Ok so things are much different in CA!

Ok so most people know that I am traveling this week. My colleague (aka my boss) and I are at the Innovative Users Group Annual Conference in Anaheim California. We flew in on Saturday and spent the weekend sight seeing and getting acclimated to the time change. Today was the first day of the conference and I am on a lunch break. Last night we were relaxing and watching tv in the room after spending all day at the Getty Center in LA. So around 8:30 we were laying around and the room started to rumble. The window starting to make crackling sounds and it felt like things were swaying on the 8th floor of the Hilton. Ok so it turns out we had an earthquake. How nutty is that? So I freaked out and was like oh did we just have an earthquake? E was totally unfazed and was like “Welcome to California”

Turns out earthquakes are not a big deal in this area. No emergency broadcasts, evacuations or anything. The lights didn’t even go out. How crazy is that?

On a knitting note I am working diligently on my Jaywalker and have turned the heel and am working on the first foot. I have to say that I am not loving sock knitting. It seems so messy and things are hanging open and looking like the sock is made for monster feet but I will trust in the instructions and the power of blocking. Plus if they suck I will give them to my sister! (Ha I know your reading this week).

Here are some snaps I took at the Mission San Juan Capistrano on Saturday. More snaps to come for sure. Check it out Mom I am a holy roller. I got a present for you and it is not a crow on a cross from the 1700s.

Hyper what?

How could I forget about the hyperbolic crochet event two weeks ago? I actually got to craft on company time? We have a science museum where I work. For the first friday of every month we have a event where the museum is open late. This year they are doing a hands on science theme and two weeks ago it was hyperbolic crochet. I knit a few samples for the event and we spent a few hours teaching people to crochet and talking up crafting. I met some great people both knitters and crocheter and had a great time crafting on company time.

I made two samples both varigated. The first was a purple ruffled hyperbolic and the second which I didn't photograph was a blue tie dyed sample that I gave to Andy. He said he wanted a toupee! I wish I had a photo of him wearing it.
The action shots are from Clare who works at CHF. Thanks Clare! The other photos are mine I took them at work so you can see my workspace. How fun? The first one is in my window. That is my pine cone that I got in California a few years back. I was on a library trip to see a donor and his wife gave me this pinecone from a giant pine tree in her garden. They lived in Redwood City how fitting?

See Andy in the left hand corner? He stayed for the event but didn't crochet.

Here is Audra teaching Ashley who works with me in the library to crochet. I am just running my mouth. I met a woman who spun her dog's hair into yarn. I was fascinated.

Here I am teaching and of course running my mouth again. The couple I am talking to are mathmaticans. She knits he doesn't. He was a good sport.

Here is Sarah. She works at Chf and is a fantastic crocheter. I hope she doesn't mind me showing her photo but I wanted to show and action shot of my purple hyperbolic. All the yarn was either RHSS or Vanna's Choice.

Seven Sins of Greenwashing

Green∙wash (grēn’wŏsh’, -wôsh’) - verb: the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.”

How terrible is greenwashing? I can't stop reading about it. Check out this page, It is a great source of info and the graphics really drive the point home about how companies are scamming people who are trying to do something good for mother earth.

The Greenwashing Index will reveal the worst offenders to you. Check them out.

Why am I talking about green washing? Well I care about the earth of course, really it is not a distraction technique to keep you from realizing she has no knitting to share! The snap is a close up of the boss' african violet. He actually has three and they are massive. I have been practicing with my macro lens.

Come Sail Away Indeed

First thing first. Here is a snap of my cactus at work. This is second year that it bloomed. This year it had multiple blooms at once. Last year it had only one at a time. How lovely is that?

I just finished a wonderful baby blanket for our neighbor. She is having a boy and did the baby's room in blue tones and a ocean slash fish theme. I found the pattern on Ravelry . It is a great free pattern called Come Sail Away Baby Blanket by Suzanne Veta. I would highly recommend the pattern. It is easy to knit and well written. I used RHSS a great choice for a baby blankie. You can machine wash and dry the blanket and it won't fall apart. I was so embarresed when Jazzy's baby blanket fell apart in the wash. Now I will not knit a baby blanket in pieces or with open work on it. I spent a fortune on the yarn and the thing did not last one washing. No more fancy baby yarn for blankets. I just isn't practical and that is wasteful. J.R. really enjoyed the blankie as well. Of course he gets to test it out before it gets washed!