Birthday Girl

My computer is at the moment completely dead after a wonderful trojan virus decided to make itself cosy on my hard drive. I am borrowing my husband's laptop for one quick post to thank those of you who contacted me since my last post, to let you know that we're ok and trying to make the best out of very unxpected news and changes. And I hope to come back to normal blogging as soon as the computer is fixed.

In the meantime I leave you with some photos of our birthday girl! Bayou is three years old today!

Hmmm...do you think she'll get a call in seven days?

Taking a Break

Thank you all for the congratulations on the new car! We decided to go on a short road trip this weekend. If you are thinking of getting a Prius, maybe this will make you make up your mind: 380 miles on 8 gallons of gas! :-)

We drove to Burlington, Vermont for the night and yesterday, we took the scenic route 7 home, driving by the Bennington Monument.

In all, a nice weekend away. The weather was glorious, the sun shone both days, despite the cold, and we just drove leasurely.

And the break will continue on blogland. We have hit a bit of a rough spot in life right now and I feel that I do not have many good things to talk about so I am taking a break. Don't worry, we're ok, we're healthy, just a few setbacks that we were not expecting and that have us somewhat worried, but that we can hopefully overcome soon. We just need to regroup, that's all! :-) In the meantime, enjoy the Spring!!

FANT-HYBRID-ASTIC!

My husband likes to give me gifts throughout the year. Most of the time, shoes, sometimes handbags, sometimes jewelry. I know he likes to give me things but I believe that deep down he LOVES to tease me, telling me he got me a gift and then torturing me until the gift arrives in the mail. This time it was no different. As he'd been "threatening" to get me my own treadmill (ohh yes, I know I need to exercise but it is oh so boring and oh so cold and lonely in the basement...), I figured that's what the gift was.

About a week ago, he visits me at work, hands me a key chain and says "your gift is outside, just around the corner"!

My very own car!!!! And a Prius!!!!! And the colour I love!!!! All mine!!!!!!!

Now before you go on thinking how insanely wonderful my husband is (and he is!), we had talked about getting a second car at some point, but this was months ago. He thought the time was right, I was starting to need to get around on my own, and truth be told, I did need a good excuse to finally practice driving everyday.

So now I drive to work and back and it's the coolest thing ever - ok, so what?, right?, but I lived in Europe until I was 27 and never needed to drive. Here in USA, I commuted to NYC, and I was very slow (ahem...) in learning to drive our manual car!

The Prius is amazing! Most of the time, it gives more than 60 mpg, sometimes it uses no gas at all, running just on the battery. It has a camera for back-up, and it's completely keyless - just press Power! Ohhh and it's soooooooo beautiful!!!!!!!!

Busy Crazy Times

Things have been a bit crazy around here and that is why posting has been so sporadic. I write posts in my head and when I get time at the computer, I end up doing other things first, time flies by and then there is no time left to post. A lot has been happening, so let's see if I can squeeze it all in one post!

My new job has been a lot of fun! I really enjoy the people I work with, and I have become mostly the assistant to the interior designer - which is absolutely fantastic. We get along great, we see eye-to-eye in most things, and she treats me more like a partner in design, rather than just an assistant. This means that my mind, even when I am not at work, is focused on things about work! The studio/retail store is only a few months old, so there is a lot to be done in terms of marketing, events, purchasing, etc - and on top of it, we are using some of the space as an art gallery. Fun, but as you can imagine, taking a lot of my mental time.

In terms of crafting, there has been a slight change of direction. Recently I have been feeling an itch to go back and do what I consider my first "craft" passion - petit point, or needlepoint! As all of my supplies are stored somewhere in a box, and honestly I have been having throw pillows on my mind, I decided to buy a pillow kit.

This is what I have been working on, on my very short spare time! I cannot believe it's been more than two years since I picked up needlepoint! I did it for years, mostly small pieces, and I missed it so much! I am loving this kit - don't ask me how I am going to do the damask side of the pillow!! - and I already have another one on my mind. I'm afraid this means a break from knitting, for a little while - on the other hand, if you like needlepoint, you'll be seeing a lot of it!

