This month Cynthia and I couldn’t just do two desktop-calendar wallpapers. With my new camera there were so many we loved so we settled on three. Click on the picture and it will take you to the bigger version. Then you just right click to save as your new desktop wallpaper! I’d love to know which one you take if you pick one. I’m curious like that! So happy June from us!
Thanks Cynthia for getting them done today!!
Village Wools is the place to be this summer I’ll tell yah! Louisa Harding, Amy Singer and Drew “The Crochet Dude” Emborsky are all coming to Village Wools to teach this summer. There are limited spaces for their workshops, so if you live locally or think you might want to come, call VW and get your space. (505.883.2919)
Louisa Harding is coming on June 8th. A long time designer for Rowan Magazine, Louisa has developed her own line of yarns and design books and is coming to teach a sampling workshop of her delicious yarns. She will help students play with color and choose yarn combinations to create a lively swatch which will be turned into a small purse. The class will be from 10:00am-2:00pm.
Then I’m the lucky one who gets to have Amy Singer as a house-guest while she’s here! She’s going to be teaching two different workshops. You know, Amy Singer of knitty.com, No Sheep For You, Knit Wit and Big Girl Knits?
Workshop 1
Tuscany Shawl Class – Learn to love lace without fear: Knit from a smooth worsted-weight silk yarn, which feels amazing against the skin. If you can confidently knit and purl, make yarn overs, cast on and bind off, you’re ready for this project. Lean all the tricks that make knitting lace a pleasure, and the easy way to block when you’re done.
Friday, June 15th 1:30 – 4pm
Workshop 2
No Sheep For You: All about Albuquerque-friendly fibers! Learn the ins and outs of fibers that aren’t’ wool and never had four lets. We’ll learn about cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo, lyocell, rayon, soy, and the new synthetics and more, plus the most delicious non-wool of all: Silk. Get to know the GeeKY [hint: it involves knitting]. It’s the tool that will help you to know how to substitute non-wool fibers when a pattern calls for wool and get a great result. Here’s a secret – it’s WAY more than matching the gauge. Swatching yarn provided.
Saturday, June 16th 10:30 – 1pm Fee $65 + tax
Drew aka “The Crochet Dude” and co-author of the new book Men Who Knit & the Dogs Who Love Them with Annie Modesitt is coming in August! Drew has designed many crochet patterns featured in Interweave Crochet and Knit.1 Magazines. He will be teaching how to do cables in crochet and fitting techniques using the twin-set pattern seen on page 5 of the Spring ’07 Interweave Crochet. (seen here) Students only need to know how to single and double crochet.
Saturday August 11th 10 – 1pm
If anyone is thinking of traveling here to take any of these courses there are a number of places in which to stay that are almost within walking distance of Village Wools. I wish I could house you, but my house is full! (we have our Israeli counselor coming today for the next two weeks plus Amy when she comes!)
Which kind of brings me to the other thing I wanted to talk about. Summer is here in full force and I’m about to have house-guests for the next month straight. I’m going to kind of take a break from the blog. I’m thinking it might be reverse psychology on myself. If I tell everyone I am going to take a break, maybe I’ll all of the sudden find more time to actually blog? Who knows. Just know I’m busy dyeing/shipping/being a chauffeur, and a number of other mom/business related jobs but I’m okay! I’m still here taking yarn orders but just swamped with life in general. It’s a good thing. I promise to still stop by your blogs when I can. I’m not going to totally disappear. I just kind of wanted to let you all know what was going on. And as everyone knows, summer for me means very little knitting. I mean look, wouldn’t you rather be out and about doing this kind of stuff?
Some of you may remember that over the past few years we have housed one of the Israeli counselors who comes for the summer to work at the JCC. Today our 3rd schlichim comes. She’ll be with us for 2 weeks. Get this, she was sniper instructor in the Israeli Army. How cool is that? I can’t wait to learn more about what she did in the army. I’ve emailed with her a few times and she seems really sweet. I can’t wait to meet her later today.
