More About Taos

Famous Taos Church

The second day of the Taos Wool Festival was way more relaxed than the first. On Saturday everyone was frenzied to get to all the booths and buy up the yarn they coveted. On Sunday, there were less people there, more socializing and actual knitting!

Larry and I went out to brunch at Michael's Kitchen....excellent! This is a down-home restaurant with really good and plentiful food.

Breakfast at Michael's

After brunch we toured a bit of the Taos Plaza and went to the Home of Kit Carson. The docent there was excellent and gave us a good idea of Kit's life in Taos.

Kit Carson

We got to the Festival at about 1pm, after a quick stop at Weaving Southwest for some bargain orangey wool.

Yarn Bargains @ Weaving Southwest

I stopped at the Plain and Fancy booth again and picked up some more of their incredible wool, hand-dyed from Henderson, Texas. I've looked for their website, but can't find anything. I LOVE this yarn. I've already started two projects with it!

I had a opportunity to really spend some time with the Ravelers at the Festival. I plunked myself down with Susan (former L.A. resident, now living in Taos), along with a few other Santa Fe ladies and some Taos locals for some quality knitting time.

Susan, Ellen and Anna
Thebes and Twilight in their prize-winning finery

We had so much fun just knitting and watching everyone walk around us at the Festival. There were some great samples of knitting and crochet circling the grounds.
Later that night we had a yummy dinner at Five Star Burgers. We did more sightseeing on Monday as we left Taos, but I'm just too tired to write about it now. We're in Grants, NM resting and relaxing before the next leg of our adventure.
I promise to take some pics of my faboo yarn purchases soon!

Taos Cardigan

2009 Taos Wool Festival

When we were at the Wool Festival in Taos, New Mexico last October, I bought a lot of the most beautiful sport-weight yarn called Plain and Fancy. The Plain and Fancy Sheep and Wool Company is located in Henderson, Texas. They really don't have an online presence, it seems that they only sell at festivals around the country. Their yarn is beautiful and comes in the most exquisite colors. I picked up some blues, blacks, greens, grays and a few skeins of variegated.

I must have started at least three different cardigans with this blue yarn until I finally found the "9 to 5 Shrug" online. It's a simple, top-down construction. I do not wear shrugs, but it was simple to lengthen the sleeves and body from this pattern. I used a size "H" crochet hook. When I bought the darker blue yarn (3 skeins was all they had in stock), I knew I would need a fourth skein for a full-size cardigan, so I bought one skein of lighter blue. I striped the yoke of the cardigan to make the dark yarn go a bit further. After finishing the body and the sleeves, I added a border in the light blue. I switched to a lacy shell pattern for the body and the sleeves. Next time I crochet this pattern, I'll add in a few more stitches to the top-down construction so I don't have to add such a wide border.

I did not soak this sweater. I merely blocked it a bit with my steam iron. I love the lightness and comfort of this sweater. It's all about the yarn! I wish I was in Taos right now!

New Mexico

Shayne's and Keith's Home, Rio Rancho, NM

After staying overnight and visiting with Shayne, Keith and family in Rio Rancho, we drove to Santa Fe this morning.

Keith and Shayne

We were scheduled to meet up with one of Larry's clients, artist Dennis Larkins and his wife, Debra. They have a really nice condo in Santa Fe that also houses Dennis' studio.

Debra and Dennis Larkins

We saw some of Dennis' faboo current artwork, then followed them to downtown Santa Fe. They gave us a mini-tour of the plaza. It's a really wonderful area filled with historical buildings, shops, art galleries, restaurants and more. We had a delicious Southwestern lunch and then roamed around the area a bit more.

The Plaza in Santa Fe

After saying goodbye to Dennis and Debra we drove to the Museum of International Folk Art. Wow! What a great little museum! Very inspirational.

Museum Gift Shops are the Best!

We arrived in Taos around 5:30 tonight and settled into our motel, Indian Hills Inn. We had a delicious dinner at Doc Martin's which is part of the Old Taos Inn.
We spied the white tents at Kit Carson Park for tomorrow's Taos Wool Festival. I can't wait to meet up with my Ravelry friends at the Festival and tour the grounds! Good night and have a great weekend! I know we will!

Yarnyness

I really didn't buy all that MUCH yarn on our visit to the Taos Wool Festival. I stocked up on DK weight wool from Plain & Fancy wool from Henderson, Texas. Their yarns are amazing....so beautifully dyed! I have about 5 sweater's worth here and then a few various skeins for scarves, hats, etc. The orange super skeins are weaving wool from Weaving Southwest in Taos.

Getting away from 100% wool for a minute, here's my 100% virgin acrylic Granny Babette Blanket, ALMOST FINISHED! Last night, after taking this photo, I finished the top section and started a simple border. I should be finished with it tonight. I just love it! I'm so glad that the weather is cooler so I can use it. Thank you, Alaskan Purl, for the inspiration and pattern!

Leaving Taos

Yesterday morning we left Taos and headed down the hill toward Santa Fe. Along the way we visited a few churches. We arrived in Los Alamos by 1pm, ready to tour the City that produced the atom bomb. The Bradbury Science Center is free and has an intense display all about the inventors of the atom bomb. It was scary and informative, all at the same time.
After leaving Los Alamos, which is a really large town, we drove for a few hours and ended up in Grants, New Mexico. We checked into our hotel and drove around a bit, just as the sun was setting. The main drag in Grants has lots of vintage signage. The West Movie Theater sign was beautifully maintained. Today, we plan to take a few more pix of vintage signs and move on down the road.

We had a New Mexican dinner last night at El Cafecito in Grants. The food was excellent. The sopapillas were divine. I've had these little pockets of air in San Diego, CA, but never in Los Angeles. Where can I get them in L.A.? Let me know!

