Put A Pompom On It

I purchased this faux fur pompom a few months ago and put it away in one of my yarn baskets. Then I promptly forgot all about it.

A couple weeks ago, I was digging through my stash for some yarn and my heart just about stopped. I saw this round, furry thing sitting there in the basket. I swear it had beady eyes and sharp teeth. Eeek, had a rodent invaded my yarn stash and made a cozy home?!

I should have paid attention to the box this furry blob was sitting inside. Whew!

The culprit

To prevent any further palpitations, I decided that I needed to use it right away. I was going to knit a hat and put this pompom on it.

Right after Christmas, we were going away for a week to sunny Jamaica. I packed a book to read and of course, I had to take a small project. A hat would be a great project to tote along for some beach knitting. In keeping with that, I picked up a skein of Hedgehog Fibres Merino DK in the perfect colorway… Beach Bunny.

But that’s not all. To make this hat extra cozy, I added a skein of Rowan Kidsilk Haze and held the two yarns together. Pure luxe.

This hat is for my daughter. But as I keep knitting and watch this project grow, I want to keep it. No, I should be a nice mom and give it to her. Or… I should keep it. Haha, we shall see 🙂

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Just Plain Ordinary

Happy New Year, friend!! I hope this year be all that is good and fulfilling in whatever way that looks for you.

Isn’t a brand new year always exciting? A new opportunity, a clean slate, a fresh start. I don’t do new year resolutions, but I always look for something to focus my year on. I use a word or a phrase and write it down in my bullet journal as a reminder. I began doing this a few years ago and I can’t tell you how many times during the year I feel prompted to refocus just because I wrote my intention down.

2018 was a tough year for us as a family. But also, so many parts were so good and meaningful and deep. We dealt with some serious health crises but we made it across to the other side, for which we are immensely grateful.

The past year taught us so many things about ourselves as a family, as unique individuals and also what it means to do life with community. I wouldn’t trade any of the wobbly, bumpy experiences for a pinterest-perfect life.

2019. I wish that it is filled with lots of treasured moments for all of us. Embracing full on, the simple things. Experiencing the joy of just. plain. ordinary.

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Summer Recap

It’s been a whole two weeks of back to school now and I’m loving the more predictable routine.  More so since this has been an eventful summer for us. We traveled to India to visit family and friends.  We were away for about 5 weeks and while the vacation was absolutely fun, it wasn’t without the post-holiday crash and burn that international travel entails.

India was, as always, crazy and chaotic in a good way.  Every day was enjoyable and overwhelming at the same time.  This trip was especially because of a family reunion which made our holiday extra special.  So many precious moments!

A highlight on every trip to India for my little girl is getting henna designs or mehendi, as it is traditionally called, done on her hands.  Convenient that there is a mehendi artist at the end of my mom’s street.  He did this in under 20 minutes… both hands, front and back.  Now that is skill!

Of course, retail therapy is always good when traveling to distant lands.  This time around, I wanted to visit local crafts people and I got quite a few opportunities to do that.  It’s always good to support local artisans and we brought back a few lovely handcrafted pieces for ourselves and our home.

We visited a silk weaving studio and another place where the finest cotton was being woven into yards and yards of gorgeous fabric.   Sadly, I wasn’t allowed to photograph or film the artisans at work creating their unique pieces, but I am truly grateful that I was able to experience this first hand.

Inspired by these skill craftsmen and women, I am eager to get back to regular crafting and making.  To enjoy the process of creating unique items that are made using my hands.

I have just completed a mammoth knitting project.  It has been blocked and the ends woven in.  This will be on display at Knit City in the Black Sheep Yarns booth and so I was rush knitting to get it done in time!  Knit City is in 2 weeks and I’m super excited that we have such a wonderful fiber festival in Vancouver every year.  Next up, I’ve got a couple more works-in-progress that I want to tackle.  I’ll share my crafty projects and plans in future posts.

As good as it was to travel and be with family as well as have a culture-rich summer, it is so good to be back home.

I hope your summer was filled to the brim with special moments and laughter too!

Posted by & filed under Family, Finished Knits, Rambling, Travel. This post has 4 comments.

Creative Focus

I’m currently working on a store sample for Black Sheep Yarns.  We want to showcase how Arbor knits up and so we picked out a small(ish) pattern to finish and display in store.

The pattern choice that made the cut was High Pines, a textured cowl designed by Jared Flood.

