knit: zig zag infinity scarf

The zig zag stitch is a pattern I've seen on several websites and in a few knitting books. I decided to use it to make an infinity scarf - to be wrapped twice - with lots of drape and stretch. I came across a simple pattern at Purl Bee, and I'm using it as my inspiration. One of the nice things about the zig zag stitch is that is looks good on both the front and back. I'll post a photo once I finish so you can see the completed product.

my yarn choice: 2 skeins of  Manos del Uruguay's
Handspun Multicolor in Fruit Salad

rose garden - an abstract

Here's one fun drawing I drew using my iPad and the app, Color Glowing. I'm calling this one, "Rose Garden" -it's my abstract impression of being surrounded by beautiful roses in full bloom. 

"Rose Garden"

silver and gold

My favorite knitting project of late is an unbelievably soft and cozy silver and gold cowl. I love the sparkle, and think it's perfect for the holidays or to just lend a little shine to a dreary winter day. Plus, it's warm and oh, did I mention it's so soft?!  

I purchased the yarn from the Etsy shop,
http://www.etsy.com/shop/yarnsofitaly?ref=ss_profile
and couldn't be happier with the quality

the finished project -
silver and gold stripes

The scarf's colors remind me of that great, classic Burl Ives' Christmas Song, "Silver and Gold". Here are the lyrics to this Christmas standard: 

Silver and gold, silver and gold

Ev'ryone wishes for silver and gold

How do you measure its worth?

Just by the pleasure it gives here on earth.

Silver and gold, silver and gold

Mean so much more when I see

Silver and gold decorations

On ev'ry Christmas tree.

Silver, silver and gold

Silver, silver and gold

Silver and gold

Silver and gold

Silver and gold

Wise men brought gifts to the mange I'm told

Mary was humble to see

Shepherds and kings there on bended knees

It's silver and gold, silver and gold

Feeling the world with their lives

Silver and gold how they shimmer on ev'ry Christmas night

On ev'ry Christmas night

Silver, silver and gold

Thinking of Burl Ives singing this Christmas classic puts me in a holiday state-of-mind!

salsa time

We are in the midst of a bumper crop of tomatoes. We've been enjoying homemade salsa all summer, but now there's so many tomatoes that we can't eat and cook with them fast enough so today I made lots and lots of salsas. I played around with the combinations of flavors - a little more spice, a little more lime so each batch will be a little different, but each will be full of bright and bold flavors. It will be great to pull them out in the winter and enjoy some flavors of the summer. There is just nothing like homemade salsa!

tomatoes galore!

what would I do without my Cuisinart Mini-Prep?
might be my favorite kitchen appliance ever!

4 types of salsa -
red, orange, green and then a mix of all

patterned pillows

Though I do have a sewing machine, and I can do basic hems, a great seamstress I am not. I felt the need for a little challenge and as I had some beautiful Thai cloth in my possession - gifted to me by my relatives - I thought accent pillows would be a great use of these colorfully patterned fabrics. I made a pillow once in a middle school home economics class, and I think I surprised myself by remembering how to assemble the cloth to sew it so that the pillow inside can be removed. I think my husband was even more surprised when he saw my creations!  

3 of the fabrics I was considering -
aren't the color so cheerful?

the finished pillows -
I'm saving the 3rd fabric for another project

vegetable garden fence - finished!

We've finished 1 of our big summer yard projects and couldn't be happier with the results! You might remember a vegetable garden fence sketch that I posted awhile ago - well, the fence is now complete. I think it's perfection - kudos to my husband for building the fence! 

the fence plans 

the finished fence - just a few alterations
from the plans

It's still relatively early in our growing season, so we've been enjoying lots of salads. I am excited for our tomatoes to come in - we've planted a bevy of varieties. One of my favorites is called Juliet (pretty name too!) and is a high yield plant with a Roma-like fruit. So that I can keep all of our tomato types straight, each is labeled with a simple name tag.

Hello, my name is Juliet

Stay tuned for more scenes from our vegetable garden!

une autre peinture par moi

Some of you may remember a post entitled, "ex animo - from the heart" from 4/6/11, where I showed 2 paintings of bright flowers that I had done. They were born from an itch to paint something. I recently had a similar urge, and I just finished another painting! 

