decisions ~ posted by Melissa

while I patiently wait for some Prairie Shawl photo updates from Morgen, Kimberly and Kelly, here's what I've been up to...

I've narrowed my yarn choices for Niebling Mania , set to start in a month or so, down to 2 finalists:

shall I go soft and subtle:

 

JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk 2/18 in 'Daffodil'

or shocking and spicy?

 

Jade Sapphire Lacey Lamb in 'Paprika'

I'll spend the weekend looking at the patterns I bought and try and narrow them down to just one or two and from there try and put the perfect yarn together with the right design.

 

The planning is half the fun!  Have a great weekend!  ~ Melissa

 

(and I feel funny throwing up my state fair results so I'll link you back to the items I entered if you're curious to see how I did!  Don't feel obligated to look!  Links are below...)

 

Bridgewater Shetland Shawl, Beaded Advent Calendar Stole, Rock Island Shawl, Cranberry Capelet

 

Evergreen State Fair 2012 ~ A post from Kelli

Here I am standing with approval of the yarn bombed post in the 'needle' section of the Evergreen State fair. My fairisle vest from last year 'faired' well.

I don't know what it is about seeing my husband (Jr.) bend down from his 6'3" frame to pet a baby alpaca but it just warms my heart. He and I went to the Fair this year and even tho we did have a fun time, it wasn't the same as when Melissa and I go. Her and I can get to laughing, and go to another level of understanding about fibers and hand crafted wears. Hoping you're well. Looking forward to the new knit-a-long. Kelli

Evergreen State Fair ~ posted by Melissa

Chapter Five ~ Odds and Ends

 

thanks for spending the day with me, mom ~ it was sure lots of fun!  ~ Melissa

 



 





Evergreen State Fair ~ posted by Melissa

Chapter Four ~ Grange

 

Probably my fair favorite.  I love the order and brilliant colors of all the freshly picked produce and the hundreds of different canned items, all creatively displayed like works of art.  I don't know how you pick a favorite if you're a judge ~ all the different granges are so good at setting their exhibits to show the best of what they have to offer.  Hats off to everyone involved at all stages of these displays, from the minute the seeds are put into the ground to when the fruits of their labor are harvested and readied for their big moment.  I always want to come straight home and reorganize my pantry and refrigerator after strolling through this barn!  ~ Melissa

 

 

Evergreen State Fair ~ posted by Melissa

Chapter Three ~ Goats, Sheep and Alpaca

We saw baby goats that just couldn't get close enough to each other:

 

and angora goats that are so visually soft:

 



and the final of the 4H sheep judging:

 



 

 all of which made mom with her bucket of allergies sneezy and wheezy, but then it was on to the alpaca section, where we were informed that you cannot be allergic to alpaca (if only that were true!?) by the owner of Jo's Fleece Fields in Carnation (who also gave me his card and invited us out to see his alpaca and pygora and visit their farm stand).  We watched raw fleece that had just been taken from Ron the Alpaca:

 

 

being spun without first being carded and processed:

 

and I was given a handful of fiber from an alpaca named Porkchop to take home with me:

 

 

I wonder if I could work this somehow with my drop spindle?  Hmmmm....  ~ Melissa



Evergreen State Fair ~ posted by Melissa

Chapter Two ~ The Divine Bovine

 

Mom and I were enthralled with the 4H kids and watching them show their cows.  We spent a good hour watching groups being led in, then judged, then led away so the next batch could enter the arena.  As each group was placed (1st, 2nd, etc) the self-proclaimed world travelling judge would announce to the crowd what had determined the order.  It quickly became clear that there is much I don't know (or want to know?) about this enormous animal, when the judge announced to everyone that he placed a cow lower because he would have 'liked to see it's anus a little higher'.  I immediately regressed to the age of 2 and got the giggles.  ~ Melissa

 

 

Evergreen State Fair 2012 ~ posted by Melissa

Chapter One ~ Meet Darlene and Margaret

 

 

My mom and I were lucky enough to have chosen a day to visit the fair when these two ladies were demonstrating...bobbin lace making!  We spent quite a while talking with them and admiring their skills, and I was thrilled not only to be invited to Margaret's lace group that meets monthly in Kent (much too far away but the invitation was appreciated!), but to be offered free lessons by Darlene (whose coffee group meets twice a week 5 minutes from where I work!).  After much assurances that I would most definitely not waste her time, and that I was very serious about wanting to learn, and that I had more than enough patience to enjoy this craft, I passed her test and I was given her card with strict instructions to not show up on her doorstep unannounced and to please call or email her to set up some time with her.  If she only knew that since the day I started knitting, I have asked everyone I've met if they can tat or do lace work of any sort because I so want to learn.  I'm in heaven!

