I'm published!

Gotcha!  

Well, I'm not published, but the handspun is mine.  It's Wool Candy Blue Faced Leicester Top in "Cobbler".

I created this mock magazine cover for a photography class homework assignment.  The assignment was to create a magazine cover shot properly lit and also composed to allow for text and all the other stuff that goes on those covers.

Here's the photo without the text.   Not the composition I would ordinarily choose if it was just a photo.

Here's another mock cover with my new Bosworth spindle which I purchased at Madrona.  This spindle will hold a special place in my heart.  It's the spindle I was using in Amelia Garripoli's "Productive Spindle Spinning" class when I graduated from "park and draft".   I didn't think I'd ever be able to draft as the spindle spun (Is there a technical term for this?  "Spindle spinning", perhaps?).  I think this breakthrough was a combination of Amelia's teaching skills and my nifty new spindle.

And in case you're wondering, the fiber is Blue Moon Sheep 2 Shoe in "Sam and Ella".

Spin on!

Limoncello

I'd heard how it's possible to make your own limoncello, but I assumed it was too hard or time-consuming until I saw a recipe.  Three ingredients:  lemon zest, sugar and vodka.  And it turns out that my little Meyer lemon tree (actually, more like a small scrawny bush) had enough ripe fruit to make two batches.  I had no excuse not to try it.

If you don't have a Microplane zester, get one.  Zesting the lemons is a breeze with it.

Look at all those bald lemons. :)  Now I need to figure out what to do with all that Meyer lemon juice.  Anyone have any ideas besides lemon curd?

I got all three ingredients mixed up in a jar (btw, who knew it was so hard to find a large wide-mouth jar?) and placed it in a dark place.  Now it's time for some patience because it needs to sit in a dark place for a month.

I can't wait!

Yay! Another sock...

Thanks to Neuroknitter'a suggestion, I now have another go-to sock pattern when I need something easy without charts, but still want it to be interesting.   An added bonus is that it can be manly or girly.

Pattern:  Tesserae by Anne Hanson

Yarn:  Mama Blue Simple Merino, Bark colorway

Madrona, Part 1 - The Art

Madrona was weeks ago and I haven't yet photographed the spoils.  My lack of photographic motivation is due in large part to the gray rainy weather.

Speaking of gray and rainy, while in Tacoma, Sockdoc and I took a break from classes and resisted the lure of the Madrona marketplace to see the glass and art musuems.  During our outing, we discovered that not only was the art indoors, it was also out-of-doors.  

Glass artist and local guy, Dale Chihuly, had work displayed all over town.  

If you're ever there, don't forget to look up.  

His glasswork is so vibrant and rich in texture.

And then of course, no visit is complete without trying the local goods.  Hello, cupcake...  The red velvet was yummy, but the chocolate raspberry was to-die-for.