Summer Trip 2014 Wisconsin

I'm a lucky girl to have some great sisters.  Number 2 picked me up in Schaumberg and put me up for a whole week in Madison, Wisconsin.  I really enjoyed her forest, gathering pine cones, watching the birds at the feeders.  I even observed the turkey family that has moved into the neighborhood.

It is a beautiful neighborhood to walk around.  Another great place to walk is the Pheasant Branch Nature Reserve.  The paths are well maintained and the walk easy.

 

We visited the Olbrich Gardens.  Lots of flowers including giant hibiscus and Thai Garden.  I missed the butterfly release but saw some in the garden. 

My sister is a great cook.  A new recipe was chicken with a plum sauce Yummy!  The Illinois peaches were on and awesome.  She baked a cherry pie from cherries her friend grew.  My favorite.  Pie cherries are hard to come by in Hawaii.  In addition we filled up on the Asian foods, Korean at New Seoul Korean  ...soon to be more new as it is moving to a new location.  Also very yummy Laotion food at Lao Laan-Xang Restaurant, Pho at  Saigon-Noodles and Chinese (Wah Kee Wonton Noodle).  For their anniversary, we ate at Lombardino's.  Very nice and totally yummy!

Update:  How could I forget Sushi Muramoto and Gail Abrosios's chocolates.  I know I was not eating non stop!

We drove to Milwaukee one day, past Miller Stadium (Home of the Brewer's, dontcha know) and saw the Kandinsky exhibit at the Milwaukee Museum of Art.  It was very interesting.  I'm glad we got the audio program to go with it.  I had no idea he started off a lawyer and and impressionist before he got to where he got.  

(Screen cap of google image search "Kandinsky")

We also visited the new improved National Mustard Museum, the Wisconsin History Museum. Badger bookstore and got our shopping fun at JoAnns, Hancock Fabrics, Wisconsin Craft Supply, Farmers Market and several thrift stores.  Whew, now that I'm writing it down, we did a lot of things together.  Aren't sisters grand?

This 1886 book was only two dollars at the Friends of the Library.  I loved the cover and the pictures.  It looks like it was never read.  It was printed in a very tiny font so I can understand why.

My sister and her husband drove me back to O'hare for my last leg of the the trip.  I got one last Garrett's popcorn fix, Chicago Mix, before heading to Denver.

FO: Chelsea's Cowl

Pattern:  Rivington Cowl, by Kirsten Kapur. Purchased as a kit at Stitches Midwest, 2014. $7 of the purchase price was donated to Chelsea's Light Foundation. 

Yarn: 

Breakfast Blend Fingering

by Bare Naked Wools

Light Fingering / 3 ply

50% Merino, 40% Alpaca, 10% Nylon 

 

Jilly (main color) 

by Dream in Color

Fingering / 4 ply

100% Merino 

 

Needles-size 6

 

Modifications:  I was a little worried I would run out yarn on the lace and found using a third needle to knit it on too fiddly for knitting on an airplane. So I substituted the Vogue Acorn Lace pattern which fit perfectly on the 192 stitch CO and had acorns (yay!).  I used the circs I knit the body with to knit the lace, a provisional CO and purled one row.  The first row was the wrong side, and when I came to the purl2tog on row 2, I purled 3 together including one stitch from the body to join it on.

Comments:  The final project blocked to 55 inches around and 10 inches wide.  The yarn fuzzed a bit as I knit (and frogged) but the final result was nice and soft.  The color work is more like knitting stripes with the yarn not in use carried up, so the body was quite simple. 

Stitches Midwest 2014

My first Stitches ever was great fun!  I had great weather and had some wonderful classes.  The marketplace was full of tempting items.  The people I met were talented and friendly.  The venue was perfect...lots of welcoming areas to knit and chat,  a large comfortable marketplace hall, and many classrooms.

