Monday, June 10, 2013

the house that came in the mail and blue

we try to capture poetry. we adore the unsaid. it inspires us & jolts our imagination so we can create.




the house that came in the mail 
* hug *






BLUE

birthday vase and hand made birthday jewelry





blue shawl ~ the hitchhiker (pattern here)
knit with gifted nurturing fibres fingering weight wool




la la's simple shawl  (free pattern here) (ravelry link here)

this was made with wool sent by jackie of luna grey fiber arts
this is aquila, a blend of merino cashmere. in the colorway harbor
it is beautiful wool and it may be one of the most beautiful shades of blue i've ever seen
a complete joy to knit with.

colorful. modern. yarn.



another gift! ten skeins of pure alpaca. it is now being made into another (secret, shhh) gift  :)




and this, oh this. from a dearly loved friend, a gift of her hand thrown pottery.
a new mug, with a perfect handle to drink lovely japanese tea. and a hand stitched leaf 
coaster, one side wool, the other indigo linen, malabrigo yarn couched on for leaf stems. she made these.
 for me. this is the most amazing wonderful thing in the world i think




my new house pillow! i had to take a million photos i love it so much. a birthday gift sent from my girl in brooklyn, it's the favourite place pillow. while in new york last march hannah and i had seen it in a shop. it's hand knit in baby alpaca. we fell in love, she remembered and now it lives with me. lucky boy sunday, i love the danish designers and their beautiful philosophy, read more here



matt & hannah rose at a music festival sunday in new york
thank you honey, i LOVE my pillow (you remembered)



do you love to give (and receive) handmade? do you have a favorite memory? 
please share!


46 comments:

  1. What a lovely post and gorgeous pillow. I love it and will check out the website, I've already downloaded the shawl pdf. It looks perfect n that blue yarn. It might be a little while until I make it as I'm still knitting and unraveling my Lida! Enjoy all your lovely birthday gifts.
    debx

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  2. I'm your newest follower. I am really enjoying your blog, your knitting, and your photography! Can't wait to see more wonderful posts.

    Nancy

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  3. I love handmade! and these are all gorgeous! I LOVE the house pillow, its gorgeous. I love them all!!

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  4. Gifts are a blessing aren't they, and yes, I love to give them. And to receive them too, of course.

    You have so many wonderful things here ... that mug, the yarn, the house pillow ... happy days :)

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  5. Oh loevly things. Giving handmade ist the best. Well, beside wool and such treasures I guess. These days I',m really obsessed with the idea of not buying any gift. But well chosen fleamarket finds do count too, right?

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  6. Wonderful!!
    Love the photo of Hannah and Matt... oh to be young again!
    Great treasures you have received and created Lori.. your knitting is mesmerising.
    I still love to knit, but haven't ventured to anything beyond a blanket as yet.. and it is taking me two winters to finish.
    love x r

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  7. Your blog posts are always so beautiful. The shawls are amazing...perfect patterns with the perfect yarn. Just gorgeous.

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  8. Such a wonderfully happy post my dear Lori, a joy to read and share with you. Love seeing the photo of your girl, what a beautiful young woman. And all you lovely gifts that I know you will treasure. I love handmade, always. My most special gift was a doll my grandmother made. My grandmother has been gone for many years, but I still have the doll and know the love that went into her.

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  9. Wow, such a beautiful post! Handmade, yes! Love to receive and give, nothing better, I think. Your shawls are gorgeous.

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  10. Oh my, what wonderful gifts you received.
    Love the pictures of you shawls!

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  11. Hello my friend. I've become a temporary silent visitor to your blog because perfunctory doesn't cut if here xo you and the mailbox cheered me up yesterday: double xoxo triple thank you xoxoxo

    The pillow is one in a million cool. It says so much all at once. HOME. The place we carry in our hearts, no rent due, only roots and wings and refills of love

    You have quite a tan :-)

    Love love
    kj

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  12. what wonderful gifts---each seems to reflect you perfectly!

    To me there is NOTHING better than a handmade gift! One of my favorites this birthday....DIL had the 5 grands all paint on a flower pot. The pot is quite funky, with a flying baseball, an abstract, a self-portrait, some squiggles, and a 'garden' (ages 2-10), but the fact that this ultra type-A can't-stand-a-mess-mamma allowed her children to use permanent paint markers on this gift was a gift in itself!

    I'm thinking I must try some of the luna grey....off to the website!!! (enabler, you!)

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  13. I think handmade, little or big, is the most precious gift--the gift of time and love, XOXO

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  14. Oh what fun. I love your pillow. All of your shawls are stunning and the yarn all looks wonderful. Oh the gift of yarn is always the best.

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  15. Happy birthday, Lori!

    I try to give all handmade all the time. It doesn't always work out, though.

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  16. what a great post= so many beautiful blues and turquoises and shawls and a house! what a sweet daughter (apple not far from tree!)

