Not So Fancy Nancy

Still life w/clementines - Ariann, socks, kitten, puppy & Pi

Yes, I still knit, sew and scrap. No, I don't have to prove it. Believe it because I said so. That's why. (OK, you're nice and not one of my children, so I'll show loads of pics in a minute)

My fantasy is that "I said so" will work on the kids as well as on the 15 month old Lab. I love this dog because she's the only one who actually does what I tell her. If I tell her she has to wait for the kitten to eat...

She waits.

Now, I'm not usually one to think anthropomorphically about animals, but you can almost hear Cami's voice in these photos...

What's taking so long Raven, I can eat in 30 seconds flat!

Ooops ... you dropped one. Ya want me to clean that up for you?  (I adore that furrowed brow)

Finished? Really? Would it be ok, maybe, if you don't mind, for me to eat your leftovers. I mean, what kind of animal leaves food in the bowl?

I swear to you, she never touched the kitten's food because I told her to wait. She did get a dog cookie for being so good. I love this dog.

Love this kitten too. She's one of the most people oriented cats I've ever met. She's in my lap right now as I type, purring.

Since I've last posted we almost lost her. She got cat flu at the shelter and fell ill the day after my last post. She wouldn't eat or drink and at the lowest point my postal scale read 1 lb 7 oz. She was a tiny, fragile skeleton. I had to feed her by syringe every 3 hours until she could smell again (they won't eat if they can't smell). It was a long 7 days. Now she's very healthy and boss of the house. She intimidates the 4 year old male who weighs in at 20+ lbs, though they share our bed and play together now. She eats first with him too (poor emasculated guy).

Sorry for the long delay in posting, but along with the cat, Thanksgiving, kids, etc., I've been to the dentist six times in the last three weeks. Enough said. The only, and I mean only, nice part about it is that I've gotten some knitting done while waiting for the anesthesia to take (seems I'm "resistant" to it and require multiple series of shots - oh joy).

The sock is coming slowly. Big thanks to a very kind reader for letting me know about the chart glitch! Why "kind reader"? Because I can't find her email. But while looking I did see one from Nancy who asked which Vogue had this pattern ... it's by Charlene Schurch in an article called "Fancy Footwork" in the Fall 2006 issue. Nancy, and anyone else I've not answered, so sorry, but you were lost in the great Adelphia to Time Warner debacle transfer of 2006. No email was delivered to my Outlook for almost a month. I could read on-line and answer through their old-school interface, but I have no record of whom I answered or when. Very frustrating. "Do you have email?" became a conversation starter around here. Finally got tired of waiting for their instructions and waded through the switch manually. I was very proud of myself Risa! Four weeks of email came pouring into my Outlook at once. Still haven't cleaned it out.

The above photo really frustrates me. Without boring you with details, this has been cropped, sized and uploaded numerous times and while the only photo I can see in my new photo program (provided by Time Warner ... hummm) is the cropped version, the uncropped version is what exports every time. Can't get to the original to touch it. Now my old photo program won't open - seems the new one snuffed it out. I might not think of my animals in human terms, but I know the PC is out to get me - it's personal. PCs - the ultimate love/hate relationship! So, forgive me, but uncropped photos ahead...

Pi has been my dentist's chair buddy. Mindless knitting at its best. No photo can do justice to a pi shawl on the needles - people keep asking me if it's a hat ... yeah, a hat for Hagrid. So, you must trust me that it's coming along.

The more mathmatically minded Risa has shared her Pi formula with me, but I still don't know how far I'll get with my two balls of Brooks Farms Primero because I've not finished the first ball. I don't want this to be too small, so I'm considering plan B, but not thinking too hard yet. I'll keep you posted. Since I've got at least three more visits to the dentist to go this month I expect to make some progress.

Progress was not being made on Ariann in the Jo Sharp Silkroad. I know others have finished it in that yarn, but it wasn't singing for me so I'd put it aside. Finally got out all those handy-dandy swatches and took gauge until my eyes crossed. Matched a bunch to promising patterns, then picked Rowan Kid Classic for Ariann and cast on.

This one is singing!

The above was just a few trips to the dentist's progress. Since I started writing this post the first button hole has been made and I had a little epiphany. Mark the button placement on the opposite side of the sweater when you knit the row ... no row counting or worrying about alignment later! Maybe this is obvious to everyone else, but I'm pretty excited. Of course as I've pointed out before, I'm easily amused. As if taking photos of my knitting on clementines isn't a big give-away.