 

There are many shopping opportunities close by like Woodfield Mall and Ikea. (which I managed to avoid!)  The hotel provides free shuttle service for shopping, but not to and from the airport.  Speaking of the airport, I was happy to find Garret's popcorn has a kiosk at O'hare on the B concourse where United lands and I got my fix of the Chicago mix.  

 

I went to a talk given by Franklin Habit who is such an entertaining speaker.  Later I found myself sitting at his table at a dinner, and discovered he lived in Waipahu for a time.  Who knew?  Lily Chin was fabulous in total hot pink with a vivacious personality to match. 

My first class was Artfelt Scarf, taught by Karin Skacel.  She is an excellent teacher. 

It uses a special paper that looks and feels like pellon, but dissolves in hot water.  The project is felted to the paper, wet, rolled up in plastic and dried in a dryer until it is felted enough.  The the paper is dissolved off.   I made the blue scarf but there were some cool examples of signs, panels in tops with handwoven fabric, and even a fish.

My second class was Using stash yarns to make a scarf taught by Deborah Jarchow.  She is an excellent teacher as well, and has a Craftsy class I had taken.  One of the best parts of the class was when we walked around looking at everyone's yarns and she helped us choose the ones we would use.

 Before

                                                                     After

My last class was Annetarsia, knitting Intarsia in the round.  I had tried this out before using a video to make Totoro's tummy and was confused.  Anne Berk taught the class and it was most helpful.  I learned how to make a yarn butterfly that didn't fall apart, and also found out about another type of bobbin to try out.  

Here's Totoro!

The new one is grey.  I didn't use a pattern.  He joined his friends in Denver.

After being bewitched by the Verdant Gryphon I bought some yarn and silk hankies to spin on Edward (the Bossie).

I swapped some skull stitch markers for a cool project bag made by Undergroundchic.  It's a nicely made pouch with Kaffe Fassett lininng. 

I also met Stephen West and Stephen Be who had a stall together as they are on tour together.  I talked to Stephen Be's mom almost everyday as she was a fixture there, and such a friendly sweet lady.  She has her own yarn shop, Christa's Yarnshop, just north in Ettrick, WI. 

There were many impressive knits walking around.  I think this Pi Shawl, knit by a young man was one of the most impressive.  Apparently he has been going to Stitches since he was like 9.  He is designing his own shawls, now, since that is what he likes to knit.

Boy I miss spinning

I have not spun one thread since the dreaded neck adventure started.  I've knit very little.  I'm doing my exercises to keep the muscles alive until the disc settles down.  I experienced a MRI.  This was one of those tests that was put into action way after I started my career.  There were a lot of bugs to be worked out after the test was thought up in the early 50's and led to a Nobel Prize in 2003 for it's application in medicine.  But then I digress.

There are a million screening questions about previous surgery, metal parts, shrapnel, etc.  I certainly would not want anything rearranged accidentally by a giant magnet.  Luckily I'm not claustrophobic...a friend shared her story of freaking out and requiring anxiolytics.  I kept by eyes closed the whole time and listened to the Mumfords. I figured something loud would drown out the noise.  Well sort of.  It  was like being in a machine gun for 20 minutes.

                                    I also visualized Nausicaa being rejuvenated by the Ohmu.

                                        or Arriety floating down the river in the tea kettle.

                                                       I can't float without relaxing.

The good news is that there is hope of recovery without surgery, but the bad news is that it's indeed a bulging disc slight compressing the spinal cord and impinging on the C5 nerve root.  It does not pay to get old.   So my plan is to go to on the great MidWest adventure next month.  I plan to take a drop spindle or two and signed up for some classes in an air conditioned place. Before coming home I'll visit some family.  When I come back I'm going to start spinning again. 

In the mean time, I make cards, shop, knit and sew a bit,  and eat and mostly watch the weeds grow instead of attacking them..  

