A Long Weekend

I hate summer, as I've stated before.  The one thing that makes it just bearable is that I have fiber festivals to go to.  This weekend it's the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair, and in August, I will go (maybe with the Man) to the Michigan Fiber Festival.  I'm itching for more of my knitting crack, Briar Rose Fibers, as my current supply is a little low.  I also got a peek at someone's new fall designs, and I'm drooling.  I just want to make everything.
I took the day off work today, intending to get out to the fest today, as I thought we would be traveling on Saturday and Sunday.  Circumstances have us in town, and I'll be going out on Saturday with my friend Mary.  Today I was in my pajamas until about 2 PM working on my mom's quilt.  I just have the borders to add for the top to be done.  I did some real damage today at Quiltology, got fabric for two large quilts.  Fear consumption.  My job situation is a little rocky.  At least I'll have some fabric and yarn for the drought to come. 
This is the view from the observation deck at Mount Diablo, near David's house in California.  I was out there a million years ago, it seems.

Getaway

I've been away for a while. This is where I was last month--taken from the walk in front of the Ferry Building in my favorite city, San Francisco. I've been spending most of my summer weekends in my other favorite place--Wisconsin. My base of operations has changed, as my mother has sold her home in the woods, and now has a place that's a short walk away from a bustling Wisconsin resort town. I will miss the home in the woods, and all the birds and wildlife that flourished there. It's a different type of life where she's at now, but I think things will be happy for all involved. I keep hoping that I can talk the Man into moving Lucky Penny HQ up there.

I've been made crazy with working the day job, and not in a good way, so these excursions North, however brief, have been such a welcome escape. I'm making a quilt for my mom's new place, and was distracted by finishing two quilt tops for Piccolo. I have a few more quilts for my own collection cooking in my brain as well. I also need to keep working on Lucky Penny every day, even if it's for a few minutes, so I don't forget who I am completely.

I have been itching to knit one of the Bohus kits I purchased a few years ago. I want to teach myself something for a design that's been on my mind. For the longest time, I could not find the kits. I finally was successful on Friday, and found them in a closet I hardly ever open. Such relief. I plan on starting this next weekend on the Forest Darkness.

I have a busy week coming up--work, two Chicago Craft Mafia meetings, and on Friday, an excursion out to the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair.

Feeling Cooler

The heat wave has ended for a few days, with the Man now miserable and me comfortable.  We had a battle royal after the second air conditioner was installed in the window, which ended up with me having two sleepless nights.  The Man let the second air conditioner run for about an hour, then shut it off, and opened the bedroom window without my knowing, on an 85 degree night.  With my work situation ramped up, this did not make for happy.  I ended up sleeping in my "lady room,"  the spare bedroom that is off limits to the Man.  He's already made a mess of our bedroom, after I gave him his very own room to mess up, that's off limits to me.  The bed in my "lady room" had become at catch-all for my stuff, so I cleared it off, curtained off the back half of the apartment, and cranked the air.  Remember in vintage films, how couples sometimes had separate beds (ex: The Red Shoes) or rooms (ex: Rebecca)?  I now totally get it.  After functioning for two days on a total of five hours of not very good sleep, finally I was rested.  We've been battling every hot summer for years about the air conditioning.  Now, a solution.  We're togther on the cool nights, and open to "visitations."  I need to do a little more decorating in my retreat.
This vest is a little summer number that I've been wearing for a few weeks now.  The Mondo Cable, designed by the brilliant Bonne Marie.  I love the shaping and cable detail on this.  It looks better on than in the photo.  Bonne Marie sent me a PDF of the reworked design, and I have one on the needles now in Louet Euroflax.  I have one or more planned in wool as well.  That's the thing about my knitting.  If I find a design that works, I'll make it more than once.

I Hate Summer

It's not even 7 am and I can feel the sweat beading on my upper lip.  I sleep with ice packs, and the person next to me is asking for more covers.  If I don't get another air conditioner to cool off the front half of this apartment this week, and the Man to put it in the window, I will lose my mind.
Piccolo went back to the vet last week for more of the same back problem that she had last October.  We need to be more careful with her jumping.  I blame the Man for leaving her on the bed after he's left the room.
I started on this little number from Interweave Knits, Summer 2009 before vacation.  I'm about 70% into it, and now can't find the back piece I've finished.  It's the Sprout Tee, but I'm doing it in Peace Fleece worsted.  I think it will look really cute over a long sleeved t-shirt this fall.  Only four months away.

Finding the Peace

So, I've returned to life as I know it, and all the vacation glow has washed away. I have this feeling that I have become so caught up in the every day, that my creative side has been put on a shelf. I'm still making things, and there's a backlog of projects to get done. I have a few new quilts in mind, and I really need to get things together for a new book proposal. I feel that I should have had something in the works for a book a year ago.

I had a moment like this over the weekend, when staying in the Motel 6 in Madison. I looked over from the other bed in our larger (!) room, and saw the Man and Piccolo asleep. It felt so peaceful.

Lucky Penny's Guide to Houseguest Etiquette

The Countess de Lesseps and Emily Post have nothing on me.  Here's how to make sure that you always get invited back when you're staying at someone's house:
1.  Buy groceries and cook for your host.
2.  Make your bed, and change the sheets when you leave.
3.  Don't expect them to entertain you every moment.
4.  Knit a sweater for the host's dog.
Gracie has a new sweater, a variation of my Piccolo design, aka my standard Lucky Penny sweater.  The variation is that I used a chunky yarn and larger needles.  I used Briar Rose Fibers Beth Ann (sadly, discontinued!) for the collar and trim, and Mountain Colors 3-ply for the body.   I have another thank you gift in mind, but that might take some time to accomplish.
Thanks to everyone who came out to the events at Yarn Dogs and The Yarn Boutique.  There's still one more appearance here, at Marin Fiber Arts, then back to headquarters in a few days.  Then we'll see how long the mellow, acquired out here on the West Coast,  lasts.

On the Road with Doggie Knits

Meet Gracie, one of my hosts for this excursion to the West Coast for some Doggie Knits fun.  Here's where we'll be:

Thursday, June 4, 6 PM-8 PM at Yarndogs, 151 E. Main St. Los Gatos, CA

phone 408-399-1909

Sunday, June 7, 2 PM-4 PM at The Yarn Boutique, 963-C Moraga Rd., Layfayette, CA

phone 925-283-7377

Tuesday, June 9, 6 PM-8 PM at Marin Fiber Arts, San Rafael, CA 

phone  415-459-4600

Gotta get packing for the trip, and deciding what projects to bring on vacation.  Oh, my gosh, I'm going to miss my little Piccolo dog!