Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Knitting Dancette, painting, moving kids..all the fun stuff


It is very hard to believe it is mid August already. It has been busy here at Chez Chrissie this past month. We did get the Adirondack/ Muskoka chairs finally painted. I love them, they are super comfy and have nice big arms for cold /hot drinks, knitting projects and books to rest upon. At night we light up out old tiki torches, (with citronella oil) sit in our chairs and gaze vacantly into the night sky! Last night a really big horned owl swooped by. It startled me as it was so quiet. We watch the fruit bats zooming around picking up the bugs. Sometimes they get a little too low so that's when I high tail it into the house. I have been dive bombed by a bat and its a little too freaky for me.

We have been busy the last two weeks helping our daughter move in Victoria. We have moved our kids, and all the elders numerous times in the past decade. We are known as the Cotton Top Movers. A dubious distinction to be sure! Hey its your family and that's what you do. Victoria is such a beautiful city .





I love the hot pink petunias next to the lime green plant



Victoria is a city with the most amazing gardens but I didn't have a lot of time for garden picture taking.









There was Ikea furniture to assemble. We painted some older darker end tables for her bedroom.


New apartments are designed to be much smaller than their older counterparts. We spent a bit of time figuring out and installing closet and cupboard organizers.We had a discussion about us downsizing and living a more minimalist lifestyle. Hmmm. The comment was made that I would have to get rid of all my fabric, wool and crafty stuff. Screeechhh, put the brakes on that idea!!


If you zoom into this picture, you will see a rather large river otter running down the sidewalk. We were about a block up from the ocean, I would have expected a sea otter maybe ,but a river otter, not so much. It sure startled all of us.


Archie has now relocated to Victoria too. He is now a metro condo dog. It sure seems strange not to have him here anymore. I will have to start sweeping the kitchen floor more regularly,I will miss the cleaning service !


No more rolling in the dirt and water little friend. In honour of his upcoming move a trip to the groomers was in order.

Who is this white dog?

Before our big trek to the Coast I finished my Dancette.


I am seriously loving this triangular shawl/scarf!! The pattern again is Dancette, a pattern by IGK. Carrie is a super designer, her patterns are well written, easy to follow and very stylish.





What totally amazed me is I have clothes that matched the yarn perfectly, now how does that work heh heh!!


This is such an interesting pattern. It uses two different colours and I hope you can see the stripes in the body of the shawl. The border has a nice chevron pattern.





It forms a nice raised pattern that adds a textural dimension to the shawl. Colour plus texture, can it get any better that that?


What really makes this shawl pop is the beautiful yarn I used. It is Mulberry Cashmerino Fine, a beautifully soft merino wool cashmere mix. It is like buttah to knit with. The colours I used are Raspberry and Squash. The pictures I have taken do not do justice to this beautiful yarn.


This yarn is dyed locally by my friend Sally, she is an incredibly talented knitter and dyer. Her colours are awesome, I have knit with many of her yarns and just love them. There are a few projects on my Ravelry project page that have been made with Mulberry Yarn- Fiddlehead Mitts, Purple Jazz Wrap and Cradle me Blanket  all used this yarn.. I have plans for more!!


beautiful sunsets in Victoria

Happy knitting friends

Keep smiling

Chris


16 comments:

  1. That scarf is beautiful friend...the colors are extraordinary! And Victoria looks like such a stunning place! Good luck to your daughter and a lovely week to you friend! Nicole xo

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    1. Thanks Nicole for your kind thoughts! You would go absolutely bonkers in Victoria. There are blocks and blocks of casual beautiful gardens. It is a very temperate climate and plants grow like mad. In February the early spring blossoms are starting. Drives the rest of Canada nuts!! Have a good week Chris

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  2. Someone else who says 'Buttah'! We are kindred spirits, indeed, except I can't knit a stitch. LOVE that scarf! Ahem.... Etsy shop....

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    1. Yes I do believe we are! I also think we would not be members of The Shrinking Violets Society!! You can be an honourary knitter! Save you a ton of money and won't eat into your garden and plant funds. Have a good one!

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  3. It looks like you have been busy! I feel rather sad for you that you no longer have Archie. Maybe it's time for a puppy? :-)

    Your shawl is very pretty. It will be nice to wear when the weather cools down a bit. Nice job on the chairs. You are very brave to stay out with bats zooming around.

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    1. We sure miss Archie. I have always had cats but I must say I have enjoyed having a dog. Maybe a puppy is in the future. I have stepped on a dead bat with bare feet..ick. Our late cat Bob, a stumpy tailed orange tabby Manx , used to bring me dead critters but the bats were not my fav. Big ta doo with the Health unit due to a rabies concern. He thought me most ungrateful!

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  4. Moving and decreasing your stash, is your husband insane? Love your scarf and best of luck to your daughter in her new place.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. I know, has the man totally lost his mind or has no concerns about his personal safety?!? Seriously I would have to have a second condo for all my treasures haha!! Thanks for your good wishes and I hope the next few weeks are more calm, quiet and less eventful for you. Take care Chris

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  5. A river otter is just running up your street. Amazing! Let's switch towns. :o)

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    1. The otter was in Victoria, our capital city. You'd love it there, very similar to Portland. Beautiful gardens and a very cool vibe. Yah we have to contend with bats, musk rats, an occasional beaver, owls, raccoons and deer in our urban neighbourhood. I have never seen an otter running down a sidewalk before!

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  6. Your shawl is just beautiful Chris!!!! I love it. xx

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    1. Thank you Amy, I am thinking of knitting a second one.! I just like looking at colour combos. I hope you have a calm and restful weekend Chris

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  7. Your scarves are really gorgeous! I love those soft colors and they will look nice with Fall clothes, too. The river otter is funny....what a photo! Enjoy your day! Hugs!

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    1. Thanks so much! I am looking forward to wearing it this fall. It will be interesting to see when autumn starts here this year. We seem to have summers that stretch into October now! What the heck is a river otter doing running down a sidewalk close to the Pacific Ocean! Have a great weekend Chris

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  8. I love the chairs and the colours you chose for them, Chrissie. Lovely knitting project as well; there is a bit of similarity with the sky shots, in the sense of the variety of hues. Sitting at my Ikea desk, I can relate to your assembly projects!

    Karen

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  9. Thanks Karen! You are absolutely right on the similarity of colours, wow you have a super colour eye! Looking forward to wearing my new shawl but it can wait for several more weeks. Our weather is out of the super hot zone and we are enjoying nice pleasant weather. I see Eastern Canada has had a cooler summer. That was some winter you had. Unreal! IKEA furniture is great but not a quick job and all those bits and pieces! Have a good Sunday !

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