Flip it cards are all the rage and there are a billion dies, cutters and methods.  The minion is made with the Stampin' Up Owl Builder Punch (Stampin Up UK Crafty Hallett Christmas Minions with the Owl Builder). I made several flip it cards following Stephanie Barnard's instructions, from The Stamps of Life.  She has a youtube video called "Make a Hidden Panel Card with Stephanie Barnard from The Stamps of Life".  Jackie Topa has a nice video on the Envelope Punch board sliding gift card holders.  After holding out on getting a EK Success Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, I broke down and got it, and now wonder why I held back.  It is quite useful for getting images stamped where you want them to go.

I saw the movie Begin Again since I like Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightly. Adam Levine is quite good as well.  He makes a brief appearance in one scene wearing a cabled slouchy hat.  Try as I might I have not found a screen cap of that hat or the afghan Keira Knightly wraps up in when she crashes at her friends house.  What is is with these movie people?

Punch Totoro Tutorial

Blogless Muffy has been bitten by the stamping craze, and got me obsessing on the Stampin' Up Owl Punch.  Besides owls, there are so many ideas.  This appeals to me as it hits a fond memory of mine from childhood making paper dolls with my sisters.  We cut a lady out of a magazine, and glued her to cardboard.  From there we traced around her and designed clothing, complete with tabs to hold them on.  If I remember correctly they were stored in cigar boxes, no doubt from my uncles, especially Uncle John from Maui.

When we last got together to make cards, the gang was making owl medical folk, and I was hooked.  Furry Tale Cards and Crafts has a cute example on her blog.  I obsessed on the owl punch.   I searched for a Totoro, but couldn't find one.  So here we go. My first attempt. 

Materials

Owl Builder Punch from Stampin' Up
Large Oval Punch from Stampin' Up
Blossom Petals XL from Stampin' Up

Card Stock:  Grey or Blue, White, Black
Inks to sponge edges
Adhesive of choice.  I used Tombow Mono Aqua
Preparations

In main color, punch out 1 owl body, 3 smaller petals
In white, punch out smaller circles from owl punch and one oval
In black, punch out small eyeballs, heart and feet.  

From body, trim off feet and ears.  I made a little template for future use.  Trim the oval for the tummy.  Sponge all the grey edges and tummy piece. 

Assembly

Glue the eyeballs on to the white.
Glue feet on back of body.  Adjust up so just his toes are showing.
Turn heart upside down and glue on the back of the tummy piece to make his nose.
Add his ears and tail to the back.
Add tummy markings.  I used a glaze pen.  

The Landcaster says they still look like owls. Bah humbug to him, lol. 

Add:  7/19/2014

Tried some different punches.  Petal from small 5 pointed flower...a little too small imo.  Wedges from the scallop punch for tails and arms.  Also found some very tiny googly eyes that are cute. 

I saw a specialist for my neck/arm/shoulder problem and she confirmed a Cervical Radiculopathy.  My MRI is scheduled on Monday.  She also poked a really big needle in the muscles along the C5-6 vertebrae and injected steroids.  Not as bad as it sounds. The hope is that some of the weakness will improve over the next week.

Still no spinning, but I watch the Tour de France on TV and admire all the wonderful spinning going on and beautiful yarn being produced by folk like Mokihana on Ravely.  And I knit a bit because I can't help myself.  The Plover Shawl is working up nicely in my Blue Heron Metallic.

At the rate I'm going it will be a long term project.

On this journey with my neck issue, I'm looking back at the vinyl years...so much great music to review the past and make peace with it. 

Just a Little Knittin' to keep myself sane

Pattern: 

Foolproof

by Louise Zass-Bangham

from Inspiration Knits

Needle:  size 9
Yarn:  Cascade Tangier, colorway 6, Galaxy
Mods: none
Comments:  I made the shorter version which wraps around twice and can cover my head if I want.  The colors are better on the first photo.  Ravelry has many striped examples that are quite stunning.  I went with a self striping yarn because I have two skeins of Tangier and mostly because I'm too lazy to sew in ends.  This is such a clever construction, starting with a mini-shawl, and not requiring stitches to be picked or anything.  If I would have changed anything, it would be the YO.  Because of my size 9 needles, the holes were larger then I like and look a bit sloppy.    The yarn is very nice and comfortable against the skin.

