tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26659774041000436252024-02-18T23:00:15.352-05:00toast'n'eggsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-88510226905751958102019-04-13T16:13:00.001-04:002019-04-13T16:48:13.566-04:00AFTER A NINE YEAR BREAKOh, good afternoon. It's nine years later. I just had a bit of housekeeping to take care of. Took me a little longer than I'd planned.<br />
<br />
I no longer knit and obsess over yarn. Nor do I collect fat quarters. I spend no time on Ravelry, though if they ever go public, I'm investing.<br />
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What I am doing, and what I always will do, is write. I'm a writer. Down into the deep core of my being. I make things, too... drawings, paintings, photos, clothes, decor, house renovations. All related to the creation of worlds. Thus -- writing.<br />
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Oh, wait, what did you say? You like looking at house renovation photos? Oh. I thought that's what you said. Maybe I was mistaken.<br />
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So for all of you -- all two of you? Eighty? I don't know how many of you used to follow this blog, though I had comments from Japan and everywhere -- one of the new things I'm doing is house remodel. Specifically, two fixer-uppers in Nova Scotia. Now, if there is any interest in seeing more about that, maybe that will be what the new toast'n'eggs blog will be.<br />
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Renovations, drawings, images... things, like me, made of poetry, beauty, hope, flaws, ambition, and absurd humour.<br />
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Have a lovely day. And welcome back to you, too!<br />
xo<br />
ella<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-48406689360389858512010-12-07T16:13:00.000-05:002010-12-07T16:15:09.095-05:00It's been a longggggggg time. Lots has happened since I last posted over a year ago. Things like separation. Takes the wind out of the knitting sails, that's for sure! I might return to this blog or I might start a new one about Real Life! Stay well and keep making things. Maybe I'll be back.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-42859160046990599662009-07-13T11:53:00.000-04:002009-07-13T11:55:51.252-04:00Spring Got Eaten Up!Here it is, July, and I have not written since May! I'm still here, just very busy with my work projects and children. I am still making things, though, and will catch up on posting soon! Latest is a Burda dress in quilting cotton (rather bulbous as there's zero drape), a Japanese pattern for a blouse made with orange/white gingham, and some knitting. Lots of knitting.<br /><br />Post soon, don't give up on me!<br /><br />xx ellaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-32485293334186694492009-05-14T22:56:00.003-04:002009-05-14T22:58:33.638-04:00cloudpuff baby sweater<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6C0PNRCBiFLsBhfgHXbY-BLVVsBg7mq4x3RFGsumR2HL-GiFbh4fwAaRf7GCtSVxaWzqgFYfSHz2MBmcz6_T94qVWUWChG24s4S5tGtf_y1vxxDB1chspXrZlxRhSqhAjJgzu-fOskDW/s1600-h/m+sweater+wide.jpg"><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6C0PNRCBiFLsBhfgHXbY-BLVVsBg7mq4x3RFGsumR2HL-GiFbh4fwAaRf7GCtSVxaWzqgFYfSHz2MBmcz6_T94qVWUWChG24s4S5tGtf_y1vxxDB1chspXrZlxRhSqhAjJgzu-fOskDW/s400/m+sweater+wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335879445764585218" border="0" /></a><br />More <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ellakelly/cloudpuff-baby-cardigan">details</a> on Ravelry.<br /><br />I knit this recently for a friend's new baby girl. Not perfect, but I'm happy with it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-8147180313034013402009-04-28T21:01:00.000-04:002009-04-28T21:16:41.704-04:00lunenburg trip<div style="text-align: center;">A month gone by and here are the remains of the day...<br /><br />I sold my old house in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.<br /><br />Here are a few images from the trip there to clear it all out.<br /><br />It was lovely, but it's time to move on!<br /><br />Now for some pics.<br /><br />This is not a quilt. I found it when I was house-clearing. Can you guess what it is?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo3BNLCHR3y6vFO9LWtze-vbZZ4J1hm0k0Z0JaKgt-yn7DGkUY8OHyRBx44uvCmtxNwO4vd2exfXLrAp88tzCnOyqN1-DIpYB1gY54hH-dLKNy60xAcKReZNszzdBQ_KRDYY-LNHZb5Yf/s1600-h/not+a+quilt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo3BNLCHR3y6vFO9LWtze-vbZZ4J1hm0k0Z0JaKgt-yn7DGkUY8OHyRBx44uvCmtxNwO4vd2exfXLrAp88tzCnOyqN1-DIpYB1gY54hH-dLKNy60xAcKReZNszzdBQ_KRDYY-LNHZb5Yf/s400/not+a+quilt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329913329041160722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That is correct. Seven year old German gourmet chocolates from a quick trip to Berlin when I was newly pregnant and very spaced out! Guess I forgot to give them away -- or eat them! The tin is pretty though -- orange. I think I kept it. I'll know when I open my boxes...<br /><br /><br />I've had this place for fifteen years, and it was special. But it's time to move on. Here it is mid-clear-out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zl9ZeZHohiqoys47Ek_V9l7l1SkJet5mB2gHugpDFwQnCCt2i5al_kjMJGiuyqfCfcfafitV05ayrSS7MW6mwLnUZl2dC_IGWDRvSoFGze8GQH9C-2VijhDVcGH-Kg6K7KwpVBKniMm9/s1600-h/remains+of+the+day.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Zl9ZeZHohiqoys47Ek_V9l7l1SkJet5mB2gHugpDFwQnCCt2i5al_kjMJGiuyqfCfcfafitV05ayrSS7MW6mwLnUZl2dC_IGWDRvSoFGze8GQH9C-2VijhDVcGH-Kg6K7KwpVBKniMm9/s400/remains+of+the+day.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329913696205462978" border="0" /></a><br />This primitive rocking chair went to a friend.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jKfO7qSwvBk/SfeoQ0Bll0I/AAAAAAAAAok/ZPSEnk09IMI/s1600-h/rocking+chair.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jKfO7qSwvBk/SfeoQ0Bll0I/AAAAAAAAAok/ZPSEnk09IMI/s400/rocking+chair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329913690812946242" border="0" /></a><br />I love this old typewriter...but as it doesn't work, it was donated to the world at large. That's right -- left on a curb.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cLSTDQeyOHk0VdBBZCOGlw2pypywJwwG2u9leeFHhFCw3ePGhgTe2bpaiWHPD9c39uYlk4hVcULhRmoT-7o0PKfkgHlqwTPX0ajRgQ5eCaJNFwt23g9cqBR7n8GmlWuUmRivjFY5bI7R/s1600-h/typewriter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cLSTDQeyOHk0VdBBZCOGlw2pypywJwwG2u9leeFHhFCw3ePGhgTe2bpaiWHPD9c39uYlk4hVcULhRmoT-7o0PKfkgHlqwTPX0ajRgQ5eCaJNFwt23g9cqBR7n8GmlWuUmRivjFY5bI7R/s400/typewriter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329913691248825618" border="0" /></a><br />A favourite old lamp -lit up, it looks gorgeous. Not lit up, you can really see the plastic strips. I sold it for a few bucks to a junk store.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FRm72Zrg_hDJTQcr0Jtkz1-fPGDbX0dw-U9wQk9G1Zwrx9PY-ji-hj0OEGEdnoDyQ2NR3eVZd8lsG7MbAeKRP7WaJ9UJFqSwLqMvm3G5_pH0eAntAoqHwPTDt874SEtvZq2w-5-_2ljN/s1600-h/fave+lamp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FRm72Zrg_hDJTQcr0Jtkz1-fPGDbX0dw-U9wQk9G1Zwrx9PY-ji-hj0OEGEdnoDyQ2NR3eVZd8lsG7MbAeKRP7WaJ9UJFqSwLqMvm3G5_pH0eAntAoqHwPTDt874SEtvZq2w-5-_2ljN/s400/fave+lamp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329913329190896178" border="0" /></a><br />The best fishcakes in the world as far as I know. <a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/canadian-gothic/sidebar/1">Magnolia's </a>in Lunenburg. Served with rhubarb chutney....mmmmm. Addictive.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j433jrJhDYjQeOSZLxPtaByZ6a33BM3d-EzXLhhuIwIT0Jyem2H4QLmwLu7Yesgo24s-nU5o9o4C9X2CuYtRn_Pu8FoWDB1g2EJokf3OR1QTmR7GzkIWzGmZyqvvFMnZGeWdraQposqj/s1600-h/fishcakes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j433jrJhDYjQeOSZLxPtaByZ6a33BM3d-EzXLhhuIwIT0Jyem2H4QLmwLu7Yesgo24s-nU5o9o4C9X2CuYtRn_Pu8FoWDB1g2EJokf3OR1QTmR7GzkIWzGmZyqvvFMnZGeWdraQposqj/s400/fishcakes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329913326906500082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Or of course you may order fishcake and an egg.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBwyyqj7tFUWQ2nLjE9_knoOwOcfRtatqLK9LcXsZP-GUWxKLuMHh9pQE9ZcnwTBn4xGEb3mb2ydDhD9-6hKmthvFxY_flLZFtBhf8hdLKrPVM32u5H7OV-vUAFUmiyyENi-uXv8XTFj-/s1600-h/fishcakes+n+eggs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBwyyqj7tFUWQ2nLjE9_knoOwOcfRtatqLK9LcXsZP-GUWxKLuMHh9pQE9ZcnwTBn4xGEb3mb2ydDhD9-6hKmthvFxY_flLZFtBhf8hdLKrPVM32u5H7OV-vUAFUmiyyENi-uXv8XTFj-/s400/fishcakes+n+eggs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329913320668976882" border="0" /></a>oxox<br />ella<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-31926442530152897772009-03-20T16:08:00.000-04:002009-03-20T16:12:41.986-04:00sneakers in fantasyland<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yYVgcSCeblTGSE_IExBc8qN_Jx7nfom-UCFPizFgvs6ZVAO3_P9Z7NyEF384W-q9X0dMtZJY4Nnb-6OuLxPfeonsBd0BuAxwdr6Uvi10WIJvZoWzK2N-KbPKw76Buviuth-2X1iOhyphenhyphensP/s1600-h/ShowImg-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yYVgcSCeblTGSE_IExBc8qN_Jx7nfom-UCFPizFgvs6ZVAO3_P9Z7NyEF384W-q9X0dMtZJY4Nnb-6OuLxPfeonsBd0BuAxwdr6Uvi10WIJvZoWzK2N-KbPKw76Buviuth-2X1iOhyphenhyphensP/s400/ShowImg-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315365218893742642" border="0" /></a><br />...well, imagine we had a lot of disposable income...for things like these...would they take me back to grade seven?...where would they take you?...