Monthly Archives: March 2010

March 31, 2010 · 7:45 pm

I love Iceland – part 23985982983 or so.

As some of you might know, we have an ongoing volcanic eruption here that started in Eyjafjallajökull on March 21st. Thanks to a dear friend, I was invited to take part in a jeep ride up the glacier to visit the eruption site. It was one of the most amazing, powerful, breathtaking, COOL experiences I have ever had! There were 4 jeeps in all, better to stay in groups on these glaciers just in case you know!

Our awesome jeep!

We drove out of town around 4pm and reached the brim of the glacier at about 6.30pm or so. Then we took the air out of the tires and up we went. It was such an amazing day! Sun shining, no wind but plenty of cold. It got down to -22°c (that is about -7,6 F) on the glacier on the way back, damn cold! But so worth it!

On Mýrdalsjökull

We could see the smoke steaming from the volcano a long time before we reached the site, even before we reached the glacier. In fact as soon as you are out of Reykjavík, heading south-east you can see it if it is a clear day. And as we got closer it just got more and more glorious. It was twilight so the colors were just amazing! The ride on the glacier was incredibly fun and amazing thanks to the lovely weather we got! And all along I had butterflies in my stomach to get there, I felt like a kid at Christmas. And then, you get there and it is just, just, just…..

And there you have it

People

BEAUTIFUL! I have never seen anything like it! You can get quite close to it, but off course you have to be very careful! The heat from it is just incredible and the sounds! Oh my lords the sounds! There is no way describing this. All I can say is, if you have EVER thought about coming to Iceland, now is the time! There are few things that top crossing a glacier on awesome jeeps with experienced mountain guides and ending up at a volcanic eruption!

Volcano

We had a pic nick on the hood of the jeeps and just sat there mesmerized. The ride back was an adventure too as we got stuck a couple of times but got pulled up by the people who were traveling with us. Let me tell you, being dressed warmly inside a jeep on the top of a glacier, cruising, with a clear star filled sky and a full HUGE moon, with a trail of jeeps ahead and behind you that form a line on the glacier that looks like a Christmas lights series. There is nothing in this world like it.

More pictures here.

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Filed under life, Other, photograpy, traveling

March 28, 2010 · 11:55 am

Heart Exchange

Finally, I was able to give the Heart Exchange to Björg. I was supposed to deliver about a month ago but Karítas got sick, then I got sick, then work was busy, then Björg was out of town etc. My parents were going to her house for dinner last night (Björg is my dad’s sister) so I seized the chance and asked my mom to deliver it to her for me. Word of mouth says she loved it, so now I can happily share pictures.

Heart Exchange

Heart Exchange

Heart Exchange
Pattern: ‘Heart Stitcher’ freebie from A mon ami Pierre
Fabric 32ct white Lugana
Thread: NN

I really like how it turned out. And yes, I can still stitch, haha! I have been fondling some of my stitching stash recently and I do miss it, but there is something that is keeping me away, not sure what. Oh well, I am sure the bug will bite me again pretty soon! It is not like the stash is going anywhere really, and I am quite happy knitting at the moment.

Speaking of knitting, I am knitting wool sweater (lopapeysa) for my cousin Bjarki. I have just attached the sleeves to the body and will be working on the chest pattern today. Getting very close to getting it done! I got many, many other projects lined up so I better get to it. Stitch Markers are selling pretty well, least through etsy though. I have sold some at work, my mom at her office, some in Denmark and yet others through Facebook. I made a whole bunch last night and posted them on the Little Lillies and Roses page on Facebook. Become a fan if you want 🙂

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Filed under Allt í kross, Clothes, Club members from Allt í Kross, etsy, Exchanges, Family, finish, Finishing, free patterns, Friends, gifts, Happy Dance, knitting, life, stitch markers, stitching, yarn

March 23, 2010 · 10:35 am

Etsy

We decided to just go for it. We as in me and Rósa. We have been making some knitting stitch markers and setting up the store over the past few days and now it is open for business.

Feel free to check it out!

Etsy banner
Little Lillies and Roses.

2 Comments

Filed under etsy, Friends, knitting, life, Other, stitch markers

March 14, 2010 · 3:45 pm

Odessa hat, haircut and more stitch markers

I survived the nasty flu! Ugh, at one point I seriously thought that this was it. I have not been this sick for a very long time. I was finally fever free on Saturday. Late on Friday afternoon I remembered that I had an appointment to get my hair cut. Since there is a very long waiting list I dragged myself up and out and went to get it cut, wrapped up in my new oh so warm shawl. I like how it turned out. I let the hair dresser do his job and said that I did not care what he did.

Hair cut
After hair cut. Yes, I have a lot of hair!

