12/16: New and Notable on Ravelry

This post apparently does not want to be written…I will try again.  I got up this morning and went through the first ten pages of new uploads to Ravelry to see what caught my eye.  Here are the photos.  I have tried to post this three times today and the internet is just not cooperating.  I hope you find inspiration and notice the free patterns…which are FABULOUS!

GREAT HAT...I especially love the detail on the top

 

I know Donna is always on the prowl for great cowls

 

love the stitch detail

 

like the Purl Soho Cowl...maybe better?

 

great headband

 

like the pattern, I just think $20 is a bit pricey for a sweater pattern

 

LOVELOVELOVE THIS FREE PATTERN!!!! GET THIS!!!

 

Chris: you know this is what I found for you... ;-p

 

what a great idea for scraps!!! and short term commitment...

 

who doesn't need a stocking? I, however, think they should only be big enough to hold jewelry...

 

my favorite cowl find today...love the texture.

 

Be sure to check out the page with the top favorited patterns.  Not a lot new there but always worth a peek to see if something speaks to you.  For those of you trying to download Alicia’s Winter Headband…it works.   Please read the directions…do not click on the photograph — that won’t get you anything.  Click on the words at the beginning of the paragraph and the pdf will open for you.  I promise.

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

AND GET THIS:  We made to 101 countries!  Welcome to all our readers and the newest readers in Iraq.  Also a shoutout to my Akron, Ohio readers…I see you there at night!  ;-D  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.  Do not let the HumBug drag you down.  Focus on your inner light and it will only spread.  ❤

 

Book Review: Breakfast With Budddha

Like most yarnies, who have a fabulous STASH, I also love to read and have stacks of books not yet conquered.  To that end, I have been picking up books from the stacks and trying to clean up the double stacked shelves.  The first one I picked up was actually out in the garage right by the door:  “Breakfast with Buddha” a novel, by Roland Merullo.  The first paperback edition came out in 2007.  It is currently still available and also available for a nominal fee on Kindle eBooks.

I loved it.  It was a delightful read which I highly recommend.  The book was funny, real, honest and thought-provoking; not to mention wise.  My favorite quotes were:  pages 172-174 about the parallel of the spiritual journey with the young boy who tries to learn piano.  Next:  “All that we are is the result of what we have thought:  It is built on our thoughts, it is made from our thoughts.  If a man speaks or acts with evil thought pain follows him, just like the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the cart.  If a person speaks or acts with pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves.”  Also:  “What if you knew how to make it so your mind did not think for a few seconds, or for a minute?  What would happen then to your ideas and your opinions and your judgements?”  Finally, on the bottom of page 235 to page 236 are an excellent set of meditation instructions.

The book is well-written and lightened my days.  It made me more aware of my breath and helped me to remember what is really important each day.  Not my thoughts and opinions.  Not judgements — mine or anyone else’s.  What is important every day is the joy I fill up on just being alive.  Bring Joy.  It makes Life good.

with love and light always,  Mary Ellen and Summit Yarn

 

Sock Summit 2011: A Stroll Around The Portland Convention Center

Normally, I love to go for long walks and explore new territories.  Lisa loves to even more than I.  However, my dogs were screaming and the only complaint you will hear from me about Sock Summit 2011 is that the chairs at the Convention Center were the worst chairs at any conference in the history of the world (as I retired pediatrician I have been to more than my share of Convention Centers for CME credits).  There was a metal bar across the front of the chairs that hit my legs in just such a way that we all wound up sitting with our feet up on tippy toes.  So walks at the end of the day were not tops of my to do list.  Apologies to Lisa and my porky body.

However, we did spend one evening strolling around the courtyard of the convention center where the Flashmob was held.  It is beautiful and has some of the most creative planting I have ever had the pleasure to view.  Here are the photos I took:

berries...not sure what kind.

