Dreaming

Valokuvatorstai 133.

2009-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ahaa, valokuvatorstai 133.

Location: near Clonakilty, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Dreaming, dreaming

2009-05-16T04:29:00.000-07:00

At the moment I don't have very much space to do anything. Our kitchen is under renovation now, so everything is so messy in the house once again. I can't even make the curtains for the new kitchen window or other sewing projects. I can't wait to finally have some real crafting corner/work desk. We actually got an old timber board from somewhere. I think it was used as table board before, but it is in a bit bad condition now, old paint etc. I am going to start doing something for it as soon as some other more urgent work is done. It is nice heavy timber and I think it would make a lovely work desk. It is not very big, but you can't bring any huge piece of furniture in this tiny little house with limited space. I think our little home is going to look very nice soon and the work desk would be one dream come true, to have one little corner for my own projects.

Valokuvatorstai 129.

2009-04-26T13:28:00.000-07:00

Autio for valokuvatorstai.

Violetti

2009-04-15T01:53:00.001-07:00

Valokuvatorstai challenge 127.

Location: Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland.

My Etsy finds

2009-03-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I did my first Etsy shoppings. I have to say that I am very happy about my new Art print and craft supplies I ordered. I think I am going to order much more later. Etsy is a great site. You can always find something different. Both of my orders arrived really fast, even though they were sent from the other side of the world.

First of all I wanted to order some art for our walls. Something that would look good in this old house. At the moment we don't have anything but mirrors hanging on the walls. I found this lovely shop of Elsita. I just love her papercut prints. I think I am going to order some more later. My print was called Treehouse. It is still waiting for proper frames. Those frames in the picture a slightly too small, but I think this picture would look great with black frames anyway.

I got also some tiny little stickers from Elsita. :)

My other order was purse frames from ThaiSupplies. I have wanted to try making little purses for a while. I ordered two different sizes of purse frames. They seem to be nice strong and heavy. I hope I can soon post about little purses I made. (haven't actually made yet) :)

Hibernating

2009-02-08T02:24:00.000-08:00

My poor little blog has been neglected lately. This house takes most of my energy lately. I have been painting or making curtains whenever I am not working. I kinda feel that I have no energy left for any extra activities. Anyway it looks much better here now, and I hope soon I will have some time for my hobbies.

This is how one corner of the living room was looking around Christmas time. It looks much better now.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-20T06:03:00.001-08:00

Lämpö for Valokuvatortai.

This picture was taken around a year ago. My boyfriend's parents own this living room and the dog. With this picture I want to wish the best Christmas to everyone! Hyvää joulua! (Finnish) And of course Nollaig Shona! (Irish)

Brighter colours for grey winter days

2008-12-09T05:33:00.001-08:00

The days are shorter and shorter even here in Ireland and the world outside of the house is grey. It's raining often or the sky is just full of dark clouds. It is so nice just to make a lovely fire and stay at home maybe watching your favourite TV show and of course eating lovely foods and drinking many litres of tea.

You could also spend your time knitting something bright to warm up your frozen feet. What would be nicer than a pair of socks or leg warmers? They would make a perfect Christmas present as well. These two projects are very very easy, but I think this kind of multi colours look the best with a simple pattern.

Red Winter Socks

Pattern: my own.
Yarn: Araucania Ranco Solid. 75 % wool, 25 % polyamide.

Noro Legwarmers

Pattern: my own, at least doesn't remember seen something similar.
Yarn: Noro Kureyon, 100 % wool, colour 220.

Valokuvatorstai 110.

2008-11-27T13:11:00.000-08:00

Valokuvatorstai challenge Glass.

World

2008-11-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

My cousin is stuck in Bangkok and his sister is in Mumbai, if I remember right. Maybe I am from a family of trouble makers...

Where to start?

2008-11-24T05:33:00.000-08:00

I have so many projects going on at the moment (house, studying, knitting etc.), but just don't know where to start. Then I just get angry at myself because of being lazy. I actually tried to paint some room in this house the other day. We have so much to paint here. I opened the windows and that room was very well ventilated, but the smell of paint felt me feel so sick in my stomach (not pregnant as I know!) and I had to stop doing that. This house will look very nice, when everything is done!