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-17472341254904862442009-03-19T12:44:00.001-04:002009-03-19T12:44:12.831-04:00Anna Maria Horner - Good Folks<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/theworkroom/3367458990/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3662/3367458990_e2d563bedd_m.jpg" alt="" ><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/theworkroom/3367458990/">Anna Maria Horner - Good Folks</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/theworkroom/">the workroom</a></span></div>Look at spring, in fabric!<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-79021776167008556302009-03-16T16:58:00.000-04:002009-03-16T17:19:29.352-04:00A Couple Raglan Sweaters in Progress...and some sweet links<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR718Os2y8nv3WhV-P-znm2W_-xqTJ3BWzq3MMKop_PQOLbINPXyRH7FAp18Uq_1o2IYXv7HAnKziA1QJLB5IqUnOrxeERAfxg_RPrExb5eMqHQvxou_veWPsmrYJAlhkWpSG7yOCguiPn/s1600-h/sea+sweater.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR718Os2y8nv3WhV-P-znm2W_-xqTJ3BWzq3MMKop_PQOLbINPXyRH7FAp18Uq_1o2IYXv7HAnKziA1QJLB5IqUnOrxeERAfxg_RPrExb5eMqHQvxou_veWPsmrYJAlhkWpSG7yOCguiPn/s400/sea+sweater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313897076617601250" border="0" /></a><br />This is a v-neck cardigan for my son, 6. Cotton/wool blend. Ravelled <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ellakelly">here</a>. From the top-down sweater formula (see below). I love these colours. You?<br /><br /><br />Here is a baby sweater in progress, for a friend. It's super soft. Organic cotton.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTSfuFCA1NkA560GU0dWhq6pef92jzSxyplBZrTkCrAM1BNlwlCnmgmqGVO7GCtIzb-iBci3OnleJOwtKP8giaj0w7VbWdY42zGwkk2-2v5rKd7CpazjIXiNor7l1HjNZH-iTlGttECPz/s1600-h/grey+baby+sw+in+prog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTSfuFCA1NkA560GU0dWhq6pef92jzSxyplBZrTkCrAM1BNlwlCnmgmqGVO7GCtIzb-iBci3OnleJOwtKP8giaj0w7VbWdY42zGwkk2-2v5rKd7CpazjIXiNor7l1HjNZH-iTlGttECPz/s400/grey+baby+sw+in+prog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313895495566554834" border="0" /></a><br />Adapted from a brilliant <a href="http://www.woolworks.org/patterns/raglan.html">Raglan Pattern Formula</a> here. WAY easier than you might think, once you go through it and sort out what the heck the centre front stitches are doing. I'm a beginning knitter! This little baby sweater (for an impending girl) will only take one ball of some yummy "Blue Sky" cotton yarn. Ten bucks! Can't go wrong, baby.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now.<br /><br />I see that <a href="http://sugarcityjournal.blogspot.com/">Lynne at Sugar City</a> is now hooked on the knitting. I LOVE that. She and her sister-in-law are brilliant clothing/decor designers, so...the future bodes well for more cool knit patterns. I am like a crazed knitting-book consumer now. Dozens wait for me at the library. It's nice because unlike sewing (which I still and will always love) it is mobile. Silent. Stealthy.<br /><br />:)<br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, here's a little gift.<br /><br />Links to free patterns for very COOL designs. Trust me, I've been scanning ravelry and the net for freebie patterns and there are some gorgeous, free, inspired knit projects. There are lots of places where you can find links to free patterns. These are simply curated by Ms Kelly at toast n eggs. That is, me. Totally biased.<br /><br />Enjoy, for today:<br /><br /><a href="http://arpelia.blogspot.com/2008/09/super-simple-tawashi-flower.html">crocheted flowers</a><br /><a href="http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/kp3.html">5-hour baby sweater (knit)</a><br /><br /><br />xoxo<br />ellaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-90000761538116490432009-03-10T14:49:00.000-04:002009-03-10T15:00:38.691-04:00Zoom-Zoom Library Bag<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeAdltVw9gnAxHzh_wskAf8yqdKBuxKNLWgB8WhLEVhEj23Zi2jtMINLfgrmr0d43kD1Uax0MTmBQMJQxklNCTvqh99cpLfUBARVYF4ATNRjq2sltM_lCVWLwtAuBnIQSUMj7KWhkvZhs/s1600-h/bag+on+chair.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeAdltVw9gnAxHzh_wskAf8yqdKBuxKNLWgB8WhLEVhEj23Zi2jtMINLfgrmr0d43kD1Uax0MTmBQMJQxklNCTvqh99cpLfUBARVYF4ATNRjq2sltM_lCVWLwtAuBnIQSUMj7KWhkvZhs/s400/bag+on+chair.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311635193146970594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtS8yn_EFu-u2FiYrV3V4YlWQEGu5D2IWcczWfw3d8xhXu937ZC21bvuqNcJHgZ6Yv4rjPhyZqyKDuY3AIz7bUu-xQB6qG1_Ylt5yyaqxp9YECTzgVNkY-VTIBHrKj34HS1vGJxlNLHVb/s1600-h/henry+bag+inside.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtS8yn_EFu-u2FiYrV3V4YlWQEGu5D2IWcczWfw3d8xhXu937ZC21bvuqNcJHgZ6Yv4rjPhyZqyKDuY3AIz7bUu-xQB6qG1_Ylt5yyaqxp9YECTzgVNkY-VTIBHrKj34HS1vGJxlNLHVb/s400/henry+bag+inside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311634291450924162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNPbTSUF_7IHvXDSzVwpQQNw7_p19VvIyZQwOHOf-kyTQqSixXLFb2g51U3VGd3mdIjOyYN6zkM9OORKCWzrImKzrjwlxDkUdTERaEKBk1DNEjfdy9TVETA1IP6XPqXOweEy8k9GRrKYa/s1600-h/henry+bag+ext.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNPbTSUF_7IHvXDSzVwpQQNw7_p19VvIyZQwOHOf-kyTQqSixXLFb2g51U3VGd3mdIjOyYN6zkM9OORKCWzrImKzrjwlxDkUdTERaEKBk1DNEjfdy9TVETA1IP6XPqXOweEy8k9GRrKYa/s400/henry+bag+ext.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311634284356119570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I recently made this doubled/interfaced library bag for a little boy turning 5. Love that Echino scooter fabric. I bought a few fat quarters in different colourways. Excuse the wacky variances in late winter light...<br /><br />Do you have a nice bag for the library?<br /><br />xo<br />ellaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-86987031310718826482009-03-05T21:18:00.000-05:002009-03-06T07:45:57.177-05:00paperwhites and a new table<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJivR55WKRSLuZGEv28SBVy9n4onWyO2AcAdikEDzUt3qhfUJgMO0Hq3kEELAQ_rjlnJ95p2ikaXTFCYfUXLt0L-1qZWB90XrzxaGIWym82Asv0L7MyYIgsgFV1JbUN1BjojtdQ5_NCmdn/s1600-h/table+and+chairs+shadows.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJivR55WKRSLuZGEv28SBVy9n4onWyO2AcAdikEDzUt3qhfUJgMO0Hq3kEELAQ_rjlnJ95p2ikaXTFCYfUXLt0L-1qZWB90XrzxaGIWym82Asv0L7MyYIgsgFV1JbUN1BjojtdQ5_NCmdn/s400/table+and+chairs+shadows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309895326564336642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />How decadent.<br />We have a new table!<br /><br />Once in a long while I enter the dining area in my house and the light is so lovely, it seems to erase dirt, scratches, cheap office chairs' hideousness...and it looks quite nice. It's my favourite spot in the house. We have a lovely fellow named Thomas King (via <a href="http://www.smash.to/">Smash</a>) to thank; he designed and made our table over the Christmas holidays - we didn't have a table for Christmas dinner. We were using my Ikea MDF table covered in a table-cloth.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pQVgwYVrvMszD4hoo3kDG6q2c7aVc1yE_axyJZHHz28CBfGwwy-Ai3-U50EjHo9fBsfi8UWW6D1TFtlzk_Ond3ZehMcm8UaIyAxiA-PcvoyH6PCdrS14_Ep-apGxdWK2wQcaQmweGQfD/s1600-h/table+top+detail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pQVgwYVrvMszD4hoo3kDG6q2c7aVc1yE_axyJZHHz28CBfGwwy-Ai3-U50EjHo9fBsfi8UWW6D1TFtlzk_Ond3ZehMcm8UaIyAxiA-PcvoyH6PCdrS14_Ep-apGxdWK2wQcaQmweGQfD/s400/table+top+detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309895336677435714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You can see some of the grey left on the boards. I love that.<br /><br />The new table is made of old barnboard coated in a thick laquer and screwed to a base of steel. We're happy with it. Plus, with the addition of these crazy thick layers of self-levelling laquer, it wipes clean perfectly, too. We went to "Smash" in Toronto to ask for advice on having a rustic table built for less than a fortune. They were so helpful and great there. I recommend it, and Thomas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49MxdWkm1BnhHiY4LH2AyUBxnHrrEERgqbdKSee0bwAEZpdxNe8mVEpEK7TrAIsJGW76TSEpv2VSrJjv6UC1DhaQtv3gDOxXOOVNeeTrUmxSEg5OqEEHx__RP6sJKibi_ePrC0rbNrjix/s1600-h/table+wide+sunny.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49MxdWkm1BnhHiY4LH2AyUBxnHrrEERgqbdKSee0bwAEZpdxNe8mVEpEK7TrAIsJGW76TSEpv2VSrJjv6UC1DhaQtv3gDOxXOOVNeeTrUmxSEg5OqEEHx__RP6sJKibi_ePrC0rbNrjix/s400/table+wide+sunny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309895337650647474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Just thought I'd share. I love seeing pictures of other bloggers' homes. I will probably never show you the rooms full of debris and chaos....but they certainly exist. Don't let this perfectly-lit sweet spot fool you. I recall I kicked the toys and laundry away into a corner. And the curtains need hemming. Bonus if you spot the pins. And you can see a sliver of red laundry bag there on the left....<br /><br />xo<br />ella<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-85915998805659573582009-03-05T15:53:00.000-05:002009-03-05T16:06:32.483-05:00Hello, Dolly<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42CXuwqae602jSBWdlauL_z_MTklLqytcMJYB5IhAWlJ6lBH4EMDaTpSBuoR994UNCFLCR99HbiN_S0DYpb6Nv9WIvoPn1yhVr9H_oR7AFwb8v578eWyfPym6Mv-VFuwJhe48iUzQ3cfy/s1600-h/dolly+on+bed.