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Melody Hoffmann

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baby it's cold outside.JPG

Dustland hat {January}

January 18, 2014 in Knitting
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Coat/ old. Dress/ H&M. Cardigan/ Muji. Mittens/ Handmade by me. Boots/ UGG. Hat/ Dustland, handmade by me. Bag/ Barnacles Bags

Yeah I did it!  I finished my hat yesterday, and I managed to venture outside, long enough to snap some pictures today. In less than a week, we've reached -15°C. I thought that winter would never come this year... But it did! And I'm so very glad. My walks outside are definitely shorter than before, but I enjoy them even more, and it allows me to spend more time inside knitting for the Etsy shop and myself.

As soon as I received the yarn for this project, I new that Dustland hat, would be one of my favourite. The texture of the hat works so well with the baby alpaca. It's super soft and warm at the same time. And knitting with baby alpaca, oh my goodness. I never thought that something could ever be softer than alpaca. But there's something, baby alpaca!

What's your favourite yarn to knit with?

 Pattern/ Dustland hat, Stephen West. Yarn/ Mirasol, Miski in Storm. Needles: US 6. This hat is a part of the Knit twelve hats in a year challenge {10/12}

Tags: knitting, yarn, mirasol yarn, dustland hat
12 Comments
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Woods & Wool

January 15, 2014 in Knitting, Nature
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Cardigan: Vintage / Dress H&M / Hat: Noa Noa from Vibeke / Pendant: Mandarine's / Project Bag, pouch: Jenna Rose

Oh today was so very nice! I spend my afternoon walking around in the woods, trying to capture this mystical winter light, enjoying the beauty and the silence that were surrounding me. I wish I could have stayed a little longer, have a nice cup of coffee, sit around a fire with a blanket around my shoulders, and knit a bit longer. But that sounds like a very good plan for this week-end!

Before heading out to the woods, I received this beautiful baby alpaca yarn in the mail. I don't remember touching anything softer in my whole life before. And this blue is SO pretty! The yarn is called Miski, and comes from a peruvian company called Mirasol. Have you ever heard about them? I got mine there.

I always love deep pinks and purples, and if I would listen to myself, most of my knitting would be in the same shades. But this blue was so appealing! I started knitting my January hat with it, and the yarn is so soft, that I'm almost halfway done...

Tags: knitting, mirasol yarn
8 Comments
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Lately & an Ode to Ulysse

January 10, 2014 in Knitting, Home, Nature
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+ My beautiful friends were doing quite well, especially the little purple one. I love spending time with them, nourishing them and rotating them in the house, to let them enjoy the light.

+ I've been working hard to finish my cardigan. I think I still have a 20% left. I'm currently working on the second sleeve increases. The yarn that I'm using for this project is just so lovely. I trully think that it's one of my favourites.

+ I've been steaming something like 25 jars today. I'm about to make more pickles and more slaw/sauerkraut. I'll try to share some of the recipes on the blog soon! I find canning/preserving so fascinating.

+ My sweet Anna sent me the most adorable card for Christmas. Thank you so much again! She finished a beautiful mustard sweater, and is planning to knit another one very soon. I love to see her behing the scenes so much.

+ I stumbled upon this interesting article about knitting.

+ Liesl just published an article about her last knitting project. I could  never tell that Levenwick is her second cardigan. It's just perfect!

Tags: knitting, yarn, plants, cardigan, Praline, de rerum natura
6 Comments
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Natural products for me and for the home

January 09, 2014 in Home

One/ Pure Beeswax Pillar Candles. Two/ Lush, Aromaco Deodorant. Three/ Sustainable Sea Sponge. Four/ Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Magic Soap. Five/Tiger balm, white. Six/ Essential Oils capsuls. Seven/ Fresh ginger

Over the past few years, I've tried my best to get rid of the useless stuff. I realized while downsizing that I did not only want to have less things, but I also wanted the best. Quantity is not important. But quality is. I started this simplifying journey with my wardrobe. I sold some of my dresses on Ebay, and the other (big) part was given to charities. While my wardrobe got smaller and smaller, I started buying more simple clothes, but also more natural ones. Polyester was excluded from my new purchases. My eyes were only focusing on natural fabrics: linen, cotton and bamboo... It's also about that time, that I started researching more about natural products, both for my the home and for myself.   Cosmetics were reduced to minimal, pills were avoided as much as possible, and I could easily count my cleaning products on my fingers.

