Work first, then play:
I’m teaching a class on the Fern Shawlette tomorrow (Saturday May 7) at Twisted, 2 to 4:30 pm. A little lace, a fun sideways shawl construction, and beads!
Next Saturday (May 14) I’m debuting my Braided Wristlets class at Twisted, 2 to 6 p.m. We’ll cover simple stranded knitting, yarn color dominance, and several kinds of knitted braids.
And next week Sunday (May 15) I’m teaching Elongated Novelty Stitches at For Yarn’s Sake. Put some pizzazz in your stockinette! Come take a class with me; it will be fun!
No time for class? This is a reminder that my Over the Rainbow Cuffs pattern is 20% off through May 8 (Sunday) with coupon code RAINBOW.
While I was in Santa Barbara, a pair of house finches set up house in the willow wreath on my front porch. Not the best place for them, but what can you do after the fact?
The eggs hatched on April 24.
Four days old.
It’s been sweet to watch these little peepers for the last couple weeks.
But on Wednesday this week, there was a predator attack (guessing it was a crow), and two of the hatchlings were killed. I was pretty bummed. I know it’s nature and all, but these are my surrogate pets, right outside my dining room window. (Yes, I miss Mookie.)
On Thursday, the two surviving chicks climbed out of the nest and up on/into the wreath. I’m not sure they were ready, but I think it’s pretty gross in the nest. I’ll spare you the details. The parents are still on duty, taking care of these two.
Finch baby and mom
Feed me!
Finch baby and dad
Feed me!
I’ve been knitting and keeping an eye out the window. I hope they learn to fly soon; I worry about them!
I’m knitting with this yarn from Alexandra’s Crafts. It was two strands knitted into a blank and gradient dyed for a matching set; I had a hard time winding them. I tried to ravel and wind at the same time, but perhaps I should have rolled the two strands into a single ball and then rolled two balls from there, maybe? In any case, it’s very pretty.
These beads I pirated from my collection turned out to be not quite right, so I found the perfect beads.
But I can’t show them to you in the knitting, because I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this project yet. I can tell you that watching the colors slowly change has been mesmerising!
Whew, long post! What are you doing this weekend? Mine is going to be busy, busy, busy…
PDXKnitterati 
Love all the finch pics. Glad the two survived. Hopefully the nest, “etc” will clean up after they are all grown up and flown away. Stupid crows.
I just bought a pair of gradient rovings in a blue purple, and then bought matching beads for the as yet non existent yarn. Now to spin!
I suppose it could have been blue jays. But I’m sure it wasn’t a cat! No way to reach. I hope the survivors…survive! They’re right on the cusp of fledging.
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Oh how cool!!! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
I’ve been enjoying the finches on IG – I had some nest in a hanging plant on the deck one year. Very fun.
Hope the two little birds grow up quickly to be strong and healthy. 🙂 The color gradient does look lovely, looking forward to see how it turns out!
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What beautiful pics of mom nourishing her babies…..