golden bird knits

This Moment

2012-02-17T10:43:00.000-08:00

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my life. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

The idea for "This Moment" is from the beautiful blogger Tracey at Clover.
Update: Oops, Tracey informs me that this orginates from Amanda at Soule Mama.

The return of the mini-drawstring bag

2012-02-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

About five years ago I went through a mini-drawstring bag phase. Only five inches in height and knit in the round on tiny circular needles, they were addictive. I gave them to family and friends as gifts. I sold them at the flea market (or at least tried to). I knit them in funky colors, like green and yellow tweed, and stuffed them in my dresser drawer. I didn't have a job at the time but wasn't too concerned about money because I sensed a MacArthur's genius grant was right around the corner for brilliancy in mini-drawstring bags.

Eventually I grew so tired of them that I couldn't bear the thought of knitting another one ... until recently. With Valentine's Day right around the corner, the urge to knit a mini-drawstring bag returned, a bright pink one that I could fill with candy.

Unfortunately, I ate all the candy before I could get a picture, so I filled it with a soft bunny instead.

I'm having a sweet Valentine's weekend. Lots of chocolate (dark with almonds and sea salt is my favorite), naps, crafting, and a viewing of the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice.

Happy Valentine's Day to you.

Knit Mitts

2012-02-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I woke up with an unexpected yearning to go yarn shop hopping. I guess my resolve not to buy more yarn until I made a substantial dent in my stash had run its course and it was time to resume shopping.

On weekends I move slowly, so there was only time to visit two of my local yarn shops. One of my purchases was a skein of gorgeous cotton variegated yarn called Pima Fresca from the Queensland Collection. I love the teal blue with the shades of brown, but I have to admit it looks better wound in a ball than it does knit up. I was hoping it would stripe nicely, but it was not to be.

The mitt pattern is an improvisation that only took a few hours to knit on size 9 needles. They are a bit loose and uneven, but the cotton feels warm and comforting, especially on my achy wrists. I didn't realize how chilly my hands get in my apartment at night until I put these babies on.

Speaking of babies, some day I will knit a pair for these little hands.

Athena the Eurasian Eagle Owl

2012-02-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is Athena, a Eurasian Eagle Owl. I met her over the holidays when Hil, Lily and I visited the San Francisco Zoo. She is from Austria and was smuggled in to this country back in 2005 by a man who dyed 12 Eurasian Owl eggs to look like Easter eggs in order to get them past customs. It didn't work and the man went to Federal prison. Only three of the owlets survived, and Athena is one of them. She is huge and absolutely beautiful.

I can't explain why I am so drawn to owls, but I do know that it started over a decade ago when I used to see Great Horned Owls in the treetops on hikes near my home, which I wrote about here.

My obsession hasn't diminished over the years, and the recent popularity of owls is definitely helping to feed it. I love buying my niece Lily owl-themed toys and clothes, like this cute little shirt I just ordered for her from Cafe Press.

I really am still knitting and will write about that soon.

Stacy
xxoo

Sophia the Saw-whet Owl

2012-01-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

Isn't she beautiful? This is Sophia, a Saw-whet Owl that lives at Effie Yeaw Nature Center near Sacramento, CA. My sister and I met her yesterday while on our annual, all-day birdwatching trip.

Sophia is very compact at only eight inches tall. Saw-whet Owls are not seen very often due to their small size and because they only come out at night. She was hit by a truck five years ago and somehow clung to the grill for sixty miles. Veterinarians nursed Sophia back to health, but she lives permanently at the nature center because she can no longer survive in the wild.

It was absolutely gorgeous in central California yesterday. We took a walk from the nature center down a short path to the American River and had a relaxing afternoon break by the water.

Flower Power

2012-01-18T06:35:00.000-08:00

Last weekend while browsing in thrift shops I found a gift for my 7-month old niece Lily-- a teeny tiny denim jacket.

After taking the jacket home, washing it and gazing adoringly at it for a while, an idea came for adding a pop of color ... a knit flower in bright pink and green.

The pattern for the flower is from the book Vintage Hearts & Flowers by Kate Haxell. The yarn is Crystal Palace Panda Cotton. It is one of the easiest flower patterns I've found and only takes a couple of hours to knit.

I'll take a photo of Lily modeling the jacket later this week when I see her. In the meantime, here is a recent photo of my little darling.

A project on the needles and a novel on the nightstand

2012-01-15T21:13:00.000-08:00

This post is inspired by the weekly Yarn Along posts by Tracey at Clover.

I didn't set goals or make resolutions for 2012, but I did make an informal decision to try and use up a good portion of my stash before buying more yarn. Part of the reason for this decision is I still have most of the yarn I bought at Stitches West last year ... and the year before. Stitches West 2012 is coming next month, and I am hesitant to attend. The temptation to buy more yarn will be hard to resist.

As part of my attempt to knit down my stash, I'm working on a lace scarf for myself with this hand painted silk from Urban Fauna Studio that I bought at Stitches last year. It feels strange to knit for myself, but I bought the yarn specifically for me because of its softness (my skin is super sensitive) and because of the color.

On the bedside table is the novel Death Comes to Pemberely, a mystery featuring the Pride & Prejudice characters six years after Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage.

I am obsessed with Pride & Prejudice and love reading "what if" stories that reimagine Jane Austen's original work or continue where she left off. The first few chapters of Death Comes to Pembereley are a bit slow, but I am eager to see where the story goes.

What are you reading and knitting?

Jane Austen Knits

2012-01-11T17:51:00.000-08:00

A small list of items I love right now ...

I bought this Jane Austen 2011 Knits magazine as a holiday gift for myself and it is quite a treat. Lots of lacy patterns, short articles about knitting back in the olden days, and an exploration of what Jane might knit today. If you are a designer, you might be interested to know that Interweave, the publisher of this magazine, is having a call for entries for their Jane Austen 2012 issue. The deadline is January 31st.

These Flower and Lace Cuffs are my favorite pattern from Jane Austen 2011 Knits. Aren't those little flowers adorable? They are beads! The cuffs remind me of a faded pair of comfy thermals. I have never knit with beads, but I really want to make these.

One thing I've learned from owning a Kindle and an iPhone is that if I use those devices to read in bed at night I will be up until 3am. So I try to remember to read non-electronic books before going to sleep, and this one is my new favorite. I found it at a used bookstore and was surprised to find it contains so many ideas for cute patterns and projects.

Last but not least, I am in love with these snuggle socks from Life is Good. They are the softest socks ever. I love to put them on at night after work and pad around the house in them.

What are some of your favorite things right now?

Lap blanket pattern

2012-01-05T20:18:00.000-08:00

I managed to finish the lap blanket for my mom by Christmas day. It doesn't exactly look like the scratchy purple afghan my grandmother knit in the 1970's like I was shooting for, but it does have a retro essence. I washed it with tons of fabric softener to make it soft and nice-smelling.

I didn't measure the blanket before I gave it to my mom, but I'm guessing it was about 30" by 30". (Pretty small, but big enough to be cuddly and warm on your lap.)

To border or not to border? (That is the question.)

This blanket features a garter stitch border with picked-up stitches, plus a final single crochet edging. The reason I did this is because I realized halfway through knitting it that it needed a bit more width. I wasn't about to frog the whole thing and start over, so when I finished the body of the blanket I added the borders and they actually worked beautifully, adding extra width and heft plus a nice finished look.

If you don't want to add the borders, when you begin the blanket you could cast on more stitches to make it wider. Keep in mind that the feather and fan lace pattern is an 18-stitch repeat, plus there are three selvage stitches on each side. So, instead of casting on 114 stitchs like the pattern calls for, you could cast on 132 stitches, which would give you one extra pattern repeat on each row while continuing to have three selvage stitches on each side. If you want to cast on less stitches than that, the extra stitches could be added to the number of selvage stitches on each side rather than increase the number of pattern repeats.

Supplies:

Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted. Five skeins: one champagne (#218), two light lavender (#233), two variegated brown and lavender (#7149). You will have leftovers of each color.

Size 10 circular needles, 32 inches (The blanket is knit flat but circular needles are used to accommodate the number of stitches.)

To knit the lap blanket:

Cast on 114 stitches in lavender.

Rows 1 - 3: Knit.

Row 4: Knit.

Row 5: K3, purl across row, end with K3. Throughout the entire blanket you will maintain the three selvage stitches at the beginning and end of each row.

Row 6: K3, *K2TOG three times, (K1, YO) six times, K2TOG three times*, repeat across row, end with K3.

Row 7: Knit.

Repeat rows 4 - 7, changing colors every four rows. I carried the yarn up the side to avoid having to weave in tons of loose ends. I also added a random four row repeat in champagne roughly in the middle of the blanket ... just because.

Continue the four-row repeat until the blanket reaches the desired length. End with the four-row repeat in lavender, knit thee rows in lavender, and then bind off.

To create the first border:

In cream, pick up 79 stitches along the edge of one side (a non-cast on or bind off side) and knit five rows in garter stitch. Bind off. Do the same for the opposite side.

In cream, pick up 102 stitches along the cast-on edge and knit four rows. Bind off. Do the same for the opposite side , which is where you did the bind off.

To create the second border:

In lavender, do a single crochet border around the entire blanket.

I machine washed my blanket and then blocked it on a towel on the dining room table. The pattern looked much more defined after blocking it, plus the little mistakes I made seemed to blend in better.

Chunky cowl

2011-12-11T00:55:00.000-08:00

I had to take a break from the never ending lap blanket that I've been working on and knit something fun and easy and fast on big needles. I used one skein of chunky Noro Furisode, an online impulse buy from a while back, to make a cowl based on this super simple Ravelry pattern.

Update 12/13: If you are interested in purchasing Furisode, it is on sale right now at Webs for $11.95 per skein, marked down from $17.95.

It was good to complete a project from start to finish in one weekend. It helped me remember how fun knitting can be when you aren't desperately trying to get a semi-big project done by Christmas day. Last week I got so tired of that blanket that I started daydreaming about paying someone to finish it.

That was my first time using Furisode, a blend of silk and cotton with a little wool thrown in, and it felt so wonderful in my hands that I think I will intentionally buy a few more skeins. I would love to knit a few more of those cowls and give them away as gifts.

Charlie was born to be a cat model-- when asked nicely he will hold perfectly still and look at the camera. Now if I could only get him to wear my knits instead of only allowing me to drape them over him.

Have you heard of Zentangle? Apparently it has been around for years, but I just heard about it recently. Tonight I spent some time on YouTube watching instructional videos and then gave it a shot (above). The first few attempts were not great, but I'm inspired by some of the gorgeous patterns I've seen online and want to keep at it. Plus I love that feeling of going in to a sort of crafty trance and creating from that place.

My niece Lily is six months old now. She is sitting up by herself and starting to eat a little bit of fruit and veggies. Here is the little monkey at bedtime in her crib, not sleepy at all.

19 More Days of Autumn

2011-12-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly around the earth seeking the successive autumns. -George Eliot

We've been having gusty windstorms here the last several days, blowing the last of the yellow leaves off the trees and creating a floor of gold in the streets and yards. Winter solstice is December 22nd, so there are just 19 more days left of autumn, but every year it seems to me that winter begins on December 1st, no matter what the official start day is.

I took these photos of a persimmon tree in San Juan Bautista last week while I was there browsing antique stores. The bright leaves and deep-orange fruit were a glorious sight.

There were more than a few blossoms in the gardens we passed by. I love the delicate papery look and lavender color of this flower, although I don't know its name.

Still working away on the grandma-inspired lap blanket for my mother. Like the blankets I have knit previously, I've gotten attached to it and don't want to let it go ... but I will. Next year I hope to knit one for myself.

Happy last days of autumn to you.

Owl song

2011-11-06T15:45:00.000-08:00

Snowy Owl by Geninne at Geninne's Art Blog.

you are
a treasure
made of sparkling
diamonds and hollyhock
you are
the lingering
scent of pine needles
and salty air
you are
sweet like
tumbling water and
smooth grey stones
you are
brave like
stepping off the shore
you are
to be celebrated
like owl song.

a poem from me to you ♥
love,
stacy

Soft Bunny

2011-11-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

Did you have a happy Halloween? I didn't get any trick or treaters, as usual, so I'm working on polishing off the bowl of Tootsie Pops and miniature Hershey bars by myself. Poor, poor, me.

Last Sunday I took time out from my two big knitting projects to make this little bunny from the book Vintage Knits for Modern Babies. Love, love, love that book. It's where the pattern for the crossover jacket came from.

The bunny only took an afternoon to knit, which is one reason I wanted to knit it. It's going to be a while before the blanket and sweater I am working on are done, and I really needed some knitstant gratification.

The funny thing is, it almost took me longer to embroider the french knot eyes and nose than it did to knit the entire bunny. I checked out three different embroidery tutorials and just couldn't get it. Finally I came up with my own funky way of making the knot that sort of worked.

I'm sure you can guess who the bunny is for.

♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

Have a safe and spooky night!

Love from Stacy, Charlie, and Apollo

PS. No cats experienced sugar overload in the creation of this post. It is artwork from a greeting card :o)

Little Lily on the Prairie

2011-10-29T17:27:00.000-07:00

I'm still working on my niece Lily's red sweater, so I don't have any new knitting to show you. I thought you might like to see the professional photos my sister Hil (Lily's mom) had taken recently. We call her Little Lily on the Prairie in these photos because of the cute bonnet she is wearing.

I love this first photo because it reminds me of my grandmother, who is her namesake.

Lily is the most smiley, giggly baby I have ever met. When she smiles, it makes your heart flutter. She is now able to roll over from her back to her belly and it looks like she will start crawling any day now.

Crane artwork by Brigette Clough

Speaking of birds, I'm excited to tell you that later next week I am going to the Sandhill Crane Festival in Lodi. I'm going on two different wildlife tours, and one is an early morning Delta birding cruise. You might remember my trip to see the cranes on my own last year. I'm excited to be participating in the festival this year!

