christmas gifting - so hard not to share

ooooooooooooooooooh you should see what i'm knitting at the moment. my camel/silk cowl is on hold right now as well it is december - which might not be news to you but took me by suprise/shock earlier this week. this fact put into focus a few gifts that need to be finished!

but that also means i can't share in case i spoil it. but maybe a few tibits?? it is a deep beautiful teal with matching tiny seed beads ........... so lush and beautiful! ok i broke down and added a photo - isn't it pretty? i need to get moving on the knitting ... i'm almost done.....

latest project .... made with camel

yes that is right ... silk and camel yarn ..... it is positively yummy - so soft and cozy
this will be a neck warmer/cowl - so less bulky under my coat (i think this will be for me as it is so luxurious i can't resist it!!)

ps: in case you want some: Handmaiden Camelspin

Montreal!

Altar in Notre Dame Basilica, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Man my updates about our trip are pretty lackluster .. few and far between. Party I blame my sister. but that only can go so far as.. well... the first group of pictures were taken on my camera and it's my job to upload them.
This is the altar in Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Mom and I ducked in here after wandering around in the morning checking out old Montreal. It was one of the only days that was overcast and rainy. We were just so lucky.

Expo 67 site, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

We also did a little wander down by the waterfront and checked out the old expo site. I think the last time my dad was in Montreal he as attending Expo 67... Crazy!

candles in Notre Dame Basilica, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

also on a side note... found Montreal's Trudeau airport highly confusing and the airport shuttle very vexing.

happy halloween

whoo whoo

le sigh

ah well - doesn't seem it is going to be much of a dress up halloween after all. oh well
i've got plenty of other things to do anyway!

crafty-ness i'm up to:

• moccasins for patrick (above) - we are holding class at work so i'm making patrick a pair for christmas (shhhh don't tell!) beading on to elk hide is not easy - my hands are cramping up and unlike knitting i have to concentrate - watching tv + beading don't mix at least for me
  
• ski sweater for me - a traditional norwegian ski sweater - i'm v excited about this - haven't cast on yet but will this week - esp now that i'm not knitting a costume!
  

halloween costume

so that time of year do i make a halloween costume?? hmmmm
so i'm thinking either an owl or rainbow-brite .... i'd knit the costume ... mainly since i can't sew for my life.

so owl - basically a bubble knit dress in a couple shades of brown + a felt owl mask (borrowed from brownies)
rainbow brite - a bit more umm complicated. - but knit (tube?) top and skirt and puffy rainbow sleeves

any votes?

the cup!!

the cup!!, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

So it's taken me a while to start this but I wanted to blog a few posts about mom and dad's trip out here to visit me and our family trip around the east coast.
It was amazing! I could not have asked for a better trip.
And really what a better way to start the trip then sightseeing in Toronto. I've not done a lot of touristy things since moving here - and I saved up a few things for when they came.
Top of the list had to be seeing the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Just let me say - WAY more interesting than I thought. There were lots of interactive things and of course - the cup.
way cool.

cashmere scarf

hello my dear friends .... i know i haven't written for a while..... but looked what i finished! a lacy estonian shawlettte/scarf ... it had some crazy 3 into one into 9 stitches (yes really!) but really was a pretty quick knit .. i did the majority on my holiday with mom, dad and willa so that is a couple weeks.
it is super lovely, soft and warm! perfect for the .....do you see behind my shoulder? no, not patrick's moose lamp ...... snow. yep our first day of snow here. mid-october ..... not bad i guess ... and you know it is really pretty

pattern: laminaria from knitty
wool: jade saphire cashmere in robin's egg blue
needles: size 4

white, black and red all over

look at this lovely bag! i chose the fabrics and the very talented corrie of Lilith Moon (in skagway alaska). corrie is so fantastic and i lurve this bag. inside it is lined in denim with lots of handy pockets.. ooooh and all the stitching is in red! corrie doesn't have a website but here is a nice article.
anyway can't wait to use it on my trip out east!! only three sleeps away

