Sometimes things don't always turn out the way you think they will.

Since I've spent the last year or so keeping you all updated about my wedding plans, I feel like I need to explain what will be a bit of silence on this blog. My fiance and I decided to cancel the wedding.

Thanks so much to everyone for your helpful advice, comments, insight and feedback as I've gone along this past year, planning and sharing with you.

I hope to be back soon.

Indie Designer Day

Designer: Mary Lena Lynx
Blog: Mary Lena's Blog
Rav ID: marylena
Some Great Designs: marylena's Rav Designer Page

Mary Lena's blog is such a beautiful, whimsical sight. Filled with gorgeous, colourful photos, it perfectly reflects the soft, easy romanticism you can see in her designs.

The one which first caught my eye was the pictured Sedna's Shawl. The colours she's chosen are perfect. I really love how she's paired the simple striping with the delicate lace edging.

Another great piece is her La Capeline de la Framboisine. Again, a great demonstration of how letting a small part (in this case, the lace edging) add that bit of femininity to the knit. And of course the fabulous button-up neck grabs my attention with its classy historicism.

Finally I'll direct your attention to marylena's
Skadi's Shawl. A second great example of the harmony that can be achieved between knitting and crochet! This piece looks so warm and snugly, simple with its moss stitch and detailed with its peaked edging.

Music Me-likes: A Song That Reminds Me of My Childhood

And, for the finale of this gripping series!
I don't have many memories from being a very wee one, but there is one that stands out.
This song was my favourite when I was five; I remember my dad calling me to come out to the car one night as he came home from work to listen to the radio.
Way back in the days when music was just a bit less readily accessible. When you had to wait for the best ones to come on the radio.
Made them just that bit more special, methinks.

Aaaanyway, come join me in some reminiscences, sitting in the bucket-seated, late 70s brown painted Pinto, be-boppin' to some John (Cougar) Mellancamp.

"Cherry Bomb"

Music Me-likes: A Song That Makes Me Laugh

One of my favourite movies when I was a kid was Beetlejuice.

This song, which Lydia grooves to with a surrounding chorus of dead football players, always makes me laugh.

"Jump in the Line" Harry Belafonte

Music Me-likes: A Song That I'm Embarrassed is on My iPod

I'll admit it. I like "bad" music.
But sometimes even I cross the line - there's a shameful iPod playlist I would have trouble explaining away.
Not just one song but a long, extensive and rather thorough and thoroughly embarrassing iPod playlist.

It was difficult to choose the most embarrassing, but this one is definitely up there.

Spice Girls "Stop"

Friday Night Picnic

I like me my etymological infos, and picnic has a cute one.

That's what me and my ma did last Friday. It was a dual purpose outing.
We had the loveliness of a good wee meal outdoors, as well as a bit of a photo session for my brand new knit, inspired way back over here.

Here you see a sneak peek. I'm diligently working away on it, and hope to have it up before the end of the month.

ps: remember when I said I had had the greatest wee scones ever? It was back here, in this post.
Well, here's the recipe!

Heritage Scone Recipe

4 cups flour
6 tsp. baking powder
1 large pinch of salt
4 tbsp. sugar

Mix together in bowl and cut in:

2/3 cup butter

Combine:

2 cups milk with a pinch of baking soda

Pour milk mixture into the flour mixture and stir to mix well. Drop by tablespoon on to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.

Cool scones on wire rack.

Indie Designer Day

Designer: Tori Gurbisz
Blog: Lachesis and Co.
Rav ID: lachesis77
Some Great Designs: lachesis77's Rav Designer Page

Ahh, a designer who seems to love ribbon in knits about as much as me!

(Evidence: check out her most recent blog posts :) ! )

But, with a couple o' fab non-ribbonized designs, there's the Vixen Shawl (pictured) and Belmondo Shawl.

Vixen is a wonderfully airy, summery shawl; design characteristics which carry over into her Belmondo.

Both these pieces are versatile. The shaping on Vixen allows for a very interesting wear, and it's reversible too!
Belmondo can be worn in many ways. There's a bunch of great pics on the pattern page showing it as a shoulder-warmer, neck-wrapper and hip-hugger (this is the type of shawl that would look so-very-cute as a swimsuit cover up. W00T for summer knits!)

Hot off the presses: her most recent design, Dulcet, was just published a few days ago! It's one of them be-ribboned sweeties. Check it out!

Powerful Colourful

Ahh, July.

Your powerful sunshine is perfect for showing off the latest of my stash enhancements.

This time, though, it was a gift!

Not only did I get the pleasure of cat-sitting for a friend (her two very sweet wee felines), I received a surprise pair of perfectly golden hanks of yarn!

Hmmm, what will they become?




This month of Julius and its practically hellish heat has melted my knitbrains, and I'm left with only a vague idea of what it's like to need to wear knitted garments.

And an even vaguer idea of what sort of pattern will do this yarn justice!

Any suggestions?

Music Me-likes: A Song That I Want To Play at My Wedding (And All The Others I've Missed)

Well, I could just copy and paste some of the dj play list, but in the interests of brevity (and sanity) I'll stick to just the one.

This song will be our first dance song.
You might not be surprised to find out that he chose it; at first I was all like "Rod Stewart? Um... no". But, it is rather appropriate lyrically, and has the right kind of spirit for he and I.

So here it is, Rod Stewart "The Final Acclaim".

and, as for the other days I've missed...


Music Me-likes: A Song That I Listen to When I'm Angry

While this may be hard to believe I
1) hardly ever get actually angry
2) when I do indeed get angry, I don't turn to music

So, what I'll do instead is give you a song that really irritates me.

Celine's "My Heart Will Go On"

And finally, A Song That I Listen to When I'm Happy

There's so many!
But one that always makes me smile is this song by Shaggy.
He's compelled to say his name in each song; he's so very consistently confident and cartoonish; he's danceable and laughable.
And in this song, he says my name! Wheeeee!

"Cassandra, let's shake....
Michelle, let's shake...
I want Teresa to shake....
Lisa to shake!"

"Dance and Shout"

Music Me-likes: A Song From My Favourite Album

Ha!
I just realized that I gave you a couple of songs from one of my favourite albums two days ago.

Well, here's another choice, and something a little different.

Sarah Harmer's "Oleander", from the album "I'm a Mountain".

Indie Designer Day

Designer: Mirella Lilli
Rav ID: Mirella
Some Great Designs: Mirella's Rav Designer Page

This week's designer has patterns that are all light, delicate and lovely.

We'll start with the pictured SOFfice lace wrap. Worn wrapped about the neck or draped around the shoulders, this fine-gauged pattern is a great example of Mirella's style.

See also her Petrolio neck warmer, available in Italian and English. The fascinating thing about this pattern is it's written for an aran weight, but still appears light!

Finally, I'll point you to her Guanti da Uomo, a pair of wonderfully understated fingerless gloves. This wardrobe basic is easily unisex!