sheep in the city

Fun Hair, Fun Wedding!

I decided on Friday that I was sick of trying to grow my hair out. It just wasn't working for me. It's summer, all I was doing was pulling my hair back, and I couldn't even remember why I was growing it out in the first place! So, here's me with my new short do!!

*my sister, Whitney, me and my sister in law, Jackee**

This wedding was one of the most fun weddings that I've been to. There was a mariachi band that played as the wedding party was seated and the bride walked down the isle. It was amazing. They served some of the yummiest mexican food at the reception and they had cupcakes instead of a wedding cake! I'm so mad that I didn't take a picture of the tables, but they all had a large square of brightly colored/printed Oil Cloth on the table. It was just so bright and fun! Seriously though, any wedding that serves chips and salsa is awesome in my opinion! All in all, the weekend was a whirlwind of activity, but I managed to get some knitting done and teach one of my co-workers to knit! (she's already addicted, her husband said that she knit all the way to work today!) Here's a picture of the Liam blankie partly sewn up!

When Secret Pals meet!

Tuesday night I had the pleasure of hanging out with my SP7, Cristina! (You remember...she sent me this, this, and this!) She was in town on business and had a break in her schedule...so she came to knit with us girls! Our group went to an outdoor concert to knit. It was a change of venue for us, and it was the perfect weather outside. Of course we couldn't really see the stage, but that was okay since we were all busy chatting and knitting!

After the concert Cynthia, Cristina, and I headed to Lambshoppe so that Cristina could experience at least one of the Denver yarn shops while she was in town. This store is a great if you can't make it to shops that close at 5 or 5:30. (of course that's not the only reason it's great...just one of many!) They are open until 9:00pm!! I love it! I hardly had to twist her arm at all to get her to buy yarn. I know, I really am a terrible yarn enabler, aren't I? She got some Cotton Fleece...to make a Green Gable top for her first ever garment. And then I'm not sure what else she's going to make with the rest of the Cotton Fleece she loaded up on, but hey, I'm never against buying yarn just for the sake of buying yarn. Why do you think I have such a big stash?! The evening continued on at the Monkey Bean coffee shop and it was over all too soon! Cristina, your time here was too quick, you definitely need to come back!! It was so great meeting you.

Of course, I needed to pick up a little yarny-goodness for myself, so I chose this Trekking XXL yarn in color 107! It's beautiful! I just love all the pinks and greens!

Little hands, little helper...

With Liam's birth quickly approaching, we are down to the wire to get this afghan put together. Monday night we got together and figured out what technique we were going to use and divided up all the squares. Of course Alice had to get in on the action! She was too funny. She took one of my bent-tip tapestry needles and would watch what we were doing and then go back to "her" squares and poke at it with her needle. What a sweetie...she tried so hard to help. We won't tell her that she mostly just moved the squares all out of order, oh well. This is not the first time that Alice has been involved in an afghan sew up, remember this?

Destashing for a good cause!

**UPDATE 6/25/06...this kit has been bought!! Thanks to all of you who emailed me! I was able to buy 3 shares of a sheep and 3 chicks through Heifer International with the money that I received!! There are still 5 days left to particiapte...go on, it's such a great cause!!**

I have had this Philosopher's Wool sweater kit for a little over 2 years. It is a complete kit to make the Garden Patch sweater in the Night Sky colorway (buttons included). I've never been thrilled with the colors so I've decided to offer it up for sale. The money that I receive for it will be given to Cara's efforts at raising money for Heifer International. Have you seen what has been going on over at January One! Holy yarn batman! She's already raised $11,286!! Let's do our part and add to it!

I'm setting the price at $70 (this particular kit usually goes for $115). Email me at sheepinthecity AT gmail DOT com if you are interested. I will pay for the shipping costs if you are in the United States, if you aren't we can talk. I've never sold anything on my blog before, so this is all new to me. The kit is slightly used because I knit a swatch with a couple of the colors. But the yarn that I used for the swatch was ripped out and put back in the bag, so all the yarn that I received is included.

Click here to see a different picture of the sweater knit up.

Estes.

I came. I shopped. I bought. It was wonderful! The weather was amazing, the company was fun as always, but the coolest part of the whole thing? The only money that I spent was birthday money! (a big thank you to my sister Whit, Cynthia, Jeni, Wanda, and Grandma Sue who all contributed to the Estes fund!) Michelle had a knit group/slumber party on Friday night and we all got up bright and early to head to Estes. I hardly slept the night before I was so excited. For those of you who were reading my blog last year, you already know this, for everyone else, check out the entry here. You'll see that I only purchased one thing last year and it wasn't even yarn! Crazy, huh?! So this year I was determined to make some good purchases...and indeed I did!

