Time to choose yet another pattern for the Morning Blush shawl. My second pattern is a variation of an 'Eyelet and Bead' pattern from Barbara Walker's Charted Knitting Designs. I'm using it to separate the mesh pattern from the rest of the shawl; as this is growing I am not sure if I will leave it to one more pattern or more(?). One thing, though, this fine 2 ply yarn is such a pleasure to work with, and I am looking forward to seeing this blocked when it is done.

In the meantime I had been wanting to make a pair of wrist warmers and came across this pattern in Leigh Radford's Oneskein book. Super simple to knit and the beads made it a lot of fun.

I finally got back to dyeing and discovered that I had kept my dyes too long; after eliminating anything that had spoiled I got to work and this is the result. I'm calling it Moody Blues.

I love how light reflective this is, and I am pleased with the final result shown in the 2 ply skein below. I ended up with a 4 oz.skein with 545 yards. Now to find an appropriate use for this. And time to order more dyes!

Also recently finished a knitted tie for my husband that he actually likes (!) and I finally spun up Martie's Free Fall #131, beautiful greens and golds. I have a backlog of handspun lace/fingering weights waiting for projects and also succumed to some beautiful lace weight mohair/silk in a sour lemon color that I want to do a very sheer top out of inspired by those trumpet flowers I took a photo of when we were in California. Like everyone else, I imagine, I have too many projects and too little time. But it is fun to dream about it all.

Another sunset and more animal ramblings

Shortly after returning from California we joined a group of friends at a get-together in Picayune. The sunset was particularly lovely that evening; we were in a tranquil mood. We had enjoyed good company and charming antics from miniature goats. Sorry, no photos, the goats were too quick for us, as they seemed to bounce off any surface they landed on, including the backs of two donkeys. We were told that they frequently ride on the backs of the donkeys and will junp from one donkey to the other! Wish I'd seen that!

Going back to California for a moment or two, these pigeons on the light standard caught my eye. This light is found over a very busy intersection in San Diego, and it made me wonder: What are they looking for? It isn't as though there are a lot of trees in this area or grass where they can look for seed. Just a place to rest their wings? Who knows from pigeon behavior?

Rosie's portrait. I didn't include it in my earlier California travelogue but this is Rosie, in whose home we stayed while in San Diego. She was kind enough to tolerate our invasion of her home and we enjoyed a great walk together.

This week I have been continuing to work on a tie for my husband, easy fingerless garter mitts, beaded, from One Skein, and am almost finished spinning a lovely roving from Taos Sunflower's Free Fall series. The singles that is, then I will ply it to produce a 2-ply yarn. I am gearing up to do some more dyeing, if not tomorrow, then next week. And there are still so many other projects to finish not to mention my continual attempts to SIMPLIFY!

Ciao.

California part two and then home

I thought these little trumpet flowers were so pretty, and I love the colors. These were just outside the front door of our friend's house where we stayed the last five days we were in San Diego. The first five days we were with our friends Louie and Argelia, and it was better than a five star hotel, I tell you. Argelia is a brilliant cook and decorator, and has made a beautiful home out of the condo they rent in Rancho Bernardo. Highlights of our stay with them include the wonderful meals, the comfortable accomodations, and sitting on the terrace watching the sunrise over the hills of Southern California. That's what the time difference will do to you, not to mention the daylight savings 'fall back' change. We ate like kings and had a marvelous time.


The first Sunday we were there our friends planned a 'fiesta' for us. It was wonderful to see so many of our friends in one place and enjoy good food, and a 'baile', dancing, and this little charmer stole my heart. The new son of my friend Dora. He was wending his way under tables greeting and meeting people. I couldn't resist.

