May 28 2009

Nacimiento

Category: Friends & Fun,Life & Stuff — Mistress Rows @ 11:26 am

I’m a big believer in birthdays. I think EVERYONE should get a special day. Your birthday is one day out of the year where the people who love you have a concerted opportunity to “say”: ‘hey, thanks for being in my life, you’re the only you there is’. I try to make others get that too, giving as good as I get. Years ago, when we were just friends, I threw my husband his first birthday party. I couldn’t believe that no one had taken the time to make him feel special for a day, for god’s sake! People deserve a day to themselves. Steve is my official birthday designee, in that he is designated in “charge” of my birthday, and as he is my beloved, I am in charge of his. Everyone deserves a birthday designee, if you don’t have one, one should be assigned to you, like a public defender, damnit!

Today I turn 31,and I am happy for it. This morning I was given sleepy husband-on-vacation-and-still-in-bed happy birthday mumbles, and a much more coherent call later. Later in the morning, my mom and dad called me from Big Mama (their motor home) in Lake George. They had themselves on speakerphone and sang me a happy birthday song. Last year it was in Spanish, this year it was in English, but with an email to my work addy in Spanish that read as follows:

“Querida hija,

Te deseamos mucha felicidad, amor, y salud hoy en el dia de tu nacimiento. Disfruta tu juventud con tu esposo.

Te queremos, Mami, Papi y Nuala.”

That translates to: “Dear daughter, we wish you much happiness, love, and health on the day of your birth. Enjoy your youth with your husband. We/with love (iffy on the use of queremos there) Mom, dad, and Nuala”

Steve is home making me Pretzel Crack for the first time, after a false start last night and an emergency call to Grandma Pat. Anyone who had it at my bridal shower can attest as to how good that salty, sweet and tart goodness is. I am a lucky gal.

Thanks to those who have already wished me well, especially Amy, who never forgets anyone. Ever. She’s awesome like that, and even though I flaked on her birthday, she sent me a beautiful pair of earrings (plus a card and funny magnet) in the mail! My husband took one look at them and said, “wow, she’s got you down pat”. I’m wearing them today, thank you Amy! She even texted me this morning, tired from work. I aim to redeem myself in person to her at WOOL, and I’d like to link to the gift I know she’s going to love, only that would spoil the surprise.

Sterling silver and onyx, perfect!

Sterling silver and onyx, perfect!

Cross your fingers that the weather clears up like it’s supposed to for the picnic my husband has planned on Saturday for family and friends. If you’re coming, I can’t wait to see you there… if you can’t make it, I’ll keep you in my heart. :)

May 27 2009

Spinning FO: Poisoned Apple

Category: FO,Spinning — Mistress Rows @ 3:53 pm

Fiber: “Poisoned Apple” 100% Superwash BFL top from Enchanted Hues
Wheel: Lendrum DT, 8:1 ratio whorl
Weight: 8 oz / 226g
Yardage: 614 yards, 2-ply
Diameter: Thick & thin, runs sport to heavy DK
Techniques: Spun worsted

Poisoned Apple Superwash BFL

Poisoned Apple Superwash BFL

What can I say about this project that hasn’t already been said? I’ve certainly waxed poetic every time I mention the fiber on my blog. But, I suppose there’s still a little bit left to say, though you’ll have to forgive me for sounding repetitious.

So, as you all know, spinning the fiber was a pleasure. I can’t thank Leann enough for creating the colorway for me and sending me the first 4oz as a swap gift. Because it was braided top, I stripped both braids into rough thirds and tugged until I had drafted out little nests of raspberry goodness. One braid was darker than the other, so I made sure to try and alternate as I rolled them into balls and stored them for spinning.

This was only the second superwash top (BFL) I’d ever spun that didn’t have that… sticky feeling. Do you know what I mean? When I’m spinning merino superwash top, more often than not I notice that the fibers will “slick and stick”. One moment it’s flying through your fingers, then – just as you get a good rhythm going – it’ll stick to itself and you get a clump or thicker section that you have to strip or thin out. What a joy it was to spin.

This was definitely not my most consistent spinning. The first bobbin was great, but the second was spun with lots of interruptions and I was getting anxious. I wanted to finish it up over the weekend so I instinctually spun it slightly thicker than the first bobbin. I really need to use my spinner’s gauge, that’s what I have the damned thing for.

