~ Contest #2 Winners ~

And the winners are ~

Carrie Penny & Emicat

Woohoo ~ ladies send me your mailing addresses to asimplifiedlife at hotmail dot com.

Thanks to everyone who played ~ I found some newbies too.

Contest No. 2

Coffee Review:
Fortnum & Mason's Kings Blend Coffee
Fortnum & Mason's is a quintessential British shop which used to ship foodstuffs to intrepid explorers. These days you don't need to be an explorer to enjoy their products and one of my favourite coffees is their Kings Blend Coffee. It is a smooth coffee with a tiny bit of a kick, not too strong but not too mild. It is a combination of mild blends from Central America and Kenya with a little Robusta. I find it a gentle way to start the day and enjoy a couple of cups in the morning.

Yarn Review:
Trekking XXL
I think Trekking XXL is a definite backbone of my sock collection. It is a blend of 75% wool and 25% nylon which really makes it a hard-wearing and flexible sock yarn. The slight stretch means that I can knit socks for my husband who has a big navicular bone (bone at the top of the foot nearest the leg). I like the different colour ranges in this series of yarns which can be so much fun to explore!

Contest #2

1. Coffee review ~

My fave coffee varies with my mood. Luckily, I live in the Seattle area and have lots of choices when it comes to buying from a local coffee shop. Caffe Ladro (which means "coffee thief" in Spanish) is one of my go-to places for great coffee that is organic, fair-trade and shade grown. Their "Diablo" blend is the one I usually go for, as it is their equivalent of a French roast. I love dark, oily coffee beans, because I love bold, strong coffee, especially that first sip you take in the morning.. mmmMMmMmM :)

Here's a photo of another fave coffee cup and saucer that I use on the weekends. I love that it has cute little bees buzzing around the cup. I seem to have an affinity for bees and I don't quite know where it came from :)
2. Yarn review ~ It really is hard to just choose one yarn as my favorite, but one of my many faves is Plymouth Yarn's Suri Merino yarn. It's an alpaca/merino blend and gives your knit items a nice, soft sheen. It's wonderful to knit with if you're looking for something soft with a little sheen and not too heavy. You can almost say it's "feathery" :) I received this yarn in a swap package and that's where I found out about this yarn. This past Christmas, I knit all the men in my family a hat (hat pictured below) using this yarn and let me tell you these babies keep your head WARM! In fact, almost too warm at times :)
Thanks for another fun contest! Love hearing about everyone's fave coffee and yarn!

Contest #2-Coffee & Yarn Reviews

While my favorite coffee is from Mill Mountain our local coffee shop, it wasn't convenient for me to snap a photo of that today, so the second best will have to do for this review!
Starbucks Raspberry Mocha (and yes, I love the whipped cream)! There's nothing better, than the choco/raspberry combination, whether it be in desserts, fruit and chocolate, or the flavored coffee. (I'm very lucky that Mill Mountain has chocolate raspberry beans that I buy to perk my own at home - but the Starbucks is a dessert treat when I'm feeling low).

As for a favorite yarn, if you're a sock knitter, you simply can't beat Blue Moon's Socks That Rock. The very tightly twisted yarn is squishy to knit (it does, occasionally, curl up on you as you knit, but that's okay) and warm and durable on the foot. The colors? Oh my. Tina is a goddess when it comes to dreaming them up and putting them on the yarn. I think I need to win the lottery to have as many as I'd like. This in the photo is a Raven colorway, Korrpi, with a touch of blues and violet in the black (and that's Feather & Fan lace in the cuff). I do find with the dark yarns that there's a bit of bleeding of the color onto my fingers as I knit, but a soak in white vinegar water before wearing helps take care of that. It does wash off your fingers, with soap!

Contest Two - Coffee and Yarn Reviews

My sister moved to Brooklyn, NY a few years ago. While exploring her neighborhood on my run across the Brooklyn Bridge, I stumbled upon Damico's. My motto is the greasier and darker the bean, the better the coffee. To this date, nothing has compared to the taste of Damico's Sumatra blend. Bold, strong, and the smell is divine! The shop is family owned and the coffee has been rated the best coffee in NYC. Sadly, my sister moved away but thanks to the internets, I can still capture that smell and taste!


Yarn? I like a good handpaint and natural fibers. My world today is all about the superwash - thanks to two toddlers. My tried and trues are Cascade Superwash, Dream In Color, and Lorna Laces Shepard- great saturation in the colors, good stitch definition and HELLO WASHABLE!

Contest 2- Coffee and Yarn reviews

Coffee: I really enjoy Starbucks Arabian Mocha Sanani (Arabian Mocha Java is better, but no available in the US anymore). It has fresh notes of dark chocolate, a richness that a lot of coffees miss, including many of Starbucks' coffees. This is my favorite "can be commonly found" coffee.

