Knitting by the hearth in Normandy | EvinOK

A Brief Intermission for Bereavement

by Evin // December 26, 2020 // 3 Comments

As many of you who follow me on Instagram or Facebook know, my father died earlier this month. He was my best friend. I was his mini-me. Our final conversation was much the same as all our daily talks, filled with... Continue reading →

Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

by Evin // December 23, 2020 // No Comments

I previously wrote about the beautiful and fun gifts sent to me by In The Book, so today I want to go over what I’ve been sharing on my Instagram about creative gift wrapping. How I Do It I love... Continue reading →

All My Knitwear Designs Listed with Photos, Description, and Download Options from LoveCrafts and Ravelry

by Evin // December 22, 2020 // 2 Comments

After a summer of Thursday blog posts sharing details about my knitwear designs, I thought this post would be useful to give an overview of ALL my designs. I’ll organise them by type, describe them, and suggest yarn options. This blog... Continue reading →

Back and neck pain stop you doing what you want to

by Evin // December 15, 2020 // No Comments

As some of you know, I was diagnosed with Freiberg disease in 2018 and since then my back and neck have been more vulnerable to aches and pains. The body is linked closely and when one area has a problem, it... Continue reading →

How to find green gifts for friends and family

by Evin // December 3, 2020 // No Comments

Today, I’m sharing a guest post by Liesbeth Deddens of Climeworks. Concern for the environment has led to changing purchasing habits; whether it’s using biodegradable, chemical-free cleaning products, buying plastic-free goods such as bamboo toothbrushes and shampoo bars, changing energy... Continue reading →

In The Book Personalised Books Under the Tree

by Evin // December 1, 2020 // No Comments

You know I love books! And I have a unique name, so I’ve always loved personalised things because it feels special and bespoke. So when In The Book offered me a choice of gifted books to show off my creative... Continue reading →

Shopping and Planning for Christmas 2020

by Evin // November 26, 2020 // No Comments

With lockdown restrictions returning to Ireland taking place up until the two weeks before Christmas, it is important to remain calm about anything that isn’t life or death. This year has been so hard for so many, I remain grateful... Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Dinner - Source Archives of Cranberry Magazine

Your Guide to American Thanksgiving History, Recipes, and Crafts

by Evin // November 19, 2020 // No Comments

As an American living in Ireland, I have had to adapt to Thanksgiving Thursday being just another day. I shared my thoughts on this several years ago in an article in The Irish Examiner. Today, I’m not reflecting on my... Continue reading →

Interview with Stuart Simmonds, author of the Hannah the Spanner series of books and Harry the Karate Monkey

by Evin // November 17, 2020 // No Comments

Q&A with Stuart Simmonds, author of the Hannah the Spanner series of books and Harry the Karate Monkey How long have you been writing? Other than the odd article or report, I started writing my cricket book “Watching With... Continue reading →

Redressing the balance of climate change – how can we can all help in our own way

by Evin // November 10, 2020 // No Comments

Today, I’m sharing guest post today by Louise Palmer-Masterton, founder of multiple award-winning restaurants Stem & Glory. Though I am not 100% on a plant-based diet, I eat several aligned meals each week and gravitate toward meat-free foods in general. I... Continue reading →

Mother with black hair and peach shirt sitting on the curb holding toddler with train conductor hat.

My Mom’s Recipe Repertoire

by Evin // October 22, 2020 // 1 Comment

Most of these recipes were ones she learned from friends who were born or have strong family ties to a certain country or region. I think, for my mom, cooking her friends’ recipes was a way of keeping them close... Continue reading →

Top tips for new cyclists – Guest post by Catherine Bedford, Dashel

by Evin // October 20, 2020 // No Comments

I’m thrilled to be able to share this guest post today by Catherine Bedford of Dashel. She has some valuable expertise and insight into getting a bicycle, cycling safety, and all the relevant matters to consider. As a family who... Continue reading →

Collaborating on the Planetary Sisters Countdown Calendar

by Evin // October 15, 2020 // No Comments

One of the unexpected silver linings of a semi-lockdown existence this year has been collaborating with creators virtually. Sometimes, even when you’re local it offers the chance to focus with clarity on your own value. I think 2020 gave me a... Continue reading →

child reaching to touch a mural of the Atlantic ocean

Should I become an expat? 5 Unexpected benefits of expat life

by Evin // October 13, 2020 // 1 Comment

Although you may have dreamed of living and working abroad for many years, there is still a lot to consider before you make the decision to become an expat. I’ve teamed up with Allianz Care to discuss some of the... Continue reading →

French Toast with Raspberry-Maple Syrup

by Evin // October 6, 2020 // No Comments

French toast is easy and forgiving. This is my go-to recipes since I was a kid, but I play with the syrup any chance I get. This raspberry-maple combination is popular with my family, but sometimes I use a blend... Continue reading →

Feeding problems: Breastfeeding in Ireland with Orla Dorgan via Irish Examiner

Breastfeeding: Latching On and Letting Go

by Evin // October 1, 2020 // No Comments

This is a different post than my usual because it is very personal. Heck, it includes a photo of me breastfeeding so this is clearly not a post about how I made blackberry waffles with Siracha-maple syrup. Here, today, I... Continue reading →

Sid Madge, author of the ‘Meee in a minute’ series of books

How to get the best from the last 3 months of a challenging 2020

by Evin // September 29, 2020 // No Comments

Today, I’m sharing an insightful guest post by Sid Madge, author of the ‘Meee in a minute’ series of books. And I have a special discount code for my readers! Entering the code EVINOK will give my readers 20% off books via... Continue reading →

All About Ultraviolet Knits: 12 knitting patterns featuring blacklight-reactive hand-dyed wool

by Evin // September 23, 2020 // No Comments

Ultraviolet Knits: Twelve knitting patterns featuring UV-reactive hand-dyed wool (Anchor and Bee, 2020) features 12 original accessory knitting patterns designed with black light-reactive hand-dyed wool-based yarns. Ultraviolet Knits is inspired by the night’s sky, some from the view from Earth, such as... Continue reading →

Kindness, Sharing, and Emma Rattray’s The Rug Bear

by Evin // September 22, 2020 // No Comments

It was a fun surprise when I was gifted a copy of Emma Rattray’s book The Rug Bear. We are really into bedtime reading (and afternoon reading) in our home, so new books quickly become favourites being toted from room-to-room... Continue reading →

Woman with green and amber multicolour eyes looking into camera with hand knit shawl held to her face. The yarn in the shawl matches her eyes.

School Gate Shawlette Knitting Pattern & Every Child Is Your Child Ireland

by Evin // September 19, 2020 // No Comments

The School Gate Shawlette was inspired by the ironwork openings and lattice textures of my son’s school gate. This pattern is a dedicated fundraiser for Every Child Is Your Child Ireland. Every cent from this sale of this pattern goes to ECIYC. There are... Continue reading →