Walking in the soft rain this morning. Lots of protection from the overhanging trees.

I admit it  – I am a Trekkie.  I have been since I was 12 years old and raced home to watch the original in re-runs after school.

Buttercups carpeting the borders of many of the paths around the park

I grew up believing in and influenced by the idea’s and beliefs of Gene Roddenberry.  Watching Star Trek was my entry into everything else Science Fiction.  I read my first Sci-Fi Novel at 13 – Infinite Worlds of Maybe by Lester Del Rey; and continued on to Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Arthur Clarke, Gordon R. Dickson, David Brin and Spider Robinson – just to name a few!

Today I watched the new movie; Star Trek – Into the Darkness.  My Inner Geek is satisfied.

Wild Rose dripping with water.

Watching a good movie is a great way to start a long weekend.  Especially after some knitting, breakfast, grocery shopping and a walk in the rain.

The rain was just falling softly as we walked around Diver’s Lake this morning.  There were lots of birds and flowers to be seen.  In most places the trees offered protection from the rain; aside from the occasional big drips.

The reeds are growing tall and green around Divers Lake.  They are fronted in many places by the wild lily pads and flowers.  Iris grow amongst them and the rushes stand tall through the year.

Reeds and Lily pads a Divers Lake

The wood ducks hardly looked real as they paddled through the reeds.  They are so colourful.

Wood Ducks amongst the reeds.

Did you know that holly trees flower?  I suppose that they must, in order to produce the berries.  I had never noticed their flowers before!

A flowering Holly Tree. The flowers are hugely textured with the stamens so long and prickly looking!

Knitting is another way of satisfying my Inner Geek.  It has a certain symmetry that allows me to understand numbers and their connection to creation.  In nature, in life and in knitting numbers rule!

Live Long and Prosper

Lynette

Sun illuminating a Columbine.

Yesterday evening the sun illuminated the flowers in the backyard.

My backyard is usually shaded, especially on one side.  But there is a small window of sunlight in the evening – just around 7:00pm right now.  The sun pours into the whole yard and for a brief moment the flowers are all outlined with light.

Lavender etched in Sunlight!

I grabbed the camera and started to take shots of the flowers as the light first hit and then faded.  It was magical.

Size 8/0 Delicas 24K gold finish – on their way!

We have a the May long weekend ahead and as normal I have more plans than time!  Knitting of course – lots of knitting.  I have a project to power through so that when the yarn arrives from The Buffalo Wool Company I can play.  The yarn and the beads are both on their way!

Halfway through and ready to start the edging!

I have knit the first ball from the Great White Bale and hope to at least start the second ball.  I need to set up for the lace border.  Once it is knit it will be painted, something simple as the design and yarn are a little more “rustic” than delicate!

Center Back Motif of Crystalline.

The big plan this weekend is painting “Crystalline”.  The weatherman promises that Sunday and Monday should be dry and therefore I will be able to paint!  It seems like I have been waiting forever!

More Columbine

The time was never available when the skies were clear!  The Painting class during the Fibre Festival was like a tease – it just whetted my appetite!

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend as well.

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Our premier bison yarn. 100% Pure Bison Down at 17 wraps per inch twisted up with pure gold wrapped around silk, with just enough slack to make it work perfectly in knitted fabric, measuring 300 yd per 50 gram skein. Buffalo Gold is a 3-ply fingering-weight yarn ready for scarves and shawls that will become a heirloom in the making, intended to be worn for generations.
This is a special edition yarn, and probably will never be duplicated.

Opportunity knocked on my door Friday last week.  I was scrolling through Facebook and saw a picture of a gorgeous hank of yarn; attached to this hank was a small blurb with a read more link.  I read more.

The Buffalo Wool Company was having a design competition.

This was the last call out!

They wanted to someone to design something with their new yarn - Buffalo Gold – buffalo down with a little silk and a thread of real gold running through the yarn!

Visions of lace and beads and, and, ……  I was off and running.  Words came pouring out, sketches were made and launched out into the ether of E-mail!

Monday morning I got a call from Fiona.  “Congratulations” she said, “Duh” I said, it was morning – I wasn’t quite all there!  Posted on Facebook – in Ron Miskin’s own words…..

