Photoessay Sunday…In No Particular Order

Tomorrow morning I ship a huge box of goodies off to Frog Tree Yarns.  All the Flock Wooligan kits ordered at TNNA are assembled.  There are several samples, new Pediboo swatches and one darling pink Sheep Wooligan.  It feels awesome to have all these to do’s crossed off my list.  I am continuing on the Live Oak Shawlette, into a second repeat of chart a and I think I can get a third repeat of that chart before I have to do the final edging chart.  Will keep you updated.

Flowers from Lisa still looking awesome....the smaller pointy flower spike is just halfway opened up.

 

Nikkers at his post on the back of my chair.

 

 

Nikkers shows Mommy who's boss!

 

Chris shared a photo of her vegetable garden at her vacation home. It is so orderly...ours, like the studio, is much more random.

 

Chris works on her Flounce scarf...garter stitch over nine stitches on a US10 or US11.

 

Mimi showing the feed bucker who's boss.

 

Brian found this image on something at the local sporting goods store! LOL!

 

Uncle Dude gives his chemo cap a thnmb's up!

 

Only two out of three cats prefer fresh catnip...the third recoils in horror at the "awful" smell. Not the reaction I expected.

 

Smidgen watches the boys from a safe distance.

 

Sinfonia wanted some of that catnip too.

 

Sputters loves his Papa so very much.

 

Back I go to my lace knitting.  Waiting for the shipment of this month’s Colinette Jitterbug so I can swatch out the new sock.  Take care and more tomorrow!  with light, love and laughter,

Mary Ellen aka TheHumanLoom

 

Paris the Verifier

Yesterday, sitting chatting with some of the local knitters, I received a not uncommon phone call, an electricity supplier trying to gain my business.  After the arrival of the last mind-numbing bill, I was more than happy to excuse myself and listen to what they had to say.  Katrina was and still is my contact and she was just awesome.  She got straight to the point without any needless BS.  THANK YOU.  You now still have my attention and most likely my business.   After we got all the details hammered out, really in a matter of minutes, she said I had to verify the agreement with a “Verifier”.  Did I have any questions, because you can only say yes or no to the Verifier’s questions…?  No questions, let’s get on with this.

Then this VOICE got on the phone with Katrina…low, smooth and deep.  The VOICE completely had my attention.  Turns out the VOICE was a man named, Paris who was the Verifier.  Let me tell you…his voice was smooth, honey-toned, deep as the Mississippi but clear.  The VOICE was warm, like when the sun holds your shoulder gently in its grip on a breezy day.  I don’t know how anyone says “no” to Paris the Verifier and his VOICE.  I said yes everyway I knew how.

Then Katrina gets back on the phone and I can’t help myself:  Katrina, his voice is like everything I ever wanted to get it on with…WHO IS THAT MAN?  She laughs, I giggle, and she says, “Well, he’s Paris the Verifier…and his voice is so low and nice, yes or no?” and of course, mesmerized still…I say YES! And Katrina and I break up into absolutely raucous laughter!

That is my story anyway and I am sticking to it.

We now have 16 out of 24 sheep complete with the 17th on needles and her head just waiting to be attached. Her name is Hyacinth…properly British…don’t you think?  The Baby Bonnet has exceeded my expectations.  The best thing about Pediboo for garments is that once soaked, blocked and dried it has a drape that I have never experienced with any other yarn.  And for me, it is always all about proper drape.  Here are the photos:

 

close-up view of the ties I created for this bonnet

from afar

And this just in…Zephyr…Chinese Tussah Silk and Fine Merino Wool/mothproofed…each ball is 630 yards of lace weight yarn at only $14.50 a ball.  Two is enough for most of the shawls in Nancy Bush’s Estonian lace book.  Here are the colors that arrived:

FYI:  I WILL be here this Friday from 10:15 to Noon, and 1-5pm, this Saturday from 10:15 to 2pm, and I do believe I will be at home both Sunday and Monday to celebrate and crank the last of the display knitting out for Frog Tree Yarns.  Here are some pretty pictures to inspire you as we move into this glorious summer weather:

That is all for now.  I love your comments and if you ever have any knitting or crochet questions please feel free to send them in.  This is so much more fun as a dialogue!  Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

with loads of love, light and laughter always,  Mary Ellen and Summit Yarn Studio

 

A Firestarter In Every Flock

There just has to be a firestarter in every flock.  In Flock Wooligan, her name is Ewelonda.  She seems to have some attitude adjustment issues and got the whole flock into a complete dither today.  It all must have begun sometime after I finished putting Hewegh (Hugh) together and into the corral with the rest of the flock.  I know I was feeling very pleased with myself for completing sheep number thirteen…getting closer to that ten sheep countdown!  Here is how they all looked:

Hewegh is in the back row patiently waiting for his face and other assorted parts.

You would think this would all be a non-issue, right?  Well, I did. I went back to the table and made the next sheep for the flock, Violette, and she looks awesome!

Violette is also patiently waiting for her adornments.

And just like before with Hewegh, I get up to go put her in the corral so she can get to know the rest of the flock.  What do I find?  The flock is in complete chaos…everything and everyone has run amok.  Ewelonda somehow convinced them that Hewegh was a ZOMBIE and any sheep that were still missing legs were for sure going to become ZOMBIES too!  The sheep with legs all jumped out of the corral, right on top of each other.  The ones without legs crapped so hard and so fast they propelled themselves into a corner as far away from poor Hewegh as they could get.  And I don’t even want to know how Ewelonda made it out of the corral and up on top of my newly blocked Victorian Baby Bonnet!

When the Flock Wooligan ran amok today...sigh...

I did manage to get everybody under control and convince them that NOBODY was a Zombie or even going to become a Zombie…and it took some fast talking because Ewelonda really had them all completely freaked out.  Ewelonda now has her own special corral and if she doesn’t get herself under control she got told she will be put in with the felted wool balls and never see the light of day again.

Ewelonda in timeout.

The rest of the flock has settled in and are now shunning Ewelonda until she learns to keep her mouth shut.  I personally think she is always going to be a bit of a free spirit.  They will all be at TNNA in Columbus, Ohio.  If you see Ewelonda and she is acting up, don’t hesitate to spank her for me!

Flock Wooligan and the Bell Jar time out corner.

All of the Flock Wooligan have been created from Pediboo by Frog Tree Yarns and there will be one sheep for every color and every sheep has its own name.  I do hope ewe get to meet them, they are quite the adorable crowd!  They are very excited for their first road trip!

loads of love,  Mary Ellen and Flock Wooligan

 

Test Knitting Underway

Thank God for sudden flashes of brilliance…I just wish they came closer together.  I have a new design for a shawl (of any size…the knitter gets to choose) and Lisa has graciously agreed to test knit the new pattern.  She will be working it up in Pediboo yarn in a sweet raspberry color.  When I have the kinks worked out of the pattern it will be available for purchase here and in the Ravelry store.  I do also hope to offer sock patterns here as well.  I could really use a few 40 hour days.

The square for tomorrow is on needles and is a pattern I have used a bit.  It is my take on an old-fashioned knit/purl pattern and is so versatile.  I use it in lots of projects.  It is even more versatile because it is reversible.  I look forward to sharing it with you tomorrow!

FYI:  Summit Yarn Studio will be closed this Saturday for a family outing to celebrate my son’s 12th birthday.  I will be here on Sunday for regular hours and keep regular hours the rest of this week.

Take care and a word to the wise:  never pick up a bottle of cologne by the cap…you house will smell manly.

Mary Ellen and Summit Yarn Studio