Everything old...

... is new, again!

This is...

... where I spent my day!

Working away on "Book 2010".... which I am happy to announce is called........

Gifted!!!

The title gives a lot of it away, but there are bits and bobs of specialness to Gifted that I'll share with you as we approach G-Day.
The day was a rain threatening one. I plopped myself in the living room-- amidst a very highly organized chaos-- with my back up against that round, gold cushion near the center of my pillow filled sofa. Most of the pillows have a story.... made by friends, bought abroad or made by me. I have always loved my needlepoint homage to Kaffe Fasset's "Foolish Virgins" original jacket design-- now available as a scarf in this book. Someday I hope to knit a rendition, but this pillow--- made m-a-n-y years ago on 7pi canvas using a chunky weight wool--- will have to keep me content and inspired until then!

Oh, and under the sofa?
Ms. Skeeter Mudhen, of course, keeping me company....

All about...

... the feltin' and the needle feltin' and the stitchin'.
What a lovely Sunday!!!
Lovely weather...
lovely music...

lovely colours...

weedy garden... who cares?


BTW, I have been given the go ahead to start chattin' about "book 2010". Later this week I'll start being less cryptic and more excited and sharing..... yippppeeeeeee!!

There will...

... be jam!
This year the strawberries are small and easily bruised but are very sweet and very juicy.
Every year I put up at least one batch of jam from strawberries we pick just down the road.
My go-to recipe is from a Donna Hay magazine--- Issue 7.
Enjoy!

Strawberry Vanilla Jam
6 or so cups

3 lbs strawberries cleaned, hulled and halved
2 lbs sugar
3/4 c lime juice-- freshly squeezed
1 vanilla bean halved and scraped (I subsitute 1 tbs of a good quality Mexican vanilla extract when beans are not in my cupboard)

Combine strawberries, sugar, lime juice and vanilla bean and seeds in large saucepan and bring to a gentle boil.
NOTE: if using vanilla extract do not add until jam has thickened.
Skim foam as needed.
Let bubble away until jam has thickened--- 25 to 35 minutes.
If using vanilla, stir it in now.
Ladle into jars and process as you would your favourite jam.

Pink...

... and orange.
Today I marveled-- as usual-- at the combination....


Enjoy all the colours of your weekend!

Web Wandering Wednesday....

... has a little something for all the dog lovers out there!
Click on the picture... kick back... and enjoy!

A hint..

... a soupçon.
I have always loved that word.... soupçon.... a very small amount; a trace; a hint.
My first trip to Paris--- when I was 20--- included a must visit to Chanel on Place Vendôme. I wondered, fondled and sniffed e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in the luscious shop for what seemed like hours. At the very end of my swooning I settled on the purchase of one single item--- a blush. The iconic black box with softened corners and silvered linking 'C's' would be my proof it was not all a dream. The name of the shade.... soupçon!
But, I do digress...

Today's soupçon pertains to what is now known as "Book 2010". I know I have said it before, but it is very hard not to share knitterly things that I am excited about without breaking the rule of not sharing knitterly things that I am excited about that have not been published!!!
This is all I dare to share.... at least you might get a smidge of the colours and snippet of the textures...