Weekend Plans

I've been fighting off grandkid germs for about a week. Saturday they finally got the best of me and I spent most of the day in bed - fortunately, after we went up to Ojai for Art in the Park and the annual Massarella pottery sale. Two pots followed me home - one by Frank Massarella himself. Anybody want to guess what this is? Or what it's used for?I'm planning to use it to hold spindles but it's actually a container for holding sourdough starter. Pretty and unique - how could I say 'no'?I also fell in love with this smaller blue and red pot. I had no idea what I'd use it for, but now I'm thinking it would look good sitting by my computer, holding crochet hooks. I'm currently using a coffee cup for that job and it is packed full. Something a bit bigger - and prettier - would be nice.

I've started a new knitting project - February Lady Sweater (Ravelry link; non-Rav link) - using Fearless Fiber mohair/wool yarn in Verdure. The second buttonhole had me stumped for a few days, but tonight I found a YouTube video that showed a slightly different method and I'm back in action. The next class is a week from today and I need to have another 3" and the third buttonhole completed by then. I also picked up a new-to-me knitting bag to hold my latest project. This Laurel Burch bag showed up at the Guild's recycle day event and I had to have it. Just looking at it - complete with its hand-painted bead on the handle - makes me smile.

Moving Ahead

Thanks for all the sweet comments and emails on Oreo's passing. I got up from writing that entry last night and headed for the kitchen to make up her nightly medications. I think it's going to take a few days to break that habit.

I'm leaving tomorrow for two days in San Diego at TNNA - The National Needlework Association's twice annual show - where yarn shop people go to see what's new and order stock for the next six months or so. TNNA also has classes by some of the best known names in the knitting and crochet world. I'm taking Lily Chin's 'Crocheted Tips, Tricks and Hints' class. I've got a couple of her books and I've made some of her patterns, plus I've heard she's a great teacher/speaker, so needless to say I'm very excited. And after this week's sadness, I decided to splurge a little and got us a room at a little inn on Coronado Island for Thursday night (right across the street from this little place).

I finally picked up the pottery Naia, Marie and I painted after Christmas. Can you tell which two pieces are Naia's? She's very creative with her color choices and painting skills. This is the second time I've taken her painting and she showed more patience this time, covering more of the pieces with paint and putting the required 2-3 coats on most of the surfaces. Naia informed me that pottery painting is better than Chuck E. Cheese but not quite as good as Golf N Stuff. Always good to know where you stand.

Marie put a lot of effort into her lighthouse, continuing to paint for over an hour after Naia and I were done and gone. And my little jar is pretty and serviceable. I'll use it next to my TV chair to store stitch markers and yarn tails; Dick will be thrilled they aren't scattered all over.

Pottery Update

Remember the ceramic painting Marie, Nai'a and I did about a month ago? I can't believe the difference firing the pieces made. This was my baby dish - and this is the dish now. So shiny and bright. And yellow.

Here's my gecko soap dish- The 'tummy' is deep purple - couldn't get the color right in the photo. Don't you love the eyelashes? We all enjoyed painting so I expect we'll do it again. Maybe when Rachel comes out for this weekend's wedding . . .

Ceramic Painting

Marie and I took Naia pottery painting today. I had so much fun painting in Colorado, I wanted to do more. Firefly Ceramics is in Ventura, close to where I used to work (no website that I could find).

Naia started with an Easter bunny (named Bunny Bear), then moved on to a small monkey. She also painted a plate for Marie. We told Naia she could paint it anyway she wanted and she really got into it, as you can see from her concentration. Marie chose this witch, the most intricate project of the day. It took her a full 3 hours to finish but it really looked nice when she was done. I forgot to take a picture of my gecko soap dish; this is my second project, a grandbaby plate. We won't get the finished pieces back for at least a week, which disappointed Naia. I can't wait to see how they all turned out.

Doesn't Naia wear her paint well? You should see her jeans . . .

More Crafting

Addy's knitted Baby Surprise Jacket is coming along nicely. I started it in class on February 1 (details here) and worked on it during the Colorado trip so I'd be ready for the 'hard' part by tonight's second and last class. And the 'hard' part turned out not to be so hard, although I was glad to have the instructor holding my hand while I slipped 30-odd stitches onto a holder for the first time.

I'm thrilled that it actually looked like a baby sweater by the end of tonight's class! I'm so pleased with it that I signed up for another knit sweater class, this time an adult top-down v-neck sweater with the same instructor. I really enjoy Anne's classes; she's a great teacher and I 'get it' when she explains things. If I keep this up, I may turn into a knitter yet.

While in Colorado, Rachel and I tried out a new pottery painting store.Rachel made a beer stein for John, while I chose this silly thing - Fred the endangered Sponge-holding Kitchen Fish. We spent about three hours there and had a blast. They will fire the ceramics for us this week and Rachel will mail Fred to me after that. Can't wait to see how he turns out.