I have read some old posts of mine and can't believe how many mistakes I am making. One reason to that is laziness. I just write and post without reading it properly through. I mean, I mostly can write the words how they should be, but the grammar; articles and prepositions being my weakest part. I also would like to have a bigger active vocabulary in English. I have a huge passive vocabulary, but... I can read very difficult and complicated language, but to produce good written English is different thing. I am reading books mainly in English these days and live in an English-speaking country (some Irish people don't like that expression). Writing, writing. That's the best way to make a better writer. Engrish always helps, when I think my English is crap. It really makes me laugh every time.☺ There are some other people making mistakes and even funnier than mine!

Valokuvatorstai 108.

2008-11-13T02:00:00.000-08:00

3 photos for this week's Valokuvatorstai challenge.

Location: Kinsale Old Head, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Finnish Art in Dublin

2008-11-11T17:02:00.000-08:00

Virginie by Albert Edelfelt. Photo from here.

Good news for all Finns in Ireland and those, who are interested in Finnish culture. The National Gallery of Ireland is hosting an exhibition of Finnish Art. The Exhibition is called Northern Stars and Southern Lights: The Golden Age of Finnish Art 1870-1920. There are works for example from Albert Edelfelt, Akseli-Gallela, Pekka Halonen and other painters, whose works almost every Finnish person must have seen somewhere. At least in the History books at school, if nowhere else. However these artists are not that famous in other countries. The exhibition started last weekend and will be open until beginning of February next year. I am definitely going to see it, maybe on my next trip to Dublin. I think I have seen many of those paintings in Finland, but I think there are still I haven't seen before. So more about it later.

New look for my blog

2008-10-31T04:20:00.000-07:00

I am going to do some changes on this blog soon. I am getting tired of this current look of my blog, it looks really boring at the moment and doesn't inspire me to write very much. I would like to make it look a bit different. I have some ideas, but my skills are not enough to make it as I wanted, but I am going to try.

I want to wish Happy Halloween to everybody!

Holiday knitting

2008-10-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

On my visit to Finland I had also some time knit. I didn't have to buy any new yarn though. I had some stash back there in my parents house and I used also some of my mam's yarn (of course asking first).

Stripy poncho-kind-of-thing

This poncho was just kind of knitting what I just started doing from top to bottom without measuring and checking any other patterns. I also did some crocheting for the top and bottom parts of the thing. It is not very wide, but not as tight as it looks in this picture. Maybe I actually could have made it a bit shorter. Everybody was laughing at my silly projects. Hmm, maybe I won't find very much use for it, or maybe wearing it on cold winter nights when watching telly. We'll see. The other projects were actually a bit more practical.

Purple-grey-black Mittens

Pattern: my own.
Yarn: some old left-over Novita Nalle.

Grey-white Mittens

Pattern: my own.
Yarn: some old left-over Novita Nalle.

Fingerless Mittens

Pattern: my own.
Yarn: Novita Nalle and something unknown.

Valokuvatorstai 107.

2008-10-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Valokuvatorstai 107."Silta nykyaikaan."

Some silly cat etc.

2008-10-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Back to Ireland now, but I have still got loads of pictures from Finland in my camera.

Some beanie I made many years ago. I think I took my inspiration from some Finnish knitting magazine, but did lot of changes to the original pattern. Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of some other old projects, so I'll add some photos of Milli instead. Milli loves warm places and sunshine.

PS. I seem not to be able to change the font now. Sometimes I really love Blogger...

Old school works

2008-10-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

As I am now in Finland and visiting my parent's home, it is good time to make a post about my old works I made at school. I am going to make another post of some other old stuff later.

I made this hand towel when I was about 11 years old. Every girl in my class had to make similar one. This crocheted part has suffered a bit in washing machine. I really have used this towel.

My first pair of socks I ever knit. I was 12 years old. They were too small for me, but my sister and brother used to wear them, when they were small. So they don't look that nice any more. I think they are pure wool, but I am not 100% sure.

This jumper was one of those school works we could choose voluntarily. I was 14-15 years old. This is not my first jumper, but the very first one is gone, disappeared. I think the pattern for this jumper was from the German Burda magazine or something. I used alpaca and wool yarns. This was for my little sister, who used to wear it quite often.

A bit closer look to that previous jumper.

This cable jumper was made about the same time as the previous one. It has been used by two of my little sisters. So it has strechted a lot. The yarn is cotton. I think the arm holes look a bit strange, but otherwise not too bad for a teenager.

I think I am much lazier these days knitting mostly socks or mittens. I really should start making something bigger again.

Valokuvatorstai 104.

2008-10-02T03:23:00.000-07:00

Valokuvatorstai "Kiltti". (kiltti=kind, good etc.) He is a good boy at least once a year...

Totoro etc.