This planting is a series of logs from a huge old tree placed in a line and watered regularly. It is an experimental planting to see what comes to roost and I love the idea.more tree planting

a bell with yellow and red roses all around

close-upThe rings in the tree telling its history were my focal point here.

note the moss...Lisa liked this.

and just to prove that anything can be made to look better, here is a decorative trailer hitch cover:

and now I am all caught up with the postadays 2011.  I do have two other posts for you waiting in the wings:  the review of Clara Parkes’ class at Sock Summit 2011 and a Customer Projects from Summit Yarn Studio post.  So, more tomorrow.  Take care and relax those shoulders folks!

with love, light and laughter always,

Mary Ellen aka theHumanLoom

 

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

 

The end of the month is near… Sock Summit 2011 … July Summit Sock Club

I will probably be spending most of this weekend in front of the computer typing patterns and editing.  The competition pattern is complete, typed and test-knit.  I sent it to my technical editor because I was so bleary I was worried I wouldn’t be able to spot the typos.  Today I finished 20% of the new Heirloom Baby Blanket (1 out of 5 skeins) and it is beautiful, REVERSIBLE and an easy to remember pattern that is effortless while still being interesting to knit.  I have hammered out the next sock pattern for the club and the theme is WAVES AND TIDES.

The end of July brings the trip out to Oregon to the Sock Summit 2011 and I AM SO EXCITED I CAN HARDLY BREATHE!  Stay tuned for details as they develop.  I have all kinds of great classes I am registered for.  If you are going, give a shout out in the comments section! ;-D 

I hope you are all enjoying the summer and its moods!  This tennis tournament today was great fun…the kids had a great time.  The parents, though, are more competitive than the kids.  It is always interesting to listen to parents root for their children.  We were supposed to go The Sedgewick Farms Tennis Club, which dates back to around the 1930’s.  It was…surprise…rainy today and we wound up at a Gold’s Gym instead.  All those muscles were really quite inspiring!

Take care and get2ntn!  with love, light and laughter always,

Mary Ellen

p.s.  Filigran and Franklin Habit’s latest knit stole will be arriving next week so be sure to stop in for yours!

a hooked rug I found a photo of somewhere....beautiful!

 

Happy Father’s Day from the Cats of Summit Yarn

words are unnecessary…

this was my first morning back home from TNNA with my Nikkers....

 

I call this: UNFORGIVEN.

 

Sputters

 

more Sputters

 

a pair of Brian's baby sandals I just found...

 

I will always be your baby Mommy!

 

Smidgen aka Princess Fluffybutt aka UFO CAT

 

Durga was feeling camera shy this week…Take care and I hope you enjoyed the cuteness!

xox Mary Ellen

oh and p.s. go to YouTube and Search: Surfing Sheep!  just a great video!!!

 

 

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

 

The Three Mouscaratties

They really do still exist.  Cashmere Ratty has been among the missing for so long though that I just figured it made its way through one of the dog’s digestive tracts and that, as they say, was that.  Not so.  Two nights ago, my husband pulled Cashmere Ratty, Nikker’s most FAVORITE RATTY,  out of his pocket and handed it to me.  It had gone into hiding under the coffee table for a much needed hiatus.  It is my pleasure to announce the end of the hiatus.  When Nikkers saw Gary hand me the Ratty his eyes dilated up to the size of platters.  He became very still and then leaped from the cat tree to my lap.  He kissed the Ratty.  He petted the Ratty.  He nuzzled the Ratty.  Then we went off to bedtime and the real fun began.  I hid all the ratties under my comforter and Nikkers spent the whole time I was in the shower digging the ratties out.  Hilarious!  And he was just so proud of himself.  Here is the photo montage…it speaks for itself:

Green Ratty, Cashmere Ratty, Red Ratty

Nikkers adoring his Ratties three

Umm, Sinfonia, back away from the Ratties and I will allow you to keep your tail. Go ahead, make my day!

