Friday, February 14, 2014

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY-YARN STYLE!

Hey Everyone, happy love day and all that.  To be quite honest I am not a huge lover of Valentines Day-no pun inteneded.  I think that we should be lovely and kind everyday!  But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a good crocheted heart or knitted motif.  So here is a collection to warm all your hearts:








































And of course I have to share some of my own creations:

This is my latest-in case you haven't had a chance to see it yet-Love and Kisses Cowl.

I also have:


Although Line 13 is tricky- I do give a stitch by stitch guide for that row- it is involved, however it gives such great shape to the top of the heart.  I have done the conventional way in the past and even now- this one is just a little different and I wanted to share it with everyone.  It isn't my original idea- however, I broke it down, stithc by stitch so that it is clear.




So there you have it.....just passing a little love along your way.

Have a great day everyone.
Megan


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

CHURCH CONVERSION

Hey Everyone.....Loving the Olympics.....still watching as much as I can.  I am so proud of our Athletes, they are doing an amazing job!  Nothing like hearing your National Anthem!
Today I have an amazing little architectural gem.  There is just something about converting a building from something that was a more commercial application whether it be a barn, factory or even a church into a home.  I especially love church conversions.  I can't put into words how much I love a great church conversion.
This one hails from Melbourne, Australia.  Like I needed another reason to love all things Australian!!  What I love about this conversion is that they left the front facade very much intact.  There is absolutely no question that this used to be a church.  I know that the addition may not be everyones cup of tea, however I really like it. I love the way in which they have tried to meld this two by adding the posts to the front of the main part of the church with the materials of the new addition.  Its the kind of reno that isn't trying to be something it's not.  Some may think that there isn't any connection between the two but I beg to differ.  The vaulting of the new addition mimics the old.  The strong horizontal line above the garage mimics the horizontal lines found in the wood of the original.  I will say I do like the juxtaposition of the square window in the new addition as compated to the arched and round windows of the old.  In short- I really like it.  I only wish we had more opportunities in this area to do the same.  It seems that you would have better luck in the UK to pick up one of these little lovelies.  Enjoy this great little reno.


















I love how they opened up the back.  I really like how they used glass into the corner to really open up the backside.  I too love that arched window on the second floor-simply stunning.  The lines here in the back are just so lovely.





Just look at those amazing brackets.  I loves me a great bracket-especially ones as big as those.









So there you have it folks a great conversion.  The builder of this great project was Bagnatto Architects.

Have a great day everyone.
Megan

Monday, February 10, 2014

THE TRUTH ABOUT COLOUR.

Hey Everyone....well the Olympics are on and I am one happy camper.  I cannot even convey how much I love the Olympics.  I become rather obsessed.  I always joke to my friends....don't call me, don't look at me, don't ANYTHING!  I just love how people try to bring their best- ya know?  Coming from a "winter" country we really do embrace the Winter Olympics.  I know that the majority of the country will be all about the hockey- not us....don't get me wrong...we'll probably watch a game or two, however, it isn't ALL ABOUT HOCKEY FOR US IN THIS FAMILY!!  I know....being Canadian and even thinking that is sacreligious!  I would seriously sit there for 14hrs and watch it all.
Anyways.......back to some business of design........I suppose this is going to be a bit of a rant....so hang on!
I know that in the past I have talked about colour and how colour should be YOUR story.  I have talked about how a colour on a monitor or even in a magazine or even in Betty Sue's Living Room down the street will not neccessarily translate to what is in YOUR house.  I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!  I suppose that I will continue to hammer this home until the last person on the planet gets this concept.  I can't even tell you how crazy it makes me when people get so hung up on finding out a particular colour in a particular room when seen online. Don't get me wrong I like to know what a designer has used in a room.  I won't completely rehash everything I have said in the past, however, as you know I have a STRONG opinion on this very subject.  See here!  You can also see the thread on Houzz here.
This is the room in question:


