Meandering

October 25, 2016 ~ Post 180

I steamed block my Flora Cowl because I wanted to wear it this past weekend.   Later, I will  wet block it.  However, a steamer, which I don't own, would have worked wonders.  I do like how the leaf sections in the pattern add texture.

I did knit a beret awhile ago that is almost the same colour as the cowl. So much so that, luckily, I can wear them together.

I loved how this pattern meandered along. Since it's not that wide, it was easy and quite quick to knit a section. I'd like to knit another cowl like this using a different pattern, or maybe I'll get inventive and fashion one of my own.  Raverly project page here.

* The Flora Cowl comes from the first issue of  the Making magazine. I am thinking of knitting a hat  from the magazine and there are great sweater patterns in the first issue too.

 * * * 

And a few more colourful fall pics...

An orange Sumac. Usually they turn red.

So many berries for the birds. Good! These ones are especially beautiful.

Crab Apples on the drawing board.

Twins

A feast for the eye.

Next, a few pics from Pumpkin Inferno. What a spectacular show!  The pictures could be clearer but it was scary and dark. Excuses, excuses.  ;-) Actually, these pics are from last year. I  hope to go this weekend.

BOO!

Have a safe and a Happy Hallowe'en! 

Fall Foliage/A Little Space/ Watercolour

October 18, 2016

What a gorgeous fall. As you can see, the leaves are extremely vivid. No colour enhancement required. Unfortunately, I only have one cell phone picture of the beautiful red leaves, although I do love the orange/red too. I'd like to take a few more pics before the rain and wind casts all the beauty away. How beautiful is it? So beautiful that even I am quiet as we drive along. 

When I look around, I can't help but feel gratitude for such a beautiful, peaceful season.

A favourite fall quote coming up. I post it every year. Apparently I can't help it.

  "Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from an autumn tree."

~ Emily Bronte

A Little Space

If you've been reading along, you may have noticed that I've been painting at the end of my dining room table.  Functional but not always convenient; after a lot of looking, I finally picked out a desk. Although small, it's a surprisingly spacious. Abigail is the given name of my secretary. (Given by the store that is.)  Unfortunately, it suffered a few bumps on the way here, so it looks a little shabby. But each day the look grows on me a little, although I was initially disappointed.  However, the company offered a discount or new parts. I am leaning towards the discount. Since it arrived, I've been drawing, painting and staring off into space  and musing here whenever I can. I love my little space!

I found the fresh water clam shells on the river bank this summer.  I think a bird must have munched it for lunch.  Such pretty, delicate shells and they are endangered, so what a lucky find.

Along with my own watercolours, I've been slowly collecting a few prints from artists whose work  I admire. I have a few more to hang. Perhaps the large one to the left?

A Resplendent Quetzal ~ Watercolour on Arches Paper


If all goes well, I hope to have Giclee prints made from the above painting, The Pretty Pair, and The Maestro. At the moment, I am looking for a great Giclee print shop. If you happen to know of one in Canada or the U.S., chime in.  Hopefully, the prints will be available in my Tictail shoppe in time for Christmas.

Have a lovely week...

Water Lilies ~ Time Slip

October 11, 2016

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day in Canada. So if you are in Canada, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

My the seasons have moved fast this year. So fast that I feel like I'm in a time slip.  Spring, although late, (it always seems late ;) and summer...so lovely.  And now slipping through the cracks: autumn: a blast of gorgeousness and refined beauty. What luck, this year, to have such wonderful seasons.

Clearly, I haven't mention winter. It, of course, it's not without beauty, but since I lived in the Arctic for many years, with winter arriving in October and leaving the end of June, or later, I do so appreciate spring, summer, and fall. And I wish, each year, that they could linger just a little longer.

White Water Lily

If I could capture the reflected light, I'd love to paint these lilies. Oil paints would work, but I  don't own any oils, nor do I know much about them. ( Monet comes to mind. He could make a painting sing.)

 Yellow pond lilies.
What a wonderful pattern on the water and O that reflected light.

Going to seed in a beautiful way...

It's always a treat to see something you haven't seen before. What an unusual colour.

Friends:

Red squirrel.

A cooperative leopard frog.

Collage:

Would a smaller pumpkin work? Perhaps I just need a larger doily.

On the Needles:

The Flora Cowl with about 29 inches/73.66 cm to go.

. . .

I'm off to enjoy a cup of Matcha.

'Til next time...do have a lovely week!

Birds and Golden Days

Sept 20, 2016 

Hi lovely people!

As you know, I am very fond of birds. These days the migrating birds are flocking and making plans to fly off to warmer climes. The hummingbirds have already left. (My friend, Lois, knows when they arrive and when they leave to the day.)  They are so small, yet so clever and resourceful, obviously the denigrating term bird brain does not apply. The hummers are off to Mexico and Central America. Such bravado!

