Dyeing for more yarn?

While checking out the latest at my favorite neigborhood yarn supplier, Touché, I met a lovely lady who dyes yarn in her home, and happens to live in the same zip code as Mother's crib. I examined some of her creations (actually, I fondled them for over a half-hour), and they're really quite lovely. She spins everything using a spindle, yet the consistency is remarkably uniform. Like our knitting amiga Kate Gilbert, she's due to give birth very soon, but she doesn't expect that to cramp her spinning/dyeing style in the least! When time permits, she plans to upgrade her website, but you can get a nice idea of her offerings by clicking on this link.

For those of you interested in having me import some Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride upon my return to La Belle Province, here are the details you've been waiting for:

Price: Worsted or Bulky weight - $6.95 US per skein
Nebraska Sales Tax: 7.0%

Feel free to pay me in US funds or if you rather, Canadian. I'll calculate the rate of exchange based on the day of delivery. Let me know what colors you want via e-mail, and I'll respond accordingly.

(Pssst! I'm taking a brief side trip to Denver from Wednesday to Friday this week, and will not be away from my e-mail during that time--so don't be concerned if you don't get an immediate reply. Thank you.)

Okay, I'm out. Stay real.

What to do (when there's nothing to be done)...

As I spend some time here in the Great (?) Plains, I like to end my day curled up with one of those freakishly large "Big Gulp" containers chock-full of ice water (right from the tap), some knitting, and Mummy's police scanner cranked up so I can catch up on the latest goings on between the good people of Da 'Hood (North O), El Barrio (South O), and Omaha's Finest (aka The Po-Po). It's a great way to kill a few hours while catching up on the many projects I'm working on for Christmas.

While you can't be here to suffer with me, at least you too can tune in to the madcap hijinx of the OPD by following this link. And be sure to turn up your speakers so you can hear. I'd recommend that you read the local fishwrap, but that's just too far beyond the bounds of human suffering for me to ask of anyone (although they do have one of the hottest sportswriters on the planet). It's a shame that his writing could put a meth addict to sleep, but I guess you can't have it all.

Let me know if anything good goes down while I'm away. I hate missing out on any excitement (because damn-- it so rarely happens 'round these parts).

Finally! A profile that actually gets it right!!!

Your Personality Profile

You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

The Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival - Recap(s)

"The Morning After"

Way back when, I said I'd describe the Montreal Knits weekend outing to the Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival, that was held October 1st & 2nd.

I forgot.

But in the meantime, I did drop kind of an open letter to devoted knitter Caroline, describing in brief, our activities...and it went like this:

Salut Caroline!

Our trip to Vermont was loads of fun, and oddly enough, nobody was arrested. Nobody even had to undergo a strip search at the border, either.

The quick overview is that we got some nice buys at the festival, and even saw this sheep named Molly Anne, who basically ignored our Molly Ann, and stayed at the back of her pen, chewing straw for what seemed like days.

Later, we attempted to do a little partying in our rooms, after making a trip to a grocery store, where we bought mass quantities of junk food and wine coolers. We must be a bunch of old farts, because we pretty much pooped out after supper, and fell asleep before 3:00 a.m.

Sunday we spend the day buying stuff we can't afford (mostly clothing), and Véronik blew everyone's mind with her ability to find great buys in clothes at a very rapid pace. Her services were offered for anyone who wanted them, but I think Mona was the only one to accept.

After spending most of whatever was left, we hung out at a coffee place downtown, where we knitted, got loud and silly, and ate some really good vegetarian chili and multi-grain bread, baked at the place. (You'd have loved that part, too).

On the ride home, we gossiped about various celebrities, and talked about how much trashy fun the original version of 'Lance et Compte' was to watch.

I tricked Mona to take a long, circuitious route to my door, where Melanie had to make a nature call, due to the unplanned length of the ride. Mona, Melanie, and Véronik got to meet my son Fidel (the guinea pig), and touched his ass, because he's got really long fur that hangs off his back end like a bad hair piece. A good time was had by all. After that, they continued homeward.

The End.

Next time, we're kidnapping you so you can come with us, and make lots of mischief.

Okay, see you soon,

- Deawn

If you require more 'actual knitting-related' content, you should click on over to Mona's site, because she described it far better than I ever could...And don't forget to check out this part, with the (semi-) incriminating pictures too!

Sheer (and Opaque) Genius

Talk about versatile...dig it:

"The Many Moods of Clapotis"

Now that's what I call creative!

A couple of blasts from the past...Especially For You(s).

This post (and links) are dedicated to all the knitters in attendance yesterday at the Second Cup at St. Catherine & Bleury. I won't embarrass you futher by naming names, but something tells me you're going to click on this link and this link just to see what's on the other end...

More from the 'Oh Wow' Dept.

Picture this: naked and bleeding, a burglar plops onto the floor from the ceiling of a 'Check 'n Go' outlet, then leaps to his feet, and scurries out the door...

That's the premise behind a really cliché comedy skit--and an actual occurrence that took place early Thursday morning in Darlington, South Carolina. Read it and weep.

As if that's not pitiful enough, here's the long-awaited post of the 'Sanitary Holiday Slippers' which I mentioned ages ago, but neglected to include the photo. You'll want to get right on this in time for the fall craft shows and holiday gift giving. Me, I think it'd be swell* to whip up a pack of 48 (that's 12 pairs of slippers) for a church bizarre.*

Happy crafting!

*Yes, I meant to do that. Both times. So deal.

The Bold & The Beautiful

These two photos are shots from actual convenience store/gas stations in the midwest. I post them here as proof for those in attendance at the last Montreal Knitting Thang, held last Wednesday evening. You'd think that with the high cost of fuel, the ownership behind 'Kum & Go' would harbor some concern that the name might encourage drive-offs. One thing is for sure--the idea for the name of this place is unabashedly male. (Conversely, 'Pump 'n Munch' seems to reflect more of a female sensibility...)

Speaking of which, we discussed which guy on TLC's 'While You Were Out' is hotter. I argued for Andrew Dan Jumbo (pictured left), while the majority preferred John Bruce (on the right). I'm not one of those people who is impressed by big, huge, massive, rippling ,enormous muscles (per se), however I think in reviewing the entire package, the evidence speaks for itself. Loud. Deafening, even.

Then again, I might have unusual tastes...I don't like rhubarb, fried liver, or tapioca pudding, either.

Favor, please!

I urge you to kindly go to this site, and vote for Herbie Husker. The contest requires you to vote in each matchup listed, and since I couldn't care less about any of the others, pick whomever else you like--as long as you don't forget to vote for Herbie Husker.

(Normally I wouldn't advocate voting for a team so dull that their mascot of choice is some boring-ass WASP, but hell; it does seem to accurately represent the place...)

Yes, I realize he has a big, cheesy grin, but what they hell...just play along. And be sure you vote at least once daily until the contest's end. It'd help if you put the word out there, so your friends, enemies, e-mail buddies, co-workers, and relatives can help stuff the ballot box with us!

Thank you for your cooperation.

This result is a damn lie...

But I don't think the test has been written that acurately captures my complex nature (and my natural complexes). And the only thing woolly about me is my hair. Nevertheless...


You are Shetland Wool.
You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a
little on the harsh side. Though you look
delicate you are tough as nails and prone to
intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are
widely respected and even revered.


What kind of yarn are you?
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