I can't even tell you all the mileage I have gotten out of this one issue or photo!  I went back and tried to hammer home my point.  Of course it fell on deaf ears!  I was told to chill out etc.....Someone even today asked once again what the paint colour was.  I MEAN COME ON PEOPLE!!  I know that for me it has hammered home the idea that the majority of people can't see what is beyond their own nose.  It was stated by the designer that it is Sherwin Williams Sea Salt.  However, people were questioning it!  This is an incredible example of what a particular colour looks like on YOUR screen.  It may not look like Sea Salt since it does look a little more blue than what Sea Salt truly looks like.  But this is where I loose it!  Like I have said in the past....I don't care what colour it says, looks like or isn't.......Take what is stated...that it is Sea Salt and USE IT AS A STARTING POINT!!  People get so hung up on using something verbatum.  It may look amazing in this pic but look absolutely horrible in your room. STOP BEING SHEEPLE!!
I know that I have hammered at this issue but it is one that I am UBER passionate about.
Most people don't understand the nuiances of colour.  How lighting in one place will make a colour look completely different in another place.  That same colour will look completely different say in daylight as opposed to under halogen lighting.  I think what has bugged me the most about this thread on Houzz is the shear lack of common sense that I have been seening.  For me when a colour is stated....I don't care what it looks like on the monitor....take it at face value and move on.  FULL STOP!  Again, take that info and apply it to your own experience.  Make it your story.  Make it about you.  I know I didn't make any friends over there but that's not my intention here.  My intension is to impart my experience to others, to help them the best way I know how.  If you don't like what I have said....well I can't help that...the truth is the truth.  I won't walk away from that....it's just not my style.  I can't sugar coat stuff like this.  To me it is as plain as the nose on my face....my very ample nose!!  I just don't understand how people get so hung up on getting the exact colour.  Like I said use it as a starting point, MAKE IT YOUR OWN!!

Just to show you what I mean I will show you different pics of rooms that use the same colour: Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams- which I love by the way:




In this pic you can see how "green" the colour looks.





In this pic we can see that there is a definite green undertone like the first pic, however, the wall colour looks less saturated than in the first pic.  This is such a lovely soft dining room- I really like it!




In this pic the wall colour has a slightly "bluer" tinge to the grayish green of Sea Salt as compared to the other 2 pics.  It is always relative....you have to compare a colour to another one.  When looking at paint chips you have to compare them to each other in order to make them understandable.  One white will look more yellow as compared to another white-they are both white but the undertone changes the story or the way in which you will percieve it.
To me this room really is a close representation of what Sea Salt truly looks like- but then again that is what it looks like on MY MONITOR.  Another monitor may make the room look slightly grayer than if you were to see it on my monitor.




Just look how gray Sea Salt looks in this room.  It looks amazing, however, it really takes on a grayer tone in this setting.



If this doesn't highlight was I have being saying all along I don't know what will.  Same colour but different lighting, fixtures, furniture etc.......everything plays into...especially the lighting.
So until this obsession about "what colour is in that room" is used only as a starting point, I will have many more postings on this very subject.

Don't get me wrong I too love to know what a particular designer used in a room, however, when they state what it is I take it for what they say. But then if I were to use it I would use it as a starting point.

Thanks for letting me rant!!

I wish you happy Olympics.  I wish you happy competition.  I wish you great rivalries.  I hope you are witness to some greatness that we will be a part of-even if we are sitting on our couches and just cheering along.

Have a great day everyone.
Megan


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

LOVE AND KISSES COWL

Hey everyone......It is STILL COLD!!  I know that I have kind of harped on about this....but really???  I know I live in Southern Ontario and that we do tend to have somewhat of a cold winter....but for the love of Pete!  I cannot remember a colder winter since I was a kid!  It has been a long time since the temps at night have been consistently below -20C and wind chills in the minus 30's!!  Roll on spring......
So I know that Valentine's Day is just around the corner....and I have had an idea for a cowl in my head for quite sometime......so was born the Love and Kisses Cowl:






I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love how this one turned out.  It is exactly as I envisioned.  It was just one of those designs that fell together really well.
The yarn that I chose for this project is Berroco Vintage.  I bought it at one of my LYS- Joanne's Knit n Stitch here in Burlington.  I have wanted to use this yarn for quite sometime.  I highly recommend it for many projects.  To me it us that kind of yarn that is a true workhorse.  Knits up beautifully, has great stitch definition and will wear really well.  It has just enough wool in it to keep me happy.  But it doesn't have a harsh feel to it.  In fact it is quite soft- this is in part to the content: 52% Acrylic/40% Wool/8%Nylon.  I know that I will be keeping this yarn in mind for future projects.  I needed to purchase 2 skeins,however, I only used part of the second ball. Used approx. 250m total.  So I have some leftover for my stash!!  I wanted to do a full on Valentine thing....hence the red.  It is the kind of project that keeps you focused but not so much that you feel like you are loosing your mind.  It can be knit quite easily in front of the T.V- kept my notes on my lap for reference! I just love cables- as you all know.  And this one ticks all the boxes for me.  I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did in designing and knitting it.
I LOVE IT!!

