Kaffe Fassett Squares Scarf Kits are ready!

I finally have some good news for those of you waiting for the Kaffe Fassett Squares Scarf Kits from Vogue Knitting Winter 2008.  THEY’RE READY!  I have (2) in stock.   I had (3), but Phyllis B. has been waiting for a while and got first dibs.  I’ll be working on getting more together.  This is the PERFECT time to start knitting your Holiday gifts and those cold weather items you would like FOR YOURSELF.  Here is the photo from Vogue, to refresh your memory.

Kaffe's Square Scarf/Shawl from VK Winter 2008

Please don’t hesitate to email me at info@yarnstudio.com with any questions about this kit.  Remember that it does not include the magazine or needles.  I’m so happy to finally be able to offer this kit!  It’s hard to get 20 colours in stock at once.

 

Here are some things I’ve been up to in the kitchen:   

Mermaid Salad a la Papatya

Figs and Raspberry Galette in my kitchen

The girls in my knitting group, Memphis Knit Mafia, were all about the figs last week.  They got my baking juices flowing and I went out back and picked some figs from my tree.  Epicurious.com is my favorite cooking site, so I went there to see what I could do with the figs.  The galette is delicious, and very easy.  You should try it!

I’ve been busy making jewelry as well.  The Intergalactic Bead Show (who came up with THAT name?) was in Memphis this past weekend, and I dropped some coin there.  I bought 3 different shapes of pearls to use in my creations.

Pearl Drops on etsy

Coin Pearl on Linen

Please check out my latest works when you get a chance.  I’m having so much fun!

Oh, and I’m STILL knitting.  This one’s a long-sleeved pullover in Nashua’s Creative Focus Silk for Susan Mills at Nashua Handknits.

Here’s a recent caravan photo before I go!

Caravan Photo

Paris and Poison Ivy

I apologize.  I do have plenty to write about.  This Summer heat in Memphis has made me downright lazy.  Those of you who live here know that I’m not exaggerating about the heat.  We’ve already broken 100 degrees F several times already, and we’re deep in to one of our droughts.  We’re very lucky to have a dependable water supply.  We’re allowed to water our gardens whenever we want to.

Paris was beautiful.  It was a different experience with my sister than it was the first time with DB.  My sis made it her mission to show me Paris the way she sees it.  We spent 3 nights in Paris in a quaint 6-story hotel down the street from the Odeon Theatre, near Luxembourg park. 

Front of our hotel in Paris

We had mostly French meals;  terrine, crepes, salami sandwiches, much fruit, foie gras, CHEESE.  For the sake of speed, we had McDonald’s one morning. 

In France, this is dessert. CHEESE!!!

The French Open (tennis tournament) was in progress.  We waited in line 2 hours, only to be sold that it was sold out for the day.  We spoke with some interesting characters in line with us…a couple of girls from Belgium and an old French geezer. 
We walked through an open air market that featured much fresh fruit and vegetables.  It was fun to see the different produce.  (Some of it I’d already seen, growing up in Turkey.)  It was at this market that I bought 4 different types of cheese to bring back with me.  I’m still munching on them! 

French radishes

Near the end of our third day in Paris we broke down and hopped on one of those open air tour boats you’ve seen in the movies.  It was well worth it.  Our feet were tired.
During this trip we saw the usual sites; Musee d’Orsay, Les Tuilieres, the Eiffel Tower (at night), just to name a few.

Hmmmmmm........

The subway was very convenient and simple (except at the Eiffel Tower station….remember that when YOU go).
The fourth morning of our trip we took a train to Gouvieux, where my brother, his girlfriend, and their two sons live.  We spent three glorious days in the garden, eating cherries off the tree and visiting with the nephews.  We stayed in a B&B because the house is so tiny.

The flight is expensive, but if you’re diligent, you can find a nice hotel or B&B for a reasonable price, and have a great time in France.  I highly recommend it.   It helps if you have family there!  I’m very lucky.

View from the B&B window of the Oise River

I didn’t visit any yarn shops.  I have PLENTY of yarn.  I knit a little on a pair of socks, “brainless“, but not much.  {BTW, these socks are NOT brainless!}  I’ve been having a problem with my ring fingers….they hurt.  I may have the beginnings of arthritis.  I’m currently working on two projects for Norah Gaughan (Berroco) that are due July 23rd.  I just got the yarn yesterday.  I doesn’t hurt to knit, I’m very happy to say.  However, I have to submerge my hands in ice water for 15-20 min. per day once a day.  IT HURTS when I do that!

The air-conditioning in our home decided to break down last night.  We’re now looking at a huge replacement cost.  I must knit faster if I’m going to pay for my half!

The caravan is looking good.  I have a good excuse for not having any photos.  The camera is broken.  It’s a Canon PowerShot A75.  The camera began malfunctioning in Paris, and finally quit working in Gouvieux.  I have contacted Canon, and they refuse to fix it for free.  This is the second problem I’ve had with this camera.  The first time, they fixed it for free.  You may have a Canon camera and love it.  I believe that if something stops working properly, totally unprovoked, it should be repaired for FREE.  Canon refuses to fix it for FREE.  SO, when I can get my hands on a camera that works, I’m going to take a picture of the Canon A75 that I have smashed with a hammer.  I will try to remember to post the photo here and send them a photo as well.  Canon is dead to me!  Sony would not have done this to me!

Sorry about that rant…..it had to be done!

The poison ivy.  We have some in the back yard.  Ripper has been rolling around in it and giving it to me.  I’ve got it on my legs, behind and on my right ear, on my elbows and forearms, and on the back of my neck.  This happens every year.  I get poison ivy, THEN I finally clear it from the yard.

Crank up the air-conditioning, if you have it, and start knitting those holiday gifts!  Here is a good place to look for patterns!  Also, I have a new kit available, “Da Vinci” from Rowan Magazine 44.  It’s at 10% off retail of the yarn, PLUS, it’s already all in one place, so you don’t have to shop different places to get all the colours/yarns.  Start knitting NOW for Winter garments!