Sunday, November 10, 2013

my favorite things





thank you so much for the sweetest words on my last post. did you happen to notice (out of the hundred or so photos, sorry!) the painted owls near the end? it's our new favorite art! an anniversary gift to each other. we had decided that the getaway was more than enough and no presents would be exchanged. then on our way out of town, we made a stop at a local coffee shop (vanilla almond steamers, ummm) and saw the work of artist ben o`hara decorating the walls. the painting is a pair of burrowing owls on the carrizo plain, one of our favorite places! after paying we were told we could pick up our new painting at the end of the show, in a weeks time. our owls are home now! *happy* every time i look at them.

the yarn is not a favorite (so far). it is 100% nettle, made in nepal, curiosity led me to buy this interesting fiber (on our getaway also). it feels like hemp or linen, and may soften up like those fibers can do, after a soak. i started a swatch to see how it would go, and surprisingly it is softer in the hand than i thought. but it is twisty, and keeps tangling up on itself. i'm not sure what to do, it doesn't want to wind up. any ideas would be most appreciated!

'my favorite things' is the name of the scarf pattern shown in the last photo. still knitting on my lace shawl, but really needing a break, something less concentrated. this is so much fun, it's really more of a recipe than a pattern. using a size seven circular needle and worsted weight wool, cast on seventy two stitches, join in the round and knit all your favorite things! i've made flowers, sheep and the ocean so far. there are so many possibilities and charts available, and it would be fun to make up your own too. i told chuck how great this is! i would use only bits of leftovers for this project. until i quickly ran out of yarn and colors. i don't think i'll tell him i placed an order for more wool, my first here, look at all those colors! this is a perfect project for practicing colorwork. and for very personal gift knitting. :)  raverly link here
last favorite thing (LOVE) is the dancing forest snowy animal print, found here. i'm ready for winter!
have a wonderful week ahead dear friends, xxxxxxx lori


69 comments:

  1. Goodmorning Lori! My favourite thing among your favourite things is the picture in the middle with the dancing animals! About the yarn I do not have a clue, it will be interesting to hear your solution!
    It's raining cats and dogs here in Vienna this morning so we skipped our morning walk. i do get to get out in the rain though with twelve 2-3 yearolds later this morning!
    As I took a very hard decision this weekend, and feel relieved, this will be a good week! Have a good one you too!

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    1. dear karin-ida, the outing with the children sounds fun, wish i were there to help! i'm glad you feel relieved after taking a difficult decision, it was the right one!

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  2. love your woodland corner!!!!!!
    I think that your scarf is coming out beautiful!!!!!
    xxxxxxx Ale

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    1. thank you ale, i'm hoping the new yarn will arrive soon, it is a fun knit!

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  3. that scarf will be AMAZING! wow. love all the great photos.

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  4. Happy anniversary (belated I know). Lovely photos as always. Xxxx

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  5. Love your new painting. I've always found owls to be so mysterious, they always look as if they are thinking deeply about something! I've never really thought about it before but I'm not even sure we have them here? Will have to ask hubby about that one. (He just this instant walked in the door and his answer was 'yes of course, perhaps!) This will need further research!
    Don't know what you could make with that yarn, maybe some kind of rustic looking vest. With any left overs you could make some face cloths - it looks a bit 'exfoliating'!
    Fantastic scarf. Can't wait to see what else you put on it. Would make a great Knit Along project.
    Have a good week. Woke up to snow and multiple deer prints all over the garden this morning.

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    1. oh there must be owls there, with your beautiful forests full of trees! maybe i should come and have a look ;) let me know what you find out?
      this scarf would be a great knit along! it would be fun to share charts, and yarn even! this one isn't planned, so i've no idea how it will turn out, but it is really fun :)

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  6. Hi again
    Just been browsing charts on ravelry and found Pocket Pet Charts by Melaine Nordberg. If you haven't already seen it take a look - so many beautiful animal ideas.

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  7. Another post full of beauty! And I'm totally fascinated by the nettle yarn. I need to try and find some somewhere; my oldest friend just moved back to Scotland after working for nearly 10 years in Nepal. How great to make her something in this yarn! (Sadly her birthday is tomorrow, d'oh!) And apart from anything, handknitting a sweater for my baby from nettle has got to be the apex of aspirational 21st century hippiedom, right? I LOVE it! I'd have to start weaving my own slippers and washing my hair in homemade yoghurt or something :-)

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    1. hee hee, you might want to learn macrame too ;) if this yarn continues to dislike me i may send it on to you!

