may days

I got the first whiff of honeysuckle today. Near the entrance to the park, there was some blooming...smelling sweet and just like summer.

We'll have tons of it blooming in the woods behind (and in front) of our house in the next week or so, and the entire neighborhood will smell heavenly! Of course, that usually means the heat and humidity are not far behind, but what are you gonna do?

I'm doing some projects around the house, as well as working on some new cross stitch designs. I hate to admit it, but the warmer weather is making me want to put my current knitting project aside. It's a sweater, and having it on my lap isn't exactly cool. Maybe I'll switch to a sock or some sadly neglected blanket squares:

I've got 40 or so squares done, but I think I need 100 or more for a lap size blanket. I tend to work on them in spurts, instead of trying to do one or two a week. Maybe that would be a better approach. I'll have to give that some thought.

There's also the quilt project, which is coming right along. Lots and lots of "pancakes" for a cathedral windows quilt:

I had hoped to have this done by now, but as you see...not done. It's at the top of the list of things to finish, so hopefully, I'll press on (ha!) and get it completed by the end of this month.

Perfect projects for warm spring days!

happy thanksgiving

The pie baking and bread making has commenced over here in our neck of the woods. So for everyone celebrating, Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello, Fall

Today's the first day of fall (in the northern hemisphere, anyway). Can I just say....Yippee!!

We're still waiting for cooler temperatures around here, but at least the humidity has dropped and that gorgeous autumn light is shining outside my studio window as I type this. It's a blue sky, green leaf kind of day. But there are some leaves on the lawn...the first of many to come.

I think I'll sit back for a moment and enjoy a cup of tea, a little knitting and a new season. My favorite season!

Knitting Season

Ah, September. You know what's so wonderful about September, don't you? It's the introduction to October:)

It's probably not much of a secret that October is my favorite month out of the year. I adore autumn, and everything associated with it. I love how the light changes, the air becomes crisp and cool, the trees turn into torchlights of color.

And this is the time of year that makes me want to cast on everything. My knitting queue grows and every new pattern (and plenty of old ones) make me want to knit the season away.

Do you have a favorite season?

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my American friends, here's hoping you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! (And for those not celebrating this American holiday...have some pie anyway!) :)

In love with lilacs

They are all gone now, but I enjoyed our lilacs this year so much. I just wanted to share them one more time!

We had a bountiful bloom this year. Probably from having several ice storms during the winter. I know lilacs like a hard freeze during winter to bloom well.

There's nothing quite like the beautiful scent of lilacs!

Colors of October

I love the colors of October

1. yellow and green leaves over the pond, 2. October, 3. Fall Colors -- Yellow, 4. 365/274 Finally a real fall day, 5. Fall Relections, 6. 'Fall Layers', United States, Colorado, Grande Mesa, 7. Fall colors 1, 8. Fall 2011, 9. Fall 2011, 10. Fall colors in the U.P., 11. Colours of Autumn, 12. Delicious autumn, 13. Early one October morning

Hello, October

Did I mention I love October?

Summer Moments

This has been the most unusual Arkansas summer I can remember. We've had plenty of rain, so everything has stayed green and lush. Temperatures have topped the 90's only a few times so far. We've had many days in the low 80's. This is truly unusual...and wonderful! As a person who dislikes hot weather with the intensity of 10,000 suns, this is cause for celebration.

And inside, where I'm busy getting ready for my first fiber festival, things are perking along. I'm working on several new things to debut in September. I think you can get a pretty good clue as to what one of those things will be from this picture:

I've had sock yarn in the shop for a while now, but I'll be adding several new bases to the lineup, and just generally increasing the amount of yarn I produce. There will be a few other surprises coming along as well:)

Year in Review - 2013

I've never been very good at the whole "looking back" thing, but 2013 was a pretty great year around here, so I thought I'd give it a little go this time.

January

I got a new desk in January.  I still love it.  And well....snow!

February, March and April

Lots of sketching and watercolor painting

May & June

Our big trip to New England...for the first time.  Loved every. single. minute of it!

July, August & September
I made my first batch of soap, picked up the pace on my spinning, knit several socks, and, oh yeah, we bought a loom!

October
Grand opening month for October House Fiber Arts!

November & December
Dyed a lot of wool, started the Fiber Club, and celebrated the holidays and a great year!

Happy Thanksgiving

It's very cold here this week....not exactly our normal 70 degree November weather.  So, I'm relishing the wool-wearing weather while it lasts. It's also Thanksgiving week here in the US, and then of course, the official start of the holiday shopping season.
I love Thanksgiving...I love the autumn-ness of it, I love the turkey and the dressing, the pies and the veggies. I love time with family and friends, fireplaces, hot apple cider, board games and movie nights.

And, I'm thankful for you, dear reader, who read my ramblings and look at my pictures and shop in my little wool-loving shop!

Happy Thanksgiving :)

November days

Wow, I've been busy dyeing a rainbow of colors these past few weeks.  I looked up and it was November!
The woods around here have burst into color and it's turned cool and crisp...and yummy.  Thanksgiving is just around the corner (yes, really)!

