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Sometimes I’m in a hurry, it just feels like all the time, but I know its really only sometimes. Do you ever have to force yourself to slow down? Think…”Just why am I rushing?” And make yourself focus on breathing and moving slower, make yourself live in this moment not the next. I do. Its probably my mortality catching up with me. And I find that I bring this rushed feeling into my knitting.
Part of my knitting rushing is with the Finishing, sewing a garment together, and I know I’m not alone, this is a hotly discussed topic in the forums, on other people’s Blogs and in my knitting circles. It appears the majority of knitters out there simply don’t like to do Finishing. Thus socks are popular to knit and so many sweater patterns are written in the round. But I’ll let you in on a little secret! When knitting a garment in the round I often don’t want to put my work on waste yarn or needles in the middle to try it on! It makes me feel like I’m taking away from my “Finishing It” time. Brings me back to rushing or rather not rushing. I’ve been trying to teach myself that trying projects on (and frogging) are important parts of the knitting process, thus taking me one step closer to finishing. Its an uphill battle…
But I have good news for local Austen knitters who, for what ever reason, feel the same way about Finishing as I do, its A-OKAY to pay someone to Finish a garment for you! And I’ve just found another reliable source.
Lynn Haas-512/673-6912, haaslynn@gmail.com, Her rates are $0.50 an inch seaming with additional adjustments per garment. She’ll wash and block your item so it is ready to wear. She even does contract knitting and crochet and her work is beautiful. Please contact her for a written estimate.
Perhaps with one finished garment at a time I’ll combat this my rushing feeling and look good doing it!
Lily Go is known for her romantic and beautifully detail knit & crocheted tops. She has just introduced the doubled breasted, crocheted, Dahlia Top to her line.
Lily shares this about Dahlia…”I have a weakness on dress or top with empire waist cutting, it makes me look slim. Specially if it’s flair out on the bottom part. Combine with belled sleeves, and we have a winner. You can make this top with cotton thread or yarn and it will be excellent for summer. Or you can make this with wool, wear it like a jacket and it’s perfect for Fall. You can wear with a jeans, or you can wear it with a skirt for formal occasion. This top is must for your wardrobe.”
This pattern is worked from top down, so you can try it as you go. Also this pattern will show you step by step how to incorporate your own measurement into the pattern. So it will fit you nicely.
Sizes: Custom fit (S to XXXL based on your measurements)
Needle: Lily recommends your favorite needle. She used size 3.5 mm or US size E4
Yarn: Thread, Fingering or Lace weight or any yarn available. Modeled in Cannon Thread.
Yarn requirement: Enough for your project. Thread: For size S (M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL) needs 1750 (1925, 2100, 2275, 2450, 2625) meter
Yarn: For size S (M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL) needs 2200 (2420, 2640, 2860, 3080, 3300) meter
Notion: Tapestry needle, 6 buttons (4 fancy & 2 plain), marker
Gauge: Variable
Difficulty: Experienced
Note: Lily likes the clarity of Japanese pattern symbols, she uses these symbols in this pattern beside written instruction. You can choose which one you prefer, but she suggests to use both.
Sold as an instant PDF Download this pattern has measurement guide, photographs, written instructions, Charts & Japanese symbols.
Yesterday I hosted my second Yarn Crawl. The same wonderful knitters who were here for the Spring Crawl, the Northwest Austin Knitters, a group with definite Knit-attitude, were here again armed with patterns and ready to shop! They arrived at 9am sharp thanks to the organizer and van driver, Nicki, and hit my showroom running.
After about an hour of bargain hunting at my place it was time for them to move on their next destination and this time I was able to pile into the van with them and tag along.
From my place in Spicewood we headed out to Old Oaks Ranch Fiber Arts Center in Wimberly. Its a lovely setting, upon arrival you’re greeted by a lush garden full of animal sculptures and friendly alpacas. The group has since decided we need our own alpaca mascot! The studio has a wide selection of fine yarns, specializing in making custom skeins from cones, plus they teach knitting & weaving classes.
By than it was time for lunch and we headed to Boerne to dine at the Dodging Duck. Boerne has two wonderful little knitting shops, the Ewe & Eye who carries more than just yarn, needlepoint materials, children’s clothes & toys and gifts and Rosewood Yarns, both on Main St right near the Dodging Duck, perfect planning Nicki!
