Anemone

Passionate acorns

2012-01-26T17:04:00.001+13:00

A new cardigan for the miss.
I worked on this off and on.
Loved it, hated it. ripped it, reworked it, put it away, dug it up again, gave up, picked up again and ...stuck with it.
Now, it's pretty good.
She is so happy with it.
That means I am happy too. It really does.
We are having the big summer holidays here
and after 5 weeks together, we tend to fight like cats at times.
She is so stubborn and so passionate.
She gets it from me, no doubt.

More pics here, Ravelry details here

Simple comme : biassed

2012-01-23T18:47:00.000+13:00

Heavy Belgian linen, impeccably black and shiny
+
turquoise lawn lining, light and bright
=
Biassed

A simple drawstring skirt, cut on the bias.
A-line and reversible
Home drafted, sewn and worn.

Faut le faire

2012-01-13T15:30:00.001+13:00

A 'grown up' pdf file of the faux bras how to, click here to download if you want some too :).
Made two new versions : 'faux bois' (imitation wood) and 'encore une fois' (one more time).

Simple comme : satchel

2012-01-09T11:41:00.001+13:00

Simple comme bonjour : inspired by Kirsten's beautiful clutch and this book

a home sewn leather satchel from a small distressed but softly supple patent hide

bag and strap fully lined with sturdy Belgian linen

-which serves as handy interface for the attaching of the strap-

plenty of space for crafty and other stuff

favorite bit : the little hole of the front flap.

we are doing beads

2012-01-05T15:13:00.002+13:00

's raining outside. We are doing beads.

Muji girl

2012-01-02T22:59:00.002+13:00

In this new year : make it and make it good friends!

Muji painting, a light but ample summer snood, is finished and I made a pattern in case you want to make one too.

[ Ravelry details - Flickr photo's - pdf pattern ]

Wishes

2011-12-23T12:00:00.000+13:00

Happy and peaceful times to you x

Le plan

2011-12-14T12:40:00.001+13:00

Now that I've finished Chaleur, a test for Julie, and it is impatienly block-drying...
I'll show you my holiday plan.
Fabric : Yoshiko Jinzenji linen and white leather
Books : Drape drape 3 and Lesson1,2
Ehm bit of knitting : new project Limacon in Shibui Heichi.

Oh : this !

Kyuu

2011-11-29T14:28:00.000+13:00

It sure feels good making something that touches the sublime.
Like drawing music. Or dancing rain. Stroking silence. Draping wind.
Gathering beauty.
Thank you again Kirsten for letting me test.
Ravelry details here.

Snappies

2011-11-17T12:37:00.001+13:00

Sprigged

2011-11-08T12:33:00.000+13:00

I was in need of spring a few weeks ago.
It is fair to say, the need has been processed.
In beautiful Holl and cozy Biwa.
Now stashing something lofty.

Outside the saying

2011-10-10T22:08:00.000+13:00

...
Where did I come from and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.
...
Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
...
This poetry. I never know what I’m going to say.
I don’t plan it.
When I’m outside the saying of it,
I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.
...

-so, I had forgotten about Rumi, but then this exquisite post woke me up again.

Oxymoron

2011-10-06T11:42:00.003+13:00

While knitting this exquisite little airy one
I was contemplating
the ephemeral and the fleeting
and yet
I was also thinking of
infinity and the unending
and how is it really possible that
soft steel loops connect into
a transparant veil,
a beautiful breathing thing
as heavy as a sigh?

Zoom

2011-09-20T13:31:00.000+12:00

No secret, I am a Habu/Avril fan. This book offers plenty of ideas and is beautiful. The yellow projects make me smile!

Rorschach yarn

2011-09-13T13:06:00.000+12:00

Lieveke sees pink.
Noor sees red.
Gabriel sees blue.
I see purple.
...from here.

Issey

2011-09-02T17:13:00.000+12:00

Issey is all done and simply beautiful. A sculpture. A necklace. A scarf. A friend. A therapy. All in one.
I am improvising a simple cotton one piece top with flared sleeves to go with.
I am satisfied.
Very.

Envelope

2011-08-22T12:50:00.003+12:00

A most perfect envelope : the Kakomu jacket.
My version in baby alpaca. Warm. Soft. Long and fluid. Blackest. This one is close to my heart, not only because the designer Kirsten gifted the pattern generously, but also because the jacket's construction is simply pure, with minimalist cut, clean line and pristine understated detail (reverse stockingstitch, rolling collar, expressed seams).

The partner loves it too, surprisingly. He is my worst critic, nothing much attains the level of the Gabriel approval, but this jacket was noticed and complimented upon with a little embrace and a whisper 'so nice...'.

More overall pics here and here, and shoulder detail here.

Ravelry tech here.

sapling

2011-08-12T13:31:00.002+12:00

I need to sprout. It feels like winter, wet and chilled and glum, is sitting in a corner of the house, sulking. I will chase it away with something spring and sappy. Athough this one makes the sun shine in a wink too... And so as I've just finished knitting Kakomu (now blocking and hopefully to be assembled this weekend) I think Holl will do the trick. To be my last winterknit of the year.

Man

2011-08-02T22:12:00.001+12:00

the man
...
when i saw the colour of the cashmere
i knew who it was for
the colour of concrete and land
and in the pattern i saw the land again
ridged, grooved, battered, pathed
grey and green
in one
...
my one.

(the scapes are stills out of Gabriels videopoems)

Aspire.

2011-07-25T21:48:00.000+12:00

It is the schoolholidays. Oh yes. Playdates, tired tears, parks, scooters, band aids, sleepovers, giggles, ear-infections, iceblocks, library, lots of cuddles and loooots of lovings, cinema outings, more giggles, theatre plays, hot tears (mine), dinosaurs, goggles, tired tears again, icecreams, screams, cafe visits, snoring in between tantrums (ha).
I knit a few stitches in olive-oaken yarn but mostly just fall asleep in zzze couch, when I wake up - a little frazzled yeh - I stroke my Belgian linens for there was a sale in the favorite store and fondle that funny Habu sizing for I had to have it.

Precious

2011-07-12T13:01:00.000+12:00

We are all a little obsessed aren't we...
The prettiest scarf ever is almost done.

Driftwood

2011-06-30T13:33:00.001+12:00

Ah now this took rather a while to make, but then it’s worth every minute, hour, day and month… All done and I’m almost sad as I so adore knitting very fine and drapey stockingfabric with this wonderfully soft and fine single ply, I could go on for nearly ever. Very pleased though with this lightweight basic cardi - it gives endless possibilities for styling. It looks quite chic on a longsleeved black shirt or dress, more leisurely on T with J(eans), sweet with sailor stripes.

Rav details / Flickr pic and other pic.

