28 May 2010

Drive-by blogging + a contest

7 Small Shawls: T - 218 days and counting down.

It was a crazy day! The boys showed their rabbits at the fair this morning and did well! The garden barrel auction was this evening, and the concept #1 Son created - a gourmet pizza barrel - was the top earner for the kids' barrels. It was a great lesson in critical acclaim versus actual popularity. The barrel - with a centerpiece of a lovely olive tree, heirloom tomatoes, herbs, peppers and a gift basket with Chianti salami and other delicious tidbits - placed third behind two other barrels. We thought they were nice, but not as original or as substantial (maybe we were a little biased - but just a little). The boys had to endure the snide comments of a volunteer judge yesterday who said easily overheard things like "there are smoked oysters in the gift basket, and I hate smoked oysters. Give them a 4 instead of a 5 for creativity." They were feeling pretty low. But this evening at the auction, the barrel was so well received that you could see them glowing! The rabbit judges this morning were another thing altogether, lest you think this is the norm. They were kind, thoughtful and thorough. Just what judges should be, and what we have come to expect at this little fair. A thoroughly good experience, with tons to learn if one had a mind to do so. The auction this evening was another great experience, with the community coming out to bid on garden barrels and desserts to help the kids' scholarship funds. I won a cake. :) Pics soon!

Before moving on, I wanted to thank you all for your great comments on my shawl! You have me walking on air. :) I was actually able to knit on shawl #2 today, but there are no progress pics, I'm sorry to say. To atone for this sad lack of eye candy, I will answer questions and have a little contest!

scifiknitter asked: "Are you going to try to include a design or two that will work well with the more raucous hand-painted yarns?" Yes! I will try to include at least one. :) I know there are tons of you with variegated sock yarns in stash!

Adrienne said: "That green yarn is going to haunt me. What is it? I think I'd give a kidney for that color!" It's a "mistake" by Karen at Royale Hare. Isn't it incredible? I am obsessed by it! I am working on her to make more of it soon.

Several people have asked me if the new shawl I'm working on is part of the 7 Small Shawls eBook. Yes!!! You betcha. :)

So down to the contest. For which sister (of the Pleiades) do you think the new shawl should be named? Leave a blog comment for me by midnight PST on Tuesday, June 1st and be entered to win a nickel swirl shawl pin (below - or copper if you prefer)! Name to be drawn randomly.
Last, but definitely not least, look what came in the mail today! I had been talking with Kathy at WEBS about her yarns, and she sent me a giant box to swatch!
It was completely jam packed full of yarn, including my favorite: this alpaca/silk lace weight. Yowza.
And yes, I know. Another pink yarn on my blog! But can I just say that I have nothing against hot pink? In fact, I quite like it. The hotter, the better. This picture does not in the least do justice to its hotness.

Well, back to the fair tomorrow, but I'm going to take a few hours off to go to my knitting group so they too can fondle all of my goodies yarn. Have a great weekend!

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63 Comments:

Blogger phoenix said...

It's hard to pick a name blind, but I think I like Electra best of the Pleiades names.

11:02 PM  
Anonymous 27gabryel on twitter said...

I would pick Electra

12:00 AM  
Anonymous plumbum said...

Maia, without a doubt!

Maia; most beautiful and shyest.

Also identified with Maia Maiestas, Goddess of Spring (fresh green and leafy!) and for whom the month of May was named.

The shawl won't be delivered in May but it certainly began life then.

Yes, it must be Maia!

4:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh I love that hot pink Alpaca Silk! It is a super nice yarn to knit with! Not sure what the name should be for your next shawl, but I think you should use the hot pink yarn and call it Electra!

5:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

On second thought, after re-looking at the shawl so far, I think you should name it Maia.

5:28 AM  
Anonymous Melodie said...

I think it should be named after Maia as the month of May was named after her and the shawl reminds me of spring.

I am so excited about your patterns! I didn't find you in time to get in the club but am glad I did in time for this group of patterns. I can't wait to try one of your pins and winning one would be awesome!

5:42 AM  
Anonymous Janine said...

I would name your new shawl after Maia. According to a couple of sources I looked up, the Roman goddess Maia is the goddess of spring. I think that the name is very apt for the color of the yarn and the leaf-like motif you have on your swatch.

6:59 AM  
Blogger JelliDonut said...

Gotta be Electra, just because of that great color.

