Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Bucket's List

Everyone that knows me, knows that I love to support small indie businesses. It all started when I discovered Etsy a few years ago. I developed a real love for buying gifts for people from my favorite shops and feeling really good about giving my hard earned money to someone that was passionate about creating at home. Whether it be a stay-at-home mom or a singleton supplementing their income or a creative genius sharing their craft with the world, I decided that giving and buying indie is the best thing since (whole wheat) sliced bread. And I've never turned back.

Even better than JUST supporting indie, is supporting someone you KNOW that is an indie shop owner. Case in point, my girl, Krys. We met when she came to our knitting group a little over a year ago. We hit it off almost immediately. We had a lot in common, shared the same sense of humor, views on mommyhood (ha!) and of course, our love of fiber and knitting. She's since become one of my dearest friends. So, when she decided to open up her Etsy store, Gherkin's Bucket ....I was all about it and started buying my first handspun yarns right away.

Her business has evolved quite a bit since she opened earlier this year. She not only dyes her own fiber in luxurious blends such as merino/cashmere/nylon, 22 micron merino, organic merino, baby alpaca/merino and merino/seacell, but she spins them into lofty, gorgeous yarns. She also just recently started kettle dyeing merino superwash worsted and bulky and will soon carry merino superwash fingering....all of which are conventionally spun yarns. You get the best of both worlds....handspun AND conventional yarns all in one awesome shop.

Recently I worked on some knitted projects with some of her handspun....

First up, Highly Regarded Mitts by the one and only Gherkin herself.



These were done in her Fat Grasshoppa colorway in superwash merino bulky and only used about 80 yards for the entire pair! You could get 2 pairs out of one skein of this yarn!

Next up was the Beech Wood Cowl by Ilga Leja.



I made this with her merino/tencel blend in Charmed. It was LOVELY to work with and the stitch definition is incredible!

Some of the other pretties in my stash are:

Baby Alpaca/Merino in Honesty


80/10/10 Merino/Cashmere/Nylon in Ching Ching


Superwash Merino in Verve


Pretty, eh? You can get your own Gherkin's Bucket yarns here ON SALE! She's offering 15% off everything in her shop right now as a fall sale!

And congrats to Krys for being featured yesterday on Lime and Violet's Etsy Shop of the Day!

Labels: , , , , ,

Posted by Wannabe @ 8:02 AM :: (4) comments

Thursday, September 11, 2008

A Labor of Love

I know it's been a while. I've been busy knitting. And living. And haven't felt much like blogging. Until now.

My auntie, my mom's sister, was diagnosed with brain cancer last year. She went into remission for a while and then earlier this year, her cancer returned. Feeling helpless and so very far away, I had to do something. Something. I couldn't be there with her in person, so I decided to do the only thing I really knew how to do to show her how much I love her and wish I could be with her. I got out my needles, some very special yarn, and went to work.

My original plan was to knit this for Ravelympics in 18 days. I needed a goal to get thru such a lofty project and Ravelympics was just the ticket. Even though it took me 29 days (with a few breaks in between) instead of my goal of 18, I'm completely and totally satisfied and really, really proud of what my hands created for someone I love so much.

I really hope she feels every prayer, tear, hope and every ounce of love that went into each and every stitch. I hope it warms her shoulders and her heart. I hope that she knows how very much she is loved. I hope she knows that if I could, I would rather wrap her in my arms than in a shawl. I hope this finds her well and with hope. I love you, Aunt June.









Specs:
Pattern: Leaf Lace Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark for Fiber Trends
Yarn : The Plucky Knitter Merino/Silk Laceweight
Needles: KP Options size 5
Size: small with lace repeats

Labels: , , , , , ,

Posted by Wannabe @ 8:06 AM :: (16) comments

musac love

XM Station 818 - Flight 26

podcast love

reading

The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

viewing

Fringe, Mad Men, Man vs. Wild

eating

Vegan Yummy

drinking

Coffee with soy milk

exercising

Every moment of my day is exercise..hello, I chase after a 4 year old!

knitting

Clapotis, Donyales Socks, Highly Regarded Mitts, Berry Hill Mitts, Philadelphia Eagles Broadripples

doin' this

Photobucket


spoil me handmade

free hit counters