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A pre-order kind of week

I was looking up a book this morning and found all kinds of pre-orders I want.  So let's have one a day--
First of all I know you all have purchased the new Yarn Harlot book

I'm sure most of you were lucky enough to have her sign it.  I missed her by a day here in Portland (returning a day late from our trip).  I picked my copy up on Friday and just love it!  Each of her books have been hilarious and different enough to want more!!  Now this morning I found out about this fun little gem

I've got my copy pre-ordered.  What about you? 
I am in the process of recreating my craft area to be more organized and better suited to design work (yep, I'm doing it!) so a desk is in the planning.  How can I not have a little humor there to cheer me on;)

I swear this is the last book I'm showing today.  Stephanie's current project is also available for pre-order.  I will be pre-ordering this since I keep missing her when she comes to town.  Hey, if I am lucky enough to catch up with her I'll be ready;)

And it's a wrap

With that title I have to start with this photo of Fiona Ellis This is my favorite wrap right now!  The pattern is in here Two rectangles knit (and beautifully cabled) separately, then grafted together.  This is definitely on my "to knit" list.  The natural V created in the back makes a no slip garment.  Also in this book is a cabled scarf that is perfect for someone just learning about cables.  As the scarf grows you learn more difficult cables.   You can really begin to understand how the cables work (yes I do love cables).  Once you create that scarf you can really move on to any project in the book!
Fantastic day yesterday!  The morning was about cables and morphing cables.  I had it in my head that we would be learning to create patterns, move into cables and then back out again to a different pattern.  I could have done that, but my piece went it's own way.   Fiona started us off by saying CO 39 stitches.  Purl 4, Knit 3 across the row.  Knit 4, Purl 3 across the next row.  Okay now create your own cable pattern.  I don't know if anyone was as terrified as I was, but we all just stared at her when she asked if anyone felt a little nervous.  Then we all got to work.  I was knitting with Lamb's Pride so I got fixated on the purl stitches being a bulky cord traveling across the piece disappearing off the side.  Some people created very symmetrical patterns, some very traditional patterns.  We all had something different from everyone else.  It was really a creative way to approach designing.  Between this class and the design class I now have some exercises I will continue weekly.

The afternoon was dedicated to color.  Specifically using slip stitches in patterns.  We created this sampler of different slip stitch techniques.  My brain was pretty fried by this point so I didn't get any farther, but some ladies played with variations on the theme and/or added more colors into their work.  I love the slip stitch idea.  It is an easy (read non fussy) way to add color into a border or an interesting striping.  This technique adds texture as well (I am a big fan of texture).  Fiona had sample sweaters from this book

where she often used the techniques along with fair isle or striping.  I love how you can use a bit of a bright color in this way to really make a garment pop.  Oh and that muffler on the front?  To die for!!

As this event was hosted by BMFA you had to guess there would be yarn for sale!  I couldn't resist (although I did create a wish list for future reference so I didn't embarass myself).  WuBu in MidSummer night.  The perfect yarn for a light Spring/Summer shrug (I get cold easily).  STR lightweight-Doctors without Borders colorway.  I really have sworn off purchasing any sock yarn outside of club packages so I can use the stash, but I love that $3 of this purchase goes to DWB.  I wanted to help out, honest!  There is a baby arriving soon (to a friend) and the little guy will be cuddling an adorable (and wild) Funky sock monkey(STR heayweight--Count Cluckula and Jade).  I have an idea for a piece that I can't share yet, but this yarn is perfect for it!  Laci--Mossay colorway. This Silk Thread--Malten colorway was the one purchase without an exact pattern idea.  I can see it draping beautifully over my shoulders, but I need a patten.  Anyone have suggestions?

I am adding photos from Saturday to that post so take a look there again.  It is rainy today which is fine with me.  Simple knitting, spinning and surfing are about the only things my brain and body want to do today.  Did I mention that I was moving my mom during this weekend?  It was good to have some physical labor to balance the brain work, but I am fried all the way today!

My brain is bursting with creative thoughts!

