novamade

gifts from the internets

A while back I won a contest that Kirsten was holding at her place because I suggested a pattern for some of her gorgeous handspun.  Kirsten is really generous.  She didn't just send a prize, she sent a package of gift happiness (including something for Little Sir, he loves his Woolbur, thank you, Kirsten).  One of the things is the package o'delights was a skein of Noro Sock Yarn.  Noro sock yarn, it's pretty, and I was curious to know how it knit up.  I messed around with the yarn for a few days and came to the conclusion that I didn't want to knit it up into socks.  This sock yarn is not what anyone would describe as "soft".  But it is what a lot of people, myself included, would call "beautifully dyed".  And then my new rigid heddle loom arrived and I wondered how it would weave up as opposed to knit up.

 

Not to sound big-headed, but I think this was a stroke of genius.  I used the Noro for both the warp (the vertical bits) and the weft (the horizontal bits, don't you love my technical explainations?) and just let the yarn do what it wanted to do.  The weave is pretty balanced, but I got the look I was hoping for, so I am not concerned with picks or what have you.  I think this scarf is fabulous.

I like how the vertical stripes of color are dominant over the horizontal bands of color.  Also, I just love my new scarf (details here).

Thank you for the yarn, Kirsten!  It's probably not what you had in mind as a finished product when you sent it...but you know, I like to thrill when I can.

And while Elise did not send this to me specifically, I think that original recipes from foodies are gifts too.  They may not be gifts that one always likes; but, they are gifts all the same. 

I used this strawberry and rhubarb pie recipe to make a pie yesterday.  I found the pie overly sweet and didn't care for it; but, it was snorgled quickly by a bunch of librarian-types that I work with who all tend to be pretty picky about their food.  It passed muster, all agreed it was a good pie.  So if rhubarb is your thing, here's a recipe for you, from me (really from Elise) to you.

on birthdays and giving

On my birthday this year, I found myself writing a pattern and knitting it up.  I needed to knit a cowl for a new friend.  Hopefully it has found its way to her.  I liked knitting this cowl, and the pattern is a pretty easy one.  Also, I think anything knit in Malabrigo is pretty much destined to be awesome, because, let's be honest here, it's Malabrigo, people.

 

Spending my birthday doing something for someone else made me feel all cheery and cozy, kind of like I am hoping the cowl will make the recipient feel.

I get cheery about knits and all, but you know, there is also that pie thing, and it's Wednesday...

I made another recipe from Sweety Pies.  Rice pie.  I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.  I shared it with my co-workers and they all thought it was pretty amazing.  Rice, it's a celebratory thing, right?

So my birthday celebration is all wrapped up. I had fun celebrating, of course.  I love gift-getting and everything, but I think gift-giving may be even better.  So for my birthday, I am giving you a gift (if you want it).  I am putting up the pattern for the cowl so you too can keep cozy when it's cool (which may not be at this particular moment depending on your location, but there you are).  Or maybe you just want to be cool, since "cowl is the new scarf" and everything.  Join the bandwagon!

It's my first pattern ever, so be nice!

Download birthday_cowl.pdf

ETA: I got word that some may have difficulty downloading the pdf, so here is the write-up:

 

Finished Size: 9.5” x 21”

 

Gauge: 5 stitches = 1” in the stitch pattern.

 

Yarn:  Malabrigo is suggested (though anyworsted-weight yarn should work; but try and select

something soft and cozy.  The colorway shown here is Bobby Blue.

 

Needles: US 8/5 mm, 16” circular

 

Extra notions: Tapestry needle, Place marker

 

Stitch Pattern: The stitch pattern is a bias rib called Barley Sugar.  The pattern is an eleven stitch repeat worked in 2 rounds:

Round1: *sl1, k1, psso, k6, yo, k3* repeat to the the end of the round.

Round 2: k (till the end of the round).

             

            sl = slip

            k = knit

            psso = pass slipped stitch over

            yo = yarnover

 

Instructions:

Cast on 99 stitches. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.  Join and work 3 rounds of garter stitch (purl the first row, knit the second, purl the the third).  Begin working the Barley Sugar pattern until your cowl measures 9 inches (for a shorter scarf, knit to 6” for longer go to 10-12”).  Work three rounds of garter stitch as youdid at the beginning (p, k, p).  Bind off loosely.  Weave in your ends (there should only be two). Block your cowl.  Celebrate!

things to do in northern cali when you're crafty

I spent last week in northern California and due to having limited internet access took an unintentional blog break.  My apologies, I am working to catch myself up on your lives, projects and what-not.  But I wanted to share some of my doings with you, as most of them are of a somewhat crafty nature that you may or may not be interested in.