Subdued

2011-06-27T19:01:00.004+12:00

To do : more sewing - a few things for the girls...
Doing : reading Ishiguro's moving debut Pale view of hills.
Done : 'subdued' socks , and with these the sock mojo is all back :)
Socks are plain awesome to knit,
don't let anyone tell you any different.
knitted socks are always just a weesome tricky
now that equals fun cause
where's the hoot in easy?

Zeste

2011-06-22T13:36:00.010+12:00

Noor's new cardi. In soft alpaca. Lemony but not sour. Sweet and spunky. Zesty!
In Ravelry : the tech hum, and on Flickr : more mademoiselle in it.
The dress is an oldie that I made for Lieveke, rather a gorgeous hand-me-down I think.

-Lies

Catching light

2011-06-17T13:02:00.011+12:00

My last few projects have all been about catching the game that light plays - on walls, through holes, on vibrant and fluffy textures or airy and subdued ones. It's winter here now, and things are a bit darker and a bit glummer, maybe that's why I need to touch on light...

There is Lumen : my beautiful second knitted cardigan this year, worked in a record mere two weeks, with soft and feathery Tosh merino light, a favorite for sure.

And then Salvia : a little fingerless mitts present for my fiery red head actress friend. Made in a couple of days and a good stash buster at that.

More photo's through here and Ravelry details here and there.

Hope you have a nice and light weekend

-Lies

Light/shadow

2011-05-24T16:45:00.005+12:00

I've been away from the blog for a bit.

Not by lack of want...

I have been Florence Nightingale-ing the loved ones.

Snotty noses a la carte.

Sweet husky voices.

Little cries at night.

Warm tears.

Lots of cuddles.

Even for the sick manchild (smc).

I have lots of things to make though

I made this (Askew) - which ended up wrapped around the smc's neck, -he likes (!)

and can't wait to finish

this (Lumen)

and this (Kakomu)

but

all in good time,

that's

how it

is.

I hope you are keeping well

-Lies

Happy.

2011-04-21T13:34:00.008+12:00

I've been making lots and lots of late,

-a cashmere cardi for Noor and

-a supersoft superblue scarfwrap for myself.

Making lots more too, but I can't keep up photographing it all...

My two best ever projects,

-Lieveke (now 5) and

-Noor (now 2)

happily and colourfully celebrated their birthdays con brio.

It all goes too fast.

And luck was my friend all through the week :

after winning the pattern for her new design Kakomu,

I got a massive giftparcel from Kirsten,

crammed with beautiful things,

one of them a stunning scarf in a limey chartreuse,

which happens to be my favorite colour.

The colour of kindness.

The colour of gratitude.

Happy Easter all!

-Lies

Catch up

2011-03-25T08:55:00.003+13:00

We all had a tummy bug we did.
Now we mending.
A few things to report :
- i have a winding thingy now
- Lieveke is nearly five and we are doing school visits!
- I made these fingerless gloves for my friend Emily's birthday (on Ravelry)
- Noor really really likes the sheepy
- always have a rainbow in the house.

Hope you are well
-Lies

Holes

2011-03-04T14:14:00.005+13:00

People, no more knitting holes.
It was very philosophic and all, but...
the Swiss cheese sarf was the oldest and longest of my unfinished projects.
I cast it off last night and I feel light.
Although it is very beautiful it was a somewhat lengthy exercise with very fine yarn and rather small needlesize. Oh so good to have it finished. Yodel-a-ee-tee (indeed, a cheesy Swiss pun).
More dramatic pics of scarf : here and here
Ravelry details here.

And hey I also finished a most perfectly simple hat and some very complicated socks :)
the Rikke hat : pic and Rav.
the Samourai socks : pic and Rav.

Happy weekend
-Lies

It seems

2011-02-17T17:40:00.003+13:00

... I'm having a grey period too.
-:) Lies

Violette

2011-02-09T16:17:00.002+13:00

Sometimes I need to make something easy peasy.
This pretty shrug for Lieveke was just that.
She on the other hand, felt like making something complex.
A birdhouse with sliding door and guestquarters.

{Ravelry link : Violette}
-Lies

Song to the siren

2011-02-04T13:28:00.005+13:00

Listen to the beautiful ‘Song to the siren’ .

The scaly peaks of the hari pattern and the silvery shine of my little skein of Madelinetosh Merino Light yarn remind me of the perfect mermaid tail…

I always wanted one and so I knitted this small Hari scarf, an amazingly sculpted contemporary piece. A simple and quick knit too. I made the wider version and will attach both ends with buttons, that way I’ll have more styling options (from cowl to scarf to drape to…). I just have to find the right buttons. The yarn is crisp and pearly, the shade silverfox is the perfect (mer)mate for this pattern and...for the song. More pics here.

Sweet weekend all

-Lies

Hanako

2011-01-28T12:01:00.006+13:00

I made another dress for Noor, out of some Liberty lawn. This fabric has the name 'Hanako' which means flowerchild. I like the delicate grey tones of this particular colorway so much.
The dress is a tad biggish, I want Noor to wear it for several seasons... I applied 'proper' sewing techniques this time (bias skirt and edgings, voile lining, button strap)... I'm well pleased with the result, the dress looks very finished despite the simple cut.
The flowerchild herself had to be bribed into a picture. She too was very pleased, with the biscuit.
She is going through some growing pains of late - she has trouble with afternoon-sleeps, some days now she has no day sleep and just goes straight to nighttime beddy. She's not too difficult, and I mustn't complain as Noor has been the champion of sleeps (she did 3 to 4 hour ones right up until now) but I am having difficulties to fine tune myself to a full day life without nap (read- personal break or catch your breath). Also the making of little things (knitting/sewing) and 'netting' (blog, flickr, rav) seems now reserved for nights only...

Wishing you a happy weekend
-Lies

Blue period

2011-01-18T12:01:00.006+13:00

This year I want to do more sewing, for myself too.
I must make use of my piles of really beautiful fabrics.
And so : a new top, from the famed Drape drape 2 book.
I am well pleased with the result, never thought I could make that.

Of course I am knitting too : 'Le(s) Samourai',
new socks - a little ode to one of my most adored films : Le Samourai.
The deep Koigu inky blue reminds me of the exquisite Samurai (Alain Delon's perfectly blue-black hair and cold steel eyes, ahh).
The complexity of the sock pattern seems to be paralleling the Samurai's meticulous procedure of work, war, rule, balance. The plethora of techniques for these socks (magic cast on, knitting on one circular, cableing, chartreading, shortrowing...) requires skill and patience. Some might think that sock-knitting is naf. It's not (wink).
It's splendid.

Happy week friends
-Lies

A new year...

