Catching up

Greetings!  It has been too long between postings, and I apologize.  Two of us out of town, one of us off in a writing workshop...we're just a busy bunch of Sunflowers.  Photo is the scene of part of my mis-spent youth.   :0)

Since I wrote last...I have been to CA to visit my family.  While there, the ocean temps were record highs, so I actually dared to go to the beach (complete with boogie board) and for the first time in well over 20 years, went swimming in the ocean.  It was glorious!  Also I must add here that I wasn't the only overweight and out of shape person on the beach in a bathing suit...so I actually think I could do this again sometime.  (At least the Decency Police didn't arrive and arrest me, so I took this as a good sign.)

What's new...well, the fall and winter yarns are starting to arrive.  I'm almost finished with a neck down pullover out of Celtic, Berroco's new tweed yarn in a wonderful blend of wool and acrylic.  I'm also finishing the latest Clapotis (www.knitty.com, see their archive for shawls and scarves).  It's super heavy and purposely big, so I can wrap up in it this fall and winter. It's taking 10 skeins of vintage Iro from Noro.  I love knitting this pattern so much...it's my "mindless" knitting project to fall back on when I'm out of all my other mindless projects (I ONLY knit mindless projects at this point in life). 

The village of Arroyo Seco is about to celebrate its 200th birthday.  The official celebration is being held on Saturday, September 2 (Labor Day weekend).  If you're in town, stop by and say hi.  Everyone in the village is participating.  There will be games for the kids down at the old elementary school, musicians and demonstrations of arts and crafts all around the village.  We'll be having a spinning and knitting demonstration,  starting the process with a raw fleece.  I had hoped to have a loom ready to demonstrate on, but alas, mine's not in running order at this time.  There will be a slide show of historic photos going all day in the old/new building just next door to us, and the church is having a special mass at 9:00 a.m., to be followed by a procession and blessing of the village.  Food by our great restaurants...just bring yourselves and plan to spend the day.

Heavy on my mind:

Wool Festival is only 7 WEEKS AWAY.  I am in shock about how fast summer has passed.  My mom used to say "the hurrier I go, the behinder I get".  I feel that way now...how about you?  We are starting to see the first teensy signs of fall in the air...and last night the local television station informed us that in another inch or so, we will have recorded more rain this summer than any other since they've been keeping weather records.   A far cry from this past winter, our driest winter in 102 years!

Classes coming:  Thursday, October 5:  Handspun Heaven with Terri Ranck.  Monday, October 9:  Tie One On with Terri Ranck.  See our What's New page on our website for more info on these.  I spoke with Terri a few days ago...she's knitting the class sample for Handspun Heaven...she's hardly sleeping because she's so involved in this project.  I am worried we're going to have to send the Wool Police to go and get it from her...

Taos Camp Pluckyfluff is booked!!!!  Write this down on your calendar...Lexi Boeger is coming to Taos Sunflower to share her MANY wonderful spinning techniques on Thursday and Friday, October  4 and 5, 2007.  These are the two days preceeding the annual Taos Wool Festival next year.  If you're already a spinner and have a desire to add to your skills and bring some long lost fun to your spinning, you won't want to miss this workshop.  If you aren't a spinner but want to be...then now is the time to start spinning and this class will be perfect timing for you and your sweet beginner spinning skills.  Contact the shop to be put on a waiting list...specifics on class fee, time, etc. will be posted by early October.  This is a special event and we are lucky to be able to have Lexi come to Taos...come join the fun!   ----Martie

Handspun Heaven

Last month, our honorary Sunflower, Terri Ranck, was here to teach her always popular "Tie One On" class.  When Terri's here, it's always like a party in the shop.  She has such creative vision and loves the colors and textures so much, we practically tear the store apart playing "what if you put this with that????"  I'm telling you, dear knitters, it's almost too much fun to be legal.

