Today's News

Classes are going very well at Yarn Explosion and I will be working there on a semi permanent basis now for a while. I am excited about it and hope to keep the designing and classes going.

This is my Pendragon Banners Socks, (click on any photo to see larger image)





knit in the Arthur colorway dyed for me by Unplanned Peacock Studios.

After reading The Mists of Avalon, I just had to knit from it, so my Camelot series was born. Natasha is dying my ideas of colors for each character and I am designing a knit for each of the main people in the book. Since the bloodlines were such an important part of the story, the red will be in all of them. This is just the beginning of the quest and I am very excited to be collaborating with Natasha on this project. These socks were knit from the toe up on size 1 needles in the Superwash Merino Fingering.

Also from Unplanned Peacock in the Forest colorway is an idea that came from The Hobbit. "In Mirkwood lives the big spiders."





I am terrified of real spiders but this one is very cute sitting on its web. Knit on size 5 needles with Superwash Merino DK.

There's been a lot of reading going on here as well. I got on the band wagon finally and read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I really did enjoy it and look forward to the next two soon. The best thing that I have read recently, though, is Handling Sin. This was a book with a Southern theme, but anyone that grew up in a large family of fun, goofy aunts and uncles will certainly appreciate its humor. I remember my dads large family getting together every year at least twice and all the food, music, and celebrating! Honestly, it was one of the best books I think I have ever read and I have some more of his books in the que.

Now, for some more very exciting news!!

Guess who I will be going to see in October?

Need a hint?




And one more just for the hell of it!



I can hardly wait!! Love me some Alice!!

Still Live and Kicking

I haven't forgotten you I promise. I've been very busy getting accustomed to everything and meeting people that can help me become more comfortable with day to day life here.

It is much different here than in Virginia where I could jump in the car and go anywhere I wanted whenever I wanted. Here everything must be planned ahead and you get all you need or want while you are out. No taxi driver speaks English and so that is out of the question unless you really don't mind where you end up. I'm planning a trip into Hong Kong in the next couple weeks and have to wait for Elaine, my friend and Victorias mother, to get her Visa to go for the day. It will take about a week for her to get it. I have several addresses of yarn shops in Hong Kong that she will help me to find. Also, buttons are only 10 minutes away from me and we are planning a trip to Shenzhen in the next few days to see them. Elaine assures me that it is button city! How exciting!!

I found Chinese knitting magazines in Walmart of all places and will get some just for the novelty. I really enjoy the pictures!

But so far I am really enjoying being here!

I have started exercising everyday because the gym here at the hotel is just awesome. The food is very healthy and it is much easier to pick and choose now than it used to be. This past weekend we walked about 4 blocks and had lunch at The Bluebird Diner. I had pork chop and the best onion soup I have ever put into my mouth! Of course you still can't drink the water and ice is out of the question, so diet cola is very unpleasant warm and I carry bottled water with me everywhere. Someone put it to me the best way the other day. You come here and you have money to spend and you would love to have a slice of apple pie, but no matter how much money you have there is no apple pie to be had. Sodas taste absolutely nothing like they taste in the states even though they are Coke or Pepsi products. Commonplace foods that we eat everyday at home are completely different tasting here, and no amount of money can buy you what you are accustomed to.

My little girl Victoria got to come and visit with me for a couple of hours yesterday and it was so good to just get to squeeze on her for a little while. She has grown so much and is now 22 months old. She is quite a tall little girl and talks up a storm! Mostly in Chinese but she has some English vocabulary as well and is learning.

My knitting is progressing as well. I had a very big list of things to finish for Christmas gifts and it is getting smaller and I feel that it will be done before I come home.

A while back I asked you to guess who my favorite Beatle was and today while surfing I found this that should answer the question.



My Beatle devotion was always with George!

He was "not long for this world" but boy didn't he help to make it a little nicer?

I promised pictures and I am busily taking them and will have a very heavy picture post by the end of the week. Tune in on your Sunday for a visual treat from me to you!

A Beautiful Day

What a gorgeous fall!

I had a great weekend at the shop! Visits from many friends who came to enhance stashes and sit and knit and chat with me for a while. I LOVE to visit with my knit buddies!

Today I am cleaning house and getting ready for sweeties return on Thursday. Now cleaning is not the my favorite thing to do but I feel that he deserves at least a place to be able to set his luggage down when he walks through the door! Six weeks worth of stuff have accumulated and the laundry basket overfloweth.

This is what has caught my interest today, though.




Those guys were so adorable! Can you guess who my favorite Beatle is? Come on Guess!

Also found this.



I can't help it, I just Love Ozzy!

On the knitting, I am enjoying small objects right now. Instant gratification is what I need and have completed some Christmas presents that were quick but beautiful. I will post pictures soon.

Have a great day everybody!