Sunday Summary? More like Monday Summary! Unfortunately it doesn't sound as catchy, so I'll do my very best to keep the summaries on Sunday (except for today, which is a Monday... almost the same thing).

Anyway, as you might've noticed there's been some radio silence from my side. Nothing to worry, I'm just pre-occupied by watching Midsomer Murders, listening to the soundtrack of Grantchester and various projects (mainly granny square based. However earlier this week -or last week as one might call it- I've picked up the knitting needles again. Exciting business indeed!).

I'm almost bursting with inspiration and ideas and all kinds of content for this blog. I only need to find the time to actually write some stuff down and such... so overrated, I know. My notebook is full with all kinds of scribbles I don't understand, but most likely pure gold content. I'm sure of it! If only I could figure out if it's a D or a K I've written down and we'll soon be on our way... I'm even thinking about making a planner of some sorts so that I'll be 'able' to post on regular days (although in hindsight, this Sunday business is already getting the best of me).

But for the moment I'm glad if I sort of know what day it is. It's holiday people! Basically everyday is a Sunday from now on (or a Saturday... but they mostly feel like a Sunday. Not Monday.)

So what have y'all been up to these last couple of days? Solved a murder mystery perhaps?

Love,
Dominique

Love
Dominique 

Hathaway: I wasn't really traveling. I went for a walk.
Lewis: To Spain?
Hathaway: Long walk.
Laurence Fox and Kevin Whately in Lewis (Entry Wounds, 2014)

Love,
Dominique

Last Friday I went into town to go to the fabrics market. However before we went there we popped our heads around at Dille & Kamille. Dille & Kamille has 26 shops in the Netherlands and Belgium full with all kinds of wonderful things. It's very 'lifestyle' oriented and has everything from food to garden to kitchen to toys to homewear to stationary and back. However, I know the Dille & Kamille because of their little 'guest soaps' in little figurines like a car or a duck or frog or -my personal favourite- a bear. These little soaps are very much a token of my childhood. EVERYONE used to have these... My aunt actually collected them and occasionally donated some of them to me and my sister. Naturally the bear was my favourite because it was pink (and yes, I was a pinky girl). I believe my sister was quite fond of the frog...


Unfortunately I didn't take one with me (but will definately next time!), but I did take with me these French knitters (or spool knitters.... Little Dutch lesson: we call it punniken...). The small one is for thicker yarn and the long 'Geisha' one is for thinner wool. And yes, as you can imagine, childhood memories are flowing through me. The other French knitter you can see in the pictures (the one with the nails hammered into them) I got way back in the day from my grandma. I just used to make a very long string with it. And when I was done, my sister continued the string until we made our own ball of wool. And then we threw it away because we didn't know what to do with it (and it had rolled into dust and then my sister accidentally spilled some of her lemonade on it and... well, you can imagine how it looked like).


To finish this walk down memory lane: yesterday when doing the administration my mum found these old newspaper clippings from my dad when he was about 19 years old (yes we're very organized. Well now we are at least). My dad used to be (just for the record still is but ya know...) a very good cyclist and competed in matches and whatnot. It's sometimes funny to be reminded that one day your parents were also young and thriving (not that they aren't young and thriving now, but ya know... I love ya dad!).



Anyway... We indeed got quite a lot of fabric from the fabrics market. I love it when it's the end of the season and everything gets reduced to the minimal of minimal. We got some industrial fabric for 1 euro per 2 meter. That's 0.50 per meter... I mean, how? Such good quality opposite such a low price, it seems impossible. Nay, improbable. Because we indeed have taken a good few meters home with us.

I also got carried away with some fun printed fabrics in the sale (they're actually children's fabric, but who cares!!). Now I only need to find the time between my French knitting, my crochet, my -regular- knitting, my writing, my photography, my drawing, my reading, my collage-ing etc etc etc and we're good to go sewing.... ;)

Love,
Dominique

May the last Sunday Summary be my witness, I'm absolutely obsessed with the square. There's something inspiring and relaxing about the shape of a square and the way I can create one. By far the best skill I've learned this year! Or even maybe in years...

I've just finished my first steps into square-land with a cropped jumper in blue/white (snippets of it you can see over on my Instagram). And now I'm already diving into the next! With a little side break by making a crochet shawl in a purple-ish colour (also to be seen on my Instagram. Instagram is pretty much where it's all at). As you can see, my newest project is green.


I'm absolutely in love with the colour of this yarn. For the curious: it's the Phildar Impact 3,5 in Sapin. I mean, if my Christmas tree -if I had a Christmas tree in the first place- would look as beautifully green as this one, my house would've been filled with them! If I had a house naturally...


Anyway. I've noticed btw that anyway has become this staple word of mine when I'm rambling and want to carry on to another subject -which is mildly related to the subject discussed earlier. Or not.- but when I ran out of clever words to say (or type in this case) to make the lines between those two subjects 'easier', I use the word 'anyway' and all my problems will be solved. Anyway, I'd personally would've called it Emerald (Émeraude in French -since Phildar is a French brand and give their yarn French names. Although, in that case Sapin might be an easier word to pronounce. I don't even think I know how to pronounce émeraude... Luckily I don't have to in this case).

I hope to be able to show y'all the end result of this rather 'I don't know what I'm doing'-project soon(ish). It's going to be a cardigan. Or at least, I hope it's going to be a cardigan. I'll keep you posted on the progress...


Yesterday I strolled through Amsterdam with an old friend of mine (with whom I hadn't spoken with in about a year or so. Maybe even longer). I didn't get much (mostly fancy magazines. I love fancy magazines), but I thought -in combination with some other things I got last month- to make a little haul video. I'm trying to get better at making videos. I've noticed that most of my mistakes are 1) I don't have a clue what I'm doing related, 2) What am I actually doing related and 3) I move the camera too much and have no f*cking idea what I'm doing related. However, I'd (naturally) recommend all the interested to go and check it out! [click here] It's better than the last one, I promise! Although, don't hold it against me if it isn't. No refunds!

Love,
Dominique

During my search for a new crochet project, I stumbled upon something that can only be described as madness. Granny square madness. And I thought -quoting Andy Warhol- one's company, two's a crowd and three's a party... So let's party!


Do you feel the madness!!!! And there's still so much more around.... AAAAAHH!! I want it all!

Which square has conquered your heart?

Love,
Dominique