I love moments like the one above.  I can never get enough of  the cheerful Chickadees. They are so trusting and they don't mind visiting a giant hand. My son said this wee birdie didn't even take a seed. At the moment, it's Eden out there. No need to rush or grab seeds, so this lady flew down for  a long visit. I like to think the Chickadees remember us from our treks to the woods on cold, snowy blustery days with pocketfuls of seeds. I sometimes wonder how they make it through the long, cold winters.

You may remember my Staying Alive Series (threatened or endangered species); this one's #3. Eastern Meadowlark and Dogwood. I put a background in ( not shown) at night.  It looks a little too bright. (An OttLite, please Santa.)

A few older paintings and a new one to the right.

Since my other lily didn't make it until I was ready to paint it, I nipped over to the florist for another one.  It's so nice to be able to buy one stock now and then for a reasonable price. 

A wee one.

I planted this orchid at the end of May. I was about to cross it off my list of bulbs to plant and then the other day it began to bloom.

The annual pick up has begun. I still have a ton of leaves from last fall, but I can't resist. I'll check Pinterest for ideas on what to do with these beauties. I'd like to paint the Maple leaf.

And finally, a glimpse of gold. It's a wonder out there just now. It reminds me of the following stanza from Dylan Thomas' Fern Hill.

Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs
About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green,
The night above the dingle starry,
Time let me hail and climb
Golden in the heydays of his eyes,
And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns
And once below a time I lordly had the trees and leaves
Trail with daisies and barley
Down the rivers of the windfall light.

Enjoy...

Fall, Shawl Collared Cowl

September 6, 2016

Asters

Labour Day has come and gone and everyone's talking about fall, even though we are having wonderful summer weather, but I have noticed a change in the air, especially at night.  Still I've decided to stick with summer. Picnic anyone? After all, fall doesn't officially arrive until September 22nd.

Elderberries

I love these delicate blooms.  I  just googled and found out that they are called Peruvian lilies or Lily of the Incas.

 Looks like fall wear. And after that sweet talk about summer, but being prepared can't hurt.

 This Shawl Collared Cowl has been in the basket (dare I say) for almost two years. (I am so happy I can knit again!)  I really like this pattern. I've knit it for gifts and for myself.  Yes, I am one of those people, if I like something why not (sometimes) have two. :) I've knit two with Alpaca. It's soft and wonderful to wear, but it does stretch a lot, so, for this one, I added a lace weight mohair for support. Since mohair is suppose to be the warmest fiber, it should, coupled with the Alpaca, be lovely and warm, especially once the loft fluffs up.

A relatively fast knit, but I did spend too long in the fabric store staring at a wall of bland buttons. Nothing caught my eye, until, that is, I saw ice blue. 

 (Did I mention that I am so happy I can knit again!) 

Raverly info here.

Lily of the Incas, Hydrangea, Wax plant bloom.

The last two years I've only had one bloom on my wax plant. Maybe it needs a new owner. (I give it a good fertilizer and put it outside in the summer.)  Calling all gardeners...any ideas for more blooms?

'Til next time...Have a lovely week!

The Sights, Knitting etc.

August 29, 2016

Hi there!

Time has been flying along, and the summer is slowly winding down. Queen Anne's Lace, Golden Road, and the  Brown Eyed Susie's are  beautifully carpeting the countryside. It has been such a wonderful summer weather wise: a lot of sunshine and enough rain to pump up the lushness. 


Flora

Bindweed and Jewel Weed.

Fauna

An Osprey watches the watcher. 

My kingdom for a telephoto lens.

 

Lucky Purple Martins inhabit the 13th floor.

Countryside

Off the Needles

 

Netherfield Evening Bag from Jane Austen Knits Fall 2012

I've always loved the old fashioned recticules, and I have been wanting to knit this pattern since it first came out. So I did a deep stash drive (my stash is embarrassingly small just now) and found this yarn. It's wonderful yarn to knit with, but the colour is not what I expected. With mail order you can't always tell.
 The bag still needs to be lined and requires a French seam, (O, dear) and since my sewing machine gave it up long ago (gasp!), I will sew it by hand. Also, the pattern calls for beads on the points. Will anything match? Perhaps a dye bath would help. :)

Beautiful old things

Loved this display. Old tools (well mostly) of the trade.

 Something different:

Masks ~ Comedy and Tragedy. 
The written words require black ink.

On the drawing board...The Stargazer Lily. My 20% shoppe sale is on until the end of August. Just type SALE at the checkout. Thank you!  Enjoy the week...