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  8. I missed your anniversary post! Hugest congratulations to you both. I have tried nettle yarn and really didn't like it. Perhaps for a bag? Love Little Macaroon's hippy apex comment though :)

    Your favourite things are so beautiful Lori, beautiful and happy :)

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  9. i LOVE the scarf on your last photo!! it's seems so complicated and unneeded so I admire your work and patience!

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    1. thank you anna! it's really very uncomplicated, knitting colorwork in the round is very straightforward, maybe give it a try!

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  10. I do hope the yarn softens up, I knit with linen this past year and I didn't really like it.

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    1. thank you karen, i love linen and this nettle too, so i'm hoping also!

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  11. I once knit with some persnickety yarn like that (can't remember what it was....guess I never knit with it again!!), but I ended up winding it into a pull skein, then putting a rubber band around it, and sticking it in a baggie (pulling from the center)....it wasn't much fun, but it helped keep it in its place. I adore the memories piece!!! (In a fit of something I ordered knitpicks pallette in a kit of a gazillion colors....hmmmmmm????? maybe) Hope your yarn arrives soon....can't wait to see this one finished!

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    1. thank you for the suggestion steph, i'll try that! right now it doesn't even want to wind into a skein though, it's a twisted mess. maybe i should soak it first? meantime, i'm tracking (obsessively) the yarn which has been shipped already!

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  12. I adore your owls. Emerson's school mascot this year are owls so we are all about the owls.
    I have seen the favorite things scarf around and it is so pretty, one day, it's on my 'list'.

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    1. thank you tracey! have you seen the little cabled owl pattern for sweaters and hats? i think that would be perfect for your emerson!

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  13. I'm loving this Owl comeback! My sister started collecting them in the 80's and your collection is just fabulous. I'm still hooked on Lady Bugs...but I could easily add some of these adorable treasures to the collection, XOXO

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    1. i love how popular owls have become too! there are so many sweet designs now. i have inherited my granma rose's love of owls, she had a collection i loved as a child, a few became mine after she passed, 25 years ago, those are among my favorites. lady bugs are pretty cute too susan!

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  14. Lori, once again you've brought us all a variety of treats, starting with the owls. I can well understand how the lovely painting will summon memories of a happy anniversary for many years to come.

    Would it be possible to drape the pesky loop of that Nepal yarn around an accordion expanding winding swift that spins around. That way you might be able to access yarn as you need it without hassling with trying to actually wind it up into a ball.

    Your colorful, pattern-ful circular scarf is going to be a winner. Each change of color and pattern is a bit like a new chapter in a delightful story. Thank you also for the link to the source of all those lovely colorful yarns. I'd heard of the company, but never actually checked it out.

    Thanks also for your visit over to my place. I think that the next installment will be the one with the photo that I took just for you.

    xo

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    1. thank you for your suggestion frances, i did try that and that is where the trouble began. this is a yarn that does not want to be tamed. yet. :)
      and thank you so much for the loop photo, i wish i had a magic carpet to take me there right now!

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  15. oh oh oh oh thank you for mentioning where that print was from.
    i love the decor in that first photo. gush. swoon.
    XO

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    1. did you order one cory? it is even more lovely in person :)

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  16. Once again so many wonderful things. I love your knitting project with all the fun patterns. Those are my favorite...cast on and create. I love your owls!

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  17. What a cute owley corner!

    If the fiber is anything like linen, it could be that it is tangling up because you need to start knitting with it from the other end of the ball. ( I hope this helps.)

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  18. Oh boy...you know I'm going to head over to Ravelry to check out this fun fair isle project!!! And more wool! Yay. Beautiful. Love the owls...love it all :)

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    1. this is the most FUN leanne, i hope you make one too!

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  19. I love the owls! Love them! And I love your Favorite Things Scarf, too. Will you knit some owls into it?

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  20. love your little woodland corner. we said the same thing this year ~ no gifts - the time away was perfect ♥
    your owl painting is beautiful xo

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    1. thank you deb, i loved doing this, everytime we look at the painting it brings back a wave of good memories.

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  21. Oh now that is the yarn I want to make my snowflake garland!!!! It looks perfect! Owls are just too cute! My mom and her friends spend hours watching owls in their backyard.

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    1. whoa! owls in the backyard!! i have goosebumps!

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  22. We love Owls in this house too! I adore that first photo - it's like a work of art in itself. A very fitting Anniversary gift to each other. And I am in awe of your favourite things scarf, how neat is that! Enjoy the rest of your week. Mel xxx

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    1. thank you mel :) are there owls on your island? i have a good owl app, but it's only for north america. i need a world book of owls!

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  23. What a perfect anniversary gift for yourselves.
    I am loving the idea of the favorite things scarf-I've also been in the mood for some colorwork, this is a great idea.

