Pink Purl

We Have a Winner!...Gift Giveaway and more...

After a week of excitement seeing so many stopping by to give comments, I'm very happy now to announce the winner of my 2nd Blogiversary Gift Giveaway.  So without further ado... The winner of this delicious bath set is...

Cielo of The House in the Roses!

Congratulations, Cielo!  I look forward to sending you this little gift.  Please email me your address info and I'll get this off to you during the week. :o)  Many thanks to everyone who joined in on the fun this time, and for all your warm wishes and kindest thoughts for two years of Pink Purl!  I hope to have another giveaway sometime in the autumn.

Just a little note about the bag sale at my Etsy shop...Very happily a few bags did sell.  But there are still a few summer bags left in the shop, so I will be carrying the sale into this new week as well--the sale continues!  So do please stop by and havea peek, if you haven't already.  Some new jewelry will be listed this week, so more coming up! 

Speaking of shopping... Last week a special order I placed arrived in the mail, a re-order of skin care products made by my dear friend Marie, who writes the blogs Dreaming of Wild Roses and Marie Chantal.  I have written before of my great appreciation of Marie's handmade, rose-based skin care products.  But I thought I would take this opportunity to share, especially with some of you who are new to my blog, this great find and introduce you to Marie.  My re-order was of my very favorites from the Rose Signature Line from Marie's webshop, Marie Chantal: Rose Lotion, Rose Balm and the Honey and Rose Lip Balm. Marie's range is exceptionally effective, made of all natural and organic ingredients.  I use the Rose Lotion all over, but especially on my face, hands and feet.  The Honey and Rose Lip Balm is so emollient and heavenly scented.  I use the Rose Balm for my cuticles, which often seem dry, and this balm gives instant relief.  After a time of having very sensitive skin and struggling to find facial and body-care products that did not further irritate my skin, it was wonderful to discover Marie's creams and lotions with their delicate rose-scent.  And this time she even sent me a salve she mixed with oils especially for my hands!  Please stop by and say hello to Marie, and take a visit to her webshop, where you will find her lovely Rose Signature Line of products, as well as essential oils and even a range of gift packages!

Also in the mail just at the weekend was a terrific gift parcel from my sweet friend, M. Kate of La Vie Est Belle...and such treats:  large piece of beautiful, vibrantly colored batik sarong cloth, my Chinese horoscope (Year of the Rat, I am), postcards of Malaysia, bookmarks...and all so gorgeously wrapped in bright, red papers!  Many, many thanks M.Kate for your generosity and thoughtfulness! :o)

Ah, the mail...nothing like happy mail from family and friends! 

Hope all you dear friends are having a wonderful weekend...See you soon! :o)

Pink Saturday!

A little more baby love this week... This fat quarter set is one I've had for about a year now.  One of those things where I just fell in love with the fabrics and could not resist them...yet had no idea formed of what I would do with them.  And so they have sat on a shelf for months and months... Until now.  This very pretty pink and aqua blue quartet of fabrics is being cut into patchwork pieces for a little quilt I'm making for my sister's Baby Girl.  I hope very much to get this quilt pieced and finished to be able to give to my sister when we go over to the States next month... so she'll have it when Baby Girl is born in November!  That bit of white eyelet lace tucked between a pair of fabrics will also be use as part of the quilt.  A tiny peek for now... more to show you soon!

Happy Pink Saturday...and happy weekend to you all! :o)  Many thanks to our Pink Saturday Hostess, Beverly of How Sweet the Sound... Please stop by to see her and a list of all the other girls participating in PS this week!

P.S. Just a reminder: today is the last day for sign up for my gift giveaway...I will announce the winner tomorrow!

Tea Party!

It's a very festive week here at Pink Purl!  And today the very sweet and gracious Jan of Jan & Tom's Place is hostessing yet again another wonderful Tea Party.  She does this every month... Thank you, Jan!  I thought I would join in on the fun this month, since I love taking tea!

