Lucky Girl

French Darning/Embroidery thread from Loop of London picked up and carried home here for me by Number One Son for Christmas. 50% Wool with zero sheen. Love it.

Also love the book - as many stitches as I'll ever use - a gift from My Beloved also under the tree.

I must resist diving into these goodies though as I've got to stick with cabled knitting for the weekend and break the back of this sweater so I'm onto the sleeves next week sometime.

Right after I drop down to correct that mis-crossed cable...

'Lucky to catch that when it was still quick and easy to fix!

Eye Candy Friday

This was on the wrapping for one of the prizes I won a couple of weeks ago.

Stephanie (Sunshine Soapbox) who packed up my prize spent a University term in Europe last year and shared a wee bit of it in the mail with me! I love the look of this stamp, especially now in April - the month that most evokes the essence of Paris for me so I've got this shot as my wallpaper today.

I finished the knitting on Minimalist last night. I'm out this morning but 'hope to get the blocking done this afternoon. I'm looking forward to diving into this pile of deep blue.

It'll be a nice change from all the softer colours I've been working with over the winter!

Thanks so much for dropping by today!

Eye Candy Friday

A springtime knit  from a few years ago - the wonderful weather we are enjoying here in Toronto today reminded me of this little cotton sweater I made for my husband's grand niece.

Have a great weekend!

An Eye Candy Friday in Fall

This scene has struck me every time I've left the house this week so I thought I'd share...For whatever the shortcomings our summer weather had, the autumn of '09 has more than made up for - especially in the fall colours. Toronto - known for its extensive canopy of trees and many winding forested ravines is just breathtaking this week. Its a good thing too because I will travel the entire length of it 4 times today/tonight. It will be rainy but that's okay as grey skies lend a depth to the colour - different but just as awesome as the way bright sunshine tends to make them glow.

Here in the city, the colour change is about two weeks later than up north at the cottage. Its great the way it extends our enjoyment of this spectacular season in Ontario.

My first trip downtown today will be to Romni to meet up with another knit blogger! While I'm there I'll check out the Eco Pur Alpaca and make a decision as to whether I want to exchange my so soft windfall for another colourway. Once I do that I think I'll be able to start scheming what I might do with it. I very briefly looked on Ravelry yesterday but couldn't find any reference to the yarn at all. I generally have to struggle with Ravelry searches but I'm sure, with more time and little patience I'll get some ideas that way. As I mentioned the other day, I'm leaning towards finer yarn in my head at the moment so I don't really have an immediate reaction to what I might indulge in at 3.5 stitches to the inch.

This will be our first weekend all together in the city since early June. I have baking, steek cutting, gardening and shockingly, some knitting planned.

I hope you have a good weekend, thanks for dropping by!

Eye Candy Friday

Mix 'n match linen napkins with mix 'n match ribbon ties all ready for the Christmas dinner table...
I've a million things to do between today, as a winter storm threatens to curtail last minute shopping, and Christmas Eve but it gives me an imagined sense of control to know the napkins will be ready on time!

Have a great weekend everyone - I'm off into the snowy gale!

(Seasonal) Eye Candy Friday

Its eye candy to me because...

These front porch planters filled 100% with branches harvested from shrubs I planted years ago, to beautify our landscaping and facilitate Christmas decorating as above. (This is the first year I can say I have enough to do everything I want to my satisfaction while the gardens still feature enough to look untouched.)

My Beloved bought these votives for me in South Africa - pretty when lit with candlelight and when the morning sun shines through them like it is today!

My Beloved's Grandmother used to put up these Vintage Christmas Balls in their in the family run Hotel in the 1920's 30's and 40's. (Also pretty great with sun shining through!)

Gingerbread left over from dinner last night. The aroma that rises when the cake dome comes off of cinnamon, nutmeg, molasses and of course ginger just screams wintertime goodness! (I can almost smell it just looking at the picture!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Eye Candy Friday

I was struck by the beauty of my own back yard this week, flooded with fall sunshine, ablaze with autumnal colour, heavy with the scent of late blooming roses and sweet alyssum and even the odd hint of moth balls as the winter woolens received their autumn airing after 6 months storage in the cedar chests.

I hope wherever you find yourself knitting this weekend, you and your needles are happy and productive!