yellow

there has been a lot of experimenting going on around here. i've made some changes to my blog, thank you to a friend for giving me some tips (i'm sure i would not have figured it out on my own!) . i don't know why it makes me feel so uncomfortable to do this, but i had to walk away from my computer twice before committing to click 'apply'. i hope i know what i'm doing!

every afternoon as soon as i get home from work, i've been outside birdwatching and trying for photos. my favorite of all is the tiny little yellow one, i still am not quite sure, but i think its the lesser goldfinch. the top photo shows it like i saw it yesterday (a million miles away) and the other two photos are film taken a few years ago, but i think its the same bird. i am going to keep trying for better photos. i love this little bird.

so i tried to make it, in cross stitch. i used to love to do this. but then i used to be able to see better. oh my gosh it was challenging to do. i want to do more, but next time i think using a bigger counted fabric would be a better idea. the bag was made out of an old dress and blouse i found at our local thrift shop on saturday morning. i really lucked out finding a large linen dress, that was in disrepair. it even had beautiful mother of pearl buttons i can reuse. i like my new bag very much, but so does someone else, and her birthday is friday. maybe i will surprise her.

my sweater graduated from the tiny size 1 needle to a size 3, so it's really moving along now! as long as i don't touch any other sizes (projects) this is beginning to feel perfectly normal (and not like i'm knitting in miniature).

before i leave (late for work, again!) i wanted to share a few links with you:

if you are in the u.s. don't forget to enter to win this contest (there are only 10 days left!)
and this one is open to almost the entire world ( i have three entered! oh the prizes!)
and there is a very good thing happening here


i hope you have a great day,
xo lori

small spring

some small spring things,

little chirpy song birds,

a new small candle holder, found here

small blossoms

and tiny new vines

a just found doll house (can't wait to sew new curtains and knit new rugs, and paint and paper! for the small person still in me)

and the teeniest wee cupcake (a gift from a big hearted friend)!

spring is showing itself in many subtle ways, mostly with the time change. i like these longer days, the sun is still shining when i get home from work now!

in my excitement of the africa posts, i forgot about the give~a~way and green sleeves . so tonight, i added all your names to a bowl and chose two pieces of paper: pam of yoborobo and anushka of journey. i hope you'll like them.

happy spring everyone, or fall, depending on where you are!

♥ lori

big cats

the first time i saw a lion in the wild, i cried, not only because i was awed, but because i was terrified. it wasn't until after the shock and thrill of seeing them sunk in and i began to learn of their dwindling numbers, that i began to realize the privilege of being in the company of these great cats. ten years, three trips, five countries (and many more lion encounters later) i can say that africa and it's lions have truly changed my life.

i'm going to try to do justice to a new documentary and book by conservationist filmmakers Beverly + Dereck Joubert, called The Last Lions.
The Jouberts, both National Geographic Explorers in Residence based in Botswana, are dedicated to understanding and preserving key species throughout the African continent. The couple is particularly interested in large predators, and lead the Big Cats Initiative, a campaign to stop shrinking populations and bolster public awareness.

ngorongoro crater, tanzania

serengeti national park, tanzania

masai mara, kenya

zambezi river, zimbabwe ( on safari)

madwike game reserve, south africa

i've not yet seen the film, but i know it will be epic. i've been collecting the Jouberts books and watching their videos since the early 1990's. they are incredibly talented filmmakers and photographers, and they know the Okavango (and lions) probably better than anyone. if you have an interest i've included some places for you to visit, where you can learn more.

some lovely links :

to meet Beverly + Dereck and hear them share about their new film go here.

to watch the official trailer of The Last Lions, go here. (Fantastic)

for more information about african lions and the Big Cat Initiative go here.

to buy the book, go here, or your independant book seller.

and ...
Enter The Last Lions Sweepstakes and you could be the lucky winner of an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to experience the lush landscapes, abundant wildlife, and fascinating culture of Botswana, Africa. You will even get to visit the Okavango Delta (where The Last Lions was filmed) on a 12-day private safari! This incredible trip includes round-trip air to Botswana, travel within Africa, and all hotel accommodations.

Enter once a day for your chance to win, now through
March 31, 2011.

Safari Njema and good luck everyone, i'm crossing my fingers for you!

♥ lori

p.s. i had so much fun going through my old photos, finding the lions and scanning them in to share. i forgot about a lot of film that i want to do this with. i know what i'll be dreaming of tonight! africa africa africa...

in deep

i arrived at my work wednesday morning to find my husband parked out front in his truck. he was there (smiling his really cute smile) to hand me this , the new green issue of deep magazine.


green sleeves is in deep magazine! can i write what it says?


"Is there anything more perfect than a steaming cup of coffee after a surf session has left you chilled to the bone? There is, thanks to Lori Graham and her colorful Green Sleeves. The hand knit cup sleeves are more than just a fashionable accessory for a drab paper cup; they offer another way for us to do our part to save trees, energy and landfill space. Every day millions of cardboard coffee sleeves wind up in the garbage, ultimately contributing to our growing trash problem. But a handmade Green Sleeve-- which Graham says has that "feel-good factor" ends up back in your pocket, purse or glove compartment where it can be easily resurrected for your next cup of joe.

Graham herself doesn't go anywhere without her Green Sleeve. At her local cafe`, the baristas all know that she'll pass on a cardboard cover. She says the sleeves are great for smoothies and other cold drinks too-- the wool and silk yarn is comfortable to hold and does its duty keeping the temperature of the beverage away from sensitive skin."
Graham's Green Sleeves can be purchased for $12 at lindylove.etsy.com or at Epic Bowls, 819 B State Street, in Santa Barbara's Paseo Nuevo.



