With Sprinkles on Top

I have had the pleasure of working with quite a few indie dyers now, and the Pico Accuardi Dyeworks folks are among the very nicest. They share space with Lantern Moon in a warehouse near Portland, Oregon, and recently on a visit to their digs, I came away with a very interesting skein of Acid and Weed sock yarn, which results from a dye process that involves acid overdyes on a ground of natural plant dyed yarn.

Meet Sprinkles. Now part of my new Jack in the Pulpit Socks. Photos are the lovely work of Vivian Aubrey.









Folks who are part of the Pico Accuardi Dyeworks sock clubs (two) will be getting this kit this year. Otherwise, you will have to wait until June of 2011 to get your hands on this. Acid and Weed sock yarn is available in other colorways now. Check the Pico-Accuardi website for retail outlets.

And watch for the August retreat. Deb's family owns a legendary Italian restaurant here, and I have heard that there will be wonderful food!

Black and Other Sheep

Oh lord, it has been a long blog silence. I seem to have a difficult time with day to day fodder. Oh blog readers, can you forgive me?

There are no lace or beads in today's post. Please excuse. However, last weekend I was incredibly fortunate to visit the legendary Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon. Out of the dog house and into the sheep house.

I adore sheep faces! So now, lucky readers, you get to see a few of the sheepy personalities I saw at the gathering.



This young man obligingly allowed me to photograph his back. The answer is obviously "YES!"



First, to get my cute quotient just as high as it can possibly go, here is a baby kitten that someone had in the sheep area. Awwww.



And here is the requisite bunny. He was, according to his owner, asleep with his eyes open. So sweet, and apparently so relaxed too.



Another blissfully sleeping baby amidst the din and b-a-a-a-a-h-ings.



A young Jacob, raring to go.



This fellow almost looks like he should be sporting a unicorn!











Thank you for indulging me in my sheepy obsession.

I met so many wonderful folks at the gathering, and saw so many old friends. I did feel dorky asking people if I could take their picture though. Must get over that.

I did come home with a few choice booty items. I hope you agree that I exercised enormous restraint.



Left to right, a Jenkins Turkish Delight spindle (I got a tiny itsy-bitsy Jenkins too.. it stole my heart), a luminous glass shawl pin (actually a laying tool) from the wizardry of Sheila and Michael Ernst, and three skeins of precious yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts: a Seduction in a particularly lovely colorway and two STR skeins in new vibrant reds that had to come home with me.



And here, six precious balls of Elemental Affects shetland fingering weight yarn that will be part of a Plum Frost cardigan if all goes well. The plain part of the sweater will be Imperial Stock Ranch's Tracie fingering weight, which I am hoping will blend beautifully with the shetland.

May you all have sheep around you in plentiful quantities.. either in four footed or fiber form. We heart sheeps everywhere.

Color Riot, or Forgive my Teal

I am in full pre-Sock Summit obsession.. projects crowding around like little mewling babies, all craving attention and all wanting to be made before SS09.

As most of you know, probably to the point of nauseating repetition, I love beads and use them in almost everything I make. A growing number of people share my fascination with beads and how they can enhance (in my humble opinion) knitting designs.

It is however, rare when I find the right bead for the right yarn right away.. usually it takes some shopping around and that can be a process when you mostly order your good Japanese beads by mail order.

So.. regard. This is my latest order from Earth Faire, and EVERY BEAD IS PERFECT! I don't think it is my masterful decision making ability either, because I forgot what I ordered right after I ordered them, and besides I didn't have these skeins of yarn in my possession when I ordered. It has to be serendipity, or grace, or maybe synchronicity. Take your pick.

So take a look, and dream of the socks that will emerge from these yarns and bead combinations...


Because each of these is so wonderful in its own right, here follows a photo of each project.. more for my journalistic desire to record what I mean to do next than anything else.. and nothing is carved in stone, mind you. No promises.

But today, this is my happy color dance of potential bliss...


