Jen Joy

I need to distract you with this picot edge for just a wee moment!

My 'Embrace the Lace' kit from Woolgirl arrived the other day!! As I was pulling it out of the box and opening it, Mr. NK called it a box of "Jen Joy"!

He was sooo right! Keep scrolling down if you don't mind feasting your eyes on a wee bit of "Jen Joy"!

As if baby camel in 'Spiced Pumpkin' from Lobster Pot yarns wasn't enough...

...look at this felted acorn. Is it not the cutest thing you've ever seen?

Check out the neck warmer...an Anne Hanson pattern...there are mitts, too!
Lovely, warm, luscious, decadent...pass the smelling salts...this much autumnal goodness should be illegal!

There were other goodies in the package to be sure...but you'll have to wait for your own box to arrive to see those...I don't want to spoil all the fun!

Lest you think I'm a speed knitter...not...just priveleged to be a test knitter...thanks Jen!!!

Happy Friday-eve!!!

oh...one more little thing...Go DUCKS!!!!!!

wordless wednesday

antidote to gray

Ahhh...December has finally arrived. We're at the tail end of autumn...

...winter is settling in.

Nature is entertaining us with her many shades, hues and tones of gray.

I'm countering that with some magenta, tangerine and sage...with a picot on top!

Cotty pattern by the lovely Irishgirlieknits
Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR medium in 'Grandma's Flower Garden'

newnewnew

Introducing Saroyan.

I was smitten with the leafy edge.

I'm using medium STR in 'Mossay' (stash yarn...just sayin'!).

Happy Monday!

Environmental Portrait

The photo assignment for this week was an environmental portrait. A portrait of your environment that reflects you, not necessarily including a face*, more of a still life. Hmmmm. We were on holiday in southern California this week so this was a challenge on multiple levels. Vacations aren't still!! Ack!

I think this collage encompasses a portrait of the vacation environment. It is filled with the smiling faces of my beloved family, the action-packed events of the days, the tummy-smiling food that was showcased on the holiday and throughout the week, and the overall connections and fun that our family had this past week! (Click the image for a larger view).

I had a blast with this assignment...my sister Laurie, a lovely photographer in her own right (B&W image with camera) worked with me on getting it all together (and she took the shot of me, Shayna and my mom...thank you for sharing). We had a blast. I think I finally "enabled" her into the world of food photography (her camera with the eggs)...how do you capture "enabling" in pixels?! :)

What do you think, did I capture my vacation environment in a way that says "me"?

Clockwise from the top left: me**, Scooter, food photography, mom, Shayna, Jill and Shayna, Laurie, Jill, Laurie (yep...twins!), pumpkin spice cake (yum...all gone, now!), hummingbird, Dad and Mr. NK, new socks (more later!!!), floral arrangement for turkey day.

*Funny...I usually stay clear of "face" photography...but it really seemed to fit this time, and I was very pleased with how the "face" pics turned out.

**The autumn color in my hair is real, not photoshopped (LOL!!)...and the bracelets: prostate cancer, animal rescue, ALS, breast cancer, 'ONE', Notorious Sock Knitter (I think the bracelets should've been the self-portrait, don't you?)

p.s. I'm using a Mac...oy...if any formatting is off, I apologize...chalk it up to a vacation-inspired design element!! :)

Thanksgiving

Bounty...

...is for sharing.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I hope your table is heaping with the love and joy of family of friends.

xo,
nk, mr. nk, max, gibson & keeley

wordless wednesday

color quilt

A color quilt.

A stitching together of individual images that encompass one main color to create a montage of color...i.e. a pixel quilt.

Check out the assignment here. Check out Camilla's beautiful quilt here. And Carolyn's here.

I was severely limited by light, time, light, weather, did I mention light? Sticking to an autumn theme, I decided to revisit images I hadn't posted yet from the last few weeks or so. You can click on the image to make it larger. I wished I could've been out and about during daylight hours...as I found myself seeing images based on color, rather than subject.

