The Empress's New Clothes

Well, maybe not even the queen, but the manequin outside has some new crocheted duds.

Crocheted shawl made from Noro Kureyon Sock yarn, two skeins purchased at Mosaic a couple of weeks ago. Worked up fast in a simple pattern I made up. Crocheted skirt, Violet Beauregard, in Takli Cotton Classic. Nice skirt; it just looks awful on me. I think I gained weight during the LONG time it took me to complete it!

Shop Sample

Leaves Sweater, pattern by Annette Petavy

Here's some of my winter's work, all wrapped up around my new shop dress form. It took awhile to do this one; I think there's about 1, 999.99 yarns of fine yarn in this sweater. The pattern is available in the book, Crochet Me, by Kim Werker, and published by Interweave Press. Said book is for sale at Greenberry House, of course!


New Neighbors next door: Dan River Books

There are some new kids on my street, which isn't really a street, of course, just a little country road that ends up in our little community of Meadows of Dan. I'm excited to have another bookstore in town. I still haven't had a chance to really check out their stock but when I was in for a few minutes yesterday I saw knitting books! And gardening books, and cookbooks, and children's books and more than I could see in just a quick glance. It's a beautiful day and should be a nice weekend; come up and visit us on the Parkway!

Bad Blogger!

Helpful Danville Knitters

I don't know what has gotten into me lately, except that maybe the cold has made me lazy! I just haven't been in the mood to blog!

And a lot of lovely things have been going on. Several meetings, which were important to me here in Patrick County but that I won't bore you with; wonderful morning walks under crisp starry skies with a good friend and dogs, chilly days tending rabbits with cat parading around my feet and romping through the barn, and wonderful golden evenings watching the shadows slide across the fields. I just haven't been writing!


Stitching and talking away, with wonderful Starbucks treats!

I ventured out of Patrick County yesterday, though, to trek to Danville for a knitter's gathering I heard about through Ravelry. It was pouring rain but a quick trip down, and I was greeted by lovely Robin, who helped organize the gathering, when I arrived at the Starbucks. Soon her mother joined us, and it wasn't long before a nice group of cheerful knitters came out of the wet weather to gather in a quiet corner of the shop. Sadly, our other hostess had a family illness and was unable to join us; many good thoughts were sent her way.

Robin got right to work helping other knitters with their projects while the rest of us talked and compared notes. I got to pass out business cards and it was fun to see how interested everyone was in the shop. Almost everyone had been to Meadows of Dan at some point! Robin explained about Ravelry and I think the group was intrigued. I learned about several Southside Virginia LYSs that I didn't know about that it would be fun to visit soon.


Lovely group of friendly knitters!

There were other bloggers there, another spinner (who was knitting last night) and some very talented knitters! I saw beautiful cable work and elegant colors and some inspiring and challenging projects. I tried working on my poor simple sock but with so much going on I finally pulled out my trusty crochet hook; I can crochet and talk but knitting and doing anything else is still sometimes a challenge!


Stella enjoying a beautiful morning

The rain is gone, the sun is out and I have big plans to do some major cleaning of the rabbit house today! It's a perfect time to let some rabbits out to play in their pen while I'm working in the sunshine.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Seraphina's Shawl

I have so much to be thankful for that I couldn't possibly make a list. Hope you and yours are feeling the same on this special day.

With the beach vacation and some traveling time, I've finished a couple of projects and have been working along on others. Above is Seraphina's Shawl, made with two colorways of Brooks Farm Four Play yarn. Pure luxury and all purple for me!


First Socks!

And I finished my first ever pair of knitted socks, thanks to Jane of Fiber on the Mountain, who is the most patient instructor in the world. She was here on Friday, and was able to teach a new spindler and knitter and help me turn my heel! There are all sorts of faults in this poor little pair, no blame to Jane, but I enjoyed making them!


Jane, students and a fascinated little audience!

I've finally caught up on most things, and feel myself relaxing into the quiet times of late fall. The autumn leaves are gone, swept away by wild winds over the course of a couple of days and hunting season is in full swing. We're wearing blaze orange, provided by sister-in-law Sue, to walk the dogs in the morning and evening. My Hot Head orange hat is coming in handy to cover up this white hair. Crisp mornings with frost alternate with warmer mornings and fog. There is a forecast of ice for Sunday.