2008-09-29T02:57:00.000-07:00

I am still in Finland and as everybody else is working or at school I sometimes feel a bit bored, so what could be better than do some knitting and other crafts.

I never knit any toys before, so I gave a try. Totoro, a Japanese cartoon character, is just so cute. It looks a bit like a rabbit, but I am not sure, what it actually is. My Totoro looks definitely more like a rabbit. (and doesn't look very well made) I used some old yarn from my mam's stash. I think the white and grey are Seitsemän Veljestä and black one is something else.

Totoro

Pattern: my own.
Yarn: Seitsemän Veljestä etc. old leftover yarn.

I think next I am going to make a post of my old works. I found my first wool socks I made about 19 years ago and some old jumpers.

In Finland

2008-09-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

It's been some weeks since my last post. I am in Finland now, have been actually over 2 weeks now. It's been nice to see everybody and weather hasn't been too bad.

At the moment still feeling horrified because of the shooting in Kauhajoki. My sister actually knows somehow the partner of one of the victims. So sad. They should really make it very very difficult to get any guns. I never actually understood someone's interest in guns. Guns are evil. My family has never been interested in guns. We don't have any guns at home. I know some people who go hunting, but nobody who is doing shooting just for fun.

Maybe the biggest problem is the Finnish society. That guy like the previous shooter had been bullied a lot. I think a lot of Finnish men seem not to speak very much of their emotions and troubles, just keeping everything inside. But not every bullied man shows their long hidden anger that way. Some people get other mental problems. I think schools should take bullying more seriously and also the mental health services should be more extense, easily available for anyone. It is not only the problem of schools but also work places and other areas of society. We should make the life bearable for everybody. I wish this would change something and this kind of things could be prevented.

Celtic inspirations

2008-08-23T07:08:00.000-07:00

I am going to Finland for a month in two weeks time. I can't wait since I have been a bit homesick lately. It is so nice to go home and see everybody and see all the changes that happened there when I was away. Last time I was there at Christmas time. In last 4 years have spent about 6 months altogether in Finland. Sometimes I really feel like a foreigner there. I keep saying "sorry" to everybody I push accidentally or who push me and use it too much altogether for the Finns. I keep door open for the next one coming after me. Nobody says anything and other people slam it to my face. I forget to weight all the fruits and vegetables and tag them before going to the till. Anyway it is nice to go there after so many months.

My biggest knitting project (I have to say) this summer has been these brown socks, which are made of Wollmeise yarn I ordered last year. They have taken forever to make with small needles, but some weeks I didn't actually do anything for them. Actually I am making the other one again, because I wasn't very happy with it. I have never made that short socks before. I thought some cable things would look nice with these sock. As I am in Ireland Celtic Cable stitch was my choice. :) I have made them just by measuring on my foot. That's the way I seem to be doing most of my small knitting projects. I think I call them Brick socks because of the color. Other name could have been in something Irish, if I knew it a bit more. I think they definitely look celtic.

Brick socks

Pattern: my own.
Yarn: Wollmeise Sockenwolle (sock yarn) 80/20, Spice market.

Summer

2008-08-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

This summer has been quite busy actually. I haven't had any holidays, what is not too bad because of the weather. I am actually planning to leave my job soon and go traveling for a couple of months. I am planning to visit my family and then go somewhere really hot. I want to have some real summer without constant rain. There have been a lot of things to do. I haven't done very much knitting and other crafts lately, just some socks and curtains. However there are lot of projects waiting to be done, knitting and sewing ones. Many little babies are waiting something cute. I was also asked to make a jumper for a man. No shortage of the ideas anyway.

The white net I made for our living room window using my new sewing machine.

My boyfriend's little nieces were visiting Ireland in July.

Where is the sun gone? We don't want any more rain...

New sewing machine

2008-07-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I bought a sewing machine, my first ever. It is Singer Confidence 7463. I have been only using someone else's machines before and it is really handy to have your own. I already made a little light curtain (net?) for the living room window and was happy with that machine. It is easy to use. So I have been happy so far. I actually have some other works, what need to be done. I have to sew more curtains and there are some clothes waiting to get altered or fixed. It is so different to use that machine than the probably 50-years-old machine I was using lately, which belongs to my boyfriend's grandmother.

Waiting for the really hot summer days, if we get them here in Ireland at all this summer.

Creative moment

2008-07-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

The other day I felt violent. I took my knife and...cut some old magazines. I wanted to test my new craft knife. I made two little things just cutting the paper. First I drew the lines of the figures on the selected pages of magazines. Then cut them with that knife and glued the pieces on white sheets. Simple. A nice and quick way to make something to hang on the walls. You could even change the pictures every day.