12 questions

12 questions, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

This is borrowed from mary as a time killer for a slow day at the office.
if you click on the picture it will link back to my flickr page with all the source pictures. I was amused / disturbed by all the answers that we had in common and so changed a few (they are noted)

The Questions:

1. What is your name? willa
2. What is your favorite food? salmon
3. What elementary school did you go to? wickaninnish
4. What is your favorite color? green
5. Who is your celebrity crush? errol flynn (easily could be fred astaire)
6. What is your favorite drink? whiskey sour (i went alcoholic instead of tea)
7. Dream vacation? manchu picchu
8. Favorite dessert? bread pudding (tied with rhubarb pie and strawberry shortcake)
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? medical illustrator
10. What do you love most in life? family
11. One word to describe you? hostess
12. Your flickr name? girl from finito


... simple questions, pretty answers. Here is how you play:

* type your answer to each question above into Flickr Search
* using only the first page of results, pick an image
* copy and paste each URL into fd's mosaic maker
* blog it!

Fun. Thanks for the idea mar.... see you sunday!

answers in pictures

The Questions:

1. What is your name? mary
   
2. What is your favorite food? salmon
   
3. What elementary school did you go to? wickaninnish
   
4. What is your favorite color? teal and pink
   
5. Who is your celebrity crush? fred astaire
   
6. What is your favorite drink? tea
   
7. Dream vacation? st peterburg
   
8. Favorite dessert? rhubarb pie
   
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? curator
   
10. What do you love most in life? family
    
11. One word to describe you? knitter
    
12. Your flickr name? knitnorth

... simple questions, pretty answers. Here is how you play:

• type your answer to each question above into Flickr Search
• using only the first page of results, pick an image
• copy and paste each URL into fd's mosaic maker
• blog it!

Fun. Try it!

ps. you can click to photo to see details

getting ready for opening tomorrow

my clothes are all laid out for our exhibition opening(s) tomorrow night. for the first time i'm going to wear jeans and a t-shirt .... but don't worry folks neither are ordinary - the jeans are fabulously high waisted by second and the t is made by artist ho tam who's show "confessions of a salesman" is opening in the gallery.
the whole look is rather duran duran - heehe!

Hey! look at that!

After much more swearing than probably necessary my new website is up and running!
i'd like to consider it in beta mode as i haven't really tried to break the code. but i like how it's turned out.. heavily influenced by the folks over at AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) and their design archive.. ahh le sigh.

sweater is done!

sweater is done
Originally uploaded by knit_north

it has been done for a while ..... but no pics until now.
alas it did not make it into the fair .... "oh honey you have won a ribbon" the lady at the fair sighed - i missed the date - oh well, i love the sweater....

ps please don't mind the messy house - we are in the midst of moving!

Olympic Fever

I'm not a big sports fan. My days watching sports are confined to the big competitions: The Stanley Cup, the Grey Cup, the euro/ world cup and the odd Calgary v. Vancouver/Edmonton game and for those I generally head out to a pub and enjoy the game surrounded by like-minded people. But man, the Olympics, there's something different. I scan the morning paper for highlights, watch recaps and read blogs on my computer, listen to the rankings on the radio and have ruined my sleeping pattern to watch them on tv. alone. on my couch.

So what is different?it's defiantly easier to get into the events when your country and pride is at stake. Then there is the hint of connection: I obsessively watched the triathlon remembering the Simon Witfield plaque outside the running room store near my old place in Victoria. I used to pass it on my way to get groceries and think about that race in 2000. yep. i did.


but the weird thing is I'll watch the Olympics when Canada isn't even in contention. I pick teams or athletes I want to win and root for them or just enjoy the show these people put on.


This Olympics I've been all about the equestrian (haha yes I like the horses). I would probably change the channel if it was any other competition but these days I've been wondering why I don't get "bold" (the cbc channel that is showing the jumping). I watched the recaps on my computer at lunch - too amazing.
Go Canada!