7:41 AM  
Anonymous Helen said...

Oh tough one! But my vote is for Taygeta as her name apparently means "long necked" and this looks like a shawl that will look especially graceful on someone with a beautiful, long neck.

8:00 AM  
Blogger teanotea said...

With those lovely leaves and mossy stitch pattern I'd suggest Maia, eldest of the Pleiades and mother of Hermes, Dryope, and Iris.

8:09 AM  
Blogger Skylark said...

Casting my vote for Taygete. Since she was referred to as a doe, I see her hiding from Zeus in the forest amongst the leaves of green.

Regardless of her name, your 2nd shawl is lovely!

8:22 AM  
Blogger Ann K. said...

Maia, definitely!

The beautiful leaf design and light green yarn just remind me of spring and the month of May.

Absolutely gorgeous!

8:28 AM  
Blogger Laurie said...

I cast my vote for Maia as well. More beautiful yarn...oh my...yes, love the fuchsia!

Oh, and congrats to Son #1!!! I grew up in a small town near a large rural area, and I remember how jealous I was of 4H kids...they got to do all the cool things. :-)

8:31 AM  
Blogger Jeanne said...

I wanted to be different from everyone else, but Maia it must be.

Do you have any pictures of the boys "gourmet pizza barrel"? It sounds good enough to eat!

9:34 AM  
Blogger Alyssa said...

Another one for Maia. It just fits perfectly. I can't wait to see the finished design. :)

10:07 AM  
Blogger Anita Figueras said...

I'm so thrilled to hear about your boys' 4-H adventures. I work for Cooperative Extension in NY State and 4-H is very close to my heart. My daughter was a 4-Her and did some wonderful things. I think the gourmet pizza barrel sounds absolutely fabulous, and am glad to hear it did well in the auction.

I vote for "Maia" because the shawl is being born in the month of May, and because of the beautiful leaves in the design. I know others have made these comments - I came up with my thoughts before I saw the other comments. Interesting that so many of us have been struck by the same thoughts.

11:30 AM  
Blogger Tiny Tyrant said...

Maia. She was also known at the Goddess of Spring

11:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maia would be a beautiful name!

Rene'

12:16 PM  
Blogger Monika said...

I like hot pink too, this cone looks gorgeous!

1:21 PM  
Blogger Page said...

I vote for Asterope or Sterope because of her association with both sun and lightening. Perfect for a summer shawl pattern.

2:43 PM  
Blogger Michelle said...

Well, I'm going to break from the crowd and vote for "Celaeno," because to me it looks and sounds the most green. Does anyone else get color vibes from words?

2:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like Maia, too. It's all about the green...


Ba

3:15 PM  
Anonymous 27gabryel on twitter said...

Wow having read the other comments I would also have to change my mind and go with Maia

3:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I this Maia would be a lovely name for the shaw. I am so excited about the ebook of shawl patterns. I really enjoyed knitting the Brandywine and look forward to all the patterns to come. Joanie

4:03 PM  
Blogger Tina said...

After researching the Pliades I can only think of one name!

Alcyone - who Zeus turned she and her husband Ceyx into Seabirds (Kingfishers)

She's also the story behind the definition for "halcyon days". The phrase has become a term used to describe a peaceful time generally.
(in the middle of winter storms)

The feathers and wings and having been knit after a storm.... ;-)

5:43 PM  
Blogger Dawn said...

So many great stories to choose from, and though usually I love to champion the underdog, here I think I must bow to convention...Maia seems to be the most appropriate fit given the season of her inception and composition. I LOVE this project.

6:08 PM  
Anonymous Madeline said...

Shocking pink in a fine yarn -- Elsa Schiaparelli would definitely approve! You look fabulous in all shades of pink. If it is for one of the Pleiades shawls, Electra would sizzle. For the green, I, too, like Maia.

8:27 PM  
Blogger Tricia said...

Another vote for Maia. The new shawl looks amazing, can't wait to get the pattern!

1:04 AM  
Anonymous Sev said...

I think Maïa would be a good name for this one.

1:23 AM  
Anonymous Saara said...

Maia, because it's definitely a May shawl :) Or then Taygete, for her association with Artemis, the goddess of hunting and the wild nature. It's a beautiful beautiful shawl in any case!

2:08 AM  
Blogger Betsy said...

It's got to be Electra with that blazing green color!