Though we were behind schedule at this point we did manage to get to our final destination back in Austin, The Knitting Nest. The Knitting Nest is the new kid on the block, owned by Stacy Klaus, she opened about 3 months ago. She’s a very friendly shop owner who is already planning on having knitting celebrities come to teach classes. She also has a huge selection of Cascade Yarns.
By this time we were all tired, a select few having fallen asleep in the van and ready to head back to Austin. All in all It was a great day with many important yarn purchases!
Remember I mentioned my DH & I were interviewed by a journalist for the Journal Santa Fe about our impressions of Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, NM? Here’s the article!
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| By Journal Staff Writer BY DAN BOYD
Forget Wall Street and Sunset Boulevard. Neither famous thoroughfare showed enough moxie to land on a list of the 10 greatest streets in the United States. But a narrow road that anchors Santa Fe’s art row did, and local officials and historic preservation advocates were more than happy Tuesday to help Canyon Road celebrate. “The real beauty of Canyon Road is that while the commercial aspect has evolved, the neighborhood has maintained much of its original character and human scale,” Santa Fe Mayor David Coss said. According to the American Planning Association, the group that released the list of great streets, Canyon Road was tabbed due to its creative planning, zoning and preservation programs that have sculpted the road’s evolution. And it’s not hard to tell the road has indeed changed with time. What was once a dirt path connecting farms on the city’s outskirts to the downtown area transformed into a vibrant arts community in the 20th century. Now, visitors such as Sandra and Ajit Singh of Austin flock to the street in droves, exploring the art galleries and soaking up the fragrant mountain air. On Tuesday, the Singhs experienced Canyon Road for the first time and were clearly enraptured. “I love it,” Sandra Singh said. “I’d love to own that home there on the right.” City officials credit Santa Fe’s Historic Style Ordinance, adopted in 1957, for preserving much of Canyon Road’s unique character. The 50th anniversary of the ordinance, one of the oldest of its kind in the country, will be celebrated Oct. 27 in the historic Plaza. In addition, the designation of Canyon Road as a Residential Arts and Crafts District allowed local artists to sell arts and crafts from their homes, giving the area an organic flavor. At El Zaguan, the last remaining artists’ compound on Canyon Road, history lives on amid growing commercialization. Five artists live in the compound, which has housed such luminaries as Maria Chabot, a noted writer who was a close friend of Georgia O’Keeffe. “Everybody else has been priced off the street, which is heartbreaking to me,” said Teresa Neptune, a photographer. “It’s very inspiring to live on Canyon Road and feel the history of the artists.” Canyon Road was one of more than 80 streets nominated for the award, but ended up being one of only two routes located west of St. Louis to be included on the list. Salt Lake City’s South Temple Street was the other. Although Canyon Road’s concentration of art galleries already had it on most tourist maps, it’s hardly a place locals have shunned. On Tuesday, teenagers drove down the tree-lined road with stereos pumping while old-timers leisurely walked their dogs nearby. Marilyn Bane, president of the Old Santa Fe Association and a resident of Canyon Road, noted the APA honor represents both a validation and an undeniable piece of evidence the road has been discovered. “A lot of us still live here, believe it or not,” Bane said. “I guess property values will go up now, huh?” (c) 2007 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved. |
Knitwear Designer Dawn Brocco has complied many of her beautiful patterns into easy to use Books that are based on the yarns used and pattern designs, they’re sold in quick & easy PDF Format. At an amazingly low price to you can add many of this knitwear artists favorite designs to your pattern collection.
Explore the crisp, cool weather garments of Maine with Handknits In Maine, a collection of cardigans, socks, accessories, jacket, pullover and vest all knit in Bartlettyarns’ 2 Ply Worsted.
Handknits In Lopi features 6 of her famous Lopi pullover and cardigan designs. One is for children & the other 5 are adult women sizes.
The Love Collection is 5 coordinating designs, sharing a familiar X and O (kisses and hugs) cable pattern, used in a way that best accentuates each piece, a kimono jacket, purse, hat, scarf & mittens.