I also really enjoy Kona coffees. Kona beans depending on how they are roasted have a creamy taste. The favor of it varies greatly too I have notice. Some times it almost has a caramel flavor to it, also it can have a very natural earthy taste. They are really good to try, but a little bit harder to find where I live.

Yarn: Now this one is really a lot harder. I really love too many to count... Number one is Knit Picks Essentials. I am working on a pair of socks with it right now and I swear that it is so soft and the sock feels like there is nothing on your foot. The colors I have seen are also something else. I am using Spruce Kettle Dyed and if you look very closely there is a slightly mottled effect to the yarn, but it is really not at all noticeable in the sock.

I also love Malabrigo... This is one of the squishiest yarns I have ever worked with. Not only is the yarn so soft you just want to curl up in a ball and sleep on top of it, in it and all around it, when you finish your project the texture of the FO is squishy and warm and just all around a pleasure to be around. I made a scarf with it and not only did it keep my neck warm, it is so scooshy it feels amazing around my neck (not normally a huge fan of 100% wool on my upper body).

I think those are my two current favorites, but that is subject to change anytime I CO for a project with something different.

Coffee and Yarn Review - Contest #2

I'm happy to participate in the Knitters' Coffee Swap four, Contest # 2, and this is my reviewes:

1. Coffee review: My favourite coffee is a blend: Java Mocca, form Stockfleths. Java Mocca has an intense and fruity taste.The flavor is complex and interesting in that way that it s both fruity and rich, with a clear touch of dark chocolate (- Mmmmm). Therefor a well- balanced coffee, I think.

I prefer my Java Mocca just as it is - regular from my french coffee press, or made as a Latte or Capouchino from my Bialetti Mocca express. I drink my favourite coffee every once in a while when I want to treat my self nice or give my self a reward for something I did good.

 

2. Yarn review: Hifa 3 from Hillesvaag is my favourite yarn which I always return to after trying other qualities. It is a Norwegian 3- threaded, rich and easy carded 100 % wool yarn, in beautiful colors  from the entire color circle - 77 different shades. Hifa 3 is very easy to knit with using needles No US 1 1/2 - 4,5 or 2,5 - 4,0 mm. It is also easy felted. Hifa 3 is soft and quite tender to the skin. I use Hifa 3 to knit almost everything; such as mittens, scarves, hats, shawls, socks and pullovers. 

Coffee and Yarn Review - Contest #2

1. Coffee review ~ mmmm... my most recent favorite was the Trader Joe's Wintry Blend. I haven't had any since last winter as it is a seasonal product, but this winter I bought another can of it to be able to savor once the baby is here. It's not something I can drink every day or it would get old tasting... It's described on the can as medium dark roast, smooth, spirited, lively. What I like about it is that it is beans with spices actually mixed in, including cinnamon, cloves, green and red peppercorns. This way, when I grind the beans I am actually grinding the spices in as well.

Unlike other flavored coffees this enables the flavoring to be fresh and right from the spice itself. This coffee, made in my French Press, and served with half and half was enjoyed 2-3 times a week with my regular Breakfast Blend alternated on the other days. If you like the smell of fresh baked goods with your coffee, then this is a great choice. Unfortunately, unless you live near a Trader Joes, this is unavailable - but it is probably pretty easy to replicate with you favorite bean - if you add some cinnamon stick,cloves and peppercorns to them as you grind - not too much or it will be overpowering, but a small amount will do fine! Sorry there's no picture - I haven't made any coffee in awhile, but one of my favorite mugs is in my picture from contest #1.

2. Yarn review ~ I do not have one favorite yarn - let's be realistic - does anyone? I have a fave cotton (Manos del Uruguay Cotton Stria) three fave acrylics (Caron Simply Soft, Lion Wool-Ease and Dark Horse Fantasy) (I make a lot of baby stuff - all needing to be machine washable...) and it all depends on the application as to which wool or wool blend, or silk or silk blend that is the "right" choice...

HOWEVER.... I recently finished a hat for myself which in an unbelievable soft delicious silk and alpaca blend... Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK Sadly I think it may be discontinued, however, I had more than enough for my hat and it was a beautiful experience to knit with. It shed a little, but not too much and seems to be done shedding now that I am done knitting... and I will always remember this yarn... Of course, the fact that it was my first project cabling could also have something to do with it!


The yarn itself seems to be loosely plied together, so I had to be a little careful not to split it, but it was so soft to work with and my hands didn't need extra moisturizer after knitting, so that was a plus! Anyway, if you have a chance to use this yarn, I say, go for it!

