Clocks a tickin’
February 8, 2023
With Valentines Day less than a week away you might want to put a little thought into what to give your Valentine. No Valentine on the horizon? Well, treat yourself! Below are just a few tried and true treats that are sure to bring a smile and a big hug.
Top To Bottom:
Who wouldn’t love the holiday’s signature color realized in cashmere?
This little homemade indulgence is so simple and a sure fire hit. Chocolate Raspberry Champagne Truffles.
Who could resist cozying up with this fiery pillow from Knoll. A romcom and pizza in beats fighting a mid-week dinner crush.
Available nearly everywhere and at no great expense. Sweet and sweetly scented carnations in pink. Just a few tucked into a small vase or cup can hit just the right romantic note.
White Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold…all by itself, in combination, or with the addition of diamonds. Tiffany’s Lock Bangle. Simple, quiet and modern in any configuration.
This rosy red Bromeliad could brighten someone’s desk for months if they’re still working from home.
And for those ” clock watchers” , this Hemisphere wall clock with it’s hot pink face is sure to be a hit.
photos: Truffles and carnations gp All others via their respective sites.
That Reminds Me
November 20, 2022
This sudden Winter blast reminded me I should have knocked one of these out a month ago. Apparently a 70 degree start to November had my mind elsewhere than keeping warm. Queue, my improvised cap, is as simple to work as possible, even for a beginner. Using about 1 1/4 skein of DK weight yarn and a pair of #7 needles, you simply knit up a swatch of Mistake Stitch Rib large enough to go around your head and as long as you’d like your cap to be. After binding off in pattern, sew the piece up the long edge. To finish, thread a double strand of yarn and stitch around the tube about 4″ from the top edge, pull to gather from the inside and tie off. Done. I told you it was simple. Once you’re on a roll you might want to make a couple extras for Christmas gifts.
photos: gp
New Year,
January 9, 2022
new outlook. It’s always great to start the New Year armed with what you need to tackle whatever comes your way. A new yearly calendar ( yes, old school ) a handful of new Uniballs and black Sharpies and a crisp blank journal is where I always start. That’s pretty much all you need to do a quick jot of your goals, plans, and inspiration, contained for easy reference. That covered, maybe hone an old skill or develop a new one to help you work your way through the day smarter, not harder. And, if you’re still working from home, maybe treat yourself a little and up the business casual with some cashmere…a classic crew neck sweater for the waist up...cashmere sweatpants from the waist down. 2022, we’re ready for ya.
photos 1 & 3: gp
No More Puzzles, Please
April 14, 2020
You’ve assembled your last jigsaw puzzle. I hear you. I’ve never been a jigsaw puzzle fan either. Still, sheltering in place may have you looking for a project that will keep your hands busy and take your mind somewhere other the ever changing news. It might be time to learn a new skill or revisit and old one. This Heel Stitch Hand Towel from Purl Soho might be just what you need to occupy some quiet time and end up with an elegant end result. Even if you’re a beginning knitter this project is not near as complicated as you’d think…it’s a simple combination of the basic purl and knit stitches. The pattern by Jake Canton for Purl Soho is free, and the yarn is available online so there is no reason to go out. Just 2 skeins of Purl’s Field Linen and some #3 sticks will produce an absorbent textile of heirloom quality that will add a little luxury to the task of washing your hands. So, if you needed a good reason to put down that bag of chips…this might be it.
Photos: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2019/08/12/heel-stitch-hand-towel/
Look Familiar?
March 10, 2020
Imagine my surprise when I noticed the uncanny resemblance of the pattern on Knoll’s new Billow wall covering and the sample knit of my homespun newsprint yarn from several years ago. Inspired by the fiber arts and large scale knits in particular, this new release for 2020, with it’s allover organic pattern, is the perfect backdrop for any modern commercial or residential environment. While Billow is available in ten colorways, from light and bright to dark, my personal favorite is ” Inkwash” shown below. It doesn’t get any more simplequietmodern than that.
Newsprint knit photo: gp
Billow photos: https://www.knoll.com/knolltextileproductdetail/Billow