There are patterns for 6 thick & warm winter scarves in her Scarf Collection, featuring the Bright Checks Short Scarf, Norwegian Snowflake & Ljus Short Scarf, Quirky Cables Long Scarf, Cable Play Long Scarf, Chained Stripes Long Scarf and the Woven Short Scarf.
And Dawn brings us an instructional booklet, Charting Your Way Through Heel Turns which provides an easy way for a sock knitter or designer to chart V, French and Dutch heel turnings. Step-by-step charts and explanations are given for these three typical flap heel turnings.
Dawn also has some beautiful Cabled garments that are perfect for the season. Her Cropped Cable Pullover has a detachable turtleneck. The Scottish Fleet Tunic features cables along an adaptation of the classic Scottish Fleet-Trees and Bars pattern. Her Zipped Up Aran Tunic is flattering with beautiful cables and details. The Cabled Norwegian Tunic design uses a simple to work twisted cable pattern.
And her Working Cables Cardigan updates this classic look…This sweater has a fitted silhouette, with just enough ease to fit over a blouse or top & looks equally as good with jeans on the weekend, as it does with a skirt or slacks at work. The sleeves are square-inset, for less underarm bulk, yet are easy to work. Finishing is minimal. The back of the neck is shaped with short rows, and the large collar sits away from the neck for stylish comfort.
October 2007 Newsletter
October breezes in and with it cool weather perfect for knitting. Autumn also brings us the newest look in fashion, the Classic Cable with an updated twist! And Jane Thornley, High Country Knitwear & Goddess Knits will also help you embrace the cold with their new Wrap, Scarf & Shawl designs. Plus select Schaefer, Malabrigo & Karabella yarns are on sale. But first I’m off to Taos, New Mexico for the Taos Wool Festival!
In This Issue: Taos Wool Festival / Our Love Affair With Cables / But Will It Fit…? / Four Winds Wrap / New Goddess Knits Designs / A Sheep For Ewe / Schaefer Yarn Sales / Malabrigo Merino Worsted Sale / Karabella Yarn Sale /
Taos Wool Festival
The Taos Wool Festival was Oct. 6-7th, I’ve always wanted to take this journey for many years & this year I did! We drove cross country & visited Santa Fe for a few days & than Taos. Visit my Blog to follow my adventure!
Our Love Affair With Cables
Page through any fashion or knitting magazine, visit your favorite department store, and what style do you see for yourself and your family?! Cables…in their many splendid shapes and textures, worked in traditional pullovers, vests & cardigans to elegant kimonos to playful scarf, hat & glove designs and of course on socks. The beauty of Cables is not just their inviting, intricate designs, but that they’re flattering & completely wearable and for us as fiber artists Knittable!
Add a cabled garment or two and quickly update your wardrobe, here are this season’s best…
Be decadent in Louisa Harding’s Side To Side Cable Top with a sublime braided cable traveling up both sleeves & across the yoke and be sexy in Karabella’s fitted Cabled Halter with a single cable running up the front of the plunging neckline. The diamond cable pattern that graces Gayle Bunn’s Diamond Cabled Tunic is very flattering. And Michael Kors over sized cowl-neck tunic, the Cabled Turtleneck will keep you warm on snowy days. Want to try knitting more than one cable design in a garment, Susan Haviland’s Crossover Neck Pullover has three distinct cable patterns worked into the bust line on both the front & back. Or perhaps you want the simpler look of the Raglan With Cables, a mock turtleneck with cabling along the sleeves & sides or the V-Neck Sweater which is adorned with two small cables along the neckline & easy to knit. The sweet Oberlin features one large, wide cable down the front while the Bowdoin cabled turtleneck has exquisite detailing & optional belt. And romance is always in style with the comfortable & dreamy cabled Mohair Pullover.
For the man in your life LANG Yarns Fatto A Mano 143 features two casual cabled pullover designs. And dress your little man in Cheryl Potter’s Take It From Top Pullover which has traveling cables on the front & sleeves.
For interesting Outerwear that will get you noticed try Norah Gaughan’s complex cabled swing coat, the Cabled Coat. Or Mari Lynn Patrick’s Cabled Cape with diminishing cables that give it it’s shape. Or try a double breasted cabled cape, Michael Kors’ Cape. And Twinkle has created a very special coat, the very chunky Diagonal Stitch Coat.