~ Contest #2 ~

This one has 2 parts and lots of prizes.

1. Coffee review ~ describe in detail your favorite coffee. Tell us why you like, how often you drink, describe the intensity and aroma, etc. If possible, include a picture with your favorite cup.

2. Yarn review ~ be as detailed as you are able; tell us why you like it, describe the texture, etc.. If possible, include a picture of the yarn and/or a finished item.

*if available, please include links to purchase your favs for those of us who may be interested in sampling for ourselves.

All entries must have "Contest #2" in the title and labels, see bottom of post window for this feature. From these entries, I will draw winners on Feb 21st. Prizes include stitchmarkers, coffee, and goodies, and I'll try to post pics of them soon. ;D

Prize for Still Life arrived!

The prize for my still life picture with coffee and yarn arrived in the mail on Saturday. It made my weekend! You can find more pictures on my blog. I'll be able to use them on my jumper - once I finished this mega-blanket I'm doing now...but I'm knitting my last square. No chance for these wonderful things to sit on a vase on the mantelpiece for too long.

Thank you Knittymama for hosting this wonderful swap/contest and thank you Sunneshine for this wonderful work of art!

Contest #2 Still Life Coffee and Yarn

Mmmm Cappumerino!

One more day!!!

Don't forget to get in your photo or poem for our second contest. Win some fabulous prizes!!! I am so impressed with all of you and your creativity. The pictures and poems are fabulous and are really making the blog a lot of fun. Hope to see some more put up this weekend!!!

To all our mothers in the swap, have a beautiful Mother's Day!

xoxo
Knittymama

Anything but still

It looks like still life, but it isn't quite. While I was running outside the café in order to have the word 'coffees' the right way around, a couple was looking at me as though I was utterly insane. Anyone who knows me wouldn't put me in the same sentence as 'still' life in any case...

Dreaming of Coffee....

Just a day before contest #2 closes - here they are happily united: both my legal addictives softly calling out to me and pulling me in.... :)

Contest #2 - Still Life With Coffee and Yarn

I was trying to organize my yarn stash when I came up with the idea for this picture. I love this yarn; it's Cascade's "The Heathers". The different brown tones in the yarn reminded me of coffee, so I threw it in the coffee pot, added my favorite mug, and some knitting I've been working on (the flower is the camellia from Noni Design).

I guess I should name the photo, "Things to do With a Broken Coffee Pot." Can you see the crack on the bottom? So sad.

Have a great weekend! *Natalie*

espresso americano con crema pura vaca y tejido

Cafe Tal en Guanajuato, Gto., MX

(americanos & the sleeve of the forever in progress wear everywhere pullover)

Like many developing countries, Mexico exports its best to the first world and
Sanka/Nescafe-type instant coffee is a
the norm.


But Guanajuato, a great university centered city, has cafes that at least attempt to
reproduce an espresso. Or the Café Americano. The cafe americano
sometimes just meant a coffee brewed in a regular coffee machine. Other
times it did mean what it means in the USA: espresso shots with added water.


You usually need to ask for "crema pura vaca" (lit. cream pure cow)if you
want real milk. Otherwise, it's nothing or the powder or partially hydrogenated
soybean oil dreck you get in waiting rooms.

crema y cafe

Guanajuato is a beautiful and charming city, we walked everywhere,
and we can't wait to go back.

Contest #2 "Still Life with Coffee & Yarn"

Knitting Essentials
My picture is about the staples of knitting - yarn, needles, stitch holders, crochet hooks, and yes...coffee. Even as I knit til 1:30 in the morning yesterday to knit my way to another FO, without coffee, much of our knitting would be incomplete. Let's raise our cups to coffee and yarn, our most endeared knitting essentials.
SD

A Poem (in lieu of a picture)

As I am sans digital camera (and of the word persuasion anyway), I cheerfully submit to you (or submit you to) this little poem:

Knit a little,
Sip a little--
(strong, with rich cream)
Feel the needles smoothly creating stitches,
clicking merrily.

Take another taste of
invigorating warmth, and
Watch the pattern form:
Knit, knit, knit, sip--purl.

Relaxation is here, where
Coffee and knitting meet,
With warm hands and heart,
Meditative mind--
Both Creation and Enjoyment.

Contest #2

Here's my Contest #2 entry, my favorite coffee cup and current sock WIP :)

Barb

My entry for "Still Life with Coffee and Yarn" Contest #2

I was excited to get started on contest #2 and had an idea for my photo almost immediately after reading the contest details. My cotton yarn has the swirls like a nicely poured latte rosette and another yarn I purchased recently twisted itself nicely into a delicious pastry.

I'll call this "yarnnimon roll and cafe yarntte" I had fun taking this photo! :)