2011-01-12T21:31:00.005+13:00

Every year
again :
celebrate!
Celebrate a beginning
after finishing an end
-maybe you too
will make things,
and have daughters
that 'are awesome'
or have just discovered ice-blocks
and maybe you too will look back
with grateful eyes
and then
look forward
with a hungry smile.

So nice to have you here again friends
-Lies

ps. I finished my first knit of the year : Rinaldo, I love love love it.

And please.

2010-12-23T16:56:00.007+13:00

Noor is thinking exceptionally deep deep thoughts in that second photo.
Then : woosh she moves on again.
I had such fun thinking up this summer top. The knitting was pretty swift.
The yarn soft and cool and the color rich.
Best thing was that I used one of my favorite rather small Liberty pieces, perfect size for this top. Sewed it on to the knitted part (with the sewingmachine even) and presto.
-Ravelry link here
-and a detail here and the back of the top here.

This was my 35th knitting project of the year!
Aw did I really do that much of it?
You know, it has been so good...
I am mostly at home with my two small muses and making knitted things has fitted right in our little home and its tiny windows of opportunity.
The knitting has grounded me, inspired and uplifted me and sometimes even comforted me. It's given me a richer sense of belonging (posting my impressions/expressions on the blog and on Flickr, getting appreciation and feedback from loyal comments and followers) and of friendly communication (Ravelry, where knitters really do come together).
All that, from my thoughts into my hands, over my needles, to... well : to you!

So thank you all so much and please
*be safe
*and peaceful
*and together
*and well.
*Stay well too.
Happiest of holidays to you.

-Lies

Mademoiselle fairyclocks

2010-12-07T14:05:00.008+13:00

Been busy. Feels good.

I made Lieveke's dress, with Liberty fairyclocks fabric, adapting a pattern from this book.
I made full use of the one yard of this lovely lawn, bias hemming the dress for extra length.
She loves it and so agreed to pose for only three gummy bears.

Also knitted her an assorted little 'sahara' vest, from supersoft surimerino. Again she likes. She forgot to charge me gummies for this pose heh.

Then I finished little yoga socks for myself- bright blue ones , have a look.
And I am tinkering on a whole new - victorian- project...

Ravelry details :
-sahara vest : click here
-Fuji socks : this way.

It is snowing back in Belgium but It's getting sticky hot here. Funny world.
Just you keep warm/cool friends
-Lies

Tamarillo kozue

2010-11-16T17:01:00.005+13:00

Voila 't is done.
Sometimes a knitting thing becomes my friend.
My good friend. My soft one. Patient one. Very quiet one. Security blanket one.
Stealing a few rows here and there.
When in doubt, knit a few more.
When tired. only one or two.
Cashmere, lacy-fine and pure.
Slow but steady.
Straight. Long. Wide.
Bright and dark
like yin and yang.
cherry and plum,
jelly and compote,
Elvis and Gorecki.
And : some exquisite filigree holes.
For...
venting
sighing
thinking
appreciating
contemplating
knitting
laughing (as Noor, full of interest for this thing of mine, whipes her snotty nose with it)!

A few more pics, as usual, in Flickr.
And the tech low down in Ravelry.
And special thanks to the designer Kirsten, what a wonderful thing you thought up.

Happy day all
-Lies

Heh

2010-11-08T16:32:00.005+13:00

Heh indeed.
A few sewingprojects in the last couple of months just didn't work out
and every time I even thought of setting up the overlocker and sewingmachine
there would always be one of my kids
wiggling their nimble 'ooooh must fiddle with such fine machinery' fingers
and so I lost a bit of confidence...
but yesterday Gabriel took the kids for an outing
and I made little jodpurs for Noor out of some cherished lawn
from a self-devised patterny-thingy
-ehm I did slightly mess up the first pair (and the pretty Liberty Pepper fabric)-
but heh!

I also finished a sweet little cotton jumper for Noor, I call it the 'cockles' jumper as it has a row of shells neatly placed in the front. More pics here and here, the Ravelry details here.

Onto something new to knit eh. Interested to see what this yarn does for me.
Sure makes a fine ball.

Happy week!
-Lies

Kimono

2010-10-22T13:23:00.002+13:00

To celebrate the warm rays of summersun bursting through the gray springclouds.
To celebrate the last peach blossoms, already sprouting into leafs and fuzzyfruitbuds.
To celebrate my trusted sockbook 'Knitted socks East and West'.
The kimono socks in luscious silk-merino.
Begone then winter wet!

Have a nice weekend
-Lies

Bit behind...

2010-10-18T08:41:00.006+13:00

Bit behind on things.
In between our whole house being painted,
mad toddlers (no sleep) and an allergic partner (fumes)
I did knit a little Damson shawl (I was thinking as a Christmas gift, this year I'm gonna be ready!? But now I kinda like it for myself ha. Stuff Santa.)
And wound a few balls of yarn as soul-yoga.
I sometimes wish I was still and serene and composed
like that pretty little shell.
Oh well.

Damson : closer look and Ravelry details.

-Lies

Noortje...

2010-10-05T20:50:00.008+13:00

Noortje ('noor-cha') means little dear Noor.
She is wriggly and jiggly and squigly.
If there is an other word ending on -igly, she is it.
For sure.
*
She is however, so so loved.
Our little one.
*
Her Ginger cardi is finished.
And I made her a dress to go with it.
Lieveke made her a daisy chain.

Have a lovely Tuesday friends
-Lies

Moon and rice...

2010-09-27T20:43:00.006+13:00

Two knits for Noor :
-a lavender/greyish bolero, which I like to call 'wild rice',as the stitchpattern and color of this knit remind me of my favorite kind of purple rice (with cinnamon, cream, fresh vanilla, canesugar and a little bit of egg - in the oven - perfectpuddin')
-a soft silver bell-hat, 'clair de lune'.

Now all I have to do is get a photo of her wearing her new woollies. Oh Noor. She's now 18 months and very very wanting to assert herself with OH NO and ME-THAT and MORE. I do understand, she's only just learned how to express her thought with words... She's actually quite clear and skilled in using her little words. And I accept that modelling some cardi and a hat (!) is not high on the priority list. Not edible. Not noisy. Not in the least messy or wet. NO. A yummy bribe would work except it would be instantaniously rubbed into the new garment. NO. It doesn't have wheels. Ehm no it's not a pussycat. No no. Can't really catapult it like sticky toast. Hang on, this hat, whoosh it can fly, now that is interesting, but no, not painterly like mud. Not bouncy or milky. Nnnn. Nah.

-knitting details here and here, in Ravelry.

Happy M'day friends
-Lies

Dancing queen

2010-09-16T15:55:00.004+12:00

-You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
see that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the dancing queen!

