hello again

Hi there!

Today I wanted to share with you my latest set of fashion illustration notecards, which are now available in my etsy shop.

This set features illustrations of sweet, summery designs.

As usual, my summer cards can be made with any phrase you'd like.  Just leave a message in the 'note to seller' box and I'd be happy to make some custom cards just for you!

A winter version of the 'hi, hello, bonjour' cards are also now available!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my latest card designs!

I've loved sharing them with you.

♥

much love, monday

Happy Monday!

Here are a few things that I love this week.

this Tolkien quote print

Speaking of Tolkien, I found this photo the other day and laughed for a good five minutes.  And now it's my avatar picture on Ravelry to show my Team Precious spirit and just because it's so ridiculous and fantastic.

the Coralie bed from a Joss and Main event earlier in the week-- it's vintage-inspired but not fussy, I just love it.  It's no longer available, but when I'm in the market for a new bed, I'm going to try to find a similar one.  And it's going to have to be bigger than my current bed, because Bucky and Cocoa somehow take up the entire right side.

these beautiful pink flowers in the Mourne Mountains in Ireland

If you haven't checked out archetypeme.com, it's worth a look.  The actual point of it is to create a personalized daily page with articles and photos based on your personality, but honestly, I spend enough time on the internet as it is and I don't really want to add another thing to look at every day.  The introductory quiz was interesting, though-- I think my results were extremely accurate.  If you take the quiz, I'd love to hear what you think of your own results!

I love the dreamy, hazy colors in this 1889 painting by Childe Hassam

This vintage ballerina photo is so enchanting.

I hope you're having a wonderful week!
♥

tea time bee time ♥

Good morning, sunshines!  

Or afternoon.  

Or evening.  

Whatever the case may be for you at the moment.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was participating in Nerd Wards on Ravelry.  I posted my first project submission yesterday-- this bee hive tea cozy!  It's knit from some of my early handspun, which isn't the softest yarn in the world, but the squishy bee hive ridges improve it a lot.  

The challenge for this particular project was to choose a character from another kind of nerdiness, then make something that reminds you of something you would have on a date with that character.  Naturally, I chose Winnie the Pooh-- he loves tea, and he loves honey, so I think he'd love a honey-themed tea cozy!  

The other part of every challenge is to find a way to tie your project into your team.  Since I'm on Team Precious, I needed to connect my tea cozy with something from Tolkien's writing, or the movie adaptations.  Luckily for me, there are plenty of examples of hobbits either drinking tea or offering tea to their guests.

Was anybody else a nervous wreck during this scene in The Hobbit?   All of Bilbo's lovely plates and bowls and cups being tossed around-- Eeeeeeek!

Honey is also mentioned several times, either on its own or as an ingredient in foods like honey cakes (and someone actually devised a recipe for them, based on the description in The Hobbit!  How cool is that!)  So it was easy-peasy to relate my tea cozy back to Tolkien's work.

As per usual, more technical details and modifications can be found on my Ravelry project page.

Have a beautiful day!
♥

snippets

Just a peek into my life lately...

daytime stars

river rocks-- the river has thawed enough to see the bottom!

english breakfast...and lunch.  and after dinner.  I really drink a lot of tea.

Bucky in his blanket fort

a door for wishing on

I hope you're having a lovely day!

♥

p.s. if you like things on facebook, and you like this blog, please consider liking Julie Rose Sews on facebook!  there's going to be a seeeecret coupon code for the shop there soon, too.  just saying.

much love, monday

Hi there!

I hope your week is off to a great start.

Here's what I'm loving this week.

this beautiful painting by Otto Hesselbom

these no-bake pots de creme!  I'd love to make them in vintage teacups.

these lovely flowers

the cast of Downton Abbey, being adorable in the subway.  Speaking of adorable, how cute is Rob James-Collier in his toggled peacoat?

this gorgeous chemise and drawers combination from 1890-1900

this Valentine, featuring my favorite line from The Office.

this fox-- look at that sweet little smile!

Enjoy the rest of your day!

♥

swirl shawl

Happy Sunday, lovelies!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

I recently finished a sample knit for my local yarn shop-- the Jojoland Melody Swirl Shawl.  It's made up of 82 hexagons with a swirling lace pattern.  

I used the magic loop method on my size 6 Knitpicks Harmony Options needles.  When I started, each hexagon took about an hour to make, but by the last two rows of hexagones, I had it down to 40 minutes or so.  And since each hexagon is knitted onto the ones before, there's no seaming, and there's no epic bind-off at the end!  Yay!  

Here it is on display.  It was so exciting to see my knitting among the other gorgeous samples!  

By the way, isn't my LYS the cutest shop?  It's comfy and cozy and full of the most beautiful yarn. (There are a few more pictures of it here.)

For more technical notes, check my Ravelry project page.

Woohoo!  There is nothing like the satisfaction of completing a big project.

♥

hi, hello, bonjour

Hi there!

 I hope your weekend is off to a wonderful start.

The spring line of cards is now available in my etsy shop!

They can also be custom-made with any words or phrases you'd like, too-- just leave your request in the 'note to seller' box.

Thanks for letting me share these with you!

of cats and ducks

We had one lovely, sunny day this week, and the ducks were determined to take advantage of it.

A few were even sporting snazzy hair-dos.  

Meanwhile, Bucky and Cocoa cuddled and snoozed (and somehow managed to leave no room for me in a chair that's normally big enough for me to lay down in).

And then Bucky helped me with my knitting.  He had to check the coziness factor.

I think he approved.

I hope you're having a wonderful Friday!

♥

happy valentine's day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope your day is full of love.

♥

much love monday: snow-day essentials

Brrr!  I hope you're all staying warm during this chilly weather.  

On that theme, this week I'd like to share the things I gather up when there's a snowstorm on the way--

my snow-day essentials!

lots of warm, cozy blankets-- ones that are big enough to wrap up in, or to cover your toes to your shoulders.

snuggly socks!  these ones from Handknit Holidays are so pretty.

...which leads me to my next snow-day essential, yarn!  these colors are so beautiful, Quince and Company has such gorgeous wool.  And speaking of Quince and Company, thank you so much to Paula from the Knitting Pipeline podcast-- she mentioned my blog on her latest episode!

Of course, a big cup of tea is a must.

I love the idea of making a tea journal, too-- that would be a lovely project for a cozy day.

And my favorite snow-day must-have?  A snuggly kitty or two.

♥