It's gorgeous!

I mean this yarn, and the fact that it was bought last Thursday from a New Yarn Shop in my home town - based on the blog mentionings for "Lankaidea", this was a really big event for all of us. It was about time to get a real thing here - thank you whoever started this LYS up, I raise my hat to you, and promise to visit as often my budget allows :)

Also, 'Kingscot' is well on it's way - back almost finished. I love the color!

It's gorgeous! :)

Here we go again..

..back to the grind. It's nice to be back!

A week in Madeira was great, filled with sunshine and greenery and warm winds.

Please kindly note that I did have my Noro and needles with me, but didn't make a one stitch during the whole trip - good rest for my shoulders and neck, mind you... But, guess who's fingers were really itching to get a-knittin'?? So 'Kingscot' is finally on the needles as of yesterday, and Katya is knitting up real nice, lovely soft merino.

* * *

As for the yarny stuff, here are some newbies which caught my eye:

(from latest Phildar magazine, with an Irish theme - nicely upgraded Aran..)

And my favourites from the new IK, coming up in the post next week, I hope!

Minimalistic, simple and pretty..

The loot

As is common here in our bloggin' universe, we always show and tell what we've bought at crafts fairs, yarn meets etc. So here goes.

There were many interesting booths at the crafts fair yesterday (and a lot of people, let me tell you... I heard one lady sighing with frustration and saying to her friend "Well, I really must start crafting now, there's no way out of it...."), here's some I found very interesting. And please note, these are not yarn related - I am able to concentrate also on other things, thankyouverymuch.

Although I bought some yarn, as well, of course.

Joutomaa, who was selling postcards and small posters - here's an example:

"It'll all turn out just fine" the little doggy is saying.

And Think Today: Well-designed notebooks and framed pictures, made out of scrap pieces of wallpaper and other building / decoration waste. And then "Mary-me", for whom I couldnt' find any website (which of course doesn't mean that there isn't one....) - they had funny fabric printings available, both to be sewn on your own garments / bags / whatever by yourself, and also ready-made on aprons, purses and messenger bags. Meet mr Bear and mr Frog.

And oh yes, I also bought some yarn, almost forgot to mention...

That's a lot of green. The one in front is from a small farm close to my old home town, Finnish lamb's wool and dyed by the owner herself. The other greens in the back are Katia, extra-fine merino, which will turn out to be the 'Kingscot' mentioned in previous posting. Actually also this one was bought from a store who is located in my old home town. And Joutomaa is also from there..... maybe I should move back?!? And some Noro peeking under there, as well. And a set of 2.5mm dpns. I'm all set.

There's going to be a little break - so talk amongst yourselves, I'll be back after 1 week or so.. See ya!

It's here!

Let's Twist again...


Me like:

"Kingscot" by Nora Gaughan

and "Cabled Cuff Gloves" by Tuulia Salmela

What's your fave?

Bleak house

Oh man, what a weather - there's hardly enough light during daytime to get these pictures.. Bleak is definitely the right word for this rain and wind. And did I mention darkness already?

But hey, we can of course optimize and put all things together in one pic:

See?! Knitting, felting, beading - all in one. The 'East and Vest' has been continued, after receiving the package with 'almost the same' new yarn of Debbie Bliss. The color is a bit darker choc.brown, but I think it won't matter in the end result, as it looks like the striping was intended on purpose...

***

I borrowed a copy of 'The Ultimate Sock Book' by Vogue Knitting, and even though I've never been sock-knitter at heart, it's anyway interesting always to study new techniques. In the beginning of the book, there's this history section about sock knitting. During wartime, people were couraged to knit socks to soldiers with e.g. songs (even Glenn Miller recorded such a song, the book tells us). Who would make a song for the millions of knitters now?

..and advertisements:


This dude seems pretty serious about his knitting. And deservingly so - knitting socks for the president himself must put any knitter under huge pressure. Note the appropiate knitting attire!

***

And hey, here's the new kid on the block - meet my 2nd orchid. My sister gave this to me as an early birthday present this weekend. It's nice to have a blooming one, since poor Polly has been without her flowers for a long time now.

I think I'll call him Harold.

My own birthday present to myself will be going to a crafts fair this week on Friday / Saturday :)

***

To recover from this gloomy day, how about this as the next project?! (Moda, Nov '08)

The Novice

I have succumbed. Finally. After years of reading about it in various blogs, finally I bought some. Meet yours truly, the Noro Novice.

As everybody knows, it don't come cheap, this one. But a lovely scarf is already in my mind, maybe mixed with some Rowan felted tweed, which has a similar kind of feel to it. But of course, it's like comparing silk with... well, tweed.

And another pair of earrings, lovely cloisonné beads: