We attended the STITCHES market on Friday and Saturday - and had a fantastic time!  As usual, booth after booth of glorious fiber goodies overwhelmed us, but this time, knowing that we had 2 days to explore, it was easier to scope the entire event first before consulting our project lists to find what we needed.  I know that there will be gads of blog posts detailing every booth and event surrounding STITCHES - here's my "short and sweet" recap!

At the end of the first day as we were talking with Michael Wade of Fiberbeat, Cookie A stopped me and John at the A Verb For Keeping Warm booth... snapped a photo... and tweeted us!  We were immediately thrust into fiber fame!  (what a treat - we met Cookie A... AND she loved our cardigans!!
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The big news of the trip was our friend Kenny Chua being the designer for the ladies cardigan on the cover of the upcoming issue of Knitter's Magazine!  Immediately upon entering the STITCHES marketplace, we are welcomed by the Knitter's booth... where this giant poster of the magazine cover was featured, along with the actual sweater he knit!
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Moving through the venue, we discovered a poster showing the companion vest.  Kenny and I posed here and we talked with the folks at  Bijou Basin Ranch who made the Bliss yarn that he used.  Both of these patterns are a gorgeous textural slip stitch and are sure to be treasured  classics for years to come!
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We were lucky enough to see the fashion show on Friday night - and the grand reveal of the vest on the runway!  Kenny deserves big kudos for a job well done -- his was one of the 120 items shown in the show... and as if the Knitter's cover wasn't enough, it was also featured on the cover of the fashion show program!
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We had a great time at the show... 2 days of yarn and fibery fun.  Even though there were thousands upon thousands of inspirational sights, my favorite sight of all of STITCHES was this tattoo that Tammy had - she can be found at http://punkrawkpurl.blogspot.com/ - click on the photo to be directed to her website!  It brought new meaning to the word "dedication" as it pertains to the fiber arts!   Love the sentiment and it makes me smile every time I see this photo.
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On Saturday, I wore the now famous Seahorse Cardigan.  (photos of me wearing the cardigan are coming soon, I promise!)  I was really pleased with the response that I got from this finished object - I felt famous - with so many attendees commenting on the design!  My favorite compliment?  One lady stopped me and told me that I "win" for the best sweater of STITCHES!  THAT really meant a lot to me...especially since there were masterpieces parading up and down the aisles... gorgeous cabled sweaters, kauni wonders, lace shawls... I am always enamored with all the knit and crochet masterpieces on show when I go to STITCHES - and even though we just got home, I'm excited to start making notes for the things I might want to research, purchase or learn next time!

STITCHES rocks.  It's the BEST way to get inspired for those of us who love all things fiber.  It revitalizes me and reminds me of all the options I have for my fiber art.  I am working on projects already - and eager to share them with you when the time is right!
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Siem Reap, Cambodia

Next we headed to Siem Reap, Cambodia.  I know a lot of people were a bit apprehensive about my traveling to Cambodia - mostly because of the problems they have had (they only recently ended a civil war and with the death of Pol Pot came freedom) - basically from 1976 - 1997 Cambodia was under the Khmer Rouge rule - and an estimated 1.7 - 2.5 million people were killed.

The people are amazing here.  Loving, smiling, and full of energy; working hard to re-capture their traditions.  The first night in Cambodia, we went to dinner where a children's troupe performed first a shadow puppet show, then a series of traditional dance.  The music is also performed by the children.  I made a small video of one of the dances to show everyone what the traditional Khmer dance is like.  The costumes were Thai in style, because traditional Khmer costumes would have been topless:  
To get prepared for the visit to this country, I read When Broken Glass Floats and learned the story of one family and their struggle during this time.    I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the human struggle and real life story of those who lived the horrors.  I finished the book while in Siem Reap, and felt quite connected to the culture. 

This is the first place I have ever traveled that the people literally thanked us for visiting.  They were genuinely grateful for our visit, our faith in their new freedoms and (let's be honest) our spending money there and investing in their economy.  I was thanked from every tour guide, shop keeper, hotel attendant, driver... it made me feel really wonderful and welcomed to their country!

