Wrapping up summer

Even though summer has not ended, I am getting ready for autumn.  The next couple of weeks will be very busy, as Wood Badge is approaching and the Quartermasters will be cooking up some good food and entertainment for the participants.
My schedule is in the works for September through March and now I can look forward to April through August 2014.  For now I am working on shop samples.  The big project is the Pine Bough Cowl, which will be a 72-inch loop of stranded goodness in Kenzie by Hikoo.  The yarn is beautiful and even though the color palette is limited, the colors available are gorgeous. The original combo of blue and kiwi is perfect for the sample.

The cowl will be on the needles for a bit--right now it seems endless.  for instant gratification I whipped up a hat from Berroco called Fane.  It is a free pattern and worked in Boboli Lace, which is really sport weight yarn.  Despite the fine yarn and small needles, I had this finished in a couple of evenings.  This is a perfect small project for a new knitter--knit flat, seamed, stockinette stitch/garter stitch pattern, and ribbing.  Practice those new skills!

13.08.13  Wood Badge is on my mind today.  The QM staff got together over the weekend to begin preparing and organizing some of the things we can do ahead of the course.  Work weekend is approaching and will be a busy time for us to get the kitchen set up.  I am looking forward to course--the clock is ticking down!  We met the participants the end of July at orientation.  The staff development and team-building started in January seems like yesterday.  

Speaking of Wood Badge and being of the Bear Patrol--One of the participants is a Scout friend and talented beading artist.  I ordered a bear necklace and Iona had it ready for me the end of the Round Table year in June.  It is a special piece and one I treasure.

A little bit of Wood Badge bling

I have been busy getting ready for course.  I made some bling for the patrol flags, staff, my patrol, and other Bears (I am part of the Bear Patrol).  I could not find a stamp, so I made one.  Fortunately there were materials in my art supplies!  I bought some wooden discs, lanyard clips, and leather cording.  I had plenty of beads and leather scraps left over from our days in Cub Scouting.  Copper and gold paint were in the paint bin, and showed up nicely on the wood and leather.  I could not find Jim's drill, so I used my hand drill to put holes in the pieces.  Stamping went much quicker!  A few beads added before tying on the lanyard clips and they were finished.  Now to add the course number and my initials to the ones for my patrol and the patrol flags.  I might have to make more for Philmont.

The stamp and one of the leather shapes with a gold bear.

I used copper and gold paint on the stamp.

The whitish pony beads glow in the dark.  

Loose ends

I am sure this describes not only my WIPs, but this week in general.  The Wood Badge course is looming large, I have to send a box to Ben, mail a box to my cousin in Ohio, pack, clean, etc, etc...Woody Bear is cheering me on!
Between all the other tasks, I managed to spin with the spindle a bit and work on the scarf.  I am in the yellow portion of the colorway, which means the project is almost finished.

Woody Bear--always smiling

I am doing a bit of spinning...

...and knitting!

Jim has been texting me now and then from Philmont.  The last text was from Clark's Fork.  Ben is good about calling before he leaves for the back country and when he returns to Base Camp.
I finished the little sweater.  It turned out cute--I altered the sleeves by only knitting three rows of stockinette stitch and then ending with four rows of garter stitch.  I found the perfect buttons in my large button jar and now it is ready to go.

Working on the body.

All finished and ready to go!