I like Podcasts!

 

For about a year now I've been listening to podcasts, most specifically knitting or spinning podcasts that have really added a deeper dimension to my crafting life.  I enjoy hearing the reviews on products and books, as well as tips and thoughts that others share on crafts so instrumental in my life.  The podcasts fill a desire I have for information and conversation (even though it's just me listening).  Although I belong to a knitting group that meets fairly regularly, most of the members are new to the crafts and I tend to the be the one everyone asks for advice.  Don't get me wrong I thoroughly enjoy the group but I feel an additional need for peers that are more equal in ability and interest or nerdy obsession!  My guild, Ventura County Handweavers and Spinners Guild (VCHSG) http://www.venturaweavespin.com/, is a fantastic resource for information and comraderie -many of my fellow guild mates are extremely knowledgeable- but I only see them once a month.  And my local LYS Anacapa Fine Yarns http://www.anacapafineyarns.com/ in Ventura is also fantastic but it's kind of far from my home so I don't get there as often as I'd like.  You get my drift...I want more fiber craft input.

So far my favorite podcasts are The Knitmore Girls Podcast and SpinDoctor.  I'm wondering if any of my readers also enjoy podcasts I haven't found yet...there are so many and I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

The projects pictured were inspired by books I learned about on the Knitmore Girl's Podcast. The fingerless gloves are done a handspun single made of wool and silk, the pattern is in the book A Knitter's Book of YarnThe Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn: Clara Parkes: 9780307352163: Amazon.com: Books.  

The dark blue is also handspun merino wool and is a sweater I'm making for my husband out of Knits Men Want Knits Men Want: The 10 Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man~ Plus the Only 10 Patterns She'll Ever Need: Bruce Weinstein, Jared Flood: 9781584798408: Amazon.com: Books. 

The garden of dance, flowers, food and yarn

It may seem like I'm not dancing much right now and publicly I'm not. I'm working hard on creating new material & choreography and my students and troupe mates are seeing bit by bit. I think I really needed a break to feel like there was more to life than belly dance. The last few months have been some of the hardest in my life, from nursing my mother, and simultaneously producing, choreographing, & performing in a show to teaching my classes and performing the last official gigs with She'enedra...there I said it the last official gigs (no gasps please) it's not a big deal we are all just ready for new things we had an amazing 5 year run or was it 6? Then there were my lovely guests from Scotland, the May Day party, Tribal Fest at which we danced the preparty, the festival & the Saturday night afterparty.

It's time to breathe! Last Sunday I sat at my spinning wheel for hours and finished off some lovely yarns and started new ones! I've dyed more wool and am going to ply it with this bobbin you see here...


I've had some time to cry and be alone, heard doors shut quietly in my house when I was alone and smelled my mother's perfume. Is she here? I think sometimes....I'm mourning and rejoicing in life at the same time. It's all ok. I've worked in my garden a lot too and am announcing show and tell!