It's too hot I can't knit here...

Yesterday was the first day of a week of very hot temperatures. It's finally summer. Yes I do dislike long winters but I'm not use when it's so hot. After thinking over and over I escaped to the mountains which are just 40 minutes by car from my place. I brought with me my "secret knitting project", it's not a new design but a gift for a friend who read this blog and my camera. Here some pics of my adventure:

Summer is for knitting

When I was living in upstate NY, where the cold season is pretty long, my yarn of choice was mostly wool: merino, cashmere, camel, alpaca (my Achilles heel) and whatever I could lay my hands on. Where I live now the weather is mild, it's not like Florida but still... How can I keep knitting millions of shawls and wearing them? You are thinking, what is she talking about? She could use cotton. Yes I could but for some reasons it not my cup of tea. The web is my muse. There are so many options. I couldn't believe it. Digging out from my stash was a revelation too.  In April I switched to silk, I knitted two stoles using this amazing fiber that is like butter. Next was hemp which was the inspiration to a new shawl design. Let me tell you, hemp was a truly new experience. I wanted a very light shawl so I knitted it using a loose gauge, this helped the knitting process easing the stiffness of the fiber. I'd been told to keep the faith because the hemp would soften up once I had done one cycle in the washing machine. My shawl in the washing machine???? Yes I did wash it with jeans and I was staring at the washer window (I have a front load) during the spinning cycle, frightened for my "delicate" lace shawl. I took it out and blocked it. It didn't shrink, it didn't grow dramatically, no holes. I was like a child amazed with the world of magic. The new design is testing at the moment. Stay tuned...

The other fiber I had the pleasure to work is linen. Thank to a new knitter friend I machine knitted a scarf  with some linen gifted to me back on February. I purchased from a destash some bamboo which is lost in some warehouse, I pray everyday for it!!!!! Last but not least thank to knitaly, I entered a swap. I, now, have a blend of fibers: soybean, silk and wool. Sweater quantity.

In May I had the pleasure to get together with an old friend of mine. We visited the Rose Garden in Rome and Villa Torlonia. Two must see places if you are visiting Rome.

Villa Torlonia was the residence of Mussolini during his dictatorship. When the ally freed us, the Villa was abandoned and vandalized. It was recently restored. We spend the day, touring the house and the museums, having a drink at the outdoor coffe' shop and lounging on the grass under the lovely roman sun... Next time I'm going to have a picnic!

Mother's Day

Here at UniqueCreazioni we've got a bad cold, not much knitting time and energy! I didn't want to forget to celebrate with you all this important day. Here it's the new member of the family: Calimero...

Da UniqueCreazioni c'e' ancora aria malaticcia, non ci sono molte energie da dispensare alla maglia. Ho voluto pero' passare di qui per celebrare con voi la festa della mamma. Direttamente dal nuovo membro della famiglia: Calimero...

I needed a break

This afternoon a friend of mine give me a call: "Lore, why don't we take a walk?" 

A walk is what I needed. I got a cold, no energy at all. Today the sun was bright and strong and I know it's like a balm for my body and my mind. I left the needles on the bed, I wore my favorite sneakers and off I went. Of course my camera was with  me!

Oggi pomeriggio un mio amico mi ha chiamata: "Lore, ti va di fare una passeggiata?"

Ecco, proprio cio' di cui avevo bisogno. Sono raffreddata e senza forze. Oggi il sole era forte e luminoso e su di me ha un effetto benefico. Ho lasciato i ferri sul letto, mi sono messa le mie scarpe da ginnastica favorite e sono partita. Ho portato la macchina fotografica!

 Catch of the day:  Wild asparagus.

Announcement

Here at UniqueCreazioni I've been very busy, working for you! A lot of designing, swatching, photographing, tech editing and emailing back and forth has been going on. I'm glad to announce a new collaboration with Maria Rosa, the lovely owner of Fili & Colori. Her on-line yarn store is offering a KIT where a special edition of Candles in the Wind named Silky Candles in the Wind is matched with a luscious hank of Natural Dye Studio - Precious 4 ply. The new pattern has been updated and customized to make the most out of the amazing hand dyed silk. Have you ever knitted with silk before? If the answer is no, you have to give it a try. The complete experience is a pleasure. Knitting the cowl is like holding butter on your hands and wearing the cowl next to your skin is a luscious experience. Please contact me if you don't agree, we have to have a chat!

Qui ad UniqueCreazioni e' stato un periodo molto pieno, ho lavorato per voi! Ho knittato campioncini, fatto fotografie, creato, editato testi insieme ad una fitta corrispondenza. Finalmente vi posso comunicare l'inizio della collaborazione con Maria Rosa, la simpaticissima e gentilissima titolare di Fili & Colori. Il suo negozio on-line di filati ed accessori da oggi offre un KIT composto dal pattern Silky Candles in the Wind ed una matassa di morbidissima seta tinta a mano della Natural Dye Studio - Precious 4 ply. Il gia' esistente Candles in the Wind e' stato aggiornato e trasformato in modo da utilizzare   al meglio ogni centimetro della preziosissima seta. Avete mai lavorato a maglia con la seta? Se la risposta e' no, dovete assolutamente provare. L'esperienza e' un piacere dall'inizio alla fine. Knittare il collo e' come avere del burro tra le mani ed il tocco della sciarpa sulla pelle del vostro collo e' una carezza lussuriosa. Vi invito a contattarmi se dissentite, ne dobbiamo parlare seriamente!

