tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41495362024-03-07T01:59:25.654-05:00Like The QueenWhatever happens to strike my fancy, but surely some sort of fiber content.Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.comBlogger1846125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-89238641841585406392010-10-10T16:46:00.002-04:002010-10-10T16:50:46.393-04:00<h3>Time for a Cool Change</h3><br /><br />In 2003 I created <strong>LikeTheQueen</strong>, and for the first 5 years I made almost daily posts to it. In those days I had no digital camera and only a flatbed scanner so I tried to paint word pictures for people to see what was happening in the Life-0-Bess at <strong>TheCastle</strong>. You have read with me through my AdventuresInSpinning, A Trip to England, the early years of the Knitters Review Retreat, Maryland Sheep and Wool, and a host of other fiberish travels. You've know how I met <strong>BD,</strong> you've seen pictures of <strong>LD</strong>, you've been with me through weddings and funerals and you all know about the Wheat Dolphins.<br /><br />By the time Blogger moved to the New Blogger - <strong>LikeTheQueen</strong> was so big it wouldn't transfer to the new format. And this newer, supposedly easier to use format turned out to be NotSoEasy for me. I've fiddled with it on and off for the past year and haven't <em>yet</em> figured out if I like it or not. But lately some faithful readers have complained that the old blog triggers a virus warning when they log on. The e-mail account I used to start that blog was compromised many times and I finally abandonded it for a @gmail address. I believe it is time, now, to lay LikeTheQueen <span style="font-size:180%;">1 </span>aside for the <a href="http://likethequeen2.blogspot.com/">LikeTheQueen<span style="font-size:180%;">2</span>. </a> I believe, my friends, that it is time for a cool change.<br /><br /><div align="center">Come see me at the <a href="http://likethequeen2.blogspot.com/">NEW CASTLE </a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://likethequeen2.blogspot.com/">CLICK HERE</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-77637473286269796152010-09-23T06:56:00.002-04:002010-09-23T07:07:52.300-04:00<h3>FO</h3><br />Here is that completed lace sock I knit for Spirit Trail. You can see it at her booth in Rhinebeck next month.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbN7dKBjULdjPk7JC7pu7ZPdwTgXAHNBszQUhpRmXfQQu_sp-cWkwVIubAtivgvgwbh6ss_bAuCHiOm4O41GFNQWd_TSzVTrqbbwAvMKtEYC9lWqaH67RBLr2aYXTPdcXS2o/s1600/P1020309.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520062127895697106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbN7dKBjULdjPk7JC7pu7ZPdwTgXAHNBszQUhpRmXfQQu_sp-cWkwVIubAtivgvgwbh6ss_bAuCHiOm4O41GFNQWd_TSzVTrqbbwAvMKtEYC9lWqaH67RBLr2aYXTPdcXS2o/s320/P1020309.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Now it's time to finish up that shawl collared vest - and the other two summertime UFOs in my bag-0-shame. But after that I believe I will use the lace stitch in this sock to make a pair of gloves. I've been wanting to try that i-cord glove technique of Meg <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swansen's</span>. I've got the yarn, I've got the stitch, I've got the needles, thanks to a wonderful<strong> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">BD</span></strong> who bought me the entire set of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">StitchBerry</span> wooden circular needles for my birthday.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Btw</span>. The size zero join is not as smooth as all the other sizes ... but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">lawsee</span> - they go up to something like size 15!! all with silky wooden tips and smooth joins. There is a winter full of comfortable knitting up ahead.<br /><br />Ta!<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-60316401919502054572010-09-21T15:13:00.002-04:002010-09-21T15:39:28.498-04:00<h3><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">I</span><span style="color:#6600cc;">t</span><span style="color:#ffcc00;">'</span><span style="color:#339999;">s</span> <span style="color:#000099;">M</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">y</span> <span style="color:#339999;"><span style="color:#009900;">B</span><span style="color:#ff6600;">i</span><span style="color:#333399;">r</span><span style="color:#993399;">t</span><span style="color:#006600;">h</span><span style="color:#ff6600;">d</span><span style="color:#993399;">a</span></span><span style="color:#3366ff;">y</span></span></h3><br /><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5MZaFNmyasI4BvlnmXWWqq8nvMV6DsiWBoonWEyl3-omhxb0YRcumey933JFFDS9FB8CHrIHN6ocP79gmdStl9oFlBTxG1MAexnYEEc8FdAmhwJZVGkjneJ37AKQzF4jTsk/s1600/BirthdayCakeGourmet.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 93px; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519447499234703954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5MZaFNmyasI4BvlnmXWWqq8nvMV6DsiWBoonWEyl3-omhxb0YRcumey933JFFDS9FB8CHrIHN6ocP79gmdStl9oFlBTxG1MAexnYEEc8FdAmhwJZVGkjneJ37AKQzF4jTsk/s320/BirthdayCakeGourmet.jpg" /></a></p><br />and as of 3:16 in the afternoon, I am having the best most splendid one ever. There have been phone calls and cards and presents. There has been some productive work (always makes a Virgo feel good to have a bit of productivity in her day) but I am also skipping out a wee bit early to play with loved ones, of the 2 legged variety and the 4.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5MZaFNmyasI4BvlnmXWWqq8nvMV6DsiWBoonWEyl3-omhxb0YRcumey933JFFDS9FB8CHrIHN6ocP79gmdStl9oFlBTxG1MAexnYEEc8FdAmhwJZVGkjneJ37AKQzF4jTsk/s1600/BirthdayCakeGourmet.jpg"></a><br />And just in case you want to see where I am when I am just about to go home from work - on a birthday - Here is the view from my desk.<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLTDvjQcAIMFTYlHO4Hv7NIEdedfim4iRCBf1rvECcHUD8pJQFG6LU4Sj1F3_ypfJJd3Hra9jfZ96O4Cp-LDwz5iJ79vr6D8dlM9jYK45LddjC51ogEzHWM-JYJKlo0W971Y/s1600/100_0204.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519447475665875794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLTDvjQcAIMFTYlHO4Hv7NIEdedfim4iRCBf1rvECcHUD8pJQFG6LU4Sj1F3_ypfJJd3Hra9jfZ96O4Cp-LDwz5iJ79vr6D8dlM9jYK45LddjC51ogEzHWM-JYJKlo0W971Y/s320/100_0204.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.not-plain-jane.com/2010/09/ten-on-tuesday-happy-birthday.html?spref=fb">J </a>has 10 on Tuesday <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">blogpost</span> today and it's about birthdays - that led me to <a href="http://caroleknits.net/2010/09/21/ten-on-tuesday-80/">Carol</a> who's 10 are surely worth reading.<br /><br />But my 10 on Tuesday Birthday list would include<br /><br /><ol><li>Have some Great Coffee first thing in the morning</li><li>Be present - be where your tribe is - and give them a chance to wish you Happy Birthday - because, hearing the words makes it so Make sure you've bought yourself a treat - because you ought to love yourself at least as much as you love everyone you also give presents to</li><li>Dress up. Wear something that makes you feel sparkly</li><li>Hug someone you love </li><li>Don't cook - unless you want to</li><li>Remember the things you did the past year that you are proud of</li><li>Think of something wonderful you'd like to do while you are this year's age</li><li>Thank your mom (or your parents)for giving you birth </li><li>Eat Cake</li><li>Come back next year for another one</li></ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63hF6h-YCRDwZBhtPb4ddgUbnJYnw5CKtQFqrWL-_pL2vjChLFWG1y1gEUdbShyphenhyphenLK6Z465lW7FvpRzuZN1MPy4UZXc3lL7yYPxQBgjfza4URAsHakwoLG2iar_L2G5Ttef50/s1600/cake403.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 269px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519447516215699490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63hF6h-YCRDwZBhtPb4ddgUbnJYnw5CKtQFqrWL-_pL2vjChLFWG1y1gEUdbShyphenhyphenLK6Z465lW7FvpRzuZN1MPy4UZXc3lL7yYPxQBgjfza4URAsHakwoLG2iar_L2G5Ttef50/s320/cake403.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJy2kq9qRAYC483sZNeevtqt80DWTt4rRTMGIg_F4gcX1jUZ1Xc1yJLdnCq4A-YFlbLZDjScBqMMMyPgwqn1PmRKXdhBUzljkzsGfa3zH7ows2ORPfVrmJAdIeMxdMPzMcJg/s1600/present-birthday-cake.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519447493289048690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJy2kq9qRAYC483sZNeevtqt80DWTt4rRTMGIg_F4gcX1jUZ1Xc1yJLdnCq4A-YFlbLZDjScBqMMMyPgwqn1PmRKXdhBUzljkzsGfa3zH7ows2ORPfVrmJAdIeMxdMPzMcJg/s320/present-birthday-cake.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-51707975755690254132010-09-19T07:34:00.003-04:002010-09-19T08:13:16.089-04:00<h3>Lack of Knitting Progress</h3>I find it odd that I will start a project, knit away on it like a fiend, get almost done and then come to a crashing halt. It isn't strange to me if I know I've skimped on the KnittingMath and am making something for a smaller, slimmer version of myself. Waiting for that splendid day when I am the size I want to be - the size that fits the garment I've knitted. Sure. That makes sense. But to just crash to a halt on something that's almost done and will be exactly what it should be is a little puzzling. It reminds me of all the homework I didn't do as a child. I could do the homework. It was neither hard nor even onerous. Often it was fun. But it was required. I had to do it. I believe that, for the ENFPers out there -those of us who really get no glory from completion - crashing into those last 6 inches of knitting is a constant and ubiquitous danger.<br /><br />I did get the heel done on the green lace sock that is due by Friday - you will see it at Rhinebeck if you go there - a sample sock for Spirit Trail Fiberworks. but I don't have photos. Yet. I promise one will show up before the week is out.<br /><br />Birthday gifts have begun showing up in the mailbox. The package from Schoolhouse Press that was delivered on Saturday has to be from <strong>LD</strong> because it was addressed to Bess Haile and when I have to use my own credit card I have to use my given name by which I am known to the IRS. Nicknames are always such a conundrum because they are nearly always who we think we are, who all our friends think we are and yet - they are never on any official documents to prove that we actually are who we think we are.<br /><br />Ahh well. Obviously when I get down to nattering about nicknames it is obvious I have nothing valuable to say. And since I have no knitting progress photos to make today's post interesting I would do better to go knit instead of write. Or vacuum. Yes. That is probably more necessary than even lace sock knitting. But there will be Finished Objects to display within the week. Till then - how about a cute kid taking a whack at it photo<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8pbyIdLkRkKkO6GRe9JTuJqeUSBNyJnUYq07RxcCTABUh0-b6uBQ11zgEP9SsBlQFhIsunQj6AcomcMMq5W8mupjVDUc0pqHP2_p2hMvSMh7GGjC5F_YzDTZRv7AyYmlYHA/s1600/P1020293.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518595907758748770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8pbyIdLkRkKkO6GRe9JTuJqeUSBNyJnUYq07RxcCTABUh0-b6uBQ11zgEP9SsBlQFhIsunQj6AcomcMMq5W8mupjVDUc0pqHP2_p2hMvSMh7GGjC5F_YzDTZRv7AyYmlYHA/s320/P1020293.JPG" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-11787353445585281002010-09-16T06:53:00.002-04:002010-09-16T07:19:21.905-04:00<h3>P R O C R A S T I N A T I O .... oh I think I'll finish that later</h3><br /><br />If I have a besetting sin, it is procrastination. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hmmm</span>. Perhaps others might say I have other flaws, but I am talking about a defect that gets in my way. I am not talking about other people's happiness. My bedeviling imp is procrastination and I have been giving some serious attention to it the past few weeks.<br /><br />In the back of my head I hear Carly Simon singing<br /><div align="center">Procrastination, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">procrastina</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ay</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">tion</span></div><div align="center">Is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">makin</span>' me late</div><div align="center">Is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">keepin</span>' me <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">waitin</span>'</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">And I think about how much of my life sits on hold waiting for me to get going - and not getting going. It happens in my work life, in my household management, my physical health, my knitting ... I am positive that procrastination is what makes us amass so much stash. If I knit as much as I shopped I would probably have a wardrobe of sweaters and an empty chimney.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I've been working hard in my job to follow Ivy Lee's advice to Charles <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Schwab</span> - to write down, at the end of the day, the 6 most important things I have to do to get where I want to be in work life and the next day start with #1, and work only on that till I finish. Then move on to #2. At the end of the day, whatever is still on the list goes to the top of the next day's list. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I have to say -that is helping me get a LOT done and moves me to new places where I get to do new and different things - until</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Until, that is, I hit something I know needs to get done and I don't want to do -or am afraid I will fail at. and boy - then can I procrastinate! And boy is it stupid to do that - because the suffering of procrastination manifests itself in anticipation ... of the ax falling on my head. It always looms heavier than it really is - that Dread Activity. Yesterday I punched through that paper wall of fear and went out soliciting donations for a project I'm working on and the ease with which I succeeded really made me feel stupid. Acting instead of procrastinating also helped me see that I really had wasted 2 beautiful fat rich days of productivity. Had I acted instead of cowered, imagine how much I could have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">accomplished</span> this week. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Ah well. Interesting place to be, right here, feeling good about accomplishments and foolish about tossing away rich hours of my life by playing with fake fears. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Let's hope I slowly (but surely) wean myself from the procrastination bug. