Artist Incognito

Ravelry

2007-07-28T07:55:00.000-05:00

I finally got my invite to Ravelry! And it's just as awesome as I thought it would be. The only problem is there is so much to see . Plus I need to input all my projects and yarn and...okay I don't HAVE to but for an OC person like me, I NEED to. I guess I will also have to be a better blogger (remiss bloggers seem to be runnning rampant) since my blog address is now there for all to see. But I am excited and will blog asap about the yarn crawl with Annet that included my first visit to Morehouse Farm. OMG! I got the perfect lace weight for the Swallowtail Shawl in a soft green. The colors, the yarns! I could have spent an entire day and then some. More of that later, I'm off to work.

Representing

2007-03-21T06:16:00.000-05:00

Yes. I've been a bad blogger lately, but life has been keeping me busy. But tomorrow I will REPRESENT! Annet and I (and maybe her dh) will be heading to NYC to take part in the Represent Event. The Today show is a bit early for us, but we hope to meet up with Jenn at School Products at 10 and continue from there.
I have a sock-in-progress for the photo in Central Park, but for the occasion I went and got something new...later on that. Realistically, we figure we won't even get into FIT, but it's gonna be quite an event!!!! Judging by the comments and other blogs, this event will be historic! Like Woodstock, knitters in years to come will ask...."Were you there?" Hopefully the toilet facilities will be a little better.
So I'm looking forward to meeting lots of new knitting friends and shocking the shit out of the muggles! See you there!

Silent Poetry Reading

2007-02-03T18:33:00.000-05:00

The Invitation

Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to
be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can
disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Finally!

2007-01-08T14:33:00.000-05:00

The elves were right and my wonderful sons gave me a Canon Powershot A540 for Christmas (I hinted big time) So now I have some pictures to show and some FO's. I have also switched to the new Blogger, so hopefully all will go well.

This is a picture of what I got at Rhinebeck (I know, I know). A lot of it has already been put to good use, as you will soon see. I bought the dyed fleece to do some needle felting, the white to do some koolaid dying with my students, the blue yarn for some sweaters and the white laceweight to the left for a shawl. And the Brittanny DPs just because..

This rather dark photo (Old camera) is Branching Out from Knitty in Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool - natural color. I made it for my friend Carol's birthday. It's really an easy pattern and I think it looks terrific.

Three wash cloths (forget where I got the pattern) in Peaches and Cream cotton. Tied up with raffia and a nice bar of soap these were great little teacher gifts.

This is a photo of the scarf I made for Tony, Kat's fiance. The pattern was from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson and called the Child's Rainbow Scarf. I used Katia Mexico in the grey colorway. I loved working with this yarn and went right back and bought some for a scarf for me (picture to come soon) In the mistake rib stitch, it was so soft and squooshy.

Two bracelets, one for Kat and one for Annet. The felted balls were so much fun and so easy! I made a bunch of them.

Cat toys for Pantera and Paco, Kat's babies. These were felted over plastic cat toys from Petco with a bell inside. So cool!

And finally, Fetching also a Knitty pattern. A friend who is a musician asked me to make her a pair of mitts to keep her hands warm in her very cold office. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. It's wonderfully soft. I made the first pair in a yummy chocolate brown and she was very happy. This pair (only one done so far) is a beautiful seafoam color which didn't photograph true. They really work up quickly and are a great gift.
And I got my Mommymobile back! A very skilled body shop made it as good as new (Actually better) So I am happy. And I have gotten rid of the I-haven't-posted-in-a-long-time guilt.

It's all good.

Long Time No See

2006-12-18T14:57:00.000-05:00

Oh, I know. I have been negligent. Each time I returned to my blog, I felt a wave of guilt, growing more vague with time. The Incident with the car dealt a blow to more than my car! But I am back (hopefully) and will try to be more diligent. I found out something interesting...I met a guy recently and he googled me and my blog popped up! So this is a part of who I am now and the message I have been giving for the last month is that I don't finish what I start. This is not the impression I want to give.
This is the only picture I took at Rhinebeck. It was a really cool vine cascading down a wall. I was too overwhelmed by everything else to even get my camera out of my bag. But my wallet managed to get out and do some damage to my bank account. Everything I bought is wound or used, so no pix, but I did get some wonderful yarns plus fleece to play with. The Blooger Meet-up was great. I met many of the people I only know about online like Cara and Amy and [sigh] Stephanie, resplendent in her wedding shawl.
So I am back . So much to tell - FO's, a knitting group, plus lots more I will save some for another time. Lots of frantic gift knitting going on now. My camera has died, but a little elf may have mentioned that Santa will be bringing me a new one with lots of megapixels!!!! Oh, boy!

