Mahler and More

Hi y'all. I just finished my portion of the Mahler Festival with our performance of the 6th Symphony last night. We got a nice review from the Ft. Worth critic and a lukewarm review from the Dallas one. We thought it went great, so there! Here is a shot from the audience. As you can see, the orchestra is enormous. We had 5 oboes (usually there are 2). The rest of the wind and brass sections were double sized as well.

In the midst of it all, I have managed to start the Wallis Cardigan in a delicious blue cotton/soy blend. I'll post the picture of the back though I must tell you that I am going to tink back a bit to make the armholes a little larger. I realized I miscalculated....

I loved reading your comments on the BYOB. In retrospect, even though I complained about it, the seed stitch really wasn't so horrid. It did go on for a while, but truly only a short while. If you need a bag like this - do indeed knit it. It was quick and worth the "seedy" time. But be careful with the tight cotton fabric, it really tore up my hands. And I am a relaxed knitter.

And Zippi - who are the Chargers and Bolts? Is that like nuts and bolts? (I know nothing when it comes to sports.)

I finally managed to get my schedule in line :-) It will be a busy semester as usual. But I would rather be moaning about too many hours than too few - if you know what I mean! I am headed out to the University for the student's auditions, then just one kiddo coming tomorrow. I plan to get in some quality knitting this weekend!

Have a good one -

FO: BYOB

It is fini!!!

I love how this bag came out, but the seed stitch drove me crazy. (I am now glad I didn't knit the Minimalist Cardi - it is all seed stitch. Aaaargh!) I used the old Cotton Ease from my stash and knit on #3 and #6 Options. Yes, being a loose woman, er, knitter, I always have to go waaaaaaaaaay down.

The first picture looks like a truer representation of the colors. The fabric is nice and tight, so I am hoping it won't stretch like some other knitters' have.

On to the next project - I have been rethinking the Wallis Cardigan and decided to knit it. When I was talking to one of the ladies at my LYS, she was saying how flattering that type of design is for many body types - I'm hoping she is right and it won't accentuate the parts I usually try to camouflage.

So today, after I make some Mahler reeds, practice the millions of notes in the symphony that I still cannot play, have some lunch with the girls and teach a boatload of students, I will swatch.

Enjoy your day ~

A Bag and Bad Grass

No, not a bag OF bad grass! What are y'all - a bunch of old Hippies?

We have had too many days in a row of over 100 degrees and our grass is showing it. We have been watering but there is no fighting the searing heat.

Thankfully, the tomato plant is still growing well. I have gotten 6 tomatoes so far, and another is still ripening and 3 more are green. There are flowers but no new fruit - too hot! I hope to get another harvest in the fall when it cools down. It was such a treat to eat yummy home-grown tomatoes this summer I think I will plant them again - earlier next time - and maybe 2 plants instead of one.

The BYOB is only a few rows from the top color change:

The seed stitch was really boring me but the openwork in the middle was okay. I hope to finish soon as I am getting tired of it. I love how it is turning out - it will look great when done and worth the boredom. I'm not sure I see another in the future, though.

School starts on the 25 of August and I am trying to plan the schedule of my university students along with my home studio of 32 oboists. I always tell myself I won't teach so many, but then they just keep multiplying! The numbers are a bit out of control right now so I think I will weed out some of my non-practicing pain in the arse kids and encourage them find a new teacher.

Next week begins Mahler 6th Symphony with Ft. Worth Symphony so I will have my hands full. I am also trying to schedule a short trip to NY to see Mom. Yikes - there are not enough hours in the day, days in the week, etc. to accomplish everything.

I hope you stay cool and your upcoming week is joy-filled.

PS - I didn't get to wear my Flutter Sleeve cardigan because it was too hot in Utah too!