One of a Kind

I wanted to acknowledge the passing of Mary Walker Phillips. Her obituary ran in the Los Angeles Times last Sunday. We knitters all owe her a debt of gratitude. I discovered her book, Creative Knitting some time in the early 80's and was quite inspired. This quote from her obituary expresses Mary's contribution:

"She has elaborated on one of the most traditional of women's textile arts, while maintaining a reverence for its time-honored tradition," wrote M. Catherine Daly, who curated a Phillips exhibit in 1987. "She has expanded the techniques of knitting beyond the boundaries of apparel. . . . It is this sense of continuity and change that is the magic of Mary Walker Phillips' knitting needles."

Ms. Phillips thought that knitted counterpanes, a traditional knitting technique was being lost, so in 1989, she wrote Knitted Counterpanes. This book is out of print. I managed to buy a copy on eBay this year when I couldn't locate the copy I know I have somewhere. Anyway, I digress. This subject is as fresh now as it was 20 years ago. Just look at Jared Flood's Hemlock Ring Blanket. Moreover, his new take on a vintage doily epitomizes the spirit of Mary Walker Phillips.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Since today preceeds our annual salute to materialism, aka, the Holiday Season, it seems like a good time to express some gratitude. Today, when the L.A. Foodbank distributed 8,000 food packages, I am grateful for my life. Now that I'm older, I've had the opportunity to see that it only takes a few bad breaks for one to go from stable to really hurting. Let's keep in mind how lucky most of us are to have the lives that we have and try to help those who have less.

I am grateful for my family, friends and one huge crabby cat. They all bring so much into my life every day. I'm grateful for knitting, for the comfort, challenge and company it provides. I don't know what I'd do if I were unable to work with my hands. Even in the old folks home, I'm sure that I'll be gluing macaroni to cardboard. Note to the kid: be sure I get a bottle of glitter.

For those of you who will be lining up in a couple hours to hit the sales, good luck and no pushing1 I'll be catching up on my sleep, dreaming of beads and bobbles.

Monday musings

Things I have learned today:
When a water connection to your toilet is leaky, don't pull on it to check it. When you are in Orchard Supply describing the tubing to a salesperson there and they exclaim "wow, that's how they USED to do it!", that can be a bad thing. When you have moved on to Home Depot and the two sales guys helping you say that replacing the valve and new tubing (since the original replacement tubing from OSH was wrong) is a cinch, don't believe them. When the previously mentioned sales guys tell you "a little water could seep out when you disconnect the old tubing," proceed with caution. Maybe with a bucket instead of a Tupperware bowl. When you accidentally turn off your neighbor's water instead of your own, expect them to complain. When your other neighbor whom you consulted about the procedure comes back to your door to check on how things are going, it's a very good thing. I'm practically a plumber!! yay DIY Nation!

Non plumbing discovery: I really, really like the Mr. Greenjeans cardigan. Plus, the name makes me happy. Probably some 40 year old subconscious suggestion from Captain Kangaroo... If you have to ask, you're too young. [sigh]

Chillaxing in Arcadia

Woo Hoo, it has been a good day. First of all, the kid competed in her first Academic Decathalon scrimmage today and TA DAAAAA! made the competition team!! We are celebrating Chez Ward tonight. Actually, I'm celebrating with Ravelry and Harry Potter, the poor kid is dead asleep on the couch. We all party in our own little ways.

While I was anxiously waiting to hear the results from the aforementioned competition, I was able to hang out with most of my knitting peeps at Unraveled's 3rd anniversary sale. Congrats to Christine and the Unraveled gang. At UR, I was happy to see the UR girls, Christine, Fay Lynn (Marvels of Knitting), Sandy, Susan (UnraveledGal), and Jillian, and also my knitting peeps, Michele and JoShell (Yarn Traveler), Mary (Dim Sum Knitting), Larry (Knitdad), Andy (do you have a blog?), and Margie. Auntie Ehm and Janice R., you were missed! I managed to control myself and bought a little Berrocco Jasper for myself and some Foliage for the kid.

Knitting report: 6, count 'em, 6 rows done on the Illusionist Shawl, more work done on the Babykid ruffles shawl.

Elusive Illusionist

Well, it's been a big weekend. Cast on 336 stitches and knit 2 rows in pattern for the Illusionist Shawl. At this rate, I'll finish the thing in 2010. I've already changed yarn, no more Shibui wasabi, hello Alchemy's Haiku yarn in fig. Why are so many color names food names anyway? What does that say about us? I guess if I were naming colors they would be espresso, latte, crema, sumatra, java, earl grey, darjeeling, lapsang souchong, etc. We're all about our brewed beverages here. Oh, chocolate too.

