by Kat | Jun 2, 2016 | General, In This Moment
Listening to A Playful Day and Squam Morning on the Dock podcasts – and I am loving them tremendously.
Moving with new Merrell walking shoes, which are awesome for my energized morning walks. Sometimes even with that character pictured above! Although, he is more a leisurely pace walker!
Planning out the books to read that will fill some squares for Book Bingo – I have penciled in To Kill a Mockingbird, Written in my Heart’s Own Blood, Red Bones, Blue Lightning, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and one of the Harry Hole mysteries (I have several on hold at the library – we’ll see what comes through first!) I need a bit of your help with a book that you absolutely hated. Really. This will get me my first bingo and well on my way to the second bingo (what??) I will just have to figure out what book from the Harvard Classics 5-foot shelf I want to struggle though!
Cutting out the muslin for the Merchant and Mills dress. And, yes, I am a bit nervous. Yes, I know it is just the muslin, but I am not sure how I will alter it if it does not fit right. Really.Not.Sure. Stay tuned, I promise to share all the details!
Spinning the last ounce of Shetland, seriously, the last ounce (I weighed it!!) This will give me just over 600 yards, which will be a nice cushion for the sweater!
Enjoying the stretch of sunny days that we have been having! Having to water is a happy task! After so many days without the sun, and such a cold spring – the sun and warmth are so welcome!
Watching
30 Degrees in February, and laughing and crying and loving it!
Knitting the second sock of Carole’s Picot Edge Socks, Through the Loops Mystery Shawl – clue one is done, and plugging away at my Indigo Cones. I am determined to get through my WIP basket before the Summer Knit-Along is over. However, there may be more socks cast on along the way!
Feeling really fulfilled in my work life right now – on so many levels. I am filled with inspiration and creativity; I am learning new things and stretching my boundaries in very good ways!
That is the snapshot of my life right now, but tell me what is your current favorite?!
by Kat | May 31, 2016 | General, Words
Welcome to Tuesday (that really feels like a Monday)!
What could possibly help this dire situation? Reliving the weekend thanks to Carole and her 10 on Tuesday request:
10 Things You Did This Weekend
The weekend arrived a bit early here, Steve only had to work a half a day on Friday. Summer arrived in full force as well, with temperatures into the 90’s here. But, all in all it was a great weekend with a full spectrum of things to do.
We finished a garden bed that we had been working on expanding this month. Whew!
It was also a weekend of discovery – that is discovery in muscles I did not know – or forgot – I had!
There were plenty of cocktails – thank you Blackberry Brambles, Frose’s, Shrubarb (Thanks Vicki for this FANTASTIC new word!!) coolers, and even a beer or two.
The grill got the maximum amount of possible usage for burgers, grilled chicken, and grilled asparagus! There was also Lobster Ravioli, which was not grilled but so delicious!
In moments of respite from the maximum heat and humidity, there was sewing. Specifically, 100 Acts of Sewing, Dress No. 1 in a lovely Robert Kaufman Essex Yarn Dyed Linen that I got from Spool in Pittsburgh. Bonus points were achieved in making and installing the best bias tape I have made and stitched in to date!
There was some spinning – I finished up spinning and plying the ITW batt that I got last year from Maryland Sheep and Wool – I love how it turned out – 400 yards of heavy fingering weight yarn. I almost finished the Shetland done for my sweater project. I just have a tiny bit of spinning to finish and then plying can begin.
There was knitting…I finished sock number one from Carole’s Picot Socks. I LOVE it! Sock number two will be cast on shortly. I also began my Summer Wish List of those WIPs I want to get done this summer – starting with Indigo Cones. Sitting and knitting under the pergola is really lovely, just sayin’.
There was reading – I finished Ann Cleeves White Nights and it was excellent! I thought it was much better than book number one, and I will definitely be continuing with this series this summer! Which is good, because I need a book set in another country for my Book Bingo card! I started The Goldfinch, and within a few pages I was enthralled. This book will be hard to put down – this is a very good thing because as everyone has reminded me this book has over 700 pages!
There was a spectacular Happy Hour under the pergola on Friday!
