monday's musing

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." - Vivian Greene

I just love this quote so much!

I'm back from taping my Craftsy class in Denver, and then back from the swim meet. And back to work! I'll post more later. Craftsy was wonderful and I can't wait to share my class with you all!

monday's musing

"Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else." - Judy Garland

Here I am in Denver to do my Craftsy class! They are treating me like a queen. :)

Wish me well! ...And have a great week.

blocking

It's finished! Shawl #5.

My watery shawl.

Two colors of lovely Shalimar Breathless.

Rippling like two streams of water coming together.

The cool merging with the warm.

You can see kits here at Jimmy Beans! More watery news later.

And the rush to the grand finale is on! Kind of like the last bit of a fireworks display? Stay tuned for projects projects projects. Bursting all around you. Rushing towards you. Surrounding you with yarny goodness. Making you want to knit them. Mmmmmmmm.

monday's musing

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - St. Francis of Assisi

Have a terrific week!

my purple passion

I've been working hard on my big Craftsy project, but I needed a little diversion! Enter some gorgeous purple yarn. This is sock yarn from Iridaceae Colorworks in Irisberry.

I can't say I've ever seen a more beautiful colorway. I worked out the modified stitch pattern at the boys' swim meet last weekend and wrote the charts up.

Then I added beads too. Bonus!

I am deeply in love with it.

All the way to the edging.

And for Teresa, I decided to add a stole version from some utterly incredible yarn I had in stash from Dark Starz. I'm working on both versions at the same time. They'll be an extra for this year's eBook: Home Is Where the Heart Is. (This yarn won't be available from Jimmy Beans, since these are little extras thrown in for fun.)

This is Cassiopeiae Lace in a luminous lavender color. I have four skeins.

I added beads to this one too, and it is utterly luscious to knit with. Angora, silk and merino. Wow. It is an amazing yarn. Beautiful halo, lovely stitch definition and light as a feather.

What do you think Teresa?

Sea silk and beads for you?

monday's musing

"Every failure is a step to success." -William Whewell

I love this quote deeply. Very deeply. :)

Have a great week!

missing in action

I know. MIA again! This past week (well...and before too!) I've been working hard on my upcoming Craftsy class. I'm trying to think of everything before I go to my taping because I want to answer as many possible questions as I can! What's cool about the Craftsy platform is that even if I don't get everything answered in my class, you all can still ask in the forums! I am super excited about this. :)

Also? In a word: Petunia. (Please forgive the not-so-great iPhone pics!)

How much can one blog with this cuteness distraction?! We picked her up Tuesday. It was a 9 hour job: 4 and a half hours there and 4 and a half back. We started immediately after the boys left for school, and got back in time to pick them up after practice at the swim center. Petunia set immediately to work in the car making me a chew toy. (Yes, she is that tiny!)

Then she was tuckered out, rested her chin on the side of the car seat, and fell asleep. She slid down into the basket in another 5 minutes.

We got back and set up her bed and cage so she would feel at home.

Otto had ignored her in the car. Here he is giving me a "how could you do this to me?" look.

As soon as we got home though, Otto started playing with her and fell under her spell. So did Bear.

The next day, I built little stairs up to the outside dog door. It's an automatic one going into the garage and I thought I could teach her to use it pretty well. That worked, but she can't push in the non-automatic one that comes into the house, so I took the remote control collar off. I didn't want her wandering the garage where she could get stuck. But then, she felt the need to keep Otto from using the door as well. She took up residence in the door frame and almost nothing would move her!

It was a long day, and she was a tired baby. It's funny; I've never had dogs before that like to be under blankets, but both Otto and Petunia love to sleep under things all snuggled up.

Two Miniature Schnauzers. Life is good.