Quiet Cafe Knitting.

Good Vibes Day

Today, December 30th, is Good Vibes Day. It is also Annie Schmidt's 22nd birthday. Her last message to the world was, "Fill your life with good vibes". So today let's take a moment to step outside of our comfort zone & make a difference in someone's life. Smile at strangers, give someone an encouraging word, call a friend or relative, take a treat to someone who is housebound, write a letter, say thank-you, help someone carry their groceries, pay for someone's coffee, give genuine compliments, ..the sky is the limit. Just Do. #honoringannieschmidt  #fillyourlifewithgoodvibes #goodvibesday #goodvibes

Slow Stitching

Slow stitching by the tree, coffee in hand, and snow falling softly outside. 

Lately I find when it comes to quilts I have become more of a process quilter then ever before. This is my first whole cloth quilt & I feel like I am breaking out of any quilting rules I ever had. Simply going for it and stitching is a freeing thing. I love this quilt, and I could not part from it to anyone but its intended recipient, my darling Mother. This beautiful piece of stitchery has traveled all over the place with me. I have stitched on it while solving life's problems with friends, hidden away at my own mini quilt retreat in a friend's guestroom for the weekend, watching sappy Christmas movies with my sister-in-law & loving every moment, and in quiet moments by myself. #slowstitching #slowliving #handquilting #handquilted #wholecloth #wholeclothquilt #turquoiseowlssewingjournal

Briochevron Blanket Progress

This is the beginning of my blanket that I have been working towards all summer.  I knew the yarn was not going to make it the whole distance so meanwhile I have still been doing some spinning on the side to add in as I go. I definitely needed some lights to brighten things up. I've paused for awhile as I finish up a couple of skeins. I don't want to completely run out of my first batch of yarn and swap to a completely new batch, so old and new will be intermingled. Most of this yarn was spun in the course of the last year and ranges from DK weight to heavy worsted so the blanket has some slight variations that give it added depth and character. Even though it is just a small lap blanket the amount of yarn it takes is staggering and sometimes I look at it and have a momentary panic of wondering if this is the right project for all of my beautiful handspun skeins or if I have completely lost my mind. But then when I look at each skein individually and the blanket as a whole, I see that there could not be any project for them but this. A handspun briochevron will be amazing, and I look forward to the day that it is finished. Meanwhile, I sit at my desk and bundle up in shawls & sweaters. 

Tour De Fleece 2016

So, let's talk Tour De Fleece! I honestly don't know how many grams or pounds or yards or anything! BUT, I did spin every day of the Tour for at least 15 minutes, if not more, and with the July I had I felt like it was an incredible accomplishment. My poor wrists are a bit tired, and a break is necessary after so much spinning. But it was all worth it. The majority of this was spindle spin and plied, a little was wheel spun previous to the Tour and then plied on my spindles during the Tour. Most will end up in my Briochevron blanket that I'm making for fall & winter warmth at my desk. Stay tuned for more spinning & knitting!

From where I stand: Briochevron Blanket Beginnings

This weekend I've been spinning on this beautiful fiber from Fiber Addiction. It's all softness and sparkle and I'm pretty sure that Emily keeps a herd of Unicorns in her backyard to shear for this gorgeous fiber! I have a weakness for sparkle, and silver angelina is no exception.

The other day I saw the Briochevron Blanket by West Knits and I can not get it out of my head. I've been looking for the perfect blanket to make into a lap blanket for work. At my computer it can be a bit brisk in the winter and a little handspun blanket would not go amiss. I feel like if I go with a woolen fluffy spin it will be warmest, but basically I plan to use whatever pretty handspun strikes my fancy. 

It will probably take me all summer to spin yarn for the blanket, and then knit it up. But it will all be worth it come the bitter winds of November. 

Happy Mail Day

It is always a wonderful mail day when fiber arrives! Added to it, these perfectly printed turquoise owls on flannel showed up as well. 

The fiber was won in a giveaway & I've already split it up and I'm turning it into punis. 

Life is good.

March Happenings.

Today has been a cozy, at-home-day watching British Murder mysteries, eating chocolate, and spinning. There was a scheduling snaffle at work and I ended up having today off which delights me to no end. Where I work I often find myself chilled to the bone while sitting at my desk so I determined that next year I will have a handspun & handknit lap blanket to ward off the chill. I'm thinking a lofty, woolen spun yarn should be ideal for creating a very warm blanket. All my odds and end skeins are destined to be in the run-up for the lap blanket.