Here's our Tea for Two Party...Dear Husband loves a cuppa tea and a sweet treat himself, so there was no problem getting him to join in!  ;o)  But I must say I don't have a proper tea service or very many teatime fancies to decorate with.  Many, many years ago I had a LOT of pretty tea cups and all sorts of tea paraphernalia, I collected them.  But when I moved here to Norway eight years ago, I just had to downsize the collection a bit...So today I still have some favorite pieces and use them all time.  Today's Tea Party at our place is very relaxed though, with focus on the food!  And for our light afternoon tea, we simply have my Cranberry-Macadamia-White Chocolate Chunk Scones.  How about that for flavor roll-call?!  These scones were based on my Cranberry Almond Scones recipe in my In the Kitchen section (found in the left sidebar), I just added 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts and 1/2 cup chopped white chocolate chunks to the dough mixture.  These were delicious!  Cherry preserves  or lemon curd makes a great accompaniment to these scones.  To save time my Mock Devonshire Cream is simply low-fat sour cream with powdered/icing sugar added to taste, and this makes a terrific substitute for the real thing--try it!  A pot of Lady Grey tea is kept warm under the tea cozy--one I have made.  But there are more warm scones...Join us at the sideboard!

Happy Tea Time, and thanks for joining us!  :o)

Thankful Thursday...Table Love!

The lovely Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses is hostess of the weekly Thankful Thursday... Thank you Rhondi!  Once again, I thought I'd join in...

Today I am thankful for... my new work table!  Seriously, I am... I have been needing a larger table for crafting for a long time now.  Last weekend Dear Husband and I went to Ikea and bought a new table top and legs with adjustable height.  He put it together and in place for me in no time... So I am also thankful for Dear Husband being a good sport about it all!  Tee-hee... This is probably the most boring photo I've ever shown here, and likely ever to do!  LOL! So thank you for indulging me...

Back in April I did a post all about my craft room.  This new table, with the birch top, is in place in the corner, and the old, narrow white table I was using has been positioned right next to the new one, creating an L-shape and extending my working surface space--this will be great when working on larger projects.  My room is pretty small, but this works!

Just thought I'd share even this dull photo, with all the clean expansive space, before it becomes over-run with works in progress!  So if you need me... I'm at the new table... my cup of tea is waiting!

Happy Days, my friends! :o)

2nd Blogiversary Gift Giveaway!...and a SALE!

It was two years ago this month that Pink Purl was born!   And soon closing in on 300 posts...It's kind of amazing when you stop and take stock a little bit.  From day one this place has been all about sharing all sorts of good things and celebrating life...So in that vein Pink Purl will continue!  To celebrate this second blogiversary I will have this pretty Pink Purl's Gift Giveaway happening this week.  One lucky soul will receive this splendid luxury bath set--Bronnley Apricot & Almond Soap and Apricot & Almond Bath Seeds.  A little treat picked up especially for this occasion while we were in London last month.  I found this set at the gift shop at Kensington Palace, which offered for sale some really lovely things.  The Apricot & Almond is a wonderful sweet, floral fragrance.  Along with this bath set an extra surprise will be tucked in the package...So if you would like to join in the celebration fun and take a chance on these fine English delights, please leave a comment on this post.  I will leave the comments open for this for the whole of this week, closing on the coming Saturday and will announce the winner on Sunday, August 10th!

My very first post was written on August 15, 2006.  So the real second blogiversary is not until next week technically...But I felt joy in beginning the anniversary fun as early as possible, and also because this month will be full of lots happening.  Two big summer sales will be taking place at my Etsy shop. The first will be this week--Pink Purl Etsy Summer Bag Sale.  For this week only ALL bags will be on sale!  Every bag has been marked down, some prices cut by nearly one half.  There are savings on every single bag left in the shop.  A jewelry sale will soon follow.  Making room for fall/winter stock! 

The big reason for so much happening now, this month, is that we will be taking a trip over to America in the beginning of September!  September signifies summer waning...so when we return my thoughts will be turning to a change in season and preparing for that, especially where the shop is concerned.  But back to the trip...yes, we'll be going to the USA for a week and a half early next month!  I must see my sister's beautiful, sweet pregnant belly once before she gives birth to Baby Girl...just have too--LOL!  And we're just thrilled to go see all our dear ones back home, plus this will be a nice way to cap off summer.  So much to look forward to.  I am making a few things for my sister for her and the baby, so these next weeks I will be busy sewing again!

