the best friends - posted by Melissa

Good morning! Thought I'd share this gorgeous (GORGEOUS!!) handspun, handwoven scarf that Jeff of '....and a few boys, too' made HIMSELF and gave to me when he and Will (the other boy of '....and a few boys, too') came to visit last June.

 

I am so lucky.

 

Here's a link to their post of our day if you'd like to revisit:

 

link here - you should look : )

 

Here's a link to my post of our adventures:

 

link here - you should look : )

 

I'll get some better pictures of this lovely neck warmer posted, as well as my Stonecrop, as soon as I edit them.  Can't wait to share!

 

Have a great day, everyone!

 

Melissa

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!

and in other news.... posted by Melissa

Hello!  So this is my other big news....Kelli and I were asked to participate in this exhibit which opened today at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum .  What an honor!  The 'Artist Reception' was tonight although neither of us attended.  Kelli had to work and I went up early to take photos (which are NOT allowed but I was given permission to take some of just my pieces, so here they are!).  The museum is housed in the historic Gaches Mansion (which you can read about on the museum's site that I linked above).  It's a breathtaking place and I'm so proud to have some of my very favorite and treasured items on display there for the next month.

 

If you get a chance, make your way north.  The drive through Skagit Valley during the summer is fertile and green and abundance is everywhere.  Farm stands at almost every turn - much bounty and local produce to be had for all tastes and appetites.  The museum is cheap (I think $7) and there are a few other exhibits there that rival our cherished knitting.

 

Thanks for letting me share...and brag just a little.  Who would have thought...a museum show?!?  Oh. My.

 

Heheheh : )

Melissa

[the pictures aren't stellar - the lighting was dim and the walls were dark so this was the best I could do, darn it !!]



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!)









I would have missed... ~ Melissa

God how we get our fingers in each other's clay.  That's friendship, each playing the potter to see what shapes we can make of each other.  - Ray Bradbury :: Something Wicked This Way Comes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

an Orenburg shawl made by Sirkku ~ sent to a daughter in Europe to wear in her wedding and now back in the states for another daughter to wear

Diane's hands...

a pillowcase stitched by Diane at eight years old...

 

and a sampler also worked by Diane, some 50 years later, and finished at retreat

...inspiring...



Kristi working on a Sue Spargo quilt...

an applique stitched square being worked by Kristi

needlepoint worked by Sandi, my new football buddy

...amazing craftsmanship...

 

 

 

 

the view from our outing to the country club to watch Sunday football

 

 

there is so much beauty in pattern and order

 

I was minutes away from cancelling my part in the retreat this year.  My husband did a bit of arm twisting and insisted that I needed to go.  He's a smart man.  I was feeling low and unsociable and I was running on empty.  I spent 3 days listening to stories and laughing like I've not laughed in months.  Laughter to that point of tears where you don't feel like you can take another breathe.  I did need this weekend, much more than I knew.

 

I watched a group of amazing women interacting with each other while they stitched and appliqued, knitted and crocheted, and there was even a spinning wheel whirring this year.

 

There was an auction, our sixth I believe, to raise money for Friendship House.  We donated our unwanted stash as well as some handcrafts (there were beaded shawls, hand woven baskets, handmade wooden needle holders and holiday ornaments) and then purchased each other's donations...new treasures for everyone and a final tally of $2,265.75 to donate.  An incredible gift from an incredible group of ladies.

 

We celebrated a birthday with specialty chocolates, saw a grandpa sweater for a first child completed, and took walks in the damp autumn woods.  I came upon a sleeping doe that I did not see until I was right upon her.  She stood startled, so close I could see my amazed reflection in her eye.  We stared at each other for what seemed like days, until she decided that I was of no consequence and folded her legs back under her, lowered herself back to the ground and returned to slumber.  I stood statue still for a lifetime in disbelief.  I almost felt that I could have touched her if I had been brave enough.

 

There were stories told of cruises and castles and far away places, grand hotels and lego kingdoms, grandchildren and new puppies, basket caskets and wee bears, jackalopes and shouts of HEIDI-HO!  There were twice told tales ~ where's mother? ~ and brand new ~ Joanne, what's new pussycat?  Notes were compared by type A personalities ~ yes, there is a right way to eat m & m's ~ with affirmation that we must be sane if there are so many of us!

 

I cannot wait for next year and I'm so glad that I went since I'll have these memories and many more to get me by until then.  And yes, Fran, you may have the cot next year...I won't fight you for it.

 

Thanks to everyone who was there this year for making the weekend such a special time.  Thank you, Linda, for being the organizer-extraordinaire once again.  I feel so lucky to be counted among this incredible group of women.  Thank you all so much for including me in this amazing fellowship.

 

See you all next October!

~ Melissa

(and yes, if you're wondering, there was some knitting done by me...I finished my Jared Flood 'Shale Baby Blanket' (ravelry link here)...pictures soon to follow!)