A little more Shetland and Grey Wolf

Before I left for Grey Wolf NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training) I intended to post more photos from Shetland.

We returned from camp on Saturday (June 28).  It never ceases to amaze me when I see the youth staff develop over a five-month period during developments, and then work with the participants to put on the best program possible.  There were 72 participants that came into the week and 72 graduated!  This was the first opportunity Jim and I had to serve together on staff after 8 years of Grey Wolf.  He is a good leader and mentor for the staff and participants.  Even though I have been with the program for some time, it was an honor and pleasure to be on the same course with my husband.  Ben was on Week 1 and we were able to see him a few times.  It does not seem so long ago we dropped him off for leadership training!

Mr. C. watching the action.

Gery Grey Wolf our mascot looking sharp with his uniform.

Mr. C. living it intensely (note the bracelet--it says "live it intensely," referring to the Scout Oath and Law.  This happened during the ballista event.  

I finished the replacement Urchin.  It is not hand spun, but will be a nice hat.  I feel badly about losing my hat, but it is in a lovely place--Shetland!  Perhaps one of the local critters will find it and wear it at a jaunty angle.  The ends of the project bag are woven in, the lace is finished, and the handle is about halfway finished.  Washing, blocking, and then sewing up are next.  I will make a lining for the bag and sew a facing on the handle for stability.  It would be nice to incorporate the little button that Jane gave to each of us, or make a Dorset button closure.  Next up is the Little Black Vest, which turned into a KAL (knit along).  I decided to go with the triangle design instead of the tumbling blocks for the texture stitching.  I cast on for the Greta, by Rowan.  I am thankful it is a shop sample and not for a class because of the fine yarn and small needle size it will take some time to make.  Shwook is my personal project.  I love knitting color work and I think about Shetland as I knit.

Going through the UFOs I was surprised I did not have as many as I thought, which is good.  Summer is flying by and it would be nice to finish up projects for me and for gifts.  Lots of little ones to knit for this year!

Spinning up a storm with the drop spindles with focus on Iceland and Shetland.  I have to come up with something for Spin-Off and maybe even Knitty!

Speaking of Shetland...

Elizabeth spinning some fine Shetland wool. 

Her lovely little Shetland spinning wheel.

The Shetland Designer was bursting with colorful knitwear.  The color ways shown here are the ones from which the volunteers at the Shetland Museum and Archives chose for their uniform vests.  The vest at the top left is one of the vests the volunteers wear.  

Neila's studio has a lovely view and her innovative designs were such fun to try on.
My favorite piece is Toog.

The flowers and colorfully painted spinning wheels add charm to the shop exterior.

Textile Museum 

Hazel Tindall was a pleasure to meet.  She was knitting away on this beautiful sweater.  Watching her work is a wonder!  Her quick, efficient movements create magic.

The photo before the loss of my beloved hat.  Taking a walk on a beautiful day in a beautiful place was worth the loss.  The wind was blowing and the air smelled so sweet.  Wildflowers abloom and the waves splashing on the rocks...I was in heaven!

Halfway through the project, Jane taught us how to make Dorset buttons.  

A little friend joined my on my walk around Lerwick.   I believe the colors of the cat, pavement, and wall might work as a nice colorway...mmmm...

I bought the pattern and some yarn to make the Eid top (in front) designed by
Hazel Tindall for Wool Week 2011.  I will post photos of my color choices soon!

This treasure was at the Shetland Museum.  How sharp the Boy Scouts look in their uniforms!