Oh Mama! STR lightweight in My blue heaven and Turquoise, with mint julep aqua and silver lined dark aqua beads. Yes, this is all one project!


Sweet sweet sweet! Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction in Rose Quartz, with sparkling cranberry lined amethyst ab beads.


Be still my heart! STR lightweight in Corbie with sparkling aqua green lined crystal ab beads.


Oh lordy - I hear the angels singing! STR lightweight in Quilla with dark peach lined crystal ab beads.


Splendiforous! Sweet Georgia Superwash Sock in Turquoise with glacier blue lined crystal ab beads


Elegance! Sweet Georgia Speed Demon in Teal with teal lined lavender beads

OK.. enough of this.. I'm going to wind up some yarn, yeah baby!

The New Phoenix Rising

Yes, it is almost here! Phoenix is about to rise again.. with a few little changes.



Notice the beads that now grace the center lace panel? I hope you do... there are more changes to follow.. stay tuned for those.

I love this yarn.. allow me to sing the praises of Sweet Georgia, whose cashsilk lace yarn this is, in the boysenberry colorway. I swear that several folks at the Three Bags Full knit night last Wednesday evening were swooning when they touched it.

My picture does not do justice to either the super saturated color or the intensely pleasurable feel of this yarn.

I close with a few shots of San Diego, where I was when I started this version, and where a very pretty springtime is to be found.

Sharing the Love...

The response during the first day of the Auction has been amazing. You are all so wonderful!

Today I have reached even deeper into the recesses of my stash and have added some more things to the list, so take a look at the previous post, to which I have added new items #45 - #51. Included are some discontinued Handmaiden and Sweet Georgia yarns, more sock yarns, and a beaded sock kit featuring one of my designs.

For those of you who are not on my yahoo list (they got the link earlier today), here is a glimpse of my dear dad through pictures taken over the years by family and friends, in a short film collage put together lovingly by my half brothers, Seth and Lorin Cushman. I miss you, Dad, and I will always love you...

The Auction!

Thank you all in advance for opening your hearts and your wallets. In contributing to such a great cause, you are helping many, and honoring the memory of my dear father.

Caution... picture-heavy post ahead.

There are lots of goodies here, and I hope, with your help, to raise a nice amount for Doctors without Borders. For everyone's information, the money that you donate through your bids for the items in this silent auction will be donated IN ITS ENTIRETY to Doctors without Borders. No tax receipts will be issued, as DWB does not officially recognize donations in exchange for goods. However, you will have the thanks of me, my family, and all those around the world who are helped by this worthy organization. Please contact me with any questions you may have about your donation. For my part, I will be donating the yarn/fiber and whatever it costs to ship the item(s) to you.

Here is how the auction will work: Go shopping down the list of items up for bid, and email me at siviaharding AT shaw DOT ca (delete spaces and caps before emailing) with your bid and the item you want. There is no minimum bid, but please be generous. I will post the high bid and initials of bidder twice a day or as I am available to post new bids. The bidding will continue for one week, ending at midnight PST on March 23, 2008, Easter Sunday. Winners will be notified by email. Payment must be made by cash funded Paypal. The donation will be sent to DWB as soon as possible after the completion of the auction.

The final donation will be made in memory of my father, Raymond Cushman. The amount of donation will be posted here after the auction is complete.

Good luck and happy shopping!

