Global Art Project 2010

It is coming up to that time again and I have already started my offering for this go round. I know Carl will say I am nuts due to the "screw up" last time. The thought is what counts and I shall go ahead in spite of one disappointment. For those of you not familiar with the Global Art Project for Peace I direct you to their web site via this link. Unfortunately my "partner" last time did not follow up with her commitment. Katherine kindly called me several times from Arizona and one of the "Angels" sent me a lovely piece of art work . This time I am going to sign up as an Angel as well. Which will mean another project to think up.

I have been inspired to adapt a crochet lace shawl called "Children of the Earth" into a knitting pattern for a scarf. I will have to be sure and ask for a "partner" in the northern climes. Work is progressing nicely and I am very happy with the colour choices. This is my first double knitting project and yes I did purchase wool for it at the Little Red Mitten
Cool huh? Reversible knitting.

The same day I got a copy of the pattern for the ASJ. This is going to be a "stash buster" project and will commence once "THE" vest is finished. I have a plethora of Koigu.
Speaking off "THE" vest.....I am steeking...huge steeks...lol I theorize I can always trim them back. Speaking of the back.... Back to unwinding from a stressful day at the office.....knitting nirvana

She designed this too???

I made an interesting discovery today.

While cruising my favourites list on Ravelry and sighing over all the garments I want to make, I noticed that the same designer's name kept popping up. I checked out her pattern list and I had 5 of them in my favourites already! I had found her patterns in Vogue, Twist Collective and surfing patterns on Ravelry.

Her name is Mari Muinonen (rav-link) This is her blog, Madebymyself Unfortunately it's in Finnish but the pictures are pretty.

Here's a couple of my favourites...


Backbone Vest (Knit 1 Fall/Winter '08)

Vihervaara Huppari (Vogue Fall '08)


Sylvi (Twist Collective Winter 2008)




I want to make them all, but until I get some of my current WIP's finished I can't do it. Good news, I did finish 3 things! (pictures to come) and I'm back at work on Hubby's skull sweater, which will make him happy. There are a few more small projects that I'll play with inbetween, but no socks or big sweaters until I clear up all the little stuff. (we'll see how long I can last with that.)

~Daughter #1

Woodstock Fleece Festival

Saturday was the best example of our fall days. The sky was blue with wispy clouds, the sun shone brightly and although the temp was 7C it didn't feel like it. I drove to Woodstock on the 401, aka Ontario's longest parking lot. Sure enough I had just passed an exit when 3 lanes of traffic came to a grinding stop. The highway dudes had decided to take advantage of the day and resurface 2 lanes ahead of me. I turned the radio to the golden oldies station and opened the window as the car was warming up from the glorious sunshine. Nothing was going to spoil my day. I got off at the next exit and made my way via country roads. Woodstock should only be only 40 minutes from London. It took a little longer, so what, I wasn't in a hurry.

Look at this cutie. I spotted him the minute I got out of the car. His fluffiness was beautiful in the sunshine.

The alpacas were humming to everyone

The eyelashes are like feathers. The teeth on these beasts are huge
A police car with lights flashing and sirens blaring went down the street which alarmed this one.

Sleeping in the sunshine...Angora bunnies
This little Angora Goat was bleating and stamping his feet at everyone......you know, where mohair comes from.

This is one quarter of the vendors. Love the blue sweater!!

The haul.....a calendar for work for next year, a Spin Off magazine, and a pretty project bag with....

Two skeins of about 840m of hand spun wool and mohair in the most gorgeous "fire maple" rusty red. Perfect fall colour. I think I showed a great deal of restraint and don't feel the least bit guilty. The Spin Off magazine has an article 1 shawl, 11 ways. It is called "falling leaves." Ergo the wool purchase.

This show was a success, in my opinion. I spoke to several vendors (Little Red Mitten was there) and they were very happy with sales. The turn out looked very good everyone seemed to be shopping. Besides the vendors there were classes offered some free some preregistered. There were displays by several guilds. Ontario Hand spinners and Weavers, Rug Hooking and Oxford Weavers. Lots of fleece was available from alpaca to camel. I wandered around for almost 3 hours. I only wish I had taken a lawn chair I would have sat by my car and knit for a while the day was so beautiful.

They also had food! Fresh fruit cocktail, fresh sandwiches, hot beef stew or jambalaya and home made pies. It was a great day. I drove back to London via the country roads and saw that the sunshine had dried out the corn sufficiently that all the farmers were out harvesting the last of it. This was the "first" festival. I will be looking for it again next year!

