Jul 25 2010

Victory, Yes, But Also a Hat

Category: Friends & Fun,events — Mistress Rows @ 8:59 am

It’s been an incredibly busy (but feeling well) weekend, so I only have a moment to chime in before I’m out the door. Yes, I was victorious, and finished my second skein for the Tour de Fleece on Thursday night. Ahead of schedule! Plied and done and washed. Done! It’s beautiful. But what I really want to show you is this, the special hat I designed for myself to wear while I’m at WOOL:

Because being in charge of a group of women in a low-amenity situation can be... challenging, sometimes.

It’s the back that really puts the icing on the cake:

The pink part reads: "Because Mistress Rows said so."

It’s a joke that anyone who’s been to the last two WOOL retreats has heard me talk about, and I keep threatening to make myself a t-shirt so I can just point to it the next time someone decides to tell me the equivelant of “she’s looking at me!”. Even better, now I’ll have a hat! It’s a jest, to be sure, but it’ll make people laugh, including myself. 11 days and counting to WOOL baby, 11 days!   And now I’m off being picked up by Wendy and Jody so we can join Jess for her town fair day, demonstrating spinning to the masses. You can see pictures from last year here.

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Jun 21 2010

Recap: 3rd Annual Hudson River Stitch & Spin

Category: events — Mistress Rows @ 4:26 pm

Oh, sweet joy! For the first time since its inception, there was nary a drop of rain at the Hudson River Stitch & Spin. While it was very hot out in the sun, it was quite cool and very breezy under the pavilion. With perfect weather and good company, I could have asked for more. Well, I could always hope for more and more new faces, but that comes in time. June is a tough month for this kind of thing, what with graduations.

Wendy and Michelle. That's not a banana.

Cris and her Journeywheel.

Tim, Harriet, & Aaron, my spinning children/grandchildren!

Maryanne & Kris, mother and daughter fiberistas.

Aaron and his Ball Sack!

Over a dozen knitters, spinners, crocheters, and even a hooker (rug hooker) came out to spend the afternoon down by the river and we had a good time. Clutch your pearls, we even had a MAN (that wasn’t Tim). Yay for Aaron coming down to join us! Just as fantastic, people kept GIVING me things, wonderful things!

Joyce, working with some of my Guilty Pleasures yarn that she bought in April. Very squee moment. :)

Carolyn spinning on her Ladybug.

Mom working on a baby blanket.

Mom working on a baby blanket.

Harriet gave me some hand made sterling silver and garnet earrings (very swingy, birthday gift), Aaron gave me some beautiful fawn colored wool from his food color dyeing experiment (just ‘cause), and Cris, proprietress of crack, gave me 8oz of luscious BFL in the Cloud 9 colorway (birthday/thank you). Sweet jeebus, I just about died. Talk about an embarrassment of riches.

Aaron's experimental brights over fawn colored wool. Oooh.

Cris = Stunning. Enough said.

Veterans of the event agreed, they actually liked the Athens park better than the Catskill park. Go figure! Parking isn’t as good, and they only have porto potties, but there’s something about the park that they really, really liked. I though it would be the spacious pavilion, but even aside from that, the park, small as it is, really charmed them. Other people found it just as lovely, there was a group of painters there, fishermen, and a couple of families with children. Over the course of the day we saw both the Spirit of the Hudson (paddle boat) and the replica Half Moon sloop.

Hudso River painting group and the Spirit of the Hudson. Hmm... knitting cruise?

The replica (1600's) Half Moon sloop.

Guests of the event had a shot at the following prizes:

  • Gift certificate to See Kay Craft
  • Gift certificate to Stitched by Jessalu
  • Hand dyed and carded batt of Falkland wool from Into the Whirled
  • Hand beaded stitch markers from Harriet
  • Knit Picks Stroll Handpaint sock yarn (from me)
  • Guilty Pleasures hand dyed sock yarn in Neptune (from me)
  • Debbie Bliss Knitting magazine, Summer 2010 (from me)

Lucas, Steve, & Michelle, my dinner companions (see cafe behind them).

Thank you to everyone who donated a prize, it was the highlight of the day. Thanks to my mom and Cris for helping me set up, you were awesome! And as always, thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to come out and play. You make organizing a pleasure.

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Jun 07 2010

Reminder: 3rd Annual Hudson River Stitch & Spin

Category: events — Mistress Rows @ 5:00 pm

I’ve been a bad girl, and not been promoting the Stich & Spin recently. Something is weird with the first post I did, apparently the image of the PDF doesn’t show for you guys? Well, here’s the direct link, and it would be wonderful if you would print out a couple to share with friends, or post at your local yarn store or coffee shop. I thank everyone who takes the time to spread the word about the event, it really helps. This year’s event is being held on Saturday, June 19th, from 12-5 p.m. at the Athens River Front Park, Athens, NY.

