Be back soon...

Weddings are hard to plan. Understatement of the year. Needless to say, my mom and I are planning my wedding from scratch with the help of my MOH and future mother in law. I have been so consumed with planning,researching, planning, etc. that I have found little time and energy to begin a new project. Not only that, but the rushed--almost frantic--knit for Jess and Ty for their shower (a slouchy alpaca beanie and fetching fingerless mits in five days-which came out perfectly and much loved)has made me desire a short knit break. Not for long though. I have two skeins of lush cashmere Tahki Stacy Charles waiting to be knit into my mom's lace shawl for Ty and Jess' wedding mid April. I'll be starting this this week. Wish me luck. This is my first attempt at knitting with such a fine yarn.   BTW: here are some pictures of Jess's berry red fetching mitts:

For those of us who find that it truly IS an obsession...enjoy!

a diamond in the rough

On a recent, post-op trip to the Hoover Dam (Doc says I should get out and be active...) my mom and I came across one hell of a yarn shop.  Nestled cozily in the heart of Boulder City, Nevada's antique "district" lies a craft store---the name escapes me at the moment.  The store was boxy and resides in an antiquated retail complex perhaps 40-50 years old.  Yes-allow those images of the quaint little yarn store you frequent each Saturday to slip away.  This was not your average knit shop.  Let me explain:

As you open the glass door between two protruding glass display windows, bells jingle and the overwhelming aroma of age and must is nearly unsettling.  The store is disheveled and unkempt.  Craft supplies pour from the walls and shelves, peeking out from around nooks and crannies created by leaning craft books and boxes of fabrics and linings.  Nothing seems truly organized, but the pleasant old woman sitting on a small wicker bench near the back greets you with a welcoming smile, letting you know that she is open for business.  She is knitting--socks from the looks of it---and is completely surrounded by yarn, magazines, books, knitting needles, boxes of buttons, and any other indiscriminate objects you may find in a craft store.  It is amazing.  But the best part lay just beyond the lady and her wicker perch.  In a backroom, which appeared to be off limits, but fortunately was not, were stored boxes and boxes, shelves, and shelves of yarn.  Nothing was organized, but everything was accessible.  She told us to snoop through whatever we like.  Take our time and have fun.  We did indeed.  Beautiful, vibrant skeins of yarn were everywhere-bulging from boxes and hanging over shelves.  I would have never guessed that such a place would hide such treasures.  Needless to say, I made some purchases.  Lesson learned here:  Never judge an old craft store by its initial impression...they may just surprise you.