garment house

small knitting

2012-02-21T14:40:00.000-05:00

here are a couple small projects i've been working on - dishcloths, placemats, and my take on this hat and fingerless mittens from that beautiful article in the january issue of martha stewart living about knitting. i've been living off easy knitting projects that only take a couple hours to complete, and in the process, have discovered the beauty of the garter stitch.

i hope to be posting an itty bitty pattern i wrote soon too!

matters of the heart

2012-02-17T14:39:00.001-05:00

wow, thank you all for your kind and encouraging words. thanks for listening.

i have good news to report. this week has been slowly getting better! on monday and tuesday, i thought i was relapsing again into... well... whatever's been going on (another infection? ulcer? i've never felt so out of touch with my body), but wednesday went much better than most days in the last couple weeks. i actually got out of the house and spent a wonderful morning and afternoon with my valentine. the fresh air, the sun, the snow... i could tell as soon as i stepped out the door that my relationship with the great outdoors has been a little strained. you know i still love you, boo.

it's hard to ease back into to doing something, anything at all during the day. it's been a little emotionally bumpy to try to figure out what i can handle. underneath all the doing, what's buried deep in your heart - your motivations for doing things, your anger, your selfishness - rises to the surface in trying times and it's been hard to slow down and deal with it. as painful and revealing it can be, being honest and vulnerable with the people around you is always the better choice. maybe not everyone feels this, but i do.

blue

2012-02-13T19:14:00.000-05:00

my recovery regime :: loads of kusmi tea and chocolate sent by kind friends + comfy clothes (the top and camp socks from doug and bottoms from my sister jenah have kicked my usual "athletic huxtable" look up a notch) + plenty of knitting (why yes, i have taken up designing doll clothes in my spare time. and sometimes i talk to the dolls. and they always understand me.)

it's getting to be a challenge to not feel blue about still being sick. a recent unexpected emergency room trip (that's dumb, when do you expect to go to the e.r.?) sent us into a spiral of more tests and no real answers yet. everything was really starting to wear on all of us, and then some people stopped by unannounced to just sit and visit. the house is in a constant state of mess, i'm usually far from presentable and i'm starting to really care less. the most recent visitors did so much to lift my spirits. their encouraging words gave me a burst of hope. right after they left, i was listening to a podcast that mentioned that patients in hospitals who are told encouraging words actually have a much higher chance of recovering faster. i believe it.

the emotional challenge of whatever is going on is hard, but i still feel so well cared for. just when we need it, we'll get a call, a text, an email, a care package in the mail, or someone stopping by with dinner. it's making me realize that the thoughtfulness and kindness behind what you do is just as sustaining as the physical act of taking care of others.

prison crafts

2012-02-03T15:31:00.000-05:00

oh man, i've started in on the kid crafts. i'm just a step away from making license plates in my spare time. i think i need to get out of the house.

at least i had an instant use for this fun pastime - little thank you gifts for the caring friends who have made my family meals while i've been sick. people have been so thoughtful, showing up at our door with delicious food right when we need it.

the last of the last

2012-02-03T14:20:00.001-05:00

it feels good to be sold out! i forgot anything was even left in my shop. thank you customers, you sure are the best. how refreshing to start 2012 off with a clean slate!

valen-tiny

2012-02-02T18:06:00.000-05:00

i finished another hand knit cardigan for a little friend's first birthday modifying this great pattern just slightly so that i could make the body completely seamless. notice the use of the contrasting white again? baby sweaters are a perfect way to use up leftover yarn. i had just enough wool-ease in both the rose and natural heather.

but i'm afraid it's not going to fit and wish i could figure out if it will without ruining the surprise. i tried to dig through the baby clothes to see if i could compare it to anything i had on hand, but couldn't find a sweater, small jacket or sweatshirt in this size. anyone know of a chart online that would tell you such things?

garment house cardigan :: two

2012-02-01T12:28:00.000-05:00

this was the first cardigan i ever tried to tackle on my knitting machine and i'm still amazed at how it fits because of two specific reasons. one is that it's completely my own pattern. two, and get ready to be surprised, my ideas for how i wanted this sweater to fit was really unstructured and it was a bit of an experiment just getting through the whole thing. i jotted down very loose guidelines to follow as i knit, but didn't take the time to copy down my notes along the way. that's why i made another right after (previous post), with the hopes of remembering what i did and drafting an official pattern that i could use again. funny thing is, i like the fit of the first better!

for those of you who asked what type of knitting machine i use, i'm lucky to say that i have a couple! everything i've posted about so far has been made on a standard gauge machine without a ribber, and that's mainly what i use. it's a very basic model which in my opinion is the best to start with. if you're considering getting into machine knitting, i'd highly suggest finding a local m.k. group, sitting in on some meetings and seeing a machine in action! it's a much better way to approach machine knitting instead of making a $600 investment and having NO IDEA where to start. machine knitters are very passionate about what they do and it's infectious to be around if you are truly interested. had it not been for a kind dealer who answered every single one of my questions, helped me figure out what type of machine i was looking for, invited me to meetings, and patiently took the time to walk me through the bumps in the road of learning, i would have never stuck with it. it's now more exciting than it is frustrating to me, and geek alert! the click of a knitting machine now gives me goosebumps. i love it that much!

garment house cardigan

2012-01-31T14:47:00.002-05:00

i was saving this design for one of my upcoming collections, but that's not happening any time soon. i said i'd share my machine knit projects i've been working on, and this cardigan is my most recent. it was finished back in november and i wore it all over new york on our last visit. it's been worn quite a few times since, so please excuse the pills and wrinkles.

i'm experiencing k.m.w.

2012-01-31T10:51:00.003-05:00

or knitting machine withdrawal. i haven't been able to work on my machine for weeks or even test out my christmas presents of new machine knitting gear. oh well, it gives me a chance to update my blog with m.k. projects i've finished.

i made these socks before christmas for my sister and brother-in-law, but only got around to sending them a couple weeks ago. who doesn't like a little christmas in january?

dala horse, party horse

2012-01-29T22:33:00.000-05:00

what a rough start to 2012, but i'm not losing hope. i've had a lot of time to think of things i'd rather be doing than lying in my bed getting better from this nasty infection, not flu like i originally thought. i hope to be stocking the shop soon with items from a sweet little collaboration. and since everyone has been so awesome about my most recent knitting project, i've also been trying to work on translating the downton sweater to pattern. i'm almost there. i'll get it all out there once i'm back on my feet.

but, who knows when that will be. i know i'm always talking about resetting my expectations, and i guess i'm not done. the last month has taught me some hard lessons about weakness and limitations, but i'm so thankful for it. the right words and encouragement have been there when i need to remember what's really important, and i'm grateful to be surrounded by people who make it easy for me to be sick and get better. not like i'd want to do it again, but it's been a surprisingly uplifting time.

knitting and downton

2012-01-19T17:44:00.003-05:00

there has been no better time to feel under the weather than these last couple cold and snowy days. i'm tired of feeling cruddy, but have enjoyed making the most out of being stuck indoors and unable to much of anything. and how did i luck out on getting sick while there's actually something good to watch online? thank you, downton abbey!

and what goes better with a period drama than knitting? after finishing a little valentine's present this last saturday, i decided to keep going on my hand knitting kick and see what i could make with four skeins of the perfect shade of grey lamb's pride wool. i had been searching for months for a project to dedicate such a small amount of yarn to, but couldn't find one. i considered adapting this beautiful sweater to a different gauge and smaller amount of wool, but was really itching to make something fast and easy. i was shooting for a sweater that was more like a sweatshirt and found the solution to be a patternless, completely seamless top-down raglan. i wasn't expecting to be so happy with the unplanned results! incorporating the off-white cascade eco wool helped put a dent in my always too full yarn basket and made this simple sweater just a little more interesting.