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42CXuwqae602jSBWdlauL_z_MTklLqytcMJYB5IhAWlJ6lBH4EMDaTpSBuoR994UNCFLCR99HbiN_S0DYpb6Nv9WIvoPn1yhVr9H_oR7AFwb8v578eWyfPym6Mv-VFuwJhe48iUzQ3cfy/s320/dolly+on+bed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309810820741489874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><br />Having a rest.<br /><br /><br />Here is a doll I made (with help) recently, based on Emily's adorable <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/article/black-apple-doll?lnc=38f9cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=showmain_tv_the-martha-stewart-show">Black Apple dolls</a><br />that many of you may have seen.<br /><br />I love her.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB70zKm90X-YTa1yqeuIfPmmYJPyVrNQPE6GbRO7k6buEblhsNdguR-ARXzv-_Qc9-rLSmNdykn3rh64j-zN9BzHoiLblHMetcsv-tiWPPTwnJdbzqZC1aw1pN5dfJVf5NtPsEXdYBOzw_/s1600-h/doll+cu.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB70zKm90X-YTa1yqeuIfPmmYJPyVrNQPE6GbRO7k6buEblhsNdguR-ARXzv-_Qc9-rLSmNdykn3rh64j-zN9BzHoiLblHMetcsv-tiWPPTwnJdbzqZC1aw1pN5dfJVf5NtPsEXdYBOzw_/s320/doll+cu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309810567675783074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This gal has orangey-blonde "hair" (velvet), a pale pink body, embroidered face (Emily paints hers), a recycled cashmere sweater dress, and boots made of bits of an old scarf that was accidentally felted. One night my guy actually helped me finish her and stuff her little legs. He carefully used a knitting needle to poke stuffing into limb ends.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjpEBk7Sz0Gog2M4gIzN-ykOAoGMowhc8OgoMOh3xffYbVD4-eH58qrGW3NQgj0x-a_GX-GXf2PnBEMbQh8T0wJI1kuJedFWfK-HA8L-JdIJmWFqYGkzLh1paFYuuXMbCix1POSkWlzrx/s1600-h/dolly+lounging.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjpEBk7Sz0Gog2M4gIzN-ykOAoGMowhc8OgoMOh3xffYbVD4-eH58qrGW3NQgj0x-a_GX-GXf2PnBEMbQh8T0wJI1kuJedFWfK-HA8L-JdIJmWFqYGkzLh1paFYuuXMbCix1POSkWlzrx/s320/dolly+lounging.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309810576616115570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was a lovely night -- my man and me, crafting up a storm. A new trend? Nah. It didn't take. Manhood intact. ;}<br /><br />But he had to admit later, he was pretty damn good at stuffing dolls. If he cared to do such a thing again.<br /><br />Have a great day.<br /><br />xo, ella<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-28873338060898917202009-03-03T16:24:00.001-05:002009-03-03T16:27:15.009-05:00Leonard CohenI was driving my son to school and after the drop-off my 3 year-old, along for the ride, listened to Leonard Cohen in a recorded live performance, on the radio. Singing "Hallelujah".<br /><br />She wanted to know about it. I described him as an old man, a famous Canadian. She listened to the song intently and it was pretty emotional, hearing his ragged old voice. Then this morning the original recording of him as a young man was on the radio and I pointed it out. "That's the old man when he was young. The same song." And she took note of this. Really listened.<br /><br />I'm not sure why that makes her brilliant, to me, but it does.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-7644058299402124152009-02-24T16:15:00.001-05:002009-02-24T16:59:38.670-05:00Sporty French Space Dress<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">What do you get when you combine <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/CrewCutBrowse/ShopForGirls/Girls_Shop_By_Category/everydaydresses/PRDOVR%7E97679/97679.jsp">this j. crew dress</a> (my original inspiration), with <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnSQqJL7Gs0Aipf9JXG2_bM_5utEQnTdzARsrbq1Bima3EgZ-N-XrH75V4KcquDpNtjmfBxv61Y4aMKMn_UA_XoRkgeEjW4ArhFZyc1SOWkPZ-gAAl0pQ1Pbo_Hr6Vwfy0Tlps9GJBgj_/s1600-h/erez.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnSQqJL7Gs0Aipf9JXG2_bM_5utEQnTdzARsrbq1Bima3EgZ-N-XrH75V4KcquDpNtjmfBxv61Y4aMKMn_UA_XoRkgeEjW4ArhFZyc1SOWkPZ-gAAl0pQ1Pbo_Hr6Vwfy0Tlps9GJBgj_/s320/erez.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306479998262178546" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />...a heavily modified peasant blouse pattern from the lovely <a href="http://store.annamariahorner.com/seamstome.html">Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me</a><br /><br /><br /><br />...and thoughts also a little about <a href="http://sugarcityjournal.blogspot.com/">Sugar City's</a> dress (which I have the pattern for but didn't actually crack open for this)...<br /><br />...with some inexpensive but quite nice finely striped cotton fleece purchase for 2. a yard!...<br /><br />....and some mistakes (sleeves massive, had to sew a seam right up the sides..<br />...and an improvised neckline with a tie (after realizing that doubling fleece to make the jcrew style ruffle would be crazy-thick...)<br /><br /><br />You get this! (The dress, of course. Not my precious model.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-M5qoVJjz7UUAHwM7i7J1zSQrTJtnc8OukQeEw5TgH6D1yDjPqC3PeshYMxDTo1oQpAOIZwx6veQlEOo_qhXTQTijrXYEX20UHMG4NGAWLtzWDj4I9iq3py15CTfwQLLEtvOgQaLOTT5/s1600-h/space+dress+wide.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-M5qoVJjz7UUAHwM7i7J1zSQrTJtnc8OukQeEw5TgH6D1yDjPqC3PeshYMxDTo1oQpAOIZwx6veQlEOo_qhXTQTijrXYEX20UHMG4NGAWLtzWDj4I9iq3py15CTfwQLLEtvOgQaLOTT5/s320/space+dress+wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306483938284378290" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jKfO7qSwvBk/SaRo7hjemnI/AAAAAAAAAj4/Z4d2K4Oig-Q/s1600-h/space+dress+mcu+vivi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jKfO7qSwvBk/SaRo7hjemnI/AAAAAAAAAj4/Z4d2K4Oig-Q/s320/space+dress+mcu+vivi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306481632778033778" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Wa la!<br /><br />I am pretty happy with it and I have to say, I think my daughter looks adorable in it. I think of it as a French Space Dress.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-esN97zuFcpSx9FiPnwMGoAqNTmuLOCwWhZFy7SjZNGUfnHvvqozhHwwHgMxV0BnPP-RuIW-xgd4LcDEWRCQaz13dQuYsev3Tio1K38H6aOF60z_PE7EYESqnhEBKKqlOhXgvwnQKW74W/s1600-h/space+dress+seated+back.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-esN97zuFcpSx9FiPnwMGoAqNTmuLOCwWhZFy7SjZNGUfnHvvqozhHwwHgMxV0BnPP-RuIW-xgd4LcDEWRCQaz13dQuYsev3Tio1K38H6aOF60z_PE7EYESqnhEBKKqlOhXgvwnQKW74W/s320/space+dress+seated+back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306484685157798578" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xN8fbdoRerLRhtnQ4aXVb9jVLJmgYME0bcGZnJZh1rJ1sHyej1SGj6yta-KoyHWK7WP_sZXuuPMAt-Lo3PfKNkvqFJCbgXUgikriC1J4_OoWIK4V-9Co5Pocw5BR01EfXlbxWXKZFqra/s1600-h/french+space+dress+back+neck.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xN8fbdoRerLRhtnQ4aXVb9jVLJmgYME0bcGZnJZh1rJ1sHyej1SGj6yta-KoyHWK7WP_sZXuuPMAt-Lo3PfKNkvqFJCbgXUgikriC1J4_OoWIK4V-9Co5Pocw5BR01EfXlbxWXKZFqra/s320/french+space+dress+back+neck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306485063363547970" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />It's super-soft and comfy and I did a stretch stitch in turquoise. A ribbon gathers the neckline. It pulls over.<br /><br />Ahhh. Good to be back in the sewing saddle again.<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br />xoxox<br />ella<br /><br />ps I never post pics of my children here but for this I make an exception. Vivien looked so sweet, I had to do it.<br /></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-31451001208823804202009-02-22T08:13:00.000-05:002009-02-22T11:31:02.319-05:00THE BIG FO MASTER BLASTER LIST<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jKfO7qSwvBk/SaFafaRIwRI/AAAAAAAAAio/KKcacCQpbsI/s1600-h/bulletin+board.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jKfO7qSwvBk/SaFafaRIwRI/AAAAAAAAAio/KKcacCQpbsI/s320/bulletin+board.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305621331692798226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Good morning.<br /><br />I'm not one to boast.<br /><br />But I need some lists around here.<br /><br />Today we are going to review past objects made in 2008, see what was what there. Then we will create our 2009 list of projects to make. For better or worse, knitting was most recently added to the crafty category.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zeqQLiVCGK8-hOp6UN9dycEI-KJ6-Rq_E5fAqzkMf77r4jVHNXD1reFG5c4NQNxSB5ei-fVO90qzyD2sWQOsNX2Qe8NrSPF_5wf7K2u4G0FzxZDIP8pRSf-1kyhzcqhwCyMp0jJ9rbDF/s1600-h/blue+yarn.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zeqQLiVCGK8-hOp6UN9dycEI-KJ6-Rq_E5fAqzkMf77r4jVHNXD1reFG5c4NQNxSB5ei-fVO90qzyD2sWQOsNX2Qe8NrSPF_5wf7K2u4G0FzxZDIP8pRSf-1kyhzcqhwCyMp0jJ9rbDF/s320/blue+yarn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305620879051796370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's better, I think, not worse. Now my sewing bug has started to return I am feeling quite perky, craft-wise.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbIn1WoMsPK7ETADsySzL4ZZXzB6XUGPvStx5Q2hj3_e7BiMLr8-n7Y88XZjOSp4EsYZg4C7mXEWqmHh59llds_Eol5p7aeteIBh8ezJi84sejlxThvpPrvADwIH8mcvvkYdJdryzPzhY/s1600-h/baby+hat+cu.