Don’t you just love Tiffany’s? – Page 11

Love is in the Air

Or maybe on the ground. Right near my feet. My happy feet wrapped in the world’s prettiest and softest socks. They fit perfectly and are beautifully knit. So beautiful that I have them sitting on the futon next to me where I can stop, look, pet. My pal went above and beyond, though. She also sent me a go knit pouch in green, a green chibi, an adorable Lantern Moon sheep tape measure, and a skein of the yarn I’ve been longing to try but haven’t purchased: Socks that Rock in Colbalt Bloom–one of my favorite colorways! So who was responsible for all of this goodness? The wonderful Ann of Annie Knits. I’m just bowled over by her generosity and craftsmanship!

That’s not all of my news for the day, though. My e-mail box had a surprise in it, too. Last summer I submitted an entry to Parade Magazine’s National Trust Historic Preservation "Tell America’s Story" contest, and today I found out I was a runner up! Out of 2,500 entries, the one I wrote for Stepping Stones Foundation won an honorable mention and will be posted on their website some time soon.

I finished up my big seminar project for the semester, and the presentation went pretty well…with that out of the way I feel like the worst of my work is finished. Now I’m on to revising stories and finishing up with my grading. There’s an end in sight. An end in which I can chill out in the evening instead of trying to cram in a little more work. Yeah!

Someone Needs a Name

My last Creative Non-Fiction workshop of the semester. I’m starting to feel the load lighten. I have a 20-ish page paper and two presentations tomorrow, then the fun stuff (I’m being sincere)–revising stories and essays. I love revision, but that’s a post for another day. I got home to find this tucked into an Air Mailed package. From Australia. I carefully opened it, and who should I find?

My new pal, custom made for me by Sooz! He is so well made; I’m impressed. Look at the teeth. Check out his tail. Her shop has lots of other cutie pies, but as you may know (I stole that phrase from my youngest goddaughter), I adore beavers (stop laughing, Mona!). You’ve read about my name meaning meadow where the beaver dwells (stop, already, I’m still being sincere) and how ever since childhood I’ve considered the critters (I know, they’re just overgrown rodents, but awfully creative and industrious) among my favorite animals. So this guy came into my life just a few weeks before the Big Road Trip Back East…and I suspect there will be photojournalism (humor me) on that trip that involves this guy. He needs a name, though. I’ll dig through my stash for a nice skein of yarn for the person who does the honors. Shall we say by Sunday morning?

In knitting news I cast on for the Shadow Shawl with my girls yesterday. As much as I learned from knitting the socks, I was worried about them the whole time…worried about getting the measurements right (my pal’s shoe size is three larger than mine, yet in inches, our feet are the same length…), worried that they are too plain to deserve to be given to someone else. I’m relieved to be knitting something that doesn’t have a deadline, that’s just for me, just for fun. Not that knitting isn’t fun in general, but sometimes it seems there is always pressure (inflicted on me by myself, of course!) to get an item finished for a particular date…and I’m looking forward to a lazy knitting project that I love.

So, yeah. Name the beaver, win some yarn. And let the countdown to the end of my semester begin (one week, if you really want to count).

Sweet on My Ears

Driving home from my afternoon errands I tuned into one of my favorite radio shows: A Prairie Home Companion. When it’s warm out, and I’m back east, Neal and I will sometimes bring the girls to visit their Uncle Brian, Auntie Laurie and cousins Bonnie and Daisy (and now their new little brother Charlie). We take the short walk out to the lean-to where Brian starts a fire and Laurie lays out a spread of treats and the dogs run around like crazies. The radio goes on, and we listen to that all-American voice of Garrison Keillor. Well, I’m a long way away from the lean-to, but I do try to tune in on Saturday afternoons. I’m glad I did today because I got to hear Nick Curry play a cello that was made in 1563. I wish I could have been in the same room as that cello, but even over the magical airwaves the sound was so sweet.

In knitting news I have finished the gusset decreases and am working on the foot. My pal’s shoe size is a few bigger than mine, so I’m going to have to rely on my measuring tape to get an accurate foot length. I’ve been picking up some treats to add to her package, which I plan to mail out bright and early on Tuesday morning. I’ll post a photo of the finished socks. I can’t stress enough how much I adore two socks on two circulars! Try it, you’ll like it!