Blogger is not cooperating in uploading my photo of the fig color, so I'm going to bed. Happy (?) Veteran's Day, thank you to all who have served. It is not an easy job. We will be enjoying a day off from school.

Chevron Ruana

My ruana is done! This was a fun knitting experience. Every minute spent with this luscious yarn was a pleasure. The colors in the photo are a little washed out, what looks yellow is actually chartreuse green.

Ravelry

Ok, I've spent all evening working on my Ravelry notebook. My user name is feltaholic, come visit me. I refuse to catalog my stash. First of all, I can't count that high, secondly, my family will have me institutionalized. I'd rather spend my time knitting than counting. Anyway, special thanks to Janice Rosema for encouraging me (i.e. bugging me until I did it) to get going. Even though I can tell that Ravelry is and will be a major timesuck. oh well... Have a great weekend, everyone. A Stitch in Time in San Marino is having their Trash to Treasure event on Sunday, from 12-4 pm. The proceeds benefit a local charity.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from our little devil!

Sometimes things get so stupid at our house, I think that if there were a hidden camera here, we'd have to move. seriously. Tonight's escapade involved all three of us, myself, H and the cat. Scout had a raw spot on his stomach that he kept licking and picking at until finally, it has turned into a real mess. Since we don't have one of those cone things, we (translated=my friend Carole and myself) came up with a plan. Put on antibiotic ointment, cover with gauze and then wrap with an ace bandage. We put a lot of thought into the process, even deciding that we'd use safety pins instead of the butterfly clip so that he wouldn't swallow anything. easy peasy with a 22 pound cat. H was warily pressed into service to hold the cat while I put on the ointment and did the wrapping. I don't think I've ever seen his ears go back quite that far onto his head. When we got the bandage in place, Scout looked like one of those fat sumo wrestler cats that Kliban used to draw. I had planned to post a photo on my blog. That would imply that the ace bandage remained in place long enough for me to remove the lens cap from my camera. ahem...send bandaids.

Winter Interweave Knits

The preview for the new IK is available

here

Interweave Knits has pretty much superceded Vogue Knitting as my favorite knitting magazine, but I have to say, not this time. Perhaps it is due to the Vintage Knitting theme, but the sweaters are too close to the body, too much the same, and in some cases, dated. It is too soon to see if this will be the norm in future issues, but I was concerned about this when the new editor was announced. I think that an editor should include a variety of designs, beyond their personal tastes. Strictly my opinion, take it or leave it. I mean, come on, a TABARD?? good grief. It's a good thing I only have three readers, or I'd be in trouble...

I do like the Celtic Bag (big surprise, I know). photo here Other "likes" are the Logan River Wrap and Rosemary's Swing Jacket.

Devil Winds

Wow. What else can you say? From the mountains to the sea, southern California is on fire. You always know there are going to be Santa Ana winds in October, but this is just insane. There are so many fires going, I don't know which of my friends to worry about first. We are lucky enough to live in the "flats" of the San Gabriel Valley, not in any fire danger. I am sincerely hoping that everyone's friends and family will be ok. I have some very dear friends up in Crestline who are particularly on my mind tonight. be safe.

We survived endless shoe shopping, the PSAT test and Homecoming this weekend. H had a good time, I'll let her tell her own stories. On Sunday, H and I took a workshop called Antonia's Adornment at the San Gabriel Bead Co. I finished my bracelet last night and loved it. photo to follow.

What's in Your Queue?

Naturally, since I've hit the "boring" part of my ruana, I've started thinking about the next project. Last night when I couldn't sleep, I made a list. Here is it, in no particular order:

1. Modern Quilt Wrap A beautiful wrap from Folk Style, also available as a free pattern from Knitting Daily.

2. As previously mentioned, the Illusionist Shawl

3. The ubiquitous Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

4. Something made from Habu, e.g. the Kusha Kusha Scarf

5. Charlotte's Web shawl

I wonder if cats can have deviated septums? Scout is sitting next to me, snoring like a cement mixer.

I had a great photo to upload, but Blogger is not cooperating...

Monday night notes

Three posts in a week! I'm on a roll. Just some random musings. It was a wonderful, cool, overcast day. Very pleasant. I love days like these, they remind me of many days of this sort spent in San Francisco.

I have always been happy to be a girl, and now as the mother of a "girl," you get to reexperience moments from your youth, but this time as a parent. The preparations for the Homecoming Dance would make the people over at the Rand think tank weep. Seriously. You need a math major from Cal Tech to keep up with the shifting numbers of who's riding in the limo, how many kids will be at the dinner. Who is angry with whom and will the agouraphobic parent show up at the dinner? How many cars do we need to shuttle the kids over to the restaurant., and most importantly, who is getting ready at which girl's house? Eyebrow (yes, eyebrows!) and manicure appointments need to be made. Fill in the rest of the week with meeting reps from Georgetown University in Brentwood, the Homecoming football game and possibly a small outpatient surgery. I'm glad I don't have to live it this time around, but happy to be around for the ride. Gotta love the creatures known as teenage girls.