While in Siem Reap, we visited around 10 of the thousands of ancient temples - places built around a thousand years ago with no cement or reinforcement; simply stone on top of stone.  These temples were by far the most amazing thing I have witnessed - their sheer size - the moats surrounding some of them... the carvings were beyond description.  I included a link to a youtube video showcasing the history of one of the temples, and it notes a few of the others as well.  The slideshow of the temples is not in any particular order (sorry) - but watching through all of them you might be able to discern one temple from another.  The original Hindu temples are multi-level, while the Buddhist temples are one level.  It was an honor to get to walk through these true wonders!

To see the rest of the segments of the above video featuring the temples of Cambodia, please visit this LINK.  (it's very much worth the time!)

Cambodian Landmine Museum

One day we took a hour-long ride in a tuk-tuk to the Cambodian Landmine Museum.  Created by Aki Ra, his mission has evolved from the de-mining of Cambodia to helping injured and orphaned youth with his school.  We watched a video about how he responds to calls by villages to deactivate mines they discover, and saw through the exhibit the terrors of these devastating weapons.  Thousands of deactivated mines are on display, and they even have some in a outdoor setting showing how hard it is to spot a mine.  Honestly, if I hadn't known to look for mines, and stood for a while to scan the ground, I would have never noticed them and it was at that moment I realized how impossible the efforts to clean up the millions of remaining mines seems.  I visited their gift shop and made a donation to the museum's relief fund. 

Palm Sugar

On the road to the landmine museum (and a few of the temples), we saw stand after stand of villagers with these large metal pots boiling something; the steam billowing off and up into the sky.  Upon closer inspection, we were educated on the process of creating my favorite Cambodian treat - palm sugar!  Basically, village men climb up the palm tree and squeeze the cut buds to massage the nectar out.  This drains into bamboo buckets that are then carefully carried down to be boiled in the metal pots.  After a long time cooking, the melted sugar is poured into small rings made out of palm fronds and left to cool.  The result is something similar to brown sugar, with caramel and butterscotch notes.  We bought some of this and I have to say it was one of my favorite guilty pleasures in Cambodia!  This sugar was unprocessed, chemical free, and seeing how it was made made it a real treat!

Tonle Sap Lake Floating Village

We took a boat adventure to Tonle Sap Lake's floating village.  Chong Kneas is a village at the edge of the lake, and its location changes based on the migration of the lake itself.  Around 20-30 minutes from Siem Reap, the trip took us past many houses on stilts, and white sheets that were hung out in the fields.  I thought that perhaps they were bleaching the sheets, but a quick answer from the driver corrected my assumption.  Crickets.  The sheets are lit up at night, and the crickets jump to the white sheet, then fall to a trough full of water below and are trapped.  These are a source of food for the villagers, or used as bait to catch fish.  

As soon as you enter the village, you’ll see rows of tourist boats docked closely together. You’ll also start smelling that fishy smell that seems to be present with river villages. One look at the water and you realize that it’s muddy muddy muddy. But such is life. People in the village still use it for cooking, drinking, washing and bathing. 
The floating village is rather small. After about 20 minutes of going slowly on the boat, you’ll reach the large Tonle Sap lake. On the way there, however, you’ll see many interesting sights.  As we were being informed about the village and the residents, one of the many boats approached the side of our boat, and a small (maybe 3 year old) boy popped his head up over the edge of our craft.  His mother begged for money while he smiled, then jumped back into his boat to get his pet.  Wrapping it around his neck, he assumed his position at the edge of our boat again.  All this time, my friend Chuck was sitting with his back to the experience - so I calmly told him...

"I don't want to alarm you but behind you is a baby with a snake!"

It was quite the surreal experience to say the least.  The villagers are poor, but seem pretty happy.  We saw a crocodile farm while there, and I got a few gifts for friends back in the states. 

