Jim's Revenge: Beading Me to a Pulp

As a feverishly purchased my numerous skeins of yarn, Jim smiled and never delivered a complaint. He had a goal in mind; upon our return he hooked up with Ron at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, Canada). Ron is a retired chemical engineer who electroplates leaves, maple keys, acorns, starfish, sand dollars, and other natural elements with copper, stirling silver and gold. The results are quite beautiful and , obviously, no two pieces are alike. These pieces have lit a fire under Jim, he designed several new pieces, earring pairs and necklaces, with the new trinkets. There are lovely and they got much attention at our booth at the Georgetown Farmer's Market. I'll have to post pics tomorrow as Jim has plans for me to photograph much of the new work so he can update his Earth Candy website.

Got around to posting my first original design

I've been thinking about posting an original design on Ravelry. I began this project back in May while heading to NYC by bus with a group of students. I did my math and created my first charts will we headed for the US border. I brought along the beautiful silk yarn that had recently arrived from Notwosnowflakes. I knit half the project and was not happy with my progress. I frogged the project and went back to reconfigure my charts when I returned home.  I purchased Intwined software on-line and eventually used it to create the final product, the Manhattan Shawl.pdf. The shawl consists of 4 rings: the innermost nods to the Brooklyn Bridges twin gothic arches, next is the ring inspired by the Victorian houses of Harlem, third is the Central Park tree ring, and finally is the Empire State design.

Manhattan Shawl

Detail of Manhattan Shawl

New designs are in the works. As soon as I finish a project for my friend Jan, I will begin to refine the From Sea to Sea Shawl, a piece inspired by symbols of Canada.

Jim did the driving while I rode shotgun and took pictures

I'm a yarn whore. While traveling the past few weeks, I managed to pick up a few goodies. Below are the assorted yarns I picked up while we traveled through the north eastern US, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. A few were in my mailbox when I returned to Toronto. I am officially cut off, but they are mighty pretty. I found cotton, wool, silk, mohair, alpaca and a range of blends. I love'em all and have enough to inspire me for quite some time.

I enjoyed picking up yarns that serve as souvenirs and remind me of the places we visited and the wonderful people we met. These goodies will bring me much more joy than a tacky tee-shirt

From Montpelier, Vermont

At home on my return - Juicy green silk

Fleece Artist from Nova Scotia

From Notwosnowflakes - they have awesome stuff on Etsy

Tess Yarns, Portland, Maine

Tess Yarns, Portland, Maine

Tess Yarns, Portland, Maine

Tess Yarns, Portland, Maine

Tess Yarns, Portland, Maine

Alpaca from Gaspereau Valley Wools

Alpaca from Gaspereau Valley Wools

Alpaca from Gaspereau Valley Wools

Kid/silk from Gaspereau Valley, NS

Fleece Artist from Gaspereau Valley Wools

Mohair from Gaspereau Valley Wools

From Lundon Wul, NB

Handmaiden from London Wul, NB

Alpaca from Maine

Silk From Salem, Mass

Cotton from Gloucester, Mass'

From Gloucester, Mass

The only skein of Acrylic, but it is shiny, from NB

Sock yarn from Maine

Lovely black alpaca from Maine