Catching Up

I keep meaning to write summaries of these weekend trips I've been on, but the words are not coming out. I am tired! Here's a quick map instead. The markers are from college, and I couldn't reach the second set with the more neutral colors, I'm just saying...that green is not my favorite!



I went to Virginia to visit wineries and celebrate Heather's 30th birthday!



There was Baltimore to attend Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, which I've written extensively about (you'll remember the funnel cake).

We went to Washington D.C. to attend my cousin Cara's graduation from GW. Mike and I visited the Smithsonian Native American Museum (amazing, need to go back) and the Natural History one. We also walked down the Mall, visited Abe Lincoln, saw the monuments, and got told by a sweet old man that I was humming a wonderful tune. (He was clearly lying, but sweet nonetheless!) I'll admit that I got verklempt by all the history while standing next to a huge President Lincoln. It was so humid Mike could not believe I come from Florida with all my complaining. Yet, when we were by the Lincoln Monument debating whether we had time to run up and see it, we agreed that he helped free slaves, and we could walk up the damn stairs!"



It was really cool to see things that I've seen as a child (we visited DC twice for 4th of July as a family), and see them as an adult. I still loved the minerals and gems, since I loved collecting rocks as a kid. The dinosaurs weren't too bad either.



This weekend I visited my family in Jersey to celebrate my cousin Meghan's graduation from Rutgers. She was Magna Cum Laude from the School of Engineering. I am so proud of both of my cousins! Aunt Pam made her famous garlic crabs, yum!



I may just make it up to New York this weekend to see some middle school friends. We shall see. The tolls are kicking my butt!

Neverending Pi Shawl

My Pi Shawl will not die! After reknitting the edging twice, running out of yarn once, and semi-stalking a girl on Ravelry for two months, I was done caring about this project.

But then the girl I was semi-stalking insisted on selling her unused skein of yarn to me. It was hard not to get back into it when I finally received this squishy little skein.



I unravelled, unknotted, tinked back and started knitting again. I couldn't knit too much though, for fear I run out of yarn again. At Sheep and Wool, I realized that I should have gone up a needle size to make the edging stretchy. I had to rip it out a third time. There were more knots and snags and messes.



In the midst of all of this mess, I found these beads. Coincidentally, I found them at the same place that had sold me my 2 original skeins of cashmere 3 years prior. It also marked the third anniversary of attending Sheep and Wool. So I guess it's only fitting that I rip and re-knit 3 times too.



I had intended on putting beads on the shawl originally. I guess that the Heavens will not let me bind off until this shawl reaches nirvana.

Box of Sunbeams + Rainbows

Remember how I entered Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing Design Challenge last month? Well my entry won! It really made my week. It was a fun challenge, and there were so many wonderful entries. The prize she had offered was a box of fabric and a copy of her new book, Weekend Sewing.



As my family knows from getting presents returned to them, my street and packages requiring signatures are opposing countries in a hundred year war. The mail that does make it, such as certificates stating my achievement as a LEED AP, arrive folded in half on the floor. So you can imagine my surprise when the stars aligned and I was home on the final attempt that the package was delivered. It was a Saturday. I don't even want to think of how embarrassing it would have been to have it sent back.

It was a simple Fed-Ex box. Matte brown, undamaged, unremarkable. I stared for a moment in anticipation before opening it, then ripped that box wide open. The contents were amazing. And it kept pouring out of the box in neatly folded piles in big ziploc bags. I can't even explain it in words. Instead, I have sketched something quickly that conveys the point better.



I think you know what this is. It's my version of the archetypal suitcase or box that is glowing gold, without the evil. My version is a box full of sunbeams, gold coins minus the leprechauns (they're scary), rainbows, angels singing, glitter, sequins, shooting stars, balloons, a house, hearts, fabric scraps and girlish dreams.

Do you know what the coolest thing was though? I've always loved her fabric with little fishes, since they have names and one of them is named Andrew. When I opened up the note she sent, this was the front of the stationary. The exact fish with the exact one that shares the name of my sweet brother. Just a nice coincidence, you know?



There is a ton of yardage nicely folded under her pretty fabrics. She included another lovely book and five skeins of gorgeous yellow yarn with a note reading, "I think I remember you knit".



Heather included a plastic bag bursting at the seams with scraps of fabric, including this swoon worthy Japanese beauty.



