Surprise, Wollmeise!!!!

We visited family in Germany for three weeks this summer. One of the MUSTS on my list was of course, Wollmeise. It was overwhelming to walk into this little store brimming with gorgeous color and lots of happy knitters. I came home with lots of booty.




And booty.



But we won't talk about that...............



We visited Ulm. Remember this picture?



Here it is in summer.






In the city the party was on with Schwörmontag. It was a lot of fun to walk the streets and drink beer while people watching. What a cool city this is. Right on the Danube and tons of culture and history.






Blautopf






Konigsee...



The Zugspitz! Good LORD it is TALL. We were hoping to hike it, but in contemplating my gracelessness and a hike over a glacier....we thought it best to ride the Zugspitzbahn.






Would you like to see how I got down a granite flight of stairs? Thus the need to stay away from hiking Germany's tallest mountain this trip. hahaha



And one of my favorite cities in Austria: Salzburg. It is such a wonderful city and a place that I feel right at home as a musician. It is a surreal feeling.








We also toured around quite a bit and did do some wonderful hiking. Saw some wonderful museums. I was able to study a knitting technique at one museum that I have been dying to learn...... I will refrain from revealing that one right now, but suffice to say that day trip was by far the most meaningful and magical for me on the entire trip. Stay posted.

I took about 600 pictures in all.....but I won't torture you with them......at least not right now.

Finished objects......I think there have been a few since I last posted, but here is the most recent.



This is a test knit for Donna Druchunas for her book Ethnic Knitting Exploration. It is designed using her explanations of traditional techniques. I came away from this project with the confidence to design my own sweater. Pretty cool for someone who doesn't stray much beyond the written pattern.

Free Days

I am finally free for a few days. Well...not completely, but free enough to do a little sewing and knitting. I have pictures! Whooohooo!

My new sewing armoire. Love, love, love this thing! I can make a huge mess and then fold it all up for no one to be any the wiser. I am so happy with this. :0) I got the idea from Heather Ross in her book Weekend Sewing. As soon as I saw it I knew that was the answer to my dining room table nightmare. Or so I thought. The table still seems to be crowded....go figure.





Baby bibs and burp cloths for someone who is going to be one of the best moms ever. These were such a pleasure to make. The piping was sewn by machine and then hand sewn on the back for a nice touch.






A few bags from tutorials on blogs I have been stalking. Very fun to make. I have even had a few requests for them, so I may oblige.








Are you familiar with Paula Nadelstern? If not, YOU SHOULD BE. :0) I first learned of her a few years ago when her book on Kaleidoscope Quilts came out. I was dumbfounded by her technique. After reading about her I began an obsession with Singer Featherweight sewing machines. (I am easily persuaded, you see...) So, when I found out she would be doing a workshop near Dallas in 2010 I jumped at the chance. It included a monthly block study on her Puzzle Quilts book. Here is one my first attempts. I have a couple more I will need to take pics of and post.



There is so much more to the study than I even thought possible and I am learning so much about color theory, shading, piecing, etc. So much to learn. I am definitely one of the baby quilters in the group.





This is the progress on my Rosebud Shawl. Looks horrible, doesn't it? LOL But you can see how it will look once it is blocked. I am now on row 40 something of the border and the rows are all more than 600 stitches each! That's a lot o' stitches.

Coming up for air......

This is what I awoke to this morning.



At least they didn't drag it around the living room, I guess. And look who else is waking from the winter......


Wow! What a busy month it has been. I have played a church job in almost every Christian denomination I can think of this Easter. And after much theological contemplation....I have come to only one conclusion. The Easter Bunny hates me. Oh, I looked for eggs...looked for candy. Looked for one little shred of evidence that he had been there in the form of crappy Easter Basket grass. Nada. Niente. I ended up in Walmart buying Robin Eggs for 50% off for myself on Monday. FOR MYSELF! Thanks Easter Bunny. I guess the Tooth Fairy will disappear now. The economy? I think not.

I have still been working on one of Sharon Miller's patterns called Rosebud Shawl in Jamieson and Smith 1 ply cobweb. It's the first time I have used this yarn and I like it a lot. It is TINY and a little sticky but that is a plus when I inadvertently drop stitches....which happens a little more than occasionally.
Then:



Now:




Looks suspiciously like a shower cap, doesn't it?

I see lace lifelines in my future for the gossamer silk I have slated for the Wedding Ring Shawl. This is my proverbial "carrot" to finish my Rosebud. Beautiful, isn't it? Ahhh, silk, I love you.


Samples from Sharon Miller:




I have also been doing some sewing that I can't show you right now. Baby gifties for a certain readers That's all I'm sayin'. I will post some pics in a few weeks. Speaking of sewing.....have you guys seen Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross? She has some wonderful ideas and inspiring photography. Heather Ross. Check out her blog. I love this book. Unfortunately it's going to cost me. She has a great shot of an armoire she uses as a sewing space and I am now obsessed with having one for myself......obsessed........as if there isn't yarn and fabric coming out of every available space and I could actually organize it into a 9 square ft space.......but I am willing to try.






