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Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

So, TG and I are hopping off into the Skies and heading out to the city of beads.

That’s right, we are headed off to New Orleans for almost Mardi Gras. And, no, despite the title of this blog post, I won’t be showin’ my 38 longs and collecting beads.

We are going for the food, fun, and hopefully we will see a crocodile or two. I will let you know all about it when we get back.

In the meantime, I am thinking of what knitting to pack. See, they have upped the security on flights to and from the US, so, I think metal dpn’s are decidedly out.

I plan to bring my spice market sweater.

and some roundy rounds.

I just finished some of these and I think they will be the perfect project for the trip.

And no, we aren’t taking the kids. That way lies madness. See you on the flip side.

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Shhh… it’s oh, so quiet in my house right now. TG is out on a man-date, Bunnah is at a sleepover, and the baby (who peed on the potty for the first time today – which I guess makes her a kid now!) is asleepin’. It’s time I pulled up a chair, sipped on some wine, and showed you what all the fuss was about.

The whole shebang was held at the Portland Convention Center.

Welcome to the Portland Convention Center

Welcome to the Portland Convention Center

And let me tell you; it was heeyooge!

One teeny little part of the convention center

One teeny little part of the convention center

I took as many classes as I could possibly get.I even managed to get a class with Judith MacKenzie McCuin who is about the nicest and most knowledgeable spinner that I have ever met. She walked the Ashford Joy I was using through all it’s many paces and then some. I saw her do things with this wheel that I didn’t even know could be done without a special flyer and bobbins.

Ms. MacKenzie-McCuin running her wheel through its paces

Ms. MacKenzie-McCuin running her wheel through it's paces

Thank you so much Judith. I no longer spin crunchy yarn.

We went to the Sock Hop and were so exhausted afterwards that it was all we could do to get the damn poodle skirts off.

These things are so itchy! Why didnt anyone tell me?

These things are so itchy! Why didn't anyone tell me?

And I came away with bruises. At first, I couldn’t figure out what they were from; then I figured it out…

Ouch!

Ouch!

The Hand jive! And, believe it or not, these are already a week old in the picture.

Also, the divine Miss M. got a nasty case of food poisoning. Ack. It put her out of commission for a whole day. Give her a big hug if you run into her, k?

Finally, we packed up our new stash…

So soft and squooshy

So soft and squooshy

…said goodbye to new friends…

Holli Yeoh of Bees Knees knits

Holli Yeoh of Bees Knees knits

…and headed home.

A little Taco Del Mar for the road

A little Taco Del Mar for the road

Can’t wait for next year!!

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And, The Eagle Has Landed!

We’re back!! Two weeks of camping, shopping, and Sock Summitting kind of broke me a little bit.

I finally had a chance to go through some of the photos and found some that tell the story of the last two weeks.

We drove a lot.

Little Traveller
Little Traveller

We did some mini-golfing…

Some of us did better than others...
Some of us did better than others…

We got down with our bad selves…

Rock on Sistah
Rock on Sistah

We camped a bit…

The tent went up; the tent came down
The tent went up; the tent came down

We hung out in Seattle a bit…

Seattle Scenery
Seattle Scenery

We took a ferry…

On the Ferry
On the Ferry

Sometimes we were silly…

Bunny and her Duck Quacker
Bunny and her Duck Quacker

and sometimes we were not…

Bunny really enjoyed the Space Needle
Bunny really enjoyed the Space Needle

But the best part was we were always together…

See us in the reflection from the window?
See us in the reflection from the window?

Next time, pictures of Sock Summit!

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I have so very much to show you. I have been such a busy girl this past week.

Stripe-y Socks

Stripe-y Socks

The yarn? Hazel Knits in 117 Chuckanut Drive. Bought while on vacation in Seattle (the first time) and cast on the other night. Didn’t even know these were a self-striping. I suspect the dyer didn’t actually plan it that way. Apparently, I am a magic knitter.

