a smaller life

in which I am a day late, and a pug short

  

 

I know, I'm a day late. There were sleep issues and updates to worry about, but I didn't forget, I promise. Translation on Flickr! Can you tell I was hungry when I wrote this one?

We're still looking to adopt a pug- happily, the one boy we went to meet today was returned to his owners. Not happily for us, of course, but that's a nice outcome. We're still looking. We were in PetSmart this afternoon and a woman walked in with a baby pug and we both, briefly and crazily, considered a puppy. Madness. I recommend a new law against puppies in public. Either way, we're not puppy people. Puppies always find homes. 

This week is all about resting up and stretching for the Homespun Yarn Party this Sunday- eeep! I'm so excited to finally get to go to one- I've missed them all so far. Oh, and dyeing for our Summer and Fall releases. It's a little weird to be that far ahead of the game, but I think I could get into that. Planning and organizing and all of that.

sometimes other people say it better

"Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you."

— Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid)

seven years

Thank you, love, for every day of these seven wonderful years.

decisions, decisions

 

 

I'm sketching out my final ideas for a sweater I've been chewing over for months- until recently, the only things I'd been 100% certain of were that there would probably be an empire waist and that I would knit it in a deep, sensual red. I've finally got a real image of it in my head- and on paper, too!- and I'm beginning swatches this weekend. The real question is: what weight yarn will it be knit in? I want a smaller gauge to keep it light and flattering to most bodies- and also, yes, because I just plain prefer sweaters knit at a smaller gauge most of the time.

Still, I'm open to suggestions. With that in mind, I've made a poll- what better way to make any decision than to ask the internet, right? Ring in! Let your opinion be heard. I want to knit this is one of our Sanguine Gryphon yarns, so feel free to use the comments to be more specific, or to choose the write- in option. 

the claaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwww!

Submitted for your approval: a set of mysterious, somehow- fiber- related wooden claws, probably from Turkey.

 

They're remarkable, aren't they? The lovely akaGracie sent them to me, along with a gorgeous fabric stamp and a Turkish spindle. There are two full sets of fingers and then this larger, three- finger version.

 

There are a lot of smart, well- educated fiberphiles out there- someone must have some more information about these, and how they're used. Anyone? Anyone?

The mystery is fantastic. akaGracie tells me she thinks they're for fiber combing- which makes sense, but I want to know more. Where are they from? What are they called? How, exactly are they used? Did they give the local children nightmares? I bet they did.

(I'm barely resisting the temptation to go running amok in my neighborhood at dusk wearing both sets. Can you tell?)

 

 

I'll send a custom- dyed skein of sock yarn to the first person who can tell me what these are called and/ or where and how they are used. Any takers?

on focus

“Do not hurry. Do not rest.” -Goethe

Sock- a- con

tiny perfect sock, originally uploaded by s.eyre.

(In the interest of full disclosure- that is NOT my perfect, tiny version of The Gardener's Sock. I wish I could remember the name of the knitter who was wearing it at SS- it really is remarkable.)

Sock Summit- or Sockacon, as Sam's been calling it- was amazing. I'm still processing it, but damn. We met so many people- really lovely people, sweet people, supportive people, amazingly talented people, funny kind people. It was a lot of work, and a lot of stress, but it was such a great way to get back into working shows.

We're driving back now, taking a northerly route; yesterday we had lunch in the Gem Theater, in Deadwood (just as touristy as you think it would be) and saw Mt. Rushmore, which is every bit as strange and tacky as it looks in pictures, but was still rather thrilling nonetheless. Tomorrow, I'll be in Jackson Park, in Chicago, which is really the best of the trip for me, I think. I might even slip on that dress and play make- believe for a little bit.

squeeeeeee!

We are here!!!!!!!

our big adventure

We are starting here...

... and headed here...

...and this is how we're getting there.

That poor van is nearly bursting with yarn, people. It is madness. Heaven help the trooper that wants to search this van. We leave tomorrow morning, bright and early, with six days and about 2800 miles of adventure ahead of us. Wish us luck!

where I work

My indoor space.