It's been a sad couple of days around the house. As many of you know, my partner is a Superfan, and I'm happy to report that he's coping pretty well, overall.
This fuzzy heart with MJ pins all over it was given to him by the lovely Paloma of Portland. I forget where she said she acquired it, but she gave it to Mr. Jones after seeing our video and deciding she just couldn't put it up on eBay. It's very cherished, especially these days.
Whales, umbrellas, and cowboy boots are motifs I remember from my 80s childhood. After taking a fair isle knitting class, I wanted to design my own pattern, and after making a film on graph paper charts, it came quite easily.
You can knit your own pair of pictorial legwarmers by downloading my original pattern. You'll need to know basic knitting and stranding techniques, but these knit up quickly and easily, and will see you through many walks about town. Enjoy!
P.S. I know it's Summer. I am, however, still in black tights and, as usual, freezing.
Many of you know I was more than reluctant to move to Portland, Oregon way back in March 2007. In the end, I did it to try something completely new and make a certain boy happy. Besides the project on which I worked being one I'm really proud of and having met amazingly lovely people, I was truly overwhelmed by the thrift store scenario.
You know I love thrift stores, and I didn't think it got better than the suburbs of Chicago, but Portland was a new level. And I was constantly at it. For a person who moved there in 1 suitcase, I came out with a crate. I'm still loving the stuff I collected, and I'll wait for you to visit me to see the full extent. Here are 4 of my favorites.
1. Vintage Craft Books. I collected them before, and I continue to collect them. They're so full of ideas, and the photography is just amazing. At some point I'll have to show you my favorite pages. This is a great blog I've been following of a fellow connoisseur. I've arranged my books in a rainbow, the same way the thrift stores arrange clothing. As if you go in there saying "I desperately need something purple to wear." Well, maybe you do!
2. Vintage Sewing Patterns. And for $.99! There is a 10 year-old who will one day don this Halloween costume handmade by me. It could be your child. You should be so lucky.
3. Framed Pinecone Owl. This was $2.99 and has a sticker on the back that says "Handcrafted by Wanda and Doyle Eaves, Salem, Oregon". I love your work! I love that you got stickers printed, and that maybe your art didn't sell, so you gave it to charity. Or could one of your customers have tired of this gem?! Not possible.
I waited for these cannisters to go on sale at the thrift shop, only because I had no room for them and knew I didn't need them. They still contain nothing, as I always forget what I put in them, and never find it again. But click on them, I beg you. They're AMAZING and I just love owning them. They're 1970s Sears, which you can tell from this blog post was something very special, indeed. Oh, to be old enough in the 1970s to shop for myself! Then again, I who needs time travel? There's always Portland, Oregon.
Friends, it's happened...our belongings are here!! It finally feels like we've moved back to London. And best of all, everything seems to be intact.
Want to know what's in these boxes? I'll take a few pictures of my favorite West Coast treasures and share them next week. For now, however, we (the mister, the beaver, and I - is that our sitcom title?) are off to Germany. Auf Wiedersehen!
Matching shoes to the Fair Isle sweater, knit on 2 needles in a few hours.
I had no idea that the term "Fair Isle" in Fair Isle Knitting, referred to a tiny island off Scotland where one of the main sources of income is knitting! I've added it to my list of desired British holiday destinations. With all my leftover scraps and a few new skeins, I've made this Baby Fair Isle Sweater:
With one small addition I'll show you tomorrow, this rounds out the last of the baby gifts I was making for upcoming arrivals. However, I've enjoyed making the baby clothes so much (and acquired a great new book), I might have to get started on Christmas gifts!
Of course, I may get distracted with other crafts, as our belongings are scheduled to arrive today, after 6 months on road and at sea. Could it really be true?!
Mr. Furly especially enjoyed it, as we all know beavers love a good lake.
Probably something just as out of season as this one.
I'd love to know more about them, if anyone out there does. Are they from any type of animation?
You can knit your own pair of pictorial legwarmers by downloading my original pattern. You'll need to know basic knitting and stranding techniques, but these knit up quickly and easily, and will see you through many walks about town. Enjoy!
1. Vintage Craft Books. I collected them before, and I continue to collect them. They're so full of ideas, and the photography is just amazing. At some point I'll have to show you my favorite pages. This is a great blog I've been following of a fellow connoisseur. I've arranged my books in a rainbow, the same way the thrift stores arrange clothing. As if you go in there saying "I desperately need something purple to wear." Well, maybe you do!
I waited for these cannisters to go on sale at the thrift shop, only because I had no room for them and knew I didn't need them. They still contain nothing, as I always forget what I put in them, and never find it again. But click on them, I beg you. They're AMAZING and I just love owning them. They're 1970s Sears, which you can tell from this blog post was something very special, indeed. Oh, to be old enough in the 1970s to shop for myself! Then again, I who needs time travel? There's always Portland, Oregon.
Want to know what's in these boxes? I'll take a few pictures of my favorite West Coast treasures and share them next week. For now, however, we (the mister, the beaver, and I - is that our sitcom title?) are off to Germany. Auf Wiedersehen!
Of course, I may get distracted with other crafts, as our belongings are scheduled to arrive today, after 6 months on road and at sea. Could it really be true?!