Three birds.

Sail away.

Blankets

2008-06-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

I am not very good at crocheting, but have made two big (simple) blankets of left-over yarns. That was the autumn 2005, when I was still living in Finland. Some of this yarns are from my mother and late grandmother. So some of the yarns I used were really old and used for something else before. The quality of the pictures is not great. They are taken with my old camera in the wintertime.

The first one is made of different pieces with different colors and shapes. I personally like this one very much.

Whole blanket before it was completely finished, but this is how it looks like.

I gave the blanket to my parents. The cats seemed to like it as well.

After the first blanket there were still loads of yarn left, so decided to make another one. This one is made in one piece. It was kind of mindless crocheting. I didn't have any clue, how would it look like at the end. It was fun to make, even thought at the end it felt quite heavy to crochet. So my family (and cats) got another blanket. They have used them actually very much. So everybody is happy.

Stardust or something else?

2008-06-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

I made this little Stardust cardigan from Knitty. I finished it a few weeks ago, but the photos were waiting to get transfered into the computer. If you compare my pictures with those Knitty ones you can see I didn't follow the instructions. First of all my yarn was thicker alpaca (Artesano, Inca Cloud, same as the mittens in the previous post). Then I decided to make it without the sleeves. I thought the sleeves would have made it look too heavy. So it is not actually any cardigan anymore. I also realized that the ties look better at the back. In front they would look a bit too heavy. I am actually quite happy with it, even thought it is not the best time to wear it at the moment. It is a bit too warm.

Me in our back garden.

Pattern: Stardust, Knitty, with some changes.
Yarn: Artesano Alpaca, Inca Cloud.

Too heavy looking ties in the front.

My way to tie the Stardust.

More Freedom Spirit

2008-06-11T05:50:00.001-07:00

More old projects from last winter. I made the fingerless gloves using Twilley's Freedom Spirit. (previous post) I had bought two hanks of that yarn, so I decided to make something else. Something really fast. First I made a silly "nut"-hat, which I can't imagine wearing seriously every day... Maybe I wear it sometimes just for fun. Then I made a very simple headband, which is not too bad. It is actually quite a practical accessory. I have actually been wearing it many times.

Nuts.
Pattern: my own.
Yarn: Twilley's Freedom Spirit.

Basic Headband.
Pattern: my own.
Yarn: Twilley's Freedom Spirit.

Warm winter hands

2008-06-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

The projects of this post are really old. I finished them last winter, but have forgotten to take photos of them. I think last winter was quite warm here in Ireland. So I didn't have to wear any kind of mittens most of the winter and thin mittens or fingerless mittens were warm enough, or maybe I am becoming a bit like many Irish people, who are wearing t-shirts in the middle of the winter... Anyhow I love both of this yarns, Artesano Inca Cloud and Twilley's Freedom Spirit. As you can see I like long mittens to cover the wrists properly. I think the white Inca Cloud mittens have remained tidier than those Freedom Spirit ones.

Pattern: my own, measuring on the hand.
Yarn: Artesano, Inca Cloud. 100 % alpaca.

Pattern: my own, measuring on the hand.
Yarn: Twilley's Freedom Spirit. 100 % wool.

Valokuvatorstai, "inhimillinen tekijä".

2008-06-06T05:32:00.000-07:00

Valokuvatorstai this week.

One day a little Irish boy was playing with his favorite toy. The other day he didn't want it anymore and so the parents threw it away with other rubbish to someone else's garden.

"Jo joutui armas aika..."

2008-05-29T03:46:00.000-07:00

Valokuvatorstai this week.

Greece, Greece, Greece.

2008-05-27T03:53:00.000-07:00

I promised to write about my trip to Greece. I actually came back from there exactly one month ago. We were there nine days, of which six days in Athens and Porto Rafti visiting my boyfriend's sister and her family. In the middle of our stay in Greece we went to Mykonos for three days. We did also short trip to Delos, near Mykonos. We are looking for to go again.

Quick look around Athens.

Three days on the island of Mykonos.

The historical island of Delos.

Back to Mykonos again.

Greek Easter in Porto Rafti.

Broody

2008-05-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

I joined the Ravelry recently, but haven't had time to find out more until today. I haven't added very much information in my profile yet. My profile name is dragonfruit, if someone is interested. I also changed my profile name in this blog, because hummingbird seems to be very common profile name in many forums.

