Back home

We were on the road for Thanksgiving week. It's nice to be home with the beasts, but it was great to visit with friends, too. And we saw THREE (3) great tourist traps, er sites.

Stashbusting + Holiday Gifts

I'm so glad I found the Bainbridge neckwarmer pattern on Ravelry! It is a great way to use up my leftover Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton. I've made one complete neckwarmer, and I'm nearly done with a second. It makes a nice break from more complicated projects. I can work on these while I watch TV or talk. Yay!

I love fall!

The air is crisp and cool and smells like woodsmoke. Although in our little corner of the world, the trees are only thinking about losing their leaves.

Varmints!

They've been stealing the flowers right off the stems of my sunflowers. Here is one that was too big (?) to carry away.

Shop Hop Santa Barbara

I went to Santa Barbara for three days last week to do some recon for a knitting retreat in October. We found 3 jewel-box knitting shops, plus great food.

1. Cardigans Knit Shop - 3030 State Street - has plenty of charm plus Rowan and Noro yarns. Lots of inspiration in the form of books, patterns and samples. There is also a pleasant garden out back. This shop is located in the San Roque neighborhood, and is conveniently near a great French bakery, Renauld's, and wonderful bookstore, Chaucer's.
2. Loop and Leaf - 536 Brinkerhoff Avenue - two blocks off lower State Street, this shop has a fabulous selection of hand-dyed, hand-painted, and otherwise hand crafted yarns plus teas. Enjoy your time knitting in the front yard under the shady trees.
3. Knit & Pearl Boutique - 5 E Figueroa Street - just off State Street right downtown near the courthouse, this shop has a lovely selection of yarns including Spud & Chloe, Manos, Classic Elite, and more. They also stock a bunch nice knitting bags by Namaste.

If we'd only had more time...