Cardigan ideas begin with Gayle Bunn’s Button Down Cardigan with all over cabling. And Sweaterbabe’s Cables & Lace Kimono Wrap Cardigan is simply elegant. James Coviello plays up the Scottish appeal with his cabled Ruffled Jacket. And the Traveling Cables Cardign is an updated shawl collar cardi with figure flattering accent cables. Even Knitty.com has a Free cabled design to offer, Mr Greenjeans, a fitted cabled cardigan knit in Schaefer’s Miss Priss.
Try a Vest for easy layering…Kathy Zimmerman’s v-neck Cabled Vest is comfortable and sports all over cables & ribs. The Romantic Cables & Lace Vest is perfect for dreamy nights on the town. And Deborah Newton’s Cowl Vest is a button down with a basketweave back drop, braided cable columns & ribbed-twist dropped short sleeves.
Be set for the slopes in Deborah Newton’s elaborately cabled Gauntlet Gloves And Toque. Or Michele Rose Orne’s off-the-chart elegant cabled cuff gloves the Cabled Gloves. Debbie Bliss has outdone herself with her double column cable scarf the Shaped Cable Scarf. Keep your ears warm in style with Oceanwind Knits’ honey comb cabled hat Keara. And button up against the cold in Berroco’s pleasing Kaybelle Wrap. Of course Cashmere and Cables are a natural so knit the luscious Cashmere Beret and Scarf set.
Be sweet to your feet with Cabled Socks! Try Gardiner Yarn Works’ Lazy River or Lobster Pot socks. Goddess Knits Cable Medallion with cables running up the front & back and Lace Up Cable Socks with a delightful shoe lace pattern on the front! Knit cabled socks for every generation of your family with Sivia Hardings’ Journey Cable Socks. And W & F Originals’ specializes in cabled socks with her knee high Chainlink Cable, Cloverleaf Cable, Toe-Up Cabled and Wickerwork socks.
But Will It Fit?
Now that you’ve selected the perfect pullover or cardigan for your next project, how to achieve the perfect “Fit” is foremost on your mind. Pat Feeley, of High Country Knitwear, takes sweater knitting and fitting, very seriously and offers us this practical advice on how to achieve the perfect fit for our body type. For the full story read, But Will It Fit…? on my Blog.
Four Winds Wrap
The season changes sending gold-charged light through the trees, leaves ripen burnished on the branches as cool chills the air. Celebrate the change with Jane Thornley’s Four Winds Wrap, a big, luxurious piece of wearable art to knit on large needles with lots of lustrous yarn.
New Goddess Knits Designs
Goddess Knits has graced us with two new Shawl designs. First her beautiful Etain Shawl, named after the Goddess of Transformation. And her new triangular Sweetheart Shawl knit from the bottom up & can be made into any size your heart desires.
A Sheep For Ewe
Just in time for winter High Country Knitwear has designed a whimsical Sheep Scarf especially for knitters! If anything says you’re a knitter, it’s this sweet scarf—warm, woolly, cozy, and ready to supervise all your endeavors with needles and yarn.
Schaefer Yarn Sales
In honor of Cables Schaefer’s Miss Priss is on sale. This worsted weight, 100% merino wool fiber is hand painted in Schaefer’s Memorable Women in Wool Colorways.
Malabrigo Merino Worsted Sale
Malabrigo Yarn’s Merino Worsted is an incredibly soft hand spun, hand dyed 100% Merino Wool yarn. It has the beautiful subtle variations in color and texture that only a hand dyed, hand spun yarn can have. Its the featured yarn in Knitty.com’s single skein, free pattern Foliage Hats.
There are still many wonderful colors left in Aurora 8, Aurora 4 and Aurora Bulky all on sale for the remarkably low price of $4.79! Plus Super Cashmere, Barbados, Super Yak & Soft Tweed are also On Sale!