A tiny note to all the Pink Saturday girls, especially, if you're reading...I'm sorry not to have been by to see all of you during the past weekend.  I'll to catch up with you during the week here, and try do better next weekend--LOL!  :o)  I owe some of you good friends emails too...This past weekend was a very busy one, and we were out and about much of the time, especially Saturday.  We took a trip to Ikea and I finally got my new work table--yes!  I am so pleased with it.  Dear Husband put it together and set it up for me.  I hope to take photos soon, once all is in place again.  And my old table has found a surprising, good new use!  More soon...

Wishing you all a very happy week...And thank you, my friends, for sharing so many happy days and moments with me here...Here's to many, many more! 

Pink Saturday!

...I pinched out the new growth repeatedly
until I had a full, round ball on a stick,
like a topiary at Versailles.  It pleased me well;
its flowers were salmon pink...

-- Jane Kenyon, from "Geranium"

When I was watering the pots of pale pink geraniums on the deck, I noticed one cluster coming into bloom, and how the tender buds are a bit like rose buds when opening...

Many thanks to Beverly of How Sweet the Sound, the hostess with the pink mostest, who continues to present every weekend the fun of Pink Saturday.  Please stop by her place to see who else is participating this week.

Happy Pink Saturday and Happy weekend, my friends! :o)

P.S. Today in my Etsy shop is this new addition...a necklace I made using beautiful rose quartz in many shapes and sizes with sterling silver accents.  The rose quartz donut focal is lovely.  Complementary earrings are also available!

Thankful Thursday...With Love

The very sweet and talented Rhondi over at Rose Colored Glasses has a wonderful happening on Thursdays at her place, Thankful Thursday.  And this week I thought I would join in with giving thanks...

Today I am especially thankful for LOVE...

The love of my Dear Husband and our happy life together and how we support each other in all things and have lots of laughs along the way...I Love You!

The love of my family...everyone, everywhere I Love You!

The love and care of my friends...old friends, new friends, friends everywhere I Love You All!

The love of my sweet cat, Charlie, who brightens each day with his big purrs, funny white sock-feet and wanting of endless cuddles...I Love You, Angel-Boy!

The love of the natural world, Mother Nature and her great gifts to us, and being able to be a stewardess of the tiny patch that is our garden as a gift back.

The love of the Spirit of the Universe that is all loving and supporting...I Love You!

The love of all beings everywhere...those who do not even know me, I send you love and wish you happiness.

The love of creativity...It is a deep love that grows inside me, this need to create, to give something small to the world that is in my own voice, made of my own hands.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by the love of many people, the love of All, and to have the joy of giving love back...

Love is a gift...Give some today!

Love to you all today, and everyday... wishing you LOVE as wide as the sky...

P.S.  The heart at the top was made by one of our clever little nieces... I Love You V.!

Good Morning! ...Awards and More...

With so much happening in the way of all my huge, picture-heavy posts last week, I did not get a chance to share a little extra fun that came my way.  Two lovely friends, Pat of Mille Fiori Favoriti, and Anne of Fabric and Bags, both generously awarded me the Brillante Award that's been making the rounds....Many thanks, ladies!  Pat also tagged me for six random facts along with the award.  Six random facts about me today, this very day:

1.  I like mornings...a cup of tea and a small bite to eat while I meditate on the day ahead, read the paper, jot down notes, etc.  I like the promise of each new day!  Here was my beautiful breakfast today--yogurt (must have yogurt daily!), a juicy pear and WASA/cracker-crisp bread with a sliver of blue cheese...

2.  I'm wearing black linen shorts and a light gray t-shirt... sounds dull, but at least the tee is organic cotton! ;o)

3.  I am self-taught in all the crafting I do...I just love to learn new things, get supplies, read up and get going on something exciting and new-to-me... which soon becomes a craft addiction--LOL!

4.  Today I am working on new jewelry for the shop.

5.  I just had breakfast a while ago but look forward to a tea break already...hehehe...I love tea, jasmine is my favorite.

6.  The garden and flowers are drooping and must be watered, a big chore for today, if it doesn't rain...it's hot here just now.

This Brillante Award I would very much like to share with seven friends:  Marie of Dreaming of Wild Roses,  Hannah at Hannah M. Shaw,  Raina of Raining Sheep, Flower at Flower, Tami of Lemon Tree Tales,  Clara of Bloomize, and Hazel of Hazel Designs.  And ladies, please feel free to pick up and play along with the six random facts tag too, if you like!

