Saturday, May 31, 2014

ode to a black hap shawl




o woolen shawl


your charms inspired


it was gudruns design


that i aspired.


made with shetland wool 


in the traditional manner (oops! ...)


(...forgot to trim those ends)


it should be warm and cozy


 for the shetland isles










dear friends, today was such a good day, chuck and i finally found time to photograph my new hap shawl,  hansel by gudrun johnston. i know i say this a lot, but this is really the most fun knit ever. it's repetitive, in that comforting way, easy to memorize the different parts, as you go. it's got garter stitch and lace. it's a perfect size. yes, this is a pattern to keep, and repeat. i used organic shetland wool, in natural black, in a dk weight. this is my travel shawl for my trip to shetland this summer. raverly notes here


this morning while we were taking these photos, something amazing occurred


as we began to take photos, a fox stepped out on the road!


oh!


honey! look! are you getting this!?



we watched each other for a good while, that fox and i, till he had had enough and finished crossing the road. we took it as a good omen. you take good care little fox. what luck we were out here so early this saturday morning!


today was a good day. today was my birthday. i think one of the best ever. i saw the fox, had breakfast with my in-laws, did the beach all day with one of my kids and grandkids, had the happy birthday song sang seven times! mail and messages from family and friends. and then a romantic dinner with my love (roses from him too :)




and the count down has begun. i actually leave in fifty two days, i'll be spending some time in edinburgh before meeting up with the shetland trip group, the ltp (the lucky trip people we've been dubbed. SO grateful!). all details are firmed up, trip insurance purchased, ouch, now that i'm 'older', so expensive! hap shawl done. check. bressay dress. almost done. check. try to stay in the moment and not while away the next fifty two days daydreaming. check. 
have a lovely sunday dear friends. xoxoxox lori


50 comments:

  1. Dearest, lovliest Lori,

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! May the year to come be FULL of adventures and love. I know it will be! You are amazing and your met the Black Shawl Photographic Session challenge perfectly. Beautiful shawl, despite the ends left unwoven ;-)

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  2. Happy birthday Lori! What a lovely shawl you have knitted for the trip to Shetland.

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  3. Congratulations Lori! It sounds as if you had a perfect birthday, roses, beach, fox, Chuck and the shawl - and what a fun trip to look forward to!

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  4. It is beautiful Lori. And your birthday sounds just perfect. Many blessings to you for the year ahead.

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  5. Happy Birthday! The hap is just lovely. My son has asked me for a shawl of his own and I was considering Gudrun's hap. I think I am convinced now!

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  6. Happy Birthday to you!!! Hope this new year brings you joy, happiness and laughter and a great trip. :-) The shawl is gorgeous and I am sure it will serve you well on your adventure.

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  7. Oh Happy Birthday Lori! That sounds like a perfect birthday! I love your shawl and I am so excited for your trip. I am on my second book that takes place in Scotland I want to go there so bad now I can't stand it! In the book they say the toilet paper in Scotland is really rough because it is tradition that men who rode in kilts with nothing under them had tuff behinds hee hee. I wonder if they really do still have rough toilet paper. You'll have to let me know.

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  8. Stunning pictures...can't wait to see the hap in person!!

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  9. Happy birthday! So glad you had such a lovely day :-) Your shawl is gorgeous, as per usual!

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  10. Buon Compleanno Lori!!!!!!!!
    Your shawl is simply beautiful!!!!!
    xxxxxxx Ale

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  11. Hello Lori,

    The shawl is indeed worthy of an Ode. It is beautifully made and such a lovely design. Perfect for so many occasions when either one needs just a touch of warmth or to be wrapped in cosiness. Lovely.

    And, the sighting of the fox. How amazing!

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  12. Oh such a beautiful shawl - what a way to celebrate a birthday - hope it was a good one :) You will love Shetland - it is such a wild wonderful place full of creative people and magic. Your shawl is perfect and when you return and wear it again, I am sure you will have such lovely memories x

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  13. Joyeux Anniversaire Lori.
    Your shawl is stunning! I never think of knitting things in black, but it really shows the pattern off so well.

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  14. Happy birthday dear Lori, it sounds like you celebrated it wonderfully.
    Love the shawl and will have to add it to my list, it reminds me a little of the Sandness pattern and I love
    it in black.

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  15. Love! Cannot wait to hear about the trip.

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  16. Lori, I am so happy to hear you had the best birthday yet. I hope they just keep getting better and better:) What a fantastic gift you received from mother Nature, I think it is a very good omen for you as well. How fun and exciting!

    Your hap turned out beautifully, though there was little doubt that it would. I love that you knit it in black and that you needed a headlamp,too, because that just makes me smile:) It looks lovely on you! xoxo

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  17. Happy Birthday Lori and I stay tuned - Have a nice week ahead, Inge

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  18. Happy birthday, dear Lori! Wonderful pictures you have!

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  19. Happy Birthday, dear Lori and wishing you a wonderful year ahead! Your hap shawl looks very beautiful and so do you :)
    Lovely photos, and lovely roses....so glad that you had a fantastic birthday!
    Helen xox

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  20. Happy Birthday, sounds wonderful. Family always makes me feel so blessed,.Will look forward to the pictures and stories from you trip. Safe travels.

