Nunoya

No words. Just photos of this incredible fabric shop. Hidden in between the small streets near the cathedral. Filled with fabric treasures that got my wallet down on its knees begging for mercy.

No mercy were given.

Fabrics were bought. A promice was uttered.

- I’ll be back.

Spanish baby knit inspiration

It’s crazy times around here, and I need myself some blog reading time. Now. So many things to share and so little time. Before I wish you a great week end, let me show you these beautiful baby knits from the Spanish knitting magazine “Tricotar”.

After leaving Barcelona for Costa Brava, I found a kiosk selling magazines. Rows and rows of embroidery, cross-stitch AND knitting magazines. I loved the classic knits in this Tricotar magazine so that’s the one that came with me home from the shelf. To my funny surprise – we established life’s many coincidences in last post didn’t we? – Inside the magazine was an interview with Laia from Lanarium!

I love these classic pastels and less-is -more designs. I also loooove the bright colours in the beach dress. No more babies for me, but it’s a good thing I have friends that still need baby knits.

Wish you all a splendid week end!

Llanarium

Did you visit Alicia’s blog? Well today, I’ll share some pictures of Llanarium the yarn shop she took me to. If you are planning to visit Barcelona in the near future, I recommend a visit to this cosy little yarn shop in the middle of Barcelona’s huff and buzz’ - OK so I just invented those words, but you know what I mean, right?

Right next to Placa Catalunya in a narrow side street, you find Llanarium and its very sweet owner Laia (which is expecting her first baby). This is where Alicia took me after our initial “hellos”, and “how fun to finally meet you”! And I loved it.

There I also discovered that as much as this blog world is big, it is also small. It turns out that some of the other knitter aficionados in the shop had read the (then) most current post about my visit to Pickles (without knowing it was my blog). When they saw me walking in with the Pickles bag they were a bit surprised and began explaining how they had just read about that shop in a blog… When showing us which blog they had seen it in, it turned out…It was Life in Yonder. Life’s coincidences.

While they talked about the yarn, I took pictures and looked at all the yarn- wonder in Llanarium.

At Llanarium I also met Esther who was knitting herself a featherweight cardigan with Schachenmayr select yarn. I have read a lot about featherweight cardigan when it was a big hit on Ravelry, but never seen one in real life. Now I understand its popularity. I love the shape of it. It is a perfect summer cardigan. In fact, I loved Esther’s version of it so much that I bought the same yarn to knit one. You can see her finished cardigan on Ravelry.

The photos I took does not give this shop or the nice people in it justice, but if you have time, look at this short video presentation of the shop that captures the feeling you get inside. A warm welcoming knit place. When you do so, take a notice of the man with the spectacles. His name in Josep Mestres and he is a crochet master. He makes the most elegant and feminine crocheted designs I have ever seen. Oh, if only I had Audrey Hepburn’s body…

Have a nice week end! I'm going to use the week end to read about the knitters get together at the wool factory in Sjølingstad. One day I'll go there too. I hope.

New knitting bag and new friends

Did I show you my knew knitting bag? No, I didn’t did I. Well here it is. Besides being made with gorgeous fabrics bought at my favourite fabric store in Barcelona (I’ll tell you about the fabric store in a later blog post), what makes it special is that it was a gift from my new friend Alicia behind the blog Ganxetades. She’s a blog friend that I met this summer while visiting BCN. This is the second time I meet someone in real life that I have first known through Blogland. And I must say, I feel lucky to get to know so lovely people through this place.

Did you see the beautiful detail on the shoulder strap? I love details like that. Small quirky details on simple designs.

We spent an afternoon together in Barcelona where she showed me a beautiful yarn shop, introduced me to more nice Spanish knitters and took me to my dream fabric store.

Now go and take a look at all the beautiful things she makes. After that come back in a day or two to see the beautiful yarn shop she showed me.

Have a nice week!

Good bye summer, hello fall

Welcome back back after a long summer break and renewal of energy. Since last, I’ve knitted (of course), bathed, eaten ice cream, spent time with old friends, met new friends, had a few GT’s, enjoyed the sun and turned 40. Yes, I am finally 40! And so far it is working out fine.

My once a upon gospel choir- and high school friend Anja gave me this beautiful lithography for my birthday. She is a talented, beautiful, generous and inspiring soul. Not afraid to live life and not afraid to be who she is …or perhaps her true bravery, is to be who you are despite of being afraid. Well, that’s her.

