Monday, April 30, 2007

Maps, We Dont Need No Stinkin Maps

Mrs. Twisted plans to retire in the home for the millinery challenged. Only kidding we took a few pics and I thought it looked like the blog title.....


Well we had plans for a Sunday drive after talking to an amazing fiber knitter/spinner/weaver/ dyer extraordinaire Lori Lawson http://www.paintspinknit.blogspot.com/last week about a the Lavender fields. We looked up the directions and had it all worked out but I thought Mrs. Twisted had the directions and she thought I had them and we quickly realized that they were sitting on the couch as we were almost an hour down the coast. Hey, we don't need no stinkin maps. hehe



Would you be worried driving almost 2 miles down a poorly marked dirt road with no map with just a good feeling of where you are going? It's all part of the fun of a road trip.



Well we made it and what a beautiful place


The fields are still 3 to 4 weeks away from fully blooming but it was still a beautiful place to come visit. We plan on coming back next month to see it in full bloom.


The have a distillery to extract the oils to make lavender candles, creams, soaps and various scented products. The couple who owns the farm also raises a few llamas and sheep because she spins knits and weaves too.



Everything is kept organic and natural. Lori Lawson was browsing in the gift shop when we arrived and she told us of the special bugs that cling to the prickly pear cactus here who produce a red dye, Cochineal, that is used to naturally dye fiber.




The floweres that were in bloom were so very pretty and loaded with bees. There were benches all over to just sit and enjoy the peaceful beauty and relax. Well we had our knitting so why not take advantage of the opportunity.




Well he had to go into the "Wool Shed" to see what was available. a little wool and some Lama from the guys on the top of the hill.





it's nice to see the animals and get it fresh from the source. Hand spun and natural color Llama




This was on the next farm about a mile away. Can you say Partridge Family?





It was only 1:30 so we decided to go find another yarn shop, south to San Diego we go. We had the knitting travel directory and found a shop in La Mesa Two Sisters and Ewe. Nice shop in the older downtown district. Beautiful selection of yarns and they even had a knitting book loan program


Yes we did buy some yarn


Diakeito Diarufran wool ribbon that feel like alpaca it's so soft and light of hand.




The prettiest lavender/lilac /blue lace weight wool from Kaalund Yarns Australia.



oh yes we love the cheesy photos. The worlds largest Bar-B-Q at a street fair on the way back up the coast. Encinitas had a street fair and we stopped at the Black sheep and checked out the sale items.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

"Beat On The Brat With a Baseball Bat"

Not literally, just a line from a Ramones song but a tie in to the two themes . Punk Knits by Share Ross and assistant coaching a little league team when the head coach was away for a one game.


Friday night we went to A Mano Yarn Centerand for the next installment of Bad Girl Knit Night. Share Ross displayed her samples from the book and had a little hands on demo of the techniques of deconstruction she used in the book.


You caught me reaching for a maple covered Crueler from the pink box of doughnuts .... I didn't eat the fancy finger foods or the wine. I'm the designated driver




Nice variety of people there that night. Some new to us and a few of old friends.




What a treat to knit with the author, share her inspirations and not just be a spectator.



Shannita modeling one of the fashions from the book.


The obligatory photo with the author. I like the cheesy pictures.

Always a wonderful time at A Mano. I did by a skein of purple Manos for the never ending mitered rug but we were good besides the book.




I volunteered to help coach a little league team last month when Mrs. Twisted found out about a team that was a little short handed at times from a co-worker. Well, I was told the head coach was going to be out of town with his son this last weekend and I would get a chance to be in the dug out again since my kids grew out of the recreational leagues.



Arrived early and warmed up the starting pitcher with a little catch.



A little pre-game meeting... Going over the signs and having fun.

I missed being in the coaches box a little bit. It was more fun that I thought. Cheering them on and seeing the look on their smiling faces as they rounded 1st base after a hit.


This may not seem like much to most but I loved warming up the pitcher while the catcher was putting on his gear and it reminded me of all the games I did the same thing while my Son and Daughter were pitching not may years ago. Oh yes I was hurting on Sunday morning. Age + lots of squatting makes you hurt the next day.

A bitter sweet end to a great day. The kids had fun and so did I.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Gottahavitittus struck today

With all this talk about going to Purl Soho to do some yarn shopping or picking up orders had me on the fence until Mrs. Twisted sent me an email about the Lobster Pot whale of a skein yarn she saw on their website. Well that's all it took for me to run over at lunch and go perusing the hanks. She was looking at the hydrangea and the lobster bisque and I could decide which one to get so I bought both.






No plans or projects for this yarn. 80% lambswool, 10% dehaired angora 10% cashmere 740 yards each. I know there are two pics of each color, but there is only one skien of each color way.

http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarnlist/company,65

Lady Hockey fans

Before we start I want to send my best wishes to Inky on her surgery. Get well soon!!!