After seeing Msknottyknits' beautfiul example on Rav,  I've CO for Plover Shawl by Amy Christoffers from Savory Knitting with my Blue Heron Rayon Metallic.  I'm thinking this yarn is too fussy for this pattern, but I will knit on for a bit.  

I am enjoying watching all the spinning going on for Tour de Fleece this year. Wish I could spin :(

The good news is that the pain in my neck/should/arm is much improved.  The bad news is that it is a pinched nerve causing the weakness and that can be very bad indeed.  I'm seeing a specialist soon.  The MRI is on hold until my records can be reviewed for mesh and clips and stuff I've forgotten about.  I'm trying not to freak out about the possibility of surgery.  Me and surgery don't have a good history together, but I just have to remind myself that I'm still alive so it couldn't have been all that bad.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed the disc will settle down before it gets that far.

Lot's of crepe myrtle in bloom at Ho'omaluhia and around town.  The lavender flower is a giant variety.  The red-orange flower beneath are from the Flame Tree.  The orange flowers on the top row, second from left are from the Sorrow-less Tree.  The Sanskrit word for this tree is Ashoka, which apparently means sorrow-less. 

Aloe Dye Fail, Skully stitch marker success.

Not being able to spin has left me a bit discombobulated.  I've limited my knitting to a few rows at each sitting.  The arm/shoulder/neck pain is improving, but the arm weakness is about the same.  I saw PT today and will see Sport's Medicine tomorrow.  The meclomen is helping the pain and not irritating my stomach so far like other NSAIDS, and it is on the WalMart $4 RX list.  YAY.  I really dislike taking meds.  My son had fun reading the two page handout that came with the pills and keeps asking me if I've had any sudden weight gain or puffing up. 

I'm knitting  Foolproof by Louise Zass-Bangham from Inspiration Knits. Not free but clever.  It starts off like a shawl and ends up a cowl.  There are no seams.  I'm using a self-striping yarn, Tangier to avoid having to weave in ends.   I must say, the striped versions with higher contrast are more eye-catching.

My aloe dyeing was a bust.  I was inspired by the lovely pink Kai got with aloe. I got a rather pale yellow which is actually quite nice.  I learned a lot.  First, always label packages of white powder.  I'm now sure the white powder was soda ash and not alum.  Secondly and most importantly, don't be in a rush when it comes to dyeing anything.  Third, my churro spun on the Navajo spindle was not spun well, and fell apart with the abuse. 

Mom brought a good point when I whined about the process...at least I have tried it.  I may try it again, too when the aloe plant gets out of control.  Somehow it seems better then throwing the thinnings away. Also cooking aloe does not smell too bad and is non-toxic.

In lieu of spinning in the Tour de Fleece I'm shopping online (mostly card-making supplies), surfing for inspiration and re-potting my poor neglected plants, including 3 sea island cotton plants.    I even managed a set of skully stitch markers and some very dangly acorn earrings.  The bone skull beads were funky smelling when I got them, and they were boiled, soaked in bleach and paint thinner and left in the elements for awhile (like years, lol) and they no longer smell bad. 


I'm signed up for Stitches MidWest...one felting class, and one rigid heddle class.  The only knitting class is intarsia in the round, so I'm hoping my shoulder/neck/arm problem will be better by then.  I was going to take Cherry Baby with me, but I decided not to spin for all of July and maybe August. 

So Sad, No Tour de Fleece for me :(

I've somehow messed up my arm and neck and can't spin.  I've tried resting, massage, exercises and even resorted to acetaminophen and naproxen.  I'm resigned that I will not be able to spin in the Tour de Fleece this year.  I have been  referred to a specialist. Sigh. Guess I'll keep off the knitting for a while as well.  My hands don't know what to do while watching TV anymore.  The pickings on TV are slim, but I've settled on Longmire, 24, Endeavor and the last season of True Blood. 

On a more successful note, my mom's pineapples are going strong.  She has harvested 2 already and this one is almost ready.  