Pottery Place

We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon at the Angkor Pottery Center, managed by Hann Paruth - I tried my hand (foot) at a Khmer kick wheel and (thanks to Melody Cooper, my Woodland Hills, CA ceramics instructor) made a respectable bowl.  We heard her story and some of the history of the Khmer artists who were all but obliterated during the previous years.  I'd provide a website for her but alas, there is no website. 
I did take a lot of photos... what I didn't do was make any video during the visit to the pottery center.  I found this wonderful youtube video from another visitor earlier in 2010 and wanted to share it... Hann Paruth was a wonderful host - she goes into some detail about where the clay is from and through this video you'll see some of the in process works she is doing.  Pay attention to the Khmer kick wheel - it's not as difficult as you'd think.... If you ever find yourself in Siem Reap, it is imperative that you visit her pottery studio!

Silk Farm

The silk farm was a wonderful educational experience that taught us the process of how silk is made.  From the life cycle of the silk worm to the reeling of silk, to the dyeing, and weaving, the process is labor intensive.  The most amazing style is ikat, where the weft (the fibers that go from right to left on the loom) are dyed in an intricate process.  Here is a video from youtube (not from the place we visited; note it's in Thailand!) that explains ikat silk weaving.  Spend the 5 minutes watching this video to have an idea of what the process is like:
OK, back to the silk farm!  We took a short ride to this place, part of the Artisans d'Angkor NGO - they are working to preserve and restore the arts and crafts of the Khmer people.  At the end of the tour, we were able to purchase items made by these artisans.  HERE you can see some of the items for sale - they were quite reasonable and every item was beautifully crafted.
I didn't do any filming at the silk factory - I was too enamored with the process and so busy taking photos I forgot!  Here's a video from youtube showing the actual farm we visited - witnesing the artistry and steps involves made me have a new appreciation for handwoven  silk!!

Artisans d'Angkor

The same NGO that trains the weavers also trains sculpters, metalsmiths and painters.  The women who are taught silk painting are deaf and mute, and all the artist students come from villages where they would otherwise have no training (or future).  They are brought to the school where they apprentice and learn their specific craft.  After months of study, they eventually return to their village with materials to continue their work.  These items are sold by the NGO and the artist makes money... it's a wonderful arrangement saving a culture that would have otherwise disappeared.

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

Resort / Island Life

The island is a true paradise.  There are only a handful of resorts in the area we stayed.  There are NO roads (OK, there are pathways) and no cars - no trucks.  The only real transportation is boat, tractor or golf cart.  People smile here, the air is soft and light and salty, and it's one of the few places in the world where I don't see a huge pidgeon infestation!

We slept pretty well, although the beds at each hotel were pretty darn firm - and each day it was a wonderful feeling to think the only thing I had to do was get up, brush my teeth, put on my swim trunks and go sit by the pool.  I have said before I loved this trip - but really - really - hear me when I say - I LOVED this trip!

Snorkeling

OK.  Truth be told, I was very excited about snorkling.  The ocean was warm and clear, and despite my fear of stepping on glass or something else that would rip a crater in my foot, it was an adventure I was ready to experience.  We went on our first snorkling adventure one day near bamboo island and mosquito island; about 20 minutes by longtail boat away from Koh Phi Phi.  We climbed into the ocean carefully after putting on our snorkel goggles and fins.  For a few moments I was OK - looking around at the ocean floor, and immediately I saw schools of yellow fish!  Beautiful tropical fish that made me smile! 

It only took 2 minutes or less before I saw a jellyfish.  These things scare me because they sting (and some kinds can really injure a person, even kill them)!  I panicked because I couldn't get turned around and to the boat - and I was afraid that I was going to swim into another one... After taking a few breaths and talking myself out of the nervous breakdown I was having, I found my way to the boat, climbed in and realized that the temple on the left side of my head was STINGING.  I guess in my swim at some point, I had actually encountered a jellyfish - (the spot stung for a few days!)

John and Chuck spent a while snorkling and I watched from the boat.  We ended up snorkling one more time during our trip - in a small cove where I could stand on the reef if I needed to, and where it didn't feel like I was going to float away from the boat.  We spent an hour or so in this quiet little spot, feeding the fish, and marveling in the awesome beauty of the life in the water.  It was a real treat to get to snorkel and not be terrified. 

Who knows if I'l ever be over my small fear of the ocean and snorkeling - but the second snorkel adventure on this trip definately gave me some good memories of the sport, and might even be enough to talk me into trying it again sometime!

