Anyway, just before packing and jetting off to Europe (wow- doesn't that sound great?!) - I finished my part of the chuppah. I lovingly ironed and packed the four corners and sent them on their merry way to Visalia to meet their center-part. I dutifully photographed the birds and flowers, said my good-byes and bid them fond adieu. Note, in the picture, the center is a cardboard mock-up of the actual design.
We left on April 18 for Amsterdam, Delft, Alkmaar, Volendeam, Den Haag, Paris, Brussels and Brugges. What a fantastic trip! No yarn purchases, no yarn fondling and no knitting took place, but I did manage a quicky peak at the yarn departments in the two major department stores in Paris - the Bon Marche and Printemps. Nice, but nothing great. Definitely better deals on yarn on the web. And due to everything I had read in advance, I knew not to expect to knit on the trans-Atlantic plane trips. So - a knitting (-free) vacation as well.
Pictures to come, hopefully in a timely manner.
I was back home for just one week, then went off with DH to recuperate from the previous trip. I simply couldn't refuse a free trip to a Marriott Resort at the Westfields in Chantilly, VA. Nice digs for a week. We found a great place to eat called Sweetwaters in Centerville, VA. Fabulous short stack smoked salmon with garlic mashed potatoes. Wow!
Got some much deserved knitting done on my CeCe cardigan. What? you say. You probably don't even remember that Cece was a WIP.
But yes, indeed, she had
been about half done for quite a while. Unbeknownst to you all, I was stalled near the buttonhole, because I just couldn't find the one button that I knew would be perfect for the showpiece place of distinction. I had looked in Paris for this said button - that would have been so great to have said, "Oh that button? - I picked it up while in Paris "- :) Alas, not found in Paris.But low and behold, how lucky can a girl get? just down the road from Westfields was the G Street Fabrics in Centreville, VA - an awesome place for quilters, fabric lovers and button enthusiasts.
I'm going to let you take a look and guess which button won.
Drum roll please.
And the Winner is:
Yes, it is a perfect color match, with both pearly shine and matte finish. This one-of-a kind button was the last one the store had, so I got it 1/2 off. To be perfectly honest, I was going to buy it at full price anyway, but the salesgirl was so kind to reduce it in price. I really love it. Some of the others are good runner-ups, but I'm pretty happy with this button.
But I can't really knit very much on Cece at all, except at my lunch at work. I am currently knitting the lace sleeves on a 16" circular Addi US #7. I love this needle and keep shaking my head in happiness over my good decision to purchase this baby, instead of struggling with chopsticks (DPNs).
On to Middleburg, VA:
Also found a great yarn shop in Middleburg, VA. called Hunt Country Yarns. The owner, Bob was very helpful and knew so much about yarn and fibers. He gave me a mini discussion on linen fiber, without blinking an eye. The store had lots of great knit samples to spur the imagination. I got to try on a Hanne Falkenberg Mermaid sweater that I had seen all over the web, but alas, I found the wool too scratchy my comfort. The nice assistant whose name I forgot was knitting a summer top in linen. I found myself eyeing her project- which was at about my skill level and interest, - so I decided to copy her and knit one in linen too, and a shawl as well. Check out the yarn here. I bought a soft brown sport weight Euroflax yarn called Sandlewood and also Cream for a summer shawl.
Quilting Updates:
I just want to set the record straight in that I am still dutifully sewing on the second chuppah- piecing is coming along. I have to draft the setting pieces and do some paper piecing. Will post updated pictures when I can.
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