Sunday, August 30, 2009

mindless knitting

This week has been pretty quiet. Back to almost the full normal schedule. There's still a couple of pilates clients that are mia, and my Y mat class will start back up sept 10. I can't believe it's labor day already. Where did the summer go???

Good news though, on the pilates front. I got my test scores back and I passed with flying colors! Not as high as I would like, kind of greedy, I know, but no client will ever care what my scores were, only that I'm certified. It was an 89 by the way, 85 written and 93 practical. I'll always wonder what I missed, but I'll never know. I have so much free time now that I'm not studying or watching videos constantly. Maybe yardwork? A new project?

I seem to be in between knitting projects right now. Lots of mindless knitting. I'm making a bag for my friend Amy for christmas. It's going to be a messenger bag and I'm hoping to needlefelt her studio logo on the flap. It's from some recycled yarn, not sure where it came from, it was in the stash. I do know I tried felting a swatch of it and it worked fine. Pretty mindless though, knit, knit, knit.
I also got the "Garden" socks to a pretty easy point. The heel is turned on the second one and now I'm just working on the foot, knit, knit, knit.
I'm saving it for the farmer's market next week. I'll need something to do while I sit there.


I'm trying to decide what the next project should be. I REALLY want to do the bonanica medallion from the spring vogue. After I saw it done up on someone at sock summit, it made me want to do it more. Do I NEED to buy more yarn. I also want to do a shawl. I saw some really cool ones done with one zauerball and some great pooling techniques on ravelry this week. Do I really NEED more yarn?? I'd have to order both, since my LYS doesn't have either.

We're headed off to portland for a day next week to do some errands. Maybe we'll have to make a stop at knit-purl.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

how did summer get to be almost over????

Time to think about christmas present knitting already.
I will NOT be finishing gifts on christmas eve, will not, will not.......

One of the coolest things I saw at sock summit was wenat's awesome pooled scarf. It inspired me to go DIRECTLY to the blue moon booth and buy more yarn. This scarf was done in a week, using a pattern from the yarn floozies site. It doesn't pool as cleanly as hers, but I love the colors. It's Champman springs in silkie. This one's for me. There's another already on the needles for someone else, in a lovely emerald green.
















In other knitting news, one garden sock (sock club) is done. I'm planning on starting the second one this week so that I can knit the easy parts at the lacey farmer's market in a couple of weeks. If I get past the leg and turning the heel, it's pretty much mindless from there.

I think sister's still recovering from the beach. Any old pillow in a pinch!

Friday, August 14, 2009

post summit recovery


After the summit, we headed out to the oregon coast for a couple of days.
It was wonderful hanging out on the beach, even though we did get rained on a bit.
I think picking up agates on the beach is one of my favorite pastimes, right next to knitting, of course. Check out some of the cool red agates in the middle of the plate.










Now I'm starting to think of christmas gift knitting, and maybe a lace shawl. I was so inspired by all the beautiful ones at the summit. I think I must have one of my own. If I start now, I can finish it before the next summit!
The garden socks are coming right along....
pics later.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Sock Summit!! OH MY!!!

First, let me say I don't think I've had that much fun with a bunch of folks I didn't know in a long time. Secondly, let me say, none of us were strangers for long.
What an amazing 4 days.
I kinneared Lucy Neatby in Starbucks. Took a class from her too. It was fantastic. I don't think I've learned that much about knitting ever.















Took a class from the amazing Barbara Walker (as well as others). She was having a bit of a "yard sale" and selling some little tidbits that she had knitted. Of course, everyone in the class had to have something, just so they could say "Barbara Walker knitted this" Pretty amazing. Of course, I had to have something too, and ask her to sign my book.














Kinneared Stephanie (Yarnharlot). Sorry the pic is blurry. She never stood still the entire weekend. The woman has immense energy.
















Participated in the world record breaking attempt for most folks knitting at once.








Went to an awesome ravelry party










Took some more classes, met some great folks, traded a whole bunch of stitch markers and shopped 'til I dropped. I made a haul!






Stephanie and Tina said that "next time" is two four letter words, but they're hinting that there might just be a next time in a couple of years. I'm starting RIGHT NOW saving my allowance so that I can go.

Sunday, August 02, 2009

the fraggles went to the fair!

No pictures of the fraggles, but here's a couple of their new friends! Aren't they cute?


















Love this guy too.....

Barn owls have always fascinated and kind of frightened me. There's just something about them.


Waaaaayyyy too hot this week for anything. It was 103 degrees here on wed., and we broke a record. One that I hope stays on for a loooonnnngggg time.

Next week, SOCK SUMMIT!!! I'm very excited to be going and even more excited to be going to classes and shopping. It's going to be so much fun, what with classes, breaking a world record for knitting, authors and book signings, exclusive stuff to buy, ravelry meetup, the list goes on and on. I'm going to need a vacation from my vacation. I'm sure they'll be TONS to post when I get back. It's also made me think about my knitting skills and improving them. I'm seriously considering a workshop on colorwork with Brandon Mably that's coming in October. Don't have a lot of time on that one, it's filling fast.

What's that Sister? Something in the yard??


Back in 2 weeks!