Hum, what else was posing with the fruit this morning? (Froukje - found a perfect use for your bag!)

Found this sad sock started at least two years ago, worked for a few inches last year, then tucked away again. You can see my shifting gauge. I've certainly gotten more comfortable with the little sticks because I managed 3-4 inches just last night. Stopping at the heel and started making the second. I'll stop at the same spot then decide on heel turning technique and do them together.

Finally, I've missed the memes about "show me your space", so I'll share now since I took photos during the five minutes it was organized last week when I truly cleaned my craft room. Inside the cabinets - under the desk - the whole thing. It's still not decorated because I want to make quilts for the walls, but at least it's usable.

This is the room off the foyer that's always shown in model homes as a wood paneled office. Our office is in the back bedroom because there's nothing glamorous about my filing chaos.

This room is not particularly stylish yet either given its hodgepodge of furniture, but I have a vision for the future. For now it has nice afternoon light (the room faces west, this was taken in the AM) and I can keep an eye on the kids playing out front. We debated putting the craft room right at the entry, but we only entertain friends and everyone knows about my hobbies - why not come out of the closet as it may be. I was tired of taking friends to my bedroom walk-in to see the fun stuff!

I've managed to fit in a sewing corner. There's a Christmas quilt cut and ready to sew behind the bag. See that cloth - nicely ironed and folded in the bins... it's waiting...

For those of you who scrapbook, I've found the perfect paper holders:  Costco Silk boxes. (yeah, we love Silk around here)

Just put file hangers inside and the paper is easy to sort. Seeing this makes me guilty for all those photos in boxes. So many hobbies, so little free time.

I even organized my craft closet (I was on a mission). I used to teach stamping classes and have multiples of many inks and tools, but don't want to get rid of it yet because my girls are just getting to the age of doing crafty things with their friends. I was getting sick of no being able to use the room, so I had to get some of the boxes out of the way. Those of you with basements and attics don't know how good you have it! My house is spacious, but there're no hidden spaces. None. This is the coat closet (hey, it's SoCal, we don't use coats). Now, off to work in my "office".

Portland remembered & knitting WIPs

First, thanks for your welcome backs. I've read them all in my comments section, but some have never come to me as an email - lost in the switch from Adelphia to Time Warner. I still can't download emails to my desktop, but I can now read new ones online. Please forgive any email misses on my part.

Sadly, our little cat Claude has not come home. The cats stay indoors, so we can only figure that he must have been near an open door and gotten scared out. DH had hired a guy that day to help with planting, so he must have run further up the hill to hide. He was an exceptionally timid cat - he would have never gone exploring. Coming downstairs was a walk on the wild side for him. We have preserve areas behind both sides of our street with lots of nature. I just hope it was mercifully fast. Didn't expect to find another kitty so soon, but this little darling was dropped at the animal shelter and I couldn't resist. She had exactly the temperament for this chaos and is very people oriented. Just what we needed.

Here's something I don't need.

Hum, we've established I need the kitten .... So, it must be another CO. But I did it anyway. That's my eldest's youthful hand, not mine. She's on fall break for two weeks starting today. Thankfully small one remains usefully engaged at her Montessori school. This yarn has been in my stash for years waiting for a lace pattern to make the most of a solid color. While idly leafing through the latest Vogue Knitting I found a pattern using this exact yarn. It's a physically hard knit. The repeats aren't that difficult, but all the knit stitches are made through the back loop. Looks cool, but the tight stitches on fragile toothpicks with yarn that has sticky acrylic in it is slow going. Maybe it's me. Still, I like the pattern a lot. Anyway, here's a better look sans kitten:

Noro sweater is coming along too:

Finally unpacked my Portland stash - and only two weeks after returning - a record I think. I've just realized I have a life-long habit... I unpack clothes, toiletries, etc within a day or two of returning from a trip, but the ephemera sits for (at least) weeks. Sometimes months. Sometimes years. I just don't want to explore the memories while they're that fresh. I think it's because I tend to have post-trip-blues and looking at mementos and photos from just days or even hours before just makes it worse. At the risk of sounding like a rube, I have to admit plane travel still throws me. It's all such a blur of down time and blandness that it's all instantly forgotten. I'm always a little shocked that one minute I'm in one place and then, blink, I'm home and the whole experience in which I was so deeply engaged is suddenly in "the past". Here's the family and house, all the same, but I'm different. Damn this meta-cognition. Must be more zen ... must be more zen ... must be more zen. Of course none of the above means I don't love coming home. My nest and all that. I reserve the right to have completely opposing emotions simultaneously.