So here is my list of things that I did and things that you can do as well if you find yourself in northern California and you are crafty (if you are celebrating your birthday, that sort of helps too).

Pebble Beach, California. Wollmeise Gloria Cowl.

Start and finish knitting a Gloria Cowl (details here) to give to a friend for her birthday.  My friend is named Kathy, your friend can be named something else.

Artfibers in San Francisco, California.

Have your friend (Kathy) take you to local-to-her yarn shops like ImagiKnit and ArtFibers.  Acquire pretty things that make you smile.

If you are bloggy, take the opportunity to meet up with a knit bloggy friend and her beau. Especially if said knit bloggy friend is a birthday twin and is like some sort of long lost crafty twin of sorts. Apologize profusely for exposing your knit bloggy friend to your tired tyrannical toddler.

Rangsiwan meets a very tired Little Sir.

Because you can, go to a fabric store, there are lots of them in San Francisco.  If for some reason you, like me, are planning some sort of novelty quilt requiring 21 shades of silk dupioni, you should go to Fabrix like I did.

And since there is a Kinokuniya in San Francisco, you should go there and buy some Japanese craft books, especially if you can not decipher Japanese.  It makes crafting interesting.

And because you neither speak nor read Japanese and you bought a bunch of books written in that particular language, you should probably get some written in English (or whatever your primary language is) just to balance things out.

Whether you are crafty or not, you should take time to smell the roses (or whatever flora is at your disposal).

Pacific Grove, California.

And don't forget to take time to experience wonder.

Jellyfish at Monterey Aquarium in Monterey, CA.

When you return home, get giddy about the books you received for your birthday from friends near and far.

Utilize the book about pies as soon as possible, you know, if you are so inclined. 

Pineapple pie, a very sweet sweety pie.

So yes, good trip, I have a few more trips to California scheduled for the summer, but I am thinking they will not be as acquisition-friendly as this one, a birthday celebration is a great way to justify stash enhancements of all sorts.  While I usually kick off my birthday celebration on Cinco de Mayo and count up to my birthday (are you not doing this as well?), Special K suggested that we start the celebration on my actual birthday this year and add 8 days to it, isn't he sweet?  So with that said, I am still celebrating.  Though right now, I am trying to get my back to stop hurting after incorrectly lifting heavy boxes of books and documents at work.  I am also going to think about happy things, like friends in Philly having lots of fun.  And knitting, because I can do that lying down.

Hey, happy knitting, quilting, sewing, or pie baking!

procrastination in e major

This post might make you wonder about me a little; but hey, I walk around wearing chocolate as an accessory, so there you are...

Because I have become an expert in the fine art of project avoidance and procrastination in general, I thought I would deliver today’s post in song (or lyrics), to the tune of the Major General Song with some a ton of variation here and there (with apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan and to you, really).

I am a fine example of a modern knit-procrastinator

I have so many ufo’s they can’t be counted with a calculator

There is a tomten needing ends weaved in

But weaving ends does not make me grin

Even though it involves touching wool

And though that usually makes me drool

I just don’t think weaving ends is that cool.

To avoid weaving in my ends

I make the most of gifts from friends

Kirsten sent me merino, take a look at this:

I spun the wool and set the twist

I really think it’s fabulous

I have no idea what to do with it

I don’t want to let it sit

But I try to be good and put it down

Then I pick up the tomten and go to town

But I want to knit everything I see—

This has been made worse by Ravelry.

