Just a quick funny for the Day

This is from a Brazilian fashion show. I want the pattern it could be my Halloween costume next year. maybe I will just have to design something(can you just hear the gears a whirrrin in my little brain...)



I have to spend the day cleaning carpets for our gianormous Easter party we are throwing Sunday. so I thought I would just share some funny video... have fun

Wow how much fun is this ad and the making of video!!!


Making of video....

A Little Late Night Knitting

A little late night knitting. The boxer shorts are coming along. They take a little longer since it is a lot of stockinet stitch with sock yarn( kind of like knitting a sweater with finger weight yarn). I am flying from Anchorage to phoenix on the very very red eye flight. Trust me my eyes are proof. As soon as I get home I will have a good hour and a half nap. Then off to Knit Happens to teach the french market bag class. Whosh I will be ready to for bed tonight.
I just found out my schedule for next month I will be in Seattle and Charlotte. If anyone has any good recommendations let me know. I will be posting a lot from both cities.
Happy Knitting
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Something new for Spring!!

I thought I would try something new in honnor of the renewal of sping. Let me know what you think of the blogs new look. By the way, I just found out one of my favorite listening pleasures, Matt Morris is a knitter so check out his album and knit along with him.

Matt Morris

Spring is in the air

Wow It just the most beautiful day out. The air is sweet with perfume. Orange blossoms are the top not,with hints of geranium ,sweet acacia , with a bottom note of cut grass and sage. There is no place on earth, like the desert during spring. I thought I would take Georgia for a walk and share some of the flowers......... I just wish you could smell it.
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Rainy day Decadence

For your listening pleasure!!




Its raining and I am being decadent. watching sappy movies, drinking tea, and knitting. I started the socks appeal boxers from skacel




Sometimes everyone needs a day of decadence!!!

Road Trip to Tucson

The Windows are Down and the orange blossoms are in bloom!

It's spring and we were ready to hit the road. The original plan was to head down to Nogales for the day. We were going to pick up our niece and her boyfriend, however when the State department issued a warning about the safety of border towns we thought we would change are planes and just hang in Tucson for the day. I love road trips especially when I don't have to drive. I think since I fly all the time it just appeals to me to watch the world pass a little slower.
We got to Tucson and headed to our niece Daryn's new house. near our favorite area of town 4Th Ave. The last time we were down we missed the 4Th Avenue fair by a day and guess what we did it again. The street was crazy with people setting up . Daryn lives close enough to walk and we walked the street for a little bit and then stopped at the Tucson Market for some pizza (even though we are hanging with college students and pizza is the college food of choice I have never lost my love for it!..and it has been a few years since I was in college)

After lunch, we were off to check out some galleries Daryn is a art student and Chris, her boyfriend, is and architect student... art galleries were a no brainer.

Daryn had hear of a Warhol show at a gallery on 6Th Ave . This was a major exhibit. This is Something most museums would give there eye teeth for and if you are in Tucson in the next few weeks go check this out

Eric Firestone Gallery
WARHOL FROM DYLAN TO DUCHAMP
Feb 27, 2010 - Apr 25, 2010

Apparently Andy Warhol was in Tucson in !967 to film Lonesome cowboys at The Old Tucson studios. Bob Border was a reporter who was sent to photograph the artist , not really knowing what he was getting into. He went and took this huge group of photos. We actually meet this very interesting man. This is the first time any of these pictures has ever been seen publicly. There are numerous other photographers represented as well. It is a spectacular show. Whether you love Warhol or hate him he mad an indelible print on art and graphics today.
From there we decided to wander 4th Ave some more.

What?....... Fiber and lots of it!!!!!
I ran into Kathy setting up her both for the fair( really all I saw was FIBER and Lots and I was drawn, like a Bee to Honey!!!)
Kathy is the owner of th Withers Ranch in Tucson she raises the animals and spins magical fiber she felts and guess what?
She is having a big event at her ranch
Tucson Spring shearing Festival

March 27th, 2010
9-3 pm
her web adress is

http://www.uniquedesignsbykathyshop.com/

To finish off the Day We had a great dinner at The B line Nothing like a decandent Deserts for the drive home!!!!

Day at the beach

Not much knitting to report. I spent the day at the beach and the Aquarium. The weather forecast was for rain so I thought I would go off to the Aquarium. Its small ,but beautiful.
Since it was sunny out. It was way to crowded on Waikiki. I decided to walk to the lighthouse at the foot of diamond head.
Aloha
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A Man Knitting in Public..

It happened! There was actually another guy knitter on my flight to Hawaii. Some might say ,so...I have been flying for 24 years and have never had another guy knitter on my flight, Except for my fellow flight buddy Eddie.
His name is Andrew and he is a very talented knitter. he has only been knitting for a short while, yet he is knitting a scarf with yarn overs.
The poor guy I think I startled him with my enthusiasm, This is rare occurrence. I was like a kid I wanted to drag all my projects out and just chat knitting. Too bad I actually had to work.
The best part, I was watching him knit and I was thinking what are those needles he is using. They looked like double points, but not quite. I was lucky I wasn't spilling on everyone I was serving. I wouldn't find out till after service he was knitting with chop sticks. He didn't know that knitting needles are approved by the TSA. I just thought this was genius though, now I want to try knitting with chop sticks I have some beautiful inlaid wood ones.