five days of straight knitting and a very comfortable sweater to show for it. and just in time for the weekend!

bread making with bis

2012-01-17T11:37:00.003-05:00

when we were visiting family this last november, my sister-in-law spent a morning helping me get over my bread making and kneading fears. it was such a great experience. there's something about being taught a domestic skill by someone you love. it reminds me of that person whenever i repeat the skill, and sticks with me more than just picking up a book and reading about it. it doesn't hurt that bis is an excellent baker and teacher, too. here was my breadmaking lesson #1.

olive oil bread

combine dry ingredients:

4 1/2 cups flour (we split it half wheat, half white)

1 tablespoon yeast

1 tablespoon salt

combine + then add:

2 cups water (hot bath temp)

3/4 cups olive oil

knead until smooth and firm. form into round loaf. let rise for 30 minutes in greased pan. if you like, sprinkle with fresh rosemary. bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 45 minutes.

enjoy this moist, dense bread that goes perfectly with your favorite winter soup!

deer and the antelope

2012-01-13T18:12:00.000-05:00

i hope it gets chilly this weekend. real chilly. i'm fighting hard to get rid of this flu and it doesn't seem to be working, so staying inside and knitting sounds just about right to me. valentine's day is right around the corner, and i'd love to make some small gifts again this year.

hey, thanks for all the nice comments on here lately. i mean, you're always nice, but lately i've been so encouraged. i hope you too have a restful weekend.

rolling with the punches

2012-01-11T12:42:00.001-05:00

i got hit hard with a nasty flu that has kept me sick in bed since this last weekend. here i had been so excited to get moving on those goals, so it's been hard for me not to get discouraged about the roller coaster of health i seem to be on. i swear, had i been born in a different era and was a pioneer, they would have pushed me off the wagon weeks ago and left me for the wolves! it seems i'm not the strongest one of the bunch.

i keep trying to remember that this is why i've set my goals to be reasonable ones that can be worked on over the entire year. it will happen. and i can't forget the clause i included that the goals can always change.

facing the new year

2011-12-31T13:04:00.005-05:00

i hope you've been enjoying this holiday break as much as i have. right before christmas began, i got news that the pathology on the tumor the doctors removed came back benign! i cannot explain the feeling of peace and relief it's brought to us. this short paragraph hardly does the good news justice. maybe i'll get more comfortable talking about the details, but for now, this helps. thank you for all your prayers and concern!

this month, this last year really, has provided a chance (once again) for me to learn about setting the bar lower and seeing that we still survive even if things go differently than i expect. coming off of that, it's an awkward time to set some new years goals, but doug has been helping me keep them simple and reasonable. here what i've come up with.

+ clean and organize our office into a more useful space
+ double the savings for my business this year. this is a smaller amount than you'd think, which means i can probably do it.
+ expand my knitting machine skills and catch up with my machine knitting group
+ finish the seat covers for our danish chairs
+ get better about incorporating smaller and repetitive projects into my work
+ have friends over to the office to work on projects together
+ call my friends more to go to late night movies
+ make more of a habit of exercising without any distractions and noise

some of these goals seem more daunting than the others, some might get scratched, but all have me excited for 2012. ha, as long the mayans are wrong!

rosemary wreaths

2011-12-09T13:24:00.001-05:00

i've been down over the last week, recovering from my surgery. things went even better than we hoped, but we're waiting on all the tests and my biopsy results to come back. i can tell already that this is not going to be a traditional holiday year, and i'm going to have to take things at a different pace. i thought i'd have plenty of couch time during my recovery to make christmas presents and do a little online shopping, but all i can seem to do is rest. my parents are here taking such excellent care of me, and i feel so grateful to have their help.

before my surgery though, i made little rosemary wreaths for each door in our home in preparation for christmas and my parents arrival. they were so simple to make, and smell wonderful, too. all i did was wrap twenty-four gauge floral wire around a jar three times, secure the wire around the top of the wire circle, and start wrapping sprigs of rosemary to the frame. each wreath took only two sprigs, but i could have used more. i kind of made it up as i went, but this tutorial is an excellent reference.

next up, the rosemary olive oil bread recipe from my sister-in-law that everyone has been requesting! i just need to clear it with her that it's not a secret!

back home

2011-11-28T11:22:00.001-05:00

top two photos: doug's parent's home

bottom two photos: my parents home

we got a chance to visit both sets of parents while we were traveling. all i did was hold a baby, learn how to make great bread, help where i could, eat good food, and talk, talk, talk. walking into both of our childhood homes instantly makes me feel like i'm home.

nyc

2011-11-27T23:03:00.001-05:00

top to bottom: homemade pumpkin ice cream on the train :: heading to find my date :: the high line :: the high line :: lunch with a friend :: marimekko's new flagship store :: breakfast at la esquina

going through the pictures from our trip. mmm... i love the quiet of my every day life, but i do miss the city as soon as we leave. this visit was very refreshing.

i've got plenty to be thankful for

2011-11-25T11:24:00.001-05:00

i hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving, surrounded by family, friends and good food. ours was wonderful. we just got back from a ten day trip covering new england, new york and minnesota. it's a great feeling to return to our home and start things off with a big feast, surrounded by the people we love. my heart feels full.

this year has been one of uncomfortable changes. still, i'm ashamed of how easy it is for me to focus on the bad instead of taking time to count my incredible blessings. i have plenty of room in my life to pause and give thanks.

heck yeah, who wants a pair of socks?!

2011-11-05T17:37:00.001-04:00

orange socks: knitpicks stroll in foliage

purple socks: bamboo + ewe in purple

i've got plenty to spare! i have figured out how to knit socks on my knitting machine which has turned out to be a very dangerous thing. i got so excited about my first pair turning out just the way i wanted them to, that i'm on my fourth pair. good thing i have a basket of sock yarns to use up! i knew that it was possible to knit socks on a flat-bed machine, but got so impatient trying to find a good pattern to use, i just made my own. my first try worked out perfectly without even knitting up a test pair, which i can hardly believe. i'm pretty sure that's one of the reasons why i'm on such a machine knit sock kick.

as far as yarn goes, i absolutely loved working with the knitpicks stroll in foliage that my mother-in-law recently sent to me. it knit up so beautifully on my machine and the socks feel amazing. a close runner-up was this bamboo/wool pair, although it's slightly more itchy. i made them just a tiny bit loose since i don't like tight socks, and can't wait to see how they wash up.

we're enjoying a much needed quiet, restful weekend. it's chilly outside and cozy in our home. this week was full of challenges, ending on news that i need an operation that will hopefully improve my health. i'm anxious, but much more than that, i'm relieved. it's good to finally have some answers.

enjoy your weekend. we get an extra hour of sleep tomorrow, which rocks.

boo!

2011-10-31T11:10:00.003-04:00

pumpkin patch, hayrides and carving pumpkins, oh my! it was a good weekend, and the fun has only begun! i'm going as a bank robber this halloween, how about you?

also, it's not halloween without charlie and a little arsenic now, is it?

how is it only five days until halloween?!

