Oy - yesterday was a long day :) We were out by 9:30 AM and didn’t get home until about 8:30 PM. A great deal of that time was spent shopping for Christmas presents and I wore the wrong shoes for walking around in :) My back is still sore. That’ll teach me although I really should have known better.
The yarn sale was wonderful and thanks to an early gift of cash from my dad I was able to indulge in some lovely stuff!
Cashmerino Aran
Myria has been using the Arucania Nature Wool crocheted mitts as the temperatures plummet around here. She likes them, but they’re a little short for her and they’re much more my color than hers. As Cashmerino was 30% off yesterday and as they had the exact, perfect “Myria” color, I scooped up a couple of balls to custom make her her very own pair.
Inca Alpaca and Schaeffer “Anne”
The Inca 100% alpaca was so soft I could hardly believe my fingers. I picked up these two skeins with the idea of making my dad a really nice pair of mittens. I made him some last year out of Woolease and have felt guilty ever since that I didn’t use something better although, of course, he insists they’re just fine. They’re also grey :( I hope to convince him that this deep red is a reasonable “guy” color and I know the alpaca will keep his hands and fingers warmer than the acrylic/wool. I also think the color of the alpaca is incredibly beautiful - but I won’t mention that to dad as he’d probably decide it wouldn’t be appropriate for him!
The Royal blue yarn is Schaeffer “Anne” which was 50% off. It’s a hand painted blend of superwash merino, mohair and nylon. It is intended to make me a luxurious pair of socks. This yarn makes me feel sinfully indulgent but I can’t wait to work it up and see how things turn out. I would never have been able to even consider something this sumptuous if it hadn’t been on sale and feel humbly lucky to have run into it. It will make maybe the only really nice socks I’ll ever own - but at least I’ll have the one pair :)
Classic Elite Isabella
This stuff was in the get-rid-of-it bin - just the two hanks and I had never heard of it before. It’s a bulky, 70% cotton, 30% acrylic blend. The colors are very pretty - one hank is a pastel blend and the other is a teal blend. It has a nice feel and, though I don’t yet know what I’m going to make of it, I’m looking forward to using it.
Spotlight matte cotton
This was also in the get-rid-of-it bin and I was delighted to find it. I have used the Spotlight cotton before and it is lovely, soft stuff. As near as I can tell, it is also pretty colorfast. This will keep me in washcloths and dish towels for quite a while and be fun to work with into the bargain - who could ask for more!
I may have mentioned that the shop is moving after Christmas and I had been worrying that it was going to move, like 50 miles away. It’s not!! In fact, it’s new location will be almost close enough for me to walk to. Way cool! It will be a lot better for them too. Their current location is on the edge of the downtown area and, because of all the one-way you-can’t-get-there-from-here streets, is almost impossible to find. It’s amazing they managed to do any business at all! The woman in the shop also mentioned the possibility of there actually being enough room in the new place to have a table where people could come in for an hour or so with their knitting and sit and knit/chat/whatever and she invited me to come and do that :) We exchanged names (amazing how friendly you can be with someone over time - in a place like this - and never know their name), and wished each other happy holidays.
From there we headed up the coast to our hairdresser in Maine. It’s always a pleasant trip and was especially nice yesterday with bright sunshine and clear skies - though the temperatures never got out of the 20s all day. Myria’s hair is very long - waist length and never needs much more than a trim to the ends and the bangs. My hair is much shorter and I’m trying to grow it out a bit. That means that every time I get my hair cut, Mark (my hairdresser) has to figure out what to do to make it presentable for the next 6-8 weeks while retaining as much length as possible. And he does it - I don’t know how, but he does it. The man is an absolute wizard with the scissors. I go in looking like the wrath of God and come out looking like a decent, respectable middle-aged lady (Ha!). And yesterday, I came out not even looking terribly middle-aged!
After that was lunch and then the shopping battles. The battles were won, thank goodness, but very tiresome and I’m glad they’re over for the most part. We also acquired the extended version of Return of the King which we probably watch this afternoon!
As we were going home, I was thinking about my conversation with Lynn - the woman at the LYS. I’m not a religious person. And, to my shame, I often present a fairly cynical façade to the world. It’s a defensive measure, I suppose. Yet, I seldom feel that way at all. One of the reasons I like this time of year so much is that it gives me an excuse to really wish someone - even someone I only know casually - well. That is how I really feel most of the time. I can’t seem to manage the “have a nice day” thing because that has passed into satire and sarcasm - nobody believes that anyone really means it any more. But now, as we approach winter and the various festivals with which it abounds, it’s all right to sincerely and deeply wish someone well without fearing that they’ll think you’re making fun of them or that you’re nuts :)
Okay, I am nuts but I do sincerely and deeply wish all of you very well indeed.
No trackbacks yet.
I want to say something nice about your gorgeous stash enhancements, but I’m much too green with envy. I WANT that alpaca!
well, good for you- what a wonderful day you had *and* such pretty stash enhancements- did you feel sort of like a kid in a candy store? you can enjoy lots and lots of experimenting with fiber-
i am still waiting for some kind of holiday spirit to invade my thoughts- this is so far one of those years when work has reared its ugly head and insisted that i put my mind on issues that aren’t condusive to making me very ‘ho, ho, ho’ yet, but i’m assuming i’ll eventually get there-
a haircut seems a nice treat too- presently i look like a fugitive from the spca- just add a collar and i would be a small sheep dog- not flattering-
br-r-r, cold (for us) and wet here- sinfully rich hot chocolate and christmas cookies are called for and should go a long way toward instilling a feeling of festivity-
stay happy-
Pam - Funny you should say that; I’m always pea green seeing some of the stuff you use and especially some of the stuff you spin! Believe me, this is just dumb luck :)
Barb - I’m reall sorry to hear that the holiday spirit has been witholding itself from you, hardly seems fair when you work so hard and are so kind to the people around you.
You keep on with that hot chocolate - just what the doctor ordered. Stick a candy cane in it for a stirrer and enjoy. Hopefully things will move towards festive in the near future :)
Hey! I have some leftovers of that exact color of Cashmereno. So if you’re a tad short, let me know and I’ll send it to you. I love that stuff. So far all I’ve made is baby booties and a baby hat with it. But I just found a pattern for myself so I might give it a shot sometime.
Laura - what a very kind offer - thank you :) However, I should be fine. I should be able to get a pair of mitts almost from one ball. I just bought two to be extra sure I had enough!
Merry Christmas, and good wishes to you, too! And I love the lighter blue cotton.
Dee - Thanks! May the holidays find you fine and fiesty as well :)
Wow! do you have space enough for all that gorgeous yarn! If not, I’d be happy to, um, help you out…:) That alpaca is to die for. That is one of my all time favorite yarns. Have a ball being creative with your beautiful yarns!
~DAWN
Dawn - Heheh..yeah, I’ve got room for it - at least I think I do. I haven’t put it away yet because I’m still petting it :)
I made a pair of fingerless gloves for a friend out of Inca Alpaca and oh yeah, that stuff is gorgeously soft. I remember being very confused at the recommended needle size, which seems WAY TOO BIG unless you want to knit mesh…
Last year we were dealing with a death in the bf’s family, so *this* year there actually is some Christmas spirit. He’s eh on the thing, but I’ve always loved the holiday because it helps counteract my natural cynicism.
Have a wonderful, restful, and happy holiday.
Melanie - I’m glad your holidays are a little brighter this year :) I don’t always get into the spirit myself but this year, for some reason, I’m feeling disgustingly cheerful! Blessings and joy to you and yours :)
