That does it for July!

And here comes August!

I'm just back from a teaching trip to the Baltimore, Maryland area.  

I delivered my favorite lecture -- UFQ Assault Tactics on Thursday morning and then taught an all-day workshop Saturday with 12 participants who worked their way through a large scrappy string pieced 8-pointed star.

It's always fun to see these blocks -- this rainbow one is unique

And Maria, the workshop organizer, banged out a total of 48 diamonds for a 6 block quilt!  She wouldn't quit string piecing until her pile of strips was exhausted!!

I spent Friday exploring the Eastern Shore of Maryland along the Chesapeake Bay -- okay, I went birding.  No new birds, but there were lots of butterflies to distract me including this teasing red-spotted purple.  It stayed in the brush so I just keep clicking the camera hoping for at least one good shot!

I had a nice walk in the shade of a "tunnel" of Osage Orange trees down an old lane to a deserted ferry landing.  I was interested to see the color of the wood of a freshly cut fallen tree. A unique yellow-orange.

The path led out to the edge of the bay and I puttered around at the water's edge for a while watching osprey and eagles fish and enjoying the peace and quiet.

It was a hot day but the light at the end of the tunnel kept me moving back towards my car where a cold tea was waiting!!

I finished knitting my #beekeepercardigan on the trip.  Since it was a stash of yarn I inherited from my mother, I ran out so did a search for more yarn only to discover not only is the yarn discontinued, but the company that made it is gone, too.  Even a search for re-sellers failed.

So I punted with a very, very close substitute and did all the ribbed bands using it.  It's a slightly darker shade of ecru but it's looks okay to me since it's consistently used throughout the sweater.

I did the scary "first time ever" blocking by myself last evening!!!  It looks yellow because the tub is in the basement -- poor lighting. 

Fortunately, Marie, the designer has a good tutorial on her blog and after reading it several times, I forged ahead.  

Currently its spread out on the front porch drying -- seems okay, but I won't relax until it's completely dry and I can lift it up.

Marie Greene of Olive Knits is the designer and I love her approach to knitting a sweater -- no seams!!  You can find her patterns and blog HERE!

No sooner had I finished the sweater knitting than I cast on for a mystery scarf knit along -- it's on Ravelry -- the Crown Wools MKAL and the designer is Casapinka.  Since I'm using an assortment of sock yarn leftovers, it isn't really like starting a new project -- it's more like cleaning up the yarn box!?!

It's a six week project and I'm a little behind but I'll catch up by the end of this week! 

Most of the Monarch caterpillars we have became chrysalis while I was away.

I counted 54 -- next week should be fun releasing all of them!!

One more short trip for a family reunion this weekend and I can get back into the studio!!

I miss working at my machine every day!!

Hope your August gets off on the right foot!!

Mary