Chicken Collector

- “A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg.”

- Samuel Butler

yes...

I have a chicken collection. The one above is my Christmas gift from Emily. She sits in my living room keeping the television company.

Don't know why I started a chicken collection.

It is not big but there it is. The barnyard cluckers.

This is Francie the French Hen!

This last chicken was given as a Christmas gift during a knit chicken gift exchange.

I became so enamoured with knitting this chicken that I carried on to knit the two above it. It is a Susan B. Anderson pattern but I have taken my own design road. I am jonesing to make another one. I guess this would be the month to knit one!

I will show my respect for the chicken not by eating one (though they are delish!) but by knitting another one!! What colour should I make her?

Do you think this is the end of my collection? No these are only the knit chickens!

Next time...My Vintage glass Chickens!

Bet you can't wait!

Procrastination is Making me Latte

Make that a Chai Latte please.

I am at home for the morning. Alone. That doesn't happen often. I know I should be grabbing the dust rag or sweeping the floor but I am making myself a coffee and writing to you all.

And now I remember that I have Chai tea at the shop which I will have to make when I get there. When I get there.

'scuse me checking on the coffee...maybe the coffee will help me up off my duff...

I am all alone this morning because Los Kiddos are at school Jim has gone on a day trip to Algonquin Park today with a bunch of his birding buddies. Nice sunny day for it but back to below freezing... I hope they see lots of the flying creatures and hopefully some Moose babies. Wonder if he brought a camera? Wish I could be there too..

I continue to have 10 plus projects on the knitting needles...I am actually not sure of the number I will have to count. Let me see..Hmm I have finished a couple so only 7. Yeah!!
Three pairs of socks,












Of which this is one... I love Jay walkers!



1 linen blouse,

1 shawl,

1 tree


and 1 tank top that I do not have a photo of yet although I am holding it in one of the photos from the previous post.

I do have one rug hooking on the go too.

So maybe I just need a morning off ? Maybe, just maybe I am productive but just not in a house wifey way?

Where is my Chai Latte?