Lace!

Today is all about lace. But first, thank you all so much for the feedback on the questionnaire. It's still in the last post, and I won't be putting it up until at least tomorrow, so please feel free to continue to comment. I've read everyone's suggestions, and written back to everyone for whom I have an email address. I'll be incorporating almost everything, one way or another, so thank you!

I think I mentioned that while in Scotland, I saw the potential for lace everywhere. I wish I were better at conceptualizing how to turn an image of lines and spaces into actual lace knitting, but, figuring that the only way to do it is to try, I took lots of pictures so I have some images to work from, and once things settle back down this summer, I'm hoping to have time to play. Play has been sadly lacking lately, and this seems like a good inspiration.

Lace carved in wood:
In stone:
In archways:
(That last one is the abbey on Iona.)

There was texture, too.
All kinds of shapes available for inspiration.
And, of course, there are the beautiful lace patterns available here at home.
That there is a Twinings scarf; I used three pattern repeats in the body, plus the edging.
(The pink above is much truer to the actual color.)

It's knitted out of Briar Rose yarn (Chris, it's SeaPearl, isn't it?) for Sock Summit, so if you're going to be there, you should definitely come and pet this one -- it is absolutely gorgeous, and so silky, it drapes beautifully.
I need to get a modelling shot, so you can really appreciate what a gorgeous bit of lace this is; maybe I can get Chris to model it for me at Sock Summit.

Meanwhile, other knitting continues. I got the latest of the Rockin' Sock Club shipments and cast on immediately. This is such a cheerful yarn; Tina says she was thinking of heirloom tomatoes when she dyed it up, and I can see all of the colors of my favorites in there.
Some folks also think it looks like chile peppers; I can see that, too.
This package also came with a sticker; a little swapping ensued, and I ended up with the one I liked best.
If only you knew how true this is. (We can't be the only family out there who constantly finds interesting dead things on the beach, can we? Can you say, dead octopus?)