She is coping with my dad's passing by doing what she always does when under stress.  She is cleaning and organizing...going through pictures, clothes, writing letters.  Many things have gone to the thrift stores.  She messed up her shoulder and finally saw her doc.  She was referred to PT.  But she never lets these sort of things get her down.  Her main concern is whether the cat (Kiko) chooses to sleep with her or not.  It's handy living next door to her, and I have breakfast with her 6 days a week now that I'm retired and get all the daily reports!

My quest for "cocktail" attire for an August wedding has only been 50% successful.  The search goes on.  The plant re-potting project is underway.  The Lancaster has reported a white fly infestation on the avocado tree in the pot.  Agh!  The trials and tribulations of owning a yard!  The Lancaster has been digging and laying gravel around for his great "drainage" project.  I'm not even sure I needed that, but he's usually right.  Guess I'll have to buck up and call the appliance dude to figure out what is wrong with the flaky dishwasher.  The Landcaster feels that is important and he's usually right.  Aah the mundane-ness of it all.

A Texas cousin came for a visit.  It was nice catching up and sharing stories.  He lost both his parents this year, one month apart.  His mom was my mom's sister, and mom is the last of the siblings.  This is the cousin that I met for the first time when he was 70!  I love his stories.  I'm not sure why I never got to share in his life growing up.  My mom never took us to visit them in Granbury, TX.  He expressed his recent awareness, that there is nothing like family.  It's never too late.  True too of old friends...reminiscing, we all remember different things and have different takes on what went down way back when. 

Retirement Brain

I thought I had today all planned out...breakfast with mom, knitting at 10, hang out until 2pm and doctor's appointment at 2:30pm.

The doctor's appointment for my sore arm and shoulder, and weakness in the arm.  I really didn't notice the weakness until I tried to carry the garbage bag.  I tried to see the Sport's Medicine doc, but they didn't consider knitting a sport.  I suspect my problem started after finishing the lace from hell.  Anyway, to get an appointment on a certain for an acute problem, I had to call at 7:30am that day.

2:30 seemed the perfect time. I could drive over after knitting, see the doc, and get my blood tests done for my routine appointment in August.   One problem...knitting was for next week.  Oh well, I had a great time at Aloha Yarns, and practically had Nanea all to myself.   And, I actually spent 7 hours without my computer. (not counting Wonbin the iphone)

Anne stopped by and I scored a 3 lb avocado!  Can't wait for it to get ripe.  I always worry about these massive avocados since a former patient got beaned on the head picking one.  She luckily did not get a concussion, but had a very impressive bruise that when down her back as well!

 Update:    6/27/2014 Here's what a 3 lb avocado looks like.  almost 8 inch tall and 5 inch in diameter. 

I've been referred for some xrays and to see a Physiatrist.   In the meantime I'm going to knit and spin on. 

Blogless Sandy had a good laugh.  She is reading a book about chemo brain, a type of cognitive dysfunction related to chemotherapy.  The symptoms sound similar to retirement brain, which I may be suffering from.  Mom and I spend part of each am determining what day of the week its and what tasks we need to get done.  This becomes a feat when there are no work days to schedule around.   Having calendars help some, but only if the data is entered correctly. 

I finished a little stashbuster.

Pattern:  Ruched Sleep Eye Mask
by Sarah Cores
Yarn:  Pakucho, organic cotton
Needles:  First 3 size 6, too holey.  Second one size 5.
I'm going to try these out on my night flight to Stitches Midwest.  It's so hard for me to sleep on planes.

The Moosie has Landed!

Moosie by Jonathan Bosworth
9 inch Tulipwood Shaft
28 grams.
Love this tiny work of art.  The whorl diameter is 1.75 inch

I'm going to try some silk on it next.

