Friday evening - peace to all.

This is a little corner of the board above my desk. See that little embroidery in the lower right corner? I bought that from Broarne aand will use it on a dress, I think. It's just so pretty and I like that it's come all the way from Vietnam. This is the calender knitting I was wrestling with yesterday. You can compare it to this. Not too bad, is it? But what is it??Hang on and find out or join the calender too!

Trial-and-error!

This is me in my favourite knitting position - standing in the living room. I'm mad because I've been trying to do the calender knit I mentioned in the last post. Quite simple as it seemed, it turned out to be nemesis to me. Everybody else seems to have managed so there is probably nothing wrong with the pattern. When I quit following the pattern and worked on logic I did better. I still think the idea of knitting an unknown object is amusing.

This a close-up of the brooch I'm wearing. I made it of a badge from a memory game and a pin. To me it's a Christmas tree ball but I guess there could be other interpretations. Anyway, you can see I'm a little less mad and more pleased with the outcome of my trial-and-error approach!

My kitchen window the other morning. I'm wishing for a new camera this Christmas. Not only from Santa but from pretty much anyone who asks.

The concept of western masculinity or If you knit you also love folk music...?

I've started on a knitting calender (why?? do I think the darkness of the evening hours will make them longer??) I found here. It looks weird but interesting. Sorry. I lied. I haven't really started but as soon as I finish here I will go and find some suitable yarn.


Yes, I'm having a day off. What do I do? Do I vacuum, polish floors, do the windows, bake a cake for my loved one? No.

I quote (one of) my (three) teenage daughter(s): I don't do domestic chores.

Not today, anyway.

If your first grade teacher had been a dog...

...you would've learned this the hard way!

I read this at one of the places I visit through work and had to share it with you. It's common knowledge among dogs, but sometimes, as humans we need to be reminded ...

Yes, that is an embroidery hanging over the dog's basket. An appropriate hanging if you ask me.

* When someone you love comes home, always run and meet them.
* Always let the feeling of fresh air and wind against your face be a good enough reason for ecstatic happiness.

* Don't bite if it's enough to growl.
* Let others know it if they trespass your territory.
* Take a nap now and then, and always stretch good before you get up.

* Enjoy all the attention you get, don't be afraid of other peoples touch.

* If it's hot outside, take a break now and then and lay down in the grass.

* When you are happy, dance and shake your body.

* No matter how often you get nagged on - don't get sulk. Run back at once and make friends again instead.
* Enjoy the simple pleasure of a walk.
* Be loyal.

* Run, jump and play a while each day.
* Never pretend to be someone you are not.
* If something you want is buried, dig until you find it.

* When someone has a bad day - be quiet, sit near by and offer comfort just by being there.

This is an assidious practioner of the wisdom listed above, Stoja aged 5 and-a-half. (Stoja is the swedish word (verb) for the the action of someone boisterous - to boister??)

Embroideria

I've gotten a serious wiff of embroideria. First I did this snow flaky flower in traditional style - on a T-shirt. Which is really silly because we all know how long a cheap t-shirt from H&M lasts. I tried to put on a buddhist approach, you know like the monks who "paint" in coloured sand..?

Then I made a striped shirt for Mr Helylle's birthday on Wednesday. And had to put a little bird on it. It's a lovebird, naturally. (It's OK, he never reads my blog. Or will he now with his birthday coming up??)

I've also finished a little bag in felt and appliqué, with pearls and leather lining. Quite pleased with this one, actually!

By the way, the reason for my absence is that - believe it or not - Mr Helylle poured a beer on the keyboard this past Saturday. Don't pour anything on your keyboards, it kills all the keys.

By the way 2; I met Jeanette of Handmade last night - had to hand over the yarn. She is as lovely as her blog - but you figured that out long time ago!

Mad as a (fur)hatter!

This is your mad blogger, Anna of Helylle! I don't normally look like this, but a fur hat does things to you. Especially when made of orange rabbit fur. I have actually worn this, on extremely windy and harsh winter days it's a gift from God. And I kinda like the colour...
No arctic weather today, though. The first sample of snow is now vanishing all too quickly, alas. Please, let us have a white Christmas!!

This time of year it kills me to think about the rest of the country, covered in white. I wasn't born in the south of Sweden so winters to me are supposed to be colder, whiter and winter-ier. But come to think of it, most of you known readers are drenched in sunny summer weather, aren't you? Makes me feel a lot better!

You can cheat - but then you never really win

Yes, my friends, I did say Saturday and today is Tuesday. I realize you've all been impatiently waiting. What can I say? We're six persons on this one computer (I refuse to let the kids have computers in their rooms) and sometimes it get a bit jammed.

But here we are! Siri is performing the ritual:

Reaching out....

...picking a note....

...and revealing the winner: Jeanette!

I promise you this is not a set-up in order for me to save the postage! Jeanette lives in the same town - across the park, we've never met IRL. But that will change now - or shall I put in your mailbox?? I'm so happy you all joined in and I wish I could send each one of you a little gift. Take my affection and rest assured that you mean so much to me - it's surreal!