if i had a little lamb

Moving to Wordpress

2009-07-11T19:40:00.002-04:00

I'm moving my site to http://ifihadalittlelamb.wordpress.com. Please update your feeds, friendies.

I've had a good run with Blogger, but I'm movin' on up. See you there!

Oregon Lavender Festival, July 11-12

2009-07-09T09:21:00.004-04:00

Can you even imagine?

Photo from the festival's website, not attributed.

Things I loved in Sweden part 1: Åhléns

2009-07-07T08:37:00.004-04:00

Pip and I are newly back from our honeymoon in Stockholm. It was pretty great, let me tell you. Before going I had no real expectations of the trip. I knew, in the back of my mind, that Swedes are known for great style and beauty. I mean, I love IKEA and H&M. I grew up with a Carl Larsson print in our bathroom and I'd heard about Svensk Tenn but I wasn't prepared for the abundance of beauty and coolness that we encountered.

This is the first of a series of posts where I'll describe things and places I found and loved.

Åhléns is a Swedish department store. Like department store chains like Macy's or, here in Canada, The Bay, it has cosmetics, clothes, as well as home decor stuff. The difference is, the home decor stuff is much cooler. It's like an inner-city Ikea.

There was an Åhléns a block away from our hotel and I don't know how many times I wandered in for a look around.

The home bit was my definite favorite. They had great gardening supplies, bedding, and fabrics by the metre for extremely reasonable prices (for Sweden).Å

The fabric above, for example, is 149 SEK per metre, or about 20 dollars. A Josef Frank print of similar style at Svenskt Tenn goes for about 890 SEK per metre. I'll let you do the math.

They also had a good selection of oilcloth, which I saw a whole lot more of in the better shops in Stockholm than you'd see here.

Next up, Skansen.

brunello cucinelli

2009-05-31T18:26:00.004-04:00

I had never heard of this brand, but I happened upon a shop on the rue Sherbrooke in Montreal after a conference I was there for this week. It was gorgeous. Great muted colours and shapes and textures but my GOD the prices! Never, ever, ever will I be able to afford such things.

Also, I've decided that even if I could, there is reasonable limit. I can't imagine spending more than three or four hundred on a bag and the same for shoes, even if they are hand-made in Italy. I'm not willing to pay for names any more. BAH.

That being said, I bet you a $600 Brunello Cucinelli scarf that I change my tune within a month.

beautiful

2009-05-22T08:05:00.002-04:00

Portrait of the actress Mélanie Laurent by Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello.

2009-05-21T20:14:00.002-04:00

I've been enjoying Andre Jordan's doodles on Margaret Roach's A Way to Garden blog, such as the one below. They are cute and funny, sometimes a little sad, and just the sort of thing I like.

Today I finally went to his own site, a beautiful revolution and my GOD! So funny! He's even written a book!
Ha! No, but HA!

alternate universe plan

2009-05-19T11:25:00.003-04:00

I'm happy in my job and in Toronto, but every so often I get the urge to pick up and MOVE THE HECK AWAY. I will probably never do this, but here is an example of how I get carried away.

A job was recently advertised that I'm well qualified for in St. John's, Newfoundland. I hear that the price of living is much lower in Nfld than in Toronto (how could it NOT be?!) so I'm thinking Pip and I move out there, I have a good paying 9 to 5 job, Pip can work in the public library or at the University part-time and write part-time. We could buy this 4.5 acre plot of land, 5 minutes out of St. John's, as advertised on Craiglist:

Not bad, huh?

and build one of these awesome Tumbleweed houses:

And I could sit and knit on the porch on the weekends, watching the boats in the cove. Sigh.

photo fun

2009-05-17T10:51:00.003-04:00

I took these photos at the baby shower for my friend April. These two sisters were so cute and so well dressed AND so well behaved. I couldn't get enough of them.

I played around on picnik.com last night. The first photo, I lomoized and 1960s-ized:

The second, I polaroid-ized:

Super fun!

bulbs for next year...

2009-05-15T14:25:00.003-04:00

By the fall I'm kind of a tired gardener. I haven't managed to plant any bulbs since we've moved into our coach house and I've rationalized it by saying that I'm not going to invest in anything not easily dug up in the rented garden.

However, if I manage to get some in this year the front runners are..

alliums. Look how gorgeous they are, peeking up from the hostas. Wow. We have tons of hostas. We could have tons of alliums. Gorgeous.

and frittilaria. These seem like such moody and mysterious flower. Picture them early on a misty spring morning. Very atmospheric.