Dark river

2010-09-14T12:30:00.005+12:00

***
How amusing at first
How melancholy it was later
To see a cormorant show
On the darkening river

-Basho

***

(and I just know the witty master would fully approve of me pairing these socks with his haiku)
Technical (knitting) details : Ravelry
A few more glances : here and here.

***
And this sublime knittingspace, sigh....

***

Sweet Tuesday all
(Don't you like Tuesdays much more than Mondays)
-Lies

Sacre

2010-09-10T10:54:00.006+12:00

I started this shoulderwrap nine days ago, on the first of september, New Zealands first day of Spring. I conceived it as a Spring offering (Stravinsky, Le Sacre du Pintemps) for my de facto mother in law Carol , who's having her 70th birtday today.
I chose an exquisite Habu silk, Kusaki zome, in the colorway Mirobalan, -goosberry. It has a sage-y golden air. The shawl pattern is wonderfully balanced between formal and playful.
It was quite hard to knit - the silk being crisp and stiff, but it came out just the way I had wanted it. Understated yet unusual, light, serene, sheer and full of poise. Like Carol.

Here are the Ravelry details, the pattern is Pogona by Steven West.

The sun's finally out, just in time for Carol's little celebratory soiree...!
Enjoy your weekend
-Lies

Perhaps

2010-09-05T18:39:00.002+12:00

Mmmm. New stuff. More to show later too.
I have an idea for the above Tsumugi silks.
And yes that lavender turned out rather pink.
Lieveke pats my hand and says : but that's the best one of all mum.
Perhaps it is.

Happy new week then...
-Lies

Shoeshop, and other snappies

2010-08-29T17:14:00.003+12:00

It's sunday afternoon and the kids are having playtime at Gabriel's parents,
and what am I doing : looking at pics of the kids.
Ha.

-Lies

Bamboo dew

2010-08-24T13:20:00.005+12:00

The sway,
the rustle, and
softly shining :
the strength.

I started this shawl somewhere in january this year ... The beautiful Habu Kusa kidsilk was a gift from my knitting friend Emily (thank you dear sensei). The color of this exquisite featherweight yarn is bamboo, the 40% silk content makes it shimmer like pearly dew, it's very hard to grasp this in a photo. The pattern of the shawl produces an undulating curly flow, I could block this out, but I won't, it's just right somehow. Although the knitting is fairly straightforward, the Kusa kept slipping of the needles here and there and picking up and fixing was rather frustrating. And so I did the knitting in stages, doing a few pattern repeats every so often over the months. I am so glad it's finished now! I'm sending it as a birthday gift to my mum in Belgium, she is the kindest and strongest person I know.

Here are the Bamboo dew details in Ravelry,
and some more upclose in Flickr.

-Lies

Origami

2010-08-16T14:55:00.003+12:00

Folded footware
from cherished leftover yarns
for
Leila {Night, Arabic}
and Kura {Morningred, Maori},
our friends' dearest newborn twinsisters.
I thought of their names when I chose the yarns,
and the deep colors of a purple-red Anemone-flower.

***
How to : Ravelry,
One more photo here in flickr.

***
It's grey outside
but Lieveke says
there's nothings to stop us from being
happy really.
Well I agree.

-Lies

Magenta

2010-08-05T20:55:00.003+12:00

Magenta is the color of the wool she chose.
She chose the buttons too.
She's amazing.
I just did the knitting/sewing.

See her twirl here and here.
And here are the Ravelry details.

-Lies

New things to make

2010-08-02T17:18:00.004+12:00

I have a thousand plans.
A thousand things to admire, fondle, spy...
A thousand things to make, or at least to try.
How about
ginger for Noor,
magenta for Lieveke,
a skirt and a dress for myself from the new book.

Ah, you monday, you here already..
-Lies

Katsura

2010-07-26T16:40:00.006+12:00

Come autumn The Katsura tree offers fiery leafs.
Brilliantly red or orange or yellow.
Newly knitted socks...

Details here, I have my very own Ravelry account now. Ravelry has -despite it's rather plain-'n-simple looks- dazzling technological links and a vast library of patterns, how stunning. I'm a bit overwhelmed.
-very special thanks to Kirsten for technical support :-)

More snaps in flickr too, a warm (hee) welcome to my my 'sock basket'.

Happy week now all
-Lies

Malachite

2010-07-20T12:58:00.003+12:00

My 20th finished knitting project this year, fast fun to make :
in fact i think i will do a thousand and one more...

{k20} the lacy Baktus.
pattern : Terhi and Strikkelise, here .
yarn : Madelinetosh sock colorway malachite - what a perfect greeeeeen!
needles : 3.5 mm

More pics here, here and here.

-Lies

Making again

2010-07-15T20:24:00.004+12:00

I made some kimono pinafores again.
It had been a while.
I wish I had more time to make little dresses, I so so enjoy it.
Anyway, they are here.
The 'berry' bouquet was a gift from Gabriel.
Very bright red. He knows me pretty well I guess.

-Lies

A cure for cold(s)

2010-07-12T18:41:00.006+12:00

It was cold cold cold last week.
The kids got colds.
The mum and dad got colds.
The kids got sick and didn't sleep at night.
The mum especially got a bit grumpy and tired.
The older daughter wondered if the dollies needed dresses, warm dresses.
The mum
sewed tiny dresses, skirts and tops
and knitted little vests and a wee shrug.
Then all was a little better.

Little notes :
-more details on the little knits here, here and here.
-the dollies don't really have names, they are just 'Dolly'.
-the little blonde used to be mine when I was little, my mun gave it to Lieveke when we last visited.
-the little blonde is Noor's favorite, I think because she is very baby-like.

Keep it warm friends
-Lies

Aura

2010-06-29T12:05:00.004+12:00

Aura scarf, finally finished (heh).
Pattern from the precious collection by Kim Hargreaves
Yarn : Supreme possum/merino/silk color claret 4ply held double
Needles : 8 mm

More photo's here and here.

Happy Tuesday!
-Lies

The beginning

2010-06-21T20:20:00.004+12:00

(the circle)
For every new beginning
there is an old one first
or last if you like
and
there are many things
in between.

So I finished these, I enjoyed toying with the pattern that required 4 mm needles originally, yet I felt like 2,5mm. I downscaled by adding 1 stitch in the garter section of the pattern and by repeating 6 instead of 4 times. I had fun figuring this out.

And also I made this one - for our dear friend Isobel. What a delight this shawl-project, I think I will make many more as it makes an excellent gift. Ideal pattern for the very fine and drapy alpaca I had - I held 4 strands together and attained near perfect gauge (if there is such a thing).

I've almost finished this one. What a contrast to the 2,5mm, here I'm using 8mm needles...