Anyways, as always if you have any comments or questions please feel free to contact me.  Oh I almost forgot- you can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Have a great day everyone.
Megan

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

EASIER THAN PIE

Hey Everyone.......Hope all is well?  It is yet again FREEZING HERE!!  Just the right kind of weather to knit a lovely scarf.......And speaking of scarves.....I have another pattern ready for you all!  I was quite industrious before Chirstmas and was able to start a few projects. I finally finished it up and here it is....










I have to say that creating these kind of scarves is my absolute favourite thing to do.  I love designing them and I LOVE to knit them.  They are filled with detail yet have a simplicity about them at the same time!
I chose to name her Easier than Pie since she evolved from my other pattern Easy as Pie.  I wanted to make a lace pattern that seamed on the surface complicated yet was so not difficult to execute.  In this little lovely there isn't any cables.  There is however, ribs of K1TBL (knit 1 through back of loop).  This lends a level of stability to an otherwise lacey pattern.  I love how TBL looks in a pattern.  It is a rib that looks that much more sophisticated-well it does to me anyways!  This pattern is quite easy to memorize and to knit.  There is only 4 rows to memorize. Once you have done a few.....and there are a few.......120 repeats all told.....it is very easy to get along with.  She is 8 1/2" x 65".  Just the right length!
I have never knit with this yarn before and truth be told I am not a huge fan of Alpaca.  I find that it can be a little "wimpy".  What do I mean by that?   Well...... It can tend to be a little too drapey for my liking. However, this yarn is quite lovely.  It has a really nice twist to it.  Which is why it seems to have a little more body than the average Alpaca.  I would knit with this yarn again in a heartbeat!  It is St. Denis- Sommet.  I bought it at Webs  I love buying from Webs- they are great to deal with.  Even with me living in the Great White North, buying from them is very easy.  Never had a problem!  Always a great selection.  The only issue is that I can't have it right away...usually takes a week to get here.  Which in yarn years is like 100yrs! It is very hard waiting for yarn to arrive when one has a project on the brain.  It's like Christmas when the package arrives....always makes me happy!!  Anyways......it is such a lovely yarn.....It is 100% Baby Alpaca with a great twist to it.  It is rated as a Sport weight with a gauge of between 24-28sts.  I used 3.5mm needles for this scarf and I must say I am over the moon with it.  I only wish they had way more of it, but alas it is on clearance and there isn't much left.  That being said this pattern would look stunning with Classic Elite Fresco.  As you know I am slightly obsessed by that yarn.  It would also look great in Paton's Lace.  I think that any yarn with a slight halo would look lovely.  I find that a yarn with good stitch definition would also work well.
So there you have it....another pattern.  It can be purchased here.  And as always if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Have a great day everyone.

Megan

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

ONE DAY WONDER COWL

Hey Everyone......Hope all is well in your Universe.  I have another Cowl pattern that is available on Ravelry here.  It is a very quick knit....yes L it is!!  It is made up of two yarns..... Sirdar Country Style and Regia 6 Square Color.  I truly love varigated yarn.  It is like CANDY.  All those colours in one ball.  I love how they flow from one colour to the next.  LOVE IT!!  Without further ado...here is my new cowl:








It is such a simple yet graphic pattern.  It is easy, fun and a quick knit.  I love the staggered slip stitch pattern.  It lends so much movement and goes so well with the stripes and varigation.  Can you tell how much I love this cowl?  And what is so great about a cowl like this is that it goes with so many things.  So many colours to choose from........  I totally want to make a load of these in many different colourways......oh the possibilities.  
I have always loved Country Style DK- whether it is Sirdar or Berella.......This yarn is such a great workhorse.  And they come in so many colours.  I too enjoyed the Regia yarn.  A really great Wool yarn that has a lovely feel to it.  Wooly without being too scratchy.  But then again you know me....I loves me some wool!
And as always....if you have any comments or questions you know where you can reach me!

Have a great day everyone.
Megan