This one is more abstract that my 1st two - flowers, summer colors, and recently seeing great works on exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art were my inspirations. I still don't claim to have much painting skill, but I do enjoy it! C'est amusant pour moi.

I'm calling this one "fleurs d'ete"

(summer blooms) because

everything sounds better in French!

Provence lace wrap

My current knitting project is slowly progressing and taking shape. I'm making a lace weight wrap using Cascade Lace Alpaca yarn in the color Provence. It is very thin yarn, and it took me a few rows before I really had a good feel for how to knit with this yarn. Now that I have the hang of it, I'm really enjoying knitting with this yarn. It's so soft, so light weight and completely itch-free. 

Each skein of this yarn is 437 yards, and I have 5 yards, so quite a bit of yarn! The wrap is approximately 23 inches wide, I cast on 138 for this width. So far, I've knitted 50 rows and because the yarn is so delicate and thin, this is a rather slow project. But, I'm sure it will be finished in time for autumn weather. Don't you think this color will look so nice in the fall? Stay tuned for the completed project!

this is 50 rows - so I have many
more rows to go!

a close-up of the yarn -
isn't it beautiful?

knitted tote

One of my recent knitting projects is complete, and I really love the finished project. You might remember a post from a few months ago, where I showed some new yarns I purchased. I used one of those yarns, Rowan's Cotton Glace in "Dijon" for a knitted bag; it's perfect for trips to the grocery or farmers' market. I followed a pattern I found on the Purl Bee, called Elisa's Nest Tote. If you'd like to check it out and give it a try, here's the pattern: http://www.purlbee.com/elisa-nest-tote/. I was cruising along with the mesh part of the bag, but just couldn't follow the pattern for the I cord. Thankfully, my mom was able to step in and help me with the cord portion of the bag. A big thanks to her for lending her hands to help complete the tote!

laying flat it doesn't look that big

the empty tote

the mesh stretches so that
the bag holds so much!

fully loaded!

a before and after

Shortly after we moved into our house last May I was on the hunt for a new dining table. The one I had my eye on was just too pricey. We had so many expenses with the move and with all of the projects we had in store, so I was on the lookout for a real deal. Plus, I actually like refinishing furniture - what a great way to make a piece truly your own! - so I was not afraid to look at St. Vinny's, antique shops or Goodwill to find what I was looking for. You can get a piece of such better quality, though used, than what a lot of new furniture stores sell. And much to my delight I found almost a carbon copy of the dining table I had had my eye on - the one that was too pricey! The difference, was the color of the wood. Here's a before shot I snapped with my camera phone at good ole St. Vinny's.

right style, shape, and size but so the
wrong color

Once I found this "diamond in the rough", it was a matter of being able to fit the table in my car, so I paid for the table, had St. Vinny's hold it for me, and my dad was kind enough to go pick it up later with his Subaru. With my dad's help we were able to pick up the table - I should also add that he deserves sainthood due to the amount of help he lent as he stripped the wood for me. He then delivered the stripped down table to my house where I finished it with sanding, paint and polyurethane. Here's the after shot:

the finished project!

I also stripped, painted and reupholstered the accompanying chairs (found at an antique shop - 4 chairs for $28, I kid you not!). Oh, and I failed to mention the table happens to be Ethan Allen and I paid a whopping $49! Not bad, right? 

ex animo - from the heart

Yet another Latin post title! This one "ex animo" simply means "from the heart". 

I have no great (or even good) skill at painting, but about two months ago I was on a mission - that seemed to come out of nowhere - to paint. I drove myself to a nearby craft shop bought some inexpensive acrylic paints, paint brushes and canvases, came home and painted. 

colorful flowers - is anyone surprised?

more muted - a variation on a theme

For me, painting these was a thoroughly cathartic process, and I recommend it to all who feel that urge to create. I'm not claiming that my paintings are at all good, but I did have fun making them and they truly were born "ex animo," from the heart.

palma non sine pulvere

That's Latin for "no reward without effort". We started our big outdoor project plans this weekend. There is nothing like a little graph paper to make one get organized. Walking around the back and side yard with our tape measure, note pad and dreams, we came up with our big 3 outdoor projects for this summer. 

Project #1 on the list - fence in our vegetable garden. We were hit hard and often by shockingly large (read: very well fed) rabbits last year. We tried many purported invisible fence sprays and other natural "solutions"; however, nothing seemed to work and as soon as we'd get a leaf of lettuce, it would be gone. Last year the other vegetables did really well so we didn't suffer a total loss against those bunnies, but this year we are taking action - this project, Project #1 on our to-do list will be affectionately known as Operation Peter Cotton Tail Defensive.

