Relaxing in Cottage Country

Thank god for reading week sabbaticals. It gives us students a chance to get our stress levels back to neutral, finish that book we've been trying to finish reading since summer and catch up on 8 weeks of laundry at our parents house. For me I've taken the opportunity to get a jump on the many articles of Christmas knitting I have thoughtfully agreed to fulfill. So here I am at my mom's new digs along the Burnt River (quite the spectacular view but freezing as hell) working feverishly on hats until I run out of yarn or my fingers go numb. Whatever happens first.
So, on further exploration of the towns in the region in search of a LYS, you could well imagine my horror that there are NO yarn shops between Peterborough and Haliburton. Yes, that is a complete 50 km radius of no fibre related craft stores... unless you count the moderate selection available at Lindsay's Zellers store, but even that is pretty out of the way.
Now maybe I've just lived with all of the conveniences of the city too long, or maybe I'm just wrong in my theory, but in such peaceful surroundings such as this shouldn't there be at least 1 small town with a little yarn store?
I love it up here, (well I should, I'm from here originally) and the fact that there is no LYS anymore drives me nuts. Perhaps if I ever move back to this area I'll start one of my own! Ha ha! a brilliant idea and use of my business know-how! However I think I may need a more permanent set of wheels before I move to a place where I know I would suffer from yarn withdrawl.
Anyways a very relaxed cheers from me as next week its back to the rat races!
Berlynn The Knitting Gypsy

Uh... huh...

Well its been an interesting month. I haven't really been around much to blog and have otherwise not really felt like it. My knitting group that I had quit decided to further humiliate me by uninviting me to their knit nights I had already quit. Pretty stupid really, but oh well. That being said I've been spending alot of time alone planning out some more new plushie patterns and so there will be more coming soon!

Cheers,
Berlynn

Invasion of the nerdy knits!!!!

So my husband and I made another trek to Toronto, this time to take part in our first sci-fi convention. That's right, after nearly a year of working on costumes (sporadically. If I had  worked on it continually it may have only taken maybe a month?) We finally made it to Fan Expo! We cosplayed as Yamcha and Bulma from Dragonball, and took my little hand knit Puar with us, and to my surprise everybody that laid eyes on her gushed about how cute she was! *blushes* Even the voice actors thought it was cute! hee hee.
Anyways we went along the artists row, which I figured meant comic book or sketch only. but there were a fleet of fibre artists there too! There were people selling hand sewn plushies, crocheted amigurumis and even people selling knit kits to make their own scarves and plushies! I wanted one of these kits for a knitted Kraken, but knew I really didn't need more on my already overflowing plate. I'd ended up leaving the epic tabi socks at home, (as it was really hard to knit in gloves) but made up for it by completing my first sock! woo hoo! I have no idea why I was so freaked about the formula for creating socks, but I know for sure I'll be making more!
Also I've been working at my own version of Edward Elric's (See Full Metal alchemist) long red duster for the upcoming winter months and some of my Christmas presents... at least the ones I know what to make for them.
Plus I have to start switching to quicker projects soon because my last semester of school will be starting soon and I know how pissy the lecturers get when you knit in their presentations.
But I digress; its late, I have a cold and I'm unsure when I'll be able to blog again. Anyways here is a pic of my lovely Puar in her completed glory.
Until next time my friends,
Berlynn, the Knitting Gypsy

oh T.O!