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Now - where is that green lace sock I want to finish by next Friday .....?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-11283423947585192542010-09-13T07:54:00.002-04:002010-09-13T08:04:21.687-04:00<h3>Progress</h3><br /><br />Here are some photos of that shawl collared vest. I was surprised to see how little I got done this week till I remembered how freaking hot it was the first half of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">the</span> week. I had Other Knitting to do - well, who doesn't always have OK2Do? - so I was busy enough, but I would really really really like to cut those <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">steeks</span> tomorrow. Can I knit 5 inches today & tomorrow? If I pack my lunch and knit through lunch hour? If I stay up late? get up early? Well. we'll just have to see.<br /><br />But for now - voila!<br /><br />Here's a profile view. You can see how the decreases for the V-neck are making it narrower and note how the right side bulges forward like a nice fat <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">barrel</span>? That's caused by the short row bust darts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm6cQ8nx7GCg7eG_4r6UH4mW2GkvYHSjQGF5s2H9W4ilQGFo85-JEB9d22pBmmv_2RE5rUx6CnBR5GdZWguN7e0vuGxtDy8EEdM9HKZMux0udWaSRwY3k6dbteK8FB0i1yh8/s1600/P1020255.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516365540535410274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWm6cQ8nx7GCg7eG_4r6UH4mW2GkvYHSjQGF5s2H9W4ilQGFo85-JEB9d22pBmmv_2RE5rUx6CnBR5GdZWguN7e0vuGxtDy8EEdM9HKZMux0udWaSRwY3k6dbteK8FB0i1yh8/s320/P1020255.JPG" /></a><br /><br />A front-on view shows the extra fabric those bust darts created<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lC39eURpcf_2T0BXl-1IoPigfO7lDSdfuOwo4Ez4ScdPmD3X_a5ecx3ar7QYOligM-ieM07xftdtmLajRfJb-HEuEx91sNjFQ9ErwjS_WXo9VVANs42azB6E3Tk90JOFf8k/s1600/P1020256.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516365531917567554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lC39eURpcf_2T0BXl-1IoPigfO7lDSdfuOwo4Ez4ScdPmD3X_a5ecx3ar7QYOligM-ieM07xftdtmLajRfJb-HEuEx91sNjFQ9ErwjS_WXo9VVANs42azB6E3Tk90JOFf8k/s320/P1020256.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />With a bit of newspaper stuffing you can see a more realistic view of the whole shape<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HU9CmUvTVDPbICPmd6J1ihDunncW0ouJ2QrRVs1lKv4RIbqHiqWd_eOJnRJN9Qsg0z1l3ftmdzOGo0s0eQL3fRYpbo43PiX3ar_Nvaqf1EWtK4UM0ONsb4zdA2UYOcw6iUQ/s1600/P1020257.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516365527545034482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HU9CmUvTVDPbICPmd6J1ihDunncW0ouJ2QrRVs1lKv4RIbqHiqWd_eOJnRJN9Qsg0z1l3ftmdzOGo0s0eQL3fRYpbo43PiX3ar_Nvaqf1EWtK4UM0ONsb4zdA2UYOcw6iUQ/s320/P1020257.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Here's a side view against the background of the screened porch - since <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><strong>BD</strong></span> was so kind as to sweep it.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQbsWeY6tu3fvsVeZlKmF83zxFovTuAkSV4lssX04XvATk1SVsSyI_oVWK7BfftJN1YJq0PMTnQgthLYt9-wHJjsQ9L5fpP2voFp0stIsrRaL2PjYUjDX9z4qVQFMwgcTgDU/s1600/P1020258.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516365522665041170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQbsWeY6tu3fvsVeZlKmF83zxFovTuAkSV4lssX04XvATk1SVsSyI_oVWK7BfftJN1YJq0PMTnQgthLYt9-wHJjsQ9L5fpP2voFp0stIsrRaL2PjYUjDX9z4qVQFMwgcTgDU/s320/P1020258.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />So. Rather than chatter here some more, I will see if I can knock out a few more rows of this sweater before I go to work. Happy progress this week, now that Mercury is no longer retrograde.<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-47704289247611975402010-09-12T07:31:00.005-04:002010-09-12T07:57:20.194-04:00<h3>Hitting the books at <a href="http://schoolhousepress.com/">Schoolhouse Press </a></h3><p><br /><em><strong>Warning - Long Post</strong></em><br /><br />It's September, and along with it being <strong>TheBirthdayMonth!!!</strong> it's back to school for vast numbers of folk and it <em>feels </em>like it should be back to school for many of the rest of us. Only over the past year or two have I begun to loose that urge to buy New Notebooks and Pencils, a fresh box of crayons and new shoes. And I've only <em>begun</em> to loose it – it's not all the way gone yet.<br /><br />But with the change in routines, and this year, with the advent of crisp days (after a summer of unimaginable heat and drought) my knitting juju has surged to the forefront. First came the stash winnowing, the upstairs bedroom stash winnowing, that is. Then came the familiar and oh so pleasurable longing to get to know my knitting library again. Like reuniting with classmates after a summer spent at Camp Far-Away, opening up these old friends was joy filled, intriguing, and stimulating. I rarely knit something in a book or magazine but I will use elements of other people's work in something I've adapted or even created myself. I have a fairly substantial library divided into three sections: </p><ul><li>Techniques and stitch patterns, </li><li>Strictly Pattern Books, and </li><li>lordy – 4 feet of back issues of knitting magazines. </li></ul><p>Whenever I need to prime the pump of my imagination, I've got the supplies. An afternoon spent perusing these treasures will have me soaring with creativity.<br /><br />I've never kept a wish list of books I want to buy – trusting to serendipity to reveal to me <strong>ThatWhichMustBeBought,</strong> but a chance comment on <a href="http://knittersreview.com/forum/">KR </a>prompted me to peek into the book list at <a href="http://schoolhousepress.com/">Schoolhouse Press </a>and <strong><em>Oh My</em></strong>. So many opportunities to indulge! And so, perhaps I shall list these objects of desire and ponder out loud about them. </p><p><br />Starting from the top – with New Titles:<br /><br /><strong>Knit One Knit All (January) Elizabeth Zimmermann's garter stitch designs</strong><br />Well. Oh. Dear me. Meg promises that there are EZ geometric miracles that we've never seen before. These will not just be new interpretations of her already revealed masterpieces. This will be a Must Own – although I am not a big fan of garter stitch. Not because I don't adore how it looks. I think it's gorgeous. But it is slow. Not as slow as seed stitch, which, as a combination knitter, isn't all that slow. But it is slow. The rows are just so short compared to the stitches that to knit garter stitch in anything smaller than worsted weight yarn takes forEVER. Ah well. I shall buy this for the library and later, if I must own it, I shall.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Diagonal Knitting by Katherine Cobey</strong></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM-hu7P31pxuI9Y_MBNnQrlHBdSqOIBeefFC89BZ7LrHvzHmOPpM6R1tjAxKlh9uoFE5ts1LhhanuKQHPOaEiBQ_CIq3qSrYIvHMao6fWDVdwLdF3MNaT3Azzg1yKG8mqfio/s1600/diagonalknitting.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515988487015122690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM-hu7P31pxuI9Y_MBNnQrlHBdSqOIBeefFC89BZ7LrHvzHmOPpM6R1tjAxKlh9uoFE5ts1LhhanuKQHPOaEiBQ_CIq3qSrYIvHMao6fWDVdwLdF3MNaT3Azzg1yKG8mqfio/s320/diagonalknitting.jpg" /></a></p><p>Oh. Well. There is nothing more to say except that it will be delivered to me as a slightly late birthday gift from me to me. It won't be out till October but I can wait. I have a lust and longing and passion to explore diagonal knitting more deeply. I have already got the yarn I intend to knit into a diagonal sweater with plain sleeves. This was an irresistible no-brainer.</p><p><strong>Spinning Around: spinning, dyeing & knitting the classics by Jeannine Bakriges<br /></strong>There were a couple of buzzwords in that title that got me itching to turn the pages: Spinning, knitting classics – yeah – I'd really love to have a look at this book, but I will probaby resist purchasing it. Mostly because I have a <em>LOT</em> of solid material about classical knitting and shaping. But I will look through it. My mind is quite capable of being changed, given the right stimulus. </p><p><strong>The Complete book of Traditional Knitting by Rae Compton.</strong><br /><a name="c21"></a><a name="pagewrapper"></a>As above – I probably could resist this, but again – there is a tempting statement in the description “classic knitting books are being reprinted in such great number”. Goes in the curious about pile.</p><p><strong>Norwegian Patterns for Knitting – Mette Handberg<br /></strong>oh. well. I am a complete sucker for norwegian knitting – I so seriously heart stranded colorwork, be it Norwegian, Faroese, Shetland, Turkish, Peruvian or my own home grown designs. I just drool at the thought of lavish all over stranded patterns. But, I peeked at some inner pages on Amazon dot com and wasn't sure there were enough patterns that I ached to own to justify buying it. I'll look through it at some autumnal woolish gathering and decide then. I already own a <em>LOT</em> of stranded colorwork knitting patterns – including Alice Starmore's Fair Isle Knitting. I don't own a <em>LOT</em> of bookshelves. </p><p><strong>Portuguese Style of Knitting – Andrea Wong</strong><br />The cover photo is of designs in knit and purl stitches a la Gansey knitting. I am alwayslooking for ideas, patterns and stimulation about simple knit and purl designs. This may have to come live here in VA with me, but I will have to look through it first. Many a cover photo lured me in to a disappointing purchase.</p><p><strong>EZ's Tomten Jacket – gang at Schoolhouse Press<br /></strong>I want, first, to have a look at all the EZ/MS books I have easy access to. If one of their hardback books has an adult Tomten Jacket knit in something smaller than 3.5 stitches per inch I will pass on this. But that option to knit this for any size in any yarn is a great temptation and if I don't' have that information elsewhere, I will buy it.</p><p><strong>Omas Srickgeheimnisse – Erika Eichenseer et al</strong><br /><a name="c2"></a>Okay – these are the Bait Words in the description: “Not new, but back in stock after a long lapse! This wonderful book contains some spectacular and unique stitch patterns for both lace and texture; some of which I had never seen before” HA! If <strong>MS</strong> hasn't seen these stitches ... they must be unique. Who cares about how tricky the charts are. New stitches! I mean – New Stitches. Yeah.</p><p><strong>The Haapsalu Shawl - from Estonia</strong><br />Well now. I have already put in a birthday present request for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knitted-Lace-Estonia-Techniques-Traditions/dp/1596680539/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284292578&sr=8-1">Knitted Lace of Estonia </a>to the sort of friend who will actually buy me what I asked for. I am not sure I need this shawl book – but I certainly want to look it over. </p><p><strong>Twisted-Stitch Knitting — Maria Erlbacher</strong><br />I love twisted stitches and I do always think of Austria and Switzerland and Tyrolean elves on mountainsides when I see them. And <strong>Meg & Amy Detjen</strong> have worked to make the material in this book American Friendly. Very tempting.</p><p><strong>Sweater 101: How to Plan Sweaters that Fit —Cheryl Brunette</strong><br />Glorious knitting and magnificent patternwork aside, fit is, in fact, the most important part of knitting a garment. If I look like a lumbering troll in a garment I will never wear it. I notice that people are willing to cut an unflattering garment a lot of slack if it's handknit – especially if it is elaborately hand knit. I will not. No amount of artistry is enough to make me display myself unflatteringly. I've seen Cheryl Brunette's video on finishing and I am completely confident that she can teach me things I don't know but need to. In fact, I believe there is a <strong>P</strong>erfect <strong>A</strong>ngel <strong>B</strong>aby <strong>D</strong>arling <strong>O</strong>nly <strong>S</strong>on who would like to buy his mama a birthday present. I think an email is in order. </p><p><strong>Flawless Knit Repair —Rena Crocket</strong><br />If you wear clothes you must mend them. If MS recommends this I'm pretty sure I could use it. It's also very inexpensive. This might ought to be (don't you love colloquialisms?) in the library.<br />Whew. Well. This thing is already almost 3 full pages of lust-inspiring chatter about knitting books – I believe I will stop here – although I have not even touched the Arans, Guerenseys and Fair Isle section, nor the Norwegian nor Lace sections and I know there is at least one lace book I must own – which I will use to close this long blog post.</p><p><strong>Knitting Lace —Susanna Lewis</strong><br />I've read through this book, which I had to borrow from a distant library. I knew then I had to own it. It will have to go on the Christmas Wish List. And oh dear – now that I've opened up the lace book section of SHP's catalog... oh la! Too many books! Too many books! But I will stop here because the coffee has perked and I think it's time for me to put the credit card down and back away from the computer.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-84370800831526664962010-09-08T10:09:00.003-04:002010-09-08T19:00:36.471-04:00<h3>The right tools make all the difference</h3><br /><br />Just a quick panegyric about tools - especially when you switch from an adequate tool to the right tool. I've been putting off knitting a promissed bit of contract knitting because I really struggled with the first half of it. Tiny dark needles knitting thin dark wool into twisted stitches made a project irksome. I was using KnitPicks size 1 Harmony needles to make a pair of socks out of some deep forest green yarn. I never gave the dark color a thought since it's summer time and I often knit on the porch where there is great light.<br /><br />Only - I haven't been knitting at all on them because it was just too hard to see the stitches even with bright sunlight. On Monday I dug through my jumbled needle stash I uncovered a lovely size 1 Addi Lace needle just waiting to be freed from it's packaging. I've zipped through most of the cuff and will start working on the heel flap tomorrow.<br /><br /><br />Cuff <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg86wVxjUm0_Ph3MS60xkm0Sp2n2oVnjZrMWEp404FGAUqJzuKR0Gg41fs6vbzxcAzlOt2fCekrxdOjqJ_rCO3EJkifAR-Y1O_WQPH-hGhvsiCz27_nPHheypoEQ48Mg3x52U/s1600/P1020252.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 317px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514680893456739010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg86wVxjUm0_Ph3MS60xkm0Sp2n2oVnjZrMWEp404FGAUqJzuKR0Gg41fs6vbzxcAzlOt2fCekrxdOjqJ_rCO3EJkifAR-Y1O_WQPH-hGhvsiCz27_nPHheypoEQ48Mg3x52U/s320/P1020252.