kimidawn24

Sep 08 2011

2 Comments

Antics, Family

The Trip

I landed early morning in Dublin

and visited the Book of Kells at Trinity College.

Then just meandered around the town

and enjoyed the beautiful sights

and some of Ireland’s other pleasures.

I was picked up by Joey and the band in the TOUR BUS

and we arrived at the festival grounds in County Laois

And enjoyed all the backstage amenities for the bands.

And I enjoyed a fabulous show.

We travelled by night across the Irish Sea and into morning across the stunning English countryside.

I spotted the black sheep amongst a bunch. (Can you see him on the far right?)

Then I enjoyed another fabulous show

and we hopped back on the tour bus and travelled overnight to wake up in London.

We enjoyed the sights in London for the next two days.

It was the trip of a lifetime to get to see my husband play some fabulous music in front of thousands upon thousands of people in two amazing countries. Now we’re home, spending lots of time snuggling with our Henry who we missed dearly, and getting back into the swing of life in NYC. I picked up some framing supplies for my ABC sampler and some yarn for a new project today. Fall is in the air and I’m ready to get some wool on the needles.

Aug 28 2011

1 Comment

Antics, Crewel, Embroidery, Family, Music

Sneak Peek

Every last stitch has been stitched, and the frame has been purchased. All that’s left is to acquire some additional framing supplies and my Daisychain ABC’s sampler will be complete!

Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait to see the finished product for just a little while. You see, I just don’t have time to pick up those additional supplies and frame this puppy because later this week I am flying to Dublin and then traveling by TOUR BUS (!!) with Joey as he plays guitar with Midlake at festivals in both Ireland and England. I am so excited to finally get to join him during some of his travels. I guarantee there will be lots of pictures when I get back and a fully-framed ABC sampler. Until then, please enjoy a little sneak peek:

Jul 17 2011

3 Comments

Antics, Crewel, Embroidery, Family

Charmed

I continue to be charmed by my latest project, a crewel-work sampler. After I complete every line, color or petal, I hold it out and admire how sweet it looks. I’m also enjoying the forgotten memories that this project is bringing forth as I stitch each letter.

When I was a kid in daycare during summer months, they would step up the activities since we were there all day long. I remember that on Wednesdays we would go to the city pool and swim and eat cherry sours and hot fries. (That was probably my favorite day of the week back then.) On other days we would do craft projects. We had this one teacher, Miss Patti that was really into cross stitch. I still remember learning how to cross-stitch on a square of orange gingham fabric. I wonder if I ever finished stitching that sailboat, and what has happened to it over the years.

I also remember my Nana showing me how to embroider a sparrow on a pillowcase a few years after that. She always had pretty embroidered pillowcases and I think I asked her to show me how on a whim one day, and she did. Just like the time I asked her on a whim to show me how to knit. My Nana, she’s a wonderful lady. I’m starting to realize as I get older how much she and I are alike, and I’m so happy when I come across something new about myself and then look back and see that it was inspired by her. I wonder whatever happened to that sparrow pillowcase. I bet my mom has it somewhere in her linen closet. I’ll have to ask her about it next time I’m there because it’s something I would love to have again.

Jul 10 2011

1 Comment

Antics, Crewel, Embroidery

Crewel World

When I saw Alicia’s Daisychain ABCs sampler, I fell in love with it. Never mind that I’ve never done crewel-work of any sort and my most recent attempt at embroidery was elementary at best; I instantly decided I had to make one myself. It just seems like it would be the perfect project to work on while sitting in a hammock under a shady tree, sipping iced tea. (Note to self: must find a private shade tree in Brooklyn for hammock-lounging and iced tea-sipping.)

My handmade kit arrived last Friday and I’ve been admiring its sweet contents all week, just waiting for a bit of free time to jump in and get started. Alicia included the cutest hand-drawn instruction sheet of each stitch used, but I’m also finding youtube videos an invaluable source for exactly how to execute each stitch.

Now I’m just wondering if I should continue alphabetically, or just jump around and do whichever letter catches my fancy next?

Jul 04 2011

1 Comment

Antics, Dogs, Music

Weekend Getaway

Joey and I were invited up to a friend’s place in East Burke, Vermont for the holiday weekend and we had an absolutely wonderful time. It was so relaxing to enjoy the beautiful mountains, fresh air, and a sunny day around the pool with good friends.

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. I needed that.

Jun 26 2011

1 Comment

Antics, Family, NYC

Sunday Brunch

Joey and I have opposite work schedules and lately he’s been traveling a lot so when the rare half-day together opens up, we try to take full advantage of it. Today we went to brunch and just walked around the city hand in hand, enjoying the sights.

Jun 16 2011

Summer Projects

Ah summer… the time of year when we relax a little bit and have some fun. I’ve definitely felt the need for some fun lately so I decided to try a few new things this summer to break myself out of a rut.

One recent Saturday morning, I woke up with visions of knitting under a big umbrella on a beach while salty waves washed ashore. An appropriately beachy yarn in a light seafoam color was just beckoning to be made into a hard-wearing beach bag. A few hours of Ravelry-perusing later, I decided on the Medano Beach pattern. I coupled in some Debbie Bliss cotton DK in cool grey to give it those fun stripes that are just so popular right now.

Following this inspirational wave to try new things, I wanted something that would be a bit of a challenge and keep me entertained. I also discovered that I’m really enjoying working with the thin Hempathy yarn, so I started thinking of light, airy shawls in laceweight yarn, which is something I’ve never worked with before. I fell in love with Brooklyn Tweed’s Rock Island Shawl, which is spectacularly lovely and word on the Ravelry forums is that it’s not exactly beginner’s lace. I picked up some lovely Anzula laceweight in the Seascape colorway and cast on for this just the other night. I haven’t gotten very far, but I think its going to be great.

May 30 2011

2 Comments

knitting, shawls/wraps

FO: Guernsey Wrap

I finished knitting my warm and wooly Guernsey Wrap the same week that the first wave of sizzling heat rolled in to Brooklyn.

Pattern: Guernsey Wrap by Brooklyn Tweed

Yarn: 5 skeins of Shelter in Soot

US 8 needles

I blocked this using blocking wires as suggested, though I think I probably should have stretched it a little more while drying. I was very pleased with the yarn and the pattern was extremely well-written. Now I’ll have something to look forward to when the temperatures start to drop again. And until then, I think I’ll enjoy the sunshine!

Mar 06 2011

2 Comments

knitting, NYC, Scarves/Cowls

Perseverance

I’ve almost reached the halfway mark on the Guernsey Wrap I’m knitting. I’ve been ignoring it a little lately… something about the month of February in NYC just gets to you, ya know?

But now that March has rolled around, bringing the promise of a little more sunlight each day, I think I might have a finished wrap just in time for that not-quite warm enough to go completely without a top layer, but warm enough to shed the coat weather. Perfect weather for a wrap like this one, a reminder that the warmth and sunshine of spring are just around the corner.

Jan 23 2011

1 Comment

Antics, Cooking, knitting, NYC

An Apple a Day

I can’t think of a better way to spend a cold windy Sunday afternoon than baking and knitting.

I made apple crisp last weekend and it was very very good. The granny smiths made it just a little tart, so I’m making another batch this weekend using gala apples.