Halloween Treat Boxes

2011-10-23T12:44:00.001-07:00

About a year ago I lost my creative mojo for most of the crafts I used to love, like artist trading cards and mixed media collage. My poor craft supplies have sat abandoned in the closet, wondering if I was ever going to play with them again. I'm happy to report (to both you and my craft supplies) that my desire for crafting has been rekindled.

I'm not sure exactly how it happened-- boredom, loneliness, of just a random surge of creative energy, but last week I found myself wanting to make stuff again, stuff that doesn't involve yarn and knitting needles, and I wanted to do it with other people rather than alone at my table. Fortunately there is a creative arts lounge not too far from home, so I took a class on how to make Halloween treat boxes.

It turned out I was the only one in the class, which was okay because I'm pretty shy in large groups. The instructor, Alexis, was super nice with lots of patience. The two of us sat at a big table and she taught me how to do die cuts, fold the paper in to boxes, make rosettes, and other fun little techniques I enjoyed learning.

The boxes are the perfect size for four miniature Hershey bars.

On a different subject, these photos were taken with my new iPhone. When I tried to use my trusty pink digital camera this morning, I discovered it was no longer working. I'm quite surprised at how well the photos turned out using the iPhone, although I did touch them up in Picnik.

I don't know what is going on. In the last month I have broken so many items by spilling hot coffee or dropping or stepping on them. So far the list includes my netbook, Kindle, eye glasses, cell phone, and now my camera.

I will have to be extra careful with the iPhone until the clumsy spell is broken.

Works in progress

2011-10-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

I have two enjoyable projects on the needles right now. One is this lap blanket for my mom. I'm using Encore Colorspun and intentionally selected an old-fashioned color scheme because I want it to look like something my grandmother would have knit. You might remember the story behind this from a post back in June (scroll to the end of the post).

I'm hoping to have it done in December so I can give it to her for the holidays.

The second project is a sweater for my niece Lily. The pattern is from the book 60 Quick Baby Knits, which was recommended by the nice lady at my LYS. It has lots of adorable patterns.

Lily's will be red with white accents.

I had such a great time tonight at a "creative arts lounge" making treat boxes for Halloween. I'll take photos tomorrow and post them soon.

Respite and adventure

2011-10-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

The best remedy for those who are afraid,
lonely or unhappy is to go outside,
somewhere where they can be quiet,
alone with the heavens, nature and God.
Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be
and that God wishes to see people happy,
amidst the simple beauty of nature.
I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.
-Anne Frank

Not long ago, feeling disconnected from nature and depleted from being endlessly wired in to technology, I decided to spend a few nights at a Buddhist retreat center in the Santa Cruz mountains.

The retreat center offers two types of lodging-- small, private rooms and yurts (similar to a tent cabin) away from the main buildings in a towering redwood grove. While trying to decide which type of lodging I wanted to stay in, I felt a tiny shiver of fear at staying alone in a yurt in a secluded forest, so I went with that. Something inside of me was craving both respite and adventure.

During the day, I hiked through the forest. On the trails I came across little altars and statues placed on rocks and tucked under trees. My favorite hike was the Eight Verses Pilgrimage Trail. Each of the verses are printed on a sign and spaced evenly throughout the trail with a nearby bench for sitting and reflecting.

There were offerings on top of some of the signs, like sea shells, medallions, stones, and bouquets of flowers.

The retreat was exactly what I needed. Time alone in a spiritually-nourishing, natural setting, where I could gaze up at the trees and listen to birds and reconnect with what is important to me.

This statue of St. Francis stood at a crossroads on a forest trail, placed there by the retreat center and used as a landmark on the hike to the yurt campsite.

Every time I came across him, he was a reassuring presence, letting me know I was on the right path.

Crossover Jacket

2011-10-10T18:36:00.000-07:00

Ta da! I knit my first baby crossover jacket last week. The pattern is from the wonderful book, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies, a gift from a thoughtful friend. I added the pink crochet edging on the sleeves and went with matching pink buttons.

The jacket fits my four-month-old niece Lily perfectly.

Who, by the way, has started smiling and laughing.

My heart is melting.
♥

Faux Fair Isle Baby Hat

2011-09-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

This is my second attempt at knitting a hat in the round and it turned out quite well. Instead of struggling with my arch enemy, DPNs, I used my lovely Harmony circular needles and only switched to the [stupid] DPNs when I absolutely had to.

Inspired by this KnitPicks video, Learn to Speed Knit!, I used the continental style and completed it faster than I would have using my standard slowpokey style. The tension is even, too, which is nice for a change.

I love the Fair Isle effect of the Snuggly Baby Crofter yarn and look forward to knitting more projects with it.

This hat pattern is based on another KnitPicks video, How to Knit a Hat. I'm just getting into knitting videos and have been surprised at how helpful they are.

Hope you are enjoying the change of seasons. It's beautiful here in Northern California with the first touch of autumn in the air.

About that little knit jumper ...

2011-09-07T20:22:00.001-07:00

Remember this jumper from my last post? The size was supposed to be for a one year old, but it turns out it fits three month old Lily now. In fact, it could be a couple inches longer.

My friend Rachel left a comment on that last post saying that a "one year old size" isn't really meant to fit a one year old baby. Sure enough she was right.

It was hot out last Sunday when this pic was taken, so Lily is wearing it as a summer dress.

Isn't she the most beautiful baby in the whole wide world?

I wanted to mention I've fallen in love with Knit Picks Harmony Wood Circular Needles. My local yarn store just started carrying them, so I took them for a test drive. Oh my. Not only are they cool-looking with waves of color, they are lightweight, sharp, and seamless.

I am really enjoying knitting in the round these days.

Summer Knitting Projects

2011-09-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

It seems like I did lots of knitting over the summer, but when I looked through my bag of finished projects, there wasn't all that much. (But I actually have a bag of finished projects, so that is something!)

Just today I finished knitting this jumper for my niece Lily. Like most of my projects, it looks better photographed than in real life. But it does feel good to have seen it through to the end, even if the tension is uneven and there are holes where I switched colors. The pattern is Little Girl's Jumper or Sundress. Lily will have to wait until she is one year old to wear it.

By the way, here is Lily. She is three months old now and so beautiful.

I taught myself new stitches this summer, and this one worked out well for a kitchen towel. It's a little scary, but I can't remember which stitch this is and where I got it from. Yikes.

These are cotton swatches knit in new-to-me stitches from my Vogue Stitchionary. I'll probably give them to my sister to use as baby wash cloths.

What did you make this summer?

Soap Bag Knitting Pattern

2011-07-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

My friend Sheila sent me this fun, quickie pattern for a soap bag. Her niece makes handmade soap and needed a way to enhance her sales, so Sheila designed the sack for her.

"The nice thing about the sack," says Sheila, "is if you use a wash cloth or one of those net scrubbies when you shower, you can take the soap sack right in to the shower with you. For children or elderly who have a hard time hanging on to that slippery bar of soap, the sack keeps the soap from slipping out of your fingers. I love the gentle exfoliating as well."

I knit Sheila's soap bag last weekend and enjoyed the combination of stockinette, YO's, and drop stitches. Plus I was able to finish the bag in under two hours. The soap I used is E. Barrett & Company French Soap in Ocean and it smells heavenly.

Supplies:

25 yards worsted weight 100% cotton
Size US 7 knitting needles
Ribbon, raffia or yarn for use as a drawstring

To knit the soap sack:

Cast on 15 stitches.

Rows 1 - 4: Knit in stockinette.

Row 5: *K2TOG, YO* ending with a YO and then knit the last stitch.

Row 6: Purl

Rows 7 - 10: Knit in stockinette.

Row 11: Knit across row, wrapping each stitch twice around the needle when forming the stitch.

Row 12: Purl, dropping each stitch.

Repeat these 12 rows two more times.

Knit four rows stockinette.

Knit one row *K2TOG, YO* ending with a YO and then knit the last stitch.

Starting with a purl row, knit four rows stockinette.

Bind off. You will have a total of four YO rows and three drop stitch rows. The third drop stitch row is the bottom of the bag.

Seam sides of bag using mattress stitch being careful to line up the YO rows and the drop stitch rows.

Weave a piece of ribbon, raffia or yarn through the top row of YO's, insert soap and tie the drawstring.

* * *

If there are any errors in this pattern they are mine, so feel free to let me know in the comments or at stacy@goldenbirdknits.com and I will make corrections.

If you would like to talk to Sheila, the designer of the pattern, please contact her at kayteetoo@hotmail.com.

In my little corner of the world

2011-07-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

It's hot, hot, hot here this weekend. Too hot to venture outside, which has been sort of nice because it gives me time to knit and read and generally hang out at home. I'm working on several knitting projects, and one of my favorites is this little daisy stitch face cloth.

I fell in love with this stitch when I first started knitting years ago but didn't quite have the skills to manage it. When I ran across it in my Vogue Stitchionary yesterday I felt my heart skip a beat and decided to try it. It involves purling three stitches together twice, which is fairly easy as long as you don't knit too tightly.

I'm also working on a meshy scarf in delicious Hazel Knits sock yarn.

It's been far too long since I've read a real book (as opposed to fake books on Kindle). I picked up the novel A Guide to the Birds of East Africa a while back at Anthropologie of all places and finally started reading it this weekend. The story is adorable.

I've been craving the ocean and really wanted to go to the beach this weekend. However, between the heat and the holiday crowds, there is big potential for nightmare traffic jams so I've been staying away. I may get there early tomorrow since it's my last chance before returning to work. This photo is the Santa Cruz Boardwalk from my day trip last weekend. Just can't get enough of the California coast this summer.

Before I moved to my current place, I never saw a live skunk. Now I am seeing them almost every evening, mainly eating the cat food someone leaves out for strays (cats, not skunks). I love wildlife, even the smelly kind, so it's been fun watching them amble about the creekside trails. Two days ago I actually startled one (startled myself pretty good, too), and it scurried off without spraying me, thank goodness. This photo isn't one of my skunks, but as far as I can tell they all look the same. Cute.

Hope you are enjoying the weekend in your little corner of the world, too. If you are in the states, happy Independence Day!

Lily's lacy blanket

2011-06-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

I recently finished knitting a feather & fan blanket for my 4-week old niece, Lily. It's funny that I avoided knitting blankets for so long because it turns out I really enjoy it. It is soothing to knit long, simple rows and I just loved seeing my sister wrap the finished blanket around Lily in preparation for a walk.

The blanket is knit with Plymouth Encore yarn, a worsted blend of acrylic and wool that you can machine wash and dry. I used about two skeins for a total of approx. 400 yards.

I have a new appreciation for hand knit blankets for another reason. My mom is in a skilled nursing facility recovering from surgery, and the first time I went to visit her she asked me if I had a knit blanket she could use while she was there. When I said I didn't, she asked my dad to bring her an old afghan knit by her mother decades ago. It was touching that she didn't want any old blanket, she wanted one knit by hand by a loved one. I think it's time to get started on a blanket for her.

Drop Stitch Scarf Knitting Pattern

2011-06-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

The first thing I ever learned to knit was a garter stitch scarf. The second thing was a drop stitch scarf. It was exciting to have learned a new trick (wrapping the yarn around the needle two times per stitch and then dropping it on the next row), although back in those days I was so focused on perfection that I usually ended up frogging it. Drop stitch isn't about perfection, it's about ... well, dropping perfection. Knit with variegated Noro yarn gives it a casual, rustic look.

This pattern is a slightly revised version of one I acquired from my local yarn shop. It is a very, very common pattern so I feel okay posting it here. The scarf is knit in Noro Taiyo, which I find softer than Kureyon, and is approx. 70 inches long and 6 inches wide.

Note 1/7/12: Today I saw a similar scarf for sale in an upscale women's clothing catalog. The retail price was $109. Feels good knowing I can make my own for the cost of a skein of yarn.

Supplies:

Noro Taiyo (one skein, 220 yards) or Noro Kureyon (two skeins, 110 yards each). Taiyo is a cotton/silk/nylon/wool blend and Kureyon is 100% wool. Both are Aran weight.

Size US 11 needles

To knit the drop stitch scarf:

With a cast on of 20 stitches, knit two rows.

On the third row, knit across the row wrapping the yarn twice around the needle for each stitch. (The way I do it is insert the right needle in to the stitch on the left needle, wrap the yarn around the right needle twice and then complete the stitch.)

On the fourth row, knit across, dropping the double-wrapped stitch as you go. (In other words, knit the double-wrapped stitch as if it were a regular old single-wrapped stitch and ignore how big and clumsy it looks.)

The scarf will look quite imperfect as you go, but don't let that bother you. Just give the drop stitched rows a gentle tug once in a while to pull down the long stitches.

Repeat the four rows until your scarf reaches the desired length and end on rows two and three.

You can easily modify this pattern by changing the needle size, increasing or decreasing the number of stitches you cast on and/or the number of garter stitch rows between drop stitched rows.

The little one arrived

2011-06-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

I'm finally an aunt. My niece Lily arrived last Tuesday weighing in at 8 lbs, 4 ounces. Baby and mama, shown above, are doing fine and came home from the hospital today. I got to hold Lily for the first time. It was heaven.

She smells really, really good and is so soft and cuddly.

I can't wait to get started on my aunt duties ... babysitting and spoiling. ♥ ♥ ♥

Why hello there

2011-05-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I went missing for a while. What can I say? I lost my knitting mojo and my blogging mojo simultaneously. Had to set them both aside for a while and get recharged. I think my batteries are still low, so it might take a while before I am fully back in the swing of things.

Last weekend was the local yarn shop hop, which helped inspire me to pick up the needles again. Each store offered a one-ball pattern for free if you buy the ball of yarn at a discounted price. Easy patterns are the only thing I'm in the mood for these days, so I picked up four or five balls/patterns from a bunch of different stores. Right now I am working on this simple drop stitch scarf made with some sort of Noro yarn (the name escapes me right now, but it is not Kuryeon).

If there are any local yarn shop owners reading this, I have a few suggestions for next year. When people drive two hours to patronize your store, you really ought to let them use the restroom. And if you are going to promote a very special ball of yarn and hope that lots and lots of people buy it, I recommend that the blend not include possum. Seriously. Ick.

