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bootie call!

I knit these guys over the summer for my good friend who had her baby in...my goodness- was it May or April? June?
My brain... it's going.
Anyway, as you can see, they are just a bit wonky!  One does seem fatter than the other. Not too bad for my first pair ever I suppose, but the other part of the story that you can't readily see from the picture, is that they are too big for a newborn.  They might be too big for a 2 or 3 year old.  I sent them anyway!  With a disclaimer and a mention that it was the thought that counts!
I just had to try the cute mary jane pattern.  It's from an old Knit simple magazine.



This-y here is a scarf from Marimekko!  It was the only thing I could afford at the shop in NYC.
I have it pinned on the wall in my bedroom- so cheerful!

Happy friday!

book back track

I got these back in May on our trip to NYC!  I thought I had taken a bigger pic of the covers- sorry!
We have , both from the "Heartwarming Life Series" ( l0ve that!),
on the left - Layered one Piece - ISBN978-4-529-04560-5
and on the right- its all in Japanese! ISBN978-4-529-04629-9
And as usual, can't seem to fix this "cutting off images at the right"  problem...

I took these pics last week on the porch, the same time as the Lotta book, as the light is all dappled and summery.  Think of it that way as opposed to it being not great light for photos-;)
I love these books!  I love all the layers and baggy dresses over pants and leggings- So cozy and cute.

• Saw the movie "Away we Go" on the weekend- it was so sweet!  I loved it!  Then on the walk home, Paul bought a hat and I bought a bunch of sunflowers.
• Watching season two of 30 Rock!  Boy all I want to do is watch funny shows and this one is wonderful , but I don't need to tell you that!  It's common knowledge.
• Speaking of hilarious, have you seen The IT Crowd yet??  Oh Ma Gah, LOVE IT.

Ok- I know it's summer. I AM doing more than watching TV and movies, I promise.  Not MUCH more, but I am.  There has been copious amounts of reading on the porch and eating garlic-y olive oil-y tomatoe-y  pasta dishes too.

Book's I have devoured lately:

• Belong to Me - What a great book!  I won't tell you anything about it other than it was a clever, winding tale with an ending I did not expect!  It is a continuation of the lives of the people in her her first book, Love Walked In , which I also just loved.
  
• Circle of Quilters - I just happened upon this book in the library and grabbed it based on the cover and the word "quilt" in the title. Not dissapointed!  It was a really easy and comfortable read. My kind of book, ll about women's lives and bonus, she seems ot have a ton more for me to read.
• Tea time for the Traditionally Built and the Miracle at Speedy Motors - How is this guy so prolific?? I can barely keep up, but I still love to read his books.  I have even caught a few episodes of the new show  and it's just as lovely as the books.
• This Charming Man Do not judge this book by its wretched cover here. ( My copy had this nice cover here ) I could not put it down.  I am a big Marian Keyes fan already and this book had her trademark serious subject matter mixed with hilarious Irish-isms.  Read it!  Quite a chilling depiction of alcohalism and domestic abuse.

yippee!

The previous mystery has been solved!  My best friend sent me the fabric! How could I not have put 2 and 2 together and guessed that! She is also very clever, its obvious.  Thank you L!!
Look here, this is what I mentioned Grace having sent me! 
Here it is: Lotta's Lifestyle.

The mailman came one afternoon last week when I was reading on the porch enjoying the summer. I heard the mail truck and just assumed it was for someone else, but when I heard our front gate open, I leapt up and said "Oh its for me!!"
and asked "WHAT IS IT??"  Of course the nice mailman said "uh- I don't know..."
I thanked him and off he went.
The exitement!

It was very pleasant to sit and look at every single page while the breeze moved around me and the birdies sang.  I am sure I had a glass of iced tea nearby also.  It is a lovely little book-inspiring!
It also included a little house by the unstoppable Heidi, kind of like this one, and some fun bits and pieces!
Luckiness!  Thank you Grace!

summer mystery theatre

Hello there!

I received this amazing fabric in the mail recently and I have no idea how!  I was convinced my clever friend Grace had sent it as a surprise, but she says no!  Instead she sent a different special treat which I will show you later.  It is from a shop called Karaku Tokyo and they also have an Etsy shop too.
Yummy!!  It is  such a mystery and I just don't get it.  Does anyone out there know?
I love it regardless and I am thinking of what I can make with it.



It is gorgeous summer here this week and I am on my holidays.  This is my tree- hello tree!
I am still at my redundant job awaiting word from the union - shrug- we'll see what happens.  For now I am alternatively working on a few small illustration projects and reading on the porch with a nice cup of tea.
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Summer tidbit:  A few weeks ago was my mums 65th birthday and we had a lovely party at her friends house.  There were FIREFLIES all  over the back yard!  Fireflies!  It was magical.