I am feeling a bit broody at the moment and it doesn't help that people around are having babies in coming months, even twins. ;) So I am looking for some nice knitting patterns for the small ones. I think I am going to order some books written by Debbie Bliss or other great baby patterns. I actually knit a pair of tiny socks from Artesano Inca Cloud some months ago. It is really bad now.

Feelings

2008-05-21T03:38:00.000-07:00

It is raining so much at the moment. I feel like this cat in Bangkok.

Spencer Tunick in Ireland

2008-05-20T02:58:00.000-07:00

Photo: http://www.artdaily.com/imagenes/2006/08/09/080906e.jpg

The other day I was walking back home from the town (Cork City centre) and saw an ad full of naked people. It was about Spencer Tunick's Ireland project. He is famous for his pictures of big groups of naked people photographed in public places. He will shoot his art project here in Cork on 17th of June as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival. He has also another project in Dublin on 21st of June. I think it is interesting, but I wouldn't probably go. Or don't know, if I have friends crazy enough.:0 If someone else is more interested in exposing everything, you can find more information here. Has anybody been in Tunick's projects?

Some old stuff from last winter

2008-05-18T04:14:00.000-07:00

The lovely hot weather turned to a dull one for this weekend. Especially the beginning of this week was quite roasting. I love hot weather. I am always happy to wear as less clothes as possible. :) Flip flops, dresses, skirts, that's it. We were planning to go camping somewhere in West Cork, if the weather had been nicer, but stayed in the city (town), when it didn't look too good.

When organising my photos lately I realised I had taken some photos of some works I made last winter. There are still some other winter projects what also need to be photographed. It is nearly summer, but it is probably never too late and it is raining anyway. :)

Some socks

The Kerttu-socks by Uhoava Gnu. I didn't make them exactly similar to the pattern. Actually my Kerttus are a bit strange looking. Maybe there is something to do with the yarn. I was using some leftover hanks of Nalle, what is not my favourite yarn. I think I am not happy with myself, when looking at the result. What do you think?

Pattern: Kerttu-sukat by Uhoava Gnu, with some modifications.
Yarn: Nalle-lanka.

Then Kerttu went crazy... This other socks look a bit better. They don't look as shabby and made-by-a-school girl as do those first ones. I didn't actually have enough white yarn, so did that strange endings. Socks photographed with the book of L.M. Montgomery, whose books I loved I was a child. (and still love)

Pattern: Kerttu-sukat by Uhoava Gnu, with some modifications.(Kerttu goes crazy)
Yarn: Nalle-lanka.

Some wool hats and beanies

All different kind of basic wool hats of different kind of yarns. I just measured them when knitting, so didn't have any pattern to follow. Last winter they were worn mostly by my boyfriend and some of them are gone missing already.

Last night I didn't sleep very well. I fell asleep in the living room when watching Elizabeth - The Golden Age with my partner. Then I woke up many hours later alone in the living room with upset belly. That's too much Gin and Tonic and the lovely Indian food from the Raj Gaylord restaurant. So I was then browsing in internet and decided to join the Ravelry as well. A few minutes ago my location in the queue looked this.

You signed up on Today
You are #160308 on the list.
2719 people are ahead of you in line.
113 people are behind you in line.
98% of the list has been invited so far

Are these children happy?

2008-05-15T03:56:00.000-07:00

Valokuvatorstai

"Bloggers Unite is an initiative designed to harness the power of the blogosphere to make the world a better place. By challenging bloggers to blog about a particular social cause on a single day, a single voice can be joined with thousands of others to help make a real positive difference; from raising awareness for cancer, to an effort to better education systems or support 3rd world countries." (Bloggers Unite - Blogging for hope)

Every day many children are working in different parts of Asia. Three pictures from Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Valokuvatorstai 89.

2008-05-10T03:50:00.000-07:00

I am still feeling sick, but well enough to get bored and do something else than sleep. So probably doing some knitting and related things today. At least I hope so.

---
Valokuvatorstai

Painting by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec/Wikimedia Commons.

I haven't taken part to the Valokuvatorstai for many weeks. So now I will. This week I found interesting photo of my parent's cat Milli. This two are looking out of the window, but probably see very different things outside.

Kaksi ikkunastakurkkijaa, mutta kiinnittavat varmasti huomiota eri asioihin.

Sick

2008-05-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

My holiday in Greece was great. Half of the time we stayed in Athens and the other half on the island of Mykonos and from there visited Delos. Weather was OK, not hot except two days, but no rain either.