Ok, the long awaited winners of the Buffalo Gold contest…..

For Knitting:   Lynette Meeks, with Yippie Ki Yi Yea— which is going to be absolutely STUNNING!!!

I am so excited to be getting the opportunity to work with this yarn.  Yarn is on its way; Beads have been ordered – 24K gold dipped Delica’s.  It is going to be wonderful!

Classes

The classes are up for Mad About Ewe’s Summer Session.  The projects for the classes will all include beads except for the lace and painting class.  Only the first class – Nordic Beaded Wrist Warmers – must use beads, with the other projects the beads are optional!

Garden

I love the lilacs of spring

Blooming Rosemary and a busy bee!

Must stop knitting so that I have more time to garden – what am I saying – that is not going to happen!  Must convince my husband to work more in garden – might be harder – but will happen!

Just the hostas are left to plant.  The clematis and small boxwood have been planted, the Rosemary that we were given last year has been transplanted from its pot into the ground and I was given two new lavender plants for Mothers Day!  Number 1 son (only son) does know how much his mother loves lavender!  Two beautiful hanging baskets are hanging by the deck – it is starting to look like summer!

New Rhododendron just opening up.

The Lilac’s are in full bloom and the new Rhododendron is also blooming.  The Columbines we planted last year and just starting to bloom and last years hostas are huge.

Dirt will be arriving in the next week or so and then we will get the apple tree for the back fence.  Everything is starting to come together!

Happy Knitting and Gardening

Lynette

PS.  It looks like my Phacelia, might actually by Comfrey.  If so I want some for the yard.  They are gorgeous.  Thanks to Maureen to offering up that bit of information.

Sophie playing for the Sophie fans.

I love the curves of blooms!

Beautiful

On our walk around the Estuary yesterday morning we saw this unusual flowering plant.  It is a type of Phacelia.  It does grow on Vancouver Island, but usually only above 1500m.  These plants were right by the road on the edge of the park.

It wasn’t just a single plant – it was quite a good spread of plants – they had been there for quite a while!

The leaves are large and like the stems seem to be covered in a fine silky “hair”.  Gorgeous.

There are over 200 varieties of Phacelia.  They are all beautiful.

Happy Viewing

Lynette

Small grace notes in a busy weekend.

Bee’s were everywhere!

This weekend was all about the quiet and the high notes that make up our lives.

Spotted Towhee serenades as we walk by.

Herons on the beach; Eagles on high; Robins, Red Winged Blackbirds and the Spotted Towhees in the trees serenade us as we walk by.  Hummingbirds and bees move at the speed of light, buzzing in flight, both enormously busy at this time of year.

Rain spotted Thimble berry bloom.

From walks in the parks we find the new flowers; at the Chase River Estuary every type of local berry is in bloom – we saw wild strawberry blossoms and wild black berry blossoms; the salmon berries are still blooming and the thimble berries have joined in.

Perfect Wild Rose

The wild honeysuckle is blooming, my honeysuckle is still a week or two away.  The Wild Roses have just started blooming as well.  Bushes and trees are flowering and seeding with the approach of Summer and new growth is everywhere.

The never-ending horizon.

At Neck Point the horizon went on forever this morning as the mainland was socked in with the clouds that brought the rain later in the day!  Two water turtles were sunning on a log in the small pond by the parking lot – I had never seen turtles that big, the shells on each had to be at least 12 inches across!

Amazing turtles

Beauty Emerging

Thirteen for dinner last night.  I cooked the Easter Turkey as we were away at Easter and it was a wonderful evening with friends and family.  Tonight is just family and that will be wonderful as well!

People create art everywhere.

Some of the plants that have been waiting to be planted got into the ground before the heavy rains fell – the rest will have to wait!

Hope that you are having a great weekend.  With friends, family and as much of both as you wish!

Happy Mother’s Day

Lynette

Campbell River has stunning scenery

The Vancouver Fibre Arts Fest 2013 had a wonderful gallery for the attendee’s.  Show and tell your object and then your piece could go into the gallery for the other attendee’s to vote on.  The ballots were done well with places for each skill, ie, spinning, weaving, knitting machine and hand quilting etc.  There was just one category missing.  Best In Show.

