blueberry winter

Yarn Along

2012-02-07T21:59:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to make time for knitting, even if it's just a row a day. I am so excited to be knitting a Golden Wheat Cardigan by Veera Välimäki. I have a bit of an obsession with the colour green & well I love cardigans. I haven't read a novel in a last couple weeks but I have been looking through some magazines I love.

Many thanks to Ginny of Small Things for hosting this weekly yarn along.

Merry & bright

2011-12-23T22:11:00.000-08:00

Hot tea, twinkling lights, crisp night air, peels of laughter, family & friends, warmth, faith...so many things to be thankful for.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday & all the best in the new year.

sweet owls

2011-11-30T06:20:00.000-08:00

I am joining Ginny from Small Things for one of her wonderful yarn alongs. My attempts at knitting have been few & far between since going back to work full time. I did finish knitting these sweet owl mittens for my daughter. The pattern can be found here & it is a great first cabling project.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit this little blog & that your kind and supportive words have meant the world to me. Amid the chaos of going back to work, running Sweet Basil Fibre Works and being a single mom I feel so incredibly thankful for all my blessings. I wish you all a holiday season filled with love & peace.

One year of Yarn Alongs

2011-11-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

This week I have been reading the Foxfire books & have been enjoying them thoroughly. Some of the stories are quite incredible. I have been working on my shalom cardigan & cannot wait to wear it. I am using super soft organic merino, so warm & cozy. A wonderful day to you all!

Many thanks to Ginny of Small Things for hosting these weekley yarn alongs.

PS sorry for the blurry photo, it is still dark outside : )

All Hallows' Eve

2011-10-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

Sitting fireside, sipping hot cocoa, watching millions of stars in the sky...

First frost

2011-10-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day

Nothing gold can stay.

Robert Frost

Ode to Blue Faced Leicester

2011-10-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

British Blue Faced Leicester is one of my all time favorite yarns. This long staple yarn is silky smooth with a gorgeous lustre not to mention it is very durable. I am thrilled to announce that I will be stocking this yarn in a dk weight starting in November.

There are so many wonderful patterns for dk weight yarn on Ravelry. I love these ones:

Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West

Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly Brooker

Regina by Carina Spencer

Gretel by Beth Hahn

Kalaloch by Andrea Rangel

Celebrating Autumn

2011-10-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Autumn, enjoy $5 flat rate shipping on all yarn in the shop. This offer is good from Tuesday October 4 until Sunday October 9th and applies to US & Canadian orders only. International shipping costs have been reduced. Thank you so much & happy knitting!

PS Angela over at Pumpkin Pie Baby is giving away one set of her Giving Thanks Mitten & Hat patterns. This set is so sweet & perfect for cool weather.

Yarn along

2011-09-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

This week I have been working on this sweet little set & I just have a few more finishing touches left to do. For the maryjanes I used Saartje's bootees pattern & for the hat I used the Fae Folk Hat pattern by Carina Spencer. I love both of these patterns. I am just about finished reading The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Thanks to Ginny of Small Things for hosting this yarn along weekly.

worth a thousand words

2011-09-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

found via 16house

Yarn Along

2011-09-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

I'm joining Ginny of Small Things for her weekly yarn along. Since it froze here the night before last I am trying to get some warm cozy hand knits finished. The mittens I knit using the warmest mittens pattern & this yarn. They are so soft & cozy. I have been reading a lot of cookbooks as the change in weather has me craving hot soups & stews. Cooking Fun by Rae Grant is one of my daughter's favorites cookbooks & I love the old fashioned feel to it.

coming along

2011-09-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

This little house is coming along & starting to feel like a home. Grandpa L has been spending day in & day out here patching, fixing, priming, painting & providing thoughtful conversation (I have missed that dearly since loosing my dad two years ago). The photo's below show the living room during the reno. There are a few more things to do & yes I will clean the lights here soon : ) The kitchen & hall are coming along as well but those photo's will have to wait for another day.

