Harlot and Community

I went to hear the Yarn Harlot speak on Wednesday night, and I had a ball! Not only is she flippin' funny, I had a blast talking and meeting the other knitters there.

For those of you who know me well, it is not surprising that I would either see someone I know or meet someone who knows someone I know. Well, that happened in spades.

While waiting to enter the theater, I sat, listened to Stash and Burn on my iPod, sipped a latte, and knitted. A lady came in and looked as if she couldn't find her friends. Being me, I took off my headphones and offered her a seat at my two-person table. It turns out that she was (well, is) Whit Robbins, the founder of the Atlanta Knitting Guild. She and I had a lovely chat about knitting, and I encouraged her to sign up for Ravelry.

Whit introduced me to Elaine who sat on my right in the theater. Elaine and I struck up a conversation. She works at Georgia Tech in the Biology department, and her research is focused on this wonder cancer drug that they are trying to get through FDA approval. I told her that I was a graduate of Georgia Tech back in the day, and I learned that her daughter, who went to MIT, was good friends with a couple of my Chem E classmates at Tech! She knew all the scoop on these long lost buddies and brought me up to speed on their lives.

I didn't know the couple on my left, but they were really friendly. Wayne and Brittany were both wearing Knit Witch t-shirts to advertise Brittany's knitting and crochet resources website. Brittany exclaimed that I needed to check out the Weenie Warmer pattern she has on her site. (Warning! This pattern page is not suitable for work!) When I finally checked it out the next morning, I got to see way more of Wayne then I had seen (or wanted to see!) the night before. Furthermore, Brittany asked about the cute headscarf I was knitting for Grandogma, and I told her I'd found the pattern by Jennifer Fleur via Ravelry. Brittany not only knows Jen, but she pointed her out on the row behind us! I waved the scarf at Jen. Too funny.

The Yarn Harlot was as funny and delightful as you would expect. If you don't know about her, just know that she is wickedly insightful and funny.

After the speech, we waited our turn for the book signing. Crafty Kristin and I plopped ourselves down on the sofa at Knitch and knitted away. Another Kristin sat between us, and we chatted away with her and her two buddies. Time flew by! (Though I do believe Crafty Kristin and I were swooning from lack of dinner!!!)

We finally got our chance to meet the Harlot and get our books signed. The Harlot seemed impressed that I had purchased books to give as Christmas presents (spoiler alert!), and she said "Merry Christmas!" as I walked away.

I wish to thank Kim, her amazing staff at Knitch, the Yarn Harlot, and all of my new friends for creating a great event! I had a blast, and I want to go to Knitch for Sunday afternoon knit-ins now!

Eventful Summer

I apologize for the significant hiatus I took from the blog this summer. I have been insanely busy with work, travel, knitting and, well, life.

Work
As you know, I'm an Organization Strategist who works with companies on organizational design and culture issues. I often work with companies who are merging, but most recently I have been working with two nonprofit organizations going through a merger. I have to say that this is by far the most meaningful work I have been paid to do - and we're not done yet!

Travel
Needless to say, I travel a great deal as a result of being a consultant. I also love to travel for pleasure as well. Sometimes, I'm able to combine business and pleasure travel, and that makes it even better!

This summer, I've spent a great deal of time in Washington, DC, and I was even joined by the Witty One and the Diva for several days in July. The Diva LOVED DC so much that one of her classmates asked her mom to take her there for Fall Break since the Diva said it was such a fantastic trip. (The classmate's mom called us to say thanks for raising the bar on her kid's expectation for a long weekend!)




For pleasure, the Witty One and I took a swanky 7-day cruise from Vancouver to Anchorage with the Diva's Fairy Godfathers. We had a wonderful time, and we are eager to take another cruise with them. (Dana was my partner-in-crime when we were in dock. Bill and the Witty One got quite exasperated with our single-minded focus on shopping!) I cannot possibly articulate how stunning the scenery is there. You should check out my Flickr travel set to see the stunning shots the Witty One took with his snazzy new camera.