Winter has relaxed it grip and we have warmer temperatures with the promise of Spring in the air. The little bit of snow we did have is gone, and small plants are popping out of the ground everywhere. We've also had quite a few rainy days already. The first portion of this year has flown by, so when I am home and it's raining I'm actually thankful. Then I have time to still  hunker down and do some winter-type knitting. Comfortable, by the fire, with tea.

I recently picked up my 2nd pair of Terpander socks that have been languishing on the needles for a good year. I have no excuse other then that I lost my copied out pattern with notes and don't know where I am in the design. Yesterday I looked at the pattern in the actual book and I am torn between completing it per the instructions, or just throwing on a few inches of ribbing to change things up and calling it good. I'd like to wear these before the warmth of summer has arrived. As you can see in the above photo, I had two different dye lots of yarn and never bothered to switch them between rows. So now I have a dual-colored sock going on. I don't mind, it's unique, if a little odd.

A few weeks ago before the snow had melted I stayed the weekend with a friend and we did some sewing. First up, I helped her make a duvet cover for her bed. It was my first time making a duvet cover and I was pleased with how it came out. We ended up closing it off with twill tape ties and all & all it looks great. Between runs to the fabric store for things we forgot (twill tape), I also picked up flannel to make myself a pillowcase, and then these little squares in the Strawberry Field's Revisited line. I'm not sure what they will end up becoming, but they were too darling to pass up.

Our visit included a marathon of Downton Abbey, and some pleasant winter walks. Also too much coffee, breakfast in bed, and lots of toddler giggles. It was a good weekend. 

Happy New Year

I never make New Year's resolutions anymore, but I do try to overview my previous year and think about where I can make changes, and what I can improve, as well as plan for the coming year. Today I've been thinking about what projects I'd like to make. And while I don't have anything definite nailed down yet (except I DO know I must make a Vulpix shawl) I have decided to slowly work through my Ravelry favorites, picking one I love, purchasing the materials, and knitting it up.

My first new project for 2016 is going to be a shawl designed by the lovely Alana Dakos. I've signed up to participate in her first ever MKAL and as its also my first time participating in one I'm pretty excited. Madeleinetosh Tosh Vintage in the Mill Pond colorway is what I've selected as my yarn and its the most vivid shade of green imaginable. (Think rich mossy carpets on a forest floor.)

But that won't be happening until January 8th. For now, feel free to enjoy this collage of my most popular projects in 2015. Let's hope 2016 is as colorful and productive. Happy New Year!

Beach Days are Upon Us

Let's face it, sitting down to actually write a blog post is sometimes harder then it should be. I write a blog post and then before I know it a month or more has already flown by.

Life has been busy, early summer is in full swing. The activities and work pile up and before I know it the calender is booked to the gills. Is that even a thing? Probably not. But booked full it is. This coming week I have a dentist appointment, a wedding to play for, & an open house to attend, and then I get a little breather for a bit.

But in the midst of all the craziness there has been plenty of time for enjoying the beauty of summer and making memories with friends and family. We've already made half a dozen trips to the beach this season. The first time we went everything was frozen over and grey-brown. The lack of waves made for an eerily quiet, but beautiful, beach front. Now though, life at the beach is green and golden with plenty of hot breezes and water that is quickly warming up. We've had some days where it was all hoodies, cool air, snacks, and knitting. Other days were hot sunshine, wild winds, and a little bit of painting. And the last time we visited the rain fell steadily while we took refuge under the spreading branches of a tree and read for an hour or two. Each time is different, and each time is lovely.

I've found a nest with a clutch of eggs along the side path at our favorite haunt. At this point they're unidentified, but I hope to keep an eye on them and perhaps get a glimpse of them or their momma. I'll keep you all posted if that actually happens...

Spring for joy!

We have leaves on the trees, the grass is green & cool underfoot, everywhere there is the promise of new life, and the lilacs and apple blossoms are in bloom. Folks, it's official, Spring has arrived....and it is beautiful.