I'm working away on my Chevron Lace Ruana from Iris Schreier's new book, Lacy Little Knits. I'm using a lovely colorway of Silk Rhapsody, ivory, chartreuse and slate grey. It's gotten a little boring, but I'm trudging on. Trying desperately to hold off casting on the Illusionist until I finish. Here's a photo of the Ruana from the book.

The Ilusionist

Don't you love it when you wander into your favorite yarn store and discover that two new magazines are in? I found these two yesterday. Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts and Vogue Knitting Holiday 2007. I enjoyed both, but the edge definitely goes to IK Holiday Gifts, mainly because of Leigh Radford's Needle Felted Messenger bag.

Really attractive design, good colors, etc. I'm not crazy about needle felting, but will give it a whirl again for this bag.

In the Vogue Knitting, Alchemy Yarns had an ad for one of their new patterns, the Illusionist Shawl, which just happened to roll in with the mail a couple days ago:

I saw this design online somewhere and had to make it. Love the ruching. With all the increasing, knitting this will make the ruffled scarf in Kid Silk Haze seem like knitting a swatch, but I think it'll be worth it. If I get it done in time, it will be perfect for all my holiday entertaining (VBG, my entertaining is limited to cheese balls and triscuits).

Here is the yarn I'm going to use, Shibui Silk Cloud. 60% mohair/40% silk. It is like a cloud, too, a 25 gram skein contains 330 yards. This yarn appears to be identical to the Alchemy Haiku, which the pattern uses. My color is called Wasabi, which is so appropriate. My photo is on the dark side, all you sushi eaters can picture the real color. Ja, mata ne.

Back sooner than Haley's Comet!

Ok, I'm back, finally. And in less time than the next Haley's Comet (the year 2061, if you're keeping track). There are various reasons that have kept me from posting. In no particular order, they were: 1) extreme heatwave end of August. We're talking meltdown here folks. 2) back to school--a mixed blessing. More time to myself, belayed by the 6 am wake-up call. every day. I know people do that every day, even some want to, I don't. 3) we lost 2 friends, one very dear...attended 2 funerals in 5 days. enough said about that. We're moving along, working through stuff, looking forward to the future. Homecoming is in two weeks and there is much talk Chez Ward about dresses, shoes, limos and boys. very fun stuff. That's all I can safely mention without being killed in my sleep.

So, we're fully into Fall now. School has been on for a month, the fall knitting magazines have all come out, new knitting books have started to appear in the bookstores. Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, tempting new yarns are showing up in our LYS's.

A new book that I was most looking forward to:



I have been inspired by Kaffe Fassett since Glorious Knitting came out in 1985. I was, and still am, a Kaffe Fassett groupie. he influenced my knitting and appreciation of color more than anyone else. Kaffe Knits Again is a collection of previously released designs updated in new yarns and colors. It also happens to be a gallery of many half-finished projects of mine. One piece in the new book that I particularly like is the Foolish Virgins scarf. Foolish Virgins was originally a cardigan. The new design has the pattern included in a scarf with 4 other popular patterns of Kaffe's. A brilliant idea. The scarf has also inspired me to get out all my unfinished Kaffe projects and see if there is some way I can assemble them into a throw. That crashing sound you hear is me upending all my boxes of knitting, looking for these pieces.

Sunday night

Night blooming cactus

These blooms are outside our house. I don't know the name of it, but I am fascinated by the fact that the cactus works and works to put out this huge bloom, it blooms one night then the blooms wither and fall off.


Night blooming Chica Bella


Today is my sister's birthday. Katy is my only sibling and means the world to me. Happy Birthday, Kate!! You're an amazing sister and person.

Folk Style

I don't know about you, but I've enjoyed the "Style" series of knitting books. Lace Style, Wrap Style, and my favorite, Scarf Style. Now, there is Folk Style, coming out either September or October. Here is a link to a preview of the patterns Folk Style preview. It looks great! There's also a Bag Style due out in November! We knitters really have an embarrassment of riches in terms of new books coming out in the next few months.




Tuesday was my birthday...

There were presents




















Cake




















and beautiful people.

NB-photo of my beautiful daughter removed due to death threats.


A beautiful way to start to a new year!

