Show and Tell

So many lovelies that I just could not get all of the pictures that I wanted to.  You just come home from Camp thinking you will never knit everything you added to your list!

The Contest

 This years theme "Secret Garden".  Here are some of the entries.

You just would not believe some of the knitting!

The Sweaters

Not mine, but Meg's and EZ's.  You just cannot believe them until see you them in person.  All that history!

The Room

I really wish I was a super good photographer.  In my mind, there is so much potential for some candid shops of a bunch of knitters knitting.  But, since I am not these we will just make do with what there is.

All day long there is knitting quietly going along.  I made so much progress on my knitting this weekend, I can hardly believe it.  At the front of the room and at the sides are t.v.s that shows what is going on at the front desk by either Meg or one of the mini-workshop knitters.

Me, I sit at the back right there where the teal water bottle is next to Sandi.  We more than first timers, kind of have a ritual as to where we sit.  I like to be along side the table at the very back so I can come and go without a lot of fan fare.

On Thursday night, we are all pretty much looking at what is in new in the shop.  During camp as Meg mentions something new, it is unusual for someone to jump up and get it in the shop to add to their brown book page.

All the colors of Shetland sit on another table for seeing up close and personal AND picking out colors for our next projects.

My fave wall in the store - the Unspun Icelandic wall, I love it when there are new colors on the wall!

This is the front of the room where Meg sits with the camera.  Amy will sit there as well when she presides over Show and Tell.  The books are new or interesting books that Meg talks about on the first day.  There is always something there I just have to have.

At night, we gather back in the classroom in varying spaces to knit, spin and generally get to know each other.  Yes, sometimes there is drinking and chocolate but always with caution.  And the nice thing, no one is driving.

What Came Home With Me

Lets just start with what came home with me from camp.

From Jennie the Potter on market day.  Two bowls to put knitting markers and little things in.  In front, is a whiskey cup, for my scissors and other knitting gadgets next to my chair.

And I can never resist another mug.  This one is smaller than what I normally buy, but will be perfect for my tea.  (My others are reserved for COFFEE)

Also, from market day, another skein of Sea Pearl from Chris at Briar Rose.  I love this stuff and well you all know how I love her yarns.  This was originally slated for Les Abeilles, but after seeing some of the shawls that Susan wears I may just rethink that.

From the Camp Shop, I could not resist bringing home a skein of all of the bright colors.  For now, I am going to put them on the stairs and look at them.  They may go into a new Elektra Jacket, but then they may make their way into something else.

On the top left is the camp bag we get every year to carry all of our things in.  The Arched Shaped Stockings pattern was something we discussed during camp.  The sock itself is two colors, but a camper uses the shaping when doing her regular socks and I though it might be fun to try the technique out.

The new Colours of Shetland book made it's way into my bag.  Denise from http://lostcityknits.com had a fabulous vest out of it, Scatness Tunic.  There is a mitten and sweater in it that I am particularly looking at mainly because I love the colors it is done out, Ursula.  I am thinking future project later this Summer for it.

The new tam book finally made its way into my bag as well.  I thought long and hard about this one.  Several campers, Linda P and Denise really like wearing tams.  One of the things that caught my eye was a tam that was framed in a large embroidery hoop and I thought that might be a really neat way of display it in my room.

Then, finally on the far right is a book for pure reading historical enjoyment - The Old Hand-Knitters of the Dales.

 On Sunday, we hold a raffle to benefit the scholarship fund.  The minute Denise said that she was donating to the raffle I knew that is where the bulk of my tickets were going.  And guess what I was a winner!!!  I am going to love knitting with these.

Not to diminish the rest of the items that were I also won in this same basket.  A new book and Zephyr.  The Zephyr was donated by Maggie B (who says she will be having some of her lovely shawls patterns for sale, I have been waiting for at least two years for those to come about).  I have never worked with Zephyr but have always wanted to, so this is going to give me the perfect chance to do that!

I did not go as overboard as I usually do, but am so happy with all of what came home with me.  Today, as I am on my last day of vacation (boo hiss), I am happy to look and fondle and dream of what some of these are going to be.

We're Home!!!!