There was time spent just enjoying that it was the weekend, with deep gratitude that it was not over yet on Sunday night.
There was time spent in meditation and reflection of what the holiday really means, beyond a long holiday weekend, and being filled with profound thankfulness to those willing to serve and give their lives in defense of freedom.
So, tell me – what was your favorite part of your weekend?
by Kat | May 23, 2016 | General, In This Moment
Hello Gentle Readers!
It was the best of weekends, it was the worst of weekends.
Yay in that it was the weekend and boo because it rained for most of it.
There was Happy Houring on Friday. It was really nice, even though the weather prevented it from being outdoors.
There was quite a bit of yard working, despite the rain.
There was lots of reading – I finished Mink River (LOVED!!) and I am over half way through White Nights and LOVING it.
There was some knitting (one sock is racing on to the finish line) and some spinning.
But, all in all, it was a good weekend, in spite of the weather.
Today will be jam-packed full of busyness but, on my ‘me’ list for the week is to get some sewing completed.
I picked up some lovely denim over the weekend and I also have some mending to get done.
See you tomorrow…
by Kat | May 13, 2016 | General
In a week that just FLEW by, we find ourselves at the start of the weekend.
This week there was lots of spinning! Some spindle spinning.
And lots of wheel spinning.
And, this really was just a couple of evenings worth of spinning. I had forgotten how quickly spinning can go if you just sit down and do it! Haha!
I am happy to report that I am 1/3 of the way to spinning for my sweater. I hope to have the spinning completed next week. This is a doable goal as we have a weekend of much colder temps and, yes, more rain, so outdoor work will be curtailed.
I have been reading some really good posts on Rachel’s blog and if you want to learn more about fiber, she shares some great information! Plus, Fiber Friday is such a great thing!
Now for some rabbit hole links for your knitting (and spinning) edification:
I don’t know about you, but Roland makes the top of my list this week. For more than one reason…
Melanie Berg brings is Mirkfallon, which would be so lovely in such a wide range of yarns! This one is my favorite…
There was a flurry of new patterns released by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas, and I love this one especially! And there was even a linen skirt that is really so cute!
Lovely Lois Swales was back with Scottish spinning and plying!
Volume 10 of Wool People, especially this and this!
Beata has a fun scarfy thing with her fun sock yarn!
Åsa Tricosa and Wollmeise are the perfect pair!
Laura Aylor does color blocking so well!
I love when a designer gets gauge with semi-aggressive blocking!
Dust Devils that you can wear!
On the Brioche Knitting Bandwagon? This is just gorgeous!
Perhaps the best pattern notes I have ever read! Thanks Kym!
Finally, Arne & Carlos share some art journal magic! (The vintage Singer Sewing Machine is beautiful!)
That’s all I have for today! See you back here on Monday and have a FANTASTIC weekend!
by Kat | May 11, 2016 | General, Making
It’s already Wednesday?? Does anyone else feel like this week is just flying by?! Here it is the week is almost half over, I still have lots of stuff on my “To Do” list. This is perhaps because my list this week is filled with things I really don’t like to do and I just cannot procrastinate about them any longer.
Yes, I am an expert at procrastination!
However, today is Yarn Along and I should be sharing what I am knitting and reading today, but I have been carding rolags to spin for a sweater. My basket was full of rolags and I started spinning yesterday, and have two equal bobbins that are ready for plying.
I also pulled out the November Sheepspot Fiber Club Coopworth roving and spun half of it up last night. I will ply it today and get the second half of the fiber spun up.
Beth shared a great post yesterday and her Instagram feed has been nagging me lately. I have a couple of fleeces that I need to get washed and she may have supplied me with the motivation to get it done! She certainly makes it look easy.
My reading has been in fits and spurts. I read nothing all weekend and have two books that I need to get finished so I can return them to the library. I am about halfway through both of them and it is really inexcusable that I have not finished them! I am a reading slacker!! But, we have more rain in the forecast so the outdoor gardening work is in a holding pattern so I think I will find time to get them finished this week.
The leaves of Pincha are growing slowly and I have a sock in the wings as well.
As you can see, I have plenty to keep me busy, but my list calls! What is nagging you on your list this week?
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