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Cuff stretched a little so you can see the lace pattern<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFqg_BUHBaO9EfU7QPMJiTe33wgt8Ar1rSspqDoUDbAqnQdhdgr6khHKqmBGxuGJrdbG_ZOxpRhJnEwHeer8W6xztVLFBku3B51kxHA1P7MO5CQxnfGMlGRF5DPodpLRT4pQ/s1600/P1020253.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514680894307447650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFqg_BUHBaO9EfU7QPMJiTe33wgt8Ar1rSspqDoUDbAqnQdhdgr6khHKqmBGxuGJrdbG_ZOxpRhJnEwHeer8W6xztVLFBku3B51kxHA1P7MO5CQxnfGMlGRF5DPodpLRT4pQ/s320/P1020253.JPG" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-90591883040961568242010-09-06T19:11:00.002-04:002010-09-06T19:21:52.872-04:00<h3>Progress shots</h3><br /><br />Here is the body of my Shawl Collared Vest (yes. I have decided it is to be a vest, not a sweater) with the short row bust darts knitted in. See how much it slopes upwards on the right hand side? This is one full cable's worth of short rows - 8 rows or 4 pair of short rows. I always have to add extra length down the front so sweaters don't ride up on me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyacxVu9Ee7shwaAGWt3QqSliGw-g3eae8p1Psnhrviwy-DvwCrLWhVMy3XEFGA2faFEFIMIHRxZpC3UQkUjCWHzsskoSzznXVJx1ahAxpmwA6hdSnMVYlLBcXOtnPSSV-d0k/s1600/P1020249.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513942592664239570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyacxVu9Ee7shwaAGWt3QqSliGw-g3eae8p1Psnhrviwy-DvwCrLWhVMy3XEFGA2faFEFIMIHRxZpC3UQkUjCWHzsskoSzznXVJx1ahAxpmwA6hdSnMVYlLBcXOtnPSSV-d0k/s320/P1020249.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Here I have put 15 stitches on a holder and cast on 5 steek stitches for armscye which I am informed by a young scholar I know who has spent several years on Scotland ... armz-eye.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVachvK1r04Edp25P0kUGcvtvdSfpankTU6KZ5fH_sogsQEEaDsJ_oHbuLgs3WLsDhu47rjG0ZpDcvx7TbPhNiEC_MV16K1OL57EMCvSBg9JCnu6FNbe9R54Rrd1ZllIbRPaQ/s1600/P1020250.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513942582645470498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVachvK1r04Edp25P0kUGcvtvdSfpankTU6KZ5fH_sogsQEEaDsJ_oHbuLgs3WLsDhu47rjG0ZpDcvx7TbPhNiEC_MV16K1OL57EMCvSBg9JCnu6FNbe9R54Rrd1ZllIbRPaQ/s320/P1020250.JPG" /></a><br /><br />On the same row I made the armscye (have to use it now I know how to say it) I also began the decreases for the V neckline.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSAFefSEWJasNbta5s_Mm3LnpKa4GY03gUg94q9irYWNnJvp4rzuTaRSEsYyI_Sk2qJTaFLeW0Luo5KtsTbCwGopvibGvyRdjh1F-MNFzN-ynLn_xSpfV-WntdkmLQpGZ6YY/s1600/P1020251.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513942579989303746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSAFefSEWJasNbta5s_Mm3LnpKa4GY03gUg94q9irYWNnJvp4rzuTaRSEsYyI_Sk2qJTaFLeW0Luo5KtsTbCwGopvibGvyRdjh1F-MNFzN-ynLn_xSpfV-WntdkmLQpGZ6YY/s320/P1020251.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I knit a little bit more on this and then set it aside to work on a sock I promised to do for Jen at Spirit Trail Fiberworks. I want to get it done quickly so I can take it to her later this month.<br /><br />So. Knitting is going on apace - this vest is moving so quickly I'm surprised. I believe I just cast on last weekend and here I am working on the second half. It's used about 3.5 skeins so far. Fast project, not much yarn, pretty cables I would say this is a complete winner.<br /><br />And now it's the end of the last weekend of the summer. May we all enjoy the lovely autumn season.<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-7491533334085858122010-09-03T06:45:00.002-04:002010-09-03T07:21:17.293-04:00<h3>Needled</h3><br /><br />Friends and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">acquaintances</span> of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">TheQueen</span> know that I knit almost exclusively on circular needles. I have a small collection of double point needles around 8" long which I don't mind slipping into a pocket to take to a fiber festival, but I have gotten rid of all the long straight needles of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">yester</span>-year. The only reason I would own straights would be for artistic purposes - since there are some very beautiful art-object knitting needles out there - of glass, of beautifully colored metals, of polished woods. I also own a blown glass spindle. It's very pretty - I'm too scared to use it even over a queen sized mattress. It's for admiring - not touching.<br /><br />When it comes to knitting, though, I am a <span style="font-size:180%;">C</span>RC<span style="font-size:180%;">U</span>LR-<span style="font-size:180%;">G</span><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">rrrl</span> and even with circular needles I am very very picky. At the moment I will tell you there is nothing I'd rather have than another Addi Lace needle, 40" long in pretty much any size between 3 and 9. Of course there are still times when the blunt tip of an Addi Turbo is what's called for and I am fond also, of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">KnitPicks</span> needles. In all cases, the smooth and perfect join is the first reason I prefer these needles and after that it's the supple cables that win me over.<br /><br />But though I have my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">current</span> favorites, that doesn't mean I am not willing to give something else a try. I have a beautiful rosewood circular (size 7) that has the sweetest long smooth tapered tips - though it's join is not quite up to my standards and I have a lovely ebony circular with equally delicious tips but a downright lumpy join. The rosewood was a gift from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">LD</span> so it carries extra good <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">juju</span> with it and the ebony needle has a very lovely texture. Both of them have rather thick cables that took a little getting used to.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Recently</span>, though, I stumbled upon something new - to me, at least.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2u1k-3lWCASlSadr7GYTLTgWMMHScAujxbrvoIDPpLmv6VHw6rkQGwxufjarhj9w_1wX1gOAfxBnZC3mCXVks0K6MYU3swqVhFZs3TWWhW0wUssSK9S8qiOtM-yJiutJouo/s1600/P1020244.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512638302316669506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2u1k-3lWCASlSadr7GYTLTgWMMHScAujxbrvoIDPpLmv6VHw6rkQGwxufjarhj9w_1wX1gOAfxBnZC3mCXVks0K6MYU3swqVhFZs3TWWhW0wUssSK9S8qiOtM-yJiutJouo/s320/P1020244.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpv62lEntu8zL9kvf7mBTMp43UnGXfDSRpQPqoa6A7wSeFjX9NAswcriv-OdhgLIwfOsZpFvvj98up2rp3qH5DwYvDy0HQLm4c1c8nAZoTM4mUdCjQWOPS6cxl0vPUELkD6E/s1600/P1020243.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512638300232122738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpv62lEntu8zL9kvf7mBTMp43UnGXfDSRpQPqoa6A7wSeFjX9NAswcriv-OdhgLIwfOsZpFvvj98up2rp3qH5DwYvDy0HQLm4c1c8nAZoTM4mUdCjQWOPS6cxl0vPUELkD6E/s320/P1020243.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I haven't been able to find out much about these needles. They're not listed in the Fall 2010 Vogue Knitting article about knitting needles. I've only found a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Circular-Premium-Knitting-Needles-StitchBerry/dp/B001YI2RTY">few on-line sources </a>for them. But I have bookmarked that $15 set of 40" <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">circs</span> and plan to send it to Someone who might be wondering what to buy me for my birthday....<br /><br />Because I love these needles. The wooden tips are smooth and warm and pleasant to hold. The cable is the most supple thick cable I've ever worked with ... really as pliant as a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">KnitPicks</span> cable, and the joins are perfection. The tips are blunt but not dull, with enough taper to keep a stitch from sliding off too soon. And it's very very cheap. This needle is about 28" long. It cost me retail $5.99.<br /><br />I'm using this needle to knit my shawl collared vest (that might get sleeves) and thoroughly enjoying the knitting process. Yes. I know. Some folk won't like it because they're made in china. Well. That is a political decision and this is not a political blog. As Meg <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Swansen</span> says, "Knitters Choice".<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-74287352971220745472010-09-02T10:55:00.005-04:002010-09-02T11:37:47.969-04:00<h3>Fame and content and Yarn P**N </h3>Oh my! Thanks to <a href="http://knittersreview.com/">Missy C </a>this moribund blog is getting lots of visitors and, alas, I suspect they are all looking for gorgeous photos of kid mohair and silk blend yarns, knit up into drop dead lace shawls and clever patterns using luxurious stash.<br /><br />Alas - I am under the gun at my Day Job and haven't got a lot to show off. But I do have a bit of yarn porn in the shape of this gorgeous skein of Yarn Goodness from <a href="http://www.spirit-trail.net/">Spirit Trail Fiberworks.</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcgNOWI241Y9w4H5XsfTssCy1MPk2mQGjnblyeVieLAibHwVbV31owRDNTuWqHP415BzPFSJFsD_1XJ2uLevfigr3xrylYz1gQv4V6C8pQsKLDrou8ELMzmLf6dV_SA9ybgU/s1600/P1020242.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512330500020981410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcgNOWI241Y9w4H5XsfTssCy1MPk2mQGjnblyeVieLAibHwVbV31owRDNTuWqHP415BzPFSJFsD_1XJ2uLevfigr3xrylYz1gQv4V6C8pQsKLDrou8ELMzmLf6dV_SA9ybgU/s320/P1020242.JPG" /></a> <p></p>It's one of Jennifer's <a href="http://www.spirit-trail.net/store.php?crn=291">superwash merino/cashmere/silk blends </a>and it is my first birthday present. Thank You Jen!<br /><br />If you are a newcomer to <strong>TheCastle</strong> you will find that I have been a dreadful slacker here for the past year - and in fact, the best posts are between 2003 and maybe early 2005. That's where I introduce you to the Wheat Dolpins - that's where I will take you down the lane that I call my Praying Place - tthat's where the really good cartoons are, including my favorites:<br /><br /><strong>Biker Eclaire</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4AGuk402WQ8sfyaSZbwuaCYxyIK77m6lGyLkjKEB5_6xGAiI4QbF6gNP5zOL0QsAJlRqW_x7W2ex8dvnS-VFCzl_HCyJ8rSbqUcScPe9a1lWerToGMOwD27Bl_dtF9Dlog4/s1600/bikereclaire.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 148px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512338489312328498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4AGuk402WQ8sfyaSZbwuaCYxyIK77m6lGyLkjKEB5_6xGAiI4QbF6gNP5zOL0QsAJlRqW_x7W2ex8dvnS-VFCzl_HCyJ8rSbqUcScPe9a1lWerToGMOwD27Bl_dtF9Dlog4/s200/bikereclaire.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><strong>The ThinMint guy</strong> (I really did eat a whole sleeve of those darned things, trying to find the mint flavor that the Girl Scout Bakery had left out of my batch of cookies)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9s6APLYBpVsofw3DSUT5VEZGBgnyg6E1PASi4N49x9ZL1D9eM_ZtlWCXNncLOJj2vhK90fx2P7jVdqdAnT8tug0HYTGmtcByd_IDK1FP6MiA7n39x2so9mfzIaX1Yyt1cbI/s1600/thinmintguy.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 165px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512338265506703122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9s6APLYBpVsofw3DSUT5VEZGBgnyg6E1PASi4N49x9ZL1D9eM_ZtlWCXNncLOJj2vhK90fx2P7jVdqdAnT8tug0HYTGmtcByd_IDK1FP6MiA7n39x2so9mfzIaX1Yyt1cbI/s200/thinmintguy.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Me, surrenduring to Flidas,</strong> who had imprisoned all my creativity until I finally figured out how to do those knitted on set-in sleeves:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlgKFfdBX9mGBkSMlkdFR5kaW9dt__TCTxw5dAvQSdhE5P7ybKDxw8YXi6TZUZM6JvHZlZUJDVbIXc3ohAswY9ZWX_pPEygek7Bbq9_OhIG-QfLD6X18rYjk_oWx_q8gAySA/s1600/surrender.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512338268787553778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlgKFfdBX9mGBkSMlkdFR5kaW9dt__TCTxw5dAvQSdhE5P7ybKDxw8YXi6TZUZM6JvHZlZUJDVbIXc3ohAswY9ZWX_pPEygek7Bbq9_OhIG-QfLD6X18rYjk_oWx_q8gAySA/s200/surrender.jpg" /></a><br /><br />And my take on the <strong>Dream</strong> of multiple socks on 2 needles<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8baKm1q4Uwbo4pSLZzfW_PNI5flJuiguexr0FhsXKdgcPt0LG5kanWb0HIIQRFEJ_oKdMiqVcCFx4RL15VxvlneGeBnirVCn68ZqPx8YdV9JkXCAWLL5CLxsuX5TeSr_AdEo/s1600/dreamadd2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512338275850577570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8baKm1q4Uwbo4pSLZzfW_PNI5flJuiguexr0FhsXKdgcPt0LG5kanWb0HIIQRFEJ_oKdMiqVcCFx4RL15VxvlneGeBnirVCn68ZqPx8YdV9JkXCAWLL5CLxsuX5TeSr_AdEo/s200/dreamadd2.jpg" /></a><br /><br />... and the <strong>Reality</strong> of it:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43dhefAdk1V0rj7__tB1u0ejZ_WdmLcdfUVIEaAX59Dz1Ae1ofVmHlcCs3JRfUVRgGTPq9xIdZXwg4GvYJdTpiium83I4SmRQSOZiFgkCJ9lSbPOaXUOwltXawgCiQxac9Wk/s1600/reality+add1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 148px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512338280423330066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43dhefAdk1V0rj7__tB1u0ejZ_WdmLcdfUVIEaAX59Dz1Ae1ofVmHlcCs3JRfUVRgGTPq9xIdZXwg4GvYJdTpiium83I4SmRQSOZiFgkCJ9lSbPOaXUOwltXawgCiQxac9Wk/s200/reality+add1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I'm glad you stopped by - please say hello - and come back soon - for I am making progress on my Shawl Collared Vest - that Might Get Sleeves.<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-2090889754303749502010-09-01T07:08:00.002-04:002010-09-01T07:38:56.538-04:00<h3><span style="color:#cc0000;">H</span><span style="color:#66cccc;">A</span><span style="color:#009900;">P</span><span style="color:#cc9933;">P</span><span style="color:#993399;">Y</span> <span style="color:#3333ff;">B</span><span style="color:#cc66cc;">I</span><span style="color:#33cc00;">R</span><span style="color:#ffcc00;">T</span><span style="color:#cc0000;">H</span><span style="color:#66ffff;">D</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">A</span><span style="color:#666600;">Y </span><span style="color:#33cc00;">M</span><span style="color:#6633ff;">O</span><span style="color:#ff6600;">N</span><span style="color:#33ccff;">T</span><span style="color:#cc0000;">H</span> begins today!</h3><br /><br />And it brings me this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31knjtIJtwDSCrZYoewcnqkJMqEjsc5Uj4qLSh71lZOD5Hvc6ulAdjFhG_dslNknq6MFkIqNphKzhmRlOndZm60RMuTjSyRT5F4vGLRaioD6oMCjm32FlonIOWkPqaCg2Mt0/s1600/00000.