Friday, July 07, 2006

Iceland

After knitting something beautiful and soothing and rewarding and pleasing in every way it is very difficult to pick another project. It is like your soul is still stuck on the completed project and you have to wait for the memory to fade at least a little before you can be comfortable with the next knitting project. Sort of like a transition period.

Part of me is still in Iceland. It has been difficult to focus on everyday matters or even knitting... I'm still resting my eyes on the fascinating Icelandic landscape and talking with my knitting friends. I keep hearing their voices (should I be concerned?)...

You have to love water, rain showers and wind if you go to Iceland. These are the reasons for the Icelandic wool to feel the way it does. The sheep get out of barns in May (if it is warm enough then) and they roam freely outside until November. Their wool coats are washed frequently with rain and dried with brisk winds during these six months and they are sheared in November before they get to go inside. This wool has so long fibres that it can be made into a yarn without adding twist or ply into it. The sheep have another shearing in March to have little time to grow some coating before going out again in May.

I did not take that many photographs. I wanted to see with my eyes (not through the camera lens) and transfer the image to my heart and soul from the spot and wanted to breathe with very open lungs the fresh air into my body and wanted to hear the wind and maybe even whispers of the trolls and goblins and all that I can't do if I'm worrying how can I get a good picture. Also at the time I find it very hard to write about the trip, I have to sort out all the tidbits and memories to be able to produce something that is worth writing about. But for months to come Iceland will be my inspiration.

So far it is a lovely mixture of glimpses of nature and of good friends

and wool...

23 comments:

  1. You are so fortunate to have seen that lavish landscape with your own eyes. Someday I'll make it there myself!

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  2. Anonymous17:41

    Thank-you-for-sharing-a-'window'-into-other-places.I-love-your-blog.

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  3. Anonymous17:55

    Wow, it sounds so amazing there! Thank you for sharing and I look forward to reading more about it in the future.

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  4. It sounds to me like you had an amazing experience. I'm glad it touched you so deeply. Thanks for sharing some of your experiences.

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  5. I visited Iceland a few years ago before I started knitting again - and I know that the country, and the people, and the sheep, made me want to pick up needles again.

    It sounds like you had a wonderful trip.

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  6. Welcome back. I also like to hold landscape memories in my heart. The sweater looks wonderful. I have moved from twined knitting lessons of holding two strands to a Norwegian sweater. I hope to get that picture up soon. Maybe my next one will be an Icelandic design.

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  7. I've been looking forward to your Iceland post,
    and now my soul is nourished.

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  8. Thanks for sharing those lovely pictures and words.

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  9. Welcome back! I've a good friend who is Icelandic. Having lived in CA for years now she finds that though she still loves her home she doesn't think she can live there again. We've ruined her! I've never been, probably never will. It seems so magical.

    Have you been before? Will you be going back?

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  10. I love your Iceland pictures! I'm knitting one of the shawls from the Three Cornered and Long Shawls, so I am fascinated by Iceland.

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  11. Anonymous00:38

    So lovely to have you back. I've missed your musings.

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  12. Anonymous00:57

    It's so nice to have you back. Iceland looks amazing, I thought it was a very flat country. I'm looking forward to reading your posts in the coming weeks as your experiences in Iceland find their way into your writing and into your knitting. Perhaps you could show us some new techniques as well?

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  13. Lene, what wonderful memories. I have three Icelandic blankets that my DH bought when he would fly there with the Canadian Air Force. I think they do not have large beds, but they make wonderful blankets. I am sure we will see some new ideas in your knitting. Travelling is good for the soul, but always nice to return home. Welcome home.

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  14. I've been dreaming of Iceland for a while now.. we are hoping to visit there next year. It's wonderful to hear your lovely words on the subject and to imagine your trip and the feel of the wind and rain. Can't wait to see how the trip influences your knitting as the year moves on.

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  15. Anonymous03:30

    oh lene, i missed you! i'm so glad you are back. and thank you for sharing these amazing photos.

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  16. Sometimes pictures can't do justice to what we see, the same as words not doing justice to our feelings.

    Thanks for sharing the picture of the scenery and your friends, and of course your knitting.

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  17. Anonymous06:12

    Your writing is a joy and inspiration. Thank you.

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  18. Welcome back Lene..Iceland sounds beautiful as I am not a hot climate person.

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  19. I really relate to the post-project-blues. I get it too.
    I love the photos. looks wet,wet, wet :-(
    but green, green, green!

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  20. Anonymous05:35

    I have yet to use Icelandic wool, but I am so intrigued! Once I finish some current projects, perhaps I will test it out. Iceland is on my list of places to travel...

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  21. Wow, Lene, those are some amazing pictures! I'd love to see more, but understand that you didn't want to spend your time photographing. We must see more pictures of knits, though! ;)

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  22. Iceland sounds amazing.

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  23. I've found that it's really hard to come back from any type of fiber adventure and re-enter the "real" world. I now schedule a few days off work when I arrive home just to decompress. I've been to Iceland during one of their Midwinter Madness promotions--I highly recommend it. Very affordable, and you can get a feel for the country. It was great fun. On our "to do" travel list we have added a Pony Trekking tour in Iceland for sometime in the future.

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