Anyway, I thought at this point, I should begin.
The Rhombus wrap.
A wonderful design I've been admiring for a wee bit now.
I patiently herded my yarns (Habu Tsumugi silk and Habu merino).
I qietly jumped a little circle in the air when the new pattern book arrived in the box.
And this afternoon, while Noor was sleeping and Lieveke placidly playing, I simply cast on.

Happy monday
-Lies

The sisters

2010-06-15T11:07:00.005+12:00

One is swirly and full of color.
The other rosy, buttery and quite fluffy.
Everyday,
they make
my
day.

-Lies

Pommegranate

2010-06-07T15:34:00.006+12:00

Something sweet and spotty in the making, for Lieveke.

Something fast and frilly for Noor. A little skirt.

Something soft soft soft for Noor again. An improvised sleeveless tunic.
Quick and easy 'cosy' with 3.75 mm circ's and 3 skeins of Blue sky sport alpaca, color melange pommegranate.

Hello monday.
Lies

Gabriel's hat

2010-06-02T11:01:00.004+12:00

Pattern : Catacomb by presents knits
Yarn : Malabrigo sock colour eggplant
Needles : 4.5 mm circ (addi and knitpro)
Mods : I cast on an extra 16 manly stitches

This was another great little project.
For four reasons :
-fine pattern
-superb yarn (held double)
-superb color
-he is wearing it.

Keep it warm all
-Lies

Tsunami

2010-05-28T12:45:00.006+12:00

More knitted socks.

pattern : Tsunami from Knitted socks East and West
yarn : Cascade Heritage colour Jade
needles : 2.75 and 2.5 mm dpns

I think my favorite pair so far ( but then I always say that).
The stark and very Japanese pattern is stunning, and awesome to knit.
Had a bit of a struggle with the yarn. I love it for the vibrant colour and the very fine drape of the knitted fabric. But i don't feel so romantic about the unusual elasticity (25% nylon!) that created a transitional ladder in between the needles, no matter how hard I yanked the strand. I ended up shifting the stitches every other round, the end ladders. A bit of a mission, but worth the effort, the socks look flawless now, ahem.

Ah, 't is about to begin, the weekend friends!
-Lies

Honey cowl

2010-05-24T13:33:00.005+12:00

Pattern : Madelinetosh
Yarn : Blue Sky Alpaca Silk color peridot and Touch lace merino
Needles : 5mm Knitpro circ

This was a very relaxing and fast knit. Intriguingly simple slipstitch, good long size ; the cowl can be worn long or short (double twist). I couldn't get a hold of the beautiful yarn called for in the pattern, meuh. But I used some of my stash-yarn : Blue Sky alpaca silk in combination with an NZ laceweight that had exactly the same color-depth, what luck. I needed to combine the yarns to make the gauge and to give the cowl a bit more body. The alpaca silk is probably my favorite of favorites, so svelte... The color is called 'peridot', my thesaurus widget thingy tells me that means 'a semi-precious variety of olivine'. Oh. Right. It's olive-ish. Yellow, green, lime mustard all in one. My kind of shade eh. So, yeh happy with this project! And it's cold today - I'm actually wearing it.

Hope you had a nice weekend
-Lies

Sunsoak

2010-05-17T13:52:00.011+12:00

Dress for Noor.
I still do sewing, here and there, just not as much as I used to, the kids are taking up most of the sewing-time. That's fine.
Hey, they look so golden playing in this gorgeous autumn sunlight.

Cosy monday all
-Lies

Kaiso

2010-05-13T13:47:00.006+12:00

Kaiso (Japanese) is seaplant, waterweed.
So voila : the socks.
These were easy and fast to make.
pattern : Knitted socks East and West
yarn : Rowan 4 ply soft
needles : 2.75 mm.

I really like Makeshift.

And thanks so for all your sweet comments on Lieveke's Lina.
-Lies

Lina

2010-05-07T10:07:00.006+12:00

pattern : Lina by Jokoknits, tikku.blogspot.com
yarn : Touch NZ 8ply merino naturally dyed
needles : 4mm dpns
mods : 4 pattern repeats instead of 5.

Sometimes you know you're making a pretty thing.
This Lina hat was just that.
Look how crisp the pattern comes out.
It fits Lieveke like a glove ('xcept it's a hat duh).
The color, chartreuse, one of my favorites,
The yarn a 100% NZ merino, naturally dyed.
And all in a mere weekend.
Oh I had fun knitting it.

Happy weekend
-Lies

House and book

2010-05-03T15:11:00.005+12:00

It's the first grey and cold day of autumn here.
Let's stay inside.
Yes this is what our house looks like.
Bit messy.

The book is exquisite.
More Blexbolex.

Happy monday
-Lies

Peat

2010-04-28T14:24:00.008+12:00

Peat...
is brown, purple, black, mauve.
is the name of this Rowan Kid Classic colorway.
is deep fresh earthen soil.
is rich silky dark chocolat.
is the true color of my daughters' eyes, and mine.
is the shadow of my heart
I'm sure
when I'm grumpy!
Ah yes
My element is Earth.

Kat hat {k9}
pattern : Precious collection - Kim Hargreaves
Yarn : Rowan Kid Classic shade 832 Peat
Needles : 4mm and 4.5 mm circulars Knitpro nickelplated

and

Ward vest {k10}
pattern : Hearfelt collection - Kim Hargreaves
yarn : same
needles : same

-Lies

Seahorse knits

2010-04-23T14:25:00.002+12:00

Heh I made a new Flickr account for my knitting projects.
Believe me, for me, this is seriously seriously advanced.
I even managed to put a badge in the side-thingy of this blog.
Yes 't is called a badge vous savez.

I know
my friends
you
are rolling over with laughter
chuckle chuckle
I'm rather
late at
discovering the use
of this excellent
photo-device
but I bet
you're
secretly proud
I
did.
it.
after all yo.

So for my
knitting projects for this year go here
socks (yeh...) go here
and objects that inspire the knittig : this way

Thanks!
-lies

Something

2010-04-15T09:47:00.006+12:00

Finished my Tabi socks.
Ah you've gotta love the tabi toes.
And the deep deep red.
pattern : fan tabi from knitted socks East and West
needles : 2.25 mm
yarn : Black trillium superwash merino Sangria

And now, what next?
Sheer (Nani Iro Muji single gauze)
or
streak (Hedgehog Malice sockyarn and Lorna's Laces Shepherd sockyarn)
...

I'm having fun winding the yarn and draping the fabric.
Thinking up
something
new.

-Lies

Everything

2010-04-08T10:57:00.008+12:00

Work in progress, Pattern : Swiss Cheese scarf
Also beautifully worked here
Yarn : Silverdale alpacas, Needles : knitpro 3.25 circular

For Easter we went on a long weekend trip to a place near a mountain.
I was knittig holes.
Lovely slow and soft holes.
And while I was knitting circles
of
nothing
I was thinking
of
everything.