This weekend has been quiet. I have very little energy still so I have been taking things slowly. Went to one art exhibition yesterday and spent the rest of the time knitting, watching movies, playing with the kids and making stitch markers. I finished one very quick project, the Odessa hat (Ravelry link)

Odessa top

Odessa
Pattern: Odessa by Grumperina
Yarn: Mirasol Yarn K’acha
Needles: 3.5mm and 4mm
The pattern was supposed to have beads, but I did not care for them.

I also spend some time last night making more stitch markers and watching Beetlejuice. I love that movie.
Here are some examples of the stitch markers, more can be found here. These will be sent to my mom’s sister who lives in Denmark. She called me all excited after seeing the first batch on facebook and wanted me to make her to send to her so that she could see if she could sell them for me. If that goes well, I am even considering opening up a little etsy store for them. We shall see. Would you be interested? Just curious! :o)

Purple

Blue and pink

Pink and silver

I hope you all had a great weekend! I for one am excited to get back to work tomorrow after almost an entire week away!

11 Comments

Filed under Clothes, Family, finish, free patterns, Happy Dance, knitting, life, Other, stitch markers, yarn

March 11, 2010 · 12:29 pm

Finished Boneyard Shawl and stitch markers

The sickness continues. Last week it was Karítas and this week I have been sick. Sick as a dog. With high fever and a horrible cough, stuffed nose etc. I am feeling a bit more human now, the fever is going down but I am still not well. This too shall pass, like all the other sicknesses that have visited in the past.

Last weekend I made stitch markers with my friend Rósa. She had made some, and off course I had to make some too! They are super easy and fun to make, so I made a whole bunch of them and will be making more when I am feeling better. Here is a picture.

Stitch markers by me
There are more pictures on my Flickr account here.

I have been working on my shawl when I have been awake and yesterday I managed to cast off and wash and block it. I love how it turned out. The yarn goes so well with the simple design. I just know I am going to use it so much! I will post more pictures of me actually wearing it when I am well enough to show my face around in public again.

Boneyard Shawl Finished

Boneyard Shawl Finished

Boneyard Shawl Finished
Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West
Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock S149
Needles: 4mm
The project on Ravelry

Now I am going back to being a couch potato and watching Seinfeld. I started Odessa (Ravelry link) (Flickr link) with this yarn that I bought over Christmas and it is like knitting with clouds! It is oh so soft!

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Filed under Clothes, finish, free patterns, Happy Dance, knitting, life, Other, yarn

March 3, 2010 · 9:39 am

Arna, the knitted little bear.

My younger daughter Karítas has been sick both yesterday and today. She has a fever and a horrible cough that keeps me up at night. Last night was a bit better than the night before, and this morning seems better than yesterday morning. So hopefully she is on the mend.

I have been looking at knitted toys on Ravelry and other places lately and have had the urge to try them. So, sick baby, me staying home, yarn all over. Off course I had to try one out! So let me present Arna, the knitted bear. And yes, she is a girl so she got a pink nose, requested by Karítas.

Karítas and Arna, the knitted bear

Arna, the knitted bear

Arna, the knitted bear

Pattern: Henri the Knitted Bear by Rachel Borello
Yarn: Mandarin Petit
Needles: 3,5mm
The project on Ravelry

Now I have a whole list of little creatures that I want to make! Off course Sumarrós wants a knitted toy also so she is going to pick one out for me to knit for her. And I have some ideas of my own 🙂

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Filed under finish, free patterns, gifts, Happy Dance, knitting, life, photograpy, toys, yarn

March 1, 2010 · 7:26 pm

For Sumarrós

The lopapeysa for my daughter Sumarrós is ready. I finished it last night and washed it so it was drying today. Sumarrós was not that happy that she could not wear it to school today, but it was not completely dry and I certainly did not want her to get cold and for the sweater to be stretched out of shape.

She is super excited that she will be able to wear it to school tomorrow though! I am very happy with the outcome also.

Sumarrós in her Lopapeysa

Sumarrós in her Lopapeysa

Sumarrós in her Lopapeysa

The pattern is from Teikn 10 from Lopi 28. That pattern is meant as a dress and is only charted up to 5 years. So I made it bigger and longer, added sleeves. The high collar is a last minute add on. She originally wanted a hood, but decided that she did not want one when I was halfway there. So I folded what I had done in two and sewed it down. Added clasps (and need to add at least one more for that gap, I ran out!) and a button over them. I used 5mm needles instead of the recommended 4 1/2mm since I had to make the sweater big enough. The lopi still knits up beautifully like that. I love these colors on her. That deep purple that we picked as the main color is fast becoming one of my favorite color available in the lope colorway.

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Filed under Clothes, Family, finish, gifts, Happy Dance, knitting, life, lopi, yarn