first album

first photos from my new iphone 5. it's so enjoyable going ultralight, a fine change from carrying a heavy camera, lenses, on hikes especially. the phone weighs less than a bottle of water. and takes pretty good pictures! the video is an experiment, i'm not sure if it will work. hannah says it's the world's most boring, but, it was a first try, laughing at her comment. for days now fog has settled, laying low in hills of coastal chaparral, making solitary hikes an ethereal experience (thinking of you melissa). we found the sun though, east of the mountains, in santa barbara county's wine country. in a rural inland valley we attended a charming country wedding, a hand made sign greeted all 'welcome city folk!'. vows were exchanged under a century old california oak. we sipped cranberry vodka in iced mason jars and carried rice paper parasols for shade, children played barefoot in the grass. i kind of wished for my camera then, it was all so photogenic. 

rosy dancing bridesmaids dresses by lovely local heidi merrick. i'm heading here again tomorrow, be back soon!

p.s. happy father's day (a very sweet 'card' from a favorite place, love the then and now photos)

the house that came in the mail and blue

we try to capture poetry. we adore the unsaid. it inspires us & jolts our imagination so we can create.

lucky boy sunday

the house that came in the mail 

* hug *

BLUE

birthday vase and hand made birthday jewelry

blue shawl ~ the hitchhiker (pattern here)

knit with gifted nurturing fibres fingering weight wool

la la's simple shawl  (free pattern here) (ravelry link here)

this was made with wool sent by jackie of luna grey fiber arts

this is aquila, a blend of merino cashmere. in the colorway harbor

it is beautiful wool and it may be one of the most beautiful shades of blue i've ever seen

a complete joy to knit with.

colorful. modern. yarn.

find it here

another gift! ten skeins of pure alpaca. it is now being made into another (secret, shhh) gift  :)

and this, oh this. from a dearly loved friend, a gift of her hand thrown pottery.

a new mug, with a perfect handle to drink lovely japanese tea. and a hand stitched leaf 

coaster, one side wool, the other indigo linen, malabrigo yarn couched on for leaf stems. she made these.

 for me. this is the most amazing wonderful thing in the world i think

my new house pillow! i had to take a million photos i love it so much. a birthday gift sent from my girl in brooklyn, it's the favourite place pillow. while in new york last march hannah and i had seen it in a shop. it's hand knit in baby alpaca. we fell in love, she remembered and now it lives with me. lucky boy sunday, i love the danish designers and their beautiful philosophy, read more here

matt & hannah rose at a music festival sunday in new york

thank you honey, i LOVE my pillow (you remembered)

do you love to give (and receive) handmade? do you have a favorite memory? 

please share!

it's a boy and a girl

*  thank you for the kindest words on my last post, they mean so very much to us  *

birthdays! santa barbara zoo welcomed two newborn giraffes born at the zoo last month,  dane, weighed in at one hundred and fifty six pounds, 6 feet 3 inches tall! and sunshine weighed one hundred thirty three pounds and was six feet tall.

i went to see them! oh my goodness they are cute. they followed each other around, but mostly stood watching their mamas, and they watched us, watching them. they are so adorably curious. one time many years ago in kenya, a baby ran up to our vehicle and stood peering at us, while it's poor anxious mother, standing far back, was doing whatever it is mama giraffes do to call their young...

i turned fifty seven yesterday. it was as perfect as a day can be, the weather,  family (grown up sons and daughters calling to sing the happy birthday song, a drawing of an ipod wearing giraffe from my granddaughter), my friends, my love... and, going to the zoo ,  staying mostly in the africa section. taking owen our pup for a walk on the beach, watching chuck surf, lunch and dinner with family, oops, forgot, knitting on the beach too! the gift of this, i would gladly turn another year older, for a day just like yesterday. 

except... for the sunburn i got. hee hee, i may be older, but not necessarily wiser. xxx lori