What is summer without some color?

I was pondering this on the subway yesterday. I took a half day off because frankly, I agree with those blessed Euro businesses who provide their employees witha a full month off from work to enjoy their "holiday."

I mean, our idea of a "holiday" is a Monday or a Wednesday or Thursday in a particular month that we get to drive, fly, bike or walk around in order to get to a destination. We spend large sums of money just to enjoy a "long weekend." Some people have actually managed to accumulate time to take 5 or 10 work days away from the grind. Big whoop. I am struggling to get the 10 days. Why is this so difficult? We must remember, we still need vacation time available in order to have time off with family for the "holidays."

Okay, enough whining. Back to yesterday. I got an email from woolwinders about a workshop with Nora J. Bellows, the creater of these.

I almost forgot--the subway. Well, I decided to take the subway instead of driving (gas issues, of course--trying to keep to my budget. . .me/budget. . .what a laugh! Oops. I digress) wanting this quality time with self to be adventurous. Are the directons posted on the website clear and true? Will I get lost and have to stop a stranger? Will the stranger be pleasant and helpful? Will there be scattered showers? A place to get a cool beverage on a hot day? These things crossed my mind as I tried to read a book while travelling on the Metro. Tried to read. Why oh why must we use our cell phones on the subway. Just because one can get a signal doesn't mean one must use one's phone. It is not a private or open area. WE CAN ALL HEAR YOUR CONVERSATION. AND HEY BUDDY, IT IS USUALLY VERY DULL AND BORING AND EXTREMELY LOUD.

Ahem. Pardon me.

Anyway, I trekked over (I did ask two people if I was going in the right direction) on my own since the lady on the train who was knitting a sock (she used fall hues on the heel and band and about to do the same on the toe with the mc being a faded fall yellow/ecru?) that I fully intended to follow (without asking of course) took a right instead of a left, so I knew she was not going shopping for more yarn (bummer).

So I asked the two people and kept walking. I passed a Safeway (so I can grab a cool beverage, check!) then a Maggie Moos (cooler beverage, double check!), and finally the store. And what you see below is my favorite thing (their sock yarn was a bit lacking, except for the fixation, which I bought a couple of but thought when you've seen one, well you know what to expect):



While it may not be as vivid as all that, the colors are really
amazing. The yarn is 100% mercerized pima cotton from Schaefer yarn.
The handpainted colorway is called, "Frida Kahlo." It's one of their series
created for "memorable women." Frida was an amazing artist. Very
passionate. Able to create in spite of her pain. An independent woman.



So, I hung out there until I stopped sweating (under the guise of yeah, I'm checking your store out) and went to Maggie Moos and got a smoothie for the road. Not a bad day overall. No scattered showers. Did I tell you I signed up for the class? I want to end up knowing how to felt a bag and not end up with another DVD holder! I am tactile people. My creative skills are hands on learning. Reading a book, or pattern and knitting it up rarely works for me. I need to see one being made by the instructor, have the instructor see me making it and giving me pointers, then I can fly away and do my own thing. Yes, I need some basic "TLC:

T-teach me
L-let me do it
C-create my own

Sky's the limit from there.