Hope your Easter was just as wonderful.
-lies

Tres pink

2010-03-26T13:30:00.010+13:00

I'm not a very pink mama, I'm not.
But my girls... So it had to be hot pink, I can live with hot spunky pink.

Noor : La droguerie cache coeur in La droguerie alpaca Framboise with plumette Toge.
The pattern, as always, is simple (garter, one piece) yet intriguingly interesting (shaping, wrap construction).
The color combination of the yarns has to be one of my very favorites ever, so rich and fierce and bright. Like!
That's the last of my La droguerie yarn all used up now, thanks again Julie and Anne.

Lieveke : Heather Ross double gauze unicorn dress, pattern from this book.
Ah. The dress turned out to be a challenge - too wide,too short... It lived in the 'will finish some day soon' cupboard for a long time. Then earlier this week I got it out, added an orange belt, bias kimono-style neck-edges and some sort of skirt-hem-extension. Et voila it fits sweetly. Lieveke is besotted.

A pretty place, this.

-Lies

{k6} - a birthday gift

2010-03-19T12:57:00.005+13:00

For Emily.
She is petite, light, lovely.
A little Kiri shawl- two balls of kidsilk haze, shade majestic.
Lacey softness. Silky sweetness.
And in between, the last of the summer's prettiest Hibiscus.
I think autumn started just a minute ago.

Have your weekend nice and soft,
-Lies

Fabric love

2010-03-08T10:29:00.002+13:00

I admit to a penchant for contrast printed fabrics.
The above :
1. a very very fine knit, fabric remnant - just enough for a big scarf or top
2. draped tunic
3. silk scarf - Marni - heavens what an excellent oppy-find!
4. Nani Iro fabric - on the wall in our bedroom.

Have a sweet week!
-Lies

spring fresh and knitting away

2010-03-08T01:31:00.002+13:00

Getting lots of flowers while I spend my sick days in bed knitting away.
Is anything sweeter than knitting for newborns?

Let me know if you know any good *free* patterns for babies and newborns. I slightly modified this one for these hats.

happy weekend, xoK

{k5}

2010-03-04T19:01:00.005+13:00

Fifth finished knitting project of the year.
Pebbles Cardy for Lieveke. Fun pattern. Perfect fit.
Rowan felted tweed. Rowan felted tweed. I just have to repeat. Seriously, such lovely stuff to knit with. The color is called 'Melody' but I really feel like it should be called 'Old Rose'. Cause the tweedyness makes it look like those dried old dusty pinkish roses, ha.
And Lieve is pleased too, it is pretty AND it does have a bit of pink. She has worn it two days in a row, it is still about 28 degrees celcius here...

Love love this one, check out the crochet treasures.

O sweetness : new nani iro 2010.

-Lies

cottonwood, military spy bases, and nazi schools

2010-02-28T19:44:00.007+13:00

I have been sick all week and then some with a nasty cold. I couldn't go to work and I basically had to stay in bed all day, which is pretty relaxing and fun for the first day or so, but after that it feel like a tedious form of punishment. So when Luke suggested another day trip this Saturday to Teufelsberg in Grunewald, it was all the excuse I needed to get out of the house.

Perusal our destination looked very clear on the map but when we got there, we wandered vaguely in the forest for what felt like hours before we finally stumbled upon this place. The steep path up was canopied by ethereal cottonwood and felt very much like another fairy land. We were the only souls about.

Finally we saw the white domes and knew we had found the compound. Hidden in the middle of this dense forest is Teufelsberg, an abandoned spy base built by the US military to keep tabs on the former GDR. If that weren't intriguing enough, it was built on top of a man made mound of old World War II rubble, and at the very base is a former Nazi technical college that was too hard to destroy so they just built up. As a result, they created the highest point in all Berlin (the better to spy on you with, my dear).

The site has been abandoned for years and in a vain attempt to keep people out, it is surrounded by three fences topped with barbed wire. These measure are still not enough to keep out vandals, tourists, and other interested parties who are not afraid to use wire cutters and the cover of darkness to get in and do some real exploring. There were hundreds of cuts, and repairs to the fence that it began to look like a piece of war rubble as well.

We walked around the entire fenced compound for a long time, but did not go in. Luke did some sound recordings of the canvas on the domes flapping in the wind. Birds were singing, the sun was out, and the cottonwood swayed in the breeze. It was beautiful.

I hope you have some adventures this weekend too.
xokimberlee

winter days soon gone

2010-02-21T21:22:00.004+13:00

While everyone else has been cursing it, I still love this winter. But I get it: the relentless snow and cold, people shuffling carefully on icy sidewalks, chapped lips, layers, layers, and layers of clothing and forgetting you have a body under there, slush and hardened crusts of old dirty snow covering everything. I just haven't had a winter in 6 years so I am still holding on. Next year, I am sure I will be singing the same tune as everyone else.

This weekend the sun came out and everything started to melt into urban slushy soup. Maybe spring is soon here? I feel a little disappointed.

I know NZ is the opposite now; humid, sticky, too hot. Its hard to imagine from all the way over here but I will say it anyway: Keep cool everyone.

xokimberlee

{k4}

2010-02-18T14:54:00.008+13:00

Dress,
Drops.
Ah.
Even though everything is sticky and hot and humid, I knit.
Enjoyed this knit very very much - on 3.25 mm needles, my favorite size.
The fine alpaca drapes beautifully.

Artichoke. Flower.
The purple is really astonishing.
Luminous.

-Lies

Watermelon/play

2010-02-12T14:36:00.005+13:00

Enjoy the weekend
-Lies

{k3}

2010-02-08T14:49:00.007+13:00

Moutarde de Meaux
- mustard of Meaux, the outstandingly yummy French one -
is the color of my finished knit number 3 of the year.
A sideways knit cardy for Noor.
Pattern and alpaca yarn La Droguerie.
got it from this lovely shop.
It is really simple.
It is really perfect.
And yes those perty tomatoes and peaches are homegrown.
Ah summer!

<
O o oh this is magically beautiful : Froken O.
>

Have a lovely week now
-Lies

on the needles, w.i.p.

2010-02-07T23:36:00.003+13:00

yes I am finally knitting again for the first time in years.
and it feels good.

The process of knitting still amazes me. Making a whole bunch of knots and loops with string and long pointy needles? Who would think that would work!?! but it does.

This is my first go with lace knitting, and thanks to youtube tutorials and this pattern, I may just pull it off. (I have modified the pattern so I am knitting more vertically than horizontally. because cast 238 stitches?!?! oh no.)