Oh, dear, I went shopping...

A meeting I was supposed to have was cancelled on Tuesday morning, and I didn't find out until I was on the road. So I took the opportunity to play hookey and headed into Blacksburg after picking up my rabbit feed in Price's Fork. Naturally my first stop was Mosaic, an awesome LYS just a minute, maybe, from 460. I've been there before; everyone was friendly but I just had time to dash in and out with purchases. Tuesday I took my "first socks" along and was delighted to walk in and see Cheryl. She's one of the students pictured above with Jane and took to spindling like a natural! She and Belinda welcomed me with open arms, sat me down to knit with them and even admired my poor effort at sock knitting. We had a wonderful visit, talking about yarns and books and movies and knitting and the perils of the plumbing in an old farm house!

Cheryl showed me around, of course, and I was blown away by all the beautiful yarns and colors. I found myself most drawn to fibers I don't have here by my handspinners, of course, and my mind is buzzing with ideas for wonderful cotton, linen and silk yarns.

And I was able to meet the incredible Gina! Just as I was headed out the door with a bag full of amazing sock yarn (yeah, at that point I hadn't even finished one pair yet) Gina came in with lovely little Purl. Purl appears regularly on the Mosaic blog and is just as precious as her pictures. Gina is awesome in person, beautiful, obviously talented (Cheryl showed me some of the shop samples Gina knitted) and charming. I'm enjoying the Mosaic Ravelry group because of all her fun comments and her mention of something on Ravelry made me think to go to Mosaic on Tuesday.

And I met the lovely Indigo Muse! Tanya was my first friend on Ravelry and is a talented knitter, spinner and designer. I knew she was somewhere in Virginia but didn't realize that she was so close to Blacksburg. I've seen some of her designs in different places; her Fortune Cookie pattern looks terrific!

I listened to Lonesome River Band and Sammy Shelor DVDs on the way home. After a visit with Mom and the aunt on the hill, I settled in for an evening of knitting socks and a Doctor Who: Season One DVD from Netflix. For some reason this one disc leap-frogged over the list of Northern Exposure: Season Four that is supposed to come next. I've been a Dr. Who fan for a long time; the episodes used to be on PBS here a long time ago. My TV reception is limited but I've been having a great time getting old BBC shows and old movies on Netflix!

Don't forget about the contest! There have been some wonderful suggestions for names for my knitting straw doll but we're still looking for more. My judges will have the list on December 2 and decide soon after that. Details here.

News, news, news

Greenberry House, with Round the Mountain shingle

The only thing that is a little difficult about coming home from a long trip is catching up with all the work that needs doing and the events that have happened while I was away! Tuesday was really a catch-up day; I did everything from shearing a rabbit to planting grape vines to attending meetings to heading out to town to pick up feed and groceries. Yesterday I stayed home all day, to do laundry and clean bunny cage trays.


'bout time you got home, Mama!

I was met at the door by animals claiming weeks of neglect in the five days I was gone. I don't believe them; my sitter is most trustworthy. But to hear Lily tell it no one spoke to her or gave her a pet the entire weekend. Lily is very vocal and greets me with long stories of what went on while I was gone. But this time even TJ and the cat, Stella, had plenty to say!


Spiderweb Cardigan

While I was in Richmond I finished the Spiderweb Cardigan. This was a delightful little jacket to crochet and very simple. It needs blocking but I was pleased with the fit. The only change I made to the pattern was to add one repeat of the motif on the back to try to keep the shoulders from being too tight. It worked! This pattern was in the Spring 2007 Interweave Crochet and is the second item I've made from that issue.

I'm sure that there is other news; it just isn't coming to me right now. Some great new roving and yarn came into the shop from a couple of vendors and a couple of boxes of books from my aunt in Connecticut. So we're getting set for the big push of the season. The Indian Summer Days festival is this weekend. Jane from Fiber on the Mountain is coming and tomorrow she's set up to do a sock knitting workshop. I've signed up!

And we received our approval and sign from Round the Mountain as a venue! Round the Mountain was next to Patrick County at the National Folk Festival and they had a wonderful slideshow presentation of the artisans and natural beauty of Southwest Virginia. Lots of people stopped to ask questions and take brochures. And from demonstrating for Patrick County I've already received emails asking for more information about the shop!