I finally finished the Mother's Day scarf for my mom. It's a couple weeks late, but hopefully she will like it. If I hadn't all ready shown it to her I think I might keep it for myself-- the color is so pretty and I like the interesting texture. (Oh, I just remembered I have a second ball of it. I guess I can have one for myself.)

Not too much else going on around here. I'm not an aunt yet, but it won't be long now. I'm getting crazy numbers of finches and chickadees at my feeders these days and having trouble pulling myself away from watching them. I know things are seriously off balance because I have more bird seed in my pantry than people food. But they are endlessly entertaining, and I'm starting to see fluffy baby birds, so it's all good.

Dapples and shadows

2011-04-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

I forgot to tell you an important detail about my trip to Napa last weekend. Coincidentally, across the street from the hotel was a yarn shop-- a really nice yarn shop. (Also across the street was a candy store, and that's where most of my vacation pocket money went ... yarn and chocolate.)

When I walked in the store, I was immediately drawn to this Katia yarn called Temis and ended up buying two balls. It wasn't until I started knitting with it later that afternoon that I realized I had worked with it a couple years ago. I guess my tastes haven't changed. I love the variations in weight and texture.

When my mom saw me knitting with it she expressed how much she liked it, so I decided to knit her a scarf for Mother's Day. I just started it today, but wanted to show you how interesting it looks when knit. I'm using size US 13 needles on a 2x2 rib.

Please forgive the shadowy and dappled photos. I took them out on the patio because I don't want to miss a minute of this nice spring weather we are finally having.

This is the mystery project I've been working on. It's a baby blanket that I have been trying to finish before my sister's shower in a couple weeks, but I realized today that I just can't get it done. (I was also trying to keep it a secret, but I gave up on that, too.) That's okay, I'll give her the yellow blanket and save this one for the holidays. It's a feather and fan pattern on worsted weight.

I want to give a special shout out to Stephanie of Tiny Owl Knits for donating two patterns to give away to my Ravelry group. If you haven't seen her designs, you are in for a real treat.

Scenes from Napa

2011-04-12T21:46:00.000-07:00

When I mentioned in my last post that I wasn't going to be around much, what I really meant was that I was heading to Napa Valley with my family for a long weekend to celebrate my folk's 50th wedding anniversary. (I thought it best not to advertise that I was going out of town just to be on the safe side.)

The trip was very important to my mother, who fought hard for it to happen in spite of health problems she is experiencing and the challenge of my sister traveling while seven months pregnant.

The hotel featured these soaking tubs in each room, which is where I spent a good portion of time every evening. I absolutely love baths and brought a supply of my favorite scrubs, soaps, and bath bombs, as well as a good book to read.

Don't tell my cats, but it was really nice having a big bed all to myself for a few nights.

(Don't tell the spiders that lurk in the corners of my apartment, but it was really nice to get away from them, too.)

Someone taped this sign to a random wall outside on the street.

My sister Hil, showing us the size of her belly. We talked alotta lotta lot about the new addition to the family over the weekend. It's hard to express the extent of our joy and excitement.

I'm not a big fan of expensive jewelry or George Clooney, but I love a good sense of humor. This jewelry store had many funny window displays. In case you can't read the sign, it says, "Every woman deserves studs" and above it is a pair of diamond stud earrings.

Our last night we ate at Brix, which is surrounded by hills and vineyards and a vegetable garden. We arrived at sunset, the perfect time to take photos.

The countryside was so gorgeous and serene. With all of the recent rain everything was incredibly green and vibrant.

It was the most time I've spent with my parents in many years and wonderful for the whole family to be together for an entire weekend. We ate good food, shopped, talked, and laughed so much. I really didn't want to leave.

Spring is in the air

2011-04-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

I think spring is finally here. Real spring, not a tease of warm weather that lulls you in to thinking winter is over before it rains for two weeks straight. We have had SO much rain here--it was unbelievable. I'm a huge fan of wet weather, but even for me it was a bit much. The sunshine and warm temps feel soooooo good.

Cory and I had lunch on Saturday and I gave her the neck cozy I knit in February. It looked so pretty on her that I couldn't stop looking at it. I rarely wear any of the items I knit, so it was a nice to see it in use rather than folded in a drawer.

We went to see the new Jane Eyre movie after lunch. Oh.my.gosh. It was so good! I highly recommend it-- the acting was superb and the cinematography was gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.

Today is Charlie's fifth birthday! He got his favorite salmon-flavored Fancy Feast for breakfast and a container of fresh kitty grass, which he loves. I adore my kitty.

I'm still having problems with Blogger. All of the sentences run together unless I add line breaks using HTML code. Does anyone else have this problem? I can't figure out how to fix it.

I'm going to be spending a lot of time with family this week and might not be around much. Hope it is spring in your neck of the woods and you are enjoying lots of sunshine and blossoms.

Celebrating Pride & Prejudice Appreciation Day

2011-03-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

I read somewhere on the Internet that today is Pride & Prejudice Appreciation Day. (And as you know, it is a universal truth that everything on the Internet is factually accurate.) So, as a huge P&P fan, I decided to have a celebration here on my blog. mmmmm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm m m m mAnd now for that age old question ... which actor is your favorite Mr. Darcy?mmmmm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I must confess I'm partial to Matthew McFayden. It has something to do with his voice, the misty meadow scene, and the line, "You have bewitched me, body and soul ..." Yum. But Colin Firth is definitely a fan favorite, especially in his wet white shirt.

However, I prefer him as Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones. mmmmm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

The last Pride & Prejudice remake was the Keira Knightley version in 2005. I dare say it's time for a new one, and I flatter myself that the producers will seriously consider my suggestions for casting some of the major roles. mmmmm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

~~Edward Cullen~~ Robert Pattinson as Mr. Darcy. mmmmm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Emma Watson as Elizabeth Bennet. Her fine eyes and light, pleasing figure make her a natural for the part. mmmmm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Andrew Garfield as Mr. Bingley. I liked him so much in The Social Network that I had to have him in my movie. mmmmm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Alan Rickman as Mr. Bennet. I have been violently in love with his unusually deep voice for many years now. mmmmm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Sienna Miller as Jane Bennet, basically because I couldn't think of any other pretty blonde British actresses (although I'm sure there are plenty). mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmm mm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Have a happy Pride & Prejudice Appreciation Day! ♥ ♥ ♥

NOTE: I am having major problems with Blogger and had to delete the original version of this post. Thank you to everyone who left such wonderful comments and I'm so sorry they were lost. I did read them all before they disappeared.

A pink hat kind of a weekend

2011-03-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

We've been getting absolutely pounded with rain around here. It pretty much poured all weekend and at night a frenzied wind whipped through the trees.

My peaceful little creek has turned in to a raging river. I watched it most of the day yesterday as I sat by the window and knit a little pink hat for my niece, who is due in June.

The hat is my March project for the New Techniques Knit-Along. It is the first hat that I knit completely in the round using circular needles and double-points. Everything went well until I had to switch to the DPNs ... I really struggle with those. The hat has all sorts of holes and other mistakes at the top, mainly on the side that you can't see.

I really don't like how the hat turned out. It reminds me of the holey, uneven scarves I made when I was first learning to knit. But I keep reminding myself I'm just learning to use the DPNs and practice makes perfect.

A winged awakening

2011-03-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

When you start bird watching, there is a type of awakening that occurs, an awareness that wasn't present beforehand.

First, you begin to see more birds than you ever noticed before. A robin bouncing across the lawn. A phoebe perched on a fence post. You ask yourself if there were always this many birds in the neighborhood.

Second, you hear the birdsong. The chirp of a hummingbird outside the kitchen window. The melody of a warbler in a magnolia tree. A purple finch singing her nest song.

Small miracles begin to occur. You step out on the porch one night in time to see a barn owl glide silently over the roof top. In March, when the cedar waxwings should be long gone, you spot a flock in your neighbor’s tree, and the miracle isn't that they are still hanging around, it’s that earlier in the day you wished you could see them one more time before the arrival of spring. And there they were.

You open to the possibility of miracles in other areas of your life, catching more and more glimpses of beauty throughout the day.

Life becomes less ordinary, less habitual. Possibilities exist everywhere. Little winged jewels emerge.

You wonder, what else have I not been seeing?

And you begin to look with new eyes.

And you begin to see.

More mesh scarves

2011-03-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate to have my Mesh Bamboo Scarf pattern published on All Free Knitting a while back because it has brought many visitors to my blog, which has led to new friendships. Some of those new friends have sent me photos of their versions of the mesh scarf, which I want to share with you.

This keyhole version was knit by Connie on size 10 needles with worsted weight yarn and an 18 stitch cast on. I really like the bulkiness and the way it looks pulled through the keyhole. Connie knit a matching floppy hat and is donating the set to a cancer center.

These four scarves were knit by Sheila. The pink and ivory scarf was knit on size ten needles and the stripe was made by changing colors every six rows and carrying the yarn up the side. Sheila then added the pink crochet border around the entire scarf, covering up the carried yarn.

The blue infinity scarf was also done on size 10 needles. She knit it flat for about 30 inches, gave it a few twists and then seamed the edges together.

The gold scarf is for a gentleman because, "It's not too foo foo." :o)

This last one is a work in progress by Tracey. I stole the photo off her blog, Clover, which is one of my new favorite places to visit. Tracey is using Fisherman's Wool and size 8 needles. She modified the pattern a bit ... maybe she will tell us more in the comments.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me photos of their scarves and dropped me a note about the pattern, it's wonderful to hear from you.

Update: Here is a photo of Tracey's finished scarf. Looks so good with the fringe!

Cozy neck

2011-03-06T20:13:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to post photos of the neck cozy I recently finished. The pattern is from The Knitter's Guide to Hand Dyed and Variegated Yarn by Lorna Miser. I like that it is stretchy enough to pull over your head without having to unbutton it. The yarn is Panda Silk, a blend of bamboo, wool, and silk. I used two balls, one solid and one variegated, based on a technique I learned at the talk Lorna gave at my LYS.

Works nicely as a cat cozy, too.

Endearing knits

2011-03-04T19:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks everyone for the vintage hand towel love. There are several reasons I don't care for it --the pattern got really dull toward the end, my hands ached from knitting with two strands of cotton, and the variegated yarn looked prettier in a ball than it did knit. I'll never knit one of those again.

The yellow Bunny Love Blanket is done. Now this I like. It's my first blanket, full of holes and lumps and other boo-boo's, but that just makes it all the more endearing. I knit it for my niece who is due to arrive in June, but I may not be able to let it go. Perhaps she can just cuddle up in it when she comes to visit me. (Sorry, sis.)

I started a new knitting project that must remain a mystery because it's a gift. Here is a little glimpse. It's weird to knit with wool again after working with cotton the last few projects. I forgot how beautifully wool knits up.

I took a little break from blogging last week but now I'm back and will come and visit you. Hope you enjoy your weekend.

Vintage Hand Towel

2011-02-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

My vintage hand towel is done.

I wish I hadn't used variegated yarn at the top.

I don't much care for it, but I did learn how to knit a mitered square.

It was my new technique for February for the New Technique Knit-Along. Turns out there isn't much to it.

Next month I'll pick something more challenging.

The view from the back steps

2011-02-22T21:35:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago it seemed as though spring was here.

Trees were blooming, birds were singing and the sun was shining.

And then winter returned. This was the view from the back steps after days and days of torrential rain and cold. It's always a treat to see snow on the mountain tops because it doesn't happen very often.

And look at what might be coming:

With apologies to my friends in the mid-west, east coast, Canada and other countries who are sick to death of cold and snow, I have to say ...

YAY!!!

(We almost never get sea level snow here.)

A little bit of luxury (yarn, that is)

2011-02-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

Stitches West 2011 was as fun and exhausting as it is every year. Usually within the first five minutes of entering the marketplace I retreat to a quiet corner to try and get acclimated to the noise and crowds, but this year I was surprised at my ability to jump right in and start shopping. After attending this event for so many years, I felt like an old pro at navigating the chaos ... for at least ten minutes. Then I scurried off to a corner.

But eventually I emerged. After all, you can't feel too uncomfortable in a place that offers a display of crocheted bacon and eggs.

I let myself indulge in several skeins of luxury yarn, buying whatever I felt drawn to without having a specific pattern in mind. This first one is 50% wool and 50% silk slub. The knit sample was gorgeous-- I love how it looks with the variations in the thickness of the yarn. The yarn is called Ellie and is from Brooks Farm Yarn.

This next one is hand-dyed, 100% silk. It's called Avalanche and is from The Village Spinning & Weaving Shop. The second year I attended stitches I bought a skein of white organic cotton from them and have such fond memories of it that I like to buy a little something from their booth each year.

This last skein is also 100% handpainted silk. It's fingering weight, so I will probably use it for a lace shawl. I wasn't sure if I liked the color until I held it next to my spotted, weather beaten hands and saw how nicely it compliments my skin tone. That doesn't happen very often. It is from Urban Fauna Studio.

The lace workshop I took was pretty interesting, but I will save that for another day.

Heather at Implausible Yarn is starting a new venture and kicking it off by giving away a retro design Big Ben clock from LL Bean. Stop by and check it out!

A manageable mountain of knitting

2011-02-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

I've gotten in the habit of frogging knitting projects that I doubt I will ever finish instead of letting them languish at the bottom of the knitting basket for months and months.

(For non-knitters, "frogging" is ripping out the rows. Rip it. Ribbit. Cute, huh?)

It feels pretty good to know I can finish all of my current projects in a reasonable amount of time. Now I just need to actually sit down and do it.

This scarf is pretty long already, but I want to finish using up as much of that yarn as possible (kind of like feeling like you need to clean your plate even though you're no longer hungry). It's made of bamboo and is really soft. Unfortunately I threw out the ball band and can't remember what it is.

The cabled baby bib is almost done. Just need to finish the neck strap and sew on a button.

I made lots of progress on the hand towel last weekend. It was hard to stop knitting it, even thought my hand got really sore. I ended up having to take a few days off from knitting to give it a rest.

The baby blanket is halfway done. I'm still amazed at how much I am enjoying this project after avoiding blankets for so many years. I might have to knit one for myself next.