Another long term knitting FO while knitting with blogless Sandy and Nanea at Aloha Yarns

Quiviut Cap
Pattern:  Free on Ravelry, Osmena by Jenn Jarvis from Nipperknits

The Qiviut is incredibly soft and silky.  Knitting on size 1 and size 2 needles goes very slowly.  I did Jeny's Incredible Stretchy Bind Off.  I got this luxury yarn in Alaska at the Anchorage museum a few years ago and finally found the right project for it.

Yesterday was No. 2 son's birthday.  I can't believe he is the big 30.  Back in the day, 30 was considered over the hill and the age after which a person could not be trusted.  How foolish I was back then...but at least I was invincible!

A Lovely Gift

Kbrow has sent me a very nice package with some wonderful ceramic acorn buttons!!  I will enjoy them on some future project.  They make me very happy just to be there to admire, too!  She also included some tasty smelling, home made soap, my favorite citrus-y flavors.  Lovely, lovely soap.

Since retiring May 31, I've been pretty lazy, just dreaming of all those healthy pursuits and things that need to be done.  I'm giving my self a mental vacation for one month.  I'm not really good at deadlines that I set for myself, but I'm content to dream about it.  My son was a little worried about me as I went out with my blouse inside out.  Humpf.  These things happen to "mature" ones  when they are rushed!!

I felt very accomplished having fixed two things on that fix it list.  One is this bracelet that I've had for ages.  I got it back in the antiquing days and did not have it very long before the middle stone fell out.  Sigh.  I used a rondele I found laying around and filed it a bit.  Luckily the setting prongs were still functioning.  It's bluer then the other stones, but from a distance not a bad match.  

 

The other is this clock. I've always loved this clock that was a gift years ago.  I ordered several clock movements from Klockit.  The hand were a bit long so I had to do some surgery. I forgot to order second hands but was able to use the old one.  So far it has continued to keep time. 

The knitting has slowed down a bit for the summer.  I fell in love with hempathy and Webs had some on closeout.  I decided on orange and was going to use it for weaving, but then the Aloha Yarns ladies were doing The Hole Story KAL, by Michelle Hunter from Knit Purl Hunter so I decided to jump on the wagon.

I somehow screwed up the ruffle and got this frilly thing that was the neverending lace from hell.  My neck is still stiff as I was so intent on just getting it done!

The hempathy was very nice and drapey and will wash well.  It came out a nice size as well.   And yes, it is very orange!!!

Kbrow was my thrift hunting buddy and the drum has had to continue beating alone since the violin moved East.   I was rewarded with some "real" yarn for next to nothing, a skein of Euroflax, Berrocco Trilogy and 2 skeins of 100% silk Amerah, SW Trading.  I crocheted a puffy heart/leaf garland.

Crochet Puffy Heart by Bonita Patterns, size G hook.  

 

I have thrown out a few things as a friend is having a garage sale...mostly old spotty books, some liquor bottles shaped like golf clubs and bags that were inherited with house...and I cleaned my desk.  It's still very cluttered but I spy a bit of the table top now and some of the dust bunnies have been moved out.

I obsessed on these sheep so made a few.  

It's difficult to keep off the Internet shopping for things I don't need.  I did get all the roving I need for the upcoming Tour de Fleece.  The plan is to mostly spin cotton on my Hansen e-spinner, "Cherry Baby" and do some puffy thick and thin on Serenity, the Majacraft Rose.

I'm set up to go to Stitches MidWest in Schaumberg.  It will be hot in August!

Catching Up

My company's DOD contracts were cut way back so I decided to retire...again and also to blog again.  The last couple of months have been a blur.

In April, my dad passed after 4 years of being home bound.  He suffered from depression over his loss of his physical abilities to do the things he loved, gardening, listening to baseball games, and music.  While medications helped, he refused to leave home and did not even step into the garage for four years.  He lived a long and interesting life of service to his profession and to his family.  I am grateful my mom was able to care for him at home, that he had no physical pain, and that his passing was peaceful.  I am grateful I live next door and was able to support them these last few years.   He was laid to rest May 24.  For me the process was gradual and I came to terms with whatever resentments I harbored. Now when I think of dad, I think of his cute smile and his integrity and drive to do the right thing.  I have fond memories of fishing with him in Kaneohe Bay, catching ika down by the Ilikai, crawfish in Nuuanu Stream...

