hands and notions

First off, I am so glad you guys all like the smocking tutorial! I still have to make the actual pillow out of my smocking, but once I do, I'll show you. It's pretty nifty.

This is the yarn I've been knitting with. It's handspun in a really cool overspun-underspun way by Faun of hands + notions. I've admired her yarn for a long time, and when I saw these colors, I had to invest. It's funny to knit with—both entertaining and strange. I think I almost would have left it all wound up and pretty in the hank—it looked so good that way—but what's the point of that?

Faun draws too. Clearly, I am trying to be the lady on the tag.

It's High Holy Day Mantis Season, and can I tell you that this is the worst mantis year yet? In past years I've kept a tally, but this year I can't even keep count. They are everywhere. Today I saw one in the alley next to Barnes and Noble. Why? That is not your habitat. It was grayish. I guess that means it's a concrete-dwelling mantis.