Barely knitting or . . . knitting bearly?

Things are moving pretty slowly on the knitting front at Chez Daisy. I did complete one more Mother Bear project.

Meet Petal!

My suggestion? Don't decide to put on a neck bow after you sew on the face. Her's keeps popping up and covering up her face. 

I also finally finished my Botany Shawl. I just wasn't feeling the love for this shawl for a long time.

A bit washed out - really more of a bottle green.

I found it hard to see the pattern appearing so I really just had to take it on faith that I wasn't messing up.

It is so soft - I can't wait for cool weather to wear it about town. I did knit the smaller size and it used up one skein of yarn almost exactly.

I also found out that I was a winner on the 2 Knit Lit Chicks' Mother Bear KAL/CAL. I won this cute little project bag which winged all the way from Frenny in England and her "It's Sew in the Bag" Etsy shop.

That's me - Sassy and Classic!

It's called the Sassy Classic and it has a cute little tab to help keep it organized in my larger knitting bag. Perfect for mittens or socks! I recommend that you check her shop out!

My next step is to jump back into knitting my "first" sweater for 2013 - only it looks like it will be my only sweater. Time to buckle down, ladies, and get something done.

The Cap'n be eyein' this with pleasure

Yes, once again, me hearties, it's

Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Need an eyepatch? Get one here!

Spending time in the galley? Git yr'self a washcloth here!

Need something to keep yr grog warm? Get a wrist warmer here!

Need somethin' to warm yr noggin? Try the hat from here!

And just remember  to ARGH!

Still surviving

"Survivor Tree"

Tree outside the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

From their website, 

"The callery pear tree became known as the Survivor Tree after sustaining extensive damage, but living through the September 11, 2001, terror attacks at the World Trade Center. In October 2001, the tree with lifeless limbs, snapped roots and blackened trunk was discovered and freed from the piles of smoldering rubble in the plaza of the World Trade Center. The tree was originally planted in the 1970s in the vicinity of buildings four and five in the WTC complex near Church Street."

This photo was taken in January 2012 after the Memorial opened but before the main body of the museum has opened.

The Bears have Arrived!

My first three Mother Bear Project bears. 

  

"The Mother Bear Project provides comfort and hope to children affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of a hand-knit or crocheted bear." 

That's how their website describes these lovely comforting little bears. I've made three in the last couple of weeks because they are entirely addicting. My copy of the Mother Bear pattern came from my copy of "Knitting for Peace" but you can also get the pattern here. I can't wait to drop them off!  

The most recent bear is named Paul. 

I forgot to mention two great fiber gifts I picked up on vacation this summer.

Harmony, PA, is a tiny little village built by the Harmony Society in 1804. It's in western Pennsylvania near where my family lives. The Harmonists were a millennial pietist group that lasted in Pennyslvania for about ten years before they moved elsewhere. As a result, there are lots of beautiful German style stone buildings in Harmony. In recent years, this has become a bit of a hippie hangout - a little like Yellow Springs, Ohio, in fact - and one great store there is Darn Yarn Needles & Thread.

The perfect name - Pumpkin!

I've had some Unplanned Peacock Studio yarn before and I was so please to find this lovely autumnal skein.

Since spinning is like enjoying your yarn twice, I also picked up some fiber.

The "Woodland" colorway

This is the softest Bluefaced Leicester top from Wild Hare Fiber Studio. The green/gray color reminded me of the deep shadows of late summer.

I'd love to get back to Harmony this fall. And it looks like they have a Christmas Market as well - hmm.  Sounds like a flying family visit this winter!

I am also thinking ahead to winter and making some skirts. This collection of scraps is the same pattern as my Little Bits quilt but once it's all sewn together, I am going to use it in a skirt. 

Mmm, autumn!