Cornflower Blue: November 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

{home}

(crazy cat lady bag was a gift from this shop... love it!)

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

I've started working on a few holiday gifts! I'm coming up with a few different stripey patterns for team scarves (college & NFL). These are being worked in double crochet because it's so quick and easy - a big plus when you're making a bunch. I'll share more of the pattern details when I am finished!

{music}

I'm listening to a little Christmas music this morning! Songs for Christmas has been my favorite holiday album for several years... it's going to be on heavy rotation for the next month!

Monday, November 26, 2012

{around the house}

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Holiday Cheer

via marthastewart.com

I've set up a new Pinterest board for holiday inspiration! I'm collecting recipes, decorating ideas, holiday photos, and everything else. You can see it all here. : )

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Knitting Pattern :: Longleaf Hat

I'm back from a Thanksgiving visit to my sister's house in Colorado Springs! We had fun shopping in Old Colorado City (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and The Honey Cottage were two of my favorites), going to Madewell and Anthropologie, and even hitting up Ikea one afternoon. We ate roasted acorn squash, brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, and the most delicious coconut cream pie.

Now that I'm back I need to share my newest knitting pattern with you : )

This gorgeous little hat was inspired by the golden light of autumn and the beautiful colors of changing leaves. Autumn in my state of Alabama is a wonderful time – a welcome break from the heat and humidity of southern summers, mild and sunny, full of fireplace smells and football games. I call this hat the “Longleaf Hat” because our state tree is the Longleaf Pine. It has a chunky ribbed brim and little bit of slouchiness at the crown.

One of the best parts of this project is the yarn – autumnal hues, thick-to-thin handspun texture, and the perfect amount of warmth. I used one skein (100 grams) of Araucania Liwen in color #1. This yarn is Bulky/12ply weight and is 50% alpaca/50% wool. I used a 16 inch circular needle and a set of 4 double-pointed needles, all in size US 10/6 mm. The gauge for this hat is 14 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

You can find the pattern and all of details in my shop! And don't forget that I have a 20% off coupon code available through Tuesday, November 27 - just use coupon code HOLIDAY20 when you check out : )

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Holiday Special

I'm about to hit the road to visit my family in Colorado Springs for Thanksgiving week! Before I leave I want to let you know about the holiday sale that's going on in my Etsy shop.

Now through Tuesday, November 27 you can save 20% off everything in my shop with coupon code

HOLIDAY20 at checkout! (I'll be processing all new orders when I return on Friday, November 23.)

Enjoy!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

library day

I picked up a couple of book at the library today - fresh material to read while I travel for Thanksgiving next week. I also updated my Amazon book list if you'd like to take a look! It's full of books I've collected on my own bookshelves, checked out from the library, or have on my *I really want this* wishlist. I've created three categories for the books: Great Reads, Crafts & DIY, and Homekeeping & Cookbooks. I love looking through other people's book lists when I need new ideas for reading material!

Friday, November 16, 2012

planning

I'm taking it slow this morning as I prepare for the weekend and the week ahead - a date night, stocking up on groceries, and Thanksgiving travel are all in my near future. I'm making lots of lists right now and enjoying some quiet time at home.

I'm also trying to figure out what to knit with my beautiful MadelineTosh yarn. I think I might make a cowl.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Longleaf Hat

Just finished - the Longleaf Hat.

(pattern coming soon!)

happiness

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

moss terrarium inspiration

On Sunday I spent a little time working on my moss terrariums. I had already created this terrarium some time ago...

And I put together a new one in this recycled candle jar...

Both of them are looking a little bare so I've been dreaming up some ways to make them cuter! I started a little "faerie garden" inspiration board on Pinterest to organize ideas. I want to figure out a way to create a tiny house and find some tiny animals, too!

Monday, November 12, 2012

this yarn. omg.