If I could put my good intentions in an envelope and reopen it in September/October I so would. And benefit from my work next spring.

Oops! All photos from A Way to Garden. I'm loving this blog. Really fun writing and great photos!

omg

2009-05-14T11:02:00.004-04:00

This photo is the BEST. The kid's face is so little-adult, and that humongous bow, and all the white space! Love it!

Photo by Ophelia Wynne, from Little Fashion Gallery which I just read about on oh joy!

not fair.

2009-05-07T11:39:00.003-04:00

How am I supposed to resist the obsessive urge to paint the coach house in Benjamin Moore's Marscapone when I see pictures like this? Can I register for 2 gallons of paint?

From 1st-Option, via the Red Otter Shop Blog.

loving

2009-05-04T20:31:00.003-04:00

1. Rachel McAdams' waves in the Marie Claire story (new front runner for wedding hair);

2. Gardening (this is our garden last year and I'm determined to make this the BEST YEAR EVER in the garden);

3. This chapeau... perfect for gardening if I could justify the price;

summer wardrobe

2009-05-02T09:12:00.002-04:00

I just did some internet shopping... it was coming on for a few days as I've been home sick and feeling sorry for myself. I found Vintage Rose Clothing via my fave of late, Jane.

So often vintage clothing is teeny tiny. I'm not short and I'm not skinny and it seems people in the 50s and 60s were one or the either of these most of the time. I'd loooove to get some of the things from Liebemarlene Vintage for instance, but they're just not in my size.

This morning, though, I happened upon some cute things that I can wear this summer that will actually fit (I hope).

This 1950s day dress should get a lot of play on weekdays. The skirt even looks like it'll be cycling-conducive:

and this loose cotton sundress is all I need for weekends:

Aside from these sandals, which I am severely coveting....
Must be strong....

trestle

2009-04-29T12:53:00.004-04:00

This trestle from IKEA is beautiful to me. Eiffel-esque. If I ever have money and space, maybe I could also choose a table-top for it...

2009-04-28T20:23:00.002-04:00

I'm thinkin' it would be impossible to be in a bad mood when wearing this circle skirt from Etsy seller sohomode.

With something slightly boyish on top, like this henley:

I just got paid, but I still shouldn't...

Bonjour Paris!

2009-04-20T22:18:00.002-04:00

Some of the things I love:

Musicals (better with dancing), Audrey Hepburn, Paris. Ah, Funny Face. This is my favorite number, although the one where Audrey does the rad dance in the bar is pretty fab too...

who needs porn when you have...

2009-04-17T16:22:00.000-04:00

...fancy dudes on fancy bikes? I would give the tip of my pinky finger for one of these Dutch Work Cycles. The guy? Bah, probably more trouble than he's worth.

C/O NYTimes.

P.S. This is a joke, right?

outfits...

2009-04-15T09:29:00.002-04:00

I read this Refinery29 interview with Garance Dore this morning just before getting dressed for the day. So instead of wearing cords, sneakers a cami and a cardigan, I'm wearing HEELS, a skirt I dragged out of the auxiliary closet, cami, cardigan and, of course, a scarf.

Also, I didn't brush my hair. When Pip and I were in Paris a few years ago I noticed that women had that perfectly messy hair. I dont' actually know how they do it so I mistakenly just don't brush my hair and then catch my image in the mirror later in the day and realise that I look frightful. Hrm... where's my brush?

Photos by Scott Schumann, via Refinery29.

on the needles...

2009-04-14T19:55:00.002-04:00

Right now I'm working on something that may or may not be practical - a short-sleeved cotton cardigan. I'm using Anna Bell's Cherry Pattern:

I made Blustery from Anna's pattern a year or so ago and I find her patterns really thorough and the designs simple and wearable. I'm making it out of a mysterious organic cotton I got at Yuzawaya when I was in Tokyo for M&M's wedding last May.

I'm picturing it with the Joe grey skirt with white polka dots I got last spring and the Fluevog shoes I got last summer. A couple of knits, a couple of purls, and bingo bango - new outfit!

I'm working on the sleeves now, so I still have the painful finishing ahead of me, but I should have it done to wear to my bridal shower on May 24th...

nifty necklace

2009-04-13T15:10:00.002-04:00

One of these days i will get to work on knitting up all these cool knitted accessories i've been meaning to tackle. In the meantime, I'll add another to the list...