Labour Day Sale

2011-09-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

Starting today enjoy 15% off select yarns at Sweet Basil Fibre Works. Thank you so much & I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend!

sneak peek

2011-08-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a peek at some of the yarn I will be stocking in my Etsy shop tomorrow afternoon. I was feeling inspired by Fall & all the rich, warm tones that come with it.

in a cloud of dust

2011-08-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been filled with dust, surprises, humour & happiness. Removing the lino & sub floor revealed some interesting surprises, including the lack of wood floor in some areas. Then came the chimney removal because honestly when you have under 700 sq ft of house that extra foot and a half is huge. The floor was then patched, sanded & 3 coats of varathane were applied. I will do a couple more coats of varathane in the near future. Now on to patching the walls, some paint & a little bit of self control because I'm sure there are wood slats under that paperboard on the ceiling and I am dying to peek.

Yarn Along

2011-08-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

This week I have been knitting a new dress for our Moonchild Doll, Charlie. I'm using yarn from Mosaic Moon that I've had in my stash for quite some time. I am also working on my first Mystery Shawl KAL, it's called Westknits Mystery Shawl KAL 2011: Earth & Sky by Stephen West. So much fun! I picked up Put 'Em Up! a few moths ago & the recipes are really inspiring. Next year I hope to make the Rhubarb Soda Syrup & Rhubarb Jam when our rhubarb is better established.

Many thanks to Ginny of Small Things for hosting these fantastic Yarn Alongs.

summer's bounty

2011-08-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness for summer's bounty, we have been eating spinach, arugula, lettuce, peas, green onions, cilantro, carrots, radish, beets, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries straight from the garden. Tomatoes, peppers, garlic & soy beans will be a little while yet. I am so thankful we are able to grow some of our own food & that we have a wonderful farmer's market once a week to buy what we don't grow. I have been making some interesting pesto's with the extra greens we have. My friend Nina makes amazing pesto's, she made a fabulous beet top pesto that was so rich & earthy. I have tried a spinach, chili pepper, walnut, parmesan & garlic pesto & a cilantro, almond, parmesan & garlic pesto. The spinach pesto was delicious on rice cakes, but I might have to try a different cheese & nut in the cilantro one next time. What summer foods have you been enjoying?

Peaceful, wild & buzzing with life...

2011-07-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

Sunshine & hot weather have arrived. It is so good to feel the heat again & watch the garden burst. Mind you all the rain we had made everything so lush & green. I won't even pretend that I can stay on top of the gardening. There are a lot of gardens and a lot of weeds but sometimes life is just meant to be enjoyed. Wishing you all a wonderful summer.

a little flower

2011-07-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
Hans Christian Anderson

A return to equilibrium

2011-07-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

I never imagined when I set this table up, that it would become one of our favorite places to be. It is just so relaxing to be out there, thank goodness because renovating is certainly not relaxing! My yard is a bit wild at the moment as I am in search of a good push lawn mower. I had the chance to test out a neighbours older push mower and I was sold. It was lightweight, cut the grass & mulched at the same time, was quiet-thus allowing me to daydream, and went everywhere on my sloping, bumpy lot. Wishing you all beautiful weather & peaceful moments.

A little sprucing up in progress

2011-06-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

Please be warned these picture are not pretty but over time they will show how our little house became a home.

This picture is after a shelf, a broken dishwasher, all upper cabinets & one set of lower cabinets had been removed.

Who knew that underneath the lino there would be fir floors? Once I sand & seal them I think they will be perfect.

I'm sure not all my discoveries will be pleasant but they will help me understand more about our little
house & maybe even some of the history behind it. I will post photo's of my progress along the way. I would love to hear any tips, etc. from others who went the diy home improvement route.

A pinch of colour

2011-06-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes all it takes is a pinch of colour to brighten my day. Wishing you all a lovely day!

Yarn Along

2011-06-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

This week I'm joining Ginny for a fabulous yarn along. I have been knitting The Boy Hat Pattern & I am hoping to add a few bright girly touches to it... I also have my next pattern lined up. It's called Unmentionables and it is available through Knitty. I think unmentionables are the sweetest looking bloomers ever.

I just started reading The Day the Falls Stood Still and I am having a hard time putting it down. I'm off now to enjoy a cup of tea & bit of reading. Happy knitting & crocheting!

thirtytwo

2011-05-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

In celebration of someone turning 32 today, use the code thirtytwo in the shop & receive 20% off all yarns. Yippee!