Today I couldn't resist sharing another new necklace that's in my Etsy Shop.  I was especially happy with how this one turned out--so lovely with all the silver, pearls, stones and crystals.  The blue-green gemstones are amazonite.  These beautiful gemstones have healing properties to release fear and anxiety in the wearer/bearer...and said to make for a happier married life!  Myths and healing properties of gems is fascinating!

Wishing you all a happy day! :o)

Odds and Ends...

Hello, my friends!  Thank you so much for the pink baby socks love...and not least your suggestions on other baby knit ideas and where to find them. I'll be sharing more soon on what I'm working on for my niece who is on the way...But in the meantime other crafting has been happening too.  And this week at my Pink Purl Etsy shop, each day new jewelry will be listed!  Among the new pretties, will be this Halcyon Necklace--I love all the silver chain, gray pearls and gray/black crystals.  This necklace is already in the shop, along with a coordinating pair of earrings.  I fell in love with gray pearl necklace and earrings so much I made a version of it for myself--LOL!  Which may be good--nothing like walking advertizing ;o)  So stop by for a peek at the new jewelry throughout the week.  Just a little extra shop talk here today...A little, subtle change will be happening at the shop in the weeks ahead.  In future I will be making less bags.  I've come to the decision that they are costing me too much in terms of time, energy, materials & costs to produce.  I enjoy the bag making very much, and will continue to make and offer a few select bags on occasion, but there will be fewer in the shop than before.  That said though, please know that I gladly will continue to take special orders and commissions for bags--as well as jewelry or other accessories too, so don't hesitate to be in touch if you would like something bespoke.  Jewelry and accessories, as well as knitwear, along with a few lovely bags will be the new focus at Pink Purl. 

Speaking of knitwear, while my sewing machine is having a little vacation the last few days, my knitting needles have been much occupied.  I've been working on knitting new items for the shop for fall/winter.  Here is a sneak peek at what's in progress..scarves mostly.  Aren't these yarns delicious?!  Wool and mohair...The aqua blue is a teaser of an item newly finished, but I'll reveal more on this a tiny bit after finishing touches.  More baby knits will be happening too--LOL!  

The weekend was VERY HOT for here...30-35 C/90-95 F...We've been melting a bit!  But we did take a little outing on Saturday to nearby Åsgårdstrand...a very charming small coastal town with great sea views, shops, galleries and cafes. Once-upon-a-time this was a hotspot for artists' communities to spend summers painting and living either utopian/bohemian dreams.  Many well-known artists, including Edvard Munch, had a summer place here.  And to this day there is a bit of the arts alive and well and thriving there.  Below is a view--it is a delightful town for an afternoon's outing! 

I was very sweetly awarded again last week, as well as tagged...so join me for more fun and much else later in the days to come this week.  Happy Days to you all! :o)

Notice the flowerbox on the back of the Citroën 2CV... too cute!

Pink Saturday!

For sweet, tiny feet... My pink offering for today is short, but very, very sweet!  During the week I knit these booties/socks for my sister's baby girl, who will join us in this world in November!  I used this Little Kid Socks pattern... and made them in pink, of course!  ;o)  These socks are more like slipper-socks than a closer-fitting kind, and fit a baby 0-3 months.  These will be good for the winter months for Baby Girl Niece.  I used Bernat Satin yarn with US 8 (5mm) needles.  My sister can't handle wool or other animal fibers near her skin, so I'll be knitting baby things in cotton and cotton-blends.  This yarn is acrylic, but surprisingly super soft, with an almost silk-like quality.  The pattern was terrific to work with, as each sock is knit in one piece and then put together with seams.  A bit fiddly sewing the seams on something so very small, but the whole project worked up a treat since I'm not yet too clever with making real socks using several needles going at once.  I have cast on to knit another pair of socks in the same type of yarn, but in white.  These little socks make addictive knitting!  I must say I had many a tear in my eye while knitting these little socks... I'm just soooo excited to meet my niece, I can't wait until she is born!

If anyone has any great baby knit, crochet, sewing or other projects, I would love to know about them.  And I would be so happy and grateful for any weblinks, tips, book suggestions, etc.  Please send me an email, or let me know here.  Thanks so much for any ideas! 

Wishing you all a Happy Pink Saturday and wonderful weekend!  Dear Husband and I will be out & about a bit during the weekend, away from the computer and home a bit...So I will see you all next week!  :o)