I'll be back this weekend with pics and details from Stitches West. If you're in the states, hope you enjoy the long holiday weekend. (And if you're not in the states, hope you enjoy your regular weekend.)

PS. Check out the giveaway at GerryART!

On the needles and some goodies

2011-02-12T14:51:00.000-08:00

I wanted to learn a fairly easy technique for the New Technique Knit-Along this month, so I chose to learn to knit mitered squares by starting with this Mitered Hanging Towel.

I've seen lots of gorgeous mitered patterns over the years, like this shawl, and always planned to learn how. The dish towel is a little too easy-peasy, but I have so many other projects going on this month I didn't want to take on anything too overwhelming. Next month I hope to learn something a little more challenging.

Lots of goodies have been arriving in the mail lately. Today I received this floral clutch that I purchased from Annie of Pink Paintbrush, who is the daughter of Jane of Maiden Jane.

The clutch is so pretty and the quality is exceptional.

Also in the mailbox today was this skein of hand-dyed yarn that came all the way from South Africa. I won it in a giveaway at Natural Suburbia. Thank you, Linda!

Yesterday brought this skein of Fleece Artist Peter Rabbit, made from a blend of rabbit, wool and nylon, which I won in a giveaway from Kate Creates. Thank you, Kate!

Only five more days till Stitches West. Yeah!

Crazy Bird Lady

2011-02-08T19:14:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, last autumn I moved to a new apartment and was eager to see the types of birds that would come to my feeder. Although I live in the heart of a big city, I’m tucked away in a tiny little corner of wilderness with a flowing creek and tall, mature trees.

The bird life has been okay, but not as exciting as expected, until a couple weeks ago. We had our first warm day in a very long time, and when I opened my eyes and gazed out the window that morning, I saw a bright yellow bird hopping from branch to branch in the redwood tree. (I think that might have been the fastest I’ve ever jumped out of bed.) It was a Townsend's Warbler, a bird I've only caught quick glimpses of in the past.

source

That morning an amazing variety of birds stopped by. Not all of them fed at the feeders, but they were kind enough to forage in the trees and on the ground at the edge of the creek. There were woodpeckers, finches, warblers, sparrows, robins, and more. It was like they all got the memo to come on out and play.

I can hardly describe my excitement at seeing all of those birds outside my window. That afternoon I paid a visit to the Wild Bird Store, eager to purchase a few more feeders. I won’t tell you how much money I spent, but I can tell you the number of bird feeders now hanging on my small patio: seven. Seven! I am officially a Crazy Bird Lady. My kitchen cabinet is bursting with seeds.

Not only did I buy feeders and seed, but I bought Alpaca roving to drape in the trees so the birds can use it for their nests. It was fun decorating the tree with it, but I had my doubts it would actually be useful until I saw a hummingbird pull a strand off the tree and fly away with it.

I don't mind being a Crazy Bird Lady at all. I love offering the birds a variety of food; it brings me great joy to watch them nibble on sunflower seeds and suet. I like the excitement each morning of anticipating the types of bird that will come to visit. And I love knowing I'm helping to support bird life in this time of shrinking habitats, climate change, and other challenges our winged friends face.

Bunny Love Blanket

2011-02-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

It's warmed up here to the point where I can comfortably knit outside on the patio. I'm working on my first baby blanket in this soft organic cotton. It's for my sister's baby, also known as "the bun" (hence the name of the blanket), also known as my future niece, due to arrive in June.

I usually avoid knitting blankets because I don't like to work with such a large number of stitches, plus I'm in to the whole instant gratification thing (or as instant as you can get with knitting) and blankets take forever. But this one is gratifying in a different way because I get to sit and think about the bun as I knit and send her my love with every stitch.

(photo from The Purl Bee)

Speaking of blankets, I don't sew, but I'm a big fan of quilts and love these Courthouse Steps mini-quilts from The Purl Bee. The shades of orange, blue and grey look so nice together-- who'd have thought? I never would have put those colors together.

* * *

I found this coaching tip from Carolyn Foster, A Truth That Knocked Me Flat, very insightful. Food for thought.

* * *

If you are a Pride & Prejudice fan, you must check out Elizabeth Bennet's Inbox -- it is SO funny.

* * *

For those of you experiencing blizzards and freezing temperatures and endless amounts of snow, stay safe and warm. You are in my thoughts.

Sacred Space

2011-02-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I picked up this green chair at the Goodwill for a song. I'd been wanting to find a chair to place by my bedroom window so I can enjoy the view of the eucalyptus trees and keep an eye out for feathered friends.

It was lovely to sit by the window and listen to the sound of the creek burbling below, but it felt like something was missing.

So I wrapped myself in this quilt that I also found last weekend at an antique store. It is soft and faded with perfect hand-stitching and flowered fabric in shades of pink and blue.

But it still kinda felt like something wasn't quite right.

It didn't take long to find the missing ingredient ... my knitting. Ah, bliss. My little piece of upholstered heaven.

Charlie supervised all sacred space activities from the comfort of the bed.

Owling

2011-01-29T23:06:00.000-08:00

My sister and I went on our annual bird watching trip today and guess what we saw?

A Great Horned Owl!

The picture above was taken at 3pm this afternoon at the San Luis Wildlife Refuge. The owl was perched calmly on a post, perfectly happy to let me take several snapshots of him through the car window.

It was the best birding day ever.

I've been looking for Great Horned Owls at the refuge for the last few years because I read that others have seen them there, but I never had any luck. Today it was the last thing on my mind, especially in the middle of the afternoon, and there he was.

(source)

Apparently low expectations and a careless attitude are key to seeing great birds. We had just gotten started when a Greater Roadrunner darted across the road. Oh my goodness! Another bird we'd been hoping to see the last few years.

We stopped in at Mercey Hot Springs to visit the wintering Long-eared Owls, which we see every year. Today there were three or four of them roosting in a tree. Like the Great Horned Owl, they weren't at all camera shy.

Plenty of egrets out and about today, too.

And since this is a knitting blog, I have to include a photo of the lovely ~~wool~~ sheep we saw grazing in the grasslands.

How to have a knitting retreat

2011-01-25T15:42:00.000-08:00

I wasn't able to knit at all last week due to an intense work schedule filled with meetings, lunches, a scavenger hunt, and a cocktail party. By Friday night I was desperately in need of a quiet day all to myself in which I wasn't expected to make small talk, wear high heels and make-up, or sit in a room all day listening to strategic goals.

I needed my knitting.

So I scheduled my very own private knitting retreat in order to recover from the busy week and get reacquainted with my needles. It went something like this:

9am: Start the day with a donut with chocolate icing and multicolored sprinkles.

9:15: Fire up the laptop and check out the discussions in my Ravelry group.

9:25: Search Ravelry patterns for a blanket knit with Sprout organic cotton.

9:35: Tell self several times to turn off the computer and start knitting.

9:45: Gape at birds at feeder on patio. Inform the cats they are finches (the birds at the feeder, not the cats).

10:15: Start knitting a Modern Cabled Baby Bib in purple cotton while watching the movie Love Actually.

10:30: Decide that Colin Firth movies are an important part of any knitting retreat.

11:00: Eat second donut with chocolate icing and multicolored sprinkles.

11:15: Set aside baby bib and finish up a neck cozy.

12:30: Have lunch at the taqueria down the street while reveling in the bliss of a whole day dedicated to knitting, knitting-related activities, and donuts.

1:00: Go to LYS and purchase five skeins of Sprout for blanket pattern found earlier on Ravelry.

2:00: Return home and resume knitting baby bib.

2:55: Eat half of a maple bar.

3:00: Blog about knitting.

3:45: Switch over to knitting the neck cozy.

4:00: Eat other half of maple bar.

4:20: Force self to put knitting down and go outside for a walk.

5:00: Pick up Thai food for dinner on the way home from walk.

6:00 to 10:00: Eat dinner, watch multiple reruns of Sex in the City episodes, continue to knit while balancing two cats on lap.

11:00: Eat last donut in box and go to bed.

So there you have it. Knitting. Shopping for yarn. Ravelry. Donuts. Colin Firth. More donuts.

Why can't every day be a knitting retreat day?

Knitter's Guide to Hand Dyed and Variegated Yarn

2011-01-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I attended an author event at my local yarn shop. Lorna Miser, founder of Lorna's Laces, gave a talk about her book, The Knitter's Guide to Hand Dyed and Variegated Yarn.

Lorna Miser

The book is filled with techniques and projects for multicolored yarn, including many new stitches I have never run across before. I probably wouldn't have paid much attention to this book if I hadn't attended the talk because I didn't realize how much there is to know on the subject of working with variegated yarn. It was fascinating to hear about the different methods for making certain colors pop, preventing pooling, and selecting the best lace patterns for specific types of colorways.

Lorna talked about each chapter in the book and showed us the gorgeous knit samples used in the photographs. (I wanted to tuck more than one item in my purse and quietly walk out the door with it.) She gave us tips on patterns, stitches, and techniques that make the best use of variegated colors. I was completely inspired and couldn't wait to get home and start knitting.

Here are some of the highlights from Lorna's talk:

-She founded Lorna's Laces and raised it like a child until it grew to the point that it needed more than she could give. She sold it in 2003 and went to Scotland to recover from exhaustion.

-She now designs knitting patterns for many companies, such as Fiesta, Red Heart, Lorna's Laces, and more, and says you can support yourself doing that.

-On a skein of variegated yarn, the longer the section of color, the more opportunity for pooling. She recommends untwisting a skein before you buy it to look at the dominate color and check out the length of the sections of color.

-Adding bobbles to an item (like the cute mittens in her book) can help prevent color pooling.

-When knitting Fair Isle, to prevent puckering, first drink a glass of wine.

-Seed stitch can add weight to lighter yarns.

I'm currently knitting this neck cozy from Lorna's book using a stitch called Webbed Float Stitch with alternating strands of variegated and solid colored yarn. Next I want to knit a pair of lacy silk fingerless gloves.

Next month is Stitches West! I'm attending a class on designing with lace and can't wait.

And the winner is ...

2011-01-19T21:10:00.000-08:00

This evening I used the random number generator to pick the giveaway winners.

The winner of the Malabrigo is Dogwood of Pink Dogwood Blossom.

The winner of the Misti Alpaca is Grace of My Year of Haiku.

Thanks everyone for participating!

-Stacy

Grey days

2011-01-16T19:20:00.000-08:00

Grey was the theme this weekend. It isn't as gloomy as it sounds ... I happen to love grey. I tend to wear grey clothes, which I know is very drab, but what can I say, I like being comfortable. And I love grey days because of the cozy factor.

I spent a couple hours Saturday afternoon winding 650 yards of dark grey Alpaca yarn. My intent was to start knitting a new lace shawl, but after all that winding I needed a nap ... and then the day got away from me.

I'm glad now I didn't start on the shawl. This evening I attended a talk by Lorna Miser about her new book on hand-dyed and variegated yarn, and I'm itching to work with some of the more colorful skeins I bought myself for Christmas. (More about Lorna's talk in a few days.)

I woke up this morning to a thick blanket of fog. This was the view out my bedroom window ... it was quite beautiful. It reminded me of the heavy tule fog we experienced in Central California when I was a kid. My mom would wake me up with, "It's froggy out there."

It was very froggy today.

This is a big week. We have loooooong meetings scheduled almost every day at work, as well as team building events and communication workshops, culminating in a formal party Friday night with dinner and dancing. I'm a very quiet, solitary kind of person, so I'm not looking forward to the week, even though I know it will all be fine. Today I wanted to do something that makes me happy to help carry me through the week, so I headed out to (my) wildlife refuge. It was grey there, too, which of course is exactly the way I like it. The refuge looks great all eerie and mysterious.

The highlight of the day was seeing tule elk for the first time. (Both the fog and the elk are named after the tule grass that grows in the central valley.) They don't fit in with the grey theme, but they're so beautiful I had to share the photos with you. The color of the elk against the grass is so gorgeous and primitive; it reminds me of these dioramas from the California Academy of Sciences.

The tule elk are found only in California and were almost driven to extinction at one point. The refuge has played a major role in bringing them back by protecting a small herd in a very large enclosure and periodically allowing one or two to join a herd that roams freely throughout the state.

There's still time to enter my yarn giveaway ... it's open until Wednesday evening. Have a good week!

I'm having a giveaway!

2011-01-13T20:27:00.000-08:00

I'm having a giveaway in celebration of several milestones.

My blog finally has 100 followers. I've been waiting and watching and it happened today.

My Mesh Bamboo Scarf pattern is #1 on All Free Knitting.

And I've been blogging for almost two years now.

So I'm giving away two skeins of Malabrigo to one person ...

And one skein of Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton/Silk to another person.

To enter the giveaway just leave a comment and make sure that I have a way of contacting you.

The giveaway will be open through Wednesday, January 19th. I'll use the random number generator to select the winners that evening.

This and that

2011-01-09T22:51:00.000-08:00

Last year I knit my one and only lace shawl, which I absolutely love, but up until today it sat folded in a drawer because I couldn't figure out how to arrange it in a way that didn't look silly. Today while getting ready to attend a knitting class at my local yarn shop, I threw it on at the last minute and secured it with the new shawl pin a friend gave me for Christmas. I was surprised and pleased to see that it was a perfect match with the shawl and actually looked nice held together like that around my neck. Thanks, Cathy!

(bathroom mirror photo)

I had a scare later in the afternoon. When I got home from the grocery store my purse was missing and I thought I had left it in the cart in the parking lot. When I started thinking about everything I could lose, I quickly grew horrified ... my new Kindle (that I LOVE), phone, digital camera, medication, cash, credit cards ... oh my goodness, it would have been a terrible loss. I rushed out to the car and fortunately found it hidden under the seat. Then I said a million prayers of thanks.

The Kindle was a holiday gift to myself. While I love reading books on it, the thing that really has me hooked is the electronic Scrabble game. It's addictive.

The creek trail across the street from where I live is beautiful this time of year with bare trees and intensely green grass. I love to take walks and enjoy having a trail within walking distance of my apartment.

