Easter 2019

Easter – a time to enjoy nature’s yearly revival – new leaves adorn trees, flowers dazzle us with their colors, birds are singing their melodies…
Time to read poems, too. In four languages (Spanish, French, English, Italian) the Anthology of Love by Jorge Centofanti is a special gift for that special friend – but, of course, you may also keep it, if you cannot part with it after you started it… Downloading it to your reader will not set you back for more than a cup of coffee or tea.

A Book for Quiet Time

Jorge Centofanti’s Anthology offers poems and ballads for mind and soul. Unlike novels, his “Songs about Love” leave one free to travel individual and personal paths and thoughts. His poems touch the soul and embrace the reader with a finely woven mesh of words.
A book that is more than a gift: A lasting present for those who value quiet time.

Ein Buch für eine Zeit der Stille
„Anthology“ von Jorge Centofanti enthält Gedichte, Balladen und Chansons für die Seele und Psyche. Im Gegensatz zu Romanen lassen seine Lieder über die Liebe es zu, ohne Einschränkungen ganz individuelle, persönliche Pfade zu gehen und Gedankenwegen zu folgen. Seine Gedichte berühren die Seele und umarmen den Leser mit einem fein gewobenem Netz von Worten. Ein Buch, das mehr ist als ein Geschenk. Ein Präsent für Menschen, die eine Zeit der Stille schätzen.

Springtime Cowl and Beanie

The winter of 2019 seems to be just as endless in Chicago Land as last year’s – so I thought that my friend Barb might welcome the warmth of a cowl – doubling as a beanie for the really Chicago-windy days – and in the spring color of green, with a few red, blue and yellow beads thrown in for good measure as a stand-in for spring flowers!

Springtime Cowl and Beanie

The pattern is called: Barb’s Springtime Cowl and Beanie!

First: It is a cowl. Secondly: It is a beanie. Thirdly: You can wear it with the greener part at the top or at the bottom, upside down, inside out. And finally: The I-cord is removable and can be woven through the holes between the stitches either at the top or at the bottom. I crocheted the last two rows and the elastic bind-off to make an even hole-spacing for the I-cord.

Springtime Cowl and Beanie

Springtime Cowl and Beanie

After weaving the I-cord through the spaces between the stitches, pull it tight, make a bow and there you go, take a bow! Wear your beanie upside down whichever way you please. Oh yes, lest I forget, if you don’t want the I-cord to show you can gather the cowl together at the top with the I-cord, make a bow, turn the cowl – now a beanie – inside out and there you go. How versatile is that!

Springtime Cowl and Beanie – I-Cord

 

Springtime Cowl and Beanie

Of course there is the option to wear it inside out and upside down, but that is totally up to the wearer-ess. The spiral-like green beads on the one end I bought in Shanghai in 2008. The colourful Rocailles (beads) I bought in Vienna in an incredibly well-stocked bead shop sometime at the beginning of this century. And the various yarns were bought during the past 6 decades of picking up so-called orphan yarns, i.e. where only one or two skeins are left in an orphan basket in yarn stores of every country we visited. Now they are orphans no longer but united in a hopefully useful accessory. They are in the colors of spring flowers. 
So there you go! An international Barb Beanie and Cowl!

Succulent – not a cowl or beanie, but green!