A GRAND ADVENTURE

 thank you for your sweet words

on my last post.

they made some girls

giggle and blush.

those lovely kind words spread

much happiness and joy.

i wish i could hug each and every one of you!

hello dear friends! 

i am still giddy over my daughter hannah modeling for carrie. so happy things went so well, and that gorgeous sweater carrie designed that hannah was wearing? it was knit by another incredible talent, nicole. is it okay i say i am envious of my girl? i would have loved to have met carrie and have worn a hand knit by nicole! 

i have finished a project that's been three months in the making. it's been waiting patiently for it's photo,

hopefully tomorrow, clouds are gathering over the mountains behind us (praying for rain here), and will hopefully add a good effect and pretty atmosphere. 

a golden necklace arrived from france. in every way, exquisite, still can't believe my good fortune. i won one of vibeke's giveaway's during advent (there were twenty four). a necklace made by tilly, yet another extraordinary talent. the necklace, so delicate, makes music when the leaves shimmer. here are tilly's words, so beautiful i had to share:

"{The land{e}scape series, #371...}

Material:

brass leaves & dark brown leather cord

A wintery scene. The music of the leaves falling.

For Vibeke's Advent calendar, I wanted to make something special. It had to be a tinkling piece. My favourites... Have you ever heard the music of brass bells? I love that sound... Brings me home wherever I am. Recalls me the tinkling garlands I've placed all around the house and in the studio.

But it's also an ode to winter. The pleasure of long walks in the snow, the frozen landscape, the long evenings in front of the fireplace,...

At that time of the year, I wanted to share a little something with you. These brass leaves are a way to invite you in my studio throughout the sensations they provide and the memories that are attached to them...

Hope you'll like the journey..."

thank you so very much vibeke and tilly.

i've joined with ginny to do a first ever mystery knit along (first ever for the both of us). it's ysolda's, it's a shawl and it begins monday thirteen january, that is all i know so far, oh! and there is still time to join!  :)  we discussed yarn colors and decided to be a little bit brave, choosing the coraly pink beaverslide wool shown above. i had to laugh, the other day i bought a new compact, the color is almost exactly the same! it's a little shocking in the container but when you put it on, it's really sheer and pretty. chuck frowned 'you wear makeup?' hee hee, a little sometimes, yes dear. 

my friend gave me this beautiful vintage pot! if you are in the area it's from this shop, so many treasures in there! it's perfect to hold an abundance of watercolor pencils, i've been using them to doodle on envelopes going out in the mail. 

and...did you notice the very grand title of this post?! for christmas chuck gave me a trip...

i am going to THE SHETLAND ISLANDS!!!

on A GRAND ADVENTURE

with GUDRUN JOHNSTON AND MARY JANE MUCKLESTONE

eeeeepps!!!

the adventure is scheduled for summer, but already i'm reading, and knitting, making my first dress, to wear to scotland, i think even in summer, it's cool there. though i have to say, it's difficult to knit while dancing around. i am utterly thrilled. thank you my love. 

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

i shock myself

 down a winding country road, past a shimmery silver lake, thirty minutes from my home, lived the mama of dada, american artist and studio potter, author of 'i shock myself' beatrice wood. we made a day of visiting ojai valley and the home and gallery of wood....

 lake casitas, ojai, california

 but first, a stop in meiners oaks, and a bookstore, 'bookends bookstore & other curiosities'...

  a beautiful former church

 we met the owner, sipped ginger ale, and perused the shelves

 there were charming surprises around every corner

and perfect cozy reading nooks

and outside, we found yarn bombing!

 hello handsome  :)


our next stop, was just a short drive outside of ojai, in the upper valley...

 welcome to beatrice wood center for the arts ~

 outside, workshops were in progress

  more of beatrice's art

 we were graciously welcomed into her studio, and given a tour

 the kilns! my friend karen, also a potter, was thrilled to see these!

  beatrice's tools, still in use...

 with great care

 and some of her glazes

 work of new students

a view of happy valley, from beatrice's home, she looked out on this landscape until she passed at the age of one hundred and five. it's difficult to write about a visit like this, about someone so legendary. feels incredibly special, every bit a privilege.

 back in ojai, after the excitement and awe of the studio visit we were hungry! time for lunch!

restaurant azu

 temperatures were in the high eighty's in the valley, it was hot, thirst quenching sangria was in order!

tapas too, yum!

  my bag again!

and here is where i shock myself...

i rode a camel! i think it may have been the midday sangria, or maybe it was the indescribable inspiration of beatrice, she was a ground breaker, a risk taker. but while we were having lunch, i saw the camels across the street (it was ojai day) and had to ride one. now i don't have to go to the sahara. hee hee.

our last stop was at infamous bart's books. this is one of my favorite places on earth. 

 Bart’s Books, at the corner of Matilija and Canada streets in Ojai, CA, is the home to the largest independently owned and operated outdoor bookstore in the U.S.A. 

each time i come here, i plan to take photos, but after arriving i just want to look at the books! it's a huge place, there are so many sections to get lost in. there is always a resident cat to pet and penny candy in old fashioned glass jars. and bookmarks (a favorite when my children were small). outside, there are more books on rustic wooden shelves. if you arrive after hours, you may take any that you like and throw your coins through the fence. the honor system!

at home, a little piece of beatrice wood is here now, smiling over my woolly knitting room. for a small donation at her studio we were able to bring a poster home.

when i dropped my friend karen off at her home at the end of the day, she gave me pottery she and her husband made! mama and papa bear bowls, with a place for chopsticks! LOVE!

and another yarn bowl. which i put to immediate use. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

thank you for coming along, it is always a pleasure!

xxxxxxxxxxxxx lori