Ha!

There. I did it. And as soon as it dries I'll be sending it off to Locks of Love so a bald child can wear it. It was driving me crazy. It's been in the high 90's to low 100's here pretty much every day for months, and it's really dry. I feel much better now.

So I've had an exciting week. I got to go to the city for a couple days. I spent some time with my dear old friend Sarah and her 18 month old nephew who is so cool. You should see his teeth. I also got to see her sister Julia who is one of the craftiest people I know. Her creations are impressive in a way that's hard to describe. They have so much character and yet they are so perfectly simple. I talked with her a little about knitting. She started telling me something about "finger knitting" which I had only ever heard of but knew nothing about. I'm guessing it follows a similar (if not the same) principle as a knitting loom or "rake". She said she figured out a way to finger knit in the round, and made a long tube! Of course I spend an hour and a half with this person and she manages to blow my mind. She reminded me also of the scientific term for "short thumbs" of which she has two. Dees has one. The term is brachymegalodactylism.

I also made a point of going to Sarah's to see Henny Penny and Wilbur. They are the cats that she and I adopted as tiny kittens in 1990. I haven't lived with them since 1996, so of course I'm amazed that they're still alive. Apparently Wilbur isn't doing so well.

And Thursday I spent the whole day and evening with some girls that I was friends with at Marina junior high (and one from before) that I haven't seen in over 20 years! It was wonderful. And I think I like all of us even better as adults.

I never mentioned that I also make jewelry. I also never mentioned that the yarn store I work at is actually primarily a bead store. (and I NEVER want to hear another person mindlessly babble "I feel like a kid in a candy store" EVER AGAIN. Unfortunately it will happen. And I will want to rip my own fucking head off.) We have many amazing classes there. I just got to take another chainmail class from Colin Mahler. She's a great instructor and a big sweetie. And I'm not just saying that cause she gave me a ride home all the way from San Francisco. Although I would.

These are the pieces I've made in her classes. (I know the picture didn't come out so good. It's hard to photograph shiny stuff.) They are all sterling silver and they feel great. (Left) Byzantine bracelet, which my mom swiped the second I brought it home. I had planned to give it to her anyway. She deserves it, and besides, how much of this stuff does any one person need? (Center) Double Helm. (Right) European 4-in-1. This is the traditional weave used to make chainmail armor.