crazy lovely

the new floor is going in today, (that part's the crazy) and the craft room/office is mainly a storage spot for many things that should be living downstairs... so as i sit amongst all of the "stuff" in large piles around me... i thought i'd show you a pattern i've just fallen in love with. (and this part is the lovely) :)

Source: flickr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

really just. we met last night. so the butterflies are there, and the uncontrollable smiles whenever i look at it. bahah, yes. i need to knit this lovely.

Source: flickr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

it just looks so perfect for fall! don't you agree? the pattern is called stockholm scarf. you can find it here on ravelry. do you remember the make up your mind tank? well it's by the same person! knittedblissJC is really so talented! i love her work!
the pattern calls for a 6.0mm needle, and some dk yarn. i can handle that! i'm not sure what yarn to use though... thoughts? i'd like to get something nice for it, that's for sure :) wouldn't it be lovely to use tannis fibre arts yarn?

Source: flickr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

this pattern has actually been around a while... i don't know why i haven't seen it sooner, but it's ok.. i see it now. and i love it. and i want it ;)

and now i bet you do too.. maybe we should start a fall kal on this one? hrmmm that might be a good idea!
but today i have to find my sewing machine, to get my labels sewn on the samples that are to be dropped off today... let's hope i can find it!

how is your day going? looking forward to fall and coveting some lovely squishy fall patterns? what are some of your favourites that you're coming across? i'd love to hear about it!

we made it!!!

but with only a few hours to spare! how's that for timing? what i mean is that once we got back from our road trip, the very next morning (which is today) this is what happened :

yep. the floor is ripped out. we had a leak in our dishwasher and didn't know about it until after it came up through the flooring... if you look on the bottom left pic, you can see where the floor is still wet...
sooo i get a new floor! and also a new dishwasher... totally excited about that :)

but it means that life is very chaotic at the moment. we've barely unpacked.. well no, who am i kidding, we're not unpacked yet... and the downstairs is pretty unlivable... can't really prepare a meal in that kitchen...
i asked the hubs nicely to reconnect the internet so that i could write to you guys! i've missed you so..

Source: facebook.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

the new floor will be in thursday, and the cleanup crew will come in on friday... reinstalling the baseboards etc... so it's a little crazy here :)

i totally know you understand, but i still wanted to come in and say hi!! i've gotten a lot of knitting done while we were away, and i can hardly wait to show you!

Source: peacefullyknitting.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

in the meantime though, i am putting the finishing touches up on the samples for the fall and winter classes!! there will be another big post on that soon.

speaking of big posts, i felt soo special to be a part of versus. did you get a chance to peek at it? very soon, the tutorial will also be up on this blog too.  lots of exciting stuff to share with you in the upcoming days!

but how are you doing? what have you been up to this past week? any exciting projects on the go? this would also include home reno's :)  i'd love to hear about it!! leave a comment, and let's chat!

peek a boo!

hi everyone! so sorry to have missed you yesterday, blogging from the road is trickier than i thought it would be! but i'll make it up to you today. promises.  it's my first time as a guest blogger, and i'm pretty excited to be making my guest blogging debut over on versus! yep.. pretty excited. :) for those of you unfamiliar with versus, (and you really won't be for long).... it is a virtual boxing match between sewing and knitting. i'll let you guess which side of the ring i'm on ;) but sewing really is growing in my books!!

i was really excited when shannon of luvinthemommyhood decided to create this new space to duke sewing and knitting out. i am a lucky girl that shannon is one of my good friends, who shares my crazy love of knitting, and coffee :) and even crochet! not all knitters are also crocheters... (as you know), and it's pretty nifty to be able to share a love for many different crafts with friends.. don't you think? she's even getting me more excited about sewing! and encouraged me through my fears of sewing my bag!

but boy do i feel pretty special that shannon asked me to be a guest blogger on versus! and this is where your pressie comes in!!! i've got a great tute to share with ya :)
and it's neither knitting or sewing ;) it's a fabulous crocheted coaster! oh yeah.