Mailman and more

First of all I got mail, I mean yarn! 

Last week it was a parcel from Taiwan this week the mailman delivered three hanks of hemp and one hank of silk from Fili and Colori. Silk is becoming a statement for me, hemp represent a new chapter of my life. Never knitted with hemp before, I'm so thrilled. I'll CO right away. What it will become it's a secret. Don't you like secrets?

E' arrivata la posta, anzi la lana!

La scorsa settimana e' arrivato un pacco da Taiwan, questa settimana il postino mi ha portato 3 matasse di canapa ed una matassa di seta, direttamente da Fili and Colori. Vista la stagione lavorare la seta e' diventato normale ma la canapa rappresenta un nuovo mondo. Non ho mai realizzato un capo in canapa, non vedo l'ora di montare le maglie. La canapa verra' trasfomata in... e' un segreto. Non vi piacciono i segreti?

On Saturday I attendet the montly knit cafe at Palazzo delle Esposizioni. We meet the first Saturday of every month. This meeting was a lot of fun, we were 17 ladies, according to my daughter math, I didn't double check. I met two new knitters and I drooled over some Estonian yarn that has been recently purchased from some of the ladies. I do own my good share of Estonian yarn so I restrained myself from placing another order! ...but I have to have this purple/grey/black! We are considering on moving from this location, because they are not always friendly. I'll keep you posted if and when we'll move.

Sabato sono stata al knit cafe al Palazzo delle Esposizioni. Ci incontriamo il primo sabato di ogni mese. Durante questo incontro ci siamo molto divertite. Eravamo 17 magliste, secondo i calcoli di mia figlia, non ne ho controllato l'esattezza. Due nuove magliste si sono unite a noi, inoltre sono morta d'invidia nell'osservare i traffici che avvenivano in sala. Lana Estone, recentemente acquistata in gruppo, passava di mano in mano. Non ho partecipato all'acquisto, viste le quantita' di lana Estone gia' in  mio possesso! ...pero' devo a tutti costi avere questa tonalita' in viola/grigio/nero. Siamo alla ricerca di una nuova location per i nostri incontri, visto l'atteggiamento a volte freddo riservatoci dalla gestione della caffetteria. Vi terro' informate sugli sviluppi.

Palazzo delle Esposizioni

May Day

May Day, May 1, is a public holiday all over Italy as the day of the worker. School, offices everything is closed. This year because the bad economy a lot of stores are open. We usually spend the day picnicking. Most of the Italian holidays are about food. Today's forecast wasn't good, we stayed at home. In our area there's a shepherd, he makes the best cheese and ricotta ever. Of course, on today's menu there was fava beans with pecorino cheese. A must have for Primo di Maggio:

Oggi per celebrare il Primo di Maggio non siamo andati a fare una scampagnata come da rito, causa pioggia! Pero' non abbiamo rinunciato alle fave con il pecorino! Grazie ad un pastore locale che fa il formaggio e la ricotta di ottima qualita'.

Fava Beans with Pecorino Cheese

Yesterday mail was very generous with me and Emma. Our Taiwanese friend Carol sent a goody package. She read one of my status update on facebook about Emma's obsession over instant noodles earned during last summer when Carol and her daughters come visiting. They introduced us to this gourmet food. It become a weekly appointment and we spread the "verb" to other friends. Thanks to the global village in Rome there's an Asian block where I go to buy instant noodles. ...but what do I know? They never taste like the one we had last summer. Thanks Carol, you made us very very very happy!

Ieri e' arrivato per posta un pacco per me ed Emma. La nostra amica taiwanese, Carol e' il mittente. Aveva letto un mio post nella mia bacheca di facebook, dove raccontavo dell'insana passione di Emma per gli instant noodle, maturata la scorsa estate quando Carol and le sue bimbe erano qui da noi. Sono loro le responsabili dell'iniziazione di Emma a questo piatto etnico. E' diventata un'abitudine settimanale che abbiamo allargato anche a parenti ed amici. Grazie al villaggio globale a Roma c'e' un quartiere cinese dove mi posso approvigionare di instant noodle. ...pero' non sono mai come quelli che ha portato Carol la scorsa estate. Grazie Carol, ci hai reso tanto tanto tanto felici!

During the last entry I mentioned my plan on translating Candles in the Wind in Italian, I did it! The Italian version is now available on my Raverly store! When you'll check out you will offered to choose the version you wish, between Italian and English!

Nell'ultimo post ho parlato della mia intezione di tradurre Candles in the Wind in italiano. Fatto! La versione in italiano e' ora disponibile nel mio negozio Raverly! Durante l'operazione di acquisto vi verra' data la possibilita' di scegliere la versione da voi desiderata, in italiano o in inglese!