Stripes

Its stripey around here! Quit my day job...big ideas bursting out all over!

Fiber Frolic

Fiber Frolic, originally uploaded by maryjanemidgemink.

Fun! Great fun with friends, lively entertaining conversation, tempting goods, handsome llamas, sheep and bunnies, wonderful food, including strawberry rhubarb icecream, mmmmm.....!

Mystery

Didn't I promise never to undertake impossible deadlines? Never mind.
Tomorrow is the Fiber Frolic, Windsor, Maine.
Cyber-Friend meet up!
See you there!

Comfort on a Rainy Afternoon

Will the rain ever stop?

At Project Spectrum, the Cardinal Directions are the theme. We're currently on East

Color: Yellow
Material: Wood
Season: Spring
Element: Air

Bring the on the brightness and sunshine!

Which is most Necessary?

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!