Nikkers sends greetings but is very busy herding the Ratties into proper formation.

with love,  Mary Ellen and Herd

 

Arsenic and Old Lace: Errata/Corrected Insertion Number Three

So our dear Miriam has been tearing her hair out for a couple of days over this insertion, the swatch I knit for this having been sent off to Frog Tree Yarns as a sample of what Pediboo can do.   This morning Chris came in and helped me re-swatch out the insertion and here: Arsenic Insertion Three is the corrected version with my apologies.  Now that I am in full recognition of my limitations please work on your insertions and edging until two weeks from this Wednesday (June 8) when the postings will resume for this.  I do labor under the illusion that I can so much more done than is possible in any real Universe…I think it has something to do with being female and very Type A.  Thank you in advance for your patience!

I have tons of photos for you and funny stories.  I will leave you with this thought:  my mother’s motto was always yell and scream when you are mad, and then get irrevocably even.  My husband made a huge husbandly faux pas.  He has received eight cubic yards of mulch and a wheelbarrow in return.  And now that I know how very cheap mulch is…he may be receiving it at more regular intervals.

with love, light and laughter always, yours with an impending deadline and not enough hours in any day:

Mary Ellen Langieri aka thehumanloom  and Summit Yarn

 

Sock Summit 2011, Pediboo, LegoCats

I have been carrying my itinerary for the 2011 Sock Summit around in my purse all day and just smiling whenever I pull it out.  I can hardly wait and yet there is so much to do at the studio between now and then that I can not just wish the time away.  If you are at all able to get there, then at least go, even to just check out the marketplace.  There are all kinds of options — from 6 hour classes, 3 hour classes, 1 hour classes, lectures, and demonstrations.  If you take just one class then admission to the marketplace is free…otherwise there is a minimal fee.  And what a gathering of Knitterati this is promising to be.  Besides the classes, I did make sure to order a tote bag (really, go google Sock Summit 2011 and check out the swag at the very least) and a tee shirt.  As I learn more I will continue to share here on the internet and take photos as I can; though I believe the organizers have quite a few awesome photos posted on the site.  If nothing else, go look to seek sock inspiration.  You never know where the idea for your next great knit is going to come from.

I worked today at my project for Frog Tree Yarns and it is coming along quite nicely.  I see so many possibilities for this yarn.  Of course, socks are just obvious.  However, due to its washability (and I mean through the wash with clothes…no fuzz, no pilling, no shrinkage or felting), I see this as a great staple yarn.  Use it for baby bibs, baby clothes, heirloom baby blankets, baby anything, toys, soakers for cloth diapers, even a sweater for your beloved pooch!  I have pulled a number of scarf patterns, and believe this would make the best Clapotis ever.  I would also love to see Franklin Habit’s stole “Sahar” knit up in this lustrous drapey yarn.  I am dreaming up fingerless mitts and convertible gloves as well as (held double) the Bella Mittens.  The Moebius patterns by Cat Bordhi would be great as a showcase for this yarn as well as lace, especially patterns by Galina Khmeleva.  I also have plans to swatch some of the stitches I learned from Merike Saarniit at Vogue Knitting Live this past January.  I will have a bunch of pictures for you tomorrow and wax poetic more then.  I do have 2 out of 24 sheep completed and will probably complete one more tonight if all goes well ( one sheep in every color this fantastic yarn is dyed in! ).

Please remember, Mother’s Day is this Sunday.  We have gift cards available for the knitter you love best and I am happy to wrap things and make them look beautiful so you can surprise the Mom in your life.

Here is what I woke up to this morning:

Cats all in a row (Smidgen was in the window sunbathing).

Sputters cleans Nikkers up before he attacks him!

and the final cuteness:

LegoCats...they stack like magic!

Take care and travel safely this weekend!  If you are a woman and you nurture anybody then this weekend includes you…please be hugged and know being a mother has nothing to do with biology…only with the golden heart you carry with you at all times.

with loads of love, lightness and good vibes,  Mary Ellen aka theHumanLoom