Mitten Making

Lately I have been on a slight mitten kick. I live where it's cold, and mittens are a must. But until this year I didn't even own a pair. Setting about to remedy that was easy; there's always lone skeins of handspun waiting for the perfect project. I finished up the pair of Winter Sky Slipstich Mittens out of the Spin Off Summer 2009 issue. They are a quick project, but two year ago I knit like a house afire, finished one mitten, started the next and did not notice a glaring mistake in the colorwork pattern until almost at the end of said mitten. I ruthlessly tore the mitten out and then it sat in the drawer for almost two years, a lone snarled mess next to its mate. At Thanksgiving last (2014) I finally finished that poor mitten. Now I don't know how I managed without! With bone-chilling temps that have dropped as low as -27 this winter, these mittens have been a blessing. Just recently though I decided to give them a wash. Oh, were they ever grubby. As it often happens, as soon as I couldn't use them, then I really needed them. Being outdoors sledding with the niece and trying to take pictures with frozen fingers finally convinced me that a second pair of mittens was necessary. Enter the Waiting For Winter mittens by Susan Anderson. Quick, simple, and easy to adapt, they whip up in a day or two. While I miss the double layer offered by two-stranded knitting in my other pair, I love having another pair of mittens to grab as I run out the door. And they are so sparkly! 

I continue to want to make mittens. I've started one pair that I'll probably gift to family or a friend. And Spring is right around the corner so even if I make more mittens I will have to lay them aside until next winter. But for now I'll keep knitting, and perhaps get back to my designing and sock knitting another day....

Turquoise Owl Fibers is having a "Thankfulness" Sale (& giveaway)!

Turquoise Owl Fibers is having a Thankfulness sale! Starting right now, Wednesday the 26th and going through Cyber Monday (Dec. 1st) you can use the coupon code THANKFUL15 to receive a 15% discount off your entire purchase. 

Or if you are a USA resident and spend over $100 in the shop you can choose the code: USFREESHIPPING100 and your order will be shipped for free. The choice is up to you! 

Anyone who makes a purchase from the shop between Wednesday the 26th and December 1st will be automatically entered in a giveaway for a skein of my handspun yarn & a quilted mug rug! Also, each item purchased equals an entry in the giveaway. Have fun shopping! 

Project Portfolio: Fluff-to-Socks Sal/Kal

Remember when I blogged about the Fluff-to-socks Spin-along, Knit-along that I was participating in? We had the month of May to spin the yarn and the month of June to knit the socks. Initially I was confused and thought that we could use any pattern we wished. Then a friend kindly let me know that the sal/kal was supposed to be done using the Effervesce sock pattern. As you can see there is a great deal of cabling in these socks but with the cabling-without-a-needle method they fairly flew of the needles. I was also pleased with how closely the striping lined up. 

As I stated previously, there isn't an outfit in my wardrobe thay such wild socks will work with, but they will be warm and they were such a fun project from start to finish. 

From Where I stand: Spring, Summer & early Autumn

For some odd reason that I can't quite place I like to document where I stand by taking a foot photo. Perhaps it comes from not liking to take the proverbial "selfie" and plaster it all over the internet. And perhaps it's just the fact that foot photos can make interesting compostions, depending on where you are standing & what you are doing at the time. Each one of these photos brings with it a special memory. 

Sinking toes in a mossy carpet on the bluff, a late evening walk down the pebble strewn beach, an afternoon of climbing on sun-warmed rocks, fishing off the dock, a sunny afternoon reading & spinning in the sand....and then there is the various bounties of the summer...dill for drying, mulberries to turn into jam, mint for tea, and sassafras leaves to dry for making filé. Lastly, the glories of autumn which came and went so quickly this year.

 What about you? Are some of these scenes familiar ones? Or would your series of "where I stand" photos look quite different?

Project Portfolio: Quaker Yarn Stretcher

This was my first time making the beautiful Quaker Yarn Stretcher. When it comes to practical use, it isn't my first choice of shawl. The wierd slanting shape doesn't lay right nor wrap in a proper manner around your shoulders. But it is intended to be a kerchief I believe, and as such it would probably work fine. I had a good deal of handspun yarn in the stash so I clubbed it all together and just knit until I ran out! In the end it made a delightful, if somewhat odd, shawl. I meant to do a mini photo shoot and model all my newest knits down in the orchard this autumn. But the time flew, the leaves fell, and now everything is sodden and grey down under the apple trees. Maybe I will still get a photo or two in before the snows come. But don't hold your breath; winter looks to be just as busy as summer and fall were. If I can just blog every once in awhile I shall feel quite accomplished indeed! Meanwhile, be on the lookout for new puni sets in the shop. I've managed to squeeze some carding sessions in between work hours and on my days off. An update will be happening soon!