Chickenlips Knitting

Since I've got no exciting knitting or fabulous new yarn colors to show you, I thought I'd do a meme. This is the (in) famous Flickr Mosaic Meme that you may have seen going around the blogosphere. I'm not going to tag anyone, but in case you haven't seen this and want to play, here's what to do.

The instructions to create the mosaic are:
Type your answers to each of the questions below into Flickr Search
Using only the first page, pick an image
Copy and paste each of the URLs into the mosaic maker

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your Flickr name.

Some of my answers may be rather obscure from the pics. I have to tell you that the answer to #3 is "Danvers", the town in northeastern Massachusetts where I grew up. When you type "Danvers" into Flickr, you get pics of the imposing-looking, Gothic building that we knew as Danvers State Hospital-- a mental institution. (Well, old Danvers High did in fact seem like a laughing academy at times!) I haven't been back in 10 years, but I hear Danvers State has been turned into condos. #7 is New Zealand, #9 is not a chick with green eyes and tape over her mouth, but what's written on the tape. Just wanted to clear that up. #11, a word to describe me, is not "Jack Black," that's actually 2 words. It's "Tenacious", and of course, my search turned up pictures of the vastly over-rated "Tenacious D".

If you do one, let me know so I can see it!

(That's Mr. Stitchjones on the far left.)

The audience was small but fierce.

Then there was the scoping out of the venue for Sunday's gig at the Wheeler Crab Fest, and a bit of general goofiness.

Aaand finally, the performance.

Some action in the mosh pit.

I even managed to finish a sock, but don't have a photo of it yet. During the past week I was contacted by another online yarn shop interested in ordering, so I've been in a dyeing frenzy. Must go now, as several pounds of wet wool await.

I can't wait to wear 'em!

Today was definitely a dyeing day. I did 4 worsted skeins, 8 sock yarns and a half pound of roving. Although my legs and back feel the effort, it's not that much really. Like spitting into the Grand Canyon, considering I potentially have three new wholesale clients, and if you haven't been over to the website do have a look, as it's got nice pictures and once the shopping cart is running, I think I'll have quite a few more orders than I get from Etsy (although my Etsy sales have definitely been boosted by Ravelry and word of mouth. Or since I sell sock yarn, maybe I should say word of foot? Oi, but I'm tired!)

J. and I will have to figure out sooner rather than later, how to get the dye works out into the garage rather than in the kitchen. Because it's the kitchen, I'm always cleaning up as I go. So I think if I had a separate work area, I could focus more on making lots of yarn, rather than immediately wiping up every stray drop of dye and speck of powder! The biggest thing will be getting a sink put in the garage. I can't imagine trying to dye without the sink two steps away. In the meantime though, we're all coping as best we can. Today was Michelle's last day of her junior year. She might have some summer work as an on-demand QA contractor at the translation company where I used to work. How that seems like a distant memory, even though it's only been since last September that I left! And how unsure I was about leaving. Now there is so much going on with Stitchjones, that I know I made the right decision.

I am really loving this yarn lately.

It's a thick/thin wool worsted with an acrylic thread. I've been calling it "Crinkle," and after a false start or two, I figured out what color palettes are best for it. The colorway is "Blues Trio". It's 132 yards, and I got such a great deal on it that I can sell it at a good price. Only problem is, I'm almost out! I've contacted the manufacturer, though, and hopefully their wholesale minimum isn't too high.

Wouldya look at me, rambling so much I'm starting to bore myself. I'll resurface sometime next week, with beach pics, stories, and hopefully good news! On Sunday, 14 colorways of Stitchjones Supersocks will be available at Woolgirl. I love Woolgirl's yarn photography--and her yarn, for that matter!--and can't wait to see how pretty she makes my yarn look!

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends, and may the weather be perfect for Worldwide Knit In Public Day.

Don't worry, I'm not going to wax all elf-shot Rushian poetic in this post! It's just that I got to see my favorite band play live for almost three hours, and I was swept away. Like Flutter, O queen of the dark and divine, quite a few of my friends and customers have told me "The Trees" is a favorite among my several dozen colorways. So I was just giving a little backstory in the last post.


Riiiiiight.....


Before I move on to other topics, I just have to say that I was not allowed in the Clark Co. pit of hell Amphitheater with my knitting! Officious pricks and prickettes. I should have camouflaged my sock in progress better, or at least used bamboo needles instead of my Addi aluminum size 0 dpns. "Oh, this could be used by someone else as a weapon." Yeah, those $8 beers might make somebody go postal! And I had a Tree Bark sock in the Syrinx colorway, all origins for colorway names traceable back to Rush albums of the 70s. Just itching for a cellphone pic in front of the giant video screen, because I am a complete and utter nerd. Even so, I have started a bit of a Harlot-esque trend. At least a few of my fellow Rush freaks on Ravelry are doing the same thing during the 2008 leg of the "Snakes and Arrows" tour. One got a shot of her Monkey sock in progress during an instrumental titled "The Main Monkey Business".


See how we are?


Now back to regularly scheduled BS--I mean knitting!







I don't have Photoshop, or else I would put a caution warning on the above photo--"Eye Protection Required" or some such message. Basic socks in Opal Neon. I'm still plugging at knitting up my stash, distractions and all. The color distribution stayed pretty regular, except for some wild ziggy zaggying going on just below the cuff of the sock on the right.

Hand Dyed, Handspun Bliss

This is a gift from Bobbie of Tiggywinkle Knits - some BFL roving I dyed up. Bobbie spun it into gorgeous singles, then did her plying and cabling mojo to create this beautiful yarn. (I am lingo challenged when it comes to spinning.) Anyway, thanks again, Bobbie--I love it!

I've Seen The Future

Reason #1,412 to love Ravelry: A few months back, I heard about a new knit shop opening at the Oregon coast resort town of Manzanita. I don't have much info, other than it's on the main drag (Laneda Avenue) and is called "Tspot". I sent a Rav mail to the owner, who wrote back saying she would like to meet with me whenever I was at the coast. Next weekend will be my chance! It so happens that my husband's band retreat is taking place in that very town, and I am invited to go along. The owner of Tspot is expecting me and my yarn. W00t! I do regret missing Portland's annual Pride celebration, as we march as a family every year with the Welcoming Congregations, but this opportunity seems to have come together for Stitchjones better than I could have planned it. And I'm finally going to the beach, which I've been whinging about for quite some time! On Sunday the 15th, the Cat House Band is playing at the Wheeler Crab Festival. Be there or be square, folks.

And not to start unfounded rumors or anything, but I've heard from my evil twin a reliable source that Stitchjones might have a booth at Madrona '09! That's right, you heard right, if that happens I'll be hobnobbing with the glitterati (and in need of assistance, ya sure you betcha)! Hate to use the tired old expression, but stay tuned.

OK, yes, it's very late. J. and I just got home from the concert, and I promise you a full report next post (whether you want it or not, heh,) probably tomorrow. Or today, since it's after midnight. I have just had these type of images running through my head since Rush played "The Trees" at the show, and thought a little pictorial interspersed with song lyrics was the best way to illustrate where the inspiration came from for "The Trees" colorway. Which has become one of Stitchjones' most popular, and brought about this amazing sock design!

The pattern is available at Cindy's blog.

Oh man, I am one weary warrior. Scratchy-throated from all the screaming I did tonight, and I'm not hearing so well right now. More tomorrow, or whenever I get back on here.