Favorite Things Monday - the Catch All Episode

I'm on an MIT-vacation this week, and I'm feeling super happy. Perhaps this is why:



Because I'm cool and happy, it's hard to pick just one Favorite Thing today. Let's start with yarn, since presumably that's why you're here.

NYC indulgence, part 2:

That's yarn from School Products, the oldest yarn store in Manhattan and former employer of my favorite local teacher/designer/commuter/pal Alison Green Will. Alison -- the older (Russian?) guy who owns the place sends his love. What you see here is:

1) two 1lb cones of some mystery 50% wool, 50% acrylic (read: washable) yarn in precisely the same cornflower blue that I wanted for a sweater for Little Man, but which became a knitting bag. And ... it was $12 per lb./cone. Score!
2. one cone of a mystery white laceweight merino blend that I have no idea what to do with, but it was in the $5/cone bin, so I brought it home. Any ideas?
3. Two skeins of Koigu in a slightly variegated black. I know ... I know ... it's boring. But I wear black socks to work nearly every day in the winter, so these will get a LOT of use. And, if I choose a lacy pattern, I might get something closer to knee-highs.

When I write about shopping excursions like this, I start to feel guilty and ... even a bit ... hypocritical (she says sheepishly). After all, in my early blogging days, I wrote a scathing critique of this practice. Since then, I've learned a bit about quality materials, am less black-white about the topic, and I'm slightly more financially solvent (not much, mind you ... but a little). However, I still prefer bargains, and recycle materials whenever possible. Perhaps I've found a middle ground?

The New Craft Room:
One night, while dragging my PumaQuilt supplies from one room to the next, in a futile effort to avoid Wifey and the Kitties, I decided I needed "somewhere I can get the hell away from you creatures" my own craft room. A few days later, it dawned on me that our landlord keeps a small room in the back of the house for his storage. Landlord – can I pay you a little more money each month so I can get the hell away from those creatures have a home for my supplies? Sure. (????!!!!!) After a couple weeks of finding all my hiding places, dragging piles into the new room, and creating some semblance of order, I present to you … a room of my own!

The Whole Thing (yes, it’s really small)

If you want details, the "Craft Room" set on Flickr will show you where everything is located.

The Left (her better side, I must say)



The Right


The Yarn Stash (you know you want to see it)


Random Stuff:
-Tooth hurts. Vicodin rocks! Root canal tomorrow morning. Wee!
-Lots of teaching prep and consulting work to do this week - the main reason I'm taking these "vacation" days. I hope to squeeze in some serious crafting time though, so there might be exciting FO pix.

Whoah .. I've been on the computer for a long time. I need a smack-down.
Mafia ... let's review your priorities for this week:

1. Consulting Job
2. Wrangling Family Finances
3. Teaching Job
4. Showering
5. Crafting

Do you see "dick around on the computer" on that list? Yeah ... I didn't think so. Go call your client.

OK. Gotta go. Ciao.