Mother Bear KAL/CAL ends on August 31, 2013.  Get your finished bear pictures posted in the FO thread to be eligible to win some great prizes!  Don't forget the following shop coupon codes that are good until August 31st also:

Cattail Knits - 10% off anything in her shop with the coupon code KNITLIT
Sweet Serendipity 37 - 10% off anything in her shop for those who post in the Mother Bear FO thread!  Use the coupon code KnitLit.

Knit along with us in our Sweater KAL/CAL!  You have plenty of time since it goes until December 1, 2013.  You know you want to...thank you to Katie (jetgirl1313 on Ravelry) for her prize donation of a Shawl Gem from the Tix Trinkets Etsy Shop, and to Lori (lemtaz on Ravelry) for her prize donation of the book, Cardigans by Louise Harding.

Congratulations to Suzanne Jenkins (UZO on Ravelry) on the birth of her beautiful new granddaughter!

Tracie's daughter Rachel has started working at Pride Industries.

Tracie talked about her wonderful trip to England!  She especially enjoyed meeting:

Caroline (Carotrike on Ravelry) and her husband
in Bath

Elly (elspeth81 on Ravelry) and her family at their home in Exeter

Jenny (Frenny on Ravelry) and her boyfriend in London...where they enjoyed Gin and Tonic floats!











Tracie is having a "mini-contest".  While in Bath, she picked up some Jane Austen items - The History of England by a Parial, Prejudiced & Ignorant Historian by Jane Austen, a "Keep Calm and Read Jane Austen" tote bag from the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, and a Jane bookmark.  Please go to the We Love Jane Austen thread on our forum and answer a question to be eligible to win this Jane Austen prize!

Barb will be in Washington DC 9/23 - 9/27, and Bethany Beach, Deaware  9/28 - 10/4.  If you want to meet up, let her know via PM on Ravelry.

The Click for Babies KAL/CAL has started with Katie (jetgirl1313) of the Knittin' on the Fly Videocast.  Please go here to find out all about it.  This is a wonderful charity program that gives out handmade purple baby hats to parents of newborns to promote the education of normal crying patterns for babies.

Barb recommends listening to the Fiber Hooligan Blog Talk Radio Podcast, and suggests you might want to start with the 8/19/2013 episode featuring an interview with author and designer Susan B. Anderson.  And be sure to visit Susan's Blog!

KNITTING

Both Barb and Tracie completed their 31st Mother Bears!

Tracie's Mother Bear #31

Barb's Mother Bear #31
















Barb also finished knitting her Cloud Chaser vest by Amy Swenson...but it's not blocked yet!

Tracie is currently working on:
Hitchhiker by Martina Behm out of Lisa Souza Hardtwist Merino Petite in the Flahriddah colorway.
Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig out of Tosh Merino Light in the Stargazing colorway.
Hatfield Scarf by Lauren Sanchez out of Forbidden Woolery Wrath in the Plum Lovin' colorway.
Charleston Tea by Thea Coleman out of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Woobu in the Pining 4 Ewe colorway.
Grape Shortie Socks for Rachel, using the Toe-Up Socks with a Difference pattern by Wendy D. Johnson.

Barb is currently working on:
Belgique Infinity Cowl by Brenda Lavell out of Shaggy Bear Farms Blue Faced Liecester Sportweight.
Sock Yarn Blanket by Shelley Kang
Hyla Brook Shawl by Paula Emons-Fuessle using Quince & Co. Tern in the Boothbay Blue colorway.
Reversible Cable Scarf by Bruce Weinstein using Tosh Merino Light in the Fig colorway.
Dreambird by Nadita Swings using Spud & Cloe Fine in the Sidewalk colorway, and Lang yarns Jawoll Magic Degrade  in a blue and purple colorway.
Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier using Cascade 220 Superwash Sport in the Raspberry colorway.
Colorado Spring shawl by Wendy D. Johnson using Ella Rae Seasons in the Tan/Sand colorway.