Thank you for taking a moment to read my Newsletter and for being a Sandrasingh.com customer. If I can assist you with any of your fiber arts needs please call toll free or email. If you’re in the Austin, TX please stop by and visit my Showroom
Happy Knitting & Crocheting,
Sandra Singh
I just made it home from the Taos Wool Fest, what an adventure. First Impressions…Small, but intimate, well worth the trip, I’d go again. For that matter I’d go back to New Mexico any time! I know I sound like a tour book but its truly an enchanted place with so much beauty and interesting history I understand why people show up and never leave.
Welcome to the Fest! Thats me (my back) on the right wearing my completed Karabella Round Neck Sweater.
Back to the Fest. This was the 24th year of the Fest and they celebrated with a “Flock Around The Clock” theme offering a wide variety of workshops, competitions and demonstrations. Each vendor is juried into the fest from among the membership of the Mountain and Valley Wool Association (MAVWA). Only U.S. animal fibers are allowed & most of these fibers must come from Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. These are the areas MAVWA exists to promote fibers from.
We arrived very early on Saturday morning and parking and the weather both proved to be cooperative. I’m glad we did arrive early because it got busy right away, but I was able to speak with most vendors before they were rushed. I was surprised by the number of booths selling finished knitted, crocheted, felted & woven garments, accessories, tapestries and rugs. These finished items were works of art. I fell in love with a weaving of a simple bee & honey comb design from Earth Arts out of Espanola, NM. And PaxKnits from Longmont, CO had a pair of mid calf felted boots that made me long for the cold weather of my native Chicago.
Pure Felt had some amazing Day of the Dead felted purses, pillows and wall hangings.
Lisa Joyce Designs, who is blessed to be located in Taos, had felted whimsical hats perfect for shredders. And my favorite were knit plush toys by Ellen’s Wooly Wonders of Durango, CO. Her stuffed toys weren’t just dolls and bears, but delightful creatures, dragons, dinosaurs, horses, monkeys, sea creatures & more that made you want to pick them up and cuddle.
Ellen’s Wooly Wonders “Pat’s Dragon”
Besides the finished items there were a lot of yarns for weaving and rug making, these coarser yarns almost out numbered the softer yarns intended for knitting. But the yarns meant for knitters were decadent, angora, quivit, buffalo, buffalo, soft alpacas, cashmere, Lincoln, llama, mohair and of course a wide variety of wools and wool blends. Many were hand spun and all ranging from wild hand paints to natural hues.
Here I am modeling a shawl knit in buffalo.
I tried to meet the owners of Brooks Farm from Lancaster, TX but like in Rhinebeck their booth was mobbed and it was barely 9am.
And its a small world indeed, I traveled over 700 miles only to meet Suzanne of Fire Ant Ranch from Elgin, TX, soon to be relocating to Georgetown, TX. She raises her own flock, Black Welsh Mountain Sheep, Gulf Coast Native Sheep & Texas Angora Goats for Mohair, hand spins most of her yarn, but does have some custom mill spun, and hand dyes her exquisite yarns. She carries a large selection of roving too and spinning wheels and accessories. She was a pleasure to talk to and I’m looking forward to touring her farm.
The fest is a spinners dream come true! Many booths carried raw fiber, again the variety and colors were wide & varied. And several people were demonstrating on wheels.
And of course there were critters galore. Llamas, goats, alpacas, bunnies and sheep.
Do you want to hear a secret?!
One vendor was selling bunnies and had two sold before 10am. Sheep shearing was demonstrated both the new way with electric sheep shearers and the old fashioned way.
My DH fit right in. The majority of the attendees were women, many of whom were followed around by their husbands who had rather large cameras around their necks! But men are knitters too, one woman I spoke with about her hand knit vest told me her husband had knit it for her. Nice!
All in all it was a wonderful trip and I wish I had had more time to attend on both days to see more of the events. I would recommend it to any fiber enthusiast who loves natural fibers and learning about their origins. Here’s looking forward to next year!
Day 8 Saturday October 6
Today is the big day! In about a half hour we’ll be Kit Carson Park for the Taos Wool Festival. My next posting will have lots of photos detailing the events.
As for yesterday we played tourists again.
This time we went to see the famous Taos Pueblo, which is really two Pueblos, the North House-Hlauuma and the South House-Hlaukwima both 5 story adobe structures. It was constructed sometime between AD 1000-1450 and quickly became a trade and cultural center for the Pueblo and Plains Indians. The group of people who lived here were typically peaceful but they gladly took part in the only successful indigenous revolt in the US to drive out the Spanish.