In other news I recently got a new visa for Berlin that allows me to stay for 3 more years. We may not stay that long, but yippeeee!

keep well,
xokimberlee

candyland valentine

2010-01-30T23:33:00.007+13:00

I have been too busy lately. Working overtime hours and doing a german class 3 nights a week. Some days look like this: wake up, ride the u-bahn, work 8 hours, ride the u-bahn, 3 hour German class, ride the ubahn, sleep 8 hours, repeat.

But its the weekend, so I swim to the surface and take a big gulp of air. Today looks like this, wake up, drink coffee, blog, go to the library, go to fabulous second hand store, knit, go to party. aaahhhhhhh.
that's better.

The above pictures were taken from a christmas market. I like to call this market "disneyland vegas christmas." Pure tacky, it stuck out like a giant glitterball in the middle of Berlin's tourist area. Going there was like wearing 5 pounds of costume jewelry and sucking on sugar cubes. and I loved it.

hopefully I will have better, craftier things to show you soon. (i have been knitting!)

xoxoxo
Kimberlee

Some things, some thoughts.

2010-01-25T15:05:00.008+13:00

I don't really have a desk.
I have a few things.
Found.
Made.
I put them together,
sometimes on the cupboard
sometimes on the table.
And then, on the screen.
They
inspire
me.

note 1#
knit : the Aura scarf from this excellent book
fabric : Echino, always a favorite
little dress : sewn for Noortje (that means little Noor)
The stick was really Lieveke's find. It is beautiful.

note 2#
also : I keep forgetting to tell how much I appreciate you stopping by
and having a look. Thank you so.

Happy week to you
-Lies

Lavender

2010-01-19T20:39:00.003+13:00

Finished knit number two of the new year.
La droguerie's Tunique for Lieveke.
She chose the color.
I did the knitting, so fast, 5 mm needles.
The shaping of the tunic is simple yet so lovely.
It was supposed to have bias Liberty edging,
in lieu we chose painted flower buttons.

And, have you read Sagan's Bonjour?
Perfect quick summer read : glamorous, tragic, fresh.
Well, yes it's summer here.

-Lies

palaces at dusk

2010-01-17T00:33:00.004+13:00

a small winter holiday escape to the palaces of potsdam.

The flog rolled in and my breaths were puffs of icy crystals.

Not many people visit this place during the midwinter chill. Many times we were alone in this vast park, miles and miles of gardens and forest stretching before us. With no map for guidance we stumbled upon these enormous beauties like sleeping giants. they loomed above us in the haunted hush.

I was spell bound.

then the sun sank behind the hills leaving us utterly alone in the blue blackness. we were far from the entrance, a little lost and a little scared. Would we have to spend the night here among the sleeping giants?

I've always liked fairy tales.

xoxoxkimberlee

Every one needs.

2010-01-12T17:41:00.006+13:00

This post is about sweet nothings really.
- Happy finds.

*
Tag (made by our friends R.W. Scissors)

*
Pincushion cats (from OUI boutique)

*
Op-shop sunhat she actually wants to wear.
(because it is like a soft towel mum.)

*
Every-one needs a pinkish picture in a frame.

Happy tuesday
-Lies

cozy winter

2010-01-10T02:31:00.004+13:00

pssst. I am still here. i've just been enjoying the beautiful winter here in Berlin.
cold
dark
and a bit romantic.
The snow absorbs the sound so all is quiet.

Getting used to a winterwonderland again has been a fun task and very nostalgic of my minnesotan childhood. I always wear two pairs of sock, unterhosen and (fake) fur lined boots. everyday.

rosy cheeked children are pulled to school in sleds, fat flakes of snow fall like confetti (nature's constant party), and I worry about breaking a hip on the ice.

We stay in and eat long meals with friends, watch films, and listen to radio programs.

ah winter. you can stay awhile.

keep cozy.

xokimberlee

Tatami

2010-01-08T10:07:00.007+13:00

First knit of the year.
Such a gorgeous project.
*
This yarn.
This book.
These 2.25 mm needles.
*
Happy weekend all
-Lies

Wishing you well this new year

2010-01-04T15:21:00.007+13:00

I'll be here.

I'll be
-playing with my kids
-contemplating pretty what-nots
-knitting a bit
-sewing too
-looking for color!

*
I hope you'll be here.

And I hope this year brings you love.
And peace.

(*)
-Lies

And a little bit of sewing...

2009-12-17T09:46:00.005+13:00

The angels are of course called Angelieve and Angenoor.
Noor's crawling since 2 weeks, wow she's like a little whirlwind and things are no longer safe.
So we have our tree on the cupboard.

Happy preparations to you
-Lies

[ff1]

2009-12-07T11:55:00.003+13:00

[1]
[ff1] for 'finally finished number 1'. I've committed myself to finishing one already started knitting/sewing project first, before starting a new one. This is the first of -I hope- a few.
It is the 'trendy chale' in Rowan Kidsilk Haze, color liqueur, neeldes 4.5mm. Terrific idea this simple triangle scarf in garter. I'm so pleased I finished it. Next to the knit, a linen Nani Iro, to be a summertop, for myself. Has to be the new project, the fabric is too beautiful and has been waiting in the closet for too long.

[2]
Homegrown : our plums and artichokes. I adore them both. The boiled artichoke-leaves dipped in melted butter and crushed garlic mmmm.

[3]
Lieveke made a spectacular little painting. Called plumspider with sparkledash. The color is spot on.

[4]
New little pinafores.

I adore this blog.

Happy week to you
-Lies

Little bramble set

2009-11-30T10:26:00.013+13:00

I found this lovely yarn. It was the color more than anything, that attracted me. Heather. Hues of lavender, blue, taupe, brown and dusty pink, all in one, depending on the light. And softer than soft. And so : what to knit...

I tried this intriguingly beautiful bobble stitch-motif : 'bramble', in French 'point Astrakan'. The bobble effect shows on the purl side of the work, so pretty!
-the motif-:
-R1 (and all uneven rows): purl
-R2:*make 3 stitches out of 1 (k1, p1, k1) then purl the following 3 stitches together* repeat till end
-R4: knit
-R6:*purl 3 stitches together, make 3 stitches out of the following stitch (k1,p1,k1)* repeat till end
-R8: knit

I felt very inspired and decided to knit a baby set with both of the above. The (very simple) design is my own, and it would be great if you could try it out too.
You need : about 350 meters of 4 ply yarn (alpaca will be snuggly warm and soft and will give the bobbles a bit of a halo - linen or cotton will be more breezy and make the motif look more abstract and modern...) and a set of 3.25 mm needles (I'm hooked on Addi circulars).