One of the most exciting things that happened though was that I got to meet Margene! It was brief and not nearly long enough (there was a swarm of knit bloggers there!), but I did get my picture taken!!

This is a lace weight yarn from Skaska. You can see on the tag that it's 5% cashmere, 85% merino wool, and 5% "man made". Not sure what this means...but this stuff is wicked soft. For now, it's going into the stash where it will await the perfect project to show up.

Ahhh...the ultimate indulgence. What you are seeing is 3 skeins of Brooks Farm Yarns in a subtly bright coral color. This stuff is heaven. I'm not sure what I'm going to knit with this either, but I just knew that I wanted some. Must. Have. Brooks Farm. A funny thing happened as we were all racing to get inside the tent and find their booth. Seriously. We actually started running. Michelle lost a flip flop, and I swear I heard someone shouting, "out of the way, there's a knitter down!" or maybe that's just what I was saying in my head. Ha! I decided to go with the Primero yarn. If anyone has any good suggestions on what to knit it into, let me know! I have 1500 yards...mmm...just enough to make something significantly grand!

Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool. Sadly they have no website. I picked up 2 skeins to make a shawl out of it and I'm already wishing that I'd just bought enough to make a garment. Oh well. This is on the top of my priority list for next year. **note to self, get enough Plain and Fancy for a garment**

The Interlacements booth was a mob scene as usual. They always have random skeins for cheap prices and people are usually digging through them in a frenzy. I found exactly what I was looking for at their booth. I have been eyeing the Pi Are Square shawl (from Elizabeth Zimmermans Knitting Around book) sample at my local shop and they hadn't had any colors that I loved enough to attempt it. This skein spoke my name and I had no choice, it had to come home with me!

After a Father's Day brunch on Sunday I lazed around the house and played with yarn. Jesse is much cuter than me in the lazy Sunday pose, so I chose to focus on that picture! I did make some progress on my Not-so Green Gables (finished the lace and I'm almost ready to take the sleeves off!) and all my Liam squares are now done. I felt like it was more of a priority to take a picture of the Estes loot though! Tonight my Mom and I are gathering at Whitney and Drew's house for an afghan sew up! Pictures of that tomorrow!!

Dreaming of Estes!

Before I give you a recap of my birthday...let me tell you about my dream last night. I don't really remember much about it except that I was at the Estes Wool market with all my knit girls. Not too bad, right? Well, we made a bee-line for the Brooks Farm Yarn booth and discovered that they were sold out off all the stuff that WE wanted to buy! Tragedy! The only stuff that they had left was foofy, hairy yarn. So, we're all wandering around aimlessly and decide to just go home and order it off the internet. So funny. Then this morning when I got to work I was talking to Cynthia and she sent me this link about a Knitter's Review article about Brooks Farm selling out one year at Maryland Sheep and Wool! Ahh! Hopefully though, my dream won't come true and tomorrow when we arrive at Estes...there will be enough yarn for everyone!

About my Birthday...thank you everyone for all the lovely Birthday wishes and comments! You all made my day and made me feel so special! Thanks!

After work, I met up with about 15 knitters and family members at a local bar called the Platte River Grill here in Littleton. It was so hot that afternoon, we had record breaking temps, that I wasn't sure it was going to work to sit outside. But it did...we sat on the shady side under some trees and there was eventually a breeze. (blowing warm air, but at least it was some sort of breeze!) My friends were way too generous...they sure do know what I like though!

My mom gave me this little lamb to add to my growing lamb collection. (did this happen to anyone else when they started knitting?) She also gave me the coolest bag that matched the skirt I wore to my party. (both can be found at Target) The picture below is the shawl pin that Michelle gave me. I think it's one of the coolest I've seen. I need to get the information from her about the local artist that made it and then I'll post the info here. I hesitate to show a picture of all the goodies...but then I think, "well, if I was reading about a birthday, I'd want to see the gifts!" So, here it is! Thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate...you are all amazing!

I'm headed to Estes Park tomorrow for the wool festival there...everyone think good thoughts and hopefully my dream won't become a reality and they'll have lots of yarn!! Have a great weekend...I know I'm going to!

Inspiration...

I have been inspired by Cara to try and take better pictures. Have you seen the stuff that she does? Holy crap, it's amazing. Granted you've got to give her a little credit...she's a professional. Seriously. (if you haven't seen her sheep and wool photos, go look. Now. I'll wait.) Somedays when I'm bored at work I'll just go over to her blog and refresh the page so that I can see all the different banners that she has. It's the simple pleasures, isn't it?! Anywhoo, all that to say, I'm going to strive to take better photos. I've started with my Not-so Green Gables, here goes:

I've been obsessed with knitting on this project...and that means that I've been ignoring all other knitting projects such as my blogging afghan, the baby bolero (that needs to be done asap!), the last few Liam squares, and my Amazing Lace project. But...I've decided that today, I'll knit on whatever I want to because...it's my birthday! I'm 29 years old today. This is the last year of my twenties, so I'm going to try to savor it, but if I'm honest, I can't wait for my 30's to begin. Today I knit on what I want, when I want, with no feelings of guilt for not even looking at the projects with deadlines. And tonight, I'm going out!

