As I wrote in my kayak journal...

Meg, sock yarn dyer extrordinaire.

2009-03-11T14:49:00.000-07:00

Meg's yarn is on The Panopticon, Meg's yarn is on The Panopticon!! And might I just say Franklin took all of it's fabulous potential and took it eons beyond anything I could have imagined. Stunning. Here. Go look. Awesome Meggie, just awesome.

Wait! Wait!

2009-02-28T10:50:00.000-08:00

Along with (I'm sure) hundreds of others, I sent former-Brooklyn-neighbor Peter Sagal (via his fabulous wife who I miss terribly) a screen shot of Mo's Sweater Ravelry page. The result?

Listen to the special message in "Panel Round Two".
What do you want to bet Mo's gonna get the softest sweaters in Suri Alpaca...and have to apologize all over again!

Off to Alaska ....

2009-02-23T06:59:00.000-08:00

Well we were a year or so ago. Here is my finished Pod Project. Let me know what you honestly think about it. Dawn and Brenda are test knitting the pattern for me. So here goes:

And because I think both sides look OK ... and this is my first lace project that has turned out ...

So I hope you all like it.

BOHUS!!!

2009-01-26T17:43:00.000-08:00

I just spent the most glorious weekend at the Swedish Institute! On Saturday I attended the showing of, "Bohus Knitting- from Relief Work to World Success" This was followed by a Q&A from the documentary filmmaker Kjell Andersson. Did you know Bohus began it's life as an economic development project for the wives of unemployed quarry workers? I loved the film so much I purchased the DVD. (Perhaps we could have a podflix and send it around to share with everyone?) After the film I wandered the exhibit. Possibly the largest exhibit ever seen anywhere outside of the original Bohus Stickning shop, over forty pullovers, cardigans and hats were on display. Unbelievable!
In the afternoon I attended a lecture with Solveig Gustafsson, the Master Dyer behind the Bohus kits. She has painstakingly recreated the colors used in the original Bohus Skickning patterns. So far she has cracked the code of over 27 designs. Her work has been lovingly translated into English by Susanna Hansson.
Today I participated in a six hour Bohus class taught by Susanna Hansson. We were given a tour of the exhibit during which we talked with the curator at the Institute responsible for the display. With white gloves we were allowed to fondle the sweaters on display! Needless to say one or two sweaters were turned inside out to determine construction methods. Unreal!
In six hours I managed to accomplish this.
I am unhappy with the size and will be ripping it out to move down a needle size to 00. Yep, crazy, but I LOVE IT! Here's the flickr link to more of my photos.

Just Plain WRONG.

2009-01-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

One should never have to see the following sign upon the door of a yarn selling establishment: "Closed - To Cold." Aside from the obvious grammatical let-down, it is immoral to deprive the yarn buying public of access when it is -20.

OK, perhaps if you live in Florida and this is a sign of the apocalypse I would be understanding, but when you shill yarn in MN you must learn to suck it up.

Virtual Happy Hour?

2009-01-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

It's Friday night. I'd like an excessively fruity, slushy drink with a maraschino cherry and umbrella. Preferably beach-side. Moonlight glinting in the softly rushing waves. Yes, that is exactly the mood I'm in this evening. You?

Guess who is home ..

2008-12-19T11:30:00.001-08:00

And "Jennie" says hi! and Merry Christmas!

For the Next Week...

2008-12-13T10:06:00.001-08:00

I will be traveling with the Family to the Wilds of Los Angeles for Aiden's (final?) ear surgery. I will have my cell, but only evening access to the Interwebs. So.

Follow the blog.

And Brenda, a little shout out to you--things have been so crazy here I actually only JUST started catching up on podcasts from you--the last time I was able to hear anything was Aiden's LAST surgery drive. I'm SO glad to hear you're painting again--please upload scans of said art here!

I'm hoping to finish the last 'Cast today. Whooppieeee!!!

And Dawn and Jennie, it was SO good to hear your voices on the DropBox recording. What a great thing that Drop.io is!!!!!

Okay.
Love to you all! Watch the other blog!
Heather

The Girl Effect

2008-12-05T13:25:00.001-08:00

Just when I'm pushed beyond my limits for maintaining any sense of faith in humanity by stories of trampled Wal-Mart workers, mugged pregnant women, people making porn with 2 year olds a friend lands this in my lap. My gift today for you my dear friends. Go to girleffect.org and renew your faith. There is good going on in the world and we can help.

I feel somewhat humanoid, thanks.

2008-12-04T00:40:00.000-08:00

If I had known how long and difficult my recovery from surgery would be, would I have gone through with it? That, my friends, is the big question.

A week ago I'd have said no. No fucking way.

Today... well, I have been feeling better-ish this week, so maybe it's not so bad, this surgery thing. Also, I had coffee, for the first time in years, without fearing the pain that usually follows. And that felt GOOD.

Back to work today. No more excuses. Tomorrow is a Podcast Day.

Missing you all...

Shameless Self-Promotion

2008-11-29T20:17:00.001-08:00

All in one night:

second down from top of features
9:02pm I was validated (see button below)
And I might actually finish my Dad's socks...for last Christmas...