On a recent walk I came across one tiny, lonely little flower and had to stop to get a picture.

I also discovered this giant nest partially hidden under a bush. It's about two feet tall and four feet across. I have no idea how it got there or what might live in it, but would love to know the story behind it.

Charlie is the sweetest cat I've ever met. In our old place I used to walk him on a leash in the evening, but my new apartment is inside a building so I let him freely roam the hallway late at night. Tonight when he was sitting outside the front door I was stunned to hear him growl. Like a dog! A neighbor had entered the hallway and I guess he was protecting his territory. It was strange-- I never knew cats could growl like that.

Well, off to bed. Warm wishes to you for a good week.

Excellent Sock Kit Giveaway

2011-01-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

I few weeks ago I created a Twitter account. Tweeting is lots of fun, but I ended up deactivating my account because for me it is simply too much to work on a computer all day long at my day job, blog, moderate a Ravelry group, tweet and still have a life. But before I left, I ran across an excellent sock kit giveaway at SandraSingh.

I love the pattern and vampire-inspired colorway of the yarn. The giveaway is open through January 17th.

Tiny Little Knit

2011-01-02T15:48:00.000-08:00

During the holidays I was yearning to knit something I could finish quickly, so I used the sock yarn in my stash to knit this seed stitch bracelet. The pattern is from my new favorite book, More Last Minute Knitted Gifts. This project is supposed to be a two hour project, and I can verify that it really does take two hours-- if you read the pattern correctly. (Unfortunately, I didn't, so it took more like three hours.)

It turned out pretty cute, but after wearing it for about ten minutes my wrist started itching like crazy and I found myself tugging at it. Next time I won't use wool.

The New Techniques 2011 Knit-along hit 200 members last night. I'm very excited about the techniques I'm planning to learn this year and I'm having a blast moderating the Ravelry group. Please feel free to join us.

Kate Creates is having a giveaway! Leave a comment on her blog by January 5th to win a gorgeous skein of yarn.

Sandhill Cranes

2010-12-30T00:29:00.000-08:00

I haven't been doing much knitting during my time off, but I did spend the last couple days birdwatching. I spent the night in Lodi, something I have wanted to do for several years, to see the Sandhill Cranes that winter there. I'd never seen one before-- they stand three to five feet tall and have a wingspan of up to six feet.

These photos are early morning shots of the birds at the ecological preserve where they roost at night. I actually arrived the previous evening just in time to stand in the rain and watch hundreds of cranes fly in. The flocks are so massive that at first I thought I was seeing an approaching helicopter.

(To see truly amazing pictures of Sandhill Cranes, check out Adventures in Birdland.)

They are quite vocal and make the oddest sound, almost like a purr. It's hard to see in these pics, but they have a patch of bald red skin on top of their head. I mainly took photos from the comfort of my car because it was COLD there, something I don't often experience. I don't knit a lot of warm wool items because they just aren't needed where I live, but in Lodi I was wishing for a thick warm scarf and hat. Brrrrrr.

Fortunately I don't have to return to work until Tuesday, so I have several more days to get out and do more birdwatching. It's a nice way to end the year.

Wishing you a very happy new year.

Taking Refuge

2010-12-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

I love being home, especially in the winter. I like to hang out in my pajamas, curled up in bed with the cats and a book, doing a little knitting here and there. There was a time in my life when I had a passion for travel, but these days I mainly want the peace and quiet of home.

But after being cooped up in my apartment for five days in row, exhausted and trying to shake off a cold, I wanted to run away from home. I couldn't stop thinking about my job and other subjects not suitable for one's vacation, and almost (but not quite) wished that I hadn't taken this week off because I really wasn't enjoying it.

Then everything changed.

I took a two hour drive to my favorite wildlife refuge. I swear that place is magical. Every time I go there, which is usually once a year, I ask myself why I don't visit more often. Spending time surrounded by wetlands and wildlife is so healing; it profoundly lifts my spirits.

A big storm is coming in today, but tomorrow I plan to get back on the road to visit another refuge. I wouldn't quite say my passion for travel has been restored-- I'm not ready to jump on a plane or anything-- but I have rediscovered a joy that somehow slipped through my fingers. Again.

If you live in the states and would like to visit a refuge, check out the National Wildlife Refuge System for more information.

Holiday Wishes

2010-12-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

Today is the day I've been waiting for. It's my last day of work until next year.

I feel like my life has been a whirlwind since Thanksgiving and now I can finally stop and catch my breath. This time off between Christmas and New Year is so important to me for rest, rejuvenation and reflection.

It has been a truly wonderful year. I treasure the friendships I've made through blogging and look forward to deepening those friendships next year.

I'm going to take a break from blogging until after Christmas. I wish you all a very happy holiday and peaceful new year.

Introducing the New Techniques 2011 KAL

2010-12-19T21:59:00.000-08:00

* The New Techniques 2011 KAL Ravelry group is now available and going strong. Everyone is welcome! Feel free to join at any time during the year.*

Tonight while playing around with an idea for a knit coin purse, I started thinking about how reluctant I am to learn new knitting techniques. Yet once I take the time to figure it out or find the courage to ask for help, the technique usually turns out to be quite easy and incredibly helpful.

For example, I used to avoid patterns that involved short rows because I didn't understand how to wrap and turn. But once I was shown how to do it at my local yarn shop, it turned out to be fairly simple and opened up a whole new world of patterns I can now knit.

So I started thinking. I've been looking for a knit-along (KAL) to join in 2011 and haven't found one, so why not start one myself? I'm a little nervous no one will want to join, but I'm going to put it out there and see what happens.

My idea is each month we will learn a new technique of our own choosing to build our skills and confidence, and we'll share what we learn on our blogs and/or our Ravelry group. It will be up to each person to figure out how they are going to learn the technique (from a written tutorial, YouTube video, workshop, knitting friend, DVD, etc.) and you can use the new technique to knit whatever you want-- an accessory, clothing, toy, decoration, swatch or whatever.

I came up with a list of possibilities, but you can choose to learn any technique you want. Here are some ideas:

I-Cord
Picking up stitches
Magic Loop
Felting
Short Rows
Cables
Crocheted Edging
Stranded Knitting
Slip-Stitch Color Knitting
Bobbles
Nubbles
Fair Isle
Lace
Beads
Mattress Stitch
Kitchener Stitch
Knitting in the round
Continental Knitting
Provisional Cast-on
Picot Bind-off
Three Needle Bind-off
Knitting with Wire
Tunision Crochet
Duplicate Stitch

Would you like to join? I hope so!

Here are the loose guidelines for the KAL:

-The first week of each month, post to your blog and/or the Ravelry group the technique you have decided to learn.

-During the month, occasionally give an update with info such as where you learned the technique, how long it took you, challenges you faced, tips for others who want to learn it, etc. Post photos of your project if you want and any other details you care to share.

That's about it! The KAL will start in January and be open all year to anyone who wants to join at any time. And if you get busy and need to skip a month, that's perfectly okay.

12/19 Update #1: I created a group on Ravelry called New Techniques 2011 KAL. Feel free to go there and join the group!

12/20 Update #2: I woke up this morning and discovered that 32 people have joined the Ravelry group so far. That's wonderful!

12/21 Update #3: We're up to almost 100 people on Ravelry. I'm so excited. Thank you to all who have joined!

12/23 Update #4: Please feel free to grab the button off my sidebar and link back to this post.

Why you should start blogging

2010-12-17T22:50:00.000-08:00

I noticed that the beginning of a new year is when many people start blogging. With 2011 right around the corner, I want to offer encouragement to anyone who might be thinking about creating a blog but is still on the fence.

There are plenty of reasons to start blogging:

-To connect with other people who share your interests and passions.
-To establish an electronic journal of your daily life.
-To keep family and friends informed of what is happening with you.
-To promote your products or services.

But the best reason of all is that you don’t need a reason.

Your blog is like a blank canvas that you can fill any way you want. Write about your kids, your cats, your garden. Post pictures of your travels, your neighborhood or an ordinary day in your life. Focus on your favorite crafts or recipes. It’s up to you. Your blog can have a central theme or be a hodge-podge of thoughts, photos, and ideas … a little of this and a little of that.

It’s okay not to have reason for blogging, and it’s okay not to know where blogging will take you. You can just start and see what happens. Like some bloggers, you might end up being published in a magazine, becoming a long distance runner, or swapping houses for an Italian holiday. Or you might simply discover a sense of quiet enjoyment that has been missing from your life.

One of the wonderful things about blogging is connecting with a network of people who appreciate your art, encourage you to pursue your dreams and offer support during your life journey. Bloggers are the kindest and most generous people around.

Your blog will touch others and can change their lives without you ever knowing it. Your words matter, your thoughts matter, your art matters. So come and join us.

Simple Lace Scarf Pattern

2010-12-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

I wrote about this scarf last month, but wanted to officially post the pattern with decent pictures. That's my sister Hil modeling the scarf after I gave it to her last night. She's just starting to get a baby bump.

It's a simple one row lace scarf knit on big needles. The Malabrigo yarn that I used is pillow soft. I'm sensitive to wool and usually can't wear it next to my skin, but this yarn didn't bother me at all when I tried on the scarf.

After I washed it in rinse-free Soak and blocked it, the pattern opened up and it got quite a bit longer. (Flora-scented Soak smells SO good. )

If you want your scarf narrower or wider, just be sure to cast on a multiple of four stitches. I think this pattern would also look good in a fine weight yarn using much smaller needles.

Supplies:

Two skeins of Malabrigo Merino Worsted

Size 15 needles

Abbreviations:

K2: knit two stitches

YO: yarn over

PSSO: pass slipped stitch over

To knit the scarf:

Using size 15 needles, cast on 16 stitches.

Row one: *K2, YO, slip one stitch purlwise, K1, PSSO*, repeat to end of row.

Repeat row one until scarf reaches desired length.

Cast off and enjoy.

Quiet time

2010-12-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

It's a good thing I'm done with all of my gift shopping because I had a small meltdown at the mall yesterday. It happens at least once every holiday season (but usually more).

The stress, the crowds, the running around, the exhaustion. I end up snapping at some poor sales clerk who is probably more frazzled than I am. I apologized to the young woman at LensCrafters who triggered my tantrum yesterday and drove straight home for some much needed quiet time.

Today I'm trying to take it easy. It's relaxing just sitting in the living room with the sliding glass door open, listening to the distinct sound of the hummingbirds in the Eucalyptus trees. They make frequent visits to the feeder I put up a couple weeks ago-- this picture was taken a few minutes ago.

But there remains a gnawing inside of me that wants to go out and run around some more, to spend, spend, spend because the dozens of gifts I already purchased couldn't possibly be good enough.

I'm not going to succumb. Instead I'm going to do the three things that I know will calm me down so I can make wise choices (including acting like a grown up when I have to wait too long in line):

1. Go out for a leisurely lunch.

2. Take a long walk.

3. Get in bed, snuggle up with my two cats, and read a good book.

Have a good weekend, and may you be meltdown-free.

The joy of knitting books

2010-12-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

This morning I started to write a post about my favorite knitting books. I was going to begin by telling you that the books I've bought over the last five years were a good investment, but I don't plan to buy any more for a while because they tend to be pricey and there are plenty of free patterns available on the Internet.

But something funny happened. As I was writing, I realized how much I love my knitting books. I return to them again and again for inspiration, to revisit favorite patterns, refresh my memory on how to do certain techniques, and sometimes just to look at the pretty pictures. They are particularly useful late at night when I'm too tired to read a novel but not tired enough to fall sleep.

It was difficult trying to pick my favorites because almost all of them have something special to offer. They're like comfortable old friends. The worn out Leisure Arts books I bought when I first learned to knit have a special place in my heart. The Louisa Harding books are simply gorgeous, and the Knitting for Baby book has some of the cutest babies I've ever seen (the patterns are quite nice, too).

The more I thought about it, the more I recognized the value of knitting books and began to rethink my decision not to buy them.

So this evening I treated myself to a a book that caught my eye last month at my local yarn shop. More Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.

It has some of the cutest patterns I've seen in a long time, like this knit house and fingerless gloves. There are many more patterns I'd like to knit, but even if all I ever do is look at the pictures again and again, it was totally worth the price.

I've only owned this book for a couple of hours and I already love it.

Do you have a favorite knitting or craft book?

Sock progress

2010-12-06T18:40:00.000-08:00

I made quite a bit of progress on my sock over the weekend, which kind of surprised me.

I think I was holding my breath, waiting to discover a dropped stitch, short row mistake, or some other glitch that would give me an excuse to abandon the project in frustration. (See, I really can’t knit a sock! So there.)

But it didn't happen. The toe is done. The heel is shaped. The cuff will soon begin.

I don’t want to jinx it, but I think might actually complete an entire pair of socks this time. Up until this point I have only knit one ugly orange cotton sock and a half of a pretty bamboo one.

These might be the reasons I am on track to finish this particular pair:

1. I’m using wool yarn. So much easier to work with than cotton or bamboo.

2. The yarn is soft, pretty, and self-striping. Love those stripes.

3. It's the toe-up method rather than cuff-down. I prefer it, maybe because it's the first method I learned.

4. I’m not troubled by the little imperfections here and there. As my wise sock teacher once said, “This is your first pair of socks, not your last.” Or in my case, this is my third attempt, not my last.

On a different subject, a big thank you to AllFreeKnitting and Totally Tutorials for featuring my pattern for a miniature knitting bag on their website. It's a great holiday project because it can be used as an ornament, to decorate a gift, or even turned in to a brooch. One clever knitter on Ravelry made a smaller version as a key chain.

Simply Knitting

2010-12-03T21:50:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog almost two years ago, I had a vision, albeit a blurry one, of what it would be about. I wanted to design original knitting patterns, share them on Ravelry and improve my skills by knitting larger and more complex items.

I did end up designing a few things. Nothing terribly complicated, just some easy scarves, bags, booties and fingerless gloves. My mesh bamboo scarf is the most viewed page on my blog, and with the arrival of cold weather the gloves are getting a little bit of attention. It's gratifying when someone knits one of my patterns and posts the project on Ravelry.

