New for me in Napa

Hi, Well it's been a long while but I have been very busy knitting---and although I am on the computer daily -I must make a note to visit and update this blog at least once a week!!!
Found the most beautiful yarn shop the other day in one of the most beautiful parts of this earth.
Napa ( Somona is just if not more beautiful but back to the yarn) The shop is set up by color, every skein is tucked into lovely wood shelves from floor to ceiling, there is plenty of room to move around and a wonderful oval table in the window for classes, sharing ideas and chatting. Yarns on First, Napa California, In all my travels I make sure to check out the local yarn shops and this one rates top on my list, Friendly knowledgeable service.

These are two of the projects I had been working on, the blue top is done in Knit one, Crochet two Baby Bamboo-absolutely luscious to work with and the pattern is from Best of Interweave Knits

The other is a sad story of a lost scarf. The crochet pieces you see are part of a beautiful scarf I created for my daughter. The scarf disappeared shortly after it was completed. We have no idea where or exactly when. Hopefully someone found it and is enjoying it's warmth.

Recap the year 2007

Year 2007 Projects.... more to follow.....

Showing Off

Hi, I'm back again. Everyday real life (although it is wonderful) gets in the way of knitting and blogging!!! Well that's actually not a truth, because knitting has been a priority over the last few months. As has visiting a few Yarn Shops (Chatham NY- The Wooly Ewe, Ridgefield and Greenwich Ct, Sonoma Ca "Bella Yarns" and "Sonoma Yarns") Totally in the name of research!!!

This a photo of my cat. She has a perfectly shaped heart on the side of her neck. Isn't that too much.

Summer Relaxation

Where have the days gone? You would think that this is the perfect time of year for me to post to the site, but there are so many things to do. One by one the projects are completed!!! Pictures to follow. Still visiting yarn shops (a must do for any excursion) and reading knitting and crochet books. Three came in the mail today!!!! Knitting Loom, Lily Chin (crochet) and Lacey Little Knits.
This craft is definitely addicting.

Winter GET AWAY

I have been very busy--Traveled to West Palm Beach and had a wonderful vacation. We call ourselves "The Divas" and we are linked through High School Years, you either went to High School with us, married someone who went to highschool with us, or are a new diva friend. Mind you we graduated in 1971 and since our 2001 reunion we have been traveling together. The group began with 10 members and has grown to 17. There is always room for more. Many of us are knitters so of course there was the visit to the local knitting shop, in this case "Great Balls of Yarn (Love the name). It is a wonderful shop and within walking distance of the rented house. Could it get any better then that!!!! Sun, warmth, friendship and knitting!!!

Here's the finished poncho.

Boy is it cold outside!!!!

It's been a while and I've been busy knitting - crocheting and staying warm. We have been so spoiled here, with a warm, very warm winter, but boy is it cold outside NOW. The prediction is 10 below for tonight and single digits tomorrow. It's a good thing I finished this sweater (one of my 2006 projects) It's big, bulky and sooooooo warm. Lion Bulky Oh that's Pumpkin, never realized she loves to pose for the camera.

Jan 9 2006

The poncho has been started and I was right, the yarn is lovely to work with. Now I am crocheting this piece and although this is a knitting blog, I will be showing (off)my crochet skills also. (I'm not really this boasterous in real life, trust me!!!) Photos to follow.
What I really wanted to chat about was the wonderful book that arrived at my doorstep yesterday. Totally aware that the box contained knitting books, I kept my hands off till all the chores were done. (sounds like we're in a past century!!!)
"Confessions of a Knitting Heretic" by Annie Modesitt validated my knitting style. I "discovered" the combination stitch on my own, when friend Donna taught me the continental method of holding yarn, over 25 years ago. Nothing else felt right, or smooth or fast enough. Now mind you, I didn't realize I was doing it wrong, until my recent knitting research began. My stitch is even and the yarn flows so effortlessly. Thank you Annie, wish I had discovered you and your ideas earlier. Better late then never.

Treats!!!

This book has been hard to find, so I wasn't looking for it. Yesterday, on a visit to a local craft store, as I waited on line---It was there on the shelf!! "Knitting on the Edge" Nicky Epstein's wonderful book. What a resource! what beautiful stitches!!! I will never rib stitch an edge again!!!!

Gifts Equal Knit

I actually made it back. Let's hope the pattern continues. I have so much to share but decided to do so, a little at a time. Today's topic is gifts equal knit. This year my lovely daughter give me 2 bags of beautiful yarns. Dark Lime Cascade Magnum and Browns/Rust/Green/Gold hand dyed 100% wool by "chasing rainbows dyeworks". Both lucious to the hand. She picked the yarn up in Pennsylvania on one of her Bead Show Jaunts (She is a jewelry designer and will travel hours for a show-more about her craft in another post) The hand dyed is for me and I'm considering the short poncho (crochet). The green is hers, What shall I knit?

Back to blogging

Here I am back to blogging and a commitment to add posts to this site on a regular basis. Well, let's see what would be considered regular? Shall I say once a week? or once a month, at minimum. For all the time I spend here at the computer, that is so much less time I spend Knitting!!!!. This has been a busy year. My goal has been to finish projects, knitted and otherwise. I will post pictures of the sweaters, bags and hats that I still have in my possession soon. Glad to be back and looking forward to sharing. Any machine knitters out there? I'm looking for instructions, (visual preferably!!) for an singer LK-100.