Fiber Fair!

Here's what I bought at the Midwest Fiber and Folkart Fair:

Not a lot, but I was working on a strictly cash basis, and I stuck to it.

Corriedale/silk, dyed with osage orange and indigo, 8 ounces

Merino/silk top, 4 ounces. I think this might be an Ashland Bay product.

Merino/Tencel, 4 ounces. It's much shinier in real life.

My very first Socks that Rock. Downpour.

Kathrows and I went on Friday, and we met Celtic Coyote. We entertained quite a few bystanders by standing around with yarn on our heads, and actually accosted a completely innocent woman after she waved her arms at her husband standing a few feet away from us. These little doses of humiliation were worth it, however, to spend time with Coyote (whom some call Heather, but I suspect I might not get the hang of it), who is funny and warm and an extremely accomplished shopper.

The fair itself was really excellent. Booth after booth had to be inspected. Hardly any could be passed by without a closer look. Highlights were: The Fold (where I went gaga over the spindles but in the end restrained myself), Interlacements, Brooks Farm, Carolina Homespun (where Coyote got a spindle lesson), and Knitting Notions (excellent handdyes). I definitely plan to return next year.

Knitting Experience

Ever wanted to see statues of people and animals made out of concrete and broken beer bottles?

Visit Wisconsin Concrete County Park south of Phillips, Wisconsin. Stops like these are essential to the summer vacation roadtrip!

I've been knitting for three years. Seems like a lot longer. When I started out, I made a policy that with each project I would learn something new. A new technique, stitch pattern, cast on, cast off, needles, pattern. Aside from a few socks and dish cloths, I think I've followed that policy pretty well. I've learned a lot, but there's still plenty left for me to try. Here's a little meme making the rounds I thought would be good here.



Bold for stuff you’ve done, Italics for stuff you intend to do one day, and Normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing.



Afghan/Blanket
I-cord
I-cord edging
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with yarn made of camel, yak, alpaca, synthetic, sheep's wool, recycled,vintage, silk, soy, bamboo, banana, plastic bags, cut up fabric, cashmere, hemp, linen, wire, cotton
Mittens cuff up
Mittens fingers down
Hat
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Slip stitch patterns
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental Knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
American/English knitting (vs. continental)
Knitting to make money
Knitting for a living
Button holes
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Darning
Jewelry
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public
Knit a vintage pattern (over 40 yrs old)
Crochet
Cross stitch/Embroidery/Needlepoint
Sew-like on a machine

Exceedingly Spoiled

I got a wonderful package today from my Spinning SP, exSeidingly spoiled, also known on Knitty as one-skein-wonder, and just look what it contained!

Silk top. Yellow and purple, called Buttercups and Lavender. I see this as my first candidate for a Navaho-ply. It's fabulous!

That's not all, though. Look at this:

Four really spectacular batts made of suri alpaca, merino, silk and nylon. Look at the color. Think she's got me pegged, or what?

She also sent some seeds for my garden--daisies and California poppies, two of my favorites--they're so cheerful! Thanks so much OSW!

Is this me?

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I think it's not too far off, especially about the bloody civil war.

Camping

Camping is somewhat of a crap shoot. Can't control the weather, never know what kind of people will be at the park, never know what might go wrong. This last, four night trip is a case in point. Here's some things that went wrong:

• Nephew Brandon, age 6, broke his collar bone the day before the trip, so he camped in a brace and a sling, no bike, no roller blades, no swimming




• First night's supper of hamburgers tumble to the sandy ground when the grill inexplicably collapses, causing us to have crunchy hamburgers




• Heavy downpour on second day collapses camper awning and screen house, breaking four poles and getting a whole lot of crap wet




• Peggy, one of the adult campers, falls victim to a stomach bug and spends a whole day sick in her tent




• Camping coffee pot gets broken, dooming us to--gulp--instant!




• Tripod chain weakens in fire, dumping our stockpot into the ashes

It should have been a disaster of a trip, but it wasn't. It was beautiful and peaceful. Twice we had lakes to ourselves, we saw seven deer, loons, cormorants, woodpeckers and nuthatches, and a white pelican. The fireworks in the little town of Mellen didn't start until after 10 pm, and the fireworks the waiting crowd set off were almost professional quality. The marshmallows were fresh and roasted themselves to perfection, and we didn't run out of food or drink. The stars were bright and crowded the sky, winking among the clearly visible belt of the Milky Way. We were surrounded in Nature and it was beautiful.

Copper Falls, Copper Falls State Park, Wisconsin

Day Lake, Chequamegon National Forest

Approaching Madeline Island on the ferry

Wild Iris in Big Bay State Park, Madeline Island, Wisconsin

Loon Lake in the evening, Copper Falls State Park

More Merino

Remember this hand-dyed merino? It became this:

My first 3-ply. 14 wpi, sportweight, about 278 yds.

Yep, it's pretty purpley-pink, all right.

I've been very remiss not to blog this yet:

A wonderful sock bag, made for me by Kathy. It's perfect for grabbing-and-going and having my knitting with me. It's been to a Brewers game, several restaurants, a park, my back yard, and work. Even with all that travelling, I'm still on my first sock of my Tofutsies pair. Note the color of the sock yarn. Sense a theme?

Here's a shot of one of our perennial gardens:

I love the contrast of the cool purple lavender and the fiery gallardia.

Camping this week way Up North. Look for some camping shots next week!