Knit in Public...no problem!

*me, Nachaele, and Jeni**

After our crochet class on Saturday, we headed to lunch at "Tres Jolie: A Tea & Champagne Lounge ". It is the cutest little tea room with the yummiest food and sweets. I had a crossisant with Brie and strawberries. So, so good! Then for dessert I had a peanut butter mousse covered Brownie. There are no words to describe to you how good it was. I'm sure that it had a fancy schmancy name but I don't remember it, just remember peanut butter mousse brownie. Yum!

You might be thinking, "that doesn't look like some crazy public display of knitting!". Well, this was just lunch...and the knitting always comes along. After lunch we had grand plans, but both Jeni and Nachaele were tired and went home. So...it was up to me to do this thing! My first stop was...Home Depot.

This is someplace that I have never knit before. It actually was relatively comfortable. I sat on a big yellow ladder that I probably wasn't supposed to and knit and watched "The Emperor's New Groove". It was playing on a display at the end of an isle...the more I sat there the more I was very impressed with the TV and DVD player that they were selling. When I started to think about how I need a new TV, I got up and left! Those folks at Home Depot are good at what they do...they almost had me!

I had to post this picture too...I don't usually like pictures of myself, but I really like this one of my mom and I. Thanks for taking it Nachaele!

For those of you that are super observant, you may have noticed that I was knitting on something that looks vaguely bubblegum colored. That's right, BubbleGum won the most votes and I cast on Friday night for my "Not-so Green Gable"! Thanks everyone for voting...there were 219 votes total. After the Bubble Gum won with 62 votes, the next three were all really close! 46,45, and 43! I know that this is a good color for me and I'm enjoying knitting on it...so you never know, maybe I'll knit a mint one too! Thanks again for helping out a knitter who just can't makeher mind up!

Oh yes...I'm "hooked"!

And it's all Tim's fault! Saturday morning I took a crochet class at Highlands Ranch String...and it was so much fun! Our teacher, Tim, was great. He had a way of explaining things that made sense to me, and if they didn't, he didn't make me feel stupid. Plus...how great is it that he reads my blog?! (of course...he doesn't comment!! Ahem, ahem, hint, hint!) He had samples folks. Samples of crocheted Koigu! Why didn't I take a picture??? I bought the latest issue of Interweave Crochet simply because he pointed out that there is a crocheted KOIGU afghan in it! I fell in love! I'm adding this to my ever-growing list of things to do with Koigu...or should I call it my reasons to keep buying Koigu list?!

Nachaele, Jeni, and my mom all took the class too...so we had a great time laughing at ourselves. After an hour of crocheting though my hand started hurting. Tim kept having to remind me that crocheting uses different muscles than knitting. Seriously though...isn't that weird? You'd think I'd have great "hand" muscles from knitting consistently over the last 4 1/2 years, but nope! Apparently, I don't!

Here's my little class sample, next to the one that Tim made. Mine is obviously the bright green and purple one. I'm so glad that I took this class. I know that my new skills are going to come in handy!(Especially if I really decide to make that crazy crocheted Koigu blanket...come on Tim, you know you want to!)

**the Knit in Public pictures are coming!! Check back to tomorrow for that and to find out which color I chose for my Not So Green Gables!**

Is One Skein enough?

Ummm...I say yes! Especially when it's one skein of this stuff!

My One Skein Pal, who lives in Colorado Springs (I think) sent me a skein of GGH Touch Me yarn. If you've never felt this yarn...seriously...it feels like butter. Oh my. There are more and more projects coming out using this yarn. Thank you One Skein Pal...I love it!

**just because I know my readers, the shoes are from Old Navy last season, I think Spring/Summer '05. Just an FYI, I've worn them a total of 2 times for a grand total of maybe 4 hours. They kill my feet...but they sure are cute!**

World Wide Knit in Public Day!!

It's "World Wide Knit in Public Day" today, so where are you going to knit that you usually don't?! I'm headed to Highlands Ranch String to learn to crochet, and then I'm headed outdoors to Knit in Public! This is a normal occurance for me. I knit in public on a regular basis...but some of the girls (Jeni and Nachaele and my Mom) from my class and I are going to go bigger. We're going to go someplace that's not the norm for us! You'll have to check back to see the pictures. Drop me a comment and let me know what you and your knitting buddies are going to do!