I went to Portland to see paper arts friends I've known for over eight years. We're spread across the country (really spread! California, Nebraska, Texas, Ohio, Florida and New Jersey) but keep in touch via mail art and our private Yahoo group. Over the years we've done weekend getaways in Santa Fe, NYC, Cleveland (for the now defunct Art Continuum event) and now Portland for Art & Soul. We all took a class, but the main point was hanging out. Getting together with these women is pure pleasure. No pretenses. No stress. Lots of talk and laughter. Bonus points that we all like to go to art and craft shops.

We only had time for two trips into the city, so choices had to be made. We focused on the Farmers Market, Pearl District, NE Alberta St, a brief walk around downtown and Nob Hill.

First thing Saturday morning I persuaded them that the Portland Farmers Market would be worth it. It was.

Whenever I travel I look for markets. I love them all - flea markets, antique markets, arts and crafts markets - but by far my favorites are always the seasonal farmers markets. It's where you see the locals and literally get a taste of their life. It's a bit painful if you don't have access to a kitchen on your trip, but there's always fresh bread, cheese and fruit to make a meal.

I always eat street food. Tony Bourdain and I would travel together fabulously. I'd leave him the nasty bits and he'd give me the veggies. I've eaten from street vendors and hole-in-the-wall shops in Mexico, Greece, Russia, Canada, Paris and London and I'm not dead yet. If there's a line I figure it must be good. Years ago my husband and I had the most amazing sandwich in Toronto that was an unexplainable mix of French pate and Vietnamese salad and spices on a baguette. The line was out the door of the tiny shop and only one other customer was Anglo. We asked him what was good and he said just point at the sign (no English) and say "sandwich". OKayyy. It worked. I've never forgotten that lunch.

Aren't these parsnips beautiful? My kids and I adore parsnips. A potato with more flavor. Oven fry them with oil and salt.

The dahlias were beyond beautiful. It was very overcast and I didn't have a tripod, so I had trouble getting clear shots under the vendors' tents. Still, you get the idea.

This market has made displaying your wares an art form. All the vendors do it, if only to keep up with Farmer Jones in the next stall.

I was in line when a woman breezed by me stopping only long enough to say "Ah, Clapotis!" My friends laughed and said we're a cult. Yep.

This was my favorite public display of handknitting that day. Yes, I did ask permission from his mama and promised not to show his face.

After the market we went to Powell's. Love that they have the latest titles mixed with resale books. Gives browsing an extra boost because even if you've seen all the latest titles, there still might be something "new" to you. Found out of print Alice Starmore books, but none that I had to have at the price offered. This seemed more practical.

After Powell's lunch was in order. I highly recommend Henry's Tavern. One side is a bar and the other a restaurant. Forgive the dark photos. Two beers probably didn't help my arm, but I did use a pint glass to balance the camera. These crab cakes were amazing. I'm not in love with mashed potatoes but I ate every last bite of these. Sadly, one of our party became very ill (nothing to do with food at Henry's or the market) so we left downtown Portland so she could rest.

 

Sport that she is (and with hard-earned money burning a hole in her pocket) we drove to Alberta Street to find a bead store (her current hobby). Great thing about Alberta street is that it has fabric, yarn, bead, paper arts, wine and coffee shops. There was something for everyone in our group!

Close Knit is a well stocked and charming store. The women who run it were friendly and approachable. If you live in the area and haven't stopped by go find it. There're are plenty of places to sit and loads of inspiration from floor to ceiling. I'd been wanting this new Mission Falls book. Realized I wanted this Fino lace weight (70% alpaca/30% silk) from Alpaca with a Twist too, I just didn't know it until I held it.

 

Oh-so-conveniently located right next door is Bolt. Small shop, but very focused on "hip" fabrics, so the space is rich with inspiration if this is your style. Guess it's mine as I have pieces of at least 1/4 of their stock! They also have a nice selection of designer decor weight fabrics which my local quilt stores don't carry. Got this new Amy Butler heavy print there and found the book at my local quilt store when I got home. Perfect match.

 

I love neighborhoods like this where the rent is still cheap enough that small boutiques can take a shot and there are no chains.

