A life update

2 years. 7 months. A lifetime worth of events. A blink and here we are already, 2 years and 7 months older.

I can't quite remember why exactly I stopped writing here. I started using Instagram a whole lot more. I started feeling like blogging wasn't quite a thing anymore, and all the efforts of keeping up with a blog not so worth it considering my following. Then there's also the fact that 2016 was a year of nightmare for me. My life crashed, I forgot how to live and breathe and smile and get up in the morning and get to sleep at night. Which is really hard to hide on a blog where words are involved (and much easier to hide on a platform full of pretty pretty staged photos). As you can tell by the fact that I am writing today, I made it through. 

And then I started all over again. Quit my job and field of work, excluded the toxic people from my life, tried new things, explored more. I'm still looking really. For who I want to be, how to make it happen, where, with whom. It's a slow process, and as I have come to find out, slow is the way to go. Knitting is still a big part of my life, and I am so very grateful for every stitch that healed me and every person in this amazing community that without knowing it kept me standing with their support and kindness. I've designed a little bit, podcasted on the most irregular basis (sorry guys) and made more knitwear than I have opportunities to wear. I've been all the way to Finland for a festival, and dream of Edimbourgh for next year. 

Will you be there?

I try every day to do a better job of taking care of myself. Books, yoga, good healthy food, meditation, travels, so many little things that make up my days and keep me up. So many topics I hope I can talk more about on this little blogs. Words. Those I have missed. Just like stitch after stitch can heal, so can words on a page. And I have missed writing. There is some kind of magic to the fact that once it is written, you can let go of it. And even more magic is the fact that maybe somehow, by sharing with others, you suddenly realize that you are not so alone after all.

With love, 

Lea.

ALL YOU KNIT IS LOVE: EPISODE 11!

It is insane the difference a year, 6 months, a month even can make. 2015 was just so freaking awful. But then flickers of light. of hope. It's 2016 now and not that I want to jinx it or whatever, but I have a good feeling about it! And so a new episode was recorded. I don't watch my episodes, and I didn't even edit this one so I can't really tell but I feel like I look fairly happy in it, which I am!! Let's hope this last right ;) I have missed this podcast more than I knew, just talking about the things I am passionate about and chatting with you all. YOU are the best and even if I have to repeat myself 1000 times, THANK YOU so much for your love and support <3

Alright, enough emotional chit chat, enjoy the episode :)

PS: do you really need show notes? Curious to know. All of my current + finished projects are up on my Ravelry page :)

ILLUMICRATE UNBOXING - Feb 2016

What is Illumicrate you say? Well, quite simple, it is a really cool UK based quarterly subscription box for book lovers! So if you love YA books, and you love mail, there is a strong chance that it will feel a bit like Christmas when your box arrives ;)

Illumicrate was launched last November, and their February box is their second box (the third one will be in May!) Each box contains a newly released YA book as well as bookish goodies from small independent business, usually exclusive to the box!

So I decided to treat myself to the February box to see how I would like it and... spoiler alert, loved it! Here's what was inside:

BOOK: Truthwitch! I was SO happy to see this book inside. I had just started hearing about it on Youtube and was really curious and there it was in my box! Can't wait to start this one! It's got fantasy, witches, girl friendship! Also included was a signed by the author bookplate. I'm not big on autograph really but some people seem to adore them so cool point!

GOODIES:

Bookshelf Pencilcase by Elena Illustration: LOVE THIS!!!

Loveboat Magnetic Bookmark Set: now that I have been introduced to magnetic bookmark, I'm not sure I can go back. so freaking cute!

A Darker Scent of Magic Candle: bookish candle. my dream come true. And this one was inspired by an other YA book that I read a couple months ago and absolutely loved (A Darker Shade of magic).

Book Quote Pencils: I'd rather be reading / a good book has no ending / read write repeat.

+ bookmarks, a tote bag and badges from other recent bookish release. 

If you would like to give it a try, the subscriptions are currently open for the May Box (which I will very much get since May is my birthday month aka treat-o-self month!)