2011-10-26T12:23:00.000-04:00

scenes from my favorite and always-too-short season. the light in autumn is just breathtaking. yesterday, i took a minute to enjoy a brisk, refreshing walk and capture it before it's gone. and it's good i went when i did - the snow was right on my heels!

planning

2011-10-24T12:18:00.001-04:00

the week ahead seems daunting, but i'm hoping a little planning will go a long way. now that THE LIST is done, it's time to get moving. the not-so-fun part. if only the doing was as easy as making the to-do list...

at the time that i took the sneak peek pictures last week, i had forgotten that my in-laws were set to arrive the next day! priorities changed and it was time to whip the house in shape, plan some meals and grocery shop. i set my work aside and hope to have plenty of time this week to dedicate to it. i'm pretty excited. this weather is really inspiring. this favorite playlist is also helping.

sneak peek

2011-10-18T11:33:00.001-04:00

more to come. i had a bear of a time with this one, which is what makes it feel so rewarding to have finished.

white people like scarves

2011-10-17T13:00:00.000-04:00

scarves by hilary grant

aren't these machine knit scarves made by hilary grant great? i think her d.i.y. mitten kits are adorable and look like fun, too. i am slowly getting more and more fascinated with my knitting machine, and find it exciting that i haven't quite tapped into the full potential of what it can do yet.

arrow to the heart

2011-10-07T14:08:00.001-04:00

arrows by kate miss of formeforyou

wow, i can't even imagine. thanks anabela for spreading the word.

shifting

2011-10-05T11:58:00.002-04:00

something is stirring inside, and i'm still unsure of what it is. things are changing like they should, but i think it's starting to finally catch up with my heart. i talked a lot to doug last night. i'm so glad he was there to listen.

work

2011-10-04T14:40:00.003-04:00

"economic growth is fueled by things like thrift, honesty and delayed gratification. but when profit and making money become the ultimate, it eats away at delayed gratification, thrift and honesty and destroys the very basis for economic productivity." - daniel bell

this has been giving me a lot to think about over the last couple days. one of the biggest dilemmas for me in making and selling is the fact that i originally started making because i didn't want to buy the things i knew i was capable of making on my own. the shift from making for myself to making for others has been a tricky process - one that i'm still trying to work out. the work, the learning and the repetition is what ends up being gratifying to me. my hands need to work, but it's hard to find the motivation to work that is not driven by the need for more. more stuff, more money, more recognition.

hmmm...

autumn

2011-09-29T11:45:00.001-04:00

i woke this morning to the headless horseman playing OVER and OVER in my head. no matter what i do to get it out, brom bones keeps asking me to gather 'round while he elucidates.

at least it's not christmas time.

the sweaters i didn't knit [no. 2]

2011-09-27T10:34:00.004-04:00

no. 1: lopi sweater from iceland - hilda

no. 2: handmade lopi cardigan my mother-in-law found for me at a church rummage sale.

no. 3: lacoste cardigan from doug's pop-pop. it needed new buttons, so i added my favorite wooden ones.

no. 4: vintage ll bean found at the magical thrift store

no. 5: woolrich from the m.t.s.

no. 6: handmade lopi, also from the m.t.s.

can you believe i still have more? this warm weather is really cramping my style. it needs to be pretty cold to wear an icelandic knit without dying from heat exhaustion.

the sweaters i didn't knit [no. 1]

2011-09-26T12:08:00.001-04:00

no 1: lopi sweater my sister jenah sent me. she wore it for their family christmas photo and said the itchiness drove her bananas. it's pretty itchy so layering is required, but i couldn't love it more!

no 2: vintage cabled cardigan my mother in law bought for me at the magical thrift store - the label reads "100% virgin acrylic" which made us laugh. ooo, exquisite!

no 3: a pure wool norwegian sweater also found at the m.t.s. fjord fashion by a. s. evebøfoss

no 4: handknit cabled sweater, thrifted from the magical thrift store

no 5: another handknit lopi, bought secondhand.

most of my favorite sweaters are the ones i didn't knit. my closet is full of them and it's hard not to hope for cooler weather whenever i see them in stacks on the shelves. some of them are handmade, some are machine knit, but all have been bought second-hand or have been given to me by the people i love.

a beautiful knit sweater always makes me want to pick up the needles.

knit basket

2011-09-23T12:30:00.000-04:00

over the summer, my sister jenah and i started a project together while she was visiting - these knitted baskets from the book "more last-minute knitted gifts" by joelle hoverson my mom had given to me last christmas. we didn't finish them in the time we were together, but it didn't take long after jenah left for me to finish this super simple project. i love it! more than the project itself, i always love a knitted anything that has the sentimental value of getting to work on it in the company of friends. there's just something about knitting with other people.

and you guys are great! all your encouragement about my machine knit sweater has propelled me into working on my next sweater. it always seems to be that the longer i leave something, the more encouragement i need to pick it back up. i truly appreciate your kind words!

knitting machine

2011-09-13T11:48:00.002-04:00

i've been so excited and nervous to share about my newest knitting endeavor. right at the tail end of this last spring, i acquired a knitting machine from a very kind woman. like i said, our summer was packed to the brim with activity, so i got less time than i had hoped to get accustomed to this technical new skill. but over the course of a couple segmented evenings and weekends, i somehow fumbled my way through knitting my very first machine knit sweater, my very first machine knit anything! it's been done for a couple months now and only my nerves have kept me from posting about it. i always hesitate to talk about yet another hobby in case i lose interest.

i'm still learning, but if you're interested to hear, read on and i'll share what i've come to find out about machine knitting so far...

even though i've been driven to learn, machine knitting has been very hard and challenging. i'm starting out with the most basic of machines, which in a lot of ways, is probably a better way for this impatient student to learn. nothing is computerized, everything is manual. this machine has a way of one minute making me feel like the smartest person on earth, and the next bringing me down to the reality of how anything good takes a whole lot of time to learn (and loss of hair and sleep).

the fact that i couldn't find even one pattern for a sweater to help me start off knitting on a machine meant i needed to start from square one on this project. i'm used to just trusting the hard work that someone else has put into a pattern with most of my knitting projects, and tweaking things along the way. i had to slow down enough to really, really deconstruct a sweater and understand the fit of a knit garment. it wasn't anything too different from drafting a sewing pattern, i just had to get out the old paper and pencil and do some math (use my brain? what?!) to figure out where to manipulate the stitches to decrease and increase rather than just deciding where to cut. the hardest obstacle was figuring out how to decrease for a sleeve cap since i wanted to create set-in sleeves. i read a couple good tutorials which helped me tackle the concept of spacing my decreases. i feel like this little project has was only the start of understanding machine knit pattern construction, and that's kind of exciting and intimidating all at the same time!

learning the quirks of a knitting machine can be time consuming. my machine would jam on parts of the front of the sweater that were effortless on the back. the yarn would break right when i was counting on it to hold up. whole stitches and rows would drop off the machine because i'd either forget a step or get going too fast. sometimes i'd have to only back up enough rows to fix the problem, and other times i'd have to completely start over. i don't know how many times i'd huff past doug and threaten that i was done for good, only to saunter back a couple hours later determined to finish.

i can't emphasize enough how much fun it is once you really get going though. there is absolutely no way i could have knit this in such a short amount of time (i'm guessing about two weeks total, pattern drafting and all) without a machine. every time i knock off 80+ rows of knitting within minutes, i just about die thinking how much time that takes me to hand knit that same amount, no matter how concentrated i am. despite the time it takes to learn about the technicalities of machine knitting, it's incredibly easier and quicker in so many ways. getting to the "i love this" or "this is not what i was expecting" stage of knitting is something that happens a lot quicker. you are able to see what you'd want to change in your next project without much wait, which also means the speed at which you learn is so much faster in comparison to hand-knitting. another benefit is that hands down, a machine knit swatch is better than any of my best hand knit samples. it's so uniform and perfect, it's thrilling.

i'm glad that my machine hasn't replaced my need to hand knit though. it helps that hand knit projects usually travel a whole lot easier, but the hand knit look, effort, and slower speed that goes into hand making something still appeals to me. in fact, the lack of speed is exactly what can be an advantage to hand knitting. the choices you have to make are spread out over a slower amount of time, but with machine knitting you have to really plan what you're going to do before you get going. since planning is not always my strong suit, i like that besides spending (wasting?) a lot of time researching patterns for things i want to hand-knit, i can usually just grab needles and yarn, knit a swatch and get going.

i feel really fortunate to finally have a tool that helps me create knit garments so much faster than i would have been able to before. i can't wait to see what else this knitting machine has in store for me!

socks!

