Hi, Jan,
You’ve been traveling, but what’s my excuse? I think I’ve been fighting something - have felt like I’ve had a very low grade bout of flu (gee, did I just have a chill? are those my muscles aching? maybe? a nap would be nice…) - and work has been non-stop, though actually quite productive (dear boss is on vacation, as much as I adore him, I do get more done when he isn’t here). Good enough? No? Well, maybe a nice juicy photo-heavy post will make up for it.
First things first - Bea is having a contest. Hie thee there and enter, if only to generate another entry for you dear sister/mother/aunt/whatever. It is for darn tooting I will not win on skill, so I need to depend on my friends.
Second, the big knitting update.
Two things from the weekend - Pearl’s Pi, which admittedly at first looked more like a tart. Since he has been sick I’ve been meaning to knit him one and it also used up some stash. I was pretty happy with how it turned out, especially the fulling. 
I haven’t been able to catch a shot of him sleeping in it yet, though it is apparent from its current condition that someone has slept in it. I don’t think it was Wilson.
And the second thing, another charity hat. Not too exciting, but it did use up some more stash. I am always amused at how I look in these pictures in the mirror - kind of quizzical, like why does that lady want to take my picture? Especially in this silly hat?
I have also been working on a long-neglected project, the Forest Path stole from Interweave Knits several years back. You can get the actual reference on Ravelry. I call mine Forever in the Forest because I’ve been working on it for so long. I started it in Toronto where Wilson and I were celebrating our 25th anniversary, and then I lost it at Niagara Falls on the same trip, then started it again, and it just hasn’t moved very fast. I blame the bobbles in the lily-of-the-valley.
Finally, on a melancholy note, I ask that you pause and honor Wilson’s Uncle Jim, who left us this week. He was a very smart, very funny, very loyal man who will be missed by his family but recognized for a long time in the wit and spirit of his children and grandchildren and even his nieces and nephews. It was an honor to know him.
Peace and love,
Ellen
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I am inspired by Pearl’s Pi…Ruby needs a new bed for her kennel and I’ve not been able to find one. For goodness sakes, why didn’t I think of knitting one?
I like the hat too…and I do love the mirror pics — the pursed lips especially, as if you are holding back some enormous secret despite being subjected to repeated camera flash.
Forest Path is also in “The Best of Interweave Knits” and I had considered it until I saw the LOTV stitches. I was mid-scarf at the moment and that was certainly enough to shoo me away…but it might draw me back if I decide I could substitute another panel. I was wondering if this was the one you were talking about when you mentioned entrelac lace.
I will honor Uncle Jim in the Sailor’s way — by lifting a cold one in his honor tonight.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Yes, Forest Path is the entrelac lace shawl. Fun in a sense because you can finish a module pretty quickly, but boy are there a lot of modules!
April 5th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Personally, I’m more likely to take pictures of people if they’re wearing silly hats.