This sweet i-cord idea from etsy seller adventuresofjr is one of those "why the heck didn't i think of that a bazillion years ago" type of things that would be so simple to zip up and wear long or short with any old thing. The perfect yarn, although I've never used it before, is Berocco's Mica - this shade is called Mushroom and is perfect for me, although a deep bronze would be delicious also. Maybe I can zip one up this weekend as Pip and I have a little bus trip to take...

GrassDoe - Amy Sings

2009-04-03T12:19:00.003-04:00

Love this photo from Grass Doe - my fave photo site. Gorgeous photo and I'm sure it's not intended to be a fashion inspiration a la Garance Dore or Sartorialist, but I love it.

Can I tell you how many times I've left the house with a kerchief tied jauntily at my neck and then . I always end up feeling silly and taking it off when I get to my destination. Maybe the key is to keep it simple, like the plain white one here, and add something kind of bohemian like the turquoise and silver necklace. Fine cotton knit kerchief? Hmm?

BINGO

2009-03-24T20:05:00.002-04:00

We have a winner! Skirt pattern from cute as a kitten Jenny Gordy. Ordered! Bang!

Summer looks

2009-03-24T14:06:00.002-04:00

While I'm not buying anything... I'm trolling the summer looks, and thinking of what suits me and what I'd like to wear. This look from A.P.C., via the blog of local shop Jonathan+Olivia, is very wearable although I'd replace the hat with a kerchief. Sweet.

Ways to economize and still get the look and feel? Hrm, well, I'm sure you could get a comparable t-shirt at the Gap or some place like that. Theoretically, I could sew the skirt, and I know I've seen belts like that for half the price even on Bloor St. Sigh.

i want to make this

2008-10-08T13:55:00.003-04:00

I've been toying with the idea to sell some knitwear on etsy but they would have to be:

-my own designs
-quick knits

In order for it to be legal and worthwhile... no one would pay the money necessary for it to be worth my while to make a 4-ply fairisle thing.

Things like this, spied at Anthropologie, would be worth my while, though:
They're selling it for $43 CAD, and I read somewhere that you should charge 3 times the cost of the yarn for a handknit, so that would mean I had a...$14.33 yarn budget.... somewhat realistic, I suppose.

I recently designed and knit a beret for a good friend... It was a mix of cables and moss-stitch knit out of Blue Sky suri merino... a dream to knit with... but maybe some slightly less expensive, equally or more chunky yarn... still soft... the wheels are turning.

new interweave

2008-07-27T14:34:00.004-04:00

The preview of the fall interweave is up! The backstage tweed jacket is so gorgeous... got to make it.

2008-07-19T08:38:00.000-04:00

From the Lyell Fall 2008 collection. I'm thinking of a 4-ply or dk max tweed.

Must have

2008-01-15T09:56:00.001-05:00

A blanket like the one above. Grey is apparently one of the biggest trends for interiors for 2008. I see it in something like wool cotton, with some crochet involved....

Thanks to desire to inspire for the inspiration.

happy new year

2008-01-02T10:33:00.001-05:00

giraffe
Originally uploaded by the e machine

This year I will a) post more b) do karate regularly c) knit from stash!!

Yarn yarn yarn!

2007-10-05T22:15:00.000-04:00

I could go on all day with the yarn.

I'm about 30% done a Noro Silk Garden. I'm a little nervous about how the striping will work out with the modular-ness, but I have faith in the Noro and the Zimmerman.

Poor Pip's poor Christmas sweater hasn't gotten much action. In late November I predict a flurry of activity as the Christmas knitting adrenaline kicks in.

Let us go then, you and I...

2007-09-13T21:08:00.000-04:00

You're Prufrock and Other Observations!

by T.S. Eliot

Though you are very short and often overshadowed, your voice is poetic
and lyrical. Dark and brooding, you see the world as a hopeless effort of people trying
to impress other people. Though you make reference to almost everything, you've really
heard enough about Michelangelo. You measure out your life with coffee spoons.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

I love, love, love, the poem, but how depressing to be it.

Commitment phobia

2007-09-11T23:44:00.000-04:00

I may have bought more yarn yesterday. I justify it by saying that it will be another Christmas present, but I really want the hat it will become. So much that it might determine the winter coat I buy for this year. Koigu, sweet Koigu.

Also yesterday, I picked up my first roll of film in two years. I was very happy with how the pictures looked compared to those I've taken digitally. I may go back...

Only 106 shopping days left...

2007-09-10T20:11:00.000-04:00

'til Christmas.

I've started my Christmas knitting, ladies and gentlemen. Pip's getting a sweater, someone's getting a scarf and someone's getting a hat. The hat may be for me...

