Love this

:: Really interesting article on how the happy and the meaningful life differ

:: Neato iphone photography tricks

:: This fabric, and this, and this too... Swoon!

:: This little cardi is so pretty (free pattern!)

Have a very nice weekend!

I put some birds on it...

I love everything about this material -- the dove blue colour, the flocks of fleeting birds, the gentle drape of the organic canvas.

I loved it so much I bought three metres of it from Greenwood Quiltery so if you have a birthday coming up, chances are probably good that you'll be getting one of these totes :)

Twinners!

In the continuing theme of birthday knits... Some mitts I made for my pal KW. I made a pair for myself during sock summit and a second pair when I got home. 

I do love how Manos stripes -- I think these will be good and cheerful gloves for this fall. 

Happiest birthday dear friend!

The details: Manos del Uruaguay Allegria

Needles: 2.5 mm

Pattern: Improvised tube with a thumb....

Henslowe, again

And now, Henslowe for my pal Johanna's birthday. Love this pattern so much - so pretty and elegant. Happy birthday J!

The yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts cashmere and silk singles, frost colourway

The needles: 3.75 mm

Ishbel, again

Another Ishbel - this one for my pal C, who celebrated a special birthday recently. Full credit to my other pal Johanna, for being my life coach on this one when I got impatient in the lace repeats. (I hope you all have a Johanna in your life telling you it will be worth it in the end). And I also hope you have a friend like Miss C, worth knitting an Ishbel for....

The yarn: Madelinetosh prairie in Tart

Needle: 3.75 mm

Moc making

I took a moccasin making course a few weeks ago at Crown Flora (wow - what a beautiful space -- every corner filled with handmade wonders). I was curious to see what it was like to work with leather and well now I know... It's maybe not the best thing for my weak little hands. But I did finish my shoes and they're pretty neato. I just have to spray and stretch them and they'll make cute little winter slippers.

Gloves galore

So this summer was spent making a lot of fingerless gloves. Without going into all of the sad details, there was lots of turmoil at work and when the going gets tough, the tough get knitting. I know that for new things to happen, old things have to end -- but man, sometimes you just wanna hang onto the old. 

In any case, I made gloves for friends who have moved on. Some things I learned: layering one pair of gloves over another is a good idea, grey is great (as if you didn't already know that), and baby llama is basically the best thing ever.

Ok September, it's go time. Bring on the cold weather, my friends and I are ready for ya.