So I’ve rambled enough. Local people? Get thee arses to Village Wools and sign up for these Workshops! I’m also teaching a few dye classes this summer too. The dates are up on the website. Time to get the kids ready for camp and then I have to get my house ready for our company.
This has become even more fun for me now that I have my new camera. I put together a mosaic again because I couldn’t decide on just one shot. Click for the bigger image.
The top right corner is one of my favorite things to get from the Flying Star restaurant. There’s nothing better than bread, green chiles and melted cheddar cheese! The pool opened a few weeks ago at the JCC so we’ve been going in the afternoons with friends. Luckily the kids can now swim so I don’t even have to go in the pool if I don’t want to. The Iris was for John. He’s painting something for his mom and sent me on a mission to shoot purple flowers the other day. And finally, the Spanish Broom shot in the lower right-hand corner. I love this shot.
I have an added Eye Candy shot for today. If you have not bought soap from Laurie of Blessed Juno you had better get your heiny over there and get some pronto! I think Margene was the one to originally turn me on to her. I have been using her soap for over the past year and each time I buy more and more because I love giving it as gifts and also hate to run out. I think there are about eight bars of soap in my fridge right now. The eye candy for today? Oh my gawd people. This new one she has is the most amazing smelling soap ever. Every night I use it I feel like I’m in a spa. It smells that good. She sent me a sample of it and after I took a shower I emailed her immediately yelling at her ,” I WANT MORE OF THAT SOAP NOW!” Luckily she has a great sense of humor and just laughed at me. And sent me more. She’s smart too. It’s a limited edition especially for knitters! (I’m sure crocheters too) So please go support Blessed Juno. She’s fantastic. She’s also a teacher and a mama so of course I love her even more! My other favorite is Breeze. That’s the one I’ve been using for the past year. I feel like I’m cheating on my Breeze with this Hand Knit. I’m sorry Breeze. I just love Hand Knit more.
Roughly 1 million people tagged me to do this meme. Just so you know? I don’t normally do them. So don’t take it personally if you tag me and I don’t do one. You’re much better off picking someone more reliable. I’m a bad meme-friend! So here goes. The 7 random facts about me meme.
1. When I was 15 I crashed in a downhill ski race and got part of a tree branch stuck in my leg. I ended up needing stitches inside and on the outside of my left leg and it left my leg pretty ugly looking. It’s been over 20 years and it still looks horrible.
2. I rarely wear shoes with heels. I don’t mean heels as in vertically, I mean around the actual heel. I pretty much live in flip-flops, slip-on sneakers and clogs. See? I just hate shoes. I’m usually holding 25 things in my hands/arms and I don’t need to be bothered by messing with shoes.
3. I have some major OCD tendencies. I mostly have a bedtime ritual and if I don’t do everything in a certain order it just makes me feel…..not right.
4. I weighed 75lbs more than I do right now when I gave birth to Supergirl. Yep. That’s a LOT.
5. One of my grandfather’s closest friends is Julius Erving. (Dr. J.) I’ve met him numerous times and have even played golf with him. He’s so sweet.
6. I don’t drink coffee. I hate the taste of it. I only drink espresso. I add a teeny bit of raw sugar and some silk creamer. Every morning I must have that drink.
7. I am not a picky eater but I absolutely detest raisins, applesauce and coconut. BARF!
And I tag….. not a single person! Do it if you want.
Bear with Sentimental Scout for a minute or two. Okay?
Click to see the bigger picture.
These were taken three years ago when Supergirl was 2 years old. The ones with the backpack were on her first day of preschool camp - June 2004. She’s been at this school since then and tomorrow is her last day. As happy as I am that both of my kids will be going to school together next year, I’m sad she won’t go to this school anymore. It’s been such an amazing experience for her. I also can’t get over how freaking cute she was. She still uses that backpack too. I remember laughing so hard taking these pictures.
