I wish I could bring some of these lovelies back home with me, but as you can see the only ones that could have fit in my bag where the tiny succulent plants that were carefully protected behing the transparent doors. I also thought of bringing my whole home in there, and settle down. It was quite warm in the tropical greenhouses, and I could easily picture myself sitting there with my knitting and a cup of chinese green tea.

But at the end of the visit, I found out that some of the lovely plants that I had spotted during my visit where actually for sale. Needless to say that I came back home with quite a bit of green souvenirs. I will show you the new family additions in a next post. If there's any plant lover up here? I’d love to hear your stories about plants/ the most inspiring botanical gardens that you visited…

Until next time, I'm wishing you a wonderful day.

We’ve had many days of heavy rains lately, that are washing away the golden leaves that started to gather on the floor. When it’s rainy like today, one of my favourite thing to do is to head out to the botanical garden, with a warm pair of socks in my boots and my camera in hand. Then I could spend hours walking along the aisle of the tropical greenhouse, analyzing one plant after another, with the sound of the rain pouring on the high windows.

My mind is so peaceful in places like these, and I always come back home so inspired, my little notebook filled with new ideas and some of the plants that I could collect of the floor.

I will be sharing the rest of the photographs tomorrow. It's always so hard to select only a few pictures when there's so many to choose from in my camera! Until tomorrow! I'm wishing you a lovely evening.

I never thought that I would be so slow at knitting fair isle. This hat is taking me forever! But seeing these little stitches combined together, makes the work so much worth it. I love how the dark tones empashis the bright ones, and the color variation within one colorway is stunning. There's still a lot of work until my hat will be completed, but I'm taking it slowly, enjoying a few rows here and there, a cup of tea next to me, contemplating the autumn through my window.

Visual diary & Anthology

Good Sunday! I hope that you’re having a beautiful weekend. It’s been very quiet in here, apart from the sound of the rain and the myriad of birds that come to visit me.
I decided to create a new space where I could post all of my pictures. It’s called “Visual diary & Anthology”, and you can find it here.

Shetland Wool Week Shwook Hat Knit Along.

So the Shetland Wool Week has officially started, and I couldn't be more thrilled about it! If you're among the lucky ones that are attending the wooly event it means that you're already having the time of your life. But for the rest of us, it means that the long time-waiting Shwook KAL is starting!

It's been so fun & inspiring to see the different colors and fibers that the participants have decided to put together. Hege's color palette might be my favourite combo so far, her colors blend together so well. Fran has decided to handspun her own yarn to make her Shwook. How exciting that is! And Leigh is cruising. Her hat looks fantastic already. She came along with a lining technique to prevent the "itchy" factor on the brim. That's so smart! She explains the process on her blog very well.

If you want to join the challenge, there is still plenty of time to come on board! You can also follow on Instagram the several works in progress with the hashtag #SWWKALshwook.

Happy Shetland Wool Week!

Less than two weeks ago, I was openning a package that came in the mail, with two incredible skeins of yarn. Road to China light is a wonderful blend of baby alpaca -which is my favourite fiber, cashmere, camel & silk. I'm not mistaken if I say that I have never held anything more soft, and luxurious before that.

It didn't take me too long to find a pattern that would make justice to this decadent yarn. Shaelyn is a beautiful shawl that showcases a simple yet very delicate lace section. And the drape of the yarn makes this shawl such a wearable addition to my wardrobe.

I patiently waited for a whole day, the two skeins by my side, before the urge to cast on was to strong to resist any longer. Just a few days later, my new shawl was soaking in lavender water, blocking, and drying on the line, waiting to bring some warmth around my neck during these chillier autumn days.