meet jardain.

such a cute, and fun coaster. i had a lot of fun designing this project, and i hope you have a ton of fun making them too! it adds such a great pop of colour to your table, and your bevies will love them too.

this is a super easy coaster to make, and will give you some instant gratification... for the full tutorial, head on over to versus. and once you've made them, i'd love to see a pic of them! send me a link to your projects in the comments section, and we can all have a peek!

are you both a sewer and knitter, as i'm turning out to be? how about crochet? have you seen the versus mag? i'd love to hear about some of your completed, or works in progress... or dreams to make things. :) leave a note, and let's chat!

deliriously happy

we survived the fist day! haha, of course we did :)

Source: neoretro.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

though right off the bat we started dealing with awesomeness... like our fan in the car died... (the night before)... but miraculously started up again today.. weird... but i'll take it. and then.. uber sadness.. our camera died 3 pictures into the trip.

Source: ffffound.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

i can't help but laugh. of course it would pick now to die... sigh. so we picked up a new camera... and all is well. annnnd i got me my knit picks! eeks! and my very first skein of madelinetosh pashmina yarn!

Source: madelinetosh.com via Laura on Pinterest

aaaahhh sweet bliss! i'm soo happy!!!!! the colour i chose is saffron... a little darker than the one pictured, but i loooooovvveee it! also, now i'm really hoping my classes book up this fall now. hahaha. but they're worth it. :)
i bought my new needles and this to die for yarn at little knits in seattle. such a cute store! i will definitely go back the next time i'm in the area. i just love meeting new knitters, and ravelry friends! it does a knitter's soul good :)

the hubs got in a baseball game, so he's a happy guy too. he admitted to me earlier that he was determined to get me to the little knits shop so that i could get my knit picks, because he was going to the jays game... haha sure that's fair! personally i think i got the better end of this deal. but don't tell him that ;) all in all, not bad for a monday!  so far this trip has started out great!!

Source: canadiandesignresource.ca via Rebecca on Pinterest

now i've got to get some knitting in before i crash for the night.

how was your monday? full of any surprises? did they turn out for the better by the end of the day? any tips on what my skein of madelinetosh pashmina should become? i'm still checking this space as often as i can, so leave me a note! i'd love to chat with ya!

...and we're off!

as you're reading this, we are on the road! so excited! we got up at 4am, to bundle in the car and catch the first ferry. c.r.a.z.y.

Source: inspireddecorating.blogspot.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

here's hoping nothing seriously important has been forgotten.... but really, we'll deal with it if something has been forgotten.
first stop... seattle! i'm uber excited about this because i've done my homework and found a shop who sells the knit picks interchangeable needles! yippee! so i'm hoping i can save some moola by buying it in the US.
who knows, i could be knitting with my new babies in just a few days!!!

i am absolutely convinced that they will enable me to knit better, and faster.

Source: society6.com via Rebecca on Phinterest

how could they not? :) i am destined to be a super-hero knitter ;)
i am bringing sooo much knitting with me. the plan? to finish almost all of the samples for the upcoming classes. !!! it will be done. i can do it, .....right? totally.

my weekend was great! the baby blanket crochet class finished up, and there were some beautiful results! i'll post more about that this week... also, we took knit night to a lounge... and it was soooo fun!
i don't think any too many mistakes were made :)
i just love the opportunity to sit and chat... and knit. bliss!

we had lots of great chats, and a little bit of wine...

Source: sheldoncomics.com via fugitive247 on Pinterest

how was your weekend? did you get some creative time in? were you able to share your crafty time with friends? i'd love to hear how you're doing! even though i'm on the road, i still check this space often! come, say hi!! let's chat!

road trip!

yippeeee! it's friday! but it's not just any friday, we're starting our family vacation! we've decided to take a road trip for the occasion. it's gonna be great, and we'll make lots of memories....good ones....  and i want you to come too!

