Where I’ve Bought Yarn Lately

Here is a list of places where I’ve bought yarn in the past year with links to my original blog posts about the experience and purchase. Also, I have a post listing stores to purchase knitting supplies in Cork City. In each notations below, I try to include what I bought and a link to a photo of it on Flickr. It’s just one of the many little things I do to make your reading experience all the more enjoyable.

ONLINE YARN STORES

Hedgehog Fibres, Online, but based in Cork City (Ireland). Was given a hank of silk/merino in Opalite and one of pure silk in Swamp. Earthy colors, addictive textures, knowledgeable hand-dying.

Upcycled Sweater Turned Felted Cropped Jacket

I found the softest oversized cardigan at the second-hand shop last year. Its soft gray fibers begged to come home with me in spite of the fact that it resembled a coat more than a sweater. But it’s amazing what we’re willing to adopt when it costs less than €5. I brought it home and considered it.

What I did next may surprise a few and thrill others, but I tossed it in the washing machine at 40° C and let is felt the ‘natural’ way. Upon extracting it from the washer,

Map of Imaginary Point and the Words to Get There

“Sometimes great ideas and passion can be eclipsed by verbiage. Knowing what you do, who you are, and who you’re talking to can help. It is good to remember your goals and stay focused on the point.”

This quote and illustration were created for a Billville blog post.

Illustration in colored pencil by Evin O’Keeffe (© 2010).

A Trivet Made of Repurposed Wine Corks

Creating something new and useful from something already created is almost always appealing to me so the classic design of a wine cork just had to find a way to be enjoyed beyond the bottle. Considering what I needed most, I set out to make a simple hot pad for my tea kettle with the corks we had on-hand. Of course, being in love with color I couldn’t resist incorporating a bit of the green that coordinates with our tea kettle and the finished item is practical. Surprisingly it even draws some admiration from visitors – most notice the color coordination too!

I have always saved wine and champagne corks. Years ago, a friend observed our huge bowl of corks and suggested I use them to create one of those Large Wine Cork Boards (using a kit, of course) as a gift for said friend. I was so shocked at the idea of parting with my corks and even more so at the idea of creating something with them then not even getting to enjoy it first-hand. Though that shock also made me realize that if it appeals to more than one person, it must be a good idea. And why not allow Corks a second life, whether in my own home or someone else’s. It just makes good sense to consider existing things as not-so-raw materials. Of course, my big bowl of corks became packing peanuts for wedding gifts stored while we live in Ireland and a whole new cork collection was started in Cork.

Two blog posts that may inspire you to look at corks in a new way:
Recycle Raccoon’s Easy Going Green – Recycle Wine Corks (March 2009)
Terramia - Crazy for Corks (May 2007)

If you are interested in the sustainability of cork as a wine bottle closure, check out Put a (Wine) Cork In It, an article by Pablo Paster on Treehugger.com.

Starting from Blank

The intimidation of a blank canvas is something almost every artist and writer knows intimately. Of course, technology now offers us the chance to battle the blank with blog posts, emails, and web design too! Maybe it comes down to the same thing when combatting a blank canvas, sheet of paper, or computer screen – start with one line, one word, one thought…then keep going.

The full post is in my other blog, Billville.

Image by bedolaga

Projects To Finish

Inspired by a recent post in The Scrappy Knitter, I am making my own list of things I have started that need to be finished. The ‘deadline’ is in parentheses after each project. You can see by the number of question marks, I have issues finishing things I make for myself. Strikethrough means it is done (with date in parenthesis as the completion date) and I will update the list as I add to the projects!

• Scarf for Mom-in-law (December 13)
• Scarf for Sis-in-law (December 13)
• Scarf for Mom (December 13)
• Pullover for Nephew (December 13)
• Mint Chocolate Hat (February 12)