2011-09-12T11:25:00.001-04:00

no 1: swish dk dove heather

no 2: schoeller+stahl fortissima

no 3: noro silk garden

no 4: (l) swish (r) noro

it seems all i knit this summer were socks. it was an unexpectedly busy whirlwind of a couple months, and having a small, easy knitting project with me at all times was such a stress reliever. i knit the majority of the swish dk dove heather socks during the emergency hospital trip for doug's uncle. another pair over the three-day trip for his memorial service. you'd think it would be time for a break, but i'm halfway through another pair using this amazing wool.

i find knitting socks on small circular needles is the most comfortable and fastest method for me. i started the noro silk garden socks on the magic loop method, but switched back over to smaller circular needles halfway through the cuff. everything kept getting so tangled and i just couldn't get the feel for it.

i found this sock chart to be my absolute best friend, no matter if i'm making a sock with a gusset or doing short rows for the heel and toe. i heard a lot of people discourage short row heels saying the fit wasn't as nice, but i find it to be just as comfortable and a whole lot easier and nicer looking. i read this tutorial to help me out.

out of this group of socks, i really love knitpicks swish (knits up fast and is so soft), plymouth zino (no. 10 colorway is beautiful) and schoeller+stahl fortissima (first yarn i ever bought - i still hadn't used it!) sock yarns. i was pretty disappointed with the noro silk garden wool though. to me, it was overpriced, not that soft, uneven (i kid you not, both the cuffs are the exact number of rows, and one is shorter! gah!) and extra work to knit since the wool was broken in a couple places, making more ends to weave in.

no matter, i'm pretty pleased with my growing arsenal of hand-knit socks for this upcoming winter!

edit: i got a couple questions about what type of circular needles i use, so i thought i'd answer here. i really love hiya hiya 12" in either steel or bamboo. the 9" circulars are just a teeny bit small and awkward in my hands, but those are great if you prefer them. except for stretching that first row in the round on the 12" circulars, i think the larger size is perfect for an adult sized sock. my favorite needle size for socks depends on the yarn, but my US 3's and 4's always seem to be hard to find, meaning i use them a lot!

cool weather, come back!

2011-09-09T11:25:00.002-04:00

my quiet hare alafoss slippers are calling to me. they are knit so beautifully. so soft, so warm.

scarf + gibson

2011-09-08T18:33:00.000-04:00

i promised i'd be talking about knitting, and it's time to update my ravelry projects. i finished this wool scarf at the beginning of summer and despite my bad timing (wool scarf + summer heat) i have worn it quite a bit over the last couple months. i will say i am excited for the cooler weather to use this scarf for the intended purpose - to keep me warm!

i really loved this pattern even though i had to get used to paying attention to what i was knitting. i'm in the habit of knitting mindless rows of stockinette for sweaters. for months, this project went everywhere with me. the stitch pattern was easy to memorize after a couple rows, but i printed out one of these just in case i'd forget or lose my place. i used my all-time favorite lion brand fishermen's wool. i love that it's more of a dk weight and that you can get so much, or all of a project done on just one skein. this scarf took a little less than a skein.

two more unrelated things: simple is an understatement - a hairstyle that literally only took me 20 seconds, and a Bonnie Raitt cover that I know my mom's gonna love.

sleeping in tents

2011-09-06T11:56:00.003-04:00

this weekend was beautiful. not without imperfections, but that's the way we like it. living with the bare essentials has a way of making life a bit more real.

besides discovering once again that we're lucky to have each other, there's one other thing we decided we can't live without. a hammock.

icelandic knits + tretorn boots

2011-09-02T13:17:00.004-04:00

wow, this video is breathtaking. when i saw it a couple weeks ago, it made me a little impatient for the heat of the summer to be over with. i can't wait to knit my next lopi sweater, this time for myself.

i cannot knit fast enough

2011-09-01T19:37:00.002-04:00

the summer heat has finally chilled out and all i can think about is wearing sweaters again. this cool breeze is making me wish i had a knitting project like this in my hands.

be ready for a bunch of posts about knitting.

getting out the backpacks

2011-08-31T15:04:00.004-04:00

top: swedish heritage board
bottom: fjällräven rucksack no. 21

there's a camping trip on the horizon, and i can barely wait. making meals on a campfire and campstove is always my favorite part of sleeping outdoors. and waking up to doug building a fire and making coffee. and all that fresh air. and letting the dog run wild. and the quiet time spent knitting. and having to throw on a sweater after the sun goes down. and the glow of the lanterns at night. i might not want to leave.

last of the summer picnics

2011-08-24T09:57:00.003-04:00

we were feeling cooped-up in the hot house, so packing a picnic and heading to the beach was the best way to remedy that. rice salad, fresh veggies, hummus, giant raspberries, juice boxes, and to top it off, a super adorable piece of quiet hare flair.

memorial

2011-08-15T13:14:00.005-04:00

uncle doug passed away two weeks ago yesterday, surrounded by his family. my heart just breaks for his wife, daughters and grandchildren, who are now suffering the loss of this kind and loving man. a lot of people loved him. it was easy for everyone to see, weaving through the crowd of friends, colleagues and family at his memorial and hearing their stories of what he meant to them.

your kind words and prayers have been so considerate. it's been a help during these confusing couple of weeks.

through the fiercest drought and storm...

2011-07-28T14:08:00.003-04:00

we got a call sunday morning that doug's uncle, also named doug, had been fishing close to where we live, suffered from a brain aneurysm and was on a life-flight to a big hospital within driving distance from our home. a friend had the sense to offer to watch our daughter, overnight if they had to, just before we left town. we got to the hospital before the helicopter landed and were able to talk to doug and hold onto his hands before things took a very critical turn. they rushed us out of the room and we spent an agonizing two hours talking to doctors and anxiously waiting for doug's aunt's delayed flight to get in. once she landed, most of the next five hours crawled by, and yet were a blur of time. while they kept doug sedated, he underwent many tests and an operation so that the medical staff and neurologist could stabilize him in order to get him to a better hospital. he was cleared for another life-flight back to his hometown to receive the care he needed, and be closer to his daughters and a bigger network of support for doug's uncle, aunt and cousins. the last we heard, he's still in very critical condition, but is showing signs of recovery.

in a week consumed with statistics, medical reports, tests, phone calls, anxiety and loss of sleep, the miracle that someone we love is still here calms even our biggest worries.

catching up

2011-07-22T11:53:00.005-04:00

as i said before, my sister and her family came out for a week-long visit, and we all said goobye just a couple days ago. we had such a great time. my family is far from perfect, but as it grows and changes, we're learning how to connect and relate and it's good for the original family dynamic. plus, it's wonderful to see your children play with your sibling's children. they have a bond that's strong, and i love to be able to observe as that bond grows deeper the older they get.

it's really hard to remember to get out the camera while you're having fun, but i have plenty of fond memories. we spent the week relaxing, reading, talking, laughing, eating dinners together (some at home, some at our favorite places in town like the farmer's market), kite flying, going to the CIRCUS (we weren't sure what to expect, but it far surpassed jenah's original expectations of "two tires and a pot-belly pig"), introducing them to our favorite hangouts and friends, fishing, hiking, camping, going to museums, knitting (jen and i - we had to figure out something to do while the guys laughed like kids playing playstation), watching movies and all together, having a great week. it rushed by - just like a good visit should!

