Small Details

I was watching a movie the other evening that opened with a quote from the haunting Edgar Allan Poe poem The Raven:

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary..."

I think I'm starting to find this winter a bit long and dismal. And dreary. 

So I decided I needed a good house project...something to warm things up a bit. I started by first ripping up the rug in the bedroom. A previous owner covered the beautiful hardwood with a flat brown carpet. So, that long overdue change was my first move. Carpet gone....a new color scheme was needed. I love grey but sometimes find it too cool, a bit austere. But lately I've seen it paired with tan. While I would have thought the warm and cool don't work....I was totally wrong. They create such a great balance! So, I've worked a bit with what I have, hunted through the attic for tucked away linens and added some new purchases. Although this is a project that will take a bit of time...I'm all happy for some new details.  

For starters, I ordered a super soft throw blanket from Pottery Barn that is done in a great knit stitch. The color is Smoke Grey. I already had two grey wool cable knit pillows that I loved. I added those in with a large black faux fur bolster pillow that is perfect for reading. I found two amazing decorative pillows at TJMaxx/Home Goods. One is a shimmery tan with a grey print. The other is cream with grey sequins in a tile design. I feel like I'm well under way....

Happy Weekend! xo

My more than slightly frozen street...

Pottery Barn Blanket in Smoke Grey.

Cozy pillows for the tan reading chair.

Cable knit pillow that I found at Pottery Barn years ago. Sequin pillow from Home Goods.

Picture Perfect

My daughter Lily is ten years old and has been knitting about eighteen months now. She learned on size US 10 needles using Lamb's Pride yarn by Brown Sheep. She's actually quite the perfectionist...ripping out stitches and rows until it's exactly as she wants it. I saw this print on Etsy in the shop EvaJuliet...it would be perfect for Lily's room!

There was a time I sold my knitting and I loved making custom items for clients. It was always such a pleasure to design something completely unique as a gift. I came across these wooden care tags recently....they are really clever & lovely! Whether you knit primarily for yourself or as a business...Happy Knitting! xo

Amore

I often write about my love of things on Etsy but few shops have inspired me as much as Silvia66. This artist has created beautiful, unique work for years. From Italy, the knits offered here are amazing. Peek at her shop....you're sure to find a favorite! I saw, today, these two striped scarves...inter-wrapped...and both done in kid mohair. The colors are lovely and I love the soft drape. This scarf set is really just perfect! xo

Fringe Benefits

I taught a knitting class a couple of weeks ago and I spoke to all my beginner knitters about saving all your yarn scraps. How they are invaluable when you want to fringe a scarf..all those bits of wool, angora and mohair coming together...it's like jewelry for your scarf. I save all of my extra pieces in a pretty case so they are all safely in one place. But....I saw this idea today and I love it! These oversize, vintage spools are amazing! If you're watching the games on this cozy Friday evening...may your team win! Happy knitting! x0

Perfect wrapping

I have never knit a blanket. I am, however, continually drawn to images of the amazing work of others who have done so. I just love the look of these blankets in particular. Both images are from tumblr. I don't have photo credits for both but they are equally beautiful so I very much wanted to include them here. I love the fine gauge of the first one here...and the tiny ribbing is stunning....

And I love the chunky oversized knit shown here...as well as the inky richness of the color!

Truly beautiful knit that I saw on Pinterest. Photo credit: http://quincewithsugar.tumblr.com/post/61666291576

Right Angle

I feel like I've been writing about winter forever but as I watch the Winter Olympics in Sochi I can't help but notice that while it's a spring like 60 degrees there....it is exactly zero degrees here this morning! So, with the frigid temperatures holding on...I just want wrappy warm cowls and scarves. I saw this on Pinterest. This angular, wrappy scarf is from Ravelry. I love everything about it! Peek at this great project here...it seems like a perfect February knitting idea! If you would like to buy this pattern, it can be purchased on Ravelry.

Simply Beautiful

First....I don't know how to crochet. (I did learned once...years ago....I was maybe seven. My grandmother patiently tried to teach me, however, I just had a horrible time catching on.) But this heart pillow is enough to make me want to give it a try again....seriously. I just simply love this! It's stunning and vintage-y and just beautiful. The artist gives all pattern instructions here! Maybe it's time to learn something new....xo

Love

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm in the middle of working on a long, wrappy red scarf. I originally did the first few inches in rich chocolate brown for a contrasting border but I'm going to rip that out & re-knit that area in a raspberry pink. Do you ever rip out & tweek minor changes?