When I plied I ended up with a lot left over on the original bobbin, so I wound it off onto a cake and spun it from both ends so as not to waste it. I popped that baby into the bath and it really bloomed a lot. I was a little concerned that the water turned very pink, but the bleeding didn’t affect the vibrancy of the color at all, even after it was dry.

Very hard to photograph, that red.

Very hard to photograph, that red.

All over the place.

All over the place.

The inconsistencies in grist make for a more rustic looking homespun than I would normally be comfortable with. Definitely not good enough for competition, but you know what? I love it anyway. I’m hoping there is enough here for a small shawl. Or maybe I’ll use it to work up another hat and scarf in that super secret pattern I made up last year. There’s definitely enough for that.

My precious.

My precious.

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May 24 2009

Festival of Friends: Cummington '09

Category: FO,Friends & Fun,Loot,Swaps,WOOL,events — Mistress Rows @ 7:08 pm

Yesterday ended up being a 16 hour day for me, from the time I work up, till the time I got home. To say that I overdid it would be an understatement. So, onto the recap!

Handsome man posed me for me very nicely.

Handsome man posed me for me very nicely.

This young lady, and her sister, were VERY friendly, asking to be pet and scritched on the face and ears!

This young lady, and her sister, were VERY friendly, asking to be pet and scritched on the nose and ears!

Cummington was all about friends for me, top to bottom. Serendipity ruled the day, from ‘Chelle and I meeting up with Wendy and her husband I was picking Michelle up (and then carpooling), to all the faces, new and old, that I was privileged to meet.

Sexy fiber fools.

Sexy fiber fools.

Me, Jenny, and her friend.

Me, Jenny, and her friend.

I think I kinda freaked out Dan from Gnomespun, in my ever classy manner I pointed at him while yelling “Oh! Gnome!” and then telling him I was just an overenthusiastic new reader and he could go on his way now, unmolested. Seriously, I quote, I really said it just like that. I’m glad I got to make up for that later. :P I saw Jenny and Adrian, Carolyn and Joe, Habetrot (?), Lisa and Jennifer from Tsock Tsarina & Holiday Yarns, Laurie (from SOAR!) and that awesome Scottish lady, also from SOAR, whose name I can’t remember. Of course there was Risa and Jess, and many, many other folks. In one particular barn I couldn’t move five feet without tripping over Ravelers and fiber friends. Cummington was “filthy” with them, as one person said. I was blown away by how many people, many of whom I’d only met once, gave me big hugs to say hello. *warm, fuzzy*

Risa. It was bright.

Risa. It was bright.

Jenny says Jesh cookies are AWESOME!

Jenny says Jesh cookies are AWESOME!

Sheila Bosworth, who always remembers me and says hi. :)

Sheila Bosworth, who always remembers me and says hi. :)

The shopping was wonderful, and much to my joy, the VERY first booth I walked into housed Buckwheat Bridge. I had previously despaired, as they weren’t on the vendor list handed to us when we entered. There wasn’t much variety in roving, but Dan told me that I could come to the barn and custom dye and mill my own roving, with their help! I just about fell over. I mean, once they told me I could come by off season and pick up something if I wanted, but this is a whole ‘nother realm of HELLS-YEAH!

This young lady, probably around 6 or 7, was spinning beautifully.

This young lady, probably around 6 or 7, was spinning beautifully.

And THIS young lady knit herself a STUNNING Maplewing shawl. She seemed really pleased when I stopped her to admire and talk about it.

And THIS young lady knit herself a STUNNING Maplewing shawl. She seemed really pleased when I stopped her to admire and talk about it.

I was a good girl and wherever possible limited myself to 1/2 lb quantities. So, here we have Spinner’s Hill, BWBA, and Surdy Run Woolen Mill. I was so pleased to find dark fiber to spin, it’s harder to find than you think. My first purchase of the day was actually an armful of Spin Off back issues, at $2 a pop! Oh, sweet rapture! I left one behind, not because I already owned it, but because it seemed wrong to buy every last one. I love it when I can score them at good prices, back issues are just awesome, every one full of interesting goodness.