Hell of a Month

2006-11-09T20:14:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been quite a month around here. Yes, that is a tree on my car. During that big windstorm last Sunday, I suddenly heard a big boom. I thought maybe something had blown against the garage, like a garbage can. Nope. Poor car! And the boys thought I was nuts cuz all I could do was laugh. I mean, what else could I do? So the police came and roped it off with yellow tape and put barricades in the road since the power line were pulled low and all the neighbors came by. The power company finally came by at 11 pm and roped it off more with red 'high voltage' tape and then showed up twice more the next day. At least my insurance covered a rental car. They finally towed it away on Thursday and I am waiting to hear from the adjustor. I guess I'll get a new car, but I sure will miss the mommymobile.
And I haven't even blogged about Rhinebeck and all my goodies and all the poeple I met (i.e. Harlot ::sigh::) and what's on the needles and even an FO!!!!!

How to find this Square

2006-10-20T20:16:00.000-05:00

WOO HOO! Tomorrow is Rhinebeck! For those of you who have me on their Bingo card, I will be wearing a jean jacket (unless it gets too warm) a red scarf and carrying a jean bag. I will also have the official "I am a Square " logo on my jacket and bag and maybe elsewhere. Can't wait to meet you all!

Yarns and Noble

2006-10-19T17:49:00.000-05:00

I had a great time last night. I went to the Paramus B&N to see Stitchy Mc Yarnpants.
It wasn't a huge crowd but those of us who were there early sat around and knitted with Debbie and got to know her before her talk. Then we had the honor of seeing some of the treasures from the MKS trunk. We laughed and groaned and not a few of us recognized some of the items as garments we had worn in a former life.
Plus I found out that there is a regular knitting group that meets there twice a month. Everyone was so friendly. So I don't need to start a group, just join in on this one!

What's a Blogger to Do?

2006-10-14T08:57:00.000-05:00

I was reading Cara's blog and finding that I have the same problem with being off my blogging rhythm. It's not that there aren't things to blog, it's just getting to it, routinely. And this meshes with something else I have been thinking about - how do you choose which blogs to read? I have my list over there on the right hand side. Daily, if possible, I like to check in with them all. But then I'll get a link to another great blog and add that one to my list. And another. I usually start at the top and work my way down, but I have been finding that I am not always making it to the bottom of the list. So when that happens, I start at the bottom of the list the next day. Only the list keeps getting longer and those guys in the middle are losing out. (Sorry, Mrs. Frick) And now there is Rhinebeck and I'm going through Cara's list of those attending to get to know them and finding great blogs. Plus I know I will meet some great bloggers there whose blog I will need to add to my list. Which leaves little time for MY blog. I will just have to quit my job and stay home reading blogs and blogging.
On the knitting front: I started a hat for #2 son. It should be callethe Frog hat. I started a variation on Kimmie Kemper's Swell from Knitty. Ribbing instead of ear things, no pattern, a tweedy green, size medium. A belated fitting led to the first frogging. Guess DS's head is bigger than I thought. "And Mom, could you make it in black and white with that wave pattern and ear things?" Sure. Did the ear things, attached them to the main part and I just wasn't loving it. Frog #2. Back to ribbing, no ear things, size large. "Mom, can it be done for the football game tonight? I need a cool hat for tonight." Sure. Frantic knitting. Size looks good. Screw up the decreases twice in the last 4 rows and frogging k2tog's is a bitch -especially in a hurry. Finished!Too f-ing short!! This kid's head must be huge! Had to go to game without cool hat.
Cut and ripped all the way back to the start of the decreases. I am adding 2 inches before I start the decreases. and this is where I am so far.
I am really looking forward to Rhinebeck and meeting the people I only know on line. ONe more week!

I'm a Winner!

2006-09-30T21:55:00.000-05:00

Holy Moley! I actually won something. I entered a contest on Beth's website and apparently I won. It seemed easy...identify the decorating style of a rental down the shore. Well, go see for yourself. If you know the shore, you'll know the style. And now I actually get a prize! I will be watching my mailbox and let you know as soon as it gets here.
Knitting on the restarted LBI socks continues, but I left them at work...so no progress this weekend. I am itching to start a sweater, now that things are cooling down. I have my eye on several patterns. I'll let you know what I decide.

