Urban Fiber Studio

Is it Friday yet? And that my friends is how this week is going…

Yesterday, when I was ready to do a post I was tempted to title it Hello network provider can you reinstate my website hosting please? Obviously I didn’t get yesterday’s post up. But what a Tuesday. I woke up to no website or email. Talk about instantaneous panic attack. To think it was because of a simple thing as small as a double billing issue. Instead of crediting my card for one of the double charges they credited it for two. Result? They deleted this web address at midnight Feb. 15. I’m still trying to understand how ‘credit’ for one, non used web address translates into two credits to my card and a delete of a functioning web address. Four hours later –starting at 6:45 am – we had a resolution and the sight back up. Oy. Now to transfer it to the provider it was suppose to be transferred to in June 2010. I won’t bore you with that painful conversation either. Note that we’ll be down for maintenance late next week and weekend for about 4-6 days. Oh joy! We’ll be able to keep the blog going. It will be a pain. Email’s will bounce. And people will forget to use the email we send out while down. I’m relegating this headache for next week.

Nihon Vogue
Three projects that are uuuummmm, moving along.

Dolman. I cast on with US7’s for Dolman2. Who was I kidding thinking I could get the original done on US4’s? Me obviously. It will remain in the queue – at the bottom.

Child’s Puffy Sleeve. Blocking and waiting to be seamed and written up. YES!

Raglan. I swatched and it’s approved. I’m sorting out the pattern repeat at the underarm. Who knew a 4×2 rib could be so fussy. Need I remind you this is knitting Japanese style. Everything must be, just so. I think I figured it out.Now to knit both sides, to the armholes. Sigh.

Aran. I’m behind. Surprising news huh? I have one swatch done. I’d hoped to have them done by Thursday for Madrona to show Jean. I’d promised to have them done, since I hadn’t had them done for the last class. The fact that it wasn’t listed as homework (I was in Australia that weekend for work – tough I know) – when it was – put the skids on that. I should’ve known better. Did I tell you I’ve decided which one? Alice Starmore’s St Brigid. I just received the samples of the colors its available in from Virtual Yarns. I can’t decide which color. I’m schlepping them to Madrona for some much needed opinions. Mind you, I asked T his opinion. Of course he went for the man colors. Subdued. I asked…

Work
I’m working on a marketing plan course to teach online. Not that work is slowing down but I do realize this is a marketing blog. I have promised a 6-week course on writing a marketing plan. I’m working on it…

Hmmm I think that’s it for now. Hopefully I’ll see some of you at Madrona.

The story of my life at the moment. It started with a bang and hasn’t stopped. It only just hit me how much when I was emailing a friend the zoo of the last three months. I’ve been home about 30 days in the last three months. Thankfully I’m home for awhile. Last month I managed to get to TNNA and VK Live. We’re now in the throws of planning, budgeting, planning, budgeting and more planning and budgeting. I’m pushing my physical and mental envelope to keep from getting to behind. I should be relatively caught up by this week. All things being equal. Which they really aren’t. I can’t complain. Not with so many others still struggling to find work.

Knitting for Nihon Vogue is coming along. One thing about travel. A lot of plane time = a lot of knitting time. I’ve managed to do quite a bit of swatching the last week. Which was desperately needed. I’ve also rethunk (is that a word?) the Dolman. Don’t get me wrong, I love the one I’m working on. But on size US ’4. It’s killing me. Figuratively not actually. I swatched a great Debbie Bliss tweed that I have in my stash (on size US7’s) and think I’m making the switch this week.

Baby puffy sleeve? Blocking and ready to be seamed. Whoot, whoot.

Raglan swatches are done. I just have to plot the upper half 4×2 rib on my pattern draft to make sure all the ribs line up on the upper half and sleeves. I should be casting on this week.

Aran swatching has commenced. I’ve still not decided on which Alice Starmore. I’ve been in love with the Little Rivers Tunic and St. Brigid for well, about forever. I have a feeling I’m going to swatch for both and see which one I like. I’m also looking to adjust the sizing a wee bit and possibly making into a cardigan. My feeling is if I have to do an Aran I might as well do one I’ve been dreaming coveting for years.

VK Live. What a great event. This is going to be shorter than I want. I’m a bit late to the blog party. I was there on business checking out how clients might be able to support the event in the future. Lot’s of ideas. It was awesome. To say I spent time with some fabulous folks is to put it lightly. I did manage to sneak in a morning class on Sunday with the veritable Meg Swanson and her sidekick Amy Detjen. What a hoot! I’m a bit late to the EPS system, but love it! Not sure when I’ll be able to do one…

I rounded out last week by spending some FABULOUS quality time with the new addition to a very good friends family. Meet Ms. Sophie. We three had a lovely lunch, a wee bit of shopping and Tea. She’s as sweet as she is cute.

I’m home from VK Live and ill with a sinus infection. It’s exhausting to try to wrap my head around words let alone thoughts. After posting these photos from the weekend I’m shutting down for a couple of days.

I managed to take one afternoon for me in NY. Monday after the conference. First destination? Do I need to say who? Purl Soho. Love that shop!

I also managed to get to the Garment District. Forgot to take pictures. I hit Mood Fabric and M&J Buttons and Trims.

I also decided if I EVER win the lottery I’ll happily add New York as a place to buy a small Peid-de-terre. That would be after I buy the London one. NY could be the Spring or Fall hop.

More on the actual event in the next post.

PS: Yes. I’m still knitting and Nihon Vogue is kicking my butt.

I bought this for S from Hunt Valley Cashmere. In cream. I’m saving my pennies to do this in chocolate brown to replace the cashmere cardigan that was stolen from me four years ago at a local Portland dry cleaners. Who shall remain nameless. I’m thinking of turning it into a cardigan. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

My feeling? One can always find room for cashmere.