Oh, and I almost forgot! While I was at the Folk Festival, this happened. Very cool!

I *Heart* Spidey!

Spiderweb Cardigan

Oh, I like Spiderman, too; what other comic book hero is there for a hand spinner? But I adore the Spiderweb Cardigan pattern. Crocheting is flowing along smoothly, despite lapses of attention and lots of customers over the weekend!


New Books! New Books! (And some old favorites!)

I was very happy to be able to add some spinning, knitting, dyeing, beading and crocheting titles to the shop's stock this past week. Already the books are selling. I think my personal favorites in this shipment are Scarf Style by Pam Allen and Spin to Knit by Shannon Okey. Two more titles are on the way, though, and one is all crochet.

And I went through last night and cleaned out some of my book stash. When I first discovered the Internet and fiber festivals I went a little crazy buying spinning books. A lot of these titles are no longer available. Of special interest is Erica Lynn's Angora: A Handbook for Spinners, pictured at the end of shelf two for those in the know. There are also books on quilting, embroidery, cross-stitch, quilling and other subjects. If they don't all sell by the end of our season here, I'll be putting them on the Internet.

Saturday Sky

Saturday Sky

The early morning view from the shop's front porch, across the farm in Meadows of Dan to the corn maze. Lovely day, although it seems too warm for October!
Isn't there some saying about fogs in October and snows in the winter? We should have some snow, then; several mornings this week have been a gray haze. There is just a hint of color across the hills so far.


Spiderweb Cardigan

A new project, to provide a rest for the fingers from the Violet Beauregard skirt. This pattern is by Marty Miller and appears in the Spring 2007 Interweave Crochet. I'm loving this, done in my hand painted millspun angora/merino in a colorway I call "Rhododendron". I had a little trouble with the directions at first; mostly because I was a bit distracted at the time, I'm sure!

The shop has been wonderfully busy. I've met some terrific fiber people lately; a delightful young knitter from Eastern Virginia, spinners from Pennsylvania, another knitter from Georgia. It's fun to see what people are working on and how interested they are in natural fiber from our area. I ordered some Interweave Press books last week: there are now patterns for everything from socks to dog sweaters here! And I'm expecting some more knitting needles and notions. I've expanded the circular needle line to include 40 inch and have some lovely Rosewood needles on the way.

Unusual Treasures

Two Gifts

Is there anything more fun than going to the mailbox and pulling out a gift? How about going back the next couple of days and finding another one! Both totally unexpected and much fun!

JAG sent the delightful photographs, which are of letters in a print set that belongs to favorite cousin. They are absolutely amazing and look splendid here in the window of the shop. I'm going to have to get some kind of special frame for them; they are just perfect with the light behind them. And speaking of wonderful images, JAG has opened a new etsy store, JGeorge Photography, where her marvelous images are now available as prints. You too can be the proud owner of a piece of the astonishingly beautiful and quirky world of JAG. Go now, I'll wait.

And I have never had anyone send me socks before! These are Cathy Clark's Forget-me-not socks, and I'll certainly never forget her kindness in sending them to me! Cathy's beautiful patterns continue to amaze me. These socks fit me perfectly, thanks to plotting between Cathy and JAG. They're everything a sock should be: cozy, warm, beautiful!


Another Dye Day!

If I put up pictures of all the dyeing we'd be here awhile, so I'll just say the dye pots have been bubbling and there are some new yarns and spinning fiber here at the shop. Even the really bad mistake I made with one pot fortunately turned out pretty!


Orange Blossom Special

And I'm still knitting. This Finished Object pattern is Hot Head by Alex Zorn, found in Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller. I made it in one of my hand spun Music yarns, called Orange Blossom Special. I really like the way the yarn knitted up. Not exactly the way the colors are in the original Hot Head sample, but more my style.


Beginning Violet Beauregard

I haven't hung up my crochet hook, though. This will someday be Violet Beauregard by Heather Dixon, from Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet, also by Debbit Stoller. The yarn is Tahki Cotton Classic and the colors are wonderful. Progress is a bit slow, though. This stuff is a little harder on the fingers than my soft hand spun and I'm using an itty bitty (D) hook. Sorry to be obsessing over the Stitch 'n Bitch books, but the knitting one has really been helpful and it's just that now I'm getting some time to work on the crochet projects for ME that I liked in the crochet one!