Lotsa Color and 2 x 2 Rocks My World

Which do you want first: knitting or yarn p*rn. Yeah, I thought so.

Two skeins from Brooklyn Handspun yarns in Forest Floor (r) and the ever-popular Chocolate Covered Cherries(l). Aren’t the colors great? One is a gifty, but the other will join my ever-expanding sock yarn stash.

Some Mama-E goodness. From left, PoMo (SO pretty, but hey, I might be a little biased), Mermaids (preppy spring goodness), and the skein I won in Mama’s contest, Lollygirl, named after the lovely founder of Project Spectrum. I just checked, and there are six spaces left in the Mama-E Project Spectrum Club. Did you get a load of May’s yarn?

I was a little sad yesterday as I was supposed to be taking a mini-vacation today, but had to cancel due to too much schoolwork. Getting pretty yarn in the mail helped to cheer me up. And I’ve worked hard all day and made good progress on said schoolwork. So even though it stinks, I’m glad I stayed home.

Now for a little knitting content. I hosted Crafty Friday earlier in the weekend. Yeah, it was on Friday. You get the picture. And lucky for me, Laurie was there to help me get my two socks on two circulars going. She’d helped me to cast on at SnB on Tuesday, but I was pretty tangled up until Friday. I can’t tell you how proud I am to be knitting 2×2! These are my Sockapaloooza socks, for which I’ve changed yarn and patterns way more times than I ought to have. I’m settled now on something I think will look nice and that I can finish in the next few weeks. To sweeten the deal, I’m going to send the yarn I had thought of using to my Sockee. She knits beautiful socks, and I’m excited to see what she makes from the Chlorphyll yarn I bought from Celia.

In other Crafty Friday news, Chad came and worked on his quilt (when he wasn’t playing Napoleon Dynamite), Dana worked on her cross stitch baby blanket, Jennifer (who learned to knit at the first Crafty Friday) is cooking on her scarf. Her stitches are perfect! Liz is making the gauntlets from Alterknits–beautiful in a pale pink Manos, and her charming husband Trevor taught himself stranded knitting (I think I have the right name for it) and had lots of thoughts about felting and how to play with colors. Lauren finished up handmitts (which fit me PERFECTLY, but I gave them back), Cari cooked on her cotton Hourglass Sweater from LMKG. Carmela worked on a new scarf on HUGE needles, and I’m not sure what Jeannie worked on…she seemed to spend a lot of time helping the rest of us out! Noelle, ever the generous sweetie, had a wonderful orange roving that she spun, and that she let everyone who wanted to do so, spin. Then, as she left, she handed me the bobbin and gifted the yarn to me. I forgot to take a picture, but it goes well with the yarn that I purchased for the Loop-d-loop paisley bag.

Yesterday I returned ~~a boatload~~ a cone of pink mohair to Village Wools. I bought it with a project in mind, but that project wants a different (black) yarn. Yes, I want to make that wrap, and as Cari noted, I will get kicked out of the East Coast if I wear anything other than black. While there, I saw Scout and her dyeing board. Go look at her blog to see the cool stuff she’s doing. She’s not selling it, so don’t get your hopes up (but try to change her mind, ok?). I was tickled when she introduced me as "PoMo" to one of her friends. Don’t you just love having another identity, bloggers?

Time to get back to the grindstone, the grindstone that has prevented me from being in a tub with friends, under the stars, content with a mini vacation. I’m not bitter, I promise!

The Poet’s Garden

One of my favorite things about Chicago was my visit to the Art Institute. Dana, Dave, Allen C., Carson and I wandered about, sometimes together, sometimes alone, which is my favorite way to visit museums with other folks. I saw some Jackson Pollacks, some Picasso, the Ferris Bueller painting (you know you’re a child of the 80’s if you don’t have to click the link!), but my surprise favorite of everything I saw was Van Gogh’s The Poet’s Garden. Feast your eyes on this:

And, as you can imagine, this reproduction doesn’t even begin to capture the intensity of the color, the passion of the brush strokes.

