Beauty, in the Eye of the Beholder and the Coloriste

//Lichen (from my backyard): An organism that consists of alga and a fungus. It grows very slowly, there are around 25,000 species and it comes in all kinds of colors: gray-green (majority of the lichen), white, yellow, yellow-green, red, orange, brown and black. No wonder it is a popular natural dye for yarn, among other things. Red2white offers an article on using lichen for dying fabric (namely silk and cotton muslin) and wool along with some nice images.

//Pinterest: Lichen growing on a branch. 

//More backyard "color".

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//Pine cones: Another source of color and they are in most backyards! I have not done a lot of dyeing with natural products but have experimented with onion skins and turmeric with some pretty good results (see below). Apartment Therapy has a good article on using pine cones and other items as well as Leena Riihela of Riihivilla. 

Did you also know that the scales on a pine cone are arranged in a spiral in fibonacci number ratios? How cool is that?

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//My own attempts at yarn dyeing with either red or yellow onion skins(I failed to record my proceedings!)

//The two yellow skeins were dyed using turmeric which most of us have in our kitchen, right?

Spring Pintastic

//Is this outstanding or what? What a great way to dress up your front door and get into the spirit of Spring. It is only a little over four weeks away you know. I wouldn't think this would be too terribly difficult to make. Get a florist's ring, a bunch of tulips and not sure what they have used in the background, but surely a florist could help. Anyway, just a thought or you could just have the florist make it for you!

//A little spring green in this Lintilla shawl by Martina Behm. She is one of my favorite designers I have found on Ravelry. I have featured her before here on this blog. Martina lives in Germany; you can find out more about her on her blog, Strickmich.

//Update: I forgot to include this beautiful bedroom! Notice all of the knitted items. It looks so cozy, open and airy. I love it! A variety of textures is always a good way to add interest to a room; get out those things you have knit and inject them into your home. I hope this gives you some good ideas!

//I know, I am into flowers lately. It must have something to do with Spring being right around the corner. But I just had to show you the colors and detail of this sunflower! This is just so inspirational, and who doesn't like inspiration? 

//Gorgeous, I would wear these Sedona Statement earrings from Emma Stine Limited in a heartbeat.

I hope these all put a little "spring" in your step and some sunshine in your heart! Have a happy weekend!

xoxo Shannon

A Little Flower, A Little Knitting (Non) Fiction . . .

//My (after) Valentine special, aren't they gorgeous?! See, it pays to wait until after Valentines Day to get your flowers. I'm not bragging or anything (well, yes I am), but I got this arrangement for $1.99, originally priced $24.99 at my local Kroger. Can you believe that? 

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//The newest additions to my knitting library. I have been coveting these publications for some time and due to some very kind birthday gifters, I was able to finally purchase them. I love birthdays, don't you? 

1. "Knitwear Design Workshop" by Shirley Paden
2. "Knitting Brioche" by Nancy Marchant
3. "Knitter's Almanac", the commemorative edition by Elizabeth Zimmermann

//Excerpts from "Knitwear Design".

//"Knitting Brioche"

//"Knitter's Almanac"

//I love Elizabeth Zimmermann's wit, here are some of her most popular quotes:

• "Really all you need to become a good knitter are wool, needles, hands and slightly below-average intelligence. Of course superior intelligence, such as yours and mine, is an advantage." Knitting Without Tears, 1971.
• "Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either."
• "Knit on in confidence and hope through all crises."
• Tight knitters lead a hard and anxious life.....One is in this knitting pastime for pleasure, not for toil, anxiety and doubt so don't WORRY. If you are a tight knitter by chance instead of by choice, practice knitting loosely and it may change your life" Knitting Without Tears, 1971.

All good knitting advice to live by, don't you think?

Until next time!

xoxo Shannon

Miss Babs, The Snow Angel, and "Wheat"

***My newest birthday acquisition: Miss Babs "Yummy" Fingering 2-ply superwash yarn in the colorway, Verrassing. Content: 100% Merino Wool, Yardage: 400 yds. Hmmm, what to make of it, what to make of it! I love their yarn, they have the most wonderful color combinations. It was very hard to make a choice! Find more yarn here. 