BOOKS

Tracie has finished:
Game of Thrones: a Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1 by George R. R. Martin.  Thumbs up!
Dark Places: A Novel by Gillian Flynn

Tracie is currently reading:
Game of Thrones: A Clash of Kings Book 2 by George R. R. Martin
The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Barb has finished:
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D by Nichole Bernier
The Wife by Meg Wolitzer

Barb is currently reading:
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton via the CraftLit Podcast
At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances by Alexander McCall Smith
Crazy People: the Crazy for You Stories by Jennifer Crusie

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down
Tracie:
Thumbs Up - the The London Tube System
Thumbs Down - being behind in so many podcasts!
Barb:
Thumbs Up - podcasts that teach us about dyeing yarn and fiber.  These are the ones that I watch (Video )podcasts:  90% Knitting, The Dyer's Notebook, Watcha Swatchin' Podcast, Gnome Acres Podcast, Knit Me Happy, Sockbunny Knit and Fit, Fiberista Files, and The Fat Squirrel Speaks.  Audio podcasts I enjoy that focus on dyeing yarn and fiber are: Just One More Row, Knitting Rose, Knotty Girls Knitcast, and Dramatic Knits.
Thumbs Down - people talking on cell phones while driving (heads up - it's AGAINST THE LAW here in California!).

eCarre’s George Smiley books:

Artful Color, Mindful Knits: The Definitive Guide to Working with Hand-dyed Yarn by Laura Bryant
Melissa Leapman
Cookie A
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Woobu
Retreating Sweater by Samantha Kirby
The Giving Flower podcast with Kimberlolly
Awareness in Ribbons & Lace shawl by Kimberly Gintar - All proceeds from this pattern go to the Dana-Fabar Cancer Institute
Becoming Art
Imaginknit
Malabrigo Silky Merino in "Bahia" colorway
Knitting Rose Yarns
Knitting Rose Blossom Sock
Knitting Rose Silk Petals laceweight
WEBS
Berocco Lodge
Twin Leaf Loop

Featherweight Cardigan
Tosh Merino Light in Stargazing colorway
Malabrigo Rios
Lisa Souza Dyeworks
Lisa Souza Hardtwist Petite in "Flahriddah" colorway
Botanical Knits by Alana Dakos 
Knit One Below by Elise Duvekot
Myra Wood

Elizabeth Doherty, Blue Bee Studio
Greenwillow cowl by Elizabeth Doherty
Christine Bylsma
Knitting Rose Budding Sock yarn
Alpenglow Bollistic Tweed
Oregon Woodworker
Tess Designer Yarns
Siesta top by Carol Feller
Quince & Company Chickadee
Charleston Tea by Thea Coleman

Allison - The Hollywood Knitter podcast
Erin - Doubleknit podcast
Gayle & Sharlene - the Yarniacs podcast
Dr. Gemma - Cogknitive podcast
Pat (DataKnitter)'s prize-winning knit top
Literary Knits
Kardigan KAL
Our Read-Along: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter 

Book Talk Begins at 19:45

Book Talk Begins at 30:00

"Administrata"
2KLC Kardigan KAL/CAL continues until 5/1/2013. 
Join us for Fleeces Food and Fun (also known as "Wine and Wool" and "spinning at the Winery") at the Retzlaff Winery  in Livermore, CA on May 25, 2013, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Don't forget to bring:

iTunes reviews are very much appreciated.  If you want to do something nice for us, or for any of your favorite podcast hosts, please take the time to go over to iTunes and leave a review, or a star rating.

Barb won the Sparkle Gear/Webs Giveaway with a bag, needles pattern and the yarn to knit the Pelagic Shawl!

Knitting Talk

Finished Projects:

Tracie has finished 2 Mother Bears for the Mother Bear Project.

