As if I need...

... another inspiring distraction?!?!
Talk about yarn and colour porn!!!


Yarny is one of those places you just hate to love. Oh... click here... oh... click there.. click.. click... click... dinner?... who needs food?....
I live on colour and texture and inspiration!!

And look... to the right... under "yarn by yarner"... c'est moi!


I am tickled to be included in such an auspicious group of Yarny enablers!
Well I'm off to create more colour that may inspire...

Sometimes...

... Saturdays are for doing nothing!
At BB-Blog I came across the most wonderful "observation" created by artist Timothy Buckwalter that mitigates any twinge of guilt I may encounter...

You know... I believe knitting is always at it's best done in pajamas!
I've just cast on this...


The Lacy Baktus (sorry, you need a Ravelry login for this link) is one of those fantastic, free knitting pattern viral explosions that Ravelry enables. It is a simple and simply lovely design that I know I'll be grabbing for when the cool air takes over. I have two hanks of Mirasol Chirapa that have been waiting for "a reason" and I think this is it. Pretty, pretty yarn and soft, soft, soft.
The designer, Terhi Montonen, once spoke through a beautiful blog she called mustaa villaa (black wool). Her stories stopped 2009/11/04 with an explanation, but I still visit from time to time. Her hats and socks and wraps bring joy... much like a Saturday in pajamas.

I gotta...

... make me some of these!

I just tripped across this dutch gal's dreamy makings and I am now head over heels!
Ingrid Jansen's Wool and Wood Stools--- along with hangers and pillows and blankets and garlands--- are a tasty melange of soft and hard, bright and dull, old and new, and a perfect celebration of Earth Day.... reduce... reuse... recycle!



I've got wood! I've got wool! I even have a few handy tools! Now, with Ingrid's inspiration, I just might head off and create my own variation. I can guarantee you that what I may come up with will not be anywhere near as precious as all of these!

Do you know of...

... the beautiful magazine from Britain called Selvedge.


If you don't... oh... my... my! Yes, it is a wee bit pricey but the contents will make you swoon. For this Web Wondering Wednesday I came across this fantastic link on the Selvedge site filled with inspiring crafting projects from some of their past issues--- most of them are perfect for gifting!

That Mags...

... she's such a cut-up!
Knitting Green (by Ann Budd for Interweave Press) is now shipping and here is the demo I share on Knitting Daily for my design contribution..... have fun!

Sometimes...

... I am like a dog with a bone!
I'll let you know right up front there is no knit content in the post.... just a gnawing ache I must share.
You'll need some background to get up to speed...
I spent a good chunk of last November in Morocco. It was my first time there and I must admit the whole adventure was truly dizzying. The saturated colours, the fragrant spices, the constant push of the souks, the thick scent of Jasmine all had me reeling as if in a dream. After "roughing it" for two weeks, we splurged on an incredible riad (bed and breakfast) located in the Medina section of Marrakesh for our last four nights...

Click here to view these pictures larger

I am hell bent in creating the "feel" I experienced during our stay. Open air... lounge-y daybed... sumptuous textiles... mint tea...
Where do I want my "riad" to be? On our relatively narrow side porch overlooking the garden.
However, I must keep in mind the following:

• I live in an 1860's Ontario Gothic farmhouse.
• "Outdoor living" is from June until September.
• Mosquitoes also enjoy "outdoor living" until the end of July.
• My budget-- as usual-- is shoe-string at best.

Yes... lots of thinking... hmmmmm... back to my knitting... more thinking... often the thinking is easier... ;-)

I have fallen...

... hard!
Real hard.... for Blue Sky Alpacas' Dyed Worsted Cotton!


Knitting up like spun silk, this softer-than-soft organic cotton-- don't even get me started about all the fantastic colours--- was the only choice for one of my favourite Gifted projects.


The Precious Baby Jacket was my first project with this scrumptious yarn. It certainly will not be my last.
Precious is what I consider a perfect modern heirloom--- simple, practical and special. Simple and practical are achieved by the construction-- an easy asymmetric, top down project-- and the colour-- a very gender neutral shade called Azul.
The special? Little felted rounds of applique are scattered and colourfully stitched onto the finished knit. More of Blue Sky Alpaca's yarn playlist was used for the felting--- 100% alpaca Melange in Cornflower.


One of the wonderful, lingering by-products of working on Gifted-- where the world is your "yarn" oyster-- was being introduced to new and inspiring fibers to create with.
I have been swatching with some remaining bits of yarn in my stash and have found something that makes me happy.

With a skein of the lovely, soft Orchid, I'll be whipping up a sweet adult sized topper for when the temperatures begin to dip. I know! It's not even summer, yet!!


It must be the lovely spring we are having that has inspired a leafy motif for a design that will be available Julyish.
This will be part of a mini-companion-collection of patterns to celebrate the arrival of Gifted. Available as individual downloads, they will continue on where Gifted leaves off.... so many gifts to make... so many ideas to share... so much fun to have!

Be still...

... my heart!
I got in the mail one of my favourite things to get in the mail....... books!
Pretty books!!
Pretty-- I can't concentrate on what I should be doing-- books!!!

I have popped into Cal Patch's blog many times. Hodge Podge Farm is where I first heard details about her new book-- Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified-- and where I get to be a big-eyed fly on the wall of her fantastically, creative life. Ahhhh... to be young and creative and living in Upstate New York....


Alabama Studio Style is a tome of inspiration that makes me weak and... oh... so... dizzy. It is all I can do not to jump in the truck, drive to Florence, Alabama, and offer to be Natalie Chanin's personal assistant-- FOR FREE! I'll make her half-caff coffee lightly wiffed with freshly grated cinnamon. I'll pick up her dropped beads. I'll "love" her thread from dawn until dusk. I'll sleep in the truck and bathe using her garden hose--- I am certain it is the most stunning garden hose. I'll... I'll... I'll.... I'll take a deep breath and contain myself.


Please excuse me. I need to spend some quiet time alone with my two new pals...


...shhhh!

Tomorrow, I'll be forcing some forsythia... Cal Patch style!

ps.... Come join me and Gifted on Facebook! Simply log onto your FB account and search for a group called Gifted: Lovely Things to Knit and Crochet. That's where we will be!!