Last Day of Sale!

Today is your last day to shop at my 15% off sneaky sale! Enter coupon code KILT at checkout to save 15% off your entire order of $15 or more. A heart for a valentine friend, perhaps?

My Designs by Romi pins come in copper, nickel, and sterling, and my sterling yarn ball earrings are always a huge hit!

Drop on by! :)

New! + 15% Off Sneaky Sale

I've been meaning to do this for a long time, and it's been kicking around my brain. Finally, I spent the other day playing and experimenting and came up with two styles of hand made kilt pins!

These are very sturdy and the pin is just as thick as my other elements collection pins.

As always, they are not appropriate for fine wovens or machine knits.

They come in copper, silver and nickel!

I'm pretty excited about these. To celebrate, I'm offering 15% off purchases of at least $15 through this Friday, January 30th. Just type in the coupon code KILT when you check out. And enjoy!!!

Monday's Musing

"To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing." - Eva Young

"Procrastination is opportunity's assassin." - Victor Kiam

"If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it." - Olin Miller

I've been procrastinating. How about you?

Have a great and productive week! :)

Crochet

The top ten great things about crochet:

10. It's quick.
9. Only one hook is involved, so there's no chance of losing one dpn or dropping a needle.
8. It's difficult to stab yourself with a crochet hook.
7. When you are crocheting lace, there's no chance of dropping a stitch.
6. It's easy to crochet rounds.
5. The court allows prospective jurors to have crochet hooks (but not knitting needles).
4. If you don't count your stitches exactly right, there's a good chance no one will ever notice.
3. It's portable.
2. Crocheted lace is lovely.

and the number one great thing about crochet:

1. There's no binding off.

Yes!

Better Late than Never?

Okay. The truth is that I was going to post about TNNA yesterday, but then I read Anne's post about it. And I got a bad case of blog inferiority complex. So here goes nothing!!

First of all, you must know that my car died on the day before I left to go to TNNA in San Diego. Thankfully, though, I had non-refundable tickets! Otherwise, I am (in)famous for not spending any extra money, and I would have canceled out in a moment! Which would have been a bad thing. Because then I would not have met so many cool people, seen so many drool-worthy items, and um, lost my voice. But enough of that.

I left my car at home to deal with upon my return, and my husband and boys drove me to the Santa Rosa Airport, from which I took the airporter to the San Francisco airport. We only have one airline locally, and it generally costs $150-200 more to fly out of Santa Rosa. The Airporter was quite a trip, particularly since the driver reeked of alcohol (at 8 in the morning!) and the bus had no shocks to speak of.

After a fairly uneventful wait and flight, I arrived in San Diego in the early afternoon and headed over to the hotel. I rode in the shuttle with a TNNA board member who said that the convention would be in Long Beach next year due to the high cost of San Diego.

I was honored to be staying with Tanglewood Trish and her friends and helpers at the hotel, and when I had checked in, I headed over to the convention center and under the pretense of helping Trish, got to fondle and play with all of her yarn while I arranged the colors on one of her racks. Now this is where I really regret forgetting my camera! Trish's yarn, for those who have never felt it or seen it, is beyond description. She also had some of her hand dyed roving. My hands began to itch as soon as I saw it. Then I began drooling and trying to invent some sort of way to part her from some. But she doesn't sell it. :whimper:

After helping Trish, I headed out into the lobby to register. After looking around a bit for familiar faces, I dialed Anne Hanson. It rang and rang, and I turned around just in time to see her walking towards me! We did this another couple of times, too. It was very bizarre. Well, now I will direct you over to Anne's blog to read her account of the terrible restaurant where we ate. Urgh. We went back to see the fashion show, and then off for dessert and coffee!