This yarn is so beautiful. (Araucania Liwen in Color 1)

Sunday, November 11, 2012

knitting pattern :: ruched arm warmers

I just finished writing up and listing a new knitting pattern in the shop! Once again, necessity is the mother of invention - I really needed a pair of arm warmers so I came up with my own version. I love arm warmers because they can extend the life of three-quarter sleeved shirts into the colder months, or you can layer them over long sleeves for added warmth.

I knit this pair with alpaca and bamboo blend fingering weight yarn so they are cozy and warm without being bulky.

These arm warmers have rolled edges, a bit of ruching at each wrist, and a tiny beaded detail. I used really cute Japanese owl beads on mine!

You can see all the specifics in the listing in my shop.

love this.

Andy Goldsworthy, Rowan Leaves Around A Hole, 1987.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

weekending

Thursday, November 8, 2012

{today}

Last night was the lowest temperature we've had in quite some time, I brought my potted herbs indoors so they wouldn't freeze! I also decided it was time to hang my little German holiday ornaments in the living room because I like to have them up as long as possible (usually from November 1st until just after New Years). I unpacked my Kathe Wohlfahrt candle holder, too, and realized I need to acquire a new box of miniature candles for it. Must add that to my list.

I'm also finishing up a new arm warmer pattern - the basic arm warmers are finished, but they need some special details added before I can take photos and reveal them : )

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

library day

Here is a beautiful poem I just read in The Hungry Ear: Poems of Food & Drink...

Fall

by Wendell Berry

The wild cherries ripen, black and fat,

Paradisal fruits that taste of no man's sweat.

Reach up, pull down the laden branch, and eat;

When you have learned their bitterness, they taste sweet.

This poem is new to me and I just love it - short, simple, wonderful.

Monday, November 5, 2012

trash to treasure :: a bookshelf makeover

You may have noticed that I have rearranged the books and furniture in front of my (nonfunctional and slightly dangerous to cats) fireplace four or five times since moving into this apartment a year and a half ago. Every piece of furniture has been too big, too small, kind of weird, slightly ugly, or whatever (This piece was doing the job most recently, but it was a little small and didn't quite cover the entire fireplace opening). This weekend I found the perfect little bookcase - just the right height, the perfect width, and quite sturdy. Not to mention that it was free because I spotted it sitting on the curb (well, laying toppled over into the street if I'm going to be totally honest).

The only problem is that it looked like this:

Just a small problem : ) Sickly green, scraped, peeling, and kind of dirty (well, very dirty if I'm going to be honest).

I gave it thorough cleaning and decided that I just didn't want to do the whole sanding and painting thing. After sanding down this table I think I need a year off from that kind of project! I decided to break out the Mod Podge and cover most of the bookcase with pages from an old book, then add a little paint to the inside of the shelves.

The whole project went very smoothly! I started at the top and worked my way down, slowly applying the paper and covering it with an even layer of Mod Podge. I freshened up the interior of the bookcase with a wash of aqua paint - I mixed acrylic paint with a little water and applied two coats for a watercolor effect.

I can't believe the transformation! It looks so fresh and bright compared the sad way it started out. I'm happy to have given the bookshelf a new home and a new life!

{cozy evening}

Saturday, November 3, 2012

{autumn scents}

This week I went to one of my favorite local shops (Everyday Indulgence in downtown Tuscaloosa) to choose a few autumn scents for my home. I spent a long time smelling all of their candles and oils before making my selection. I finally settled on the Pomegranate + Spruce candle, which was a great choice because it makes my apartment smell like Christmas! The spruce smell is fresh and perfect, not at all fake pine-y if you know what I mean. I also chose a reed diffuser from their Library Collection - I had the hardest time choosing this one because they have scents named after authors and I couldn't pick one. Plus, they all smelled really good. In the end I chose a basic "library" scent with notes of mahogany and oakwood, a very warm and cozy fragrance. Next time I'm going for the "Jane Austen" scent because it's main scent is Tuberose and it smells like heaven.

What are your favorite scents for your home? Do you have a signature scent, or do you change throughout the year?