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511904329578498402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31knjtIJtwDSCrZYoewcnqkJMqEjsc5Uj4qLSh71lZOD5Hvc6ulAdjFhG_dslNknq6MFkIqNphKzhmRlOndZm60RMuTjSyRT5F4vGLRaioD6oMCjm32FlonIOWkPqaCg2Mt0/s320/00000.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We are the third little yellow river up the left side of the Chesapeake Bay. Will we get wind? Rain? Wash? Downed trees? Power outages? Well, I hope we get the first 2 and I hope the empty ocean gets the last 3. hmm. well. I guess the empty ocean can't get either, so let us think only of better things. Let us think we get Friday off but don't lose power.<br /><br />I am prepared though - with lanterns and jugs of water and canned food and <em>knitting</em>. Here is a progress shot of the Shawl Collared Vest.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g78ieNC1H7UjOHJUKIN6e33JxyGd34k6d8deD1mPLwyRcxkxZbynpLtdsZcTV5obgvSLfh0IrDEQjAiG7kykkYikHWlOZfWRWfD_iCYtjK0hl0I_SmY_VrF8KLgbdXi75ic/s1600/P1020237.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511904321453908450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g78ieNC1H7UjOHJUKIN6e33JxyGd34k6d8deD1mPLwyRcxkxZbynpLtdsZcTV5obgvSLfh0IrDEQjAiG7kykkYikHWlOZfWRWfD_iCYtjK0hl0I_SmY_VrF8KLgbdXi75ic/s320/P1020237.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Pretty? and soft? oh la! it is softsoftsoft! and at this point, surprisingly light. I am using a new needle I bought at a brand new craft store in Warsaw (little town across the river from us). I lost the label and keep forgetting to call the owner to find out what it is but I will be over there tomorrow night and I'll find out. It's a wooden circular with a thick cable that is very supple. The join meets my Addi-Turbo-fed exacting standards of smoothness. The price is very, very low - I'll track the info down tomorrow and share.<br /><br />Yup. Looks like a tad over 5.5 inches as I start the 6th cable.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYqoZCU3sSciHTwGdrUHfnR8FTQyv3vncuYAnzgyGH9upnqWwg_10xJJt7WHcClyLxitZ0LAl3aCuuE6acZUy8hNsVhW4zdSF3Q0UvT2UHQPE5JXLZ7WpcA2mQvz8FgCcRKI/s1600/P1020238.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511904313413092674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYqoZCU3sSciHTwGdrUHfnR8FTQyv3vncuYAnzgyGH9upnqWwg_10xJJt7WHcClyLxitZ0LAl3aCuuE6acZUy8hNsVhW4zdSF3Q0UvT2UHQPE5JXLZ7WpcA2mQvz8FgCcRKI/s320/P1020238.JPG" /></a><br /><br />So - happy birthday month to you too. and Happy Hump day too!<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-65677906172358108232010-08-29T07:36:00.010-04:002010-08-29T20:28:45.248-04:00<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOgSW4EEQlCR4eRzcgpIz-nuR4zl56B7qVmjSwvxGdbNMLsbMoqNs-bPMVBa6HqkNQvjPUMWXZCYNm1xrZch8Bs6IPDoDuSwPP-iR36TbuBXPNywMsGIB-yPUQODHYYJdgOg/s1600/gawd+is+muh+witnuss.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 317px; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510917476646448242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOgSW4EEQlCR4eRzcgpIz-nuR4zl56B7qVmjSwvxGdbNMLsbMoqNs-bPMVBa6HqkNQvjPUMWXZCYNm1xrZch8Bs6IPDoDuSwPP-iR36TbuBXPNywMsGIB-yPUQODHYYJdgOg/s320/gawd+is+muh+witnuss.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><h3><s>Tossing the dross, keeping the gold</s> <b>I will <i>NEVER</i> buy yarn again!</b></h3><p><br />My <a href="http://yorkiedog.blogspot.com/">cyber twin </a>is moving from a house she's lived in for more than a decade and she's going through the hard task of winnowing the golden kernals from the wheat chaff, and the book chaff, and the yarn chaff, dishes chaff, and all the other chaff that seems to filter down into the crevices and cranies of one's house. And I am filled with envy of the freedom she will have when she settles into her new place with only the cream of her crop.<br /><br />And Inspiration! For, though she hasn't yet experienced the freedom of drosslessness, she is inspiring me to seek it in <strong>TheCastle</strong>. From which I do not intend to move untill medicare pays for it.<br /><br />I want that clean swept house that has useful spaces, not doors and drawers that hide all the times I've been too weak, too lazy or too forgetful to throw out, say goodbye to, give away the things I no longer use. Not only does nobody want fortylevendy bottles of almost empty body lotion - it is <em>ALSO</em> not a crime to throw that little bit away. And so I dove into the bathroom cabinets - the ones beneath the sink, that had spilled out onto the floor one day last month, refusing to house the excess. I actually had to leave one tray of junk on the floor beneath the ironing board.<br /><br />Happily nobody but me cares about that sort of thing .... my own particular<strong> Prince</strong> doesn't notice; kids don't either and we've only had younglings as guests this summer. But <strong><em>I </em></strong>notice and I was unhappy and I was envious of CyberTwin. And as a reward, I tackled the - um - let us call it the Spare Bedroom Stash, not the junk room.<br /><br />I swear - behind that jumble there is an elegant walnut desk. I would like to use it sometime before its owner <strong>(LD)</strong> asks for it back.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_tEKfh1RL6NDMGNxE_Pw0Bzj4JdS9VMOUVaHuPjFl83_ICNqDkRxrcFA9m6Vy7gbRnEh_aI5sJ3vUZdSvldnn_AIqcXW8ApNvz3xh6Hd1Jln_GhLUo8_wAEzt84NGz2O8fg/s1600/P1020213.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510909732050360066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_tEKfh1RL6NDMGNxE_Pw0Bzj4JdS9VMOUVaHuPjFl83_ICNqDkRxrcFA9m6Vy7gbRnEh_aI5sJ3vUZdSvldnn_AIqcXW8ApNvz3xh6Hd1Jln_GhLUo8_wAEzt84NGz2O8fg/s200/P1020213.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO921a_fZIqJdmfBrOai1N5mIlhCeML3SQheMcpOBiyF4r03qnvkgY3QKJALDua1rO-BurxZe6u24Wf-3U46fvrk5RbJM975CgJTnXxvoPIEHf3hV_o9tBbN3a1e8X_nRLac/s1600/P1020214.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510909727033463794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO921a_fZIqJdmfBrOai1N5mIlhCeML3SQheMcpOBiyF4r03qnvkgY3QKJALDua1rO-BurxZe6u24Wf-3U46fvrk5RbJM975CgJTnXxvoPIEHf3hV_o9tBbN3a1e8X_nRLac/s200/P1020214.JPG" /></a><br /></p><p>Among all the stash I knew I had this Trendsetter rayon ribbon in a <strong>Queenly<span style="color:#006600;">Green</span></strong> color. Purchased at Hunt Country Yarn - the most friendly and elegant yarn shop I know - I've only ever swatched with it. I've learned over the years that I really don't like ribbon yarn but as I was rewinding this slippery yarn, I thoroughly enjoyed the way it slid through my fingers. By the time I'd wound it all up ... I gave this stuff another chance. It should be a basic tank top for summertime. It has one year to become one and then it goes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SwSxiJn4SK9_-094OPA3tvrxKYSk6vy1rWvlgTEQWUUAH1lCitM3PH8PPC46sj4pzGI9-2Xm3iDAzOXNcOfDSIe59GHl7oKBXUYQbXFoMGgY5vOA2JDTumQKis1-Ra8BzuA/s1600/P1020223.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 199px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510910393192967874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SwSxiJn4SK9_-094OPA3tvrxKYSk6vy1rWvlgTEQWUUAH1lCitM3PH8PPC46sj4pzGI9-2Xm3iDAzOXNcOfDSIe59GHl7oKBXUYQbXFoMGgY5vOA2JDTumQKis1-Ra8BzuA/s200/P1020223.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHKI96WMO0htilczFoH6LZKnUTqQMy1HMIiTsSk6QS8Qi7_yTATSQV9z_RvOah0JeugIYMh1PbkNDt56PlKb3jHH-z5rP8E0gvxgpWyogQ8a0I34CyrUNUu-gO2VvINu3jxA/s1600/P1020224.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510910402802059218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHKI96WMO0htilczFoH6LZKnUTqQMy1HMIiTsSk6QS8Qi7_yTATSQV9z_RvOah0JeugIYMh1PbkNDt56PlKb3jHH-z5rP8E0gvxgpWyogQ8a0I34CyrUNUu-gO2VvINu3jxA/s200/P1020224.JPG" /></a> </p><p>As evidenced by the label on the box. it has an expiration date.</p><p>There is 1,000 yards of this very thick happy yarn ... A Stitches '08 purchase that makes a very casual chunky fabric - I see I've done a guage swatch but I think it's too tight and will rip it out and try a bigger needle. this one too, though, has an expiration date. If I don't make something by the end of winter 2012 (that's 18 months away, give or take a few weeks) it goes to a new home too. I'm already pushing it with cunky yarn on my chunky body and these purples seem to dominate even all THAT orange and gold.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAfExFcugkCX0pGYl6IjoaTiN4xNp_f38QsmN-XUoonAnRfUY7ea1oYySjohLV8F5R7aj2avnmhnLu6YaVOdAHrQyNcF76T1fqy04HejiAKgFze2eDX_mEl4Md6ash7gXgbU/s1600/P1020235.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510911284652125794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAfExFcugkCX0pGYl6IjoaTiN4xNp_f38QsmN-XUoonAnRfUY7ea1oYySjohLV8F5R7aj2avnmhnLu6YaVOdAHrQyNcF76T1fqy04HejiAKgFze2eDX_mEl4Md6ash7gXgbU/s200/P1020235.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfs16r2yHi34z_Uy_FVt57uwY248vhvpo2nqddUeF0OyOOg-exD6BlmTcEBvMXJQ20EPe5NEGhYDgCs0l3ZPfmRxcZviHc3XDCVcmNfI3AL-lGtj98Mlk4dQPsVLZow1hN424/s1600/P1020236.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510911292806507442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfs16r2yHi34z_Uy_FVt57uwY248vhvpo2nqddUeF0OyOOg-exD6BlmTcEBvMXJQ20EPe5NEGhYDgCs0l3ZPfmRxcZviHc3XDCVcmNfI3AL-lGtj98Mlk4dQPsVLZow1hN424/s200/P1020236.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This other gorgeous stuff - another Stitches coup - has an unlimited lifespan. These are <strong>Queen </strong>colors. It's alpaca - so soft I could serve it up with a spoon. I just have to find the right thing to make with it. Even if it IS a chunky yarn. So there.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NFGxXc1ywRShM3eOb2GDZS4YWAqCQwoH42xfsnSd4I_OAqYmd2TAu-iuzKjJikiFLe4AsKfKcbxb5nKT1oqShN1UEEKkgf7uSIYrh1PktNq8srLVpLlTy3J5s7fEYZs1m6k/s1600/P1020232.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510911278749857858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NFGxXc1ywRShM3eOb2GDZS4YWAqCQwoH42xfsnSd4I_OAqYmd2TAu-iuzKjJikiFLe4AsKfKcbxb5nKT1oqShN1UEEKkgf7uSIYrh1PktNq8srLVpLlTy3J5s7fEYZs1m6k/s200/P1020232.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />There is a bag of yellows and </p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVQ3j9dGJOb06qUMUPbGi7xqf38i4qrRNg96oa1jhocM2rHvemIjhthhWI5h4OHpT6tQgXrXPtjPhGRoW1aIk8svcgWP7LJsPeiaHTd-bR1OeHgblyI1aaYTIfl0rXA9tpr0/s1600/P1020227.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510910410436608978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVQ3j9dGJOb06qUMUPbGi7xqf38i4qrRNg96oa1jhocM2rHvemIjhthhWI5h4OHpT6tQgXrXPtjPhGRoW1aIk8svcgWP7LJsPeiaHTd-bR1OeHgblyI1aaYTIfl0rXA9tpr0/s200/P1020227.JPG" /></a><br /><br />a Box-0-Blues</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYh_p2r3F_4t6kQv_9ZWyDCm0mV5-r9G3NiOQb2Mu4g_t24holK3FD5QwQZxrFY29dF-YKfzFrQGVNzi98FGxrR8gPxfkXQKhaGUYjnP7ImmZ7XfMlKCHpRZjJmvXh3LfvRM/s1600/P1020234.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510910416453901938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYh_p2r3F_4t6kQv_9ZWyDCm0mV5-r9G3NiOQb2Mu4g_t24holK3FD5QwQZxrFY29dF-YKfzFrQGVNzi98FGxrR8gPxfkXQKhaGUYjnP7ImmZ7XfMlKCHpRZjJmvXh3LfvRM/s200/P1020234.JPG" /></a> </p><p>Mink colored lace weight yarn (and a red and a pink lace weight, too)</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRV3QEA3CajwC39Y2u97ITNkF5kMlqCWoABpYH10t9CeMORCFnEjhrt3K09KcFB47OrawUEZ7VXJO4A_xZDvomBL3A5_n8UlsqyVhIzNUFMnXG_cfa2Xuh6xzRHUwFMLC_nU/s1600/P1020229.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510911277923533810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRV3QEA3CajwC39Y2u97ITNkF5kMlqCWoABpYH10t9CeMORCFnEjhrt3K09KcFB47OrawUEZ7VXJO4A_xZDvomBL3A5_n8UlsqyVhIzNUFMnXG_cfa2Xuh6xzRHUwFMLC_nU/s200/P1020229.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHKI96WMO0htilczFoH6LZKnUTqQMy1HMIiTsSk6QS8Qi7_yTATSQV9z_RvOah0JeugIYMh1PbkNDt56PlKb3jHH-z5rP8E0gvxgpWyogQ8a0I34CyrUNUu-gO2VvINu3jxA/s1600/P1020224.JPG"></a>Gorgeous blue and orange Malabrigo that is destined to be Somebody's Christmas gift.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SwSxiJn4SK9_-094OPA3tvrxKYSk6vy1rWvlgTEQWUUAH1lCitM3PH8PPC46sj4pzGI9-2Xm3iDAzOXNcOfDSIe59GHl7oKBXUYQbXFoMGgY5vOA2JDTumQKis1-Ra8BzuA/s1600/P1020223.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80M6Os5cVQLq6bM6d-vFJg1JCCnVREM_QiKHDAyDzGOHHvc-mIA_A3O7CtqjWh8QEyFCZgKWt313U0pfQdPe6E56zcZ1NJQmQ96iV8t_Dm1j8JCVNeu1M5MxRDg8om56BLNE/s1600/P1020221.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510910382730182546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80M6Os5cVQLq6bM6d-vFJg1JCCnVREM_QiKHDAyDzGOHHvc-mIA_A3O7CtqjWh8QEyFCZgKWt313U0pfQdPe6E56zcZ1NJQmQ96iV8t_Dm1j8JCVNeu1M5MxRDg8om56BLNE/s200/P1020221.JPG" /></a> </p><p>And a gift of red cashmere yarn from <a href="http://knittersreview.com/">MissC</a> - fingerless gloves, I swear it - before December. Pour moi, vraimant.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4edMmayeSJKLjB_yaewMviZeEYyf7jubum2mAJlpqRsC6okbphw9pt342uvzwKhfshriU5vVYdHD7syQcBL2yIYdyKvbTdpbjVYTivzJlW1m9z0Q_51Pp51OCs8KVBM63lx8/s1600/P1020220.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510909753317102882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4edMmayeSJKLjB_yaewMviZeEYyf7jubum2mAJlpqRsC6okbphw9pt342uvzwKhfshriU5vVYdHD7syQcBL2yIYdyKvbTdpbjVYTivzJlW1m9z0Q_51Pp51OCs8KVBM63lx8/s200/P1020220.JPG" /></a><br /></p><p>Not just socks but a whole BOX-0-SOX yarn. Skeins and balls and twists of it! One of those cardboard file boxes jammed packed.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRJYLywS8-1xDkznMfZGXgH4a83B2QTQf99q_rqttkPFPleec8PY7B4Oo9ih_2F0spIimJlgujcgOG5R3DPS-PH7x9l_PARrUf-bMkiQ99N03H7SO8D7aifbjcZDYaQWLpmk/s1600/P1020217.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510909741242143106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRJYLywS8-1xDkznMfZGXgH4a83B2QTQf99q_rqttkPFPleec8PY7B4Oo9ih_2F0spIimJlgujcgOG5R3DPS-PH7x9l_PARrUf-bMkiQ99N03H7SO8D7aifbjcZDYaQWLpmk/s200/P1020217.JPG" /></a> </p><p>Shetland from Jameson and from my own spinning wheel</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjRBHhcAFNwUErrZCxkHw3JPDoa8uhrdVt003FCjkAwMhIZupIWSPy2hd4ETlQY0hAAkR-I33tWJ_vfp0suQUd7BplcgH1xM0uFcwb36nEwiyd3g-c984XXIs_AqYySXNO00/s1600/P1020215.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510909739526370162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjRBHhcAFNwUErrZCxkHw3JPDoa8uhrdVt003FCjkAwMhIZupIWSPy2hd4ETlQY0hAAkR-I33tWJ_vfp0suQUd7BplcgH1xM0uFcwb36nEwiyd3g-c984XXIs_AqYySXNO00/s200/P1020215.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Un-photographed there are 10 balls of JoJoland Rhythm in coordinated colors, an enormous bin of mixed balls of yarn, enough KintPicks pallette to knit another KipFee all over agin and a Shelridge Farm Sweater Kit (that I paid an arm and a leg for and have yet to cast on the first stitch!!!)