Flowers
Thank you to everyone who is helping me de-stash. Last night I got a lot of yarn, fiber and tools on it's way to new homes. Even my husband was impressed by the number of things heading out the door in such a short period of time. I'm just happy that some of this stuff will get to have a new life in someone else's stash!
A lot (and I mean a lot) of people asked after the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Merino/Tencel blend. While I only had one batch to sell, I wanted to let everyone know that Toni Neil at the Fold sells handpainted Blue Moon rovings. I didn't discount that roving at all, so if you wanted that fiber or fiber like it, I'd suggest giving Toni a call or dropping her an email. She's very helpful and I know she will take orders over the phone.
I have updated yesterday's post so that items that I no longer have are no longer shown. When something says "SALE PENDING" it means that someone has committed to the item, but I have not received payment for it yet. If I do not receive payment for something in a reasonable time (reasonable depending on the payment method) then I will offer it to the the next person in my inbox.
In the meantime, it's not all de-stashing around my house. There are definitely some new entrants into the stash as well. The most recent batch of stash enhancements came from Lettuce Knit in Toronto.
Right after I got to Lettuce Knit, Rachel H (a most excellent enabler) made sure I had the Tulips Baby Sweater kit in my hand. Tulips is a pattern designed by the folks at Dream in Color Yarn and uses their beautiful handpainted worsted weight superwash wool, Classy. This isn't normally offered as a kit -- Megan at Lettuce Knit has decided to help make this project more available to knitters everywhere by putting together the small amounts of each color that you need to complete the project. It's a very sweet, colorful little sweater. And if you've been watching the Yarn Harlot's blog, you know it knits up fast. I decided that this would be the first sweater I would knit for the Z Baby -- it will be much too large for her for a while, but it should be about perfect for her when it's coldest here in Chicago. And it's about the size project I can actually tackle right now and have some hope of completion.
The other little treat in that basket is some Handmaiden 2 Ply Silk Cashmere in a colorway that iis just so much purply radiant fabulousness I couldn't say no. 300 meters is enough for something nice in either the scarf or small shawl category, I think. Perhaps a nice treat for myself during my maternity leave... assuming, of course, that I can focus on knitting anything during that time.
I thought I'd close with one of my favorite signs of summer -- the first peony bloom of the new year.
Peonies are probably one of my favorite summer flowers. I love how big and bold and colorful and flamboyant they are. I love watching them rise from the ground every year, sometimes so fast that you think you can see them grow. These flowers aren't afraid to be beautiful and they can even grow happily in an urban environment just as long as you give them a little sun. If "bloom where you're planted" applies to any flower, it's my peonies -- putting on a show under less than completely ideal conditions. Whenever I walk out my front door and see them, they make me happy.
Welcome summer!
That will be a lovely first sweater to knit for your little one.
That sweater is wonderful and will be a terrific knit for the new babe. My peonies are still in bud form only but I've got loads and loads of buds this year and I'm quite happy about that.
I need to go out and look at my peonies...they are in a spot where I can't easily see them and I haven't looked for awhile.
Beautiful Flower!! i can almost smell it's fragrant bloom all the way over here in CA! :o)
can't wait to see the baby sweater all knit up--the next thing you know, the baby will be wearing it! i'm impressed by your restraint--only 2 purchases from Toronto?! amazing!
I LOVE peonies too. They are the state flower for Indiana where I live. To me, they smell like my grandmother's garden. They smell like childhood. They smell like home, and sunshine, and simple pleasure. After planting mine 3 years ago, this year they are finally in full radiant bloom. I brought some into the house last week, filled up my old stoneware pitcher, and luxuriated in the wafting scent of happy memories.
Blessings!
Your peonies are beautiful. I, too, love them, but mine is an ancient variety that has been in the family for many years. It is only a single flower and it has no smell, sad really, but I love it just the same. The Tulip is delightful. I will try and snag a kit for a friend that just hatched her baby bump. Glad to hear that you and Baby Z are doing well.
Your peonies are gorgeous. In every house I have lived in I have planted a veritable grove of them. It broke my heart to leave the 15 or so (maybe more*ahem*) in Virginia when we moved back to Seattle. Time to re-stock!!! Baby Z will look adorable in her sweater, can't wait to see it!
Also- I wanted to tell you I was so inspired by your stack n' whack quilt that I signed up for a stack n whack class. Thank you so much for the insight, tutorials and showing me that with a bit of concentration it can be done.
Have a great day!
Yes, I did see that cardigan on YarnHarlot's blog. happy knitting on that one.
Whoo-wee, you're getting rid of a lot...maybe I should do similar! Our peonies aren't even in bud yet, generally it's mid to late June for them around here. But they are lovely!
What a beautiful bloom! I fell in love with that sweater when I first saw it on the Yarn Harlots blog, it's too cute!