Christmas on Koh Phi Phi

There was a Christmas tree farm on Koh Phi Phi!  (OK, it wasn't a tree farm - it was more like the landscape area for the resort we were staying in, but Chuck and I decided to make the best of it - and found a plant there and brought it to our room).  We decorated the tree and surrounding area with shells and flowers, cut a paper snowflake for the top of the tree out of the coasters in the room, and wrapped up some small gifts we had gotten for each other using whatever we could find.  It was a "figure it out" kind of holiday, and it made me think of those who get creative using what they have to be festive instead of buying all the decorations and other things that make the holiday commercial. 

It was one of the best holidays I have ever had - spending time with my wonderful friends, and being allowed the opportunity to sit back and really spend time to think of how very very lucky I am to have amazing people in my life.  I have been fortunate (even though sometimes it didn't feel like it) and never went a day without eating, have always had a soft place to sleep, and have been brought up in a country where for the most part I can be whatever I want...

Christmas was different than usual for me this year, for many reasons.  It was a different season than I expect for the holiday, I was in Southeast Asia, and I had recently made some big changes in my life.  The trip allowed me to reflect on what I had been doing and where I was going... and what I realized is that we are alive for a relatively short time - the days are numbered, and if you are interested in doing something, you should just dive in and do it.  That being said, since our return, I have designed 3 hat patterns, I have completed a number of knit items, and I am working on a few writing projects as well.  I have registered for classes at the local city college, discovered (and signed up for) a free tapestry class, and even been accepted into the HIV counselor training program by AIDS Health Project!  Things are moving along these first few weeks of 2011 - and I am certain that the year will be full of good things!

Coming Home

To get off the island, we chartered a speedboat to take us the 45km to Phuket, where we were to take a taxi to the airport.  John did the arrangements, and had us leave the island 30 minutes or so earlier than the hotel recommended, so that we would have plenty of time at the airport before our flight to Bangkok later that day.  We boarded our boat 45 minutes or so before the hotel suggested time, and bid farewell to our island home.

Or so we thought.

The driver brought us to the other side of the island (the more commercial side that reminded me a lot of what it might be like if it were spring break) and parked the boat... they told us that they needed to get something and they'd only be a moment.  About 20 minutes later we were trying to figure out what the captain of the boat needed (he had brought a jug from the boat with him) - and it turns out that he RAN OUT OF GAS! - lucky for us we weren't in the middle of the ocean, right?!  About 30 minutes later the other escort who was accompanying us to our destination finally reached another boat and we changed from one boat to another and started our trip to Phuket.  This should be the end of the frustrations, right? 

As we are speeding along, we hear some sputtering and choking of the engine - we have been boating right along at a good pace - and we are within site of Phuket and the bay where we are to dock and get our taxi when the engine shuts off.  The captain and the escort talk to each other, hop back and forth and fiddle with the engine - guess what?

We are out of gas.  Again.  (Seriously?  twice in one day?  On the way to the airport?  Is this really how our amazing vacation is going to end?!) -

Anyway, the captain nurses the boat to a dock (not the right dock) and we do get to a taxi who tells us we are about 40 minutes away from the airport.  We are also exactly 40 minutes from the cutoff time to check our bags for the flight to Bangkok!  The driver does his best to get us to the airport (slowing down the 3 times he answers his cell phone while driving) - and in the end, we arrived at the ticket counter to find out our flight had been delayed.  We made it just fine to Bangkok, where we stayed the night at an airport hotel.  The next morning, we got up WAY too early, trodded through the security and found our way to our flight home to Tokyo then San Francisco.  The flights were uneventful and long.

I am now happy to be home, settled into the start of my new life here in San Francisco, and looking forward to the adventures I will have here in this amazing city!

Thank you for taking time to read about the trip - I hope that it was as fun for you as it was for me to share!
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Happy New Year everyone!