Sopapillas from El Cafecito, Grants, NM

Here's a shot of some of the yarn I bought at the festival....Plain and Fancy Yarns from Henderson, Texas...DK weight, positively gorgeous texture. I'm improvising a shell.
We'll probably make it to Arizona today!

Taos Wool Festival

It's only 2:30 in the afternoon on Saturday and I'm already exhausted! The Taos Wool Festival is extremely faboo! I usually don't post to my blog on Saturdays, but I had to make a slide show of the colorful scenes from the Wool Festival to share with you! I managed to purchase a few samples for my stash!

Taos Wool Festival

I'm getting verrrrrry excited! On Tuesday (only 6 days away), Larry and I leave on a roadtrip to New Mexico. We're doin' about half of the ol' Route 66 trip. Our destination is the Taos Wool Festival. On the way we'll be stopping in various Arizona towns, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe, NM. While in New Mexico, I hope to visit Victory Ranch in Mora. I read all about Victory Ranch in "Shear Spirit," the wonderful book by Joan Tapper with exquisite photos by Gale Zucker.

I've joined the Ravelry Group of people that are attending the Festival. There are so many wonderful tips about the Festival, restaurants in the area and where to stay. I just love our Ravelry community. Whenever I have a question about another place in the world, I can always just look up a group on Ravelry, ask my question and know that friendly knitters and crocheters will go out of the way to help me.

I Need More

Larry and I haven't been on a REAL vacation (where we actually go somewhere for more than a week) in over five years. It's about time!

Arizona Desert, photo from Flickr Commons

Join The Ring!

Annika and Gwen from our WeHo SnB came up this brilliant idea! Let's form a WeHo SnB Ring so we can stay current with everyone's blogs! Excellent idea. I am now an official ring member. If you attend our WeHo SnB meetings on Thursdays OR Saturdays OR have attended in the past OR maybe want to and you have a blog, join us in the ring! Click here to read all about it. Come on Carla, Sachi, Crazy Auntie, Shannita, Mary Heather, Tami, Lori S., Darcy, Jason, Natalie, Sara-1 and Sara-2, Drew (Honorary Member), Regina, Kathy of Hollywood, Allison and any other WeHo web log stitchers out there....PLEASE JOIN US!

Last night at the WeHo SnB I brought a few of my crocheted leis. The lovely and talented Lena Linoleum was gracious enough to model one of the variegated leis for the camera. Enjoy the lei, Lena...it suits you!

Lena and Crocheted Lei

Jeffrey recently returned from a trip to Taos, New Mexico where he enjoyed many opera performances, the faboo scenery and tons of cultural events. He brought me back a belated b-day gift of a felted potholder that looks exactly like a stack of tacos! So cute and useful! Thanks, Jeffrey. You know about my love of tacos! I'm an avid reader of The Great Taco Hunt and I've even crocheted a taco or two in my lifetime.

Felted Tortilla Potholder from Taos

Thanks, Jeffrey!

My Crocheted Taco

Have a great weekend!

Summer Flies

"Canned Peas"

Summer is OVER!  However, judging by our weather in Los Angeles, it is still summer here.   This shawl is appropriately named, "Summer Flies."  It's a free pattern on Ravelry by Donna Griffin.  I was sitting next to a lady at the El Segundo Slipt Stitchers Knitters Guild meeting a few months ago and admired her version of this pattern.  I'm not much of a lace knitter, but this pattern is really spelled out, row by row, so I thought I'd give it a try.  This shawl is a lovely little throw for mild evenings.  It can also be scrunched up and used like a scarf under a jacket.

  

Here's Donna's description of this pattern:  "My how summer flies by, but this lacy summer shawl is the perfect accessory to cover bare shoulders on a breezy summer evening.  The butterfly and lace motif are accented by a knotted openwork trellis, reminiscent of butterflies happliy fluttering through your summer garden."

I used some single strand sport weight wool that I bought a few years ago at the Taos Wool Festival  made by Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool Co. of Henderson Texas. and size 8 needles. Plain & Fancy calls this color "Bamboo."  I think it resembles the color of CANNED PEAS!

Recently finished "Summer Flies" in Vanna's Choice, worsted weight

Looks at those sweet little butterflies!

Red Scarf Progress

I'm finished with one of my Red Scarf Project donations. I knitted it on our recent trip to and from Taos, New Mexico. It's a simple mistake rib pattern, size 10 needles, Lana Grossa Bingo Mouline Yarn.

I've abandoned my previous reversible cable red scarf. I just didn't like how it was turning out. Instead, I'm whipping up a quick crocheted scarf with Berroco Sox in a multi, red, orange, burgundy and brown colorway. I really like how this looks. I might make a few of these in different colors for holiday gifts.

The deadline to turn in your red scarves is December 15th. Scroll down for pattern ideas here. Have you finished your scarf yet?

Sightseeing

We left Grants, New Mexico this morning, after photographing some very cool old Route 66 signs. We headed toward Arizona. We saw all kinds of interesting things along the road.I helped with the driving a bit, so I couldn't work on my latest WIP, a blue cardigan with some of that faboo Plain & Fancy wool from Texas that I purchased this past weekend at the Taos Wool Festival.
We landed in Flagstaff, Arizona, checked into our hotel and relaxed a bit. On Jeff's and Audrey's suggestion, we drove over to the Horsemen's Lodge for dinner. This place is a real throw-back. It really looks like a hunting lodge. There are taxidermied animals all over the place. The food is steak, ribs, etc. Dinner was delicious and the ambiance was highly entertaining. Tomorrow we're going to historical Flagstaff again. We were there on our first night, but didn't really get to explore the area. Not sure where we'll end up tomorrow night. We are getting closer to Los Angeles. Even though we're having a great trip, I am looking forward to coming back to the City I love.