Perseverance

"You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out, but you gotta suit up for them all."

- Satchel Paige

Life is all about keepin' goin' out here on the sunflower farm these days. Life with a toddler in residence is a challenge. Two steps forward, one step back.

Or (more accurately) two steps forward, take a half hour break for cat video browsing, two steps forward, become human jungle gym for grandson, two steps forward, explain where Grandpa is & why Grandma needs to work instead of play...

You got the picture yet?

Perseverance is key. Just keep on pluggin' away at it and eventually it gets done.

And speaking of done...

Galadriel's Mirror is finished - YAY!

Here is a shot of the lower border as it comes together in the center point.

It is hard to tell from these photos, but the border design features a triple leaf motif and the same twisted stitch pattern from earlier in the design, separated by the openwork and finished off with a crocheted loop bind off.

GM is in test knit right now; am hoping for an August release date.

Lots of other stuff goin' on right now:

Have been working on a free pattern for all of you, in the LOTR theme. This is Weathertop, a nifty little reversible scarf in Rowan's Revive recycled yarn. The yarn looks just like weathered stone. Will knit a bit more on it and release later this week.

Bombadil is ready to go - just waiting on my model so I can get a lovely head shot for the front of the pattern and then she will be whisked away into your hot little hands.


And my yarn for the Bag End felted tote bag arrived in today's mail. It is Anna's Yarn from Unique Sheep in (l. to r.) Golden Ale, Lager, Amber Ale, Machiatto, & Stout

I have been waiting breathlessly for this shipment, as I am teaching the mosaic knit bag class at their annual retreat in September. Should be a lot of fun!

While waiting, I did design work for one of the Two Towers patterns. This is Emyn Muil, a triangular scarf/shawlette) in Madelinetosh lace. (Please ignore the kitty derriere - squatter's rights!)
I was inspired by this photo of the endless rocky repetitive landscape Frodo & Sam first meet Gollum in.

The scarf is knit side to side and features a very repetitive pattern of overlapping peaks (just like its inspiration)

Guess that's about it for today. Short stuff should be here any moment, so better make this brief.

Reporting live from the toddler front lines...catch ya later!

Saturday Stash Sale

SHIPPING TO US ONLY

Email me at susanpandorf@comcast.net and tell me which one(s) you want. If there are more than one balls/skeins in the lot, don't forget to specify quantity. If no quantity is listed, I will assume you want the entire lot.

I will invoice you through PayPal and ship them out to your hot little hands by the end of the week.Yarn will be shipped first class mail in a padded envelope if the total weight is 13 oz. or less. If yarn weighs more than that, I will ship in flat rate priority mail box for $10.35 or $13.95. By next week you should be happy knitting!

All yarn colors are true (on my monitor- can't account for yours.) We are a non smoking household, but I do have a cat. Most yarn has been behind closed doors, so cat contact has been minimal.

Please give my yarn and books a loving home and a productive future.

Ready?

Here we go again...

LACE

1) 2 skeins Alpaca Yarn Co. Suri Elegance - Pearl Harbor - $15 each
dry clean/hand wash - 875 yds. each
SOLD

2) Madelinetosh Silk Lace - Quartz - $15
tussah silk - hand wash - 1000 yds.
SOLD

3)Fiesta Ballerina - Painted Desert - $15
alpaca/tencel - hand wash/dry clean - 925 yds.
SOLD

4)Dream in Color Baby - Go Go Grassy - $12
merino - machine wash - 700 yds.
SOLD

5) Mountain Colors Winter Lace - Red Tail Hawk - $15
wool/silk - 1175 yds
SOLD

6) Madelinetosh Tosh Lace - Norway Spruce - $12
superwash merino - 950 yds.
SOLD

7) Tanis Fiber Arts Pink Label Lace - Stormy - $12
superwash merino - 1090 yds.
SOLD

8) Sanguine Gryphon Sappho 1 - Feasting With the Worthless Charlatans - $15
merino single ply - 850 yds.
SOLD

SOCK

9) String Theory Caper Sock - Brisa - $12
superwash merino/cashmere - machine wash - 400 yds.
SOLD

10)String Theory Caper Sock - Labradorite - $12
superwash merino/cashmere - machine wash - 400 yds.
SOLD

11) Araucania Ranco - color #333 - $12
wool/polyamide - machine wash - 430 yds.
SOLD
12)Araucania Itata - color #1006 - $12
superwash wool/silk/bamboo - machine wash -430 yds.
SOLD