Garden State Sheep and Fiber Festival

2006-09-17T10:56:00.000-05:00

My road trip yesterday turned out wonderfully. For a while I thought I must have missed a turn, then there it was. The festival was in an muddy (understandably with all the rain we've had) field with 3 pre-fab barn structures. Though the setting was beautiful, it didn't look like much. Wrong! The first barn was vendors, mostly local breeders, selling fleeces, roving, yarn and finished work. Lots of beautiful stuff. Oh, no ! Could this be the start of a new addiction? My friend at work, Lynne has promised to teach me to spin. So it might be a good idea to pick up some wool. right? Left to right: 4 oz. of basically unprocessed Jacob wool, 4 oz. cleaned carded light silver Romney and 8oz. of beautiful dyed Romney. I love the colors in the Jacob. They can be spun together or pulled out separately.
I also learned about how the fleeces are judged from a very friendly judge who explained the categories and ratings (including PP: piss-poor, which may or may not be an official rating). There was an inpromptu auction in the corner. There were all types and sizes of fleece, and the woman who was auctioning them would talk about the weight and type and show it and say "anyone interested?" and people standing aroung would casually raise a hand. Nothing went for over $3.50 a pound and 5 lbs. of fleece looks like an awful lot. I was tempted to by something, but figured I should learn to spin first.

The second barn had a judging pen and lots of sheep waiting to be judged. I think many were 4H projects. I never knew there were so many types of sheep! THere were very informative signs describing the history and characteristics of each breed. ALso rabbits and angora goat and pygora goats(Pygmy angoras). Also a sheep shearing demo.
The third barn had llamas. and llama products. Also a band. Llamas are so cute and soft. Since I don't know how their fleece is to spin, I held off buying it.
Here I am an hour and a half away from home (to Stephanie B. - it was in Ringoes, NJ which is Hunterdon County) and first I met a vendor selling wheels who is from a town away and then another who also lives close by. Claudia and her (husband? boyfriend? partner?) sell a line of natural hand creams and lip balms. She is a fiber artist and is looking for a knitting/fiber art group in our area. I may have mentioned here that I wanted to start a group. So meeting someone who is interested is terrific. She also turned me on to Prudence Mapstone who stuff just blew me away.
On the way home I stopped at Wegman's in Bridgewater. This was my first visit to the Disneyland of Supermarkets. Wow! All in all an awesome day.
And I have been knitting. The remake of first-ever toe-up sock has reached the ribbing! I still feel excited enough to do the next - no Second Sock Syndrome for me!

Bad Blogger

2006-09-16T06:15:00.000-05:00

Well, obvoiusly, I have been remiss in my blogging duties. The last few weeks have been crazy. Working at a school and having kids in school means late August and all of September are nonstop busy. I have actually restarted the socks I frogged last month (pictures to follow) working at faculty meetings or in the evening when I collapse on the couch in front of the tv. They are thankfully plain stockinette and toe-up, so after the heel turn things were pretty straight forward.
I also realize I need to be a better blogger since I am now a SQUARE in Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo ! I was excited about the show before (Annet and I had a wonderful time last year), but now I CAN'T WAIT! I get to meet all the bloggers I've been reading about. Cool. I'm hoping there will be a few more visitors here beforehand so I'd better spruce up.
Can anyone help me transfer buttons to my blog? I can't seem to figure it out.
I'm (hopefully) off to the NJ Sheep and Fiber Festival put on by the Garden State Sheep Breeders' Association. Sounds small, but I thought I'd check it out since the boys are off at a concert. Hopefully the sun will make an appearance.
So hello to any visitors, and please leave a note. (Yes, I'm becoming a comment whore.)

