Monday, July 27, 2009

SLV Folk Art and Fiber Festival


It looks like I'm becoming a once a week blogger. I was looking through my photos and I realized I never shared our local fiber fest with you. Don't worry though, I'm still planning to share my fiber surprise with you, I just haven't gotten the chance to take photos of the beauty yet.

So the fiber festival was July 10th-12th (which now seems like months ago). I was able to go for a bit in the morning on the 11th. Claire and I meandered around the park peeking in booths. It seemed there were many more vendors than last year.

I didn't buy anything, but I did complete a trade with a friend of mine. I had knit her some fair isle mits and in exchange she gave me 6 ounces of polworth fleece as well as fine targhee fleece. So I went home very happy.


Our lys owner was at the fest with her wonderful booth. I'm excited for the Yarn Gallery grand opening townards the end of August!

Speaking of the end of August... we got the two bedroom apartment in Louisville! We are very excited. I have been busy with all the transition details, but soon we'll be trasitioning. I move up about a week and a half before David and then we don't actually move our things in until another two weeks so this will be a long process. Hopefully I'll have some interesting photos and projects along the way.

Current wedding wrap status: 12 of 17 inches into wrap number 4 of 5 required (but maybe 6)

Monday, July 20, 2009

text only update

Sorry folks no exciting photos, but I thought I'd give you a brief update on all the transitions.

I officially will be working in south Boulder, CO as of August 12th. I am very excited. I have accepted a two paralegal positions working part time for two lawyers (in the same office) which equals a full time position. I have so very much to learn!

David and I made a whirlwind trip looking for apartments this weekend. I am exhausted, but we found a place in Louisville that we are excited about. We have our application in and we are hoping to hear soon about getting the place. If we get it then I'll pass on further stats.

Lastly, I have a surprise for you fiber lovers. While we were in Boulder we went to Shuttles, Spindles, and Skeins, and I happened to pick up special something. Details and photos in the next post, so stay tuned.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wedding Wraps for a Distraction

So I have been knitting furiously to keep myself from going nuts waiting to hear about the job for which I interviewed. I will admit my focus is better this week than waiting hear last week. Last Friday I found out I was in the top two and I am supposed to find out today one way or another, but it is nearly five and no news. It's alright, I'll lean on the "no news is good news" phrase and keep my patience growing.

In all this waiting I have completed the second bridesmaid wrap and have 4 more inches to go on the third. I have also found that I very much prefer twisting the fringe to braiding it. Braiding takes about 4 hours and twisting takes more like 2 hours - if I remember right.

The pattern is the Phiaro Scarf from Interweave and here is the Ravelry link. For these wraps I am knitting the bamboo satin on US 5 needles. I am casting on 180 stitches using the long tail method and knitting until the fabric measures 17 inches.

We will be wearing the wraps with these great dresses from Target.

If I keep knitting at this rate I should be able to get them done before we move on from the valley.

Please excuse the bra straps in the back photo and my odd expression in the other. It was late and I just wanted to show you all how great it looks across the shoulders.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Mail!

Yesterday the mail was very exciting!

First of all we received a beautiful wedding invitation. Lovely handmade paper and earth tones.

Also we received a sweet birth announcement of a college friend.

And lastly, I got this fabulous skein of sock yarn. I claimed it on Ravelry and offered some of my handspun up in exchange. It is just the color I was hoping it would be and it finally arrived all the way from Australia.

Of course, I can't cast of for socks until I make some more wrap progress (update later).

This weekend is the SLV Folk Art and Fiber Festival it should be a lovely time, have a good one!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

I have returned.... and made pizza

I have returned from my journey to Ohio and back. Overall it was a very nice trip. Rather exhausting work, but we really enjoyed seeing family and friends - and being back in the lush mid-west. Good news, the van's air conditioning didn't stop working until we go back to Colorado, thankfully.

I left my flash drive at home so I can't share any knitting updates so instead I'll share with you the amazing pizza I made last night. My usual pizza making involves honey wheat crust with pesto sauce. This is all well and good, but sometimes you just need some tomato saucy white crust pizza.

Start by getting the dough rising. I used Smitten Kitchen's Stand-by Crust. I'll admit I was afraid it wasn't going to rise for me, but it was just testing my patience. I had to wait the full hour as instructed.

Once you have the crust rising then get started on the homemade sauce. I have shared that recipe before, but now I can personally recommend it. I barely even tweeked it. I just added a little extra garlic. So easy and so good. If a bit spicy isn't your thing then you might want to reduce the red pepper flakes. Also, I had a pint of sauce left over from making one pizza.

While the sauce simmers and the dough rises you can prep your toppings. I used a poblano pepper, hard salami, kalmata olives, and fresh mozzarella.

Seriously, wonderful. It definately hit the spot for me, and David kept cutting one piece after another so... give it a try.

Side note: while I was picking up my pizza toppings at the store I came across lychees!!!! This was my absolute favorite fruit when I spent time in Mozambique and I have never been able to find fresh ones in States, until now. The ones I found were at Safeway and are a product of Mexico, but I bet Meijer would have them as well. If you've never tried them go get a few - enjoy!