Barb has finished 18 preemie hats for the Remembering Remy Preemie Hat Drive.

She has also finished...
her Citron 2 by Hilary Smith Callis, out of Elegant Yarns Daphne.
her Alewives Cowl by Elizabeth Doherty in King Cole Riot DK.
her Twin Leaf Loop by Alana Dakos out of Berroco Lodge.
her Vesper Stripey Socks. out of Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn.
her Milanese Loop by tante ehm out of Plymouth Galway Worsted.

Current Knitting Projects:
Tracie has frogged the Burdock Cardigan and is now knitting the Rocky Coast Cardigan by Hannah Fettig.  She is using Knit Picks Full Circle yarn.
She is also making a pair of toe-up socks, using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight in the Nodding Violet colorway.
She is also working on the Litchfirld Hat by Elizabeth Doherty out of Kollage Yarns Riviting in the Forest Denim colorway, and the TGV High-Speed Knitting shawl by Susan Ashcroft out of Desert Vista Dyeworks Mono Grandiant in the Aquamarine colorway.

Barb is making good progress on the Agatha Cardigan by Snowden Becker out of Knit Picks Andean Treasure in the Hot Rod Heather colorway.  She is also knitting the Pamuya Shawl by Alexandra Wiedmayer out of Wollmeise "Pure: 100% Superwash Merino in the Stella Polaris colorway.  She is making a SF Giants hat out of Vanna's Choice in black and orange - using the Pittsburgh Steelers Hat by Lorna Miser, and is also working on a pair of vanilla socks using Opal Cotton.


Book Talk

Tracie has finished:
3 Cups of Deceit: How Greg Mortenson, Humanitaian Hero, Lost His Way by Jon KrakauerI'm Not Myself These Days: a Memoir (P.S.) by Josh Kilmer-Purcell
    

 Josh Kilmer-Purcell - you may know him from the TV series, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, and as one of the winners of the 21st season of The Amazing Race.  But did you know that he also had a career as a drag queen?  Yes indeedy! 




He can go from this....

To this!  His stage name was "Aquadesiac" and yes, those are live goldfish in the breasts of the costume.  PETA sent him a letter protesting his use of the goldfish. 












Barb has finished:
Trustee From the Toolroom by Nevil Shute
What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love by Carole Radziwill
A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodstein
The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman

Tracie is currently reading:
11-22-63 by Stephen King
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend: A Novel by Matthew Dicks
Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel by Maria Semple

Barb is currently reading:
The Dead Lie Down by Sophie Hannah
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte via The Craftlit Podcast
Mendocino and Other Stories by Ann Packer

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

Tracie - UP - her new leaf blower can suck and mulch too!
              DOWN - husband got the MLB Channel on DirectTV so now he can watch baseball 24/7 :>/

Barb - UP - T-Ball  granddaughter Jayla playing T-Ball - these tiny children are so much fun to watch.

Here she is ready to assume the catcher position!

















DOWN - husband uplugging the TV before going on a 5-week vacation...leading to none of the programs set to DVR being recorded  :>(  

Book Talk begins at 25:25

Mother Bear Project

Tess Designer Yarns Supersock and Baby

Annelena Mattison Designs KAL

Bubbles Shawl 

Wollmeise

The Yarniacs Podcast

The Yarn Tamer

Tracie’s 2nd Socks

Frog Tree Pediboo

Pemberley Slippers from Jane Austen Knits

madelinetosh DK

Tracie’s Molly Beret

Dale Baby Ull

Katia Luna

Tracie’s Lurleen the Laundry Room Monster

Caron Simply Soft Paints

Rowan Calmer

Irving the Ice Box Monster

Sunnyside Cardigan from Tanis Fiber Arts

Panel Jacket by Carol Lapin

Berocco Vintage

Tess Designer Yarns Superwash Merino

Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier in

Wagtail Yarns 5-ply

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Rachel with Big Time Rush on the best day of her life