Monday, November 25, 2013

Fall on the North Shore

I lived in Minneapolis for 6 years before discovering the North Shore.  Earlier this year my mom and I took a winter adventure to Duluth and Grand Marais.  Since then I have been back for every season.  I have yet to decide which I like best.  Josh and I sporadically picked the perfect sunny fall day to drive up along the North Shore.  The leaves were gorgeous.  We grabbed sandwiches at Northern Waters Smokehouse, and treats at Amazing Grace before picnicking in the sun on Lake Superior.  We made our way up to Lutsen  for a gondola ride up to the viewing deck.  We wrapped up with dinner at The New Scenic Cafe.  Oh and I can't forget our random stop at Playing with Yarn to pick out the perfect wool for Josh's first hat, but more on that later.







Monday, November 4, 2013

On and Off the Loom in only 9 months

I let this project sit unattended for countless stretches of time, returning to it on occasion when the mood struck. I was inspired by these gorgeous towels ages ago.  I planned a draft and began my warp, but then somehow I petered out.  Winter took charge and knitting and skiing seemed so much more cozy.  Spring, I said, I would muster up the energy to finish winding my warp, but then spring came and went.  By the time summer hit, it was too hot to be weaving.  And who can stand being indoors when our Minneapolis summers are so fleeting.  So then September came around and I realized that my towels I had so lovingly planned as a wedding gift were grossly behind schedule.  An October deadline was just what I needed to finish my warp.  I was devastated to find that dragging out the winding of the warp would result in disaster once the threading process began, but I persevered.  After all, it was nothing 15 weighted threads couldn't fix.  One long weekend of obsessive weaving later was all it took to wrap up the last loose ends of the project.