Time flies...

Where has the summer gone? Well, actually it's just starting up here in the North Country where summer never really begins until after the 4th of July. We've been enjoying our first days of high humidity though the temps haven't gotten above mid-80s. In Savannah they are suffering through their 55th consecutive day above 90 with many of them having a heat index of over 100!!! NOT FOR ME! I love our summers up here on beautiful Lake Champlain living on our sailboat in a marina just north of Plattsburgh, NY. Life is good -- very uncomplicated and comfortable especially celebrating the summer days in the gazebo and dipping in the pool when it gets too hot!

I have managed to get a lot done. Knit wise -- I finished a layette for our youngest son and his girlfriend's upcoming baby due early September. I tackled an Elizabeth Zimmermann classic -- the Baby Surprise Jacket. The surprise was on me when I had a terrible time "getting it!". I could have knit 3 of them for the number of times I frogged (rip it rip it) but I finally won and it did turn out rather nice despite being a little larger than I expected. (I was aiming for a newborn size bit it's more like 3-6 month size.). I then made a cute cap and some booties and a soaker to complete the layette. In finished just in time for their shower in Providence, RI over the weekend of the 4th.

I'm also working on a summer top for me in a yummy shade of pale pink. I'm adapting a couple of pattern and adding basket weave to the center front and back. I think I'll split the front off center at the edge of the bw so it can be worn either open or buttoned closed and boat necked. I'm almost finished withnthe back and will start the front above the armholes decreases as I knit the bottom with circular needles.

I've also been doing a little weaving on a cute Bavarian frame loom I bought on eBay for about $20. Perferct for the boat. And I brought my drop spindles and have gotten some spinning done too.

But... My biggest project has been decorating the interior of the boat. I made upholstery for the cushions in Savannah in April and May. I was excited to find they fit quite well when I got up to the boat in early June and could fit them on the foam cushions! Then we needed curtains... I had purchased some striped cloth to compliment the upholstery blue from the outlet store in Coventry, Georgia so I just needed to figure out how to mount them on the boat! I bought rowel rods and had Lowes cut them to size for me to stretch the gathered cloth on. My dear hubby came up with the idea of attaching the rods using plastic zip tags using the screws and holes already in the aluminum window frames. I just finished this morning - all 6 sets of curtains-- and they look pretty good! Now to make throw pillow covers and upholster the complicated captains navigation chair!

So I have been busy... While finding plenty of time to relax and read and of course, go playing with the wind! Life is GOOD!!!

lots to share...

I really have been neglecting my blogging for the past month and so much has happened!

In early May I went to Black Mountain, NC near Asheville for the annual W.A.R.P. conference. Weave a Real Peace is a group who supports indigenous weavers in countries throughout the world. As my first WARP event, this one was special to me because it took place at the Blue Ridge YMCA Assembly in Black Mountain nestled on the hillside overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. My book, Woven: a Bauhaus Memoir ends with my alter ego Anna in one of the tall-backed forest green rocking chairs on the porch overlooking the mountains, having followed Josef and Anni Albers to Black Mountain College which started at this spot So... not only did I have the opportunity to spend a weekend with many intelligent, articulate, inspiring women who have dedicated their lives to help weavers sell their wares through organizations like Mayan Hands, in Guatemala, but I was able to absorb the atmosphere that inspired the Black Mountain College students and faculty. I have dreams of writing another book, a sequel to Woven about my Anna at BMC.

One of the benefits of not being able to sleep, was seeing the sunrise over the mountains!

I completed a couple more woven scarves on the same warp as the ruffled scarf I showed in the last blog entry. AND I designed and knit a sweater for baby boy Justin born to Heidi, a lovely young woman my daughter Kim has known for several years - a fellow UMaine hockey player! I designed it because I misplaced my pattern shortly after casting on stitches. I wanted to knit it on circular needles with few seams, so I knit it from the bottom up front and sides and then added stitches for the sleeves. I found adorable brass-looking buttons that really jazzed it up. Here are some photos...

Baby boy Justin in his sweater.

And my wonderful husband, Doc requested that I knit him a striped cotton sweater. He loved the sailing sweater I knit last year so I based the design of stripes on that sweater. A Swede through and through... he wanted the stripes to be in yellow and blue, the colors of the Swedish flag. I chose a muted yellow and blue and a pattern for a top-down raglan. You can read more about the project on my Ravelry page.

He loves it!

I've also spent a lot of time spinning on my wonderful Kromski, Fantasia. Last night I started a triangular shawl from the yarn I spun from the beautifully dyed roving I got from Beth Dinoff of Whorling Tides. More on that later...

We head North for life on our sailboat on Lake Champlain soon! I'll be sure to pack drop spindles and yarns to spin. And I hope to do some cardboard loom weaving, too! The 3 months we are there will fly by!!!