Sunday, August 26, 2007

Blanket progress

I didn't have too much time for knitting in Italy but here's what I've got done so far. It's moving along.
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Italian Goodies

Back from Italy with some goodies!

Paul's mother lives in Grottaglie, Italy. They are a big area for ceramics. Some of them are even sold here in the US to places like Pier One. This red vase was made by Andrea Antonazzo. It's beautiful and will sit in my red fireplace room.



This oil container was made by another local artist. I love the look of the olives.


A small tray that we got. It has the "crackled" look. I think we'll use this to serve olives. It has a significant amount of detail and the photo really doesn't do it justice.


Picked this up in Matera, Italy. It is called a Cuccu. In the 1950s the cuccu was the object of desire of all children, a sort of "status symbol" to show off in order to provoke envy in those many others who had never owned one.

However, long before then, the cuccu had other functions.

In ancient times it was viewed as something that could keep away those evil spirits that haunted homes and, as a result, was considered a symbol of good luck and serenity.

Later, this humble but attractive "chicken", with its colourful flowers and little birds, became enriched with the symbology of fertility and custom dictated that it was offered as a gift to newly weds on their wedding day.

Today, this peculiar whistle, which has evolved both in dimension and colour, has become an object suitable to decorate old and modern interiors alike, retaining the mysterious and arcane aura that envelops it, turning it into a unique and irreplaceable item.

This clock comes from Rome (obviously). It's hand made from here. Paul and I were really drawn to it and went back to this shop twice before we got it. It is really beautiful.
Now this is the most wonderful Olive Oil I have ever had. We found this in Martina Franca. Good to know that I can find this in the states. Once I finish this up, I'll be looking for it for sure.
More on the trip in the next couple of days.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

In all his glory... I give you...Dragon.

Heee hee.. I'm so cute.

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Other news... Leaving today for Italy. Be back in 2 weeks time. Also, last night... I got my invite to Raverly! Yippie.

Friday, August 03, 2007

Why there is no Dragon Scarf picture tonight.


I take mass transit to get to work and back. I left the office at 6:35. I thought I would be slick and take the yellow line from Ft. Totten (plus I heard that there were delays on the Orange line because of the intense heat which always means delays on the blue line). The yellow line only starts at Ft. Totten at 7pm (which is after rush hour - I know, that's dumb). I'd get on the first train, I wouldn't have to deal with the "drama" and crowds at Chinatown and I'd have lots of uninterrupted kitting time all the way from Ft. Totten to King Street. So I get off at Ft. Totten and go down 1st the escalator then down the 2nd escalator and mind you... it's about 98 degress outside and the air is thick. I'm waiting for that wonderful empty yellow line train. The sign comes up 10 minutes for that train. I think.... that's just not efficient I should have just kept going to Chinatown and switched there to yellow... so I go back up the escalator and back up the 2nd escalator and wait again for a red line train. Once I get to Chinatown, I look up at the waiting board and it says the next yellow line train... 20 minutes! Ugh. I hear over the loud speaker delays on the Yellow Line due to a sick customer. Probably from waiting on trains and the intense heat. Okay, back up the escalator and wait 10 minutes for a red train to go one stop to Metro Center where I will catch the next blue line train. Next blue line train 6 minutes. Take that all the way to Van Dorn Street. I get to Van Dorn street at 8:02. Damn... missed my shuttle bus. Have to wait until 8:20. Get the 8:20 shuttle bus and arrive home 8:35.
2 hour commute.

Here is some progress on the blanket.
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New Goodies

I received a package today from Knitting Sisters! It had my yarn to make the edging of the blanket I'm working on as well as some Alpaca Bouclay for a cute scarf for my friend Yvonne. I decided last night that I'm only going to take the blanket on my trip to Italy next week. That way I can only work on one project and not be tempted by other things. Plus, you just can't carry all the yarn and notions that you really want to bring! I'll post a picture of the finished dragon later tonight.


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