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbIn1WoMsPK7ETADsySzL4ZZXzB6XUGPvStx5Q2hj3_e7BiMLr8-n7Y88XZjOSp4EsYZg4C7mXEWqmHh59llds_Eol5p7aeteIBh8ezJi84sejlxThvpPrvADwIH8mcvvkYdJdryzPzhY/s320/baby+hat+cu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305620879775249618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last year, I appear to have made the following things....let's see here....most of this stuff was blogged with an exception here and there...<br /><br />turquoise quilted cushion cover<br />napkins for us<br />pillow covers for DH's aunt<br />about 6 cushions for us and others (lost track!)<br />cotton japanese top for me (which i love...from a japanese pattern book)<br />wee potholder<br />large potholder<br />table runner, insulated<br />two yellow dresses for my daughter<br />shorts for my son<br />Log cabin pillow cover<br />Doll quilt<br />Doll face doll<br />Xmas black apple doll<br />Tiger for son<br /><br />(Julian, in the fall - he's 6 now)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUYGA_k95U1oAiI7dfQ6HzqMTZjahSpj8RQoz6_Asaj7rJTHJPrQXIm_awIdG6VTlbZdgE3kMwZ7gRWD4SEMp1kkftgy6YMbkpZ1gjegS8jSCZixPhHd2Ae_kUBwzcRv2AK1f90kkKr6t/s1600-h/julian+autumn.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUYGA_k95U1oAiI7dfQ6HzqMTZjahSpj8RQoz6_Asaj7rJTHJPrQXIm_awIdG6VTlbZdgE3kMwZ7gRWD4SEMp1kkftgy6YMbkpZ1gjegS8jSCZixPhHd2Ae_kUBwzcRv2AK1f90kkKr6t/s320/julian+autumn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305621989940513362" border="0" /></a><br />Apron for emma – pink princess<br />Bag for emma<br />Dinosaur creature for liam<br />Pencil case for aiden<br />Creature for luke<br />Cape for ben<br />Cushion set for mil<br />Bag for mum<br />Knitted scarf for mum<br />Knitted hats a plenty (12?)<br />Lap quilt, my first<br />Robe – in hibernation<br />Grey bubble tunic<br />Duck egg flowered strappy girls’ top<br />Fuschia silk skirt for vivien<br />Maroon cord embroidered skirt<br />Rust pillowcase dress vivi<br />Boy’s Hawaiian shirt<br />Baby book<br />Embroidered t-shirts (harley and flower)<br />Noro capelet<br />Two hallowe’en costumes – monster and witch:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jKfO7qSwvBk/SaF70TCstrI/AAAAAAAAAjg/Zusugs5uSRk/s1600-h/vivi+as+witch.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jKfO7qSwvBk/SaF70TCstrI/AAAAAAAAAjg/Zusugs5uSRk/s320/vivi+as+witch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305657974414161586" border="0" /></a><br /><br />daughter Vivien, 3<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38IlQdk6rM6gm0LtJ0psvDJn6cGYX5_I-R1avRQJ-Nk5uv6e_ZwUdvp00KCLvosrNAqp3U_oxBcLROKkMrdGWnLE5iChe1J0dgWxu4yZpeWaZDK9ZrEW_xIRg6W3UiNvGUyF_DP2_pGe2/s1600-h/monster+feet.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38IlQdk6rM6gm0LtJ0psvDJn6cGYX5_I-R1avRQJ-Nk5uv6e_ZwUdvp00KCLvosrNAqp3U_oxBcLROKkMrdGWnLE5iChe1J0dgWxu4yZpeWaZDK9ZrEW_xIRg6W3UiNvGUyF_DP2_pGe2/s320/monster+feet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305657975078653762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and<br /><br />Heidi’s purple bird clutch purse<br />Tons of small embroideries on linen, not used yet!<br />Placemat set for placemat swap<br />Tamara kid purse<br />Pink tutu vivien<br />Robot wallet<br /><br />my bulletin board...see lovely ric rac goccos i'm saving for a special fabric basket?<br />and my son's description of a trip to the art galler?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkpYILrVxeSdGeIiyd6lImBTPlu00qUsgSZut18HNs1LdHusfJSkqOQCRPO54Ln6LrOpUUUKycssk78t2W4b8C3oVf3ZQN8IA49buChSnS0RJbshXrF3_bRMZCjf7DA6Klttbicqc4UOP/s1600-h/gocco+pic.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkpYILrVxeSdGeIiyd6lImBTPlu00qUsgSZut18HNs1LdHusfJSkqOQCRPO54Ln6LrOpUUUKycssk78t2W4b8C3oVf3ZQN8IA49buChSnS0RJbshXrF3_bRMZCjf7DA6Klttbicqc4UOP/s320/gocco+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305621984258930146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />French napkin apron<br />Apron for Anna Claire<br />Pink chickie pillow Vivien<br />wee pillow Audrey<br />padded headboard for guest room...<br /><br />speaking of which, I should post that...here's a before of the old guest room...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYafyPqqUgVvAX1VWaevdN9GpMlvDo8agJueRzgp2rZJKADAZv9d2-jP2PBscQ2KqHuvh8SBZXg1vJA1syANy3f4gqrTy1TtjBTDajVOfxCSHlST6TB6wPsEugAbe5db_qPXElo9RtTLR/s1600-h/john+office+in+progr.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYafyPqqUgVvAX1VWaevdN9GpMlvDo8agJueRzgp2rZJKADAZv9d2-jP2PBscQ2KqHuvh8SBZXg1vJA1syANy3f4gqrTy1TtjBTDajVOfxCSHlST6TB6wPsEugAbe5db_qPXElo9RtTLR/s320/john+office+in+progr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305621982868322882" border="0" /></a><br />(this is old guest room being converted to office for DH...I painted it all white...even the floor! Ahhhhh....must post pics!)<br /><br /><br />So now we see that even lazy crafter like myself, just puttering away at stuff, really adds up!! It feels good to have made all these things in place of purchased objects. My gifts were not always spot-on or perfect, but I felt it was important to try to make something for a gift, if possible. And to involve the children in its creation, where possible.<br /><br />Next year. What's on my list for next year?<br /><br />Finish son's block quilt (awful pic of in-progress)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKAvCw-8-wbc1WTKnI4GwwRVYxrFn7mFUtMkpnZSD0AJ7AztiERknxIK1sgs_ZLq1R1V9NHEsPUkpOY5Kv03VS4o26m4hj-L_HZa_rw2V7SPuWiNToTHs_ljcV9U1hJzWjPtwHWgWVdf3/s1600-h/julian+quilt+in+prpogress.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKAvCw-8-wbc1WTKnI4GwwRVYxrFn7mFUtMkpnZSD0AJ7AztiERknxIK1sgs_ZLq1R1V9NHEsPUkpOY5Kv03VS4o26m4hj-L_HZa_rw2V7SPuWiNToTHs_ljcV9U1hJzWjPtwHWgWVdf3/s320/julian+quilt+in+prpogress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305621988205212722" border="0" /></a><br />finish daughter's strip quilt<br />make mysef two a-line skirts of wool-linen-bamboo fabric I found<br />make some casual sweat-tops with cute modifications from some finely striped fleece<br />(that's today's project!)<br />i made my son a turquoise bean-bag chair for his sixth birthday -- my daughter gets a yellow one, so i have to finish that - it's cut out<br /><br />i should do something with all those wee free-hand embroideries on linen<br />i owe my DH an apron for his god-daughter<br />my son wants a red backpack - it's cut out<br />olive corduroy pants - i bought a ton on sale, might get 3 pairs out of it!<br />some fabric baskets for us and for gifts<br />ric-rac gocco prints might be used on the above...i am saving them...<br />i recently finished 2 fabric bags -- a purse for me, a car bag for a boy - i need to post pics!<br />I want to knit myself a mustard-coloured cardigan, and a pale blue cardigan<br />i would like to make some light, colourful sweaters for the children for spring<br />i would like to make my daughter a handsome wool spring coat, vaguely French-looking<br />I would like to make a quilt for our bed -- king size -- maybe large abstract rectangular pieces?<br />i'm making a surprise object for my Mum -- she has a gallery opening next week!!<br /><br />This is a very messy post, I apologize...but I always love reading people's FO lists and what they plan to make this year.<br /><br />And what about you?<br /><br />have a lovely day<br /><br />xoxo<br />ellaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-63193066771255076412009-02-20T09:39:00.001-05:002009-02-20T09:43:44.520-05:00Hello from depths of winterLately I've been accumulating terrific free knitting patterns. I can't quite afford the swanky wool I would like for a cardigan so I use my creative energy on finding cool sweaters for me and the kids, and easy sock patterns. It's a personal contest-- see which one is the EASIEST. And I discovered the term Second Sock Syndrome. Where you knit one sock and say, satisfied, "there, that's done" then realize with dismay you have to do it all over again. Which is....well...boring. Now I have a man sock and a kid sock finished.<br /><br />They're waiting.<br /><br />Shall I post all my great free pattern finds? They're curated, if you will.<br /><br />I'm super busy so will post a couple pictures of things. I made two very cool bags -- one for a little boy and one for me.<br /><br />Have a great day.<br />x<br />ellaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-90549057174306320682009-02-04T08:58:00.000-05:002009-02-20T09:44:16.446-05:00lost in knitland<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEftdIafpKRP2_sgda9YenjSYpHEerAxuJvCckLuvuszGEbRYlmVrxhggNLxfHWTcK3E5djNFEui0YFvXAtDExZao1N9gHKNfFxEOcZ7BvhsOPC0-wDp0Sp1ExOiwCcjLYp1KFSUo6y4Hz/s1600-h/shelf+in+office.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEftdIafpKRP2_sgda9YenjSYpHEerAxuJvCckLuvuszGEbRYlmVrxhggNLxfHWTcK3E5djNFEui0YFvXAtDExZao1N9gHKNfFxEOcZ7BvhsOPC0-wDp0Sp1ExOiwCcjLYp1KFSUo6y4Hz/s320/shelf+in+office.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298943065240615266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am supposed to be working for a living. You know, making money doing what I do best. Only...the knitting is more fun.<br /><br />My get-up-and-go...left.<br /><br />Am I too young to retire?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEoH7d8HHzJjRYBt39CFgcC2cUdyuqyjPfbaZt0Ze3c7UiaTRbX2VbA_g0j2c3Q4K1mCLZsWISYjr88V9J7EIUYMKz5hDX5Z2jVNbp2-dGnXxKN2wLQ3u_SgNx4bbL4WUWRZusAzrM9r_/s1600-h/patterns+on+board.