Reminders

We were reminded last night that Nature in still in charge. Only a smallish earthquake but still enough to let us know that we only have limited control over what happens. No damage here, other than my nerves.

Here's another reminder. A Stitch in Time is having it's mid-year sale. It started on Friday and runs to June 15. Knitting yarns, needlepoint canvases and books are all 35% off. There's an extra one time 10% off if you bring your email sale flyer or your sign-up confirmation.

No more earth-shattering news at this time.

Handmade

I went to the San Gabriel Bead Company's staff boutique. Among other things I got was this yarn. I'm pretty sure it will be a hat. The yarn is a combination of commercial yarns and some handspun. I got some stitch markers and a leather cord necklace as well. It didn't look very busy when I was there but it was early. One of my students showed up while I was there, along with her three sisters and a friend. I think they all bought something. Hooray for that!

I really like to buy made by hand stuff, especially when it's made by someone I actually know. We don't have a lot of craft fairs around here and I don't see much in the local shops. There may be stuff out there that I don't know about though. I did go to a fair a week ago at the local Waldorf school. I didn't get anything that time. A lot of the ceramics looked like left overs from the 70s. Or else it was too cutesy. I wanted to get something from Janice Rosema but it was a little too expensive for my budget. Maybe next time when I don't have car insurance to pay.

What happened to

my blog. Nothing, actually. I just haven't thought that I had much to say. No new projects to report and very little progress on most of the things you might already know about. (So, John, that's what happened.)

I do have something now though. My friend Hannah,(the H in L&H fame), is participating in the annual Spring boutique at San Gabriel Bead Company in Arcadia. It starts tomorrow, May 1 and goes through Sunday, May 3. I went last year and found several things that I needed. I'm planning to go this year too. I've seen a couple of the items that Hannah has been working on, so I know it will be worth going. If you're in the area, please stop by. Go here for more information, including a map and the boutique hours.

It's not much

but it's all I've got. I've been working on these socks off and on for about a month. I'm anxious to finish them, just to have something finished. I took them with me yesterday to work on while I visited with my friend Susan. I ripped most of what I knit since I had introduced an extra yarn over five rows back. I'm on track now and just might get them done today.

I should be working on my shop sample project but I need a break. Maybe later today, if I do finish the socks and don't find something else to distract me.

It's supposed to be Spring

but you can't tell by the weather. I know that in some parts of the world 48 degrees (9C) would seem warm. My brother in Utah thinks I'm a wimp because I think that is cold.

Yesterday was the big Pasadena marathon. The one that replaced the one that was canceled last fall due to bad air from all the brush fires. They didn't cancel it this time even though there was a huge rain storm that passed through just as the race was getting underway. I've never seen so many soaking wet people at one time, except maybe at the beach. I was pretty soaked myself by the time I got half way through my walk so I cut it short and came home to un-chill out.

And to work on the sock. I'm using my Signature dpns that I got for my birthday. They're ideal for working all the left and right twists in this stitch pattern. I do think I'm going to rip the heel and re-do it using short rows. And I'll probably change the reverse stockinette on the sole to stockinette.

I'm using Socks That Rock in the Xmas Rock colorway. It's a lot more intense than the photo shows. Had to use a flash since there was next to no sun when we took the picture yesterday.

What's new?

I don't mean to gloat but I am so happy with my new yarn. I went on a yarn field trip last Saturday and brought this home with me.

A = Handmaiden Casbah in Blackberry; 81% merino, 9% cashmere, 10% nylon.
B = Dream in Color Smooshy in Gothic Rose; superfine merino 100%
C = Pagewood Farm in Mississippi Mud; merino and nylon. No percentages given.

I can't tell you where I got it. I've been ordered to keep it a secret to protect our sources. It's a long way from here though. I'll be going back, if there's anything left after I do my taxes.

Meanwhile, I've been knitting on this:



Araucania Ruca Multy, 100% sugar cane. It's a wonderful yarn. I thought it would be hard to work with, but it's not. No splitting and I haven't found a single knot. It feels good in my hands. Very pleasant.



I'm making a shop sample but it's also sized to fit the shop owner. The pattern is from the latest Verena magazine and I'm making some adjustments here and there. It looks like it's going to be very pretty.

Face what?

So, now I'm on facebook but I don't know what that's supposed to do for me. And I can't make much sense of the emails I'm getting. Where am I supposed to go to find all the details of how to use this to enhance my on-line life? Is there a tutorial or am I supposed to just intuit how it works? Is this really going to improve the quality of my everyday life?

Meanwhile, I've been buying some new yarns and as soon as we have some decent sunshine I'll be taking and posting some pictures.