I’m finding it very strange how sentimental I’m feeling about being completely done with preschool tomorrow. What the heck is wrong with me!? Where is the other Scout who’s so excited to be done with preschool tuition? Well I’m sure she’ll be back soon. Although now that one kid will be home until camp starts I’ll have even less time than I did before. I think I’ll get a picture of her tomorrow going to school with that backpack. Because you know, I’m all sentimental like that……
Have you seen all of the new swag I got in from Pick Up Sticks? Oh my goodness. Not only do they have a bunch of new kits, but the colors are so awesome. I put together a little collage of the new colors and swag.
I sold out of all of it when I first got it in a few weeks ago so I had to wait until I got another order of it before I talked about it. Not only are the kits so cute but they have done such a good job with the packaging. If you are looking for some knitty presents for friends or a swap, these really are such great gifts. Hey Miss Violet? Tell them how cute the stuff is! I think the new Sushi Wallet Kit in the Aqua, Sea Blue & Celery is my favorite new item.
For anyone wanting yarn I’m taking orders again. I’m telling everyone the wait time is 2-4 weeks but it looks like I’m getting most orders out right around 2 weeks. Did I tell you what I’m doing tonight? We’re going out with a bunch of friends to go see RENT. I can’t wait! It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen a show. OKay, time to go for a run and package up some orders! I leave you with this.
Also, if you want a good laugh take a look at this picture. Whoops.
I continue to be busy and know I’ve been neglecting the blog. Hopefully I’ll get the time and my writing mojo back soon. For now I’ll give you this.
I also got in some new swag in the shop. Marisol emailed me last week and asked me to get some of these fun new Kritter Cases from Clover. I hadn’t seen them yet and think they are the cutest thing ever so of course I got them right away.
The names are so cute too. There’s Crafty the Crocodile, Fergie the Frog, Daphne the Dolphin and Hippy the Hippo. Aren’t they totally cute!? Thanks Marisol! I love it when you guys let me know about things you’d like to see in the shop that I don’t carry. Please don’t ever hesitate to tell me if you’ve seen something cool I don’t have. That’s how I work! **I’ve already reordered all 4 cases and should have them early next week!**
Have I mentioned that my kids are done with school next week? Crazy huh? How did it already become summer? Not only that but the end of school means I will have a 3rd grader and a kindy kid!! Two kids going to the same school. Two kids with the same school schedule. Two kids getting on the bus together. And the best thing? NO MORE PRESCHOOL TUITION!!!!!! I actually cheered when I handed it to the billing lady. I’m just a little bit happy about this.
Okay gang. Have a great weekend!
**I meant to have this post tomorrow but I’m a moron. Oh well. Happy Friday**
First of all I wanted to remind/inform everyone that as of today USPS has increased their rates again. Priority mail 1lb and under is now $4.60 instead of $4.05. That’s kind of a big increase isn’t it? *sigh* A regular stamp is now .41¢. So just a head’s up if you’re wondering why shipping seems more.
For the first time in a month I am almost completely stocked with my GoKnit Pouches. Ever since I started carrying all three sizes I sell out of them within hours of posting them to the shop. I am completely loving the medium size as it’s perfect for a few balls of yarn and a project. If you have bigger projects the large would be great because you can actually sling it over your shoulder. I just got a huge shipment on Saturday and still have a good selection. If you see a size that is sold out, I should have it back in stock within a week.
I also got in a shipment of Splityarn Needlecases. I have three colors in stock; the Houndstooth, Mod Pink & Mod Grey. Caro is super busy so I’m very lucky to have gotten these.
That’s all folks! I just wanted to make sure you all knew that I had the GoKnit Pouches back in since it’s been a while. I’m working on getting in a few new things too. As soon as I get them, you’ll be the first to know!
I’ll be honest and let you know this was taken two days ago.
But I love it, so you get it.
If I went there right now I would get the same
picture so I guess it’s not really cheating.
Happy Saturday.
71 shots of espresso