One of My Favorite Little Girls in the World

 Grew up and came from Japan to visit me!

The first time we met E., was about 2 years old, an adorable toddler. I saw her as a little girl, but I hadn't seen her in about 13 years.

After the initial shock of her being an adult, we had a wonderful time! Isn't she gorgeous? I love her!

I hope her sister comes to visit someday, too.

'Tis the Season

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Baby Sweater with Ears

 My cousin M. and his wife J. are expecting their first child TODAY! I wanted to make a sweater, and M. requested something with ears. Here it is on my spokesmodel Max the Moose:

Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy in Cascade Cash Vero

Cupcake and Max the Moose

I think Cupcake is laughing at the wonky ears. It's okay, wonky ears will be cute on a baby.

I can't wait to see to see this baby! He'll be adorable, even when he's not wearing his new sweater.

Lucy Neatby Workshop

Sea Lettuce Scarf by Lucy Neatby

Knitted Samples by Lucy Neatby

 Amazing! I never understood Lucy Neatby's knitting before, but after taking her workshop I am just blown away. Her work is fabulous, and truly genius. I took a class to make a Venus Rising cardigan. The construction was so different, and produced a lovely sweater with many, many possibilities for variety and fit. She has a fearless sense of color, and combines them beautifully. The samples she brought to the workshop were so gorgeous, photographs do not do them justice.

Lucy Neatby workshop. She is wearing a Venus Rising Cardigan.

Lucy Neatby workshop. She is wearing a Venus Rising Cardigan.

Construction explained. Got it? Good. Try it!

Explaining some technique via one of her DVDs.

Lucy's Cat's Pajamas yarn, did I mention cashmere?

I first saw Lucy in person at Sock Summit, she was hard to miss with her pink hair! She was so sweet, and patient, and after her ordeal at UK Knit Camp in Scotland, beyond generous.

If you ever have the chance to take a class with Lucy, I cannot recommend it enough. You will learn so much, and even though her videos and books are quite comprehensive, nothing compares with having her right there in front of you.

Thanks Lucy!

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving, and plenty of turkey and pumpkin pie.

I am very fortunate that I have so much to be thankful for, and when things are not going so smoothly I will try to remember them.

In the meantime, am I the only one who is a having a $#%@# time getting photos and text properly aligned in my posts? Yeesh. It's faster now, but .....

Ribs

 Of alpaca are quite nice in the winter. Misti Alpaca Chunky makes a great quick and simple hat.
Perfect for something simple to knit.
The hats are so soft and warm, expect to see a few more around here due to all the requests.

This scarf has been a long time WIP. 

No, it is not finished yet. 

It's nice to knit, Ultra Alpaca, so I can't complain too much.

Even for a scarf.

Buttons for the Snapdragons

Buttons on.

Snapdragon mitts finished!

Ends woven in, everything finished.

 

Snapdragon Flip Top Mitts by Ysolda Teague

 

Berroco Vintage yarn wool/acrylic

 

I had a tough time choosing buttons for these mitts. I wanted a shank type button just because I thought it might be easier to button. Yes, one mitt is longer than the other. I swore I kept count, but if you know how I knit you know that that is not entirely true. I have a bit of a seam where I picked up the flip top, because I pulled a bit too tightly. The pattern was very nice, but the knitter could have been more careful.

The Aftermath

C2, D., and C1(VERY reluctantly) and I tried archery yesterday.

It was fun, and I really enjoyed it, even though I couldn't aim to save my life.

We went to Archery Bow Range Chicago, which was a great place.
The people were very nice and the facility was really cool.
...but OUCH!

Quick Green Mitts

Crystal Palace Kaya, Funky Chunky Mitts by Lindsey Williard
I needed a quick knit for a gift to someone at C#1's school who has been very helpful and supportive. I knit these quickly, since I didn't make a thumb, but then I realized the buttonhole thumb opening needed some reinforcing. So they sat. They're still here. I have to photograph an accompanying pair of mittens that will go to another wonderful person. Those are complete, but in need of photos.

Construction is over for now. I have a bed, new windows, a nicely painted room and now 2 clean and reorganized rooms. Yay! The dust is awful, but both of the C's helped out by dusting. 

Fujima Recital Prep

This is K.-san, she makes everything better, and is a wonderful, wonderful person.

The stage crew. These guys are awesome, and we are thankful for their help every year.

They are building the "house" for the set of one of the dances.

Backstage. Make-up, hair, prep for wigs - it all happens here.

Some of the small props for the dances.

Waiting to be dressed, M. and S., who did an amazing job.

Little Y. and his mom is doing his make-up. She is a professional and has performed at the National Theatre in Japan.

K. She performed a male role and did great.

E., she had her hair done by O.-san rather than have to wear a wig.

Getting the head cover on, it has to go on before the make up, and has to be tight to hold in the hair.

Some more small props.

Just an assortment of photos from the recital. I run around like mad all day putting out fires and getting thing where they belong and helping out wherever necessary. We had a great crew, and the dancers were wonderful, and as usual we were thrilled when it was over.

I have no photos of the dances, because I am busy when they are dancing, and can't distract them from the side of the stage with a flash. I may ask K.-san for some photos because the costumes are really beautiful.

Otsukaresama!

 Fujima on Facebook

Jared Flood!

Came to the Windy City Knitting Guild to do a workshop. He was a wonderful, kind and patient teacher. He made me want to cast on for an in the round sweater using the EPS, - Elizabeth Zimmerman Percentage System - so logical!
He drew things out beautifully, and took the time to really break everything down.

 

M. photgraphing D. wearing the scarf he intends to make in this exact green.

We got to see his new yarn - Shelter. It was just lovely. Did I take photos? Apparently not.

Moving Right Along...at a Snail's Pace

Construction continues...

Plasterer and plasteree.

Windows 2010

Window 1

Bob

Hard at work on a hard to work on house.

Window installation complete!

A bit of dust.

Looks nice!

Bob and Window 2 on the way!

Bob and Tony on the scaffold - look at the lovely plasterwork!

Yes Tony, I'm still taking photos.

How do you make a window fit in that?

Bob working, Tony hamming.

Installation complete!

 Having a bit of difficulty getting things in the right places with the new image downloads, so things are a bit off. I give up right now.