WHAT I READ // JANUARY 2016

Ghost World - Daniel Clowes

I want to read more graphic novels this year and so I decided to start with one I always picked up at my LYS but somehow never bought. Pretty sure I saw a movie adaptation of this 10 or so years ago (with Scarlett Johanson) but can't remember a thing about it. I really liked this story. It's about that weird moment in life when you're not quite a kid anymore but not an adult either. It's about friendship and love and somewhere in between. There was quite a few references I didn't get, either because they were too american or too old for me but still really enjoyed it!

We should all be feminists - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Small but big. This book doesn't solve anything or share any deep insight on the problem of gender inequality and everyday sexism but still feels so important. One of those "need to gift to everyone" book. Her writing style is a good mix of funny and clever so I would be curious to check more of her work!

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

This was a reread for me. Mostly because I got Carry On over Christmas and I thought I'd read both at once! Loved it even more than the first one, if that is possible. (you can see my original review of here!)

Why not me? - Mindy Kaling

I wasn't sure I could get as much from this book as I did from Is everyone hanging out without me (her first book). BUT then came the "love" chapter and it might be my new favorite everything. Considering having it printed on my walls Might have said a bit too loudly a bit too often "YES! Exactly!!" And "oh so I'm not the only one doing/thinking that"! Which is pretty much what I expect/want from this kind of memoir. Well done Ms Kaling. Funny and inspiring as hell!

The Wide Window (ASOUE #3) - Lemony Snickett

Probably my favorite in the series so far. There is just something about gloomy dark kid stories I can't resist! Also, there is a TV adaptation from Netflix coming soon so pretty excited about that too!

Favorite quote: "We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. 

We say to girls: You can have ambition, but not too much."

TAKE HEART: a review and a challenge

The talented ladies behind the awesome Pom Pom magazine (a quarterly publication of rad knitting patterns) launched a new project recently called the Pom Pom Press. The goal? To publish even more rad patterns with cool knitting designers. And the first one they picked just happened to be one of my personal favorite: Fiona Alice. It's called TAKE HEART and it is beautiful <3 So obviously had to order it right away! And guess what? I want to knit ALL THE THINGS IN IT! Which some others are also into and there you go, a year long knitting challenge began! I thought I could share a little review of the book here, and my yarn ideas for the patterns. Fair warning: get ready to want to knit them all too!

THE BOOK

If you bought a PomPom magazine issue before, the format is the same. The paper is beautiful and sturdy. In the first section, for each pattern, Fiona shared the inspiration behind them, a super cute sketch of the pattern and her reasons for the yarn she designed the piece with. The second section has the actual patterns, either written or charted, or both! The photography is absolutely beautiful and will make you want to go to the beach and knit/wear all your knits! There is a total of 11 patterns that ranged from graphic to elegant to modern to romantic. Some would I think make perfect gifts but most you will want to keep all to yourself!

(c) Juju Vail

THE PATTERNS

Take heart: this one was originally published in a 2013 issue of PomPom and marked the start of me falling in love with Fiona's designs. I actually tried to knit it last year but picked the wrong yarn, so now looking for a very soft and lofty (?) one that will be a perfect fit for the romantic feel of the pattern

Three Cliffs: a super lovely and big wrap that I am planning to start so very soon. Fiona chose the Viola yarn by John Arbon and I am planning to do the same, probably in a deep blue color!

Martinique Beach: color work people! This pattern is awesome! Calls for worsted weight which I don't have much of stashed so one I need to think about. Maybe Quince and Co?

Caswell Bay: a hat + mitts pattern, very graphic and modern. She picked a silk + merino yarn which looks just perfect to show the design so might do the same. Yarn idea: Dye for yarn

Queensland beach: a gorgeous cabled headband I need to start like yesterday. Calls for worsted weight. Yarn idea: Gilliatt by De Rerum Natura

(c) Juju Vail

Lunenburg Harbour: a pair of socks super simple yet elegant. Yarn idea: Exmoor sock yarn by John Arbon

Chester Basin: a hat + mittens pattern with the coolest slip stitch technique. Would make a great winter gift! Yarn idea: Garnstudio Drops Nepal

Ketch Harbour: a cool DK weight shawl that fans of Moby Dick should love ;)

Pennard Castle: leg warmers designed in two size. + a really cool stitch pattern! perfect to wear under your boots while walking through the forest in Winter <3 Calls for fingering so finding that in my stash should not be hard, at all!

(c) Juju Vail