13) Noro Silk Garden Sock - col # S245 - $12
wool/silk/nylon/mohair - hand wash - 300 m
SOLD

14)Noro Silk Garden Sock - col # S211 - $12
wool/silk/nylon/mohair - hand wash - 300 m
SOLD

15) Handmaiden Swiss Mountain Sea Sock - Boreal - $18
silk/superwash merino/seacell - machine wash - 400 m.
SOLD

16)Handmaiden Swiss Mountain Sea Sock - Forest Faire - $18
silk/superwash merino/seacell - machine wash - 400 m.
SOLD

17) 2 skeins Madelinetosh Tosh Sock - Mare - $12 each
superwash merino - 395 yds. each
SOLD


18)1 skein left of Madelinetosh Tosh Sock - Thunderstorm - $12
superwash merino - 395 yds.
SOLD

19) Sanguine Gryphon Eidos - Polimarchus - $12
superwash merino - 390 yds.
SOLD

20) 2 skeins Twisted Fiber Art Shiny - Firefly(multi) & Stormy( semi-solid) - $16 each
superwash merino/tencel - 400 yds. each
SOLD

21) Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock - Baltic Sea - $5
superwash wool/nylon - 215 yds.
SOLD

22) 2 skeins Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label Fingering Weight - Stormy - $10 each
superwash merino/ nylon - 400 yds. each
SOLD

23) 5 balls JoJoland Melody Superwash - color #MS11 - $3 each
220 yds. each
SOLD

DK WEIGHT

24) Twisted Fiber Art Genie - Lagoon Evolution - $15
wool single ply - 150 yds.
SOLD

25) 2 skeins Sanguine Gryphon Dance (disc.) - Sword Dance - $10 each
silk noil - 450 yds. each
SOLD

THIS IS THE YARN I USED FOR LEGOLAS - 1 SKEIN

26) Argosy Zen 4-ply - Blue Mills - $15
cashmere - 220 yds.
SOLD

27) Indie Dyer Infinity Organic - Black Lotus - $10
wool - hand wash - 285 yds.

28) Rowan Rowanspun DK (disc.)- Chili - $4
wool - hand wash - 219 yds.
SOLD

29) 2 skeins Blue Moon fiber Arts WooBu - Bleck - $15 each
merino/bamboo - hand wash - 620 yds. each
SOLD

30) Shibui Baby Alpaca DK - Mulberry - $10
hand wash - 255 yds.
SOLD

31) Araucania Aysen - color # 808 - $8
wool/alpaca/silk - hand wash - 191 yds.
SOLD

32) Blue Moon fiber Arts BFL Sport - Jubilation - $15
wool - hand wash - 661 yds.
SOLD

WORSTED WEIGHT

33) Auraucania Panguipulli - color #2 - $9
wool - hand wash/dry clean - 193 yds.
SOLD

34) 5 skeins Madelinetosh Worsted (now called DK) - Terra - $10 each/$45 for the lot
superwash wool - 225 yds. each
SOLD

35) 3 balls Be Sweet Mohair Loop - mixed aquas - $5 each/ $12 for the lot
handwash - 100 m. each
SOLD

36) 2 skeins Misti Alpaca Baby Me Boo - Blue Stone - $10 each
alpaca/merino/bamboo - hand wash - 174 yds. each
SOLD

37) 2 skeins Misti Alpaca Baby Me Boo - A Thousand Lakes - $10 each
alpaca/merino/bamboo - hand wash - 174 yds. each
SOLD

38) Blue Moon Fiber Arts Peru -Ravenscroft - $10
alpaca/merino/silk - 250 yds.
SOLD

THIS IS THE YARN I USED FOR STRIDER COWL - 1/2 SKEIN

The Second Time Around

Love is lovelier, the second time around
Just as wonderful, with both feet on the ground
It's that second time you hear your love song sung
Makes you think perhaps that love, like youth, is wasted on the young
Love's more comfortable the second time you fall
Like a friendly home the second time you call
Who can say, what brought us to this miracle we've found
There are those who'd bet
Love comes but once - and yet
I'm oh so glad we met
The second time around
- Kahn

I am six short rows from finishing Galadriel's Mirror - for the second time (almost). You see, I ran out of yarn the first time and had to go all the way back to the middle and take a repeat out before the zig-zaggy pattern change to the border. Yikes!

I have been pushing it along for the past week, wishing it was finished and barely keeping ahead of my fastest test knitter, who is loving the pattern thus far. In fact, she is so far ahead that she began working on a second GM, doubling the triangle, making a square tablecloth out of it in white cotton. No pics yet, but I will ask her to share when she gets a little further along.

