Random Monday

Hi Everyone! I've been diligently working on something since I returned from Ohio that I wont be able to post about for another couple of days and believe me...I'm anxious to share it with you all! So until then, I have some other random things I can share. 

New yarn! Who doesn't absolutely love getting squishy mail?! I have been enjoying all the wonderful indie dyers out there and am getting some good stuff. One of my favorites, of course, is from Adella Colvin. Mom picked up a couple skeins of her 'Steampunk' (I already have that but on a different base) and I picked up a couple skeins of 'Forgiveness'. Adella did a series of yarn after the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Heavenly Virtues. Forgiveness is from the latter series. Its so beautiful. Like, barely color but whats there is like a hint of lavender. I don't know, its just beautiful...

And oh, that twist! Here's Mom's Steampunk....

Such beautiful twist on her merino blend! If you haven't checked out her shop, you must. You can find her on Etsy here. Audrey Grace knows the importance of new yarn. She'll always jump up and check it out, hang out by it as if to be watching over it. Too cute...

A new shop that I purchased from is Lambstrings. I'd had my eye on these particular two skeins of deliciousness for a long time. I figured I'd wait it out and if I went back and there were still there I'd grab 'em up. Fate.

Talk about twist!!! This picture doesn't really do the color much justice. It's called Wildfire and the colors are so vibrant and rich. Audrey had to watch over these when they arrived too...

I cannot wait to put those to use. If you are not familiar with Lambstrings, I really recommend that you go and check her out too. She can be found here. The world of indie dyers is booming so much. There are so many really talented dyers out there. In the coming year I think I would like to look to a few indie dyers for collaborations. I've done collaborations with bigger companies, I'd love to give some love to the indie dyers as I myself am but an indie designer. 

I have been working on the Be Simple Shawl for some time now, with my Freia Hand painted Yarn I ordered from them at a discount in the colorway Dusk. I love watching the colors change. It started as a deep purple, got lighter and lighter until it was grey. Then the grey turned into tan and next will be the yellows and rust colors. It will be such a fun piece to wear when its done...

 

When I returned from Ohio, my friend Kim left for a Viking River Cruise through Germany, France, and Holland. I know. I was too. Jealousy aside, I watched her cat for her while she was gone. (I cant remember if I wrote about this yet so I apologize if its a dupe). Marley is such a wonderful and beautiful Burmese cat with such blue eyes. Spending time with her was beyond easy. We bonded while Kim was away and had a routine down. This is Marley...

When Kim came home, she brought me goodies from overseas! 

In the back on the left is a bag of fresh pasta from Germany and in front of that, the antipasto that goes with it. Yum! In the canister are caramel filled waffle cookies from Amsterdam. The Wilhelmina mints are also from Holland. The other bag of mints are from France and are among Kim's favorites so I knew in advance I was getting some of these. Wasn't that sweet of her?! I know its rather random but I wanted to share it with you all. 

Also random, I always seem to take a picture of the first time we turn the fireplace on when it gets cold enough to do so...

There's always something peaceful about having the fireplace lit. Its cozy and makes me think of whats around the corner..the Holidays. Family, friends, and good times. That, and its just so pretty to look at. 

Halloween was just a couple days ago. We are still cleaning up whats left of the chocolate here. We feel obligated not to leave a mess, you know. Wink wink. And whats right around the corner from Halloween?! (For us anyway) CAMP STITCHES!!! Which is again being held here in Albuquerque! Here's a pic of Mom and I on Halloween with our fascinators on....mine of bats and Moms is of spiders...

We has a blast at Camp STITCHES last year....you can read about it here. This year we are taking classes from Franklin Habit and I am so excited I could pee. This may be my only shot in a lifetime of ever getting to meet this man so we are going to have a good time. We are both taking his color class. I am going to be completely lost, just like last year...LOL....because I don't knit with multiple colors at a time. No Fair Isle, no stranded knitting for Claudia. The only multiple color item I have ever knitted in my lifetime of knitting is this shawl which I made for Aunt Betty a couple of years ago....

I liked it, she loved it and that's all that mattered. I haven't gone beyond this in the color department. So it will be interesting to see how the class will go!!! I'm really excited to have another 5 days out at the Tamaya Resort. Pretty swanky place that is. The one downside about last year is where our room was placed. It was hell and gone 2 buildings over into the last part of the resort. Neither Moms knees nor mine can make that haul this year. No Way. So to remedy this situation we went to the resort last week and requested a closer and handicap accessible room. We are right up the elevator and down half a hallway. This is MUCH better than last year. The banquet rooms are already at the other end of the resort so there is a lot of walking involved. We just have to start sooner and walk slower. Seems like this year there are about double the number of people coming than last year. Last year was the first in five years they had held the event. And with it going over so well, I'm not the least bit surprised at the head count this year. On our way out to the resort last weekend, which is on the reservation, you get really awesome unobstructed views of the Sandias. 

The cottonwoods are starting to change color now too. You can really tell when you see the bosque. I went up to the room with the lady to make sure everything was okay and snapped this pic from our room...

See all those cottonwoods?! Beautiful. Cant wait to see what Camp STITCHES has in store for us this year!

I started a new design this evening...its my second collaboration with Crave Yarn and Amor Valdez. The yarn is a single ply merino in this gorgeous deep tonal teal colorway called 'Voice The Vision.' 

It looks more blue in the photo but that's because I'm taking the picture at night, underneath a lamp. I will try for more teal during the daylight. But trust me.....its teal and its absolutely incredible!

That's it for Random Monday. I hope you all are enjoying yourselves and knitting lots! We all know whats right around the corner! So, until next time...Knit On!