Joanne Yordanou

Yesterday, was a fantastically warm, sunny day. I visited Jen and we hit the St. Lawrence market. Yes, I did have the Peameal on a Bun with honey mustard. Still good! I asked Jen about the camera I had been wanting to buy. After my research and positive reviews, a discovery that Chelsea has the same camera and loves it, plus a thumbs up from Jen, I splurged!!!. It was a good day yesterday! Seeing Jen was wonderful. As we drove around, I mentioned to her seeing The Purple Purl (what I thought to be a new yarn shop). Jen said they had been there a while and that it was the shop she went into when we were working on the "Kids! Picture Yourself Crocheting" book. She needed someone to crochet a bit up for a shot and they kindly agreed.

Once, I left Jen, I visited The Purple Purl on my way home. I have to say, if I ever open up a yarn shop, I would want it to look like this! If you have ever read "Friday Night Knitting Club", you could certainly picture the movie set here! For a yarn snob (like me), it is a Utopia. Dripping with rainbows of hand-dyed colours, spilling from wooden cubbies and a warm wind blowing through the store-front door, I couldn't resist. I was back and forth between the Tanis Fiber Arts Blue Label Fingering weight (funny, one of my upcoming patterns is called "Tanis") and their Aran. The Fingering weight, I am told by a very friendly face, has a little nylon in it (80% Superwash Merino/20% Nylon), giving the dye slightly less to grab onto, making the colour slightly variegated: a wonderful effect. I bought the "Seabreeze" shade. Then, I noticed the Mission Falls and have been wanting to buy some new colours to go with the Red I have left over from my Red Cabled Cardigan project from "Twelve Months of Knitting".

I think the friendly face was one of the owners (given away on my bill). I have to say congrats one such a wonderful spot for knitters and thank you for such great service! Next time I visit Jen, I'll pop in again.

Introducing, my new Canon EOS Rebel XSi (can you love a camera?)... Unfortunately, I bought it last night, so wasn't able to take pics of the market, Jen or The Purple Purl, but I did of my purchase. Just 3 balls ($40), but check out the colours! 

Ok, I know it is depressing looking at Fall collections when summer hasn't even started yet, so I started with a little fun summer outfit from some gal at Coachella. Love the boots and if I had legs like that, I'd be showing my gams too. But what caught my eye, was the scarf? shawl? I think scarf., which is the inspiration behind my next project. 

Note the cable up the stockings, as only Prada could think of.

A fitting ending, always and forever my fav, Sir Ralph.

One lucky person will get one signed copy each of "Kids! Picture Yourself Knitting" and "Kids! Picture Yourself Crocheting" (You can look inside both at Amazon by clicking on the picture).
To enter into the draw, please ensure to do the following:

1. Leave a comment here (be sure to leave a link for contact).
2. Visit my home dec blog, Rooms Bloom (link to the right below) and leave a comment there.

The draw will be on May 1st at noon. Winner will be randomly selected and notified by email. Please include your email for notification, if you do not have a blog or site with email link.

Spring cleaning goes for the body too. I have had the book "7 Day Detox  Miracle" for a few years now (actually,it's Lou's) and never had the courage...until now. It begins with a 2-day fast (water,lemon water, herbal tea), followed by fruit, vegies, rice protein shakes and miso soup (containing fermented soybean paste). I didn't make through 2 days of fasting but got through one. Driving and fasting a no-no. I had to picked my daughter up from university 40 minutes away. When I got there (this is yesterday, my Day 2, morning), I had to lie down on her bed while she got ready. I had to "break" my "fast". We headed to Booster Juice (my fav) and I had a lovely Maui juice: pineapple, banana and orange. It was heaven!!!!

When we got home, I made Miso Soup, surprisingly good! It was a feast for me! All in all, I feel good. My skin has cleared up and I am ready for Yoga. Don't barf... I am not always so healthy minded. I love my chips, red wine and chocolate (not in that order or together).But Lately, I have felt the need to detox.

While detoxing, you are supposed to take it easy. What better way, then to knit and crochet. I chose the later as I have a crochet project underway that I thought I'd do myself. While I am a quick knitter (I like to think I can give Linda and Wannietta a run - Ha Ha), I am a pathetically slow crocheter. So, my project, after a drive to Syracuse and back (4.5 hours one way - but could only to one way in daylight), my crochet measures 4 inches. That include the fasting crochet I did over the last 2 days. I  like to think my starving self just can't crochet fast! That's it!

As I gain strength from my whole wheat rice, salad and fruits today (groan), my crochet will speed up, I hope, else this pretty little thing for spring and summer, will not make the season. Sneak Peeks when I am a little further on, I promise!