<br /><br />There are, I am ashamed to admit it, also 9 UFO's - some near completion, some half way there. And that doesn't count this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjPdEWgEH8xdQqseZ2zB_E5XLsj2obk4zblg-ZlJTAGmNENFSyzDHY_aNDpX2pOVQIKNG8rL0m-ZAqZhAXIsWgKH_vOOCVgBN8kYIxk4O5zX8Qv4cSlktIChTr89tjN_Lqp4/s1600/P1020211.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510796337047439266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjPdEWgEH8xdQqseZ2zB_E5XLsj2obk4zblg-ZlJTAGmNENFSyzDHY_aNDpX2pOVQIKNG8rL0m-ZAqZhAXIsWgKH_vOOCVgBN8kYIxk4O5zX8Qv4cSlktIChTr89tjN_Lqp4/s320/P1020211.JPG" /></a><br /><br />My Shawl Collared Vest (or jacket) which is motoring along nicely, thank-you. I'm about done with the ribbing and it will go even faster.<br /><br />Well. So. Hmmm. I think I better leave the check book and plastic at home this fall during festival season.<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-15014211860736727922010-08-28T11:35:00.002-04:002010-08-28T11:46:50.875-04:00<h3>Stash Diving</h3><br /><br />I knew it was there somewhere - thank goodness <em>not </em>in the bins in the attic, since the sweet cool dry weather that flirted with us all this week has departed till some more auspcious day in the future. It's sticky and humid and it is going to get hot again.<br /><br />Happily I am still in the startitis mode of New Fall Sweaters and, having worked the math for the shawl collared vest, <span style="color:#009900;">[k3(these are steek stitches), P,Kb,P,K6,P,Kb,P,*Kb,P 28 times,Kb,P,Kb,P,K6,P,Kb,P,*Kb,P 28 times,Kb,P,Kb,P,K6,P,Kb,P,K4(these are steek stitches)]</span> cast on and knit a few rounds, I began wondering if there was enough of this stuff. It is from an amazing yarn shopping coup I made at Stitches 2008 where I bought more yarn than should be legal ...only I did. I checked with the booth owner<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkpOh-V41puZBC8K54H_9uxPC47XZlsJegvyyV-ILWKHl4bjoa4c3fQRV1sXZxr4Xc-_9d43CfmOSAE2s2cRuYZ4YqDMEW7ymosWbzbD_0V42kVVlKO4L2l3s58nwAN2t5qA/s1600/P1020209.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 294px; HEIGHT: 136px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510485101335846210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkpOh-V41puZBC8K54H_9uxPC47XZlsJegvyyV-ILWKHl4bjoa4c3fQRV1sXZxr4Xc-_9d43CfmOSAE2s2cRuYZ4YqDMEW7ymosWbzbD_0V42kVVlKO4L2l3s58nwAN2t5qA/s320/P1020209.JPG" /></a><br /><br />and she said it was okay. Obviously brown through tan and orange are not popular colors in her neck of the woods. Their loss, my gain.<br /><br />But I knew I'd bought an awful lot of alpaca in that haul ($15 for all you could cram into a bag) but I couldn't remember the details.<br /><br />Uh.....<br /><br />Details<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5l63GMcQ0SZlHQ7m9Tc2iVLJoGCvRODgPOMZMwwOtiXK0HYLpUM9_hdFnKVxMIrZxwuuWr7aqyBfNfPWg-ZPIVqGG90U2CTwHiiWk1sL69LnxFNhHm_kMeWrWQrHNWy-5S2g/s1600/P1020210.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510485092213869906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5l63GMcQ0SZlHQ7m9Tc2iVLJoGCvRODgPOMZMwwOtiXK0HYLpUM9_hdFnKVxMIrZxwuuWr7aqyBfNfPWg-ZPIVqGG90U2CTwHiiWk1sL69LnxFNhHm_kMeWrWQrHNWy-5S2g/s320/P1020210.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Yeah<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cG9tc2kvI7RD7WgHawdf8XA158vOrCQFholNWTAW-6Q_dFEZ9qqeHOgSlS1ALyquuA0XXyEFjG-FJ2Act0lcymtFfM1WaKFBGkgexr2Lfv0u13i8rZA9WDM9C_lsYPPDEZU/s1600/P1020208.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510485080871354818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cG9tc2kvI7RD7WgHawdf8XA158vOrCQFholNWTAW-6Q_dFEZ9qqeHOgSlS1ALyquuA0XXyEFjG-FJ2Act0lcymtFfM1WaKFBGkgexr2Lfv0u13i8rZA9WDM9C_lsYPPDEZU/s320/P1020208.JPG" /></a><br /><br />There's enough. In fact .... I am thinking ...... This could becocme a shawl collared cardigan. What do you think?<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-27325036310492579432010-08-27T07:36:00.003-04:002010-08-27T07:55:58.020-04:00<h3>Shawl Collared Vest</h3><br /><br />Way back in the days before <strong>TheBlog</strong> I knit a Meg Swansen Shawl Collared Vest for <strong>ThePrince</strong>, custom fit with short rows to go over a tummy. I thought this would be the perfect garment because he works so often in the cold office - with that nice curving collar snugging up against his neck. His comment after I finished it and he'd tried it on - "It's nice except I don't like this collar". I didn't have the heart to rip it off - and since his only other comment when I bring up making him a sweater is "I already have a sweater." (who can understand men) - I wear the vest around the house in wintertime.<br /><br />But it's shape is so big and so rounded where I really don't need any extra that I don't ever wear it out in public. I've always intended to make one for myself and with this change in weather - and with a full bag of Elsebeth Lavold's Chunky Al sitting on top of the first stash bin ... the easy one to peek into, well .... I think it's time to cast on a gauge swatch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMZmZT91mTzQH4Y6-xK8HK_MdRUxE0iiVgj-1tQlfEt3xhBkfh8rdyu-fkfKDR9ZqTj0ZJM4-ZPdTlRvTlYIEgrqQw65W8ywVc1mq-t5SLRtM98_03ZyxCXL7cx8vd1G0gPM/s1600/P1020199.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510053308322627362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMZmZT91mTzQH4Y6-xK8HK_MdRUxE0iiVgj-1tQlfEt3xhBkfh8rdyu-fkfKDR9ZqTj0ZJM4-ZPdTlRvTlYIEgrqQw65W8ywVc1mq-t5SLRtM98_03ZyxCXL7cx8vd1G0gPM/s320/P1020199.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Looks like I'm getting 4.25 stitches to the inch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVuYsWkhVzWQW3xuSiukSSiK1MetDhAqRtymUUESJjbwTrnyF2oMr1kEEPzcZTjvDLyaQL_nPiOoAObcA4azba52dXKxQFZzLq3y-87RIpOdgd0CIGOkAptbIltVVyTdMdYo/s1600/P1020197.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510053304808923522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVuYsWkhVzWQW3xuSiukSSiK1MetDhAqRtymUUESJjbwTrnyF2oMr1kEEPzcZTjvDLyaQL_nPiOoAObcA4azba52dXKxQFZzLq3y-87RIpOdgd0CIGOkAptbIltVVyTdMdYo/s320/P1020197.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And 6 rows<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHJQA0BC53BILws9kcel_wZFObzMh6a9WpOPD2NKSXxyXKLOZgQer6HjjwW6jbjPyHYHpaR8jBfYVZaFXn8PMhqdoK-XPhZvTjpDoaIKGgGUFUmQV_QOL94fDeIgYEDKFaYs/s1600/P1020198.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510053298657607298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHJQA0BC53BILws9kcel_wZFObzMh6a9WpOPD2NKSXxyXKLOZgQer6HjjwW6jbjPyHYHpaR8jBfYVZaFXn8PMhqdoK-XPhZvTjpDoaIKGgGUFUmQV_QOL94fDeIgYEDKFaYs/s320/P1020198.JPG" /></a><br /><br />So. Stay tuned. Actual knitting is happening in <strong>TheCastle.<br /></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-21452967529583937952010-08-26T06:34:00.004-04:002010-08-26T07:36:27.653-04:00<h3>Fall Knitting Magazine Season</h3><br />Oh la! I found the Fall Vogue Knitting magazine in Walmart yesterday (remember I live in the sticks - that's our only store) and I knew it was really the end of summer. I was also very taken with the cover sweater - so much so that I bought the magazine without flipping through it. Fall issues are almost always the best issues of the year - when it comes to knitting magazines anyway, so I wasn't too concerned about getting a lemon. So. Just in case you haven't been to your local walmart or better knitting magazine location, here's my First Impressions Review of this issue.<br /><br />First off - that cover sweater. Oh la it's gorgeous. It's a cabled cardigan in the most vivid blue you feel like you can reach your fingers in there and just scrunch it up. I don't usually think of deep royal blue as an autumn color but this cabled lovely with it's flipped up collar and raglan shaping with plenty of purl space between the clearly defined cables is perfect.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hZJutMBflZESvwjsNcfJPIWcBc_3AahiWv3ebZuMHBPqxz7X7zOC2epxeHXxoivLKDtU3jsVDoVuvuSnzjAQswfu0jhdKtZ3Lehi99UycP6dobiujhVbmLgytZJyN25Wklw/s1600/Vblue+cardi.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509676094475208418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hZJutMBflZESvwjsNcfJPIWcBc_3AahiWv3ebZuMHBPqxz7X7zOC2epxeHXxoivLKDtU3jsVDoVuvuSnzjAQswfu0jhdKtZ3Lehi99UycP6dobiujhVbmLgytZJyN25Wklw/s320/Vblue+cardi.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The text on the cover promises two new or newish knitting adventures. First is designs by Irina Shabayeva, of Project Runway - I saw that series and read about her in a previous magazine. I'm at least going to like seeing what she's come up with. Second is the promise of knee sock patterns. I've long wondered why there weren't more of them because the greater length gives so much more scope for design.<br /><br />So let's flip the pages.<br /><br />Lots of color right off the bat in the front page ads is always uplifting. On the table of contents there is a photo of opera length lace fingerless gloves - nicely designed with a familiar stitch pattern - looks like one of the Barbara Walker stitches, maybe with a tweak.<br /><br />The Debbie Bliss ad that's opposite the editor's letter is absolutely lush - a zippered cardi with a glorious collar in something typically Debbie Bliss - lush, plush, I'm prompted to look up the yarn. <a href="http://www.yarn.com/webs-new-items/webs-knitting-crochet-yarns-debbie-bliss-glen/">GLEN </a>it's called<br /><br />Ahh - I didn't know - <a href="http://www.vogueknitting.com/live.aspx">Vogueknitting LIVE! </a>- I guess it's their answer to Stitches. This January. ALL your favorite designers and teachers ... Clara Parkes, Meg Swansen, Melissa Leapman Fiona Ellis, Nicky Epstein - dang - In January - in NYC - :( - too far away for me.<br /><br />I often think the ads in the knitting magazines are better than the designs and woo la la - there's an ad for <a href="http://www.bergeredefrance.com/us/">Bergere de France </a>with a sweater I could so totally wear. It's a basic yoke sweater (easypeasy design) but there's this darling off center collar with a tie that so totally transforms this garment. Bummer. Can't find a photo on their website but I like a lot of other designs I found there - give it a peek.<br /><br />Something I will complain about though this may be just my old age issue, is the typeface in their text. It's too pale. too grey. It's really difficult to read. The font is clear and it's spaced well enough apart: both the letters and the lines. But the ink is so pale. C'mon Vogue - spend a little more on the ink and make it easier to read. It's all interesting but I skim if my head begins to ache from eye strain.<br /><br />I always enjoy the upfront news about new knitting books but heck. Wendy Johnson's book has been out forEver. I'd hardly call it a new book. Just sayin'. That's all. And while I don't need to read Meg Swansen's articles about the EPS sweater - I think it's good to reiterate that info because there are always new knitters coming along and they ought to have this basic knitting shape in their repertoire. Besides - I've always enjoyed Meg's writing style.<br /><br />Nicky Epstein is also another designer who always intrigues - though I would not ever wear those ruffle spiraled gloves. Just wouldn't do it. I love me some embellishments but these didn't do it for me. Subjective comment here. and the news that she has ANOTHER book out there (the ad is on the opposite page from the pattern) will have me pulling out my plastic.<br /><br />I also really liked Patons Lace ad just as an inspiration page. There's a nice long article about Kristin Nicholas, who's another favorite of mine - I can't wait to read it. outdoors. in bright sunlight. and a lengthy guide to knitting needles. I love to collect different needles, but I almost always just knit with Addi Lace. eh. some of us are just plain faithful.<br /><br />Okay - enough about the front matter - let's get down to the patterns. Because this post is already long beyond most folk's endurance, I'll just tell you about the designs I like. I've already told you about #1 - the blue cardigan that I am still drooling over no need to say more about that<br /><br />Next comes this colorwork hat - very nice and again in blues - colors I can't even wear. But this is so well done. I really love the variegated rib and the vine design.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO_rhVO5rcnn_mJ0aGPNhPPPQJV1Ek3kGb-yW9oTJkE9HcEQhE4TzbsqbBJW1OYg4xOQgTiM5gygbOdXAfeQeLW8WNv2UkirsAakA1Ammky4PbtV97nikJTnwSYWeoyMTi-k/s1600/Vgood+hat.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509675471948629170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMO_rhVO5rcnn_mJ0aGPNhPPPQJV1Ek3kGb-yW9oTJkE9HcEQhE4TzbsqbBJW1OYg4xOQgTiM5gygbOdXAfeQeLW8WNv2UkirsAakA1Ammky4PbtV97nikJTnwSYWeoyMTi-k/s320/Vgood+hat.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This lace jacket looks to me like a Sleeves-in-your-Pi type jacket though it's basic shape is pentagonal instead of round. The technique for making it will be similar. I've been deep in the lace mode for about a year now and this design really tempts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMe5jivNJW4NmsyeCs7BpjvrwZva7lO0aYL2Pzky2ihQvIHEww20x8kDRgnXHmZAHAOttqSQZQNknrSqxvfZ4CFA1ZtRpASbFm3cvFwk8ZkeXyEML8OAW0L31i341-hYASG-U/s1600/Vlace+jacket.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509675449706051010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMe5jivNJW4NmsyeCs7BpjvrwZva7lO0aYL2Pzky2ihQvIHEww20x8kDRgnXHmZAHAOttqSQZQNknrSqxvfZ4CFA1ZtRpASbFm3cvFwk8ZkeXyEML8OAW0L31i341-hYASG-U/s320/Vlace+jacket.jpg" /></a><br /><p><br />I was very intrigued by this asymmetrical cardi. I'm not quite sure it is for me, but I really like the way the designer conceived everything and of course - I am a sucker for the Hollow Oak Cable (of Flidas fame)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A7TDni5bdunEUvnfZZDWdzocD71rGBf9qsWRPjRuzO2a_CztfsrGVZy0CLuWj3Wn2UT9xNVpIk6Mr7XsgnhAkRbTFnAtm_2rT7mrXBB-7PhM5nK1NE7iX93xhs5pFDZmvZ8/s1600/vcardi+tan.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509675449785286466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A7TDni5bdunEUvnfZZDWdzocD71rGBf9qsWRPjRuzO2a_CztfsrGVZy0CLuWj3Wn2UT9xNVpIk6Mr7XsgnhAkRbTFnAtm_2rT7mrXBB-7PhM5nK1NE7iX93xhs5pFDZmvZ8/s320/vcardi+tan.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I really <i>can</i> see this sweater worn with a slim black wool skirt at a business meeting.<br /><br />This cardi, otoh, is just cozy looking. I like the smocked detail. I like the mossy green variegated yarn. I like the collar and I like the hems on sleeves and sweater body. It's girly without being fussy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYyiA8865WnDXxTyMRL-eu8z74Y8TpQ-Oa7zujG2U4eKXdBSEVqBjABvPC9txVb3dgEIPXhkIfggx2Lt1jNutJs5D2K3iSxNUzfP5vzrMs40A2XyGwgRWJRXDgSKBCIPBz84/s1600/vgreen+cardi.