BSJ

I finished the Baby Surprise Jacket from the book "Knitting Workshop". It's a really interesting pattern and I will make another some day but I needed the DVD for help interpreting Elizabeth Zimmermann's brief original instructions. The DVD is great and Meg Swansen (EZ's daughter) explains everything very clearly. I still need to find the right buttons for it. I'm not sure who will be the recipient but I'm thinking that it might fit now-toddler Dawson.

I used my handspun superwash merino and love how bouncy the resulting fabric feels. I was starting to panic about running out of yarn near the end of the project and here's how much was left. Whew!
I might just attempt another one in a larger size using the pattern ABCSJ which has directions for sizing the BSJ for older children and adults.

Jeff Dunham Show

If any of you fellow Canadians were looking for the new Jeff Dunham Show, we found the listing that says it will air on Tuesday night on the Comedy Network. Obviously, the promo (in which Pocus is Achmed) in my other post is for the US schedule.

so cute!

See more funny videos and Cute Animals Videos at Today's Big Thing.

This clearly shows why breeds shouldn't be banned just because some dogs have been poorly bred and raised by stupid people. I've met many lovely, gentle Rotties just like the one in the video.

the spectacle of Blue Man Group

Dan and I had tickets to see Blue Man Group's 'How To Be A Megastar Tour 2.0' last night.

SEN-SO-RY O-VER-LOAD

but fun!

We had great seats and I was able to take reasonably good pictures. The opening act was an artist (sorry, I didn't catch his name) (see edit*) who painted portraits to the rock music that was playing. He was pretty amazing. Each portrait took about 5 minutes to complete from blank canvas to finished portrait.

John Lennon

Michael Jackson

And what's this?
hmmm....
turn it over and....
yes, he painted Einstein up-side down!

And then it was time for Blue Man Group. The show was interactive and clever, with lots of lights and loud music. The band was very good.

This picture shows just how bright it was at times.

The Blue Men were also talented percussionists. If you look hard you can see them drumming at the sides of the stage with the trademark paint bouncing off the surfaces.

They moved into the audience at times. We were right beside the sound and light engineers.

As the show neared the end, they got a guy out of the audience to introduce the band.

And the finish, with all the appropriate effects.
This is a family-friendly show and there were quite a few kids there with their parents. It was nice to see a show that the whole family could attend.

*edit: Dan remembered the artist's name. He is David Garibaldi. Here's a link to a YouTube video of his act.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians! Dan and I are celebrating it very quietly by doing dog nails today, and Dan is playing hockey tonight so our Thanksgiving meal was yesterday. As it was just us eating, I didn't cook a turkey but opted for a ham and scalloped potatoes menu instead. Much easier on the cook (who is still pretty sore from all this hip and muscle pain).

I am thankful for so many things - my husband who is not only the love of my life but also my very best friend; my son who has grown into a strong and wonderful young man; my extended family on both sides; good friends, some of whom have been good friends for decades; a comfortable home in a lovely setting (we're so lucky to live in this wonderful country even though it snows in October!); an abundance of food and enough financial stability to indulge my hobbies; tremendous medical support from so many skilled people including my doctor, massage therapist, physical therapist, and chiropractor; and, last but definitely not least, my beloved dogs.

It's good to have days like these to reflect on our blessings. I have been pretty down lately, what with the physical pain and limitations that seem like they're not going away any time soon. It's easy to get mired into self-pity. Being thankful puts everything back into perspective.

It was also fun to get the news that I was awarded a Runner Up prize in the Schacht spinning contest. Details are on Jane Patrick's blog if you're interested. I am listed as getting a Novice award but that's a mistake. I contacted Jane and it will be corrected to an Expert award. I'm looking forward to receiving a new Schacht Niddy Noddy.

if it's Thanksgiving in Saskatchewan...

If it's Thanksgiving in Saskatchewan, there must be snow. Here are pictures from last year's Thanksgiving weekend. Now here is what it looks like in the back yard today.

Not as much snow as last year but it's cold and windy. Yuck.
Two weeks ago we were having record breaking heat. How quickly things can change.

The shelties love the snow. Robbie rolled in the snow for a while and then noticed that I had my winter boots on and remembered one of his favorite games, Kill the Boot.

Most of the trees are still full of leaves but the Ash trees drop them all at the first sign of cold. Smart trees.

I saw a rabbit in the park this afternoon and it was still brown so I'm hoping that means that winter is not here to stay just yet. The geese aren't taking any chances though. There are hundreds flying overhead, preparing for their fall migration.

I still haven't heard what prize I won in the Schacht contest but I know it wasn't a grand prize as the winners were announced last night. In the meantime I finished these two big skeins of Roberta-spun yarn using Spunky Eclectic Club fibers, "Pansy" Romney and "Rolling Hills" BFL. I have no idea what they will become but I'm enjoying looking at them for now.

yippee again!

Schacht just posted the list of the prize winners in their anniversary contest and I'm on it! I don't know what I won yet. They will be announcing the grand prize winners this evening at their anniversary celebration.

handspun

I finished a few skeins of handspun recently. This skein is Spunky Eclectic "Thin Ice" in a SW merino, nylon, and bamboo blend. It's a 3 ply, 230 yds., 18 wpi, 97 g. I will put it in the sock queue. It's lovely fiber - very soft with a lovely sheen - and nylon to help it wear well. It was spun on the Ladybug.

The following yarns were made with the help of the new Roberta spinner. I really love this machine, especially now that it's painful to sit for any length of time because of the sciatica. I just spin while standing. It's been a sanity saver.

I spun the singles of this BeeMiceElf "Splash" Falkland on the Rose then plied them on the Roberta. It will also become socks one day. It's 3 ply, 275 yds., 95 g, 22 wpi. The Falkland softened up a lot after washing it.

I made this skein of brown Romney to practice spinning on the Roberta when she first arrived. I have no idea what I'll do with it. It's 2 ply, 60 g, 16 wpi, soft for Romney but there was a lot of straw to pick out of it as I spun. I forgot to check the yardage before I washed it.

And this huge bobbin is full of Spunky Eclectic "Pansy" Romney. This Romney top was lovely, very soft for a long wool, and with such pretty colors. It's 11 wpi, 2 ply, and 168.5 yds, in fractal stripes. It was spun and plied on the Roberta and was completed in about 3 hours. The Roberta really speeds up the spinning process but, because it's Irish tension (bobbin lead), it's happiest spinning heavier yarns than I usually spin on my wheels. And that's okay as it was bought mainly for plying. I don't have immediate plans for knitting it.


My sister Darcie recently posted about keeping track and documenting spinning projects. Here's what I started to do with mine.
I bought blank business cards and binder inserts for them. I can jot down all the details about the yarn as well as include a little sample of it on the card. I have my wpi gauge in the binder so it's handy and I don't have to hunt it down. It's been working well so far.

eye candy

Just a quick post to share some lovely fiber that arrived in today's mail.

It's the first Fiber Club shipment from BeeMiceElf, my favorite indie dyer on Etsy.

It's 50% Tussah Silk, 30% superwash Merino, and 20% Sea Cell in the Moon Lantern colorway. Pictures don't do this luxurious fiber justice. It's so soft and the colors glow!