These are days to enjoy...

Colors of Spring

Spread the sunshine!

Inspiration : Spring

How 'bout you?  What inspiration do you get from spring's arrival?
I always feel like doing a thousand things.

In a totally unrelated note, I have cast on some new knitting...a baby sweater, for an upcoming arrival.
The color is "Wisteria"....so that's spring-related, eh!

Snow Day

.....We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog break for a special announcement :  SNOW DAY!

That's right, folks.  We had a bona fide White Christmas in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
All together now...WAHOO!!!!

(Filed under " I love Winter!")

...we now resume our regular programming...

A Simple Christmas : On Trend

It seems as though I'm not the only one who's focusing on A Simple Christmas this year.  As I've been reading in my blog reader, and around the web, I've noticed several posts about simplifying and celebrating naturally.

Here are a few :

Homestead Revival - Decorate the Halls, Simply

Moss Eclectic - A Natural and Simple Christmas

Fruetcake -  A Simple Christmas Inspiration

Ethel Gloves Your Day - Natural Outdoor Holiday Decor

Simple Mom - Plan Your Peaceful Christmas


My Pinterest Christmas board :

What are your favorite simple Christmas ideas?

Friday Favorites : Fire

Flickr Collage : Fire

1. Fireplace, 2. firepit, 3. Backyard Firepit - 4 October 2008, 4. The Fireplace, 5. Fireplace, 6. Firewood, 7. In the fireplace, 8. Firewood 2, 9. Firewood, 10. Making a fire in the outside fireplace, 11. __firewood__, 12. fireplace, 13. Firewood

Before we moved into our current house, I never really gave much thought to a fireplace or having a fire.  But since the house came with a big fireplace, we used it.  Now I can't imagine having a house without at least one fireplace.  We love to have a fire in the evenings, especially.  Our fireplace has an insert that has a blower on it, so we can use it warm the front half of the house.

Most people I talk to seem to think dealing with the wood is a chore, but we enjoy it.  You really can't beat the sound of a crackling wood fire.

And, what's better than a campfire on a cool evening?  We'll be doing some car camping in New England next spring, and we're looking forward to the campfires and roasting marshmallows!

Do you enjoy a wood fire?

Happy October!

A lovely skein of yummy and squishy O-Wool

While it is Socktoberfest, it's also October!  Grand month of the year, in my opinion.  So, if you're not inclined towards sock knitting...you may still want to cast on for something fall-ish this month.

To that end, I've rounded up a little bit of non-sock knitting that feels just right for autumn knitting...in case you're not into Socktober :)  It's pretty handy that lots of folks are releasing new patterns like crazy right now.

Etheline Sweater by Amy Christoffers in O-Wool Balance
This looks like a great October sweater.  Not too heavy, not too light...just right.  And in O-Wool, a very yummy and squishy yarn.  And I even like the color!

Burr by Brooklyn Tweed (Veronik Avery)
Oh, this just screams "Knit me!"  I love the simplicity, with just enough interest.  I love the color.
I think this sweater would go with everything in my closet.

Alys Cardigan by Quince & Co
This is a lovely little cardigan that would be perfect for those not too hot, not too cool days.  I currently have a couple of projects on the needles with Quince & Co yarn, so I'm a pretty big fan.  This cardigan is knit in Tern, which is a lovely wool/silk blend.

Topeka by Kelbourne Woolens (The Fibre Co Yarn)
This seems like such a practical little knit.  I can see hiking, antiquing, raking leaves, anything...
Designed by Kate Gagnon Osborn to be knit seamlessly.  This one seems like it would fly off the needles.

Happy (S)October!

In case you can't tell, I love October.  It's my favorite month of the year.  I love everything about autumn : the cooler weather, the leaves, the apples, hot cider and cool evenings, the bright sky and so on.

And October 1st means it's officially "Socktoberfest."  I've never actually officially celebrated Socktoberfest...even though I know I've made socks in October before.  But this year it seems the timing is good.  I've got a new sock pattern that'll be released this month, and I'm knitting away on a couple of other socks.  So, to start your needles clicking - here are a few links to inspire your very own Socktoberfest celebration :

Knitty Socks
The online knitting magazine, Knitty, has published more than a few sock patterns over it's 10 years.  (Happy 10th Anniversary to them, by the way!)  If you are looking for simple, complex, elegant, novelty, or anything in between...you'll find plenty of choices here.

Twist Collective
The gorgeous online magazine has it's share of beautiful sock patterns, from a star-studded list of sock designers.

Knitting to Stay Sane
Glenna-C has designed some lovely socks.  If you're a fan of twisted stitches (like me) you'll enjoy choosing from her sock patterns.  Scroll down a little bit to get to the sock category.

Through the Loops
Kirsten Kapur is a prolific designer, and she's got some gorgeous socks.

October House
Okay, this one is a bit of shameless self-promotion.  My own sock patterns (which are wonderfully simple, yet deliciously addictive).