Anoka Fiber Works and Amazing Threads

Throughout our marriage (38 years this year) Jim and I moved around the USA and in Germany.  Some places we liked better than others.  After Ben was born, where we lived became more important.  From 1996 to 1999 we lived in McKinney, Texas.  We lived in a nice neighborhood with lots of young families like ours and there was an amazing shop called Woolen Works.  It was a place to gather, to learn, and to experience all things fiber.  I sat in with a Wednesday group of spinners--I was the knitter.  They were so friendly and welcoming.  Fast forward to 1997 and the purchase of Louie, the Louet S10 spinning wheel...I learned how to spin and never looked back.  In 1999 Jim interviewed for a job in Minnesota, which meant another big move.  It was difficult to leave the friends we made and for Ben to change schools, but we were up for the adventure.  I continued to spin, although I missed the Texas Twisters.  When I began teaching knitting, I was able to add spindle spinning classes and later wheel spinning classes.  My attempts to start local spin ins was met with some success, but it was not until a group of women began a co-op in an Anoka yarn shop.  It was wonderful to see the wheels and the fiber for sale.  Wanting to expand, the group moved the co-op to another location and Anoka Fiber Works was born.  Talented fiber artists sell their wares (finished items, equipment, and fiber), there are classes, field trips, and most of all it is a gathering place to meet and share the love of all things fiber.

I have a couple of classes coming up at Anoka Fiber Works.  The Felted Amulet Bag is a wet-felted project.  To make the class sample I dug through my Lake Superior rocks and found a perfect size.  Last evening I worked up the sample and I am pleased with the outcome.  It's  a perfect size to wear around the neck and hold small tools or perhaps some emergency chocolate!  The class is June 12, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Wet felted Amulet Bag and the rock I used

The other project is a shawl pin with a polymer clay topper.  The samples I made are simple--a  figure (sheep), a bead covered with slices of canes, and then a wrapped bead.  Dawn gave me a couple of sticks to use and they worked well with a bit of sanding and finish.  The shiny finish on two beads is added on after baking and made for polymer clay.  It is supposed to be a satin finish...mmm...I don't think so...

The Poly Clay Shawl Pin class is on July 8, from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Clay bead covered with cane slices, wrapped bead, sculpted bead.

I am fortunate to be part of the teaching staff at Amazing Threads.  It is a great place to teach!  One of the upcoming classes at Amazing Threads is a skill-builder for illusion knitting.  Strategically placed knits and purls using contrasting yarns create a picture when viewed at an angle.  A circle is a simple shape and works up relatively quickly.  Once you learn how to read the chart it is easy.  There are some amazing examples and patterns on Ravelry of projects worked with the technique.  This class is June 14 from 10 am to 12 pm.    

Now you see it...

...now you don't.

Bobbi and Angel returned from Market recently.  It is always fun to see what is new in the fiber world.  I chose the Teggala Hat kit to make for a shop sample.  The yarn is a blend of cashmere and possum down (yes, possum down) from New Zealand.  Light and lofty, super soft, and a dream to knit with this little project has it all!  It comes beautifully boxed with the pattern and three 10-gram skeins of Zealana AIR yarn.  This will be the perfect finished project or just gift the kit.  It will be exciting over the next few weeks to see the new yarns arrive!

Luxury in a box.

I love the packaging and presentation of this kit.

Charcoal, red, and natural baby skeins.

I marked the spot for the centered double decreases and between the design repeats.
It is much easier to keep track of where I am in the design.

I am still on the circular needles and will switch to double points when the decreases get closer together.  It fits nicely and is so nice and light.  The fiber is so soft with a lovely halo.  Can you tell I really love this yarn and project?

UFOs become FOs!

Project mailed--check!  Article and photos emailed--check!  Now to wait patiently until Spin-Off Magazine spring 2014 comes in the mail.  I had Ben  read my article yesterday and then I called Joanne to read it through her expert knowledge.  Whew, now take a deep breath and move on to the next project/s.

Speaking of projects, I finished the Pine Bough Cowl last week and over the weekend I did the Three Colorwork Cozies.  I am working on another cozy in a devorative stitch along with a small card envelope.

Cowl doubled over

Love the Kenzie yarn!

I purchased five colors of Ella Rae Solid and have been making little projects...

...working small is a welcome change for my hands...

...and these projects work up quickly!

I managed to attend the bi-monthly spin-in at Anoka Fiber Works, which was fun.  Good to catch up with friends and I tried out my Icelandic birch spindle with the brown Icelandic roving I bought at the co-op.  Beautiful roving and it is made more special by spinning it with the birch spindle.

Herr Kurbis and Humpty Dumpty examine the spindle and wool.  They approve.