while we're on a pink kick

My pinks for project spectrum

The good news is, I finished the second sock. The bad news is, I figured out why the first one turned out so huge and had to rip it back to the heel. Oh well, live and learn.

Happy Holiday!

I made some Hamantaschen yesterday for Purim. They are delicious! But the recipe is terrible, oh it's so bad for you. But, it's only once a year. I prefer the jam filling, the chocolate are too sweet. I couldn't find any poppy filling this year either, but the apricot jam is really, really delicious.

The recipe called for four cups of flour but I only had two, so I used matzah meal for the rest, and it worked out very well. They just absorb the liquid and you can't really tell. It's a bit of a stiffer (is that the word?) texture and very nice.

mmm printemps

Yesterday I caught the bug of spring cleaning!

First I cleaned up my stash a little bit :



I didn't realise I have so many knitting needles hanging around here !



I found this five dollar dress I got at the Le Château Entrepôt :


My intention when I bought it was simply to rock it as a dress, but now I'm wondering if I'll just cut it up for the fabric. What do you think ?



I also tidied my art supplies. I didn't get much farther than that. The trouble here is you start cleaning and you are quite excited but soon your enthusiasm fades - but nevertheless you just keep finding more and more mess! If you are me, at least.

Later I made this for a baby shower, and as well a little bit Project Spectrum :



And it was a beautiful day, the first this year ! I had the windows wide open, it was delightful.

I spend a lot of time in this corner, knitting, reading, snacking...

Corner, belated.

Here's a corner, where my bed meets the radiator and above it the window. I have a big thing for white in this room - and I love those sheets! I think they're from the Martha Stewart line. I did try for a Corner on thursday but that tends to be rather a long day around here and I just didn't make it.

Project spectrum has started, how fun! I think I may already have a project for June (blue month):

Painting my living room! Finally this insufferable orange might be gone. Now that I've decided at last on blue, after months of contemplation and searching - I was originally trying to find a rich cream that incorporated gold and rose like you find at the centre of a blush-coloured rose, which is not as easy as it might seem - comes the hard part of choosing just the right shade. Do I want more green, more red, duller, brighter, paler, deeper - gosh! It's a tough one! But really so much fun. What I have in mind is that blue porcelaine with the white overlay - I can't think of the name just now. I think it would be just right.

Happy weekend! On the menu tomorrow : knit, crochet, read the newspaper.

Sunday =

I love a sunday. In the afternoon, tutoring. Then home for tea with the new Marie Claire and Joni Mitchell. I sent a big package to a friend in Toronto, painted my nails red and in a bit I'll study some Italian.

how to invent patterns

Thus far only one thing on that grand list has been accopmlished, and that the easiest one - to get a new notebook.

However, this is only because I forgot to add one important thing to it - socks! And you see, a brand-new sock came into the world on thursday eve.



I've started on the second with great enthusiasm but, given my usual goofy manner of knitting, am unsure I'll be able to replicate it exactly. In this case I did some odd things with the toe shaping, and though at first I had categorized it under "minor mistake", I soon realised the truth: what I have, in fact, done is to create a new pattern. Watch:

Although this ankle-length sock may appear unremarkable, unusual decreases at the toe give it a very close fit, with one sock specifically designed for each foot, as well as a jauntily pointed tip. Decreases at the ankle also contribute to its form-fitting appeal.

And that's how it's done!

PS sorry for the poor photo quality - had no patience to wait for daylight.

friday

Corners of My Home

This is a littler corner of my living room. There's a nook where the door is to go out onto the fire escape, from which you can see the street, the stairs, the building next door. I just find it so simple and beautiful. I love that little door.

I do not love the walls of this living room. The crazy orange walls are the reason why my old roommate chose this apartment in the first place, but they just don't jive with me. Too dark. Simply too yucky. As well - the same colour as the brick walls you see from every window - why? I was going to repaint over the summer, but as I thought I'd be moving I didn't. Now I'm not so sure and am just about ready to delve back into choosing a colour!

ciao!

That was short-lived.

Wordpress is mean.