The other big thing that has been keeping us busy and worried is the purchase of land/house. Which we may have (finally!) done - I am not saying any more because "it ain't over 'til it's over", so keep your fingers crossed for us!

A visitor has also been keeping us busy, and insane...

This sweetie is Artemis! He's a 4-month-old German Shepherd that we are baby sitting for 10 days. He's a sweetheart but boy, is he a lot of work!!! He's still a baby and can hardly control his bladder, so we had to develop a system of opening all doors out to the street and then his crate and let him run immediately outside to pee... Bayou is a total spoiled brat, so will not give him the time of day.

Poor Arty is completely submissive to her (even though he's twice her size!) but even so, she wants nothing to do with him. Trying to juggle his time outside the crate, the ferrets, his meals and his walks, with everything else has made us re-consider getting a second dog for now! But he's a sweet puppie, very uncoordinated and clumsy and loves a good cuddle - however, 10 days will be enough for now (Bayou thinks that's 10 days too long)!

Ok, time to let Arty out! Have a great week!

Long overdue!

This post is one huge long overdue Thank You! to two amazing bloggers!

The first one is Patricia, of PVE Design. Last week, there was a beautiful package waiting for me in my mail box, from Patricia! I wish I had taken a photo of the beautiful wrapping but as I was on my way to work, I opened it immediately. Inside, there were several wonderful goodies, all to inspire me to draw - and best of all, cards of Patricia's own illustrations, that I absolutely love! Thank you, thank you!!

The second blogger is Eunice, of This Nice World, who a couple of weeks ago awarded me the "You Make My Day" Award!! :-) I was so very touched! Thank you! :-) And following the rules of the award, I am to pay it forward to five blogs, so here goes:

PVE Design

Celtic Cast On

Polliwannablog

Spitting Yarn

Life in Cleveland

Pat's Knitting and Quilting

Ok, so that's six! For all you awardees, this is how this works:

1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make me think and/or make my day. 2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver. 3. Display the "You Make my Day Award" logo with a link to the post that I wrote. (Optional)4. Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.

And before I dash to go clean the house for my father in law's visit, who arrives tomorrow, here are a couple of photos taken in Kent last weekend and the knitting (that's a Marc Jacobs Ruffle Scarf) in the works - hmmm, I need to do something about that ruffle that is looking too weak right now!

Not MIA, I swear...

You might have thought I have been missing in action but the truth is that not only have I been right here, but the action that has been taking place is mostly work or interior design related - which, I am ecstatic to say, are one and the same these days! I have been busy with the new job and it's been pretty much been taking all of my time, physical and mental.

However, last night I woke up around 6 am and couldn't go back to sleep - and all I could think about was the yarn and WIPs inside my ottoman. I think the bug is biting again, although to be honest, I have been thinking a lot recently about needlepoint, something I haven't done in at least two years. But I can't remember which box I put the bag in and it's way too cold to go out in the garage to look for it - so knitting will be!

Here is the state of my knitting! Below is the back of the vintage cable turtleneck that I started a couple of months ago. Perhaps because there was no pattern on the back, I got a little tired of it and decided to take a break.

The break was taken by casting on for this pillow cover, below. I have hit a bump with it, totally not in love with the pattern (this is what happens when I try to make it up as I go...) or perhaps the yarn - I have a feeling it will dive into the frog pond!

On the other hand, I have a few yarns waiting to be knit and I am feeling the itch to cast on. The thing is that I don't know what to knit with them! For instance, these two balls of Cascade Pastaza, one white and one yellow, that I bought at a 50% sale at Hither and Yarn. The yarn is so yummy, but what can I do with it? Any ideas? A short striped scarf?!

During that sale I also bought one ball of Frog Tree Alpaca in brown that almost matches these three skeins of llama/sheep wool that I bought at the Thirteen Mile Farm, in Montana, more than a year ago. I am thinking perhaps a ruffley scarf? A lacey scarf?