On my second to last working day I contracted a virus, I'm thinking the Norovirus.  I wasn't tested, 'cuz ya know doctors make the worst patients and I treated my self.  Not that there was much to do but groan and moan, and try to stay hydrated until the darn thing passed.   I lost another two weeks to the pity party.

I did some knitting and crocheting and purchased a Hansen E-spinner (my own retirement celebration gift, lol)  I won't bore readers with the details, so here is the mosaic.  The project details are on Ravelry.  

1.  crochet Bucket hat (made several)
2.  Gaptastic Cowl-made two
3.  Kamuela socks.  Pattern from Aloha Yarns in Kaneohe.  Fun footies in hot pink.
4.  Canalatto Cowl
5. Tried out the Cascade Tangier Noro-like yarn.  Nice!  Quaker yarn stretcher boomerang
6.  More Graham hats (made 3)
7.  Graham hat
8.  Giro
9.  Finally finished the Queen Anne scarf.  I ended up looping it and adding some crochet flowers for a goodbye lei for a friend.
10.  Echarpe Pointes Violettes/Violet Points Scarf.  My first time using Hempathy.  I think I'm in love.  This is a perfect yarn for Hawaii's warm climate.
11.  Flower Girl Cottage Crochet headband.
12.  Spinning Ewa Beach (Sea Island) cotton on "Cherry Baby", the Hansen e-spinner.

My most recent project was a spindle bag.  My very first project on my Cricket Rigid Heddle loom, was a "table runner".  It was not very good, so I sewed it into a spindle bag for my Malcolm Fielding Tasmanian Devil.  

It fits the cardboard tube the spindle shipped in and is padded inside with one of the those floating noodles, cut to size.  I sweat the grommets, but managed to put them without a hitch thanks to youtube!



I used a knitting needle to enlarge a hole, so no cutting was needed for the whole project (oh wait, look at that fringe...snip!).  The fabric was thick, so I didn't line it.

Somewhere in there I took to a trip to Sonoma.  I enjoyed the Beringer Winery.
I visited two fun knitting shops:   Knitterly in Petaluma and Cast Away and Folk in Santa Rosa.   Both were places I would visit again!

What's not to like about a wall of Koigu?  I won't flash my stash, but I didn't hold back!

Reuben Sandwich

I've always loved Reuben Sandwich's.  I did not have corned beef and cabbage on the 17th since I was expecting my sister, the Sky Goddess to be here to cook, but she didn't come in until today.  I cooked the corned beef by it's lonesome and got some Bubbies Sauerkraut, and some Swiss cheese.  For the bread, I decided to use that bread flour I've had in stash for a while. Of course this lead to shopping for the other items needed like rye flour. 

I used the recipe from the Smitten Kitchen.  Some of the recipes have pickle juice in them so I picked this one because it did not have any.  This was a fussy recipe which created a sponge, and was kneaded about 4 times. The author warns 8 hours is needed to make this.   The only modification I made besides grinding my caraway seeds,  was to bake it in a bread pan on 375 degrees for 45 mininues, instead of a round loaf on a pan sprinkled with cornmeal, with slashes in the top.  If I must say so myself it was  a big success, even with the puka (hole) that formed.

The Sky Goddess whipped up some easy Russian dressing for the inside.  This was the first time I'd tried the Bubbies Sauerkraut, and it was delish!  Mom whipped up a salad some Admiral Guiler's Turtle Soup to top off the meal.  On a side note, the Bubbies site says the Chinese invented sauerkraut!  Learn something new every day.

Crochet Bucket Hats

A friend tasked me with crocheting a hat for her grand daughter.  She had a sample which was too small.  The first one came out large enough for an adult.  I didn't use a pattern.  For the other I used a cute Japanese pattern.