Instead of weaving in my ends

I imagine purchasing new project bins

And filling the bins with yarn I do not need

Due to my very slow knitting speed

And my stash is larger than it seems

It is the stuff of knitting dreams

I’m not complaining

I’m just saying

I have a lot to occupy my time

And fitting in all my interests is an uphill climb

To achieve some balance I try and take a rest

But my conscience always becomes a pest

And I think about the tomten sitting in the wings

I know all the other projects are really flings

But every time I take time to sit

I find a way to procrasti-knit

In my weaker moments I rediscovered the quilting bug

Because to me, sending a quilt is just like sending a hug

I sew badly but make great haste

I take the time to pin and baste

And when it’s time to bind the quilt

I leave that too to try and spin some silk

(My procrastination knows no bounds

It’s not as bad as it probably sounds)

When my hands get tired, I turn to the internet

There’s so much inspiration there, I kind of need some limits set

First Brooke began her weaving kick

Her work is so amazing it kind of makes me sick

I would love to weave things half as good

But I don’t weave and instead of knitting as I should

I troll the web for some sort of simple loom

Special K says, “you’re crazy we have no room”

But I think something small and simple would be fine

And it would likely not take up a lot of time

And time is quite the commodity

But still I return to the internet to scope what else there is to see

But I try to avoid spending more time on Ravelry

And then I go to flickr and note that Mandy dyed some wool

That struck me as really cool

Have you seen the singles, I don’t think the yarn will pool

When all is said and done, I just go and bake a pie for fuel

Because it’s Wednesday and I am a pie-baking fool

And I am still avoiding all those ends

I need to find a way to make amends

But there are so many ends to weave in it’s ridiculous

They make me feel like Sisyphus

But I am not discouraged because I like to procrasti-knit

And I’ll always find a way to let the knitting sit

It’s not as though I’ll every quit

Because I love knitting and it loves me

But weaving ends is as dull as dull can be

And I’d rather ignore all the ends I see

But then Little Sir gives me a face

And it puts me in my place

So I pick up the knitting and weave in ends

Keeping in mind advice from friends

I’ll finish the tomten, but bit by bit

Because I’ll still be prone to procrasti-knit.

I know.  It’s a special kind of crazy.  Info about today’s pie is in flickr.  Things should return to normal (which for me, admittedly, is still a little crazy) at the end of the week.  There may even be an fo!  No, not the bain of my existence tomten...

it's better with cheddar

I already made an apple pie (with raisins and rum, it was a good time); and, I like to be original; but, I have become not just a little obsessed with the whole cheese in the crust of fruit pie thing.  I am blaming those of you suggesting the cheddar and apple pairing in response to my Gruyere and pear pairing last week.  Because of your suggestions, I made my usual apple pie recipe from Joy of Cooking with the Pate Brisee crust--with the cheddar, don't forget the cheddar.  Thank you.

After thinking of all the ways to add cheddar to an apple pie (chunks mixed with filling? slices on top of the bottom crust before putting in the apples?), I came to the conclusion that I didn't want cheese floating around in my apple pie filling, it just seemed weird and incongruous.  So I did the same thing as last week and grated the cheese (maybe 3-4 ounces worth?) into my pate brisee dough.  I used sharp cheddar, I think I will go with extra sharp cheddar next time; but, this is still the best apple pie I have ever eaten.  It was incredible.

Clearly, I am never making apple pie without a cheddar crust again.  Because seriously, it was amazing.

You know what else is amazing?  When people tell you that you make their day.  Apparently, I make a lot of you smile, and that makes me smile.  Thank you Opal, Haley, Lisa, Kirsten, Tiennie,  Rangsiwan, and Rachel.  I am glad that I make your days; but, is it me or the pies?  I wish I could send you all your own personal pies, I really do.

I was thinking of just letting this go by without any sort of public acknowledgment on my part; but it seemed a good opportunity to share some blogs that you might want to be reading if you aren't already.  It was hard to crunch this down into a list of ten or less, so I decided to list the last ten blogs I have had a conversation about with someone who  isn't involved in knitblogging or blogging in general.  Or as a friend of mine would say, "real" people, as opposed to  us unreal people who blog.  Right.

Adam of Adam Knits.  I am trying to convince Special K that he wants to knit, I frequently refer to Adam and his knitting (and dyeing) skills as an argument for why engineers should knit.  Adam is an engineer who knits, Special K is an engineer who does not knit.  I recognize that my argument would be a lot more persuasive if my husband actually knew Adam or read his blog.  Details.

Diana, aka Ms. Bestitched.  She knits she sews and her posts always make me smile.  Diana is one of the first people to leave a comment on my blog and she has one of the cutest little girls in blogland, I heart LL and Diana hearts Little Sir (seriously, she sent him maracas, if that isn't love, what is?!).  I frequently find myself talking about Diana and LL in normal conversation with local friends who ask about how I met them.  "Well, I haven't met them...really.  I know them through blogging..."  This is usually where I get the look that seems to say "oh, she is talking about her imaginary friends again."

