In the Bag

If there are two things I always have with me in my bag it's my knitting and my Kindle. I have the Paperwhite edition and I use it daily. I'm currently in the middle of The House at Riverton by Kate Morton and it's a great read.

I saw this great knitted Kindle cover on Etsy from a fantastic shop in the UK called Crafty Mrs P.  I love the coziness of the yarn and the whimsical stripes. Great gift idea for graduations! I love supporting other knitters both locally and online. This Kindle cover is one of the hippest I've come across! Happy Weekend! xo

A New Look

I am always hoping to come across a new scarf stitch that lays flat and looks great on both sides...sometimes a hard find, it seems! I saw this on Pinterest today and I love it! This Rick Rack stitch is shown in a great cashmere by Jade. Perfect instructions for learning are included. I'm excited to give this a try. Huge thanks to Purl Soho for such detailed photos & directions! xo

Getting to the point

I have written many times how much I love working with wooden knitting needles...their texture and warmth has won me over. I am a huge devoted fan of the hardwood needles from Lantern Moon. I have found lately though that tons of knitters love the needles from Signature. These aluminum needles are just stunning & you custom design the finished product. There are three points available: stiletto, middy and blunt. You also select an end cap. I love the colors & sleekness of these....so pretty!  Do you have a knitting needle preference?

Signature offers single point, double point and circular needles that are all amazing!

Nearly June

I am slightly addicted to Anthropologie, and now that the warm weather has arrived, they have so many unique offerings for summer! I love a perfect drapey blouse...alone or with a cardigan. This Split Image Top is my new favorite. So cute with skinny jeans, ballet flats & silver earrings. xo

Anthropologie Split Image Top by Meadow Rue

Love these! SS Jewelry Creations

Memorial Day Weekend

There was a time 9 years ago....though it feels like another lifetime....when my spouse was deployed to Tikrit in Northern Iraq. He was a JAG prosecuting war crimes. For two years I was home alone with two babies. During this challenging time, I was very focused on yoga and knitting to stay relaxed and healthy. Both helped tremendously....they made a world of difference. So, this Memorial Day I thank those who are currently serving our country and those who are at home raising families. God speed for a safe and fast return. xo

If you are knitting this weekend, I have found a great fingerless glove pattern! It is one of those ideas that's genius...it never crossed my mind to do fingerless gloves like this until I saw this idea on the Shi Bui website. Beautiful! A general free pattern and gauge is included...just size it as needed.

Love these...knit on circular needles!

Summer Reading Ideas

I love going through lists of summer reading suggestions. Newly published lists interest me as do people's favorites....books that stick with you long after you have read them. This short list of five novels are some of my very most favorite reads by authors that I love.

1. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters: This story takes place in an English manor that the owners are struggling to keep up. They live in a time when the world around them is changing and they are not managing well the transition to a modern era. Their family doctor who is kind enough to make regular house calls soon realizes the secrets that reside at their home.

2. Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier: This is the first novel I read by Chevalier and my very favorite. While the author is well known for The Girl with the Pearl Earring, Falling Angels is a wonderful book where the same story is told from different points of view. 

3. Sister by Rosamund Lupton: I told every person I know to read this book just so I had people to talk to about it! I loved this novel and I was so excited to discover the work of Lupton. Her second novel, Afterwards, is terrific as well. "Sister" involves two sisters....one in New York City and the other in London. One sister goes missing and the story that follows is the search the other sister conducts to find her. Amazing!

4. Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue: The definition of the word Slammerkin is "a loose dress or a wanton woman." I picked this novel for my book club and it was a great, great book to discuss. The central character leaves her village and the only way to survive is prostitution until she is taken in to work in the household of a respectable family. She hides her past from them as long as she can. Donoghue later wrote "Room" which was on every possible Best Book list I came across. I love this author and how her writing differs so dramatically with each book.

5. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton: I love this author and I was so fully captivated by this book. It's the type of story you get completely wrapped up in.  A little girl comes off a ship alone, with no adult accompanying her. The dock master and his wife take in this toddler who only carries one suitcase.  Inside is a book of fairy tales that holds a secret to her identity.

Holiday Weekend

I'm happily going into this long holiday weekend with a new book on my Kindle and a great knitting project. Just purchased "The House at Riverton" by Kate Morton. Years ago I read "The Forgotten Garden" and it became one of my very favorites. Excited to start reading this book!

Knitting....my new project is a scarf for one of my girlfriends. I had knitted a long, skinny seed stitch scarf using Knit Collage Sister yarn in Rich Eggplant. We were at Starbuck's and my friend (who is not a knitter) commented on how great the yarn texture was. So I'm surprising her with the scarf knitted in Bubble Gum pink. I love this thick/thin, super bulky yarn. Happy Weekend! xo

Perfect super bulky for size 17 US needles.