aidez

2011-07-21T16:40:00.004-04:00

i suddenly went from having multiple knitting projects going all at once, to having none! that means i'll be updating my ravelry projects soon, and here's the first to be added. i had been working on this aidez cardigan on and off over the last couple months and just finished it right before my sister came out to visit last week. it was my first official cabled project, and i'm hooked. it's a quick knit with bulky yarn, and the cabling keeps this an interesting and engaging project. i talked to a couple different people about sizing beforehand who gave me some fantastic tips on lengthening the armscye. the only problem is, once i got started, i completely forgot to follow their instructions and the sweater is just a teeny bit snug through my shoulders. this was nothing that blocking couldn't help, but i'm still kicking myself for not making it just a bit bigger all the way around.

i substituted Cascade Eco Wool in Taupe for this pattern, ordered from Jimmy Beans Wool (since my local store didn't have it), and got the perfect gauge using a size US 10.5 needle. i think this pattern would be fantastic knitted in the round and i even started out trying to tackle translating the pattern to do it, but for my first time cable knit, i scrapped that idea early on and just decided to knit, then piece it together.

i had been knitting two-at-a-time magic loop socks as one of my multiple projects and decided to use the that method to knit both sleeves and fronts at the same time, flat. i don't know why all sweater patterns don't have you do this! it's such a wonderful technique, especially when you're pattern knitting and can make all your decreases, increases and cabled stitches on the same line, just on two separate pieces. it also prevents the "i've got to make another one of these?" dread. i think from this point on, this will be how i make all my pieced knits.

i highly recommend aidez, taking into account that you might want to lengthen the armscye, or just knit a size up from your measurements depending on how you want this cardigan to fit. i say this about every sweater i knit, but i'm so tempted to make another!

where has july gone?!

2011-07-21T15:15:00.005-04:00

cursive design supermoon necklace + dip-dyed bracelet

so i guess the month is almost over, which means the close of summer is not far behind. i'm not ready for that, these last couple of months have been so fantastic. it's been a whirlwind of (mostly) beautiful weather, visits to the farmer's market, making new friends, lots of watermelon in the shade of our porch, walks, bike rides, a fun and too-quick visit from an old friend Sarah of Cursive Design, another visit from a friend of Doug's passing through on a bike ride across America, and one other visit from my sister and her family that i'll share pictures of in a bit.

even though Sarah and her husband only stayed a night, we had a lot of fun catching up. she left an amazing thank you gift of a supermoon necklace and brand new dip-dyed bracelet she had been working on for the multiple renegade craft fairs she was on her way to. not only is Sarah a kind friend, her jewelry is beautiful. even anthropologie thinks so.

kinfolk

2011-07-01T12:22:00.007-04:00

small gatherings, food, and simplicity - that sounds perfect to me! if you haven't signed up for the kinfolk mailing list, a brilliant project including this creative couple, you definitely should. i cannot wait to see what lies ahead.

hard choice

2011-06-27T14:17:00.002-04:00

top left to right: begley/monroe/fillmore
bottom left to right: fillmore/huxley/winston

please excuse the "dead behind the eyes" photobooth pictures... doug and i both have to get new glasses, and the ten pairs of warby parker trials are not making it an easy choice! i think i'm leaning towards a pair of round ones, but I think I need a little help from my friends. we're pretty sure doug's going to get the roosevelts.

june

2011-06-25T21:29:00.002-04:00

this month has been so incredibly beautiful, and has just flown by. i think we've been too busy enjoying every minute of it. thanks for the birthday wishes everyone! the day was relaxed, simple and loads of fun. there was even an impromptu dance party to the record version of the soundtrack to cocktail. how could it not be perfect?

my dad

2011-06-19T18:54:00.004-04:00

my dad, the original hipster, both pictures with my adorable older sister, jenah.

i have plenty of issues, but i think i can honestly say that daddy issues are not some of them. today is dad's day, and i am so lucky to have three great fathers in my life - my baby daddy (Doug), my father-in-law, Dave, and the dad i want to mention here, Larry.

some things you should know about my dad:

he's very athletic (i did NOT get this trait). my sisters and i would try to get him to do "tricks" all the time, one of my favorite being walking on his hands. i have a very clear memory of him doing this for what seemed like an eternity on a gym mat at the high school where he worked.
he's a good combination of reckless and careful. this always made him the preferred parent to take along in the car when i was learning to drive. he panics on very few occasions.
my mom said that when he was younger and would babysit his nieces, he'd let them stay up until the moment he'd see their parents driving up the driveway, then he'd make them run into bed and pretend they were asleep. she laughs when she tells anyone this since she knows he did the exact thing with us when she'd leave the house. i really am amazed by this now as a parent, since i'm far too greedy with a need for my own space and time.
his outrageous breakfast involving dr. pepper while my mom was grocery shopping is a legend between my sisters and i.
he is an excellent photographer, but switched to a more humble profession as a custodian at the local high school while we were kids so that he could be around us growing up and wouldn't have to work over the weekends. before i was in school, he worked the night shift and would spend his mornings hanging out with me. i remember lying down on the couch and watching mister rogers on pbs during our morning nap.
with four women in the house, he's an excellent listener. i swear, that man hasn't gotten a word in edgewise for 30+ years! when he'd come home from work at night and we'd be eating dinner at the table, there would be a lot of clucking, giggling, SCREAMING and he'd just sit there quietly with a smile on his face. along these lines, i also can't remember a time where i felt he was tuning me out. doug is also like this, and i think it has a lot to do with my own father placing an importance on listening to people.
i love getting the chance to see my dad play on the ground with my own child. i think it's probably because those are some of my favorite memories with him.
he's got a gentle spirit and a kind heart. i hear stories of how his father treated him and it blows my mind that he has any ability at all to be the good dad that he is. he's real, without any guile, and those traits cannot help but make you love him.

i am so lucky dad, happy father's day!

outside sun, inside sun

2011-06-16T10:59:00.004-04:00

the weather keeps switching back and forth from spring to summer, and i'm really enjoying it. on the nice sunny days, we try to get outside to fly kites, ride bikes and sit in the grass. on the days that are cold and rainy, we enjoy all the inside house activities like knitting, reading, cooking, cleaning, and laundry. it's a good balance.

with the farmer's market season here, i've been on a search to find a lemonade recipe where you can make a cup at a time so i don't have to just sit and crave fresh lemonade on the non-market days. anyone know a good equation of lemons to simple sugar for a single serving?

speaking of birthdays

2011-06-14T22:26:00.003-04:00

i've already got a table full of gifts, but since i can never resist an excuse to use polyvore, i decided to make a birthday list. this set has me dreaming of late summer nights, watching fireworks on the porch.

a month full of thank-yous

2011-06-14T16:22:00.005-04:00

thumbprint notecard set by the small object

i just start to feel pretty smart about how little money we're spending on crap... and then the month of june hits. june is a popular month to be born in our house, and it seems all i've been doing lately is shopping, shopping, shopping! during the most recent excursion, i was so excited to find this thumbprint notecard set in the bookstore by the small object! we're big fans, and this stationary set is a perfect, useful gift. it'll be great for all those thank-yous we'll be writing.

birthday flowers

i haven't had much time to keep up on the interweeb now that summer is in full swing. i hope to answer some of your shop questions soon, and let you know what's in store for updates. i do have a couple garment house plans to keep me busy over the summer if i can squeeze in the time, but it wouldn't be summer if all my ducks were in a row, now would it?

i want a baby whale to swim across my living room wall!

