If you don't know where to knit, Stephen does!

Itsy bitsy slow motion video, with textile

What's not to love?

I've lost my key (in red) - an etsy treasury

J'ai perdu mes clés (en rouge) un trésor d'etsy.

Je perds souvent mes clés. Le meilleur moyen de les retrouver est de me demander : "Où et quand les ai-je vues pour la dernière fois? Puis de cesser de chercher. Et bien entendu un bon porte-clé, bien coloré, ça aide. J'en ai besoin d'un nouveau, et la poupée rouge me tente beaucoup.

I often loose my keys. The best way to find them is to ask myself: "Where did I saw them last? When?" And of course to have a lovely bright key ring. I need a new one. The little doll would be lovely.

Ocean love and fears - an etsy treasury

J'espère que l'océan survivra à la pollution.
Cette sélection d'oeuvres trouvées sur etsy a été inspirée par le fil teint à la main de walkcollection.

I hope the ocean will survive the pollution.
An esty treasure inspired by the handpainted yarn by walkcollection.

Déchiffrer la trame

Mon podcast francophone favori a publié en octobre une nouvelle fascinante qui plaira je pense à tous les passionnés des arts textiles:

Déchiffrer la trame de Jean-Claude Dunyach

Utopod est le podcast francophone des littératures de l'imaginaire. De grande qualité, il propose des lectures de nouvelles de science-fiction, fantastique et fantasy par des lecteurs excellents qui sont le plus souvent des comédiens professionnels.
Dites-m'en des nouvelles! :)

Voulez-vous camper avec moi?

Comme je retourne bosser demain, je vous offre une promenade dans le Jura vaudois, au paturage des Pralets, en dessus de Bassins. Venez voir toutes les fleurs et les sourires de mes enfants dans ma galerie flickr.

As I go back to work tomorrow, I offer you a "promenade" in the swiss mountain of Jura. Lots of lovely flowers and smiling children! "Rendez-vous" on flickr.

unblogged: Good Friend Noro pullover

I don't know why I never wrote a post about this sweater:




It is my second adult sweater (but I finished it before the Hourglass), and the first I knit without a pattern (but with my trusty Knitting Workshop always at my side). It could be a couple of inches longer, but I love the colours of the Noro Big Kureyon, the warmth of the wool, the rustic but not itchy feel of the single yarn. I am particulary proud of the not-quite-raglan line of the shoulder decreasing, a little bit disapointed that the special desiging of the bottom rib does not show more, and totally happy with the short-row placed neckline.

I am a little on the unblogged side myself apparently. Well if you really want to know, in no particular order:

I still knit. (like crazy)
I spin. (a little)
I have started experimenting with the knitting machine (It is irritating but very interesting. And it hurts my back.)
I have open my DMC yarn box again and embroider a little bit here and there.
The sewing machine is back on the dinner table....

and:

The garden is calling my name since it is so warm and sunny.
I have three small children who still wants me for this and that. (and that too. and this again.)
I am back to work and university. Two weeks of holiday where much too short to feel well-rested. But the sun and the snow helped a bit to cheer me up side after the exhaustion of the semester and the exams.

All this is pretty good in fact. But then again after all this I don't really want to take pictures of my projects, less even upload them, write a post aso... Sometimes I miss my blog. But apparently not enough to kick my butt and do it.
I don't want to close it officially however. Who knows? If I am stitching again, I may even blog more some day!!
I still read the other blogs though. And of course I am very happy when I get comments, even if I cannot answer to everyone (blogger does not help me in this).

Have a Sunny February!

Sewing a Saucisson (and a snake)

In october, we've had lots of fun creating strange creatures from my daughter's old tights.



The one who has been the most excited about it is my 3 1/2 old one. Both softies shown here are his.



This is a very easy and fun thing to do. The children can help in choosing the colours, the shapes and the embellishments, and of course in stuffing the socks which is the best part for them. I was very happy to be using my big box of embroidery floss in all its colored glory.

It has been in use again yesterday for some Christmas Tree ornaments. Maybe I'll get a chance to show them here?

