Short Story Long

Happy New Year! I had a little chat with my boys a few days ago, that we would be discussing goals on the first and last days of the month this year.  They may have these big, trudging goals of the school years going by, and feel like there's not much they can do but wait it out.  But these days are so precious, and I want them to stop and realize that they can be working toward something  now to build a more intentional tomorrow.  We'll see how that goes. (Of course, this is also a practical lesson for us adults.) In recent years, we have had nothing too exciting planned for New Year's Eve, and have opted for an early New Year's Day photo shoot.  This year, with the changing of the decade we were invited to some fun parties, but already had in mind to get out for sunrise, so that's what we did.  I don't know if it was amazing , but it was a beautiful, regret-free morning, and we will be back to this spot (see photo) in the spring.  ...

Silent night, holy night

In February, I published a mitten pattern with  Windy Valley Muskox .  It takes about 1 1/2 skeins of this fabulous yarn so you'll have to buy two.  Of course, you could make the cuffs longer!  I'm thinking I need a version with fingers (aka gloves).  It's on the back burner, for the moment.   In the meantime, let me tell you how lovely it is to work with qiviut!  It is one of the softest fibers, definitely the lightest, and so warm for the weight; it's best as a light layer under others, and luxurious close to the skin.  Sometimes, people misunderstand and think that qiviut comes from the inside coat (I'm not sure how to imagine that), or the underbelly of the muskox; that's because it is often described as the "under coat."  What this actually means is that it's the down layer, and grows during the cold months, closer to the skin, all over the animal; it's like down feathers on a duck.  I worked for WVM for several yea...

When I started working for Windy Valley Muskox , I had the pleasure of traveling with and getting to know the owner, Dianne.  She is a fantastic spinner!  Originally, we were introduced through some of my knitting friends who are part of her family.  I started out with WVM designing a pattern .  Once Dianne saw my finished pattern with modeled shots, she hired me to reshoot several patterns, and eventually I shot all of her product photos, provided pattern support, and went to several trade shows.  Traveling together to yarn shows, we became friends.   At one of the yarn shows, we discovered the Glenfiddich Wool Swoncho in the booth across from ours, and thought it was really cute.  One size, easily modified, it looked great on everyone who tried it on.  Later that summer, I was visiting Dianne's ranch, and she gave me a bag of her handspun yarns to knit with.  She can knit, but doesn't spend as much time on it a...

Snows, like snowflakes: there are never two alike, and not all snows yield good snowflakes for photographing.   a January snow a November snow Any snow day is a good day for knitting.  Or reading.  Or looking at old photographs.  I was tempted to stay inside but I was in and out all day so I thought I might as well head down to the park and see what I could find.  No good snowflakes, but some lovely little ice globes on pine needles.  I'm knitting a Christmas present, and enjoying Lark Rise to Candleford .  It's time to break out the seasonal favorites .  If it is snowy tomorrow, I might get around to making some pizzelles.  Who knows!  What's your favorite snow-day craft??  

Grief, for a life that was lost, in a culmination of senseless turns.  But thankfulness for all the life around, SO many things, and knowing that God is worthy of praise, even on the bad days.  

Knitting, he thought, was a comfort to the soul.  It was regular.  It was repetitious.  And in the end, it amounted to something. -At Home in Mitford On the needles, I have a "swoncho" - a sweater-poncho hybrid, with some handspun yarns from a friend.  More on this later, assuming it turns out alright, or even maybe if it doesn't.  I finished the red sweater that I blogged about here and here .  It fits perfectly!  Next time, long sleeves.   In October, I finished reading Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac .  The casual, journaling voice, wise without being pushy, made for a great late summer / early autumn read.  I thoroughly enjoyed EZ's commentary on life, on her companion, the Old Man, and their car trips; she ties in new projects to the season beautifully, and then gives you the information to make your own, and make it your own.  I was sad when I finished it but I suppose I may read it again sometim...