Friday Randomly Sharing

The books I just took our of the library (been reserved for a while so excited) and Nessa knitted in Fyberspates

• This week I loved this article... 

Science tells you how to make the most of your strong will. It totally makes sense now why that chocolate bar (yes all of it, looks SO good in the evening!)

• I have been travelling with work quite a bit, and was wondering whether...

I could be sleeping in a replicate of Van Gogh's bedroom (in Chicago)?

I am just wondering whether my work will pay for me to stay in Central London in this Tree House Room/Hotel if I have a late night at work (because it would totally make these extra hours worth it!)

• I will be reading... 

Harry Potter no 8 due out this summer!!!!! OMG! I may actually be pre-ordering it now!

• I will be sewing

A similar version of this version of the Magellan top. 

How cute is the mini-Briar? Not sure it is Baby MiH's style though...

The Fold Line January sewing pattern round up - I love the Tulip skirt

• Not a lot of new knitting patterns, but ...

I love hand knitted hats - and Tanis'collection is beautiful! 

Jog-less when knitting in the round trick - oh yes!

• Cooking... 

Oh this vegan creamy soup would be ideal, for like: right now... It is so cold, I just want to be at home all the time, and drink soup all day. 

A new cookbook totally up my street (due out in May though...)

• A trick for quilting.. 

I love quilting with triangles - but technique sucks - here is a how to that will help me (and you!)

• Last minute V-Day stuff... 

I have done nothing for V-Day! But I might be able to sneak in a couple of these crochet hearts around the house (free pattern of course)... 

My soul country

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope you are all having a good week so far. We went back to the Netherlands for the weekend, and now back into some sort of routine. Mr MiH spent 5 years of his life out there (and I a mere 6 months) - before we got married (although it was close, as we only moved in together a week before our wedding). We still have friends out there, in fact my brother now lives there - so as you can see plenty to get on with. 

Whilst I was out there, I started to play 'what if...?' I am not keen on playing that game, especially now - because well, you know there is no point in discussing what if .. because, yes, everything will be different if... Anyhow it reminded me that at some point Mr MiH and I were discussing actually living in the Netherlands, him sticking to his job, and me finding one - and buying a house, we already had views on one. As you can see we were ready to make the commitment. But it was not to be, and I was the one who stayed in the UK job, and Mr MiH who found a job back here. It has been busy in the last 5 years, and I never had time to reflect on what if... 

Could the Netherlands be my soul country? I knew the UK was my soul country - the country you want to live in even though you might not be able to speak the language properly and knowing that your parents would (utterly) disapprove. I knew when I was 16/17. I moved across when I was 19. It was the right thing to do, I saw a landscape, and just knew it was the one I had seen in my vision. And I gave up everything in France - not that there was a lot to give up, my studies mainly, and made a life for myself in Britain. I was given the opportunity and I took it. 

Even after what happened to Leo, I did not regret living my decision. As you can imagine, I received a lot of (unhelpful) comments telling me that it would not have happened had I been in another country (mainly France). In fact it had happened, I researched  the topic extensively, and there are similar cases to ours. It does make it better (at all), it just means it could have happened elsewhere. 

So have I missed the opportunity of a lifetime not sticking with the Netherlands, and giving up at the first hurdle - was it my soul country? It was really appealing - I love the sea, the water - this is a country according to my own heart. We had many friends nearby, we had a life out there (we did not in London). Amsterdam is a very exciting city, and yet not as big London and therefore manageable. The pace of life is a bit slower than here near London. But on Sunday I was glad to be back, and it made sense that I gave up after the first hurdle. My soul country is still Great Britain. I asked Mr MiH whether he missed being in the Netherlands, and thought we missed an opportunity. No was his answer, so I suppose we will stick to Britain for the time being!

Have you got a soul country? Did you give up a life to do what feels right?

Friday Randomly Sharing

This week I was inspired by ..

My Grandma who is 83 (and the biggest collector of my knits, making her my biggest fan in the world). She is now on her own. My Mum asked her what she really wanted to do now. My Grandma told her that she wanted to go to Venice (where does that come from??!). My Mum said ok, that she would take her, if my Grandma walked. She is not much of a walker - actually, she is a rubbish walker. She now walks 45 minutes every day so she can make the trip of a lifetime in Venice. Whoa! People. it is never too late.