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509675446996565890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYyiA8865WnDXxTyMRL-eu8z74Y8TpQ-Oa7zujG2U4eKXdBSEVqBjABvPC9txVb3dgEIPXhkIfggx2Lt1jNutJs5D2K3iSxNUzfP5vzrMs40A2XyGwgRWJRXDgSKBCIPBz84/s320/vgreen+cardi.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This last sweater really floats my boat. I love the colors. (very Queen-ish) I totally love stranded colorwork anyway and the tiny dots in the upper body give the impression of texture without actually having to knit it in. I love the 3/4 length sleeves. I love the collar. I really love the set in sleeves. This is another Play-to-Work look I would adopt into my own wardrobe.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCrjXCH_lBM9-LEBgGpzQWFqwaJI9RnCtpVdtp_qcBydYQkEt5SVmv2O8FNhZvXdpxtDN1HbwWYKA1GweM0Z_hAuutQX5hhWHUG7v-iMTNXQMnYhSLvyq-zHHbReLNxdcc_8/s1600/vred+and+green+cardi.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509675443375692434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCrjXCH_lBM9-LEBgGpzQWFqwaJI9RnCtpVdtp_qcBydYQkEt5SVmv2O8FNhZvXdpxtDN1HbwWYKA1GweM0Z_hAuutQX5hhWHUG7v-iMTNXQMnYhSLvyq-zHHbReLNxdcc_8/s320/vred+and+green+cardi.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So. That's what TheQueen thinks about the 2010 Fall VogueKnitting magazine. Hope you enjoyed reading.<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-88006775223139821762010-08-25T07:26:00.004-04:002010-08-25T11:43:14.960-04:00<h3>That Knit-a-Sweater feeling</h3>Yup. I'm getting that feeling again - time to cast something that has long sleeves on to size 7 needles. It's been too hot to even look into my stash but the weather dot com guys are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">promising</span> me 85 degree days and 60 degree nights - I can open up the treasure chests on Saturday and start doing some serious planning. Photos will be shared.<br /><br />But just from what's in my memory database (I know, I ought to create a yarn database but I am entirely too lazy) I know there is:<br /><br />Heavy worsted weight camel colored alpaca - a cabled cardigan with pockets ?<br /><br />Light worsted weight <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">JoJoLand</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">handpaint</span> - a whole bag of it<br /><br />Worsted weight gold tweed to replace <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Flidas</span> (remember that old beloved lost treasure from 2003??)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFzXM0OWMoTZvLK2aha6rTpmxd-iwX8VUbHZrNiQCk-gM0ooJVD-kLqjaH-9b76pDl-JQjzp3_F56HPFEa0ciqM64ZZvInGjGz0jdLHMDiok3lMiM8AOAeyMZCIjFE-2yuWk/s1600/overview1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 138px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509372027816269666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFzXM0OWMoTZvLK2aha6rTpmxd-iwX8VUbHZrNiQCk-gM0ooJVD-kLqjaH-9b76pDl-JQjzp3_F56HPFEa0ciqM64ZZvInGjGz0jdLHMDiok3lMiM8AOAeyMZCIjFE-2yuWk/s320/overview1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiR9b6XX_3auRMJUqhnMLSVH-va6RDs0AXrGKpPWouskVoNzNyDcfMcjj3xX3QJVv2Ci3b5ZYGiV_eTHw789zjUr7dAWfrGX_-EeLvprNu8BlDTRoHm8t79QmqMIkaL2GMz1U/s1600/blockingFlidais.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 272px; HEIGHT: 307px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509372036991215618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiR9b6XX_3auRMJUqhnMLSVH-va6RDs0AXrGKpPWouskVoNzNyDcfMcjj3xX3QJVv2Ci3b5ZYGiV_eTHw789zjUr7dAWfrGX_-EeLvprNu8BlDTRoHm8t79QmqMIkaL2GMz1U/s320/blockingFlidais.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZVDQ7hc4BC5aZ82Soh_fx8p9U6pxNaGGOzt4ICc3tNV0g17ehIoO3d03oS_1b6pWqZ8g_VkX24-Ljbna8Fv_zvmVMX47fea7N6yTIuNxPUPTSGA630zZUMGr0yigaO4VU74/s1600/hollowoakecable.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br />That bag of brick colored merino I bought to knit <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bricka</span> the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Aran</span> -<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixa9uOeBCft-8jyrSDhVBqT9mKHX5DOzG5z3ux3JMY-mNaGmrAm4eYTE7SJwwNj5GtI4_EXosfHCVfDK8UG2BUlom0QjqfEiYdEZULtPb5kZPDMC1DrXVxagegKx6qq8pNudU/s1600/photo1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509372015209168626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixa9uOeBCft-8jyrSDhVBqT9mKHX5DOzG5z3ux3JMY-mNaGmrAm4eYTE7SJwwNj5GtI4_EXosfHCVfDK8UG2BUlom0QjqfEiYdEZULtPb5kZPDMC1DrXVxagegKx6qq8pNudU/s320/photo1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />this is the sweater that taught me that I hate to make intricate cables - not because they are hard but because I find them boring. I doubt I'll ever make that sweater... I could rip it and cast on anew.... something a little friendlier<br /><br />Then there is the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shellridge</span> Cardigan I bought at MS&W 2009!!!! It sits beside the television in it's clear zippered bag, the glowing colors mocking my laziness.<br /><br />Well - that is about enough yarn to fill one large 20 gallon tub and since I know I have 4 of them full of delicious things - just imagine the treasures I'll unearth. I believe I will have a photo heavy post in a few days.<br /><br />In the mean time - Happy Hump Day to you. Get outdoors and enjoy this gorgeous weather.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-84977352623066557692010-08-23T07:13:00.002-04:002010-08-23T07:28:52.986-04:00<h3>Some people have too much free time</h3><br /><br />But I am not one of them. I use my time to see to it that little naked dolls have clothes. Here's another garment for those darling 5" dolls (that my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">niece</span> swears do evil things at night when we're asleep)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pj8JclMsUC63jb9nYtTPPAhRe4nsJRnCTyOSW5vsY-5LEe3uqnXm1iYZany7Pah-fnKmB9DMR1AEU5l_K03axtC3X9njOiiMj0-YfjfHVX2R4mAObzgU3EmLr8YZsG89MQ8/s1600/P1020185.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508563867438959090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pj8JclMsUC63jb9nYtTPPAhRe4nsJRnCTyOSW5vsY-5LEe3uqnXm1iYZany7Pah-fnKmB9DMR1AEU5l_K03axtC3X9njOiiMj0-YfjfHVX2R4mAObzgU3EmLr8YZsG89MQ8/s320/P1020185.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Doesn't he have that Huck Finn look?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HjdkDXtqr0ZsAUrBcBMozh6mf4eJgZgFRj8yl1_to29daxBllEVh6pdSxBbqx-hr59ZHAXi01ieoJJBe9-A_IpSAZoMIEOY-U5jjFAjUJODBaR5vIsS0i97fvz9D9a8X3dk/s1600/P1020188.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508563871012243058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HjdkDXtqr0ZsAUrBcBMozh6mf4eJgZgFRj8yl1_to29daxBllEVh6pdSxBbqx-hr59ZHAXi01ieoJJBe9-A_IpSAZoMIEOY-U5jjFAjUJODBaR5vIsS0i97fvz9D9a8X3dk/s320/P1020188.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Here's the pattern - written in my favorite pithy manner - a little more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">succinct</span> than my muse <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">EZ</span> but not much.<br /><br /><br />Knit in the round using your favorite circular technique and distributing the stitches in whatever way you like best.<br /><br />With a #3 cotton or substantial sock yarn and a size 3 needle(s)<br /><br /><strong>Overalls</strong><br />cast on 28 stitches.<br />Join, being careful not to twist This join will be the center back.<br />Knit one round<br />in next round, P2, YO, P2tog, P6, P2tog, YO, P4,YO, P2tog, P6, P2tog, YO, P2<br />K one round<br />P one round<br />K one round, increasing 8 stitches evenly distributed<br />K 12 more rounds<br />K 18 stitches put remaining stitches on a holder – with such a small project, putting these stitches on a loop of yarn is the best option, but feel free to use the holder of your choice<br />Join those stitches, pulling the working yarn as tight as you can and knit 5 rounds on 18 stitches<br />P one round<br />K one round<br />Bind off in purl.snip yarn<br />Pick up 18 reserved stitches. With new yarn knit 18 stitches and join.<br />K 4 more rounds<br />P one round<br />K one round<br />Bind off in purl.<br />Use the tail of the joined yarn to sew up the gap between legs.<br />Weave in all ends<br /><br /><strong>Straps<br /></strong>Make 3 stitch i-cord about 28 stitches long. Sew a knot in both ends using about 6 stitches for each knot. Strap will be about 14 stitches long. Measure against the doll to be sure.<br />Use knots as buttons to go into the little one stitch YO buttonholes, crisscrossing the straps in back.<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-18366928554314000242010-08-22T08:06:00.003-04:002010-08-22T08:44:45.355-04:00<h3>End of the summer</h3>The reunion has come and gone but it was a grand one. More than 70 people gathered at this quaint brick church<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCnDsVhyGBHv3dALd7ShcZpwinQc3W0xUvGoFtKQfh4VNh4qt_tpjywWw0BgBfUhjjo9vhMlYZWcjZRhcAP0sIKIKPG5Ajb-7oUrFarUCBtA3ZT6SkFFawKlzxvk7CzGOeyA/s1600/P1010997.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508208632115492882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCnDsVhyGBHv3dALd7ShcZpwinQc3W0xUvGoFtKQfh4VNh4qt_tpjywWw0BgBfUhjjo9vhMlYZWcjZRhcAP0sIKIKPG5Ajb-7oUrFarUCBtA3ZT6SkFFawKlzxvk7CzGOeyA/s320/P1010997.JPG" /></a><br /><br />It was a gathering full of cousins<br /><br /><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508208644067102498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeZA0GQ3nVS_WP0gfq0N3H6H7YG_frG6W7akIiCqU9QTo0LGR7OUwk3kgsDV261TV74rwnFp04E9TdGi_ykQfWvXJ2u7zeea4Mf6xqN-4DHENVsLL7941ImrxzZE_5BXTbvk/s320/P1020010.JPG" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi9raPnHkSHAcwWIGHJeLUbvNB69_uweACvoi7Sg6AEhqxOi77ZFlUwkggIpH2Flcl5nsoHXEGQbVf5wtnbearfIBVHgmyFlAsGiL3Zyl-Erdj5RW3iXNDGOMPLYhroRVJqk/s1600/P1020028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508208638380331586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi9raPnHkSHAcwWIGHJeLUbvNB69_uweACvoi7Sg6AEhqxOi77ZFlUwkggIpH2Flcl5nsoHXEGQbVf5wtnbearfIBVHgmyFlAsGiL3Zyl-Erdj5RW3iXNDGOMPLYhroRVJqk/s320/P1020028.JPG" /></a><br /><br />followed by water play<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UyRDfOC0cK3KI3k3CiA3laorujxX95kyKb4_pZfepnRLP7ce1rCCKC9GVQBh0xgr-x__M6JZuJTYGCF2gbpZbDuXP2qEVFtjT_hgV_dGE-g1BXxiDr81z8azytohicJopY8/s1600/P1020038.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508208645166664418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UyRDfOC0cK3KI3k3CiA3laorujxX95kyKb4_pZfepnRLP7ce1rCCKC9GVQBh0xgr-x__M6JZuJTYGCF2gbpZbDuXP2qEVFtjT_hgV_dGE-g1BXxiDr81z8azytohicJopY8/s320/P1020038.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoJ9lFe_ck8dSfUhzwa0zP6vOLKxQ3ujICyPJslUeM7j4__H81b36-YmGuATRY6zKhpQzlxZ9a7ILDLdHaPSkiiL5IWQg_9O7tU0IRGm8LJM9OtWAG-Ua81WXw28DbJ1HDJ0/s1600/P1020050.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508208648769133762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoJ9lFe_ck8dSfUhzwa0zP6vOLKxQ3ujICyPJslUeM7j4__H81b36-YmGuATRY6zKhpQzlxZ9a7ILDLdHaPSkiiL5IWQg_9O7tU0IRGm8LJM9OtWAG-Ua81WXw28DbJ1HDJ0/s320/P1020050.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />I always feel like summer is over when <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><strong>TheReunion</strong></span> has come and gone but there really are still a few weeks left of vacation time. This year I was determined to fulfill an ancient childhood dream to visit Tangier Island, VA. As far back as elementary school I was jealous of the children who's parents or Nana and Pop took them on the cruise to Virginia's smallest seaside village. You take the boat from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Reedville</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Onancock</span> or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Chrisfield</span> to get there - or you may be lucky enough to have your own sailing craft and can get there on your own. We took the Chesapeake Breeze and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.<br /><br />Tangier is a crabbing village - all the income comes off of the water, with crabs in the summer and oysters in the winter - or at least - that has been it's history for many years. It's a charming little place of egalitarian working folk with a strong community spirit ... they turned down Warner Brothers as the film location for the movie Message in a Bottle because they're a dry town and don't condone alcohol in any fashion.<br /><br />In stead they're a town of narrow streets<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgXw3TrYodgs2hguU1_yuS4H-YLGMRhGO5lK-4cctYh05bUEMOXkDAfT4wydpEuS_hgRJqyX21e6_AcCpOZUxy8DmRo51ElYyTYSp9FgPo4KOizxErMVqXNIDab3ovfKBvtk/s1600/P1020111.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508207899602108306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgXw3TrYodgs2hguU1_yuS4H-YLGMRhGO5lK-4cctYh05bUEMOXkDAfT4wydpEuS_hgRJqyX21e6_AcCpOZUxy8DmRo51ElYyTYSp9FgPo4KOizxErMVqXNIDab3ovfKBvtk/s320/P1020111.JPG" /></a><br /><br />A pretty white church<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VgJD_Tti4B1AK43xnC_q8BMrfEcrIQYVI0k_jcUtXqITUStOIs3nEi6xBPtHhkQv3PNbj-mUwab7L8itFL3PW6T3gY8cKbMIdDXcKsDe_cwpMMp9AShA16C-ft4A1r2P84I/s1600/P1020112.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508207905746725554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VgJD_Tti4B1AK43xnC_q8BMrfEcrIQYVI0k_jcUtXqITUStOIs3nEi6xBPtHhkQv3PNbj-mUwab7L8itFL3PW6T3gY8cKbMIdDXcKsDe_cwpMMp9AShA16C-ft4A1r2P84I/s320/P1020112.JPG" /></a><br /><br />and crab shacks (dozens and dozens of crab shacks)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q1tYOWqOA3fl6sogkaNsuEk81HOokICTV8J3k0ADcI7_VEWrchyorshdo2IFscw5XJ-kLMgF43QBjMQqpqRlJLszeWqi6mPwck7fN0ULbjxn9WlLDDQ06-J6o4CuQyc75w4/s1600/P1020177.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508207903957621826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q1tYOWqOA3fl6sogkaNsuEk81HOokICTV8J3k0ADcI7_VEWrchyorshdo2IFscw5XJ-kLMgF43QBjMQqpqRlJLszeWqi6mPwck7fN0ULbjxn9WlLDDQ06-J6o4CuQyc75w4/s320/P1020177.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Oh yes - and beaches!! 2 miles of pristine sand beaches where I could go skinny dipping after dinner on Thursday. Honestly - this place was mine all mine and the water was delicious.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuwOUe7WFfT3-5n-fQmR3FZJRlrjtznktylugYI_mJMDjxdGEylux0SQcQtIlLFAn0xymKNh0HcCgTIQ_AFFqscYj9GBuD_rq45z4JUUgq8tL4meLPaDM-5nVATuSHH2phjw/s1600/P1020140.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508207892214542786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuwOUe7WFfT3-5n-fQmR3FZJRlrjtznktylugYI_mJMDjxdGEylux0SQcQtIlLFAn0xymKNh0HcCgTIQ_AFFqscYj9GBuD_rq45z4JUUgq8tL4meLPaDM-5nVATuSHH2phjw/s320/P1020140.