I like my pink and green.

ciao blogger

I have decided to move my blog. Wordpress has some improvements over blogger.

dullknits.wordpress.com

see y'all over there!

Yesterday I went to Atwater Library.

It's rather a strange, delightful place. It's very old fashioned and very surprising. You really never know what you're going to find. I think I am their youngest patron, I always get looks as I wander about. It's really a beautiful place, with low wooden shelves and a glass-floored mezzanine.

Yesterday I took out a really excellent book by Eleanor Roosevelt (thoughts forthcoming), one on the great achievements of German Jews before the community was entirely killed, and this very nice one:

It has some really great ideas, including a sort of sewing box with five outer panels and five inner. When you remove the lid, the panels fall open and all your little notions are available. I'd like to make one in quite bold, bright, graphic fabrics. Another great project is quilted satin bedroom things, a cushion, bag for your nighty and one for stockings. It's beautiful! Mind, I'd have to entirely change the decoration of my bedroom if I made them, but it would be worth it!

I found this great essay in 52 projects. It's aim is to inspire and it's very successful!

I have been a very bad blog-haver! After I made that last post my computer was crashed for about a week, and then I was quite busy with work and there was never any daylight. This week I've got exams and the week after that is a school holliday during which I plan to work on my blog and rededicate myself to the creative lifestyle in general. I've been much too distracted by work and have really been neglecting it. In the meanwhile, here are some fascinating progress shots:



The little sock. Progress on this got stymied when my computer died as I was following some instructions on the internet. Now I've got to find the link again. I'm going to give these to my mother for her birthday and as well they will be one of my March projects for Project Spectrum. I am quite excited by this. I haven't had any projects for a while. Besides this, which interests me and which I have started in slightly modified form.

As well there is the steek tank:



I'm very happy with this one. It's going to take more yarn than I'd anticipated since I'm doubling and, as usual, there's my usual bit of fudging the numbers to deal with. I've got to find time to go pick up more yarn. In fact, I need to stop eating so much so that I might have a bit of money for this yarn. I also need:



well, I got the eggs.

That's all the time for today, I'm off to write an essay!

photo photo

I keep forgetting that now I have a camera and can take photos for neat things like self-portrait tuesday, studio friday and corners-of-my-home thursday! I would really like to do that last one but I am going to have to wait for the weekend (tomorrow!!) to take those photos. As I've mentioned, during the week I am never home during daylight hours!

how delightful!

I just love knitting socks. I could stay home and knit socks all day. Especially these ones, they're delightful.

I took a photo or two of the ball before I started. For some reason I like to see the colours all layed out versus knitted up.




The yarn, by the way, is Regia 4 fädig Color.

a lovely day

My original intention was to let these photos speak for themselves, but it's too dark in here and that became impossible.

Yesterday afternoon I went on a little trip to Atwater Market and Mouliné, which is just around the corner. So, in the first one you see a Steek tank and a pair of socks. Then, delicious things from the market. The sweetest, thinnest spears of asparagus. Spiced gouda, Fairmount bagels and cream cheese from la Fromagerie, Pâté foie, arichoke hearts salad and couscous from Au Première Moisson, coffee from les Douceurs... mmm so much delight. I do love food.

When I got home I started knitting.



I have accepted that it's not going to look like anything for quite a while. Actually, I don't think it's ever going to look like anything. The yarn gets gauge but it is not full enough. Well, we'll see.

huh

You are a Rose:

You are creative, sensual, passionate, and bold.
You pour your heart into everything that you
do. Alluring and gifted with strong sex appeal,
you very easily draw people in with your animal
magnetism.

Symbolsim: The rose has always been a flower
heavily loaded with symbolism. In general it
symbolizes desire, passion, beauty, and
enchantment.


Which Flower are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

New camera!

Super excitement!

I'd love to show a photo of something new but

a) I haven't really crafted much lately (besides those buillote covers which I just realised I never got a photo of, unfortunately) and

b) it's too dark to photograph anything. How is it possible to keep a blog like this if you are never home during the day ?!