Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Pink Cashmere


Isn't it lovely? Art Yarns Cashmere 5. Soft, buttery, and oh so pink with subtle hints of tan. Worth falling off the wagon? Almost,... A couple weeks ago I was at a yarn shop in Capitola. I wandered around with a mental inventory of my stash. Everything I touched I either already owned or owned the equivalent. (that's why we're on a yarn diet, remember?) The store is a refurbished house so there are rooms that are interconnected with doorways and hallways. I went round and round looking for something, what I'm not sure. While I was "shopping" a biker dude walked in. I say biker dude so you could have a mental picture, think black leather and boots. He was rather large, older with medium length wavy gray hair. He had a salt and pepper beard. He was looking for yarn for his knitter to make him a very special scarf. It had to be soft. He followed a staff person around who handed him various skeins of soft fluff in deep grays and blues. With each new possibility he shook his head, and continued to follow her around. Meanwhile I had found 2 skeins of this cashmere and held it contemplatively in my hand. He saw me, stopped and said in the softest voice, "That's so beautiful, is there more?" I looked at him and said, "It's pink," knowing what he was looking for himself. He replied, "I know and it's sooo pretty". I tilted my head, "You want this?" He nodded eagerly. I thought about it for a second. Possession is 9/10's and all, by rights it was mine to purchase, all $90 of it. But then the image of a biker dude, this biker dude, going down hwy 1 with a pink cashmere scarf tucked under his leather jacket flashed through my head. Hey, trust me, no one's going to cross this guy over his pink scarf. I smiled, and handed over the skeins.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

We Interrupt this Knitting Blog...

To bring you a day at the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, CA. The girls took the tour through the candy factory, tasted their favorite flavors and shopped for gifts.

We've been to the factory once before on the way up to visit the cousins in Reno, NV. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive just to the factory, and this time it was our only destination, you see there was this special event...

Longaberger was there,





and we made a basket.

Monday, February 26, 2007

WWW: What in the World did I buy at stitches West

Right, I'm on a stash diet -- however, these items are exempt because they were purchased at a knitting convention convention (excl 2e). I actually didn't do too bad. I kept to my budget (if you only count the first group).
Clockwise from top:
1. Rib wrap from Continental Stitches
2. 2 sks Geisha from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in Bleeding Hearts and Scaponia.
3. Lace wt tencel from Just Our Yarn
4. Claudia Handpainted 20/2 silk in Pink Posey from Commuknity
5. Linie 194 from Yarndogs
6. Merging Colors Adagio Shawl from The Mannings
center: Annie kit from Swallow Hill Creations

These items would have been okay anyways under exclusions 2a and 5.
Clockwise from top:
1. Seacoast superwash in Cherry Fizz from Full Thread Ahead
2. Paisley silk wrap from Shobha Imports (it's not even yarn)
3. Angora Valley Fly Dyed Supersport purchased from Sheila Ernst -- also purchased but not pictured -- cobalt blue Don't Drop spindle. More about this little guy later...
4. Fleece Artist Sea Wool in Seashore from Full Thread Ahead
5. Merino Tencel roving from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in Red Rooster
6. Merino Kid roving from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in Red Rooster
center: tote bag from Commuknity -- it's just canvas but it's big and it says "Knitting is my Yoga"

Me here at the Student Banquet with the esteemed Jane Sowerby -- I'm wearing my Shoulder Shawl in Cherry Leaf Pattern from her book Victorian Lace Today.

Up next -- the 12 hour sweater class...

addendum -- check out the sidebar for a new book coming out soon from a dear friend, knitter and blogger at Spin Dye Knit

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

It's that time again...

Just links today...first and foremost, since I can't express it any better than my blog buddy Cris read her take on Stitches West

Then, on the recommendation of another friend (knitting vulture, who could resist?) I went and ordered my own copy of Little Dee

Gotta go hide the ends on the RoundTrip and block the Victorian Lace shawl (I'll have a picture w/ the edging, later -- maybe while it's blocking -- watch this space)...Stitches awaits...just one more day and I can shop!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Post Valentines Pre Stitches

Here's a shot of the Victorian Lace shawl before adding the edging.














And here's a shot of the RoundTrip shrug. As you can see I've only got to tie up the loose ends.














Here's my todo list for Stitches:
1. finish; wash and block above 2 projects
2. prepare materials and do homework for class
3. pick out a project or 2 from the sidebar to knit at stitches.

I'm not starting anything new until after stitches west.

Hope you had a very nice Valentine's Day!