Buster Keaton vs Shrek

My daughter is finally old enough to join the world's best cineclub for children (called "La Lanterne Magique" - the magic lantern click on the link. It's a good one.) Today was her first showing. They always start with a comic movie. This year, it was one of Buster Keaton. She was totally enchanted. And hilare.
When I asked her if she had a favourite between Shrek 3 and The Navigator she blushed.
What do you think? She asked. I guessed correctly. She was not so radiating after Shrek...

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Ma fille est enfin assez âgée pour s'inscrire au meilleur cinéclub pour enfant du monde. La Lanterne Magique (cliquez- ça vaut la peine)
Aujourd'hui c'était sa première séance. C'est toujours un film comique, pour les mettre dans le bain. Cette année un film de Buster Keaton. Elle a été enchantée. Elle est revenue hilare, sautillante, bavarde...
Quand je lui ai demandé si elle avait un préféré entre Shrek 3 (que nous avons vu toutes les deux) et La Croisière du Navigateur elle a rougi. "Qu'est-ce que tu crois?" Elle m'a demandé. J'ai bien deviné. Elle n'était pas aussi radieuse après Shrek...

Buster Keaton 1 - Shrek 0

What next?

Another imageless post, I am afraid. Sorry!

I have finished both of my lace shawls.
The Mystery Stole 3 Have been finished and washed on Wednesday. I have no blocking wires and do not intent to buy some*. So I just patted it flat very carefully, fold in two as it is huge. The result is stunning. Not very airy, as it has not been pulled out. But a bit more casual, like a big beautiful beaded laced scarf. I may try to string block them the next time, because the edges are not as clean as I wish which hides the beads on the border.
Any way I hope to be able to take some good shot this week-end and show you what is so difficult to explain.

The Kid Silk Haze Shawl That Used to be Birch is having a bath right now. It came out much better than I hoped. I will pin block it, but I don't know how to show off the slightly ruffled border that is so lovely. I have tryed many things with that shawl, and I really think it's amazing how it turned out! I even made a crochet bind-off (scroll down)!

So now: what's next?
- I have the Bonita t-shirt on hold. It misses only one (tiny) sleeve and all the finishing. But I don't feel much inspired by a cotton t-shirt right now...
- I have this hooded cropped cardigan (found on craftsters, cann't find the thread...) that also miss only a few inches on the sleeves. But I have not the right needles for that one. I struggle with two circular INOX. Besides, I know that I will probably frog it at the end. I love the yarn, the color, the pattern. Only, you know, it's not really my style...

I would like to knit:
- Something easy to knit while watching some dumb show online (I need to stop thinking sometimes). A lace shawl is in my mind. (I can't stop that!)
- A cardigan for me, in a yummy wool I love, in a simple but interesting pattern.
- Something for one of my men, little or big. Cause they (mostly) diserve it.

I have some patterns in mind for all those three tasks, but I haven't made up my mind.

Or maybe just a hat, while waiting for the inspiration to come?

I will knit from stash. THAT is certain. So my favourite pattern from the latest Interweave Knits may well be out of the competition. I like this one too. The cabled yoke is pretty amazing. And that man's sweater I know I will knit once. Or sooner. I am not at all surprised by my selection this month. Norah Gaugham, Eunny Yang and Jared Flood are masters of their art, right? I like Kate Gilbert's latest design too. But I'll never wear something so close to my throat, neither would my sister or mother.
You will excuse me. I must return to my pattern browsing...
Have a really nice week-end, dears.

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* I am on a shopping diet. Like all the Refashionistas. Only without a pledge.

+ 1,... mètres

... It was VERY wet!
... Que d'eau, que d'eau!

Estavayer-le-lac

I am going there again. Can you blame me?
J'y retourne. Pouvez-vous me blâmer?

A Bientôt!