This year’s event coincides with World Wide Knit in Public Day/Week, which is great! If you’ve been meaning to get out to a WWKIP event, here’s your chance.

There’s been some good news in this department: the Cultural Center has agreed to hold the afternoon free just in case of rain. Yes. In case of rain, which it has for the last two years, we have a great space to retreat to not two blocks away! They’ve really done me a favor here, and I couldn’t be more appreciative.

As always, I would like to point out that this event is free to the public. It’s a great opportunity to get out and share what you love with people who share your passions. Bring a friend or family member who’s into the craft. Bring someone who’d like to learn! Everyone is welcome, and I hope to see you there.

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May 21 2010

Mark Your Calendar: 3rd Annual Hudson River Stitch & Spin

Category: events — Mistress Rows @ 7:41 pm

To download this image as a printable PDF flyer, click here. Please consider sharing with friends, your local yarn store, coffee shop, or library bulletin board. Click here to RSVP via Facebook and (if you would like) “share” the event, or you can do so via Ravelry. I hope you can join me!

If you are a yarn store owner or indie fiber artist and would like to donate a promotional prize to the event, please leave a comment or email me. Proceeds from the prize raffle will go to the park restoration fund.

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Apr 13 2010

Friday Night Madness!

Category: WOOL,events — Mistress Rows @ 6:53 am

It’s almost here… registrations for WOOL 2010 open this Friday night at midnight! (Which is technically Saturday morning, but whatever.) Don’t forget to stay up late Friday night or get up really early Saturday morning if you’d like to reserve your spot in the Lake House. There are 16 spots in the Lake House and last year they sold out in under 24 hours. After that time all overflow reservations go into the charming cottages, but you will most likely have to share a room. Which is perfect if you’re coming with a friend, if you think of it! Gretchen, the Wiawaka Registrar, will be waking Saturday morning with baited breath to see what madness has ensued overnight. She loves how we register and thinks it’s great fun.

"Hi Minnehaha!"

Friday I will post all the info you’ll need to remember at registration, and how to register both with me AND Wiawaka. It’s a tiny bit inconvenient, but it helps me keep track of reservations so I have something to check against Wiawaka’s list.

Last year? Best. WOOL. Ever!

This will almost surely be our last year at Wiawaka, sadly we’ve long since outgrown the public gathering spaces at night and the poor Lake House is bursting at the seams every evening. It breaks my heart that we’ll have to find a new home next year, which just so happens to be the 5th anniversary of the event, but we really need more room. So if you’ve never experienced the beauty of Wiawaka, and the particular charm it has in spades, this is your year to attend! Only 50% of your deposit is needed up front to reserve your spot, and they do take check and credit cards.

As always, I remind you that I don’t make any personal gain from this event. You pay Wiawaka directly, and I do the administrative stuff for sheer love of the event.  And also, as a blog reader, you get first crack at reservations. I don’t start promoting the event to the general public until Monday! If you’re not sure what WOOL is, or if it’s for you, you can read more about it here and here.

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Mar 08 2010

Recap: 2nd Annual Stir Crazy Stitch & Spin

Category: Friends & Fun,events — Mistress Rows @ 1:23 pm

Wow. Can I just say wow? I guess I could, but it would be doing the event a gross injustice. I guess putting the extra effort into promoting the event really worked… by the time the event was in full swing there were over 30 people attending, not counting children and visits from little dogs! I was completely blown away by how many wonderful people showed up, but what really knocked my socks off was how many new faces there were. THANK YOU to all who drove from near and (some very) far to join me at the Athens Cultural Center on Saturday, you guys and gals are awesome!

The Ambassador soaking up the sun, and who had plenty of water out of frame.

I got there an hour early to set up, mom and Nuala joined me very soon thereafter. Nuala sat in the window at first, greeting the early guests. What started out as a big, empty room soon started to fill and before long the place was hopping! So many beautiful projects, so many new faces, so much food. Our table was practically groaning from the all the good eats people brought to share. Best of all? Seeing far-flung friends, especially those I don’t get to see very often. I wonder if they feel like rock stars when I yell their names like a rabid fan girl?

Newcomers and lace divas, Ginnie & Kim.

Geri! Geri is probably the world's nicest person.

