I did it

Today is the last day of National Blog Posting Month. It was great to be here every day; documenting what is going on. I've get to know a few other bloggers and have started visiting their site regularly.

Tomorrow we are taking off to sunny Florida. This family needs a break.

What a perfect ocassion to introduce the work of amazing photographer Sarah Moldovan. Go check her awesome captures in her shop. Here are some of my favorite. Be inspired!

Quiet Time by Sarah Moldovan

2pm Departure by Sarah Moldovan

I'll be back here next week. Until then, happy knitting! Cheers!

If life gives you lemons knit them

Well, I just got home after a long day at work. Is almost 11:00 pm at the east cost. I got at the office before 7:00 am. There was no lunch or knitting today. As much as I want to complain, I will not. Given the times, I am lucky to have a good job. And that, my friends, is the end of this post. We'll be back tomorrow.

Neighborhood pizzeria (Atlanta, GA).  It pays to have the camera on the car!

Knitting is "life changing"

Have you read about "Knitting Behind Bars"? If you haven't, here is the link. Knitting is not only my therapy; is also the escape to those who need it the most.

Sunday recap

I started another charity blanket. I had yarn from the first project and thought it would be nice to donate more than one blanket. It made perfect sense to start this when I have so many other WIPs - including Christmas gifts. I am being a tin sarcastic.

Today, my husband went to the Falcons (football) game. I stayed with my daughter. We had pizza at a sports bar. The guys there looked at us like we've entered through the wrong door. By the end of lunch they were all over the baby. We were all friends. Next time, I will push it a bit more. I'll bring my toddler and my knitting.

Pattern: Diagonal Baby Blanket via Raverly

Have a great week!

Etsy Print Love

I dream of having my "studio" at home. You know, that space that is just yours; where you can daydream and create at your rhythm. I would definitely decorate with handmade items. With beautiful work just like this print from Julie Nelson Rhodes. There are other prints and greeting cards at her etsy shop. I think my favorite card is the make one (M1).

Image via tillyflopdesigns                             

More progress

I refused to do any in-store shopping today. Instead, we baked cookies and had more than a few while  knitting. Here is the honey cowl in progress.  What did you do?

So Thankful

For my beautiful and healthy daughter

For my awesome family

For my health

For my job

For my difficult moments as they have taught me so much

For my knitting

For you, my reader.

Have a wonderful day.

My daugther

Getting ready for tomorrow?

I was out of the office by noon. I have done nothing productive since then. It has been a quiet and relaxed afternoon.

Please have a great & safe Thanksgiving. If you live in any other part of the world, hope you have one of the best Thursdays ever. I'll think about you tomorrow while eating, drinking, eating, talking, eating non stop.

Progress

The honey cowl has been really sweet with me. Is a fun and easy pattern. Just four rows. I am knitting the small size; should be done with this in one or two margaritas...

Happy Tuesday! 

Christmas countdown

There are only 33 days until Christmas.

Are you ready? I am making good progress on my handmade gifts. Not so much on those that I need to buy.

Small goodies

I really wanted to take pictures of the WIP cowl but I waited too long. The sun did not come out in Atlanta.

Knitting in the round would be much more fun with any of these handmade stitch markers. They make great small gifts for any knitter (hint!).

Images via Etsy

All the markers are from Etsy. Top to bottom: Fairy Tale Stitch Markers from Heidi & Lana; Stitch Markers Button It - Citrus from Chaton Designs; Turquoise Infinity Ring Knitting Stitch Markers from The Twice Sheared Sheep.

why wait for the weekend to have fun?

The team did good at today's USTA (United States Tennis Association) match. My daughter had fun just being outside. The husband watched the daughter while I played. I had fun with the girls. That is a typical Saturday for this family.

Now we are enjoying the heater at home. Time to pick up the needles and work some more on the honey cowl.

What did you do today? Enjoy what's left of this beautiful day. Tomorrow is another day. I will be here.