The next day, I was up early to meet Miriam and Anne for the designer/teacher meeting. It was an interesting and informative meeting, and for once, I didn't feel strange knitting all the way through a meeting! Then I was off to demonstrate in the Interweave booth. I had decided to do a demo of knitting wire with a knitting doll; I used the Clover Wonder Knitter. I was glad to have chosen something simple that I could be doing while talking to everyone! I have to say that I was thrilled to be able to meet everyone from Interweave, and put faces to voices and email correspondence. They truly are a wonderful bunch, and I enjoyed every moment of hanging out with them.

Between my demonstration and the meet and greet, I didn't have much time left to peruse the show floor, so since I would only be there one day, I was off and almost literally running! Somewhere in there, I took a moment to try on (giant, 20 lb) Vogue knitwear. (Picture courtesy of Amy). Throughout this, I was getting updates on my son's swim meet! (He had a tough first event and came back for a personal best in his next event).

I am not even going to go into all the cool people and wonderful designers I met that day, or those that I saw again. It was overwhelming and amazing. Every time I turned around, I recognized someone from their Ravelry or Facebook picture, or saw people I had met previously. (Does anyone else recognize people's faces, but have a difficult time remembering people's names out of context?!) But I have to say that one of the highlights was when Lily Chin complimented me on my book!

By the end of that whirlwind day, I was so exhausted that I really felt my incredible luck in convincing Janel and Anne to go have a quiet dinner with me instead of going out with the energetic group that had gathered at the Stitch Cooperative booth. We had just an amazing and inspiring talk. I felt so lucky to be hanging out with these two incredible women!

The next morning, I caught the 7 am shuttle from the hotel to the airport and flew back to SFO to catch the second day of my son's meet! It was his first zones championship meet and it was very important to me to get back there for at least one day. I had my Supershuttle reservation all ready, and in an amazing turn of events, everything worked out exactly as planned! I was dropped off in SF at the meet, wheeled my bag into the natatorium and was in plenty of time to watch my son's events. He did pretty well, and best of all, his team won the meet! So off we went, back to the car, me pulling my suitcase behind me! By that time, I was so completely and totally exhausted that I fell asleep in the car.

The next morning I awoke without a voice! But while I lay in bed, my wonderful husband took my car down to the shop. The bad news? It was the alternator that ate TNNA Columbus. :sigh: Maybe next year!

I do have some pics of goodies, but those are going to have to wait until after I deal with a hairy little deadline situation having to with this:

these:

and this:

Wish me luck!!!!

Back but Speechless

As in I have no voice!

I had a great time at TNNA, spent a lot of time with the wonderful people from Interweave, hung with Trish, Anne, Janel, Angela, Miriam, Jocelyn and Marianne, and met a whole passel of people with whom I had corresponded, but had never met in da flesh. It was great!

I did, however, forget my camera. Oops. But! I brought back some goodies and I took a few pictures to share, so we won't be completely pictureless!

Amazingly, my whole idea of flying into SFO and taking the Supershuttle to #1 Son's swim meet in SF worked perfectly! I was there in plenty of time and got to see him swim three events, including a relay.

So...more later. I'm off to bed early to try to get my voice back!

Monday's Musing

Happy MLK, Jr. Day! It's a brave new world.

"There is such a thing as the freedom of exhaustion. Some people are so worn down by the yoke of oppression that they give up.... The oppressed must never allow the conscience of the oppressor to slumber.... To accept injustice or segregation passively is to say to the oppressor that his actions are morally right." - Martin Luther King, Jr., Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story, 1958

Remember, even when you get tired and it gets more and more difficult: keep fighting for what you know is right!

San Diego Bound!

I'm off! If you're going to TNNA, stop by and say hello! I'll be at the Interweave booth doing a demo on Saturday: 11:00 am. And then I'll be back there at 2:00 for a meet and greet! Can't wait to hang with the fiber-heads! :)

Catching up

First of all, a big giant thank you to everyone for everything: voting on the CPSIA, advising me on my color dilemma, and helping me out with what techniques you'd like to learn from my book! Y'all rock. Big time!

