Groupies

My friend Vicky and I traveled south to Brunswick Maine, to catch the lovely Ysolda Teauge
at the fantastic Purl Diva. I'd never been to the shop before, I can't really believe it myself. And though Vicky and I had a near-death experience turning left against Memorial Day traffic, I'd do it again!

Purl Diva is a dream of a yarn shop housed in a white Victorian with a wide porch, and ample comfortable seating inside.

Gracious and cheerful shop owner Ellen, the Purl Diva, put out a great spread of Scottish treats for Ysolda and her ever expanding group of admirers. There was shortbread, crustless cucumber finger sandwiches, scones and of course tea. Patient Ysolda, answered our many often repetative questions and told tales from her American Adventure.

The Yarn! The books! The needles! Vicky and I were happy to see our once imaginary and now flesh and blood friend Melissa aka loose ends. We munched goodies and got a tour of the shop which includes her yarns and roving.

Vicky succumbed to yarn, and I to Ysolda's cute self-published book.

Thanks Ellen and Ysolda! A fun event in such a great store. Purl Diva is homey, fresh with a welcoming winning, attitude, a reason to take slow Route One south from now on.

Can't Get Enough

See more here.

The Ladies Afternoon Club

You've probably seen this, but I just can't get enough of the work of the Mersham Afternoon Club...I keep going back for another look .

Louise Bourgeois

At the Hirshhorn, knee height, tapestry and metal, with intriguing shadows. Evil, wistful, dear.

Straw Curves and Spirals

Inspiration Everywhere and Anywhere.
A boat prow by Lake Titicaca Boatbuilders in Peru, and our tabletop at the Ethiopian Restaurant on 9th Street.

I found a Chullo on the boatbuilder.

Fun With Friends

The same only different.

I spent two fun days with my friends, Madryn aged 7 and Taran aged 10. On Monday the boys and I visited The National Museum of the American Indian, where we saw the birch bark canoe.

The following day we ventured into Maryland for a look around Glen Echo, a former Chautauqua and later an Amusement Park... now a place for art workshops, dances and children's theatre.

Weekend of Awesome

OK! The Summit of Awesome kicked ass! I know usually write with a little more decorum, but geeze-um, it was just such a great experience. Everyone was open and friendly and all about sharing information. I attended two lectures and a needle-felting workshop (follow this link and you can see me to the right of Charmaine who's wearing a yellow sweater). We got Swag! Sweet Summit of Awesome silk-screened cotton bags loaded with goodies, great inspiration for advertising, product ideas, and the spreading of good cheer.



The Maryland Sheep and Wool festival was a little overwhelming, like a county fair only all about sheep and no rides. I was looking forward to the Ravelry meet-up , which was packed, teeming with ravelers awaiting the Bob-Crew-Rock-Stars! Talented beautiful Ysolda Teague was also in attendance. A quick "hi" was all I could muster, before I had to flee...the excitement was killing me...crazy, but I get shy and flustered...living in the woods for so long, I don't do well in mob-scenes!
My afternoon class with Sally Melville was great. I swear this woman could teach a class in Tying Your Shoes and you would come out with a new appreciation of the process and some new clever tying trick you never thought of. The trick I learned was knitting backwards. I know I could have figured it out on my own, but with lightning quick direction from Sally, I was on my way!

Much more to tell...it will be drifting out in future posts...only a week left in DC...and so much still left to do!

Current Events

All work and no play makes MJ a very dull girl. To remedy that, I've got an action packed weekend ahead of me. Friday I' attending TheSummit of Awesome, arranged by the bright and brilliant women of Hello Craft, right here in DC:

"The Summit of Awesome is 3-days filled with business seminars for artists and crafters, hands-on workshops, the D.C. premiere of the Indie Craft Documentary, Handmade Nation, and a Saturday night party....all Summit seminars and workshops will take place in the wondrous and vibrant independent businesses in MidCity (14th and U Streets NW)....home of DC’s coolest indie shops"

At first only 3 day Passes were offered, which conflicted with my other event, so I got tickets for the DC opening of the film Handmade Nation.