A cozy Friday

All I want is:

to find the warmest socks

to drink the best hot chocolate

to knit some

to feel the love

Photo by Stephanie Bond (stephbond) via Flickr

Classic Elite Princess

I have to admit that I was looking for yarn deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday when I found the well praised Classic Elite Princess Yarn on close out. There are 753 projects  and 215 ratings in raverly for this yarn. The possibilities are endless. I would love to create the ombre effect in a baby blanket! Sweet colors and sale prices are a dangerous combination.

Images via yarn.com





Etsy Love

These mittens are my latest addition to the never ending Etsy love list. I adore the lace on them! They are the creation of Daniela form Hand Made in Italy.

Check this youtube video of Daniela working with her circular sock machine. It is really cool!

Image from Hand Made in Italy via Etsy

My black & white

Photography is another of my passions. There is still a lot for me to learn as with knitting. My first scarf looked nothing like the photography of the pattern. My first pictures were totally out of focus. As a stubborn creature, my intention is to keep practicing, documenting and enjoying the learning curve. I will also try to stay sane along the way. Here is one of my favorite black & white shots.

Have a little fun in everything you do!

“There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.”

-Albert Einstein

Cast on date

Chocolate, pattern, yarn and needles: checked! I have a date with myself tonight. Is not football night; is cast on night. I cannot wait to start knitting this cowl. I have been admiring finished cowls in raverly for a long time. Now is my turn to try this pattern.

Image via Madelinetosh

Pattern: Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh

Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman Wool

Chocolate: Fanny May Fudge Brownies

Which one is your hat?

I am not a fan walking billboards. The only outfits that I pick with wording are size 24 months. And I have to admit most of them have the word "mommy" not "princess". But these Kate Spade hats made me smile.  I am not sure if their price matches the fun of wearing them...

All images from katespade.com

Okay, let's put on hat no. 2 and get ready for the week. Happy Sunday.

You have to keep trying

I had great expectations for today. The day turned out quite differently. There some disappointments and some lessons laid out for me. It was time to be a grown up and admit that lessons outgrow disappointments. For that, I am grateful. For being down but not too low so I still recognize the greatness of life, I am also proud of myself. I know tomorrow is another day. I know knitting will help. Bring it over. Hoping that your day was full of lessons. Hoping that tomorrow you'll have the chance to practice what you learned today. Hoping that tomorrow the sun comes out to you (and me).

Print via Raw Art Letterpress

Wovember

Did you know about Wovember? It is an initiative to raise awareness of the uniquess and quality of wool. It also exposes the misuse of the word "wool" in finished products. Is a very interesting campaign. Click here to learn more.

FO: Charity Blanket

I have finished the charity blanket. I second guessed my choice of colors but they are growing on me. I hope the recipient and his/her love ones like it.

Pattern is from here. Happy Thursday!

Not your average sweater

Is there anything that would not look better covered with some yarn? Okay, you don't have to answer. I guess is a tricky question.

Size two needles are way small than my preferred needle size but for this "bobby pin sweater" I would give them a chance. I love how playful and femenine these look. The pattern was created by Pamela W Allen and can be found in her blog.

Bobby pin sweater via tangled

For you with love

If everything goes according to the plan, this would be my first year knitting gifts for the holidays. I am bit anxious about it. Will I have time to finish? Will they like it? Will the gifts survive a wash? But since one must remain calm (or fake it until you get it) I am already looking for inspiration on how to wrap the gifts (the finished / lovely gifts). I will definitely download the most beautiful "knitting tags" that I ever seen. I found them on laylok. If you love knitting you have to visit this site. It is awesome!

Aren't these way too cute?

Image via laylock

A picture is worth a thousand words

Flickr is one of those websites that I check everyday - just as much as my email. Why I love Flickr so much? Because I feel connected to the world with the images found there. And because is a great source of inspiration. And because I have discovered some of my favorite blogs and knitters in that site. Yes, I'm a proud Flickr addict. These are some groups that I check constantly (like, every two hours):

• Crazy for knitting
• Hand knitting
• The knitting club

Do you have any other Flickr groups to suggest?

Daylight saving time = extra knitting hour?