Kirsten,  who goes Through the Loops on a daily basis.  Kirsten is talented as all get out (you have probably knit one of her patterns, or you might have one of her patterns queued up to knit, if not go peruse and add one), but her kids are really talented and impressive too.  Her teenagers sound so extraordinary and likable, and I have to be honest, teenagers kind of scare me (despite the fact I have a child, children in general scare me, but there you are).

Christy who claims that she is Neither Hip Nor Funky, but who is, in reality, both.  Her brand of wit and humor is something I totally subscribe to.  Also, we both got spinning wheels at the same time, and it's been fun watching her progress, maybe sometime, I will show you mine.

Leslie, who is a good Friend to Knit With.  She is a skilled knitter and everything, but she bakes too.  I bake pies every week, she bakes cookies every week.  I have recently been told that defending a pie baking habit by using a knit-blogging cookie baker as your sole defense is a weak argument.  That person now gets no pie.

Ashley who is dogged.  Because I still want to be like Ashley when I grow up.  She knits, she quilts and she does these activities with such wit, style and flair.  She is one cool cookie.

Parikha who lives at 617 awesomeville.  She knits, and her photography skills are pretty amazing and I have a special place in my heart for people who get excited about cooking, baking and chocolate truffle making.

Stacey who hearts orange.  This is not a knitting blog, it is more pictures and anecdotes about everyday life.  Stacey is actually a "real" person to me.  We studied to be archivists together at library school.  My very first conversation with her was about the evils of addiction to caffeinated beverages which contain vanilla.  She just got back from doing humanitarian work in Africa and she was stuck in line with a crazy person talking about vanilla flavored cola.  I am so glad she never held this against me.  Stacey is, without a doubt, the coolest person I know (she climbs mountains and zip lines through trees in countries she doesn't actually live in.  That's cool.).  She also has an amazing talent for gift-giving.  She always knows the perfect thing to gift.  That is talent, people.

Do you know Mo of Mo Rocca 180?   Maybe it's an acquired taste thing; but, I love Mo Rocca.  That's right, I said it.  I love Mo Rocca.  Don't worry, Special K knows all about it.

And last, but certainly not least, Rangsiwan who is also known as YaiAnn.  I am pretty sure that Rangsiwan and I are somehow related.  I find inspiration on her blog all the time.  We talk baking, quilting and sewing quite a bit, and I have very few friends who are as enthusiastic about these things as I am besides her.  She knit me a sock that I plan on knitting the mate to this month.  It's red.

You are probably aware of a good number of these bloggers, but if not, please do go get acquainted, you'll be glad you did!

And to end, here is something I am glad about.  I am glad that when I decide to try to make something new for a friend, I make a "prototype" for myself first. 

Practice makes perfect, right?  It's a little on the small side, but it will hold a sock project.

More about this tomorrow.  I have gone on for too long, and you are probably tired of reading.  So tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel.

i like pie

Real pie.  The kind with a pastry crust and some sort of filling smooshed between.  An open faced pie would be acceptable as well.  I think it's all about the crust though.

Just because something is baked in a pie tin, doesn't necessarily mean it's a pie.  Take for instance the "pie" baked for today's Pie Hole Wednesday (I know, I am showing you a pie on Wednesday, what a novelty!).  It's Miss Milton's Lovely Fudge Pie.  I have no idea who Miss Milton is.  Is it lovely?  Perhaps (though I am convinced that well-placed raspberry coulis can dress up anything).  Is it fudge-y?  Definitely.  But a pie?  I don't know.

It definitely falls into the chocolate chip pie category.  A pseudo-pie, if you will.  I was lazy and didn't allot for time to make a crust tonight and decided to make this pie...because it is Pie Hole Wednesday (so there must be pie). 

Mostly, I wanted to try my hand at making the coulis.  Straining raspberries, it's cathartic.  In any case, I loved the coulis.  Special K liked the pie; but, I was not blown away by it.  I think you could have gotten the same end result (maybe even a better one) by mixing up a box of fudge brownie mix and tossing it in a pie pan (seriously).  I think the fudgeiness would be dependent on the brand you used (I am partial to the Dough Boy's traditional fudge formula, but, there you are).  So yes, good; but, not great.  Definitely not worth the Scharffenberger I used to concoct it. To be fair, my standard is high.