Please throw ideas at me as I would like to cast on for something soon, even though my best knitting time was during the long commutes between New Jersey and NYC, and my commute now is a 5 minute walk to the end of my street! Knitting time will have to be only an hour or so in the evening!

On other news, we are still house/land hunting. It's fun but at times discouraging. Between this, my new job, my interior design diploma and everyday house chores - who said that life in the country was boring?! :-)

Inspirating Illustrations

Remember when I mentioned my first attempt at watercolours? I guess it was not too bad - I got my assignment grades and I got an A!! As if I didn't like watercolours enough, this was a bigger incentive for me to start playing with it again. I know I am not good, perhaps I will get good, but I have to tell you, it's so much fun and relaxing that it's like yoga!

While living in London, I worked at the Royal Academy of Arts for 5 years. With all its rotating exhibitions, especially the Summer Exhibition, watercolours and some illustrations caught my eye and I fell in love. My two favourite academicians were:

Paul Hogarth, who travelled extensively and, luckily for us, illustrated profusely every place he went:

Images from Amazon, Ghost School, John Iddon

And Sir Hugh Casson, who often used the RA's building, Burlington House, as a subject:

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Images from Sir Hugh's Website (last image is the Queen's College in Oxford, not the RA)

More recently, I discovered a few other illustrators/watercolourists that I absolutely love! Through Habitually Chic, I learnt about Julian Barrow:

Images from Habitually Chic and Commission a Portrait

After coming back from Boston, I bought a book of watercolours illustrating the main sites of the Freedom Trail. Its author, Leonard Weber is already one of my favourites:

Images from Weber's website.

After changing careers to interior design, I discovered that this is a favoured medium by designers to illustrate their work. Two of my favourite interior designers also happen to be fantastic illustrators! Roger Banks-Pye, who worked for Colefax & Fowler and who is one of my design icons, authored the most beautiful drawings:

Images taken by me, from Inspirational Interiors

The other interior designer is Mark Hampton. I bought a book by him at a second-hand bookstore when we last went to Cleveland, without browsing much. When I read it on the train home, I could not believe the beautiful illustrations:

Images taken by me, from Legendary Decorators

We all know how wonderful the world of blogging is! Two amazing artists and bloggers that I have come across and exchanged emails with, prove just that!

Patricia, of PVE Design, is a wonderful artist who is not only a source of inspiration but has also been a great support in my first and very shy "artistic" attempts. Her illustrations are absolutely delightful, and you can see them not just on her site, but also adorning the headers of other wonderful blogs:

The talented Patricia also does decorative design and pattern illustration. Here are my favourite examples:

Images from PVE Design

And a very recent discovery, through friends, a Portuguese illustrator with a big crush on doggies (who doesn't?!), Eunice Rosado. Her illustrations are so wonderful that I think a few may be coming across the ocean soon! Please check her store, she has handmade colouring books, bookmarks and badges for sale!

Images from Saco de Papel

With all this said and shown, I can't wait for the next free afternoon I have when I can play with my watercolours!

My So-Called Scarf

Pattern: My So-Called Scarf.

Yarn: 2 skeins of Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Olive.

Needles: Size #8.

Comments: I cast on 48 stitches to make it a tad wider. That was the only change. Without a doubt, one of my favourite patterns ever! And the yarn, oh my. The softest wool yarn I have touched and the kettle dye is absolutely wonderful - the variations in the green are just dreamy. The final result is a very chic and warm scarf! And see, it goes so well with my new green shoes!!!!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

I will start with the bad. My grandfather died. This was a bit over a week ago.

I have been trying to understand my feelings and trying to deal with the fact that someone I knew as a second father is not in my life anymore. What numbs it a little is that both my mother and I had sort of been without him for a couple of years. Since my grandmother died, to be precise. My grandfather, a man of strong convictions, big generous hands, has never been an easy person to deal with. And after my grandmother died, he became absent most of the time, and angry all the time.

