tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84059246173787967382024-03-13T06:03:08.439-04:00Paulina's BlogThis blog contains progress reports and thoughts on my many ongoing projects, with occasional stories about my family and life in general.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.comBlogger306125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-26835246925397469072012-02-05T21:25:00.001-05:002012-02-05T21:25:47.599-05:00Julia Turns 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUeMJM2YYtk/Ty83XqK12jI/AAAAAAAAFqA/RkjvP9JGr0Q/s1600/JuliaAt17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GUeMJM2YYtk/Ty83XqK12jI/AAAAAAAAFqA/RkjvP9JGr0Q/s320/JuliaAt17.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Julia turned 17 last weekend! We had a nice birthday celebration with a few friends, and Kate made her a Nutella chocolate cake. I love this photo that her friend Melika had taken and had given me permission to post. The past few months have been good for Julia, with a lot of changes: a new school and with it, a new routine and new friends (not to mention a few changes in hair colour). She still has a year-and-a-half to go in high-school but is starting to think about options for university, which is very exciting and a bit scary, for all of us!Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-42605978885595428092012-02-05T21:11:00.001-05:002012-02-05T21:11:43.924-05:00Sunday Craft Update -- February 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_uJjF3KHAk/Ty8z9FsBIII/AAAAAAAAFp4/7H9TVX_vA_Y/s1600/Merletto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n_uJjF3KHAk/Ty8z9FsBIII/AAAAAAAAFp4/7H9TVX_vA_Y/s320/Merletto.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I recently finished these fingerless mittens, from the Jody McKinley's Merletto Mittens pattern, available for free on Ravelry. I used fingering weight yarn from one of my favourite yarn companies, Montreal-based <a href="http://www.tanisfiberarts.com/">Tanis Fiber Arts</a>.<br />
<br />
I also received a few weeks ago my 2011 cross-stitch exchange ornament from my sister-in-law Jill, who is turning 40 tomorrow (actually today, if you're going by Singapore time). It's lovely and I'm looking forward to putting it on my Christmas tree in December. You can see it <a href="http://www.joeandjill.ca/?q=node/1056">here</a>.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-77137423793216656162011-12-18T14:27:00.003-05:002011-12-18T14:43:41.731-05:00Sunday Craft Update -- December 18<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vUmkLhAgB1Y/Tu4_GxQ-ToI/AAAAAAAAFos/aIVbjFS-tRs/s1600/FirstDayOfChristmas.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687552764951809666" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vUmkLhAgB1Y/Tu4_GxQ-ToI/AAAAAAAAFos/aIVbjFS-tRs/s400/FirstDayOfChristmas.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Every year, my sister-in-law Jill and I exchange Christmas ornaments. Finally, I finished the one started in 2010 and will send it on its way to Singapore shortly, only a full year late! I did start the 2011 ornament and, though it will not be ready for this Christmas, I hope it will be done well before next Christmas.<br />
<br />
This design is from Teresa Wentzler's <a href="http://www.twdesignworks.com/TWDW/12days.html">12 Days of Christmas</a> pattern. I don't know what made me crazy enough to tackle this challenge. Teresa Wentzler projects are tough enough without the added difficulty of working over 1 thread on 32-count linen. I haven't sworn off doing another over-one project, but next time, I'll go for 28-count linen and invest in a good magnifying glass.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-66571304581453952692011-12-04T19:10:00.004-05:002011-12-04T19:24:51.323-05:00Sunday Craft Update -- December 4<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEkLOdIKRUQ/TtwNAgoSrDI/AAAAAAAAFoc/ETiHNsvtsM0/s1600/Bex.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEkLOdIKRUQ/TtwNAgoSrDI/AAAAAAAAFoc/ETiHNsvtsM0/s400/Bex.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682431132244814898" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H5S4n4weOHA/TtwMocTyEuI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/HMUZqvt1CfU/s1600/Glynnis.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H5S4n4weOHA/TtwMocTyEuI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/HMUZqvt1CfU/s200/Glynnis.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682430718768190178" /></a>I finished another two pairs of socks from Cookie A.'s wonderful <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Sock-Innovation.html">Sock Innovation</a> book. The first, from the pattern Bex, was made from Cascade Heritage sock yarn, and the second, from the pattern Glynis, was made from Elann Sock It To Me Shades. I loved the complexity of Bex and enjoyed the challenge of knitting it. Glynis took about a third of the time to complete, and it's also a great pattern -- interesting enough not to be tedious, but also very fast to knit up, as all the twists are made with K2tog and SSK stitches (no cable needle required)!Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-88500153808950911272011-10-09T08:07:00.003-04:002011-10-09T09:06:17.402-04:00Sunday Craft Update -- October 9<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jqBJm0kVq0/TpGPHORxMtI/AAAAAAAAFn0/dMBmxcMh0Fc/s1600/Wanida.