One of the things we used to do when we lived in S.D. was to celebrate our anniversary with a couple, Bob and Denise, whose wedding date is the day before ours. We stayed with them the last part of our vacation and rather than going out to eat to a fancy restaurant, we requested a 'Tapas' night. Like they do in the Bar/Restaurantes de Espana, we filled the island in the kitchen with all sorts of Spanish delicacies: garlic mayonaise, spanish tortilla (potato omelet, thick), pepperoni stuffed dates wrapped in bacon, spinach and pear in puff pastry, mushrooms 'al ajillo' (in garlic sauce), shrimp in garlic sauce, garbanzos in onion sauce, olive tapenade on toasted bread slices, 'hot tomatoes' (cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced with tons of garlic and basil) on bread spread with brie; and of course, a good cold champagne.

Bob and Denise included Louie and Argelia and also Bernadette and Bridget and we had a marvelous time sampling and talking, enjoying the patio (like sitting outside at a Tuscan villa), just too yummy for words.

After spending our last day relaxing, and knitting and enjoying even more good food it was time to head home.

We arrived home, landing in New Orleans buffeted by the winds from hurricane Ivan which fortunately was a lot further east. Drove home in a very steady rain with wind gusts but arrived safely. Rested and then started preparing for a spinning demonstration at our lys. I had set this up before leaving on vacation and had ordered a batt called 'Little Orphan Annie' from Monte of MyMixMix (she sells on etsy.com). Spent Saturday morning gathering fibers and carders and a drop spindle, etc., and spent a nice couple of hours demonstrating various aspects of spinning, and answering questions.

Here is the result of spinning 'Little Orphan Annie'. It has, if I remember correctly, Targhee, silk, mohair, some kind of locks, dyed like Annie's hair and a surprise bit of sparkle with teal sequins. It was a lot of fun to spin, and I was able to get around 108 yds. out of something like 2.7 ounces.

Once the spinning demonstration was over I was ready to get back to my routine when I got hit with a whopper of a cold, which kept me from doing practically anything. Now I am over the worst and actually feel like doing. Although, while I was sick I discovered a show on BBCAmerica called "How Clean is Your House". Now I am wanting to clean, clean, clean. Not that I don't, but there were some good tips offered and it made me take a good look around to see what I have been letting slide. Aughh! I'd much rather be spinning. Or knitting!

Ciao!

I feel that I have been away for an age, although it was only ten days that we were in San Diego visiting friends and family. One of the many highlights of our trip was visiting the Cedros Garden Center in Solana Beach where we saw this charming fountain. Another attraction of the center for me is that my nephew Matt works there as manager. I have always been fond of his quiet ways and when he smiles he is so handsome!

The day after we arrived I was able to meet with the knitting group we had formed before I left San Diego. Left to right are Leilani, Anissa, Priscilla and Jessica. Priscilla (6 years old) learned to knit that very day, and Jessica is also a new member of the group. Anissa was so quick to pick up knitting that I called her my assistant; if anyone needed help casting on, Anissa came to the rescue.

It was always so much fun to meet with these girls and their moms, as, besides knitting, we would eat! And that day was no exception. Graciela and Dario made a fabulous 'carne asada', Mexican style grilled meat, with all the trimmings, and then of course there was always dessert!

I could not have gone to California and not gone to Dog Beach in Del Mar to watch Nani, the surf diva catching some waves. Here we see Peter walking Nani out in the water to where she could catch a wave. The waves were rather boisterous that day, but Nani rode three or four of them all the way to the beach, where Kiki, her companion Bernese Mountain dog was waiting to greet her and the two frolicked in the surf till Peter caught up with them to take Nani out for some more. It is quite a sight to see this large animal stand her ground, er, board, and enjoy it so much. She attracts her fair share of attention, but a caution. You don't want to stand too close when they come out of the water and she begins to shake. You can check out her blog: NaniSurf Diva.Blogspot.com.

One of our last days we went to the San Diego Bay area and had a delicious meal at Point Loma Seafoods. I think that I was the only one of my siblings that did not work there during high school, but we have always enjoyed their restaurant. While waiting for our meal (fish tacos, fried shrimp sandwhich, yum) we enjoyed these pelicans who seemed to be gathering for a reunion. Actually, where else would pelicans gather than where the sport fishing boats come in to port and just off one of the best seafood eateries in San Diego?

