http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/ A Girl & her Blog en Copyright 2008 Wed, 14 May 2008 11:26:06 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The trail we chose lead to a viewing platform and was about 4.5 miles round trip. Now, I walk that far most days in Lansing without too much ado. However Lansing is flat, very flat. This hike wasn't nearly as difficult as the one I had gone on the night before, but parts were still quite steep. I ended up sleeping the whole way home & most of the evening... 2 days of mountain hiking is quite a lot for a flatlander! Luckily this time I brought my camera. I've posted a few of my favorite shots from the day. More photos & captions can been seen on flickr by clicking any of the photos. ]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/ceasars_head_state_park.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/ceasars_head_state_park.html Wed, 14 May 2008 11:26:06 -0500 Flat Rock, NC to meet up with my Aunt & Uncle at the resort where my Mum & Stan were married this winter. I rarely get to see my Aunt Nancy & to see here twice in as many months was really wonderful. I know my mom loves living so close to her sister. The brunch we went to was quite nice and we had a very energetic server. I managed to forget my camera, but we drove up there with an amazing fog coating the mountains and it was quite an amazing site. Later in the day I met a good chunk of Stan's family. Gosh people in these parts are friendly. I had the most delightful time & although it will take me a bit more time to learn names and so forth I feel really happy to have made to first meeting. Monday was all about touring Greenville and shopping. We headed over to Downtown's Main Street and set about finding the Mice on Main. We found 5 of 8 little mice sculptures. I love these sorts of projects. I need to get to Ann Arbor at some point to find the fairy doors. For me the most important shop to go to on Main was Mast General Store. They have a neatest collection of outdoor cloths, shoes, hiking supplies, and old fashion candy and toys. I knew on this trip I wanted to find a good pair of hiking shoes. I ended up finding out that I walk really unusually (I'm 1 in 100. Apparently walking mainly on the outside back of your heel is weird...) and that I'm a little hard to fit in a shoe. Luckily I found a great sneaker style hiking boot from The North Face. They're grey & green and fit my feet really well. My heel completely slipped out of so many of the shoes. I really wanted lower boots since they're for summer and I'm usually in MI where it's flat and ankle support isn't as big of an issue. I really love the shoes I ended up with! I also found a super cute purse there. Lots of pockets, zippers, and magnets. Plus it's purple. After shopping we had lunch at a little outdoor restaurant right on the falls. They we went across Liberty Bridge and explored Falls Park. Later we explored Cleveland Park, went on a much too long adventure in finding a pet shop (mom's single Red Cloud needed some fishy friends), and finally went home for a break. I barely had time to get the arch supports fitted into my new hiking shoes then it was back out the door with Stan and the dogs to head over to Paris Mountain State Park. We planned on a shorter 2 mile fairly easy hike (since I had new shoes that hadn't been broken in yet and had spent most of the day walking). We got to the turn around point and decided to go a bit further. By the time we were done we had hiked 4 miles and had gained (and lost again) 700 feet in elevation (most of that over about a 1 mile section of steep difficult trail). It turns out we hiked the most difficult trail in the park. I marked our route in red. It was beautiful. I think if I lived here I'd do that hike every week. Now I'm back to mom's, sunburnt and tired, and I think I'll take some much earned rest.]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/sunny_days_in_greenville_sc.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/sunny_days_in_greenville_sc.html Tue, 13 May 2008 00:05:41 -0500 I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day~]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/safe_and_sound.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/safe_and_sound.html Mon, 12 May 2008 00:43:39 -0500 Rachel to have her baby). Then it's off to TNNA and then a few days back to prepare for Louisa Harding to come to the shop!!!! The very next day is WWKIP day and I'm co-hosting a Lansing/East Lansing event with Woven Art. Yips! The rest of the summer is no easier... So, I'm packing/cleaning/preparing to leave my shop all by it's self for the first time (in the hands of totally awesome employees, but I'll be so far away...) I managed to finish the knitting on a very cute little project. I'm knitting a couple of Louisa Harding patterns to celebrate her coming to the shop June 13th. I used her new summer silk yarn, Mulberry... and knit a lace purse from Knitting Little Luxuries The knitting is now all finished, I just need to sew up the silk lining when I get back from Mom's. I should be able to blog while I'm away, so hope to see you all soon! ]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/a_little_trip.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/a_little_trip.html Fri, 09 May 2008 17:41:06 -0500 It was done by an aveeda institute student & I think she did a great job! Now I just need to get it parted just so & styled just right tomorrow morning...]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/haircut.