My mother, who took care of him until the end, suffered much with his anger, lack of gratitude and also with the loss of the father she used to know. He was 82, sick, dependent on other people for his most basics needs, bed-ridden, and not enjoying life anymore. He had been in hospital for 6 weeks and came home, just to die in his bed less than 24 hours later. I know it was better this way, for him, for my mother. Him dying, though, just seems to break the last link with my childhood, and leaves a hole in its place.

Now the good... I got a job!! This was very unplanned for but it's a part-time, very close to home and the best part? For an interior designer!! How could I say no? I start next week!! Yey!

And far from ugly (I really have nothing ugly to show or talk about...), here is a little of My So Called Scarf, now at 40". I really love this pattern. It makes such a great texture. And the Malabrigo yarn? Seriously, if it wasn't so expensive, I'd only knit with it! Can you imagine an entire sweater made in that soft yumminess??!

By the way, the flowers above were a recent purchase - I put them there to lighten a bit the post. They are silk ranunculous - at only $5 a stem! - and I love them so much that I think I may be planting some real ones in the Spring! Oh, it's my mother's birthday today! Parabéns, mãe!

The Freedom Trail

After some train delays, we finally made it to Boston for a quick weekend. It was my husband's birthday and he chose to be a tourist in the city he called home many years ago.

Boston is my favourite city in the US. It appeals to my anglophilia (hmm, that sounds like some sort of disease, doesn't it?!). We have visited Boston so many times but had never really explored its colonial history, so this time we decided to walk the full length of the Freedom Trail. The trail, marked on the ground by a red line, takes us from Boston Commons to Bunker Hill, through several sites and monuments that were key in Colonial revolutionary Boston. In the end, I don't recall the last time I learnt so much about a place in just one day. It's a fabulous introduction to the history of the city and the United States - and a great 2.5 mile hike! Whether it is your first time in Boston or not, I really recommend that you follow the trail all the way through, and please do get The Complete Guide to Boston's Freedom Trail!

The State House, dating to 1798:

The Granary Burying Ground, where, among others, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock are buried:

The Old State House, the seat of the British government during the revolution, and site of the Boston massacre:

Paul Revere's House, famous for the midnight ride to Lexington, MA to warn Adams and Hancock that the British troops were coming up the river:

The Old North Church, where the two lanterns were displayed to warn the minuteman in Charlestown of the same:

The USS Constitution, that won the first naval battle against a British ship, the Guerriere, in 1812:

Bunker Hill Monument, marking the site of the first battle won against the British, in 1775:

Monument Square, in Bunker Hill, is filled with absolutely beautiful townhouses, and the view from the top of the monument is well worth the 294-step climb (no, not a typo)!

And totally unplanned, I discovered one of the most complete/best yarn stores I have ever been in, Windsor Button! I couldn't leave without buying something, so I got myself some Malabrigo for a My So Called Scarf. This is my first Malabrigo yarn and oh my goodness, where have you been all my life???!!!!

The post-Sweater!

First and foremost, thank you so much for all your wonderful compliments on my cable sweater! An unexpected one was from my husband - not the compliment because he always does, but because this time the compliment came with a request... "Can you knit one for me, just like that? Or maybe without the twisted things and just the pattern at the bottom?"

Uh?! Oh, yes, the ribbing! Then he found out that I have ten skeins left of the same yarn, "yeah, I like that, use that one". Oh boy. Where am I going to find a man's sweater with a ribbed body and a turtlenneck or a somehow high collar?!!! Any ideas? You see, my husband has the normal body temperature of a nuclear reactor. He hates hot weather and rarely wears a coat in the winter. It never crossed my mind to knit anything for him, hence my lack of male patterns. I think I'm going ravelry-ing for this one...

After the marathon to finish knitting that sweater before the year was up, I cast on for a more mindless knit, a pillow cover but this time following no specific pattern, just cables (what else?!) and making it up as I go. The yarn is Patons Shetland Chunky in Burgundy.

