Big Sky Yarns & Crafts

First Day of School!

Nothing gets our household crackin' like the first day of school. Everyone was so big and mature and no tears (only from me after the fact) with no issues. I could not believe it. Paul even took the public bus with nary a hint of anxiety.

My dad is visiting, as always,for this week. He has walked everyone to school since we started going to school 6 years ago. Here Paul and Grandpa are heading off to the bus stop for Paul's first day of Middle School:

Can you believe it? Paul is a 7th grader. Shocking to all involved, to be sure.

Kate is in 2nd grade this year and Wade 6th:

Did you receive your new Vogue Knitting?

I was most intrigued with #22 Bulky Topper by one of my favorite designers, Mari Lynn Patrick:

The exposed seams keep it modern without being impractical and the soothing shape of a cowl neck is always pleasing to me.

Vogue is also having a sale on their digital patterns, available here. Only $2.99 a piece, including my French Scarf from Knit Simple's '08-'09 issue:

On the book front, I just finished listening to a captivating novel:

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain is a wonderful historical novel from the perspective of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Richardson. Set in the 1920s, it captures the atmosphere of Paris (and other venues) with many seminal authors of the period making appearances as well: Ezra Pound, the Fitzgerald's and Gertrude Stein to name a few.

I leave you with Grandpa and Paul heading to the bus stop:

 

Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday was officially Tuesday (thought I truly thought it was Wednesday until a friend pointed it out to me.). And it was a perfect day. I went to breakfast with some girlfriends and then later in the afternoon some of my favorite people showed up to celebrate with me:

They decided the giant candles were the way to go. I have to say, they make the cake, don't you agree? They also helped decorate. As you can see, there is nary a sparkle left in the world because it is on my heaven-on-a-plate cake from Costco. The All-American Chocolate cake is something you can't splurge on every year in fear of a sugar coma, but this year I decided it was appropriate.

If you are a Billings-ite, look what is at Candy Town today:

How fabulous is that? Yes, it is a Jelly Belly motorhome! Who knew? Wait, there's more. There's also this baby, if small and perfect is what you are looking for after all:

We got to taste new flavors and spin the wheel:

And, of course, buy our weight in Jelly Belly's.

What I really was doing over there was taking a picture of Lauren at Purl Yarn Boutique:

She is loving here stay at Ren's. All those handbags and new jewelry. Yes, life is good at a yarn shop.

Knit on!

Fun & Funky Knitting

Look what my brother just brought to my attention:

All of this tiny, fabulous knitting is the brainchild of Anna Hrachovec. The article from  Craftzine is here. When I checked out Anna's website, the latest tiny knitting was a traffic cone. I laughed out loud. 

This also made me laugh, though after looking closer I felt quite bad for my initial reaction:

This is a rescued hen in Kent, England, featured in the latest National Geographic (photo: Ed Thompson), August 2011. When I found out she was was saved from an industrial farm, I was so grateful for the knitter who made this sweater for her as the caption says it may take months to regrow plumage. Knitters' love knows no boundaries.

And now we know where all the eyelash yarn went.

Knit on.