So today, I'd like to share some of my favourite natural products/remedies.

One/ Pure Beeswax Pillar Candles I love to surround myself with candles at home. But most of the time, they're made out of paraffin which is a petroleum derived product that it is chemically bleached and hardened, then artificially scented. Beeswax candles are natural, sustainable and help to clean the air.

Two/ Lush Aromaco Deodorant. Oh sweat control. I've tried many many things before you Aromaco, and trust me, you're the best so far.I've tried many brands of armful deodorants in the past, natural alums stones but none of them worked for me. I discovered Aromaco two years ago in London, and since then, my whole family + in laws are using it. Yes patchouli! It's a revolution.

Three/ Sustainable Sea Sponge. My mom brought me a few from a trip in Greece, and since then, I shower with them. They really helped my skein to get better from the different problems that I have (hyper-sensitivity) and the psoriasis that started in China (I almost don't have it anymore). There's a interesting story about them here.

Four/ Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Magic Soap. Oh yeah, there's a reason what this product is called "Magic". Have you ever hear about it? This soap cleans everything: body, hair, floors, dishes, home, did I forget something? "The peppermint essential oil tingles the body and clears the mind. Therapeutically used as a mild stimulant, peppermint oil increases vitality and clarity. All soaps are certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program. All soaps are also certified Fair Trade. Packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic bottles." Can it get any better?

Five/ Tiger balm. I tiger balm everything: headaches, colds, mosquitos bites, muscles pains. There's always one in my handbag, just in case.

Six/ Essential Oil capsules. Whenever I feel that I'm about to get really sick from a cold, I drop two capsules of these essentials oils (Peppermint, Clove, Thyme, Lavander, Cinnamon) into a large bowl of steaming water, put a heavy towel over my head, and inhale for five minutes, twice a day. Inhalation therapy proved itself over and over. It helped me when I was still a little girl to get rid of asthma. I like to use these ones, but I'm pretty sure that you can get similar ones everywhere.

Seven/ Fresh Ginger. There's always a big piece of ginger in France. I don't only like ginger in my food, I also like to use it to make hot and cold beverages. It's benefits are countless.

 

+ I would love to hear what you like using for your home and for yourself. What natural products/ remedies do you like using?

Tags: natural remedies, natural products
9 Comments
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Capturing the natural colors of the world

January 08, 2014 in Nature
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Dear forest,

I like to wake up early in the morning, and visit you when everything is still asleep, contemplate the mist disappearing from the highest branches of your pine trees, when the birds stop dreaming and start telling stories to their other friends. I like to visit you at noon when you're full of life, when the flowers and leaves have opened their arms to welcome the sun. I like to visit you at twilight when all of your inhabitants are getting ready for another night full of stars

Wherever you are, I always love your smell, your colors, your noises and your little treasures. All so different, yet so similar.

Tags: forest, nature, style
8 Comments
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Mixed drink Hat

January 07, 2014 in Knitting
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Hat pattern/Manhattan, Mixed drink by Amy Christoffers. Yarn/ The Uncommon Thread, BFL sock in Lust.

 Oh I'm so so late this month! This hat was supposed to be finished before the end of December, but you know how hectic December can be! I came back to France for the holidays, and since I like to travel "light", I didn't carry any luggage with me, except a teeny-tiny bag! I was too scared to bring some knitting with me in the plane, even though I was pretty convinced the night before, that I would bring socks. But it didn't happen! So I took a week off knitting, and to be honest, it was pretty tough.

So I got this hat finished and blocked yesterday evening, and managed to snap some pictures today despite the poor light that we have. I loved, loved loved knitting this pattern and the yarn is such a luxury. I grabbed this skein very quickly at the Uncommon thread, because as soon as the shop is updated, most of the yarns are already sold out! And now, I can really understand why. I really hope that I will get a chance to grab another skein later this year!

What about you? What have you been knitting lately?

• This hat has been made for the Knit twelve hats in a year challenge.

Tags: hat, knitting, amy christoffers, uncommon thread
2 Comments
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