Pattern:  210-24 Summer Hat, by Pierrot (Gosyo Co., Ltd)  Free!
Yarn:  Plymouth Jeanne DK.  The red is aran.
Hook:  F and H
Half the fun is making different flowers.  I experimented with my Crazy Daisy Winder in the bottom left corner.  I'm not happy with the  centers.  There are some good you tubes that I will follow next time.  I ordered the new improved Han-ami flower loom made by clover, so some more hats are sure to follow.  These are so fast to make!  I just wish I had more colors of the Jeannee DK.  The aran is a bit thick.
Mods:  I wasn't sure how to the lace so I just winged it from the picture.

Totoro eyeglass holder filled out the mosaic :)

Ravellenic 2014 Team Aloha

 I didn't make the deadline, but at least I finished:)

Pattern:  Aidez
Yarn:  Cascade 128 Superwash, about 8 skeins.
Needles:  10.5

Mods:  I wanted to make this as seamlessly as possible.   I knit the sleeves first and found I had stitch gauge but not row gauge.  I also read that the sleeves run small.  konasf and SageYarn had some helpful notes.  I knit the largest size sleeves. I had a couple of glitches in the crossed cables in the back which mostly block out.  The sweater really grew in length with blocking and is a bit too long.  It is certainly cushy and snugly to wear.

I don't this was the best project for this yarn with the needle size I chose.  It's a bit fuzzy on the cable stitch definition and stretched too much with blocking.  A tighter gauge may have helped.  I did learn that I will have to be more careful next time when joining the sleeves as I ended up with some very loose stitches...okay they are holes:( at the joins.  I've tried other raglan styles before and have come to the conclusion it is not the best arm style for me. 

I do love knitting cables!  Perhaps it's time to think about St. Brigid again.  It has been in my queue forever!

Now with Downton Abbey over for the season, there is a void and I'm sad to say I will frog my Downton Abbey Mystery KAL shawl.  After hibernating it and seeing the finished shawls, I decided the project is not for me. I'm so looking forward to Game of Thrones!

Perhaps I can practice on my new toy.  It spins very well. 

Tasmanian Devil - support spindle in Rose Sheoak and Dymondwood by Malcom Fielding.  I'm hoping for a Moosie in the next herd from Jonathan Bosworth.  A girl can dream. 

Big Island Quilt Shop Hop 2014

This was a whirlwind shop hop with Melody and JoAnn.  What fun!  We flew out Tuesday morning, picked up our car and visit all nine shops to get our quilt blocks and shop. 

1.  Quilt Passions, Kona
2.  Fabric and Quilting Delights, Kona
3.  H.Kimura, Kealakekua
4.  Topstitch, Waimea
5.  Fabric Impressions. Hilo
6.  Kilauea Kreations II, Hilo
7.  Fabric Workshop, Hilo
8.  Pahala Quilting, Pahala
9.  Kilauea Kreations, Volcano

Each shop had it's own charm, sales and supplies.  We were met with Aloha spirit and had fun sharing ideas with lovely, crafty quilters.    We all got our quilt blocks and some ideas on how to put them together.  Our names were entered into the drawing...one can dream... 

Kona was socked in with vog when we arrived, and I couldn't even see Mauna Kea.  By the time we got to Waimea it started to clear out and we were treated to the cherry blossoms blooming.  We had wonderful weather in Hilo, Pahala and Volcano.   Outside our hotel room we were serenaded at dawn and dusk by the mynah birds nesting in the banyan trees and at night by the coqui frogs which have invaded Hilo.   We did the Hilo Farmer's Market and and ran in to an old friend. After a great lunch at Hilo Bay Cafe, which has moved to a new location, we checked out of the hotel and went on to Pahala and Volcano.  We flew back to Honolulu with our treasures.  I would go back in a heartbeat!

I made some pillow cases from my sale fabric.  Christmas fabric but who cares:)  I used the Missouri Quil Company video again, only I cut the cuff 12 inches instead of 9 since the handout the shop lady gave us used 12 inches.  Nine would have been enough, but oh well.  I still love them.