Around the Garden

2011-05-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

I have been spending quite a bit of time outside in this part of the garden. These beds are being prepped for tomatoes, squash & soybeans (non GMO), hopefully I can plant in early June. We have a super short growing season, only about 3 months without frost. I hope to share berry bushes & more gardens with you in upcoming posts. Many thanks to Farmama for encouraging us to share our gardening/farming experiences.

Nature's hue

2011-05-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

My favorite way to dye yarn is by using natural plant dyes. The process is not a quick one but it is a wonderful & rewarding experience. Watching the colours develop into their rich earthy shades is pretty exciting. I used alum & cream of tartar to mordant the yarn. Then I dyed the yarn in separate dye baths made from Logwood, Lac & Osage. I used four different types of yarn including a bulky hand spun super wash Blue faced Leicester, a worsted organic Australian merino, a fingering weight blend of super wash merino/cashmere/nylon, and finally a lace weight baby alpaca from Alberta.

Yarn Along

2011-05-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another yarn along, many thanks to Ginny of Small Things for making it all possible. This week I finished knitting the Principessa Dress using this yarn. I really enjoyed this pattern & my notes can be found here. I am also finishing up the book Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Quite an interesting & enjoyable read. Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Trimmings

2011-05-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

I whipped these up yesterday for a wonderful competition from Umbrella Prints. It was so much fun to come up with ideas for the Trimmings (little pieces of various fabrics). I settled on a teapot cozy & two tiny sachets filled with lavender & rose petals. For a peek at some of the beautiful & inspiring entries go here.

A quiet spell

2011-04-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

The swirling snow outside has left me in search of warmth & comfort. Hot tea in hand, I have been enjoying a quiet spell of knitting.

The beautiful hand knit cozy is from lindylove & cup is from Erewhonart.

Yarn Along

2011-04-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

This week I have been out in the yard planning, dreaming and feeling a touch overwhelmed. You see I am not one of those people who can visualize the end result of a plan. I am almost always in a state of surprise about how things turn out. So I admit I need planning help. I dream of making our lot into a wild secret garden type place. So I have been reading as much as I can about permaculture & organic gardening. The books above are Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, Gaia's Garden & a seed catalogue from West Coast Seeds. This has in turn left little time for knitting. I did manage to cast on for one of my favorite patterns though, it's called the Little Turtle Knits Pilot Cap. I love it, it's so well fitting and covers little ears perfectly. I am using natural Cestari yarn.
Many thanks to Ginny of Small Things for hosting this fantastic Yarn Along every week.

Yarn Along

2011-04-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

This week I finished my Faraway So Close shawl. I really love the pattern & I imagine I will knit more in the future. The yarn is an ultra fine organic Australian merino. I am reading Nourishing Traditions again by Sally Fallon. I am making the sour dough starter from the book & I hope to be able to make sour dough bread this weekend. Thank you so much to Ginny of Small Things for hosting this weekly yarn along.

Today

2011-04-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

A day filled with sunshine, sorting, unpacking, dreaming, worry, laughter, warmth, sorrow & resolve.

Giveaway

2011-04-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

For a chance to win these two skeins of British Bluefaced Leicester yarn; hop, skip or jump over to Farmama's blog. Happy knitting & crocheting!
xx

yarn along

2011-04-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

This week I finished Charlie's natural grey cardigan. It was a lovely pattern that can be found here on Ravelry or here on Waldorfmama's blog. I have caught a bit of a sewing bug and pulled out some of my favorite sewing books. Last Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson and Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol. I finished a small quilt for Charlies this week thanks to the never ending inspiration these two books provide. A huge thank you to Ginny of Small Things for hosting this weekly yarn along. Happy knitting & crocheting!

One Thousand Wishes for Japan

2011-04-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

The One Thousand Wishes shop is open with all proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Fund. There are so many beautiful items including Japanese papers, fabric, washi tape, yarn & handmade items. Many heartfelt thanks to Ali Nash of The Dotted Line for organizing this.

Yarn Along

2011-03-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

This week I have been working on a shawl called Faraway, So Close. It is a beautiful pattern written by Carina Spencer of Sweet Mama Small Sugar. The yarn I am using is an ultra fine organic Australian merino. I dyed 2 skeins of the yarn forrest green for the body of the shawl & I dyed 1 skein of yarn a lichen colour for the edging. I have been reading lots of magazines but some of my favorites are Spin Off, Living Crafts & Uppercase. Many thanks to Ginny of Small Things for hosting this weekly Yarn Along.