2011-06-01T15:20:00.003-04:00

bryant austin's life-size photography just has me speechless. the beauty of nature absolutely blows me away.

last chance!

2011-05-27T16:43:00.002-04:00

this is the last time i'll talk you into entering the garment house giveaway ending today, right on over here. i'm just sayin', it's free. and wrapped pretty.

i hope everyone has a great weekend!

clean slate

2011-05-26T12:30:00.003-04:00

after the s/s 11 photo shoot, the shop update, an intense cleaning of the house for guests and moving into a new studio, i feel like i'm starting with a clean slate! spring is always the time of year to start fresh, and just like mickey d's, "i'm lovin' it." while the weather can't quite decide what season it is, i'm also loving the couple chances i've gotten to wear my new linen dress!

i've been meaning to remind everyone that the giveaway for the bachelor's button top ends soon, so head on over and comment! i'm so excited to see who wins!

garment house shop recap + giveaway!

2011-05-21T18:53:00.006-04:00

top left: polaris dress / top right: duomo scarf
bottom left: brown timbermill / bottom right: brown meridian

first things first - i want to thank everyone who placed an order yesterday! your packages are on their way! it was a team effort - doug offered to run orders to the post office, and i even employed the help of our resident grade-schooler to type out packing slips on my vintage typewriter. we're just a step away from forming a family band!

if you missed out on the sale yesterday, here are two things you should know. one: there are still a couple items left. there's a polaris dress in extra small, a summer brown timbermill dress in large, a brown meridian jumper also in large, one more duomo scarf and a couple corsica bracelets. the other thing you need to know is: there's an exciting garment house giveaway going on right now! head on over to babble to score a free garment house top!

also, for those of you who wrote asking if I will be restocking the store, it all depends on my fabric suppliers. i'll check my sources again, but can't promise anything.

good news!

2011-05-20T11:12:00.002-04:00

the shop is open! i sent out a mailer, but have yet to received mine... oh interweeb! but if you want something, i wouldn't wait!

p.s. chelsea is going to hosting a giveaway today! more on that later.

s/s 11

2011-05-19T12:45:00.004-04:00

chelsea was so kind and posted a preview of the garment house spring/summer 2011 collection on babble yesterday! and good thing too, since i've been busy organizing my shop, meeting new people, putting together a lookbook, and getting my inventory ready to be shipped. lots of exciting things are happening in garment house land, but hopefully i'll have time to share later. for now, it's time to get my game face on.

finally, some shop news!

2011-05-13T18:58:00.002-04:00

i'll be updating the shop early next week with some more dresses (polaris, meridian, and a new linen timbermill) and scarves! i'm hoping to open it early in the week, but I will probably be sending out a mailer once i decide. go ahead and sign up on my mailing list if you haven't already!

i hope you all have a fantastic weekend. i'm hoping for anything better than this past week!

citron + blue

2011-05-11T10:53:00.003-04:00

i had a friend over for tea this morning and almost broke out the new teapot, but didn't want to keep her for too long with such a huge pot of tea. need i tell you where it's from? three words: magical thrift store.

watched daddy long legs while i was catching up on some work this week. i'll forgive the movie for it's creepster-old-guy-infatuated-with-and-18-year-old aspect, since the beginning has an entire scene with blue gingham! i couldn't help but think back to little winter... ahhh good times, good times...

happy mother's day!

2011-05-08T23:03:00.003-04:00

did i not just say that my mom comes up with some pretty clever ways to take care of other people? this mother's day, she sent out a secret package with instructions and ingredients for a "mom's movie night!" it was such a lifesaver too, since doug came down with something on saturday and had no time to plan for mother's day. so today, he winged it and ended up making the day really special. he brought me breakfast in bed, let me relax for the morning, got a movie ready for our movie party and made me excellent food all day! it was low-key and awesome, just how i like it. and the day's not over - it's time for another movie. bye!

i hope all you moms had just as excellent of a mother's day!

mom

2011-05-06T16:58:00.005-04:00

things you should probably know about my mom:

she is a domestic wizard of the highest order. our home growing up was incredibly clean, but also cozy and welcoming. this is something i don't think i truly appreciated until i became a mother and quickly figured out just how hard this is to achieve.
along with the above quality, this woman excels in hospitality. she thinks of clever ways to care for people not just in her immediate family, but people outside of it too. she organizes stellar parties (family weddings and holidays being my favorites) and manages to tackle all the details of them with perfection - food, decorations and ambiance.
she's really good at accents and impressions. her best being andreas viestad from new scandinavian cooking.
she's surprised me on many occasions by making up songs on the spot that totally rhyme. and are clever, too.
she loves, like LOVES music. music was always playing in our house growing up. about every month, she makes mix CDs and sends them to us. we always look forward to them and they end up being a great source of really great, new music.
also having to do with music: she's a great singer. one of my favorite childhood memories was listening to my dad and mom sing together.
she definitely got me hooked on sewing. she used to make a lot of our clothing growing up, especially "fancy" dresses that would have been too expensive for her and my dad to buy. my favorite thing she ever made me was a complete set of clothing for my American Girl doll, Molly. she carefully picked out exactly the right fabric to make sure the clothes looked just like the ones you'd buy. now knowing just how much effort it takes to make such miniature clothing, i can't believe she did this for me.
every year on summer vacation, we'd wait for the moment our mom would go for a swim in the lake. it was always after everyone had gone to their cabins for the night and was usually at the end of the week. it was most anticipated finale of the best week of the year. i always got a kick out of seeing my mom swim around like a little kid, totally enjoying herself.
she loves my dad and always made sure to show us that as her kids. my dad loves her too. in fact, when I asked him why he took the above pictures, he said, "Beautiful girl, beautiful sunlight, I couldn't resist."

i love you mom, happy mother's day!

take a bike!

2011-05-06T11:05:00.004-04:00

i am so in love with this bike friendly weather. i have definitely needed the pick-me-up that only comes from fresh air and i've been itching for the chance to get some exercise outdoors. once farmer's market season starts, i'm looking to get my hands on a nice, big basket for the weekly haul of fresh local produce. adeline adeline seems like the place to find one! although, when i told my mom about the site she said, "get off that site! no looking! remember, your birthday is just around the corner!!!" yes mother!

eight years

2011-05-03T12:23:00.002-04:00

this man makes me laugh harder than anyone i know. he's loved me unconditionally and has proven wrong those fuddy-duddies that say that marriage is a drag. outside of raising kids, it's been the best adventure ever. eight down, till death to go. i love you, my main squeeze.

linen tote

2011-04-29T11:31:00.003-04:00

top tote: delmare
bottom tote: adrien

thanks to kate miss, i have finally found the purse i've been searching for from fabric and handle! my canvas and leather purse from forever21 is on it's last leg, and it's amazing just how hard it has been to find a replacement. until now. and in my opinion, the only textile better than canvas would have to be linen. and it has adjustable straps!

p.s. i'm pretty sure doug already ordered me one, but which is your fave?

muji

2011-04-28T11:47:00.002-04:00

all photos taken from mujikorea.net

there are alot of places to shop in nyc, but one of my favorites has come to be Muji. i can thank jenny for introducing us, because no matter what i've gotten there, Muji can do no wrong. as far as the clothing goes, it's more than just the simple designs that appeal to me - i love the fit of everything i try on! this trip, my cheap self walked away with only one dress, but i'm so glad doug convinced me to go back to the store to get it. now i'm wishing i would have gotten at least one of their amazing linen garments. next time.

along with the dress, i picked up some good pens, notebooks, stamps and the BGM CD 8 for my friend back home who has also traveled through sweden and was kind enough to watch the dog while we were away. i had a hard time not opening up the cd for a listen since i knew it'd be beautiful.