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1jqBJm0kVq0/TpGPHORxMtI/AAAAAAAAFn0/dMBmxcMh0Fc/s400/Wanida.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661463560835904210" border="0" /></a>I'm still knitting socks from my <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Sock-Innovation.html">Sock Innovation</a> book by Cookie A. This pattern is called Wanida, and the yarn is <a href="elann.com">Elann's</a> Sock It To Me Panoply.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-11338324797770174372011-09-25T07:38:00.004-04:002011-09-25T07:38:00.888-04:00Sunday Craft Update -- September 26<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41toD7rsz0g/Tn3B7J163PI/AAAAAAAAFnk/Y4Db4R36C9o/s1600/SunshineSocks2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-41toD7rsz0g/Tn3B7J163PI/AAAAAAAAFnk/Y4Db4R36C9o/s400/SunshineSocks2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655889929045728498" border="0" /></a><br />I'm on a quest to knit all the socks in Cookie A.'s fabulous book, <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Sock-Innovation.html">Sock Innovation</a>. The pair above is from the Sunshine pattern in Elann Sock It To Me Shades. They're modelled by Kate, who's not afraid to wear socks with her Birkenstocks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwqMx1lSK1Q/Tn3CLGiMo1I/AAAAAAAAFns/opnE-m-B0YQ/s1600/VilaiSocks.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwqMx1lSK1Q/Tn3CLGiMo1I/AAAAAAAAFns/opnE-m-B0YQ/s400/VilaiSocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655890203035607890" border="0" /></a>This pair is from the Vilai pattern and is made from Cascade Heritage yarn. As you can guess, this one involved hours of tedious chart-reading.<br /><br />Cookie A. has a huge fan club on Ravelry. They claim that knitting her socks is addictive and I'm beginning to understand why.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-52691859797685621552011-09-04T14:11:00.004-04:002011-09-04T14:42:51.620-04:00Sunday Craft Update -- September 4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jsIG5JgaMQw/TmPCHkac_UI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/gPsM0wgM7qk/s1600/DecoSpirits.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jsIG5JgaMQw/TmPCHkac_UI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/gPsM0wgM7qk/s400/DecoSpirits.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648571792942234946" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5V0Fgegr-2U/TmPBrh3IKYI/AAAAAAAAFnI/_sSaKRE9R-8/s1600/DecoSpiritsWater.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5V0Fgegr-2U/TmPBrh3IKYI/AAAAAAAAFnI/_sSaKRE9R-8/s400/DecoSpiritsWater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648571311220861314" border="0" /></a>
<br />The last couple of weeks have been devoted to cross-stitch. First, I finished (only 9 months late) the stitching for the 2010 Christmas cross-stitch ornament for my sister-in-law, Jill. I'll post photos after I do the finishing work. I'm looking forward to starting the 2011 ornament but am impatiently awaiting the arrival of some specialty threads in the mail. I also made progress on my Chatelaine Japanese Garden last week.
<br />
<br />I finished <a href="http://www.mirabilia.com/crossIndex2.html">Mirabilia's</a> Deco Spirits a couple of years ago, but it languished in my needlework basket for a good long time. Now, finally, it is framed and on the wall. I added a close-up of Water, my favourite panel, above. Unfortunately, my photos don't do the piece justice. It is much more sparkly in real life. I guess the torture of working with those Kreinik threads was worth it. Having since discovered Rainbow Gallery Petite Treasure Braid through the Chatelaine designs, I much prefer using that to add the sparkle, though Kreinik has many more colours.
<br />Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-13297865005930601852011-08-21T21:12:00.002-04:002011-08-21T21:35:11.297-04:00Sunday Craft Update -- August 21<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h4x6qeHULXY/TlGtzZ3jjZI/AAAAAAAAFm8/7uDkzUxXhqg/s1600/CYOfinal.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h4x6qeHULXY/TlGtzZ3jjZI/AAAAAAAAFm8/7uDkzUxXhqg/s400/CYOfinal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643482906700778898" border="0" /></a>
<br />It's done!! The <a href="http://www.philosopherswool.com/">Philosopher's Wool</a> <a href="http://www.philosopherswool.com/Pages/ColourYourOwn.htm">Color Your Own</a> sweater with set-in sleeves is finished. Doing the shaped armholes with steeks wasn’t all that difficult after all. I ended up working the top two inches of the body back and forth to shape the neckline. (I always hated cutting out the neck hole and “wasting” all that yarn and knitting effort.) I also did the top inch of the sleeve caps back and forth, but otherwise, the entire sweater was knit in the round.
<br />
<br />I made the armholes roomy enough, so the extra seam allowance doesn’t feel uncomfortable when I wear the sweater. However, the additional bulk prevents the seam from lying completely flat. I may have to do some extra blocking and/or clipping of the seam allowance to make the seam smoother. Otherwise, I’m happy with the finished product and will likely use this procedure again.
