Planes, trains and automobiles...

This spring has turned out to be super busy. A good friend of mine, Hilary, invited me a few months ago to attend The National NeedleArts Association trade show in Indianapolis, Indiana. Say that 3 times fast! So last Friday I flew out and joined Hilary for the weekend. I met so many wonderful designers (fiber), and shared some great stories.

I never really tried designing my own stuff, nor do I really know where to start, but after this weekend I'm sure going to try. I'm up for the challenge. Oh and when I came home Rick had surprise waiting for me. Basically, he converted an old door way into a chalk board in my craft room. He has minor details to finish up, and I'll post a photo.

And this week I'm headed to Boston by train for the HOW design conference. I've only spend a day in Boston, so I'm looking forward to a whole week. I'm a history buff, so I'll be in the right place.

Knitting wise, I've got project lined up. I just finished these beautiful mittens by Pepperberry Knits. I'll post when they are finished blocking. I also have a few baby things started. Another baby boom is happening.

Anyway... Here are a few photos from TNNA.

Hilary, @yarniad, working her magic.

Starshower by Hilary

goodies, booze and knitting

State Capital

My creation. I'd wear it.

All the goodies from the weekend.

And you can check out more awesomeness here: http://instagram.com/xilary

Clients can be a challenge.

It's hard being a designer sometimes.
Here's why: http://customdesigntools.com/designer-turns-common-client-quotes-into-hilarious-posters/

My favorite being...

New addition to our family

It's been about 6 weeks now that we brought our newest member of the family home. Her name is Harley, aka Harley bear, Barely, or Harley badger. She is a Rhodesian ridgeback, and full of energy.

We believe she will get up to about 80-90lbs when she is full grown. Big girl.  And I look forward to updating you guys with photos and stories.

Harley Beaaaar

On the knitting and traveling front, I just came back from a wonderful trip to San Francisco, my second home. I visited so many friends and places. I even attended Stitches West with Hilary, Sophy, Erica and Marcus. It was so amazing to see them again. I've missed them way too much.

Right now I'm working on a few projects. This one in particular that I'm excited about. They are called Pepperberry Knits: Karen Double Layer Mittens. I've got one down and started on the second. Just in time for spring.
I am also working on another baby blanket. However, I'm not so sure who its for ... yet.

Below are some photos for my adventures:

Morning coffee with a friend

Jeremy Wines in Lodi, CA

Me drinking and pruning.

Hilary Smith Callis's Starshower. This is my next project.

Felted succulents

The mittens I'm currently working on.

A year already!?!?!

Wow, has it been a year already? I can't believe it. So much has gone on. We moved, and what a move it was; From San Francisco to the beautiful country side of Pennsylvania.
Our journey began September 4, 2012 and lasted 3 weeks on the road in an RV with an elderly cat that had altitude sickness. We found out the hard way at the Grand Canyon. 

The trip was quite wonderful and adventurous. We pretty much zig-zagged our way through the states. We started out 3 days in Yosemite, continued to Bodie (the ghost town), entered into Nevada, almost hit a cow (damn you, free ranges!!), stayed at the Alien Inn, moved our way to the Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and saw the most breathtaking views of our country. Words can't even describe how beautiful it is. We then moved onto Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota to see the true old west, stayed overnight in a few Walmart parking lots, then headed south through Iowa, Missouri, and into Kentucky for some cave dwelling and bourbon. We then moved into our final leg towards West Virginia and Pennsylvania. 

And of course, I had a great knitting project to keep me busy during the long stretches of road. I made the owl sweater!! Totally cute.

 Project info

Name

Owls

PatternKate Davies Designs

Needle and yarn

Needle

US 10 - 6.0 mm
US 10.5 - 6.5mm

YarnBulky

How much?

6 skeins = 700 yards

Color

gray

Photos below are our memories of such a life changing adventure. (These are just a few of the hundreds of images and video of our trip)

Saying good-bye to Twin Peaks

The movers puppy.. Zeus???

Home for the next 3 weeks

On our way... Ashley overlooking I-80.

Walmart stop

Yosemite Valley, Half Dome in the distance

That was an interesting night.

Zion, the most beautiful place in the US

Don't forget...

Mount Rushmore

Me @ Churchill Downs

After settling, we temporarily unpacked in our temp house, and started the house hunt. But that's another story all on its own.

Denver Delay

What a great time to work on my short rows. I don't mind this two hour delay. Although, I hope we make the phillies game on time tonight.

New sewing machine!

I'm so excited right now. It's like Christmas morning. I just expanded my craftiness. My good friend and Philly sister, Sophy, was getting rid of her sewing machine. So I couldn't say no. It's so beautiful.

I'm not the best at sewing or reading patterns, but I'm going to learn the best I can. Tonight I practiced straight stitches and hems. After figuring out that my bobbin was too big, and replacing it with a smaller one, I was off and running on my first project. My mom would be proud.

So far gone!

Wow, It's been way too long since I've posted anything. SO much has happened and is happening. My hubs and I decided that we want to move back east in September so we are full on packing, looking for a house, and traveling cross country in an RV. Not only that, I tore ligaments in my ankle, so I'm in the boot for most of the summer. Which makes packing hard to do. Little by Little it's getting done. 


While I've been rest my foot I've been knitting like crazy! There have been babies galore lately, so my little fingers have been working out! But I've also taken time to make myself a few things. I'll start posting and catching up on them tonight. Well, more posts to come.

I've got the iBoot.