Purling Oaks

Isn't that the cutest face?

Thanks, Angie, for such cute contest winnings.  The sheepie is just the cutest stuffed toy I've seen in a while.  The yarn is lovely and so soft. 

This place seems like a dream shop to me.  Pottery lessons and yarn in the same place!!!  I'm not good at either but I love to play with them both.  Way back when, before I started my current traveling job career, I took pottery lessons on Wednesday nights.  I have still have most of my chunky fired pottery.........that didn't blow up in the kiln, that is.  Someday, I'm going to play with clay again.  Delicious, squishy, wonderful clay.

DH and I are about to embark (with the help of our general contractor) on the basement redo project as well as the tear-down and redo of our sunroom (aka room with a moat).  It is very exciting but also full of crossing of fingers and toes that no weird things happen during construction, like, say, a geyser springing up in the yard.  Heaven forbid.  That would be just too much of a "design element" to work around, don't you think?  At least, there should be blog material for a while. 

Oh, Cookie, the contractor is wondering where to order that stripper pole.....

Fiber Fair recount

The Midwest Fiber and Folk Fair was great.  Vendors were both inside and outside of the McHenry County College facility.  Charlynn and I were able to catch up with each other as well as engage in some quality fiber shopping.  Charlynn purchased her first spinning wheel.  *evil laughter*  (Yes, Stacey, she blames me.)  She also started knitting her first pair of socks.  Here's a summary photo of Charlynn's purchases (minus her Kromski Minstral wheel)  My work here is complete.......

Oh, well, you want me to tell you what I bought at the Fair?  I did spend quite a bit of time with Elf and Sandy at Red Fish Dye Works.  Two fun, yet incredibly calm women.....as well as talented in the dye department.  Here's the bed-full of my loot. 
My camera doesn't do justice to the Red Fish yarn and roving (oh, and hankies).  I love the llama cookie cutter.  The Rust Tex tube and CD are a kit for dyeing with metals.  The booth had some lovely results; I hope I can come close to reproducing them.  Stitch-markers, silk roving, alpaca black and white fiber, cotton fiber for towels, weaving tool, and a few other items. 

The new Crocs performed well and my feet were happy despite walking all day on Saturday.  We had some fun fair food including a funnel cake.  YUM.  Charlynn's neck and shoulders seized up so we also enjoyed the chair massages offered.  It was a fun visit that was far too short.

DH had some fun in a local trout stream on Saturday so tonight we enjoyed brook trout for dinner.  Delicious!  I'm living right, I suppose.

Why did I wait?

I bought my first pair of Crocs this week. I was definitely not a leading comfortista in this area. I *love* them. They are the Beach model in sage. Very comfy!

Char is stuck in Chicago traffic so the footie is getting some well deserved attention. Later today we will head over to the Midwest Fiber and Folk Fair. Have a great weekend!

Maria who?

Thank goodness for fill in the blank.  I'm just plumb wore out between work and play.  Today feels like it has lasted a good 84 hours.  It is probably the result of sleeping in three different beds in less than a week.  Carry on.  I'll be home Thursday night.  Then off to play by Friday afternoon.  Midwest Fiber and Folk something or other Art Fair with my buddy, Charlynn.

Just for KnittyOtter:

Getting to Know you Contest Questionnaire:

1.) How long have you been knitting?

My mother and grandmother taught me to knit....I think it was about 1975, if I remember the house right.  I didn't do too much with it until about 2001 when I decided I would knit a sweater for my "new year start a new craft" project.

2.) How long have you been knitting socks?

I started my first sock in 2003 on the way to Yellowstone and I think I finished it in 2007.  :D

3.) What do you do with a problem like Maria?

I would probably just ignore her until she went away.

4.) What is your all time favorite sock yarn?

I haven't tried many yet.  Trekking XXL made my favorite pair of socks, so far.

5.) Toe Up or Cuff Down?

I'm still in process of the first toe up.  I think both ways are probably useful but the toe up seem less fiddly.

6.) What's your favorite color (this week or for all time)? Do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like mossy greens and muted colors,  soft orange, reds with blue casts (as compared to orange).  I don't like kelly green.

7.) Do you have a pet(s)?

Yes, four cats.  White Dot, Black Dot, Blue, and Fuzzle

8.) Babies: Oven Roasted or Barbecued?

Poached in Johnson's Baby Bath.  :D

9.) Besides socks what is your favorite type of thing to knit?

Sweaters and lace, I certainly have enough of both of them started.......

10.) What's your favorite scent?

Citrus, orange primarily.   My husband's t-shirts.  A warm furry feline.

11.) What music are you really loving right now? Like a song or a band?

Patti Austin's tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.

12.) How many pairs of socks have you hand knit?

Oh gee.  Four, I think.  Maybe five.  (Sad, I know.  If I were home I could count them up.  I'm just tired, now.)  Two pairs in progress on the sticks.

13.) What's your favorite treat? Salty or Sweet?

Both and either.  Chips and dip, kettle popcorn....stuff like that.   Generally, I'm a salt-a-holic.

14.) What was the most interesting thing you smelled yesterday. Not good or bad necessarily, just the thing that stuck out most so that you actually took notice of it.

Oatmeal raisin cookies baked by my nephew, Hunter.  Musty humidity in the garage of our cottage.

15.) Needles - DPN's: Wooden, metal or plastic?

Bamboo or wood.  Crystal Palace are nice.  Metal are too darn slick.

16.) What is your favorite sock pattern that you've knit? What do you recommend?

I like the resulting socks from the Jaywalker pattern but the pattern was a minor challenge when frogging.  I want to try Cookie's Cutter sock pattern next.

17.) The last Question: If you were stuck on a deserted island who would you want with you, what knitting would you want with you and would you ever want to leave?

I would definitely want my husband with me, lace knitting since I would have time to concentrate on the pattern.  Yes, I would want to leave after a while.  Semi-solitude is nice but my life's theme is change and travel.  Why buck the trend?