For the love of God I need to at least get the kitchen table cleared so we can eat on it. I won't share that shame with you in pics.

What is that in my front yard???????

We got tagged last week by one of the local high school bands. Imagine my surprise at midnight pulling up to see these on my lawn......A DOZEN of them. The neighbors seriously thought we had put them out. Which just goes to show what they really think about us. hahhahahaa Oh yes....just you wait neighbors.....just ....you....wait.




Wow, what a grueling three weeks it has been. The stretch finally concluded with a concert out in East Texas where we finished with Ravel's Bolero. A just end to three weeks of non-stop playing not to mention teaching. A cold front came in the day of the concert and threw all of the reed players for a loop while we rushed to make(double reeds) or find (single reeds) new reeds. Ugh. Not that I am complaining for real, mind you. It's just my way. I am working and happy about it! Tonight's line-up includes Beethoven 7 and some Ravel again. Here are a couple of shots from my seat in ET. In one month we will host Itzak Perlman. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?????




Even in the midst of all this I have found a little time for knitting. A few years ago I fell in love with Sharon Miller's Heirloom Knitting designs. I started her Pink Puzzle Wrap....in black Kidsilk Haze......LOL and have started working on it again.


I also decided, against my better judgement, to start the Rosebud Shawl in Jamieson & Smith Cobweb weight. I may have possibly gone over the edge this time. This is on size 3mm needles and is unbelievably tiny 1 ply weight. I think the finished product will be gorgeous but will take quite a while. Months if not a year for me. Here are pics of the beginning and then a few rows to a final 1 repeat of the center.







UFOs? Plenty. Pics to follow in the next days. Promise. :0)


I did, however finish another Pirate hat, which I promptly gave away....again. I am such a softie when someone likes my knitting.

Ice, Ice, Baby!

Wow! Look at that. How long has it been since I have posted? It is embarrassing. Is there anybody still left out there?

Today we are expecting an ice storm. Expecting. Waiting. Wondering. It is almost 4 pm and school was called off. Yet...no ice. And barely any rain. What that meant to me was a day of reed making and knitting (yea)....oh who are we kidding? I knit and gouged a few pieces of cane in the mean time. LOL Perhaps there will be ice for tomorrow.......heh heh.

Here are a couple of things I have been working on. A test knit that is so sorely overdue she has given up on me. So that's it for me and test knits. At least around the holidays. Musician. What was I thinking? So sorry about that one. It was still a pleasant knit and I do like it. Interesting texture that I normally would not do, but it turned out well.



Cable/Rib Cardigan by Gayle Bunn. It is on the wooly board right now awaiting my button choice. I came home with three choices. Why I cannot make the decision at the fabric store I do not know. But I know this. Whatever I choose there will be the wrong one. It never fails. Anyhow, I really enjoyed knitting this one. My knitting time has been limited and it was still a very fast knit for that time frame.





Celtic by Martin Storey, that genius. I love this thing. Rowan Felted Tweed. I have never used it before but I like the feel of it. Especially after the Jamiesons's Aran in the Cable/Rib. It was harsh, but it will soften a little and for cables like that I will make exceptions. :0)



So who got to see the inauguration????? Wasn't it moving? I was really happy to see how many people were there and how moved the country is to have a bit of change. Did you see/hear the music? Wow, what a piece??? John Williams arrangement? Man, oh, man. Itzak Perlman will actually be coming to East Texas Symphony in April. I will get TO SHARE A STAGE WITH ITZAK PERLMAN!!!!!!! If I don't pass out when he walks on.......but that would technically still be a shared stage, right? I am there...he is there.......we have our instruments.......just one of us happens to be passed out unconscious on the floor. (me)

A Work Day In the Life.......

It begins with hitting every red light on a drive from hell.



Traffic...oh...and buffalo..No, I am not kidding. Pretty cool, huh? There are babies right now the size of German Shepherds.




I have packed in the car my tools



to make oboe reeds


and music to practice for an upcoming concert....



and I drive around to different schools all day teaching oboe lessons to kids in rooms this small. Blech. Love the kids..hate the rooms.



Then it's off to rehearsals with knitting at my side....



and sometimes a concert in the evening. Sometimes not.


Wow! It looks a lot more boring in pictures. Holy Crap, I gotta get a life!

Here's a little more Thoroughbred. I didn't do all that last night...I was just long in uploading my pics.


Also toying with the idea of knitting a traditional fishing gansey. I have always been fascinated by the romantic history surrounding these sweaters. It probably wasn't nearly as romantic as I would have it...but hey!

new, new, news

I have had the good fortune to be able to test knit a cardigan for a designer from across the pond. It is a really neat design and I think you will like it when she finishes it. Here are the beginnings with her permission, of course. Yea, Katya!!! More info to come.




Here is a small bit of Thoroughbred. Love, LOVE>, LOVE these colors. They blend so beautifully and I can't decide if there is one combination I like more than another.


Poetry in Stitches Wedding Cardigan in Spindrift.