My View: Winter Hats

Winter is coming to an end! Finally! The past few months have been about hibernation and bundling up to go outside. I've been busy knitting warm hats or enjoying putting some vintage ones into rotation. This was a season where need overshadowed fashion, but hopefully we pulled off both! 

Here's a sampling of just a few of the hats from this Winter that were put to the test:

It was a sunny day, but freezing! Here I am sporting my Maple Leaf Turban. This hat is really warm, and with my Mother's brooch I could channel my Canadian ancestry to keep warm!  

 I bought this vintage 1960's fur hat in Memphis last Summer. I always find the best vintage winter wear in warm climates! I love this hat, it's very chic and stylish. I am actually looking forward to wearing this with a late Fall or early Spring ensemble. This hat is very warm but does not cover the ears which is crucial during freezing temps. 

This one I knitted up for my husband with the Peace Fleece I purchased in Maine last Fall. Blue is his color! If you're looking for a simple watch cap or Jacques Cousteau style pattern, this is the one. 

What was your "go to" hat this Winter to keep the chill away?

 All of these photos were first shown on my Instagram feed. If you want to keep the "insta" in Instagram follow me @bobbinbombshell.

Mid-Week Inspiration: Yarns From Maine

I splurged on some gorgeous yarns while I was in Maine.  In the town of Bath we found Halcyon Yarn which quickly became my favorite yarn store, ever. They sell all sorts of yarn from the familiar and wonderful Cascade (which I bought a large hank of for a scarf for my Husband) to smaller brands from Norway, Iceland, etc. They also sell several brands from Maine including their own. If you're into weaving, they've got supplies for that too!
I was overwhelmed and it took me a while to focus. In addition to the Cascade, I decided on some additional hanks from two Maine companies, Peace Fleece and Swans Island. The colors are magnificent and my photos do not do them justice. 

Not only are the yarns themselves inspiring...oh what am I going to make?...but the stories behind these two yarn companies are inspiring too. 

I bought two hanks of Peace Fleece Worsted. The darker blue (Patience Blue) will be a hat for my Husband. The teal (Blue Jay) will be something for me (TBD). Peace Fleece is from Porter, Maine. They started in the Mid-Eighties with a mission to bridge the US and Russia during the Cold War. The owners imported wool from small Russian farms and turned it into delicious yarn in amazing colors. Now they also support small farmers in the Middle East and Dakota Indian reservations. I love that their company has flourished and the community they have created. 

I also bought one hank from Swans Island. I had a hard time capturing the richness of this purple natural indigo dyed yarn. The layers of colors is incredible! This was a total splurge at $32 a hank but I couldn't resist it's beauty! Swans Island is a small company located near Acadia National Park. Formed by two Boston lawyers who decided to leave the hustle and bustle behind and work from the land. They moved to Swan's Island, use local wool, learned how to naturally dye it, and started making beautiful blankets. The blankets are a Martha Stewart dream come true and are hand loomed. They now make naturally indigo dyed yarn and they, as mentioned before, are gorgeous! Keeping days old traditions this company has a labor of love and it shows in the quality of their products. Next time I am in Maine, I would love to visit their facility. 

I can't wait to show you what these yarns become! 

My View: Maine Vacation Pics

I am back from an amazing week long vacation in my home state of Maine! I hadn't been in 4 years and that was way too long.  Below are some snaps that I shared on my Instagram while I was away. You can see why I missed my home so much!

This shot of the Atlantic was taken at my favorite spot in my hometown of York on the cliffs over looking York Harbor. Quite possibly my favorite spot in the world. 

Quintessential Maine. Lobster buoys on the John Hancock wharf. 

Again taken from the Cliff Walk in York Harbor. We walked this every morning, it never gets old.

Our lovely inn in York. I've wanted to stay here since I was a little girl! 

We also spent several nights in West Boothbay Harbor. This was our view from our rental cottage. We enjoyed the rustic life for a few days and the peaceful views. 

Oh, I feel homesick again already! To see more shots from my vacation check me out on Instagram @BobbinBombshell. 

On Vacation: Homeward Bound

I will be on vacation all this week, so it will be quiet here on the blog. I am thrilled to be going back to my home state of Maine for a week. I haven't been in four years and that was a very brief visit. I was really lucky to grow up on the coast of Maine and there are so many things I miss about it. 

It's full on crispy Autumn in Maine right now. It will be too chilly for this kind of beach activity- but York is my hometown, so I love this vintage poster! 

I will look more like this...what am I going to pack? 

 My internet access will be spotty but I will be posting pics on Instagram. Follow me @BobbinBombshell to stay in touch! Of course I will share photos here as well, when I return! 

xo, Karen