Seizing the Day

Hi, everyone! Welcome to October. Fall in Lunenburg is proving to be much kinder than the summer. OK, there was one little hurricane, but I’m so over natural disasters…or any other kind, for that matter. I have forgotten it as quickly as it blew in. A few weeks back my friend/neighbour, Vanessa, and I decided to seize the day. We got on our bikes and headed to a secret beach. I would tell you where this is, but I’m afraid I would have to kill you.

Vanessa took the above photo. I really can’t get over the colours. It simply has to become a sweater…or a felt hat. I’m always amazed at how happy I am surrounded by beauty and immersed in nature. I’m also amazed at how easily I forget to take the time to do this.

I have a million excuses for not leaving my studio. Here’s one of them. Incase he looks like he is being helpful, I assure you he is not. I actually have to time my day according to his nap schedule. Not only does he insist on being in the middle of what I am trying to work on, he gets darn right cranky when I try to move him. Apparently he’s the boss.

Here’s another excuse for staying home. These two tag team me.

Thank Heavens for good friends who are insistent and make me leave my little studio to enjoy the greater world.

The studio has been so wonderfully busy in September. Sandra is 87 years old and walked up the hill from the front harbour to my house. For anyone who has been to Lunenburg you will know that this is quite the workout. She was so filled with joy it was a pleasure to meet her.

Sandee came to visit last week. Another inspirational woman. She volunteers with an organization called, The Magic Yarn Project. They make whimsical play wigs for children with cancer. You really need to check them out, HERE. If you have the means to donate, please do.

As you can see the hand knit and felted berets have been finding their rightful heads just as quickly as I can make them. I have also been busy teaching a group of wonderful ladies to make these for themselves or as gifts. I’m really enjoying teaching. This isn’t a huge surprise to me as I taught dance for many years, but it’s nice to have this aspect of my life back. I’m also working a little bit everyday to complete my video course for this beret. Little by little, I am getting there and I hope you will join me when I do.

I’m currently knitting a fair Isle beret. Of all knitting techniques, stranded colour work is my favourite. I decided that it’s time to let myself play with colour. Traditional Fair Isle knitting only ever uses two colours at a time. The colour changes make the end result look so impossibly complicated. It really is very simple and I’m liking the self imposed limitation of only ever using two colours per row. Hats are such a fun way to experiment.

One last little tale…The day after Hurricane Lee came to visit, Tony and I went for a walk on Hirtles Beach. Poor beach took quite the battering. As we were headed back to the car we saw a group of ladies in the distance walking towards us. It appeared that they were all wearing hand knit sweaters. Tony asked me if I thought that they were knitters. At that moment one of the ladies put on a hand knit sweater over the hand knit sweater she was wearing. Yep, definitely knitters. As we passed each other we stopped to exchange the usual oohs and ahhs over our mutual creations. Turns our these ladies were on a knitting trip. I have been aware of these sorts of experiential travels via the various podcasts I love to listen to, but I had never actually seen one before. Every ounce of me wanted to hop on that bus to run away and join the knitting circus. When they stop in regions they find a “knitting ambassador”. I can’t believe this is actually a job. I’m putting this out there right now. When I grow up I want to be a knitting ambassador. Show a group of fellow knitters all the wonderful fibre related destinations on the the South Shore of Nova Scotia? Yes, please. The tours are organized by Colleen at Rowan Tree Travel. One day I will join them for an adventure, but in the mean time, I decided to sit down on a bench and crash the party. You can virtually visit Rowan Tree Travel HERE and dream along with me.

Local Friends, I am contemplating two in person workshops. One is a simple learn to knit workshop and one is a sock knitting workshop for intermediate knitters. If you would like to join me for coffee, goodies, and learning one of these new skills please let me know. Well, that’s all for now. You can join me on Instagram or Facebook for regular updates. Click on the icons on my home page. See you next month. xoxo Anna