I have sooooo much to post about Knit Camp.  I'll sparse it out over the next few days.  Just know we had so much fun, Linda and I and all our knit camp friends.  It is good to be home, there are so many things I want to do now.  Stay tuned.

Gone Knitting, I Mean To Knit Camp

Packing For Camp and Wednesday Website

Is a hard thing.  It is about four days long, but I want to pack everything I'm working on, thought about working on or yarn for what everyone else is working on.

But, I have narrowed it down to a few things which surprisingly enough are all part of my Summer of Shawls. Well, almost.  But, they are not important of the sake of this blog post.

The Birds Nest Shawl is going with just because I feel like I have been neglecting it while I knitted on a very important piece.

Also making the trip is something I've been toying with for about three years.  I've blogged about it in the past and finally cast on it last weekend AGAIN.  (It went to camp last year too)  It has had some false starts since then while I worked out what needle I wanted to cast on, but I think I've got it going now.

I want a shawl that can double as a blankie from Cheryl's Just Beautiful Alpaca.  I have been back and forth as to what kind of edge I wanted to do and just what pattern to use.  I, first had though Stonington, but since I have one of those on the needles out of Shetland Jumperweight, I didn't want to be knitting on two.

With the yarn being black, I didn't want to have to look at it too much while knitting, I just wanted to knit blindly whenever possible.   I have been kind of obsessed with Sharon Miller's Hap Shawls and thought maybe one from her book might be what I wanted.

Then I happened onto just the thing over on http://loritimesfive.blogspot.com  Lori knitted a Hansel out of black as well.  And then, well you know the rest is history. I am hoping to be able to knit a bit on my Hansel during camp which should be fairly easy to do while taking it all in.

I am hoping to blog while at camp if I get a chance, but if not, I'll give you the low down the first of next week!

Summer of Shawls Progress Update

Since we are well into Summer, I thought it might be time to block some shawls that have just been sitting there waiting to be blocked.  And since Knit Camp is only two more sleeps away, I thought I had better get at it.  Both of these shawls have been long since done in the Winter and Spring, but just have been waiting for a big un-interrupted surface to do it in.  Which I now have.  

First up is Double Refraction by Cheryl Oberle.  I knitted it out of Madtosh.  It was a interesting knit and I loved the way it challenged my brain.  

It is not a long shawl but rather around 20 inches when blocked.  I just happens to have the perfect shirt to wear under it.  How did that happen?

 The second shawl on the blocking was another Cheryl Oberle design, Downover.  Knitted out of her Just Beautiful Alpaca (love this yarn) in Silver and Black.  This shawl is super cozy and to as you can see has some great knitting construction in it as well.  That Cheryl, she always keeps me trying new things.

The challenge for me on this one again is the elongated tails.  I've been just wearing it unblocked this Winter for fun, but for the upcoming season it is time to figure out just how to advantage of wearing these on a short body.

With Knit Camp just two days away, it is always a dash for finishing things up to take with.   My secret project I have to tell you is looking good this morning as it finishes drying.  Right now the final shawl for blocking is on the table.  It is LaLa's Simple Shawl from Noro Taiyo Sock Yarn.  It was originally slated for a friend's 50th birthday party in March, she love it even more now (if I give it to her). Grin.

It feels so good to have some things blocked.  Now, I can really say they are finished!

Happy Birthday Linda!

My knit camp roomie!

Happy 2nd Birthday M!

Grandma and Grandpa love you very much, even if you preferred Unc Roger to almost everyone else!  Thank you for all the joy and fun you have brought us so far.

And yes, dear readers that is a Cardinal hat!

Happy 4th of July!

I'm Just Giddy

I am on vacation until July 16th.  First Iowa for Mona Lisa's bday and then Wisconsin for knit camp.

Life is good!

Making It Our Own

Every night when I lay in bed, I think about how fortunate we are to have found this house.  It is everything I have always wanted.  Little by little we are making it our own.  I just love sitting in the early mornings on our front porch, drinking coffee and knitting.

I am not a very good gardener, and this year I probably won't do more than trim back what we have.  But, I certainly am looking forward to next year when I can actually tend to the bushes, flowers and trees in yard.

 The previous owner/estate really thought about how they interspersed the flowers with the bushes.

I just love our new space.  If you look close, you can see my Snoopy on his house as you come up.  He loves his new space too!