So I've got some updates. First of all, the CPSIA issue is number 5 at change.org. That means it will probably be one of the ten issues presented to Obama when he is sworn into office. This is excellent news! Those of you who haven't already, please read up on this misbegotten piece of legislation! It will affect people with kids and small businesses having to do with kids' products most of all, but it would also be a huge all-around hit to the economy.

Second, the color dilemma. Ok. So I tried the grey top: too bland for my flamboyant friend. Red top: too much for me. So that took me back to the red stripes.

Which I think ended up looking great!

My friend loved it! Here it is modeled on my high tech blocking device: an upside down Rubbermaid container. :)

Pattern: Toque, Yo! short version (purchase here on Ravelry or for those who do not Ravel: purchase here).
By: Rosemary Hill
Yarn: Rauma Finnulgarn - this is a little heavier than Shetland jumperweight
--------------------------------------------------------
I think I have a handle on what to do for the demo now, thank you!! Plus I will have the projects from my book! So plenty of stuff to fondle and try on. :) The demo is Saturday at 11 for anyone who will be at TNNA. And there's also a meet and greet at the Interweave booth at 2 and I'll be there. Please stop by and say hello!

In other news, I've been spinning again. I finally stopped doing penance with merino and am spinning some mystery wool I picked up at Knitterly. It was yummy to pull apart.

And even yummier to spin. I love the color. It is soooooooo amazing in person.

I admit: I have a (perhaps unreasonable) dislike for merino.

Now I need to get all my loose ends tied up before I go down to San Diego! I won't be down there for long, though. I'm coming back to San Francisco Sunday to see #1 Son swim in his first zone 3 championship meet. I'm excited for him. To put it mildly. :)

On another note, please keep Alison in your thoughts, prayers and/or anything else you do. She's having a tough go right now, but things are starting to look up!

HALP!

Here's the situation. I'm giving a demonstration at TNNA this Saturday and all of a sudden, I am feeling completely insecure about it. It has to do with projects from my book using Habu's silk/stainless steel and/or merino/stainless steel. So let me ask you here: what would you be interested in having demonstrated? Bead placement? How the material creates interesting sculptural shapes? Something else? What questions do you have? Eek - help please!

Monday's Musing

I have one of my favorite quotes for you today. :)

"Rejection only matters in organ transplants." - George Schill, illustrator

Have a great week, everyone!

The universe has my back

Really. Ever since I saw Scout post a link to the Daily Om, I've subscribed. And almost without exception, the daily email applies to my life. It is spooky. This one came through today and I have to share. I've really been feeling disconnected and off kilter!

A Separate Reality
Disconnecting from the Source

We all experience periods where we feel separated from the loving ebb and flow of the universe. These times of feeling disconnected from the source may occur for many reasons, but self-sabotage is the most common cause for us choosing to cut ourselves off from the flow of the universe. We purposefully, though often unconsciously, cut ourselves off from this flow and from the embrace of humanity so we can avoid dealing with painful issues, shun the necessary steps for growth, or prevent the success that we are afraid of achieving from ever happening. When you choose to disconnect from the source, you block the flow of the universe's energy from passing through you. You become like a sleepwalker who is not fully awake to life, and your hopes, plans, and dreams begin to appear as distant blurs on a faraway horizon. Universal support has never left you, but if you can remember that you became disconnected from source by choice, you can choose to reconnect.

Reconnecting with the universe grounds you and is as easy as you making a concerted effort to become interested in the activities you love or responding to what nurtures or stimulates you. You may also want to make a list of the activities and kinds of experiences that touch your soul. Try to pinpoint the times when you have felt fully engaged and aware and ask yourself what you were doing. But one of the easiest ways to reconnect is simply by stating the intention of doing so.

When you disconnect from the universe, your sense of purpose, creativity, and ability to be innovative are not as easy to access. You may also experience a deep and empty sense of longing or feel devoid of ideas or unworthy of love. It's important, however, to recognize that being disconnected from the universe is never a permanent state, and it can be reversed any time you decide that you are ready to reconnect. When you are connected to the universe, all aspects of your being will feel alive as the flow of the universe pours through your being and into your life.