So this last visit, Terri discovered some of our newest additions to Taos Sunflower...or own handspun yarns.  She took some of our ever popular Malabrigo merino wool and assorted handspuns, and in less than two days had started a sweater (of her own design, of course) she referred to as Handspun Heaven.  I want to say right here that the pictures I'm including don't do this work justice.  Terri had some brilliant ideas about using the handspun so as to maximize the yardage available and leave the yarns shown to their best advantage.  This has now spawned a new class, aptly named Handspun Heaven, which is happening on Thursday before Wool Festival (October 5, 9:30-4:00).  For more information, see the "What's New" page on our website.  At this writing, we are close to filling this class...but don't despair...maybe we can talk Terri into teaching it twice that week!

Terri is going to make a sample for her class, and soon as possible, we'll post pictures here to give you an idea of what you'll be learning to do.  For time considerations, the class will help you design your own shawl using the glorious, textured, handspun yarns you'll find at the shop.  I'm hoping I can sneak into this class, too! ---Martie

Home Sweet Home

Today is a day at home...and despite having slept in late, I'm optimistic about what might get done today.  Last evening I managed an hour upstairs (the land of wools, wheels, and yarns) and was able to pick up and organize a little, in anticipation of today's dreamed of productivity.  It's a double-edged sword...when I'm madly creating, things go flying all over, with no cares of picking up.  Then when I'm ready to start on a new tangent, I'm clogged (mentally) by my own clutter. 

I have long intended to share with you our summer's tenants on the porch at the shop.  They are a small but sociable family of barn swallows.  This is the first year they've been with us...usually we host pigeons (don't get me started on that subject) and what I think are little finches.  Last week I climbed a ladder to try to get a close up of the barn swallow nest which I will now share with you:

I now understand the old saying about feathering your nest...theirs is a mud base (barely visible) and the top is gloriously adorned with the most delightful feathers (origin unknown...anyone have an idea?).  Their creativity and willingness to share their family with us has even caused me to overlook (forgive) the mess that lies beneath...

So the next time you're feeling guilty about all the yarn or fiber you've amassed, just think...you're actually feathering your nest...----Martie 

Possessed

I fear I am a woman possessed...every hour not spent working in the shop, eating, or sleeping is spent designing and spinning new yarns.  My latest ensemble, which I've named "Garden Party", is now in the shop on display (and for sale).  It is a bundle of four coordinated yarns, hand dyed mohairs and wools with lots of goodies inserted to make it special.  I think of these bundles as the artistic seed for a project...use them alone or add to the mix to make more yardage for a one of a kind project.

The last weeks, our friend and Honorary Sunflower Terri Ranck was in Taos for some vacation and teaching time.  She taught her popular "Tie One On" class, and yet a new group of enthusiastic knitters is now launched to make their own unique garments based on Terri's techniques.  While she was in town, we made her swoon with our handspun yarns, and she's gone back to Texas, working on a design and plan for a class using these yarns, to be held this fall.  Dates and information on Terri's classes will be posted on our website's "What's New" page tomorrow (Monday 7/24).  We think you'll love what she's up to and will not want to miss this class.  (www.taossunflower.com)

A while back I posted a query about favorite knitting books...well...the votes were cast.  Here's what we came up with:

The Principles of Knitting by June Hemmons Hiatt received the most passionate recommendation.

Knitting in America came in second, for its  beauty and inspiration.

I could not make myself pick one favorite (see how I am?) but would have to say anything by Elizabeth Zimmerman makes me feel free.   Thanks to those of you who participated!

---Martie

P.S.  I've added a few of my favorite sites...check  them out when you have time!

Change of Heart

Have you ever started a project and then decided it was the wrong job for the yarn?  Well, that's what happened to my Spring Socks.  I finished one sock and while I loved it, I knew that the yarn was too fragile for socks, at least the kind of wear I put them through.  So, back to the drawing board.  I ended up deciding to knit yet another Clapotis (see www.knitty.com archives, under shawls and scarves) by Kate Gilbert.  Here's my photo of how it turned out...please note I haven't finished dropping all the stitches yet, so it will have more texture when I do.