The shawl has a real intricate look to it that I love, definitely different than most shawls, more substantial and done in fingering weight instead of lace-weight. The lacy bits are minimal until you get to the border and the twisted stitches really make the pattern pop.

I know it is hard to see, because she is all bunched up on the needles, but I can't wait to see her all stretched out - soonest...

This is another add on pattern, not included in the $45 subscription. Once again, I found the yarn & pattern after the sign ups were done. Once again, I will offer a $2 discount to subscribers, as I did with Rivindell & Goldberry

Two test knitters have finished the Bombadil Tam, so that pattern should be out to subscribers and available for individual purchase next week. As soon as it is ready, I will email it out to the fine folks at String Theory who are putting kits together with Caper Sock (which is what I used) One of my test knitters used Knitpicks with beautiful results.

I do want to make sure one of them was using the written directions (not just charts)before release. Pesky little suckers. Mind like a sieve - good thing I make notes...

Another thing I am getting a second go at this week: having a toddler in the house. Son & grandson staying with us while in between houses. I had forgotten how busy a toddler is. He is a joy (as was Daddy) but into everything and curious about it all. I have already taught him Grandma lingo. He says, "hat, shawl, and wind ( as in yarn, not climate)."

And on the subject of second chances, tomorrow - July 24th - there WILL BE A STASH SALE! Lots of goodies from MadelineTosh, Tanis Fiber Arts, Sanguine Gryphon, Blue Moon, & Hand maiden.

Didn't get to do this last weekend as aforementioned toddler changed my plans for the day.

So c'mon back over here tomorrow afternoon and peruse the goodies. My sales are legendary - don't miss out!

And now, I am gonna tackle those six rows - hurry, hurry, hurry...

I have a computer virus - limited access - will be back on line asap - can still order patterns - download links are hosted elsewhere

Not Today

NO STASH SALE TODAY

WOUND UP BABYSITTING THE GRANDSON INSTEAD
SORRY!

Saturday Stash Sale returns!

STASH SALE TOMORROW!!!
SATURDAY JULY 17TH

Holy as My Day Was Spent

Holy is the dish and drain
The soap and sink, the cup and plate
And the warm wool socks, and the cold white tile
Showerheads and good dry towels
And frying eggs sound like psalms
With a bit of salt measured in my palm
It’s all a part of a sacrament
As holy as a day is spent

Holy is the busy street
And cars that boom with passion’s beat
And the check out girl, Counting change
And the hands that shook my hands today
Hymns of geese fly overhead
And stretch their wings like their parents did
Blessed be the dog
That runs in her sleep
The catch that wild and elusive thing

Holy is a familiar room and the quiet moments in the afternoon
And folding sheets like folding hands
To pray as only laundry can
I’m letting go of all I fear
Like autumn leaves of earth and air
For summer came and summer went
As holy as a day is spent

Holy is the place I stand
To give whatever small good I can
The empty page, the open book
Redemption everywhere I look
Unknowingly we slow our pace
In the shade of unexpected grace
With grateful smiles and sad lament
As holy as a day is spent

And morning light sings “providence”
As holy as a day is spent

-Holy As A Day Is Spent
by Carrie Newcomer

This is one of my favorite songs. I was reminded of it this afternoon while toiling over the written directions for Galadrial's Mirror (and I do mean toil - you try writing 179 lines of code - yeesh!)


I was listening to Pandora internet radio while I worked and this song came up in my mix.

I first met Carrie when I was a student at Earlham School of Religion. She is a delightful individual with a very important message and a strong commitment to living her life with a great deal of personal integrity.

She is also a damn fine musician.

All too often we go about our daily business as if it bears no weight. We believe that our actions don't really matter, unless we are doing something out of the ordinary. We get up, we eat breakfast, we go to work, raise our kids, listen to our friends, make our houses into homes. We knit, or spin, or weave, or crochet.

And we forget that what we do matters.

It matters a great deal.

Every one of those things...every one of US...

is holy.

What a lovely message to receive on a stormy Thursday afternoon spent immersed in the minutia of long lines of detailed instruction.

So...

How was your day spent?

Sneaky Peek

"Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None have ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master: His songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster."

—The Fellowship of the Ring

Bombadil went out to test knitters last week; thought you might enjoy a little peek at the next Fellowship Series Pattern (included in the $45 subscription)

I'm really happy with this one- will get modeled shots before release, never fear...