Caribana Festival... Parade Day

1st sight, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Caribana - the Caribbean cultural festival is a big thing around these parts. Living in Toronto for almost 4 years now it's a little embarrassing that I have never checked it out. I have heard a few bad things about the parade, it's history of violence and the unruly crowds but Connie and I decided to brave it - just to see what was happening.
It was busy and loud and I got soaked on the way over. The weird thing was for being the huge event the parade route was all but impossible to find online and there was no information on when the parade started and where to go. We just followed the crowd (thankfully connie had arrived earlier and sussed things out). The barricades proved another problem - so high that it was impossible to get a good view of what was happening.
I must admit, I was a little disappointed.
But the colours were cool and fun and I would go again, just with lower expectations and later in the day.

caribana costumes, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

olympic update

well i'm about 1/4 of my way there - it is certainly a bulky funny thing. but will be thick spongy cute mat when it is all said and done (and heavy!).

totally addicted to watching the olympics - fashion wise: i love the russian team jackets - i couldn't find any decent pics but here is one to the right - the crisp red and white is fantastic with the scrolls found in traditional russian embroidery.



the other team that looks fabulous - in the opening ceremonies in particular are the french. check out the dove gray jackets on the men and the belts! looooove the red belts!!! really all their accessories are perfect and so french.


i wish i could say the same for canada - HBC blah! have you seen the the ugly fully patterned track pants?! they better put out the classic Bay jackets in Vancouver - keep it simple - the whole 'four elements' theme is overly complicated and ends up looking like pajamas - lame.

just lame

our lady of sitka

as promised let me chat about highlights from our south east alaska trip. so the big landmark in Sitka is the Cathedral of St Micheal. The Russian Orthodox church is right in the centre of town. Sitka was once the captial of Russian America (until 1867 when Alaska was sold to the States) and has a few buildings from that era. The original church burnt to the ground in 1966 during a fire downtown, but has been completely restored. all the art was saved as was the chandelier which was hauled out by two guys while the church was on fire. the next day they went to move it and it took 6 men to move it as the chandelier weighs over 300 pounds - amazing what people can do in emergencies.

the madonna above is of the older russian icons. she is susposed to heal eye problems

up the hill

213 steps 6088.1
Originally uploaded by Yukon White Light

just home from a walk up the cliff - where i live right now is in the older residential part of whitehorse right along the bottom of the clay cliffs. on the top of black street is a huge set of steps (200+ stairs) which i climb a few times a week, well at least at this time of year. it is so pretty up at the top you can see right across the city down to the river

this afternoon i took my knitting with me - i realized yesterday that i definitely do not have enough loops for the bathmat (like 150% more!) so loopy cotton loops .... solution? socks - yep i cut socks into loops. about 30 socks - i found a package of 20 youth sport socks for $5! plus a 10 pack that had white, pink, blue and purple socks. I spent last night cutting socks up as i watched the olympics. normally when patrick is away i rent girlie flicks (costume dramas and bollywood is my weakness) but the olympics are fantastic. not sure what is, i'd never watch bike road races, beach volleyball etc normally but during the olympics? count me in.

yesterday was pretty busy. i moved everything from christine + my house up the hill to the new place in porter creek. i spent friday night packing up and then on sat afternoon, four of my friends helped pack the boxes in the van and then into the apartment. took less than 2 hours! so i treated everyone to coffee and a treat ... ahhh.

still have to move patrick's place ..... that is the big stuff like couches etc but almost there.

olympic knitting challenge

after failing last Olympics with a rather ambitious (cough.. crazy) sweater challenge i set myself - this time round: it is a bathmat. yes not nearly as sexy... or wearable (well maybe as a heavy-ass cape but yeah no.)