Black wool with navy mohair from Surdy Run Mill.

Black wool with navy mohair from Surdy Run Mill.

Black wool, mohair, and red alpaca from Spinner's Hill.

Black wool, mohair, and red alpaca from Spinner's Hill.

50/50 Cormo and kid mohair from Buckwheat Bridge.

50/50 Cormo and kid mohair from Buckwheat Bridge.

Treasury of knowledge.

Treasury of knowledge.

As I suspected, Wendy gave in and decided not to wait till Fall. She is now the proud owner of a Kromski Sonata, proud and somewhat shocked. Even the M&M on her check looks shocked. We were so happy for her, especially Jess… when she found out Wendy had bought a Sonata she almost peed herself she was so excited. I can say there was jumping and shrieking involved.

If you could get up close, you'd see the M&M looks terrified. Goodbye $500!

If you could get up close, you'd see the M&M looks terrified. Goodbye $500!

Kind of a cross between a New England chowder and a non-red Manhattan. But good.

Kind of a cross between a New England chowder and a non-red Manhattan. But good.

I had turtle icecream with REAL TURTLES!

I had turtle icecream with REAL TURTLES!

We left around 1:30 because we were pretty much done and made a few stops for lunch and party food, as well as a stop at Twin Hearts Yarn Shop in Pittsfield. What a great shop! I had no idea it was there, Michelle had never mentioned it that I remember on previous trips. The owners were wonderful, the stock and selection was great!

Twin Hearts Yarn Shop

Twin Hearts Yarn Shop

Last, but certainly not least, the day ended at Jess’s house. Jess says to me, as I sprawled in her recliner pre-party, “Tina’s tie-tie.” (That’s CuteOverload.com speak for “tired”, a term I too have used on occasion.) Yes, Tina was in fact, tie-tie. I perked up some when everyone started to show up, but I know I wasn’t my normal self. There was, however, plenty of good food and company! I even met Spincerely Yours, who dyed up some lovely roving I bought last summer. It was really funny when we realized almost everyone in the room had a Stitched by Jessalu bag. Hey, friends support friends, you can count on us!

Knittahs to the left!

Knittahs to the left!

Knittahs to the right!

Knittahs to the right!

I’m glad I went, but by 9 I was ready to go. What a day!

May 22 2009

Friday's Are for Random

Category: Festivals,Ramblings — Mistress Rows @ 9:50 am

Today is about the random, as every Friday before a holiday weekend tends to be.

There are few things in life as pleasurable as Lindt’s Intense Orange bar. Velvety dark chocolate, intense candied orange peel and delicate wafers of almond… all layered into thin squares of absolute delight. Almost as good as their Cherry Chili bar. Almost. There’s never been a better time to be a chocolate snob when I can get chocolate this good at my local Super Wal-Mart. It might not be gourmet, but it’s damned good.

My friend Robin has had a hard time during her semester abroad in Argentina. If you’ve got a moment, would you consider heading on over and saying a few kind words? Robin doesn’t even like to read thrillers or anything macabre (she’s a complete opposite to me) because she likes to focus on the good things in the world. Robin believes in the human spirit and nurturing the light, for her to be so abused twice in two months is like kicking puppies.

So, today (aside from forgetting my iPod at home) is a very good day. Not only is it Friday, but I’m leaving at 2, AND we had a coworker bring in an 11 week old Scottish Terrier puppy to work as a treat! His name is Charlie, he’s pitch black, and he cries when he’s away from his owner too long. I just want to snorgle him all up. If I hadn’t been overcome with squee I would have remembered to take a photo.

Tomorrow is Cummington, WOOHOO!!! Yes, there is so much woo in that sentiment that I really do need all three exclamation points. This is, I believe, my fourth Cummington, and I am no less excited for the passing of time. Buckwheat Bridge says they’re going to be there, and I’m tempted to call Sara just to make sure. I don’t know if I can stand the blow if they’re not there, friends who were with me at Clermont can testify to the vacant, forlorn confusion as I stood where they should have been and repeated “but… but… where ARE they?”

I feel that familiar sensation, that fine tingling of the nerves that happens to me before a wool show. My senses sharpen, my fingers twitch, and I swear that if I had fangs they’d elongate. It is the response of a hunter about to be let loose upon the lambs… lambs in this case being eager vendors. Oh my pretties, I am coming, have no fear. I shall be gentle as I rampage (politely) through the stalls.

