sheep in the city

More Knitting = Less Blogging

I have been sooo busy the last week...knitting, sewing, hanging out with friends and family, basically just having a good time. But when you add it all up, it's kind of exhausting:) Of course I have the photos to tell the story with.

So what have I been up to, you ask? Well, my holiday weekend started by heading up to Jenifer's house on Friday night with Cynthia. We had to stop at Shuttles since Cynthia had never been before, I mean, the rule is...if you are in the vicinity of a yarn shop that you've never been to, you stop, right?! She was very good and only bought yarn that was for others. I on the other hand, was still reeling from the fact that I bought nothing at Estes, so I bought myself a little somethin' somethin'. I have been looking for one of those little black sheep since I heard that Lantern Moon only puts one black sheep in every dozen or so that a store orders! Can you see the little black sheep in the middle of the herd?! So cute!

Moving on, we then arrived at Jenifer's to find that she had prepared a ton of yummy appitizers, swanky beverages, and had the greatest help around in the form of her 2 adorable kids and her Big Sweetie, who seems to live up to the name:)! The highlight of the evening (in the non-yarn related catagory) was when her son and daughter came outside and asked her to come in and sing them to sleep! Seriously, does it get better than that?! After the kiddies were asleep, we headed down to the yarn room where we all gathered around and oohed and ahhed at all the Noro and Debbie Bliss that she kept pulling out. Her stash rocks, and she was even selling some of it. I fell in love with this yarn, but alas she didn't have enough to make the size I need to make. It did go home to a good home though, and I know it will be well loved there. Not to mention that it has a cozy new place to live. If you haven't seen Cathi's (or should I say Cathay's:) Ha! That joke never gets old!) remodel, go check out her "Wonderwalls" entry.

But...I must make this sweater! I'm eventually going to have her order me some more, especially after I made Jenifer model her own A-line sweater made with Debbie Bliss Cathay.

The modeling didn't end there though, I wanted to see her OSW up close and personal because yes I do indeed have some of the same Noro Silk Garden in my stash! So, I am indeed going to be making one just like hers:) Isn't it great?! Too quickly the evening was over, and we were left, but not before receiving a party favor, in the form of a mix cd entitled "Mellow Knitting". Jenifer, you out did yourself, thank you, thank you. I haven't stopped listening to the cd at work!

Saturday I was up and at 'em early, it was one of my favorite days of the month...Paris Street Market! RayLynn and my mom and I braved the scorching hot weather to find a few treasures. And we did! Check out the antique Swedish spinning wheel that my mom got!

It looks great down by the door of her craft room...the room that I'm going to start calling Craftopia, because it really is perfect. In fact, when Cynthia arrived, she was looking around and said to my mom, "now all you need is a photocopier." To which my mom answered, "just turn around." Then she saw that my mom does indeed have a mini photocopier. It's a wonderful inspiring space. I love spending time over there, it may have a little bit to do with the fact that it previously was my bedroom:) Maybe just a little. We had lunch at the Platte River Grill after unloading my mom's goodies and it was yummy as usual. Cynthia and I are now determined to have a knitting group there some evening this summer out on their huge patio! After lunch we split up, RayLynn and my mom headed home and Cynthia and I went on to the next crafting adventure, at my favorite local bead shop, Bead it! to make some "Rogue" stitchamarkers. Of course I needed special ones for such a special project! Any excuse, right? Saturday evening was spent hanging out with some old friends I worked with eons ago at Barnes and Noble. Much time was spent reminiscing and laughing about funny co-workers and customers. It was fun to laugh with those girls again.
Sunday was spent knitting and sewing. I started and re-started my Crumpets dress. I started out with the picot edging, abandoned that, because holy crap, it's slow going and tedious! So I went with the more traditional plain old cast on. Much easier and quicker:) Then I just kept making boneheaded mistakes like, slipping stitches the wrong way...riiiipppp. Twisting when I joined it in the round...riiiipppp! And various other stupid mistakes. But, I am now good to go and I've made it a couple inches into the pattern on the bodice of the dress. I am lovin' this pattern!

This was taken when I first began...so it is a little bit bigger now. Libby you are a designing genius! I love this pattern...and made with CottonEase no less. (Beneath the yarn are the sweet TV-trays that I got at the market over the weekend, they have the Eiffel Tower on them!!) Monday was a family day, starting with breakfast with my sisters family, knitting at a local shop that opened just for us!, and then an early dinner at my parents house with my grandma and grandpa. What a great weekend!! I needed a few days to recover, so that's my excuse for the delayed post:) Now I've written a small novel it feels like. Hope everyone else had a great 4th of July!

**if it seems like I keep saying, "Cynthia this and Cynthia that" it's because I've hung out with her a ton this week! It's been a blast!!**