I apologize for the big lapse between posts - but the latest delay comes with good reason.  Before I begin I want to note that I do have some knitting content to share but needs its own posts.  Those will come shortly after the trip recap is published.  I was out of town from December 9 - 30, 2010 traveling Southeast Asia with 2 of my good friends!  We visited Thailand and Cambodia over the almost 3 week trip and I came back with literally thousands of photographs, more inspiration than I can explain, and a refreshed outlook on life, seeing how others live firsthand in other parts of the world.  Because of the sheer volume of photos from this trip I decided instead of showing each individual photos from the trip that I would just speak in general about some highlights.  This will also be a two-part post because it's just so much information to read and share, I think giving you a break in reading might make it easier to digest.  (I also want to get part 1 out ASAP so that people can relish in the warm heat of Southeast Asia while it's chilly and wintery at home!)  Enjoy the trip! 

Bangkok, Thailand

Wats in Bangkok

Before I went to Bangkok, all I knew about it was the sont "One Night In Bangkok" - I thought it was seedy, racy, and full of bars with back rooms that featured strippers or worse... When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful bustling city full of culture and history!  We stayed on the river in a beautiful hotel, and took a water taxi almost everywhere we went!  I have lots of favorite things to mention about Bangkok, but one of my favorites would be the wats - or Buddhist temples.  We went to a lot of them, including Wat Pho, the home of the huge reclining Buddha.  We saw the Emerald Buddha as well (it's one of the most important Buddhas in the history of the religion).   I also really appreciated that the wats were almost all being renovated or restored... go through a doorway and there's an artist lacquering a giant centuries old Buddha image - through another doorway or around a corner in a different wat and someone is restoring a mural... the preservation efforts made me smile.  I like when people do their best to preserve amazing spaces such as these!  Enjoy a few of the photos I took while visiting these amazing spaces:

Jim Thompson's House

We had a wonderful adventure at Jim Thompson's House - after the adventure trying to find it, we were led on a tour of what was his home (he took a number of traditional Thai houses and reassembled them to make one large home with two outbuildings - one for his gardener and the other was for his housekeeper. 

Jim went on an excursion in the Cameron highlandsin Malaysia in 1967 and never returned - his house is now a museum showcasing this brilliant businessman and his passion for the silk industry.  He's the guy who revitalized the Thai silk world, and his name still hangs on shops around the world.  I thought about buying a bag from the Jim Thompson shop, but decided that I have many bags as it is, and that the photographs and experience of being in this place were enough souveniers.  There was also a small museum at the property, and theyon exhibit some of the silk items from one of Jim's collections.  I really liked some of the fashions, but have no idea where I'd wear a fancy silk long coat like the one in the show... We were not allowed to photograph inside the home (except in certain areas) so I can only offer you these peeks into the world of Jim Thompson:

Markets, Waterways and Streets of Bangkok

Bangkok is a land full of sights and smells - there are markets everywhere you turn (but no yarn shops that we could find!) and commodities are divided into areas... if you want car parts, you head to that area of town.  Need a new rubber stamp or embosser for your business?  There's probably a street for that as well... 

Everywhere you go in Thailand (and Cambodia) in the big cities, the way to get around quickly is by a little two stroke engine motorcycle with a cart behind it - they call this a Tuk-Tuk.  They are cheap and they are everywhere!  On one of the days, Chuck and I took a field trip to try to find a certain area of town, and while searching came across the flower market - this is where they make the floral adornments for the temples and Buddha's.  Here are some of my favorite photos showing daily life in Bangkok, Thailand:

Monk Bowl Village, Bangkok

After our long walking journey through the city, we were starting to get a little frustrated.  When visiting a country, it's good to have a guide or someone who can read the language.  I'm not ashamed to say that Thai (and other languages like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.) when written, make absolutely no sense to me!  This can be problematic when you're looking for a place and the only way to find it is to follow Thai street signs.  Chuck and I were really at the end of our rope, and stopped at a corner to examine our tourist map to see if we could figure out which direction was which... when a lady approached Chuck and asked where we were trying to go... (most people there are eager to help you find your way, which is nice) - we explained we were looking for a certain Wat that sells Monk Bowls.  Monk bowls are used by Thai monks to collect alms in town each morning--being pounded into shape out of eight strips of steel, one for each stage of the Buddhists' eightfold path.  She told us that the village was just down the street we had stopped at - and pointed the way to where we really wanted to go; monk bowl village!  

