bressay

my bags are not packed, but i'm ready to go...

my first knitted dress! this is bressay, done and done, and ready for it's journey to scotland and the shetland islands (again, deepest apologies for repeating myself, unless you are new here, welcome!) and again standing by the theory that the longer an item takes to make, the more photographs it gets, hee hee. this truly was an outstanding pattern, easily accomplished by even an ambitious beginning knitter. it's top down, a teeny bit of fair isle, sleeves in the round and lots and lots of stockinette stitch (i omitted the pockets). what makes this dress so soft and light (and cozy!) to wear is the loft wool it's made with. one of my favorite yarns ever, there is something magical about the delicate, yet sturdy fabric it becomes. my hap shawl, hansel, joined in the photo shoot, and completes my shetland outfit, plenty layered knitted warmth now  :)

bressay 

 these are my travel journals. in the foreground is a brand new blank book (waiting to be filled!) and materials, to give it a personalized cover...

 trying something a bit different, embroidery, crossing fingers it will work!

only thirty three more sleeps ;)

xxx lori

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