Enough verbiage. Come join the fun! The next assignment is on Carolyn's blog! See you next Saturday!!

sweet times

mmmm....looks like something's up in the kitchen!

It has been so bleak outside, we needed something warm and rejuvenating on the inside.

Brownies seemed like the perfect thing. I mean really...is there ever a bad time for freshly baked brownies?

I hope you all have a sweet weekend!!

flaming desire

Got your attention, didn't I!?

It's Anne's influence.

And aren't you glad?

Autumn burned brightly,
a running flame through the mountains,
a torch flung to the trees.
~Faith Baldwin

The Woolen Rabbit Harmony sock yarn in 'New England Red'
Flaming Desire by Anne Hanson for the Yarn4Socks December sock club

wordless wednesday

treasures

Max was helping me in the wool room. Help...distract...help...distract...you know how it goes!!

The socks, you ask? Ahhhh....aren't they gorgeous!? My mom made those many years ago. She is quite the knitter. She does beautiful needlepoint, too.

I think she made these for my dad. Every stitch is perfect.

Max was quite impressed (me, too!!).

It's been a busy week...but a good week, I think I'm caught up and can get back to regularly scheduled knitting and blogging biz!

We went to the Michael Jackson movie on Sunday evening. Oh my. If you have a chance to see it before it leaves the theaters, I'd highly recommend it. Phenomenal.

That's all I've got for now! Happy Tuesday!

fiber hugs

What's better than a handknit scarf?

A scarf knit by a dear friend and received as a gift!

Mr. NK totally surprised me on my birthday by inviting Woolgirl and Woolboy to join us for dinner. Sadly, WB was out of town, but Jen joined in the surprise. And boy oh boy, was I surprised!!

Dear Readers, we literally shut down the restaurant...dear me, I have not done that...well, since in forever I imagine! :) We had a blast!!

That sweet Jen, she totally spoiled me rotten...this scarf (just one of her many splendid gifts) was outstandingly special...just like its maker.

Thank you Jen!! Heart you!! :)

The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

wordless wednesday

winter birch

Winter Birch by Pigeon Roof Studios ala the Woolgirl Sock Club!

This was my favorite club skein this year! I love it. It shouts winter.

And in the very next breath it offers up wooly goodness to keep you toasty warm.

In seed time learn,
in harvest teach,
in winter enjoy.
~William Blake

sock castles

The first Hayrick sock is finished! I heart it! The second sock is underway.
It has been a full week here and we're looking forward to the weekend. No big plans...just a little knitting and staying out of the rain.

What about you?

Imagination is more important than knowledge.
~Albert Einstein

Hayrick sock by Anne Hanson
Harmony yarn from The Woolen Rabbit in 'Beach Sand'
Beach glass...little treasures collected by little hands a long time ago

sweets of a different shade

Hmmmm....could there be some cooking in my future??

First up is the Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Dessert cookbook (a wonderful Bday gift from Jen!). Oh yum. And the photography...double yum. If you don't have a sweet tooth prior to looking through this book, you will afterwards!

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is a cookbook by who else? PW. We will be feasting like royalty here at Chez NK with these two books as our gastronomic guides!!

while we're talking food....

a little 'Candy Corn' (another awesome gift from WG) to sweeten the yarn basket!

Happy Friday-eve!!

wordless wednesday

cold comfort

It's November and it's getting cold outside. Really cold.

Frosty cold. Brrr.

Not to worry, we're keeping comfy warm here at Chez NK!

A "full house" of Anne socks:
1 Hayrick sock in The Woolen Rabbit 'Harmony'
a pair of Tottering Cable socks in The Sanguine Gryphon 'Bugga'
a pair of Papaver Sok socks in Hazel Knits 'Artisan' yarn

Moroccan Chickpea Stew. Yum.

Happy Monday!!