navy blue

2011-04-27T15:14:00.004-04:00

love the head to toe of the top photo, but would wear the peacoat/skinny denim combo in the bottom photo too!

yikes! maybe he should just stick to taking good photos, and keep his comments about women's bodies to himself. yeah, that would be good.

tipi

2011-04-26T14:02:00.003-04:00

after traveling and living with little, i feel overwhelmed by the stuff i've accumulated in our home. sometimes i think living in a tipi would solve this, but then i'd probably just run out of room a whole lot faster. what is it that makes me believe i need more stuff? i have everything i could possibly need.

making this beautiful earth more beautifuller

2011-04-22T12:14:00.006-04:00

i'm a proud owner of a vintage 1-speed schwinn, but this abuela 3-speed from cb2 is almost as cool

i know that lots of people say, "every day should be earth day," but I feel there's nothing wrong in using it as an opportunity to do something just a little extra special for our planet. if it warms up a bit, we plan on riding our bikes to the neighboring field today, equipped with trash bags to do what we've been putting off for far too long - cleaning up the land! we're so lucky to have breathtaking wide open spaces in every direction, so it barely feels like a chore to keep it clean. all it takes is getting started.

a round kaari

2011-04-19T14:48:00.004-04:00

i promised i had been working on another sweater, i just didn't get the chance to photograph it before we left for our trip. i had been wanting to make another kaari, but this time in the round. i had a bunch of lion brand fishermen's wool on hand, so i worked with the gauge until i could get it to be similar to what's called for in the pattern. even though it took some time to figure out how to do the decreases, sleeves and collar in the round, this sweater knit up very quickly. i love not having to seam sweaters.

i'm so pleased with the finished product! if you couldn't guess, i'm a big fan of fishermen's wool and i think it worked beautifully for this project. winter is SO no over yet here, so i think it will be my best friend over the next couple of days.

home again, home again

2011-04-19T14:28:00.003-04:00

simple lemon cake from everyday food

we just came off of a week of eating excellent food, and i can't seem to kick the dessert binge i've been on. i made this cake over the weekend, and we finished it off in no time.

we're just getting back into the swing after returning from a trip out to new jersey and new york for family, for business, and for fun! we had such a wonderful time, got to see so much and visit with a good percentage of our family - we even surprised my parents with a last minute visit! our flight out of NYC was canceled, so we made it as far as their house for some much needed rest and relaxation. it was perfect.

now it's back to the grind.

my hair april fooled me. it was hilarious.

2011-04-01T20:01:00.005-04:00

it actually happened a couple days ago. all i can say is it came out a little... light... i actually laughed myself to sleep the night after it happened, which is a whole lot better than crying. i say, when life gives you lemons, you grab the hairpins and make the best of it.

i got april fooled more than once today and now it's time for bed. oh wait, dinner. then bed.

*thank you so much for all the nice words about my sweater! i'm just a collar away from finishing another!

ensam striped cardigan

2011-03-30T17:51:00.005-04:00

every spring, i get the urge to go through my knitting basket of unfinished projects. this striped sweater had been staring at me for a year and a half, and i purposely kept pushing it back to the bottom of the basket. i had finished a huge portion of the body, added the shawl collar, and only had a sleeve and a half to finish, and i got tired of it. i can't totally explain it, but i'm sure all you knitters have projects like that. once i realized i needed my size 8, 12" circular needles held up on one of the sleeves, i couldn't justify neglecting this sweater any longer. from there, it took me only about a week to finish - it would have taken less time, but i rapidly decreased one arm and realized only too late that it was turning into a sweater for popeye!

i read up on the striping method from the treeline striped cardigan by purl soho, but used my own measurements and modified top-down sweater pattern to get just the right fit. i had to work a little blocking magic for the length of the body since i ended up casting off just a couple inches short of the right length, but now i'm completely happy with the fit. finishing a sweater is always so rewarding!

bread + flowers

2011-03-30T11:48:00.003-04:00

i just had to make another batch of this fresh baked bread for our bedridden neighbor. we figured she could use some cheering up with a bunch of fresh flowers, too.

it was snowing as we walked home, so we fired up the stove, watched arsenic and old lace and enjoyed the aroma of homemade bread.

spring ahead

2011-03-18T10:31:00.002-04:00

it seems that the sun is enjoying itself, burning just a little brighter and staying out later each day. as i was getting ready for bed on sunday after an entire weekend outdoors, i noticed i actually got a tan. thank you, mr. sun.

any reason to celebrate

2011-03-17T16:31:00.003-04:00

once again this year, the corned beef is cooking in the crock pot and i'm wearing as much green as i can, making sure not to give complete strangers a reason to pinch me - i'm talking about you, crusty, old drunk man.

in honor of st patty's day, here are some fresh green things that have been brightening up my day
:: santa cruz sparkling limeade :: tusca mia olive tree and sage hand lotion :: fresh basil and whole wheat pasta :: the perfect shade of shamrock shake mint nail polish :: method basil dish soap ::

holy beards

2011-03-11T10:46:00.006-05:00

photos from the swedish national history board

doug and i have been pining for sweden. there's even talk of digging out our passports.

up

2011-03-09T10:41:00.005-05:00

i think the kid side of my brain just exploded. i'm sure every child has had this dream, but i specifically remember the night i dreamed i could fly. i remember looking down at my jealous sisters. and every night after that, i'd cross my fingers that i would have that dream again.

watch the house take off here and here. thanks for passing this on, natalie!

dust bowl

2011-03-08T18:47:00.002-05:00

above image of dorothea: ansel adams,
all other images: dorothea lange

i just finished watching the american experience documentary on the dust bowl. for such a bleak period in america's history, the photographer dorothea lange managed to capture such beauty.

little red stove

2011-03-03T14:10:00.002-05:00

i love our home, and one of the only downsides is that it doesn't have a fireplace. or a woodstove. we've talked about getting one, but the work and money it would take to put one in is just more than we're willing to invest. i found this little electric woodstove as a fun, inexpensive alternative. it only arrived yesterday, and already, we're arguing about who's room it's going to plant itself in. so far instead of picking a permanent spot, we're enjoying being able to move it from room to room. i'm talking every couple of hours it's in a different spot in the house.

during this snowy afternoon, it's keeping me nice and warm in my otherwise very chilly studio. it's looking pretty cozy in here.

hooded lopi cardigan

2011-03-02T17:58:00.005-05:00

here it is, my very first lopi sweater! the first of many, i'm sure. i had been scared to try out two-color patterned knitting, but elizabeth zimmermann finally talked me into it. i got her knitting workshop dvds from doug for christmas and it really helped to not only hear someone talk about how to two-color knit, but also see it demonstrated. elizabeth talks about what mistakes to watch out for too (like holding your yarn too tightly which causes puckering), and i think the tips saved me a lot of time and frustration.

as soon as i figured out how to handle the yarn, needles and tension i absolutely loved knitting with two yarns. following a chart really breaks up the monotony of knitting the body and sleeves of a sweater, and the outcome makes all your hard work much more interesting and special. i had been waiting to try a pattern from the best of lopi which my mother in law gave me last winter, and i finally decided on hanna. i modified it just a little, since the pattern called for thicker wool and three colors of yarn. i really wanted to use up some washable wool i had in my collection, and could only seem to find two colors that went well together, so i changed the chart enough to make it work.

i love how two color knitting makes your items thicker, which is great for this jacket-like cardigan. and it's adorable!