Mmmmm.... Manos Silk

Mmmmm.... Manos Silk

Manos Silk Clapotis in Rust. I really like the silk blend much better than the plain old silk-less Manos. Is silk-less even a word?

Who cares? I can’t wait to start dropping stitches!

Itty-Bitty Sweater Piece

Itty-Bitty Sweater Piece

And, I cast on for a new sweater for Monkey. Hopefully this will encourage her to keep her mitts off of mine.

Speaking of my sweater, I bet you are still wondering when I will make with the photos of the Oh La La Vest. Soon, my friends, soon. I just need some good light and a willing model…

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I will be honest, I really hadn’t realized that two whole weeks had gone by since my last blog post. Life has been very busy here and many things have happened.

The eyes are fine. So many people have been asking me how the whole thing went down and I wanted to level with everyone. It was a painful, boring recovery. I couldn’t see so tv, computer, and everything else that involves seeing was out. I had no idea not being able to see hindered a person so much. I guess I had never even really thought about it before. I now have a whole new level of respect for those that have lost their sight and still manage to function, because, let me tell you, I was a mess.

I did manage some knitting while I was to be knitting. I finished Monkey’s pants, however, since she refuses to model them right now, pictures for these will have to wait.

Then, we headed off to Seattle, and on the plane there, I started the Imogen sweater (Ravelry Link) that has been calling my name since it came home with me from Victoria in May of last year.

Nearly Done...

Nearly Done...

I wish I could have shown you a finished sweater, however, I still have the huge shawl collar to finish. So close, yet still so far.

However, I did also manage to finish one and a bit of a sock over the last few weeks.

Online Supersock

Online Supersock

Oh, and since we were coming through Vancouver, I managed to persuade TG to stop at Sweet Georgia yarns. Felicia, the creator and mastermind behind Sweet Georgia yarns was so friendly and easy to chat with. I would show you a picture of her and the studio, however, I opted not to take photos of the quiet loft space that she occupies. It seemed like I would be violating the sanctity of the studio and I wanted to be respectful.

Instead, I will show you what I managed to limit myself to buying. Thank goodness for TG’s watchful eye or I would have walked out with everything.

Spun Silk

Spun Silk

Superfudge in Deepest Greens

Superfudge in Deepest Greens

Superwash Sock in Crabapple

Superwash Sock in Crabapple

Next post, a finished sweater!

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Meme, Finally

I was tagged a while back by Knittinggrammy to participate in a meme. But, since I already did the six things meme, I figured I would try something new instead. Here is one that is short and sweet and stolen from Yarnsprout.

Where is your mobile phone?
Purse (I think)

Where is your significant other?
Work (I think)

Your hair colour?
Right now, it’s brown on the roots and blonde on the ends. I really miss my regular hairdresser. Hurry up and have that baby already!

Your mother?
Amazing

Your father?
Just like me. Ok, I guess I am just like him…

Your favorite thing?
New Yarn… and the kids

Your dream last night?
Something about eyes

Your dream goal?
I’m living it baby. Add a scoop of lawyer and that’s just icing on the cake.

The room you’re in?
Messy office

Your hobby?
Knitting

Your fear?
Weakness

Where do you want to be in 6 years?
On my way to being a lawyer

Where were you last night?
Home

What you’re not?
Quiet

One of your wish-list items?
A new camera. So badly.

Where you grew up?

Airdrie

The last thing you did?
Went to a knitting retreat

What are you wearing?
Jammies

Your TV?
Flat

Your pets?
None

Your computer?
TG’s

Your mood?
Superb

Missing someone?
Sorta

Your car?
BMW 325i

Something you’re not wearing?
Bra

Favourite shop?
Can’t name just one

Your summer?
Short

Love someone?
TG

Your favorite color?
All

When is the last time you laughed?
Last night

When was the last time you cried?
Over a bowl of mac and cheese

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, I cast on for some of the yarn that I picked up from Angela at Duet Yarns when we were in Seattle. I love this stuff!