Mike heard me gasping (or possibly cursing), and issued his own curses under his breath when he saw the contents. In utter awe! Which was quickly followed up by, "I think we need to make another quilt."

I tried to lift an eyebrow, gave him a quizzical look and replied, "You can make your own quilt. I'm making garments."

Anyhow, what a generous lady. Thank you so much, Heather!

Silk Kerchief

I'm lucky to attend a weekly knitting circle at Rosie's Yarn Cellar, with a fabulous group of gals right near Square. Sometimes, I get to drool over the newest creation that Kate has whipped up if I get there early enough. To gush for a moment, that girl has got killer style.



In the case of her Silk Kerchief, the instant I saw it, I craved my own. Unlike my usual inclinations, I didn't want to alter it colorwise. I just wanted to recreate a bit of her magic. Those aren't even my colors. Where's the purple? The pink? The horror! But there I was last Wednesday asking Lisa for advice on what skeins of Noro were similar to what Kate had used.

Note I said "similar". Even my "neutrals" shown below have some vibrant variations...



I love that it's a simple pattern that makes sense. The stripes of natural whites and creams with whatever new color is appearing from the variegated skein, create a striking herringbone effect. I would not have thought to do that, which is why I'm glad that this talented lady thought it up for me.



But do you want to know my favorite part of the pattern? The skill level is rated "wicked easy".

What a sassy New Englander.

I Love My Mom

Happy Mother's Day to a woman so wonderful, my best friend Brooke beat me to sending a card to her. Thank you for being my best friend, for putting up with me through the teenage years, and for being the person I hope to be like one day.

One day I promise to give you a grandchild as cute as you and Tita Jean were.

My brother summed it up at age 10 with this poem he wrote for her on Mother's Day. I'm sure he'd love it if I re-wrote it now:

Roses are red, violets are blue
Sugar is sweet and so are you
You're nice as can be
You make sacrifices just for me.
I love you alot
More than a parking lot
You run a taxi service tight as can be
For Marissa and me.
When I have a baseball game, you try to be ther.
If your car isn't in the parking lot
I know you still love me a lot.

Love,
Andrew
(May 12, 1991)

You are always ready to laugh.



To be there for any of your family members or loved ones.



And you're always so beautiful, inside and out.



Mom, I love you so very much my heart could burst.

P.S. I just watched the Sound of Music and am feeling very sappy and weepy, but it all is true.

Shout-Outs

I don't even remember how I found out about crafting and design blogs. But once I started reading, I was hooked. I love the glimpses into people's lives, and seeing how there are infinite ways to live. It seems to make the world a bit more connected and smaller. It's fun to see how quickly ideas and information can spread. And I love seeing the pretty things that people are making.

One of the first design blogs I started reading was Holly Becker's Decor8. What I like most about Holly is her positive attitude, and desire to share her knowledge and put more goodness into the world. When she announced that she was teaching an e-course, I knew it would be a fun experience! Although the course is over, I wanted to share a small slice of the three layer cake that contains my classmates' blogs.

I rediscovered Sarah Ahearn, a mixed media artist who's work I've been following through Flickr. She seems like a sweetheart, who also happens to be extremely talented!



Michelle Ward is a life coach with this bubbling personality that shines through on her blog. Checking out her blog puts a smile on my face, and she asks great questions to think about, like where do you want to be in 2 years? Cue the pugs for me!



Lady Ann de Borja has introduced me to some amazing videos. For example, I had never heard of TED Talks. She linked to one featuring Elizabeth Gilbert. I then listened to Dave Eggers, Isabel Allende, Amy Tan and cannot stop! They leave you wanting to change the world, and are rib crackingly hilarious.



Lauren Paradise and Courtney Davis run Kelly + Olive. They have a fun concept for budget friendly design consulting, and I wish them well in their new endeavor. I also love their tips and fresh attitudes.



Elizabeth Floyd recently started creating art full time, and paints daily still lives. She makes me want to raid Mike's oil paints and get to it!



Now I'm off to clean my house. Work before play, right!

Illustration Friday: Parade

Parades bring to mind:

Loudness, shrieks of joy from teeny children, confetti, thrown candy, hysteria, fumes from flatbed trucks, crepe paper, paper mache, bales of hay, color, umbrellas, tired parents, happy children, cheers, mounted policemen, balloons, music, feathered band hats, inclement weather, music and lots of clean-up later.



