Trying Out the CotLin Yarn From KnitPicks.com

I am in no way a yarn snob.  Not yet, at least.  I am, however, constantly in search of a yarn that is soft, affordable, agreeable, with a lovely drape, and a yarn that won't fall apart.

Right now I am especially in search of the perfect cotton yarn.  The cheap stuff you can buy at the big box stores and craft stores is...meh, okay.  It seems to have a problem with colors running and fading FAST.  I made a beautiful 4-piece wash cloth set and it was ruined after a few uses.  Talk about frustrating.

Unless you buy a cotton yarn online, the only 2 options you have (at least where I live and there's no specialty, local yarn store) is the Sugar 'N Cream or the Wal-Mart version which is Peaches 'N Cream.  I'm pretty sure those 2 yarn brands are really the same, just with a different label.  If they're not the same, then I think they are at least coming from the exact same factory.

I discovered KnitPicks.com after a friend from church made a baby blanket for my son using one of the yarns from there.  I'm not sure which one, to be honest, but I do love it.  That blanket, which is by far a very simple design, all in one solid color, has received so many compliments.  At the hospital when Jensen was born, the nurses kept remarking on how soft and wonderful it was.  And it still is, almost 5 months later.

So KnitPicks.com has 2 cotton yarns I was debating: the Dishie Yarn and the CotLin.  The Dishie Yarn is 100% cotton worsted weight in a range of 20 different colors (currently) and comes in a 100g skein of 190 yards.  The price is $3.99 per skein.  It has received lots of wonderful reviews.  At the time that I was ready to order, they were out of stock on all the colors I wanted.  So I looked at the CotLin.

The CotLin is 70% Tanguis cotton and 30% linen DK weight yarn in a range of 30 different colors (currently) and comes in a 50g skein of 123 yards.  The price is $2.99 per skein.  This yarn has also received a ton of rave reviews, and when it came down to it, a few things made me swing towards this yarn: 1.) More colors to choose from and 2.) The description says that the linen adds characteristic flecks, additional absorbency, and less elasticity to the final product.  I like the less elasticity part, since washcloths in particular can streeeeetch out.

I got the package in the mail on Wednesday.  Look at this cute little card they put in the box!  I think I need to take a clue and do something cute like this for orders I ship out.

I ordered 7 colors to start off with.  Shipping is very reasonable.  I only paid $4.99, or at a $50 order the shipping is free.  As much as I would have loved to buy $50 worth of yarn, I would have kicked myself in the tail.

The colors I ordered, from left to right (sort of): Clementine, Cashew, Swan, Canary, Surf, Conch, and Gosling.  The colors are vibrant and absolutely beautiful in person!  And the yarn is nice and soft with a little bit of a squishiness to it.

Here are some color combinations I am thinking of for 3-piece washcloth sets:

Cashew, Clementine, & Canary

Conch, Swan, & Surf

Swan, Conch, & Gosling

Of course I have enough yarn for several more combinations.  At this point I am not sure how much I will get out of each skein, or even how big my final washcloth will be.  I will know more in a few days!

The Mystery Iris Is Blooming! And Other Iris Types of Note

I just love flowers.  When we closed on our house back in January, I didn't realize I would have any blooming flowers this spring.  It's the only set of flowers in the entire yard (for the moment) so I was excited to see what color they would be.

They just started to bloom yesterday and there's at least 4 blooms per stalk and probably 8-10 stalks.  I think I will cut a few for the dining room table.  I'm not an iris expert, but I am guessing this is a yellow bearded iris?  I have no idea about what name it would have.

Iris is probably the easiest thing to grow, other than a weed.  Really, all you have to do is make sure it has plenty of sun and some water, then every few years you can divide up the rhizomes (because they naturalize and spread over time).  I think the blackest of thumbs can grow iris.  

I think I'd like to add to my iris collection.  I found these on tulipworld.com.  This is one of my new favorite websites because they have flat rate $3.95 shipping.  SHAZAM!  I am sold.

As a note, all of these photos below belong to tulipworld.com.  I have provided links for all of the iris types if you would like to purchase any from there.

