Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Advent sharing

I thought I would share a final photo of my Advent Calendar by Firefly notes. I will admit, I've enjoyed this one. 

Aside from the fact that Celestial is one of my favourite theme, I like that the stitch markers are a variety of colours and not all gold or silver.


The tin is cute too!


A nice addition to my knitting notions.

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers!

Friday, December 22, 2023

Cutting it close ....

I thought I would knit Pumpkin the Felix Cardigan by Amy Christoffers as a Christmas present. Back in October, I bought the yarn at one of my favourite only shoppe The Woolly Thistle

The Felix Cardigan is such an easy pattern that I figured it would be done in no time. Well, life has been quite stressful as of late ... in between the chaos of life, I managed to finish it ..... today! A good thing as Pumpkin and Goofball are coming up tonight.

I used eight (8) skeins of Ístex Léttlopi colour 1406, Spring Green Heather. Pumpkin loves green! It's a top down knit, raglan constructions .... I love the lace work on the sleeves. It gives it a nice touch. 

I have another Felix Cardigan on the needles that I started a while back ... Hum ... haven't blogged about that one yet! That one is for moi.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you're not cutting as close as I am for your holiday!

Catch you all later!

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Take time to breathe ....

This year, I've been taking the time to enjoy some of the celebrations that take place in my town during the winter holiday season. 

 It was a gorgeous night for a walk. The sky is clear, the air is crisp ... a perfect night for a holiday parade!

Tonight was our town's annual firetruck holiday parade. Firetrucks as well as other vehicles are decorated with lights and various holiday decorations and parade around the area ... What a lovely night for a parade!


What fun ... Enjoy! 

Catch you all later. Cheers!

Thursday, December 14, 2023

It's the most wonderful time ....

 I love Christmas! I love everything it represents, Santa Claus, kindness, hope, miracles, beauty, generosity etc... It's a magical season. It's also a time when most of us think of those in need and share our wealth. I love that too about Christmas!

I have quite a few favourite Christmas movies that I like to watch. One of my new favourite Grinch movie is the one with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch. 

Don't get me wrong, I do love the original version and it will always have a special place in my heart. But this version tells the story in a humorous way. There are so many lines I like in that movie. Give it a watch, you might enjoy it too. 

On a Whoville note, I do have my tree up with my favourite ornaments. I like this tree somewhat bare. It puts a smile on my face every time I see it.

I love that the Grinch hangs around! ;)

I've been enjoying my Advent Calendar. I love every stitch marker & progress keeper so far. It's fun to open a window every morning.
Ok, I'll admit, I don't always think of opening a window every morning ... but when I do, it just makes it a bigger treat! ;)

What do you like about this season? 

Thanks for stopping by. Catch you all later! Cheers

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Many moons ago

 I've been thinking about my life, my experiences and what I enjoyed most. More specifically, what do I want to do with my life .... what is my next path.

Photography came to mind. I attended Dawson Institute of Photography many moons ago. This was back in the days where digital photography was just coming on the scene and much too expensive. I loved the whole process of photography, from shooting to developing my photos. I spent many hours in the darkroom. 

My camera and meters were all precisely gauged to the zone system. I'm a black & white kind of gal. I love the beauty of this medium. 

Many moons ago, I attended the Calgary Stampede and took this photograph of this beautiful soul. I do not know her name, nor have I ever met her. And yet, I feel that I have an inner knowing of her ... her strength .... there's an innocence about her.

I found this print a while back and took a picture of it. Not sure why I keep going back to it. There's something about that picture that speaks to me .... speaks to my soul. 

It's been a rough few months, with many challenges. Perhaps I'm looking for a time in my past when it was peaceful ... a time where all that mattered was photography and capturing the beauty around me.

Perhaps it's time to brush the dust off my camera and start taking photographs again, in black and white. Sort of wished I hadn't gotten rid of my darkroom equipment. Digital, although convenient, just doesn't seem to cut it for me. There's something about watching a print develop that is satisfying ... soulful.

Thanks for stoping by. 

Friday, December 8, 2023

Peace

We could certainly use more peace and love in this world.  

"If you have a choice between being right and being kind, choose kind" Wayne W. Dyer

Namaste

Friday, December 1, 2023

December already

 Wow, time is just flying by. It's a blur at the moment. I do love the month of December. There are so many wonderful celebrations to be had. 