<br />
<br />What I will <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> do next time is read the instructions quickly and carelessly. I had to rip out 6 inches of the body because I had decreased too many stitches when shaping the armholes. Often, when I talk to beginner knitters, they are embarrassed to tell me about their "stupid" mistakes. Well, this goes to show that 30 years of knitting experience doesn't protect one from totally idiotic mistakes.
<br />Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-25057755036310132532011-08-14T20:36:00.005-04:002011-08-14T20:49:06.081-04:00Sunday Craft Update -- August 14<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbMOitEWnsw/TkhrHH0RmiI/AAAAAAAAFmk/WstDheXiSko/s1600/ProjectLinus4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbMOitEWnsw/TkhrHH0RmiI/AAAAAAAAFmk/WstDheXiSko/s400/ProjectLinus4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640876303383108130" border="0" /></a>
<br />Here, finally, is the fourth and last baby blanket made for <a href="http://bernatcares.com/make/blankets_for_project_linus.html">Bernat's Project Linus Blanket Drive</a>. I made it with the leftover Bernat Baby Coordinates and Baby Softee yarns from the first three blankets, using one of Bernat's patterns from their extensive collection of <a href="http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php">free patterns</a>. And here, below, is the stack of blankets that my stitching pal Laura and I made this summer during the Bernat KAL/CAL. (The two on the top are hers.) They've been sent to Bernat and hopefully are on their way to the children who can use them.
<br />
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xL8q2KLIRNE/TkhrlbcmB9I/AAAAAAAAFms/9cRTit6u9WU/s1600/ProjectLinusBlankets1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xL8q2KLIRNE/TkhrlbcmB9I/AAAAAAAAFms/9cRTit6u9WU/s400/ProjectLinusBlankets1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640876824048568274" border="0" /></a>
<br />
<br />Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-16855344317554426332011-07-03T17:52:00.005-04:002011-07-03T20:12:21.517-04:00Sunday Craft Update -- July 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qpIv47XaF-s/ThDldrV-SxI/AAAAAAAAFl0/9yW-xSYNx1w/s1600/CYOBody1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qpIv47XaF-s/ThDldrV-SxI/AAAAAAAAFl0/9yW-xSYNx1w/s400/CYOBody1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625248232599603986" border="0" /></a><br />I'm working on a very ambitious project: a <a href="http://www.philosopherswool.com/">Philosophers Wool</a> sweater with set-in sleeves. I've done several of these sweaters before but have never tried changing the drop-shoulder style to a set-in-sleeve style. At <a href="http://mathgirl40.blogspot.com/2011/05/stitches-south.html">STITCHES South</a>, Melissa Leapman convinced me that it is indeed possible to do a shaped sleeve cap entirely in the round. (She explains the process in her book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Color-Knitting-Instructions-Stranded/dp/0307586502/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309738019&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mastering Color Knitting</span></a>.) And voila ... here are the sleeves. The shaping is done by binding off a number of stitches at the armhole, casting on a steek over the gap, and then using SSK and K2tog decreases. I knitted the final few rows back-and-forth to shape the very top of the sleeve cap, but otherwise, the entire piece is knitted in the round.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz2Ufbub39g/ThDl0PcP5oI/AAAAAAAAFl8/1jHGkh6Lj1I/s1600/CYOSleeves2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz2Ufbub39g/ThDl0PcP5oI/AAAAAAAAFl8/1jHGkh6Lj1I/s400/CYOSleeves2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625248620246722178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now, I have to finish the body (the photo at the top shows the progress so far), cut the sleeve and centre steeks, knit the front and neck bands and sew up. I'm hoping that the steeked sleeves won't add too much bulk to the armhole seems, and that I'll have a wearable garment in the end.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-32399407764896739282011-06-12T21:33:00.003-04:002011-06-12T22:05:56.778-04:00Sunday Craft Update -- June 12<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2026/5722002556_2a3f6c4efc_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2026/5722002556_2a3f6c4efc_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I've been spending way too much time with the <a href="http://knitcrochethogwartshousecup.blogspot.com/">Harry Potter Knit & Crochet House Cup</a> group on Ravelry, mainly because they've had awesome Quidditch projects this term. For example, there is the Gryffindor bookscarf, shown with <span style="font-style: italic;">The Poisoner's Handbook</span> by Deborah Blum, a very good book about the development of forensic science in the early 20th century. The pattern, which uses DMC Perle Cotton #5 and tiny 2mm needles, can be found <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090318160523/http://knittingwithlaura.blog-city.com/harry_potter_bookscarf_pattern.htm">here</a>.<br /><br />Then, there is the Hedwig Illusion Dishcloth pattern from <a href="http://www.freshislefibers.com/freepatterns.htm">Freshisle Fibers</a>. When you look at the dishcloth one way, it's a plain old boring striped dishcloth, but look at it from an angle, and the surprise is revealed!