Pink orchids and the knitting drummer

I painted for a couple of hours this morning, the pink orchids are beginning to look more like a finished painting, but there is still at least one more session's worth of work to do, especially on the flowers. I also forgot to post one more pic from yesterday--this guy was drumming and knitting at the same time--he actually was using those big wooden needles to hit the drums! He was selling CDs with knitted pieces attached to them, but the music didn't thrill me.

Seeing the great Yarn Harlot

Saturday, I went to the Maker Faire to hear Stephanie Pearl McPhee, the Yarn Harlot, speak. The first shot is her--there were many people knitting in the audience, including me. I bought her new book, Things I Learned from Knitting whether I wanted to or not, but did not get it autographed. Afterwards, I wandered around and saw many interesting things--a giant cupcake vehicle, a giant woman sculpture, and many crafts--I really liked the crochet display that someone had attached to a post, showing the different shapes that could be made. I was sorely tempted by some solar dyed yarn, but bought only one indie-dyed hank from Red Sheep. That is a new record for number of links in one of my blog posts! I also met a friend, whose blog is linked on my blog already, Debra Roby, we sat and chatted for a long time.

Snyderman gallery

In Philadelphia last week, I got to see the wonderful textile show that is currently at the Snyderman Works gallery--if you get a chance, see it. You can also buy a CD of the show from the gallery. This picture is the window outside the gallery, which is in an old row house. The crows are also "fiber art."

Fiber arts tour of England and Scotland

Come along on this wonderful trip! I went on a quilt-oriented trip with this same company last year, it was fabulous. This one should be even better. If you send me an email, we can sign up together and get the $100 discount.

Orchid painting is beginning to gel

Just what you have been waiting for--an update on the orchid painting I started last week. Today I managed to start filling in the orchids and deepened a few of the background leaves. Doesn't seem like much progress for nearly four hours of painting! I also did a bit of painting in my journal, which is so far behind, I may never catch up. I have been sketching in it but not adding the color ALL YEAR.

Here is where I will be next week.

What the heck is it?

My son requested this item--he calls it "bug bait" and it's a weapon in the game, Half Life 2. I knitted the ball, using a pumpkin pattern I found on the web. Then we wrapped dark brown yarn around it, and glued on tiny brown felt triangles to make the spikes. The crowning touch was the blue pony beads. Looks lethal to me.

March Mystery Socks are finished

March Mystery Sock pattern in the Sock Knitters Anonymous Raveltry forum.

This was an insane sock pattern--she had us start in the middle of the leg, knit half the entrelac cuff, then knit the other half of the cuff and bind it off, pick up the leg stitches and make the entrelac heel. I was exhausted by the time I got to the foot! But I finished them both. I used smaller needles since others in the group said that the cuff was too big, but mine is still a bit too large. However, the rest of the sock fits great and it is a true "conversation piece."

Gardening weekend

Spring is really here! At least, it is warm and sunny and things are growing that weren't growing a few days ago. Here you can see a shot I took today of a wonderful nursery on highway 92 near my home. I love the shadows.

The second picture is the new painting I started today. The photo I am using as inspiration is in the foreground, behind it you can see how much I got done in three hours of hard work. I drew the shapes last week so all I did today was paint green areas. Some of them will be much darker in the finished painting, but I need to get them started so I can see them as shapes, not lines.