As we got closer, we were greeted by the ambassador of Monk Bowl Village - one of the residents who speaks great English - he showed us to the "store" (it was no more than a pile of bowls and a glass case) - We pondered the bowls, but I wanted to see where they were made.  He obliged, and took us on a tour of their village - and eveywhere we went, we heard "tap tap tap"... That metallic tap you hear is the sound of the bowls being smashed into shape by the artists.  The village was cute, and everyone seemed happy there... they are very poor people, but they do good work making something that they love - we were impressed by their work - it would take an artist one full day to make a bowl.  Chuck and I each bought one bowl (about U.S. $30) and they are proudly displayed on a shelf at home in San Francisco now.  When I brought my bowl back to the hotel, one of the hotel porters warned me that it was more than a souvenier.  The bowls are sacred, and should never be put on the ground.  I promised him I'd safeguard this bowl, and I'm honored to have it as a momento from this amazing adventure.  Here are photos from Monk Bowl Village:
Are you hanging in there with me?  I told you - it's a long trip!  I hope you're enjoying the 5 day adventure in Bangkok, Thailand.  Stay tuned; I will be posting a part 2 to this trip, featuring 7 days in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and 7 more on the beautiful island of Koh Phi Phi, Thailand!
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San Francisco 11/25/2010
 
November has been a month full of changes.  I made many life altering choices, including the one to say farewell to my home in Los Angeles and head north to San Francisco!  Change is not always easy, but often these differences in location and change of scenery offer more good than we can imagine!  On Sunday November 20, 2010 I headed north with a friend after loading my (cute) little 10' Uhaul truck.  As we drove it rained softly and we were presented with rainbow after rainbow after rainbow...
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We drove about halfway and stopped near Fresno for the night, and woke up the next morning to a clear, crisp day... clean roads and postcard-perfect views all the way into the bay area...
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We kept getting closer and closer to HOME - and I finally decided to post on Facebook that I was making the move - messages from all over poured in congratulating me on the decision - it wasn't easy - we often face crossroads in our lives (insert violin music here) and the opportunities we have should be seized!  I am moving to this wonderful new city, leaving my previous job (and career) with the goal of entering into the non profit sector.  Initially I will be seeking work as a voulenteer as an HIV counselor - administering tests and offering information to clients.  In time I will find the right job for me... one that makes a difference in the lives of those in my community.
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I thought for a while if I might want to work in a fiber-related field, and I am still undecided about that - I think that I prefer doing something else that I love, and leaving the knitting and fiber fun as a passion - I may change my mind at some point, but for now, that's the road I chose.
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We arrived safe and sound around lunchtime - John parked the Uhaul carefully and it only took around 10 minutes to unload into the lobby of the condo.  As the Uhaul was returned I hauled as much as I could up the stairs.  a few days have passed now and almost everything is put away, and the kitties are acclimating to their new home.  They have discovered the wall heaters, and the pidgeons outside the windows.  I think they like both.
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Here's Willow sharing Dewey's bed in front of the wall heater - they love the heaters early in the morning, but really prefer the sunbeams... San Francisco is a gorgeous town full of character and interesting people.  I look forward to the adventure here and learning as much as I can about this glorious city!
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p.s. Winky is safe in SF too but didn't want to be photographed :)
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Our wonderful friend Chuck turned 40 in January, 2010 - and to commemorate the event, he arranged for 21 of his friends and family to meet and spend a week in a 17,000 square foot villa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!  (I know, I know; we're LUCKY!) - the weather was AMAZING, views spectacular, and the experience will stay with me the rest of my life as one of the best trips EVER! 

Now, in this season of snow and cold across much of the United States, I know some of you will be envious of the 80 degree weather with clear skies... take a gander at some of the photos and just try to remember that winter doesn't last forever; soon it will be spring again and you too will have the sunshine and gorgeous days!