Some of the decedents of these Pueblo people still live in these buildings and do so without running water or electricity, one woman we spoke with said many maintain their pueblo homes and a regular house outside the village walls. I didn’t dare ask about bathrooms! But the rooms we went into were equipped with fireplaces and had large ovens outside for cooking.
We also did the short drive out to see the 2nd largest suspension bridge in the US, the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. It sits 650 feet above this breathtaking gorge and the Rio Grande. It was really windy and actually kinda of scary looking down!
And I stopped by La Lana Wools again and this time took photos. Good news Oriental Blue Streak is back in stock for Streakers! Their yarn is so gorgeous these photos don’t scratch the surface! Take a look at their website, I carry everything they offer, just call or email.
Streakers
Day 7 Friday October 5
Yesterday was a busy day we drove the High Road from Santa Fe to Taos. I’ve never taken this route and though I’m glad we did, once will be enough for both of us. We climbed up into the beautiful Sangre de Cristos Mountains which reach 13,000 feet, we didn’t make it that high but did see the peaks and tree line. And every time we descended we entered another little town, we passed through Chimayo and Cordova, where we didn’t stop. And Truchas where we stopped at an art gallery, but didn’t find anything we could live without. Most of the art galleries in all the towns were closed and I bet they’re open more on the weekends when the traffic is greater.
We did stop in Las Trampas where we saw this restored 18th century church, San Jose de Garcia, built in 1760 its the last remaining church of this era.
They were in the process of redoing the stucco on the wall.
And we did stumble across a wonderful little diner, the Sugar Nymphs Bistro where we had lunch of Squash Stew and Vegetarian Burritos. I’ve since learned its been written up in all the tour books and even some food magazines as a gourmet desert stop. But what drew us in first it was the only restaurant we passed since leaving Santa Fe and second the buildings were painted in bright murals.
We finally pulled into Taos late in the afternoon and easily found our hotel after worrying we wouldn’t since we forgot to bring the address. And we went out again before the sun set to see Taos Ski Valley, WOW! I won’t be skiing there any time soon, the drop is vertical and you can’t see the bottom. I’m told international skiers come here and love it more than the Swiss Alps. We also discovered the Plaza and had dinner at the Apple which was delicious.
And I found La Lana Wools by accident, I think you’re getting the impression Taos is easy to navigate, it is! I knew they were near Carson Park where the Wool Fest will be and there they were. We’ll go back later today and take pics. But the shop is amazing. I wanted to knit with every yarn I picked up, the plant dyed colors are exquisite. They have beautiful samples of all their Patterns & Kits displayed about the store. And I got to meet Lynn, who I’ve spoken with on the phone for over a year now and she is as wonderful as I knew she’d be.
Today will be busy too. We’ll visit the Taos Pueblo and drive out to see the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.
Day 6 Thursday October 4
I’m sore! Yesterday we drove out past Los Alamos to Bandelier National Monument which is set in Frijoles Canyon of the ancient volcanoes the Jemez Mountains.
And we didn’t just drive out there and than drive through the park stopping at the scenic overlooks along the way, we got out of our car and hiked…
The ancient people who populated this area over 10,000 years ago are known today as the Ancestral Pueblo people and we began our hike to see their dwellings on the small loop trail. It took as us past ruins of a city at ground level, the Tyunonyi Pueblo (above) and led up some stairs to native cliff dwellings, talus houses, built into the sides of the steep, high cliffs.
The path descended down again and meandered past ancient petroglyphs, a wall painting and an interesting bat cave.
And continued along the creek that was these ancient people’s only source of water to an area known as the Ceremonial Caves or Cliff Dwellings Long House. Here’s were it got interesting.
These caves are set higher up than the previous mentioned homes and gave us the opportunity to climb up onto the cliffs by a series of ladders and steep single track walkways to where these ancient people lived.
DH emerging from the kiva.
