Someone Call Ripley's...

I finished them!!!  These were for a Christmas gift two years ago...cast on just about the time I blew my hand out.  It's been a struggle for sure, a row or two here and there, but they are done.  A red letter day indeed :)

M.I.A.

Missing In Action - quilt action, that is! The past few weeks have been hectic and the next few promise to be the same. Fall is such a busy time with pattern orders, magazine deadlines, quilt market, workshops, and the Fibre Arts Festival all vying for attention. Today I am designing three new blocks, a spring quilt, and trying to work up a poster for the display at Dayle's in October. The Wonderfil thread order is slated to arrive tomorrow, so I have today to finish up these chores before resuming quilting on the silk NY Beauty. The chaos in my head is reflected in my knitting, which is also all over the place. The second leg of the carnation coloured sock is ready to turn the heel...

...and the gorgeous blue/green made it this far. Too far, actually; I got carried away on the foot which would fit a Sasquatch by the time the toe is formed, so I will need to ravel a bit (at which I am not very good.) This will require quiet and concentration on my part, neither of which are in abundance here lately.

My answer to these two hold-ups was to start another sock. Normally, I'm not a big fan of Jacquard yarns, but this Lavender colourway from Kroy was irresistible. I keep imagining the smell of lavender as I knit. It's v-e-r-y soothing...

Discovering Cricket Cove

Today was a trip to the Country Fields bee store outside of Moncton, New Brunswick to pick up some much needed frames and foundations for the very busy bees. As I knew we were heading to the city, I made a list of things which could not be purchased in Amherst. Hubby and I are big on buying locally when possible and make every effort to find what we need on this side of the border before we head out. As you may have guessed however, there are not an abundance of beekeeping stores around and we really enjoy our trips to Country Fields. After that, we headed to Mountain Road to check out a yarn shop I had scoped out online. Cricket Cove turned out to be a wonderfully well-stocked store with oodles of high-end gorgeous yarns of all types and descriptions. I'd hate to say how long I spent in this shop but I will certainly return. It was lovely, to say the least. I've been on the lookout for some new sock yarn. Slowly, the wool I picked up on the Island last summer is getting used up...slowly, as the thick yarn is not easy to knit and tires my hands. I love the colour, but the knitting has been a struggle. After a couple of months, I am only this far on the first sock: It was exciting to see all the sock yarns at Cricket Cove; they had a dedicated section devoted just to socks -everything from alpaca, cashmere, and merino wools to hand dyed and painted silk and wool blends. It was a struggle, but I managed to limit myself to yarn for 2 pairs. The first is a practical superwash wool infused with Aloe Vera called On Your Toes by Kertzer. I chose a pretty rose shade:

I couldn't resist this skein, aptly entitled "Yummy" by Fibranatura, a super soft Merino wool. My favourite shades of blue and green with a little mauve mixed in will be a pleasure to knit. Admittedly, this yarn was a bit of an indulgence for a practical girl like me but...won't they be gorgeous?

We also made a stop at Chapters in Dieppe to pick up a copy of the summer issue of A Needle Pulling Thread:

Inside this magazine is a review and excerpt from Canadian Heritage Quilting.

Then it was off to check on the bees who were happily at work in the sunshine. A good day for all.

What Do You Want To Do Today?

That's what I ask the Bernina every morning when I walk into my sewing room. And the answer is always the same: EVERYTHING. I marvel at how it can go from quilting this thick, triple-batted trapunto... (those are clouds, by the way)
...to satin stitching fine silk.

In between deciding on projects, I work on string blocks. Here's a completed pink top, as well as the start on a blue one. With the addition of a little appliqué, these will make cute baby quilts.

The annual White Sale began at Dayle's Department Store this morning and I was there when the doors opened at 9 am. Even though this Benartex batik was not part of their sale, I have been thinking about it since I saw it on Tuesday and knew it would be a perfect addition to my Farrago. Yesterday I fussed about someone buying it all before I got there, but felt a little reassurance that there would be few shoppers out during yesterday's snow storm! Here it is in all of its wrinkled gorgeousness out of the washer and ready for the dryer. It came as no surprise to meet most of the quilters from Cumberland County, N.S. also in the Dry Goods Department at Dayle's this morning. There are some terrific bargains to be had.