Knitting
Oh yeah, I've knitted and knitted and knitted. I've also succumbed to the delightful black hole that is Ravelry. If you are a knitter or a crocheter, you must get thee to Ravelry. Do the video tour, and you will see why. Still can't understand the attraction? Email me or leave a comment. I will be more than happy to drone on and on about the wonderful resource that Casey and Jess have brought to life.



Life
The Diva started 1st grade in August, and she is loving it. I missed the meet-your-classmates event, but I hear that the Diva made quite an impression. Each child was asked to talk about the thing he/she loved the most. The majority of the little girls said "horses", but the Diva had to be different. She boldly announced to her new classmates, "I love math!" The Witty One said that all adult eyes turned to him with expressions of shock and awe, and all he could say was "What can I say? She does."

A few weeks ago, I taught the Diva how to play chess. She picked it up in about 10 minutes! I believe I should fear her. She's scary smart.

Alas, still no plants in our garden. It was too bloody hot here in Atlanta this summer. Since Mike the Wonder Landscaper guarantees the survival of every plant he puts in the ground, we agreed that it would be a waste of plant material and money for him to plant anything during the heat of the summer. He and his crew are due to start planting next week. Finally.

Many of you know of the challenges faced by my BFF Steph. For those who don't, the quick summary is that BFF Steph was diagnosed with breast cancer in August. Two weeks later, her mom was also diagnosed with breast cancer. BFF Steph's cancer was caught very early, so she has an excellent prognosis. Grandogma's is very far along, and she is struggling to maintain and gain weight and energy. The good news is that both BFF Steph and her hubby, the Dogfather, are nurses. They are taking fabulous care of Grandogma, so she's improving everyday.

What's Next?
More work, travel, knitting and life, I'm sure. Oh, and I'll have to blog about my experience waiting to hear the Yarn Harlot this past Wednesday. It was quite the experience!

Cheers,
Deb in Atlanta

Blank Canvas

I almost called this post "Leveling", however the Witty One believes "Blank Canvas" is a better choice. As you can see in the photos below, Mike-the-Wonder-Landscaper's talented team has provided a blank canvas from which we can paint the masterpiece which will become our garden.

Front Garden Canvas:

Back Garden Canvas:

In the next week, the irrigation contractor will install our inground sprinkler system. With xeriscaping as a goal, we had decided to install a drip irrigation system throughout. However, Mike advised us to use the inground system since he has experienced many, many, many challenges with drip irrigation systems clogging and malfunctioning. Apparently, the maintenance required to manage the drip irrigation system completely outweighs the advantages of such a system.

Once the irrigation system is in place, Mike and his Wonder Team will install some plants. Since we are entering the hottest time of the year in Atlanta, we will delay many of the plantings until after the heat wave breaks.

In other news, the Witty One and I will be joining the Diva's Fairy Godfathers on an Alaskan cruise in August. This Georgia girl has an odd affinity for all things Pacific Northwest (hence the reason I married an Oregon boy?), so I'm absolutely giddy at the prospect of experiencing a teeny-tiny bit of Alaska. If you have recommendations on sites to see or yarn shops to browse, please leave a comment.

Until next time, Happy Weekend!

Cheers,
Deb in Atlanta

Hardscape Complete!

Before: The patio could not accommodate all of the Diva's guests.

After: We may comfortably resume entertaining al fresco.

Mike, the Wonder-Landscaper, plans to start planting this week. Wahoo!

So, Franklin Has This Idea

Simply brilliant.

You really must read about Franklin's big idea. Since the Witty One, the Diva and I are planning a trip to Chicago this summer, I threw my hat in the ring. I love that this project will celebrate commonality and diversity at the same time. This juxtaposition is the heart of the work I do on a daily basis as an organizational strategy consultant.

Knitting friends, find a way to participate. We need to continue to represent!

Cheers,
Deb in Atlanta

Hardscape

Step 1. Build hardscape. Check!