Did Y'all Miss Me?

I've been down with my usual fall allergies. Somehow I just don't feel creative when I'm sneezing and coughing all over the place!


Monday Night Dinner!

In spite of my ills, lots has been going on around here. I had another lovely day out at Chateau Morrisette, for the Pet Adoption event sponsored by the winery and put on by some local humane societies. Lots of delightful dogs and cats found new homes despite a windy start to the day. It turned out to be beautiful, though, and everyone had lots of fun with the animals.

Awhile back my friend Kym suggested we get together once a week and have dinner, so we have been gathering every Monday night since. Two more friends joined in right away and we've been having a lot of fun. Kym and Trinity cook; I bring a salad. They are so creative: we've had Mexican, home-cooking, a cook-out with spooky tales in the dark, Cajun and Chinese. Next week it's Greek!

FO:


Windy City Scarf

The Windy City Scarf is done! I call it Windy in the Country but I might go to the city sometime. I really enjoyed doing this simple pattern and I think I learned a lot. One thing I did figure out was that knitting can really be much faster than I used to think! I made a few errors but at least I can see them. I think I'll try a hat for my next knitting project.


Finished Felted Crocheted Bag

I always said I'd never be interested in one of those little music players, but I received one as a premium on one of my business accounts awhile back. I've had a bit of fun with it. My playlist isn't as interesting as JAG'sm though. I'm so old-fashioned, I'm afraid! I put together this little bag to keep it in. The bag that came with the thing was too little and all the wires and stuff kept tangling up with the bag's lanyards. I might decorate this one a bit more or, knowing me, put it somewhere after the novelty wears off, music player inside!

Progress

Boteh Scarf, still on the way

I'm really liking this pattern; it's the most innovative I've seen in awhile. And much easier to do than it looks. Yesterday Mary from the knitting group stopped by and it was fun talking to her while I worked on the scarf. I do have to do some counting, though. A couple of times I've gotten off and screwed up the decreases! Mary is making a beautiful and soft blanket for a new grandson in beautiful blue yarn with some delicate shade changes.

We had a relatively quiet weekend. Some interesting people came by, though, mostly from Eastern Virginia. Had a fun talk with some people from Chesapeake. And my aunt from Connecticut came by and it was wonderful to visit with her. She's the one that has been giving me most of the fantastic books I've been reviewing.

And I've finally received my invitation to Ravelry. I haven't quite figured it all out yet, but I do have three of my most recent projects on there. If you have a Ravelry pass give me a shout; I'm Greenberry!

And on with the projects....

The Ruffled Corset Belt

As requested, here's a picture of the Ruffled Corset Belt on me. This is not a great dress for it; it needs a longer skirt and some flare. But this will give you and idea. And it's still too hot here to wear it!


New Project: Boteh Scarf

And on with the crocheting. I am spinning a little, but it's just too hot to work with angora and wool! So I started this scarf yesterday, and I love the pattern! It's from the Spring 2007 Interweave Crochet and the project is called the Boteh Scarf by Kathy Merrick. Very interesting techniques and I'm learning a lot from this one. The yarn is from one of my vendors, Natalie at Knit Fit Knitting and I couldn't resist the soft blues and lilacs.

A Finished Object!

Ruffled Corset Belt

Was this ever a quick and easy piece! I started it a couple of days ago, and have been working on it while watching my "free" movie hours over at Netflix. This has gone fast and I still have lots of movie hours left. This wide belt was designed by Tricia Royal and appears in The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller. This is the second piece I've made from this book and I've still got my eye on Violet Beauregard.

Edited to add:

I was in a hurry to do this post; between brochures for shops and festivals. I forgot to mention that the gorgeous yarn for this belt came from Lowder Colours Farm in Kellyville, Oklahoma. I was fortunate enough to get it in the Fiber Femmes swap I participated in this winter. It is beautiful yarn with lots of life and feels wonderful in the finished belt. I can't wait for the weather to get cool enough for me to wear it!

And.....


Something on knitting needles!

I taught someone to knit this weekend! Pretty good, huh, since I'm knitting challenged myself!