Stonecrop KAL~ by Kelli

Such a fun knit! Grateful to have a knit along. 

Can't wait to see them all!

WE IN - posted by The Girls

GO HAWKS

From the other side of things - by Will !!!

Whew! Vacation can take a bit of recovering! Here are a few more photos from our visit with Mel and Kelli, though I think Mel summed it up quite beautifully. The day was a bit surreal, and a wonderful way to end our vacation in the Pacific Northwest.

 We started our day by taking the ferry. This was a thrilling moment, for we had just received word of the SCOTUS decision legalizing gay marriage across the entire nation. I decided then and there that my goal at Churchmouse would be to find something celebratory and perhaps a bit out of my usual color palette.

By the way, for those who were wondering, green is well within my usual color palette.

We took the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island ... 

I had been waiting for years to get here! At last! 

The joyous occasion was made all the better by meeting dear knittterly friends in person for the first time. How cool is that???

Some people are camera-shy, so we had to be creative in our approach. Thanks to Mel for scheming up a way to get the mister in the shot. Mission accomplished!

I found something that fit the bill for "rainbow," and we left to grab some lunch.

I told you green is in my color palette. And now, so is rainbow.

I had some salmon mac-n-cheese that was uh-maz-ing. (Thanks for the recommendation, Kelli!)

 This was the other part of the trip that I had been anticipating for years...pie from the Blackbird Bakery. Thanks to everyone for humoring me :)  There was actually only one type offered, as it is not a dedicated pie shop. Apparently, pie is a thing in the Pacific Northwest. This was pie experience number four on our trip, and the only one that wasn't a self-declared pie shop. I was more than willing to make the exception.

Now that I had checked off my bucket list items (and then some), I was able to relax a bit and enjoy the rest of the day together, snapping pictures to take the day home with me.


We drove off the Island until we reached Port Gamble, home of The Artful Ewe. We relaxed and soaked in the beautiful weather. I was only slightly disappointed that we weren't getting the dreary clouds and rain that I had expected. Actually, it was as if Mount Rainier came out to join the festivities.

Eventually, the afternoon wound to a close and we ferried back to the mainland. The ride afforded several luxuries, including a lovely wall map to help me narrate our journey!

It also lent some beautiful views of the mountains.

Now that I am back, I've been sifting through hundreds of photos and knitting up a sort of tube scarf. I love how it's turning out, and the memories it carries with it. I hope we can do it again someday!

true blue friends - posted by Melissa

 

 

Look who we got to spend the day with yesterday??!

 

Meet Will & Jeff!

 

It's strange to finally meet people you've know online for years, although that feeling doesn't linger long.  It's hard to stay feeling like strangers for very long with people that know so much about you...especially nice folk like these two!  Here all the way from Pennsylvania!  Lucky us : )

 

It was the best day - the weather was amazing, much good food was eaten throughout the day, visits were made to Churchmouse and The Artful Ewe.

We were incredibly lucky to be able to celebrate such a huge step in gay equality with them as well.  There was much horn honking in our travels as we passed people carrying banners and signs in celebration.

 

I was lax taking photos - I haven't been as attached to my camera lately and have been enjoying moments more in front of the lens rather than behind it.  Will, on the other hand, took tons of photos and as soon as he gets a blog post up, I will link you guys so you can see more of our day.

 

This was a good way to come back to blogging!!  I'm inspired to pick up some of my languishing projects and maybe finish a thing or two as well.

 

So there you go - the first of many exciting posts in the upcoming days.  This was definitely a good one, don't you think!?

 

Happy Weekend - Melissa

 

(I almost forgot - Jeff hand spun and then wove a scarf from hand dyed fiber...just for me!  It's amazing and I did NOT get a picture of it but I will - I can't wait to show you!!!  I am lucky!)









Doing a bit O' Basket Weaving ~ a post from Kelli

I drive around the block of 8th and J several times, every fall, gazing in a side window. 
In that large side window (of my friend Jane's house) sits the most darling
pumpkin basket!  I watch for it to be displayed.  Never fails to be put out for show.
One of the talents of Jane is basket weaving and she teaches, she designed this one.
Since I wanted one of my own, her September class this year was the pumpkin! I had to take the class.


Maybe she thinks I won't circle her home?  Where's the fun in that?




Happy October everyone~

SPIRE KAL - Final Photos - by guest blogger Andrea

Hi everybody,

I took advantage of the end of summer weather we're having here in western Washington.  What a glorious day and a perfect time to bring this KAL project to a close.  I say that with some sadness. This project is one of my most challenging and memorable to date.

The beach a few blocks from my house was a good place to start.  I actually used it as the backdrop for another project: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aksaxton/eurybia.  I then went a few blocks down the street to my favorite hometown park, Causland Park.  Here I found the perfect spots to really show off this shawl.

Causland Memorial Park (710 N Avenue) was built in the 1920’s by Louis Lepage and is on the National Register of Historic Places. A portion of the park is dedicated to Anacortes veterans from World War I to the Vietnam War.

 So here are pictures of my Spire.  I enjoyed the project so very much and always love knitting along with Kelli and Melissa and their blog readers.  I wonder what the next KAL might be?

 I go by this park every day.  It's easy to just drive by with one's blinders on.  Today, while walking around and studying its beauty, I am again reminded what a gem we have in town.

 

Happy Knitting, everyone.  Let's do this again soon!