I always tried to live in places like this when I was young, single and poor. Funny thing time. Now I'm that middle aged "arty" suburbanite that drops in occasionally to take in the atmosphere and energy.

Hardest part about getting older is that you still see the world through the same eyes. Shaw asked "Oh why is youth wasted on the young?" Trust me, it starts making sense at 40. Something tells me it's not going to stop.

A little more about Art & Soul next time.

We have cast on

I'm alive, somewhat well and once again knitting.

The jackhammers and stone saws finally stopped two weeks ago and I got cast on fever. Have been intending to blog ever since. But I couldn't focus on the screen (drat turning 41) and a new prescription was required. Then there was a four day weekend to Portland OR with art friends (photos upcoming). Then the medicines I was taking for my back conspired to rip out my stomach lining (feels like it sounds), which required dr visits, etc. Then I came home to discover our painfully shy kitty had disappeared while I was gone, which means my nine year old with whom he slept had a very rough week (lots of tears all around). Add to that housekeeping and gardening and you get the picture (which is good since I'm out of parentheticals for now). When I finally found a chance to blog this weekend Time Warner was having issues. Brenda? get on the ball woman.

The CO fever started with a nice little email from Chic Knits. Might I be interested in Ariann, Bonne Marie's new cardigan pattern? Oh yes.

Just so happens one of the those industrious little stash swatches reveled that Jo Sharp's Silkroad DK Tweed (colour 404 Boheme) had the right gauge. I could see this pattern worked in a more fluid yarn, but I like the rougher texture too. It is a little slower going across the needles though. 

Hum, that's a nice cardi, but what about a pullover for more casual wear? There's that green Noro Silk Garden (#203) feeling kind of lonely in my closet.

The pattern is Y772 from Noro Book 20. If you don't want to click, imagine an entire ribbed, funnel-neck pullover with these color blocks.

This may sound perverse to some of you, but I hate knitting rib stitch and only considered this pattern because of the intarsia. All those color changes makes the tedious front and back switching of the yarn worthwhile. Yeah, perverse. This color section had eight balls going across the row. Just finished this section last night - I'll get another section going before I take more pics.

Very pleased to report that this is the Silk Garden I love - no sticks, no excessive funky fibers, silky wool feel on the fingers and of course, those colors that keep you knitting just one more row to see where they're going to go. Bought it at Sophie's Fine Yarn the last time I visited Louisville, so I still wonder if there's a difference between what gets dumped on ebay vs what gets delivered to a LYS. Maybe it was just a production glitch that one year? Anyone with info - just for curiosity's sake?

So, two sweaters in process - very good. Still, I needed a travel-worthy absolutely mindless, alcohol-induced-dropped-stitch-proof (ok, resistant) project for going to Portland. Add that the two hanks of Brooks Farms Primero I got at Rhinebeck last year were calling me. A thousand yards of pure mohair goodness that's so soft and silky ... words fail me. This is wonderful yarn. I love the colors and wanted to keep it simple. The original Pi Shawl from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac fit the bill with instructions that fit on a 3x5" card:  Cast on and knit forever with occasional YO rows.

This photo is from the transfer between 16" and 32" circs. Now it's in pouch form until cast off. Got the rough gauge with US8's Certainly easy as pi ... after that nasty CO. Was going a little crazy until I googled the Emily Ocher CO to find it's universally a DP-throwing, curse-word-muttering PITA, especially with silky yarn. No single bit of info I found on line turned on the lightbulb, but all together it got me there and I found it very reassuring to know I wasn't totally crazy, completely inept or both. Of all the knitting techniques I've ever done, this is the one that I would most recommend being shown in person. I got there, but precious knitting time was wasted. If you ever need it, find the nearest knitter who knows how.

So, now I'm really back. With some consistency I hope. I've found I missed reading blogs and writing mine, which is kind of nice. This is not an obligation but a pleasure. I appreciate all of you who've dropped back by 'just in case' and want to extend my thanks for the emails of support over the last three months. There are a couple of you I still need to answer. I will be forthcoming with more landscaping photos, Portland photos, knitting and quilting updates. Just wanted to get the ball rolling today. Here are a few pics of my one semi-planted bed.

Dahlias, switch grass, caryopteris (out of bloom) and sedum.

Verbena, penstemon and orange sedge in the background.

As soon as the plants arrived we had bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, song birds a lizard and a frog. The next shot was a lucky surprise I found staring me down from my PC screen when the photos uploaded.