This first episode, kind of to my chagrin, is about an hour long after editing and revising, but it was so worth it; I'll see if I can keep future episodes shorter, but I wouldn't mind a HoundStrings Hour (let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment)
Finished objects 2:50
Blog mention: 12:33
WIP's 13:00
Future Knitting: 26:48
Music 47:38
Pattern Links (Note that you'll need a Ravelry account to view the patterns): Luella Top, Wave of Flowers (BlΓΌtenwelle), Atlanticus
If there's anything you would like to see me do or topics you would like to see me cover in future episodes and/or blog posts, leave a comment! By the way, I have a post in the works for common expressions, terms, and abbreviations in the knitting/crocheting world--be sure to comment some of your favorites...
Now it's time for the stuff not seen in the podcast, namely...
Stash Enhancement: Yarn Crawl 2018!
This is the part that I was most excited to share, but alas--the show would have run way, way too long. And even reading, it may be a while. Sorry (actually, not. If you just want to skip to the pictures, be my guest. If you want to read too, be my guest).
Last month, I participated in the San Diego Yarn Crawl, which runs Thursday through Sunday in mid-September, and is really the one almost-guaranteed weekend each year where I allow myself to go a little nutty with my yarn/fiber purchases (there’s also the Vista Fiber Arts Fiesta during the first Saturday and Sunday in October, but my work schedule didn’t allow me to go this year). I always have a great time, but this year in particular was a blast—I was able to cross 7 yarn stores off of my list, four of which I've never had the pleasure of visiting until that point.
First stop, as you saw in the podcast (if you watched it), was South Park Dry Goods Co. Located in a neighborhood south of Balboa Park (go figure), it’s a darling little shop located next door to an ice cream shop (oh, how I wish it was open before I left...I left at 11:30 and they didn't open until noon). The wonderful thing about South Park Dry Goods Co is that it's not just a yarn shop--they have other crafty things (including beautiful fabrics!), ready-to-wear ladies' clothing, and darling little home and gift items!
This year, along with yarn, I was also on the hunt for other useful knitting/crafting supplies. Along with yarn from The Grinning Cat, I found a lovely set of stitch markers and handmade pod by Vanessa of VRMG designs (she was on Etsy, but I don't think she's active), as well as an individual stitch marker--a little ram with flowers on his fleece!
Last month, I participated in the San Diego Yarn Crawl, which runs Thursday through Sunday in mid-September, and is really the one almost-guaranteed weekend each year where I allow myself to go a little nutty with my yarn/fiber purchases (there’s also the Vista Fiber Arts Fiesta during the first Saturday and Sunday in October, but my work schedule didn’t allow me to go this year). I always have a great time, but this year in particular was a blast—I was able to cross 7 yarn stores off of my list, four of which I've never had the pleasure of visiting until that point.
First stop, as you saw in the podcast (if you watched it), was South Park Dry Goods Co. Located in a neighborhood south of Balboa Park (go figure), it’s a darling little shop located next door to an ice cream shop (oh, how I wish it was open before I left...I left at 11:30 and they didn't open until noon). The wonderful thing about South Park Dry Goods Co is that it's not just a yarn shop--they have other crafty things (including beautiful fabrics!), ready-to-wear ladies' clothing, and darling little home and gift items!
This year, along with yarn, I was also on the hunt for other useful knitting/crafting supplies. Along with yarn from The Grinning Cat, I found a lovely set of stitch markers and handmade pod by Vanessa of VRMG designs (she was on Etsy, but I don't think she's active), as well as an individual stitch marker--a little ram with flowers on his fleece!
The tag for the OctoBaa...
Next was The Black Sheep in Sorrento Valley...
I also found some wonderful skin products by LoLo To Go--Orange Vanilla lip balm, which smells like the classic frozen treat, and a Winter's Bliss lotion bar. Oh, my goodness, does that thing smell amazing! It's tricky to describe the scent, but it smells like Christmas. It has a little bit of mint, vanilla, pine, and berry--all of which are so harmoniously balanced and wonderful that I find myself wearing a little bit of it just as a light perfume. Lotion bars in general are also handy (no pun intended this time) in that crafters' hands become dry quickly--mine are frequently exacerbated from frequent hand-washing at work--and it's convenient to just rub it over the spots that need it instead of squeezing or pumping it from a bottle and rubbing it in. Not to mention that the tin is reusable, which is something I'm a big proponent of as you'll see down the road.
Finished off the day with my "home base" of Yarning For You
I flippin' love these earrings! they look cool to begin with, they actually measure your needles! And I can continue a running joke with some friends of mine that I have "gauge" earrings...Oink had other colors in the PVC plastic, as well as wooden models, but since I could not make a decision on which color, I decided to go with the colorless and make up my mind later. She also had itty bitty "skeins" in their existing colorways (also cute), but I'm kind of a sucker for the geometric look of the ones I ended up purchasing.
Day Two was an adventure, to be sure. My mom and I actually had a common day off for once, and she was kind enough to not only go road trippin' with me up to Julian, she was kind enough to drive (I bought lunch to call it even).
This was my first trip up to Julian, and hopefully it won't be my last. It's such a great part of San Diego County, and has so many great little stops to check out...like Kat's Yarn and Craft Cottage!
Since I was further inclined to make a few non-yarn purchases, I decided to browse the books when I stumbled upon this lucky find...
Ramona Country Yarn Store was the final stop of the year, dropping by on our way home from Julian. While I was browsing for yarn, my very patient mom was keeping conversation with some ladies of a mutual friendship--one of her friends from work is also a knitter and is a frequent visitor to the store--and allowing herself deeper exposure into the fiber world.
Like I mentioned before, Stash Enhancement won't be a part of the podcast very often, but I'll have something to show on occasion.
Music Notes
I haven't gotten much practice in since the episode was filmed, but I am happy with what I've accomplished so far. As I mentioned in the podcast, and in a previous post, I really need to work on my chord transitions on the guitar and the ukulele--going to and from the C Maj. chord on the guitar is my weak spot for the moment, as well as just anything to do with the F chord in general. And I just need to work on the harp, period. Except for that one song, it seems like every time I step away from the harp I lose everything I learned. It's frustrating, but over time hopefully that will lessen.I mentioned the Marx Brothers as an inspiration to keep learning and something to aspire to in terms of music...here's why.
Blue Moon
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Franz Liszt
Take Me Out To The Ball Game
And that's just a small sampling of the musical talent, not even getting into the comedic side of things. Not only is the music lovely, he uses techniques that I haven't really seen in use before, such as the strumming.
That's all for this post (then again, you were probably wondering if this was going to turn into a short novel...I was wondering that myself). Again, keep in touch, let me know what you want to see in future episodes of the podcast, or in upcoming posts.
Until then, keep doing what you love with whom you love! (I'll think of a better catchphrase...eventually...maybe...)