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5736805114_66a2c08f1c.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5736805114_66a2c08f1c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/5736253921_28a7c3bb93.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/5736253921_28a7c3bb93.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, I have a complete set of Pocket Potter Puppet Pals, based on the famous <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4&feature=player_embedded">Mysterious Ticking Noise</a> video. This pattern is also free from <a href="http://www.innerchildcrochet.com/home.html">Inner Child Crochet</a>. I really, really hated doing all the fiddly seaming, and I was going to abandon the project after completing Snape. However, Kate begged me to complete the set, and once I adopted an assembly-line approach, it wasn't such a struggle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/5794220993_d9a996dcae_b.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/5794220993_d9a996dcae_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-58589428322272990672011-05-14T10:34:00.000-04:002011-05-14T10:34:07.723-04:00STITCHES South<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXUlK3yVVOs/TbIIdsWalyI/AAAAAAAAFjA/tElrJePPDx4/s1600/STITCHEShaul.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXUlK3yVVOs/TbIIdsWalyI/AAAAAAAAFjA/tElrJePPDx4/s400/STITCHEShaul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598546592989353762" border="0" /></a>In mid-April, I went to <a href="http://www.knittinguniverse.com/stitches/">STITCHES South</a> in Atlanta, accompanied by my friend Laura. I'd been wanting to go to a STITCHES event for years, and now that I've gone, I have no idea why I'd waited this long! For the non-knitters reading my blog, STITCHES events are held several times each year, in various U.S. cities, and each is a multi-day convention devoted entirely to knitting. There is a full range of knitting classes from beginner to advanced levels, a huge marketplace and fashion shows.<br /><br />These were the classes I took:<br /><ul><li>"Fully Fashioned and Fabulous" taught by Melissa Leapman. Melissa is an excellent teacher, and in this class, she covered ways in which to use fully-fashioned increases and decreases to shape garments. The best part of this class was having a conversation with Melissa afterward and getting tips on how to do a set-in-sleeve with a steeked, knit-in-the-round fair-isle sweater. More details in a future blog post, I promise.<br /></li><li>"Reversible Cables" taught by Lily Chin. It's worthwhile to take a class from Lily Chin just to say that one has done so. Apart from being a big knitting celebrity, she also has a one-of-a-kind personality. This class was all about designing cabled fabrics that looked as good on the front as on the back, though both might feature completely different cable patterns. It's easy enough to follow Lily's patterns, but designing one's own (which Lily encouraged) was a challenging, albeit fun, mental exercise.<br /></li><li>"Stitch Strategies for Hand-Dyed Yarns" taught by Laura Bryant. This class was about how to avoid undesirable pooling of colours when using hand-dyed yarns and how to highlight and stretch the use of expensive high-end hand-dyed yarns by combining with solids. This class truly made me look at my stash in a different light. I now have ideas for all those partial skeins of hand-dyed yarns that I'd thought would never be used.<br /></li></ul>Now onto the stash ...<br /><ul><li>I bought 5 skeins of Cascade 220 in bright colours, plus books by Melissa Leapman and Lily Chin, all pictured above. I also picked up a kids' sewing book for Kate.</li><li>The two skeins of brown and tan HiKoo yarn in the photo were part of the gifts we received at the Student Banquet. I also got an Addi Turbo circular, which I gave to Laura, as I already own a full set of Addis, and a Skacel lunchbag to hold everything.</li><li>At the Student Banquet, I also won a door prize, a gorgeous huge skein of purple Skaska cashmere/silk lace-weight yarn, which I gave to Laura. What prompted this unexpected show of generosity? (Normally, I'd <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> voluntarily give this kind of prize up, not even to a very good friend who's crazy about purple yarn.) Read on ....</li></ul>As if the classes, shopping and door prizes weren't enough, I was the lucky winner of the grand prize at the Student Banquet -- a full registration (4 days of classes and admission to all events) at a future STITCHES event (any within the next two years)!! I offered the purple yarn to Laura in the hope that she'll go to the next event with me, but I don't think I'll have to work too hard to persuade her. I'm hoping some of my other knitting friends will join us next time!Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-89059853843121859872011-03-27T14:11:00.004-04:002011-03-27T14:31:06.705-04:00Sunday Craft Update -- March 27<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg5BXn9jmzk/TY-ATrX6YqI/AAAAAAAAFiE/TUmi8a9rLCE/s1600/DoubleDiamondBlanket.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg5BXn9jmzk/TY-ATrX6YqI/AAAAAAAAFiE/TUmi8a9rLCE/s400/DoubleDiamondBlanket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588826738138964642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vEBjWevl5vs/TY9__VaClLI/AAAAAAAAFh8/Ts6Sh06rBhs/s1600/IDLBlanket.