The design class yesterday was great!  We looked at photos.  Made some notes, sketches or charts (depending on how your brain works) and then knit swatches of these ideas.  Everyone had different photo inspirations, different yarns, different technique ideas.  I thought I would end up with several swatches.  However, I knit one that kept evolving throughout the day. I took pics at each point I decided to take it a different direction so that I could document what I might have done differently at that point.  What started as a border idea became a cardigan plan.   I didn't take a ton of pics (my needles were clicking), but I did take progress photos of my ideas. 
I was thrilled to see a few friends there as well.  Tammy of course.  And Heather and Stevanie from Abundant yarn and dyeworks. Here is Heather showing she can enjoy knitting outside her comfort zone There were some new faces as well.  Dawn is a member of the PDX Knitbloggers.  I have seen her posts to our Yahoo group, but it was Sunday before I put a face to a name.  New creative ideas too!  Lots of color work and some cool rib and cable ideas.  It was a small class-9 ladies.  Tina brought some BMFA yarn--yummmm.  I got me a Sock Monkey (Count Cluckula with Jade for appendages) pattern and yarn.  There is a baby coming that needs a cuddly guy!
Today will be Cables in the morning and Slip Stitch color work in the afternoon.  Posting on that with photos of both tomorrow.

The weekend has begun

I had a personal goal of blogging everyday this month.  Yesterday was such a full and busy day it just didn't happen.  I am loving Twitter for days like that. 
I received herb plants (including a couple of woad for the dye garden) in the mail from Crimson Sage nursery a couple days ago.  I was really amazed by the size of these plants.  They also arrived in perfect shape.  I highly recommend them.  So yesterday morning I was out organizing some herb areas (culinary, dye and medicinal beds).  Then after a serious kitchen cleaning and laundry room experience I headed into Portland for my Fiona Ellis weekend.  Well first I kept the cleaning energy going and moved several loads of boxes for my mom (she has been moving to a new place--hi mom).

Anyway-Fiona Ellis--the weekend started with a talk "What Inspires Me" at Twisted last night.  Did I mention that this weekend was sponsored by BMFA?  Tina introduced Fiona and we spent 2 hours looking at slides and talking about inspirational photos, places, books, movies.  And guess what--it was inspirational!  All kinds of ideas kept popping into my head.  I'm glad I had a notebook in my lap to write down ideas.  One of which will be popping up here very soon.  I'm going to start posting one photo each week that I find inspirational to design or color.  I am going to list what part of the photo inspires me and invite you to do the same.  I think we will all benefit from the exercise.
One fun thing I noticed last night--The lady in front of me was knitting a long scarf with a beautiful yarn.  I saw Tina glance over  and then back again as the colors caught her eye.  Definitely a dyer:)

I retrieved my camera last night so there will be photos of the weekend classes.  Today is a 6 hour class all about design.  I'm heading to the Farmer's Market on the way so I had better sign off.

Hey look we finally got a website

We've had Gino's Restaurant for 12 years.  During that time we have never really done business cards and definitely no website.  Well we're slowly getting into this century--GinosSellwood.com

Oh the sadness

Don't worry I won't give you my top 50 here.
I just like to feel that places like yarn stores and fiber festivals are free from outside interlopers.  But the trouble caused at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival shows that we are part of society not an island disconnected.
My other (quite little) sadness is that I left my camera in a friend's hand on Sunday and we have yet to reconnect.  I have sad socks to show--boy did I screw these up!  And acquisitions I made yesterday at Twisted--a vest project, a gift project that involves some knitting and embroidery (you'll see that one on a different blog soon) and a great Japanese embroidery book--oh the ideas I'm getting from that!
I was at Twisted to get signed up for Fiona Ellis's talk on Friday night (I'm getting really excited for the weekend!).  I haven't been there for so long.  I couldn't believe the owner even remembered my name.  As I was browsing about I heard her greet someone else.  Michelle and I have been trying to find a time to meet up at Twisted since I got home (actually since before I left).  It was great to catch up, shop together a little and I got to pet those beautiful Yarntini socks she just finished.  I had to head back to work so I couldn't stay and knit, but it was so great to catch up Michelle!

