Welcome to my blog

Welcome to my blog. It's good to have you here. I hope you'll enjoy reading about my writing and knitting exploits.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

The Gift of Grace

   In this life we are lucky to find good friends along the way.  I have been blessed by the friendship of a truly remarkable woman, Dee Roberts. 

   Dee and I met online through Ravelry a little over a year ago when I was destashing some yarn and she bought a skein from me.  Who knew that that sales opportunity would open the doors to what has become a fantastic friendship.  Dee and I have many, many things in common and can chat online with long emails that I hope brings Dee as much joy as her emails bring to me.

   Dee surprised me recently with a gift package.  In it was a gorgeous skein of Grant Creek Yarn in the colorway Mermaid's Perspective and a heart-shaped shawl pin to go with it.



  Isn't this just the most gorgeous gift.  The blues and greens are spectacular and the heart pin is so me!

   For days I tried to decide what to make out of this yummy yarn.  I looked through patterns and nothing seemed to work.  Finally, the yarn spoke to me...Tudor Grace, it said.  Tudor Grace by the talented Anne Hanson of Knitspot.  YES.  That was it. 

   So last night I cast on - despite the fact that I have quite a few projects on the needles.  I couldn't resist it.  And it is going to be a stunner. 


   Just look how the colors play through the pattern.  I'm hoping to have time to work on it tonight.  And I'll keep you updated on my progress.

   Here's another shot of more of the pattern in progress.

   42 pattern repeats.  But I'm going to go as long as the yarn lasts.  And in honor of dear Dee, I've named this project The Gift of Grace because Dee is one of the most graceful and lovely people I know.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Tour de Fleece

For the 2nd year in a row I've been spinning along on Tour de Fleece while the cyclists spin on their bikes for Tour de France.
It's been loads of fun. I took a more laid back approach this year and spun for Team Superfleece. I'm ashamed to say it, but I've had some merino/silk on the wheel for almost a year and had gotten tired of the family's comments about it gathering dust. So that was my committment - I'd spin the 4 oz of fiber and ply it during TdF.
I'm happy to say I got it done. It's also the best spinning I've done. And the best yardage. I got 400 yards of fingering weight fiber.
On the wheel still spinning
 
Done. Much prettier in person.
 

Sothia, Beautiful Sothia

I've been on a knitting mission this summer trying to finish up some projects, but I seem to be easily seduced by new projects. One such project that caught my eye was the Sothia Shawl by Robin Ulrich. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sothia
She is a beauty. And having seen Sothia, I just had to make one for me. I chose two colors of Bugga, Milkweed Beetle and Southern Green Stinkbug. Check it out here.