But it's been a while since I designed a pattern. And I've not attempted to knit anything too big or complicated since I started this blog other than a lace shawl (which turned out to be rather small and easy). At this point in time, I'm knitting garter stitch scarves.

Garter stitch scarves. The kind that are your very first knitting project, the kind that are supposed to get monotonous after you've made one for each member of your family. I've read enough knitting books to understand that garter stitch scarves are kindergarten knitting; they are the finger painting of the fiber world.

But the truth is, I like how they look and enjoy knitting them. I don't have to remember to use my row counter or glance at a pattern every few minutes. It's like being transported back to a simpler time before you knew about tricky techniques like a Turkish cast-on or three-needle bind off, when you had no idea how to use circular needles and didn't care, when terms like K2TOG and YO made your eyes glaze over. In those days, knitting with acrylic yarn was perfectly acceptable and the smallest needle size in your collection was maybe a US 6 (but you never used it).

So here I am, finger painting scarves while forgetting how to do a proper wrap and turn. Simply knitting. While I do plan to return to the world of purl stitches, yarn overs and short rows, for now the basic act of creating something with two sticks and some pretty string is enough.

The art of being slow

2010-11-30T17:23:00.000-08:00

I'm a terrible cook and seem to be getting worse every year. There was a time in my late 20's when I knew how to cook well enough to get by, but my tastes have changed since then (hot dogs for lunch don't cut it anymore). Enter my new favorite book:

Cooking Basics for Dummies! This book is great because it is really basic. If the recipe tells you to thinly slice an onion, you can turn to an illustrated page that shows you how to slice an onion. Really basic.

Last night I made a simple dinner of a salad and an entree using recipes from the book. It was one of the best meals I've cooked in recent memory. Nothing got burned and it wasn't too salty or oily. But it took a looooong time to make it.

I wanted to follow the recipe exactly because I have a tendency to miss important steps like adding essential ingredients or reducing the oven temperature. So I chopped and sliced at a snail's pace, reading and re-reading every word, without wandering off to watch television or play with the cats while my food cooked in the oven. At first I felt ridiculous taking so much time to make a simple meal and told myself repeatedly that I should be able to do it faster. But eventually I relaxed and let myself enjoy the process of cooking a careful meal for myself, and that might have contributed to it tasting so good.

Isn't it funny how we value speed? I'm beginning to think it's highly overrated. I am constantly trying to figure out how to knit more quickly, but maybe the trick is to learn to enjoy doing it slowly, to savor each stitch, each row, each little chunk of time dedicated to creating something with your hands. The instructor who taught my first sock class told us that whether we knit tight or loose, we should make adjustments to the pattern rather than trying to change the way we knit. I thought that was great advice for life in general. Acceptance. Not trying to change yourself. Being present to who you are and how you do things and not judging whether you should be faster or slower or tighter or looser.

Tonight I'm going to attempt to cook another meal, so I'll see if I can put that in to practice.

Wonderful holiday and a few new projects

2010-11-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

How was your Thanksgiving? We had a potluck-style family gathering at my place that was pretty wonderful. After a delicious dinner we watched Disney's Beauty & the Beast. I hadn't seen it since the original release in 1991. What a sweet movie.

A small Thanksgiving joy that I rediscovered is fresh flowers on the table. I stopped bringing home bouquets several years ago when the cats came to live with me because I figured they'd eat them or knock them over, but it's been three days now and the flowers are still intact. If I make a new year resolution, it will be to have fresh flowers in my home more often.

Last weekend I unexpectedly began knitting a sock. You might remember I took classes earlier this year, but never finished a whole pair. I didn't think I would ever attempt to knit them again, but out of the blue I found myself pulling this Fiesta Baby Boom sock yarn out of my stash along with my Addi needles. Must be the cold weather.

I have quite a bit of this Misti Alpaca Pima Silk in my closet. It occurred to me that the colors would look good in this woven stitch, so I started a scarf. The first year I learned to knit, I tried knitting this stitch countless times and was never successful, so it was particularly satisfying to accomplish these few inches.

Hope you enjoy your long Thanksgiving weekend. My sister Hil and I are headed for Santa Cruz to do a little holiday shopping. Normally I avoid Black Friday like the plague, but this year I have shopping fever.

Crafty Christmas Trees

2010-11-21T21:05:00.000-08:00

Did you enjoy your weekend? We had cold temps and showers both days, as well as crazy thunder and lightening. The ground is thick with wet yellow leaves. You all know how much I love rain, so I won't go on and on about how I love having an excuse to stay home all weekend, reading and crafting and watching movies. (Oops :o)

It's amazing how fast weekend days fly by. I planned to start crafting first thing this morning, but time slipped by (probably due to my spontaneous decision to cut my own hair, which is a story for another day) and I didn't get started on these Christmas tree ornaments until 1pm. Before I knew it, it was time for dinner.

The ornaments are from the book Pretty Little Felts and made with pages from antique books, felt, glitter, and vintage lace. For this first one I followed the instructions in the book fairly closely to get the hang of it and learn some new techniques. I spent a good part of Saturday knitting a sock, with about three inches of toe to show for it, so today I really wanted to make something I could actually finish in an afternoon.

On the second one I did my own thing with gold wire, buttons, and gems. I plan to use mine to decorate gifts instead of as ornaments, but they'd be great as garlands, too. Normally I'm glitter-challenged, but I recently started using Martha Stewart's glitter with good results (i.e. the cats, television, and carpet aren't covered with it).

Now it's cuddle time. Charlie and I are on the couch with a wool blanket watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, Elf.

Have a good week. For those of us in the states, it's a short one. Hurray!

Busy hands

2010-11-17T19:30:00.000-08:00

Now that it's getting dark early I'm knitting more than usual, learning new knitting techniques and also going back to the old ones.

In order to knit the Mochimochi Land bats, I had to learn to knit in the round on double pointed needles. It's been a few years since I have attempted to do that because the last time was a major disaster. But I found that the sock classes I took earlier this year helped me master it (and I use the word 'master' very, very loosely) even though we used two circular needles for the socks. I haven't gotten very far with the bats because it took several attempts just to knit a few inches, but it feels great to have learned a skill that I didn't think I could do.

There is something about the colors of this cotton yarn that I love-- it reminds me of a 1950's kitchen. I was going to make dish towels, but decided to knit a scarf for a friend instead because I think she will look great in these colors, which are much prettier in real life than they are in the pic. For the first time in a very, very long time I'm knitting a plain old garter stitch scarf. It's nice not having to worry about making a mistake or wonder how it is going to turn out.

It was unusually warm in San Francisco last Sunday. We had a delicious lunch at Yank Sing. It was my first time trying dim sum and now I am a big fan. If you ever go to San Francisco, I must insist that you have lunch there. Dim sum is small individual portions of food that are extremely tasty, like pot stickers, dumplings, steamed buns, and spring rolls. Instead of ordering off a menu, you make selections off little carts that they wheel around. It's easy to go overboard.

Inside the building is a fountain that makes it seem like it is raining inside with the water staying inside this big round "puddle" so no one gets wet. That little face peeking out on the right is my sister Hil.

One of the wonderful things about San Francisco is that you never know what you are going to see. While walking down a busy street with office buildings and restaurants, we came across a tiny park with huge, whimsical monster sculptures.

These signs for the San Francisco Zoo were everywhere, and I was intrigued by the owl because that's not something you traditionally go to a zoo to see. I checked out their website and discovered they are having a twilight tour next week that is all about owls. Yay! I'm hoping to go if the tour hasn't filled up.

Offerings

2010-11-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

I'm having a lazy Saturday today. It's sunny but a bit cool, and my plan is to do some knitting, stop by the craft store, and take a bag of books to Recycle Bookshop. Tomorrow my family and I are going to San Francisco to have lunch at my sister's favorite dim sum restaurant and go shopping at the Ferry Building Marketplace.

The trees are still fairly green around here, so when you come across colors like these while out walking you really notice it. I've been giving thought to the metaphors associated with autumn like transformation, letting go, and accepting change, and for the first time in many years felt moved to write a poem.

Offerings

The stand of winsome autumn trees
Surrender to the inevitable.
With a gentle bow,
Red and gold offerings
Placed at your feet.

Have a wonderful weekend.

After the rain

2010-11-09T19:09:00.000-08:00

On Sunday it rained all day, bringing an unexpected benefit. When I stepped outside Monday morning I was greeted with this lovely scene-- the sun hitting the damp creek bank, causing swirly mist to rise. It was a nice way to start the week.

The wet weather made for a perfect afternoon of knitting. I finished this Modern Cabled Baby Bib (Ravelry pattern) knit in a cable and seed stitch combination. The yarn is Jil Eaton Cotton Tail that I found at my local yarn shop. It is a deeper shade of green than I was able to capture in the photo. I liked the yarn so much I want to knit a few more bibs in different colors.

On a different subject, it was interesting reading about your experiences with bats. So many of you have had bats in your backyard and in your home that it really surprised me. As the weather is growing colder here the bats are getting more and more active in the evening. I can enjoy their presence since they aren't roosting in my attic or patio umbrella!

I hope you are enjoying your week. It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Collaborative Art

2010-11-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

Last year, Cory and I decided to do a collaborative art project. We each painted a canvas and then traded with the intent of finishing each other's work and exchanging them again. I, um, had a little trouble.

This is the original canvas that Cory painted. I started by adding words with a black pen. That didn't look great, so I covered up the words with splotches of white paint. That made it look even worse, so I layered thin pieces of tissue paper on it. With each attempt to fix it, the piece looked more and more awful. Frustrated and unsure what to do, I considered calling Cory and telling her I just couldn't do it.

I ended up hanging in there and eventually it started to take shape. I used gel medium to attach small pieces of paper layered with dried leaves and flowers, and then added two flowers using the handmade paper I made at Cory's house in Grass Valley last summer. Before we exchanged our artwork I sent her an email explaining that I messed up her canvas so badly that it lost the original look. She was gracious about it, but I felt really bad.

Cory assured me she likes it and posed for a picture on my patio. Check out her blog, Pink Dogwood Blossom, to see the gorgeous collage she made for me.

Going batty (and a knitting pattern)

2010-11-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

Halloween is over, but I'm still going batty. As most of you know, I love all types of wildlife. I've been hoping to catch glimpses of critters around my new place because it's so woodsy, but I didn't expect to see bats! They live in the trees that grow along the creek and emerge at dusk. I've been a bat fan for many years, so I'm loving it! I read today that their presence is a sign of a healthy eco-system.
These bats are going straight to the top of my knitting queue. The Boo Pattern is available from Mochimochi Land (and the picture is from there, too).

I've been wanting to show you this scarf I've been working on for a while now. It's challenging to photograph because it's so dark, so I decided to just model it for you. It's knit with Malabrigo kettle dyed pure merino wool. When I showed it to my sister she commented that it looks like something our grandmother would have made, so I'm calling the pattern "Grandma's Easiest Lace Scarf Ever."

To knit the scarf:

-Using size 15 needles, cast on 16 stitches.
-Row one: *K2, YO, slip one stitch purlwise, K1, pass slipped stitch over* Repeat to end of row.

That's it! Just do row one over and over until the scarf is the length you want. If you want to experiment with different types of yarn and needle size, just keep in mind the pattern is a four stitch repeat.

Enjoy your weekend! We are supposed to get rain, and I sure hope it happens.

The Accidental Christmas Stocking

2010-10-31T20:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone for your warm wishes and congratulations on my sister's little one. I stopped by her place yesterday and saw the picture from the ultrasound ... oh my gosh! I think it is safe to say it is the cutest 9-week old baby I have ever seen :o)

I spent Friday night and Saturday morning knitting what turned out to be the biggest newborn baby bootie ever. I can't figure out why it turned out so huge-- I did a gauge swatch, something I almost never do. So now I'm thinking with a little bit of embellishing it can be a Christmas stocking for the baby.

My knitting mojo comes and goes. Do you ever get the urge to knit something new and exciting but just can't get started? That's what has been happening to me. I look and look and look at Ravelry and through my knitting books, hoping something will grab me, but nothing does. I did manage to finish the Yarn Harlot's one row scarf shown above. It's a little short, so I'm trying to decide whether to go ahead and bind off or order one more skein online.

Dogwood came to visit today and we walked to downtown Willow Glen for lunch and a little shopping. I bought this crochet coin purse I've been wanting for a while. It's not as cute as Thimbleanna's blue beaded purse, but I had to have it.

We had lots of excitement around here this weekend ... in addition to the gynormous baby bootie and a visit from Dogwood, my new bed was delivered! Or maybe I should say Charlie and Apollo's new bed was delivered. Last night I found myself scrunched up on the edge of the bed because the cats were taking up the middle. I think tonight we are going to have to have a talk ...

Happy Halloween!

Tears of Joy

2010-10-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

Today it is official ... my little sister Hilary is having a baby!

She had her first doctor appointment today and gave me the okay to share the news. I've known for a while, but it is really hitting me right now because today she saw a picture of the baby and the heartbeat. I can't stop crying.

I'm going to be an aunt for the first time! We haven't had a baby in the family for a very long time and I am so looking forward to the arrival of this child. My whole family is ecstatic about the news.

Congrats Hil and Jeff! You will be wonderful parents.

PS. The photo is Hil on her wedding day a little over a year ago.

Chilling, thrilling ATCs

2010-10-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

The theme for my artist trading card swap group this month is "Things That Go Bump in the Night." I had lots of fun making my cards with scrapbook paper and stickers, but wanted to spooky them up for this post, so I used the cool Halloween effects on Picnik.

I went a bit overboard with the effects. It takes me back to years ago when I first discovered how to change the color of fonts and use clip art in Microsoft Word, before I learned that more isn't always better.

I've never been much of a Halloween person, but this year I'm enjoying it more than usual. While out for my walk this evening I found myself wishing I could go trick or treating.

The neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate a 44-year old Hannah Montana knocking on their door.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween in the 'hood

2010-10-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Brrr, it's chilly today! I'm wrapped in a flannel blanket on the couch, waiting for the rain to start. It's going to be a wet and cozy weekend (my favorite kind). I have some shopping to do, but I'm starting to wonder if I really even want to leave my home today.

