Thought you might like to know about my new jacket, bought before I left for Edinburgh last month. It wasn’t all-purpose enough to justify bringing it along, so I was pleased to be reunited and I’ve got a few OOTD photos that feature it — I’ll share those with you next. . . (I know it’s tough to tell from this sketch, but it’s actually solid black — wool bouclé with leather trim along the zipper in a moto shape).
First, though, the sketch I made of it back in early November — in fact, I’ve opened my journal to share two pages. On the left, my new jacket, and on the right, the details about a beret I’d just begun and have now finished and worn several times. . . As with the pages I showed recently featuring my new perfume and face cream, I took advantage of the pretty packaging — I’ve been thinking twice and three and four times about what we throw into the garbage too easily and trying to slow that process down at least a little bit. . .
And now, transcriptions so that you don’t kink your necks too drastically (I’m looking at you, Georgia 😉
Left-hand page, November 7th, 2018
I found the jacket to replace my very worn Mackage leather moto (although I suspect I’ll hang on to that old faithful, scars and fading and all).
Up the left shoulder: And yes, very clever of EF to send me that $100 gift certificate!
Right shoulder: 62% Suri Alpaca, 33% Wool, 5% Nylon . . . with a Bemberg lining . . .
Right margin, centre: Gorgeously sunny fall day — perfect!
Bottom: Also bought 16″ circular 2.25 (needle) from Three Bags Full
Met Paul for lunch at Bob Likes Thai Food
Yummy nap, then read Michael Robotham’s The Suspect
And now heading to French class. . .
And before the transcription of the second page, here’s a closer look so you can twist and crane . . .
Top left, commentary on the two price tags: Makes for an expensive little hat, doesn’t it? But as long as I don’t lose it, I suspect I’ll be using it for years — featherlight so it easily tucks in pocket or purse.
Top right: December 1, 2018, Coming back post-Europe trip to this page I began before I flew to Edinburgh November 12th . . . All the cutting and pasting was done then, and since [follow arrow to centre] I’ve finished knitting this gorgeous blend into the Churchmouse Yarns Beret pattern — and the beret has been blocked and sits on my head as I write.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some sourdough to shape into boules. . . I do have that Outfits post started and I’m halfway through the post about what I re-affirmed, in Edinburgh, about my travel priorities. But it’s beginning to get busy ’round here, so we’ll see how well I keep up. What about you? Are you remembering the value of a Slow Christmas? Or is that already a lost cause?
I love the shape of your new jacket, Frances. And the leather trimmed zipper, and the slash pockets. Is it Eileen Fisher? I'm loving berets these days. They are so chic and timeless. Now I just have to persist and actually wear one of my own.
Happy lead up to the holidays. We haven't even begun to think about maybe, possibly gearing up. Not yet. Next week… full steam ahead.
Thanks, Sue — yes, it's EF. . .
We're gearing up Slowly here — you'd be wise to be even slower, given the last five six months you've had!
That's a beautiful jacket! Eileen Fisher just gets it right (the $100 is a good idea). I love to go to their shop but I'm trying to buy less. Berets are so chic and they work with curls. It sounds like busy days for you.
I've been careful about buying as well — I'm pleased with the EF I bought this year (not my usual, tbh) which is getting so much wear.
And you're right, the berets do work well with curls
more beret details and photo to come perhaps? I love a good knit hat!
ceci
I'll see what I can do for details and photo — it's hard to convey the luxury of the fibre though. . .
I really admire your journal. It's full of fun – notes, art, labels, and other miscellaneous musings. You must enjoy the trip down memory lane when you pick up an older one….if you ever have time….busy lady!
Thank you for posting and thanks for the Slow Christmas reminder :).
Husband and I played crib this afternoon, something retired life allows – I never would have done that when working!
Suz from Vancouver
I do enjoy looking at old journals occasionally although the ones with any drawing at all are only from the last few years.
I haven't played crib for decades, but I've been thinking it might be fun to play with my husband in the evening occasionally . . .