Beverly Sills Reblooming Iris

This peachy pink iris is so feminine and lovely.  It's like a vintage wedding dress, all covered in lace.  I think it looks timeless, classic, and beautiful.

Immortality Reblooming Iris

So if the Beverly Sills iris reminds me of a vintage wedding gown, this fluffy, stark white iris reminds me of a modern wedding gown.  I always find stark white flowers to be so beautiful as well.  When we purchase flowers for their extravagant shades of beauty, there's still something amazing about a white flower.

Lady in Red Dwarf Bearded Iris

Now this one looks like a show stopper!  I don't even know what color that is.  The website describes it as magenta, but it looks almost like a red wine burgundy mixed with indigo.  I don't even know.  But it is such a beautiful shade of color I've never seen in a flower before.

Here Comes the Night Bearded Iris

This one makes my heart stop.  I'm such a sucker for "black" flowers because they're just so cool looking.  If I ever live in a creepy looking old house, I'm going to plant a gothic garden with nothing but black flowers.  I am definitely getting some of these because I don't think my garden can live without it.

Next I think I will talk about tulips.  I don't have any in my yard, but I'm determined to plant every square inch possible.  Tulips will be a long post, so I'll save it for another day!

Dining Room Inspiration: Navy, Mint, Gold, & Yellow

We just bough a house at the end of January.  I haven't had time to even think about decorating.  Ugh. The farthest I've been able to get, so far, is decorating in my head - know what I mean?  My time has been consumed between Odd Duck Soaps, the kiddos, and our yard and garden.

I decided it's time to start thinking about making a decorating plan.  For me that can be kind of hard.  I think my overall decorating style - and I'm no professional interior designer - would be best described as eclectic.  I love everything from vintage, folk, modern, cottage chic, to minimalism and beyond.  If I had to choose one decorating style, I would probably cry.  There's so much beauty to be found in them all.

I haven't decided on a paint color and I also think I will have to change the curtains, but this is the direction I would like to go with our dining room.  I see a vision of navy blue, shades of mint, yellows, cream, and a touch of metallic gold finishes.

A few key items that I need to get: vintage trays for a tray wall, fabulous pieces of display china, and a large, ornate gilded (real or faux) mirror.  These are the big 3 items that are going to set the mood for our dining room.  I really would love a hutch but due to the room layout I think a buffet or dresser will work best.  Since I will be decorating on a tight budget I hope to score at some thrift stores and yard sales.  I will have to see things with new eyes and hone my recycling skills.

If you are interested in any of these items that are for sale, please go here.  All photos belong to the shop owners.

Happy Like Cotton Candy: A Pastel Round-Up

Usually when I think of pastels I think, "Ick."  I have made a believer out of myself with these beautiful, spring-inspired finds.  The colors kind of remind me of cotton candy...which reminds me of childhood...which makes me happy.   

Scroll down below for individual links or you can go here to see all of them at once.

1.) Pastel Play Silk Set from The Enchanted Cupboard
2.) 24 Pastel Straws from The Shindiggity Shoppe
3.) Pastel Tassel Garland from Studio Mucci
4.) Pastel Lavender Sachets from Gardenmis
5.) Mint Oxfords from The Drifter Leather
6.) Item sold.  Check out some more items from More Chenille Chateau.
7.) Pink and Mint Cupcake Earrings from Zoozim
8.) Item sold.  Check out some more items from Caramelos.
9.) Sweet Pastel Pinwheels from A Forest Frolic
10.) Hazel Atlas Sherbet Cups from Iones Attic
11.) Tassel Necklace from Fresh From the Kiln
12.) Pink Wool Top from Just A Daydream
13.) Miniature Spring Bunny from cbexpress
14.) Shabby Chic Bunting from Sweet Caroline Home
15.) Spring Celebrations Sugar Cookies from Q's Goodies
16.) Butterfly Sachets from Gardenmis

My First Grumpy Cat Meme

This song drives me so batty, I had to make a grumpy cat meme out of it.

Anybody else feel me on this one?