:)
:)
hee hee
thank you honey for helping with this. (my husband is editor of deep)




i've been making several in new spring colors. these are my favorites so far. i've added all of the above to my shop, where shipping in the u.s. is free and everywhere else in the world a dollar. and because i appreciate so much all your kind words (and because you've patiently listened to me go on and on about g.s.) i would love to give a couple away. if you'd like to have one just let me know in the comments, and i'll choose a name (or two) next friday, a week from today. unfortunately i haven't figured out how to send a coffee, tea or latte to go with them...




it was hard to stop at just three photos of this new wool of mine. i bought this in nyc at purl soho. hannah, i mean rose, helped me choose the color. she said it looked like sunshine and that made me think a soft golden sunshiny sweater was really what i needed. thank you hannah rose and erik, my middle son, who gave me the gift certificate and money to shop in the city (purl!) i love you both so much and this gorgeous yarn!

pattern :leah's lovely cardigan

book: more last- minute knitted gifts (love this book!)

author: joelle hoverson

yarn: madeline tosh, tosh merino light

color: alabaster

here is what two hundred and sixty eight stitches on a size one needle looks like. it is a bit like knitting on toothpicks. but don't worry, after the ribbing i'll move up to a size three. haha! oh dear what have i started? remember the title of this post? i really am.

happy weekend everyone! my sister lindy and i are going here tomorrow!!

♥ lori

the adventures of rose and thornbush in the big city

my young daughter hannah, (rose now, she has taken her middle name) lives in nyc. this is the story of what happened when i visited her last week and tagged along, hoping for a glimpse of her life. this would not be the trip where theatre and museums were involved, this was the trip where i could see how she lived.


fun began the moment i arrived, when the pilot announced it was snowing! i excitedly text rose this and she, less than enthusiastically responded she knew. she more than once smiled at my happyness seeing the snow. it's funny how quickly you get over that she told me. because by now she was. but she was glad it showed up for me.

the adventure begins where rose lives.

the adventure of stopping to look at and admire the snow. and touch it a lot .

the adventure where i (blissfully) choose new wool at purl soho and hannah rose takes liberties with my camera.

the delicious adventure of eating and shopping and sometimes doing both at once.

where rose goes to work at her bar tending job and i tag along adventure.

taking a taxicab home in the wee hours of the morning after a successful night of work.

the day in which hannah rose and i go to school except while she's in class i entertain myself, on campus, and off.

where we meet between classes for lunch and and an impromptu manicure and at the same time make new friends adventure.

the late date dress adventure.

hannah rose told me she had been invited to the ballet. tonight. but she didn't know if she should accept since i was in town. it only took one moment for me to insist she should go, after all, this was the new york city ballet, not an opportunity to be missed. but, she didn't have anything to wear. so when she headed back for her last class, i walked straight down lexington avenue to the shops.

acting as her personal assistant (hee hee) i took photos of potential dresses and sent them to her.

when she got out, at 5:30 pm we met and hurried back to the store. in the meantime she hadn't heard from her date and was beginning to feel concern. at 6 o'clock she got a message. she was to meet him at the lincoln center at 7 pm.

this was a big dilemma. first, she would not have time to return home to get dressed and second, i would have to find my own way to her apartment. alone. in the city. in the dark, and it is four trains away. and i don't know where it is. i'm petrified.

so, back to her. we narrowed down a dress, but now we had to find shoes and tights and maybe even accessories. we are each on different floors, searching, texting (where are you?), trying to stay calm. in a long queue to pay and then racing back to the dressing room to get ready.

stuffing old clothes in the new shopping bag. hair, makeup, check, check. how do i look mom?

we raced out to the street and hailed two cabs. she described in detail where my driver should take me (washington heights, a long way away) and she jumped in another going the opposite direction.

her roommate and i waited up. she arrived home with coronas and cheezits, and stories of her evening. the best part, she arrived five minutes before her date. and when it was over he asked her to la boheme next (and he told her she was gorgeous). this time she'll be ready.

the adventure of chelsea and how green sleeves had it's moment in nyc.

visiting the galleries in chelsea was greatly anticipated. so was highline park. what i didn't know was that there are very high end boutiques there too. they are unmarked and no photos are allowed (go here if you're interested). we went into comme des garcon and balenciaga, in between gallery searching.

if you've ever been in a couture boutique than you know how it feels. and especially if your in a wooly mammoth patagonia jacket and ugg boots. haha.

comme des garcon was as austere and stark and elegant as you could imagine. we recieved the look of disdain and i was asked to hand over my coffee cup (tea, i was cold). and then we looked around. 1000.00 for a slip of a teeshirt, yes please, i'll take two!

when it was time to leave, i went in search of my cup, more because it was wearing a green sleeve than for the tea. it was on a table all alone. in the center. picture ultra modern minimalism. then my little sweater wearing cup. all the sales people were looking at it. all five were interested. 'did you make this'? ' it is wonderful' ' you should sell them' . i felt like i had given birth to it. if i didn't care that they look down on me, why did it make me so happy that they complimented?

the train and the boy and the happy girl.

back to brooklyn.

rose is moving back to brooklyn this week. now when she says mama, i'm making tea. i'll know just where.

numerous adventures didn't make it into this extra long post. there were the friends i made, and how i got my name, thornbush, the tattoo night (not rose) and shopping at catbird. sleeping in a room the size of a short subway train, with four girls and a broken boiler. and the whiskey, oh the lovely whiskey.

thank you for everything my rose hannah daughter. your life is an adventure and i am proud, so proud of you. when i told you i was afraid and that you are much braver than me, you told me it was not true. you said i was brave and i had taught you how to be.

thank you for that.

thank you friends for coming along,
♥ lori + hannah rose