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    1. i hope you make this scarf gale, it is a great idea and really fun. it's a good one to pick up and put down, and so special to personalize!

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  24. Delicious! The snow and owls are beautiful as is that darling little picture! I love love your scarf, it's wonderful seeing hand dyed yarn mixed into a fair isle pattern. It's going to be amazing!

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    1. thank you jo! i LOVE the subtle variances of hand dyed in fair isle, it's like watercolor. i am probably going to have to buy more of that too. and this was supposed to be a work down the stash project...

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  25. Nettle yarn sounds interesting but not really cosy... more itchy-like! However, I do understand that you wanted to give it a try.
    The scarf is absolutely wonderful! I am not good at knitting with many colours, but I'd like to try somthing like this - one day :-)

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    1. you can do this irene, this scarf is a perfect introduction to color work! completely beginner friendly. i hope you will give it a try.

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  26. I love those owl prints! Gorgeous! And I think I'm going to have to try some color work. You make it look so easy.

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    1. i hope you do amy, this is a wonderful project to try colorwork!

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  27. It's been so long since I've been by. I love those owls, they are adorable! And your knitting, so pretty. Looking forward to catching up with your families happenings.

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    1. hello darcel! thank you!, it's so nice to see your pretty face, hope all is well!

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  28. Lori, YOU're one of my favourite things!

    Your new owl painting is so sweet. I have a fondness for owls. My grandmother used to collect them, they were all over her house. I inherited one of hers. It makes me smile everyday.

    Sorry the yarn is such a pain. I don't have much advice for it, other than keeping it under control in a ziplock or something and periodically holding your knitting by the yarn to untwist your work. Pain in the a** though. Too bad. I had such high hopes when you posted that pic in your last post. It's so darn pretty!

    And holy-moly, that scarf is awesome!!! Mine would have to include: sheep, poppies, hedgehogs, mushrooms, gnomes, moths, snowflakes, teacups, foxes, birds etc. etc... Lord knows I have enough scraps and leftovers. Now I just have to find the time.

    :)

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    1. :)

      i still have hopes for the yarn, it really is lovely, you are right. and i think my scarf will look a lot like your scarf :)

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  29. I've got a bit behind and am just catching up on reading all your posts properly Lori, (I was busy and had to scan-read them before) So I've been reading from your trip to the artist studio up to your latest post. Thanks for posting so many photo's it must have taken ages.
    I love the way your yarn knits up...I wondered what the 'Aloo' yarn was. In my husbands Persian language it means plum! Now I know it's nettle. It must be hard to knit up, a bit like pure linen. I love that it looks so natural and raw. It's a great colour too. Can't wait to see it made up, the 'My favourite things' scarf too.
    Thanks again for sharing.
    Have a lovely weekend
    debx
    ps Love your fairisle cardigan...especially those cuffs...It looked great in the photos. I might have to copy when I have a little more time for a project. Hope you don't mind...


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    1. thank you so much debby, i really hope you do make the conifer cardigan, i think it is a gorgeous pattern. the nettle has potential, it's a beautiful fiber, even if it is a bit of a challenge :)

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  30. Gorgeous artwork. That yarn sounds interesting. I brought back some scritchy scratchy tangly yarn from Nepal but have never done anything with it. I'm still boggled by all the designs that can be created with knitting. Just doesn't make sense to me at all how it all works out so nicely. Your work is always beautiful. Best wishes, Tammy

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    1. thank you tammy! i hope you find something your yarn wants to be made into, i agree, there is so much to choose from!

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  31. Hi Lori,

    I like the colours of the yarn and the owls in your top photo, and what a sweet illustration! Did I tell you that my 21 year old daughter is one of your latest new followers. She started knitting recently and enjoyed looking at the things you made very much. She likes your other photo's very much too!! Just wanted to say :-) She is very choosy, so it's a big compliment :-)!!

    Love the scarf pattern in your last photograph. It's very pretty!

    Wishing you a happy weekend!

    Madelief x

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    1. i am very flattered, thank you madelief and sweet daughter. i love that your girl is learning to knit, if i could ever be of any help, please email me, lorix5@hotmail.com. wishing you both a very happy weekend too!

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    2. Thanks Lori! I just told her. You made her smile :-)

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  32. Hi, I love the owl picture., so cute!

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  33. i really love your new owl painting. good find! and i'm sure it's so nice to have a treasure from your dreamy trip. (and looooove the woodland creatures print! heehee. i'm so glad you found that on etsy! adoring mine.)

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    1. :) loving all the good memories these art pieces bring! love that you love your woodland dancers carrie!

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xoxo lori