Inspired by Spring

2011-03-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

The colours of Spring are so beautiful & inspiring.

yarn along & beautiful sunshine

2011-03-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

The sun is shinning & I am so happy to be part of Ginny's Yarn Along. I am knitting another cardigan for Charlie, my daughter's Moonchild doll. While I usually like to knit seamless items, I really liked this Waldorf doll cardigan from Waldorfmama. It can be found here on Ravelry. I finished reading Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris, the same author that wrote Chocolat. I had a hard time putting this book down. Knitting and reading have slowed a bit as I have started spinning wool again. I missed it so much over the last year but I had a hard time settling in to spin with so many changes about. So now my evenings are filled with spinning, tea & my daughter's sweet chatter.

beneath

2011-03-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

"Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light."

Theodore Roethke

Yarn Along

2011-03-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

I'm joining Ginny from Small Things for a weekly yarn along. I do believe I have been doing more reading than knitting this week. I am still working on the same sweater as last week but just need to finish up the sleeves. I have been reading The Mortal Instruments series and am currently on book two; City of Ashes. Wishing you all a happy yarn along!

a simple bag

2011-03-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

I had big plans to dye & felt this bag once I had finished knitting it. Now I think I like it just the way it is. The bag pattern was my own but the leaf on the side was from a pattern found on Ravelry. It's just the right size for my wallet, keys, tiny notebook & a snack.

Yarn Along

2011-03-02T10:04:00.000-08:00

I'm joining Ginny from Small Things for another wonderful yarn along. I just started knitting an Offset Wraplan by Sara Morris. I'm knitting the 0-3 months size & I will only be adding 1 or 2 buttons at the top instead of all the way down. The yarn I used can be found here and is a worsted weight MCN blend. I am still working through the unfinished projects in my knitting baskets and it feels so good to finally complete some of them. The book I am reading this week is a book I have read before called Hens Dancing by Raffaella Barker. I really enjoy it & I know I will read it again in the future.

Presidents Day Sale

2011-02-21T10:19:00.000-08:00

Wishing our U.S. neighbors a Happy Presidents Day! To celebrate I'm offering 15% off all yarn in the shop. Please use code Presidents at checkout. Happy knitting & crocheting!

Yarn Along

2011-02-16T12:36:00.000-08:00

Hello, this week I am reading one of my favorite cookbooks, Whitewater Cooks at Home by Shelley Adams. This book like the first one has so many fantastic recipes but I absolutely cannot wait to make the River Wraps this summer. I am knitting a shawl called Mistaken Shawl by Kourtney Robinson. I am using a worsted weight yarn instead of the bulky weight yarn called for in the pattern. My shawl will be a fair bit smaller. Many thanks to Ginny of Small Things for hosting this weekly Yarn Along. Happy Knitting & crocheting!

2011-02-15T16:05:00.000-08:00

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”

Albert Camus

Love

2011-02-14T11:09:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a fantastic day filled with ~~truffles~~ love.
xx

Yarn Along

2011-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

This week I have been reading A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. I don't know why I waited so long to buy this book. It has been great so far and the recipes look wonderful. I am knitting a toque for myself using a fantastic pattern called The Big Easy by Vivian Aubrey. The yarn I am using can be found here in a different colourway. I finished reading Tess of the D'Urbervilles last week and I really enjoyed it. Special thanks to Ginny for hosting such a wonderful yarn along!

Yarn Along

2011-02-02T08:07:00.000-08:00

I'm joining Ginny for another lovely yarn along. I am currently reading Tess of d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, it's quite good so far. The sweater is from this pattern and it has been wonderful to knit. I decided on short sleeves to make it a bit more of a cozy vest. I just have to finish the button loop & then I will block it.

