So, last week, I wrote a nice post, had fun doing it, forgot to hit the publish button and here it sat for a week. I went to work on Wednesday and Thursday and could hardly keep my eyes open by 1 p.m. I was sure I was coming down with something, even though I didn’t feel bad, just very, very tired. People remarked on it. I could have put my head down on the desk and fallen asleep standing up. I couldn’t look at Purl and Jack while they were napping; I just wanted to curl up next to them and let the snoring and drooling begin.
Friday morning I was making my first cup of coffee and my eye was caught by a small green label on the bag. I had opened a new bag on Tuesday and not noticed that it was decaf. Mystery solved – but just how addicted am I? And whatever the answer is to that question, just keep that caffeine coming, baby! I don’t know if America runs on Dunkin, but this girl certainly does.
So, I apologize for the lack of a post last week. Please see below this post, if you can stand two in one week. I was whining about no new yarn, and Swan’s Island came to my rescue. They shipped me a nice juicy box of their Organic Merino Fingering, all dyed with natural dyes, so beautiful, so real. Here are the colors we received:
Lovely semi-solids, and there is a free pattern you can download from their website, and while you’re there, read about their company as well. The Olivia Cowl takes one skein of their fingering:
We also received some pretty new shawl pins this week. They always perk me up. We ooh and ah and think about how we would wear them. So versatile, for sweaters, shawls, cowls and scarves:
Donna has been knitting for her soon-to-come granddaughter – there’s a shower this coming weekend and she is ready! Look at this cute little giraffe she made (the baby’s room has a safari theme, isn’t that neat?) with a baby blanket that she embroidered in pink to match:
and this adorable baby sack and matching hat. Here is the link to the pattern: http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2012/03/cozy-in-cables-sleep-sack.html
Kathie Holm just got back from a wonderful trip to Ireland. While she was there, she took a long ferry ride to one of the Aran Islands. She brought me this wonderful towel/banner/guide to Aran stitches, with the meanings of the stitches and cables you’ll see on traditional Aran sweaters:
It’s hanging in the classroom if you want to get a closer look.
Amanda Barrell’s basket class finished up this week and everyone did a great job. The creativity is amazing! Here are some of them; I hope I’ve got them associated with the right people. If not, I apologize.
Pat Miller made this simply elegant little bowl:
Kristin Ruth was not quite done with her pretty little vase-shaped basket, just the right size for DPN’s or crochet hooks:
I think this is Doris Kauffman’s basket, quietly pretty in soft gray tones:
Lisa Reigle and Cathy Gerhart used the same yarn but came up with 2 very different baskets. I’m sorry I don’t know whose is whose. This lovely bowl shape:
and this pretty flat-bottomed basket with unattached sections for handles or decoration. Nice use of the randomly patterning yarn:
And David Ritz threw all his inherent creativity at this project and made this wonderfully embellished objet d’art:
Amazing work! If you are interested in learning the technique, call to be added to our call list for Amanda’s next class.
Okay, I’m done! I’m going to browse Pinterest for a while, then finish a project I’m working on, and then lunch and a nap. Ooh, I love days off!
Trish
