Purlewe

Facts of Life hive update

This weekend meant getting the backyard together. Cleaning up the leaves. Getting the outdoor table clean. Spying on the feral kittens. Watching the hive.

Was happy to see the girls out and about yesterday. One worker in that photo has all her pollen baskets full. We saw about one worker with full pollen baskets every minute or so. That gave me a good feeling.

Today I got myself together and inspected the queen cage. I should have done it friday. But I was pleasantly surprised today to find it empty. Mrs. Garrett is loose about the house!

And for those who have wished to see feral kittehs I present this stunner.

Embroidery time

I am taking a class at Fleischer this semester. I have taken the class before, but Marie is such an excellent teacher I wanted to take it again.

This semester the sampler is a silk screen print that we all contributed and then pulled on our own piece of fabric.

I hope at the end of class to take some photos of other people's work. What is so neat is that everyone is using the sampler stitches in different ways. I am trying to fill in the whitespace, others are trying to fill in the blackspace. It is amazing to see everyone's creativity.

Last week we started a text project. I am really excited about mine. I just hope I wasn't being too overly ambitious.

I am reproducing the title screen of Sherlock. And I am going to stitch crime tape to overlap it with words from the show.

In other stitching news I signed up for an online class this summer. I am very excited by this! I haven't taken an online class like this yet.

In which I do something slightly crazy

Who knows if this will work out. But I have realized a dream. I have installed bees in my backyard.

We've named the hive the Facts of Life. Mrs. Garrett and the girls, girls, girls are installed. Now let's hope this works. But if not, it has been an exciting experiment!

I went to a land far, far away

For my birthday present Sue gave me a trip to Tofino, BC. Knits By The Sea was having a knitting retreat with Amy Swenson. I was wanting to put my passport to use this yr, and this trip fit the bill! I got my bags packed, and my camera ready, and headed out to the edge of British Columbia!

Since I was coming from the east coast I asked Ellie at the shop to hook me up with a roommate if she could. She found me a great roomie in Bonnie. Bonnie is from New Mexico and we had a blast together. I hope we get to see each other again soon. A fantastic knitter and a wonderful soul. We had plenty in common and we talked and knit as much as we could. Bonnie is also an avid photographer. We had a blast hiking to the beach and taking pictures together.

 

Since I was going all that way I got there a day early and left a day late. I asked Amy if she wanted to join me and make it a real vacation. We got there a day before and had time to explore the area. We lucked upon a sunny day in BC.

 

 

 

 

 

We went on a whale watch that... just defied all my previous expectations about the sea. I am still amazed by it.

The retreat itself was amazing. Amy was a fantastic teacher. Her 4 classes that weekend were the highlight of my stay. I really learned so much about shawl construction, knitting fotography, and her GEMS method of measurements. The food the lodge served was top-notch. And the appetizers they gave us turned out to be a well rounded dinner!

Amy and I stayed an extra nite at the end to give ourselves a breather. We had some great local sushi and beer. I am still dreaming about both.

 

 

I would definitely consider going to another retreat put on by Ellie and her Knits by the Sea crew. They have one in November with Fiona Ellis, and it sounds like another will happen next spring. The location was like something in a movie set. I could have sat on the porch and stared for hours. I got 2 projects done while I was there. And I finished another last week. My knitting mojo really has been on fire lately.

knitting weekend

I was away for the weekend. And if I can gather my thoughts I might write it up later this week. It was my birthday present from Sue: a Knitting Retreat in Tofino, BC. I will say it really was quite a wonderful retreat and a beautiful location.

But I did finish 2 projects I took with me. (note: I took 4 projects. I finished 2. I am pleased with that record.)

A baby sweater for a coworker's grandson-to-be.

A free pattern (rav link) I found on Ravelry. It was a very quick knit and it lends itself to tons of color combos. I just need some buttons and it is done.

specs: US5s, Zara yarn.

And the other was another free pattern: Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief.

I only have progress pics right now. I need to give it a good wash and block. But the color is accurate. It is grey with tans and pinks in it. I knit until I ran out of yarn.. so mine looks a bit different than the pattern pics. (rav link) But I like it. This might just be mine.

specs: US8s, Spirit Trail yarn in the color "gunsmoke"

finished, but wishing for more

Isn't this a beauty? I just wish it was more. More length, more width, more honeycombs...

I might revisit this pattern. When I do I will add more stitches to the base, and more repeats to the honeycomb until I get the desired length.

Yarn is Spririt Trail Holda. Angora, cashmere, and wool. A very squishy fabric.

finished baby projects

A dear couple we love is having a baby soon. The mom asked for bee booties. Well I upped the anti as I usually do.

Bee booties and a bee hat.

The booties are from 50 baby Booties to Knit by Zoë Mellor. The hat I made up. 76sts on US5s and the honeycomb pattern just fell into place. I love it when a plan comes together.

The ladybird booties then had to follow. It was a natural progression. I mean how can one resist these? They are stinkin' cute! Ladybird booties by Zoë Mellor, same book.

Hat was done the same way. 76sts on US5s. I also have a stipe running front to back, but when I foto'd this I folded it so it can't be seen (smacks head).

They are now winging their way to a baby shower. I hope the mom and dad like these as much as I do.

camping fun

There is something about camping. It calms me. It recharges me. It is good for my soul. And I am lucky that I have friends who like it too.

It was not warm. (I won't say it was cold.. it was not cold, but it wasn't warm.) And it was windy! But the weather was so sunny, and the call of the ponies was strong. How can one say no when they find out they will be camping near wild ponies!

Plus there is cooking over an open fire. Few things taste bad when cooked over an open fire. In fact, some things taste PHENOMENAL over an open fire, or in a fire pit. We had a turkey feast with all the trimmings. It was a great meal.

I have finished a few wee little things. I will try to post them soon.

Quilt is done!

I fnished the quilt top. It is now off to my MIL to be quilted.  I am so pleased.

I think my niece will enjoy this on her 11th birthday.

And I can get a really olf UFO off my list! win-win!

back to quilting

I've had this on hold *gasp* for a YEAR!

I had 6 blocks left to do. So I cut them last week and sewed this this weekend.

Now all 12 blocks are done. I am in the process of sashing the blocks and getting everything together. I want the top done this week. I want this out of the house and on the way to it's new home!

This means no knitting has been done. But hey, a project is a project.