A New Adventure

The pattern section on my site has been a bit quiet lately, all for a very good reason that I am very excited about. This spring I will be opening a small online shop filled with all kinds of fiberwares and a few calligraphy pieces. I have been hard at work preparing to send my handmade treasures into the world. Sharing my handmade pieces with others has always been in the back of my mind, but I've never had the valiance to try. Sharing patterns on this site has really helped with that, and I couldn't be more thankful for the kind words you all have shared with me. I've also had so much encouragement from my family and friends to just give this a go. Mind you, this little shop will be limited in inventory, since I work a regular job and it takes lots of time, as most of you know, to hand make products. But that's what makes them so special, and I love this slow careful process and I hope others will, too. There will be lots of linen and cotton pieces available since where I live, we are diving into spring! I can't wait to share everything. On another fiber note, these are a few knit pieces from some lovely designers that I have been dreaming of making for myself!

This dovetail wrap looks so soft and cozy. I would love it in Heirloom White, I think.  I imagine myself wearing it to the camp or a mountainy vacation I have been dreaming of.

I've never worked with Jones and Vandermeer yarn, and the Dafne tank by Julie Hoover seems to be the perfect excuse. I can see this being my go to summer top.

Another beautiful design by Julie Hoover that keeps making its way into my brain is the Hayward sweater. It looks so effortless but classy at the same time.

Although the patterns above are all knitting patterns, I am still crocheting up a storm with my own designs and products for the shop. I'm thinking of treating myself to this crochet hook set for my birthday next month^_^ It's been on my wishlist for sometime, and I know I will get TONS of use out of them. I hope everyone is enjoying this last leg of winter and are having lots of daydreams about new spring adventures!

Serene

Today is gloomy and drizzly and beautiful and cold and refreshing. Today is serene. It is also the end of the first week of the Lenten Season. The way the physical seasons accompany the season of Lent is so perfect to me. The still and quiet of late winter provide a nice calmative surrounding for reflection and repentance. Soon enough, the Easter holiday and spring with its embracive warmth will arrive as a reminder of unfailing love and forgiveness. Hopes of simpler more content days and a big snuggly hug to you all^_^

Practicing Stockinette

After knitting up this simple little garter stitch scarf as my first knit project and then another in green for Trent, I debated for while what to make next. I'm still crocheting like there is no tomorrow. But then I'm also pretty much in love with knitting now as well, and sometimes I just get overwhelmed by all the things there are to make! A good sort of overwhelmed, that is. I finally decided on this hat. The pattern is from Erika Knight's book Simple Knitting which I bought as a companion to her Simple Crocheting book that I received for Christmas from my mother-in-law and absolutely adore. Simple Knitting is just as wonderful and resourceful as its sibling. This particular pattern is the plain pull on hat that is not knit in the round, but worked from the brim on up decreasing along the way with a mattress stitch to seam it together. The whole hat is worked in stockinette, so I was able to get a whole lot of practice on a basic stitch pattern. I used Quince and Co.'s Lark in Chantrelle for my hat, and it is so cozy!  The perfect project to make this last bit of winter  warm and sweet :)  

Local Tourists

A bit of New Orleans architecture for you today. On pretty weekend days when Trent and I have nothing planned (extremely rare), we like to head into the city and wander. We walk around Jackson Square browsing art, eat lunch at our favorite restaurants picking up a sweet after be it a praline or homemade ice cream, and maybe a little antiquing sneaks in if Trent is in a good mood :) This particular day we happened to catch the city on one of its quieter days. It was nice to be a tourist before all the hustle and bustle of Carnival arrives.  

All The Citrus

In the past year or two, Trent and I have made an effort to eat locally grown produce, and with that commitment we have been seasonal eating. We have recently become acquainted with the sweetest little Farmer's Market near our home that we visit on the weekends to get our produce, dairy, and coffee for the week. Shopping the seasons has allowed me to obsess over what each one has to offer, and oh how I look forward to my favorites. If you haven't guessed already, winter has me on a citrus craze, and I can't get enough! Our weekly citrus haul consists of blood oranges, navel oranges, satsumas, tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, and kumquats, and man oh man they are good! I've been dreaming of making a citrusy bundt cake or little madeleines, however I can't seem to set any aside for baking before consuming them all. I'm so grateful for the local farmers and the market that we have available to us so close to home. And eating seasonal produce has made me appreciate each season so much more.