I wanted to sew...

- The Birkin Flares... I am sold. I have seen this pattern before, but Oona made me realise that I need them in my life - desperately!

- I love this version of the Inari Tee Dress by Named - The addition of central seams is brilliant - looks so professional. I have added to my sewing list, as if it was not long enough..

- I love this review of the best sewing patterns in 2015. I have a few in stock - not touched of course (arrghh) - but it reminded me that I really want a new Renfrew and that I have the Minoru Jacket pattern and all the fabric for it.

I will be travelling (not for work) ...

- 52 places to travel to in 2016 (there is no way some of these places are this year, but there are actually a few in Europe.. So Easyjet, where do you fly to?)

I will be watching ... 

- If you are in the UK, you might be interested in a new reality show - that does not seem as dumb as some others - called the sugar free farm to be aired on ITV from 26 January - it is in my diary, is it in yours?

- OMG!! One of my favourite after school 80s series is back, Fuller House (aka la Fete a la maison as I know it) will start on Netflix in February 2016. Is it wrong to be excited?

- A lot of TV ...  knitting and TV is a great combo. I loved Atelier on Netflix, beware it is in Japanese (so you could also say that I was learning a new language) and therefore easy knitting is required. A great series about the fashion industry, focusing on luxury underwear. 

Whilst knitting...

- If you follow me on Pinterest, you know I am a bit of Humanoid fan - and I found (totally by chance) a knitting jumper called 'humanoid knock off' - yes it is in my favs list (and also it is made from a free pattern, hourray for free pattern!)

- A free simple hat pattern, yes please, thanks Felicia!

- BT published its latest lookbook, check out Julie's review. I do love Halus, and League. What's your favourite? Snoqualmie wins on Ravelry. 

I will be reading ... 

- My coffee table is officially looking very uncool as none of this uber-cool magazines features on it. Time to review my readings. 

- The reality behind the blog, my friend Cee has written a day in the life of a fashion blogger, reading about all that workout has knackered me. 

- I am not sure how I can feel pain anymore - I am a bit numb in that department - but I have been thinking a lot about happiness, and what it does actually mean. I loved reading this article, about negative experiences, and how much you want it.

And finally... Travelling (with work) and maybe meeting with you... 

I am travelling with work again - oh the glamour of a hotel (and full night sleep) - So people, I will be in Brussels and Leiden in February, Paris in April, Copenhagen in April, Dublin in May. I am usually staying the one night - message me if you fancy meeting up with me and get some knitting done! 

Building New Memories :: in Lewes ::

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the fireworks over the weekend (if you are in the UK). We had a great time at friends, and managed to sneak in a visit to Lewes. I wanted to go there for a while, I saw shops featured in my favourite magazines based there, and a house featured on the TV show Grand Designs. I saw neither the shops nor the house, but we still had a great time building new memories for Baby MiH and us. 

Baby MiH was happy to go along with it (you will see some pictures of him tomorrow) because we were visiting more friends afterwards. I am wondering whether he is not bored of us at the moment. You should see how excited he is about spending an evening with his grand-parents rather than us. Maybe it is too much attention, and he is not used to it anymore. 

Anyway if you are based in the UK, and have not been, it is totally worth a visit. I found it quite calming as a town but big enough to keep me interested. We will probably do more of these one-night trips, what do you recommend we visit next?

And here is a sneak peak at tomorrow's pictures... I just have to steal the beanie hat for a day so that I can take proper pictures of it and tell you all about it. 

All the way to Paris and back

Mixing (my) handmade and high street

Travelling: Bag, Longchamp (very old); Skinny jeans, New Look; 

Golden shoes (bought in France but very similar here); Stripey TShirt, ICHI; 

Coat, Comptoir des Cotonniers (old)

Day 1 (Musee 104 and Montmartre): Jumper, Joules; Top, Vivetta; 

Skinny jeans, New Look; Shoes, Yoox (super comfy and 

available in different colours); Mulberry bag

Day 2 (Les Halles and le Marais): Top, Mango (similar here); Tropical shorts: Made in Home;

Merchant & Mills bag, Made in Home; Shoes, Yoox

Back with me: Various adult and baby books, Neon Scarves, Galeries Lafayette;

Skirt, Cos, Neon yarn, Katia

And what did we learn.... yes I now have a thing for neon....