2011-03-01T12:33:00.002-05:00

below freezing weather, new chambray to add to the collection, beautiful gray thrifted pitcher, and finally, doug's antelope has found it's home.

my valentine

2011-02-25T10:37:00.002-05:00

my valentine got me this beautiful silver dash ring from elephantine's etsy shop. wasn't that sweet of him? the ring is so simple and delicate, just how i like my jewelry to be.

and i have rediscovered earrings! i stopped wearing most jewelry when i was pregnant, since my skin would object to touching precious metals. no problems so far with these silver posts from target though, which has me thinking i should add these to my anniversary gift wish list.

2011-02-24T12:40:00.006-05:00

filing through the hundreds of neglected emails from the week long internet hiatus. elodie smock dress from toast.

old friends

2011-02-24T11:11:00.003-05:00

there's nothing better than getting a four-page, handwritten letter in the mail all the way from canada. the beautiful knit socks thrown in from vermont were a pretty sweet added bonus, too. sometimes it's hard to live far away from wonderful people.

loving

2011-02-17T16:18:00.005-05:00

my suede boots from forever 21 (they're real leather!), being able to pull my hair back, and my "chrimbus" jcrew sweater and shirt from doug. that's all i got today, people.

ramblers way

2011-02-16T11:00:00.006-05:00

rambler's way by ellybeth featuring socks
the newest venture from the Tom's of Maine guy. i'll stick to my wool long johns from target, but these do look nice.

be mine, valentine!

2011-02-14T19:35:00.002-05:00

it's been all hearts and flowers in our house lately. we got our valentines packages sent off to our loved ones early this year, despite me getting the flu two times. not much gets me down this time of year. i just love this holiday.

hunting, girl style

2011-02-11T10:54:00.007-05:00

i've been on a search for a loooong time for a good pair of straight leg jeans. comfortable, not tapered and preferably not skin tight. since yet another clothing retailer closed 'round these parts where i can actually go try jeans on (yeah, economy!), i'm realizing that i'm going to have to order a pair online. this obviously broadens my options quite a bit and has me wondering where to start.

a couple months back, i ordered a pair of super slim jeans from lands end canvas, and unfortunately had to send them back. for the most part, the fit was great, there's just something about the taper of a super slim jean that doesn't work with these hips. i was wondering if the regular slim leg jean would be a better fit, but just noticed that the inseam is only 32". anyone have some suggestions for a reasonably priced (or at least, worth every penny) pair of straight leg jeans with some length on them babies?

the beauty of making

2011-02-11T09:17:00.005-05:00

top: natalie of owls-go-hoot
middle: anna of gracefullady
bottom: elena of elenagold (side note - i've seen this sweater she designed in person! it's incredible!)

these three blogs are my resource for finding inspiration in the winter. not the "blogged and reblogged" fashion inspiration, but the real, "ooo, i want to make that!" kind of inspiration. and motivation in the winter is always something i seem to lack.

all three lovely ladies design, knit, and sew. and do it well. what more could you want?

a moment of comfort

2011-02-10T10:29:00.002-05:00

wow, thanks everyone for your bread-making suggestions! because of the help, this loaf worked much better than the last, and has me on a roll (wow, dorky unintentional pun). the idea of having homemade loaves of bread in the house has always appealed to me, but I was not given a knack for baking. thank goodness for jim lahey and his no-knead revolution.

i was so excited to be able to use our cast iron camping dutch oven for this recipe. i think it made a big difference, and got me all nostalgic for the summer and sleeping outdoors. maybe i'll perfect my bread making skills this winter and try a campfire version during camping season!

for this loaf, i mostly stuck to this recipe which is based on jim lahey's famous ny times no-knead recipe. this video of him on the martha stewart show really helped me out too, so thanks for passing that on allison! there was a bit of discrepancy between the couple recipes i was following about the amount of water, so i started with 1 1/3 of a cup, and kept adding a tablespoon extra at a time. i probably used about 1 1/2 cups total, but it wasn't too hard to figure out how much water was enough. i used half bread flour and half whole wheat, because i sort of prefer whole wheat bread. it was delicious!

after having to smell the bread baking in the oven, it was torture waiting that last hour for the bread to cool. but my goodness, was it ever worth the wait. mmmm... with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar... i think it's time for another slice!

mmm... bread...

2011-02-07T23:44:00.004-05:00

while searching for valentine's ideas, i found this great gift idea for a friend who's interested in making bread. my sister planted the idea of adding a well-loved bread machine to my list of things to get from the thrift store, but until then, i'm tempted to give no-knead bread another try. my last batch was a little tough since i didn't use bread flour. any other good tips from you bread bakers out there? i recently read this blog post which gave me hope and has my mouth watering.

sick as a dog

2011-02-07T14:13:00.000-05:00

over the weekend, i got quite ill. i was a little relieved to get so sick. i get that kind of flu only once every couple of years, so it was good to get it over with. i'm feeling a bit better now, almost eating regular meals and hoping the rest of the family avoids the same crud.

before i got knocked off my feet, i had been working on a comfortable dress for this ongoing winter freeze. my jeans have felt anything but comfortable lately, and when that happens, i always reach for a skirt or dress. since i have very few warm dresses that can be worn all year, i thought i'd give the cotton fleece i had on hand a chance. i was kind of expecting a super easy project, but it took quite a few alterations from my original pattern to get this dress to look even slightly like i hadn't slept in it, or was about to! i will say that the final product is very comfortable and warm, and i'm already trying it out again, this time with french terry.

feeling sentimental

2011-02-03T11:04:00.002-05:00

top left - hannah fettig's heart pants :: top left - robin hill's h e a r t s
bottom left - tararubysoo's little hearts :: bottom right - prairiegrl's heart-felt valentines

listening to this and dreaming of knitting valentines for the people i love. it sounds like a good idea, right? but judging from the stack of christmas cards i still need to write, i know already it will never get done. if only it was just the thought that counts, i'd SO be on top of it.

toast

2011-02-02T08:29:00.002-05:00

all photos from toast men's aw10 catalog

kind of makes me want to listen to a sailor's chantey. time to break out the steeleye span.

knit, knit, yarn over

2011-02-01T10:22:00.003-05:00

top: instruction booklet and beginner dishcloth in lion brand cotton-ease from this pattern
bottom: needles for students and my fieldguided thunder bag (based on the kate bush song that's on constant repeat in our house) holding all my stuffs

i taught a volunteer knitting class last week. it was wild! i scoured all my books and resources to try to find an easy project to start with, and i think this dishcloth pattern fit the bill. i really enjoyed knitting up the samples and realized i need more mindless, small knitting projects in my life. they are so rewarding!

wings + horns

2011-01-31T18:35:00.002-05:00

ace hotel is now selling the wings + horns robes they have in their rooms for guests. i don't know about anyone else that's stayed at the ace, but by the end of the day at the little winter sale back in november, i think both my sister and i were starting to look forward to taking a nice warm shower and throwing on these soft robes. i absolutely loved them. i've been working with french terry lately, and i'm sure they'd be easy to make, but for anyone who's in the market for a new robe, these are really nicely made. i can't imagine anything comfier than one of these paired with my ever-growing slipper collection.

plain jane

2011-01-30T23:41:00.003-05:00

i just found out tonight that a new jane eyre is in the works. it looks beautiful, and you'd better believe i'll be dragging doug to this once it gets to theaters. he'll try to pretend like he's annoyed, and we'll probably both end up crying before it's over.

steven alan sale

2011-01-26T12:46:00.003-05:00

steven alan sale by ellybeth featuring wool cardigan sweaters

did anyone else try to log on to see the steven alan spring 2011 preview yesterday, and couldn't? i guess they done broke the internets, and to make it up to everyone, they're offering extra discounts on their holiday and fall items. it's all still too expensive for this practical tightwad, but that denim ikat star print dress sure is tempting!