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />It's a grand place to sit and sketch and be quiet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeXMLaz1mjzqrxo1H-eBDFZQSuxgFrtjEdO5AvyQo58hZY7Gu7vfc8OzXdY1woujQ2-oyX_d7eHofmd095jFVPrc23wToQJZ6nNUaxLkVwZFwUkSq2nzhOxWVhylOfZO33z0/s1600/P1020184.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508207886305453762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeXMLaz1mjzqrxo1H-eBDFZQSuxgFrtjEdO5AvyQo58hZY7Gu7vfc8OzXdY1woujQ2-oyX_d7eHofmd095jFVPrc23wToQJZ6nNUaxLkVwZFwUkSq2nzhOxWVhylOfZO33z0/s320/P1020184.JPG" /></a><br /><br />It's a place to walk and eat and sleep and walk some more. Here you're on Island Time and even though I was only there 2 days, I came home so rested. this is not fancy living, mind you, but quiet and slow and gentle and very friendly.<br /><br /><br />And now - now it's the last full week of August. Time to pull out yarn and think about winter knitting. Time to gear up for all the busy work that will be Fall 2010 - because my goodness I'm going to be busy. Work is crowding in on me like so many buzzing bees. Holiday festivities are just over the horizon and there is a BIRTHDAY MONTH coming in 8 days.<br /><br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hmmm</span>. Now what do I want for my birthday .....<br /><br />hugs to you all<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-44715835169048214972010-08-10T11:49:00.002-04:002010-08-10T11:57:35.193-04:00<h3>Not enough time? Let's look at that another way</h3><br /><br />So. On the day I post in my facebook status about how cramped for time I am, along comes this horoscope from <a href="http://www.yasminboland.com/">MsHoroscope: </a><br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">"Resources – time and money – are in focus as Venus, Pluto and Jupiter form a rare alignment. You may be feeling the pinch, in terms of your budget or your time. You have more resources than you realise, it’s simply a matter of prioritising - authentically – what to do with your money and your days. If you want financial security, trade time or skills for money. If you want more downtime, trade some income for better life balance. All the pieces are in front of you, you just need to find a new way to put them together. Today’s New Moon energises your hidden, resting zone. Give yourself some quiet uninterrupted space in which to put your analytical skills to work. "<br /></span><br />It <em>is </em>true I am really rushed for time. There are a zillion things to do this week and I want to do each and every one. My work has suddenly become very busy and very interesting OR I have suddenly become very inspired to find interesting productive things to do to get me someplace I want to be. oh . Uh. Red Flags flapping and Whistles blowing?<br /><br />I've been reading James Arthur Ray's book <a href="http://harmonicwealth.com/">Harmonic Wealth </a>and in it he says that it's not about the goal, it's about becoming a person who can reach the goal - which feels very good to me. He also says that to have a bigger anything, be it life, salary, job, circle of friends, you have to become a bigger person. Not a better person, mind you, just a bigger one.<br /><br />I'm all about books that help you go places - starting with <a href="http://www.juliemorgenstern.com/">Julie Morgenstern's </a>organizational advice<br /><br />to the Hicks' books on the <a href="http://www.abraham-hicks.com/la">Law of Attraction</a><br /><br />to Rick Warren's "<a href="http://www.purposedrivenlife.co/">The Purpose Driven Life"<br /></a><br />And of course Martha Beck and her <a href="http://www.marthabeck.com/">4-day Win and Steering by Starlight </a>books<br /><br />And one thing all of them tell us is that when you ask for more and get it - things don't end there. We're not in a race to the finish - be it a dream house or a top job or a perfect weight. We are ever expanding beings growing into the person who can live the life we are creating.<br /><br />The only reason I'm so busy is because I have thought of a better library than the one we have and to create it I have to manage lots more things. The only reason I'm so busy is because I really want a close loving relationship, not just with my aging parents, but with the sister who lived so far away for so many years, and is now close again and doing an enormous lot of work to ease my parents final years. The only reason I'm so busy is because I want to take that trip with Himself next week AND spend Friday with my cousin getting things ready for the huge family reunion on Saturday.<br /><br />It really is about priorities. For every advantage brings responsibilities. Not a price, mind you - but just added items. And the way to enjoy the advantage is to believe it will work out. To believe that every problem that arises comes with it's solution - or solutionS and that is where the real reward is. Not in achieving the better job or the bigger salary or even the smaller weight - but in becoming the person who has More Solutions to Life's Issues.<br /><br />I'm reminded of a day in January 2009 when I came to work to find our library's internet access completely shut down. The problem was convoluted and the solutionS were myriad, diverse, weird and amazing. And we implemented every one of them in a single 8 hour work day, changing our domain name, our internet provider, our method of connection, getting help from 3 institutions not even connected with the library and the following day we had internet access. The whole day I felt like I was riding on some light beam across the universe, picking answers out of thin air. I was in the zone. I was on my game. It wasn't even that I had to get it all done in a single day. I just knew we weren't going to fail and we didn't. We did better than that. We solved it all in a day.<br /><br />Sorta makes me wonder how much time I actually fritter away NOT riding on a light beam and plucking answers out of the air.<br /><br />The good thing about a day like that January Monday is that it proves to me that I can go light beam riding. I can have miracle days where everything happens. I just have to keep my consciousness on the happening, the doing, instead of the troubles and difficulties. They ALWAYS look bigger than they are and the answers are always closer than I had imagined.<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-72368468765685046742010-08-08T07:43:00.003-04:002010-08-08T08:12:00.180-04:00<h3>Miniature Elizabeth Zimmermann Baby Surprise Sweater</h3><p>Here you have a blog that's almost all about knitting. I told you yesterday we had the most perfect 8 year old visitor in July. She came for the very first time with her parents, aunt&uncle, cousins and grandparents (who, in good old Virginia fashion are also distant cousins of <strong>BD</strong>) for a 4th of July picnic here. Mostly that sort of fun is outdoors and swimming and fireworks but of course I had to introduce her to <strong>The Bird Family </strong></p><p>(you remember these guys)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkwmKN7-eJS_z5Y2Pe8HEc2HSX6KauH2MXxqR4rez4I0ICTXCp-ao8fj5DMElJP9jOKYM1ZOqzQ6OZCw-yO3mF0MOmGKzg1DlaLR9Ym6uTnSiJCMajGGUA7B4wOQh7ynNP4s/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503006106646985762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkwmKN7-eJS_z5Y2Pe8HEc2HSX6KauH2MXxqR4rez4I0ICTXCp-ao8fj5DMElJP9jOKYM1ZOqzQ6OZCw-yO3mF0MOmGKzg1DlaLR9Ym6uTnSiJCMajGGUA7B4wOQh7ynNP4s/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" /></a><br /><br />and while I was explaining about them she gave me a look that said "Oh. You understand. You're my kind of person". We were thrilled when she wanted to come back on her own for a week - a bit of a stretch for someone not yet 9 who only met you once. And so I present you with <strong>Cousin F!<br /></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiG8xap5_9X5n9xDku75OiWs_VWqvLJoog_T9HpX8dQn87FM6ARyi16OU-ZJPDBWHtsrPrHGWLMTED_PMCyJdddvRqj6EKwZ82_BbJLxaZiXEcQK7EQrUADR-2NkhtrU_w46o/s1600/P1010858.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503004478037138050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiG8xap5_9X5n9xDku75OiWs_VWqvLJoog_T9HpX8dQn87FM6ARyi16OU-ZJPDBWHtsrPrHGWLMTED_PMCyJdddvRqj6EKwZ82_BbJLxaZiXEcQK7EQrUADR-2NkhtrU_w46o/s320/P1010858.JPG" /></a><br /><br />While she was here we explored all sorts of fun things. I do have the best toys.<br />It was also the week my knitting group meets, and since <strong>CousinF</strong> also knits, we were both fascinated and jealous when a friend brought this little doll she'd found at Ben Franklin. She planned to make wee little doll clothes for it as part of a Christmas present. <strong>CousinF</strong> and I both had extreme doll lust and had to make a mad dash to Mechanicsville to buy some dolls and cotton yarn. The results are above - and <strong>CousinF</strong> made doll hats and knit on the dresses some too.<br /><br />I, too, know 2 little girls who really ought to have these little dolls, all dressed up and ready to go, moving in this Christmas, so I have been fiddling around with wee doll things. I also was knitting on a real EZ Baby Surprise sweater for a shower gift and got to wondering if you could knit a miniature version for these dolls. It would be a great way to make a little sweater with sleeves for these tiny arms. Here is the result - after a passable but, ultimately unsuccessful, first attempt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWAn1-YQnnAbf9zoqKjBKKGRjS12N8jMEvCJhaQyGC-LfkOmNCSimgMf9lX3yUEN-OrvwclZPItdp9Pk6qTvRgW8QYchAdH9F-ITdFLq6aJoWR-babqFb1xBQ8qYq7FPvb4M/s1600/P1010975.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503004463055811618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWAn1-YQnnAbf9zoqKjBKKGRjS12N8jMEvCJhaQyGC-LfkOmNCSimgMf9lX3yUEN-OrvwclZPItdp9Pk6qTvRgW8QYchAdH9F-ITdFLq6aJoWR-babqFb1xBQ8qYq7FPvb4M/s320/P1010975.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPM7L6oZCJTtmnwo_uKh4U_L7CPHuzYyg4ZBQ8ZH5ceD2oKpu6y9Zl1hNaPbO0GeivzslaVhc2tqpD0Vhgc-cOAKbtUBs6de9XozLNYTOAIujcMxmIBpddaq9_p7A6UsU75yg/s1600/P1010978.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503004467896840114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPM7L6oZCJTtmnwo_uKh4U_L7CPHuzYyg4ZBQ8ZH5ceD2oKpu6y9Zl1hNaPbO0GeivzslaVhc2tqpD0Vhgc-cOAKbtUBs6de9XozLNYTOAIujcMxmIBpddaq9_p7A6UsU75yg/s320/P1010978.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Cute, huh? </p><p>Cast on 46 stitches and start the double decreases on stitch 12 and 34. </p><p>Knit in garter stitch till you've made 4 pair of double decreases, </p><p>knit one ridge without decreasing, doubling the stitches across the center portion on the second row of that ridge, </p><p>then start the increases. After 2 pair of double increases, bind off 2 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows </p><p>then knit a couple ... maybe 3, more ridges with double increases. </p><p>Bind off. </p><p>This means leaving off the part where you knit only on the back for a real baby surprise. These dolls don't need it.<br /><br />Sew up the sleeves. Voila! minibabysurprisesweater!<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-45203621418097466622010-08-07T07:50:00.005-04:002010-08-07T08:39:14.277-04:00<h3>A month without a post?!?</h3><br />This is the worst ever. What has happened to the famous Queenly Loquacity?<br /><br />Ah well - perhaps it is the antiquity of this blogger format - for Like The Queen was created long ago and doesn't have any of the easy features and clickable widgets that newer fancier formats offer. I'm on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30916258&id=1106710780#!/profile.php?id=1106710780&v=wall&ref=notif">facebook</a> where I can leave quick catch-up notices and easily post pictures - and there is <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal.asp?id=BESSHAILE">another blog </a>I'm <s>cheating on</s> keeping that has to do with weight issues and some other stuff. And of course summer is my busy time and this particular summer has been wickedly hot and dry (80% crop loss in the soy bean fields).<br /><br />I have a real thought to creating a new Like The Queen blog that's easier to keep up. The back story here is that the original LTQ is so text heavy that it can't just be moved into a newer shinier RSS feed type of Blogger blog and honestly I'm not that enamored of the other blogging formats to want to learn all their buttons. Like switching from a Cannon camera to a Panasonic ... some steep learning curve for something so simple.<br /><br />anyway - if I do bring out the Mach III version of LTQ I will surely let you know. And in the mean time - here's the quick and dirty rundown of what the summer's been like so far:<br /><br /><strong>July:</strong><br /><br />more 100 degree days in Virginia than ever before<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA0PIHDuOC0wMWurqDs5eEzCh53Zx1akJvAvj_j6nK6GfZxowCuZL0Ln60U6LJQZyDxyBS1LUTcllAjmXeW0s14iADo4GQtXBMqfZrfh65knvAM_R2zXs1eo2BWp_izd7sC4/s1600/P1010827.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502643035752868002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA0PIHDuOC0wMWurqDs5eEzCh53Zx1akJvAvj_j6nK6GfZxowCuZL0Ln60U6LJQZyDxyBS1LUTcllAjmXeW0s14iADo4GQtXBMqfZrfh65knvAM_R2zXs1eo2BWp_izd7sC4/s320/P1010827.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Family picnic on 4th of July<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj3dD4QjOu8vxu81CuFloXGNl6vg2Lc1kR6g5W6QebAr7-ApG6vC32eivuiZlfbIoC4ahNMw1mpGXfo2lCWl4rRDZw6TOUFk5vbAsTxdrYR-dMB3U3jcwbaKWx3MEF0k6phk/s1600/P1010979.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502643041962574626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj3dD4QjOu8vxu81CuFloXGNl6vg2Lc1kR6g5W6QebAr7-ApG6vC32eivuiZlfbIoC4ahNMw1mpGXfo2lCWl4rRDZw6TOUFk5vbAsTxdrYR-dMB3U3jcwbaKWx3MEF0k6phk/s320/P1010979.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Met a soulmate of an 8 year old who spent a week with us while we created these!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tPCR5nuUcsIV3iHiDFI36f51WJvUGDXuHl90Spa0cEKzvm7iyYe3jjhKhKVUhMmKncgSFmBRtwh4J_QdRkJz0gE5M7DW7bB69HNCFbeYlKq5lZbFs1uTBRgwqyPEbCKfYhU/s1600/0.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502643041364360434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tPCR5nuUcsIV3iHiDFI36f51WJvUGDXuHl90Spa0cEKzvm7iyYe3jjhKhKVUhMmKncgSFmBRtwh4J_QdRkJz0gE5M7DW7bB69HNCFbeYlKq5lZbFs1uTBRgwqyPEbCKfYhU/s320/0.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Found a darling little lost dog<br /><br />Lost the darling little lost dog to a better owner (He just would not get along with Jack)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdCHORqHlfOmeIJbGBzVtT8O3UNM8wkJ7XjjamNAJE2HbZvuZGcR6wR0UIuV65Ep69dTSpNVzh72TK_gpuxtPF0nhrs8dV6O113ckU2tDtnP6ssTsv-i5Ghn1ny9n9zRtmFk/s1600/P1010915.