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vEBjWevl5vs/TY9__VaClLI/AAAAAAAAFh8/Ts6Sh06rBhs/s400/IDLBlanket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588826388644926642" border="0" /></a><br />Here are my first two blankets for the Project Linus KAL/CAL I wrote about in my <a href="http://mathgirl40.blogspot.com/2011/02/sunday-craft-update-february-27.html">previous post</a>. Both use patterns available free from the <a href="http://www.bernat.com/">Bernat site</a>, using their Baby Softee and Baby Coordinates yarns.<br /><br />By the way, I love the new Addi crochet hook I'd also written about in my last post, but now I'm intrigued by the new <a href="http://www.skacelknitting.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.53555/.f">Addi Swing</a> hook.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-21042455497883469182011-02-27T20:56:00.002-05:002011-02-27T21:42:50.067-05:00Sunday Craft Update -- February 27<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wxm4GZtJNTU/TWsBHn-uRmI/AAAAAAAAFhY/E3i_6Gy9v4U/s1600/AfghanSquares.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wxm4GZtJNTU/TWsBHn-uRmI/AAAAAAAAFhY/E3i_6Gy9v4U/s400/AfghanSquares.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578553793931265634" border="0" /></a>Tomorrow marks the start of Bernat's 2011 <a href="http://bernatcares.com/make/blankets_for_project_linus.html">Knit and Crochet Along</a> to support <a href="http://www.projectlinus.org/">Project Linus</a>, a non-profit organization that distributes blankets to seriously ill children. Bernat will be offering four new free patterns for baby blankets. All blankets delivered to their offices by August 1 will be sent on to Project Linus.<br /><br />Bernat had sent the announcement earlier in February, and of course, I couldn't wait until the official start of the event, so I picked up a bunch of Bernat Baby Softee and started a blanket using one of their previously published free patterns. Now I have a growing stack of crocheted squares in front of me. Making afghan squares is the ultimate portable project.<br /><br />I also bought myself a brand new <a href="http://www.skacelknitting.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.28/it.C/.f">Addi Comfort Grip</a> crochet hook. It took me a while to get used to it, but now the crocheting is going very smoothly. After getting blisters from my old crochet hooks, this thought suddenly struck me. I've been spending a fortune these past years buying premium knitting needles, and I don't regret a penny I've spent on these tools which I constantly use. So why am I still using the crappy plastic crochet hooks I bought 20 years ago when I couldn't afford (and didn't know about) anything better? Moreover, high-end crochet hooks are way cheaper than high-end knitting needles, so I think it's time to replace my entire collection.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-46591613125394080362011-02-13T10:50:00.000-05:002011-02-13T10:50:00.554-05:00Sunday Craft Update -- Feb. 13<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1XMogoi8zY/TVasZzZVoDI/AAAAAAAAFgk/GNrGZXetnos/s1600/Shawlette.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1XMogoi8zY/TVasZzZVoDI/AAAAAAAAFgk/GNrGZXetnos/s400/Shawlette.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572831148210757682" border="0" /></a>Here's the latest project, made from more of my Mille Colori stash, from the Ravelry pattern <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/198-yds-of-heaven">198 yds. of Heaven</a> by Christy Verity. It's a smallish shawlette or scarf and not terribly difficult to do, once you figure out how the pattern works.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-85531539832899975902011-02-05T17:06:00.004-05:002011-02-05T17:18:13.512-05:00Jellyfish -- Instant and Natural!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TU3K3iYrRlI/AAAAAAAAFgc/H4pI0jjG-zg/s1600/JellyfishPackage.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TU3K3iYrRlI/AAAAAAAAFgc/H4pI0jjG-zg/s400/JellyfishPackage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570331369599092306" border="0" /></a><br />This ("Instant Natural Jellyfish") has become our favourite snack ... Julia's and mine, that is. Todd can take it or leave it, and Kate won't come within a metre of it. We've been getting packs of it from the local Asian grocery store for an incredible 99 cents each. Commonly served at banquets, jellyfish is no longer reserved for special occasions for us. Open the package, mix in the chili oil and (sadly, MSG-laden) spice packet, and <span style="font-style: italic;">voila</span> .... instant natural jellyfish! I think the cute pink jellyfish licking her lips (or whatever it is that jellyfish have) makes the contents extra-appealing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TU3KiHe2jNI/AAAAAAAAFgU/Ko-a7Dti_Lg/s1600/Jellyfish.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TU3KiHe2jNI/AAAAAAAAFgU/Ko-a7Dti_Lg/s400/Jellyfish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570331001599986898" border="0" /></a>Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-46125411269060967802011-02-03T07:57:00.003-05:002011-02-03T08:03:13.912-05:00Year of the Rabbit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TUqmiVtOhDI/AAAAAAAAFf0/7sbU-CxQMcQ/s1600/Bunnies.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TUqmiVtOhDI/AAAAAAAAFf0/7sbU-CxQMcQ/s400/Bunnies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569446998069642290" border="0" /></a><br />The Year of the Rabbit is here. Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy New Year!