Inspired by the sea

2011-02-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when I look outside and see everything covered in a thick blanket of snow, I begin to dream of a sandy beach and the sea. I take these little dreams with me into the dye studio. When I am done I can touch the beautiful coral & the sandy beach speckled with pebbles & gaze into the luminous sea.

a year of finishing projects

2011-01-28T09:51:00.000-08:00

Unlike previous years, this year I am going to finish knitting projects before moving on to new ones. In previous years I actually had to purchase extra knitting baskets to hold unfinished projects...yes a very bad habit indeed. On a lighter note, I just finished the sweater above except for the buttons. The pattern is here and the 3 month size takes less than 200 yards of worsted weight yarn. I am off to peruse Ravelry to find a new project. Happy knitting & crocheting.

A history of yarn

2011-01-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, while thrifting I discovered a bag of tightly wound yarn. The colours were natural and the yarn was fairly soft to the touch. One ball looked to be linen (the grey coloured one) and was so finely spun.

I am slowly unraveling the balls & winding them into skeins. I will give them a soak to freshen them up, although they have no odor whatsoever.

When I had finished unwinding the linen yarn I discovered a little ball of newspaper that had been at it's centre. I suppose it was to help the ball get started? The newspaper is dated 1967 and upon discovering that I began to wonder. Who had spun this yarn? What had their life been like? Could it have been spun all those years ago? Was it spun on a spindle or a spinning wheel? This is the part of thrifting that I love. So as I sit here wondering, I can imagine all sorts of things of where and how this yarn came to be.

One Winter's Morning

2011-01-22T13:28:00.000-08:00

The fresh mountain air & beaming sunshine make Winter's presence divine.

Slowly...

2011-01-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

Slowly but surely this little house is becoming a home. Soon I will unpack our quilts & treasures and make our home complete.

Yarn Along

2011-01-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another yarn along, many thanks to Ginny for hosting it. This week I dug out the parenting books & got busy reading. Sometimes things get a bit topsy turvy and I need a gentle reminder of how ride the wave. This week I am knitting Cascade by Raya Budrevich. I am knitting it using my own yarn, a worsted weight sw merino/cashmere/nylon blend. The colorway is Ember. I also need to report that I could not get gauge on the needles I have for my Oatmeal sweater and will revisit it in the future. That green yarn has been put to good use though and is becoming this sweater instead. Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Tiny notes

2011-01-07T15:47:00.000-08:00

I finally had the chance to sew something from the beautiful book Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule. I choose the family heart because receiving little notes from daughter is one of the best things ever. I made it so that we could hang it on a doorknob or bed post. We each have our own side because we like different things. My daughter`s side has blue horses & mine has pink matryoshka dolls. I stuffed it with clean fluffy wool and dried lavender from my garden.
*I usually like to iron my fabric before sewing, that is if I can find the iron...the joys of moving!

Yarn Along

2011-01-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

Joining Ginny over at small things for a weekly yarn along. This week I have been reading The Garden that you are by Katherine Gordon. It is an incredibly inspiring book & the photo's are absolutely beautiful. I have been working on quite a few projects but I am trying to work on a sweater for myself. The pattern is called Oatmeal Pullover by Jane Richmond & I'm using galway chunky 100% pure wool.

And so it ends...

2010-12-31T15:47:00.000-08:00

This year came with many changes & some large hills to climb. Through this, I discovered what truly is important. I am now on a path to live the life I have always dreamed of. In this new year I would like to simplify even more and take time to really appreciate & enjoy moments. I love this quote by Lao Tzu ~
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

I wish you all a wonderful new year & thank you so much for all your love & support this past year.

Merry & Bright

2010-12-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

Warm wishes for this holiday season & many blessings in the new year.

Yarn Along

2010-12-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Joining Ginny for a yarn along. This week I've been working on a hat for a friend using a tweed yarn. The pattern is called The Boy Hat Pattern. I have been reading Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmermann, such a wonderful book full of inspiration. I've also been reading Handmade Home by Amanda Soule & I am working on a last minute Christmas present out of it. Knitting, reading, sewing & tea drinking...I am in absolute bliss.

Sale in the shop

2010-12-18T12:10:00.000-08:00

I'm having a sale in the shop. Today through Wednesday enter the code inspired for 15% off your order. A little after Christmas package to brighten your day!

yarn along

2010-12-15T08:32:00.000-08:00

Joining Ginny for another yarn along. This week I am working on a short sleeved sweater for my daughter using this wonderful pattern. This week I am reading Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, a very interesting read.Now I'm off to tackle the mound of knitting projects to be completed before Christmas. There will most definitely be tea and chocolate involved.