What’s your favorite painting? I’d be hard pressed to pick just one, but I’m curious to hear about what’s rocking your visual world right now. In fact, here’s an idea: why don’t you post a link to or picture of your current favorite painting. Leave a comment here, and we can all visit around and see some good art.

So Much to Tell!

Let me start with my final SP7 package and reveal. Michelle from Soap Fibar Gal in Cape Cod is the Queen of Spoiling PoMo Golightly! Get a load of these goodies.

See the skein of handspun all tied up with the lovely ribbon? And that tempting felted je ne sais quoi peeking out from the wrapping? Wouldn’t you have ripped it open, even if you’d just spent hours on an airplane, and it was 12:30 a.m.? Of course you would.

Look! A Lucy Bag in a fabu tomato color. I may get nutty and line this baby with lots of pockets to hold knitting stuff. Because, as you must surely agree, this bag longs to be my knitting bag. I hear her crying from the kitchen chair where she’s perched right now: "Put your Jaywalker in me. C’mon baby, I NEED a project!"

But lest you worry that poor Lucy has never had the chance to hold anything in her tomato-y embrace, take a look at all these goodies! In her sweet note, my fabu SP wrote that there were things to help with my gauge issues (ah, she’s an avid reader!), something to keep my feet warm (yes, they’re still cold!), something to hold my knitting (Lucy, my love!), and something to help me survive the dryness in NM, along with other goodies. Um, SP, how did you manage to knit all those socks on your blog while putting together this package? Do you ever sleep, dear SP?

What was Lucy holding? A knitting journal, 0000 dpns (ok, are you trying to be funny!?!), a nifty gauge ruler, my favorite Yankee Candle scent, Clean Cotton, handlotion, soaps by the soap gal herself (or so I’m assuming!), two skeins of Knitpicks Landscapes in Mesa, a variety of bubble bath goodies, a candle, and fabrics in Project Spectrum pink. Isn’t she the best? Thanks for all of the wonderful treats, Michelle. You really made this so much fun for me! xx

While waiting in the Minn/St. Paul airport yesterday, I saw TWO knitting pals from NM: Jenny, on her way back home from London, and Kim, on her way back from a shower in CT. We were all on the same flight, all had knitting with us. Jenny mentioned some new stash that I can’t wait to see posted on her blog. Go check it out.

I had a bad airport moment, though, when a young man told me that UCONN had lost yesterday. They weren’t up by much as Neal drove me to the airport, and so, yes, I’m sad to say, I lost faith in my boys. Luckily, when I called Neal to let him know I was home, he set me straight. The crisis passed.

While visiting Neal I had digital cable Internet hooked up at his house. I can’t deal with dial up while there any more, and now, dears, I don’t have to. We even went to the computer salvage place in town and got him a new second-hand computer. He’s pretty pleased with it in his Neal-ish way.

Notice how I’m tracking back? Because even though the new system was set up on Saturday, I haven’t had a chance to update here. So it’s ten days, all at once.

I had a great time in TN with MB. I "forced" a shopping spree on her: makeover, new shoes, new purse, new clothes. I think I may look for a job as a personal shopper. It’s fun to get other people to spend their money! Especially when they buy you a bag to match their new one. Aren’t I a spoiled little sister? We booked our beach house for this summer (we’ll be in Old Saybrook, CT this year, a change from our usual OBI trip), got my taxes mostly done (note to self: Income Earned statement is a critical component to tax processing), and perhaps almost as fun as hanging out with my cool niece and nephew was my visit to my favorite TN LYS, Threaded Bliss Yarns.

I adore TBY. I adore Sheila. I adore Rudy. Sheila and I were wishing we could trade lives…I’m envious of her beautiful yarn store. There is a WALL of Cascade 220. I bought pinks and green for my Noni purse (scroll down on the Threaded Bliss Yarns post to the Baguette. That’s the one I’m making). I was debating colors, normally not big on making the color shown, but those pinks and green together are perfect. Perfect and pretty. I can’t wait to finish up some socks and get that baby knit. I also got a preview of Mason Dixon Knitting. Yes, the artwork is Hatch. Yes, it’s a big book. Yes, you want a copy, and so do I. Thanks, Sheila, for a fun morning!

