A splash of color

As I work through my pictures from sock camp 2009 (from Blue Moon Fiber Arts) I though I would first post some more of my color study pictures that I took at the Pike Place Market in Seattle.


The market is certainly a "colorful" place.





All the flowers and fruit stands were loaded with color.

I also snapped a picture of the crabs since that was going to be our camp mascot.


At camp all this focus on color paid off when we got to dye our very own yarn!

Here is Tina explaining the dying process to us:



And here is one of mine all wrapped up and ready to steam:


Drying on the rack:



These are my final 3! Love them. (this picture of mine is a little blurry but I figure at least I'll get something posted and try to take a better snapshot later.)


Warning: this process can be highly addictive. I'm now looking around the house for a good place to set up my dying station. :)

Spring green

I'm going to sock camp in just four short days!!! In addition to packing I have to work on my homework.

One of our homework "assignments" is to do a week long color journal where we take note of the colors we see in our lives, in our homes, nature, etc. Being the total slacker that I am I'm just now getting around to starting my color journal. So here's entry number one: the lovely spring green of my allium plant before it shoots up its stalks of purple bulb flowers. Did you know the Allium is actually in the onion family? Strange but true. Who knew an onion could make such a pretty flower?


I don't have a fabulous camera so it doesn't do justice to the bright green of these leaves but you get the idea...

Of course there is the funny story about me and alliums when I was a little girl but I don't think I'll go into that right now.

Sticks N' Stiches

I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the upcoming Sticks N'
Stitches event coming up at the end of the month. It's a fun time to
get together with fellow knitters and crocheters to watch some hockey
and help out a good cause. Check out last year's event here.

Here's the details:

Colorado Avalanche VS Anaheim Ducks
Jan 31st , 1 p.m. @ Pepsi Center
Tickets: $27 includes hot dog , soda, $5 ESPN Zone Game card.
To order: 303-405-6074 or go click on this link to order online.
We are sponsoring a local charity this time - Kaps for Kendall - so
folks can bring a knitted or crocheted hat to the game. Some of the
hat patterns are pretty simple and quick so I'm working on prizes for
the knitters/crocheters who can complete a hat by the end of the game.
I'll also have some raffle drawings during each intermission.


If you're a LYS owner/manager (or an indie dyer, spinner, etc) who
would like to donate anything for the raffle, provide info about your
shop, send some coupons, or supply any other giveaways let me know!

I hope to see you all there!

Mixed messages

In Friday's Denver Post (10/17/2008) on page 2A at the top of the page is a blurb and 2 photos about a fellow in Uniontown, PA who at a 20 pound cheeseburger. It took him 4 1/2 hours to complete this task. Is this a good thing? Something to be proud of? Apparently so since he is shown in the "after" photo smiling and holding up his empty plate. Directly below these photos however, is a story about a study done by Oregon Research Institute researchers that says "Slim people have higher food 'yum'" - essentially saying a study was conducted that suggested some people don't get the dopamine "hit" other get when they eat a tasty treat (like a milkshake) so they could be overeating to compensate (i.e., get a dopamine hit). This seems like a case of mixed messages to me. First, we are told eating a 20 pound cheeseburger is a triumph worthy of printing photos in the paper. Then we see a story about researchers trying to find reasons why people are obese. Ummmmm, maybe it's because we promote this amazing feet of craming 20 pounds of meat in your face? No, I'm sure that's not it.

This reminds me of public service ad I saw on television once that was encouraging kids to leave the house and tell an adult if one of their friends was playing with a real gun. It was highlighting the tragedy that happens all too often when kids find their parent's gun in the house and accidentally shoot a sibling or a friend while playing. Immediately after this public service ad a commercial for a video game that involved shooting the "bad guy" came on and I think the tag line was something like "shoot 'em dead".

Talk about mixed messages.

Not knitting, but...

I just have to share this listing my sister found on Craig's List (or as my dad calls it "Greg's list"). Check out the mermaid table for sale. I have a couple of thoughts about this:
1. If you bought it for your home in Florida, why didn't you sell it there? Why did you bring it all the way to Colorado and then try to sell it?
2. You paid how much?!?!??!?!? And you are asking how much?!?!?!?
3. I keep getting images of having a party and someone gets drunk and starts making out with the table. Party guests will come up to you and say "dude, someone is making out with your table again".
4. When the drunk person passes out under the table and wakes up in the morning to stare into that frightening, bronze mermaid face I can only imagine the horrified screams that will ensue.

I thought I should put the pictures here since the link will eventually not work.

The meaning of time

On Saturday I had to take my car in for a routine oil change. When we bought the car 2 years ago we purchased the lifetime oil change option. This is a good thing since I've noticed the price of the oil change has gone up each time I take it in over the last 2 years. The downside is we have to take it to one place, Burt Automotive. It's not a bad place mind you, in fact, the staff there are quite nice. The problem is they are always very apologetic about any wait time there may be on your car repair. Here's what always happens: I walk in, they say can I help you, and I say I'm here for an oil change. They look all dejected and say "It's going to be about an hour and a half". That's fine, I tell them (because, of course, I've got my knitting with me). They kind of look at me as if they don't quite believe me and then take my information. I feel kind of sorry for them because they must get yelled at a lot over time issues.

While I was there this Saturday (5/31) several people walked in and they got the same speech "it's going to be about an hour and a half" and those people got irritated and left. I'm thinking, hey, an hour and a half where I am forced to just sit here? Okay! Sign me up! Here I am!

When they called my name after a mere 50 minutes I said "I thought you guys said an hour and a half". The poor guy looked like he was going to cry and started stammering something about how the time can vary depending on the work, etc. I interrupted him to say I was only joking! Whew, when I think my job is frustrating I just think about these poor guys dealing with people yelling at them about time. Maybe someone should set up a yarn shop in the store and people can learn how to knit.

Oh yeah, I got half of one sleeve done on this little Berroco sweater. I probably could have got the whole sleeve done if it would have taken a full hour and a half.

Camp memories

A lot of campers have been reminiscing about our super fun camp experience lately. I've listed to podcasts, read blogs, read Ravelry posts, etc. and now I'm feeling a little homesick (or would it be campsick?). I still need to get my pictures edited and posted on Flickr but I did come across the little video (apologies for the poor sound quality) so I uploaded it on YouTube and you can check it out here:

The new (and ever so true lyrics) were written by the super talented Stephen from hizKNITS If you can't hear the audio on my video very well, you can check out the lyrics on his blog.
One of my favorite parts is the bartender who runs by at the end!

And here's a quick shot of the audience (after the song was sung - I can't video AND take pictures with one camera)


How long until next year?!?!?!?!?