Here I am again, after a long pause. I've been wanting to post for weeks now, but have had trouble finding the time lately. Things are crazy busy around our household and there are no signs of our lives slowing down. I just need to learn how to balance everything better.

After taking two months off work this summer I've started working again, and volunteering, and I'm still trying to socialize regularly and have time for family while trying to crank out as much handmade stuff as I can. I've been feeling very overwhelmed and am hoping that I'll find my rhythm soon so that it all falls into place effortlessly. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm not willing to cut anything from my list of things to do. The result is that the blogging falls by the wayside. I'm hoping that I'll also find a way to fit this into the routine and post at least once or twice a week on a regular basis.

I've been knitting in full force lately and hope to have a couple of sweaters finished before the really cold weather hits in December. We've been holding off putting our heat on, I think, mostly because we're in denial that winter is on its way. Even more reason to add some new sweaters to the wardrobe.

Our lovely friends at The Wardens Today did a very sweet post about me a few weeks back. I wish that I was on top of it to thank them earlier!

Happy Sunday.

I've been knitting and sewing up a storm lately... so much so, that I haven't had the energy to do any blog posts. I'm getting ready for the upcoming fall/winter season, and have been trying over the past couple of years, to buy as little new clothing as possible, and to make as much as possible. I guess like many crafters out there, I have an enormous stash of wool and fabrics that I want to start whittling down. This was the impetus for this personal challenge of mine. I'm happy to say that I've managed to only purchase 7 new pieces of clothing and two pairs of shoes this year.  I don't know how to gauge this though... what do most people buy in a year?

On a sad note, one of our very dear friends is leaving Berlin tomorrow for bigger and better opportunities, and she will be sadly missed. I'm looking forward to your first visit back B, I hope that it's before the year's end!

Some recommendable things going on in the city:

Lesen Lounge - our friend Leah has a great collection of zines that she wants to share with you, so pay her a visit ( she also got some great press here)
KW - Wael Shawky exhibition
CFA - KIDS show
Etsy labs - Workshop to make a really nice, inexpensive, versatile piece of furniture

I would also like to make it out to the Reading room *, a project of Do you read me?! on Potsdamerstr. sometime next week... anyone up to joining me?

* Which reminds me... M has an artist book at the Reading Room, a totally separate project in Berlin, run by two artists here. I also want to check this out sometime... any takers?

Happy Thursday.

It's been a weekend of brunch, bike rides and ice cream. Summer is absolutely the best time to be in Berlin. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll be able to talk some people into visiting a lakeside today.

We saw this beautiful film last week... summer in Berlin.

For my second ongoing project this summer, I'm crocheting a rag rug for the baby's room, out of old jersey and cotton t-shirts that I have lying around. I like the look of it so far. In the end it'll be about 2 meters wide. So if any of you Berliners have old t-shirts you don't want anymore, I'd be glad to give them a new purpose!

Two more friends of mine had babies this week. Welcome to the world Clark and Viola!!

Happy Sunday.

Knits.

This is definitely the time for them. Today we had our second snowfall of the season, in Berlin. It was beautiful waking up and seeing snow on the roofs. Too bad it didn't stay on the ground though. I usually love snow up until the middle of January!

Here are a few things that I've knit over the years. I just learned to crochet this year, thanks to my friend Becky. I cut my teeth on the baby blanket pictured at the top, and I have to say that I'm fairly pleased with the results. I had an enormous blue ball of yarn that was salvaged from my Grandmother's house after she passed away. I finished the white scarf last winter, and even though I love it, didn't end up wearing it too often because it's just not thick enough for my taste. I finished the bulky grey cowl the first fall that we were in Berlin. I love love love it and still wear it all the time.

I've been searching for easy to knit baby clothes patterns and will hopefully get started on some cute little pants with feet in them over the next couple of weeks. Until then I'll be a living, breathing Christmas present factory.

Happy Friday.

a lovely gift.

Awhile back we did our very first giveaway for the Etsy Germany Streetteam, a group of Etsy sellers that are living in Germany and other German speaking countries like Austria and Switzerland. And Regine of Karla A was gracious enough to be our very first sponsor. Well... when I went to check the mail the other day I found these beautifully handspun skein's of yarn waiting for me. Regine you are the sweetest! Thank you so much. I can't wait to start a project with your beautiful yarn!! I'm thinking of adapting the pattern below to make a lacier looking version of this shawl.



In other news I've been cooking up a storm. One of our main sources for foolproof recipes is food gawker. Last weekend I went to visit my friend Ninon and her friend Le Raclet at the Nowkölln Fleamarket on Maybach Ufer. It was a pretty nice market with a good mix of handmade and used stuff... good prices. Check it out if you are in Berlin on the 3rd Sunday of the Month!

Happy Wednsday.