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEoH7d8HHzJjRYBt39CFgcC2cUdyuqyjPfbaZt0Ze3c7UiaTRbX2VbA_g0j2c3Q4K1mCLZsWISYjr88V9J7EIUYMKz5hDX5Z2jVNbp2-dGnXxKN2wLQ3u_SgNx4bbL4WUWRZusAzrM9r_/s320/patterns+on+board.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298943062215929986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What would we use for money. Magic buttons?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHICGZIE-odRvhSgTSeEh8vuJLTbU68sqjk_ZRHt2GRFXK513Ka-CPL6sf4dqGizVSEnDjtFy6GZ3wt6MFzPOtlT5XGnaB8ihpa5_M74IvsSV_50u-58UGo_tRJyEyCeC0Aaxed-Ye4NID/s1600-h/mum's+scarf+wide.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHICGZIE-odRvhSgTSeEh8vuJLTbU68sqjk_ZRHt2GRFXK513Ka-CPL6sf4dqGizVSEnDjtFy6GZ3wt6MFzPOtlT5XGnaB8ihpa5_M74IvsSV_50u-58UGo_tRJyEyCeC0Aaxed-Ye4NID/s320/mum's+scarf+wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298942606498822370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I am knitting obsessively. Like there's a war on and the soldiers need socks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_byJYFAQGU4ipaUH7qy447FjeGrshK0PQEp6aIzhytx8WKMm8t5ojfQkg3YAooni3Ho36bRyltn2kfZMSOJUMP4dTOa2AE0PP7qE3OPYlt6QJ6hK1dbIBKcnjEc5wvyvLZM09HmYuRES/s1600-h/mum's+scarf+detail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_byJYFAQGU4ipaUH7qy447FjeGrshK0PQEp6aIzhytx8WKMm8t5ojfQkg3YAooni3Ho36bRyltn2kfZMSOJUMP4dTOa2AE0PP7qE3OPYlt6QJ6hK1dbIBKcnjEc5wvyvLZM09HmYuRES/s320/mum's+scarf+detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298942602210844882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I actually found a #4 double-pointed needle in the bed last night when I rolled over. Glad I found it. And not my sleeping partner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLLXWSd7EELsLGU_byZ34lAsguI7UrQvYG9vs1Cggto5sNpM22MayWljOuxr_DPCbjq6KOMsiQxMi2h9L5M26_eqBWYVT7Y4csVZNkRJBrYGfPWlMImqNIfjR-gzRUCYKY-PUOqf2TjIX/s1600-h/green+peruvia.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLLXWSd7EELsLGU_byZ34lAsguI7UrQvYG9vs1Cggto5sNpM22MayWljOuxr_DPCbjq6KOMsiQxMi2h9L5M26_eqBWYVT7Y4csVZNkRJBrYGfPWlMImqNIfjR-gzRUCYKY-PUOqf2TjIX/s320/green+peruvia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298942602877853138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I wish I could go to the yarn store. Pretty much a constant feeling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNdz4bSW4I5OoUN4MmgEPgdFPdplr0x2ab0TxhQd-C-jDRYJgPDkf1iywVDBmF7KsVgkWyVvnsvoPSC3r6dfPi3e2XBdOpyXzw0uxjU06emzu6MzxQOROVKZVUMP9i1Y_iJy7CL8NytFt/s1600-h/cream+alpaca.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNdz4bSW4I5OoUN4MmgEPgdFPdplr0x2ab0TxhQd-C-jDRYJgPDkf1iywVDBmF7KsVgkWyVvnsvoPSC3r6dfPi3e2XBdOpyXzw0uxjU06emzu6MzxQOROVKZVUMP9i1Y_iJy7CL8NytFt/s320/cream+alpaca.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298942132486469218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Will it pass?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVhqh3wX_hmvyFrcuQANPSoz-ePE99sXGIyFWb_AYvYg6yBi8En-gf1bigo4Z69m2HxvkIaE7C8_8WBvtKGEMRtakohcVZPUpX5TGz5VKvjayFCSJ0C1dNKHsMlABgv-7bFzS6RE_8P4k/s1600-h/books+in+office.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVhqh3wX_hmvyFrcuQANPSoz-ePE99sXGIyFWb_AYvYg6yBi8En-gf1bigo4Z69m2HxvkIaE7C8_8WBvtKGEMRtakohcVZPUpX5TGz5VKvjayFCSJ0C1dNKHsMlABgv-7bFzS6RE_8P4k/s320/books+in+office.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298942126687328866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I gather projects. I love making lists of them. And thinking about them. And starting them. Oh, I realize there's no money in it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtQi-2eXJuP6xnmBLEFxt5rTg3rvk7RTopgtWYkvG7-SxlCK1LYhTtrtuEYN1aKtak9IrnexguVR2p4-_i-sXS90K7qm-yAT0Wm5dgHjsyj_pLHgZML31v2h0pVbidpoPCuEG2xA8dP-l/s1600-h/baby+hat+cream+wide.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtQi-2eXJuP6xnmBLEFxt5rTg3rvk7RTopgtWYkvG7-SxlCK1LYhTtrtuEYN1aKtak9IrnexguVR2p4-_i-sXS90K7qm-yAT0Wm5dgHjsyj_pLHgZML31v2h0pVbidpoPCuEG2xA8dP-l/s320/baby+hat+cream+wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298942122518217106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Many things are given away. Freebies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicT4YP_3isXOHdjyxxl3htSoCM53bYGcEWPJP1MWppwIv_gma2Ir5IVOd3VC8Gzw2mRlV81n_qqfIRT__UMkgdJeqIQuC9MT4iCIPWiMiuOu_SIPmzbaUQfd_a4qO6zMk9KwnzWd8HYiI/s1600-h/annemarie+hat+in+progress.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicT4YP_3isXOHdjyxxl3htSoCM53bYGcEWPJP1MWppwIv_gma2Ir5IVOd3VC8Gzw2mRlV81n_qqfIRT__UMkgdJeqIQuC9MT4iCIPWiMiuOu_SIPmzbaUQfd_a4qO6zMk9KwnzWd8HYiI/s320/annemarie+hat+in+progress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298941550071792306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I even try to make up patterns.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgPW9ouT1aqLXlCDZ7QEbRAkrOinAp0LfVyBZCAASljRHw0RrHkguZ53EqkATyezLeg33Eh6Ou01LWd9a3HlNzP4u09O6cfnE4z_hLRSjoFa2DE42IHPYl6Hrl1uEvUE7Vaw7xlAja73N/s1600-h/boy+stripe+scarf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgPW9ouT1aqLXlCDZ7QEbRAkrOinAp0LfVyBZCAASljRHw0RrHkguZ53EqkATyezLeg33Eh6Ou01LWd9a3HlNzP4u09O6cfnE4z_hLRSjoFa2DE42IHPYl6Hrl1uEvUE7Vaw7xlAja73N/s320/boy+stripe+scarf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298941543067422050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I might end up living in a cardboard refrigerator box. Curled up under my crazy knitted aphgan, knitting. If you see me, bring me a long espresso, okay?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-20507465542590109672009-01-28T14:16:00.001-05:002009-01-28T20:09:47.990-05:00hats, hats, hats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrRNIecSPzKzt7N1uCjLvXTUou9CnE82Xod-8s-xnAoMY3EtpS7cMEl64942gSrCwJ1uVz0IPELRRjt3j8-7MGcQRDUSFLueRucXrLJ88M1D6WQjLMQA5p5Kc1o7FI1P4aOXdxfAgs04E/s1600-h/nevon's+hat+on+model.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrRNIecSPzKzt7N1uCjLvXTUou9CnE82Xod-8s-xnAoMY3EtpS7cMEl64942gSrCwJ1uVz0IPELRRjt3j8-7MGcQRDUSFLueRucXrLJ88M1D6WQjLMQA5p5Kc1o7FI1P4aOXdxfAgs04E/s320/nevon's+hat+on+model.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296431302000766594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've been on a hat-knitting bender. Here's one patiently modelled by my son. Look at that shaggy hair. I can't bear to cut it. It actually looks sweet without a hat on.<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />I love how the hat yarn stripes on its own.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ktGnvlmjWOQ5cjEWo7bHRSSvaMVYenOx-E2-i02zK950_tC6ZGl8PidqS064ScqaR1_2TZSq-Xsy5t3HasEVZ9lw3vG9hxXO_llBzK1C6eoaPpvHG5-OMnC0-FQuVHvqfV00a9xnSypB/s1600-h/nevon's+hat+wide.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ktGnvlmjWOQ5cjEWo7bHRSSvaMVYenOx-E2-i02zK950_tC6ZGl8PidqS064ScqaR1_2TZSq-Xsy5t3HasEVZ9lw3vG9hxXO_llBzK1C6eoaPpvHG5-OMnC0-FQuVHvqfV00a9xnSypB/s320/nevon's+hat+wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296425872940499410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I knit this hat after I learned how to rib. Aren't the colours great? For a sweet red-headed eight year old boy in Cape Breton.<br /><br />Further evidence I've gone knit-nuts. Here's some yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDPBgIZF8hbuj3-knGdogzfa2jFiNgBQElcStpuLL8c5QiDFV-ln5UZFH7LmazQpoupe69nPmc4Z_WWPxOAoBmK9bZgdnOk-OoGZW_QGeM_VeReZVbDtquaKdIsPv29EXaF-cbmjFX3vx/s1600-h/yarn+bucket.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDPBgIZF8hbuj3-knGdogzfa2jFiNgBQElcStpuLL8c5QiDFV-ln5UZFH7LmazQpoupe69nPmc4Z_WWPxOAoBmK9bZgdnOk-OoGZW_QGeM_VeReZVbDtquaKdIsPv29EXaF-cbmjFX3vx/s320/yarn+bucket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296432757150152866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />This brown stuff (sorry about photo, what's up with my iphoto? argh) is yarn for a cozy tam for my DH's aunt in New Brunswick.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaGoFwxqIDwzj2r98EjCOaDawSawfFIpZmOHk_Lwp_0qMDX55AeuZkkE3L2FLowHTYyGFEH6EcyAgMBih4KPlQyyyzDkFjcDmBZuaAgmOorUHqulJ6PvP_Y58z_Ivs5I67uUM0p48m0Wz/s1600-h/am+tam+yarn+cu.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaGoFwxqIDwzj2r98EjCOaDawSawfFIpZmOHk_Lwp_0qMDX55AeuZkkE3L2FLowHTYyGFEH6EcyAgMBih4KPlQyyyzDkFjcDmBZuaAgmOorUHqulJ6PvP_Y58z_Ivs5I67uUM0p48m0Wz/s320/am+tam+yarn+cu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296426472982535778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(Will someone help me mail my finished projects? I'm so bad at getting down to mailing...I have several completed hats sitting on the piano near the door.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrtA4mH-4Bk43fz3WAhTEfHIsEHSF_PDhlG_YtcToN6HkoKoYtHJnawozDAxKV_me8nrJ0aYahCwEDVnLwCdmOs_EuxiREJ-fp-6m85b2CLGvqq2hjVSA3K1WiXkIO7IwKGrlh5skvEJ7/s1600-h/annemarie+hat+in+progress.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrtA4mH-4Bk43fz3WAhTEfHIsEHSF_PDhlG_YtcToN6HkoKoYtHJnawozDAxKV_me8nrJ0aYahCwEDVnLwCdmOs_EuxiREJ-fp-6m85b2CLGvqq2hjVSA3K1WiXkIO7IwKGrlh5skvEJ7/s320/annemarie+hat+in+progress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296427684583537458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's an almost-completed tam. My own design. If you want to call winging it a "design".<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvf7OP8HQYJJh4dHrNHwA10DgrdpztBxh8MjPa_UnrlnJ6NlMq8UxXmDkb6Dn3z5QTPXQwyx6B0F75FLAvhgra9VsI4kb50hixJRJ5Bp2yD_XkZL1XLMDNuBdNEnBTXnOSpWphZsBQoTX/s1600-h/annmarietam+cu.