Sock collection success story

I've been giving hints about new sock collection for months.
Sorry, it's still not completed, but some designs are photographed! And probably I'm not able to finish this project now, because first pairs I listed to Etsy got a positivse feedback and will be soon hopefully sold in NY retail stores.
First pairs are sent to them for review and it's pretty sure we're going to work together, if the customer decides the colours and patterns they like most.
If it goes as planned, knee high socks will be in the stores on November.
I will keep you updates!

I still dream of flying to London Knitting and Stitching Show next week, to meet creative team of Koigu. But not sure if I can afford it at the moment...

 

A paradise

Do you know how a paradise looks like? I know, but I don't have my own paradise. But if I did, it would look something like this:

.... or like this

.. or something similar to this:

Got the point?
At the moment I wish I could knit full time...

Once in a lifetime opportunity

Yesterday I received once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, for making some designs for new Koigu magazine.

If you have read my blog previously, you know how big Koigu fan I am. Taiu, who is one of the owners of this yarn company, found me some time ago from Facebook and turned out she’s Estonian like I am.
She sent me some Koigu yarn and their first published book, “Knits from a Painters Palette”.

Yesterday, when I came from fittest club and opened my mailbox, I found e-mail from Kathryn Merrick, who’s a knitting designer in Interweave Press and puts together Koigu’s new magazine.
Taiu recommended me to make some designs there! Can you believe it? I can’t!

But they’re both very helpful and I’m going to do this. We agreed that they will send me some yarn and after receiving them I start working.

It’s a challenge for me, because English is not my first language and so far I’ve done only simple patterns, like fingerless gloves.
Garments with different size calculations are a big work for me, but I already have some ideas and I’m eager to try.
But it all depends on yarns and they texture. I don’t know what I will get and all my ideas may not be perfect for them.

Anyway, I’ll keep you updated and I’m so happy to get this opportunity. Now, when I’m not completely satisfied with my work in newspaper, a new challenge is definitely something which keeps me motivated.

Here's some works I've done before with Koigu yarn:

Lacy elegant capelet

I've never knitted a capelet like this before, but I'm satisfied with the result!
It's made from super soft Egyptian cotton yarn (150g) and I used a lace pattern from one Novita magazine, but in general the design is made by myself.
Usually it takes for a while to come out with new design, but this time it took only one evening to finish it! No wrong calculations, the yarn was perfect for the project and it was a pleasure to knit it.
Capelet is listed in my Etsy shop.
Better photos hopefully coming next week, when my model is back in the city! Just couldn't wait to show it.

What's happening here?

I was happy in August that I’m fine after my wakeboarding accident. Now I must admit I made this conclusion too quickly.
I still have problems with my neck, which is not working correctly. I can’t turn my head to right side, because it just won’t move.
I hoped it will pass by itself, but nothing changed in last 2 weeks and today I’m going to visit chiropractor.

It’s the main reason why I decided to skip this running season. First competition was on Sunday and although I participated, I got the worst result ever, because my head just started to ache under the pressure and I wasn’t able to outpace my last year’s time.
Next race is this Sunday, but I’m not going. It makes me sad, because most of my friends are active runners and I get excited when I see them training and taking part in different events. All I can do is to stand next to the track and help them to reach their goals.
But I know I must make this sacrifice if I still want to run a marathon next year.
Wakeboarding season is also over for me. Next ywar again!
All I can do at the moment is indoor rowing and visiting gym.

***

Oliver’s birthday went very well.
We had firefighters party on Saturday. First all children and their parents visited local firefighters department and later they plays in children’s playroom for 3 hours.
I made a huge cake, which no one almost tasted. Kids were busy playing and adult were on a diet, I assume :)

***

I will take a week off in late October and travel somewhere outside Estonia. Not sure where I end up, but the plan is to grab my back bag and just go. To Russia maybe? I haven’t been there yet. Or a round trip in Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Germany and Czech Republic.
I’ve visited all of them before, but there are places where I’d like to go back.

***

Sock collection is still in progress. Six more pairs to do!

Creative Estonia: Portel iPad sleeves

Portel is a fresh Estonian company, making sleeves for Apple products. They sell the designs on Etsy and have been featured in various blogs and magazines, including Estonian trading magazine “Life in Estonia”.

People may wonder what is the secret of their success, but I believe it’s not so hard to figure it out.
Their shop announcement formulates it clearly: “We want to keep it simple. We try to design our products so that they would have high functionality, not forgetting elegance and beauty.”

I found Portel several weeks ago when I searched for laptop sleeve for my new HP Mini Vivienne Tam notebook.
I truly believe that “less is more” and simplicity has its charm.

Estonian trading magazine writes:
“At the same time that Jobs was planning to present the first iPad in the USA; the folks at Seene Koda (Mushroom Chamber, a farm located close to Estonian capital of Tallinn) were looking for a way to link the useful and the pleasant. As soon as the measurements of the iPad were made public, the first Portel product was created.
So the first iPad sleeves made by Portel were sold online, even before the iPad itself made onto the market.”

I’m sure that this kind of mentality is a key element of their growing popularity - Portel was there right in the beginning and predicted what market needs.

Website www.greekosystem.com has claimed their sleeve to be the best of its kind.  And I believe they deserve it.

Portel uses 100% natural materials and as most people in handmade business, they work without looking at the watch or what day of the week it is.

Portel shop
Facebook fan page

5 years together

Five years ago little cute boy was born. He's name is Oliver:

We've had some fun events over the years. For example, Christmas with Santa Claus and a lot of presents:

He has surprised his mom for countless times. Like when he stood up first time himself:

Or learned how to eat apple:

We've enjoyed winter activities so much that mom had to carry him to fifth floor on a sledge, because little  guy got tired:

We've discovered nature together:

And had fun photoshoots every summer:

Sometimes it's not so joyful. Like when little Oliver is sick:

But hard times pass quickly and in five years he has made a lot of friends:

Of course, it's not only about playing with mates. There has been hard work also, when he had to model for his mom's handmade hats (because salary was good):

Suddenly I discovered how time flies and the baby is not so small any more:

We've been together for 5 years.
I wasn't ready to became a mother, but I've enjoyed every second of it. I love him.