That other event?

The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

This is the event I've planned for since I arrived here, sending in my registration for classes soon after I arrived, snail mail, the only way its done...I've been anxiously awaiting my tickets for classes by Nancy Bush and Sally Melville...
waiting and waiting...
checking the mailbox...
making friends with the mailman...
nothing...
for ever and ever....
finally I sent an email inquiry...
They never received my registration and now the classes are full.

soooooooooo very disappointed.....old school fails me.....

I'm on a waiting list for Nancy's Nordic Color which I deeply and truly wanted to attend and I'm signing up for Sally's Saturday class, so I have at least one class the day I make the trek out to West Friendship.

The easy and instant-to-register Summit of Awesome has exceptional personal customer service. When I found out I could get a Friday Only pass, which includes tickets for the movie premier, I called to ask about a refund for my original ticket. Tina herself answered the phone!
The refund was processed in an instant!
Yay, way to go new school!
See you both places?
Yes?

If I have the umpf after the sheep show, I'd like to attend the Show of Awesome,
Cake?
sign me up!

Life in Washington DC

Though I'm not knitting as much as I'd like...I never do...when I have a chance it is done here, with a view of the German Embassy through dogwood blooms.



In general life has been a whirl, of increasing intensity. Big plans afoot.



The poodlicious ones keep it bounding along, amusing and action packed.

I took a break and hit a rummage sale this morning.



Score! $4, vintage Frye boots, made in USA, hooray!

A Dally in the Gardens

When a sparkling sunny day dawned after days of rain, I took a break and spent the day as a tourist.

Susette suggested the gardens at, Dumbarton Oaks in nearby Georgetown.


A lovely way to spend a sunny day, thank you!

The gardens, were a collaboration between Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss the owners, and esteemed landscape gardener Beatrix Farrand that began in 1921. Including formal and informal, gardens and "outdoor rooms" it covers 16 acres, and includes elements of French, English and Italian gardens the three admired.

The gardens range from formal, near the house, getting progressively less formal the further you travel down the slopes and away down the hill.

Charming paths, terraces and allées take you from one theme to the next.

My favorite, was the Lilac Circle, a small quiet place with comforting tiny spring bulbs and the heavenly scent of lilacs. Here I spent a happy half hour knitting. As I left, I heard a chortle of delight "I found the pretty place!". Looking back, screened by foliage, I saw a tiny garden fairy, arms outstretched spin and twirl in the circle! Bliss. Soon joined by her family, I was lucky to have caught such a magical, joyful moment of pure childhood abandon.

Garden hours are 2:00pm-6:00pm, the absolute worst for picture taking, but I've got more here.

What Glue Stick is For

I make my charts the old fashioned way, by hand. I cut and paste a lot.

What software for mac do you recommend? I'm thinking of modernizing my design process.

My pencils will be lonley.

Ditty Bag

Well, Julia showed her's so you may as well see mine. I've provided a complete description of the contents on flickr , with notes detailing all.

My dear tools are conveniently housed in a clear half moon shaped bag which once held a cosmetics gift, long-long ago. Plastic yes, but I can see everything, which I like. I go for circles. I'm missing post-its which are usually in there, used for marking where I am on a chart.

People are most curious about the compass...I say it never hurts to know what direction you're going. The bonus? it is spot on for this years Project Spectrum: Cardinal Directions.

My friend Beth gave me this snazzy "Tone Up" box, perfect for my favorite Clover "pac man" markers.



And where would I be without my chi-chi-chi-chibi? Holding some deadly sharp pointed things and my treasured bent tapestry needle. I scorned these bent needles until Sally Melville showed the the way, and I've never looked back. They make a world of difference in seaming and other tricky sewing.