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvf7OP8HQYJJh4dHrNHwA10DgrdpztBxh8MjPa_UnrlnJ6NlMq8UxXmDkb6Dn3z5QTPXQwyx6B0F75FLAvhgra9VsI4kb50hixJRJ5Bp2yD_XkZL1XLMDNuBdNEnBTXnOSpWphZsBQoTX/s320/annmarietam+cu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296427473957287314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My son's new scarf made of scrap yarn. A few mistakes in the ribs...try to ignore that part.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlWBYqQd2Z32K3YLeiBakT1CPm_HUrdojJ1K_ZKFSkRpgOcC8JCn0DckrzBTjY9p76TVNpOe2DBLU-Kv-99JT3Fcu8-joPUXOn_3kqrcEBAKsN-U5_dIGosD3IfBWQu7WySQQRpFfRwdz/s1600-h/boy+stripe+scarf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlWBYqQd2Z32K3YLeiBakT1CPm_HUrdojJ1K_ZKFSkRpgOcC8JCn0DckrzBTjY9p76TVNpOe2DBLU-Kv-99JT3Fcu8-joPUXOn_3kqrcEBAKsN-U5_dIGosD3IfBWQu7WySQQRpFfRwdz/s320/boy+stripe+scarf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296433907046592306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />xo<br />ellaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-81816315421296373072009-01-27T09:34:00.001-05:002009-01-27T10:05:18.936-05:00quilty gift cushions and making new knitty friends<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNT_JHpmvCodn6hHEJPP9VpnP6hOzG26e3xkyrNCoeImslAeOwti9ttgvfROk_j_pTKLSGryW-CsCyoVyatornETTzJXcC-iWuetX7VDgmHyyu-uPo2b8KWQARa88oIxSa_TCp_6EL0Zd/s1600-h/pillow+ecu.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNT_JHpmvCodn6hHEJPP9VpnP6hOzG26e3xkyrNCoeImslAeOwti9ttgvfROk_j_pTKLSGryW-CsCyoVyatornETTzJXcC-iWuetX7VDgmHyyu-uPo2b8KWQARa88oIxSa_TCp_6EL0Zd/s320/pillow+ecu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295982943788999394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This past fall I took a quilting workshop at the workroom. "presto nine patch" with Johannam which was so much fun. At the time I asked my dear MIL to come give an opinion on my colour selection, which she did. It was so much fun I asked her if I could make her some quilted cushions, and she proceeded to choose nine fat quarters she loved.<br /> These are the cushions, finally, given for Christmas. I'm happy with them. They're not my colour combo cup of tea -- they're a funny kind of custom gift. I would like to have placed the horses a little more artfully but the thrifty sewer in me uses as little as possible of the fabric -- so that gets in the way sometimes, when I'm choosing tidbits for quilting. This is one such time. However, I love the way they washed up and shrunk. I stitched in the ditch, nothing fancy, and backed them with leftover fat quarter fabric.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-6R6kggGe7ewzmYFGwvuOwGIexyF4wGlS01bkDMVQGtzIbyZ3bT1qzVNSaQLPBnaEZ1lXi2dikJq3KXyqtltuwr_IVDcfErVz8np_obNoYBvmBib0ry8yVk-NQi_A80UL77S6fl9o52k/s1600-h/mcu+pillow+front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-6R6kggGe7ewzmYFGwvuOwGIexyF4wGlS01bkDMVQGtzIbyZ3bT1qzVNSaQLPBnaEZ1lXi2dikJq3KXyqtltuwr_IVDcfErVz8np_obNoYBvmBib0ry8yVk-NQi_A80UL77S6fl9o52k/s320/mcu+pillow+front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295982118337653074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today it's sunny, cold, and I'm working at home. Next to me is my knitting, I pick it up and knit a few stitches as I think. It's amazing how much I can knit and still work! At the moment I'm working on a crazy improvised project which I will call a "Buttercup Vest". It's for my daughter (3) and yellow is her favourite colour, as I have mentioned before if you visit me here. My mum gave me some Tanis yarn in yellow for my birthday (39 again! woo hoo) so I'm knitting that up into a sort of vest with a crazy ruffle at the bottom. I'm up to the underarms...wish me luck. I've only ever made hats and scarves before....I just signed up for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> (a brilliant knitting site) and you can find <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/ellakelly">me</a> -- and hours of procrastination -- there. Not many pics yet -- too busy these days.<br /><br />Last night I took my first knitting class at "<a href="http://www.lettuceknit.com/">lettuce <span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span>knits</a>" here in Toronto. Kensington Market, to be exact. The teacher, Kate, was fantastic, really sharp. It was two hours of learning the secret of knitting cables. I highly recommend this class. Tons of peaceful fun. I connected with a couple of fellow students and wonder if I should stalk them to the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-lady-sweater">February Lady Sweater </a>class they're signed up for. Am I crazy? Do you have the same difficulty finding craft soul mates as I do? I feel a bit alone here...thus the blog. I was never good at "dating". I just, well, fell into things. Which all worked out. But friends -- it's funny. There was a Seinfeld episode about finding friends, double-dating with couples, I think. Like -- who are our "couple friends". Weird. I mean, we meet friends at school, mothers of children. Share years of growth. We haven't chosen those friends but we have so much in common a kinship is easy. Do people in middle ages make new friends?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi_S39aKYX0UROCrE1PDlmd8ScdI5L85u_lpdSzJcuUpeVdWV-e_Ked3spMQ3SmQKdsSY1UUwIIyxHfXPdM4ufypoVU8NhzbPwJWLsT5achy2qOB2Q5rTHxXE5UKdjitOzpXzmXIKdg0h/s1600-h/wide+2+pillows.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi_S39aKYX0UROCrE1PDlmd8ScdI5L85u_lpdSzJcuUpeVdWV-e_Ked3spMQ3SmQKdsSY1UUwIIyxHfXPdM4ufypoVU8NhzbPwJWLsT5achy2qOB2Q5rTHxXE5UKdjitOzpXzmXIKdg0h/s320/wide+2+pillows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295983163596944594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My mother is a brilliant example to me, actually. She is constantly making and keeping new friends. She doesn't judge. She's in her sixties, and just graduated from art school with her degree. She hung out with twenty-year-olds and made friends there. Isn't that amazing? Student friends of hers still write to her from around the world.<br /><br />I learned long ago I didn't inherit that trait. I'm too shy and/or curmudgeonly. It takes a while for me to warm up.<br /><br />All that said...(whew, confession time of what, sheesh) I wonder if I should ask these knitting ladies out for coffee. Of course I am not forgetting my talented blog friends at 13 mimosa and ricrac, for example<br /><br /> I might sign up for sweater class yet. Here's the link to <a href="http://www.lettuceknit.com/">lettuce</a>.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF6TnD33iHzKWMhvZaD8CVcMT0StNo-bXRAU_AmGDYp83wF9llxIM7SIkn6ApuWdYagLKlKSWku04KA0Amt8hMr6qheW8S2z9pNFQgaw6zK_xfshDGqRWm2gRnWzfXPJd_mkBsmG3rkEw/s1600-h/pillow+backs+green.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF6TnD33iHzKWMhvZaD8CVcMT0StNo-bXRAU_AmGDYp83wF9llxIM7SIkn6ApuWdYagLKlKSWku04KA0Amt8hMr6qheW8S2z9pNFQgaw6zK_xfshDGqRWm2gRnWzfXPJd_mkBsmG3rkEw/s320/pillow+backs+green.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295982723082932130" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-2884319086705348332009-01-23T11:58:00.000-05:002009-01-23T12:18:12.949-05:00soft baby book, a trivet pad, & michelle's outfit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt3_hnv6LO1zM9rzGkg3caVzjavN-6koBqi-FzZk0i28IUAhyphenhyphen69xvs0nkg60yMPweWPYPEo15qqlJmaa51DQfVSLl8bpo9FBwZZPh32SDUEJcciByuAfynD2rlIviq6RteNwW8T_1u_mT/s1600-h/soft+book+back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAt3_hnv6LO1zM9rzGkg3caVzjavN-6koBqi-FzZk0i28IUAhyphenhyphen69xvs0nkg60yMPweWPYPEo15qqlJmaa51DQfVSLl8bpo9FBwZZPh32SDUEJcciByuAfynD2rlIviq6RteNwW8T_1u_mT/s320/soft+book+back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294536454224472818" border="0" /></a><br />Good morning. This is the back of a soft book made of retro quilting fabric, as per their instructions. I made it for my baby nephew for Christmas. Though I understand he's running all over the place and may not have time to stop and read yet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZP3LsEhPo80JoV44RefCTuUO06FfcQPibMKrFN2mnKoWK_fppRAA9xLZSKV0x4OqnylOpXpbdPpRN-SK0Ks1Tt6vdU6rfKNiBjqQ2NtOtT5R_7OL_qYs61WUjAiX9XeZdeP0H8me9FJX/s1600-h/baby+book.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZP3LsEhPo80JoV44RefCTuUO06FfcQPibMKrFN2mnKoWK_fppRAA9xLZSKV0x4OqnylOpXpbdPpRN-SK0Ks1Tt6vdU6rfKNiBjqQ2NtOtT5R_7OL_qYs61WUjAiX9XeZdeP0H8me9FJX/s320/baby+book.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294535846709891250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And this for his mum. A hot pad, quilted with Insulbrite so she can put a scalding pot on the table. Who does that? <span style="font-style: italic;">Here's yer mashed grits, y'all -- grab a spoon!</span><br /><br />Okay, I so do not know what it's like in the south but I think I just insulted half of America. (Sorry, folks, I am obsessed with Louisiana due to my True Blood kick. I'm on ep 9. And finished knitting the following: hat, hat, hat, scarf, scarf, half a hat. Someday when I am not so crazy busy here at home with a tough writing schedule I will post pics of the stuff.)<br /><br />So. America. What about the first lady's inaugeral outfit! Yes, yes, yes. Gold, pashmina, silk, OLIVE gloves...I mean, did you love it? I loved it. Those teal shoes were brave, too! Gutsy! What did you think?