so how does one knit a bathmat? with potholder loops.... ummm potholder loops??? these cotton jersey (t-shirt material) loops - I found two bags in this funny little 'everything' store in Sitka. so yeah i need to loop them together to make my yarn then knit away with some big knitting needles! i'm already starting to worry i don't have enough .... so if any of you see these in weird little craft shops let me know!

new blanket for new home

this was my big splurge on the alaska trip. a Pendleton "Beaded Woodland" blanket ...... pure wool and so pretty i couldn't resist it when i saw/found it in Juneau yesterday. well i was good .... saw in the morning and by dinner time knew it had to be for our new apartment. nice thing is was a good deal too (yay! as it is an expensive month).

i'm really looking forward to moving in. we hopefully get the keys tomorrow and i'll likely camp out there for a few days while patrick's son visits (this cabin is sooooo teeny!). then this weekend i hope to move as much as i can on my own over. happy to be back in whitehorse - great fantastic trip but lovely to be home.

ps i promise to post more about the alaska trip - just need to organize photos etc

Vegan Peach Cobbler

Vegan Peach Cobbler, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Horrah for peach season! I had a few friends over on tuesday and whipped up a vegan cobbler for them. I replaced the butter with all vegetable shortening, the whipping cream with soy milk and omitted the blueberries (which I admit would have been really nice).. I cooked it in ramekins in a water bath as an alternative to serving it in one dish which worked out quite well.... yummy yummy yummy.

PEACH AND BLUEBERRY COBBLER
from A Matter of Taste .. Waverman and Chatto
filling....
4 cups sliced peeled peaches
1 cup blueberries
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp brown sugar to taste
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp butter
topping....
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup butter, diced
1/4 cup whipping cream

preheat oven to 350
combine peaches blueberries, lemon juice, brown sugar, and cornstarch.
place in a buttered 8in square baking dish and dot with butter
combine flour, cornmeal, brown sugar and nutmeg for topping. cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. stir in cream until mixture is just moistened.
drop batter by heaping spoonfuls onto fruit mixture. Topping will spread slightly during baking.
bake for 30 minutes, or until topping is golden and fruit is bubbling. serve warm.

mmmm salmonberries

i think that was my favourite thing about Sitka - the salmonberries - so many ripe salmonberries! what a beautiful town - it used to be the capital of Russian America and still has buildings from that era along with amazing totem poles, a full harbour of fishing boats and just a quaint lovely feeling about it all. sooooo great! i have to jump off the computer now (in a bar in juneau) more soon i promise!

Chickpea flour pasta

Chickpea flour pasta, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

I love fresh pasta.. but man is flour, water, oil and egg expensive. Sunday I decided to take matters into my own hands and made pasta for the first time. I made this vegan friendly pasta with chickpea flour which binds a lot like egg. The conclusion: pretty amazing .. other than the kneading.. my arms were sore the next day. The first batch i made to wet and had a soggy dinner but the second batch turned out well. It's been dried and frozen for later nom-ing.
advice to future me: get a pasta crank-thing and omit the rolling out by hand part

a nice little day

distillery district, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

I was thinking about where I could take my parents when they come to visit me.. a place that was out of the way and reflected the Toronto that I have grown to like (not love.. but like). In this spirit I visited the distillery district with my pals Naseem and Kean. It's a nice place but... well considering the tours are given on segways it was a little pretentious. As Kean described it - it was like Granville Island (except without the great market and the crowds of people bustling around). I think it has the potential to be awesome - but there is a lack of shade on hot days and (I think it's real downfall) the buildings are too far apart to make the place look busy. The area lacks the energy of Granville. Distillery District... Fail. I will not be taking my family to visit you.

In other news fun times!

Award Winning

I posted a while back about what I am doing at my job in Toronto.

This weekend a co-worker and I were acknowledged for our work with Awards of Merit from the Association of Medical Illustrators. There were only three people who received awards in the professional interactive media category (the category we entered) so we were very pleased.

What won was my work on Periopertive Patient Simulations
and Michael's work on Trans-esophageal Echocardiology (specifically the standard views).