The raspberry coulis (red and yummy) did remind me to share a package I recently received though. 

One of my favorite knitting foodies, Rangsiwan, sent me a great book and a fantastic sock.  An absolutely perfect Uptown Boot Sock from IK's Favorite Socks.  I love it.  And the fit?  Perfection itself.

My desire to cast on for the mate of this sock is driving me to bring my Pomatomus closer to FO status.  This sock was just what I needed for motivation.  And cheeriness.  Sure, I have an ear infection (yay!); but, with a rockin' Rangsiwan-knit red sock, and raspberry coulis (and pie) how can I be sad?

crazy, in a healthy kind of way

I recognize that the artsy clutch crafting trend could quickly go the way of the baby sock knitting for me.  But I am not going to fight it.

I had a few gifts and prizes to send out, and the clutches provided a great opportunity to play with a relatively small amount of fabric and actually finish something in a relatively short amount of time. 

okay, this one was made a while ago...

Besides, they are useful for holding things.  Money, dpns, projects, chocolate, etcetera, etcetera.

Project info for these clutches (should you be interested in the fabric and my size modifications and such) are to the right in the gallery.

Oh, I have been knitting  (and soaking knits) too.

As far as I am concerned, this sock (in all its singleness) is a finished object.  I am sending it to someone else who can finish the pair or simply call is sock art.

It came out pretty well, I think.  It took some re-knitting to get it to its giftable state. That is what ripping half the sock after you realize that your eyelets are off just before the gusset will get you...good times. I have learned that I can not knit during Pushing Daisies.  PD is for watching and pie baking, noted. Oh, and just a heads up about this week's pie, it involves rum.  Curious?

Cowgirls Get the Oranges

Pattern:  Pony Express by Audrey Paquin

Yarn:  Shibui Sock Yarn in Pagoda

Needles: Pony Pearls (it seemed fitting) DPNs, US 1.5 / 2.5 mm

Modifications:  Just the yarn sub.

I did notice the slightest of pooling (Smurf-sized puddle, really) at the bottom of the foot after the gusset, but it was pooling of the "it totally adds character" variety versus that of the "it's pooling, please make it stop" variety.  That is what I am telling myself.  And that is what the recipient will think too.  Okay, recipient?  Work with me here.

Oh and yes, because I said I would be better about doing this...  I will be in New York this coming weekend with my boys.  We have a mini yarn/fabric crawl (School Products, Purl Soho/Purl Patchwork-they are very excited about this) in mind (with a stop at B&H) for Saturday and a little bit of Brooklyn exploration in mind for Sunday.  If you are around and would like to be subject to the cuteness that is Little Sir (you could meet me and Special K too, I suppose), let me know.

Next time, I'll have pie.

the road to rhinebeck

I tried to think about what my intentions were for Rhinebeck this year as we drove the three hours to get there on Satruday morning.  My goals for this year's trip to Rhinebeck were not extensive; but, it's still good to have a list, just to keep yourself in check.

1) Probably the best part of these festivals is meeting your knit blogging friends...especially when you have never actually "met" them before.  I wanted to make sure tomeet up with one particular knitblogging friend and her family:

Check (she and her family were even sweeter than I thought possible! And man, does Abi LOVE Rhinebeck!)

2) Buy a sweater's worth of yarn, preferably dark brown, preferably wool:

Check. (I have no idea what I will do with it, but it will be brown, it will be warm and it will be wonderful...a winner, if you will.)

3) No more than two skeins of sock yarn, preferably something that I can not easily acquire:

Check. (On the left, naturally dyed goodness from Ancient Threads Farm, on the right Acero from Brooks Farm.)

4) Yarn for some fingerless mitts...(maybe for dashing, maybe not):

Check.

5) Test drive some spinning wheels, at the very least a Lendrum:

Check. (Hello, pretty girl.  Would you like a home?  I have a home for you.)

6) Look at spindles for their beauty and craftsmanship; but, do not buy one unless my life depended on it...and not even then:

Double check. (It was really, really hard.  But I said "no."  That's right kids, just say no to drugs and spindles that you do not need).

7) Buy a goodly amount of fiber to spin on spindles currently in my possession and possibly in anticipation of a spinning wheel (see #5, above) to arrive, oh I don't know...sometime in December...

Many, many, many checks.