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrTZLA1ELDfqYKtGkQONDM9jBHsjrCirT1UDYG2CDWHrWF3GJ-KaKNKbER5ElABQ6vusSlooMCCSZFy3zMunL-Mc0gsWux3fGqCfavFiPDK-UStHgdwqcD7Hzea0XMGwcLdfFh6a5DFbb/s1600-h/hot+pot+pad+bird+side.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrTZLA1ELDfqYKtGkQONDM9jBHsjrCirT1UDYG2CDWHrWF3GJ-KaKNKbER5ElABQ6vusSlooMCCSZFy3zMunL-Mc0gsWux3fGqCfavFiPDK-UStHgdwqcD7Hzea0XMGwcLdfFh6a5DFbb/s320/hot+pot+pad+bird+side.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294535447032273890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6CK0Qc89CsXW_cyo9kxGkPaQsKBJc-V7fyFAxKjlieVvRTYMtmWsoCGDLpCcsQnSqoGxPjIWNnBVdA_ECiAi3B-TF1EVl7i52KaWD5r5QpW5Oa23FN7TgYemHMrVGKHgWp2Q9RbZ8lQe/s1600-h/hot+pad+rust+side.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6CK0Qc89CsXW_cyo9kxGkPaQsKBJc-V7fyFAxKjlieVvRTYMtmWsoCGDLpCcsQnSqoGxPjIWNnBVdA_ECiAi3B-TF1EVl7i52KaWD5r5QpW5Oa23FN7TgYemHMrVGKHgWp2Q9RbZ8lQe/s320/hot+pad+rust+side.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294535240118766434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />xo<br />ellaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-64246085256417733952009-01-20T10:51:00.001-05:002009-01-20T11:05:08.476-05:00my other bike is a harley<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbdt01cwjoXVye3YG7TejI7f4-WvBGOfFfOQ4fItojfIejGweMFESmVpYm-RjZAJekjZ4hlz6ieC4vfXV9G1Va1AbWNonesr9X8kGhNa31bjUglEc1NjS5KYk9amj_9D74GbU0WQZjzv1/s1600-h/harley+t.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbdt01cwjoXVye3YG7TejI7f4-WvBGOfFfOQ4fItojfIejGweMFESmVpYm-RjZAJekjZ4hlz6ieC4vfXV9G1Va1AbWNonesr9X8kGhNa31bjUglEc1NjS5KYk9amj_9D74GbU0WQZjzv1/s320/harley+t.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293405356414570178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Another quick catch-up on Christmas gift post while I listen to CBC R3-30 and work here at home....<br /><br />Here's a t-shirt I embroidered for a sweet, funny guy I know, who has a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Old school handlebars and stuff. It's scary -- thinking of him on a bike -- but then he's a danger-loving guy. I'll say no more. Top secret. He's a softie on the inside...so I made him this.<br /><br />And I made this for a beloved cool chick family member...like I said, I was crazy about olive green this Christmas. It's applique, embroidery, this and that...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4Hfn6fD2M_kRb92rJ8gu1vQqyoXr_5XK6hCOZT5Ah7KRB7IRYzg3XDXoZAla93g1W8SgOoO3pf9kXRMaNEDu6JzoQZYb4JQrdMF0yZdZdVXFzFzGL0FCLxTsTCMXkdd935ZPZvupQ23j/s1600-h/michelle+t.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4Hfn6fD2M_kRb92rJ8gu1vQqyoXr_5XK6hCOZT5Ah7KRB7IRYzg3XDXoZAla93g1W8SgOoO3pf9kXRMaNEDu6JzoQZYb4JQrdMF0yZdZdVXFzFzGL0FCLxTsTCMXkdd935ZPZvupQ23j/s320/michelle+t.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293405355452228818" border="0" /></a><br />Have a great day.<br /><br />p.s. Thanks, 13mimosa, for the shout-out. Enjoy True Blood...it's not scary...it's full of....<br /><br />uh.....S....E.....X......<br /><br />Ahem.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-39969675276832526572009-01-17T12:21:00.000-05:002009-01-19T21:07:59.724-05:00Happy January / Twisted Sister<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH4Q1Gy34U9aOUTmoxEVAV2OCQw-QFoklFihS3K-s_o3JC5dUPoFppyvnTJPlmk60-QADPxE_CBWfSbKbg8FbfU_2qUknJV4Yj0i_Gw3bR_R_7x8L_Kx0j-0XJoOBjzVRu_T1RBXvFnmx/s1600-h/twisted+wrap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbH4Q1Gy34U9aOUTmoxEVAV2OCQw-QFoklFihS3K-s_o3JC5dUPoFppyvnTJPlmk60-QADPxE_CBWfSbKbg8FbfU_2qUknJV4Yj0i_Gw3bR_R_7x8L_Kx0j-0XJoOBjzVRu_T1RBXvFnmx/s320/twisted+wrap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292410387117544242" border="0" /></a><br />Hi, y'all. I've been saying "y'all" since I have gotten suckered into watching True Blood on HBO. Addictive stuff. I knit and watch TV. It can lead to problems.<br /><br />That, and using circular needles for the first time to knit a "<a href="http://www.tomsueandjean.com/NOROCAPLET.html">Noro Capelet</a>". Because...uh...the yarns was COMPLETELY TWISTED and I knitted it for ages...me: <span style="font-style: italic;">"la li la"....{no idea}..."oooh, it's getting longer....loo li loo....oh, I should straighten it out to see how long it is...hmmm..how do I twist this flat? uh...no, that doesn't work.......hang on....no, it couldn't be....uh.....what the...I KNITTED IN A TWIST???!!"</span><br /><br />Ahem.<br /><br />Yup. Here's the evidence. (Excuse totally erratic settings and light...light's been lousy. Winter. Pheh.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_S8zQvzXebX8PR67lNUcnP8qYRiF9NU5Ok8EV2yE6hIOd6MnIs1Q9XHMvcNoD1A3ARa2C-333-QqSTmpCinOgjVuoNsLAQN1_aLDBoODbKNGHuDOrDNs7029xsIdQXox7vbXWUcCdgdg4/s1600-h/twisted+wrap,+on.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_S8zQvzXebX8PR67lNUcnP8qYRiF9NU5Ok8EV2yE6hIOd6MnIs1Q9XHMvcNoD1A3ARa2C-333-QqSTmpCinOgjVuoNsLAQN1_aLDBoODbKNGHuDOrDNs7029xsIdQXox7vbXWUcCdgdg4/s320/twisted+wrap,+on.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292414990477033378" border="0" /></a><br />And for a day or so I thought maybe I could learn to like it as some kind of neckwarmer. Tres chic?<br />No.<br /><br />Tres clown.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVD84GfmQ3D3qA2LdByOFxyZ0Wh0f3Yjd3oo2DwScHKsxMdHFQglRCHGilMzFbyaOUiX7NAvfUEamUYDaw0tkMcvITbHwMBdVDukvof8V-_wz67tReVmcbe-ocGaQScYVLonJanf3-IsWN/s1600-h/twisted,+detail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVD84GfmQ3D3qA2LdByOFxyZ0Wh0f3Yjd3oo2DwScHKsxMdHFQglRCHGilMzFbyaOUiX7NAvfUEamUYDaw0tkMcvITbHwMBdVDukvof8V-_wz67tReVmcbe-ocGaQScYVLonJanf3-IsWN/s320/twisted,+detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292412954899802290" border="0" /></a><br />So.<br /><br />I UNDID all the knitting. And started again, (obsessively) making sure my yarn wasn't twisted.<br /><br />Lesson learned.<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />I'll show you the "good" one sometime soon.<br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aSsqEh8RgrmKe9ax9Oml4CAjXECiy_BfDft-tLt_qFpLzg3Knn8Fx0m0lOhhHWqGS16hwwvNSpbB454lVtBza0Ef-YkJpdpVTLbeYHJfKEmLO3S_dnA37TA4CcQ28k4RoDrffD6EW52x/s1600-h/twisted+no+flash+wide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aSsqEh8RgrmKe9ax9Oml4CAjXECiy_BfDft-tLt_qFpLzg3Knn8Fx0m0lOhhHWqGS16hwwvNSpbB454lVtBza0Ef-YkJpdpVTLbeYHJfKEmLO3S_dnA37TA4CcQ28k4RoDrffD6EW52x/s320/twisted+no+flash+wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292321099281200434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />*** knitting versus sewing ***<br /><br />I am TOTALLY obsessed with knitting right now. Are you? I am! Possessed! I discovered Ravelry, also. Uh oh. I mean, a big uh-oh, there goes all my time. It's so ZEN. Yet fun. The colours. The soft yarns...and chunky knitwear is so hot right now.<br /><br />Anyhoo, back to sewing for a moment.<br /><br />Here is a Christmas gift I can now show you. It was a hit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hckkmgvI8dvCDSpdIE8r-mWIGnEQyac2GYUOqGjYsqWqdlL3Anqdx44wCPdySdis6KVSMMNG8Aj634jHs4El8v0S09U5LoN7AZCkGiJQPTPdS3pYgy_CJnS8W723S8Z9tqdHPa9LK3dF/s1600-h/runner+cu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hckkmgvI8dvCDSpdIE8r-mWIGnEQyac2GYUOqGjYsqWqdlL3Anqdx44wCPdySdis6KVSMMNG8Aj634jHs4El8v0S09U5LoN7AZCkGiJQPTPdS3pYgy_CJnS8W723S8Z9tqdHPa9LK3dF/s320/runner+cu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293176457713166546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Table runner for folks-in-law.<br /><br /><br />I'm not sure why, but the colour olive was clearly my fave this Christmas.<br /><br />This was inspired by the Purl Bee table runner but I didn't have the desire to do applique. Instead I made a little quilt using Insulbrite.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkl30RnuMs2pdxdgOOEJc4XOGrAadUVhH1uSfx9zHjHKOzAzwNCfyJtQqgn39hQytRm18H493eLDjHc6YS3h_7oNc7CxDAcu1ha94xceRTtFZybuNZGNd1uEF_xhgCxgQ-8gQNtNfCS53/s1600-h/runner+wide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkl30RnuMs2pdxdgOOEJc4XOGrAadUVhH1uSfx9zHjHKOzAzwNCfyJtQqgn39hQytRm18H493eLDjHc6YS3h_7oNc7CxDAcu1ha94xceRTtFZybuNZGNd1uEF_xhgCxgQ-8gQNtNfCS53/s320/runner+wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293176733704822962" border="0" /></a><br />(Picture shows it after being unwrapped and unfolded at Xmas. Thus the wrinkles. Normally it lays perfectly flat. Gotta trust me on that one.)<br /><br />Top is Kokka and linen, bottom is stuff I've had since the 80s! Can you believe that? The runner is about 36 or 40" long and about 16" wide. It was immediately used for hot servers at Christmas. Yay!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_yoKT5kUSlMWtO5KWtKSta7yO6Go3YOM9v8VmLL3leMHAkh3nXmzf4bGNyn-ipQQxxRpXloHhiRiq9MSmZcBXmS9ag01Oi6FIFkMsBxejVHGwbimKlRjxlFQruLmJEhq_HI8SqAnCPkT/s1600-h/back+of+runner+detail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_yoKT5kUSlMWtO5KWtKSta7yO6Go3YOM9v8VmLL3leMHAkh3nXmzf4bGNyn-ipQQxxRpXloHhiRiq9MSmZcBXmS9ag01Oi6FIFkMsBxejVHGwbimKlRjxlFQruLmJEhq_HI8SqAnCPkT/s320/back+of+runner+detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293176093447391010" border="0" /></a><br />I basically made an Insulbrite quilt sandwich, sewed wavy lines along the centre strip, straight lines along the linen, made a bias strip for edges -- no wait, it wasn't bias. It was straight. But I DID get a bias-tape maker for Christmas -- thanks, Mum! So I sewed the edges on with little folds. Not mitered.