Saturday, January 30, 2010

Oh my! What Big Pom Poms You Have!


This Little One visited the Grove with her mother and grandmother yesterday. Her gram knit her this wonderful hat. Little One had the most amazing expression on her face...as if she were wearing a crown encrusted in jewels intead of pom-poms. I've never seen a baby with a regal expression on her face before...but that's exactly what we saw. We were half expecting her to wave to the peasants!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

To Market We Shall Go!


I had to leave before the Market Bag Class finished and I thought I missed the grand finale. Judi patuti saved the day by taking this photo. Wouldn't these make great knitting bags! Katy (left) has another idea for hers. I know you won't believe this from the photo, but she's expecting her first baby in February. So, she'll probably be using her market bag as a diaper bag!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Nothing Like a Full House

Ah, January. There's nothing like a full house of students, sewing, knitting, beading, etc.!

This is judi patuti's sewing class finishing up their Market Bags yesterday. Don't they look happy .... and proud? As they should be!





We also had a drop-in knit class running simultaneously, raising the creative energy in the Grove sky high. There is something special about creating beautiful things side by side. That makes us co-creators, no? And that's a pretty special bond!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Namaste's Monroe Bag & Wallet

Oh, man. I am a Namaste junkie from the word "go". Now, you'd think that because I own a yarn shop and can have anything I like that I'd have just about everything at home that's in the shop. Not true. I'm very selective about the things I keep. Except when it comes to Namaste. I have bought every bag they've made in the past 4 years. Their latest bag, the Monroe, is the best so far...it has three sections, it stands up, it has plenty of pockets, and their signature strong magnetic clasp. And the colors...awesome. Judi patuti brought me back an eggplant set of the Monroe bag and matching wallet from the TNNA and I am loving using both.
We've ordered every color and anticipate delivery early next week. If you want a particular color, please call the Grove at 619-284-7684 and we will reserve your color.
I am also in love with Namaste's snap bags which are perfect project bags that fit inside the Monroe. It's nice to have current, functional stuff!!!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Knit Loafers

Oh hell, how cute are these?!! I am all over knitting these right away and I think I will use Punta Yarns' Merisoft which is, well, soft! And it comes in some yummy colors. If appropriate, I may just have this as a class in February. As usual, I'll forge the path and if it leads to a good place, we'll do it!



The pattern can be downloaded for $6.00 from CocoKnits. And do check out her other gorgeous patterns! I'm in love with all her stuff!

Special thanks to Tru for introducing me to this wonderful line!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Home Sweet Home

When David arrived home from Portland last night, he opened his suitcase to give me handmade presents from our grandbabies. When we next turned around, this is what we saw - Scout saying ... if you go anywhere again, you will take me with you! The not so funny part, is she is lying on top of David's Rowan hand-knit sweater! She's got good taste.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Bitterroot Very Pretty


This is my cozy Bitterroot shawl which I completed on Sunday. It's lovely to wear. Light, soft and warm. And I knitted it in a little over a week during the evenings. So it is not as big of a commitment as I originally thought.

Also, I wanted to remind everyone that we are having a Bitterroot KAL on Sunday from 3-5 pm. I will definitely be starting my second shawl then with one of the gorgeous Pagewood Farms hand-dyed sock yarns that's coming in this week! Hope you can join us. For more information, just hit the newsletter link on this page in the right-hand column.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Seahorses & Other Exotica


I've visited aquariums in Boston, Baltimore, and Monterey, but have never in my 20 years of living in California been to the Stephen Birch Aquarium. Okay, I learned today that that is a crime!

The Birch is not the biggest. There are no penguins greeting you as you walk in the front door like in Boston. And there's no seal show like in Baltimore or tuna like in Monterey. The Birch is more of an up close and personal place focusing on smaller, exotic creatures, like seahorses. The seahorse in the left photo is only about 3" tall.

The photo above right shows a Purple Lime Puff and really, the colors in that photo are accurate. This is not photo shopped! (If anyone knows the real name of this entity, please let me know!)

While I could not capture the colors in the reef below, check out the textural diversity. I'm wondering if I can create knit stitches based on these formations. And I know, I can use these color combinations in my knitting!

If you need any inspiration...if you are feeling like you are living in a colorless world (because you're a lawyer, for example!), do visit the Birch to inhale the colors and textures there and you will be satiated!

And then afterwards, drive down to Brockton Villa and relax on the deck overlooking the Cove where you can hear the controversial seals bellow while eating Coast French Toast.

And on that note, I leave you with the Pink Bathrobe Anemone (okay, if anyone knows the name of this, please let me know!).