Les Miz

My daughter Isabell and I now understand why this play is the longest running show in Broadway history. Alan Boubil captures Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. This 1832, two day event speaks volumes even today. Adding breath-taking voices, music and acting bring you to tears in this amazing production.

My Rock Island shawl was a perfect dramatic mix to the event, which while I knitted, almost brought me to tears.

Enjoy the endings of summer~

Kelli

Sisterly Shenanigans

Kelli and I had such a fun day yesterday!  I want to start off by saying that this:

was most definitely NOT MACHINE MADE and that every stitch was painstakingly and lovingly done by Miss Kelli, contrary to what anyone else may think, and she was very deserving of the ribbons she received at the Skagit County Fair this year.  So there.

Back to the beginning of the day yesterday......

We entered a few things in this years Evergreen State Fair and boy, do they know how to do things right!  Very organized, welcoming, friendly and encouraging, and we're both really excited to see how we did and to participate in this years Knit-In during the fair.

Then it was off to Kirkland for a shopping spree at Serial Knitter's.  That is a great shop!  We both highly recommend it and if you love Madelinetosh like we do, it's the place to go!  Here's what I came home with:

Tosh Sport in Tern for a sweater

Tosh Merino DK in Wild Mushroom for a capelet

 We met up again later in the evening at the Skagit County Fair to sit, knit and visit:

and to pick up our entries when the fair closed last night.  We both did really well but hope for many more participants next year, and I think we're going to try and get involved and see what we can do to increase entries in the future.  It's a shame that with knitting and fiber arts in general seeing such a boom in interest, that every year there seems to be less and less interest in getting your work out there and trying to encourage more people to try your craft.  We're going to have to work on that!  I'll leave you with some better photos of my entries and how I did.  It was a blast and we really encourage anyone with the slightest interest to check into the fair next year!  It's a super easy process and requires very little time or energy and it is FUN!!!  We would love to walk anyone through the signups next year if they need help.....you know where to find us!    ~ Melissa

...therapy...

Lousy week at work but I came home to this:

and then spent an hour doing this:

and suddenly I feel much better!

Getting ready to enter a few things in the Skagit County Fair on Sunday ~ hope to see you there!

Have a great weekend!  ~ Melissa (& Dozer)

Speechless

Between a Rock and a Berry

 Anybody interested in a KAL?  I'm thinking about starting Juneberry on May Day this Sunday.

My Rock Island is off the needles and awaiting a well deserved bath.....can't wait to see what she turns into with the magic of blocking:

Flood Season

I'm not talking about the weather ~ we actually had a beautiful spring day on Saturday ~ sunshine from start to finish....

and we realized we have some new neighbors this year.  We finally removed Harley's dog kennel from under this tree (bittersweet) only to have this unused bird house finally fill up with a chickadee family.  I'll be on the lookout for tiny babies poking their heads out one of these days!

Nope, I'm talking about Flood, as in Jared, and if you've ever been on Ravelry you know who he is.  I've made 2 Hemlock Ring Blankets ~ both of which have been gifted... this one went to Trudy and this one went to a friend battling breast cancer.  I also have his patterns for Terra, Juneberry, and Celes, and can't wait to choose which one to get started on next since I'm very close to finishing Rock Island.

The KnitWits finally used the money we made speaking at the SKG meeting last October and took a day trip over to Bainbridge Island for shopping at Churchmouse Yarns and Teas followed by lunch at the Blackbird Bakery (delicious!) last Saturday.  It was a fun day ~ they have a wonderful Jared Flood display:

and I did get yarn for my first project from the newest Knitting Traditions magazine ~ here is the yarn I chose for my Appalachian Gathering Basket ~ a felted Fair Isle....hmmm....sounds pretty challenging for me!  I know choosing the colors was HARD!!!  What do you think?

So, that pretty much catches us up for the last 2 weeks.  The home projects continue, the furniture is delivered and much loved already, spring is here at last and I still am managing to get some knitting done.  What does everyone have on the needles right now?  Are you knitting for summer or looking ahead already to the next cold weather seasons?  Me, I'll just keep stitching away on my lace and hope for another sunny day in the not so distant future!  Have a great week, all!  ~ Melissa

AWOL ~

just checking in before the chaos starts in our house ~ the furniture that wasn't to be delivered for at least another month is being delivered next Saturday and we have yet to paint our front room, so this week is going to be a total spank as far as chores go and, sad to say, little knitting will be done..

I did get my Bias-ed scarf finished and blocked last night:

 

And I've chosen my next project so I have something to look forward to when all the paint has been put away and the dust has settled....this is definitely incentive to get this place done and organized-

What do you think:

Jared Flood's Rock Island Shawl with the madelinetosh Prairie in Nutmeg that I got at Knit Purl during the Seattle to Portland Train event in January.  I wound my yarn last night and I'm ready to cast on when the paint is dry!

Happy weekend, all!  ~ Mel