Things go by so quickly when you’re running an event like this. I feel like I barely sat down, but that was by choice. Greeting people as they came through the door, checking in on everyone individually (or at least trying to), it’s all something I really enjoy. The time flew by and it seemed like barely an hour had passed before it was time to do the raffle. Everyone who came got one chance in the pot, if you made a donation (no matter how small) you got a second chance. By the time I was done, Risa’s beautiful children and I had collected $88 for the Athens Cultural Center. People went home with some sweet prizes too, the donor list had grown to include Daisy Lamont Soap Co. (chocolate soap), Into the Whirled (Falklands hand dyed top), and one of our guests donated a 1oz ball of luscious brown, locally grown Alpaca top from their farm.

Some of the great prizes I gave away.

One of the best parts about the Stitch & Spins is seeing all the beautiful projects that people are working on. I was in awe of how gorgeous (newcomer) Kim’s Feather & Fan Shawl in Kauni lace yarn was. Oohs and ahhs were all over the place, be it from projects, wheels, or the stock some of our Indie vendor friends brought for us to paw through.

Kim's Feather & Fan Shawl from A Gathering of Lace, made in Kauni.

Marjan's (sp?) shawl, adapted from a blanket, if I remember right.

Katherine worked all night to have her quilt ready to work on for Saturday!

There’s so much more I could prattle on about, squeeing the whole way, but really… it’s probably time for me to stop. Suffice to say that I am touched and truly grateful to all. Thank you to the volunteers at the Cultural Center who let me use the space, thank you to mom for running to the store for me, thank you to all the vendors who donated prizes for the raffle, thank you to all the guests who came out on such a warm, sunny day to play. See you in June!

Jennifer(?) crocheting a pair of fingerless mitts.

Nora (Cultural Center volunteer) working on her rug hooking.

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Mar 04 2010

Save the Date

Category: WOOL,events — Mistress Rows @ 10:53 am

As the days start to warm up so does my events calendar! I know there are a few of you just itching for the announcement, so here it is:

WOOL 2010
August 5th-8th
Wiawaka Holiday House, Lake George, NY

Registration will open on Saturday, April 17th, 12:00 a.m. (aka midnight Friday night). Night owls can sit by their computers and pounce on sign ups before going to bed, early birds can snatch up the last Lake House spots on Saturday morning while the rest of us sleep in. The anticipation, it burns!

WOOL is all about the good times, you sould totally come.

In two days we’ll be gathering at the Athens Cultural Center for the 2nd Annual Stitch & Spin, and lo it shall be good. I’m expecting more (confirmed) new faces than the last few Stitch & Spins, and that’s very exciting. Better promotion online and off is a good thing! While new faces are wonderful, you know how much it means to me to see old friends from near and far at these events. If the company’s not enough to light your fire, how about the really sweet raffle prizes? Donations are forthcoming from:

There are 75 folding chairs there, so unless you have a special chair (like the gang and I do) don’t worry about bringing your own. Parking is on street-side, so if you can’t park on the same block, I recommend turning ‘round and parking on lower 2nd street, closer to the water. At the very least the river front park at the bottom has plenty of parking. It’s only a block from the Center, and the weather looks to be sunny and warm for Saturday.

The event runs from 12-5, and wouldn’t you know there’s a sweet little restaurant right across the street? Cameos is an American/Italian bistro, I’ve heard great things about their pizza and pasta. Athens is a no-stoplight little town so I’m very happy one of our three restaurants is so convenient for the event. Anyone who likes is welcome to join me for dinner, don’t be shy!

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Feb 24 2010

I Do What the Yarn Tells Me To

Category: Internettage,WIP,events — Mistress Rows @ 5:00 pm

Ever feel like your yarn talks to you? I think, even if it’s only the voice I give it in my head, that mine kinda does. Don’t you judge me, you know what I mean! “When are you going to blog us” ask two skeins of recently finished handspun. “When are you going to list us” ask the two colors of BFL roving I dyed last week. Strangely enough, my works in progress doesn’t say a damned thing. It sits, smugly, in my project bag and travels with me to work every day. It is secure in the knowledge that I am diligently working away and am this close to finishing. It knows there’s no way in hell that I’m not going to blog about it at the soonest possible moment, and that I’ll photograph it at work (where the light is good), on my lunch, if I have to.

Fear not, little skeins, I’m getting there.

Speaking of getting there, I’ve ripped out the offending collar of my Tilt sweater and am currently reknitting it correctly. I started it with yarn from the virgin skein, just for a few rows, and will be switching to the washed and blocked yarn tonight. The sweater fits great on top, but across my stomach it gaps as things stand right now. I may have to do a button band of sorts after all.

Painfully artsy shot of the once and future collar.