Finally, or rather, to start this big adventure, there was AWP in Austin. I love Austin. It’s plain and simple. Dinner at Guero’s one night–delish! Here’s my new life goal: I will be a writer who lives in a hotel permanently. And that hotel will be the divine Driskill. You may visit me there. Friday night Valerie, Bernard, and I had drinks in the bar. A pint of Guinness poured by an older Irish gentleman for me. Yes. Then after dinner elsewhere, Valerie and I persuaded our companions to return, to just take a look at this treasure. So we sat at the piano bar, listened to sweet music, and drank a little Texan drink. We ended the night back at our hotel, danced a dance or two to the rocking (!) band, then Valerie and I enjoyed the piano playing of Mark Sundeen, author, dancer, pianist, singer. By the way, pick up a copy of The Making of Toro. You will laugh. You will thank me.

I’m back on East Coast time, so it’s very late for me. I’m going to toddle off to bed now.

C.A.P. Horoscope & Magknits Review

Here are my words to live by this month according to Crazy Aunt Purl:

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) The two-step may have been fine for Fred and Ginger, but who wants to be taking two steps forward and two steps back every time they hit the ground? Not me. And not ya’ll, I’m just guessing. March is all about breaking out of the box step and break dancing instead … or maybe a spicy mambo? A tango to work, a rumba to bed? Dare to do something buckwild crazy this spring, and release all the built-up tension of the winter months. Until the new moon at the very end of the month, the only expectations you have to live up to are your own. The most important thing I can tell you right now: Don’t spend your life taking instructions on how to live from people that aren’t even qualified to give you street directions. Or dance instructions.

Hey, Spring Break is just around the corner. I’ll be in Austin for AWP, hopeful for a visit with my Red Sox-loving friend Karyn (damn the Red Sox. But I still love K.). Next stop, Nashville for a visit with MB and my favorite TN LYS, and then the mid-semester visit with my pups and Neal in CT. There’s got to be a chance somewhere in that time to get buckwild crazy, don’tchya think?

Now for a quick review of Magknits. Before I start, though, have you seen Kerrie’s cashmere sock yarn? Yes, please, I’ll take some! Ok, now that I’ve wiped the drool away, here’s my favorite March issue pattern, Twister. Maybe it’s because the model is so damn sexy, all secure in his manhood and wearing pink. I love that. Or, maybe it’s the cool pattern. It’s kind of like making cables, but without knitting the stitches. Might make some for Christmas gifts 2006 (hey, it’s only 10 months away). My next favorite pattern is Eve. I’m not in any rush to make it, and I’d certainly make Starsky before this, but I like the dropped stitch sleeves and lower area. I can’t say I was excited by any of the other patterns. What did you think? Any plans to make anything from this issue?

I got my treadmill writing done this morning before I went to school, so I’m going to watch Bride and Prejudice and work on the Umbilical Cord hat for the new baby. I want to get it done by the end of the weekend, and we all know what a slow knitter I am.

Knitty Winter Surprises are Up

Knitty’s Winter Surprises are up. And although I don’t think either one is in my future, I like them both.

Click on the picture to see Layers in all its nerdy glory. I love the fact that Ryan Marnell is a high school kid designing. Our future is looking brighter, already, isn’t it? I wore this look myself. In the 70s. Yeah, but it didn’t look this cool.

Another 70s look, one that I may make, oh, let’s say next winter, is St arsky. Notice when you click for the bigger picture the banana leaf cables. Notice the cozy length. It makes me want to feather my hair and wear lip gloss. Oh, wait, I do that already (the gloss, not the feathers!). These longer sweaters were pretty stylish about four years ago. I had one I loved but gave it away because of some sad things that happened while I was wearing it. Jordana Paige may have given me a way to redeem myself with the longer sweater, though. I think this one could become a classic.

In summary, fun stuff from Knitty. Of the two Winter Surprises, I think I’d be most likely to knit Starsky, mostly because I would wear it until it didn’t fit or got worn out!

Category: Don’t you just love Tiffany’s?