There was one piece at the “Show and Tell” and in the gallery that I really thought deserved greater recognition than the other pieces.  I am sure that not everyone would agree with me and others would have had differing opinions but it would have been interesting to see what the attendee’s thought was best.

OK – it might have been a little bit like a popularity contest.

Here is my vote for the “Best In Show”.

Vyvyan Dorsett’s Weaving.

Vyvyan Dorsett is a weaver from Quadra Island and she participated in the Show and Tell and submitted her pieces for the Gallery.  Vyvyan, hand-spins, hand-dyes and then weaves her pieces.  They are beautiful.  She has a couple of pieces available for sale as a fund raiser for the Sierra Club.

Vyvyan had a few of her woven pieces in the show and they were gorgeous.  What Vyvyan also brought was a piece that she had hand-spun and then knit.  I was blown away by this piece.  I wanted to make it best in knitting as well as the spinning.  It was in the spinning category only and I could not add it to the knitting category.  And I really wanted to make it best in knitting as well.

An image of a Russian Spindle with a support bowl. Hand-turned by Keith Leonard, I found the image by googling Russian Spindles as I didn’t know what one was. This is very beautiful.

Vyvyan had recently purchased a Russian Spindle and had immediately spun up some lace weight silk/cashmere blend – enough for a small stole – probably about 1000 yds.  Vyvyan then knit a Orenburg style lace stole with her hand-spun.  The yarn was left natural as most Orenburg shawls are natural.  The shawl was stunning.  It was simply called Russian Spindle.

Russian Spindle – this picture does not do it justice. I wish I could have pictured it draped over a body with a deeper background!

“Russian Spindle” Deserved Best In Show.  In my opinion.  It was to my mind the best in two of the nominated skills and I have the knitting skills and experience to back up my opinion of the knitting skill involved in the creation of the piece.  And as it took first place in the Spinning section, others shared my opinion of the skill involved in the spinning!

At any rate everything entered was beautiful.  Each was created with great craftsmanship and oftentimes great love.  The stories behind each piece were heartwarming and a vivid reminder of why we do what we do!

Tourmaline before painting.

The results from the Peoples Choice Gallery at Vancouver Island Fibre Fest were released yesterday.  Thank-you to everyone who participated and then voted.  My shawl “Tourmaline” was voted best in the Knitting Category.

Happy Crafting

Lynette

Tourmaline after painting

Walking from the parking lot towards Miracle Beach itself.

Small green crab scuttling away.

Saturday morning and afternoon of last weekend became a one day holiday – spent travelling down island to Nanaimo from Campbell River!

We took the old Highway from Campbell River and admired the scenery stopping here and there to take pictures.   Living close to and influenced heavily by the Ocean waters of the Georgia Strait I don’t often look inland.

I forget that the Island is bigger than some countries and has a very impressive spine of mountains, on par with the Coastal Ranges across the water.  The Vancouver Island Ranges were shining in the sunshine, their peaks still covered with snow.  As we drove there were small and large farms with rolling fields, followed by green hills running up to the snow-capped peaks – a visual feast.

On the way we stopped at Miracle Beach.  We didn’t have long so we only stayed for a short while.  I want to go back and spend a day – it was gorgeous.

Looking up as we left the beach area.

A quick stop in Courtney for Hot Cinnamon Spice loose tea, only available at the Tea Centre.  And then we bombed up the new highway to Cuckoo for a late lunch.

Cuckoo has only been around a short while, only a year or so, but what a great place for lunch (or any meal!).  The restaurant itself was almost empty – everyone was out eating on the terrace.  The terrace is huge and gorgeous, shaded by old trees.  It is on a couple of levels, with high planters dividing some areas from others.  There were birds swooping through the trees and butterflies flitting about.  A wonderful place to linger with a friend over lunch.

I had to be home early enough to get ready for Chemainus Dinner Theatre.  My husband and I were joining friends for dinner and the show – Delicious Lies.  It was a wonderful end to an amazing day.

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Saturday morning, 8:00 am, Campbell River

……. Can one weekend hold?

Not only was the most beautiful May weekend ever, think summer weather with clear blue skies and warm temperatures.  It may have been the busiest weekend ever for me!