I am half way done with the charity blanket. Last night I knitted into the wee hours because I wanted to get  to this point. After all, I would have an extra hour of sleep today. Yeah, right! Wishful thinking. I have learned the hard way that toddlers couldn't care less about daylight saving time. My main goals when she is awake are to prevent disasters, enjoy our bonding time and provide for post tantrum care. If anything else gets done then it was an extraordinary day. That being said, all I can show now is the yarn that I am using for the blanket. Is not cashmere or cotton just an acrylic blend. I am trying to be practical; experience tells me that no one wants to hand wash when there is a sweet baby around. Unless you are being paid for but that would be a separate post.  Anyhow, the colors are so beautiful that make up for any Ms. Zimmerman anti man made yarn moment. I picked green and violet in an effort to be neutral.

Now, let's all get ready for the week ahead.

There is a theme

A diagonal theme is ruling my weekend and I am happy about it. I have started the premmie blanket to be donated to Northside Hospital in Atlanta. The patterns says the blanket could be 14 x 14 which I think is on the small size but we will see how it goes. I am using two colors to create a stripe pattern. Pictures to follow!

Knitting for charity is a very special experience. I guess it is true that giving back helps us live happier. If you have not done, give yourself the chance. A simple hat, an easy blanket could mean the world for someone in need.

Etsy Inspiration: Give Good by Studio Mela via Etsy.

Give Good by Studio Mela via Etsy

Holiday Knitting (part two)

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

-Mother Theresa

I have added a holiday project knitted for a little one that will need much tender loving care during his/hers first days in this world. I am planning to knit a baby blanket to be donated to a local hospital.

I am super excited about this project that I have found via the Atlanta Knitters Guild. Hopefully this will be the first of many charity knitting projects.

I’m getting ready to start my holiday knitting. In the ideal world these holiday projects are not to be revealed until December 25th. But that is a long time for keeping a secret – a skill I have not mastered yet.

I have selected the patterns and will choose the yarn next. This is taking longer than usual because I cannot make my mind on where to buy the yarn. I really want to support my local yarn stores but at the same time I am lured with the competitive prices of online stores. Since time is of essence, the plan is to visit my LYS and fall in love with a yarn and marry it (no worries, I will pay for it). Then I will buy online whatever I did not get at the store. I am at peace with my plan of supporting the community and my bank account.

Do you know that a mocha coffee paired with a marble loaf clears your mind and helps you make decisions….just saying!

Holiday Knitting Patterns

Chunky Knit Cowl Pattern by Erica-knits

Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh

Bandana Cowl by Purl Soho

Dolores Park Cowl by Parikha Mehta

Etsy Love: Yarn Girl Knitting by Sara Olmos of Teconlene

(Go check her other prints before I buy them all)

Yarn Girl Knittin by Sara Olmos - Teconlene via Etsy.com

One Love One Row

I had all the intentions to knit the One Row Handspun Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. To keep the story short, let’s just say that I have modified –unintentionally – the pattern. On my needles is my version of A One Row Scarf. How this happened? I don’t know. Maybe I went on a mental break for the first fifty rows. After all, I liked the new stitch pattern and decided to keep on.  I have officially done my first patter modification:

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease (Candy Blue)

Cast on 36 stitches

Row 1: knit 2 *knit into the back of the next stitch, purl 1* Knit 2.

National Blog Posting Month

Today is the first day of the National Blog Posting Month and I’m excited to be part of this huge virtual event. This little blog has given me so much satisfaction in such a short period of time. Writing about knitting helps me fight stress and daily life anxiety. Here, I am free to dream about luxury yarns, beautiful handmade items or elaborated patterns. There are no judgment or expectations involved. Just pure joy of creating my online journal.

This blog has also changed how I approach knitting. Writing and posting has given me the confidence to advance my knitting skills. Being a self taught knitter made me feel nervous about my projects and not part of the “real” knitter’s community. I am slowly evolving from being anxious about final results to enjoying the process. I also have a better idea of the kind of projects that suit my skills.

I feel fortunate for being able to enjoy my knitting and having the freedom to write about it! Now my thoughts are public matter - for the record!

PS - I LOVE THIS PRINT from VioletMay via Etsy. Freedom, joy, colors, adventure- all in this print. Yes, is on my wish list.

Ice Queen Print via VioletMay Etsy store