Yes I've returned home again from another journey; this time trading in the caravan for train tickets and visiting the bustling metropolis of Toronto. It was during the CNE (on a side note I got to see a pair of Marilyn Monroe's shoes, and am happy to discover she was long in the foot too. *grins*) and we departed from home extremely early. It was a long ride though, so luckily I'd brought along enough yarn to start on what will be known as the epic socks (because they are the first ones I've ever made). I shopped like mad, as is to be expected at the CNE, picking up some nice exotic clothing and gems. I got such a nasty sunburn though that we went back to the hotel fairly early... okay so it was after supper, but that's still pretty early in my books! Anyway, the hotel was lovely, but albeit a bit small. Not at all like the Holiday Inn here, which the rooms would probably be equal to two of these rooms, but it was lovely none-the-less.What surprised me was while we were at the pool there was someone else there knitting at poolside; it just made me smile to see someone else knitting in a public area.
after a well earned rest we set off to Kensington market (and got rained on) in search of the famed Lettuce Knit, only to discover that they had moved down the road and they no longer carried either of the items I was looking forward to purchasing there. It was a lovely and very spacious store, and despite there being a lack of brittany needles and alchemy yarn I still loved the store and walked away with some lovely Berrocco yarn. (to which my  darling better half responded with "you spent $12 on that?" which is why he should never enter the realm of yarn shops as it would thoroughly blow his mind.)
I really wanted to hit Romni wools and its awesome clearance room I've heard so much about (half off noro and knitlites oh my! I would never leave!!!), but I was so exausted from shlepping my 40lb backpack around town that I just wanted to go home. (that and I would have most likely have ended on hubby's shit-list if I went anywhere NEAR another yarn shop.) So oh well, I suppose Romni and the Knit Cafe shall have to wait for another time, but I hope that I can still score some of that noro!
Cheers,
Berlynn, the knitting gypsy

Coming soon: Anime Patterns!

So the Gembouree was fun, but due to some technical difficulties (the car decided to pick this weekend to die) we didn't make the detour to Janknits studio. Oh well, I guess another weekend. So I'm currently working on a pattern of my own design of a small cat named Puar from the anime Dragonball. So far its really cute, but am having a great deal of difficulty getting the head right.
However I will be posting my little Puar Pattern as soon as I get it perfected!

Cheers!
Berlynn, the knitting Gypsy

Home again!

Kingston was a beautiful city! i'm not sure why though, but the other members of my little caravan got extremely antsy and eager to leave. So therefore I didn't get to visit wool-tyme (this time), however, I will be returning again in September for a few days and an opportunity may present itself. So, I've returned home to Peterpatch for now, but will be departing again soon for the land of my ancestors; the Haliburton highlands and Bancroft for the weekend. As many of you know, Haliburton is home of Janknits studios (a place I've been dying to go to!) and Indigo dragonfly yarns; some of the most yummy yarns I've ever had the pleasure of working with. (also the most expensive, justified by pointing out the cashmere content.) As for Bancroft (no knitting shops, major sad-face) We're attending the Rockhound Gembouree. Gem mining and collecting is something I've done since I was a small girl (old enough not to try eating them at least.) and is another event that I've always wanted to participate in.
The month of August is going to be a busy one as well. With a trip to Port Hope and Cobourg in the plans, Toronto twice and then back to Kingston after that!
So, I may not have the time to blog, but I will try to find the time somewhere in my travels.
Happy Knitting!
Berlynn, The Knitting Gypsy.

The Caravan departs!

Well, Since I've last been around I finished my mysterious lady capelet for the Pridie Collection... though I was sort of indifferent about the results. I was thinking of frogging it and redoing it, but it serves its purpose of warm shoulders, so either way its not so bad. Perhaps after a season of enjoyment I'll try again.
This week I'll be packing up my gypsy caravan for the city of Kingston; a place that I haven't been in almost 10 years. Though the voyage is mainly for the purpose of my husband's health, I hope to get in a little perusal of what Kingston has to offer a nomadic knitter such as myself.
One place I intend to visit is Wool-Tyme; once the mecca chain store for knitters in Ontario (I used  to frequent the one in Peterborough for corking yarns as a girl)it is now reduced to a few obscure locations in some major cities. Though mostly for nostalgia's sake I do intend to search out a few balls of emerald green red heart for another fall cape I intend to make, and some stitch holders and markers as well (as all of mine seem to be occupied, and though a kilt pin does in a pinch, its far too heavy for anything delicate.).
I've seen reviews for other yarn shops just outside of the city, but I think one stop should be enough. Besides, we will probably need to spend some time taking in the sights too!
I'll be back after this voyage is though!
Berlynn, The Knitting Gypsy