After coming back I had only two hours time before going back to work. I was so tired last week and got a nice flu from my boyfriend. I have been more and less sick for almost a week. I am going to add some more story of Greece, when I feel better. I am definitely going to go there again and would like do more Island hopping.

Too busy

2008-04-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

I have been just too busy. Working long hours lately and the weekend was also full of activities. That means my beanie instructions are still in process. However I have written it, but it have to be rewritten so that some other people understand it as well. I am sorry about that. I shouldn't promise anything. :( Next 1,5 weeks I will be traveling, in Athens. I might write a little story of my trip there after coming back.

Monkey socks by Cookie A.

2008-04-09T03:54:00.000-07:00

I have made a list of things I would like to write about and also taken pictures of some more works. However have been very tired lately, and haven't felt like writing anything neither doing many other things. I can't wait for my holiday in Athens starting end of next week. I really need some sun now. I also started writing the instructions for the purple beanie as Wonder Wombat asked for it. I try to get it done before my holiday.

Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A.
Yarn: Wollmeise sock yarn, shade Pfefferminz Prinz. (if I remember right)

I made another pair of socks of those lovely Wollmeise yarns. I think Cookie A.'s Monkey pattern and Wollmeise make a good match. This shades are also brilliant. I actually did some parts of the socks in a bit different way, but Monkey was my inspiration.

Valokuvatorstai 84.

2008-04-04T06:22:00.000-07:00

Scary MÖRKÖ is this week's theme for the Finnish valokuvatorstai.

Little child's socks for little women

2008-04-02T04:57:00.000-07:00

Pattern: Little child's sock. (Knitting Vintage Socks)
Yarn: Wollmeise, Sockenwolle 80/20. Shade Dornroeschen.

I like this little child's socks from the book Knitting Vintage Socks. I already made two pair of them one pair for myself and one pair for my boyfriend's mother. My socks are are bright pink, or should I better say fuchsia. I am not sure. i didn't like this colour before and, but love it now, in small amounts. I wouldn't wear any bigger pieces of clothing with that colour, but socks or scarves are OK. As you can see I have bought or got other things of similar shades lately. This colour really reminds me of Asia.

This was my first time to use Wollmeise yarns, which I ordered last year. One hank was 150g and I could nearly make another pair of socks at least for a child. I like those yarns. They are nice to knit.

These socks I made for my boyfriend's mother earlier using this same pattern. You can find more information of this post.

Knitting Vintage Socks

2008-03-31T05:56:00.000-07:00

I bought this book last autumn, because I saw many people recommending it in knit blogs. I have actually used it more than any other knitting books lately. I have knitted four pairs of socks from that book and probably will do some more. So I haven't regretted that buy.

My first project from this book was socks for my partner. I finished this socks in last October.

Pattern: Gentleman's Fancy Socks from the book Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush.
Yarn: Trekking Pro Natura, shade 1606. 75 % wool, 25 % bamboo.

Purple Beanie

2008-03-25T03:59:00.001-07:00

I have actually a lot of projects to show, also from the last year. I will post about them in coming weeks (days hopefully?).

Pattern: my own.
Yarn: Artesano Aran. 50% wool, 50 % alpaca.

I got an inspiration to these beanie from some women's magazine. I can't remember what was it. Probably Marie Claire? It wasn't exactly like this, but something similar. This was the time I actually needed some relaxed beanie for myself. It was actually really nice and I love the colour and the yarn very much. It was also fast to knit it, because the yarn was so thick. I have already worn this beanie many times. I am definitely going to do something else from this yarn.

Scarves I wont wear

2008-03-19T20:42:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter to everyone! I don't have a picture of Easter bunnies, but these buddies are really cute as well.

I have been planning to publish more projects. So I start from the strangest things. These two scarves were my attempts to try to wear different colors. I am usually black-grey-brown-green person. Bright pink and purple seems to get well on my other clothes,but red doesn't do the same. I have tried to wear red before but it just isn't my color as I realized again with this scarf.

Pattern: my own, basic k2, p2.
Yarn: Wendy Fusion.

This light green scarf is better. I have worn it sometimes, but still it doesn't look very much like my scarf.

Pattern: my own using Leaf Patterned Lace.
Yarn: Sirdar Blur.

Yarn shopping

2008-03-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

I am planning to order yarn, actually a lot of yarn, what will of course cost some money. My partner doesn't always understand why I am spending so much money on something so stupid as wool. (although I seem to spend much less than many other) He bought a little sailing dinghy lately and other sailing equipment, so I can also do some shopping with my money. I actually spent 35 euros today on some Artesano and Kilcarra yarns, but I am going to order some more as soon as I have decided what I exactly want.