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  17. Such beautiful, thoughtful gifts ♥
    I agree Handmade is best ~ to give & receive.
    One of my favourite memories is wearing macaroni necklaces made with love when my children were little & I'd have glitter all over me from it falling out of the noodles. They would have the biggest, proudest smiles seeing it on me :-)

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  18. What a treasure -- I always feel that the best gifts are the ones who show that the person bestowing them know me. Your Hannah Rose surely knows you! xxoo

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  19. Lori, sending you more birthday wishes!

    What lovely images I've just seen in this post. Isn't it grand to actually be reminded of the hands, and hearts and minds, that have made such creations possible?

    Hannah and Matt chose so well...that wooly house is completely charming, as are H & M, and you, too!

    I'll have to take a closer look at those shawl knitting patterns later on today. The yarns are exquisite. I also like the mug design and the clever couching embroidery on the leafy coaster.

    How kind you are to share these treasures with us. xo

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  20. what a fabulous bunch of goodies you got. i am in love with the tea cup and leaf coaster, wonderful. and what a sweetheart your daughter is, remembering the house pillow for you.<3

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  21. Oh, Lori...You never cease to impress! And, what generous and thoughtful friends you have. Such a lovely collection of gifts indeed!

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  22. Happy birthday to you Lori! Such beautiful gifts you received. I think handmade gifts are the best. People took the effort to make them, sometimes especially for you. The love for the material (and/or the person in mind) always shows in the present given :-) I can't decide which present I like best. They are all pretty! The wrap and scarf you made look beautiful too. Love the shades and the soft yarn! They must look good with your new bracelet and necklace.

    Happy day!

    Your friend from Holland,

    Madelief :-) x

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  23. You are well loved :) Happy birthday, my friend!

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  24. So much beautiful fiber goodness Lori. Happiest of Birthday's dear- big hug from Montana!

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  25. Lori, You are a loved and lucky women. I love the pillow and the blue of that shawl!
    I do love homemade gifts, two that stand out are from bloggers Jos, she knitted me a tea cozy a few Christmas' ago that I treasure and blogger Melanie made me two bags that I adore. And I did also receive some beautiful cards and feathers from you that I love. xoxo

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  26. I just love those two shawls!!!!! And the house pillow is too cute!!!!

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  27. The pillow is just wonderful! No wonder you love it.

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  28. I've just found myself moving from one photo to the next gasping at the gorgeousness of these lovely handmade things! What a lucky lady you are x

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  29. So beautiful, all of it!!! So many treasures, such beauty! Happiest of birthdays and gifts for you ~ I am so glad!

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  30. beautiful and such thoughtful treasures!

    happy, happy birthday beautiful lori!

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  31. Such amazing gifts and knits. That blue is to die for. You are one very lucky lady and Mom

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  32. Beautiful post. The string of blue photos is so pretty.

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  33. If I leave another comment can it make up for my general absence?

    What? It can? Oh well then: I carry you in my heart

    Love
    kj

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  34. Hmm. Where to start with all of the goodness shown here? As I've said... always a pleasure and an inspiration to visit here. :)

    Blessings, Debbie

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  35. So many gorgeous things from very clever people - handmade gifts are just the best aren't they? I love your house pillow, what a sweet daughter. Enjoy your treasures and have a lovely weekend! Mel x

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  36. Oh my, such fabulous gifts! Handmade gifts just have so much heart. And style. That pillow is amazing! And the mug, oh the mug is GORGEOUS. As is your daughter. How lovely that she remembered your fondness for the pillow.

    Blessings...

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  37. I love your little house that came in the mail, it's gorgeous! What a wonderful present! I love your dress too :) The shawls are very beautiful...your knitting is so perfect and you take such wonderful knitting pictures too.
    Wishing you a very happy day, Lori.
    Helen x

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  38. Missing you Ms. Lori x5. I have been absent because of schedules, not disinterest.

    I love your house pillow! But your little girl knows how much love is in your home, so what a fitting gift. And my gosh, the way you photograph each knitted piece as if they were living, breathing models. That's because you breath so much life into what you do.

    It's always my greatest pleasure to stop by!

    xo
    Lo♥

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  39. So much inspiration here, in every photo! I love visiting here, so much. :)

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  40. What wonderful thoughtful gifts. And yes giving and receiving handmade is just a certain kind of special.

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  41. Thank you for sharing your lovely gifts!! In fact I loved the shawl so much I ordered the yarn and the color also. Blue is one of my favorites! I cannot wait to begin the pattern and I would love if you could share the needle size you used. Love your blog!!

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    1. how exciting! i think you will love luna grey! thank you so much for the kind words, i used a size 6 needle, and have also made the link to ravelry public (i forgot) so thank you very much for the question!

      here is the link to the project page:

      http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lorix5/lalas-simple-shawl

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    2. I thank you so much!! I was deciding whether to make the shawl or a new scarf as I am not really a shawl person but you changed my mind and I am going to give a try!! Your photographs are amazing and I want to thank you for sharing all your projects with us!!

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    3. thank you! :) i think you'll find this yarn has so much drape, that the shawl can be worn as a scarf too. :) :)

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  42. That hand thrown pottery mug along with the leaf mat and teas are a fantastic gift. Beautiful shawls. And such a sweet house pillow. I do love handmade gifts. Best wishes, Tammy

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xoxo lori