Wahoo! We love our new walkway and porch! The Diva has been diligently sweeping the porch everyday. I am curious how long her passion for porch-sweeping will last. Any guesses?

Plants will begin arriving after Memorial Day.

Have a great week!

Cheers,

Deb in Atlanta

Slowly, but Surely

The hardscape crew has worked diligently over the last two weeks to create lovely, and structurally sound, walls and steps for our front yard. They have been able to use quite a bit of the stone from the previous wall, too!

As you can see, we still cannot walk up our driveway or enter/exit our house from the front. That created a dangerous situation for me on Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. (in the dark) when I was headed to the airport wearing high heels and carrying my suitcase and computer bag! Luckily, I successfully manuevered myself without getting a run in my hose or a chip in my shoes, but I wasn't very graceful. (Thank goodness, I was the only person out at that time of the morning!)

Unfortunately, I've not had much time for knitting. I have several works in progress, but I haven't yet snapped any photos of them. I'll try to do that tomorrow when we celebrate Mother's Day.

Have a lovely weekend!

Cheers,

Deb in Atlanta

Upheaval

The view from my front door:



Last week, our hardscape contractor started the garden renovation project that the Witty One and I have been planning for two years now. We are thrilled that we will one day have a lovely garden in which to dally, however we are struggling now with the logistics of entering our home. Can you see the obstacles?

Until the obstacles are removed, we are forced go cross-country to enter through our back door. Thankfully, we can walk up our neighbors' driveways to access our back yard!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Returning to that fabulous meal we had at Roy's on Sunday night. Here is a photo of Roy introducing his talented team of chefs.

They are all very talented, and I look forward to many more meals imagined and executed by these masters.

Bon appétit!

Sock Woes

This post relects my recent sock challenges.

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to knit STR-Lightweight with 2.00 mm (US 0) needles. Despite getting the gauge I thought I wanted, these socks will NOT fit the Witty One. They are too tight along his instep.

Pattern: Gentleman's Fancy Sock

Designer: Nancy Bush

Source: Knitting Vintage Socks

Yarn: BMFA, STR-LW in Sand

Needles: 2 Addi Turbo Circulars in 2.0 mm (US 0)

I let my dad try them on, and he said he'd never wear them. He's so sensitive to wool that Mamaw used to line his wool pants when he was a kid.

I haven't completed the toe on the second sock because I may need to rework the length depending on who gets them. Since those are my size 4 feet inside those socks, I'm starting to think a woman with longer feet might appreciate them. Hmmm... I have just the friend in mind...

I really enjoyed knitting the first Winter's Eve sock, but I am not pleased with the way the beads zig zag on the cuff. I spent a long time seeking just the right color for the beads (which look much better in person than in this photo). Unfortunately, the beads which were the color I preferred were a smidge too big. I chose to use them anyway, and now they zig and zag. Argh!

Pattern: Winter's Eve

Designer: Sivia Harding

Source: BMFA, Rockin' Sock Club, Dec. 2006 Kit

Yarn: BMFA, STR - Lightweight in Mustang Sally

Needles: 2 Addi Turbo Circulars in 2.5 mm (US 1)

As I knit this sock, I kept daydreaming of beaded wristwarmers and beaded gauntlets. Since I have thousands and thousands of beads in my stash, I plan to spend some time this summer matching beads and yarn. I haven't begun my search for patterns, but I just might try my hand at designing a pattern.

OK, it's probably not fair to these socks to include them in my sock woes collection, however I have been unhappy with their lack of durability. I knit them in January, and they are pilling, pilling, pilling. I think the yarn is just not as hardy as my beloved STR.

Pattern: Monkey

Designer: Cookie A.

Source: Knitty

Yarn: Claudia's Hand Painted Fingering in Toast

I have another 2 skeins of Claudia's (in Pistachio) that I've already wound, and there were knots in both skeins! Now I have 4 small balls of yarn. I love Claudia's colorways, but I'm not impressed by her choice of base yarn.