<br /><br />Bunny pattern is from Ana Paula Rimoli's book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Amigurumi World</span>. Check out <a href="http://amigurumipatterns.blogspot.com/">her site</a>.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-2424690387885436512011-01-29T11:47:00.004-05:002011-01-29T11:54:22.993-05:00Julia Turns 16Julia ... then and now. Happy 16th birthday, with love from the whole family!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TURGAX-LV7I/AAAAAAAAFfs/XpwML2sIOZ4/s1600/JuliaBaby.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TURGAX-LV7I/AAAAAAAAFfs/XpwML2sIOZ4/s400/JuliaBaby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567652011585525682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TURFFMdW6AI/AAAAAAAAFfk/yeZYT0sE6nE/s1600/JuliaInItaly.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TURFFMdW6AI/AAAAAAAAFfk/yeZYT0sE6nE/s400/JuliaInItaly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567650994882799618" border="0" /></a>Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-58582371846771752592011-01-23T19:16:00.006-05:002011-01-23T22:03:44.553-05:00Sunday Craft Update -- January 23<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TTzFVhW7KqI/AAAAAAAAFfc/WHFVv_IrPCE/s1600/PWHat.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 371px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TTzFVhW7KqI/AAAAAAAAFfc/WHFVv_IrPCE/s400/PWHat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565540213045537442" border="0" /></a>I finally got around to using up the remains of the <a href="http://www.philosopherswool.com/">Philosopher's Wool</a> kit I'd used for <a href="http://mathgirl40.blogspot.com/2008/04/sunday-craft-update-april-13.html">this project</a>. I added a few left-over <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.elann.com">Elann</a> yarns and used fair-isle bands from Philosopher's Wool's Light 'n Easy sweater pattern. Todd says the hat is nice and warm, and the <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/style/fashion-must-have-wool-tuques/article1869041/">Globe and Mail claims</a> tuques are back (or rather, <span style="font-style: italic;">still</span>) in fashion.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-19981357665620142962010-12-21T14:32:00.007-05:002010-12-21T16:32:14.158-05:00A Month of Sundays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TRED-CTy1BI/AAAAAAAAFeQ/pdM-g7Rlwvw/s1600/PurpleStripedSet.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TRED-CTy1BI/AAAAAAAAFeQ/pdM-g7Rlwvw/s400/PurpleStripedSet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553224179831198738" border="0" /></a><br />I've been negligent and haven't updated my blog with my usual Sunday Craft Updates (or at all), so here's a summary of all the projects from the past month. First is a scarf and hat, with a ridiculously large pompom specially requested by Kate. I made this from a purple pack of assorted yarns from <a href="www.elann.com">Elann</a> I bought recently, with leftovers from a similar blue pack I bought last year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TREDpg_CZyI/AAAAAAAAFeI/nr-qs6uVFfE/s1600/LlamaHat.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TREDpg_CZyI/AAAAAAAAFeI/nr-qs6uVFfE/s400/LlamaHat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553223827288385314" border="0" /></a><br />I'd bought this hat kit from <a href="http://www.mountlehmanllamas.com/">Mount Lehman Llamas</a> a couple of years ago, knitted the hat, but procrastinated for a good long time before doing the final finishing. It's finally done now, with extra pompoms, again requested by Kate. Go check out Mount Lehman Llama's Web site. It's full of interesting and bizarre stuff (<span style="font-style: italic;">e.g.</span>, stereoviews of llamas from the early 1900's).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TREC7HhNwtI/AAAAAAAAFeA/cKchCFWsuKM/s1600/Mohair%2BScarf.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TREC7HhNwtI/AAAAAAAAFeA/cKchCFWsuKM/s400/Mohair%2BScarf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553223030178431698" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, I used up 2 skeins from the huge J.J.'s Kaleidoscope Mohair stash I acquired earlier in the year to make a scarf for Julia. Somehow, despite my strong resolution not to buy any more yarn until I go to Stitches South next year, I managed to order 4 more skeins of J.J.'s mohair from Elann last week. At the deeply discounted price of about $7 for a 200m skein, it's pretty much impossible to resist!Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-24292757859860275932010-11-07T11:08:00.002-05:002010-11-07T11:19:39.168-05:00Sunday Craft Update -- November 7<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TNbPVqAhF5I/AAAAAAAAFdI/oiYWXrkMbuM/s1600/LlamaSweater.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TNbPVqAhF5I/AAAAAAAAFdI/oiYWXrkMbuM/s400/LlamaSweater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536840762859263890" border="0" /></a>I spent a few nights this past week knitting a sweater for Kate's llama, Llambardo. It's made of llama wool, of course, bought from <a href="http://www.mountlehmanllamas.com/">Mount Lehman Llamas</a>. You should check out their very cool Web site, which answers every imaginable question (and some unimaginable questions) about llamas.<br /><br />I made this for the Ravelry <a href="http://knitcrochethogwartshousecup.blogspot.com/">Harry Potter Knit & Crochet House Cup</a>, which may sound a little bit ridiculous if you don't knit and you're not a fan of Harry Potter, but for those of us who do and are, it's loads of fun.