This year, I forwent my annual Harry Potter Lego Advent Calendar and went for a knitting theme. Back in late July I purchased, from my favourite yarn shop in PEI Fleece and Harmony, the Flirefly Note Company celestial advent stitch calendar.

I love anything having to do with a celestial theme. This was a must for me.

December first is finally here. 

The stitch marker is lovely. Looking forward to revealing a new surprise until the big day.

Do you enjoy advent calendars? If so, what is your favourite on? 

Catch you all later! Thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Plugging away ....

The weather here has been lovely. We even have a blanket of snow! 

I've been knitting away on the Storm Sweater by Petite Knit. It's an easy knit ... the pattern mainly consists of strategically placed knit and purl stitches. 

This is what it looks like once you have joined the front.

I did manage to finish the sweater ... well except for the collar. With everything presently going on in my life, I'm just not in the mood for anything complicated or requiring thinking. I've put it aside until my mind is uncluttered. So close and yet .... lol

On another note, if you like reading about sheep farming, Adventures in Yarn Farming by Barbara Parry is a wonderful book. 


The pictures are lovely. She touches on all aspects of the processing of fleece from shearing to dying. She even includes different projects.

That's it for now. Thank you for stopping by my little corner in cyberspace.

Cheers!

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Self care

I find it's easy to neglect one's self. Somehow there are always more important things that needs to get done, often at the detriment of our wellbeing.

I'm an expert at that. With all that has been going on in my life presently, I was on the road to a major burnout. Seemed I hadn't learned that lesson well last spring. However, this year I made it a point to respect myself and my need to self care.

Despite the huge amount of work requiring to get done, I took the time on Saturday to have dinner with a dear friend. We went to my favourite restaurant and, of course, I had my favourite dessert ... Bourbon Pecan pie with homemade ice cream. It's a shortbread crust .... Yum!

It's never too late to celebrate your special day with a friend!

That evening, I also attended a yearly event in my town. Each year, the CPKC Holiday Train makes a stop in our town and provides us with lovely entertainment. 

I bundled up and walked to the train station. It was such a lovely evening, a gorgeous clear sky. I love trains!

Enjoy!

Thursday, November 23, 2023

A month of gratitude ....

 I love the month of November. Not only is it my birthday month, but a month that revolves around....

It's been a while since I last posted. It's just been crazy as of late with life challenges. I've continued to keep busy creating. It's something I must have in my life ... it keeps me sane.

Wishing you a wonderful day of gratitude, filled with joy, love and family.

Namaste!

Friday, August 11, 2023

Inspired ...

 Way back in 2015, my friend Cheryl from Australia had sent me a box of Aussie yard that I blogged about here

I have been waiting for the right pattern for this yarn to show up. Yea, it's been sitting patiently ... waiting! Well that day finally came. On August 8, I casted for this project.

The pattern is from a Danish designer ... Storm Sweater by PetiteKnit. It is available here

I love this designer! Her designs push my comfort zone. The construction of this sweater is nothing that I have ever seen. Her instructions are clear, making it easy to follow and learn new technics. 

The sweater is worked in the round but you begin with the back and connect accordingly. 

At this point I am ready to work on the front. As I mentioned, an interesting way of knitting a sweater. I'm certainly enjoying pushing my comfort zone. 

Aside from knitting/self-care, I have not been up to much. Not sure how the weather has been in you area, but here, in way up New York state, I can see Canada from my house, it's been quite a wet summer. It certainly makes it easy to stay home and knit. I'm enjoying my quiet life. 

Thanks for stopping by. Cheers!

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

How can it be .....

Wow, hard to believe that summer is almost over. In a few weeks I'll be back to this insanely busy schedule. I must admit, I've been enjoying this down time, getting lots of knitting and reading done.

 I FINALLY sewed the buttons on Pumpkin's cardigan. OMG, was she not coming up I think the buttons would still be waiting patiently to be sewn!

She loved the cardigan ... It's such a great feeling when a hand made gift is appreciated! :)

Then, all of a sudden, I was in a "let's get this done" mode. I had a of pairs of socks on the needles and it was high time to finish them. I started that project last year, late September, and had very little left to knit. The pattern is called Gretel by Winwick Mum. It's a free pattern! Click here. I used the recommended yarn, West Yorkshire Spinner's Signature yarn. It was a kit from Wool & Company, which is still available here.