Warm head for a hurling fan

2008-03-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Cork hurler. Photo from the Irish Examiner.

My partner really loves this Irish game called hurling. The game is really popular here, but hardly known in anywhere else, if we don't count the Irish communities around the world. I am not that interested in this sport, but if someone wants to get some more information, you can check for example Wikipedia.

Anyway I made this wool hat to use in the Cork hurling matches. Irish weather could be hard around the year. The new owner was happy of his new silly hat. The pattern is my own and the yarns I used are all Irish origin. The red one is Fisherman's from Blarney Woollen Mills and the white one is some anonymous Irish wool from the Vibes&Scribes arts and craft shop.

Valokuvatorstai 83: heijastuksia.

2008-03-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Morning in Hanoi.

Heijastuksia - Reflections.

Valokuvatorstai 82.

2008-03-11T05:25:00.000-07:00

Valokuvatorstai's theme for this week is from the book by Erlend Loe and it is about important things. I read that book some years ago and really liked it. Funny. About the valokuvatorstai in Finnish:

Valokuvatorstaissa ja Runotorstaissa on pitkästä aikaa tekstihaaste. Innoitteen antaa norjalainen kirjailija Erlend Loe ja katkelma on teoksesta Supernaiivi (Like 1998. Suomentanut Outi Menna. Alkuteos Naiv. Super.1996). Lainaus on vuonna 2002 ilmestyneen pokkaripainoksen sivulta 18):

"Istuudun penkille tarkastelemaan listaa. Arvioin sitä pitkään. Lista on rehellinen. Olen tyytyväinen siihen. Kenties etsimäni esine on olemassa, kenties ei. Se ei ole kovin tärkeää. Mutta lista on tärkeä. Sillä huomiolla on minulle merkitystä. Se on todella arvokas."
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Beautiful moments. I have always loved beautiful things and traveling. One of the best things everywhere in the world is to sit on the beach watching the sun sink and disappear at the end. It is really calming.

Kauniit hetket ovat tarkeita. Auringonlaskut on yksi niista.

More orders

2008-03-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

The Cork beanie is finished now, but haven't got a picture of it yet. It looks nice rough. Just good for my "though" guy. He never would wear anything what would look a bit girlie, but something what looks a bit silly (like this hat) goes. Last weekend his friend asked me to make one for himself. Not a Cork red and white, but with earthy colors. So more things to do.

Valokuvatorstai 81: Valinnan vaikeus

2008-02-28T02:20:00.000-08:00

It was so difficult to choose a picture for this week, but here we go. Too many lovely scarves. Luang Prabang, Laos.

Oli otsikon mukaisesti vaikeaa valita kuvaa, kun olisi ollut monta vaihtoehtoa. Tassa kuitenkin kuvani. Liian paljon ihania huiveja Luang Prabangissa, Laosissa.

Project, projects

2008-02-23T09:35:00.000-08:00

There are so many interesting things, that I really would like to do. We have actually some project going on in this house were we live. We (mostly my boyfriend) are insulating and painting the walls. This is an old Cork City house without any insulation on the wall and it could be really freezing here. At the moment they are white painted rough looking concrete walls. My main job is the job furnishing and finding something to hang on the walls. I have picked some important or some way inspiring pictures, what I try to get as bigger prints. I am also going to try oil painting after a long break and see if I could create some art made by myself to hang on the walls.

I have been a bit more productive knitter lately, but even more bought yarns. Everything I have been doing is something small; socks, mittens, wool hats and scarves. So I should probably report about my knittings.

I haven't got pictures of all the projects, but this would be the start. Before Christmas I knitted a lot and even more after Christmas. I knitted two pair of socks for my boyfriends family. My family is more knitting oriented and my mom is knitting for my sisters. So I thought they wouldn't need anything now. Here pictures of the socks I made for my boyfriend's mother and his lovely little niece. Both pairs are made of Colinette Jitterbug yarns.

This first pair of socks are for my boyfriend's mother. I got this pattern Little child's sock from the book Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. However I changed it a little bit to fit to the yarn and of course match to an adult. These colours reminds me of crushed blueberries.

That little niece got socks from the same yarn, but with different shade. Pattern is just basic sock made by myself.