Source: google.fr via Rebecca on Pinterest

bahahah don't worry. when it's my turn to drive, the knitting will take a rest ;) but never fear, it's always close by. it's really important to me that i continue the blogging while we're away.  and besides, i would just miss you all too much. also, i've got a ton of knitting that needs to be done in preparation for the  fall and winter class schedule... so i'll have lots to talk about and share.

yes folks!! it's up! the fall/winter class schedule!

i am so excited for what this fall will bring! did you take a look at the link for the class schedule? go do it!! (then come back). did you see? we are featuring jane richmond's patterns! woo hoo!!! also, we'll be learning an elizabeth zimmerman pattern as well!  oh goodness, this fall is going to be full of yarny goodness. i just know it!

jane is such a talented designer, and i can't wait to be teaching her patterns!

1. Begbie Cowl 2. Autumn Hat 3. Marion 4. Jane Hat

her patterns are clear, and easy to follow. and i just love her style! any of these will make great gifts (if you feel you can part with them) :)

1.Oatmeal Pullover 2. Aesderina Hat

all of these patterns will be available for classes and for purchase at the cloth castle! to see lots more of jane's patterns you can find her at her etsy shop, ravelry, and her blog. i tell ya, this is going to be a very exciting fall and winter! i just want one of everything to add to my wardrobe!

do you live in victoria, bc? want to take a class?

to register for a class click here and get all of your info. classes start pronto, so you'll want to register early! the staff at the cloth castle are super friendly and always happy to help with any questions you might have.
i'm especially excited for the knitting season this year, because the cloth castle is currently undergoing some big changes! the knitting area will be in it's own little "nook".. it will be so nice to browse and immerse yourself in yarn! i can hardly wait!

now let's see if i can keep on top of everything while on our trip! in the meantime, i've got a ton of organizing to do... and i think the key is focus. i'm bringing my laptop, and of course plenty of needles and yarn. speaking of needles... eek! i might be ordering the knit picks soon! they have a swift for sale until monday! i need a swift.

Source: frankie.com.au via Rebecca on Pinterest

i've got a busy weekend ahead... we're finishing up the crochet baby blanket class, and let's not forget knit night!! i love me my knit nights. we also have to pick our new flooring.. (wouldn't it be nice if it could be installed while we're away?) ...

how is your weekend looking? are you planning on taking any classes this fall? are you as excited about the knitting class schedule as i am? i'd love to hear about what you're creating, and what your weekend plans are. have you traveled with young children much? what are your tips for a big road trip?

organized... or excited!

it's just before the beginning of fall... and we're fast approaching my favourite time of the year for knitting. (and for most knitters, really).

Source: naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

i know, i know! it's still summer... and i bet you're saying "hang on! what's the rush?" but before you get yourselves all in a panic... it's really not so bad! and there's a lot of planning to be done! this summer has really flown by, hasn't it? i mean it's already the 11th of august! and before we know it, we'll be completely immersed in autumn knitting....

source www.naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com

and i want to be ready!
and so i have completely immersed myself.

Source: kristanlynn.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

there are many things to be planning for! a lot of samples for the classes, orders to fill, a christmas market to plan for, not to mention christmas gifts!
i am embracing this time almost as much as a breath of fresh air! i love the opportunity to be surrounded by lovely fibers, and new projects. and the opportunity to wear them! to say i am excited about knitting, and wool... is really an understatement.

Source: sunako.soup.io via Rebecca on Pinterest

...and those who know me, know that statement to be very true :)

 and so... the planning stages have begun! and samples are being made.
so here's a tiny sneak peak at one of the classes i'll be teaching...

how cute, hey? i'm so very excited to be teaching some of jane richmond's patterns!
if you're living in the victoria area on the west coast of canada.... come, sign up for a class! you know you want to be ready for the cooler months too!

have you started thinking about your fall knitting and crochet schedule? are you getting excited about handmade gifts for the holiday season? have you considered taking a class before? i'd love to chat, and the coffee is on!