If you’re familiar with Jared’s work you will know that his patterns have unusual techniques and the design is often quite intricate.  The end result though, is always stunning.  High Pines is no exception.  The pattern is constantly ‘moving’.  It is charted so you really have to pay attention to the tiny boxes on the grid.

Knitters, if you love an interesting pattern and don’t mind working off a chart, then add this to your Ravelry queue!

High Pines is not your usual zen project.  Every round is different from the previous one.  The payoff for razor sharp creative focus, is texture, texture, texture!

 

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The Slow Movement

Downshifting and practicing mindfulness has been the most liberating change I’ve made this year.  Stepping away from tech regularly, embracing the great outdoors, making things from scratch, indulging in self care without guilt… I’ve made a conscious effort to build these things into my every day.

Has it been easy?  Nope!  Has it been worth it?  Absolutely, yes, yes and yes!

The slow living philosophy has been around for ages.  The fast pace of advancement in technology that’s often intrusive has stolen just a bit of everyone’s soul and happiness, in my opinion.  Slow living forces you to savour each moment and make it count rather than living life like it is a countdown clock.  Slowing down and practising gratitude everyday is easier said than done, especially when you throw home and work life into the mix.  However, it is essential for a happy, healthy you.  Your happiness and your health are important!

Begin with baby steps, changing just one thing at a time.

Practising gratitude while doing something with my hands has helped me slow down immensely.  I have been doing this by creating something every single day.  Whether it is knitting, sewing, bullet journaling, cooking or pottering around in the garden.

I also take time to read, and sometimes listen to a podcast or an audiobook.  Even if it’s just for 10 minutes.  It’s amazing how quickly you can power through books if you read just a little each day.  I know this for sure

I just finished reading this wonderful book, Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much by Niki Brantmark of My Scandinavian Home.  This book really sheds light on stepping away from the expectation of ‘too much’ but just the same, not swinging to the extreme opposite towards total non-indulgence and living off the grid.  Rather, finding a balance that’s just right and unique.  That balance is different for me than the balance that works for you.  If you get a chance to flip through this book, do!  The photography, illustration and mood conveyed through these pages is presented beautifully and thoughtfully.

What’s your take on this whole slowing down thing?

Too boring?

It’s the bees knees??

It is a gorgeous spring day here in beautiful British Columbia and I’m going to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.  I hope you have an indulgent weekend xo

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BT Bonanza

I have been working at my LYS, Black Sheep Yarns, for the past two years and I have loved every minute.  Last month, we became a destination store for Brooklyn Tweed.

Happy dance 😀

 

As we unpacked boxes and boxes and boxes of gorgeous BT yarn, there was much squealing and whoops of delight!  Stocking the shelves was a mammoth task, but so worth it.  I love the story behind this all-American yarn and now I am so glad that this wall of color is my work-day view.

With Brooklyn Tweed in the house, I’ve got a second wind to finish my Veronika Cardigan.  I’m on the longest stretch right now – the back section.  Since this is an oversized garment, it’s like knitting two sweaters at the same time!  But the BT Shelter that I’m using produces the lightest weight fabric.  This is a unique quality and the best part of this yarn.  I’m sure it will be super cozy too!

The timestamp on this picture says that I began this sweater 8 months ago.  Of course, now that the days are warming up, I’m all about sweater knitting, hah 😉  I’m loving every row of this potato chippy knit even though it continues to look like a grey blob.  I see this becoming a favorite handknit.

Brooklyn Tweed’s Shelter is woolen spun which give the stitches a gorgeous texture.  Such a joy to work with.  Knitters will so appreciate the tactile nature of this yarn as a project is knitted.

I’ve already picked out the next pattern I want to knit using Shelter.  I can’t stop with just one BT sweater 😉

So many possibilities, so little time.  This crate of Vale bathed in its personal halo is just as dreamy as can be.  I think something floaty and light would be the perfect project for this laceweight yarn.

Posted by & filed under Cardigans, Sweaters. This post has 6 comments.

March Makers

Whoa calendar, slow down already!

Every March Joanne Hawker puts out a #MarchMeetTheMaker challenge.  The inspiration, camaraderie and community spirit with so many creatives sharing is mind boggling.  Check out all the eye candy and the makers behind the creative offerings.

