still in the pink

Boo!! Yes I know I've been bad, very bad not blogging or replying to posts, not leaving a gone fishing sign, not a word or a peep. Nothing!!

What can I say? Work has been draining my creativity quite a bit, and where before I was able to indulge in many things a few creativity's had to be put on hold. Knitting was one thing that I hadn't been able to enjoy for a while....maybe it's the over whelming stash and UFO's strewn around my studio?

Last night after deciding not to clean up the studio I spied a bag of bright pink wool beckoning me to come closer! I didn't resist and a few moments later I was riffling through old pattern books and came across a pattern I had downloaded 2 years ago...Ropes and ladders scarf by Jennifer Tallapaneni, perfect!! So now I'm 28 rows into the project!

And I must apologize for not showing of my prize from PenCraft, not in shot is a daily planner..hmmmm I've put it away till next year:) and this lovely yarn just begging to be socks!!The yarn comes from Cat Mountain Fiber Arts, it is hand dyed superwash merino wool. 480 yards!! colour is "Evergreen"....YUM YUM!!

Thank you again!!

Now I'm off to disappear into the studio if you don't hear from me here you may find me either here, here, here or here!!

I'll promise I'll start visiting my neglected blog buddies soon too!!

stormy seas!

When my eyes first glanced at Knit It Up, the 'Stormy Sea Scarflette', These lines from Poe came surging through me!
My visions where of shipwreck and famine; of death or captivity among barbarian hordes; of a lifetime dragged out in sorrow and in tears, upon some grey and desolate rock, in an ocean unapproachable and unknown. such visions or desires- for they amounted to desires- are common, I have since been assured, to the whole numerous race of the melancholy among men - at the time of which I speak I regarded them only as prophetic glimpses of a destiny which I felt myself in a measure bound to fulfil. The Narrative of Arthur Gorden Pym of Nantucket. Edgar Allan Poe.
Have you ever had an experience like that when viewing knitting?
What grabs you when you come across a pattern you like?
For me its the name first that hooks me in to take a look and then its the colour and if it goes hand in hand with the name ie, Stormy Seas is a cold grey blue colour, very reminiscent of storm clouds. And the look takes third place and if I can imagine myself wearing it. Stormy Seas uses Rowen Big Wool Tufty, which has the appearance of an aged cloth tied to a pier worn down by sea spray, wind and rain. How romantic!

Zzzzzzzz

Works just making me to dam tired to play with either my knitting, blogging or anything for that matter.
I've lots of ideas to make things but just can't find the time to carry them through. I guess a lot of people out there are in the same boat. I like the idea of taking a note book with me to jot down ideas but never seem to be able to remember to do that before I leave for work.
Its been gradually getting colder and colder and probably the first time in my life I'm looking forward to it.
This morning as I walked into town I counted the number of my own hand made knitted or sewn items I had on......4! My Frankin Mitts would have to be my favorite, Kittyville hat second and my glitzy firecracker scarf (even though I was rather enthusiastic knitting it as it is rather long. But I figure if Doctor Who was ever a girl she would definitely be wearing one of these).
And my tote bag that I mad ages ago is still going strong!
It's a good feeling and by the end of this winter season I'm sure my personal handmade items will have grown!

A couple of weeks ago a friend gave me her entire wool stash! She no longer knits and had been hording this stuff for years.
A lot of the wool is 4ply and a mix of wool and nylon. And I'm sure they are 70's vintage judging by the labels.
They feel a bit scratchy but will be great for socks and more mittens!


6 weeks ago it was still summer and cucumbers and dill where popping up everywhere. I decided to pickle them. It was my first go.
We did a taste test this week and I must say they where fantastic! Much better than your store bought stuff. Plus almost entirely organic.
I used 1 clove of garlic 2 dill seed heads, white whole pepper seeds, white wine, white vinigar, ver juice and a little water.
I'll be putting in more cucumber plants next season!
Well off to bed with me!

just had to have them!!

I don't suppose that not many knitters buy balls of wool because the of colour and not because they have something in mind to make from, worse still only buy one ball of each coloured wool and then loose the labels!#@!?

So what to do with them.....I don't know!
I know that I could easily find the same wool again but its too cold and wet, I can't drive, the busses are too unpredictable and it takes me an hour to walk in plus what am I going to do with it anyway!
They are both a fine kid mohair....any ideas??