In foodie news, the Witty One and I attended a great dinner at Roy's last night*. Roy and some of his top chefs flew into town to cook their special James Beard dinner for our gastronomic society. Not only was the food delectable, Roy and his chefs served properly sized portions (i.e., small)! My favorite dish was the terrine, however my taste buds delighted in all of the courses. Bravo!!

Have a lovely week!

Cheers,

Deb in Atlanta

* Actually, through the "magic" of Blogger, my post reflects a publish date of April 29, 2007. Truly, I posted it on April 30, 2007. I couldn't have met Roy on April 28, 2007, because he was in Waikiki opening yet another restaurant. The man is a force!

A Bit More Yarny Goodness

I dug through the drawers and knitting stash to find some of the items I have knit in the last 8 months. Unfortunately, I don't have photos of at least 3 pair of socks that I gave to family and friends. (I'll ask the recipients for photos...)

In September 2006, I saw Cat on Knitty Gritty, and I was inspired to knit her Möbius-shaped scarf. Though I knit the scarf for myself, the Diva has asked me to share it with her (and so it begins...). It does look quite lovely as a head scarf for the Diva. It is a lovely pattern and a quick knit. Best of all, the cashmere yarn is luscious!

Pattern: Möbius Cowl
Designer: Cat Bordhi
Yarn: Hand Maiden 4 Ply Cashmere in Paris

Here is the Diva modeling her Mermaid Mittens that I completed in February or March.

Pattern: Mitten formula

Designer: Ann Budd

Source: The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Soft Rock in Mermaid

Needles: 2 Addi Turbo Circulars in 2.5 mm (US 1)

I really like this colorway. It has a lovely sheen to it that isn't visible in the photo. I haven't seen this colorway listed on the BMFA site. Does Tina still dye it? I need to find out because I'd love to knit a matching hat and scarf for the Diva.

Though I made a resolution to knit only from my stash in 2007, I promptly broke that commitment during our trip to Los Gatos, California, in mid-January. Naturally, I had to pop into Yarndogs while we were there, and I found Wildfoote yarn! I was able to convince the Witty One that I needed some of this lovely yarn to knit HIM a second pair of socks. He agreed (Did he really have a choice?), so now he is the owner of a second pair of wool socks. I must say, though, that he has yet to wear them, and I finished them in early February!

Pattern: Garter Rib
Designer: Charlene Schurch
Source: Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Brown Sheep Company, Wildfoote in Tom Cat
Needles: 2 Addi Turbo Circulars in 2.0 mm (US 0)

I got a kick out of the Diva helping her daddy get into position for the photo shoot.

This will be all for today. Blogger (or my computer) is acting very lazy today, so I think I'll go see what the Diva is up to...

Cheers,

Deb in Atlanta

No Posting, But Lots of Knitting!

Greetings from Atlanta!

I have been a very busy girl these last several months. I started my new job in early September, and I've been going 100 mph ever since. I am an organizational strategy consultant, and I typically travel each week to work with my clients. As a result, I get a lot of knitting done while flying.

I remain infatuated with socks and sock yarn, and I've knit quite a few goodies during my hiatus from blogging. Unfortunately, I seem to have forgotten to take pictures of all of my goodies. I will strive to do so soon. Until then here is a taste of yarny goodness:

Pattern: Esther
Designer: Stephanie van der Linden
Source: Socken-Kreativ-Liste on Yahoo Groups
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks That Rock - Lightweight in Stonewash
Needles: 2 Addi Turbo Circulars in 2.5 mm (US 1)

I LOVE this pattern! Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing your exquisite pattern. The picture above does not show how truly beautiful this sock is.

Also, I knit LOTS and LOTS of bibs from the pattern in Ann & Kay's book. I have LOTS more to knit, too. Just in the last month, two friends have given birth to a total of three boys!!! My friend with the twins is doing 4 loads of laundry a day. Poor thing!!!

I wish all of you a happy day!

Cheers,
Deb in Atlanta