In the spirt of March Making, I’m working on a few creative challenges myself.  A while ago, I bought this wonderful, bright skein of hand dyed yarn.

Tosh Sport Cactus Flower

It was the perfect choice to make these fingerless mitts for my daughter and she loves them to this day.  Pattern is Spate by Jane Richmond and I highly recommend it.

Spate 5

I wanted to use up every last bit of this gorgeous yarn and so I began making a ribbed cowl.  Nothing fancy just 2×2 rib round and round.

Bold Color 3
Warm, squishy and most of all, v i b r a n t !!

And then, I ran out of yarn.

Bold Color 1
I work at a yarn shop once a week, so my first instinct was to buy another skein and finish my project.  But I decided to break my yarn habit and “shop” my stash bins instead.  Yes, that doesn’t happen too often, hah!

Score… the perfect complementary leftovers from another project.  In an effort to stashbust and buy less, I present this stacked cowl.

Bold Color 2
This is turning out to be a great project and perfectly portable.  I love how these colors play so well together and I am learning that I can embrace neutrals just as much as I tend to reach for the bright, bold, vibrant colorways 🙂

Are you participating in #MarchMeetTheMaker

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Inspired 2018

Happy new year, friends!

Being inspired really challenges me to grow and develop.  2017 was definitely a year for me to step back and find balance.  To assess what inspires me and weed out all the things that caused me overwhelm or stole away time from what mattered.  Did I learn a lot!  About myself and about how I react to or process things that influence me.

While there is no magic formula, I’ve benefitted from goal setting and actually following through.  Looking back at what has worked over the past year, makes me want to do more of the same going forward.  For what hasn’t gone to plan, learning how to make it better rather than looking back with regret is key.  I’m not one for making resolutions, but I’m definitely keen on making this year a good one.

Here’s to an inspired 2018!  I’m celebrating with rainbow bunting 🙂

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Sweater Weather

Do you feel it?  That nip in the air.  This can only mean PSL season, right?  I’m not a huge fan of that particular brew, but a pumpkin-spiced candle is totally my jam.

With the cooler temps, the draw towards wooly things is pretty strong.  I don’t need another cardigan, but a handknit cardi?  Sign me up!  This year I took the plunge and joined the #jojifallkal2017.  For my muggle friends, that’s the annual fall knit-along hosted by knitwear designer extraordinaire, Joji Locatelli.  I’ve joined with not one, but two projects.  Yes, I surprise myself and also, I may have been over ambitious when I signed up.  Let’s not dwell on that 🙂

My first project is Old Romance.  This sweater is feminine and sweet with the lace detailing in the sleeves.  The drape is comfortable and flattering.  This pattern is almost seamless although, you graft the sleeves and my grafting skills are pretty iffy so the verdict is still out on that front.

IMG_4690 Blog

I’m knitting this one in Tosh Merino Light.  So soft and cushy.  I thought that once I finish the lace panels, this project would become boring but the construction keeps it interesting, which is splendid.

IMG_4696 Blog
Waiting in the sidelines is my second project for this KAL.  Little Boxy for my (not so little) girl.  She picked out the yarn from Sweet Fiber Yarns when we went to Knit City.  This was her first time at a yarn festival and she loved it all!

Let me just gush for a moment.  My daughter learned to knit last year and turns out she’s really good at it.  She’s already diving into my stash bins and I’m only too happy to oblige!  For this pullover, she picked a yarn base that I love working with, Super Sweet Sock from Sweet Fiber.  It’s the blue yarn in this basket of loveliness!!  I’m sure she will want to help a lot with getting this pullover done before the deadline.

Sweet Fiber Goodies
Sweater weather is here.  Bring on the knitting!

Posted by & filed under KAL, Lace, Sweaters, Yarn. This post has 6 comments.

Snapshots

Fast forwarding through my camera roll seems to be the only way to play catchup!  Because, October is here!  As I flipped the calendar to a new month, I realized that so many events and life changes have taken place this year.

Time to pause and reflect and document these memories.  After all, the best thing about memories is making them.

 

Spring… a distant memory

 

Prom2k17

 

A new chapter begins 

 

I heart you, summer 

 

Flower power, a summer staple 

 

Magical evening light 

 

Adventures 

 

I’ve got some lovely, cozy things on my needles.  I’ll post more about that in a few days!

Isn’t October just perfect?

Posted by & filed under Family, Rambling, Travel. This post has 6 comments.