Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light......

Olympic Socks and Six Sox Knitalong
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

Olympic Gold, Baby! I did it. I didn't think I would make it through last week much less finish my Olympic socks. Both were accomplished-only hours to go on the socks. Whew!!!. :0) I am quite proud of them, too. Now on to other things! I have obviously been preoccupied, but not so much so that I haven't been working. I have a new stealth project cooking as well as finishing Rhinegold (yes, Marina :0) )and Luskentyre....and Butterfly and Flaming Red Hot Socks...and the list goes on and on. I also received a new spindle from Gabe Jaramillo at Cascabeles Handspindles.

It is FABULOUS! I will post some pics soon and I need to email him to rave. Go on...go look. :0)

Tribute to a friend.

Buddie
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

There are masters in every hand craft and art; Mozarts, Beethovens, Rembrandts...and then there was Buddie Foster. Buddie was a master of leatherwork just as true a master as any other master of his craft. The world lost Buddie on February 15 to a tragic accident that will deprive us of knowing what else this zany, crazy master of his art would have accomplished in his lifetime. He was loyal to those he loved and a formidable enemy to those he believed wronged him or those he loved. We love you will miss you for the rest of our lives, Buddie Foster.

work of art

work of art
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

Six Sox and Knitting Olympics event

Six Sox and Knitting Olympics event
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

Here is the news of the weekend. After a long rehearsal Friday night, I was able to go back to the hotel, flip on the TV and cast on for my Olympic event, The SIX SOX Knitalong sock. I love this pattern and after frogging only a few times...because my brain does shut off after rehearsals, I came away with this. I have decided to bead every repeat instead of every other, but the rest is the same as the pattern so far. This will be a prezzie for some unsuspecting victim.Namely...my Sockapalooza Pal!

On the oboe front, the concert was a lot of fun this weekend. We had the honor of sharing the stage with none other than Pepe Romero playing Rodrigo. It is a wonderful piece if you don't know it...you probably do and don't realize it. An emotional roller coaster of a piece. He received several ovations and did two encores. The rest of the program was Debussy Prelude and Bruckner Symphony 1. It is the second time I have performed the Bruckner and it felt like an old friend from the first rehearsal. Our soloists in the group on all of these pieces were just spectacular this concert.!!!!

first attempt at spindling

first attempt at spindling
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

Here is a shot of my new found love, the spindle. This is so much fun. I can't believe I haven't really gotten going with this sooner. Just tried the wheel first and never looked back. The purple is mine and the white was there when I bought it at Rose Path Weaving in Lindale, Texas. What friendly service and the store has been filled with friendly ladies both times I have visited.

Romney Handspun fun

Romney handspun
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

I have been promising to put a pic of my spinning up recently, and have procrastinated to no end......so here it is. This is some of the handspun from a Romney sheep at Fishwhistle Farm. It is a wonderful light grey and oatmeal shade that doesn't photograph nearly as beautiful as it looks in person. I spun it on my Ashford Traditional and hope to make enough for a sweater at some point.....or just hang it on the wall and look at it...I dunno.

Knitting Olympics...or I must be crazy

Well...I have decided. I am going to do it. I am joining the Knitting Olympics. Although my choice will only be a pair of socks, this seems to be a monumental undertaking these days...what with all these baby ducklings to take care of and all. heh My choce will be the Six Sox Knitalong sock which I have already shown you. I have all ingredients at hand and ready to begin Friday night after my rehearsal..or before, depending on practice schedule needs. Meaning I may need the time to not make myself look like an idiot on stage that night. One of these two knitalongs is also going to be a pair of socks for my Sockapalooza buddy. I have another idea in the works for her, but we will see how that one comes about in the next week or so. I think she will LOVE it, tho.

Mrs. Mallard and baby ducklings

Mrs. Mallard and baby ducklings
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

Here are the pics of our children's concerts this weekend. These are the ducks and ducklings in Make Way for Ducklings that we played on Saturday. Guess who was Mrs. Mallard??? Then you can see a great shot of all of the ducklings walking across stage in a line "just as Mrs Mallard taught them to do". And here are some oboist's views of the orchestra as I know it. Always with my trusted clarinet friend, Sharon, behind me starring as none other than Mr. Mallard! And of course...after rehearsal cocktails at the bar!

behind me....

behind me....
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

children's concert

children's concert
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

oboist's view

oboist's view
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

"after rehearsal" cocktails

"after rehearsal" cocktails
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

Six Sox

Six Sox
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

This is the yarn and beads I have chosen to do the February Six Sox on. The pattern is really neat and I think it will look great! I have decided not to use a ragg yarn, but think it will be a good choice for me.

Red Hot Sizzling Socks

Red Hot Sizzling Socks
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

These are the yarns for my Red Hot Sizzling Socks I hope to have on the needles very soon!

Wrist Warmer

Wrist Warmer
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

This is a design of my own added to a wrist warmer. I have really been enjoying these so much that there is always at least one pair on the needles. Never mind that the weather has been at least 70 degrees here most of the winter....

Wall of Shame

Wall of Shame
Originally uploaded by sillyewe.

Yes...this is my wall o'shame. Campion, Jamieson's...kits in waiting, yarns found on sale..and the source of much happiness for me. ;) To the left is my new spinning wheel brought over from Germany. She's a beauty. See the bone accents? This was most likely a gift to a bride on her wedding before the turn of the century. The wheel itself spins like a dream.

Knitalongs

So, as you can see from the sidebar, I have joined a few Knitalongs and such. I have already met so many new people and I am having a blast.

Can't wait to send my Sockapalooza Pal her pair, but that won't happen until May. I do know that we have very similar tastes in yarn, tho. Saw it on her blog last night, but I don't have the evidence on mine....so no hints there. Muuuaaahaaahhaaa! Trying to decide whether or not to do the Knitting Olympics...what d'ya think?

I have also started a design for the Red Hot Sizzling Socks. No, I won't show it yet...too embarrassing. You will see it soon enough. I did buy the yarn yesterday.... :0)......on the way home from playing at a fund raiser in the city for the symphony. My, oh, my....what a lovely home it was. I am pretty sure the floor in the main room alone cost more than my entire house. Wow!!! But, it was indeed fun and the other two members of the trio I am in are just fantastic and humbling musicians. I am always in awe of them playing music with them. Love you guys!

Then there is the Six Sox Knitalong. Great design this month. I can hardly wait to get started on it, too. I have a pair of socks on the needles that I hope to finish this weekend, and then all the fun will begin. I like to refer to them as the Ugly Socks. I seem to have lost one of my rosewood 2.5mm sock needles, tho. Da%8m!!!! I am sure it is Karma for calling them ugly. I hate an incomplete set. I mean REALLY HATE an incomplete set. I *think* I am obsessive when it comes to knitting. I THINK. ;0)