After I read it, I realized I haven't been getting outside enough. I need to be outdoors to feel peaceful and centered. I think I need a long walk. Or a long bike ride. Or both!

What about you all? How do you stay centered in stressful times?

Addiction?

I think so.

I'm knitting this Toque, Yo! hat for a friend out of Rauma Finullgarn, which is a little heavier than the Shetland jumperweight yarn.

But I'm conflicted about the top. I don't want my friend to look like she has a target on her head.

What do you think? Solid red? Or grey and red stripes?

You can purchase the pattern here.

This is a pretty quick knit, and I love that only one color is worked at a time. I've been craving wool. It feels good. :)

Toque, Yo!

Many of you have asked about the hat I am wearing in my Knitty profile picture. Well, I've finally taken the plunge into self-publishing and released the pattern! There is the version you have all seen, which used the left-overs from Hanne Falkenberg's Tokyo (the sweater in the picture):

and the short version,

shown here using two skeins of Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift.

It uses a simple slip stitch pattern to achieve the color-work pattern,

and only one color is worked at a time.

It can be finished in one day!

The tall version uses boning at the top, but the short version uses no boning.

I named the hat Toque, Yo! in homage to the sweater that inspired it. Yes, I am a terrible punster, but hopefully you will forgive me! I have the pattern listed for $5 through Ravelry, but if you are not a member, you can also purchase it without logging onto Ravelry.

Ravelry members click here and non Ravelry members click here. I hope the second link works! Let me know if not? Thank you! :)

Monday Afternoon Soapbox

Usually, I try to keep my politics off of this blog, but today I really cannot help myself. I absolutely must talk about an issue that has me shaking my head in disbelief.

US residents have probably heard of the legislation that was passed after the lead scare having to do with toys and other goods imported from China. I agree with the premise: we need to protect our kids. But the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, or CPSIA, is one of the most ill-conceived pieces of legislation I have ever seen. If this retroactive law is, in fact, allowed to go into effect on February 10, here are some of things we can expect.

1. It will be financially and logistically impossible to buy or sell used children's goods, including clothes, books and toys. Even collectibles like old comic books and toys, that a child will probably never touch, are banned from sale because they were originally manufactured for kids and have not been tested for lead.

2. You will no longer be able to buy used clothes for your kids, because the stores that sell them will not have the funds to test each and every item for lead as the law requires.

3. Small businesses selling hand made children's items will cease to exist, as will small toy and kids' clothing makers. Lead testing costs approximately $4,000 per item, and a sample of each finished item must be tested even if the components are certified lead free, thereby rendering it financially impossible to stay in business.

4. On February 10, kids' items that were on sale February 9 will be illegal to sell if they have no certificate showing compliance. There is no grandfather clause.

This is just a small sample of what is in store. I will spare you the commentary on whose lobbyists really wrote this pile of camel dung, but I will say this: we are all struggling. I know a lot of people are buying and selling used goods these days, including us. With growing kids, it takes a lot of money to buy new, never mind the implications for our planet when we can no longer re-use goods. This is an added burden most of us cannot bear.

Then there are the businesses. How many will close because of this ridiculous law? My husband makes toys from wood and non toxic milk paint. But, even though the components have tested clean, he will have to test each type of toy he makes at up to $4,000 a pop. So who will benefit when he and thousands like him go out of business? The same people who brought you the tainted toys in the first place: the only people who can afford the hefty price tag of testing, the big plastic toy and apparel makers.

We have a chance to get this issue in front of President-elect Obama immediately after he takes office, by voting here. Please won't you take a moment to look at the facts and vote?

Thank you! I now return you to our regularly scheduled programming.

Monday's Musing

"Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending." - Author Unknown

Have a great week, everyone! :)

Happy New Year!

From my home to yours: may your year ahead be filled with love, friendship, joy, prosperity and good health.

Happy New Year! It's a brave new world.