Vest (size 6 to 18 months) :
-start with right front : cast on 66 stitches and knit in bramble motif until work measures 9 cm(for a dainty short vest, very pretty over a dress) or 14 cm (long version) ending with row 8 of the bramble motif. Start decreasing as following : bind of one stitch on the purl side, bind off 2 stitches in the knit side), repeat decreases until you have 27 stitches left on the right side of your piece. Work these 27 stitches in the pattern for 2 cm (one pattern repeat), put stitches on holder, break yarn.
-work left front : same way as right front (be careful to keep the pattern correct as you work the decreases) until you have 27 stitches left on the left side of your piece and work those stitches for 2 cm in pattern ending with row 1 of the pattern (a purl row)
-work the back : cast on (added to your 27 stitches of the left piece) 20 stitches for the neck edge, purl the 27 stitches on the holder of the right front piece, knit these stitches (total of 74) in bramble motif until back measures 17 cm from the neck edge (or 22 cm longer version). Cast off.
-finishing : sew the side seems together (the arm openings should measure about 10 cm at the front), sew 4 little buttons to the underlying front piece - yup you didn't knit buttonholes and you don't need to, the buttons will just hook into the little holes of the bramble bobbles.

Hat (size 12 months)
note : I didn't knit this hat in the round as the yarn is quite fragile and snaps easily when I pull it hard (which you kinda have to do when knitting in the round, to avoid ladder-holes), but if you have a strong yarn then go for it - it saves you sewing up time, cast on 88 stitches, knit everything (no purling) and just omit the k1 at the beginning and end of the decreasing knit rows - these stitches are added for seam-allowance.
-cast on 90 stitches - knit in bramble pattern for two pattern repeats, then knit in stockinette for about 12 cm. Start decreasing on the knit side : k1, (k2tog, k13) 6 times, k1. Purl one row. Decrease again on the knit side : k1 (k2tog, k12) 6 times, k1. Repeat these decreases as follows [k2tog, k11] then [k2tog,k10] then [k2tog, k9] and so on, starting and ending the knit row with a k1, and purling every alternating row until there are 24 stitches left. Then : k1, (k2tog) 11 times, k1. Thread through and secure crown.
-finishing : sew up the side seam with mattress stitch. Flip the bobble pattern (on the wrong side) of the rim over so it shows on the right side of the stockinette pattern.

Other than that - I found these beautiful knitting links

-Nini Naphtaline (my favorite of the moment)

-Knitting a lot (wonderfully clever patterns!)

-The blog without a name (oh that swing cardi so sweet)

Have a lovely november/december week all
in the northern hemi' (Kimberlee!!!) : cosey up and perhaps even smell the coming of snow...
in the southern hemi' : to the refreshing beaches now...
-Lies

Cheerful inside, outside

2009-11-25T10:09:00.004+13:00

Just a few images of the kids and some happy garments I've been sewing for them.
The crazy Liberty dress reflects the inside of Lieveke perfectly, I think haha.
Noor's cords are pretty compatible with all that cheer. 7 months. She says mama!
I'm cooking up a baby-knit with bobbles, more later this week.

Happy midweek friends
-Lies

Autumn days nummer zwei

2009-11-14T01:59:00.003+13:00

From one of my autumn walks a few weeks ago. I after spending a week inside with strep throat, I like looking at these pictures to remind me of the outside world and the beauty of my favourite season.

All of Lies' pictures look so breezy, bright and summertime-ish. Those happy young faces with rosy cream cheeks, sparkle eyes, and twinkle smiles. oh how I miss those girls!

okay now I must dive again into my bureaucratic black hole of immigration paper work. Its all in German, somebody throw me a life raft!

We did a shoot

2009-11-10T20:49:00.007+13:00

Oh my, we had true girl fun last week, for the Etsy.
Lieveke is a pro at posing now ha.
It was Noor's first time.
She kept falling over, having mastered the sitting-skills only recently.
Other than that, I think she's really really into the red flashy dot of the camera.

I'm inspired by these wonderful pretty 'spaces' at the moment :

Misako Mimoko

and

Le Zigouis

and

Perdi of fio a meada.

Happy! You?
-Lies

yellow, red, white

2009-11-06T22:53:00.003+13:00

This is where we live now. I have always wanted a yellow room and I tell you, now I have really got one. Its sometimes like waking up in a field of marigolds and other times its feels like we live on the face of the sun. Our (blood) red bathroom, or as I like to call it the 'redrum room', is just as bold. No subtle earth tones here. Ditto the kitchen, which actually has a shower in it placed right across from the oven. But don't worry, the shower is semi lacquered with a bright red cello paper (for privacy, obviously), otherwise that could be an uncomfortable cup of tea while your roommate has his morning shower.

So yes, it is quirky. Yes the redrum room locks from the outside in, and yes our floorboards creak when the neighbors walk inside their apartment. But I really love this place. Our balcony overlooks the Methodist church's courtyard where they keep rabbits, and we also have a view like none other (see this post). The elder home next door means things are always nice and quite. And since we don't have any roommates, bring on the kitchen showers!

Okay, that's all for now:)
xokimberlee

Anemones and violets

2009-11-02T15:40:00.004+13:00

Outside : ahhhhh so grey.

But friends
-I found anemone cups!
-the vests are finished (the alpaca : sublime)
-if you look through a violet parasol everything is ... violet, I guess

Oh : this project looks so appealing...

I hope you find your little window of happiness also this week
-Lies

autumn

2009-10-28T21:31:00.004+13:00

This used to be my favourite time of year, all those leaves changing colour, Halloween festivities, fall harvest, apple cider, pumpkins, squash, wheat, corn, the new cold bite in air, and of course my birthday. Then when I moved to NZ, most of those things aren't around or are just too different to recognise and my birthday is in the spring! Autumn in NZ is the prelude to a rainy winter with no Christmas.

I am so glad to have a northern hemisphere autumn again. Everyday I ride through the colourful soggy leaves glued to the pavement, take in the chill, and anticipate Christmas. Its fantastic! We're having a Holloween party for the kids at work and we have spent a lot of time going on nature walks, decorating the kita, and talking about the harvest.

All these pictures are taken from my neighborhood and most of them are view from our windows. Next time I will take on an inside tour:)

and I know I will be missing New Zealand when summer hits, because that country really does summer well. But for now, I am very happy to have my Fall back.

Cheers!
-k

Ah

2009-10-23T10:11:00.005+13:00

Ah, sometimes if you look at your stuff, it's actually quite colorful and fun. And the contrast! Gabriel says it reflects my soul. I'm sure it does. Black and white, and all the colors in between.

And yeah, I'm sewing again - hope to upload into Etsy this weekend. Poor Etsy, it's been quite empty for a while now, OK I'm trying to make amends... If you are very keen on any of the above - let me know and I can reserve, as I've already sold a few through OUI boutique, I can only put up one of each through Etsy.

Have a refreshing weekend!!!
-Lies