It’s not just about the shopping though, it’s also about the people! I’ll be picking Michelle up at 8:30 and then it’s pedal to the metal though Massachusetts. (Blogless) Wendy may also be riding with me, and I am looking forward to seeing Jenny, Jess, Risa, Harriet, Tim, and many others.

Huzzah!

 

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May 20 2009

Duh.

Category: events — Mistress Rows @ 4:14 pm

It would help if I actually posted a link to the flyer I’d like help distributing, eh? Download the Hudson River Stitch & Spin  flyer here, if you’re local and you’d like to help. While you’re at it, would you consider  WOOL flyer too? Eternal gratitude ensues!

Also, I’d love to hear your suggestions on what shops I might contact to promote these events? How far afield? Do you know a shop that’s friendly towards this kind of thing? I’ll be writing a contact email tonight to have ready to send along with the flyers. I’ll be happy to visit those friendly shops within a 45 minute radius in person, but I know there are those further out that are still within reason, only I haven’t been there.

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May 19 2009

Palm Power

Category: Festivals,Life & Stuff,Spinning,events — Mistress Rows @ 1:50 pm

Holy guacamole, where does the time go? I’ve got stuff just roaring up from the horizon, it’s about time I charged up the Palm and got my life calendar-ized once more. Poor Palm, to have sat unloved and powerless for so long. Here are some of the things getting tapped into Lunita (yes, I name all my toys):

Cummington: This Saturday! Yay! I didn’t get my skeins in order, unfortunately, so I won’t be entering (no time now), but I very much look forward to attending, as usual. This is my “birthday show”. I’ll be attending the after-party at Jess’s afterwards. Flashin’ stash, stuffin’ faces. Works for me. It’s extra wonderful that we get Monday off here for Memorial Day. Gotta love long weekends.

Birthday: Next Thursday is my birthday, which I work, but I took Friday off to have yet another long weekend. Steve is putting on a birthday picnic party for me down at the same park I do the Stitch & Spin on that Saturday (30th). If you’re within driving distance and would like to hang out with a gaggle of (mostly) stitchers and spinners, don’t hesitate to crash! I think it runs from 12-5, comment or email me if you’re interested and I’ll pass your info along to Steve.

Stitch & Spin: It’s coming sooner than I think, Saturday June 27th! I can’t wait. I’ve got an events page created on Ravelry, and I posted it on the Hudson Valley Ravelers board. I’ve updated the flyer from last year, if you’re local, would you consider printing and posting in your LYS and/or coffee shop?

July, is quiet, so far. We’ll see how long that lasts.

On the crafting front, I have started the second repeat of the Agave chart on Aeolian Vows. It takes 30 minutes or so to finish one row so it’s quite slooow, but I work on it every day. I also finished that bobbin of Long Meadow Farms fiber on Sunday. I swear to god, it just flew out of my hands. I’m going to start the second bobbin of Poisoned Apple tonight so I can get that spun up, and hopefully done, before next week. Why next week? Next week Cris from Into the Whirled is supposed to be stopping by Knit Night and I’d love to show her how the crack she sold me at Clermont is spinning up.

Keep as a single? Ply?

As an added bonus, we now have TWO geese families at work, with nine goslings between them. Sure, they’re walking crap factories, but them babies sure are cute!

Fuzzy baby butts!

Fuzzy baby butts!

I’m living the life and loving it, let me tell you. Just don’t ask me about the house hunting.

May 17 2009

Wheel About Town

Category: Friends & Fun,Loot,Spinning — Mistress Rows @ 6:37 pm

It’s been a busy weekend with friends and family, which is definitely a recurring theme. At least I can say I got a lot done, and I definitely have something to show for it. Friday morning I started the say by finishing my Poisoned Apple bobbin, huzzah! I shall spin up a second and two ply it, I’m guessing it’s going to turn out around sport weight, perhaps a tiny bit heavier. I keep wanting to pet the bobbin.

