It's gonna be a long one....

...just warning you. I have a lot to say today.

What's happening at home?

We grilled burgers and look what came up on the toasted bun:

Doesn't it look just like the Honda symbol?

And....

This is evidence of Mandy's i.v. She has pancreatitis! And had to be in the hospital overnight! And now has PRESCRIPTION dog food! Ugh.

And... we have brown water. Called the well guy, who told us to call the water filtration system guy who said we need a filtration system. Ugh.

Please, please, please don't let me have a dental emergency! (root canals, crowns, fillings -- you never know with me.)

What's on and off my needles?
I finished my cousin's car seat blanket that I started on vacation:

She is due next month so I better mail it soon! This is from a pattern in Creative Knitting's May issue and I made it with Encore Colorspun. Fairly simple pattern (although the crochet around the edge seemed a little endless) and it's very cute!

My Citron shawl that I also started on vacation with vacation yarn (String Theory sock yarn - with cashmere. mmmmmmmm.... cashmere.)

My Thermis, made with Debbie Bliss Fez (can't say enough about this yarn - I love it!), for an upcoming class in the fall:

This will be a great class for beginners and more experienced knitters alike! I'm coming up with an interesting class format to cater to both of you...

Started the Mythos pattern for the August knit-a-long:

What? You don't know about the August knit-a-long? For the month of August, we're (whoever wants to) going to knit this:

On Sundays, starting at noon, we'll get together to problem solve and show our progress. Pretty informal, but I thought it would be a fun way to work on a project. Ok, I know you are asking why I'm starting it already and that's so I can be of help to those who decide they want to do this. I know that Jana is going to participate....anyone else? Starts August 1st, which happens to be a Sunday! I'll be posting a thread on Ravelry too.

So, the picture above is my swatch, which they recommend you make by starting the project (which starts with the sleeve) then slip the stitches onto waste yarn to block (which I did). I think I may have to go up a needle size since my row gauge is off (the row gauge apparently counts in this, which is not typically the case!).

What's going on at the shop?
Preparations are in full swing for the Altamont Fair. Jaye Nakamura from Mountain Treddlers Spinning and Weaving Guild organizes the Wool Nook at the fair and she was at yesterday's knit-in to give everyone the low-down on how to enter their knitted/crocheted/spun/woven items into the fair. I've got entry forms here at the shop if you'd like to stop in to get one. You can also go to http://www.altamontfair.com/ to download one. Forms need to be submitted by 7/31 if mailing them in or by 8/7 if applying online.

What is off YOUR needles?:

Jana's very adorable Baby Albert Bunting from the Knit Stitch book, made with Jeanee:

Yvette's shawl (made by Wilna) which she will wear at her son's wedding, now blocked:

So pretty!

Nancy's drop stitch scarf made with Fantasy Naturale:

And her very cute washcloth set, made for a baby out in California:

Ann's wonderful double knit scarf, made for her brother:

Jean's felted clogs made for her grandson, with Lamb's Pride Worsted:

Karen's nesting felted bowls, made with Lamb's Pride:

Wouldn't these be great gifts???? Karen is going to teach a class in how to make these in the fall!

This is Liz in her peasant shawl made from her own handspun yarn!:

And this is her Aeolian Shawl made with laceweight yarn:

Liz is from Peace, Love, Yarn and is the one who dyed the lovely yarns in the basket that is on the table in the shop!

Told you it was going to be long!