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I couldn't resist to add this image. It is not mine. Please go on flickr and add a nice comment if you want to congratulate the talented photographer! Thanks

Je n'ai pas pu résister et ai dû ajouter cette image. Ce n'est pas la mienne. Je vous en prie, allez dire tout le bien que vous en pensez à son auteur, sur flickr. Merci

Cute Kitten / Chatons Mignons

Moustache,


PinPon,


et Minuscule vous saluent...


Ils sont alertes,


consciencieux,


et simplement irrésistibles!

500 ans de modestie

Thanks to Beyond Utility for the link to this video and the title of this post!

Merci à Beyond Utility pour le lien vers cette vidée, et pour le titre de ce papier!

pretty peony - almost gone

The weather has not been tender with my peonies.

It was summer,
They've grown faster.
Then back to spring,
Rain pulled them down.



I bow to their bent heads and find secret beauty.
The sun is shining (again).

winter is dead, spring is here

One day, my sweet heart will be old and may well be ugly.
Un jour mon petit coeur sera vieille et peut-être moche.



But I do hope will still be laughing.
Mais j'espère bien qu'elle continuera à rire.



Make up is one of my favourite activity with the children. This time, even mr tiny sunshine had one.
J'aime beaucoup maquiller les petits. Cette fois-ci, même petit mignon a eu droit a des moustaches.



Middle angel had two. He asked to be scary, get scared, and cryed until I washed him up and painted some fruits on his cheeks. Unfortunately, I had to cook, and it was too late to take some pictures. So instead, I will show his proud when my mother offered him this beautiful red bicycle. I think that he passed the rest of the afternoon trying to manage the difficult art to take off and put on the "foot" of the bicycle. And he did!
L'ange blond a eu droit a deux séances. La première fois, il m'a demandé de le rendre effrayant. Il a eu peur, et il m'a fait un crise de tous les diables jusqu'à ce que je le démaquille, et que je lui fasse des jolis fruits sur tout le visage. Je devais faire le souper, et c'était trop tard pour le prendre en photo, hélàs. A la place, je vous montre sa fierté lorsque ma mère lui a offert ce beau vélo rouge pour ses trois ans. Il a passé le restant de l'après-midi à tâcher de maîtriser le difficile art de mettre et ôter le pied du vélo. Et il a réussi!




As the spring is early this year, the whole family is working on something new for us: seeding.
Let's hope for big carots and tasteful basilic in a few weeks!
Comme le printemps est vraiment en avance cette année, toute la famille s'est mise à la tâche pour quelquechose de nouveau pour nous: les semailles. Espérons que nous aurons des grosses carottes et du basilic goûteux dans quelques semaines.



In the mean time, some very strange flowers are blooming in the garden.
En attendant il y a vraiment de drôle de fleurs qui poussent dans mon jardin.

3 (thank you JJJ)

Last week...
La semaine dernière...

Somebody turned 3.
Quelqu'un a eu trois ans.


Joyeux anniversaire mon coeur!

To celebrate, 3 little tornados invaded my parent's house. They turned everything upside-down. They morphed in all kind of silly animals, looking for the maximum fun during their three days with their grandparents.
Pour fêter cela, 3 petites tornades ont envahis la maison de mes parents. Elles ont retourné tous les coins et recoins, les vieux comme les neufs. Se sont transformées mille et trois fois en drôle de bêtes, afin de profiter au mieux de leurs vacances chez les grands-parents.

3 funny monkeys fought for the best spot.
3 drôles de singes combatirent pour le meilleur coin.



3 crazy mice crawld under a bed.
3 follettes souricettes rampèrent sous le lit.



Then they met for a 3-brain storming.
Puis ils se rencontrèrent pour un brain-storming à trois têtes.



And in 3 big splash, they all became terrible pirates!
Et plouf plouf plouf, ils se transformèrent tous en pirates terribles!



= 3 peacefull days for the blessed parents. Thank you JJJ!
= 3 jours de paix royale pour les parents comblés. Merci JJJ!

technologically challenged / c'est dur la technologie

A voir absolument. Vous savez tous que je suis bibliothécaire, non?

HELP DESK

Please, please click above. You know I am a librarian, do you?