1. 501 100% pure wool superwash, 137.5 yds/50 gr ball, 1 ball plus 2 partial balls, color 210. High Bid: $15 LR2. Schaeffer Anne sock yarn, 60% merino wool superwash, 25% mohair, 15% nylon, 560 yds/4 oz, 1 skein wound into a ball. High Bid: $50 SW
3. Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere, 80% baby alpaca, 30% merino wool, 10% cashmere, 109 yds/25 gr ball (fingering weight), 11 balls plus partial ball, color 1321. High Bid: $60 AS
4. Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere, 80% baby alpaca, 30% merino wool, 10% cashmere, 109 yds/25 gr ball (fingering weight), 10 balls, color 2699. High Bid: $85 AS
5. Fleece Artist Blue Faced Leicester braids, 50 g, 2 full braids and 1 almost full braid, in lovely greens. High Bid: $100 MD
6. Cascade 220, 100% feltable wool, 220 yds/100 gr, 3 full skeins of coordinating colors wound into balls. High Bid: $40 SG
7. Cascade 220, 100% feltable wool, 220 yds/100 gr, 3 skeins beige, color 8021. High Bid: $25 CO
8. Confetti self-patterning sock yarn, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 210 m/50 gr, enough for two pairs of socks, or stripes of nicely coordinating colors. High Bid: $30 DH
9. Louet Euroflax 100% linen sportweight, 270 yds/100 gr, 1 skein in crabapple blossom. High Bid: $35 KB
10. Novelty yarns - 2 balls Crystal Palace Whisper, 1 ball Funny. Nice for edging your felted kitty beds! High Bid: $5 LAR
11. Vintage German fingering weight pure wool yarn, 200 m/50 gr, 4 balls plus 1 partial ball. Dye your own sock yarn! High Bid: $48 FR
12. Fleece Artist sock merino, 350 m/115 gr, 1 skein, discontinued colorway. High bid: $55 DC
13. Fox Fibre Cotton, Coyote/Camel Breaker Sliver, 45 gr. This rare color-grown fiber is now impossible to find. High Bid: $15 ES
14. Fox Fibre Cotton, natural sliver, 46 gr. High Bid: $10 JR
15. Fox Fibre Cotton, Breeder's Mix organically grown Sliver, 47 gr. This rare color-grown fiber is now impossible to find. High Bid: $15 ES
16. Fox Fibre Cotton, Green Card Sliver, 49 gr. This rare color-grown fiber is now impossible to find. High Bid: $18 LAR
17. Fox Fibre Cotton, Coyote Card Sliver, 40 gr. This rare color-grown fiber is now impossible to find. High Bid: $18 LAR
18. Handpaintedyarn.com handspun 100% feltable wool kettle dyed yarn, 135 yds/100 gr, 2 skeins purple grapes, 1 wound into a ball. High Bid: $30 RG
19. Indigo Moon 100% merino wool superwash handpainted sock yarn, 185 yd/50 gr, 2 skeins northern steppe paisley. High Bid: $100 LM
20. J.Knits superwash me - sock, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 420 yds/ 100gr, 1 skein Nebraska. High Bid: $55 MK
21. J.Knits superwash me-sock, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 420 yds/ 100gr, 1 skein Amesbury. High Bid: $50 MK
22. Jo Sharp Soho Summer 100% cotton dk, 109 yds/50 gr, 3 balls carmen. High Bid: $50 AT
23. Koigu Premium Merino 100% merino wool, 175 yds/50 gr, 2 skeins 113. High Bid: $40 CB
24. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Laci, 100% extra fine 80's merino, 1,750 yds/8 oz, 1 skein Ms LaRock wound into a ball. High Bid: $105 KB
25. Rowan Linen Drape, 55% linen, 45% viscose, 109 yds/50 gr, 1 ball pearl. High Bid: $25 LR
26. Louet Gems 100% merino wool fingering weight, 185 yds/50 gr, 2 full skeins (1 wound into a ball) and 1 partial skein mustard. High Bid: $50 LK
27. Malabrigo Lace Yarn, 100% baby merino wool, 470 yds/50 gr, 1 skein velvet grapes wound into a ball. High Bid: $50 LK
28. Mirasol Hacho sportweight sock yarn, 100% merino wool, 137 yds/50 gr, 2 skeins blue ocean (1 wound into a ball). High Bid: $25 MM
29. Handpainted 100% mohair roving in brillliant jewel tones, predrafted and very soft, 100 gr. High Bid: $25 RL
30. Hand dyed 100% mohair roving in natural pokeberry, 31 gr. High Bid: $10 KG
31. Handpainted 100% mohair sliver in light raspberry shades... by moi! 121 gr of fiber. High Bid: $30 KAO
32. SWTC Phoenix, 100% soy silk, 175 yds/100 gr, 5 balls rose. High Bid: $55 LSC
33. Assorted fine rayon yarns, great for crochet or knitted jewelry. Very soft and pretty. High Bid: $20 MY
34. Charbotté French ribbon yarn, 100% nylon, 147 yds/50 gr, 5 spools black. High Bid: $40 KW
35. New Zealand Romney fiber, hand processed and very soft, 5 bumps, about 180 gr total. High Bid $20 CD
36. 100% Samoyed fiber, very soft and easy to spin. This fiber has been washed once, but you will need to wash it again. Beautiful and well worth the trouble. I have tons of this from a dog owner friend... I am dividing the fiber into 10 lots of 100 gr each. High Bid: 2 lots $15 each AS, 6 lots $12 each LK, 2 lots $16 each LAR37. Seacoast Handpainted Yarns 100% superwash wool, 480 yds/100 gr, 1 skein shadows on snow. High Bid: $45 NE
38. Berger du Nord Belle, 100% silk, 136 yd/50 gr, 3 balls color 9039 (more red, less pink than it appears). High Bid: $50 LK
39. Silk Tree medium silk singles yarn, approx. 200 yd/50 gr, 1 ball mulberry. High Bid: $50 LK
40. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight, 360 yd/4.5 oz, 1 skein love-in-idleness. High Bid: $60 MM
41. Wool Pak 8 ply 100% feltable New Zealand wool, 525 yd/250 gr, 1 skein royal green. High Bid: $50 JO
42. Fleece Artist Blue Face Leicester, 100% wool, one-off colourway, 1,000 yd/250 gr (fingering weight), 1 full skein plus 427 yards left from another skein from the same lot. High bid: $75 DD
43. Tangled Skeins Yarns wool/cashmere (unknown proportions but yummy soft) hand dyed yarn, 220 yd/50 gr, 2 skeins. High Bid: $100 LM
44. Elann Peruvian Collection Baby Silk, 80% baby alpaca, 20% silk, 109 yds/25 gr (fingering weight), 5 balls Butter Pecan colour #3423. High Bid: $55 FR
45. Rowan Kid Silk Haze, 70% super kid mohair, 30% silk, 229 yds/25 gr (lace weight), 1 ball color #597. High Bid: $20 MB