I figured it was time to stop with the fiber when I had to ask if it was starting to look like too much (Special K remarked that "it started to look like too much a few hours before [I] asked..."  I am pretty sure he was joking.).  I didn't want to be too greedy with the fiber, I did tell Kirsten I would leave some for her, after all.

I didn't go to any after parties so I missed out on meeting up with the vast majority of knitbloggers who attended on Saturday.  We ended up leaving late-afternoonish to head up to Saratoga Springs.

It was pretty fun.

shake it like a polaroid picture

Do you remember how Little Sir put his knitwear modeling career on hiatus?  Now, thanks to Ms. Bestiched, he has the tools necessary to bring out his inner rockstar and make that career break count for something.  Thank you, Diana.  Little Sir loves the shakers.  He thinks they are awesome (just like you and LL).

Truly.

He is also a fan of the box.

Not only did Diana make Little Sir's day, she also made mine.

Fun scraps and vintage buttons are one thing, but lace crocheted by her grandmother?  Honestly, I hardly feel worthy.  Thank you Diana, I feel like I got the better end of our little swap.  Truly, I do.

And since there seems to be a lot of "when it rains it pours" (but in a good way) going on in Chez Archives, I also need to thank Ms. Fricknits for this Koigu marvelousness...

This is one particular instance of everyone winning out in the inconvenient yarn requirements that Interweave releases in advance of the magazine.  I bought too much yarn for Special K's cobblestone and Ms. Frick happened to need some extra yarn for a bit of cuteness for the Biscuit.

And then I won a blogiversary contest that Brenda had. Thanks for the fabulousness, Brenda!

Brenda also had Ann send me a pattern I had been coveting for a while.  Now to find some yarn...heh.

my kind of town

Chicago is a fun city.  If you have never been, and the opportunity presents itself, you should go.  I am strategizing ways to make a return trip with the family at some point (I am envisioning great joy in the eyes of Little Sir at the thought of Sue in the Field Museum , but since an empty box entertains him to no end, a skeleton of a dinosaur might just push him over the edge of reason). 

There is tons to see and do in Chicago, and three days isn't enough time to do it.  Especially if one is expected to attend conference sessions about the larger meaning of archives in a digital world, or something like that.  The conference was good (though I felt that quantity over quality was the mantra when putting together sessions this year...some of my sessions were mediocre at best--this is just my opinion though), in any case, there were yarn stores.

I was able to meet up a with a fellow knit blogging archivist, you may know of her, her name is Lolly.  We were able to hit some museums and yarn shops during our brief stay in the windy city.  The two local yarn shops we visited were Knitwerks and Loopy Yarns.  Both shops were pretty great, very different in atmosphere.  Knitwerks was the first shop we went to.

Knitwerks is owned by Cherl, she rocks.

She has only been open for 9 months.  Her shop is well-maintained and is super colorful (just like Cherl's personality).  She has some really nice selections (like Dream in Color, a Chicago dyed yarn).  Lolly and I were very well-behaved:

I got a skein of Dream in color (the choclately one) sock yarn, Lolly got the green Dream in Color worsted and some lovely lace weight dyed in California , it's pretty, see for yourself.

Lolly and I spent Friday morning and most of Friday evening with a Chicago knit blogger, Amy.  Amy spent her whole day off making nice with us.  She took us to see a globe with a knitted sweater (part of a Chicago art installment).

We also went to the Field Museum; but, there was, of course, the requisite yarn trip.  Amy took us to Loopy Yarns, a fun little shop fairly close to our hotel.  There was a lot of yarn at Loopy.

They have a great selection of vegan yarn choices.

And, of course, their Claudia's handpainted is nothing to sneeze at.

I really enjoyed our little knit bloggers meet-up in the lobby of our hotel Friday night the best though.

It was fun to sit and knit with Amy, Lolly and Rebecca.  There were definitely other knit blogging archivists at the conference (as evidenced by all the knitters knitting in sessions and the random conversation about Ravelry overheard between sessions.

I heard there are plans to organize a little more for next year's conference.  Yes, we archivists, we know how to have a good time.

And lest you think me unappreciative, thank you all for your kind words, congratulations and well wishes in celebration of my blogiversary.  I have had a lot of fun with you all and learned and laughed a lot with you.  I really enjoy being part of this on-line community of knitting fun.  And having this community certainly does make archives conferences a lot more interesting.  Just sayin'.