Snickers Goes for the Gold

Progress thus far for my Ravellenic Games knitting: three swatches finished for the Swatching Coxswain event, and orange mitts under way for the Cable Steeplechase and Mittens Medley.



Meanwhile, Snickers shows excellent form in Stitch Dictionary Takeover:



I haven't seen any actual Olympic events yet. Are you watching the Olympic Games?

A Ceremonial of Cornflowers

What is summer without cornflowers? So simple and lovely ...







What's your favorite summer flower or flowers?

Wholehearted

The heat has backed off a little, so I finally felt like blocking my Wholehearted Shawl.


Pattern: Wholehearted, by Erika Flory
Yarns: Quince and Co. Finch in the Kumlien's Gull colorway and String Theory Caper Sock in the Sandy River colorway
Needle: US 4/3.5mm Hiya Hiya


Blocked dimensions: 58 inches wide by 21 inches high at center spine
Dimensions before blocking: 44 inches wide by 15.5 inches at center



This is a pleasant pattern to knit—not difficult to work and easy to memorize, making it a really good travel or knit-night project. As shawls go, I'd say it's medium in size—not as small as a neck scarf but not huge, either. You could wear it either as a shawl or a scarf.



I like how it plays solid-color fingering weight yarn against variegated. The stitch patterns add just enough interest without competing with the yarns.



I didn't make any modifications except to knit a few rows less of garter stitch before the picot bind off (I was running out of the solid-color yarn).

The colors are very "me," and I'd love to keep it. But this one is going to charity—I'm going to donate it to the annual fundraiser for the arts center where my sister Jenny teaches.

Wherever you are, I hope you're finding some beauty in your weekend.  I spent Friday at Kripalu, and I'm still daydreaming about the field of poppies there. So beautiful!

Cozy Fierce and Dirty Orange

The challenge: Design and knit a pair of fingerless mitts during the Summer Olympics for the Ravellenic Games 2012. This project will compete in the Mitten Medley and Cable Steeplechase.

The yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight, in the Cozy Fierce and Dirty Orange colorway.

I'll also be competing in the Swatching Coxswain by knitting up lots and lots of swatches of stitch patterns that might be used in future Blue Peninsula designs.

Mass Cast On coincides with the start of the Opening Ceremonies, this Friday, July 27. Team Blue Peninsula is small but mighty. Join us if you like—you do not have to knit one of my designs to be on our team. We welcome one and all!

Day 27, Upside Down

One more day to go on 28 Days. There are 7 rows of 4 circles each, one circle embroidered per day; a sequence of 7 colors of thread, repeated 4 times; a sequence of 9 different stitches, repeated 3 times, with the last stitch being the same as the first.

With temps in the 90s lately, not a lot of knitting is going on other than a pair of socks that seem to never end and a new cardigan design. I've bound off my Wholehearted Shawl but haven't blocked it. In this heat and humidity, I just haven't felt motivated to handle wet wool!

Art Behind the Barn

Art Behind the Barn is just that—art that's behind a barn.

Come to the Brookfield Farm tomorrow from 8 am to 1 pm (Saturday, July 14) for one of the sweetest summer art fairs in the Pioneer Valley. Whether it's sunny or rainy, you'll be comfortable, because the fair is set up in a sheltered lean-to behind the barn.

The Brookfield Farm is at 24 Hulst Road, just off Bay Road in South Amherst. Because of the roundabout construction at Bay Road and Route 116, the easiest way to get to the farm right now is to take South East Street to Bay Road, then turn left (east) and drive a few blocks to Hulst. There's a sign for the farm at Hulst.



Today I'm busy sewing up some journal covers for Art Behind the Barn. They fit standard Moleskin journals—I've got blank, lined, and graph paper journals for you to choose from. I'll also have lots of embroidered lavender sachets and potholders, too.







Little scraps, as well as old pants and skirts, come in handy for these covers ...





There's always lovely stuff on offer at Art behind the Barn—jewelry, note cards, hand knits, photography—all made by shareholders. And for cooling off, there's the farm's famous all-natural juice popsicles—so refreshing on a hot day.

Come on out and see one of the Pioneer Valley's friendliest and prettiest CSAs. Hope to see you there!

July Joys

Fruits of yesterday's Day of Joy ...

Saw lots of Queen Anne's lace ...


Took in a big view ....


Sketched clouds and the big view (click for a larger image) ...




Discovered a wreath in a tree ...


And some busy bugs ...


Embroidered a circle ...


Picked blueberries and flowers ...


And started a new "Lost & Found" book of drawings ...




Happy Monday! I hope you have a great week.

Day of Joy

Every now and then I decide to have what I call a "Day of Joy." On a Day of Joy, I set aside mundane tasks and focus on things that bring me joy.

There are only two rules for a Day of Joy: 1) set an intention to make joy the focus of your day, and 2) do things that bring you joy.

A Day of Joy does not have to be complicated or involve anything wildly out of the ordinary. It might not even involve leaving the house. Hanging out in your jammies watching movies, playing Scrabble, and eating ice cream could be a fabulous Day of Joy.

So far, my Day of Joy has included going for a walk and enjoying nature . . .



Other possibilities ahead are sketching, picking blueberries, writing letters, knitting, and working on my 28 Days embroidery piece. Here it is as of yesterday, which was Day 18:



Want to join me in having a Day of Joy? Where will you go, what will you do?



If you have a Day of Joy today, leave a comment about how it went!