Category: travel

  • I went to Columbus, and I ate ice cream

    I skipped going to TNNA last year because I had just come home from my epic UK trip, but nothing got in my way this year! Yes, I go to talk to yarn companies and see what’s new in the industry, but really I just go to catch up with my internet friends in real life, shop, and eat a lot of Jeni’s splended ice cream. I didn’t even take my camera this year, so these are all somewhat crappy iphone shots.

    I didn’t have a booth, so I was pretty free to roam around. I got some great yarns, and I found a few things I was looking for! It’s always an inspiring trip, and like everyone else, I’m now overflowing with ideas that my hands aren’t fast enough to knit up.

    Jeni’s – I went 5 times in three days, but I only took one photo:

    jeni's

    That’s juniper & lemon curd on top, and hiding underneath is brown butter almond brittle. It’s a good thing I don’t live within even shipping distance of Jeni’s, because it would be rather dangerous. I am, however, about to dive into the world of the Jeni’s cookbook, so…I’d better start working out more.

    Cute blurry friends.

    blurry friends

    Epic baby cuteness.

    epic cuteness

    Comfest – screwed up people’s phone signals due to sheer volume, and there were SO MANY PEOPLE out on the streets. I took a short walk through and saw a Jeni’s truck, many fried foods, music stages, and a lot of people drinking in the park. I think that’s pretty much the spirit of it.

    comfest

    Such a great time. I love TNNA, and I hope I can make it out to the winter show in California in January!

    First up on my needles from the show is some awesome chainette linen from Shibui – I am very excited about it.

    shibui linen

  • rhinebeck 2011

    I’m back! It’s been a pretty sleepy re-entry into my usual apartment and such – I had a great time away on my vacation, but unfortunately I suffered from an acute case of camnesia and have very few photos to show for it.

    We (boyfriend and I) flew down to NYC on Friday, and took the train out to Rhinebeck with Ysolda. The house we rented this year with friends was amazing! So huge, with a great kitchen, awesome view and comfy couches. Saturday morning was a bit of a rush as we had to get the Ravelry buttons to the meetup and were a bit stuck in traffic. It all worked out though, and I had a lovely day checking out all the barns and navigating through the crowds. I picked up a bowl from jennie the potter, and a fun sheepy mug.

    sheep mug

    And I saw kits for my Sweet Bunting Cardi! Super cute.

    sweet bunting

    Sunday morning we decided to go to the farmer’s market – this is the sixth time I’ve been to Rhinebeck and I’d pretty much never been able to explore the town! The farmer’s market is held in a parking lot, and is quite small but really cool.

    rhinebeck farmer's market

    rhinebeck farmer's market

    Managed to actually get a good coffee in town (as opposed to the fairgrounds coffee) and had a nice walk to town. The day was pretty long, and a bit warmer than Saturday – definitely calmer as well, in terms of the crowds. Sunday night was spent relaxing, eating, and doing a swap with my housemates! I actually didn’t buy any yarn at Rhinebeck this year, but I did come home with some from Wild Apple Hill Farms, thanks to Sarah!

    wild apple hill farm yarn

    Monday we took the train back to NYC, and spent the rest of the week walking, seeing the sights, and eating ever so many delicious foods. It was the type of vacation where you need a rest afterwards!

  • the yarns

    Hey all. It’s been awhile! I guess I needed a bit of recovery after my trip – the post-vacation vacation. I spent it dealing with family stuff and staying in a lot! The house I live in (I rent one of the apartments) is up for sale now, so there was a bit of disruption with cleaning it up and stuff as well. Hopefully I won’t have to move any time soon.

    So what did I bring back from my travels? Not very much! I was carrying a 40L backpack, so I couldn’t carry much extra – it never went over 14 kg (airline max is 23 kg). I did mail back a few packages of random things that I picked up, mostly maps, magazines and a bit of yarn too.

    From Loop in London, just a few skeins of Wollemeise! I’m hoping to make a little lacy cardigan with the green, and maybe a shawl with the purple.

    wollemeise

    From Alice at Socktopus, some of her fabulous hand dyed fingering weight yarn! Can’t wait to play with these.

    socktopus

    And from Purl City Yarns in Manchester, a fabulous assortment of local Manchester yarns and some other British stuff including Natural Dye Studio and Fyberspates. Yum.

    purl city yarns

    As you can see, I picked up a lot of single skeins – it really wasn’t the time to be buying sweater quantities of anything. I do enjoy the challenge of dealing with single skeins so I’m hoping to come up with some fun accessories in the coming months. I’m starting work on my fall collection, which I’m hoping to release in August or early September. It’s a bit tricky to think about in the summer, but after a couple days of hot weather (and broken air conditioning, d’oh) today is lovely and cool. I’m hoping to draw some inspiration from things I saw on this trip, and put together a set of patterns with a little something for everyone.

    I can’t believe it’s June already though! Better get crackin’.