The story of hand warmers and lacy beret

We made some new photos today, although I faced some major problems.
My Canon doesn't cooperate with me any more. There's something wrong with auto focus and most photos were foggy. Fortunately Photoshop makes wonders and saved the day.

This is one of my favorite photos of beret and hand warmers.
It's a bit sad to sell them, because I kind of fell in love with this set. But sorry, pink is just not my color (In case you wonder, my best friend is modeling for me, this is not me on the photo. She looks good in pink).

They're made from one of my new favorite yarns, Koigu Mori. Lot of knitters consider having a ball of Koigu as a dream came true and so do I!
This hand painted merino and silk mix is super soft and so cozy next the skin.
It's interesting to know that despite of Canadian background, Koigu is managed and owned by Estonians. The founder of company, Taiu Landra moved to Canada very very long time ago and now her daughter Taiu is working for yarn brand also. Taiu found me on Facebook and we've chatted a bit, they're very warm and friendly people!

I sewed little fabric flowers to hand warmers on last minute, they looked kind of boring without some details.

If I ever sell the set, I'll donate half of the items cost to charity. We have big campaign here for buying a new boat to one of our best male rowers, who wish to compete in London Olympics in 2012. In last Olympics he got a silver, next time he's after gold of course!
I like to support him, because rowing is very close to my hears. Lots of my friends are rowers and I do indoor  rowing twice a week. It's so happy to support someone who has big dreams and motivation for making them true.

Monday Moodboard: Colorful

1) Wool felted beads by StemellinaSupplies
2) Long spring neclace by aysetugrul 
3) Adjustable ring by momochas 
4) Yarn wrapped stacking bangles by mysticfibres

It's bright and sunny day in Estonia.
My monday moodboard is inspired by green grass, colorful flours and beautiful blue sky.
Gorgeous items on the photos are made by my dear European Street Team friends. See more at fleurfatale's blog!

Let's make friends :)

I have been running this blog for years but I just realized you don't know much about me besides knitting, right?
So please, let me be a bit selfish today and write about myself.
I always enjoy features and interviews with creative people, it's nice to know who are behind the usernames I've used to see in forums.
I promise, I'll keep it short :) You already know my passion about knitting and I'll skip this step.

* My name is Anniki, but most friends call me just Ann.
* I work as a journalist. My prime employer is a regional newspaper, but I work for international event magazine too and once in a while I pack my luggage and fly to report from different countries mainly in Europe, but sometimes from Asia too. No one has asked us to come to US, sad :)
* I love running. It's not a hobby, it's a lifestyle. My goal is to participate in a marathon someday. Yep, 42 kilometers! First I had to do it this autumn, but I'm not in a best shape at the moment and next few months will show if I'll do it now or next year. If I don't run, I do indoor rowing.
* Besides running myself, I organize running events. At the moment I'm busy with preparing two running summer camps.
* I love baking. Bread, cakes, pies - just name it and I can make it for you! Tortillas and pasta is my second obsession, if it comes to cooking.
* I'm passionate about motorbikes. I don't own one myself, but I have friends who do :)
* Sometimes I spend my weekends at nightclubs, shooting photos for websites. Photography is my biggest hobby.
* I recycle and I'm a fan of green living.
* I love handmade clothes, bags and accessories. I can browse Etsy for hours :)

And last but not least- I have adorable son, almost 5 years old. He plays football and is addicted to computer games, although I don't let him to play much.

Please, write some lines about yourself too :) I would be happy to know more of people who are reading here!

My creative space

 I didn't have a camera yesterday, but I so much want to share this photo with you. 

I had an obsession that I have to have some old leather suitcases for keeping my knits in it and transporting them to different craft fairs. 

Besides the practical aspect they just look beautiful and nostalgic. 

However, it wasn't easy to find one. People who has them, are not so happy about selling or giving them away, unless the suitcase is broken. Or if they do, it costs a lot more than I'm willing to pay. 

A month ago I took my old clothes to charity shop and there they were! Two brown leather suitcases, almost identical, but one is a bit bigger than another. 

I had to pay only $5 for two suitcases. The shopkeeper said they would throw them away a day later, because no one wanted them for 2 years! Can you imagine how happy I was? 

I was looking for suitcases for ages and they just stood in a shop, two houses from my home and waited for 2 years to be found.

See more creative spaces in kootoyoo's blog! 

Creative Estonia : innovation in Villatee blog

I don't know where I've been living, but I found this very inspiring Estonian blog just today and fell in love. Please visit Villatee even if you can't read Estonian, because photos are worth to visit.

Sometimes I'm sad that I have a full time job in newspapers. Why? Because unemplyed people can participate in the project that helps them to start working in crafts. I've heard a lot of positive comments about the course and a lot of people from their group have made real innovation in traditional crafts.

Heli from Villatee is one of them. She took regular Internet data cables and covered them with traditional Estonian national dress patterns. See how cute they look now!

Sometimes I don't understand where people take that kind of ideas? Yes, I can knit, I learned it from my mother years ago and I'm thankful for the basic knowledge I got from her, but there are times when I feel that I have a lack of creativity and imagination.
Once in a while I think I should recycle more and use old things for making something new, but then I hit the wall again: fine, I have some old sweaters, but what to do with them? Maybe I'm just pushed too much into stereotypes? Maybe I afraid too much that the result is not good? Maybe I should just try, even if the result is not the best at first?

Don't worry, most days I'm happy. Today I'm happy too. I like what I create. But somedays I feel that I was somewhere far away when great fantasy were spread around the world :)

Kalmer the teddy bear

 Do you remember my little niece Kaisu? She just celebrated her first birthday.
Kalmer the teddy bear had to be made for her birthday, but I didn't have an opportunity to finish it on time.

Making him was quite a challenge for me, because I haven't done toys before and I thought I never will. Tiny legs and hands plus clothing were finished in a week, next to other project I had to make.
I like the result and Kalmer (my coworkers gave him a name. Although I thought he looks more like a girl, they desiced that a boy's name is more suitable for him) will get some more bear friends soon!

Pattern is my own.
I will list him to my Etsy shop soon!

Long creamy winter socks

I wanted to write more about the long socks I made last week, but happened that a day after I finished the pair, they were already sold. Probably a Christmas gift to someones wife or girlfriend :)
The plan was to make better photos before blogging, but now they're already on their way to US. 

I'm not a fan os sock-knitting, especially long socks. But I had a perfect wool for making them and I wanted to prove myself that I'm patient enough for completing both socks.

I have about about six or seven lonely knitted socks (and four mittens) in my craft basket, because somehow I lost motivation to make the second one. It was more fun to start new projects rather than doing the same thing twice.

The pattern is my own, a mix of previous designs. I probably make another pair (purple!), but a little different: less lacy, more cables.
Yarn: 100% wool, about 100 grams
Needles: 3,5mm bamboo
Length: 43cm

Next week I'll be in South-Italy, Bari. Already found an address of local yarn shop, would like to take my knitting needles with me (hours long waiting in airports), but it's mission impossible. The airport security always take them away as very dangerous whepon :) So I won't even bother this time...