The sleeve to the left is part of Pip's sweater. It's impossible to make a surprise sweater for a man you live with so I'm not even trying. This is the saddle-shouldered aran cardigan - my first Elizabeth Zimmerman sweater. The yarn is Classic Elite Skye Tweed and I am just.loving.it. The colours in the tweedy goodness are really interesting, and the cable pattern is like crack. For great pics of a finished object see my knitting hero brooklyntweed. This sweater is also fueling an audio-book obsession as I can't not multi-task. I've gone through two mysteries, and now I'm listening to Soon I will be Invincible... recommended by Mr. Pip and, ironically, a page-turner.

At the current rate, and especially as I will be on holidays soon (at the end of the week!!!), I estimate that I'll finish up in a month and a half. I will certainly not be putting this in the dryer. Can you imagine???

2007-09-10T09:30:00.000-04:00

So I washed the sweater. And I mostly dried the sweater. And then it was chilly, so I wanted to wear the sweater right then. So I put it in the dryer... supposedly for 10 minutes... and then I started watching Curb your Enthusiasm. It was hilarious. And then an hour and a half later, I have a child's sweater!

It's a really good thing that I made this mistake myself, and that it was such a simply and quickly made garment. I will never, never, NEVER put a sweater in the drier again. Bad, bad idea.

WIP

2007-09-08T21:42:00.001-04:00

Starting over, refreshing, renewing. Good Septemberish things.

I'm switching blogs... to one I started and promptly dropped a couple of years ago. Now, rather than simply waxing indulgent about my life, I'm going to frame my waxing within my addiction of choice, knitting.

For instance, the sweater to the side is one I knit and pretty much finished over the summer. It's a knitting pure and simple design, knit in a 100% wool yarn from fleece artist that doesn't seem to be available any more. This is a simple, serviceable sweater. The colour is greeeat... the red-brown that I'm addicted to right now, and I know it will bloom beautifully when washed but it's been sitting folded on the back of various chairs for two months now and is still unwashed. I was seduced by sexy new projects... with intricate cables, with so so soft handpainted merino, in mindblowingly multicoloured tweeds...

This sweater is the "good guy" knit, tragically taken for granted and ignored in favour of the naughty, unnecessary knits. But when fall comes in earnest, and i want a cozy sweater to wear with jeans on the weekend I will be sorry... hmmm... maybe I'd better go wash it.

2005-08-26T10:11:00.000-04:00

The past week has been just wonderful. I went to the beach with a bunch of friends on the weekend, found out that two of my best friends are expecting a baby, got new yarn (for the expected baby), and reconnected with some friends. Not bad for 7 days.

I got the yarn at Lettuce Knits again, after having zero success and becoming overwhelmed at Romni. I joked with the proprietress about my addiction to spinning, and settled upon some koigu and a lucy neatby pattern for the wee sweater. I used the picot cast on for the very first time. I'm pretty sure I cast on wrong - it looked kind of funny - but I continued on and almost got to the armholes before I realised it was way to big!!! I thought first 'ah well, so the baby will be a little older when he/she wears it' but then I thought 'no, i will rip it all out. Otherwise it will be ridiculous and I will run out of yarn.' So I'm back at row 6 now, but I used the knitted cast on and it looks much better.

So I didn't get much knitting done, but it's been a great week anyways!

Until next week,

Elena

If I had a little lamb ...

2005-08-19T15:39:00.000-04:00

I wouldn't still be spinning a poor man's version of Fleece Artist's "wool slubby." I would be spinning and plying perfect lace-weight, DK, aran, or any other recognizable gauge of yarn. But alas, I am just a novice, and for a novice I'm doing okay.

I went to Lettuce Knit this past Monday and picked up a drop spindle, instruction zine, and 2 50-gram packages of fleece artist rovings. As soon as I got home (not a second later), I sat down and started drop spindling. On the first day of drop spindling, I created this:

On the second day of drop spindling, I created an un-niddy noddied, un-weighted down skin of yarn. My first impressions of spinning? Totally all-consuming and addictive. I couldn't stop, even if I wanted to! I'm onto my second 50 grams now, and wondering what the heck I'm going to do with my new lovelies.

At the same time, I'm feeling guilty for not doing any actual knitting. I'm supposed to be making Lisette by Kim Hargreaves, from Rowan 36, and this is all I've gotten done:
Part of the reason for my lack of success is the little monster pictured above. Little Astro has a thing for yarn, fleece, and pretty much everything else. He's just woken up from a nap, and is ready to rumble.

Elena