There was so much to do and see. I will post a few more photos next time, very shortly.

Skeins from recent dyeing bout here look like meringues one might find at a tea party hosted by the Queen of Hearts. First there is Morning Blush, next is Dreaming of California Sunsets and the little puff below is Sunrise, Sunset, in which I plyed one strand of each of the first two together.

Every form the skein takes shows off the colors differently, that is why knitting the yarn is such a pleasing experience, and tends to go so fast, as I can hardly wait to see what color is going to come up next. I decided to once again try a triangular shawl, but this time am venturing to try my hand at something original. Perusing Walker's Treasuries and other stitch dictionaries I have come up with a start.

From the first Walker book I chose a "pretty and popular pattern" called English Mesh Lace to begin. It took a little time and about four starts before I got the pattern to work for me in the triangle shape, working out the increases and where to start the pattern, and though I don't have a lot on the needles I do like how it is working up and now have to choose a second pattern stitch. What fun!

Back to Matisse

In an effort to finish spinning my California Sunsets roving I realized that I needed to ply the second skein of Matisse that I had on two bobbins as singles. I had a debate with myself as to how I wanted to ply these and finally decided to just spin them together as they came off their bobbins and not obsess about the colors not matching. I am re-publishing a photo of the first skein of Matisse on its bobbin to compare. What a difference!

Here the colors are crisp and clear whereas the second skein is very soft and muted.

You can see the difference in the skein off the bobbin as well.

I am tempted to repeat the Old Shale Shawl with this skein to see how different the two shawls will look. Or perhaps I will try something different. In the meantime I am off to spin the second bobbin of Dreaming of California Sunsets and dream of actually seeing a California Sunset soon.

An Experiment in Dyeing or How I Learned to Paint

It all started when I got the bad news that things went terribly wrong with the Fall offering of Roving Art rovings and they were cancelled. I hadn't been aware of how addicted I had become to receiving these glorious skeins of wonderously colored rovings and all of a sudden my supply was stopped! What to do?
I started day dreaming about getting blank 'canvases' and trying my hand at painting some rovings myself. My mentor, Martie, generously offered the undyed rovings and offered tips on her process. I also found on my bookshelf the Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook by Lynne Vogel that is packed with instructions on dyeing and painting rovings for spinning. So, armed with these two fountains of information, I sent off to ProChem for a sampler pack of dyes and anxiously waited for their arrival, meanwhile reviewing all the info I had on hand.
The rovings and dyes arrived on the same day, a week ago Monday. I had to wait til Friday for the actual D-day, meanwhile I was gathering my supplies: vinyl gloves, extra wide plastic wrap, jars for mixing and storing dyes, etc.
At last the day arrived. With a face mask covering mouth and nose I felt like a mad scientist while I mixed the dyes which come in powdered form. Once the dye solutions were made and cooling I set about arranging one roving, pre-soaked, to receive the dye.

This is the result of the first attempt. I had intended to have a bit more yellow in this roving, however in a brainless moment I picked up the roving from the center, instead of keeping it nice and flat, and watched all my colors run together! Still I am please with the how it turned out. And I learned aLOT!! My respect for Martie's artistry, which was already very very high, jumped a hundredfold.
Next came steaming the package of roving to set the dyes, and the anxious hours while all was cooling before I could open the package, rinse carefully and see how the colors turned out. I guess it is because I'm heading to San Diego in November that I named this first roving "Dreaming of California Sunsets".

On Monday I repeated the procedure only this time the dyes were already in solution so it went faster, and came up with the roving you see at the top of the page. I named it "Morning Blush".

So now I am addicted to painting the roving with a desire to learn more and more, as well as spinning it and making beautiful lace shawls from the results.


Here is 'Dreaming of California Sunsets' on the wheel as a singles, soon to be plied, once I get the other half of the roving spun. Or perhaps I will ply it with one of the 'Morning Blush' singles??? Decisions, decisions! What I do know is that I will be sending off for more wool and more dyes soon!