I swear this isn't turning into a cooking blog

But last night's dinner was pretty yummy and fast.
I was in Portland all day helping mom move.  So returning at dinner time with all the ingredients (and idea responsibility) had me running to the rice cooker to get started.  While the basmati steamed I chopped up different little piles to go with my sole and clams.  Manilla clams steamed with olive oil, butter, green onions (green ends only), chive buds, ginger and parsley.  I went to add a splash of white wine and found the only white in the house was Champagne.  I can work with that--and drink a little while cooking;) So as each clam opened they were pulled out (leaving their juice behind).  baby greens, the sole filets and slivered lemon peel were also added to the pan.  I steamed this until just cooked.  As the rice finished I stirred in butter and minced herbs with a touch of ginger.  This all took as long as the rice took to cook.  It was a tasty meal!  Light and healthy too.

Pasta Primavera

Last night was a clean out the fridge kind of meal.  We had all kinds of little bits--half a small cauliflower, a handful of snap peas, a bunch of sprouting greens, half a small can of San Marzano tomato, half a grilled fennel bulb and grilled asparagus.  We chopped this all up (in varying sizes), added some garlic, butter and olive oil and heated it all through.  Just before we tossed in some pasta we added a little "gremolata" (our mixture had lemon zest, garlic, oregano, marjoram and parsley).  It was sooooo good.  Now I have to admit that we did not go completely vegetarian.  We added a frozen cube of homemade chicken broth to the vegetable mixture to simmer before the pasta (but this is fantastic without it).  If you go veggie don't drain all your pasta water.  Just keep about a quarter cup in the pot with the hot pasta and toss all of it in the sauce.  The water will finish steaming any uncooked vegetables and not rinsing off the starch from the pasta will bind the dish together.  We use Chitarra pasta with this dish.  This is a spaghetti that has rough edges so the sauce really sticks to it.
We put a wedge of parmesan and grater on the table so each person could add the amount of cheese they wanted.  This and a nice bottle of white wine--it was a perfect Spring dinner.

edited to add:  If you have leftovers in the morning whisk up some eggs, pour them over the top, fry it up and eat eat eat.

Knitting in Portland

This coming weekend you can find me Friday night at Twisted to hear Fiona Ellis speak.  And then over the weekend I will be taking all of her classes.  My brain is so excited about the creativity coming!

Knit Purl is starting their own yarn club!  I know I just can't join.  But all of the projects will be based on a "Rose City" theme (Portland's nickname).  I know I'm whining.  I won't join though--yes, now I am pouting.

Later this month Marta McCall will be teaching a class on needle felting at Abundant Yarn and Dyeworks.  I am definitely taking these classes.  Michelle is too!  I have had needle felting supplies for a while.  I even have ideas in my head dealing with these supplies.  I think this class will bring up some fun, creative ideas.  Plus I am so excited to meet Marta!  I wonder if I can finish the weekend satchel by then to show her?

Let's not forget that TKGA is coming to Portland in the Fall!  I checked out the classes yesterday.  They are pretty expensive, but there is one each day I really want to take.  I've decided I have to decide--shopping at the two fiber festivals this year or taking classes at the convention.  We'll see where I end up with that.

Ongoing Portland knitting events--Portland Knitter's Guild meets this Thursday at Tandem coffee house.  KnitPurl has a Monday night sock knitting group now.  Twisted has a RSC group that gets together every other Wednesday night.  Abundant Yarn hosts a spinning group all day on the first Tuesday of the month.  There are so many more!

Where do you meet up with your knitting peeps?

Sunny Sunday

Spring has finally arrived to the West Coast.  It took it's sweet time, but now that it has arrived no one is complaining.  Everyone in our neighborhood is out this morning (we spent the night in Portland).  I just returned from the nursery.  I wanted to find rose plants to give to the family.  Something that would last with beauty.  I ended up with Peace.  A sunny yellow double flowered rose with a dusting of pink on the edges.  Carlyn's mom was the "Yellow Rose of Texas" so I think the added bit of pink is perfect for the next generation.
I got a little nervous about the date when I saw so many dads/husbands walking from the store with bouquets.  Did I get the date wrong for Mother's Day?  But no, just some nice guys in Sellwood (our little bit of Portland).
I have found that TV knitting is not always a good thing.  More on that mess when I can show you photos.
On arriving home from our trip I found we had two lost souls.  One was my travel pillow.  I can easily replace that the next time I travel.  However, the second item was my camera cord.  That is a pain to lose.  Luckily the husband has a gadget that you put your memory card into and plug that in the computer.  As it is his I don't have it in my commuter computer bag.  So tonight or tomorrow for more photos.