Belated

This post is a much belated thanks going out to Melissaspata on Ravelry.

We're partners in A Swap For All Seasons on Ravelry. She send a lovely box around Easter that I haven't had the chance to publicly acknowledge.

First - isn't this a cool way to package the items? It never crossed my mind to use a box that can be re-used - brilliant!

She packed a lot into that box -



an accessory bag -


treats for the cats -


treats for me -


notebook and paper -



a cross stitch kit for a scissors keep -



a sheep washcloth -


sheep buttons and "K" paperclips -


and beautiful laceweight alpaca. Pretty, aren't they?


Thanks so much, Melissa!!!

Ramblin' Knitter

The Stashhaus will soon be on the road for an extended period of time.

Rest assured, if there are yarn shops where I'm going, I'll be there...

and will report back on the delicious details.

While researching yarntastic opportunities, I came across a great website that's extremely useful if you're trying to find LYS outside of the continental US. Planet Purl is the place to check. You can search without joining. Most of the information on the website is available to people who have not joined as a member.

In anticipation of my travels, I've invested in some new luggage.



Notice the sleek case.



The three cords are in a pocket on top of the needles.


The needles are US 4-15.


If you click on this picture, you'll see who packed my box of needles.


Thank you, Martina Malcus.

I got these at a LYS - who honored a very old coupon for 20% off my next purchase.

I've test-knitted with them. They are very nice. The only drawback that I could see is if you travel with your lace knitting, you'd probably not want to change out your Addi Lace Turbos for these. While the join is smooth, I could see it possibly being a problem with very fine yarn (anything more fine than fingering weight). Then again, I did not test knit with fine lace weight yarn.

My intention is to have these in my checked luggage (not carry on, as I'm pretty sure someone would have a problem with metal pointy sticks) for use while I'm gone. I'll have knitting with me...but these are for the chance that I'll want to eagerly cast on new yarn.

Back Again

Here I thought I was going to be posting more often.

Ha! So much for best laid plans...

Since you last read this blog, a number of events have occurred - some good, others not so good. Let's start on a happy note and talk about knitting.

Our guild hosted Gayle Roehm who spoke about Japanese knitting and designers.



I think it's fascinating to see what others are doing on the other side of the globe. Her talk was another example how knitting connects us - no matter where we live.

On another knitting note, I have a couple of finished items. OK - not totally finished because I haven't blocked them yet. That won't happen for a couple of weeks. Photos to follow soon.

The sad event was the passing of DH's father, Cecil, early last week. The silver lining that eases our loss is that he lived a full, active life, just recently celebrating his 80th birthday with family and friends. He died as I can only hope I will - at home, in his own bed, in his sleep.

He was an activist and a minister in the Methodist church, serving in the Philippines, Illinois, Tennessee, Kansas and Wisconsin. He protested against government action he didn't agree with - including the Vietnam war, US involvement in Nicaragua, and both Gulf wars and nearly every year at Fort Benning. He tried to speak truth to power and was sometimes targeted for his views. In Kansas, a sickle and hammer were painted on their house and his car tires were slashed. He wanted those who believe in the teachings of Christ to actually follow those teachings - to help and serve those in our society who are disenfranchised, poor, and outcast, to treat creation with respect and to act as true stewards in conservation and ecological matters. He was a loving and involved father and grandfather.

To me, the following words epitomize his life - "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." — Hélder Câmara

A favorite quote he used often came from his favorite hymn, God of Grace and God of Glory - "Save us from weak resignation from the evils we deplore." He lived his life, doing his best to avoid falling into a state of weak resignation.

He left quite a legacy of lives he touched while among us and he will be sorely missed.

Long Time No See II

While I've been incommunicado, the Guilty Pleasures/Good Karma swap was happening on Ravelry. I got my package from Hilliknits, but did not want to open it until I had (belatedly) sent my swap partner her package.

Finally, last week, I got the package mailed out so I could finally tear into mine. Hilliknits did a fantastic job.

This package was packed full of goodies.
A notions case, stitch markers, Addi Turbo Lace needles, a sheep needle gauge,


chocolate, chocolate, chocolate,


sheep soap, Eucalan wash


treats for the cats,


and Briar Rose Fibers laceweight! Oh, how I wish you could feel this skein! It's lovely, lovely, lovely!


Knitting

Still on the needles is the Acero Scarf,



The Holey Squares Scarf,


another Noro striped scarf,


the Alpaca Princess,


and off the needles, but not blocked is Dane made from Zauberball.

(This is more the true color than the previous photo.)

Long Time No See

It's hard to believe I've not posted in nearly two months. It's not that I've been suffering from a lack of subject matter - in fact, quite the opposite. The last 2 months I've really needed 36 hour days. So I'll start back where I left off.

In February, our knitting guild hosted Donna Druchunas who spoke about ethnic knitting - mainly knitting in Lithuania.



Now I've got another country on my list of places I'd like to visit someday.

In March we had Melissa Leapman who talked about her new book "Color Knitting The Easy Way."



I was especially taken with her patterns for kids - the samples were very cute.

Quite a bit of my spare time had been spent on the organization of our guild's Knit In last weekend. We had 22 vendors, 16 classes with talented local teachers and also with Joyce Williams and Franklin,



and our headline speakers were Ann and Kay from Mason Dixon Knitting. (I know - crappy photo, but this was the best of them.)

Our vendor marketplace.



All are vendors are listed here (scroll down to the bottom of the page). If you want to see what goodies you missed, click on the vendors' links.

Look at all those door prizes! I didn't win one. But I more than made up for the fact in the marketplace.


The best part of the day was after it was all done with (whew!) and we were able to relax with some good wine and good food.



Many thanks to Joan (our co-chair), Joyce, Franklin, Ann and Kay.

Y'all come back now, ya hear?