Sometimes, all you can say is what the f*#k  huh?  Dyeing should be an exact science, it is as a matter of fact.  But not here at chez moi..  I wrote the colors down, I even set them aside so that I could repeat the fine experience I had the first time around.  And, after the conversation I had with Paula just the other night, I should remember that I DO know better than to expect the same results.  I’d have to measure precisely, in every way.  I did not do that.  I got what I should have expected… something different.  So, huh!  How do I go back and get what I’m after?? Can I??  Huh?
Remember the old song…  if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with..

what I tried to match..

<>

what I got..

Here’s ‘Ink’

I have been patient.  I have alerted everyone I know how to reach of their coming.  I have asked that food be placed outdoors where they can find it as they arrive.  I have hung not one but two feeders in their usual spots, easy to find, one in RI weeks ago, just in case, and a second in the almost artic, the Northeast Kingdom.  I know they don’t arrive there until May 7th, but you never know.  They’ve arrived in Michigan.  That did them alot of good, it snowed nearly half a foot.  But here… where I check everyday…. nada, zip, zilch! Everyday I go to the hummingbird web site, I see the dated dots on the migration charts.. there are dots showing them to be all around me, but NOT HERE!  What’s up with this?  There has been a sighting up in Nova Scotia.   That’s Canada!!

The Leaf Lace Shawl progresses.  I did the right thing frogging the FBS.  I planned the yarn for this project and am happy with the way its going along.  The yarn is going further than I had expected.  The beads give it a fun sparkle.  And, it’s moving right along!

I am adding yarns and colors to my Yarns for Sale page.  Some are replacing yarns I’ve sold, others are new colors.  Everyday is an inspiration.  I’m also dyeing a two ply, 15-16 wpi merino / silk yarn.  It’s the same one that I’m using for the Leaf Lace.  Here’s what I added:

    Daffodil

  Mallard

   Orchid

  Atlantic ( this is a 2 ply and a bit brighter)
and soon I’ll post one I call ‘Ink’.
ps.. I just saw a dot marking a hummer sighting in almost exactly the location I’m sitting in right now.  Do you think they went to the wrong house?

 

 

Maybe it’s a sad story, but it’s my story and I’m sticking to it.  It began last week.  I was uncovering all those gardens and the poor daffodils and their spring companions I unearthed from all the leaves I had piled on top of the gardens last fall were laid bare.  Actually, by the following day, cold and bare.  I felt a bit guilty in fact.  But… so… anyway, the story of this project… it started with me seeing the leaves and stems all blanched out from the lack of light, being buried all winter.  The stems went from an absolutely eye shocking chartreuse all the way through the green spectrum into blues.  Fantastic.  What did I do, I dyed!  What else?  It’s been a winter of color deprivation, the dye pot stored away.  I’ve learned NOT to do that again.  ON with my story.. I dreamed of making a leaf lace shawl with the colors of the early spring garden, and to bead it, bringing even more light into the yarn and thus the project.  It took me over two hours to bead the first skein.  It’s just the amount of time it takes, no learning curve involved here, I’ve done a second last night and it still took TWO HOURS. 

    sorry, the light was fading..

 

The skeins are only 160 yds., 300 beads to a skein.  This is where the plan fell apart.  It seems that I didn’t have the Lace Leaf Shawl pattern.  I just thought I did.  Actually, I still think I did, must be in a very safe place.  I really wanted to begin, so I started another Flower Basket Shawl.

I really like this pattern, but it ISN’T WHAT I PLANNED.  Today, Cindy gave me the pattern.  Will I frog?  Yep, just after I finish writing this post, taking the pictures and pouring myself a big glass of wine (or tequila) to soften the blow.

I’ve been dyeing more of the singles, some to replace colors that I’ve sold and also new colors.  I’ve also started to dye some 2 ply, same merino / silk , closer to a dk.  It’s the yarn I’m using on the shawl in the picture, the soon to be Leaf Lace.  I’m using a #9 circular and I like the look.  When the yarn dries, I’ll take pics and post them tomorrow.