Finally I have some pictures of my spin on the Urban Aran. After many failed attempts to photograph myself wearing the sweater....I tried Samro's mirror method. Here's what I've got!

I enjoyed knitting this sweater. I obsessed with it at Rhinebeck and ordered the pattern before I left N.Y.

This will be well loved sweater. I wore it over Thanksgiving and I didn't want to take it off. It's just the "perfect" cardigan.

I knit it with Black Water Abbey, a traditional Irish wool, in the colorway Bracken. In the photos it looks like oatmeal. In real life, it has flecks of color running through it. I love it!

Here are some shop piccies from knit night!

I love my cozy little shop.

Happy Halloween! I love her little hand in this picture....I wish that they could stay this small. This must be the most perfect age!

Tinkerbell had a lovely evening!

By the end of the night Tink was wrapped in Alpaca and wearing buffalo mitts! She is really trying to steal my wrap I bought in New York! I can't say that I blame her!

Here is a little dose of what it looks like where I live. I live in a more rural part of Ohio. This is what I see when I look out the front door.....Blue skies and corn or soybean fields!

I love the bright sun shining through the trees.

The leaves are just starting to turn they are looking really pretty.

I thought it would be fun to watch the leaves turn in this last picture. I will update it next week!

Happy Fall!

Here is a small sample of my weekend of Rhinebeck for you........


Here is some Blue Moon Fiber Arts lounging in the bay window. This is just Joan's haul!

Here is Joan checking out her goods.

Here is Carole at the Ravelry Party. It was freeezing but a great time. I reallly had fun....imagine that. Thankfully there are no photos of the Stephen scolding.
Here we have Sam dissecting yet another knit garment. Be sure to check out Sam's take on Rhinebeck on Lime and Violet's Daily Chum.

Here is Miss Mali. Taking it easy after a hard days work.
I didn't say you bought too much yarn Joan.....really it's okay! I love the way the sun is shining on her in this picture and the leaves in the background.....isn't it lovely!

The girls, minus Carole doing a little knitting. What fun we had!

I'm sure these two trees will be on all attendees blogs....so here they are again.
This is the view from our house.
This is where we stayed. It was very lovely. I had such a great time. It was so nice to hang out with everyone.....it was really sad to say goodbye. Sock Camp or Sock Summit won't come soon enough. As always, there was a little crossing path thing going on. It still kind of freaks me out. At my gate in Philadelphia I noticed this guy with a handknit sweater laying beside him. I looked a little closer....and guess who it was Stephen! I could not believe it. He's travelling from San Francisco so really what are the odds. That's not all folks. We were on the same flight with seats side by side. Isn't that just bizarre? I was glad to see him, and it made for lots of fun the rest of my flight. I just love crossing paths.

I'm so stoked! Some of us from Sock Camp are meeting up at Rhinebeck this year! I'm so looking forward to this trip! It seemed like such a long time off when we vowed it at camp.....and here it is. It will surely be a dandy time.

In the above picture we were at Mora Mora on Bainbridge Island in Washington. We had just done a "little" shopping at Churchmouse Yarns & Teas, a delightful little shop I must return to sometime!

I think I heard mention a trip to Morehouse Farms this year! That will be very cool too. It's such a pretty part of N.Y. it will be just lovely this time of year. I can't wait to see you girls! Mwah!

Last year close to this time, I was preparing for a journey. Very unknowing of where it was going to take me. I looked so forward to this trip.

Shopping in Salzburg.
Gallon sized mugs at Oktoberfest. It was really a challenge to hold these up. It was about 8 o'clock in the morning in this picture. Seriously. You had to get there that early to get a seat. It was about 50 degrees, damp, and raining. I hadn't recovered from the Hopfbrauhaus from the night before. This was an experience all in itself.

Reflecting back on this a year later....I am almost not even sure what to say.

So I'll just say nothing.

Why am I just now posting about sock camp? Well....these are funny pictures. What is the deal with having neurotic tendencies that made us want to wear or roll in the Blue Moon yarn? Too many fumes or too many martinis? Ummm. Both.

So the doorbell rings....it's the neighbor girl coming to play with Tot for a bit. Low and behold there are two boxes on my porch from my dear BFF!!!! Socktopus! I met Miss Mali at Camp Kaw Kaw this year. It was very strange and there were all these crossing paths and weird incidences.....but we ended up budsl. She makes me happy I'm a knitter. Happy that i'm blessed with such wonderful people in my life. She also knows how to make me very happy. Hub was present for the unwrapping of the goodies! I paused midway, looked at him and said this must be better than Christmas. Seriously. First we have the edible goods. Chocolates, english biscuits from traditional to organic versions. Ritter Sport bars which I adore! McVities...a must. Tea of course!
Total sock stash enhancement! With the most adorable bag that I was desperate for at camp! ; )
The model today is Charlie the gardener. He's so tired from a long day in the garden that he's decided to prop up on a pot and take a bit of a rest. I love him. I placed him here so that I can look at him when I swing. I love garden whimsy.
This is where Charlie lives. Hub got this swing for me for our 5th anniversary. Or 3rd??? I don't know but I'm thinking it's been longer than two years due to the growth of this bed in the picture. I love sitting here. It looks at another mature bed that I dug by hand with nonpowered tools. Sweat, blood, and ice cold beer. I get a certain feeling of accomplishment when I look at it. It's a lovely place to knit.
I can't get the link to work for Socktopus.....visit her at www.socktopus.co.uk

