Hot Tub Garden

We here at Needle & Hand just had a wonderful week in the beautiful Adirondacks. In spite of a few black flies we hiked & kayaked. It was a great get away and now it is time to start using those hands to start planting. We live in the woods and are frequented by deer on a daily basis. Over the many years we have lived here it has always been a challenge to plant a garden and not have it eaten by our four legged friends. When we finally took our redwood hot tub out of service we found a new life for it-our kitchen garden. Here is is after a long winter. Today I started the process of putting in new soil and planning out what we'd like to have growing there.  Tomorrow the sage, rosemary & basil will go in. I'm thinking some green beans & lots of cut flowers & in the middle we'll place some patio tomatoes. The black flies are hanging out here in the Berkshires but it sure is wonderful to be outside.
An update on my knitting. I finished the surprise gift and love it. I'm getting ready to turn the heel on the grey socks. The sewing machine is calling to me. Maybe on a rainy day.

The Sock Story

Let's talk about socks. I love to knit socks. I have been knitting since I was in second grade but I didn't attempt to knit socks until I was 55. I love the joy of knitting an item that someone will wear and eventually wear out. Some socks just fly off the needles and some socks take forever. I've become a bit of a sock yarn snob. If I'm going to put all of this work into making a pair of socks on a size 1 needle then I better love the yarn. My family has come to appreciate a pair of handknit wool socks. Last Christmas I accomplished the feat of knitting seven pairs of socks for my better half-one for each day of the week . He loved them. The problem I've created is that now he only wants to wear handknit socks. I have two nephews who love my handknit socks-only problem is that they have huge feet!! But no complaints from me, just another excuse to knit with fine wool. My favorite sock story is that I knit my daughter a pair of socks and she lost them, almost a year later after one of her moves she discovered them in her boots and was thrilled. So in my little journal of Things To Make And Do I always have a list of loved ones to make socks for. They'll have to guess who this pair is for. My knitting bag has socks on them. The bag is from Three Bags Full. Handmade by Michelle Corbeil a graduate of Williams College.

On the road with Needle & Hand

When I'm traveling and riding shotgun there is nothing I love to do more than knit. Today was one of those perfect "On the road" knitting days. Lots of sunshine, a good cup of coffee in the cup holder, great company and a cherished destination. This particular project is a gift and I'm on a bit of a deadline. The wooden needles & the squishy wool make for smooth sailing. The pattern is from one of my favorite designers, Knitspot's Anne Hanson. You'll notice the spiral journal on my lap-need that to keep my row count straight. Please note my new work wardrobe....jeans. Wool, wooden needles, jeans & sunshine-a perfect day at work.

First weaving attempt

Two years ago I was enjoying a beautiful day at the Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival when I can upon a booth where these lap looms were being sold. I have always wanted to try my hand at weaving and thought this might be a good beginning. So I purchased my Millpoint Emporium 18th Century Lap Loom. That was two years ago, and it has been in my small craft studio ever since-still in the original package. No longer sitting at a desk and a computer eight hours a day, I decided it was time to get the handcrafted frame loom into action. My goal is to make a small pillow cover. The brown yarn in the photo came with the loom but I have since moved on to using my very own handspun with fleece from our neighbor's sheep. The movement of the shuttle and the feel of  fleece on the hand is comforting. Let's see if we can get this pillow finished before I head back to Rhinebeck in the fall.

Let's begin

Where does the joy come from? When do things feel just right? When am I happiest? When I ponder these questions I always come back to my family, my friends, my knitting, and making things by hand. Recently,  I was given the great opportunity to focus on my creativity and really take the time to discover what it is I love to do. The Adirondack chairs await for me to settle in with Needle & Hand and begin the journey.