Also, check out Marly Bird's post about Miss Babs. 

***This is one of their new offerings: "Kilimanjaro" Fingering yarn in colorway Surpriza made up of 85% Superwash Blue Faced Leicester/15% Nylon putting up in approximately 1,750 yards.

***The Snow Angel has brought us even more snow, as you can see.

***"Wheat" is almost finished save three inches of garter stitch work, and then I will be binding off! Such a good feeling when you finish something, right? What are you all finishing up out there? 

Has anyone else knit with Miss Babs yarn before, and if so, what have you made? Send me a picture, I would love to see!

Well, this is all I have for today. Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Get some knitting done! I'm off to watch Knitting Daily, love that show.

A Little Snow, A Little Knitting . . .

***It is beautiful where I live right now, with the sun shining on the iced trees, snow covered gardens, a sight to behold for sure. It is God's gift this morning even though it is in the single digits! 

***Update: It's starting to melt! This, outside my back door.

***My newest knitting gig from a previous post, a project I have been working out which is going to be the "Aya Scarf". Here are the facts:

• Yarn: Noro Aya
• Colorway: No. 9
• Fiber Content: 50% cotton, 35% silk, 15% wool
• Weight: DK 
• Needles: #6 straights
• Gauge: 6 sts per 1 inch,  7 rows per 1 inch
• Stitch Pattern: Welting Fantastic, consisting of garter stitch welts worked straight across with purling on the odd numbered rows. The chevron formation of the background makes the welts go up and down in a wave pattern which I really like.

It has been going well, and I am very pleased with the outcome so far. I did find that working with Noro yarn is a little different than previous yarns in that it is a little "grabby" probably due to its silk content, it doesn't work that well with bamboo needles, so I had to switch to metal and the pointier your tips the better! I love the color changes in this yarn and the way in which it does change which is beautifully and gracefully and also the texture it brings to the table, wonderful! I have always been enamored with Noro and the results it produces.

***Here is one of my favorite uses of Noro yarn in this POP blanket by Emily Wessel of Tincanknits.

• How about this Noro Taiyo Cardigan here.
• Or this Lizard Ridge afghan by Laura Aylor.
• And the Noro Scarf V from Brooklyn Tweed.

I have decided for now to shelve my previous design-in-the-works due to just not being able to get it to work. I need to bone up on my colorwork techniques and being able to figure out how to make the color changes come out looking right. I am a work-in-progress myself. Anyone out there relate?

I hope you are all staying warm and happy in this "snowmaggeden" we have been experiencing! Have a great weekend, until next time.

xoxo Shannon

The Staff of Life - Bread and Knitting

Bread and knitting, I know they are two things I want/need in my life right now, how about you? There is nothing better than a fresh baked loaf of bread coming out of the oven on a cold winter's night! I made this a few days ago, and I was so happy with the outcome. It is Jim Lahey's No-Knead Bread, find the recipe here. We all loved this, so I will definitely be making it again.

How about a little "wheat" from Ravelry:

**Top Left: Golden Wheat shawl by Jen Arnall-Culliford 

**Top Right: Winter Wheat Cowl by Milja Uimonen.

**Bottom Left: Wheat Ear Cable Yoke Sweater by Pam Allen.

**Bottom Right: Wheat by Tincanknits (Is she adorable or what?). And as some of you might remember, I am currently knitting this pattern; it's getting close!

P.S. I am sure you all have noticed my blog changes. I hope you like them! Let me know what you think.

xoxo Shannon

Crafting a Life - Snippets

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There is a certain quietness and peace at being able to craft a life isn't there? I am so thankful for my home, my surroundings and receive great joy when I am here making.

//Top and middle pictures: a little swatching with Noro Aya, Color No. 9. I love their yarn!

   Bottom: A rag rug made by my grandmother Ruth.

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//And it is also about being thankful, right? Because when we are thankful, we appreciate so much more the life we have made.

//I leave you with a quote from Sarah Ban Breathnach: "Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world."

Happy Monday, go make it a good day.

xoxo Shannon