New Hat

One of my latest knitting projects is the Gretel Tam from the book Stitch and Bitch Superstar Knitting by Debbie Stoller.  I am not so good at taking pictures of myself, plus I have a cold and am not looking so good today so I got my dear dog Tia to be my model, against her better judgement, I might add.  I have wanted to make a tam for some time and I love all of the cables.  I used a different yarn than the pattern called for and my gauge was just a tiny bit small so the cables look a bit like brains but I still really like it. Another change I made was the cast on.  She suggests using a tubular cast on because it is stretchy but I found it annoying to make so I used a long tail cast on which worked just fine. I've worn it quite a few times in the last week and with our veeerrrrryyyy cold weather it did its job just fine.  Now I have to go get Tia an extra bone for her fine modelling work.

Time to Catch Up!

Hi, it's been quite awhile since I've posted on my blog...I really needed a break.  I wasn't inspired and topics to write about just weren't coming to me.  But after my long rest I'm back and ready to share the inspiring things I find in my life.  I wasn't quite sure how to start up again after such a long time but I'll just recap the last six months! 

We continue to enjoy our new home, adding our own touches here and there, especially the garden last summer.  I can't wait to plant some vegetable gardens and we put in a cherry tree this fall.  It is small but I expect loads of cherries in the next several years.  Sour cherries are among my favorites.  I dehydrated some this year and they have been tasty.  This is what the garden is looking like now.

One of my major goals for 2012 was to really learn how to knit.  I made three sweaters, several scarves and cowls.  I still haven't made a hat or mittens, but I'll get to that.  This is a cowl I made for a friend for Christmas using some yarn hand-dyed by my friend Jacque.  I taught myself entrelac , a method of knitting that looks woven.  I also got a spinning wheel!  I had one quite awhile ago and sold it which I have always regretted.  Spinning is such a zen activity and I'm happy to get back to it.

I also took some major steps toward getting healthy by losing nearly 40 pounds and doing the NHS Couch to 5K program, so I can now say I am a runner.  When I think about this I sometimes wonder who has inhabited my body.  It is odd that at 54 I have taken up running.  I think having Lara, the woman on the podcasts holding me accountable makes all the difference.  I surely wouldn't want to disappoint her!

Well, I think that's all for today but I promise it won't be 6 months until you hear from me again!

Cutie from Blue Girl xo

My days are being taken up with continuing to settle into our new home but there is really nothing new to show you (although I have tackled the studio head on but still a bit to go).  Therefore I went surfing some of my favorite blogs and thought I would share what Julie is doing over at the adventures of bluegirl xo.  She has been experimenting with spun cotton ornaments and created this cute little bird.  I felt really inspired by her creations (again) and thought you might be as well.  If you really want some eye candy follow Julie's Pinterest boards...a feast of color, creativity and fun.  

As for myself, I am setting aside organizing and get ready for my upcoming trip to Washington Island in Door County Wisconsin.  I'll be going to Sievers School of Fiber Arts and take a week long class in digital fabric design taught by Donna Kallner.  I have been to Sievers before but it was probably twenty years ago (Yikes! Is it possible it's been that long?) and remember it being a beautiful, relaxing place.  I can't wait.  After I get back I'll fill you in on the amazing time.  

Ugh!

As I mentioned yesterday, we moved into a new home about three weeks ago.  I've moved many times but this time I seem to have lost my motivation and organizational skills.  I look at the boxes, especially in my studio and I don't know where to begin.  I've been doing all sorts of avoidance techniques, in fact this blog post is one of them. If anyone has any ideas to help me get my mojo back, please let me know!  Until then I think I'll go knit!

Shelf Rehab

Completed shelves filled and ready!

We have recently purchased a home and are slowly getting settled.  With a new home comes all sorts of projects to make it live and look the way we want it to.  Some of the projects involve gardening, painting the bathroom, taking down some trees that were dying, putting in a fence and making the kitchen work like a charm.

Herb Garden

This week we took an old bookshelf, painted it a bright, clean white and added some legs to get it up and over the hot water heat element (did I mention this house is around 100 years old?).  We then put some shelves my husband made quite a few years ago above it and voila!  A great place to keep my cookbooks!

How the bookshelf began, but imagine it scuffed up and dirty!

Bookshelf and shelves attached to wall with my favorite kitchen art by Charlottesville artist Pam Black
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Knitting in Public

The crowd knitting in public

This week is World Wide Knit in Public Week and my local yarn shop, Wisconsin Wool Exchange hosted an event on Sunday.  About 30 knitters, spinners and fiber lovers gathered under a tree in the Wool Exchange's parking lot and spent a lovely 4 hours chatting and playing with yarns.  

Meg Swanson and her beautiful sweaters

One of the highlights for everyone was a trio of very accomplished women who came to knit and share.   Meg Swanson, Elizabeth Zimmerman's daughter, knitting designer, columnist for Vogue Knitting and owner of Schoolhouse Press brought not just her vast amount of wisdom and encouraging words for everyone.  She also brought a table full of original sweaters that were the models for her new book Knitting With Two Colors.  A treat indeed!
Susan Strawn, author of Knitting America and writer and editorial advisor for Piecework magazine drove all the way from the Chicago area to join the group.  She brought with a darling mint green child's snowsuit made from a vintage pattern.  

Susan Strawn and Mary Rowe knitting away

Long ago I purchased a book called Knitted Tams, a beautiful book that alas, required more than my knitting ability at that time.  The book was written by Mary Rowe and she too joined the party.  
It was a beautiful sunny day, a great time to sit in public and knit (or spin, crochet and chat).
Many thanks to Maud and Jacquie for organizing and hosting the event.

Spring Surprise

We have had many rainy, gloomy days and this morning was no exception.  As soon as I get up I open up all the curtains and blinds in the house to let as much light in as possible.  This morning when I opened up the curtains I saw a strange object in the lawn...I thought, no, it couldn't be.  I looked from another window thinking what I saw was a misshapen leaf, but no, it didn't really look like a leaf.  I put on my rubber rain shoes and headed out to the front yard and sure enough a very large morel mushroom!  Morel mushrooms are the bounty of the heavy spring rains!  They are very distinct looking with a wrinkly cap and a hollow stem.  There was just one, but I'm hoping more spring up throughout the day.  Even if there is only one it will be sauteed in butter and served alongside dinner where I will savor it...and share what I have with John.