Jumble!

2008-11-25T12:54:00.000-08:00

Check out these new stitch markers! What do you think about them? I have been busy making other goodies too - check your email. Now if I could only find some time to knit - maybe after the holidays are over?

Novel

2008-11-22T15:16:00.001-08:00

Okay podlets,

Here you go. I'm slowly able to upload the beginning of the book to the NaNoWriMo site.

Dunno...the formatting is all messed up. I try to fix it with code but they only accept certain codes so paragraphing's a bitch.

Altoids Tin Pocket-Sized Watercolor Box

2008-11-17T18:51:00.000-08:00

Altoids Tin Pocket-Sized Watercolor Box: I am SO blown away!

Pushed to my crafting limits...

2008-11-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

By my stupid, stupid idea to whip up this scarf for the school auction.

Oh podsters, it's true. I am so hatin' on a hand-craft. It all seemed so simple. It's a crochet mesh that you then weave chains into resulting in a spunky plaid effect, meaning I could mimic the uniform plaid that so charmingly adorns my daughter every day. Easy peasy.

Some day I will remember to account for loose ends in colorwork...and how very much I hate weaving them all in.

Under other circumstances I would so have buried all 7 feet of ends in the basement under the boxes containing the remnants of my childhood closet and decidedly never thought of it again. But it's for the auction you know? And I told the girl child I was making it. And she mentioned that fact about evey 30 seconds we were together. So I buckled down with my chibi, about 4 beers and a host of sweets rumaged out of the Halloween stash (they so owed me for this one those kids did! I earned each and every pilfered snickers and reeses.) and wove all 168 ends firmly into that blasted multi-colored mesh. (there may also have been some rather colorful language. and maybe some vigorous flinging about of things...)

The result? One enormously toxic scarf. Today I all but threw it at the auction coordinator in my enthusiasm to be rid of it. I feel like it needs a good exorcism so it doesn't plague it's new owner with my hate for it. Isn't this just the most horrible thing? Vitriol filled crocheting for charity. I hang my head in shame.

Go here.

2008-11-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Seriously. Go.

So this is why I don't talk to anyone anymore. Web stuff. Whatta a nightmare. Next time I'm getting a little man in to do it. I mean, I have a little man on this job now, but next time I'm getting him in WAY earlier.

So. It's live, but not public yet, AND ... V. important, the blog content is way behind the current site, because... well, there were issues, but it's a very dull tale, so I'm sparing you. But that's' why there are differences in the content between this site and the other one. Apparently my guy will flip a switch or something and there will be content merging magic. Apparently.

That being said, have a lookie for me, please? And let me know if my seams aren't straight or my slip is showing.

Thank ye. Over and out.

Saturday, Nov 1st--90° outside...Seriously

2008-11-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

Ah, My Podlets,

I was sorry to miss the call yesterday, but the damn Skype doens't leave a callback number. I was doing the following:

Texting with a friend who needed psychic advice (long story);
Getting Xmas shopping done;
Spending time with husband while getting shopping done;
Texting with cousin, son of estranged aunt (so it was rawther important);
Getting birthday presents for the party of TRIPLETS to who's fete we will blast off to in moments;
Getting donations arranged for Thing 2's class fund raiser
Getting donations arranged for the Handweaver's and Spinner's Guild Spring 2009 Fashion Show;
Gearing up for NaNoWriMo (more on that in a sec);And trying to remember what the hell else I was supposed to be doing (um...listening to your voices would be the answer to that).

This morning I taught the last class for Cat Bordhi's Knitter's Bowl. Here's some fun!

This is what the bowl looks like when the stitches are picked up correctly.
And here's what the bowl looks like if they're not.

That would be a pickup of the CONTINUOUS EDGE.

Brutal to unwind, letmetellyou!

In other news, I continue to sketch.

I also started writing my novel last night. Here's me.

Here's Andrew.

Here's the left side of the room of writers, who all started frantically scribing at midnight (we're so committed...or is that committable...?).

As for the glacier challenge: I decided to try to really kill myself and dyed about 17 different shades of blue, brown, green, grey, and taupe. Amy's got the first write-up of the results. When we figure out what to do with it, I'll show the world.

Hint--it's alliterative! (HA! That won't help at all...)

Regardless, the challenge was FUN...and not as hard as the Vogue 2002 Map of the World Afghan.

In lousy news: by trying to be healthy and go walking yesterday, I did something dastardly to my knee. I am wearing my friend Sam's old brace and using a cane off and on. The pain is off and on. When on, I resemble House in mood and limp.

Where's the Vicodan?!

OTN: No News...though I just finished one of the Xmas 2007 socks for Dad.

ONWARD!

Love,

Heather

Girlfriend Getaways

2008-10-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

Seriously. There's a whole web-magazine devoted to Girlfriend Getaways. Perhaps we could advertise next November's dealy on there, once we're ready to go, or write a preview of it and see if they'll publish? Mostly, though, I want to see what kind of cool getaways they have to offer. For when I have $$ again.

