everyday life

sunday

my kitchen
Originally uploaded by catsfalk.

I bought my plastic Christmas tree today, I haven't dressed it yet - in fact the tree is still in the box. In my family it's custum to dress the tree December 23, and not only in my family. I guess many families in Sweden has that tradition. But I have change the curtains in the kitchen, from the blue/white to red. Christmas is coming!

I have also done a lot of cleaning around the apartment but I had the time to knit to. I'm almost done with a Christmas present to my Sis. And the one to Doc is almost finished too. I have photo's, but I can't show you anything at the moment. My mother will not get anything knitted this year, I have other plans for her.

I will now continue my knitting!

Ooh, I almost forgot. I got rid of my cold, in fact it never broke out! I hoping I won't see it on this side of Christmas!

/ C

shopping

Yesterday after work I took a trip to IKEA - again. My nearest IKEA store is less than 30 minutes (by bus) away from my apartment. My main goal was to buy a hat rack for my hall and I found Portis. But I haven't put it on the wall yet. I also bought a new chopping board, in red (for Christmas). And some paper napkins in red.

I made some shopping today, too. I needed some yarn for a Christmas present, so I visit my LYS, Nysta. And there I bought 2 skeins of Noro Kureyon and a pattern book, Sticka by Nysta's owner Nina Sagulin.

And I might need to do some shopping tomorrow too.. I'm thinking of buying a plastic Christmas tree, mostly to do with my allergies this year. I can react bad to Christmas trees, I have done it before.

I will now take a bath and then I have some knitting to do!

/ C

ginger bread

ginger bread country
Originally uploaded by catsfalk.

I stoped to watch the NK's Christmas display yesterday after work. NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) is the very posh department store in the city and the have the biggest and the best Christmas window decoration in town. This year the store launched it November 19, and it´s a big thing for many in Stockholm to be there, both young and old. The theme this year is Ginger bread, and NK is showing Ginger bread country, Ginger bread people and the Ginger bread factory. It´s very colourful and I like it. You can see more picture's at my flickr - as always!

And after I had to buy some ginger bread... yummie!

/ C

just a regular thursday

pink ribbon
Originally uploaded by catsfalk.

I just got the message that a friend of mine has breast cancer! And I'm very upset and sad! I hate this horrible desease. We´re hoping for the best, and sending all our thoughts to B and her family!

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Sweden, we have just watched it through the TV in numerous american TV shows like 90210, Fresh Prince, Family Ties, Growing Pains, Friends and so on.

So, all of you Americans out there, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! And to the rest of you - have a nice Thursday!

/ C

catching a cold?

Yesterday I attend the Sthlm Knitters weekly meeting at Gino´s. I haven´t been there for weeks so it was fun to meet the other 2 girls who showed up, Anna and Jenie. A lots of knitting and talking. I knitted on one of my Christmas presents. ;-)

I have really been tired this week, and I think that I have a cold coming up. I have been sneezing a lot today. And I have no time to stay home being sick. So for dinner today I ate Sushi with a lot wasabi, I'm trying Tea and Cakes Hot Whiskey for my sore throat. I'm hoping to "win" over the cold..

Thanks for all the nice comments on My So Called Scarf and the Kureyon Shawl. I'm happy with both!

/ C

fo - kureyon shawl

noro kureyon shawl
Originally uploaded by catsfalk.

Yesterday I finished my fast Noro Kyreyon Shawl. A small wrap, perfet for indoor use at work, at a play or a concert. I like it very much. And this one stays with me!

The pattern is my own, after an idea from a co-worker. I first cast on 25 stiches on 15 mm needles, but realized I wanted it a bit bigger, so I froged it and started over with 30 stiches on 15 mm needles.

Kureyon Shawl
Pattern: My own
Yarn: Noro Kureyon, colour 124 - 100 g (2 skeins)
Needles: 15 mm, circ.
Started: November 18, 2006 Finished: November 20, 2006
Yarnsource: Nysta

/ C

count down has begun

For weeks (it felt that anyway..) it has been raining. And I mean raining - a lot. Ad gusty winds to all that rain and you have the weather for the last weeks in Stockholm. Not funny at all. But today, we had an amazing blue sky and a sun! I had to go out and get some fresh air! I took a stroll to Solna and the mall, I had some shopping to do. I needed some Christmas decoration for my balcony. I bought outdoor lights at IKEA early November, and now I needed a (plastic) Christmas tree garland to decorate with the lights at my balcony. I found one at Åhlens and now I have a Christmasy feeling on my balcony. Now I want some snow! Christmas is my favorite holiday. And I always start to decorate my home for Christmas this weekend every year. A bit anyway. I want to build up the christmas feeling. I have also put up "light heart" in the living room window.

When I had my birthday in September my Ma got me a voucher at Inspiration - a home decoration store, and today I cashed that voucher in. I bought myself a blue glas bowl, a Kosta Boda design, Ulrica Hydman Vallien. So, Thanks Ma, for the birthday gift! It was so beautiful!

/ C

norovember

After Socktober comes Norovember! I have not official joined Norovember, but I have Noro yarns in my stash, and I have been thinking what to knit with 2 skeins of Noro Kureyon, colour 124. So when I saw a colourful scarf made of Noro Silkgarden, I had an idea what to knit. A simple garter knit scarf or a small stola. I cast on 25 stiches on 15 mm needles yesterday afternoon.And I like it very much! I need some colourful accessories to my (mostly) black wardrobe. The Noro yarn is one of my favorite yarns, and I have plans to knit something from Cornelia Tuttle Hamiltons book(s). I have one, Hand Knitting Collection - and I love to knit Klaralund, Opptuna and Gesta. I have a small stash of mostly Kureyon, but I have not decided what to do with these skeins. Perhaps I buy more in the colour 138 (I have already 4 skeins in that colour) to make a sweater. One skein will be Forsa Mittens - from the book above.

/ C

fo - my so called scarf

MSCS
Originally uploaded by catsfalk.

So, at last I give you a picture of my latest FO - My So Called Scarf. And I like it! Great colours. Autumnly colours, and it working really well to both my green and grey coat. I really liked the yarn, and I have enough left to make a pair of mittens to match. Thanks Sophie, for the lovely yarn!

My So Called Scarf
Yarn: Merino Wool, used about 150 grams, 1 1/2 hank Needles: Addi turbo, circ. 8 mm
Pattern: Sheep In the City
Started: November 3, 2006 Finished: November 15, 2006
Yarnsorce: From my Secret Pal, Sophie (SP7).

/ C

one baby sock

one alpaca sock
Originally uploaded by catsfalk.

I have one alpaca baby sock finished, for the unborn baby boy, Hampus. We (Marikas co-workers) has not heard anything new. I give you a much better photo of that sock today. I have started the second sock, and it may be finish today or tomorrow.

Yesterday I finished My So Called Scarf - but I have no photo's of it yet. It will come in a day or two. So now it's time to work on those Christmas presents I have in mind for friends and family.

/ C