2:12 AM  
Blogger Betsy said...

I'm also a fan of hot pink just not the paler variety...that hot pink cone is scrumptious!

2:15 AM  
Blogger mellenknits said...

Based on that wicked color, I've have to go with Electra :)

4:15 AM  
Anonymous Elizabeth (mommy of Maia) said...

Maia would be lovely!

4:48 AM  
Blogger norabrown said...

Celaeno is my vote. There are already many patterns named after some of the sister's. (I checked) But this name does not have a pattern.

5:08 AM  
Anonymous edie said...

I vote for Celaeno, agreeing with Michelle about it feeling and sounding green like your gorgeous shawl.

5:14 AM  
Blogger June said...

Because your shawl is green, and Cilantro is green, I chose the name Celaeno.

5:27 AM  
Blogger Jocelyn H. Chilvers said...

I'm a bit late to the party, but I agree that "Maia" is the name that best suits this particular shawl.

5:27 AM  
Blogger Gina said...

I would pick Taygete. She has the long neck and what would be more perfect for showing off a beautiful shawl!

6:10 AM  
Blogger Alison said...

I would pick Maia.

6:48 AM  
Blogger Thérèse said...

Going with the crowd here - Maia would be suitable and lovely.

7:25 AM  
Anonymous mrl said...

As a grandmother soon to welcome my seventh grandchild, and it being May, I like Maia

7:56 AM  
Blogger SuperRunt said...

I agree with a lot of other posters on Maia, because of the spring thing. I also like Taygete because of the 'in the woods' association. Regardless of name: can't wait to see this pattern (and knit it)

8:17 AM  
Blogger Allison said...

Hee! I must go along with my sister (Jocelyn H. Chilvers) and vote for Maia. Since she is the green gardening girl, I bow to her wisdom in all things leafy and green!

10:41 AM  
Blogger Stacey said...

Can't miss with Maia. Pretty name for a pretty shawl.

3:36 PM  
Anonymous Kari W. said...

I am also in the Maia camp.

3:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am excited about your ebook and have ordered mine. The green shawl is wonderful, and I have to say Maia would be a perfect name for a May shawl.

4:42 PM  
Blogger LizYarns said...

I am voting for Maia - the obvious connection to being released in May. Plus the Wikipedia entry notes she also appears in Roman Mythology as a goddess of spring. Those leaf motifs are very springlike - the whole shawl is beautiful. (Gwlithyn on Ravelry)

1:08 AM  
Anonymous bandknito said...

the beautiful green shawl must be Maia, shy Goddess of Spring

3:40 AM  
Anonymous Debbie said...

Most definitely Maia!

6:50 AM  
Blogger Linda said...

I love the sound of Taygeta for such a graceful looking shawl.

6:51 AM  
Blogger Ana said...

I agree with the Maia camp!

7:03 AM  
Anonymous Val Peterson said...

Alcyone or Halcyone, definition meaning 'queen who wards off storms'...your shawl spread on the needles looks much like a leafy shield used to fend off spring storms. Lovely!

8:27 AM  
Blogger Mindy said...

Put me down as another vote for Maia.

4:38 PM  
Anonymous Susan L said...

I believe Taygete would be appropriate. Love this shawl - very unique start.

8:43 AM  
Blogger Melissa B said...

like so many here, i think Maia would be a great name.

9:02 AM  
Blogger Michelle said...

Rosemary, I'm eyeing sock yarns with a whole new intent now, so I need to know how much of a colorway I need to get for your new designs (I've purchased the ebook).

10:38 AM  
Blogger Laura A said...

Have to go with the majority and vote for Maia!

10:56 AM  
Blogger ui said...

I think Maia would be my choice for this one. That lovely green colour and those leaves seems perfect for the Spring Goddess.

11:39 AM  
Anonymous rgramsey47@yahoo.com said...

Hi Romi,

I add my voice to the "Maia" contingent - just seems so appropriate!!

Cheers,
Robin

12:41 PM  
Blogger Shirley said...

I think Maia - a memorable and beautiful name for a lovely shawl. Bring on the spring - welcome month of May.

4:11 PM  
Blogger blopeep said...

We're all on the Maia band wagon - mainly because of May. And why not? Given the weather we've been having, it certainly feels like we could use May all over again. Let's call her name and hope it does us some good!

10:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maia

11:42 PM  

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