Also, regarding Heather's challenge and Dawn's previous post, here's what I'll be using. Handmaiden Two-Four Silk in Glacier.

Yes, it's a major cheat. What of it? Besides, it was bought [not by me] in Victoria on the cruise. I managed to trade for it later. Because I'm like that. Find something, desperately want it, feel guilty, make someone else buy it, give in to the wants later. Sigh.

Renewing the Challenge

2008-10-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

Not that I don't have like 5 million other things I'm working on right now, but ya know a gauntlet was thrown waaaaay back in May by our dearest Heather. In the face of a force of nature none the less....or really to embody said force I suppose.

I believe we were to attempt to capture the experience of being in Desperation Bay (like blissed-out Heather and Meg below) within a handknit.

The Bailey's of course being a mandatory component. :)

My progress to date? Zippo. However, I do have some ideas for an organic, beaded crochet shawl in a swirlish pattern to represent our wake:

And a totally un-bay related project involving Socks that Rock, the crazy huge ravens that could climb stairs in Ketchican (sorry, was too in awe to snap one in action, but here's one on a lightpost), and margeurite stitch in lace (which I am not even technically sure is possible, but hey figuring it out shall be fun, eh?).

Anyone else continuing to mull the possibilities?

Hugs and Treats,

Dawn

Clay + Knitting = Love

2008-10-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

Lovingly modeled by our Amy!

So...I just got back from a whirl-wind trip. Details will be eventually posted here. I made a few new things to debut at Rhinebeck. Might as well test market things at one of the best attended sheep and wool festivals, right? The knit stitch pendant was much loved, almost as much as our dear Meg's sock yarn. I sold out of my stock and just threw out some slabs to make a bajillion more before the next issue of Knitty goes live. (Uh, somewhere around Dec 1.) Maybe I can bribe Dawn to come over and assist . . . no passport necessary to cross the Mississippi. Miss you all!!
I think it's high time for a pod call!

Today's Fun

2008-10-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hello my Podlets,

Today is a day of joy and rapture. Today, for ALMOST 18 hours I will be alone with my husband. And by alone I mean I'll be with a bunch of folks from work...but they're folks we like.

We get to shuttle up to Phoenix (ugh) today around lunch time, check into a hotel, go to dinner with our buds, then head back to the ranch for our traditional anniversary cigars and port.

I know, right? How civilized. It's Tradition. Not quite Tevye, but pretty good.

Our real anniversary was the 19th, but the DH was outta town. So. Tonight.

Then tomorrow I'll skulk around Phoenix, paint a bit, then come home to get Things 1 and 2. The Husband returns Tuesday night.

Paint you say?

I took a class.

Here's proof.

That's the remnants of a Lime Fizzzzzzz at Bentley's Coffee House during office hours.

Correct. Instead of holding my office hours this semester in the dark, cubicle cave the University assigned me, I'm holding them at a Coffee House.

No dummy, me.

OTN--the Mason-Dixon Cardi Cozy, socks for my Dad for Xmas 2007, an Xmas 2008 dishcloth (Kiwi Knitting Pattern o the Month), Clapotis Part Deux (in Bamboo for Xmas 2008); OTLoom—scarves for Xmas 2008, soon to come—dish towels.

Missing you all more than you know,

Heather

in AZ

Where it's still NINETY DEGREES OUT

get your pics in the reminisce area

2008-10-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

If your pics are on Flickr, add the tags "Alaska, cruise, knitting" and you'll show up in rotation with whatever else has those same tags (currently mine and someone i don't know).

Okay, so we've got a blog

2008-10-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

I found a template that would be editable, and bonus! It has room for links back to our bloghomes. Tonia, do you have any blog or site you want linked to? I asked Philly the same question and he just made a face at me. We'll see if he ever posts here.

Okay, guys. My work is done. I hope it's okay with all of you. Now start posting!

yay!

2008-10-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Brenda posted! Woot!

Updates:
- I've got a cute little header graphic designed and [supposedly] in place in the template, but I CANNOT get it to display where it should. Maybe it's just a bug in Blogger, but I've tried to get this to work for hours and I'm giving up for the moment. [The other blog I recently started uses the same code and works just fine. I dunno.]

- Jennie is on the road home. I am very sad. Dawn, you will find some goodies for you in the back of the truck [where ALL her pottery used to be!]

- Toronto is now full of Jennie's Rhinebeck leftovers. Looking forward to seeing a mug in the hands of every Toronto knitter eventually.

Happy Saturday, all!

It is a happy thing when friends visit.

2008-10-25T01:39:00.000-07:00

While most of the rest of you were busy at Rhinebeck, Meg and I crossed the whole of Wales (not really) saw some escaped sheep, who were happily munching the flowers in someone's garden (that part is true) and had a close encounter with big rocks, of which there is evidence.

Apparently Victorians were fond of picnicking atop the capstone of Pentre Ifan, though they'd have had to stand on the shoulders of servants in order to get up there. Not having servants with us that day, Meg wisely chose to remain on the ground.

test

2008-10-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

do not be alarmed