I am ready for the holiday! I do like how they turned out. 

August 2022, I visited this wonderful yarn store in Belfast Prince Edward Island called Fleece & Harmony. Every year, they offer a stitch marker advent calendar from Firefly Fibers. This year's theme is Celestial ... I couldn't pass it up.

I also purchased two skeins of yarn ... colour .... Mermaids Tail. I mean, seriously! I love Mermaids! No plans yet for the yarn.

BTQ, they are sold out of the advent calendar, however if you are interested, you can purchase it from Firefly Fiber here.

Well, that's it for now. I do hope you are safe and enjoying the season. Cheers!

Sunday, June 25, 2023

Knitting my summer away

Still in recuperating mode! Not really in the mood to do anything besides spend time with myself knitting away. Self-care is so important and I will admit I have been neglecting myself for the last five months. No time! I'm playing catch up!

Have you heard about the fires in Quebec, Canada? OMG, we are feeling it where I live. I thought my area in the US was bad ... Montreal has one of the worse air quality at the moment ... here I am! :-/

On my way into Montreal, as I crossed the Champlain Bridge, I could not see the city of Montreal. That's how much smoke there is. The haze/smoke is so thick!  It was a clear sky, but you wouldn't be able to tell.  Sadly, the Canadian news stated that the fires could be getting worse. Below is a map of the wildfires. It's insane!

I'm trying to stay positive, focusing on gratitude ... it's become more and more difficult with all that is going on in this world .... focus ... happy thoughts!

I finished piecing my daughter's cardigan ... I just have the buttons to sew on. I had three skeins of organic cotton yarn left in Bone and 2 .5 skeins in Thistle. I thought I would knit something else. I really did not want to have any left overs. I bough another skein of the background and decided to make the Tolsta Tee by Rebecca Claw. You can find the pattern here.

Yarn, Blue Sky Fiber organic cotton ... as I mentioned ... left over yarn.

It is now all done .... and even blocked ready for Pumpkin to wear.

I would recommend this pattern. An easy knit ... very potato chippy! lol

Thanks for stopping by. Hoping for peace and harmony in this world! Cheers!

Thursday, June 8, 2023

It's been a while .....

My apologies for being MIA .... you see, I'm on a somewhat secret project/mission and it does take a lot of my time. However, I have a couple of months off .... I should be back to my somewhat regular blogging schedule.

I have not been quilting. It is much easier to pick up my knitting needles than to sit at the sewing machine. I suppose I could EPP or do wool work, but I haven't. Given that I have a few quilting UFOs to finish, starting a new knitting project is more enticing. They do get finished! ;)

I've been working on a Cardigan for my daughter. Well, let me back track a bit. She saw this cardigan that Taylor Swift was wearing but felt $600 was more than she wanted to pay. So, a resourceful child that she is, she found a pattern and asked her mom if she would knit it for her. Being delighted that my daughter would ask me to knit her something, off we went to my favourite yarn shop in Montreal.

The pattern is called Folklore Cardigan by Lion Brand Wool-Ease. I used Organic Cotton Worsted by Blue Sky Fiber in the colours Bone & Thistle.

What I thought was going to be a mindless project, turned out to be a mindful one. However, once I had memorized the pattern, it became easier. 

I should mention that this cardigan was knitted twice. The first time it ended up not having enough ease, so I frogged and moved to the next size. I was pleased that, given it is cotton yarn, it held up well unfrogged!

Here is a picture of the back. Lots of cable works.

I am happy to write that the cardigan is fully knitted and partially pieced. I did want it completed for Pumpkin's birthday, but alas it seems to be taking me longer to piece it together than to knit. Ok .... I admit I dislike piecing knitted projects! There I've said it! One side done, one more to go!

Pumpkin did get to pick the buttons she wanted. I think it's a great choice, don't you?!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my little corner in cyberspace.

Cheers!

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Happy New Year!

Hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season. The weather has been strange and I am hoping you are all safe and well.

I spent a part of New Years day with some friends from down under and all around this beautiful planet.

It was wonderful to catch up with everyone. Thank you Donna for hosting these meets and for allowing me to participate. 

Wishing you all lots of love, peace, joy, health and prosperity for 2023! 

Myself, I am hoping for world peace. I have so much to be grateful.

Peace!

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