I discovered a great relaxing hobby yesterday!! I spent all day playing with watercolours. I have an assignment that asks for a coloured sketch of a bed treatment, to include samples of the fabric. As samples of good decorating fabric are hard (and expensive to come by), I bought an assortment of sample books on Ebay and just work around the fabrics I have (this is explains the almost hideousness of the ones I'm using here). It was my first attempt at watercolours, and even though I really suck, I guess that was not too bad for a beginner. Right?! I've also never learnt to draw (clearly!) so this has all been a tad overwhelming. Heh.

We're off for a weekend of city touristing, to commemorate my husband's birthday and the fifth anniversary of our Vermont wedding (long story short, we signed the papers 10 months before the actual wedding ceremony in Ireland). We are taking the train so there will be some knitting to show next week! Have a great weekend!

Vintage Cable Sweater

Pattern: Bernat Book For All Sports, 1958.

Yarn: 6 skeins of Jaeger Shetland in Grey tweed, discontinued.

Needles: Size #6.

Comments: Where do I begin?

The yarn: probably one of the nicest yarns I've ever knitted with. The alpaca/wool mix is butter soft, has great elasticity (which is just as well because otherwise, I think, the sweater would have been too tight). I also love the tweed in the yarn. And the stitch definition is fabulous!

The pattern: I made no changes whatsoever, which is rare for me. The pattern was more or less easy to understand. This is no surprise for a vintage pattern, but I guess I have gotten used to re-reading patterns a few times before attempting to knit them. The honeycomb pattern was hard on the hands, with several back-and-forth stitches. The collar is not as full as I had expected but it was easy-peasy to sew.

Overall: This has to be my most favourite knit so far. It was my first sweater ever! Not kidding. I always knit cardigans because I am very petite and always thought that a handknit sweater would make me look too bulky and even petitier. I guess this is what attracted me to vintage patterns, they are fitted, with no bulk in sight, even though several patterns ask for bulky yarn. This sweater has changed my mind and I already have a second one in line, ready to cast on. !

I just realized that everything I knitted this year had cables! Hmm, and so do the upcoming knits! Heh! Oh well, at least I'm getting really good at it!

May You All Have a 2008 Filled with Happiness, Health and Love! Happy New Year!

The Days of Christmas

I hope you all had a wonderful time at Christmas! As it is becoming a tradition around here, Christmas' Eve, Day and Boxing Day are usually spent exploring somewhere new in the "neighbourhood". This year, with our recent move to northwest Connecticut, we had plenty of places to choose from. We decided to go north and drive part of the Berkshire Highway. With most places closed and no traffic on the roads, it was a great opportunity to look at wonderful New England Colonial houses, and discover galleries, antiques, and towns to return to.

We went for a little hike (you can see Bayou's tail behind my husband, trying to catch up)...

We stopped in a few towns, such as Kent... (there are street sculptures everywhere, by local artists, like these below. Filled with antique stores, bookstores, art galleries, Kent it is definitely worth a visit! )

We drove through covered bridges (very exciting!), this one in West Cornwall (heh, clearly a bumpy crossing)...

And then, closer to home, Litchfield, we just gawked at some beautiful houses (this town is also so worth a visit - without a doubt one of my favourite towns around here)...

Bayou enjoyed the ride aplenty, but her interests were more focused on barking at horses, cows, and of course, other dogs!

There has been lots of knitting as well and, before year's end, there will be a finished off vintage cabled sweater... stay tuned!

Happy Christmas!

In My Backyard...

These two were taken while sitting at my desk. I was working on the computer and looked out the window and saw the cardinal, all perky on the pinetree. The camera happened to be at hands' reach, so I just snapped the shots, hoping that the digital zoom focused. I couldn't believe the results!

Catching Up

So it's been a month. We travelled for two weeks and we've been back for another two. And I have just been so involved in working from home and enjoying being home over all that I think I might have fallen out of love with blogging. Not reading blogs, mind you. Just writing my own. I have also been knitting/crafting less in the past year and I feel that the blog has changed its course a tad.

