Friday 30 September 2011

Received a copy of Natalie Servant's Vineyards Shawl http://www.ravelry.com/stores/natalie-servant-designs...   I can't say enough of the brilliance of her designs.  She has the ability to translate the complexity and beauty  of nature into delicate lace patterns.  It always amazes me that she can design in a busy room full of women at the LYS.

I love spending time with Natalie . Today we spent  the day talking and  walking through fallen leaves while the sun poked in and out of clouds.

And yes I wore a shawl of hers, and yes there were some pictures taken, there may even be a pattern to come (but you didn't hear it from me , wink wink)

We came back to my place to have some tea  and talk some more about design, spinning  and knitting .

It was a lovely day thanks Natalie :)
Vineyards Shawl by Natalie Servant

Natalie, photographer and designer !

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Shaping Shawls



I picked up my book , Shaping Shawls by Anna Dalvi yesterday.  She left it at the yarn store where I work.  It was a pleasant surprise to open the cover and read such a thoughtful inscription.  What a beautiful book , there are instructions on how to design your own shawl or you can knit one of her many beautiful patterns.
Thank you Anna :)

Sunday 25 September 2011

Knolling

I love knolling. It fills me with calm.  I organized my workspace today.  It's such an exciting activity to clean, purge and rediscover what has long been buried.  Then once you have a clean space it's your opportunity to start knolling!




Visual Calm 


Wikipedia States:

  1. Scan your environment for materials, tools, books, music, etc. which are not in use.
  2. Put away everything not in use. If you aren't sure, leave it out.
  3. Group all 'like' objects.
  4. Align or square all objects to either the surface they rest on, or the studio itself.

Give it a try ,happy knolling everybody !

Saturday 24 September 2011

Resolve

Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken.
Albert Camus 

Thursday 22 September 2011

Smile and the Whole World Smiles With You













My aunt dropped by the other day and this was on her T-shirt.

I say do it! Smile with all you have , share your spirit with the world.  The smile you share can change some body's day and they may share it with someone else and so on and so on.  Your smile may continue all the way around the world and come right back at you at the exact moment that you may need one.

Give it a try..............or you can just wag your tail ;)
~f

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Getting My Daily Fiber

Today started off with knitting my Black Veil out of  Patons Bamboo and Silk.  Luscious to work with , I can't wait to wrap it around me.

The afternoon captivated me with spinning garnet merino and silk fiber from Belgium purchased at Just Knitting http://www.justknitting.ca/   . The silk content eases the drafting process and spins like a dream.  Of course, using the perfectly balanced Bosworth spindle helps.
YUMMY




The evening held my Sock Knitting Class at Yarn Forward. http://www.yarnforward.com  I love to teach how to knit socks, it still delights me when the student turns the heel and it begins to look like an actual sock.  That was tonight's class, turn the heel and shape the instep.  There is a point in which you hold up the yarn that the sock is attached to and realize that with some sticks and string  you are creating a 3-dimensional object that is useful and beautiful.  Mine are made from Noro Silk Garden so of course they are beautiful.

After I finish writing this blog, I will wrap up my evening dreamily spinning some love into this lace weight yarn that I'm creating.

So all in all, I got my daily fiber.......did you?

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Congratulations

I want to take a moment and congratulate Natalie Servant http://natalieservant.ca/ on her newly published design, Weeping Willow, in Knitty!
 http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEdf11/PATTwillow.php 

Weeping Willow by Natalie, worn by Louise

Here is Natalie wearing her Vineyards Shawl
She is an amazing designer , I love all her designs especially her lace patterns. I made Strand of Pearls 3 times !  It was THAT much fun.  I wish her the absolute best and continued success.

All your friends are happy for you Natalie xoxo
~f

Monday 19 September 2011

A Day of Knitting

What a great day! Started off at the new knitting store in Carleton Place called Just Knitting .http://www.justknitting.ca/ Mondays are sit and knit.  A beautiful and inspiring place to visit with high ceilings ,original moldings and  french doors. The owner, Kelly , has a scrumptious selection of  yarns , a lot of Canadian product in this store.

Then the day ended with the first knitting guild meeting after the summer holidays.  The talented Anna Dalvi gave a talk on her new book Shaping Shawls.  This book is a must have for any lace knitter. It provides patterns for knitting her shawls, and information on how to create your own design.  What I love so much about her designs is the fact that she takes folktales and translates them into her work. There is always an interesting story associated with each piece.http://www.knitandknag.com/the-blog/

 Kelly, the owner of Just Knitting will be carrying Anna's book as of tomorrow!

And what have I been knitting today?  The Black Veil from VAMPIRE KNITS, out of Patons Bamboo and Silk. A little something to wear when out under the cover of night.
~f

Anna Dalvi , signing her new book Shaping Shawls at the Ottawa Knitting Guild

Sunday 18 September 2011

Weakness


Books and magazines are my weakness.  I will admit to having piles and piles of them around the house that I can't get rid of.

I went to Chapters today to look for a book on blogs and I got much much more than that.

I am most excited about the Jeanette Walls book Half Broke Horses.  Her first book The Glass Castle is simply unforgettable.

I also purchased the magazine Where Women Create. I love to read about women's creativity and where they create.  Kind of a twist on Virginia Woolf's, Room of One's Own.  We all need a space to call ours....even if it is a corner in a laundry room . Which is my work space. (for now)

In my opinion a home isn't a home unless there are books and magazines all over the place.  So I spent this sunny afternoon flipping through books and magazines that I will eventually add to my bookcases and piles.

Saturday 17 September 2011

Tasty Treats

http://www.etsy.com/shop/clbeads

I bought these tasty little treats off  Etsy.  They are little glass beads that are just begging me to make them into stitch markers.  Going right now to my work space to get my creativity on .
~f

Friday 16 September 2011

Sleep

Sleep never comes easy for me.  Tonight sleep is not far away, it weighs on my limbs and pulls at my eyelids.  It is truly a wonderful feeling not to squeeze my eyes shut and force it to come, or to induce it with medication.  I will say goodnight, and let the magic happen,  knowing I will dream beautiful dreams. Wishing the same for you.
~f

Thursday 15 September 2011

Happy Place

Where is your happy place?  Could it be in sitting on the dock at the cottage?  Having coffee with a friend?
In the arms of a lover?  I urge you to go there right  now, in your mind.  Inhale deeply, find yourself feeling safe and warm.  A memory of a special place, a perfect moment belongs to you and no one can take that away.  Use it whenever you need it , let your mind just go there and be calm.
And don't forget to breathe.
~f

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Had a date with Eddie Vedder tonight.   Well not really ......Went to see Pearl Jam in concert.
What great energy and talent they all have.
Concerts always amaze me , the energy, and collective happiness is overwhelming. Knowing friends of mine were in the audience experiencing it at the same moment made it that much more special to me.
The only shaky moment was the guy sitting in front of me stood up drunkenly and fell down 3 rows of seats in the 300 section. I feared he would fall off the balcony.  Thank goodness all he will suffer from is a sore head in the morning.
Words of wisdom from Eddie is that "the good news is your alive, the bad news is that shit will happen to you"
I try to be thankful everyday. It's a good practice.
Walked home in the rain smiling.  Thanks Eddie for making me feel 20 again. <3

Hello

This blog is an attempt to express and share all that delights, inspires and tickles my fancy.