UPDATE 7/25/08:
this afternoon... after spending the day panicking that i might have left the stove on (i didn't.. i knew i didn't but somehow was filled with a sense of dread anyway) i walk up to my place to find these in front of my door. what nice neighbours to receive the flowers and leave them out for me. What an amazing set of parents to send me congratulation flowers.. I am so happy right now.

flowers from mom, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

fleurs, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

i am a knitting machine

with less than a week to the Alaska State Fair, all i'm doing is knitting..... must finish sweater ... must block sweater .... must finish ... must knit .. stop typing back to knitting

ps check out dr horrible's sing-along blog (tho sure you already have!) "Look at my wrist! Time to go!"

summer sun

found this great little animation that shows our summer light
our days are getting shorter now but as much as might lament up here we still have lots of light at 11 pm and frankly it is just dusky at midnight. then around 2-3am it is getting light again.
it is funny how you never really know what time it by just looking outside ...

It's Summer!

lemonade, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

It's finally gotten really hot and lovely out here and the summer garden is growing nicely.
I made a really simple lemonade this weekend and loved it.. so sour and refreshing

1st blooms of summer.., originally uploaded by girl from finito.

in other news my sweet peas have started to bloom.

sweater in the sun

westcoast rose progress
Originally uploaded by knit_north

as you can see i'm working on the second sleeve ... um clearly missed the unrealistic stanely cup goal ..... but gotta get moving as i want to enter it in the s.e. alaska state fair - yes for real! i really really want to win a ribbon ... or even a sticker or something - also tempted to make some rhubarb jam or something. if i hadn't lost my oh so lovely tam would have entered that but ah well .... it is almost yoke time for this sweater so i'm on my way (by the way here is a photo of the pattern - i've changed up the colour and added an extra repeat to the torso as i'm so long-waisted)

so despite needing to finish this sweater - i'm planning out my next knit Gigi from knitty - it is a cute cropped kimono sleeved cardie and rather mindless knitting - i even already have the wool for it an alpaca/merino sock yarn in navy/purple . it is so soft and lush. and after that???? well i think i need a cashmere scarf (yes need. i mean it's cold up here)... a big lacey one .... maybe in a robin egg blue? thoughts?

World Wide Knit in Public Day

WWKiP day was fantastic - we had 25+ people show up all different ages and sooo chatty! loved it! spoke for quite a while with this lady (she’d be in her 80s) about knitting and her 10 kids! She grew up in the Yukon - her best friend’s mother taught her knit as her mom didn’t knit - so at nine years old she began knitting her dad sweaters for work - her dad did the mail run between Whitehorse and Dawson City (this was before there was a road! about 500-600 km) - so cool and great

New bed...wallpaper

new bed...wallpaper, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

Mary and I both bought wall paper when we were in Montreal last year. It has taken me almost a full year to put it up. I think it looks beautiful.. and my friends have started to tease me that my new bedroom is very "french country" or as Naseem put it "Muskoka Chic"

many thanks to Frances for helping me put it up.

ella, originally uploaded by girl from finito.

knitting on the train

knitting on the train
Originally uploaded by knit_north

ummmm yes it has been a while since i've posted ....... this pic is from may long weekend on the train. patrick an i went to skagway - the first day was sooo cold! so had had to buy a toque (the one i'm wearing here) and totally bundle up. but the monday oh my so lovely and warm! it was so hard to leave. the flowers were all out and there was that lovely ocean breeze

the next weekend in whitehorse was amazing - so crazy hot ... i got so burned! oh my - really bad - i burnt my knees so badly i had a v hard time walking for 3 days - i was only in direct sun for about 1/2 hour. yes i'm that white - tho i also blame the sun here - i swear it is stronger up here

then this sunday .... we had SNOW - June 8th a couple inches of snow - granted it was wet snow .... but snow in june? gah!

oh and good news! i'm still employed! i'm the 'new' Gallery Director of the Arts Centre Gallery .. hoorah