The weekend was Bookended by a wonderful mix of all kinds of fibre goodness; not only knitting and teaching; there was an incredible array of items created by some very talented artists available for viewing!  Demonstrations, Show and Tells and more than a few “Show me’s!”

Where was I?  At the first ever Vancouver Island Fibre Fest, held in Campbell River!  I was there the Friday evening and Saturday morning and back again for Sunday.  The attendance wasn’t huge, but it was good enough that it has already been decided that it will be held again next year – I can hardly wait!

The organizers of the Festival, Shelley Mackie, (you may recognize Shelley’s name – formerly of Fun Knits on Quadra Island - Shelley has organized more that a few retreats there) and Judy Ridgeway decided in January that the Island needed the festival and went to work contacting the people necessary to create a festival.

Create they did!

Every square a memory. Each square was from a piece of clothing made by the quilters mother for her and her siblings – Priceless memories.

The festival was a fund-raiser for the Special Needs program at the Community Center.  The Students of the program participated in the Show and Tell and were a big part of the weekend.  Food was prepared and provided by the special needs students themselves for both the Friday evening show and tell and the cafeteria lunch and snacks – everything was by donation and the students did a great job!

The venue was great.  The Campbell River Community Center has great rooms for classes, large and bright.  There were two halls, one for the Vendors, and one for the demonstrations, including the “show and tell” the first night, the spin-in on Sunday and just for hanging around.

I was teaching on the Sunday but I went with a friend for the ”Show and Tell” on the Friday.  What an incredible array of talent!

Every facet of the Fibre Arts was represented.  Sewing by the Special needs students; Quilting, traditional hand sewn and machine quilting; Weaving, dimensional and flat; Hand-spinning; Crochet and Knitting.  There were some absolutely incredible pieces to see and some wonderful stories were told.  The show and tell allowed people to share their thoughts and experiences about what was created!  The Show and Tells were then displayed in a gallery on Saturday where they could be examined up close.  When on the stage most of the artists spoke and moved to fast!  LOL!

The Classes were as diverse as the Show and Tells.

The classes included, knitting, weaving, applique, quilting,  and sewing.  You could learn to grow and work with Japanese Indigo, Weave Baskets, Spin Bast type fibres or Knit lace; work with beads, or fingerweave.  There was something for everyone.

As a teacher the festival was a little disappointing – I only had one student.  Donna was a very good student and we had a wonderful time getting to know each other.  My other student got pulled away at the last-minute and could not attend.

Shelley graciously allowed me to use her knitting and I turned the afternoon portion of the class into a demonstration.  This went very well!

Shelley wanted a Christmas inspired theme for her scarf – so we went for Poinsettia and Holly and kept the white background of the Louet Gems wool.  I am really looking forward to seeing this after the dyes are set.

I have learned a great deal this weekend and look forward to next year when I can try out some of my new ideas!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Yarn Lust!

……. Struck yesterday afternoon.

Great White Bale notebook for notetaking and observations, and yarn ready to knit!

My package from Clara Yarns had arrived.  This is the first of the yarns from the Great White Bale and I had been anticipating this arrival all week!  Others had already received theirs.

As I opened the mailing envelope the smell of good yarn rose to greet my nose.  I was so anxious to shake out the hank of yarn that I almost missed the Great White Bale notebook as it tumbled from the wrapping to the floor!  Sophie was quick, but I was quicker – though she did get the paper the yarn had been wrapped in.

I shook out the first hank and buried my nose into the yarn and started mumbling about yarn lust and nepps as I inhaled deeply.  How soft the yarn was I hummed; as I petted and played.  I turned around to see my husband looking at me quizzically.  Had I spoken out loud?  I had.  Another moment of crazy wife syndrome.

Clara had suggested that the yarn be allowed to hang over night in the shower to release some of the kinks of travel in the steam in the morning – Sorry Clara – I wasn’t going to wait that long!

As I wound the yarn I was amazed by the loft and texture of the yarn.  This yarn could be compared to a heavy worsted by weight and yardage.  But it looks more like a heavy aran and the 4.2 oz skien was bigger than my winder could accommodate – I had to wind the last few yards by hand onto my ball.

