Category Archives: Spring

This Past Week In & Out

I managed to capture a few highlights of the week in my studio and outside the house.

Spring is progressing quite nicely here in northern Illinois. For the most part the trees are looking leafy green now except for a couple of varieties. Just today our honeysuckle bushes have started blooming. I brought a few branches in the house; their scent is heavenly.

Our lilac bush which has deep red violet blossoms is just starting to bloom as well, but the lilac bushes that we have around the house still have the tiniest beginnings of flower buds on their branches.

The forget-me-nots self sow every year. During the week I picked a few sprigs of phlox and forget-me-nots to put in a tiny vase in the house and they are still looking fresh.

One of the fabrics that I had in my online shopping cart was almost sold out, so I finally placed an order for more, yes more, fabric. Also, Knit Picks was offering a free skein of Lindy Chain and I had been wanting to try it, so I placed an order for yarn too. It’s always a bit like Christmas when a box of yummy supplies is delivered, and this week I had two of them.

I’ve no idea yet what the above panel will be for. I will probably (someday) use it for a quilt throw. It was too cute to pass up.

Lindy Chain is a pima cotton/linen blend yarn. Instead of the plies of yarn being twisted they are chained together. It is a very interesting yarn, but the reviews I read a while back made it sound like it would be hard to work with especially if you need to rip back. Has anyone tried knitting with this yarn?

I also just received my first skein of Diadem. It is so, so, so soft and silky! The fiber content is baby alpaca and mulberry silk, and it is a single ply yarn which I have never tried, so I have another “something new” to work with.

Even though nothing out of the ordinary happened this week, it FLEW by so very fast! Did you notice the same thing?

Strolling Through the Garden with Patience

5 Replies

On a beautiful spring day it is hard to resist Mother Nature. She beckons to us with her warm sun, gentle breezes, and surprises blooming outside. It was a day like this for us in northern Illinois on Friday. As much as I wanted to stay inside and work, work, work, I couldn’t resist. I had a lovely walk soaking up the warm sun and discovering all of the new things growing outside.

Patience loves to get outside on a spring day too. I took her picture in front of our pink magnolia tree that is in bloom. I didn’t plan it, but the ensemble that I just completed for her was perfect for photos.

For more information on Patience’s “A Stroll in the Garden” ensemble please visit my “Available for Sale” page on cindyricedesigns.com .

This Past Week

7 Replies

Here are a couple of shots from inside my studio this past week. My desk photo shows my two projects that I had going on towards the end of the week. Patience’s outfit is finished, but I am still knitting the dress for the Little Darlings; lots of stitches in this one. Amelia Thimble and Izzy have been hanging out with Bella (my Bo Bergemann Dream Doll). She is happy to have the little ones to keep her company.

This weather this past week in northern Illinois was quite perfect. Some days were a bit warmer than others, but all were sunny! Since yesterday felt like summer I had to get out for a nice long walk. I brought along my iPhone to capture spring’s progress out and about.

This weeping willow looked so pretty with its yellow green buds against the blue sky. I found clumps of squill growing along the side of the road; they’re so tiny and blue.

These are our daffodils in full bloom.

Our largest magnolia tree looks snowy when in bloom.

I love our pink magnolia tree, the blossom’s colors are gorgeous. Today I finished Patience’s outfit and thought the tree would be the perfect backdrop for a couple of photos.