So it's a bit of a long story but we have been without most of our belongings for almost a year now. However they have returned to us recently and we are starting to feel like we live in a real home again. Funny how having your own things around can do that! Anyway it was kind of like xmas all over again rediscovering what we actually own (some things had been forgotten so that is an indication that we have more than we need)! So I thought I'd share some pictures of things pertinent to me and knitting. For the first time I have a designated knitting/designing/er...storage area and I love it! Obviously I don't sit and knit at this desk and still have knitting related matter strewn across the living-room but it does make me feel somehow grown-up and official having this space. My husband has always had his own space for writing but it hasn't exactly been necessary for me until now (well it wasn't necessary but I made a good case)!
The pin-board is a little bare but I did come across these old swatches of my Mum's when unpacking and decided to have them up there...they're almost antique at 30+ years (she had these samples for her designs back when running the Shetland Trader).....you may notice that the second from the left on the top row is the swatch that matches the waistcoat below-modeled briefly I might add as it's not really Shetland knitwear weather here yet-not sure if it ever will be! I love these colours together..very me!
Have you seen one of these before?When my dad first brought one over for me as a present I was really unsure for a few seconds what it was..some kind of kilt accessory? (which he would not be buying for me)...it came to me when I remembered that I had requested it...a knitting belt.....to my shame I have not used it yet! However those Shetland knitters use it and get great speed whilst also multi-tasking! (not a great photo-sorry)
The spinning wheel belonged to my Grandmother who bought it in Shetland but didn't use it. It needs quite a bit of repair work and as I don't spin (yet...there's always a chance I'll get to it one day) the wheel is more of something to look at and remind me that it needs some loving....I promise we'll get some spinning out of you one day! On the same trip back to Scotland that I got the wheel I also brought back a couple of raw Shetland fleeces which I intended to wash , card and spin ....well two years later they turned up with our belongings and er...needed to be let go! (David rolled his eyes as it had been a bit of an ordeal for us to get these past customs0!
The basket alongside the wheel is part of my stash and only contains Jamieson's yarn kindly brought to me by my parents....there was a lot more which has been used ...honest Dad!
I also had to include a shot of our newly built bookshelf. Along with knitting supplies, this is the thing that most makes a home for me. The wonderful (and economic) bricks and planks architecture is something that my dad always used to house his vast collection of books and David and I have continued the tradition in all of our living spaces.
So there you go pictures of things I'm NOT using....however I am doing plenty of knitting I assure you.....here are some very sneaky peeks of things I'm working on (not of the designs but the swatches used for them )....one is a design I'm working on for Gryphon's Dance yarn and the other a design I think I may submit to Knitty...we'll see!
16 comments:
What treasures you've unpacked. How inspiring! :)
And thanks for the peeks at the secret knitting. They're always fun :)
I've always loved the look of a solid wall of books, now I know how to get it without special shelving! Thanks!
Your workspace is lovely, v. grown up indeed! Those swatches are very intriguing...
I agree - that wall of books is great. In our apartment we have piles of books and it just doesn't look as good. And I think everyone deserves a little desk of their own - no one needs a reason! :)
*melanie from meli-mello.com
Just thought I should add that this type of bookshelf does need some bracketing to keep it against the wall!!
Those swatches are so incredible. How lucky you are to have them.
When we built our new house, I got my own room for knitting/sewing/crafts- and it looks like a mess:-(. But one of the walls is filled with books! I love books, and would prefer bookshelves on every wall in the house, but hubby resist! Not even in the livingroom will he have them! But I continue buying and stacking them in my shelves (and I read them too)
Lovely to see the swatches, Mum had a great eye for colour combinations. Word of warning on the brick book shelves, from experience, use a bracket (can be simply a small angle bracket)that allows for compression of the shelves caused by the weight of the books, ie make sure the screw hole for the wall is a slot that allows for a little downward movement. Hope that's clear!
How incredibly cool! I love the vintage swatches. :)
The swatches left me speechless...they are a great inspiration, thank you!
How fun to renew yourself with your things. It must feel so nice to have your own work space. I've always been very selfish that way, demanding my work space above all else. I just love all your goodies from your parents. How inspiring to have those swatches to look at and work from.
Love the knitting corner sis, now I can visualise you at work! So nice to see Mum's work in the background and to know you are carrying on where she left off.
Can't wait to see you in 4 weeks!
xxxx
I am so glad you commented on my blog! Your blog is so interesting-I love your design space complete with those inspiring swatches of your Mum's. I just could go on and on...I think I found another thing we have in common...I am also married to a David!
How Wonderful to be surrounded with all of your life again-Yarn, a desk, Books, spinning wheel--who could askfor more. I actually know of the knitting vests but have never sean one. The story I know is they would be worn while walking from town to town.
I look forward to seeing you new designs..and the swatches are just beautiful.
Are the Brick laid length wise or width wise? I've used cinder blocks in a similar way but not bricks; I must say they look significantly nicer than cinder block. What are the dimensions of your book shelf?
Hi Eikon,
The bricks are laid length-wise and ours are 5 high. The boards are 12 feet long by 11" wide and the height is 7 feet. As pointed out by my Dad on these comments this needs to be bracketed at points to keep it against the wall and to allow for downward movement once all the weight of the books is added! (perhaps you know this but it's worth mentioning0!
You are so Lucky! Your mom's swatches are to die for! And so lucky to get all your books back!
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