Duet Sock in Unidentified Oops Colorway

Duet Sock in Unidentified Oops Colorway

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Have you seen this? Pure genius!

Nine Tailors Sock Kit

Nine Tailors Sock Kit

I bought this at Rhinebeck because I loved the colors and thought that the intarsia strip that is designed to run down the center of the sock was interesting. Little did I know I had so much more to be excited about.

The kit, designed by the Tsarina of Socks,  is based on the book The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers which is phenomenal as the premise of the book is based on change-ringing. Change-ringing, in case you don’t know (I didn’t) is practiced in English churches by making melodies with large parish bells. I picked up the book in New York and have been hooked ever since.

How can you go wrong with a sock pattern that includes plot spoilers?

No Peeking!

No Peeking!

Sadly, I can’t think of when I will get some time to get into this pattern. It will require some heavy-duty concentration. That doesn’t seem to be in the cards for right now.I came home to a very sick kid!

Bunny has been running a high fever for the last few days and Monkey seems to be right behind her. Cross your fingers that it doesn’t hit the big people. We are needed to run things around here…

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The Last BIG Hurrah

The annual Make One Yarn Studio retreat was this weekend and let me tell you, it was somethin’ else!

Everybody Wave

Everybody Wave

Talk about the Rockstars of Knitting – and I managed to Kinnear all of them!

We had Cookie A.

Sock Puppets, Cookie Style

Sock Puppets, Cookie Style

And the Yarn Harlot

There are no brokeback stitches in knitting

"There are no brokeback stitches in knitting"

And, Amy Singer & Stefanie Japel (that’s pronounced j-apple, in case you were wondering)

Knit & PJ party

Knit & PJ party

And, last, but certainly not least, I got a photo of Nancy Bush.

Serene in the midst of crazy

Serene in the midst of crazy

All in all, it was a great weekend.

p.s. I even got to hold the original Monkey sock!

Original Monkey Sock & Me

Original Monkey Sock & Me

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Wow, so I really screwed the pooch messed up and forgot to take any pictures of Rhinebeck. I have pictures of New York, Brooklyn, New Jersey, and even Woodstock, but no pictures, what so ever of Rhinebeck. I think at that point, I was just plain delirious and perhaps a little high on wool fumes and sheep poop.

I suppose you will have to visit AuntyTink, or SpinKnit’sblog to see some pics of Rhinebeck itself.

What I can show you, however, are pictures of some FO’s that I managed to eject from my needles while I was there.

 

Malabrigo Scarf

Malabrigo Scarf

 

Pattern: Simple 2×2 Rib Scarf (Cast on 36 stitches and work in 2×2 rib)
Needles: US 10.5 (6.5mm)
Yarn: Malabrigo in Alpine Pearl (Pretty much all of 2 skeins)

And, I also started some socks on the plane to New York and darn near finished them on the plane home. I would have finished them, except by then, I was so tired I couldn’t see the stitches anymore.

 

Maisy Socks

Maisy Socks

Pattern: Fanny (As in Move Yours)
Needles: Two US 1 (2.25mm) circs
Yarn: Crystal Palace Maisy in Corn
Mods: None.

 

P.s. Monkey hasn’t slept since I came home. Send coffee.

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New York (In Photos)

We came, we conquered, and now we are all sleeping.

 

NYC Skyline

NYC Skyline

 

Busy, Busy

Busy, Busy

NY Subway to WTC

NY Subway to WTC

View from Battery Park

View from Battery Park

 

Battery Park Ferry

Battery Park Ferry

 

Pretels & Mustard

Pretels & Mustard

 

Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty

 

Rebuilding & Re-claiming

Rebuilding & Re-claiming

 

New Yorks Finest

New York's Finest

 

Next post, upstate NY, Rhinebeck and yarn!

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