While on the trip we also went on a forest canopy tour, using ziplines hundreds of feet above the forest floor to travel from one mountain to the next, we played with tiny cute monkeys, and even went on a day cruise to a remote beach where we were served a gourmet meal... we snorkled, frolicked in waves, shopped and had more fun than we deserved!  It was a memorable birthday celebration and the best vacation EVER.
During the visit the majority of our time was spent lounging at the pool or sitting on the gorgeous patio and visiting with friends.  I, of course, was knitting... along with our friend Kenny from Houston and John from San Francisco.  I brought my fair isle vest to work on and got a lot accomplished during the flight down, but while at the villa, it seemed difficult to concentrate... maybe it was the friends and fun conversation, or perhaps it was a result of the amazing hand made frozen strawberry margueritas that our bar staff (yes, we had STAFF!) made -

The food was incredible - all made fresh from local fare brought to the villa by Vinny (the house manager) and the cook prepared everything to order - we had an incredible birthday cake on Chuck's birthday and I could have probably eaten the entire thing myself...

In knitting news, I am working on the fair isle vest, and a few other goodies... including knitted boxer shorts which were designed by Brian Kohler of Skacel.  I'm quite into the knitting groove as of late; just in time for school to start back up.

Yes, school.

This semester offers only two courses for me: Abnormal Psychology and Ceramics (which I guess would be considered an intermediate course this time; I'll be required to make a plate, a pedestal bowl, and 4 pieces of tableware (cups, bowls, butter dishes, whatever) - all themed around the inspiration of an artist which I must still come up with - any ideas?

I decided not to take a 3rd course this semester and instead will dedicate THAT time to my circular sock knitting machine.  I must make that thing work!  I am hoping to get proficient at it so that I will be able to make socks for others quickly and beautifully... and the only reason I don't do it is because I "don't have time" -- so, I'll make time! - that way, I can spend a few hours a week dedicated to the machine and with any luck that'll get me on my way!

Of course, I'm still running - last week, we ran 20 miles (yes, 20 miles!) - we were up and running at 6AM and I can not begin to tell you how amazing it feels to have accomplished this!  Next week I'll be running the Pasadena Half-Marathon - and then on March 21st I'll be running the Los Angeles Marathon!

I am hosting dinner at Marie Callender's on March 3, 2010 in Toluca Lake, CA - if you are in the area, please print out this flyer and present it to the cashier when paying your bill - 15% of the total will be donated to my efforts and in turn to AIDS Project Los Angeles! 

There will also be a WONDERFUL raffle held the same evening - raffle tickets are $1 each, and there's a coupon for 2 free tickets when you buy 20 on the flier.  Winners need not be present to win, so if you want to buy tickets and place them on an item, feel free to email me and let me know - I will have you donate through my online donation page - once I see the donation there I can mark and place your raffle tickets.  The only stipulation is that if you can not pick up your item, I will ask you to cover the cost of shipping. 

Please cross post and share this event with your Los Angeles family and friends - the more people who bring these flyers on March 3rd, the more money we can raise to help improve the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles! 
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What have I been doing?  I have been running... working on knitting projects... preparing for a vacation... getting ready for the Spring 2010 semester at school - How exciting it is to announce 12 more cast aluminum yarn bowls for sale - they're showcased on my etsy site - more yummy gold colored bowls, more delicious violet colored bowls... and introducing gorgeous blue bowls!  Click on the link or visit my SHOP to take a gander!

In other news - we are about to go on vacation - for a wonderful week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with just under 20 amazing friends - I can't wait to share stories and photos from our trip - but that'll be in a few weeks.  Now... what do we bring with us on vacations?  KNITTING! - I have started a new project - the Latvian Vest from Knitty - size 4 circular needles - and alternating an oatmeal yarn with some fantastic Kauni Effektgarn which slowly changes colors from maroon to pumpkin to chocolate brown! - yes, 272 stitches, fair isle chart patterns... this is how I relax.  (I promise not to drink and knit) - LOL - it's on its way - started... and the color is starting to change! I'm so excited about this project!

Talk with you in a few weeks!!!
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We are a family - chosen - joined by our craft - united by our goals and supported by the creativity, enthusiasm and honesty of our brothers. Through our adventures, we learn, grow, and share our experiences with our communities, emphasizing the impact a few guys who knit have on the world.
Where do I begin?  I'm home - safe and sound - relishing in the afterglow of another amazing visit with my family of knitters (this time at Easton Mountain) --  Organized by Joe and Ted, Men's Knitting Retreats have been going on now for 2 years - I didn't go to the very first one, which was held in this same space... but this year I was lucky enough to be able to go.