Thank you Mali! You sure do know how to make a girls day! I can't wait until we go to Rhinebeck!!!!
I miss you so.

This is a pic of the yarn room prior. Just for those who are curious. The bed was one of the ugly wrought iron ones from the 90's that realllllly needed to go. When we moved in I made it a room with a bed and stuff I didn't know what else to do with. Then I started knitting and these mysterious piles crept up mixed with sewing machines and fabrics and dollies apparently.











Which eventually led to this........................

With good company.












And ended like this. No! Thank you very much. That's not me half cocked.....but I do know that person. Is that a yarn ball stuffed down in that boot?
This is what happens at A Taste of Wine. ; )

So here are some long awaited photos and a post......finally!

The yarn room is DONE! What a task it turned out to be. I'm very good for letting projects escalate until I may be in over my head a bit. Hub saved the day with the cubbies. Though they are quite simple to put together. I am so in love with this room. Sometimes I just walk in and stand and look around a minute, then leave. I love it. It's like a sanctuary.
Another shot of the cubbies and small bookcase. This houses actual reading books. Not knitting books.




My nice new Ikea bed for guests who are worthy. The chair is a Poang from Ikea. It looks out into one of my flower gardens. More pics coming. And a little chatter as well.

So at last I can breathe....a bit. I'm going to Blue Moon's Camp Crow's Feet. We were assigned to knit a toilet paper roll cover. Kitschy? Yes. Fun? Yes! I just rolled with it and it has been a blast. Those who know me well, know that I'm probably not finished. And I'm not. The major things are done though. The rest can pretty much be done on the fly if necessary. I can't wait to share it with all of you! No patterns. No guidelines.
Raspy needs one arm and the sleeve seam sewn and she's all finished ready to travel. I tried it on. I love it. I'm pondering casting on another in a different colorway. Maybe a different yarn. I think I adore this sweater. I'm also thinking about a couple of other denim sweaters. Tot's starting to pick out her own yarns for me to knit. I love it! She demands I do it. Hmmmm. Another year and she can start knitting? I so hope she does.
My dear husband turned 40. That makes me feel a bit more.....mature. Strange. I forget how old I am all the time until I'm reminded. Like my hub turning 40.

From turkey to tulips.......well here I am....I'm baaaaccccckkkk! I somehow got consumed with Ravelry, my new timesuck, and disappeard from the blogosphere. I love Ravelry.
Tot is growing like a weed. She's getting so much independence these days. Ahhh what a wonderful thing it is.
I've been knitting. Constantly.
I need to post pics here and on Ravelry.
I'm going to Blue Moon's Camp Crow's Feet this year. I leave this Saturday. Can Not Wait!!! We have to knit a toilet paper roll cover from scraps of yarn sent to all campers by Blue Moon. I've had so much fun with this. More than I thought I would. Ohh the freedom of no pattern. I almost can't believe I'm really going. I feel like I might not breathe until I'm in Seattle. Prior to camp, a few of us Ravelers whom I've never met, are going on a yarn crawl the two days before camp. We're going to shop the Seattle shops and then hit Bainbridge and the San Juan Islands. I'm almost afraid to go. I feel like I'll want to move there. I will savor every moment.
I will stop about that. I know you might like to tell me to stop already.
Something else I'm quite excited about is a class that will be coming up in June. Beth Brown-Reinsel will be coming to teach her Traditional Gansey Workshop the weekend of June 21st and 22nd. Beth, in my opinion, is like a charming old soul. I just adore her. Her knitting talent is phenomenal and she is an excellent educator. Those of you who are attending I assure you that you won't be disappointed. I've wanted to take this workshop with Beth for a long time. I'm also happy to be able to share her with all of you.
I will also be hosting Antje Gillingham, the author of Knitting Circles Around Socks the weekend of May 30th and 31st. Unfortunately all spots for this class are taken. Antje comes from Germany, she owns a shop where she lives now in Tennessee. I've yet to meet Antje in person, but she is delightful to speak with on the phone! I'm really looking forward to meeting her! This should be a weekend to remember.
; )
It's good to be back.