I've been trying to walk every evening and wanted to show you some of the cool Halloween decorations I've encountered around the neighborhood.

Love those tiny pumpkins.

Big spiders are all the rage this year. Do you have them in your neighborhood, too? (I've been seeing smaller, even scarier ones in my apartment. Shudder.)

Good old-fashioned punkin' head.

Pretty clever with the heart.

This one is dedicated to Disney-lovers Kim and Hil.

Well, I'm off to the kitchen to make a bagel and coffee. I have Mad Men episodes to watch on DVD, a half-finished collage to work on, and want to find a juicy new knitting project to sink my teeth in to. What are your plans for the weekend?

Getting settled in

2010-10-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad the move is over! All of the boxes are unpacked and I am getting settled in my new place. One of the best things about it are the gorgeous eucalyptus and redwood trees outside the patio and bedroom window.

The bedroom window has a nice view of the pool, too, which is especially pretty when it is lit up at night. From my bed I look out over the jungle that is growing up out of the creek (a crazy blend of trees, brush, and vines) and can hear the constant sound of water flowing.

We are getting lots of chickadees to the bird feeders on the patio. The cats are highly entertained-- it's like they have their own cable channel that they can't stop watching. (I'm getting addicted to that channel, too!)

It is fun exploring the new neighborhood. This place is right down the street and very, very tempting. They have the best custard-filled maple bars I have ever tasted.

I was completely exhausted this week after the move, but I'm coming back to life after having a massage and pedicure yesterday. The only knitting I've done is to work on a scarf for about twenty minutes and I will post pictures of that soon.

I've missed you all and will be visiting your blogs today.

Trick or Treat!

2010-10-06T17:40:00.000-07:00

Aren't these Halloween bears adorable? The artist is my sister Lisa Berry, also known as Feltypants. After many years of quietly painting in her home studio, Lisa recently started showing her work at art shows, benefits, and galleries. I'm so proud of her for putting herself out there ... it's scary as heck to open yourself up to other people eyes.

My other favorite is her musical cat series, also available as note cards. I dig that "Lust for Life" cat.

Okay, I'm saying good-bye again, this time for real, while I move to the new place. Talk to you (hopefully) next week.

A few things I'm in love with right now

2010-10-05T05:20:00.000-07:00

Both of my sisters and my mom have been Food Network fans for a while now, but I never understood what all of the fuss was about. Now I'm hooked. It all started with Cupcake Wars a few months ago, but the show that really got me hooked is Chopped.

Do you ever watch it? Guest chefs compete in three rounds to make an appetizer, entree, and dessert using mystery ingredients they find out about a few seconds before they have to start cooking. The ingredients are things that don't go well together and they get very little time to make each dish.

It is tense watching the chefs figure out how to make dishes with ingredients like sardines, watermelon, and pepper jack cheese, and fascinating to see what they come up with. The judges taste their meals and then select one chef to get rid of for each round with a blunt, "You've been chopped." I played Chopped in my own kitchen last Sunday night and ended up with cheddar cheese and potato soup and a dish with Asian vegetables and cold salmon patties. If I had been on the show I would have been chopped the first round. It was that awful.

Last week I watched a Masterpiece Theater production of Sense & Sensibility that aired in 2009. Oh, it was so good! I love the one with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet that came out about fifteen years ago, but I like this newer one even more. It's a mini-series, so the running time is longer and the casting is just perfect. I want to buy the DVD.

Have you ever checked out knitwear designer Jared Flood's blog, Brooklyn Tweed? He is a major talent, and although I've never tried any of his patterns, it's fun to just go to his blog and drool over the gorgeous photos of his work. I love his latest design, a triangular shawl called Terra. He calls the lace section an "undulating cousin-stitch of Feather-and-Fan lace motifs." Be still my heart.

So that's a few things I'm in love with this week. I'm working on a new scarf that I want to show you but might not be back until next week because of the move. Hope you have a wonderful week.

Goldenbird in transition

2010-10-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

On the one hand, I hate moving. On the other hand, my heart flutters with joy when I remind myself I am moving in less than a week.

Welcome to my living room. I am in transition.

I've started to emotionally detach from my current apartment so I can say good-bye to it next week. Yet I can't quite connect with my new apartment because I only saw the inside for a few minutes a month ago. I'm neither here nor there, focusing instead on the process of packing and the logistics of moving day.

I have lived in my current neighborhood for over 14 years. I love the tall trees, the shopping center with both Trader Joe's and Barnes & Noble, and the easy access to the highway. I know where the hummingbirds perch on a hot day, the best place to spot a Barn Owl late at night, and where to go for a solitary walk.

The new place

The new place looks beautiful from the outside, but I wonder what is waiting for me inside. Insects? Noisy neighbors? Chilly mornings and sleepless nights? I'm trying to focus on the good stuff-- top floor, private patio, bird feeders, and the sound of the creek. But it's hard not to fear the unknown.

When I moved 14 years ago to my current neighborhood, on moving day I woke up with a migraine and cried and cried. I had taken the apartment sight unseen because my rent had skyrocketed due to a housing shortage, and I was certain I would hate the new place.

When I arrived and saw the inside for the first time, it was love at first sight. I stayed there for over a decade before moving to a larger apartment within the same complex 18 months ago.

Another shot of the new place

The new place has many of the things I was looking for in a new home-- it is lush and green with lots of birds and a walking trail close by. But I had pictured myself in a rural setting, or perhaps in the mountains or by the beach. Instead I will be in the heart of the city on a busy street. I wanted a cottage with walls that are not attached to another residence. Instead I am in another apartment with people living on either side of me and below.

Fortunately, I can move again in six months if I'm not happy there. But I am hoping I will be. I hope it will be quiet, that I will find peace in the redwood and eucalyptus trees outside my window, that the sound of the creek will be reassuring, that it will lull me to sleep at night. I hope the cats enjoy the view from the top floor, that I will soon be on a first name basis with the folks that own the Thai restaurant a block away, that I will quickly learn where to spot wildlife on the walking trail across the street.

That is my hope. Soon I will find out.

Scribbles

2010-09-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, it is HOT here. Normally temps are comfortable this time of year, but we are having the most unbearable heatwave. I just went outside (it's almost 8pm), and it is still oppressive. Temps reached over 100F this afternoon and Google tells me it is currently 91F outside.

I've been knitting in spite of the heat. With my move coming up in less than two weeks and things so busy at work, I'm trying to set aside time each evening to relax and de-stress. Nothing new to show you, still working on my two scarves. I did buy this Cotton Supreme Batik yarn on Saturday to make a scarf for my sister, who assures me she likes it. I love the colors and the softness. (I got the picture off the Internet because I'm too lazy to actually take a picture of the skeins I bought.)

This is my September artist trading card for my swap group, made with ink pens and colored pencils. It was fun to doodle.

I got the idea for my ATC from this book Cory gave me for my birthday, Scribbles. It is written by her friend Lindsay Ostrom and is chock full of cute ideas for creative lettering.

Speaking of Cory, she kindly awarded me this Cherry On Top award. Thanks friend! I'm supposed to answer the question, "If you could go back and change one thing in your life, what would it be?" My answer is, I would like to instill a greater sense of confidence in my younger self and not worry so much about things beyond my control.

Wishing you a cool and happy week ...

Yarn in the House

2010-09-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday morning I drove to the coast to take a walk by the ocean. Afterward, I stopped in at a yarn shop a few blocks from the beach and discovered they were offering 20% off their entire inventory.

Oh, frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

The Mission 1824 Cotton is for making wash cloths.

I'm using the Paca de Seda alpaca/silk blend to make a scarf for someone who shall not be named as she might be reading this. The pattern is the Yarn Harlot's One Row Scarf.

My Reversible Cable Scarf that I started a few weeks ago is coming right along, too.

On a completely different subject, did you watch the season premier of Dancing with the Stars this week? Last season wasn't very interesting, but this season they have a great line up. Did you see Jennifer Grey dance? I loved the movie Dirty Dancing when it came out (still do). Seeing her dance again so beautifully after all these years brought a few tears to my eyes.

Silly stuff about me

2010-09-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

My friend Jane over at Maiden Jane tagged me for this fun and silly quiz.

1. What is one thing you just cannot stand?

Oh, so many things! Near the top of my list is unthoughtful people who park their cars so poorly that they take two spaces in crowded lots where parking is already at a minimum.

2. If you could go back to your childhood, which cartoon or television show would you pick to be your all-time favorite?

That would have to be Happy Days. I was so in love with Fonzie.

3. What's something you do or have done that would surprise people?

I've traveled all over the country by myself to hike in our National Parks and see areas of great natural beauty. Two of my favorite places are Mt. Rainier and the Florida Everglades.

4. Do you believe in ghosts?

Let's just say that I am very open-minded. I used to scoff at all things supernatural, but then some things happened that made me change my mind.

5. When you go in to a store, what is your weakness, something you just can't help yourself buying more of?

That has to be yarn! I have little self-control when it comes to books, too.

6. What is your proudest moment of being a parent? (Animals do count.)

I don't have children, so I will have to tell you about a Charlie moment. There have been several times when he thought his little brother Apollo was in danger and moved quickly to protect him from other cats and strangers. It brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw him do that.

7. If you could go back and relive one day of your life, which day would you choose?

I have been thinking about this question the last few days. It is an interesting question to contemplate. I thought about loved ones I have lost and how I would like to see them again and impulsive decisions I have made that I would like to take back. I also thought about accomplishments that I am proud of. But as I reviewed the special moments in my life, one thing really stood out that I never realized meant that much to me. I don't want to say what it is because it's too personal, but I will say it was a big surprise and has me rethinking my priorities.

Cory at Pink Dogwood Blossom, would you like to play?

Show & tell and thoughts on letting go of stuff

2010-09-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

When I went to see Cory in Grass Valley last month, she took me to her daughter Teresa's pottery studio, T-Pots Pottery, where I made this fused glass dish. I am so pleased with how it turned out! It was easy and fun to make. I wish Teresa's studio was in my neighborhood so I could make a few more of these dishes as gifts for family and friends.

The theme for our August artist trading cards was bags and shoes (and optionally hats). I struggled and struggled and struggled with it and couldn't figure out what to do. I've found that when I become both blocked and obsessed about some creative pursuit, the best thing to do is make it as simple as possible. Hence my ATC with little drawings.

I'm selling some of my furniture in preparation for the move next month and finding it surprisingly difficult to let go of my stuff. It used to be that I had no problem selling, tossing and giving things away, but I guess with age comes attachment. I sold my futon this morning and currently have an ad on Craig's List for this dining room table, which belonged to my grandmother. As I was writing the ad, a wave of grief washed over me because this is one of the last things that I have of hers. I've been using it as a desk the last year or so because I have a smaller table that fits better in the dining room, but there isn't room for both of them in my new place.

I've tried to donate this potato chip can twice, but can't let it go. I got it from my sister a couple years ago, and she said it used to belong to our mother. When I saw it I was flooded with warm childhood memories, but to be honest I'm not sure if I actually remember this can or not. It is the contents that really got to me.

Inside are the cookie cutters my mother used when I was a child. I have such fond memories of her baking for us. It is unlikely I will ever use these, but I don't think I can part with them.

You might have noticed that I haven't been blogging or visiting your blogs as much as I used to the last few months. There are several reasons. One is that my workload at my job doubled and I don't have the time and energy that I used to have. Another reason is this time of year, the transition from summer to fall, is a funny time for me. It brings on a melancholy, and if I don't take good care of myself it turns in to full-blown depression by November. So I've been giving myself lots of quiet time to read and reflect. The last reason is I haven't been knitting much and don't have anything fiber-related to share with you.

I'm thinking about starting a new blog that is more general or changing the name of this one so that knitting is no longer the focus. (Not that it ever really was.) I'm going to keep mulling it over and will let you know.

Hope that you are enjoying your weekend. I do plan to visit your blogs later tonight or tomorrow.

Black & White Wednesday :: The New Place

2010-09-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

I'm not moving until next month, but I took a drive over to the new place last weekend to take some pictures. The grounds looked so pretty with the morning light streaming through the trees.

My most important belongings are packed and ready to go.

Guess what I'm shopping for?

2010-09-10T21:10:00.000-07:00

No, not birds .... bird feeders! Can you guess why?

I'm moving next month! To a place that allows bird feeders!

For those of you that asked, my current apartment complex doesn't allow feeders because they don't want you to attach anything to the building. No wind chimes, hanging baskets, decorations, etc. But ... whatever. I'm leaving!

The new apartment is on the top floor with a balcony surrounded by trees and a creek below. Bird heaven! Actually, the manager called it "bird highway" because of all the feeders hanging there already.

Yay!

The Forbidden Bird Feeder

2010-09-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

Shhhh ... don't tell anyone.

I have a bird feeder on my patio.

My apartment complex doesn't allow bird feeders. But I couldn't bear to be without one any longer.

So far, I have seen chickadees at the feeder and juncos nibbling on the spilt seeds on the ground.

The squirrels are enjoying the spillage, too.

I have a water bowl for the squirrels. When it is empty, they clang it loudly in protest.

You-know-who is enjoying the show.

Summer fun

2010-09-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I went camping for the first time in 14 years. The ocean was a five minute walk from the campground, and we could hear the lapping of waves at night. One day I walked down to the beach and sat for a couple hours staring at the water. My life has been extremely busy and exhausting the last several weeks, and I needed to just sit and let my mind wander without trying to accomplish anything. There was no one around except me and the wind, and I found myself spontaneously singing a Tibetan Buddhist chant, "Om Mani Padme", which means the jewel in the lotus. Suddenly I remembered that I had my MP3 player in my backpack, and that particular song was on it. Within a few minutes I was playing, splashing, and dancing in the water accompanied by Om Mani Padme.

I turned 44 years old earlier this week. It was very much a bird birthday! I received many owl- and bird-themed gifts, like an owl towel from Cory, owl bandages and a bird calendar from Hilary. Aren't those bandages a hoot? (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) While camping, my family surprised me one evening with a chocolate cake and candles. They sang happy birthday and spoiled me with presents. I was a happy camper. Another birthday treat occurred later in the week when my co-workers took me out to lunch at Applebee's and the waitress sang happy birthday to me in Italian. It was gorgeous.