**I totally got busy yesterday and forgot to mention that it was my 2 year blogiversary yesterday!! I can't believe that I've been writing this blog for 2 years!?! I've met so many wonderful people and had so many great experiences...I never imagined that blogging, of all things, would enrich my life so much! Thanks everyone for being a part of it!!**

Stacey of Green Gables

I've figured out why I'm obsessing over knitting a Green Gables top. It's all in the name. I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. When I was younger I was obsessed with Anne of Green Gables. If I'm honest with myself, I'm still a little obsessed, but that's not the point. I've read all the books, seen all the movies, and some day I'm going to visit Prince Edward Island where the stories take place. So...maybe in the back of my mind I've been thinking I'll make the Green Gables top, wear it, and then I'll meet my Gilbert Blythe. Some of you out there know what I'm talking about, admit it! Okay, maybe that's a stretch, but I now have to knit it! This is where you come in. Take this poll and help me figure out what color I should make!

In afghan news...I finished another square on my Blogging Afghan! Tada! The yarn was sent to me all the way from Iceland!

Who sent it: Carola, a.k.a...sheep and no city

Yarn: Lopi Lite in a heathered lavender

Reason behind it: I first heard of Carola's blog when she left me this comment, "P.S.: Just stumbled across your blog's name for the first time - fun. We've got something in common..." Then Wanda was talking about her socks that she knits up one night at a knit group. (seriously, go take a look. She cranks them out!) She even sent Wanda some sock yarn, that's just the kind of person she is! Carola is just an all-around A-number 1 knit-blogger! Thanks Carola!

I love a candy truck!

Every other Tuesday, the Mountain Man comes to visit our office . I love those days. It's a nice break to be able to go down to the parking lot and be greeted by a truck filled with candy! I mean, come on, it's the coolest car ever! One side of the truck has salty snacks (nuts, crackers, trail mix) and the other side has all the gummies, chewy candy, hard candy, you name it! They even have some chocolate, although there's not as much in the summer for obvious reasons. The woman who comes to our office is the sweetest...she'll special order stuff if she doesn't have it, she's even made special trips to bring stuff back that I've wanted! Talk about great customer service! Yesterday I bought some gummy clown fish...mmm, mmm, good! What do gummy clown fish look like? (click to see for yourself!)

What's going on with me knitting-wise? Well, I'm almost done with the Liam squares and I'm dreaming of casting on for a fun summer top. Last night I was hanging with some of my knitting friends, and Jeni has almost completed her Green Gables sweater out of Rowan All-Seasons cotton! It's gorgeous...and I even got to try it on! Thanks Jeni! It fit me perfectly.(which of course made me not want to give it back to her!!) It has now become my sweater that I'm obsessing over making! Do you ever do that? Get something stuck in your head that you want to knit...and it just won't go away! I'm planning on knitting it with some of my CottonEase stash...now I just need to decide what color to use! I have tons of mint, hot pink, and orange. My mom has a few colors that I may be able to talk her out of:) So, the moral of the story is...hurry and get done with all projects that have looming deadlines, and then knit summer tops for yourself!! I'm off to peruse the archives of the Green Gables Knitalong to check out color options! (Thanks for that suggestion Wanda! Great idea!)

Sewing at Chez Stacey...

Last night I got out my big pink gingher scissors, some fabric, and my sewing machine...I was all prepared to get sewing, but I only got as far as cutting pieces out! My house was soooo hot last night! I don't have air conditioning, and usually I'm fine but last night was just miserable until about 8:00 when it was finally cooling off in my house. This does not bode well since it's only June! This is my fourth summer in my townhome and I'm kind of remembering that it takes me a few weeks to get the summer routine down. Fans all night, then in the moring put down all the windows and shades and lock in the cool air. Then when I get home from work it's time to fire up all the fans again. Someday I'll be able to get air conditioning...it will be all the sweeter for having endured all these months of hot, right? I see a lot of escaping to my friends/parents house and heading to the movie theatre in my future! Any other ideas on how to cool off this summer?

Getting back to my Back Tack project...I only have a few finishing touches to get done. The deadline is rapidly approaching...June 10th. No worrries though, my partner MK and I have been in touch with each other and we're both running a few days behind. It will be mailed off to Hawaii soon, hopefully in the next day or two!!

**On a different note, for those of you who are going to the Estes Park Wool Festival on June 17th (only 11 more days!!), Margene and I decided to have a knit-blogger meet up! We are going to meet at 11:00AM near the Info gazebo at the Market. See you there!**

The Liam Blankie!

What you are looking at is almost 80 little mitered squares...the blanket is almost finished!! The blank spots in the afghan are where the green squares will go. (those are the ones that I'm responsible for...oops!) I'll write more later, I'm headed to the yarn shop and a knitting group! Have a great weekend!