Quite Alright, Thank You
One of the most enjoyable things about the retreat was that everyone staying at the Inn was there for the same thing. It was unexpectedly liberating. You knew that no one would think it odd that you were carrying around a spinning wheel or sitting on the porch knitting or carefully photographing a ball of brightly colored fluff. If you noticed someone peering intently at your work you could be sure that they would ask about the yarn or the technique or the colorway, not ask 'don't you know you can buy socks at the store?' Even the staff had [...]
Drippy
I know how to pack a suitcase. I really do. I have lots of experience with it. I've packed delicate easter eggs, I've packed antique distaffs, I've packed 12 bottles of booze in 2 tiny suitcases. I have never had anything break. Not one thing. Not jam jars, not plates, not tiny bits of carved wood. Not even when these breakable things were accompanied by big rocks (one of the other things I tend to cart home, they make great bookends). Nothing. Until yesterday. Yesterday the baggage handler gods decided to smite me. While I was in Washington I picked [...]
A Wee Excursion
I'm packing (the suitcase sort of packing, not the illicit weaponry sort). It's not just regular trip packing. I'm actually pretty darn good at that. It's knitting trip packing. Somehow this is ever so much more complicated. Especially in this case, as there is dyeing and spinning paraphanallia in addition to the standard knitting supplies. You see, I leave on Thursday for the Yarn Harlot's Silk Retreat. It is a bit indulgent, but I'm heading out a day early. I feel a tiny twinge of guilt, but not much. One of my few regrets from Sock Summit was not having [...]
Book Yarn, Part IV
I've never quite managed be one of those people who are always up on the newest or coolest things. Perhaps I'm not attentive enough or I don't try hard enough or maybe I just don't care. I've come to terms with that, and I don't even think it's a bad thing. Most of the time. Alas, in this case, my blithe dismissal of buzz led me to miss out on Sanguine Gryphon's Bugga for far too long. Now that I've got some of it in my hands, I see what all the chatter has been about. This stuff is really [...]
You Spin Me Right Round Baby, Right Round
The fiber show was, rather as expected, full of fluffy goodness. Kinda smelly, but good none the less. While I was there, I realized that I'm not as clear on the difference between sheep and goats as I thought I was. See these guys? I'm pretty sure buddy on the right there is a sheep, but what about buster on the left. Do the creepy rectangular pupils mean he's a goat, or do some sheep have those too? I managed not to bring home too much yarn. I picked up some goodies for the book, and I'll tell you all [...]
Tidings
Two quick bits of news, with more substantive stuff to follow along shortly. First, and quite thrilling, I got a spot in the Silk Retreat just announced by Madam Harlot and Tina of BMFA fame. I predict it will be splendid. There really is no room for doubt. Second, I will be releasing Diluvian a bit earlier than expected. I had planned to bring them out in early June, but I want to enter them in the sock design contest over at Exercise Before Knitting, and the deadline is approaching. They'll be going up as soon as I can get [...]
Astonishing Restraint
There was yarn in Pittsburgh. Rather a lot of yarn. If you consider my purchases in light of the total amount of yarn available, I showed admirable restraint. Quite impressive really. I bought only two little skeins. One a lovely turquoise number from Decadent Fibers and another a dark purplish fancy from Creatively Dyed Yarn. Both of them even have a bit of nylon and so stand a good chance of lasting for more than a season. I also picked up a second set of the Kollage square needles (one of the first set has suffered an unauthorized relocation via [...]
We’re Off to See the Wizard…
...the wonderful wizard of yarn. We're headed out in just a moment go to a concert in Pittsburgh. On the way (it really is more or less on the way, not that 45 minutes in the wrong direction sort of 'on the way' I've been known to employ before) we'll swing by the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival. I'm not taking any classes, but I have a feeling I might find a tiny bit of yarn I can't live without. Then tomorrow it's used bookstores (Pittsburgh has some good ones) and a pilgrimage to Ikea for more bookcases and to [...]
Good Riddance…
To be honest, 2009 had more than its fair share of rough spots. Lets just say that it presented an exciting array of character building experiences. However, I can now say with certainty that 2009 is gone and I am still here. That means I won. To celebrate this victory and to start the new year on a better note, we took a wee jaunt to see one of our favorite bands, the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. (If you know them only from that late 90's swing resurgence you're missing a treat. Go hear the rest of their stuff right now. [...]
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