I had to do it.........

It was an emergency. I HAD to go to Little Red Mitten after work today. The yellowy green wool that I had just wasn't working. Carl kept saying it looked something a sick baby would produce..ooooo.....yucky. So, I succumbed to the pressing emergency and bought one ball of Rowan felted tweed. I think it will be a perfect colour for the next motif and the saving of the whole vest. Joan was very kind and we had a long discussion on the whole "steek" thing. I have decided, in keeping with the traditional/heritage aspect of this vest to steek. Pictures, of course will be forthcoming.
Saturday is the Fleece Festival in Woodstock, Ont and I will go and support the shepherds.....ahem, I am only going to "look."

Lots a wool.

The shopping brakes have been officially applied. I have yummies up the ying yang and too many projects ahead of me. Seriously, I simply cannot buy any more wool this year. Really......
September went by in a blur and I never did share my Knitter's Fair purchase with you. That was the same weekend my mother's health took a down turn and knitting almost stopped. Things are looking up now and concentration has returned.
This is Soybean yarn, can you believe it??? I hope it blocks out. I have been assured it will. This is for the Shipwrecked Shawl. I bought 3 vials of beads at the show. Upon inquiry I was informed the vials have about 300 beads. According to the pattern I was going to need about 5000 beads for the waves portion. When I got home I called Bead FX and found out there are more like 800 in a vial. Whew, that was a relief. I ordered 3 more vials. That should do it! actually, that will do it 'cause I am not shopping any more this year remember?

The wool arrived from Knit Picks for the East Meets West Satchel. I took it to show Mom and she thought it was gorgeous. We are not sure about the white and hot pink. They just don't seem to fit into the palette. I can always use the two colours for a pair of mittens. Mom wants to know if there will be enough wool to knit two. She would really like one. So there goes "my" bag ...lol and now I know what her Christmas gift will be.

I succumbed to this book, "on sale," when I ordered the above kit. I taught myself to double/reverse knit and posted about it once before. Unfortunately, I only had one pattern, for a baby blanket. After the latest spate of knitting it will be time to make something for ME. Two gorgeous patterns have my name all over them. I still haven't finished my socks, for crying out loud. It is interesting that the author's last name is found in our family tree.
You may remember "the Skull Sweater?" Now it is Sophia's turn and she has chosen the "Domiknitrix Sweetheart" sweater in the colours below. Zara is gorgeous buttery soft merino wool. This is going to be a treat to knit a petite sweater after knitting for these large men.
Little Red Mitten is in St Thomas ( 19.6 KM from my front drive) and I just found it! They opened in February 2009. Tons and tons of wonderful yarn/wool from all over the world. Susan ( a kindred soul) brought this bag of Zara in for me in ONE day. Now I call that service. We wandered all around the shop/house sniffing wool. Sigh, it was a wonderful visit. They have a knitting get together on Friday evenings. Carl works many Friday evenings and I end up sitting at home watching movies now I know where I am going to be! Knitting NOT shopping..... yeah right. Oh yes, I did buy another ball of sock yarn while I was there. Too nice for socks I think a scarf is in the offing. Poems in the "Oyster" colour way. Susan and I decided "Truffles and Porcini Mushrooms" would be a better name ...lol I like the way that woman's mind works!
I ran out to the picnic table this morning to take this picture by natural light and it looks a little mauve..Hmmm???? It is really taupe/brown and creamy... just lovely.
Knitting proceeds on the vest for Michael. Picture after the next motif is finished. Then I think it may be time to divide for the armholes and "V" neck. The question of the day will be "to steek" or "not to steek." ......Oye vay

Vest Update....

Not bad if I do say so.
~Susan/MuM

That might not be pink, but this is...

I finally finished something! These are the final pair of socks for Sock Wars IV. I made it all the way to the final two, only to be assassinated in the end. Still had fun though and I got a pair of socks, so I'm not complaining.

I emailed the winner and told her that I would still finish her socks for her ever though she 'killed' me. LOL They turned out really nice too.

The pattern is Barcelona by Helen Waittes(ravelry link). I love the pattern and plan to make a pair for myself.

I want to cast on right now but I'm resisting. This is harder then when I quit smoking. I have to get soem more WIP's finished before casting on any more. I have a list a mile long of patterns I want to make....so many pretties, so little time.