Once on top we were rewarded with a breathtaking view and a kiva to climb into. Its my understanding that only men were allowed in the kivas. The cliffs are actually made out of ancient compressed lava and very soft. Its understandable how these people were able to carve into the sides and enlarge the existing holes and caves. It was like an ancient apartment complex. But they had to walk up & down these ladders with their own water and of course food that they farmed, hunted and gathered. The average life expectancy was 35 and its easy to see why. I doubt I could have made a second trip up and down those ladders let alone do it constantly.
Speaking of up and down the ladders. Up was fairly easy, as long as I concentrated and didn’t turn around. But DOWN! Down was not so pleasant. The ladders are steep and often didn’t give me much to hold to as I maneuvering the initial few steps.
Suffice it to say I was much relieved when I hit the bottom, or rather, stepped foot on the bottom. From there it was an easy walk back to our car.
Once safe back in our car we did the 14 mile drive down State Rd 4 to see the huge caldera Valle Grande. Its an awesome site, a huge meadow among the mountains and trees that was a long ago volcano. Speaking of the trees this forest is beginning to grow back slowly, the area was ravaged by a huge fire about 2-3 years ago. Then it was an uneventful ride back to Santa Fe.
But What-About-The-Knitting?? While we waited for dinner last night a group of women walked by who I knew immediately were knitters. One was wearing a beautiful sweater that had a boat-neckline and knit in the round in an interesting pattern. When they sat down next to us two of them took out their WIP–Socks! I asked them if they were going to Taos and indeed they were and the beautiful sweater was created by it’s owner, but not knit. She told me it was done in a single needle craft that predates knitting, I’m sorry but the one margarita at dinner has made me forget what she called it. Perhaps I’ll run into her at Taos and she’ll tell me again, she had even offered to meet up with me and show me the technique. Gotta love knitters!
As for today we drove the High Road from Santa Fe to Taos. This was an adventure through teeny, tiny little cities with lots of art galleries but no gas stations! I’ll share more and pics tomorrow! We’re in Taos now and my DH is eager to go see Taos Ski Valley, he’s been told about the twisty mountain road leading in and I’m frightened!
Day 5 Wednesday Oct. 3rd
Welcome to Canyon Road.
Though I’ve visited Santa Fe before I had never stepped foot on the legendary art row Canyon Road. So this was a first for both my beloved and I. And it turned out to be quite an event and even more firsts for everyone involved because Canyon Road has just been added to the National Top Ten List of Greatest Streets! And not only did this happen while we were visiting, but a newspaper journalist asked to interview us about our impressions of this beautiful place and I discovered this morning at breakfast that our names & comments appeared in the Oct. 3rd edition of the Journal Santa Fe! Wow!
BTW-the other 9 streets are Main St Northhampton, MA, N Michigan Ave Chicago, Bull St Savannah, GA, 125th St NY, St Charles Ave New Orleans, Ocean Dr Miami, South Temple St Salt Lake City, Delmar Blvd St Louis and Monument Ave Richmond, VA.
And here’s another interesting First Fact, in 2005 the UN voted Santa Fe the “First Creative City” in the US. “With a history that traces back to the pueblo cultures of the Rio Grande, abundant spirituality and beautiful landscapes, Santa Fe inspires and nurtures creative talent in a multicultural setting that cultivates a unique and organic cultural sensibility and industry.” I couldn’t have said it better.
I don’t think this pic does this tree’s size justice!
Anyway we were impressed with the Road even before we learned of its heightened elevation to the Top Ten List. Its a beautiful tree lined street with adobe house after adobe house, which have been transformed into art galleries, all with well tended gardens and as unique as it is memorable. There is a serious water shortage in this state and residents are fined if they have traditional lawns, so the use of rock and low tolerance water plants is abundant and gorgeous. Many of the plants here are also native to my area so I was busy snapping photos and taking notes.
As we wandered through the galleries we were impressed with the local talent, but alas discouraged by the cost of these works of art. Santa Fe has the 3rd largest art market in the US, New York & LA being the top two, and its understandable when you stroll down any street, especially Canyon Rd. And to further emphasize this we visited the Russian Pushkin Gallery which has a museum like quality and price tags in the 5 figure range! I found many paintings I wanted and fell in love with some raku glazed vases that depicted landscapes in blues and subtle greens that would have been perfect for my fireplace mantel.