Well it's been a few days since my last post. We went to our Pub Knitting group on Wednesday night and it was fun to bring out last purchases. The Crafty Canadian brought her new Sweet Georgia sock yarn to taunt us. The conversation went from creative uses for sock blockers to the results of lab experiments where they work. There were only 5 of us but it was quite fun. Four ladies and myself and they seemed more interested in the Ducks Hockey game at times than what was on the needles. There was one lone basketball fan but she was out numbered. Seems odd that there were so many hockey fans here in So California, but they were all transplants. I must admit it was fun to sit with 4 ladies who were bigger sports fans than some of the men in the bar(myself included). We were all knitting socks `cept for Mrs. Twisted who was putting the finishing touches on her Tilli Tomas Cherry Bomb.


OK since we last talked We bought some more hand dyed yarn from a local artist that will go on the sock shelf to confuse us on what yarn to knit with next. It's all so pretty. No I didn't reorganize flickr yet.


Group hug


Malachite
ohhhh so pretty

Redish purple

This one looks so pretty knit up. I saw a swatch/ sample sock.....

Mrs. Twisteds colorway

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Can you say Sock yarn?

The new sock yarn arrived and we were very pleased to see what was inside. The pictures on the website were very accurate and the fiber was so soft. Oh and nice packaging too.



Beach Glass in merino and Tencel


Sunrise in Superwash Merino


Well that was last Wednesday and I saw the goods on Thursday so by the weekend we needed to go shopping again.

We had planned a trip to La Petite Knitterie for a couple weeks now. We knew that their was a new shipment of sock yarn from Lori Lawson of Capistrano Fiber Arts Studio delivered and that's all the reason we needed. If you haven't knitted with this fabulous hand dyed yarn you owe it to yourself take a drive to 25642 Crown Valley Parkway, Suite E3 • Ladera Ranch, CA 92694 • 949.347.7073. If you can't make the drive, give her a call and I'm sure she can ship to you what you are looking for. Kat, the owner and I were talking on Saturday and she told me she is going to open her online store next month and make her specialty and hand dyed fiber available.


I know I know more purple. This is a very soft and rich lavender.

Here is a jump to a new and different color. Summer Peach

This is a deeper and darker purple with some flecks of light.

This was for picked by Mrs. Twisted We are calling it Good & Plenty (like the candy)

Where else can you find such beautiful hand dyed yarn for less than $12.00 a skein? Please let me know and I'll check it out too :P

Next week I think I will be changing the Flicker to have the yarns separated. The sock yarn is starting to take over. I need to update Flicker anyway.

THE MAILBOX HAS REPLENISHMENTS

I love the second week of the month, my sock club yarn comes. When I open the mail box and see this little pink bag I know it's going to be a good day.


Posh Yarn has sent me some really pretty yarn every month since it started in January. Last month was an off month as far as colors I would pick for myself, and this month was going to be the make or break month for joining the sock club next time. I love the attention to detail, the pink tissue paper acts like wrapping paper for
this monthly pre-paid yarn gift to myself.

We had talked about what colors we would like to see and I was very happy to see a (I hate to use this term all the time) Monochromatic, less variegated color. Well I guess the yarn is still variegated it's just colors that are closer in shade to each other. Slight tinges of green and grey with a sheen on the blue.



Here is the WIP pic of Mrs. Twisted's Cherry Bomb in Tilli Tomas Jade. The Rock Star is laying over it. That's going to be the Mobius



The color is going to be amazing if this is any indication. The color is so rich.....


Oh we are looking at another really special sock club.
All hand dyed by six different fiber artists.
Speaking of new yarn and don't we always, this was ordered tonight

Seacoast Superwash Sock - Sunrise
SKU: SCSupSock-Sunrise
Content: 100% Superwash Merino Wool----- Weight: Sock-----
Yardage: 560 yards/approx. 4oz
Recommended gauge: 7-8sts/inch, #2 needle
Care: Machine Wash, Cool, Gentle-----
This yarn is a beautiful array of cheerful yellow, oranges,
pinks and purples.
Seacoast Handpainted Yarns
Price $22.50

and this one too


Seacoast Merino/Tencel- Beach Glass
SKU: SCMerTen-BchGlass
Content: 50% Merino Wool,50% Tencel ----- Weight: Sock-----
Yardage: 400 yards/approx. 4oz
Recommended gauge: 7-8sts/inch, #2 needle
Care: Machine Wash, Cool, Gentle-----
This yarn is a beautiful array of pale pinks, lavender and teal blue.
Seacoast Handpainted Yarns
PRICE:
$20.00
From http://www.localneedle.com/