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/05/haircut.html Sat, 03 May 2008 23:52:07 -0500 This little group was in the dog park. There's quite a few more of these on my Flickr page, just click either of the photos above to see them~ My hand has also healed enough for me to knit! Since Sunday night I've been working on finishing up a pattern that I've been meaning to write for years. I use this sock (or rather a version of it) to teach magic loop socks & I finally feel comfortable enough with the wording to write it as a pattern. As a shop owner I've always had trouble finding a leaflet pattern to carry in my shop with short row heels and/or toes. I hope this will fill what I see as a bit of a hole in basic sock patterns. The pattern is being sent to test knitters tonight & I still have 3 more socks to knit before I can do the photo shoot. Hopefully if I can keep up my current pace the pattern will be available in a couple of weeks. ]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/photo_kismet.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/photo_kismet.html Designing Socks Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:39:10 -0500 wild Bleeding Hearts (aka squirrel corn), May Apples, and Trillium. Trillium are my favorite Michigan wildflower. Last year I had to hike through a 1/4 mile of poison ivy to view their fleeting blooms. This year the North West corner of the park I visit almost daily is carpeted with them. I can't tell you how happy this makes me! Soon the canopy will fill out and all we'll be able to see is green skies and brown ground. I try to really enjoy this early spring carpet of life in our forests. We've enjoyed 7 days straight of 70 degree (20 C) plus weather. The downside to all this warmth for those who own Shelties is that this is the big time of coat blowing. Robin has built up this thick fluffy undercoat from a long winter & has decided that it simply must go. I brushed out an entire grocery bag of fur off of him alone tonight & he looks about 6 inches less wide. I think there is still plenty more undercoat where that all came from too. Luckily he doesn't shed much on his own, it all sits there until I brush it out. So, I suppose I'll close this out with some photos... ]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/the_joys_of_pet_ownership.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/the_joys_of_pet_ownership.html Pets Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:04:24 -0500 he doesn't swim. Toshiko however figured out how to swim last Friday and has totally loved it since then. So, I throw a stick into the lake. Robin watches it, wishing it was his. Toshiko does all the work swimming out to get it. Robin promptly attempts to take it from her as soon as she gets back into the shallows. This generally works out pretty well for him. I'll be back tonight or tomorrow afternoon with a whole lot more to say. It's been a long week. Also, for those of you in Lansing. I have a small favor to ask. As I'm writing this 1/3 of our fantastic dog park is being blocked off due to unexpected popularity. Yes you read that right. The park is so popular they're closing a 1/3 of it (including the beach where this video was taken). One of the people who lives near the park is apparently good friends of our mayor and told him the park was too loud and disturbing the peace of the neighborhood. So he immediately decided that it should close. We found out Sunday night & it will be fenced off by end of day today. Friends of Lansing Dog Parks has set up a mediation between the mayor, the neighbors, and themselves to hopefully resolve this. However I'm asking for those of you who use to park to write to our local city counsel and the mayors office to explain why the park is important and should remain open. If one person can apparently cause such an instant and dramatic effect in him, hopefully if we all speak up we can change his mind. Thank You. ]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/this_post_was_going_to_be_bigg.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/this_post_was_going_to_be_bigg.html Pets Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:03:45 -0500 The yarn is Yummy from Fibranatura. This is a super new sock yarn that came in shortly after the shop opened in it's new space. I really love it. It's 100% superwash merino in a densely spun 3-ply. I think it will hold up well, but today's the first wearing. When I finished these a few days ago I jumped right in with some sock yarn that's been in and out of my stash for about 3 years now. We kept selling out of this colorway & customers convinced me to part with mine. Then it would come back in and I'd once again grab 2 balls for the stash and this just kept happening over and over again. However we have 30 balls in right now & Stephanie has reminded me how super awesome this yarn is knit up, so rather than lingering on my needles for months I've knit half a sock in 2 days. However I've decided this yarn is pure evil. I'm a grown woman who now has Skidamarink absolutely stuck in her head. Every stitch so far of the socks (with exception of those knit in the dark which is seeming like a better and better idea) has been accompanied my the singing of this song (luckily in my head). I'm completely unable to stop! It's like how my new dog Toshiko inspires me to grab her ears and sing Do Your Ears Hang Low. ]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/lets_talk_about_sox.