What a lovely jacket-can't wait to see it on you,with a beautiful beret -it will be like you've just landed from the Paris streets
I love berets (especially from the milliner you've noticed in Zagreb) and wear them (velvet gris et camel-aw,you've given me an idea: velvet vert would be beautiful,I have to check after all the crazyness of the shopping right now,after NY)) regularly for years.
Having Eileen Fisher somewhere near (Vienna f.e.!) would be perfect-I love almost all her clothes-(and dangerous for my purse!-although I try to buy less and less,like Madame, and it goes pretty good)
Dottoressa
A velvet beret, oh my! I have a felted wool one — purple — with a purple velvet ribbon and bow that I bought for my mom a few years before she died. . .
Very nice looking jacket. Look forward to seeing the photos of it and the beret. Nice way to remember the care instructions of your knitted object by placing the label in your journal. Although I had not knitted for a while, I went through my stash a week or so ago and found myself making several cowls and a hat while listening to a number of the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian (not for the first time, as I listened to all 20 of them back in my commuting days). A very restful way to spend a few hours.
I do like recording the care instructions, pattern, etc. this way — I've used Ravelry for maybe 10 years now, but there's something very appealing about having a material — analogue! — version right at hand.
I've never got the audiobook habit, but that must be a lovely way to entertain yourself while knitting. . .
Audio-books were the only way I survived three hours+ of daily commuting in hellish traffic for close to 30 years. 🙂
Just popped by before heading out of town for a couple of days…your comment made me smile…as, just by reflex, of course I took in the text as part of the whole picture.
Slow Christmas: I think yes, so far.
Bon weekend, happy bread-baking 🙂
I wondered if you'd catch that 😉
So much to love about this post, but what really jumped out to me was Michael Robotham’s book Suspect. I have read all his books; I love his humor and writing style. Joe is such a likable character and the psychological twists fascinate me. I have his new book, The Other Wife, on hold at the library. He can’t write them fast enough for me!
I'm so lucky that I've only read the first, right? I have the second one just home from the library now — had it on Hold for a while and now it's jostling with the other books on my nightstand for attention.
I too enjoyed the richness of your journal's angles and attitudes. I love beat up old leather jackets!
The beat-up ones are the best, aren't they?!
That jacket looks like quite a find. And the wool bouclé is going to be so versatile, dressing up and down beautifully. The care instructions in your journal is nothing short of genius – a million times better than a stash of cut-off labels.
Oh hats – you are lucky that hats suit you. They absolutely do not suit me – I only wear them out of necessity, and that for hillwalking or on bitter or stormy days on the level. So one fleece lined beanie, a couple of whisky distillery branded freebies which work for winter gardening, and the only hat I have ever loved, a grey snowflake beanie from Dale of Norway, bought in Antwerp. All bought, of course – I'm incapable of knitting!
I used to keep a journal of all my knitting projects, but several years ago I gave it up – don’t know why. Too much trouble, I guess. Now I miss it, because if I want to change/mend/copy an older piece, I have to spend a lot of time finding out the correct gauge and needle size etc. Ravelry cannot replace my notes, I find, so I will probably go back to a journal made with pen on paper. (And some glue and the odd photo.)
I love berets, but when it gets really cold I want something to pull down over my ears. By now I have quite a collection of handmade beanies in different colours which match my scarves.
Your post reminded me of a very old black leather jacket, moto style, which I haven’t worn for years because it has a nasty visible tear on one shoulder. Now I am thinking of some way of visible mending which might put it back into circulation…
I love this post. Your new jacket looks fabulous but I can also imagine holding on to the old one. I tend to hold on to things until they are unwearable, so the thought makes me smile.
I also like the way you've pasted and commented on your knitting in your journal. I've started doing a bit of that, without your drawing skills; one of these days I'd like to take a class or three. Anyway I once had a knitting notebook, it may have been abandoned in a move, and I miss it, but I also found multiple journals a pain. I've always liked the scrapbook approach so perhaps I will combine some creative notes into my journal as well, for me this seems to be my path in retirement, breaking down the walls of compartmentalization. Anyway, I had a black suede beret for 25 years. George gave it to me and I wore it all the time. Hard to think it would fall apart, but tidied eventually. Perhaps I need to knit one. Yours promises to be lovely.