My boyfriend's aunt tried on that first pair of socks and said that she would pay me to make similar ones. So I think they were not too bad. :)

I will write about other projects later, but tell now something about ongoing projects.This bright red wool I bought in Blarney Woollen Mills. I am making a hat of that red wool and different type of white wool to use in the Cork hurling matches.Hurling season is starting soon. Unfortunately I will be a hurling widow then again. More later.

Valokuvatorstai "Jotain rajaa!"

2008-02-21T06:05:00.000-08:00

Valokuvatorstai's photo this week. A male dog sleeping in front of the Tokyu department store in Bangkok. Strange sleeping position.

Uroskoira paivaunilla Tokyu-tavaratalon edessa Bangkokissa. Nukkuma-asento on aika mielenkiintoinen.

Voima, valokuvatorstai 77.

2008-02-06T04:52:00.000-08:00

Strong and hard working. An elephant moving logs in Laos.

Norsu tyomiehena Laosissa.

Tenkkapoo

2007-11-29T05:03:00.000-08:00

Valokuvatorstai:

It is easier to get in than come out. Cu Chi tunnels are not made for western men! - Cu Chi -tunneleita Vietnamissa ei ole rakennettu lansimaisten miesten kulkureiteiksi. Saattaa aiheuttaa pienta ahtaanpaikankammoa!

Knitting for Christmas

2007-11-23T10:09:00.000-08:00

Lovely Wollmeise yarns.

Last week I ordered sock yarns to knit some socks for christmas. Get Knitted and Wollmeise sent me my orders this weeks. Especially the Wollmeise's yarns were exactly so lovely they looked in internet. I really fell in love with those yarns. The colours are just so brilliant! Today I went to the town centre here in Cork trying to find small knitting needles. I found some smaller Brittany needles in Vibes&Schribes, but couldn't find the smallest size I needed. Ireland is famous for its Aran sweaters, but at least Cork is not a mecca for knitters. Knitting is not popular here, even thought I heard it is getting more popular. I don't know any younger Irish people, who knit. ( I think I'll write later a full post of woolshops and knitting in my current home town.) After coming back home I found out that I actually had the needles of that missing size. They were metal ones, what my mum gave me once. So now I am ready to start knitting socks!

Photo

2007-11-22T04:18:00.000-08:00

I have been a bit busy this week, but now you will get something. I joined the finnish weekly valokuvatorstai. It has different photographical theme every week. This weeks theme is in finnish:

Minun mielestäni suurimpia virheitämme, heti ihmisenä olemisen jälkeen, on aikakäsityksemme luonne. Meillä on kaiken maailman kapistukset, kellot ja kalenterit, jotka siivuttavat ajan kuin makkaran, ja me nimeämme siivut aivan kuin omistaisimme ne eivätkä ne voisi koskaan muuttua - "kello 11.00, 11. marraskuuta 1918" - vaikka todellisuudessa ne saattavat hajota kappaleiksi ja vieriä tiehensä aivan yhtä helposti kuin elohopeapisarat. (Kurt Vonnegut: Maaton mies, Tammi 2007, suomennos Erkki Jukarainen)

It is about the time and clocks, how much they determine our life these days. I actually had a course at the university some years ago about time and clocks. I have to tell I don't remember very much of that course, but I think it made me think this subject in some way.

Time is running and we are too busy. We should be able to live slower life with more time to relax. My photo was taken in Vietnam in the Mekong delta area in January this year.

First posting

2007-11-17T19:03:00.000-08:00

I have been planning to start a new hobby & interest blog, so here we go. I have been actually writing different blogs for longer time. The other blogs are concentrating more on my personal life and travelling. After reading many blogs of other people about different things, I thought why not to start one more blog about this kind themes. As a native Finn I have been reading lot of Finnish knitting blogs lately (it is hugely popular in that small country), but also interesting blogs from other countries and different things. That actually came from my my reborn interest in knitting. I wanted to start knitting again and started searching in internet for interesting patterns and realized, how popular it actually is. I used to do arts and knit a lot in my teens and early twenties, but after that life has been so busy, studying, living in many different places in Finland and other countries and also travelling, so I didn't actually do very much arts or crafts in those years. Now I am living in Ireland and life is a bit more settled for a while (read staying in one place for longer time), so it is easier for this kind of hobbies.

This blog will include subjects like arts, crafts, photography, architecture and all kind of nice things in this beautiful world.

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EDIT: I am annoyed with Blogger already. I have problems with the text. I am trying to leave empty rows, but as you can see,when publishing Blogger pulls all the text together, so it doesn't look very nice. I don't know how to fix the problem. I don't have a similar problem with my other Blogger blogs.