If you live near the Oslo area, I recommend visiting the art gallery she founded in 2008 “Pikene ved broen”, to see some of the beautiful art she makes and the beautiful work by other talented artists.

Before I begin to share my knits and photos with you this fall I would just like to say welcome back and “Drink your tea with tenderness”.

Summer time

It´s summer time and vacation time. The blog is also taking a vacation while I will be busy doing as little as possible, enjoying time with my family and friends. Looking forward to see you again in September.

Until then, enjoy these photos from our visit to the west coast.

I wish each and every one of you a good summer!

Guess where I have been?

I finally made it. I finally made it to this candy shop for knitting folks, the Pickles shop. And with that, my “knitting only from my stash” attempt has had a little set back. However, the only one who knows this is me… and you.

I could have spent a lot more time and money than I did. Fortunately or misfortunately depending on how you see it, I had to be quick about my visit, since mr. Yonder and gang were waiting for me outside the shop.

After considering different projects and type of yarns and colours (there are so many beautiful colours), I ended up with several skeins of Pickle Angora. I think I will knit it into something for me. If I do, it will be my second ego knit in less than a year.

What’s on your needles? Do you drop knitting completely because of sunny days and warmer temperatures? Do you have other activities you prefer in summertime? Or have you begun preparing the wardrobe for fall and winter?

Fall Coat in Spring

Ironically enough, I began knitting the fall coat from Pickles during spring. It is in fact the warmest spring in years. We have had amazing (summer) temperatures these last two weeks. 20c in April is not common around here. The nice weather has definitely influenced my knitting time, which has been reduced to a minimum. Not only because of the weather but mostly because of it.

I have spent the last days outdoors, in the garden with my family and with what must be among Oslo’s most helpful, friendly and super neighbourhoods. The children play together in the back yard and when they eventually fall asleep in their beds after a long day, the grownups rest their behinds while sipping wine and sharing good conversations. I love my neighbourhood.

Now the weather is back to normal again and I need to pick up the needles to finish the coat. I am having some struggles with the i-cord bind off. I might ventilate my frustration and ask for help in a day or two (just have to try once more on my own first).

Have a nice 1st of May!

Happy Easter

We are enjoying the last day of this year’s Easter holiday. For once, after we had children, we were supposed to spend Easter in a cabin I can rent through my work place. But, yours truly managed to reserve the cabin for the wrong weekend! Can you imagine the joy and laughter when I told the other three family members that we were not going to a cabin after all (well it’s more like the other two, because Andreas didn’t understand much of it). Well try… Not fun.

Fortunately, city Easter has not been bad at all. The city is never as quiet and calm as during Easter and the sun has blessed us with its warm rays every day. We have gone for long walks, worked in the garden, read books, listened to Easter radio shows (“Påskelabyrinten” and “Radioteaterets Påskekrim”), played games and had Easter dinner with good neighbours. Oh, and of course, the Easter bunny came with Easter eggs filled with chocolate and candy (how could I forget to mention that).

If you would like to see more photos from our Easter, visit me on Instagram #lifeinyonder. I finally made the Insta leap. I don’t now how I didn’t do this sooner? I love photos. Of course I should have joined Insta sooner. Anyhow better late than never.

How was your Easter week? Were you in the city, in the mountain or by the coast? What makes it Easter for you?

Tea & Silence

Finally Friday again! Although I should not complain. I have worked from home today, which means I can enjoy one of my favourite teas while I read, and write and re-write until the documents I am working on are as I think they ought to be.

I am enjoying the silence and the sunlight. The ticking from the wall hanging kitchen clock. The birch outside my kitchen window, which is full of buds ready to burst into green leaves. I am longing for spring.

Happy Friday to you too!

Quiet days

March is going to be a busy month, and my knitting time is reduced to a minimum.

I have three projects in my basket. Two that are hibernating while the latest one is this left over yarn striped sweater. It’s the same pattern as here and here, but with a difference in how the stripes are distributed. Knitting the same pattern several times makes it easier to be spontaneous when it comes to how the colour changes should be. I like that.

I am a typical follow-the-pattern-exactly- knitter, so this is a much needed exercise. Trusting my instincts and taking a chance. That goes for other parts of my life as well, but perhaps more so when knitting because I am less experienced.

Besides knitting, the never-ending cloudy weather is beginning to affect our energy levels. I am beginning to wonder if the sun will ever appear again. I mean ever.

Have a nice week everyone!