 

Darlene was working on lace edging, at the amazing pace of 1 square inch per hour (talk about a craft of patience!) that her daughter then sews onto linens for gifts:

 

 

I'm sorry to say that I did not think to ask Margaret what she was making but she had my full attention and was so kind to let me stand behind her so that I could take some pictures:

 

 

Intrigued?  I certainly am!  I couldn't have hoped for two nicer ladies to chat with ~ now I just need to find some time for a lesson or two!  My mom really enjoyed what she found in Barn 500, also ~ between the lace makers extraordinaire and getting to see in person the ribbons I won for my knitting (I'll share more about that when I bring them home next week), she was happy as can be.  A fun way to start the day for sure!  ~ Melissa

fumes ~ posted by Melissa

busy days, late nights ~ phew...I'm beat and no day of rest in sight!

 

tomorrow holds a ferry ride to Churchmouse to do this:

 

I'm really excited for this class and for an excuse to shop a little at Churchmouse (a 10% coupon, a full $20 off punch card and not having gone yarn shopping in months will make it a guilt-free spree!).

 

Sunday will be full of chores and yard work and then Monday mom and I are off to the Evergreen State Fair for the day.  Busy, busy, busy but it's a good tired that I feel.  I'm anxiously anticipating the change of seasons with my favorite time of year quickly approaching, and I feel rejuvenated.

 

Enjoy the weekend, everyone, and I hope to have some fun things to share next week!  ~ Melissa 



a visual feast ~ a post by Melissa

Advent Calendar Stole

Cranberry Capelet

What a day yesterday was.  I wish I could take pictures while I drive but I'm just not that crazy.  It started with a trip to the Evergreen State Fairgrounds to drop off my entries for this year's fair:


Rock Island Shawl

Bridgewater Shawl

I got a really early start and headed to Monroe in a thick blanket of low lying summer fog and on the way home, the upper layer had burned off and I could see brilliant blue sky ahead of me with a snow-capped Mt Baker in the distance and 2 extraordinarily colorful hot air balloons hanging above the sea of gray fog below.


It's so strange to be at the fairgrounds when there's not the buzz of vendors and presenters arriving and setting up, or an event in full swing.  It was a silence that was only broken by the occasional snorting of unseen animals that I soon learned were bulls from the grizzled gentlemanly cowboy who I stopped to ask for directions (' sorry ma'am, I'm only here guarding the bulls ') ... love it!

I met my husband for breakfast and on the way there had a rare glimpse of a crystal clear Mt Rainier far, far off in the distance.  It's always there but rarely visible at all in the haze, so on the days you do come around the bend and see it, it's enormity is always breathtaking.

We got home in time to watch pairs of F/A-18 Hornet Jets (at least that's what we think they were) do fly overs right over our neighborhood as they left Paine Field and headed west.  LOUD LOUD LOUD and so incredibly cool.

Then it was off to the Skagit Fair to meet Kelli (I demonstrated knitting til the fair closed and Kelli demonstrated 'two-handed crochet' ~ ha! ~ I'll let Kelli tell you about that!).  It's such a small fair but there were some very creative and beautiful things on display:

Kelli's Bridgewater



the KnitWit shawl shelf ~ so cool!

delicate Hardanger embroidery:

and this artistic quilted wall hanging (I covet this piece and also the skills!):

The best part of the day was sitting for 3 hours, knitting and visiting with my favorite partner in crime who I haven't seen nearly enough this year.  It was a great way to end a busy day ~ thanks, Kelli for joining me in some fun memories.  It wouldn't be the same without you there!  Too soon it was time to pack up and go, so I loaded up my entries and headed for home:

2012 Skagit County Fair results

I saw a shooting star on my ride home and remembered that it was the night of the Perseid Meteor Shower.  It's almost always too overcast in this area to see any of these nighttime events but last night was crystal clear, so when I got home we turned out all the outdoor lights and looked up to the heavens and were treated to a spectacular light show. 

What a day, what a day.  I don't think there's one thing that could have made it any better!  ~ Melissa