Dog Days of August

Gee, my posting has really slowed down. I have several good reasons. First of all, not much has been happening, other than the HEAT. As is usual, it is hotter than hell for my and my sister's birthdays. Not unexpected, it is August after all, but annoying. We have had a pretty moderate summer thus far. Secondly, it's summer vacation! It's my job to lie around and drink iced coffees. Finally, my last whiny excuse, not much sleep. I suffer from bouts of insomnia and have been in one for about a week. The bags under my eyes have bags, big felted ones!

There has been much knitting going on. I will get the whiz kid to take some photos for me. I've been trucking along on the MS3, trying to catch up to the group. I've made it to row 250 of clue 4, have to knit to row 302, then back up and knit from row 219 through the end of clue 4. I have lengthen my stole. I think that the Habu silk is a little under gauge and I don't want to spend all this time on a scarf (or a table runner). After that, "all" I have to do is knit the 5 & 6th clues along with the 7th clue, to be released on Friday. better get back to the lace...

Magazine Madness

I've had my nose stuck in knitting magazines all weekend. I managed to acquire the Triple Play of knitting magazines and I've done the happy dance all weekend.

Vogue Knitting Fall 2007
Review: In a word, fabulous! They really did themselves proud for their 25th anniversary. I love this magazine. The remakes of the 10 most popular patterns, the new patterns, the interviews, all of it! My heart is going pitty pat for the Koigu top and the Kaffe Fassett cardigan. 25+ skeins of Kid Silk (crack) Haze? no problem.


Rowan Knitting Magazine No. 42



Interweave Knits Fall 2007


I'll write more about the new VK magazine as well as the other two tomorrow. Must go knit.

An August beginning

Happy August! August is a crazy month for my group. Birthdays: mine, my sister's, godmother, cousin (same day as mine), twin sons of godmother, father of one of my BFF's, as well as my parent's wedding date, my grandparent's anniversary, my godmother's mother's birthday, etc...you get the idea.

Where have I been and what's been happening this week? Well, it was the crazy last week of summer school for the kid. I worked madly on my Knitting for Hire project and finally mailed it off Wednesday. I so completely wrecked my hands, elbows, shoulders on this thing...Wednesday night I went to bed with every orthopedic device I possessed, plus an ice pack and Advil. As soon as "it" is published, I will post a photo of it on this site. I've also been nursing a concussion. Nothing too dramatic, I stood up into a dryer door. No, I'm not 10 inches tall, it was one of those double decker deals. Pretty much knocked myself out, saw stars, etc. Went to bed that night with an icepack and Tylenol. I still feel a little loopy, but my headache is much better. Welcome to Klutzville...I also managed to burn my shoulder with the curling iron and whacked my knee after stepping on the cat's tail. Jeez, you better stay out of my way!

Who has received their 25th Anniversary issue of Vogue Knitting??? It looks like a wonderful issue. I have been camped out by my mailbox ever since I started reading on other blogs that the issue was out. I am very tempted by the revamped Kaffe Fassett cardigan.

Finally, my thoughts goes out to the people of Minneapolis. Minnesotans hold a special place in my heart. I've always thought of them as neighbors, since my family is from North Dakota. I spent several happy summers at music camp near Duluth. Anyway, just wanted to mention that. We're here in earthquake country, I'm sure most of us can relate to the shock and loss they are feeling.

Where have I been?

Well, good question. I'm here. It has been a busy two weeks. First, my iBook was out of commission for about 10 days. It needed a new logic board, than another new logic board, then a new battery to boot. Finally, finally I have my laptop back. And, ta daaaaa, it actually will run on the battery now, as in portable, as in the way laptops are intended.

What else has held me up? Well, Life. We've had some challenging times and a very hard loss in our family. Secondly, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! H, Auntie Ehm and I braved Vroman's at midnight to pick up our books. It has turned into a tradition for H and I to go at midnight and get each new book. We were very happy to be joined by the intrepid Ms. Ehm. H finished reading early Sunday, I finished Sunday night, I think. This is a spoiler free zone, but I will say that I loved the book. It is action packed and drags you into its spell, making you stay up into the wee hours, reading. Hurry up and finish so that we can talk about it!

On the knitting front, I made good progress on MS3, but have not started on clue 4 due to HP and knitting for hire. I can't show you or say who it is for (those of you out there who know, please don't leave it on my comments), but I do test knitting for a knit designer. It's a lot of fun, but the down side for me are the deadlines. They make me crazy, what can I say. This piece involves 14 colors and intarsia. I've been working on this 4-5 hours a day, trying to get it done w/o wrecking my wrists. so far, so good.

H only has 4 days of summer school left. Woo hoo! I can sleep late for the entire month of August!! Kudos to H for doing such a good job with her classes this summer.

TGIF! We're going to the Tonight Show tonight!