love. love. love.

(There is only one way to correctly read this post's title and it's this one!) 

One teeny tiny little word. that can mean the whole world.

Two years ago I decided to spend 364 days focusing on happiness. And I must say 2013 was indeed a pretty happy one! A year ago, I figured it was all about trying to be brave. It's now January 2nd, a year has passed and I feel like if I have learnt only one thing in this time, it is that we all are brave enough, despite what society, people or the little voice in our head tells us. So here I find myself, a new year has started and I look for a new word. A word to guide me, to inspire me and to challenge me. It might sound silly, but nothing quite scares me as much as love. I very rarely let myself fall in love, and even more rarely let someone in to my heart and life. Yet was it this life about if not love. And I'm not just talking about the big one, but also friends, and family, and the most challenging of all sometimes: loving oneself. So let's give this a try, and see where it takes me. Some place lovely hopefully ;)

Happy new year everyone <3

We were together. I forgot the rest. 

Walt Whitman

2015 FAVORITE BOOKS!

I have somehow managed to finish 35 books this year! I say finish and not read because some clearly didn't make the final cut. I believe there are too many stories to be read to waste my time struggling through books I simply don't enjoy enough. Yes I am thinking about you Little Women! You were either too boring or I am simply too old for you.  Let's leave it at that! But that's okay, because there are books that I LOVED so freaking much this year, and those are the ones I'd rather talk about. So here it is, my top 5 books I read in 2015!

5. THE MAGICIAN'S LAND - Lev Grossman

This was such a perfect ending to The Magician trilogy. The character's growth was amazing and probably my favorite part of the writing. Who knew Quentin would ever become a character I would love, yet Lev Grossman made it happen. I very much believe this is the PERFECT story for the adult who still believes in magic. My copies are right next to my Harry Potter series, and that should say something right ;)

4. FAHRENHEIT 451 - Ray Bradbury

I feel like I read A LOT of dystopia this year, and this is one of the best. It is so small and simple and yet says so much so powerfully. If that makes sense. I wish people would talk more about this book and less about 1984 because it gives you so much more. Also, you can never go wrong with books about books!

3.TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS - Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed deserves to be on all of my yearly top 5 I feel like (last year #1 book for me was Wild <3). She's just such an amazing and inspiring woman. Her style is quite raw and honest, so not for everyone but very much made for me. Tiny beautiful things is the written version of her radio show Dear Sugar and though obviously some of the topics talked about I didn't care much for some other just plain hit me in the heart and I still find myself thinking about them over and over. Her words make me feel brave, and that is all there is. 

2. THE NIGHT CIRCUS - Erin Morgenstern

This book is everything a story should be. It's got great characters, a world you would swear exist for real, magic, adventure, emotions. It's awesome and everyone should read it because you will love it!

1. THE HANDMAID'S TALE - Margaret Atwood

This book is just so damn important. Reading it should be right there with "drink plenty of water" and "go get some air when you feel like nothing's working anymore". I feel like my new life mission is to tell people to READ THIS BOOK!


I've got hundreds of books already on my TBR for 2016 so pretty excited to start reading new amazing books tomorrow!! What books are you all most excited about?

PS: did you take part in the 26 books in 2015 challenge? You can see all the books I read here :)

#QOTD

 NOLITE TE BASTARDES CARBORUNDORUM 

Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale

A weirdly appropriate Quote of the day from one Parisian to the rest of the world. Sorry it's been so quiet here. Nothing much to say I guess, mostly waiting for this year to be over. 

Les Reveurs shawl - PATTERN AVAILABLE!

This Summer I read a wonderful story, about a circus, love and magic. I fell in love with the words and the world she described. A part in particular stuck and resonated deeply to the knitter in me: 

“ They are enthusiasts, devotees. Something about the circus stirs their souls. They seek each other out, telling of how they found the circus, how those first few steps were like magic. Like stepping into a fairy tale under a curtain of stars […] And so begins a tradition of rêveurs attending Le Cirque des Rêves decked in black & white with a single shock of red. Often, just before dawn, there is no color to be seen in the circus, save for their small splashes of scarlet. ”

A couple days after finishing the book, I started doodling and swatching with a pretty skein of red yarn I had had in my stash for over a year, waiting for its calling. Soon after, my Les Rêveurs shawl was born. It is probably highly subjective of me to say that I love it and think it is gorgeous, but I do anyway. I fell in love with shawls as soon as I got into knitting and so designing my very own shawl pattern feels extra special.

I tried to put as much of the magic of the book and of my love of knitting in it, and I am now super excited to announce that the pattern is available on Ravelry! 

The shawl calls for one skein of fingering weight yarn (tonal or solid would work best), a 4.5 mm (US 7) circular needle and if you feel like it, a few beads to include to the bind off. It has a textured body, a lace section that looks complicated but really isn't and an elegant picot bind off. All instructions (written), and links to video tutorials to help you with the technicalities are included in the pattern. Whether you have read the Night Circus or not, I hope you will enjoy knitting the pattern and will love wearing the shawl <3

Les Reveurs 

A YEAR OF SOCKS

On this day last year, I put on my feet my very first pair of hand knit socks. And fell in love. With the colors, the comfort, the warmth, the "oh thank you I made them myself!". I knew it was the beginning of something. So I started a little challenge: a year of socks. And you know what? It was fun! 

In that year, I have made 10 pairs of adult socks, 2 baby ones, and I have two more currently on the needles. I tried cuff down, then toe up, discovered the magic of short row heels, designed my very own sock pattern, and started a pair out of leftovers from previous ones (Inception style!). A good year I'd say! Funnily enough, my favorite and most worn pair is still the very first one I made.

Seriously can't believe I used to be that girl who said "why would I even want to knit socks, I don't even wear any!" One year older me is laughing hard right now. Hand knitted socks are the best! So here's to many more years of knitting socks!