Shop update

2010-12-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

I will be adding more yarns to the shop later this afternoon. I wanted to capture some of nature's more earthy colours. There will be some moss green, copper & golden wheat. There is nothing like cozying up with some beautiful yarn and a great pattern to lift the spirits (yes it's quite dreary here today).

Yarn Along

2010-12-08T15:03:00.000-08:00

I cannot seem to stop knitting tops for my daughter's Waldorf doll, I promise I will start posting other knitted items. This sweater is knit from a kimono pattern for children & I altered it to fit a 15" Waldorf doll. I will post mods on Ravelry once I finish the sleeves & front. The child's pattern can be found here. We have been reading some of our favorite Christmas books; Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root, One Winter's Night by Leo & Diane Dillon and The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett. Thanks to Ginny for hosting this wonderful yarn along weekly.

the tiny studio

2010-12-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

This is my tiny studio, merely a hop, skip & jump from the house. I used to do my dyeing in the basement of our last house so I am absolutely giddy now to be able to see out windows and to have lots of head room. I am so grateful that I can work in such a simple & cozy place.

Yarn Along

2010-12-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

Joining Ginny for another fantastic Yarn Along. I just started The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt & it is quite interesting. I have lots of handspun yarn sitting so I though I would try another top for Charlie. The pattern and my notes are posted here .

Shop update

2010-11-30T18:49:00.000-08:00

I've added some lovely Superwash merino & Superwash merino/cashmere/nylon yarn to the shop. To celebrate the coming holiday season I'm offering free shipping to the USA and Canada until December 3rd. International shipping has been reduced. Thank you all so much for your encouragement & support.

Winter is upon us

2010-11-28T13:50:00.000-08:00

A perfect day for a winter's walk. Fresh air and sunshine awaken my spirit & leave me feeling refreshed and renewed. Wishing you all a wonderful day!

A wonderful holiday weekend to you.

2010-11-25T17:04:00.000-08:00

To celebrate this lovely weekend I am offering 20% off all yarn in the shop. (Offer good Nov. 26 through Nov 29th). Please enter code winterpoppy at checkout. Thank you!

Yarn Along

2010-11-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

Joining Ginny for another wonderful yarn along. I gave these slippers a go yesterday and they turned out quite warm & cozy. I am just about finished reading Jane Eyre, which has been prolonged by my absorption in Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.

Words of wisdom...

2010-11-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

This article from Waldorf in the Home has been an absolute blessing in my journey as a parent.

Yarn Along

2010-11-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

I awoke to snow this morning and my daughter was ever so grateful that I had whipped up this little sweater yesterday for Charlie. I will post the mods on ravelry once I decipher my chicken scratch. As for reading I am always reading 2 books at a time and along with finishing Jane Eyre I once again picked up Natures Children by Juliette de Bairacli Levy. Many thanks to Ginny for hosting this Yarn Along weekly.

Yarn along

2010-11-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

Joining Ginny in a yarn along to share two of my favorite things, knitting & reading. I just finished reading the Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and I have just picked up Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. On the needles I have Saroyan. It's a great knit as the pattern keeps it interesting.

We have a winner!

2010-11-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

I want to say thank you to everyone for all your kind words, encouragement & support. The winner of both skeins of yarn is #45 The RedHeaded Minion. Congrats! Please send me an email with your mailing info. Thank you all so much & happy knitting & crocheting.

~this moment~

2010-10-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. soulemama

Giveaway & shop update

2010-10-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

I have 2 skeins of Eco-friendly hand dyed yarn to giveaway to one lucky winner. The first skein is in the top picture on the right and is a deeper grey in person. It is a super wash merino/mulberry silk blend dk weight yarn. The second is in the bottom picture and is a baby alpaca/silk blend lace weight yarn. Please leave a comment to be entered and on Tuesday November 2nd my daughter will choose a lucky winner out of a hat. This contest is open to everyone worldwide.

Other exciting news is that I will be opening my Etsy shop Sweet Basil Fibre Works on November 1st and would be thrilled if you would stop by. I'm planning another giveaway there as well! Happy knitting & crocheting!