I could use a parade today!

Tie Dyed Yarn

As I mentioned in my last post, 4 of the 8 gals I was with for Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival fell in love with the yarn from Creatively Dyed Yarn. The fifth girl caved in after she got home and ordered some off of the internet. I only hope that it doesn't let me down. So often I fall for these gorgeous variegated yarns (such as Colinette Jitterbug), only to have them disappoint when they don't look as pretty knitted up.



But just look at this yarn. The skein I bought is Calypso in colorway Crazy. That suits me, don't you think? (wink)

It makes me want to dip my feet into the Carribean, drink a fruity cocktail and tie dye tee-shirts circa 1987 all at the same time. While knitting a flirty shawl with my feet propped up.



I wound it up at Rosie's tonight. I immediately hugged the skein when it was wound, I kid you not.



I think my knitting hiatus has reached a hiatus...

Maryland Sheep + Wool Round-up

This Saturday marks my third anniversary of waking up at 6am, driving 1-1/2 hours to Maryland Sheep and Wool, tromping through fairgrounds and giggling over the enormous size of male sheep bits. The Degenerate Knitters returned with a vengeance this year.

Once again, Regina wore a t-shirt ("Likes to knit, while slightly lit") that prompted 27 strangers to comment their approval. I said that I did not want ribbon fries, but chastised Lisa for not adding chives, helped eat half the plate and accidentally dumped the remaining cheesy fries on Andrea, which she promptly licked off her arm.

Oh, was there ever a classier bunch than this group from Philly? It was one of those times that I was damn proud to be from Philadelphia. Yet, we did not key anyone's car (though they may have deserved it), nor did we cut in line to look at yarn. We just made complete strangers guffaw because we are such a crazy bunch. I have proof.

I had goals this year, friends. They were:

Goal One: Visit Heartburn City, but to engage in fried foods with caution. For example, I split a funnel cake, forsaked the cotton candy, shared a lemonade, and pretended not to eat any ribbon fries. (Lisa, sour cream! Add the sour cream!)



Goal Two: Visit cute animals. Sometimes alpaca are shy, but this adorable little fella was a flirt. I think he tried to bite my butt. He's a baby though, he doesn't know any better!



Goal Three: Meet some cool people. I finally attended the a Ravelry meet-up in a barn, and we got to see whom I call our Knitting Royalty. Jess and Casey really are the nicest people, and the entire knitting community wants them to succeed! Which they are completely doing, in a humble, moral and conscientious way. I did end up speaking to Jess' mother for a few minutes (by the funnel cake booth) and told her what a wonderful daughter she had.



Goal Four: Only purchase something if it was something I really would treasure and use. This shot below is something that I did not buy, but this little booth will get it's own post this week. I did ask Lisa if this was something I could register for. Kidding!



Goal Five: Don't buy any yarn unless it's really unique. My one skein is in the middle. Regina bought 2 skeins of yarn, and hadn't even pulled it out of the clear bag by the time we were running towards the booth. It's from a new vendor called Creatively Dyed Yarns which is run by a charming ex-computer programmer / yarn store owner from Trinidad and Tobago.



Lastly, I'll leave you with this photograph of hand knitted caps from Peruvian artisans. In the caps below, they create is this wonderful pliant, supple texture that has just the right amount of weightiness. Two of the Peruvian women were at the fair and demonstrating their knitting.



Summary: When is next May? I'll bring the Tums.

Hierarchy of Precipitation

Oh, Illustration Friday, how I have abandoned you. Well, you're getting some attention this week. I won't make any empty promises to you, but enjoyed making a quick sketch for the week's topic in my new notebook.

The topic was hierarcy. I'm blaming it on the state of Alaska sized rainstorm drifting over the Northeast. Being the melodramatic person that I am, I'm acting like I've forgotten what the feel of sunshine on my face is like. (wink)

This is what we get for saying that it was too hot last weekend!

Happy Birthday Tracy!

I want to wish Tracy a very Happy Birthday today. The banner I worked on last week was whisked off into the mail, and hopefully arrived in her post by today. An adorable miniature banner for a remarkable woman.



I love you! Welcome to a new decade!