A Better Lace Photo

The blocking photo yesterday did not really do justice to the finished project. So, I am posting another that is a clearer view with better color.

The blocking wires really make the process much easier and the results more satisfying! I am actually looking forward to another lace project.

Sun Gold tomatoes have been a personal favorite the past few summers. Once again they are proving to be prolific producers for our family. This particular one is in a wooden tub on my daughter's patio. I was the happy recipient of the first fruit when serving on the watering detail in her absence.

Blocking Experiment

I am using the blocking wires that I picked up at Stitches West 2009 for the first time. The store sample scarf is finished, soaked and towel dried. Blocking wires were slowly threaded through and then pinned into place. What do you think? I think it is exciting to see all of those carefully made stitches clearly!
I now can see the advantage to the foam Knit Picks blocks that a customer shared at the knitting table last week. They reminded me of a kindergarten mat activity-but are actually an ingenious product for knitters. So I promptly ordered them for future projects.

Commencement Pictures

Here are two more pictures from Friday's graduation that I wanted to share. The colorful robes and distinguished faces are a delight!

It's Official...

Yesterday was a day of nonstop celebrations for many families. We were awash in a sea of proud parents and relieved graduates at CalTech. Our DD received her PhD after many years of dedicated research and study in developmental biology. The skies were gloomy, but spirits were high!

After the ceremony and luncheon at the Ath, we toured the campus and took some shots of the local flora and fauna.

The evening was filled with food, drink and wonderful company. Over the past few years, M&J have introduced us to many of their favorite haunts. The one they selected for the two families to enjoy last night, the Boiling Crab, was a delightful, most unusual experience. We survived quite nicely...thanks to yards of paper towels, beer and good appetites.

Please notice that we all changed into more appropriate attire for the evening's event..

Today is World Wide Knit in Public Day- somewhere, sometime today you might just see me doing just that. Who knows?

Sock Summit

As many of you already know, I am going to attend Sock Summit this August, in Portland. I have official confirmation of classes and am over the moon (Blue Moon, that is)!!! Not only will I be attending the Opening Night Reception, Luminary Panel and Sock Hop...I will also be in Four ways to Start a Toe-Up Sock, Special Stitches for Special Handpainted Yarns, Judy's Magic Cast-On, Grafted Bind Off for 1x1 Rib and Three Traditional Beginnings:Casting on for Socks. The last class is a switch with a friend for a class she really wants that I grabbed in the frenzy. 

Everyone connected to this event deserves a BIG THANK YOU for stepping out on a limb and having the vision and spunk to make it happen. It is going to be so much fun. Thank you, again!

Concours d'Elegance

Sunday afternoon I was lucky enough to catch part of the Los Angeles Concours d'Elegance. It was held on the Brookside Golf Course, near the Rose Bowl. What a beautiful setting to see the elegant, lovingly restored automobiles! We were in the company of two friends from out of town and they seemed to enjoy the classic cars as much as we did.

I have a few pictures...

Garden Tour III

My Barn Raising Quilt Squares are going to be mailed to Portland this morning. To speed up the drying process, I put them on a cookie cooler on top of a tomato cage in the yard.  Just to the left of this particular plant is our first tomatillo with it's first fruit.

Barn Raising Quilt Project

While waiting to hear (fingers crossed) good news from the hard-working BMFA crew ...hard at work trying to unravel the server crashes and missing classes, I have been making squares for the Barn Raising Quilt charity project. The pattern is easy and the resulting squares can be quite beautiful. After a soak in Eucalan and a spin in the salad spinner they are left to dry on the kitchen counter as normally sunny Southern California is in June gloom at the moment. By the way, that link is supposed to get you a free sample...so it is worth a click!  The squares are going to be assembled at Abundant Yarn and Dyeworks in Portland and the quilts will be auctioned off at Sock Summit to benefit Doctors Without Borders.

Sorry, sorry!

I know it has been a very long time since posting here...however, life has been busier than usual for me. 

 

My DD has defended her thesis successfully - so, as you might imagine, there were a few nervous moments before and many celebrations afterwards. All went well and she is quite happy to have survived the process unscathed. Graduation is in a few weeks and it looks like a wonderful swirl of events pre and post hooding.

I have been teaching quite a bit and have met many interesting, wonderful people at Skein. If you are tying to catch up with me (except for graduation week), I can be found there on Tuesdays, alternate Fridays and Saturdays.

On Sunday, Greg and I went to Brookside Park to check out the AKC Show. You know, I think it might be true what they say about people looking like their dogs!

Then there were a few things that just tickled me....

The other news I have will have to wait. As many of you already know, Sock Summit is coming up in August...I am set to go - airline reservations made, room booked. What classes I will have remains to be seen. Once the dust settles from the registration server crash, the brave souls from BMFA will let me know!  My fingers are crossed that I will have more than one-hour-wonders.