Oops! I reversed the dates above, the giveaway ends on Monday November the 1st and the shop opening is on Tuesday November the 2nd.

Cold

2010-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

With the temperature hovering in the negatives we are bundling up and trying to stay warm. Piping hot tea & wool socks are a must!

Home at last...

2010-10-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

We are cozy and content in our humble abode. Sunrise bathes the little house in a radiant warm glow. An airy studio sits perched atop the hill. So much beauty and nature, it is quite something to take it all in.

knitting and well...reading

2010-09-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

A bit of knitting proved to be the right amount of distraction from packing & moving. On a side note it seems like an eternity since I last read a book for myself. It's funny that reading has always been my vice, escape, addiction... and yet I so easily abandoned it when time became sparse. Lately there has been so much going on that I knew I needed an escape however short it would be. Last week I read through the Twilight series and now I'm making my way through Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel. I am compiling my future reads and would love some recommendations. I'm planning to read Pride & Prejudice next.

And so it begins...

2010-09-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

I am busily preparing for my shop opening in a few weeks. The yarns above are a silk & super wash merino blend, dk weight. I will be using them to knit some samples. I am so excited to be sharing my dream with you & I hope you will join me for my grand opening in a few weeks time. Happy knitting & crocheting!

Culinary adventures

2010-09-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

I've been in a bit of a cooking rut, this has in turn convinced my daughter to try out her culinary talents. I must say her creativity is genius.

Pickled Beets

2010-08-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made pickled beets for the first time. I had enough beets from the garden to make six small jars. I followed a recipe in a book I bought at a thrift shop years ago. I cannot wait to do more canning. Were off to go huckleberry picking this morning & I'm keeping my fingers crossed we'll find enough to make jam.

9

2010-08-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

My girl turned nine today and yes, she got that skateboard she had wished for.

wrapped in comfort

2010-08-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

I've just finished knitting my first shawl & it was pure joy to knit. I used this beautiful and heart felt pattern . I cannot wait to cast on for another one.

Hello Summer

2010-07-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

Summer has arrived and it feels wonderful!

tour de fleece

2010-07-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

I joined the tour this year with the goal of spinning some soft, bulky singles for winter knitting. I'm off to a reasonably slow start but I intend to pick up the pace. I will continue to post yarns spun during the tour until the 23rd of July. Happy spinning!

sweet berries...in the making

2010-07-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

Practicing patience while waiting for these sweet berries to ripen.

Blue Friday

2010-07-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

Red & White Thursday

2010-07-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

Green Wednesday

2010-06-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

Yellow Tuesday

2010-06-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

Summer Colour Week ~ Pink Monday

2010-06-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

It's Summer Colour Week over at Poppytalk.

nature walk

2010-06-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

As my small companion told stories of weary travellers in a different time, I took in the sights and sounds of absolute beauty and peace. Nature truly has a way of reviving us.

five things I'm loving

2010-06-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

1 rhubarb coffee cake (I used toasted pecans for the topping)

2 birthday slippers from Nina, so so lovely

3 my daughters super contagious laughter

4 the warm sunshine & fresh air

5 knitting, I have Little Turtle Knits Swing Thing on the needles for my daughter & a brand new pattern in the works for a simple newborn cardigan

a small space to dream, create, learn & wonder

2010-06-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

We have a small home so space is a bit limited. This spot has so much natural light and a cool breeze flows through the open windows.

something about pansies....

2010-06-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

They seem to brighten life up a bit don't you think.

this moment

2010-06-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~SouleMama~

a market survey for my business

2010-06-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

I have posted a link to a survey for my new business above. I would be so grateful if you would take a moment to fill it in. Stating a business is a bit overwhelming to say the least and yet at the same time the thought of doing what I love for a living is absolutely incredible. Thank you for all your kindness and support.

this moment

2010-06-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

this moment A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

a book

2010-06-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

When I was a child I read the Little House on the Prairie series every summer for five years. I could not help being swept up into the lives of the pioneers. Hard work and hardships were constant but amidst that existed such joy, simplicity and a true sense of family. I am so happy to now be sharing this series with my daughter. What is your favorite book or series from childhood?

a dusting of inspiration

2010-05-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Today I am a wee bit older than last year and with that Im off to find some wonderous inspiration....