A sweet blogger friend sent me a package of bird goodies in the mail for my birthday, including this vintage crocheted owl. Isn't it adorable? I'm still trying to decide where to hang it.

I'm listening to the audio book Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter Ann. Sue is the author of The Secret Life of Bees. The book is a memoir of her and Ann's journey to Greece as Sue struggles with her upcoming 50th birthday and Ann deals with depression over the loss of a dream. It is also about mothers and daughters and there is a strong spiritual theme. It's a little slow, but rich and textured and inspired.

I'm working on a reversible cable scarf in a soft cotton and silk blend yarn. Cables are still a bit of a novelty, and although this pattern is quite simple, I'm enjoying it very much. I've been wanting to knit a cabled scarf ever since I saw Cinder over at Brooklyn Tweed.

Hope you enjoy the Labor Day weekend.

Cool August Nights

2010-08-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

I can't remember ever having such a cool summer here in California. I dislike hot weather, so the mild days and cool nights have been wonderful. This morning when I woke up it was so chilly I actually considered turning on the heater.

On Sunday I stopped by my local yarn shop to take advantage of their birthday special. After they ring up your yarn, you pick a chip out of a bowl and receive the discount on the chip. My chip was for 20% off. I bought a couple skeins of Katia Tobago, which is 100% cotton. I'm knitting a boring old kitchen cloth and enjoying it tremendously.

You also get to pick a free cloth project bag from a selection made with vintage-looking fabric. I love this soft rose pattern.

I'm still reading Pride & Prejudice sequels and spin-offs and showing no sign of slowing down. Recently I watched the movie from 1940 with Lawrence Olivier as Darcy. It was entertaining, but a little silly. They changed an important part of the story, which was hard to swallow, and the actress who played Elizabeth, Greer Garson, looked to be in her mid-thirties. She was gorgeous, but not quite right for the part.

I'm listening to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on audio during my commute back and forth to work. I almost gave up on it it a couple times because it is slow in parts, but now that I'm more than halfway through it is getting really interesting.

Last of all, I went to see Eat Pray Love. It was good, but much lighter than the book. The one thing that has remained with me is Javier Bardem, who gave an excellent performance.

Well, that's what I've been up to you. Anything new with you?

Grumble, grumble. Sigh.

2010-08-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

I am so frustrated. I want to create, but it just isn't working. In the mood to knit, I took my plastic bins of yarn out of the closet and picked through my stash, hoping for inspiration. Nothing. I spent an hour on Ravelry looking at patterns. Nothing. So I got out my paints and embellishments, intending to collage. That started out well, but it didn't take long before I abandoned it, muttering, "My art sucks." Grrrr. I feel like a flower that wants to bloom but can't quite get enough sunshine.

So instead of showing you my latest works-in-progress, I'm going to share some of the artist trading cards I received recently from my swap group. (They are all photographed at an angle so that Blogger doesn't turn them sideways when I upload them.)

The one on the left is from Rachel at Not-So-Plain Jane. The one on the right is from Deb at Garage Sale Gal. They both have such an eye for color and design. You probably guessed the theme was butterflies.

From Cory at Pink Dogwood Blossom. She made it with her own handmade paper.

From Jill. I love the way she combined the butterfly stickers with the painted tree. The photo doesn't do it justice.

This one is from Cheryl for our Under the Sea theme. I love it!

I'm going to drag myself to the Farmer's Market and then go off in search of a chocolate eclair. It's shaping up to be a lazy Sunday. Maybe a day spent laying around doing nothing will prove to be restorative.

Do you ever get the creative doldrums? How do you snap out of it?

Black & White Wednesday :: Hands Knitting

2010-08-11T00:07:00.000-07:00

"Knitting is clothing made in spare moments, or round the fire, whenever women gathered together...
It's something to celebrate, clothes made in love and service, something women have always done."
- Anne Bartlett, Knitting: A Novel

Thanks to Linda at Natural Suburbia for Black & White Wednesday.

(Hands courtesy of Dogwood, who by the way is having a giveaway!)

Crafty Weekend

2010-08-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

I knew that Cory had planned some crafty activities for our weekend together in Grass Valley, but I didn't quite comprehend the fun that was in store for us until I arrived. It was like an arts & crafts retreat.

When I got there at noon on Friday, she whisked me in to her studio and taught me to make this cool handmade paper. It's made with brown paper bags, paint, glitter, spray-on webbing, and gold coloring. Very fun and easy to make, but I went a bit overboard with the glitter.

After a trip to the incredible Ben Franklin craft store, we spent the evening needle felting.

On Saturday morning we departed for T Pots Pottery in Truckee, owned by Cory's wonderful daughter Teresa. The drive there through the Sierra Nevada mountain range was breathtaking.

I've never painted pottery before and wasn't sure I could make something that I would ever want to look at again, but Cory and Teresa patiently walked me through the process. The above picture is the plate I painted before it was dipped in glaze and put in the kiln.

And here it is after. The flowers were created with a stencil, so it was quite easy. I also made a fused glass dish, but will have to show you that at a later time.

After dinner at a yummy Thai restaurant, we went home and sat outside on the deck intending to knit and chat. The evening took an exciting turn when a Western Screech Owl popped his head out of the owl nesting box. Her backyard is a birder's paradise.

This morning before I left, Cory taught me how to bind a little book made with folded paper that can be painted and embellished. I can't wait to start working on it. The above photo is a similar book that Cory created.

Rocky supervised all craft activities :)

Black & White Wednesday :: Apollo

2010-08-04T23:59:00.000-07:00

Phew, I got in just under the wire for Black & White Wednesday ... it's 11:45 pm.

Since Charlie was the subject last week, to be fair I am featuring Apollo this week. He is a sweet, well-behaved cat, and awfully skittish. Lately I've been letting him go outside for a few minutes each night, and it was a joy to watch him roll around on the grass for the first time.

On Friday I am off to Grass Valley to visit with Dogwood. See you when I get back!

Looky look

2010-08-03T23:49:00.000-07:00

... at what arrived in the mail yesterday.

An owl towel!

Cute potholders! With owls!

Jen at Miss Punkie Pie made them for me in exchange for the Apple Tree Scarf. The owl towel was a complete surprise-- I thought I was only getting potholders. Jen was so sweet to remember that I love owls.

Aren't those mushrooms cute? They remind me of the 1970's.
And Strawberry Shortcake.

Thanks Jen!

Booties Galore

2010-08-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

Finally. Someone I know is pregnant! I get to knit for an actual baby, not just for the love of tiny little things. I used Frog Tree Pima Silk for the seed stitch booties, and oh my, it is wonderful to work with. I'm not exactly sure what it is about cotton/silk blend yarn that makes me so happy ... maybe it's the softness, the way it glides smoothly over the needle, or the slight sheen. Or maybe all three.

Matching caps are in the queue.

Yesterday I went to San Francisco with my family and needed an easy knitting project for the drive there, so I started another ripple scarf using the same pattern as the Apple Tree scarf. You might remember this Fairytale yarn from when it arrived last spring. This pattern gets pretty tedious after a while, but I really like how it looks with the variegated yarn.

We are having an uncommonly cool summer (hopefully I didn't just jinx it), which might be why I am getting enthusiastic about knitting again after a short break.

Black & White Wednesday :: Charlie

2010-07-28T00:21:00.000-07:00

This week I am participating in Linda's Black & White Wednesday with photos of one of my favorite subjects, Charlie. I have to admit, I cheated a little by doctoring color photographs in Picnik to make them black and white.

I wish I could show you a picture of how Charlie looked when I first found him as a tiny five week old kitten so that you could see the contrast. He was skeletal and had a swollen, infected eye. I doubt he would have lived through another day if someone hadn't rescued him. (If you would like to read the story of how Charlie came in to my life, it is here.)

It is amazing when I look at him now, so big and healthy and gorgeous. I found him during a particularly difficult time in my life, so I like to say that I rescued him and he rescued me right back. He is a chatty, playful, loving, and mischievous companion, and I adore him.

Wonderful morning

2010-07-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned a few times that I love the beach and often want to go on the weekends, but can't seem to get moving early enough to avoid the traffic that can back up for miles. Well, this morning I managed to get there, thanks to a certain cat named Charlie who decided I'd slept in long enough at 7:30am.

It was a cool, beautiful morning. There were lots of crashing waves, pelicans, and a few paddle boarders playing in the water. My walk took about an hour, and while I enjoyed it very much, I was a bit preoccupied with a craving for something sweet.

So, I popped in at a French bakery for coffee and a pastry. The line was out the door, but it was worth the wait because I had the BEST chocolate eclair that I have ever tasted. Oh. My. Goodness. I think I may have found my motivation for getting up early and going to the beach on the weekends.

I also tried macarons for the first time. I've wanted to taste them ever since Anna wrote about them on her blog. The chocolate one was okay, but a bit too sweet. I saved the pistachio macaron for later because let's face it, a green pastry is not terribly appetizing, but have since tasted it and found it to be YUM.

As if that weren't enough, next door to the French bakery is a yarn shop!! Within minutes of entering the place I found six skeins of yarn I wanted to buy, but somehow managed to walk out empty-handed. I have so much yarn in my stash that it just isn't okay to buy more right now. But I thought about that yarn all the way home, and if there wasn't so much traffic in the opposite direction I might have turned around, gone back there and bought it.

Back at home, I stopped by my neighborhood farmer's market for fresh fruit and veggies. The strawberries are so good this year. I'm not sure why they taste better from the farmer's market than the grocery store, but they really do.

I also treated myself to a bouquet of flowers from the farmer's market, which Charlie seems to think are for him from the way he keeps sniffing and nibbling at them. Oh well, I guess he does deserve a thank you gift for getting me up and out the door so early.

Hope you enjoy what is left of your Sunday.

Trying to relax

2010-07-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

I never realized how much blogging relaxes me until today. I've been busy/stressed/exhausted lately, and thought it best to take a break from my blog. But today I discovered that the act of taking photos and planning what to write really calms me down.

[There should be a photo here, but the ones I took that relaxed me so much turned out terrible, so never mind.]

I've been doing lots of other stuff to try and relax. Last weekend I got a pedicure (my toenails are a lovely shade of blue) and a massage. On Saturday I visited my favorite bath and body store, Lush, for a special they were offering-- buy fifty dollars worth of products and get a free goody bag. Have you ever tried Lush? Ooooh, their lotions, bath bombs and skin cleansers are wonderful.

Not only did I get my bag of freebies, but on Sunday I found out that I had guessed the correct number of Rollos in a glass vase and won almost $100 worth of products. I had a big smile on my face all day.

I also discovered Jane Eyre in the last few weeks. Not the book, but the Masterpiece Theater production with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson. Have you seen it? I didn't know what the story was about and found myself spellbound by the tale. The actors were so good! Especially hunky Toby. I ended up watching two other productions that I found at the library, one with Timothy Dalton (also hunky) and another with William Hurt, but didn't like those quite as much. At some point I will get around to reading the book.

Last but not least, have you seen the crochet-covered sea stones at the Purl Bee? Oh my gosh, they are incredible. The designer, Margaret Oomen, is so talented. The Purl Bee describes them as mesmerizing, and that is the perfect word-- it's hard to stop looking at them.

Butterflies

2010-07-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

The theme for our July ATCs is butterflies. I kept mine simple with stickers and scrapbook paper.

In another post I will show you the ATCs I received from the group-- they are gorgeous and so original.

Next month's theme is shoes and purses, which will be fun. I have a few ideas but haven't decided what to do yet.

The butterfly theme is timely because I constantly see a large yellow butterfly floating by outside my living room window. I wonder if it is the same one or if there are many of them? I never see more than one at a time.

Apollo looked so handsome this morning resting on the sunny window sill that I had to get a picture. I tried to take a black and white shot so I could join Linda's challenge, but couldn't quite figure out the camera settings. There is still a bit of pink in that fleece blanket.

Between work and blogging I have been spending so much time on the computer that my arms and wrists are starting to ache. I have been reading your blogs but not commenting as much as I usually do so I can give them a rest. Please know I enjoy your posts very much and will return to commenting more frequently soon.

A night in Santa Cruz

2010-07-11T22:02:00.000-07:00

Friday night I treated myself to a night at a hotel in Santa Cruz. I've wanted to spend the night at the beach for a very long time so that I can wake up and be a few steps from the ocean. The above picture is the view from my deck at nine o'clock at night. I could hear the rhythmic lull of the waves from my room, or at least I would have if I hadn't had to sleep with ear plugs. My neighbors in the next room were beer drinkin' rowdy types.

It was a very elite, upscale hotel. :o)

(Actually, I have no complaints and would stay there again. It was the perfect location and my room was nice. There is no escaping noisy neighbors on a summer weekend when you stay in a hotel near the boardwalk.)

I wanted to take a bunch of cool blurry nighttime photos of the rides at the boardwalk, but this is the only one that turned out decent. Not sure if you can tell there are swings on ropes attached to that disc. There is no way I would ever go on that ride.

When I arrived at the hotel, I could hear a band playing near the beach. The woman who checked me in said there was a free concert going on, but didn't tell me who it was. I walked over to find out and you'll never guess. Santana! They were awesome. I have my doubts that Carlos Santana was actually playing with them, and I couldn't get close enough to see because the place was jam packed, but no matter, they sounded so good. I had an urge to dance, but nobody else was dancing and I didn't want my tubby self to end up on YouTube.

This is the boardwalk early the next morning before it officially opened. Being there brought back so many memories ... family day trips as a child, me and my sister riding the Big Dipper and Cave Train, and when I got older going on dates there. I have so many memories of that place over the last thirty years that it feels a bit like home.

This is the municipal wharf. I love the look of the palm trees and hotels in the background.

And this was the view on my morning walk along the top of the cliffs. That was the main reason for going, an early stroll near the water, and it was the highlight of my short time there. Being at the ocean is soothing. Now I want to go back for a long weekend ...