Project #1: fencing in our raised
vegetable beds

Project #2 involves a little landscaping and the general beautification of a corner in our back yard. This is where the former owners' much neglected compost was located. We'll put in some evergreens - our back yard is screaming for year-round color. I plan on planting perennials and bulbs in this new garden. And, my husband promised to build me a few wooden garden obelisks so I can have some nice climbing flowers - perhaps climbing roses or clematis. Who knows! I am really excited for this project - it's a blank slate for me to play with.  

Project #2: the tee pee like objects are the obelisks
I have in mind for vines & climbers

Project #3 is the biggest of our projects and my husband, Paul, will be doing the bulk of this. He's really handy so we're very lucky that we can do most of our own home and garden improvements ourselves. Well, plus we enjoy these types of projects, which is a win-win. This project is on the north side of our house so while I'll be there to lend a helping hand with the construction of the path and garbage enclosure, my main contribution to this project will be to design and plant the shade garden. I'm thinking of using really nothing more than the shade loving staples - hostas, astilbes, lily of the valley and bleeding hearts - nothing that requires too much work.  

Project #3: side of the house project -
lots to do!

So we hope that with a little (or a lot) of effort we'll reap some big rewards in our yard this year! I'll post photos along the way.  Wish us good luck!

a whisper-like softness - finished!

I recently finished another knitting project that I've been working on. I adore this scarf/wrap so much, and I think it's one of my favorite items I've ever knitted. For details about the yarn and the pattern I used, check out the 1st post in this series, "a whisper-like softness" from January 30th.  

I think the completed item works well - either worn as a scarf, because it's made from such a delicate and soft yarn, it can wrap around my neck multiple times without creating too much bulk, or it can be worn more like a wrap, making for the most feather-weight layer of warmth you can imagine!  

Isn't it so great when a project you invest a lot of time into turns out even better than you expected?  I could not be more pleased!

worn as a scarf, wrapped
multiple times

my finished project -
the full view

an extreme close-up of the
the lace pattern

worn more as a wrap than a
scarf - featherweight and
so very soft!

persimmon blanket - finished!

It's been a long time in the coming, but I finished the persimmon colored blanket I started just before Christmas. It's feels so great to have this project all wrapped up, and it feels even better to be wrapped up in this blanket's cozy warmth. Check out the post from January 4th for all of the details about the yarn.

the pattern is lacey 
yet substantial when used with this yarn

The pattern I used for this blanket is so easy & it's worked over any multiple of three. Once you have your stitches cast on it's simply: k1, *yarn over, k2together, slip on one as if to purl*.  Repeat and repeat from * to *. 

full view, just folded in half

a close up - 
I love the draping quality of
 this yarn when combined 
with this stitch

I really couldn't be happier with how the blanket turned out. I hope that we can look forward to many, many years of this blanket keeping us warm and toasty!

topaz for mom

For my mom's birthday last month, I decided to give her something simple, yet handmade and from the heart. She chose the yarn, and her pick was Manos del Uruguay's Silk Blend Semi Solid in Topaz. It's a 30% silk, 70% merino blend - the silk adds a touch of sheen - it's not too shiny, just the perfect amount of luster. I've used this yarn before for a few other projects, and I can say that this is my favorite yarn to both wear and knit. It's warm, breathable, and totally not itchy in the least. It drapes beautifully and knitting with it could not be easier nor more relaxing - this yarn allows for the right amount of "give" with each stitch. I can imagine a blanket or a throw knitted from this yarn and how elegant and cozy it would be. I love the color my mom picked out for this project - this shade is very much her! I think this jewel colored topaz is the perfect compliment to my mom's warm complexion.  

the topaz cowl, modeled my lovely mom

sky blue infinity

Knitting lace weight yarn is a new favorite winter past-time of mine. To me, scarfs are ideal - making it convenient to take each project with me whether it's for a long car ride, a business trip or vacation, plus I think I've always been partial to scarfs. I've been known to sport light weight scarfs - silk or cotton in the summer months too. There's just something about keeping one's neck warm!

