Rhinebeckons!

Yes....you read it right....Rhinebeckons...it does so every year. Tonight I spent some time working on the black merino Clapotis, but then I decided to start a new project for casual knitting at Rhinebeck. I began the Chevron scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts....a scarf I've wanted to knit since awhile ago weekend at Spa in Maine.I even bought some Fleece Artist yarn to make it. Well I'm happy to report that it's begun, and I'm very happy with the look.

Just so you know I'm a square on both Saturday and Sunday....................

Unventing!

As some of you may know I've had the challenge of spinning and creating a project for my guild. Since I'm on the board of the guild, I thought I'd better get my act together and spin up the dark chocolate and cream Border Leicester fleece that the guild purchased from Barbara T's flock at Seldom Seen Farm in little Rhody.

You know I waited until the last minute to spin the wool and knit it in to something I liked. In fact I stayed up until midnight the day before the guild meeting to get the dang project done. It was all worth the time and effort in my mind. I plan to post the pattern as soon as I can get it tweaked enough. Thanks to Emily, I was able to unvent this pattern using her square fair isle.

Fair Skeins and Knitted Items

Each year I participate in the Big E's Fiber competition in Springfield, MA. Participation in such an event gives knitters and spinners the impetus to strive to better their skills. I think it's well worth the time to enter.

Thanks to BarbaraT I am able to get my entries to the fair each year. This year I entered several fiber items : a pair of hand dyed hand knitted socks; a felted bag;three skeins of handspun yarn.......the red skein is 2 ply Mohave (a merino yarn), the green skein was spindle spun and plyed mohair , and the brown skein is Kona (a mohair/merino yarn).

Stuff happens............

Time passes swiftly when you haven't posted in awhile. I go through periods where believe it or now I have so much I could blog about that I'm in a quandry as to what to actually blog about.

Let's start with MS3...I'm thrilled to be nearing the end of clue #3. Yarn Harlot is nearing the end of hers. I CAN DO IT ! I actually have been able to knit a number of rows without having to tink back rows at a time. This is such a plus as you can well imagine. Luckily I managed to pick up a music stand to place my charts. This tip comes courtesy of Iris the musician. The wonderful part about the stand is that is has a deep ledge that allows you to place a pencil, crochet hook and beads. DH was not to thrilled about yet another piece of knitting sculpture in the area ..........but hey get over it! eventually I'll post more pics when the spirit moves me.

I did get to spin with some fellow bloggers last weekend. It was a celebratory spin in to pay homage to Cheryl's new wheel. It's beautiful as were the other large wheels present.



Out and About..............Franklin that lucky son of a gun got to take a workshop with Kaffe Fassett!!! I've always wanted to try Persian Poppies.............and all the color mixing with the guidance of Brandon Mably.

Check out Debby's Oceane by the ocean. It's lovely.............we need a bit of ocean as the sunlight wanes in the fall.

Toads, Shawls, Flowers and Wyatt. Oh My!

I finally got a toad lily this season, and she's decided to bloom nicely.Very happy with MS3 today. Excuse the lousy pic.I'm finally on Clue 3. I can do it.....I can do it.....I can do it!
Mums!!! I know there are pretty pedestrian when it comes to the flower world, but I love them. Especially these...............................
Last but not least.....................I love Wyatt, DD and DSIL's newest adoptee. Is this face just too wonderful?

C'est Fini!

This was a joyful knitting experience. I heartily recommend Tess Yarn, but I wish I had one more skein. 750 yards made for a short shawl........but I can wear it as a scarf. The drape is heavenly; the texture is wonderful especially worn on the neck.

I have to make another. I 'm thinking perhaps the four skeins I have of Ultra Alpaca. Forgive the dark pic of me; I'm learning how to do a self portrait with the timer on my camera.

Clapotis is finally begun.

I can see more of these shawls in my future! I'm making this with some old stash yarn called Tess' Designer Yarn ....a luscious merino, silk alpaca and angora. I hope the 750 yards is enough!

Mystery Stole Inspiration

As all of you may know I'm still plugging away a MS3. Iris has finished hers, and I just had to share the pictures I took of her modeling her stunning stole. Notice the way she wears the wing; she calls the wing a "petticoat." It's delightful!

Raptor Weekend

Raptor Weekend by the R.I. Audubon Society is well worth your time. I was able to see up close some falcons, owls, an American bald eagle and other birds of prey.





On the knitting front: I began Clapotis finally............................long after the Clapotis KAL!

Surprise Flowers and Socks!

This week DH and I celebrated our 36th anniversary. He surprised me with a lovely bouquet of flowers. My DD knit me a surprise for my bday last month........ a special pair of blue socks that I will treasure. Knitters always love to receive a hand knit gift; they know the care that goes into each stitch!

I also finally finished a Comfort Shawl in Rowan Cashsoft in a grayed lavender; DD modeled it for me. I am also enjoying knitting Crusoe socks!

The Shakers in the Berkshires

I finally was able to visit the Hancock Shaker Village. The first three pictures are of the famous round stone barn followed by a Shaker woman who is knitting. The last picture shows some teasel used in textile processing.

The Nine Year Journey

I can still remember the day that my DD left for graduate school to study organic chemistry. It was a day fraught with strong emotions and moving day jitters for us and for her. I made sure she took the empty nest Pi shawl that I knitted to help me cope with her leaving. It was hard to believe that the child I remembered clinging to me in her earliest years was now doing what all children are supposed to do............leave..........begin her own life as we and our parents did.


This Tuesday at 9:45 am she reached her personal goal; she earned a PhD in organic chemistry after nine years of hard work and sacrifice. Her dissertation defense was not without its moments of humor; the desktop picture of her cat Puddy appeared at one point during her dissertation PowerPoint presentation when her laptop battery power waned. He looked out at the committee proudly!Congratulations, Marisa! Your dedication to your personal goal has made all the difference. We are so very proud of you!

What Amuses You?

You know that answer, all of you in cyberknitterdom. It's all about the color and texture that draws us. We imitate nature always. Drawing from her our sense of color, design and texture from plants, the sea and land formations. We revel in it; we reinterpret life. Whether we spin our own fiber and dye it or buy yarns, we know it will titillate, inspire and thrill us to the very core.

Presently............. I'm amusing myself with making a Interweave free pattern called comfort shawl out of Rowan Cashsoft in a gray lavender that wants touching. I also restarted a pair of socks in Knitty's Crusoe pattern in a wonderful sock yarn that Roobeedoo, my first Knitter's Tea Swap gave me. I also have MS3 Stole stalled for a bit. I wish I had more hands.

What amuses you?