Well I am off to the beach

here is my latest favorite artist for you listening pleasure
I first heard Matt Morris singing with Justin Timberlake Hallelujah.. on Hope for Hatti which has to be one of my favorite songs. check it out on the side bar, under curently listening




Since then I cant seem to get enough of this guys voice

A Sad Day

I recently posted about my Friend Granny D, Doris Haddock.
Yesterday we lost a true inspiration. She fought the good fight with unparalleled strength and dignity. She lived to see a century and she lived everyday.
My heart is heavy that you are not here any more , but I know you are out there walking and fighting the good fight.

We shall Overcome!

Are you goin' to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.

OK so it wasn't Scarborough fair , but e did go to the first Friday Art detour and the 7ave street fair this week end. The weekend was a whirlwind of art and craft and Oscars.

(........aliens and art)

We started Friday night at Another Gallery on 3rd St in Phoenix. One of our closest friends, Daniel Moore, is the featured artist. his photography is simply amazing it can transport you to that quiet place in your heart. The gallery was hoping with friends and family, and it was so nice to see such a wonderful response to Dans work. From there it was off to Roosevelt. They now close the street for the evening and it feel like a night fair . We saw all kind of interesting things , aliens ,circus freaks and even art. Every month on the first Friday of the month all the art galleries in down town phoenix open there doors. it is a great venue to see new and emerging artist .(Lots of good people watching too!!

Saturday was the 7Th avenue street fair. this is a great big event for us. since we live in the neighborhood we are very close to lots of people on the street. This year was no disappointment there was such a high level of creativity. I met the girls who run Bewilderknits Gwyne, Karn, and Cora. They were a oasis of fiber in a see of other crafts.

One thing I love about the downtown crowd is the diversity and acceptance that goes with it. It seems there was a place for everyone.

To cap off the great weekend we went out to Fountain Hills for Oscar night at my best friend's house. It has been quite a tradition to watch Oscars with Sari and Adin( her son). My mom is always on speed dial.( A really awful dress constitutes a call immediately) We had a great dinner and were really pleased to see the Oscar for best director go to a woman!

All in all it was a spectacular weekend!

Keep chasing Rainbows ............

The Novia Scotia Cowl and Shawl Pattern

Thanks for all the wonderful response to the the Nova Scotia Cowl and Shawl Pattern. Some of you have asked for more history. I designed the pattern on a cruise from Boston to Quebec city. I found the lace pattern in St Johns Bay of Fundy It is a fairly simple lace pattern that with about 400 yards of finger weight yarn makes a wonderful cowl / scarf with a three button closure.

With 8oo yard of finger weight it makes a beautiful shawl.
this is a perfect spring shawl.
it has a very easy 3 stitch pattern repeat that brings to mind a prayer shawl( The Holy Trinity. Mind, Body and Spirit. For Buddhists,“3 Refuges” in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.)


I think this would make a wonderful prayer Shawl for someone in need. I love weaving my prayers and good thought into something for someone I love.

A good reference for this type of work are the books

Knitting Into the Mystery: A Guide to the Shawl-Knitting Ministry By Susan S. Jorgensen, Susan S. Izard

The Knitting Way: A Guide To Spiritual Self-Discovery By Linda Skolnik, Janice MacDaniels


Zen and the Art of Knitting: Exploring the Links Between Knitting ... By Bernadette Murphy

I am currently knitting another Novia Scotia Shawl it is my favorite to knit while watching TV or listening to pod casts.... yes you heard correctly this is TV lace!!!

check out the video on the side bar for inspirational music.....

Over the Hills and Through the Woods........

Anchorage the Alaskan Frontier. I started my day with a hearty breakfast at the Snow City cafe.

This place is legendary. The food is amazing. Michelle Shocked sang about it on her album, Anchorage.(or maybe she mentions it in the album notes, but I new about it from her)

Check out her video on the side bar while you are reading.

After breakfast with a nice warm Tummy it was......... Over the hills and through the woods to a knitting store I go. A true knitter will travel a long way when they are in need of a yarn fix(at least I will) ok so it was almost 2 miles from my hotel and it was 36 degrees, but The Far North Yarn Co. was well worth the trip. My weary frozen eyes were treated with a great wall of Irish. Greens of every hue!( This was conceived by the owners son)

It made me want to knit something for St Patrick's day.

The owner of the store is a refreshing burst of energy. Her name is Kay. There are wonderful yarns to be had in this store. Lots of great books samples and ideas at every turn......and yes. I bought something a skien of wonderful Kathmandu yarn merino silk and cashmere. Yes, it feels yummy and smoochy. I have no idea what I am gonna make, maybe a great hat! It will match my cell phone gloves( the pattern is coming soon). Travelers and locals alike you need to check out this charming shop. Tell them A Traveling Knitter sent you.

On my way back I thought I would give my knitting a chance to check out the view from Resolution point. This is where Captain Cook endened his nothern exploration. ( I thought my knitting need a closer look)

Something warm and woolly for my net book

I thought I would design a cool sleeve for my new net book! I think it turned out pretty cool.

PS I have been tweaking my blog a little i hope you like it. I have put links into my side bars so that you can traveling to music and books easier. I am trying to update a new video each week of some of my favorite new artists. If you click on the video on the side bar you can listen to music while you read.... I hope it makes the visit more enjoyable.