For this project I used yarn I purchased awhile ago on Etsy - it's SRK Ovation Kid Mohair & Silk a 75% mohair/25% silk blend in the color "sky" (more green than blue). The pattern I used was a new for me. A few Christmas's ago my parents gave me a great gift - a little box that contains all lace pattern stitches - this box, more like a deck of cards than anything else, is called "Lace Knitting to Go" by Andrea Tung. I think it's a brilliant idea as it makes carrying one pattern around so much easier and as an added perk each pattern is beautifully photographed for inspiration! For this project, I used the lace stitch called "Orchard", which can be done over any multiple of 8 stitches plus 1.The pattern is 5 rows that repeat and repeat until you have your desired length. For my infinity scarf, I casted on 33 stitches (8 x 4 + 1). I connected the ends when I was done and voila, my "infinity" scarf was born! The #1 advantage of an infinity scarf in my opinion, is that there are never loose ends - a huge perk when one, such as myself, is prone to losing their scarfs!  

light weight and airy

doesn't it have such nice body?

a close-up of the Orchard pattern

the completed infinity scarf -
it wraps around two times...
lofty, soft, and warm!

cameo colored chevrons

A recently completed scarf made for a surprise gift to a friend - a friend who's an inspiration to me and if you knew her I bet you'd feel the same way! The pattern is called "chevron" - it was a fun new pattern for me to learn, and I doubled it to make the width I was looking for. The yarn is Manos del Uruguay's Handspun Semi-Solid in the "cameo" color - it's definitely more lavender than pink. My friend I knitted this for is one of those ladies with a fair, pretty & rosey complexion, which is why I thought this color would look nice on her! And luckily for me, it knitted up like a charm.

For all of you knitters out there that haven't used Manos del Uruguay's yarns, I really do adore them - great feel, never itchy, and beautiful colors. And what's more, the company stands for such a great cause. Since the late 1960's, Manos del Uruguay has promoted social and economic development for women in rural Uruguay. You can read more about the company's mission at their website -http://www.manos.com.uy/. The company's objective is obviously commendable, and their yarns are wonderful! A win-win, don't you think?!

the chevron pattern -
I doubled it to increase
the scarf's width

a close up - can't you feel the softness?

here I'm modeling the scarf - 
this yarn drapes nicely and has a nice weight

a whisper-like softness

You might remember the recent blog post, "a growing to-do list" where I photographed 2 new yarns I purchased. Happily, I've had a little free time this weekend, and I started a new project with 1 of the 2 new yarns. I'm using the "Sand" colored yarn that is such a delightful blend of mohair and silk. It is unbelievably light and airy. I'm using my size 8 bamboo needles and using the exact same stitch pattern I described in the "persimmon blanket" post. This "Sand" project is going to be a wrap or a scarf - depending on how much yarn I end up having! I'm not using a "real" pattern, but rather just knitting and waiting to see what ends up being created. This yarn, in this most gentle color, makes for such whisper-like softness!  I love how understated the color is. Don't you think this subtle hue really accentuates the delicate lace pattern?

a close up of my newest knitting project

this airy lace pattern is, to me,
quite timeless

persimmon blanket

This is my big knitting splurge of the season.  I'm using Manos del Uruguay's beautiful Handspun Semi Solid wool.  I really love this yarn - it's soft, easy to knit with, and so warm.  I made a cowl a few seasons back from this yarn and was happy to have another project that could use the same yarn.  I bought the yarn from Purl Soho: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/1081-Manos-Del-Uruguay-Handspun-Semi-Solids, and they have the most amazing selection of colors.  I pretty much adore everything from Purl Soho, which made it was so hard to choose the color for the blanket.  I ended up going for persimmon for two reasons: I wanted a cheery color to cuddle up with in the winter, and it was one color my husband also liked. 

Persimmon Blanket

I have just about 1 foot knitted so far, and with the amount of yarn I bought, the throw should be about 5 1/2 feet long.  I'm using size 9 circular needles and think the gauge is just right - not too tight, not too lacy.  The pattern I use for this is so easy: cast on any multiple of three then k1, *yarn over, k2together, slip on one as if to purl*.  Repeat and repeat from * to *!  This is one of my favorite patterns because it's simple - allowing me to at least hold a conversation when I knit and because the end product always drapes so nicely.  I'll post a final shot when it's completed.  I think my orange tabby cat is going to look quite handsome on this blanket!