(I decided to just link to a slideshow of my photos at the end of this post - so for those of you wanting photos... that's where they are!)

What can I tell you?  The moment we were picked up by Dave from Easton Mountain, we knew we were in for a treat - first we went to an amazing cafe - I think it was indian food - and while I don't remember the name, they made some really great bread!  This is where I saw Ted (I knew him from the MFKR'08) and met Joe and a bunch of other really fun guys... we took a slight detour to a yarnshop (in the rain!) and it was refreshing to actually feel rain.  After our short visit there, we went to The Ice Cream Man - and had one of what would be many treats from this yummy place...

Settling in at Easton Mountain, we found our rooms, and I was lucky to room with Chuck, John and Vince... we had 2 bunks each and the place was comfy... Chuck and John both handed me squares for Jason's blanket (see my last posting to find out more about it) - and by the end of the retreat, I had almost 30 squares from the guys - the response has been overwhelming - and I'll write about that soon -- as a sidenote, I need to receive your squares by May 30th- email me if you need to know anything else...thanks!

(back to our regularly scheduled posting:)

The food was really good - a bit more organic than I usually eat (people who know me know that I love Taco Bell!) - one night they served "Moroccan Tomato Soup" - I thought that the chef said "Rock & Tomato Soup!" - I told him that I could be supportive of the organic food and everything, but when they start putting rocks in the food I have to draw the line!  eek... (the soup was spicy and tasty) -

Meeting the boys (my brothers!) was great - I saw lots of friends I had been missing since the fall retreat at Point Bonita - including Kenny, Stephen and Ted... and got to meet some of the people I know online - including Chris, Ted and Peter!  There were 42 guys there so naming them would take a while... but every single one of them (seriously, every one!) was so fun, funny, charming, smart, witty, coy, entertaining, enthusiatic, supportive and nutty! 

We spent the days learning at workshops and took two field trips - one to visit the Alpacas of Easton - where Kate (our hostess) shared a brief and interesting explanation about the biology behind breeding alpaca... she did a demonstration on dyeing yarn using cake dyes, then we visited some of her flock (including "Mischeif") and then went to her shop... where we bought some yarn... had home made cookies and pink lemonade and met her 3 week old son!!  (wait a minute... she just had a baby 3 weeks ago and she's this amazing and energetic?!?!  We were impressed and honored by her hospitality!!!

We also went to another fiber farm and toured the owner's 18th century barn filled with looms, weaving and knitting yarns, and books!  She was really fun as well - we got to see her angora rabbits, ducks and chickens and even a few barn cats!  My favorite part of this trip, though, was the 15' tall lilac bush next to one of her barns!  - the scent was overwhelming and brought me back to spring as a young boy - and for some reason it really made me think of my Grandmother...

Anyway, we got a LOT of knitting done - I finished the back of a sweater... and helped Joe a little with the assembly of the blanket we made for Easton Mountian.  It didn't get quite finished, but it will be done soon... 3 needle bind off and crocheted edging (photos will be posted!)

There is so much to say... and the more I type the more I think of to talk about... favorite parts?  the little visits and conversations between friends - learning about these men I have known online for years... sitting under the tent in the rain midnight with Jason and Chuck - listening to the rain fall and talking about whatever we talked about... Enjoying the moment in time...

And now I just look forward to next year - to another visit with my pals - to the long plane flight full of knitting time (even layovers are welcomed when you're a knitter!) and getting to once again give every one of them a big hug!  If you can go, or are at all interested, be sure to go to the website and let them know... chances are the attendance will be limited to around the same 40 +/- and 21 of the 42 that attended this year were at the first year...

THANK YOU to Joe and Ted and everyone at Easton Mountain... to all the guys at the retreat who made it an amazing experience -- and to my sweet partner for taking care of my animals while I was gone and for letting me go.... it's experiences like the ones I had at Easton Mountain that make me proud to be a knitter...



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