I am not saying I will stop blogging (I am sure I couldn't stick to that!), but I just don't feel the urgency right now. Nonetheless, now I am here, so I might just as well give you an update!! :-)

Thanksgiving was spent in Montana, as usual and, comme d'habitude, we took the long way! We took the Pennsylvanian to Pittsburg, PA and then the Capitol Limited to Chicago.

We had about 6 hours in the Windy City before getting on another train, so we did a little bit of tourism. I can never get enough of Chicago - such a classy town and so under-rated!

Skyscrapers downtown; Frank Gehry's Jay Pritzker Pavillion at Millenium Park; Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate, also at Millenium Park; and Santa's Train!

From Chicago, we took the Southwest Chief to Kingman, Arizona. We had never taken this train, and we added a few states to our "been to" list! My husband has now set foot on 49 states (hmm, can't remember which is the state missing but I think it's one of the Dakotas) and I have been to 29, not counting airport stops in Kansas and Texas, and train through-rides in the Carolinas and Alabama.

Raton, New Mexico

From Kingman, Arizona, we drove to the Hoover Dam for a visit.

We ended the day in Las Vegas, where we spent the night at the Bellagio. I cannot really explain why Vegas appeals to me but it has nothing to do with gambling and all the disney-esque casinos. It's actually something now happening to Vegas, the change from a trashy destination to a trip of absolute self-indugence, with fabulous restaurants, shops and spas everywhere! Maybe it's the weather. Hmmm, regardless, 24 hours there and I feel like new!

Our hotel, and the view from our room:

Inside the Bellagio, the Paris, and the most beautiful desserts I have ever seen:

Contrasting with sunny Vegas, Montana was snowy and cold. We attended a couple of craft fairs and farmers markets and spent a nice, quiet and cosy Thanksgiving day with family.

I then flew to a much warmer Portugal to see my family, for a very brief trip. After my return to Connecticut, I have been busy working from home (nothing like working on your pj's, with a warm cup of tea, while it's cold but beautiful white with snow outside). I am also enjoying very much a life with no commutes, no pressures, but surprisingly full - my days fly!

And because I could not leave without showing the knitting that has been travelling with me everywhere, almost 6,000 miles from Arizona to Portugal, here are the front and back of my vintage cabled sweater:

That Time of the Year Again!

I haven't blogged in so long that it took me about a minute to re-think the html code (yes, I am a nerd, I blog on the "edit html" tab)!!

Things here have been crazy. A long learning curve at work - it's been way easier to adjust to the move on the personal side. I am working on a project for an architect and I am literally learning my ABCs. I'm hand drafting - if you know a bit about the design/interiors/architecture business, you'll know that 99% of the work is done on computer. It's a fabulous learning experience, but it's very very tough, especially under the pressure of a demanding, albeit patient, boss, and an expectant client!

Other than that, we've been having a great time! My father-in-law was just here visiting, and we've been exploring the area, restaurants, hiking trails, new towns, antique stores and loving every bit of it (below, in Camp Columbia)!

And it's traveling time again. We're headed down to New Jersey tomorrow to drop off the weasels and Bayou; then we'll be on a train on Saturday morning, headed to Nevada, via Arizona, and then Montana for Thanksgiving (Nicole, are we still on for lunch on Wednesday?).

We'll be back in NJ the following Saturday. My husband and the animals will head back to CT on Sunday and I will head to Lisbon for a week (hmmm, and I still have to pack two different bags for the two trips by tomorrow...) This means that blogging will be sparse, but knitting will be plenty!!

See you all in December! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Phase III of the Move - Unpacking

We are now moved, and buried in boxes. I have managed to empty quite a few, mostly clothing and kitchen stuff. I have started to become acquainted with the neighbours, and the post office lady. This is what happens when you live in a town with about 800 inhabitants!

Bayou has been checking out the entire street - yesterday I had to drag her by the collar from the neighbour's garden! For some reason, she prefers to go into other people's yards, even though this is our back yard, straight into the woods!

And yesterday was our four year wedding anniversary. My husband gave me a beautiful dozen of roses - I couldn't resist taking some photos. Aren't they pretty?!

Ok, back to unpacking! Have a great weekend, everyone!