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/lets_talk_about_sox.html Designing Socks Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:22:54 -0500 I followed the tutorial on Kromski's website & warped the loom for a simple scarf. I used Jojoland Melody (sock yarn) to give some simple interest without worrying about changing colors. I'm kinda wishing I had choose something a tad bit heavier (my next project will be sport or dk weight), but I'm about 1/2 through my scarf and feel I'm starting to get the hang of this. We have a whole slew of birthdays this Sunday in my family (my Grandparents and one of their daughters share the same birthday). My Grandma is turning 80 and one of my aunts turned 60 last week. This scarf is hopefully going to be finished in time to be a birthday present for my Grandma. I'm hoping to get another one finished for my aunt as well. Wish me luck~]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/knit_1_weave_too.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/knit_1_weave_too.html Weaving Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:53:37 -0500 I've also knit up a super cute baby set for the shop. It's a Knitting at Knoon pattern (Wee-One Welcome Set) and knit in Lynn H's Cushy Color Sport. The other highlight of my winter crafting is actually a crochet project. This is done in Queen Ann's Lace in Noro's new yarn, Taiyo. I've got lots more to tell, but I plan on updating this blog a whole lot quicker now. Before I go I should give a quick update on the fur balls! Trent has settled in to apartment life quite well. I think he likes having a more limited range. Plus he has a super cool jungle gym thing on top of a shelving unit. Robin is now 16 months old! I can hardly even believe it. He got his big boy coat all in this winter. Despite how he looks, it's all fluff. He got a bath today and trust me, he's skinny as a rail. (no that photo isn't from today... that was about a month ago) Wait who's that!? That is Toshiko the Australian Shepherd. It's a long story, but she's now living with Robin and I. She's a super sweet girl and they get along great. ]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/return_of_the_knitter.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2008/04/return_of_the_knitter.html Pets Scarves Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:03:22 -0500 Rae's Yarn Boutique is moving. I just had the commitment papers on the loan to purchase our new building dropped off. We're now just waiting for the appraisal and then we can close. That's such a big weight off my shoulders. Now I'm just going to go off and enjoy the beautiful sun shiny day with a stupid grin on my face...]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2007/11/yippy.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2007/11/yippy.html Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:00:04 -0500 Minor Setback... I'm now the proud owner of 4 right hand mittens... I might need to fix that. http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2007/11/minor_setback.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2007/11/minor_setback.html Designing Mittens Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:01:10 -0500 And her twin~ The crazy thing is I posted the pattern page up on Ravelry about an hour ago (with a note that the pattern will be available soonish) and it's already been added to 2 queues. That's so wild! So here's the details, Delphine Mittens are written for 2 different gauges, DK and Aran weight yarn. DK version: Sample uses Debbie Bliss Rialto and Mirasol Hacho Size 3 double point needles 7sts per inch over stockinette colorwork Aran version: Sample uses Debbie Bliss Railto Aran and Socks That Rock Heavyweight Size 5 double point needles needles 6sts per inch over stockinette colorwork This pattern would be a great first colorwork project. You never use the same color for more than 5 stitches in a row so floats are less of an issue, plus the palm pattern is pretty mindless. Each mitten will probably take only a couple of evenings to knit. I'm super excited about this pattern! The charts are done and the written instructions are roughed out. I just need to finesse things and finish the second mitten. Then the pattern can be released. My only problem is these eyes keep following me distracting me from my work... That and the now daily trips to the new dog park right by my house. I love that there is a dog park now within walking distance. It's got nothing on the big park across town, but it certainly gets Robin tired out so I can work. ]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2007/11/delphine_mittens.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2007/11/delphine_mittens.html Designing Mittens Pets Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:12:11 -0500 I'm unfortunately going to have to call this one a test mitten, or very accurate gauge swatch. They're way too small. Too small for me even & I have child like tiny hands. So it's back to the drawing board to rechart the back of the hand with quite a few more stitches & back to the trenches to reknit that darn 2 color ribbing. I also woke up to snow this morning. Tiny flakes just occasionally floating down. Robin seemed very amused by the snow when we went out this morning. This cold snap & cloud cover has however, been setting the scene for some amazing sunsets! ]]> http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2007/11/vanilla_smile_a_gorgeous_straw.html http://www.extravayarnza.com/blog/2007/11/vanilla_smile_a_gorgeous_straw.html Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:18:12 -0500