The texture when knit is very spongy, soft and squishy, almost chenille like.  I am knitting with a yarn that has the texture of the  sheep right in the stitch, a Saxon Merino sheep.  A size 5.5mm needle was a recommendation, I am working with a 6.0mm as I am usually fairly tight.

I have worked with mule-spun yarns before, but never with anything like this.  This yarn is incredibly soft.  It has been made special as well – I got to see it being spun.  This is a very personal relationship!

Top-down Faroese – I have almost caught up to last nights knitting.

I have decided to knit a top-down faroese style shawl.  It will be like wearing a hug.

Some of last night’s knitting had to come out this morning as I didn’t like the lace in the back panel.  The stitch definition is not clear enough for a complicated lace, so I went with a single panel of feather and fan for the back panel, the remainder of the shawl body will be in garter stitch and the edging, bottom of the shawl, will be all feather and fan.  I will knit until the first ball is done for the body and the second ball will be all edging.

The texture of the yarn does not lend itselft to really complicated stitchery, but the movement of the feather and fan should show well.

When the knitting is done I plan on painting this with dyes – I can see the shading already in the feather and fan stitch.  I will be sad to lose the wonderful aroma, but I can’t wear natural and I want to wear this one often!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Morning from the top of the bluff at Piper’s Lagoon!

Buttercups and Purple Starflowers underneath the Oaks at Piper’s Lagoon.

Buttercups and white  rock flowers and swaths of “Purple Stars“!  These are what I found a Piper’s Lagoon on Sunday morning.

Sunday morning was a gift, an unexpected pleasure as we woke to clear skies and glorious sunshine.  It was supposed to be raining!  As the day progressed the skies darkened and the clouds thickened but the rain never really arrived.  It was good day.

Sophie hiding in the grass.

We walked Sophie at Piper’s Sunday morning.  Starting tomorrow she won’t be allowed on any of the local beaches, because of a City Bylaw, and she does love the beach.

Tiny White flowers gleaming in the sun and gnarled grey Gary Oak trunk.

The sea grasses are all greening and growing, bushes and trees are budding and the flowers on the point!….. Gorgeous!

Every nook and cranny along the rock face was growing something; grass, succulent or flower.  The flower was a very pretty, glowing white bloom, about an inch across.  White clusters here and there against the rusty grey rock or twisted Oak trunk, beautiful.

Atop and around the bluff a treasure in flowers.

What took my breath away were the purple stars.  These wildflowers were growing the long grasses, beside the buttercups.  Growing in the green grasses underneath the Gary Oaks and the dots of yellow and purple against the green grass; the intense colour contrasts, dappled by sun and shade – stunning.  I could not take enough pictures!

I went on a road trip in the afternoon.  To Dinters Nursery just south of Duncan; a friend was helping me figure out what to do with the back yard.  I learned as much as I forgot.  Linda was a font of knowledge and as we drove we talked.  We stopped at several places en route to Dinters - just so that I could really see some of the options – my mind was swirling before we got to Dinters and I was swooning once there.

An Example of an Apple Tree grown Espelier style.

I did not buy anything except lunch!

A tiny bird amongst the Apple Blossoms next door.

The neighbours Apple tree has inspired me to try to grow apples of my own.  The bonus bird population will be appreciated as well!

While no purchases were made, I came away with many ideas and possible plans for the backyard – Espelier a fruit tree against the fence – an Apple tree for sure and maybe a Pear tree as well.  A few flowering shrubs and vines and a couple of slow-growing junipers perhaps.  I am starting slow. 

The Nanaimo Wave Babes are having a plant sale this Saturday May 4th.  I have already bought some Hostas and a Succulent frame from them.  I have connections!

More stash Storage

I couldn’t go to the plant sale this weekend (hence, the connections and the early purchase) as I will be up in Campbell River at the Fibre Festival!  I am really excited to be going and teaching! This is the first ever Vancouver Island Fibre Festival and I hope that it will be the first of many.

The rest of Sunday was devoted to family for Dinner and a little more tidying of the Stash and its environs!

After dinner was knitting and visiting.  Life is good.

Happy Knitting

Lynette