Later in the day Harriet invited me to join her and her husband Tim at their LYS, Beau Knits, for their Knit Night. The store is small, but it’s got an interesting mix of this and that. I had a great time and am really glad that I went! Not only did I get to see two good friends, but I got to spend time with Kris, her mom, and another woman whose name I didn’t catch. All I know is that she and I had quite the fan-girl squee over Spock (Zachary Quinto) in the new Star Trek. I do believe we may have weirded out the others in our passionate squee-dom.

As a visiting guest, I didn’t feel right not coming home with something, so this just jumped in my arms as I roamed the store.

While I was there I started spinning up the first tasty batt from Long Meadow Farms (sadly site-less), my first purchase from this vendor, who I discovered at Clermont. Oh. My. God. Not only is it amazingly beautiful in it’s delicate visual complexity, but it’s a delight to spin. My first experience with a batt, also professionally prepared, was not the best. So far, I’ve only enjoyed spinning my own. This one brings back my faith in the batt, no doubt. It’s so easy to spin that I’m actually just sitting down and spinning it entirely from the batt, no stripping at all. THAT’S some easy spinning. I should mention that it’s 100% Romney. Not the softest fiber in the world, but still nice.

May 14 2009

Rhymes With Soup

Category: Knitting,Loot,Spinning,Swaps,WIP — Mistress Rows @ 4:46 pm

It’s a very good thing I got my dose of Vitamin K yesterday because the weather turned to absolute crap here in Upstate NY. It’s grey and rainy, just the kind of day you want to curl back up under the covers instead of being a responsible adult and going to work. Bah! Bah, I say!

That's some sexy string.

That's some sexy string.

As promised, here’s a picture of my progress with the Poisoned Apple roving Leann dyed for me. Can I just mention again how soft and delicious this fiber is? How perfectly me the colors are? I really must reiterate that for an all around smooth and carefree spinning experience, BFL really is the way to go. I wish BFL were as ubiquitous as Merino, to be honest. There’s something about Merino that, while soft, just isn’t as much fun to spin. I’m always surprised at the subtle difference when I switch back and forth. BFL makes my fingers happy. If my fingers could smile, trust me, they would.

Happy fingers.

Happy fingers.

On the Aeolian front, I am on the last row of the transition chart! And do you know what that means?

Creating the nupp.

Setting up the nupp.

Nupps! (Rhymes with soups, so sayeth Nancy Bush and my Estonian SOAR roommate concurred.) I have been looking forward to the nupps for the entire shawl, and I FINALLY got to try them again for the first time since SOAR. Nancy’s class was wonderful, and I don’t understand why I was the only one in my session that thought that nupps were fun. They are fun, in fact, they’re fan-damn-tastic! It’s like acrobatics for your needles, and as long as you’re careful and patient, you get this silky little poof of a pillow in your knitting as a reward.

Purling 9 together on the back side.

Purling 9 together on the back side.

I’m doing the 9-stitch nupp vs. the 7-stitch because I think that option looks better. The pattern leaves it up to you to choose. The next chart up is the first Agave chart (twice I believe) then the final Agave chart. After that I change beads to the copper lined ones and start the border! Very exciting. Who needs drugs when you can get giddy high off of your knitting?

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May 13 2009

Pictures, Progress & Phobia Anyone?

Category: Knitting,Life & Stuff — Mistress Rows @ 3:56 pm

As I said last week, one of the best things about spring is knitting in the sun. I’ve been doing a lot of that at work lately. The sun makes me happy. So does visiting the beautician, where I pay to be tortured with hot wax.

The sun makes me happy. :)

The sun makes me happy. :)

This picture shows how big the shawl is getting. But the truth is, it’s really actually much bigger, you just can’t see it because it’s all bunched up on the needles. Even if I hold it up you can’t tell, because it sort of bows into a half bag shape in the middle, a product of a soft triangular object forced into a semi-straight line. It’s pretty heavy too, due to all the beads. And, whoah… I’m still on the same first ball of yarn!

Object on table is larger than it appears.

Object on table is larger than it appears.

I’m pretty shocked that I haven’t run out steam yet. I might only finish two or three rows a day, which corresponds to roughly an hour and a half of knitting, but I’m happy to be working on it every time I pick it up. It’s weird. My Miss Lambert was kinda like that too, but even then I had another project going at the same time. Not so here, it’s all Aeolian all the time, aside from spinning. Speaking of spinning, pictures will be coming tomorrow, I’m 2/3 done with my first bobbin of Poisoned Apple and it’s been lovely so far.