<br /><br />You like?<br /><br />I've got an even sweeter quiltier one in the works for our house. But I've been all about the knitting. Sort of a crafty A.D.D. situation. Right now I'm knitting a tam that looks more like a sweater. It's all good, baby.<br /><br /><br />xo<br />ellaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-31237514956256499482008-12-12T08:44:00.000-05:002008-12-30T09:16:28.804-05:00Christmas Fever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pEYYQcoFQSkue3x5my5p-15JYn0H-KF6OWQRA4HowyTFEdZBwHyEqOlrjZlj95SgqCCJ4Ub15g4Bol0OXY5FQxnCjn2V_4psxPEgnLHF-UuR6fNu5L3zXNr-SmSTQABVwhNnGEkMzY4F/s1600-h/two+blocks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pEYYQcoFQSkue3x5my5p-15JYn0H-KF6OWQRA4HowyTFEdZBwHyEqOlrjZlj95SgqCCJ4Ub15g4Bol0OXY5FQxnCjn2V_4psxPEgnLHF-UuR6fNu5L3zXNr-SmSTQABVwhNnGEkMzY4F/s320/two+blocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278901526229291602" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">(editorialized December 29)</span><br /><br />Bad photo taken at night of current blocks...<br /><br />Here's what's up:<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(stand by for pics...i'm back, baby)</span><br /><br />Sewing a cloth book <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(done! cute! no photo! aghghg),</span><br />making runners <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(okay finished one for in-laws...heat-proof and cute),</span><br />secretly making quilt blocks for a quilt that is likely going too take too long to be in time for Christmas <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(yep...coming up, though)</span><br />organizing a massive truffle manufacturing plant in my kitchen with a staff of two preschoolers <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">(that worked out SO WELL..get this -- although we spent $ on realy good chocolate, it was worth it -- we had gifts enough for six teachers and five friends and relatives!..we ended up buying cute xmas-y boxes at the dollar store to tie up with ribbon and a hand-written ingredient tag...)</span><br />shopping for books,<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> pyjamas, slippers, and hats </span>on line <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(lovely, will do that again for sure)</span>,<br />living without a dining room table and debating what to do for Christmas <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(we got it and it's tres cool -- thanks, <a href="http://www.smash.to/">Smash!</a>)</span>,<br />waiting for fabric to arrive from Australia <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(yummy...and I'm about to make some small sweet treats, maybe fabric baskets or dishtowels...hmm),</span><br />bothering the mailman by popping out when he is on our front steps <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(our regular guy is back and i love him -- he comes at 12:30 instead of 3:30 because it makes sense to him -- and it's great for us...he said the substitute delivery person we had for two weeks is a by-the-booky guy who follows the route according to book...and left us with mail at 3:30),</span><br />putting up twinkle lights across the top of the piano <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(and our old reliable ikea twinkle wreath, love that thing)</span>,<br />sneaking out to Sephora in the evening with my mother, to gleefully shop and test perfume (I don't have any galpals here I can do that with) <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(alas too poor for perfume this year...so far...haha)</span>,<br />stressing about a brake job for the car<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> (done...boring)</span>,<br />searching for the elves who might be watching,<br />knitting secretly <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(done! cashmere scarf for Mum out of this gorgeous watery-coloured Fleece Artist yarn...will post a pic)</span>,<br />and wondering just who should get the fuzzy fleece blanket I'm whipping up....<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(the back of our car...it covers three people at once...and i didn't "finish" it...just threw the fabric in there and let it do its job. The back of the car of a filthy kid-crumb-covered scandal...so...)</span><br /><br />I'm finished with my latest writing deadline -- phew -- hallelujah -- and so now spend time with kids and in the real world. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(aghgh...new deadline, january 5TH! eek)</span> However -- blog here is suffering mightily. I'll be back, I promise.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(I'm back.)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kzOHg3qjdop9QAKdhnfU5YfrwpXmJyazn-pIsD1IxYzPva50Npf8LldTY4AGwsIYScHwUKgztpPTGYLkujp-CBphvk8NmuieDdm8jksMb2FPMo3UIINF8R-l47jxLv7DfliD4-kiufwa/s1600-h/peanutbutter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kzOHg3qjdop9QAKdhnfU5YfrwpXmJyazn-pIsD1IxYzPva50Npf8LldTY4AGwsIYScHwUKgztpPTGYLkujp-CBphvk8NmuieDdm8jksMb2FPMo3UIINF8R-l47jxLv7DfliD4-kiufwa/s320/peanutbutter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278901413911743762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />xoxox<br />ellaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-21902432534500752982008-11-20T10:42:00.003-05:002008-11-20T10:42:49.671-05:00Today's Photo<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38983968@N00/274117464/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/274117464_efab1aa9ed_m.jpg" alt="" ><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38983968@N00/274117464/">Alan Islands</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/38983968@N00/">andrewmccarthytravel</a></span></div>I happened upon this great photo this morning. It's like -- if you need to read this sign, you're screwed.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-37345712563126058922008-11-19T11:40:00.000-05:002008-11-19T11:50:10.150-05:00a meme -- does that mean a "me me me" posting?I'm feeling a bit panicked about not posting in so long. I won't be gone for good, I promise. Just a writing deadline that is looming FAST...and a sewing room that really calls me...and I try so hard to ignore it for the greater good.. For now. December is another matter. Mum is coming to visit for a MONTH (yay) and I hope we can do a sewing storm for Christmas.<br /><br />About my knitting in the round. For you knitters out there, you know what twisting the stitches means. A Shawl that suddenly has turned into a twisted snake of useless time-eating knitted product. I had never done it before, and on my own, knitting a lovely varigated wool shawl into a twisted snake. How the -- I couldn't believe it. So obvious, in hindsight. So now I'm back to simple scarf knitting for a while. I'll get back on the horse again. And post a pic of the goofiness asap.<br /><br />For now, quickly, via mimosa13 via posey gets cosy (she has a new book, i see! very cool!) is a quick "meme". I think that's what this is.<br /><br />Hope you're having a lovely late fall day.<br /><br /><span><br />Where is your mobile phone? my daughter's purse?<br />Where is your significant other? kitchen<br />Your hair colour? dark blonde...ish<br />Your mother? halifax<br />Your father? cape breton<br />Your favourite thing? creating<br />Your dream last night? anxious<br />Your dream goal? peace<br />The room you're in? Bedroom<br />Your hobby? sewing<br />Your fear? incomplete works<br />Where do you want to be in 6 years? barcelona...?<br />Where were you last night? here<br />What you're not? humourless<br />One of your wish-list items? books<br />Where you grew up? cape breton, ns, canada<br />The last thing you did? made espresso<br />What are you wearing? running top and ratty sweats<br />Your TV? a bit wee<br />Your pets? tony baloney (tabby)<br />Your computer? mac laptop<br />Your mood? upbeat<br />Missing someone? mum<br />Your car? old volvo<br />Something you're not wearing? makeup<br />Favourite shop? workroom<br />Your summer? toronto...:(<br />Love someone? Yes<br />Your favourite colour? chartreuse<br />When is the last time you laughed? last night<br />When is the last time you cried? last week<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665977404100043625.post-79881728035862250192008-11-14T09:25:00.000-05:002008-11-14T19:44:08.695-05:00Hideous Birds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM3cYdG1GfkxnAY81tazR2WYWVrnCtX-0H94oobmmYD06r_qtiZdTEZ7EjvBsugjykScOIl4SAjBLyyb8kRI6FqPYC2G03EOqnTAP08qBFucBQjK187buLd2L5qDf7wU7G6GdVb07ULcw/s1600-h/2979751258_0ae06f6998_b.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsM3cYdG1GfkxnAY81tazR2WYWVrnCtX-0H94oobmmYD06r_qtiZdTEZ7EjvBsugjykScOIl4SAjBLyyb8kRI6FqPYC2G03EOqnTAP08qBFucBQjK187buLd2L5qDf7wU7G6GdVb07ULcw/s400/2979751258_0ae06f6998_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268677170671180194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm still SWAMPED with my day job. Back soon, I hope. I need to tell you about my knitting-in-the-round fiasco.<br /><br />For now, LOOK at these parrots. I just bought two "hideous birds" for my kids. (Christmas secret...shh.) Aren't they great? Find them <a href="http://hideous-birds.blogspot.com/">here</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2