I love these heart mittens. Perfect coziness and color....Happy Knitting! xo

heart mittens by the style files, via Flickr

Golden Day

I feel like I have a ton of running around to do today but I'm reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and really just want to carve out an hour or two of this wintery day to completely immerse in this amazing book. I've been a huge Donna Tartt fan since reading The Secret History over ten years ago. Her novels are so exquisite and infrequent....you just want to  wrap up in them knowing it may be another decade until her next wonderful work is published.

love this beautiful winter image....

Coffee House

I like nothing better than reading and coffee. Lucky for me, there's a coffee house directly across from my daughters school...perfect for stealing a half hour of book time prior to pick up! I came across this great coffee sleeve on Etsy today. Check out Beatknits....this creative shop has lots of amazing offerings. This Barley Brown Tweed sleeve is my favorite....xoxo

Evergreen

I had previously not spent time on the site Crafty but I came across these beautiful fingerless gloves and I was intrigued. The pattern for these calls for about 215 yards of worsted weight yarn. The artist used a beautiful green Berroco. You can purchase this great pattern right on the site and peek at more beautiful photos as well. This project calls for circular needles and seems to be advanced beginner level. I'm going to give these a try.....I am excited to have my next weekend knitting adventure! xo

Desk Job

I've been hoping to find a lucite tray that would do the job of keeping my desk area looking organized and still be pretty. I've come across two that I love! This gold tile print tray perfectly pulls things together and has such a bold, brilliant look to it. From Etsy...peek here to see all the beautiful trays this shop offers!

This one is perfect too! Again, a great Etsy shop with beautiful trays to pick from!

Snow Clouds

I'm loving this cozy Sunday. Grey snow clouds and light flurries have filled the day. I'm just started reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I will knit later (I just found a great chunky Icelandic wool on Etsy) but have enjoyed uninterrupted time with a great new book. 

From Etsy...this grey wool yarn is 100 yds of softness! You can find it in the shop PeterPaulandLarry!

Love these charming bookends from Restoration Hardware! Grey merino wool with beautiful embroidered detailing. They are weighted to hold books securely in place.

Crushing On These

If you love hand spun yarn, you have to peek at this amazing shop on Etsy! I came across these thick thin yarns that are all stunning in color and variation. Made in Australia...these wool blend yarns look so soft and luminous! I cannot wait to order this week. Happy Knitting....xoxo

All That Glitters

I am addicted to glitter vases...there is a certain blend of sparkle and simplicity that just draws me in. They enhance the flowers that they hold...they are just perfect to me. I found this one in a great Etsy shop called Southern Gold. Shimmering and compact...it's the perfect size for a handful of blooms! xoxo

Tiny Treasure

I do not wear a lot of jewelry but I am a big fan of Alex & Ani bracelets. I have two that are gold and I wear them daily. I stack them with my tortoise shell watch and I adore the warm tones. I was on Etsy today peeking at this great shop and I came across a set of bracelets that I love. I love shopping local and handmade and these bracelets would be a perfect gift for any of my girlfriends. One of the bracelets opens as a charming tiny locket. The bracelets are gold toned over copper wire. So unique and clever! xo

Little Luxuries

Today is blustery with nearly a foot of snow on the way. I'm lingering over coffee as I debate whether to head out into the cold. I came across a really interesting site that had the most lovely linens, knitting and bedding available. The blankets they offer are stunning. The colors rich in simplicity. I had trouble picking a few to share...

Tea Leaves

So, the Super Bowl wound up being super boring but at least I got some good knitting done. As the game became a bit one sided, I ventured onto the Madelinetosh website and I love their Tea Leaves cardigan. In worsted wool, this ballet neck sweater is just beautiful! You can purchase the pattern for $6.00 on their site or on Ravelry. Designed by Melissa LaBarre, this pattern is such a wonderful project idea! Happy Knitting! xo

Love the two button closure and vintage feel of this timeless sweater...

Superbowl Sunday

Superbowl Sunday is one of my favorite knitting days of the year! I love the game, the yummy food, the commercials and four hours of knitting! I found this great "Funky Grandpa" cardigan this morning. It's so creative and fresh....I love the fit, the tiny stripes, the unexpected design details (like the extra button at the top!) It's perfect! You can purchase the pattern here as well as learn more about the super talented artist who created this! Happy game day! xo