Felting Frenzy

2006-08-24T07:04:00.000-05:00

I LOVE FELTING! Lest you think I'm not doing anything (knitting-wise), I offer this picture. I am in the middle of a full blown felting frenzy that can only be satisfied by small , quick projects that knit up fast so I can toss them in the magic felting bag and sit with bated breath by the washer. I am fascinated by what happens to a plain piece of knitted fabric when it gets into hot water with my old "felting jeans". Nothing fancy for me. I usually use Cascade, but am finding that Paton Classic Wool does a wonderful job of felting, is cheaper and readily available at the local Michael's should I run out of a certain color. Colors available are limited tho'. I used #8's or 10's, whatever I have that isn't in use for another project.
So...it's into the magic felting bag (a net bag for washing ligerie in a former life) and into my washing machine. This is an old twin washer/dryer that was here when I rented the house. It is in my front coat closet and this is as far back as I could get to photograph it as the hall is narrow. I set it for a small load, hot wash, cold rinse, short cycle. I throw the bag in with an old pair of jeans, a shot of detergent and let 'er rip. Sometimes, with the Cascade, I need to run it for 2 cycles. When it's felted to my liking, I stretch it to shape and let it dry, usually on top of the washer. I have used a rice pilaf box in a plastic bag as a formto get a square bottom. So simple, so satisfying.
In the above photo: The 'watermelon bag'-waiting for a strap and maybe a snap. The black and blue clutch needs some sort of closure-maybe a big, funky button. The small bag is for my iPod and only needs a strap. The bumblebee clutch needs something but I'm not sure what yet. (See August 13 for the before shot.) Another pouch waiting for a strap. The black bag with leaves is waiting for cherries, for which I am trying several versions, and a strap. The Brown (very dark in this picture) bag was made to experiment with needle felting designs with Annet, the Enabler.
I have perfected I-cord, I-cord bind off and applied I-cord. I am a Felt Fanatic!

Frogging

2006-08-20T07:49:00.000-05:00

Remember the sock I started down the shore? I was buzzing along, down past the heel, heading toward the finish line. Sure it looked a bit big....but the length was good. Maybe I should try it on.
*&##!!!_&*. If only the rest of me was as svelte as my ankles. I sat for a full 10 minutes trying to decide if I should go on and put them in the "gift drawer" or frog them.

*sigh* Well, this was my first pair of socks and I sort of wanted them for me. Just the first pair, you know?

Cold Spring Booty

2006-08-17T17:31:00.000-05:00

Peridots and apatites.
Will look great with
silver

Bargains buys.
Silky Wool and
Euroflax.

More stash, The Trekking,
Opal and Magico

Stash Enhancing

2006-08-17T06:51:00.000-05:00

My favorite enabler, Annet, called yesterday morning. Trouble. She was bored and trying to entice me to go out and "do something". I should know to check my bank balance when she calls.
So I agreed to meet her halfway which is near Woodbury Commons Outlets. After a cursury run through Michael's where we basically just caught up , I happened to mention that a quick google after she called (see what she makes me do!) showed that there was a yarn shop in Cold Spring. So we were off. It was a gorgeous day and the ride up the Hudson was beautiful. Coldspring is a charming little town with a Main Street that runs down to the river with lots of fun over-priced shops. We had lunch under the trees at the redone train depot, then started exploring. Mostly antique shops, but a great place called Wearable Art where everything was art including the sofa and an awesome bead store where I just had to pick up some beads in my favorite beachy colors (peridots and apatites) No one seemed to know where the knitting store was until the guy in the bead store headed us in the right direction. It's on Chestnut Street which is also Rt. 9D in a little strip mall, sort of set back.
What a find! It's called Knittingsmith. Starting off right at the door with the sale bins-I got some Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool in Yellow Ocher, Blue and Beige at 30% off- just right for scarves for Christmas gifts. Penelope, the owner was very friendly and very helpful. The selection was incredible and she had lots of sample pieces for inspiration. From chunky to lace weight. I saw yarns I have only read about online. Spent what seemed like hours looking and touching. Also ended up with some Trekking in Prima-greens, Gems Opal in Willow (both for socks) and some Filatura Di Crosa Magico in Teal multi just because it spoke to me and I have no idea what I will do with it. I came in under my self-imposed limit. Annet beat me times 3 but besides a bunch of yarn, she got one of those kits for a jacket (I forget the designer's name, but you know the exquiste yarns and patterns that are a true investment). The kits are on sale, btw, I think 25% off. So we had a blast and I have the ballwinder up and running. If you are nearby, or are planning a nice day trip, this is a great destination.
Annet just e-mailed me that next week she wants to try cleaning, etc the newly shorn fleeces from her "girls", Thelma and Louise. I was bugging her about learning to spin and she has a good supply of wool at hand! Like I have all this spare time to try something new......Art ADD.

Home Again.

