Where has the time gone?

It's a bit embarrassing, this. Disappear for months on end, all the while working fastidiously on projects in the background.

But there ya go.

Some things of import: cats are still adorable, but no longer kittens, of course. Still producing stellar breadstuffs on a weekly basis. Latest is whole wheat sourdough, which is not only fab when uber-fresh, but enjoys a second life when the stale bits are made into savory bread puddings or added to soups.

But what you really care about, if you care at all, is the yarnstuffs. And I have been making stuff, cranking it out, some dismal failures, like the Anthro Inspired Capelet and Rosa's Sleeveless Cardi Jumper:

 some lovely as all get out. See?  Just to be clear - the above failures are my fault, not the patterns or the designers.  The capelet was way too small and the cardi, way too big.  I plan to revisit both.  Stuff that went well include the Tea Shawl from Lion Brand, Tosca by Dora Ohrenstein, and a couple of Animekko cats, made as gifts...

 

But for some reason, I've lately glommed onto a desperate need to complete the UFOs what have been cluttering my new and fabulous workroom. They are piled in the corner like turds. And really, they deserve much better.

 So here is one of the first, rescued from the turd pile and quickly completed:

That's the Scalloped Cowl from Lion Brand.

Below is the hibernating Shipwreck Shawl.  Distressing side note:  My Knitpick's circular cable snapped right below the connector on the damn R train, freeing a bunch of stitches in its wake!  Sorry Knitpicks, but I'm pissed off about that!!!  I mean, what the hell?

And here's the kicker: This isn't all!  I've also been trying my hand at needlefelting, urged on by the gift of a gorgeous Japanese book on the same.  Started by making some beads, then graduated to what was supposed to look like a clog, but ended up looking like Grandpa Simpson's lost slipper.  Ah, well. 

And there are more projects, too!  Here's hoping I get and keep my ass in gear and get back to posting weekly...

Rhinebeck 2010

Has it Been That Long?

Hmmm... I suppose I owe you a bit of an explanation, some reason why I'd abandon this little blog, if even just for a few months.

The short form is that we have crossed the threshold into new territory and are 3/4 of the way through renovating my dad's apartment, and turning our 2 family into a one family house. What does this mean besides eliminating extra income from collecting rent, higher utility bills, a larger financial burden overall, and increased pressure to continue churning out at my stressball of a job?

Well, it means a real workroom -- exposed brick walls, room for sewing machine, serger, and dressmaker dummies; room for yarn to be organized; for books and magazines to be accessible and vintage stash to be safe and viewable.

It means a spa bathroom designed by a real designer that will look as nice or nicer than magazine shots.

It means a library for our many, many books - a place to chill and relax and read in quiet.

It means a killer sun-room with seven windows and an adjoining bedroom with pocket doors.


It means more open space with light pouring in from two skylights.

It means a friggin' walk-in closet!

In other words, a better respite from the cold cruel world (nah, I don't actually view the world that way, just when the trains get really screwed up...).

So yeah, this project is sucking the energy out of us, but light is at the end of the tunnel. I'll be posting a couple of pics when it makes sense.

In the meanwhile, what of yarnly pursuits? Well, I've been working on Andrea's Shawl, which has not been terribly difficult, but I am making a meal of it, as hubsy would say. It's taking way too long just to get past the lace bit. But I am using Lion Brand Superwash Merino and I gotta say, it's a lovely bit of yarn. Particularly for the price.

I'm hoping it'll be done by autumn.

And breadmaking continues apace, though I have moved onto making a whole wheat sourdough, and am loving it! Sourdough is a bit miraculous to me. I find feeding it (them?) every week is very amusing.

The kittens are adults now, and as such, better start pulling their weight around here.

What else?

I picked up the most wonderful cookbook recently called Vegan Yum Yum, which I absolutely love. I'm not vegan (not even a strict vegetarian), but I am finding the recipes to be fantastic and creative and delicious, so I'll keep making them. Hey, whatever I can do to keep more animals alive... Oh, and her blog of the same name is awesome, too. Do yourself a favor and try the Hot and Sour Cabbage Soup. i added mushrooms to the mix with yummy results.

I've got other news for you, but it's going to have to keep for the mo'. I do promise it won't be so long between postings!

Ta for now!

Amazing?

Dunno about amazing, but I do like the way this shawl came out. The yarn, for those keeping score, is kinda sticky and harder than most to frog, but for five dollah, who's whining? And the colors are pretty (though in the subway lights, they seem a bit harsh). The whole shebang is from Lion - yarn and pattern. And true to my name, mostly hooked on the R, N, or D lines of our New York City subway system.

So you know, the pattern is the South Bay Shawlette and the yarn is Amazing in Ruby.

Flickr-Dipping

Happy New Year, y'all!

I was all set to post my latest bits and bobs, largely created in a rush as gifties for my near and dear, when I decided a bit of Flickr-dipping was in order. You know, checking out the odd stuff getting posted here and there.

Mid-dip, I chanced upon some of Cheenara's latest work. I've blogged about this extremely talented woman in the past, and I stand by my assessment of her work. Friggin' brilliant! See that piece above? And those that follow? I am humbled by this kind of talent. Seriously.


And then there's Jessica Danby, another incredibly talented woman creating fine art using humble sticks... But I cannot upload her photos, so here is a link to her work on Flickr.

And finally for this post is the extraordinary Max Alexander, whose work stretches from jewelry to animation to fabulous knitting graffiti:
This is the kind of thing that makes me want to yarnbomb my own front garden. And I might well.....

And Boy, are my Arms Tired!

St. Basil's

Skyline

Pushkin and his lovely wife, Natalya, frozen on the Arbat

St. Basil's at night from Red Square

GUM on Red Square, lit up for Christmas

Graffiti on the Arbat

St. Basil's domes, close up

Sweet mother of Crap! Have I really not posted since SEPTEMBER?

Oh dear. Well, I can account for the last few weeks, anyway.

Just got back from Moscow on Friday from a business trip, and the run-up to that trip kept me pretty damn busy and mentally unavailable. In fact, here are a couple of shockers for you:

• I did virtually no needlework on either the 9 1/2 hour flight there or the 11 hour flight back! True story.
• During my seven days in Moscow, I did not have any time to go to a Russian yarn/craft shop or pick up any crochet/knit magazines. Sick, right?
• I put on, like, five pounds as I ate my way through Russian, Ukrainian, and Georgian cuisine
• Last week was one of the warmest ever in Moscow - no snow, in fact, went without a coat most of the time!
  

So now I'm back and gearing up for a quickie trip to Texas. Next year's travel schedule looks like Dubai, Amsterdam, and Sao Paulo, and a ghost of a chance of Barcelona. Funny how impressive it looks on (virtual) paper. And truth be told, I did spend a few hours tooling around the sites of Moscow before I had to start work for the week, and that was amazing. It is quite the city, and it strikes me as one that is a bit hard to get to know. But now I'm desperate to go back and absorb more of its charms. We'll see... So I really have nothing prepared, yarn-wise. Got a few ideas in me head, but they have some distance to travel before they creep from my fingertips and into the keyboard. So I must sign off for now, but enjoy the Moscow pics!