46. Sweet Georgia Yarns Handpainted Sock, 100% merino wool, 420 yds/112 gr (fingering weight), 1 skein coffee bean wound into a ball. This yarn is no longer available, and it is lusciously, decadently soft! High Bid: $60 SR

47. Sweet Georgia Yarns Handpainted Sock, 100% merino wool, 420 yds/112 gr (fingering weight), 1 skein viola. This yarn is no longer available, and it is lusciously, decadently soft! High Bid: $50 WJ

48. Handmaiden Angel Hair, 70% kid mohair, 30% nylon, 800 m/100 gr (lace weight), 1 skein bronze wound into a ball. This yarn is no longer available. High Bid: $53 KB

49. Handmaiden Angel Hair, 70% kid mohair, 30% nylon, 800 m/100 gr (lace weight), 1 skein burgundy wound into a ball. This yarn is no longer available. High Bid: $45 KB

50. Waterlily Socks Kit featuring my Waterlily Socks pattern, 2 skeins of Nature's Palette vegetable dyed fingering weight yarn in ice blue (100% merino wool, 185 yds/50 gr) wound into balls, and beautiful faceted blue beads to match. I have even strung the beads onto the yarn for you... High Bid: $70 JS

51. Lucy Neatby Celestial Merino, 100% premium merino wool, 320 m/100 gr (fingering weight), 1 skein seashell. High Bid: $50 CC