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  21. Happy Birthday dear Lori! Looks like you had most wonderful early morning! New shawl is gorgeus and looks beautiful on you! To see a fox is a lovely beginning for a Special day. My sister lives in England and one fox is living in their garden - she sees it every day. x Teje

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  22. Happy birthday!!! Your shawl is lovely and once I'm done commenting I'm checking the rav link out. The fox was so kind to wish you a happy birthday :)

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  23. Happy Birthday, Lori! I'm singing you happy birthday for the eighth time. xxxxxxxx

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  24. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! sounds like an amazing day. and how awesome is that fox?! the hap shawl looks beautiful.

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  25. Beautiful shawl, beautiful fox, beautiful you! Counting down with you as I can't wait to hear all about it.

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  26. Lori, I wish you a just a little bit belated Happy Birthday!

    Isn't it amazing that little fox also ventured across your birthday path? Lovely omen, I would call it. I would call your completed black yarn hap a masterpiece. Yes...Gudrun's patterns are so much fun to knit.

    Those roses are lovely...your sweetie surely does know how to find wonderful gifts for a wonderful lady.

    Please do enjoy all the anticipation excitement leading you to the Shetland Isles. Wow! xo

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  27. happy birthday lori! such a beautiful knit & lovely model :)

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  28. Happy happy Birthday Lori, I'm so happy that you had the loveliest day ever. You deserve it! Your shawl is gorgeous, so striking with your hair and a perfect size for travelling. Hope you have a great Birthday week. Mel xxx

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  29. Happy birthday dear friend! I love that shawl, but there hasn't been anything you knit that I don't just adore:-D I think Chuck should be taking you out with that beautiful shawl around your shoulders, XOXO

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  30. happy (a little late) birthday wishes lovely lady x

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  31. Your shawl is lovely! Now I understand how those square shawls are meant to be worn! I actually have a white one, hand-knitted by an old lady in Scotland, sitting in the closet.....I will have to try this out!!! So happy for you that you are off to Scotland soon! Hope you take lots of photos to share!!! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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  32. What a wonderful blog! Your wool scarf I really like. Happy birthday...
    Greetings from Germany, Charly

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  33. Happy Birthday, Lori!
    Love the shawl and the fox, and I can't wait to read about your travel adventures.

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  34. Happy birthday, dear Lori! Your new shawl is just perfect--you wear these things so beautifully. :)

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  35. Happy Birthday!!!!! xoxo
    And the shawl looks gorgeous. garter stitch and lace—oh yeah!

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  36. Happy birthday!!!!!!
    Beautiful shawl and wonderful encounter with the fox!

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  37. Happy Birthday Wishes Lori ♥
    Gorgeous shawl {you always knit the most amazing things} & spotting the little fox must have made your day xo

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  38. Lori! Happy Birthday!! It's my birthday today, fellow Gemini! I LOOOVE your shawl soooo much.
    It's huge and glorious and deliciously intricate and black! Divine. and so are you!

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  39. Happy birthday! Love your shawl, it's gorgeous! And what a treat seeing the fox. So sweet :-) x

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  40. Hi dear Lori,

    Magical. period. Oh, and I especially like the buckshot of you in your gorgeous shawl with the light shining through. Looks so lovely. Miss you. Take care. Love, S.

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  41. That is BACK SHOT, not buckshot. It auto-corrected me. X

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  42. Lori, I'm so sorry that I missed your birthday but it sure sounds like it was a happy, happy one! What a beautiful shawl, and then the special gift of the fox, oh my!

    I'm sure I would be hopeless at getting anything done on the countdown to the Shetland trip!

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  43. Your Hansel is just the most gorgeous thing Lori, and perfect for Shetland. And I missed your birthday ... belatedly I'm sending birthday greetings and wishing you many, many, many more happy years x

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  44. I'm catching up with my blog reading. This is always one of my favourite places to be. Happy Belated Birthday Lori. You always look more beautiful each year. I seem to remember from your last birthday post that we are the same age, so I always feel an extra little kindred spirit for you. Your shawl is beautiful too. I'm sure that you'll enjoy wearing it, especially in Shetland. I can't wait for your trip either because I know that you will share all the loveliness with us via your blog. Your photo's will be the next best thing to actually being there with all the lovely ltp's! have a fun weekend.
    debx

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  45. I'm late to the 'birthday' celebration....but I do love those birthdays that just continue to be celebrated!!! (mine is tomorrow---I thought our 'days' were pretty close together!
    The hap is fabulous----and I can just see you in it, standing at the wharf in Lerwick! Oh, what fun and memories you will be making---and new friends. Can't wait to hear all about your adventures.

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  46. Lori,
    Happy belated Birthday! Looks like you had a wonderful one. Beautiful shawl! And the fox! Oh my! Lucky you. xoxo

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  47. My grandfather, Lawrence Vincent Porter was born in Edinburgh. I was named after him, and yes, he was an artist.
    I love the shawl, so dark and lacey and feminine. It will help keep you warm in the Scottish fog :)

    Hello little fox! What a nice birthday visit you gave to my friend♥

    Happy belated birthday, dear lady. You look wonderful! Coming here was a much needed breath of fresh air.

    xoxo
    Love,
    Loi

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  48. Once again, belated birthday wishes. I always love seeing you having fun displaying your latest creation. The shawl is beautiful. Wishing you continued joy. Tammy

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  49. What a wonderful birthday you had ... Lovely day and beautiful, beautiful shawl. I am tempted to try it ... Maybe after I finish a few projects I already started ( I'm a little out of control right now , too many started projects). Hope you had a wonderful birthday ... It looks like it was full of happies .

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xoxo lori