2006-08-13T10:18:00.000-05:00

It's always hard leaving the beach, but when we get home it's good to be here. Picked up the pup from the kennel and, boy, was he glad to see us! Sure, increase my already immense guilt about leaving him. I didn't get as much knitting done as I thought I would this past week since macrame "surfer" bracelets and necklaces were very much in demand by the boys. The boys were too cool for words, hanging on the beach with their guitars and playing for a crowd of teens. They had a great time and #2's GF managed to get down for a couple of days. Summer down the shore hasn't changed much from when I was a teenager.
But I did finish my first M-D dishcloth and start another. I wanted something fun and mindless and it's easy to remember the pattern in a short while. The colors certainly don't go with my kitchen, but I love the bright summery cottons. And I am a scrubber sponge girl, but I may just have to give dishrags a try.
I also finished knitting the "bumblebee clutch" I am designing. Now I just have to sew the bottom seam, add an I-cord around the opening and felt it. The flap will be solid yellow and I made a little bee to felt and use as a decoration, but I haven't figured out the wings yet. I may need some advice when I get to that part. Reading
Wendy's blog got me thinking about linings and closures for felted bags. I will be adding a lining and a snap closure in addition to the eyelets for the strap on my striped knitting bag since I want it to last FOREVER. I am really in love with it and got lots of compliments.
I did manage to find a yarn store on the island (using my yarn radar) called, of course, Island Knits. It was a tiny little place, but there were some lovely yarns and the owner was super friendly and helpful. It's a great place to pick up a little something for a vacation project and she has tons of patterns and suggestions. So I got some Sockotta Yarn from Plymouth Yarns. It's a cotton-wool-nylon blend and has a nice feel. I am using Yarn Harlot's generic sock pattern, since I haven't done socks in years and wanted to get working on it without having to do the heel turning bits too soon. I do want to try Wendy's Toe-up sock, if only to be able to try it on as I knit! The picture isn't great. but the yarn is sort of denimy, faded looking. I can't wait to wear my first pair of handknit socks.
Got to go finish unpacking and start thinking about school. Yuck.

Busted!

2006-08-04T19:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I didn't get anything posted. Mea culpa. I really meant to...but I wanted to take the pix outside and suddenly it was too late or raining or too early. But I actually HAVE been working on lots of stuff....some Mason Dixon projects, more felting, of course, and a project to bring my jewelry making and knitting together!
I always get lots done during my week at LBI. Now that the kids are old enough to watch out for themselves (okay, I check when they aren't watching) I have tons of time between getting up and pina colada sunsets (a venerable tradition) to do what ever I feel like. Plus my best friend, Kat's fiance (Tony) loves to cook and actually washes the dishes. Sigh...that's a vacation.
So I stopped at my LYS today (I actually raised a son who will drive me and then sit in the car while I shop!) and it's August Sale time when they are trying to get rid of the summery stuff to make room for the wintery stuff. I was looking for Euroflax, but ended up with Maggi Knits cotton/linen blend (at 20% off) which seems to have the drape I want for some M-D handtowels. I got an oatmeal, a mustard an olive and a denimy blue. Also some Second Time Cotton in the Tahiti, Bermuda and Istanbul colorways. (I PROMISE pictures sometime in the near future).
So I have lots to keep me busy this week.
Hopefully I will find a hot spot to post. DS #2 is bringing his laptop and I just opened a flickr account. If not, see you in a week.
Dana

Comments!

2006-08-03T05:07:00.000-05:00

Wow! I got my first comments! Thanks to Ariane for letting me know that I wasn't allowing anonymous comments. I think I have that fixed now. I will definitely post tonight with updates on what I am working on. We are leaving for the shore on Saturday am and I don't know if I will be able to post for that week. And thanks for the compliments on the bag. I love it too.

FO

2006-07-29T07:08:00.001-05:00

Okay, it's been a busy month and I finally got around to finishing my knitting bag, taking a picture and posting. The pattern is actually a combination of several and I am still considering adding eyelets for the strap and a snap. Not a great pic as I ran out early this am and the sun isn't at the back of the house yet, but you can probably tell that I have already filled it.
I am also learning the blogging ropes, i.e. how to get people to read my blog, how to create links, how to upload pics (been there, done that - check it off the list), etc.
Am also in the process of starting a SnB or meetup for Knitters locally, as there doesn't seem to be any groups but there are a number of LYS, so SOMEONE must be out there knitting. Kids are away in AC for the weekend, so I have a HUGE to-do list before we head down to LBI next Saturday.
Crap. Seems I deleted my first post as I posted this one......I did mention something about learning the ropes.....lesson learned.