as cozy as spring

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Summer Yarns

Sunshine Yarns Superwash Merino (New Moon Alice Colorway) first seen here- 230 yards of chain plied... I didn't bother checking the weight.  It looks like worsted, but might be closer to dk.  Realistically, it's probably lace weight in some areas and bulky in others. :)

I used to spend so much time telling myself I couldn't do things.  When my sister learned to knit I was sure I couldn't.  Then when I did, I was sure I couldn't ever conquer anything more complex than a hat.  I used gaze at all the beautiful handspun yarns wishing I could create something so lovely.  This latest spin, one that should knit up into fun little stripes, is something I've wanted to manage since I started.  My kind husband tried to summon some enthusiasm when I showed it to him. I think he gets that it's not about the yarn, it's about the challenge.

These are all the yarns I've spun this summer.  There's no time to do much spinning in the winter, but that's fine.  Freshly spun and soaked wool dries almost instantly in the summer heat and that might be the only redeeming quality of temperatures in excess of 100 (or 105 or 110).  

Saturday Morning Book Post

We are on our way to the grocery store, so this will be brief.

I picked up The Help out of desperation for anything to read.  I've read so many good reviews.  It's great so far.  I hope it ends happily because I need something cheerful to get me through the rest of this summer.  My sister recommended I Capture the Castle for some light summer reading and that is on my list of things to find today.  I'm not a huge fan of fiction, something that only recently occurred to me, but (every five seconds my children are coming up to tell me something so I cannot even finish this sentence and I'm calling it a post).

My daughter and I are reading The Incorrigibles of Ashton Place II: The Hidden Gallery.  I'm liking it as well as the first.

For my little boy, I picked up Arnold Lobel's Fables.  A little kooky but pleasant.  I'm charmed by his artwork.

Happy Saturday to you!

Hope

I've been backing up my photos for the last few days.  I'm stuck in February right now.  It's been surprisingly happy work.  I thought I'd share this photo for my heat weary friends.  It can't last forever.  

 

 

Right?

A place for their stuff.

(I don't really feel like posting much.  Texas has turned uninhabitable and it is intensely depressing.  I am forcing myself to write about something pretty or happy in an effort to cheer up.)

I left the sewing machine out after I wrapped up the duvet cover.  I think that's the hardest part of sewing, just getting the machine out. 

Combined inspiration - The embroidery pattern came from Embroidery Companion and the bag pattern came from Bend-the-Rules Sewing.  I stitched the M weeks ago while playing Monopoly with my little family.  I really hate Monopoly, but we play the Peanuts version which makes it bearable.  It isn't well done.  I'm not that precise with the needle, but my daughter loves it so I'm happy.  

My son's little zipper tote was sewn from that adorable hedgehog fabric which is ridiculously hard to find.  I managed to score something like an eighth of a yard last year.  It had to be used on a super special (and tiny!) project.

So what do they hold?  My daughter's holds her newly acquired (and highly controversial) allowance.  My son's holds Star Wars Lego dudes.  

My daughter turns 11 tomorrow.  I may write a post just for her as I did for my son, but I'm feeling emotionally delicate lately and it might trigger a giant wave of tears because my babies insist on growing up despite the fact that I've told them time and time again I will not tolerate that sort of thing.