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502643039373773474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdCHORqHlfOmeIJbGBzVtT8O3UNM8wkJ7XjjamNAJE2HbZvuZGcR6wR0UIuV65Ep69dTSpNVzh72TK_gpuxtPF0nhrs8dV6O113ckU2tDtnP6ssTsv-i5Ghn1ny9n9zRtmFk/s320/P1010915.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Bought the most fantabulous hat!<br /><br />Planned a short vacation to <a href="http://www.tangiercruise.com/tangier-island-cruises.asp">Tangier Island </a>... I promise - there will be photos - we go in a few weeks!<br /><h3></h3><p></p>oh - and yes<br /><br />werkwerkwerk<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xPUtp2evMhCrl8pA0esWS1uw2Ckbh9Jf08h7eSNq4VYW9sbl9lq3vsp0EATdgutQR6NmQqdgw2vOmcgXOaDvLVoZdu4NAAxxEeemLgWj6x8DOYPGTLG5jzQeCWQjpQ7cB7E/s1600/0000.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 130px; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502645251061091058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xPUtp2evMhCrl8pA0esWS1uw2Ckbh9Jf08h7eSNq4VYW9sbl9lq3vsp0EATdgutQR6NmQqdgw2vOmcgXOaDvLVoZdu4NAAxxEeemLgWj6x8DOYPGTLG5jzQeCWQjpQ7cB7E/s200/0000.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcki9kuV7o82EMwIlP9VLAxB7eAm-582aF8M698e5bnNZAmfIsoweJqHX2_T1nV8fkUojGMvEvepGGFCN7SugHrbFOeXR8a6Vtw7RHl75kGup7jJYqOuZIhZ1L5dU2V4BCYY/s1600/000.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 130px; HEIGHT: 73px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502645245800237634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcki9kuV7o82EMwIlP9VLAxB7eAm-582aF8M698e5bnNZAmfIsoweJqHX2_T1nV8fkUojGMvEvepGGFCN7SugHrbFOeXR8a6Vtw7RHl75kGup7jJYqOuZIhZ1L5dU2V4BCYY/s200/000.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUhBSGcCzaXOa18macNlGcnVIzbcNT_Syj_gSg_jdbPtYZBUgCxKYgzQIjx39We8U4dni7EgT7oboTp4vVChCzbrE9EA5vVfuUUI9jmnX5mVEczBRYC1qneZDyCuMfZwZ-OM/s1600/00.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 130px; HEIGHT: 98px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502645243927115442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUhBSGcCzaXOa18macNlGcnVIzbcNT_Syj_gSg_jdbPtYZBUgCxKYgzQIjx39We8U4dni7EgT7oboTp4vVChCzbrE9EA5vVfuUUI9jmnX5mVEczBRYC1qneZDyCuMfZwZ-OM/s200/00.jpg" /></a><br /><br />(heh heh ... dont you wish you had my job?)<br /><br />So - that's the status of <strong>TheQueen.</strong> I just couldn't let this long silence last another day.<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-49895941940003095042010-06-30T17:24:00.003-04:002010-06-30T17:46:22.103-04:00<h3>Knitting content - almost an FO</h3><br /><br />Here it is, in almost all it's splendor - the Egyptian Collared cap sleeve tank top - modeled by L's daughter and looking MUCH prettier on her than it does on me. Oh to get those 20 years back again - and lose those 20 lbs.!!<br /><p></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wta2cLpn2mnfnrcIbeE0n5FcDOBcL3vCp_eQvQo4avN94rBSx6gGU7cshZtulkh7l_EwH9_XV12Y4xIq3sCjW87yK3qzynwVkvAJl0U5OQJ4Rqey_UwBo2MRMhU8yvwOmpk/s1600/P1010809.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488685985251372706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Wta2cLpn2mnfnrcIbeE0n5FcDOBcL3vCp_eQvQo4avN94rBSx6gGU7cshZtulkh7l_EwH9_XV12Y4xIq3sCjW87yK3qzynwVkvAJl0U5OQJ4Rqey_UwBo2MRMhU8yvwOmpk/s320/P1010809.JPG" /></a> <p></p>I like the drape in the back too.<br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlbN_Psu8rj4fXvyv9Y2MIIshn1b3OMqBYTl6aRb7Dy3ugX2uSTho6bqMDTKqJcR9f_aF9hY3sDh0ZJu9XljYkRI9meBVyL-6MtHmJaAej0vid9vAwVgNFUFw_pqVg85S-54/s1600/P1010811.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlbN_Psu8rj4fXvyv9Y2MIIshn1b3OMqBYTl6aRb7Dy3ugX2uSTho6bqMDTKqJcR9f_aF9hY3sDh0ZJu9XljYkRI9meBVyL-6MtHmJaAej0vid9vAwVgNFUFw_pqVg85S-54/s1600/P1010811.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488684689977687554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlbN_Psu8rj4fXvyv9Y2MIIshn1b3OMqBYTl6aRb7Dy3ugX2uSTho6bqMDTKqJcR9f_aF9hY3sDh0ZJu9XljYkRI9meBVyL-6MtHmJaAej0vid9vAwVgNFUFw_pqVg85S-54/s320/P1010811.JPG" /></a> </p><p> </p><p>I'll be back and edit this with More Thoughts soon - but I wanted to show off a little today.<br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-43080272444848153382010-06-22T07:13:00.002-04:002010-06-22T07:42:25.223-04:00<h3>Crazy Busy</h3><br />As you all know I live in a vacation area and summer is my busy time. It's go go go all day long, especially this week, when we start up our special programs for children to keep them reading all summer long. Over the past few years this has coincided with our little town's summer festival and this year I was helping with that, as MC of the beauty pageants for just about every category of cute little child and pretty young girl you could imagine. This is small town america and every girl got a crown or a ribbon or flowers.<br /><br />I know there are folk who hate beauty pageants but my own condemnation is reserved for the kind of thing where mothers doll their daughters up like prostitutes and tell them to shake their booty. There is another sort of pageant that isn't too different from playing dress up - where girls put on their prettiest dresses and come show their grandma and - call me shallow - but a cute child in a pretty dress will always melt my heart. I am a true babyslut. I think they are all the prettiest. Since half of them have been through my story hour program for toddlers, they were very comfortable with me and 100% of the parents were sweethearts, though I hold out my own first place ribbon for the daddy who brought his 2 year old up on stage with balloons for all the little ones and spent the next 10 minutes leaping to the top of the tent to bring them back down, after wee hands had let them go. Talk about a melt your heart moment. Think Lake Woe-begone and you'll have an idea of what Saturday morning was like.<br /><br />Of course I had to take in the fair afterwards and since the weather was the ubiqutous hundred degrees in the shade that the town council must order up every year for this street fair, I was utterly wiped out on Sunday. Did nothing but eat watermelon and blueberries and drag myself from one shady spot to another. It is Hot Hot Hot here in Virginia 2010 and if we make a corn crop it will be due to genetic experimentation to make a strain that grows without water. We haven't had rain in 10 days and each of those 10 days has kissed the 100 degree mark. Even wire grass is crisping beneath this relentless sunshine.<br /><br />Barely back on my feet again Monday morning I had to jump in with the final preparations for the kick-off program for our summer reading club. We always start the program with a magic show, if we can find a good magician and yesterday's was a real treat. He not only managed to use books from our collection in his program, but also let slip how good he thought the collection was - an unexpected little compliment that topped off a stellar program with a capacity crowd. You know you're doing something right when you forget to put the advertisement in the local paper but still get a sell out audience.<br /><br />Today it's all about pirates and the audience is 6-10 year olds. There will be stories and a pirate song and a pirate craft and a treasure hunt in the library that requires reading and using the catalog. And there will be a treasure chest waiting for them when they get back to the meeting room. Tomorrow is the wee ones' story hour that goes on year around. And by golly, after that I am going to crash.<br /><br />At least - I plan to crash on Friday with a Spa Day in Williamsburg with my girlfriend. We are big Colonial Williamsburg fans anyway but we've been talking about doing a day at the Williamsburg Inn's Spa for almost a year now and, by golly, THIS is the week to do one. <a href="http://www.history.org/visit/spa/specials/index.cfm">This is the package </a>we're going for - the June Vacation for a Day. Wicked expenditure of $$ but I've been saving for it since October. It's already bought and paid for - woo woo!<br /><br />Oh - yes. and some of my staff and I are doing a self conducted drawing class on Monday's at noon. I work in a really really fun place. Oh. I am the boss in a really really fun place.<br /><br />KNITTING? you say?<br /><br />Of course I am knitting - though that cotton top, with only a few rounds to go till FO status, has really worn out my thumb. I will reserve cotton knitting solely for lace from now on. And I can't wait to start knitting socks, since I have several new, and newly discovered skeins of sock yarn. But the Big News is a new STORE that has opened up in Warsaw. Hear that Jayne? It's called Espe D's (no web site yet) and it's tag line is "For all your crafting needs". And the owner, Hope Jackson, dropped by the library yesterday and asked if I'd be interested in teaching knitting. Woo Woo. The answer is Yes. And there will be a picture of the Egyptian Tank Top in the next few days.<br /><br />Thanks to anyone out there who is reading this - because you are true friends to this wicked bad blogger. And there are Lots of Photos of the street fair on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=2042823&id=1106710780&ref=mf">my FB page</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4149536.post-12788562262506500542010-06-12T09:51:00.003-04:002010-06-12T10:11:32.464-04:00<h3>35 Years Ago Today</h3><br />I have always loved stories so it was the greatest disappointment in my young life when I started school and found I couldn't read. This was before anybody diagnosed learning disabilities in an exploding baby boomer world where good little girls who paid attention and answered questions in class were promoted anyway because there wasn't room in one class of 49 children to add another. With hope and a prayer I was promoted for 2 years while my wise kind mother coached my reading through endless horrible afternoons of School in Summer. Then suddenly, at about 8, all the neurons made the necessary new pathways in my brain and I could read. I went from not reading at all to chapter books, bypassing the easy picture books completely. And the first book I read was Laura Ingalls Wilder's LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS.<br /><br />I am sure if the first real book I had read was MELISSA GOES TO THE MOON I would have become a rocket scientist but instead I spent most of my childhood fantasy life wishing I, too, had been a little pioneer girl. I read those books. I wrote fan mail to the author, (who, alas, had died the year before) and I made up games about riding my covered wagon across prairies, taking my dolls and animals along with me. And I wished wished <em>wished </em>I'd been born in <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">18</span></strong>52 instead of 1952.<br /><br />I met <strong>BD</strong> in college - he had had a country upbringing and the stories he told of his adventures and freedom, and the confidence he carries with him to this day, that he gained from knowing his environment was a safe place, only cemented my belief that In The Country Is Better ... for me, at least. After a few years of city living one of us confessed to the other that we wanted to run away and live in our own little house in the big woods.<br /><br />And so we did.<br /><br />With no jobs waiting for us and no rural skills (though he always spoke so confidently about things that I believed he knew ALL about doing EVERYTHING. ) we picked a spot in rural Virginia, along the river, near where his mother had grown up. We camped in the woods for 2 months in the WWII buddy tent my father in law landed on Normandy Beach with. With hand tools and a campfire we built a cabin and cooked our meals. We had such adventures to rival Laura Ingalls Wilder herself; though there were no hostile Indians there <em>were</em> two escaped bank robbers "last seen walking north along Highway 17" which was scary enough to thrill the most fantasy filled mind. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. We lost about 50 lbs between us that summer, since frequently the rain put out the cooking fire before the food was cooked and we sat in our car then, smoking cigarettes and working crossword puzzles.<br /><br />But slowly and surely <strong>BD</strong> built us a wee little round cabin and I learned how to bake bread in a dutch oven over a campfire. And by September we had a floor, walls and a roof AND an old wood burning cookstove he'd found in Bertha Hayes' old cow shed and brought home to me in triumph. Though I come from many many MANY generations of city dwellers, I've never once regretted the move to the country. One year later we had our darling son. Three years later I was hired by the library board to type catalog cards. 35 years later we are here in our cozy home on the banks of the river with dogs at our feet and lives that enrich us and, we hope, our community.<br /><br />I would love to go back and live it again, but I hardly think there's a thing I would change. Here's a photo of us, half-way through finishing that little house - with cousin Peter in between us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6g1XieP1M7RF4i2EAlfyd4PnG1mgClDfYlMYpaaAG_myqjok4MJQWdDm0lJvdsbcXjKNPUHp74LaiA7rBNMDFq03cDH8KjqNZMB5F-mHhuH1o26T1kazvHAdiTEFI_uzxQ4/s1600/P1010568.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481888496518303234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6g1XieP1M7RF4i2EAlfyd4PnG1mgClDfYlMYpaaAG_myqjok4MJQWdDm0lJvdsbcXjKNPUHp74LaiA7rBNMDFq03cDH8KjqNZMB5F-mHhuH1o26T1kazvHAdiTEFI_uzxQ4/s200/P1010568.JPG" /></a><br /><br />and a few more<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWLHg70qMHZpOb5zQUR1Q0jLrgjNpmGJE_Og7qqJtvZZrfXEDflBT0M98njC3d5qzOZTd7AWE0OrsAt6g3ykIXkZl87qVL4_3sAbm4nrUPa9ADMUS5sBI03GkSPSNfZGcG-w/s1600/P1010570.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481888504942482050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWLHg70qMHZpOb5zQUR1Q0jLrgjNpmGJE_Og7qqJtvZZrfXEDflBT0M98njC3d5qzOZTd7AWE0OrsAt6g3ykIXkZl87qVL4_3sAbm4nrUPa9ADMUS5sBI03GkSPSNfZGcG-w/s200/P1010570.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-fayBQoY-BAK7kb_05ZjVfsPWrzn8yeeulfCa4yFkd1DODf3A_jWk6CKOsjfZsRSvTTlMHZvil5X-GbhomAHcAAmUtRbwl3AWsGDd-ihRKNYE3QMiyaw4zQTbIgfOmx7bY8/s1600/P1010569.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481888516237858818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-fayBQoY-BAK7kb_05ZjVfsPWrzn8yeeulfCa4yFkd1DODf3A_jWk6CKOsjfZsRSvTTlMHZvil5X-GbhomAHcAAmUtRbwl3AWsGDd-ihRKNYE3QMiyaw4zQTbIgfOmx7bY8/s200/P1010569.JPG" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">#blogfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}
#postfeeds {
[insert formatting here]
}</div>Besshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901307312357888855noreply@blogger.com0