Jo Sharp has just left the building….

 Carol Durdin is a terrible human being.

Jo Sharp is leaving the States.  Below is the email I received from them this morning:

“Dear Customer: [that’s me, the retailer!]
Jo Sharp is closing her US operation because sales are not sufficient to support the stock and supply service that was offered. Closure is effective from May 18th.  A website based in Australia will offer on-line sales to consumers worldwide in the near future.” 

Her yarns are beautiful.  She has the softest tweeds on the market, without a doubt.  It’s very sad the the US hasn’t realized that soon enough.  I had it in the yarn studio (brick & mortar) and still have it on the website.  I don’t have everything, but I have a good amount of the Classic DK Wool and some tweeds.  I also have some of her books, which are EXCELLENT.  I’m currently working on the “Loose Textured Cardigan” from knit 7.  Of course I couldn’t just knit it straight out of the book.

I decided I would knit a “black” colourway since I had the black Alpaca Kid Lustre in stock.  I’m making the cardigan in the blacks, and I will knit the pullover in the chartreuse (my other favorite colour) as written in the book.

I’ve gotten a lot of work done on the caravan.  HOWEVER, I kind of injured my right wing doing it.  I must heal up before I leave for Paris.  I’d much rather drag that roller bag around the Metro with my right hand than my left.  It really would be better for everyone in the vicinity!  The downside of the injury is limited activity.  I’m still able to KNIT, cook, and pack.

Deciding what knitting to take on this long trip [MEM to ORD to DUB to CDG and back again] is a challenge.  I think socks are a must, as I enjoy the challenge of the patterns I seem to gravitate toward.  I knitted a whole SKIF sweater to and from Turkey a year ago, so I think a sweater should also be included in the carry on.

I hope the food’s good on the plane!

I may or may not post again before I leave, but, I will be listing a new necklace, again a la Sundance catalog, on my etsy page: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6978923

I’ll be taking a lot of pictures in France!  We’re staying in a B & B in Gouvieux (where my brother lives).  Hostellerie du Pavillon Saint-Hubert.  Check it out!

My Wavy Baby

I can’t wait to be finished with this tank!  (by Kate Lemmers, in the Knitter’s Magazine 94, Spring 2009)  I think the cut will suit me.  I hope so…I plan on making another one in the Jitterbug in the Popsicle colourway, just for a little variety.  This one’s in the Bright Charcoal colourway, which is a little subdued. 

Wavy Baby in Bright Charcoal Jitterbug

I’ve got a new necklace on etsy.  I bought these really cool light green glass leaves (with a matte finish) that I couldn’t WAIT to use), and they are perfect for Spring:  http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24678655  The photo should be in the feed on the right, at the top.

I’m almost finished with the dress for Teva.  Depending on when I get the final instructions from her, I hope to have it out of here by Saturday.  I have my next project lined up with Susan Mills at Nashua/Westminster Fibers.  I have no idea what she’s sending me, but I’m grateful for the work.  That project should carry me through my trip to Paris. 

I baked a strawberry cake Saturday night, and I substituted a 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour for 1/2 cup of the plain old flour.  I always feel good about using wheat flour, BUT, it sure does dry things out!  Also, it was kind of “brickish”.  Kind of stiff.  It does taste good though, and the most important thing is that DB liked it.   

 

Martha's cookies

 I remained in a baking mood and baked Martha Stewart’s Rosemary Butter cookies from her cookie cookbook, since I have a rosemary plant, and had the butter.  I didn’t roll the dough in the fine sugar as instructed, as I thought there was enough sugar in them already.  DB seems to like these too.  They are going fast.

I’ve decided I’m going to knit the new SKIF Swing in Schaefer Laurel in the Ethel Waters colourway:

I’ve been getting emails from people who want help selecting yarns for their SKIF garments….I have a little trouble with this also, so I’m having reservations about making suggestions.  My advice to you is:  read the pattern and try to do what they say.  I’ve only knitted the Martha, and I used Schaefer Laurel on that one too (Frieda Kahlo colourway).  I plan on trying GGH Safari one of these days, but I love that yarn so much that I want to be careful when I finally use it.  If I don’t answer your emails about the yarn selection for the SKIFs, it’s because I’m scared to.  Please understand and have mercy on me.  I’d like to apologize for the disarray of the SKIF Patterns page.  I somehow really screwed up the top and don’t know how to fix it.

Keep on knitting, and be happy!