Oooh! I forgot to share some really cool news here on the blog. The 2nd Annual Stir Crazy Stitch & Spin was mentioned in the 57th episode of the Manic Purl podcast! Kim sent me the heads up on that tidbit, and I almost peed my pants in excitement. The episode is called Swatch Like a Champ, and the mention is the first item in the News portion, about 19:30 in. Thanks for the unexpected plug, Manic Purl! The event is only 10 days away, and if you’re a local reader I hope you can join me for a great day out amongst fellow yarnies.

There was something else too, but my brain leaks like a rusty bucket and now it’s gone.

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Feb 08 2010

Busy Sounds Like Fun

Category: Bittersweet,Designing,FO,Knitting,Spinning,dyeing,events — Mistress Rows @ 1:26 pm

It’s official, I’m building up my dyeing habit. I have to be careful, because I haven’t been feeling particularly great over the last few weeks, but I’m doing what I can and enjoying it. Wednesday evenings, no later than 10 p.m., are being set aside for updates. I’m not sure if my schedule will always include dyeing every single week, but I can definitely see myself dyeing enough for an update every two weeks at least. Knock on wood. Coming up this Wednesday are two new colors of sock yarn in lighter, spring shades, and two stunning lace yarns, one in a tonal chestnut, and one in a dazzling rich sapphire with eerie mint contrasts. Momma’s got a new shade of blue, and restocked her citric acid, so watch out!

There’s news on the knitting and spinning fronts too, stuff’s happening all over the place.

Test Knitting: My scarf pattern is being knit by several people, and aside from a stitch count error, which was fixed early on, it seems to be going well for people. The biggest issue that they’re coming across is finding just the right yarn. I’m going to change the requirements to note no larger than worsted. Also, apparently Noro can lead to some fugly chunks of color, so a variegated or solid yarn might be better when it comes to commercial yarns.

Modern Mob Cap

Designing: The hat I’ve been designing is done, photographed, and completely written up. I’ve got three small process photos to shoot, but as it is it’s ready to send out to test knitters. I love the hat, really love it. Because my hair is kept snug inside the slouch section, I don’t get static-y hair from tugging it out from under my coat, and then my scarf. It fits me perfectly. Not so much in love with the black dye globules that were evident when I gave the hat a bath. Very much in love with what the bath did for the drape and definition of the fabric. An FO post will come when the pattern is ready to publish.

Spinning: I finished spinning up some top I dyed a couple of years ago and forgot I had. It was a great spin, and I love how the finished yarn came out. Pictures and an FO post no later than Wednesday. I’m inspired to dye some of the top I have in the basement, I know there’s at least one or two of you who’d like to see more Sea Glass if I do nothing else.

 

A Warm Return, in progress.

January I joined my first SAL (spin along) in support of my friend Cris of Into the Whirled. Members of Cris’s Ravelry forum voted on member submitted photos, and the inspiration for three months worth of ITW loveliness was born. The club is very reasonably priced, and you can purchase your spot as they go up, one at a time, so there’s no large outlay of cash. This month’s color “A Warm Return”, was inspired by a photo of a Robin’s nest inside a bush. I’m loving the way it’s spinning up, and my plan is to chain ply it for socks.

Last, but not least, if you’re local, please don’t forget about the Stir Crazy Stitch & Spin on March 6th! I created a page for it on Facebook and some of the guests have suggested it to their friends as well. I have high hopes that I’ll see quite a few new faces, and of course my much loved regulars. Tonight I’m emailing a promotional flyer to several local yarn shops in the hopes of reaching even more new faces. If you’d like to hand one to your own favorite LYS owner or S’nB group, you can download and print one here. I hope to see you there!

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Jan 15 2010

EVENT: 2nd Annual Stir Crazy Stitch & Spin

Category: events — Mistress Rows @ 2:38 pm

 

2nd Annual Stir Crazy Stitch & Spin
Saturday, March 6th from 12-5
Athens Cultural Center, Athens NY

Sick of winter already? Not getting out of the house for much in the way of fun? Join us for the 2nd Annual Stir Crazy Stitch & Spin! (Rav link*)

Yarnies of all stripes are welcome to attend, be they knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, or what have you. If your project is portable, come on by! There’s plenty of room at the Cultural Center for you to spread out and create while spending time with other like-minded men and women from the Hudson Valley.

This event is free to the public, though a small (day of), free-will donation to the Athens Cultural Center would be much appreciated by this volunteer run venue. In the spirit of community, if you are able to bring a treat to share it’s appreciated, but not required.

You can see pictures and a recap of last year’s event (at the Hudson Opera House) here.

* If you are a Ravelry member and are thinking about/planning to attend, would you do me the favor of marking yourself as such on the Ravelry events page linked above? It helps make the event look more attractive to people who are unsure and helps me get a handle on how many to expect.

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