My DH loved the wind sculptures we saw everywhere and we decided we had room on our property for at least three…in our dreams!
After all the shops closed up we took a drive up Canyon Rd to where it turns residential and even further up onto to Upper Canyon Road. Talk about rustic. Nestled in this beautiful city is real country, these adobe houses are butted up against the mountains with single lane dirt roads which serve both ways! We had to back into someone’s driveway to let a truck pass. For a mere $695,000 we could have purchased a 2BD/2BR pueblo style home and I’m sure if we had millions to spend we could get a lot more. It was tempting!
But–Where-Is-The-Knitting?? you ask! As we were strolling along I spotted a gentleman in a bright colored knitted vest, oranges, blues, greens & yellow. I pointed it out to my DH and said that was knit in a Schaefer yarn. Well do I know my yarn & colorways or what, after speaking to this gentleman’s wife I confirmed that it was indeed a Schaefer, Elaine in Snoopy’s Crayons to be exact. Sorry no pic!
As for today we’re going to head out to Bandelier National Monument…
Day 4 Tuesday Oct. 2nd.
Didn’t make it to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum yesterday…maybe later on today.
But we did take a drive out to Los Alamos, which is under 40 miles from Santa Fe and still shrouded in secrecy. They have a very interesting little museum out there that’s packed with nuclear science & history info, the Bradbury, which is part of the LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory). Here’s an interesting fact…Los Alamos is the richest city in the United States, with the highest number of millionaires per capita. I was on the lookout to spot one, perhaps I did, perhaps I didn’t!
Anyway one of the most interesting displays at the Bradbury was the past and present photos of all the workers during the Manhattan Project, the overwhelming theme in their personal stories was even they didn’t know what the heck they were doing at the time but were happy to be doing their part. I love old photography. They showed a brief film about the history of the building of the bomb, which put it in perspective, had full size replicas of Fat Man and Little Boy plus lots of info and insights about the usefulness of nuclear technology in our day and age. Yet I still felt something was missing…like what happened to all the people who were present during the test blasts who didn’t know what they were being exposed to?
It was well worth the drive though, plus the scenery is beautiful. Los Alamos is on the way to Bandelier National Monument which is were the cave dwellings are preserved. Again I’ve been there about 10 years ago and that too is worth going to see again. We’re looking into some hikes for this afternoon and might head out that way again.
Tuesday…Update…I just got through with my visit to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum & I’m glad I took the time to go there. I’ve always admired her art, especially the later years when she lived in Abiquiu, New Mexico. Maybe during my next visit I’ll go out there and take the Georgia O’Keeffe House & Studio tour at Ghost Ranch. Anyway the current exhibition featured the art of O’Keeffe’s contemporaries and many photographs of O’Keeffe by her husband Stieglitz that I had not seen previously.
Georgia O’Keeffe, Red, Yellow and Black Streak, 1924, oil on canvas
Day 3 Monday Oct. 1
I’ve always wanted to go to the Taos Wool Festival and this year I’m well on my way. Visit their website for details Taos Wool Festival, October 6 & 7th, 2007.
We left Austin on Saturday morning and easily made it into New Mexico later that afternoon, it was a beautiful trip through desert and scrub land! We spent Saturday night in Santa Rosa where a terrible thunderstorm had moved in with 60 mile per hour winds and penny sized hail. Luckily we just saw the dark clouds & lighting, but the wind did make driving very difficult. We made it to Santa Fe on Sunday, where we’ll spend the next few days before moving on to Taos.
My DH has never spent much time in New Mexico, just passing through on his way to Colorado or Las Vegas, NV. So Santa Fe is proving to be a wonderful experience for him. He loves the blending of Old World Mexico with Spain.
Yesterday we toured the old Plaza and visited La Fonda, the oldest hotel.
The Loretto Chapel where the miraculous Spiral Staircase was built in answer to the sister’s prayers to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, to have a staircase built to their choir loft. And lots of other sites. I spied one little LYS on the outskirts of the main plaza, but it was closed, maybe I can find my way back to it.
Today perhaps I’ll see the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, I was fortunate enough to visit it when it first opened in 1997 and now I’m here for the 10 year anniversary.