If you haven't knitted the Clapotis yet, get ready for some big fun.  It is knit on the diagonal, and assisted by lots of stitch markers, every so many rows you drop a stitch, which then gets pulled to make that wonderful open look and makes you look like some kind of knitting genius.  All of the Sunflowers have knitted them many times...they are luscious in Kureyon, Silk Garden, Silver Thaw (those self striping yarns really show off the design) and Lorraine's most recent favorite, Misti Alpaca Lace Weight.  Make them wide for shawls (the design hangs on your shoulders nicely) or make them narrower, as I have for this sock.  Happy knitting!  ---Martie   

PS  My apologies for my photographer (rather, lack of) skills...the colors look a little washed out.  However, in my defense..the scarf was knitted in three color progressions, from dark to light...                                             

Love at first sight

When Monte and I were visiting Placerville during camp weekend, we meandered through the many shops and antique stores in the historic district.  I had made a pact with myself that I wouldn't buy anything I couldn't carry home...which, if you knew how I can accumulate things, was almost like saying I wouldn't buy ANYTHING.  And so I went, with the best of intentions...

Until I saw her.  She was window dressing in an antique shop...sitting there all all pretty and round and solid...an antique oak spinning wheel.  My heart flew to her and we both knew it was meant to be.  Next to her was her friend, the antique skein winder.  Oh, what a pair they were, just teasing me. 

However...Monte and I had just gone through hell and back trying to get our own spinning wheels packed and shipped to camp from Taos, so I knew what the problems with getting these two home would be...and apparently, so did the shop owner.  I tried and tried, but couldn't get him to budge on helping me with crating and freighting them to Taos.  I left town with a feeling of unfinished business. 

Then the dreams started...how this little wheel NEEDED to be with me.  I simply had no way to do it, I said.  Then came the stronger message:  this wheel was once loved and used by someone, and when she (most likely) died, her family didn't care about it.  This was the message that really wrenched my heart.  Have you ever felt like that about something?  I have a kitchen and home stocked with what I like to refer to as "rescued" items...mostly useable...some of my kitchen utensils go back to early 1800s.  (I guess it's my concern that I will die and no one will love my things in the generations to come.)

Yesterday I learned that a friend in the area would gladly store the wheel for me until I could drive out to pick it.  JOY!  I just called and found out that the wheel AND the winder are still there...waiting for me as I hoped they would be.  I wish I had a picture to share with you, but I don't.  I'll post one in the fall when we reunite in Placerville...and now my heart feels fulfilled, until my next little love affair!  ---Martie

Small village...big party

By the time most of you read this, you will have already enjoyed your 4th of July holiday.  This year, Connie and Lorraine and I decided to keep the shop open and witness the highlight of Arroyo Seco's year, the annual 4th of July parade.  We closed the shop just as the parade started, and I dutifully toted the camera, to chronicle this event for those of you who couldn't attend.  Here's a little of how it went...first came the conquerers, in full regalia... (forgive the head).  Next came some other  locals, out enjoying their truck (notice the head has now been joined by The Hat, and if you look closely, even HE isn't happy about it, me thinks).  There were some entries with kids in them, but to be honest with you, it was getting pretty crowded on the front lines and I was rapidly losing ground and couldn't get pictures of them.  My friends from Morningstar Farm, our neighborhood source of great organic produce, came by (note The Hat is now gaining ground).   Then I saw my neighbor, Gilbert Varos, and wanted to get a great picture of him atop his trusty steed, only to end up with a) a picture of the headless horseman and b) yet another person who found it comfortable to just snug right in in front of me:

Oh she of little patience!  OK, I admit it.  It's why I generally stay away from crowds.  But hey, it's just a parade (a quote from a friend of mine, who caught me whining about the crowd dynamics), and it was pretty darned cute to see all the little kids, in or out of the parade, especially when the candy started flying.  It's one of those things that makes you just plain proud and thrilled to live in a small town where events like these can still happen.  Oh...and before I forget...the last entry in the parade (poetic justice, I say):

Note to file:  if you wear a hat, you won't get so wet.  Maybe The Hat knew something we didn't.

It was a great day, and now I'm home, preparing to grill dinner and have a rousing evening starting a new shawl from "Knitting with a Smile".  To all of you, my best wishes...isn't it good to be free.    Martie