Why, hello stranger.....

Me and HPNY hanging out at Zabar's.

Welcome back to the constantly morphing planet of Mary, Mary! Let's see what all has happened since I last posted. Oh, gosh, I have lost about 25 pounds. This was due in part to the adrenaline, anxiety and stress caused by my recent divorce. Yes, I know, big effing life change doings. It was mutual and we're much happier as friends and co-parents than spouses. It's a huge transition for all of us, but I think we'll get there in the end. Texting your kids nonstop is my idea of an umbilical cord. Anyway, I had a few days free and recently ran off to New York City to see old and new-ish friends. I did pick up 2 skeins of Alchemy Pagoda, Costa Brava colorway on a quick trip to Knitty City w/Hila(HPNY). I started a cluster pattern scarf but have ripped it out because the texture of the fiber totally obscured the stitch pattern. Something simpler and bit more dramatic--double YOs--may do the trick. There is a nice scarf pattern in the summer VK with dropped stitches, but I am a little worried that it is a bit delicate for the wear&tear of a lacrosse/soccer mom. And then.....

I am a finishing geek and I blocked my friend Jane's 360 degree Feather and Fan shawl. I'm not sure what pattern she used, but it spread out beautifully. I used a million t-pins to enhance the crochet edge.

And I think you can see for yourself how happy Jane was with the results...

and let's take a look at the back...

She's getting ready to go to Knitting Camp in Wisconsin and if she doesn't kick some KC butt, then I will be sorely disappointed. I forgot to mention that she knitted a hat out of my old old Gameboy charger cords mixed with Malabrigo and buttons.
Jane. Rocks.


Imagine sitting on that roof deck on the right and listening to Gogol Bordello while drinking an ice cold beer on a lazy summer night. Cheers, New York!

What, it's Friday already?

My, how time flies when all you do is listen to Ida Maria and Camera Obscura while whooshing away on an elliptical trainer, hoping you can get into last summer's shorts before June. Sometimes, I go to the weight room when I want to get in touch with my inner Kellie Everts and pump some 8 lb iron, man. I know, I had absolutely no idea that there were female bodybuilders who stripped for God. I thought it was for, like, a paying audience. Who knew?

Ok, I want to start something, anything, and it has to be with stash yarn. Well, how about this little number from Stitch Diva? I can wear it over a tank and it works up on a DK/light worsted gauge. It's kind of like Cherie Amour with air conditioning. I just downloaded it and hope to start tomorrow.


And here's Louie tapping into his inner Barry White. I dunno, I think he strips for mice.

What if...

the Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about?

I saw that on a bumper sticker today and had to share it.
I'm taking a hiatus from crafts these days to focus on losing weight and recalibrating my personal life. I'll continue posting odds & ends, so please stop by and wave hello.

Oscar the Grouchy Bunny Cupcake

and Sean the Sheep wish you a very happy holiday weekend.

My friend, Anneke, asked me to write a post for the Anneke's Needleworks Blog about ordering the Blue Sky Alpacas yarns with her at TNNA in San Diego. Go check it out!

Good Handknit Sweaters Last Forever, People Don't

"Hellooooo everybody! I am taking a little break from all of my crafty hobbies to enjoy looking at my handcrafted gold wire and quartz candle snuffer. It comes in so handy when we have seances and stuff with that charming little gamine Rosemary. Ooooh, and here are all the obituaries that I need to put into my scrapbook. Gosh, remind me to get some library paste! I just love to snuggle up in my cozy lavender mohair sweater, pick up some needles and get to work. The neighbors hardly complain about the screams, ever since I accidentally left some rat poison out on the fire escape and Miss Precious Perfect died. Sigh. It takes so much energy for a busy girl to find new creative outlets." 
One busy girl in Austin glued plastic eyeballs to her car which I saw at the library.
Another busy girl made new friends after a long run on Town Lake. Gee, Velma really took her vitamins!
And another busy girl put on her handmade Lucchese boots which were made for walkin' after midnight.

Spring Break

rib-eye steak, corn-on-the-cob, Weber grill, Austin 2009.


I'm working on a striped Tomato ala Turtlegirl except with my own little spin.(yeah, yeah, pix to come) I also have various knitting repair jobs for friends that have been languishing while I pretend I'm bulletproof and 21 as I catch up with visiting friends during SXSW.(the biggest bestest kick-ass music confab evah)
And there's some mobius action going on with the spring green manos and FDC.

Cookin' with gas, baby....

Spring Back, Fall Forward?

(Manos del Uruguay silk blend (30%silk/70% extrafine merino, kettle dyed, col. 3068) and Filatura Di Crosa Golden Line Superior (70% cashmere/ 30% silk, col. 23)

It's been a long, cold, difficult winter season...let's just take a Gatsby moment to look at some pretty green yarn and hope for brighter days and better projects. I saw these two yarns knitted up as an amazing Clapotis at Hill Country Weavers, but I think I will try something different, as in "I ain't knittin' no Clap, no how." I have nothing personal against Clap, but I need something....dumber. Yep, I said it. I'm not trying to recreate the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. In fact, I think I just want a non-Turkish Stitch shawl that's a little smarter than it looks. Feel free to share your ideas.
Oh, and the color...I just knew I had seen it somewhere.....
Yep, it's the color of the trim to my house aka "The Asparagus Omelet." I'll be sure to throw a green party when I finish this shawl and invite you guys. Honest, I'll serve omelets and mimosas.
The only remarkable thing about these socks is that I actually finished 2 of them. It's the standard Ann Budd recipe with Kureyon Sock Yarn, col. S40m, and I wet-blocked them with some conditioner and they feel great. As opposed to the Harry Potter yarn which I'm just not loving at the moment.
And as for the Edie Springtime Cardigan, things have gone horribly wrong. I'll post a pic next week, but suffice it to say it looks like I've knitted a......short Snuggie. Gah!
Last Sunday we treated ourselves to a family outing when we found out Springsteen tickets were going for $300 apiece on eBay. For a tenth of the price we, and I mean kids and adults, had a blast listening to Chrissie Hynde tear up the stage at Stubbs. Yeah, sometimes we get really close to cool around here.

Don't forget your clocks!