<br /><br />I'm particularly proud of the no-seam construction. I made the sweater like a sock with two heels, and added buttonhole-like openings for the legs and tail. I'd put in too many rows in the front flap, which makes Llambardo look like he is sporting a bust or beer belly. Kate wants me to make him another sweater in purple, so I will try to improve the next version. I'm not sure if there is any demand at all for a Webkinz llama sweater, but if there is interest, I will work on writing up and posting the pattern.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-65603719345685098252010-10-31T21:16:00.003-04:002010-10-31T21:38:13.356-04:00Sunday Craft Update -- Oct. 31<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TM4VUtravcI/AAAAAAAAFdA/Q_VxNqOl2f0/s1600/Costume.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TM4VUtravcI/AAAAAAAAFdA/Q_VxNqOl2f0/s400/Costume.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534384437688188354" border="0" /></a>I haven't done a Sunday craft update for a while, and I have a backlog of stuff to write about, but this dress is what I'd been working on for the past couple of weeks. Kate got the mask when we were in Venice this past summer, and she wanted a dress to go with it. After checking out a number of ready-made options, none of which matched Kate's exacting specifications, I reluctantly agreed to sew a costume. So, several hours of sewing and many curses later, here it is.<br /><br />Todd took Kate and several of her friends around the neighbourhood, while Julia handled the candy distribution from our house. One of the families down our street puts up an elaborate haunted house every year, and it seems the entire neighbourhood comes to our street to visit it. We had to shut down by 8:15pm, after 250 kids had come by and we ran of out candy again this year. One of these years, I'll manage to buy enough for the trick-or-treaters and still have a few candy bars left for myself!Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-63746002915187027672010-10-24T13:36:00.003-04:002010-10-24T13:57:19.147-04:00Oktoberfest Race<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TMRvFttpc9I/AAAAAAAAFc4/8pKFPuFovuU/s1600/FamilyAtRun.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TMRvFttpc9I/AAAAAAAAFc4/8pKFPuFovuU/s400/FamilyAtRun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531668386278896594" border="0" /></a>Here is a family photo from last weekend's Oktoberfest race. My cousins Rob and Beryl came all the way from Montreal to join us for the race. Their kids stayed home with Kate, while Julia and Todd also did the run with us. We were joined by many more friends, including Mark who was responsible for this photo, and Fei Min, my workout partner of sorts over the past five years.<br /><br />Rob, Beryl and I did the 10K. This was my first 10K and I was both surprised and thrilled to finish it under an hour (though not by much!), along with Beryl. Rob was recovering from an injury but gamely did the run with us. Todd, Mark and Julia all did the 5K for the first time and had very respectable times, given that they only started training a short time before. Actually, Julia didn't train seriously at all, but I guess being young helps a great deal.<br /><br />Apart from the race, for which we had perfect weather, we had a terrific weekend with our cousins. Rob and Beryl brought treats (both copious and meaty) from their home-made smoker, along with a lovely selection of beverages from Quebec and Eastern Ontario, and the kids enjoyed spending time together. We'll definitely do another race together next year.Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-84053451399590461222010-10-04T21:20:00.003-04:002010-10-04T21:47:33.347-04:00San Francisco<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TKddOfWuZdI/AAAAAAAAFcM/xy_Adiv5tPQ/s1600/SF1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TKddOfWuZdI/AAAAAAAAFcM/xy_Adiv5tPQ/s400/SF1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523485971509568978" border="0" /></a>Todd and I went on a brief getaway to San Francisco, while his parents graciously looked after the kids. He had been to California many times before for business, but this was my first time there. On our first day, we walked from our hotel, the historic Sir Francis Drake (complete with Beefeater doorman), all the way to Fisherman's Wharf. At Pier 39, we sat and watched the mostly lazy but occasionally playful sea lions sunbathing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TKdcoLAfekI/AAAAAAAAFcE/GEhUIgCSpwM/s1600/SF4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TKdcoLAfekI/AAAAAAAAFcE/GEhUIgCSpwM/s400/SF4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523485313212578370" border="0" /></a>We passed through San Francisco's large Chinatown on the way back and had dim-sum in a crowded restaurant that held only one obviously non-Asian diner (<span style="font-style: italic;">i.e</span>., Todd). We also visited the famous <a href="http://www.citylights.com/">City Lights</a> bookstore, which played a significant role in the growth of the Beat movement. (More about my visit is <a href="http://twocanadianreaders.blogspot.com/2010/10/city-lights-bookstore.html">here</a>.) Coming from relatively flat Southern Ontario, it was hard work going up and down those hills, but it gave us a chance to admire San Francisco's architecture.