Progress on my socks has been as phenomenal as the Olympics which I watch on T.V. as I knit. Last night during the women's hockey (which Canada won 13-1 over Sweden...) I turned the heel on the second muslin one and even managed a few rows past the foot gusset. I don't think I've ever knit a pair of socks this quickly before. Although far from a world record, it's a new personal best :)

(For those wondering why I haven't taken off the first toe yet, it's so I can more easily get the socks the same length. These are for a gift so it won't do to have one an inch longer than the other ...like most in my immediate family are used to *-) One more picture to share today comes from Bernice of Sackville, N.B. This is the same Bernice who made the Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend workshop project in gorgeous batiks (2 posts down). Bernice keeps very busy with her quilting projects and has added miniatures to her repertoire. Great work, Bernice!

I am heading back to see what adventure the Bernina wants to embark upon today. I think it's yearning to quilt some free motion feathers...

MacAuslands Woolen Mills

We are just back from Prince Edward Island, where we re-visited MacAusland's Woolen Mills. The mill is located in Bloomfield, which is a very short drive from Summerside. Many of us in the Maritimes grew up with a MacAusland woolen blanket on our bed - a tradition which continues in our household. In fact, we received one for a wedding gift 25 years ago. When the boys were born, we purchased MacAusland "lap sized" blankets, which saw use first on their cribs and are now pressed into service as throws on the couch.
I love going to this mill, and they happily welcome visitors. The smell of the old wooden building is of particular appeal. The raw wool is heaped in a big pile just inside the door and looks as soft as feathers. I wonder how many people over the years have jumped into this pile? I know I wanted to!
The raw wool is carded and spun on big machines.

It's a treat to pick up these wooden spindles and feel the lanolin from the wool on your hands.

Some of the wool heads off to be made into extremely soft and warm blankets:

...and some is spun into yarn.

The yarn is dyed into the most glorious colours. I didn't count all the different shades available on the colour card, but there are quite a few. I chose some 2 ply sock yarn, in a purple heather shade. These socks will be for me, and I look forward to knitting them over the winter months.

From Bloomfield, it was a very short jaunt into O'Leary where we visited the Quilt Gallery of P.E.I. Adrienne's huge and gorgeously displayed shop is such a treat, as anyone who has visited surely knows; you can find just about everything there. I purchased some Christmas fabrics, and also a refill for my chaco-liner. While there I signed copies of Canadian Heritage Quilting, so if you are in the area you will be able to find signed copies in this shop.

In Like a Lion...

Over the next 2 or 3 days our weather promises snow, freezing rain, ice pellets, rain...then more snow. Optimists see weather such as this as a great opportunity for handwork.
I have been working away at getting the Log Canada quilt ready to send to Houston. The label was sewn on yesterday - computer generated with the information printed neatly on treated fabric.
The hanging sleeve also had to get switched out as mine was 1/4" narrower than the show specifications.

Last night I finished up a pair of socks (for me) which have been on the go since Christmas. Admittedly, I am neither a fast nor a particularly good knitter but I certainly do enjoy both making and wearing fine wool socks. This colour I've had on hand for a couple of years; it's called "Retro Red". No doubt you can tell that my favourite colour combination is red and white. The socks are photographed on a basket whose lid was featured in a column on Seminole patchwork several years back in Quick & Easy Quilting. It makes a great knitting basket.

Quilters have hobbies too!

Quilting has never been a hobby for me - always a business. Knitting socks fits the bill of hobby quite nicely, and I love the portability of having a small project with me to work on. It's amazing what can be produced while waiting for kids in Dr.'s or dentist offices, or waiting in the stands for Peter's hockey team to come onto the ice. These recently completed socks are for my 14 year old son whose feet have grown exponentially in the past year. It is no small feat to knit socks for these no small feet! The blue sock on top of the flax is one I made for myself. One sock for this kid is an entire ball of 4-ply Kroy yarn. I often wonder if Zdeno Charo's Mom knitted socks for him!