Look! A Dragon fly touched my mom's knitting!

Look! A Dragon fly touched my mom's wedding shawl!

Back to being out in the sun. My coworkers are once again confronted with my undying  photographic love for the flora and fauna here at work. Some of them, those who are in the know, think it’s pretty cool that I have managed to capture the drain frog on ‘film’. He lives in the drain all spring and summer, and every day there are a few of us who look for him when we go out on break. There’s another one that lives in there, about half again as big, but he or she has been elusive so far. Everyone thinks they can’t get out and they’re trapped, but the pipe ends up draining into a ditch so I know that’s not true. They’re just living the high life eating the bugs that breed in the water and completely safe from birds and fish that might eat them. About the only predator they might have to worry about are snakes.

Drain frog hideaway.

Drain frog hideaway.

I lurve frogs. And snakes too if we're going there.

I lurve frogs. And snakes too if we're going there.

I had a harder time explaining this. As if my coworkers don’t think I’m weird enough already.

Hello, my pretty!

Hello, my pretty!

This is a very closely cropped photo of a spectacular spider that joined me on the picnic table today. Isn’t he awesome? Look at his eyes! I love the white stripes and the iridescent blue mandibles. In reality, he was smaller than an Aspirin tablet. I only wish I had a better camera so I could have captured more detail.

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May 12 2009

Ten on Tuesday 5/12/09

Category: Internettage — Mistress Rows @ 5:50 pm

The theme for Ten on Tuesday this week was “10 Favorite Places to Shop”. As is the case with many of the people I know, I shop online much of the time. The prices and selection are better, and I’m all about not paying full price. That isn’t to say that I don’t also make a point to shop locally. It’s hard to explain, but I love shopping locally, especially at my farmer’s market, but I also am big on getting the most for my dollar.

I am only going to list stores I actually buy from at least once a year vs. window shopping, so be aware that this list isn’t the “Where I’d Shop All The Time if I Had a Ton of Money & a Big House” list.

Etsy: Hands down the best thing to happen to handmade in my lifetime. I make a point to tell friends and family that unless they’re buying me a gift card to Knit Picks or Amazon (or something off my Amazon wish list), go to my Etsy wish list first. Support handmade, it’s too amazing not too.

Amazon: I love Amazon with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. I am cheap, and Amazon allows me to get more for my money.

Think Geek: I buy Steve a lot of gifts from here. They sell some seriously funny shit.

Knit Picks: Hands down, the best thing to happen to knitting & crochet, at least in my eyes. I would kiss Kelly Petkun’s hand like the pope if it wouldn’t weird her out. Seriously, I really hope to meet her in person some day.

Republic of Tea: I shop here for Steve, he LOVES them. I think tea smells great, but tastes like dirty water. However, I’m told by tea-hounds that the tea here is fabulous.

Verdigris: Again, I shop here for Steve. This building would be an AWESOME yarn store, but as it stands, it’s a great teashop and gallery. I love opening the little sample jars of teas and picking something delectable out for Steve.

Adams Fair Acre Farm, Kingston: Steve and I love this store, love love love. It’s a small, upscale grocery store with a terrific bakery and floral shop. The bakery did my wedding cake for less than HALF the price everyone else wanted and it was to die for. We pick up a baked treat when we’re in town, wishing we lived closer.

Little Knits: Though the shipping is relatively slow, I adore the prices. I’ve gotten some truly good deals here and recommend signing up for the newsletter if you haven’t already.

Local Yarn Store: The Warm Ewe, is wonderful. Friendly, and stocked with both higher end and more affordable yarn, it’s just a great place to visit. I can also strongly recommend Hudson Valley Sheep & Wool. Though the selection is very limited, it’s actually more of a spinner’s shop as far as I’m concerned. The staff there is excellent, and they have sheep and giant furry dogs that watch over them right outside the shop.

Fiber Festivals: I start with Clermont, move to Cummington, and then it’s the end run at Rhinebeck. All my favorite vendors in one place! I love the electrifying surge of human energy with a chaser of fiber animal squee.

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