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TKdcMyLJNqI/AAAAAAAAFb8/xOh4HS53ByQ/s1600/SF3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TKdcMyLJNqI/AAAAAAAAFb8/xOh4HS53ByQ/s400/SF3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523484842689902242" border="0" /></a>Our second day included several hours at the <a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/">San Francisco Museum of Modern Art</a>, where we saw works by Paul Klee, Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol, Rene Magritte, and the <a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/exhibitions/407">New Topographics</a> photography exhibition which showed rather stark images of the American landscape. As is usually the case when I go into a museum of modern art, there were a good number of "Wow!" moments interspersed with as many "Huh?" moments. (See Robert Rauschenberg's <a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/25855">White Painting</a>, for example.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TKdb9B9_90I/AAAAAAAAFb0/rqlGYTNQUT4/s1600/SF5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TKdb9B9_90I/AAAAAAAAFb0/rqlGYTNQUT4/s400/SF5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523484572051830594" border="0" /></a><br />The food in San Francisco can be summed up in one word: fabulous! This city is a seafood lover's paradise. Todd and I had two terrific seafood meals at the Eagle Cafe and the Fog Harbor restaurants at Pier 39. The meals included a good deal of oysters and this magnificent Dungeness crab, cooked Asian style. My only disappointment was that they cleaned out the eggs and internal organs before serving the crab to us. Clearly, the restaurant doesn't cater to the Chinese crowd! In addition to the great seafood, we also enjoyed excellent beer, sangria and tapas at The Thirsty Bear.<span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br />I loved San Francisco and look forward to going back. Next time, we'll bring the kids with us. I'm certain they'll enjoy this wonderful city as much as Todd and I did!Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8405924617378796738.post-18836463748141332172010-09-23T22:29:00.001-04:002010-09-23T22:31:11.326-04:00My TIFF Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TJaz43J3FvI/AAAAAAAAFbY/N36Em8a8JDg/s1600/NeverLetMeGo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BvGfpcHqA6c/TJaz43J3FvI/AAAAAAAAFbY/N36Em8a8JDg/s400/NeverLetMeGo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518796182848476914" border="0" /></a>The <a href="http://tiff.net/">Toronto International Film Festival</a> has come and gone, and I'd meant to post this a week ago, but better late than never! I made it to TIFF again this year and had a great time, though it was brief. I am looking forward to the year when I can completely ignore family and work and do nothing but watch movies for an entire week.<br /><br />Todd offered to take care of the kids and the household chores (which were substantial, after the first-week-of-school chaos), so that I could go into Toronto on my own the first Saturday of the festival. I saw <a href="http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2010/neverletmego"><span style="font-style: italic;">Never Let Me Go</span></a>, based on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, and wrote more about it <a href="http://twocanadianreaders.blogspot.com/2010/09/never-let-me-go.html">here</a> on my book blog. A highlight was the post-performance Q&A session, which included the famous people shown in the fuzzy photo above: actor Carey Mulligan, director Mark Romanek, actor Andrew Garfield, screenwriter Alex Garland (author of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Beach</span>) and the man himself ... Kazuo Ishiguro!<br /><br />The next morning, I caught a showing of <a href="http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2010/insideamerica"><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside America</span></a>, a gritty and disturbing film about high-school students caught in a cycle of poverty and violence in a Texan town near the Mexico-US border. Directed and written by Barbara Eder, this film was based on her own experiences as an exchange student.<br /><br />Though I was thoroughly depressed after seeing this grim movie, my mood lightened when I met Todd (who came into Toronto to join me for the day), my cousin Barnaby, and his wife Krista for lunch on the patio of Hemingway's. Then, the four of us headed over to the Varsity theatre for <a href="http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2010/lifeaboveall"><span style="font-style: italic;">Life, Above All</span></a>. This film, based on Allan Stratton's novel, <span style="font-style: italic;">Chandra's Secret</span>, is about a 12-year-old South African girl's struggle to take care of her younger siblings and cope with the stigma of her mother's AIDS-related illness. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, which featured good acting and a terrific story and was as heart-warming as it could be, given the bleak premise.<br /><br />All in all, it was a great TIFF 2010 experience, though not nearly as extensive as I would have liked. As I did last year, I opted to pass on the lottery to book tickets and wait for the single-ticket sales. This involved a futile two-hour attempt before work to book my order on-line. When I went onto the Web site again at lunch-time, I was able to get my tickets, but some shows were already sold out, and the three films that I saw did sell out shortly afterward. Maybe next year, I'll do some advance planning!Paulinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05005551976092069923noreply@blogger.com0