It's Been Too Long
I am a very bad blogger. I just realized this morning that my last post was on 5/1.
As a way of saying 'thank you' for sticking with me despite my delinquent ways, and in celebration of Memorial Day Weekend (the start of the summer season here in the US), I've decided to have a contest.
The photo above shows my latest design, Lavalette. (See it on Ravelry for more details.) I sent it out for test knitting this morning. I expect the pattern to be ready in 2-3 weeks. What does this shawl have to do with the contest? I've got an extra skein of the yarn, Jade Sapphire Cashmere Silk. If you haven't felt this yarn you are missing out. The stuff is heavenly!
The winner of the contest will receive the skein of yarn (enough to knit the shawl as seen in the photos) as well as the pattern once it is complete.
Just leave a comment on this post, telling me about your favorite summer vacation. I'll use a random number generator to pick a winner.
You have until Saturday, June 6th. I'll announce the winner the following week.
PS. Be sure to check back here on Tuesday (5/26). I'll be releasing the pattern for the "Jeanne" shawl that day.
My favorite summer vacations were the three weeks I spent at summer camp in the mountains of North Carolina. Bare feet, tie dye, picking blueberries, milking goats ... no wonder I want to run away to a farm!
Posted by: Josie | May 23, 2009 at 03:59 PM
My favorite summer vacations are the years my family goes to Sanibel Island, Florida. The beaches are beautiful, it's far enough out so it isn't commercialized or packed, and there's such a nice feel to the place. And, being in Florida, there are often sudden, unexpected rainstorms. Sometimes inconvenient, but often extremely peaceful.
Posted by: Olivia | May 23, 2009 at 03:59 PM
That shawl is amazing! I've never knit a shawl, and this is the first one I have seen that I've thought "I have to knit that!"
Although they aren't technically summer vacations, since my family always goes in the "off" season, around March or April, my favorite vacations are the trips we take to Europe about once a year. My best friend moved there when we were 12, and I visit her when we go. While we are there, I like to just live there, instead of having a schedule to sightsee, just walking around London, Dublin, or Glasgow is perfect. I hope to really live there someday soon.
But as for summer, my family doesn't usually take summer vacations, but we do a lot of things together, like going on drives through the mountains.
Posted by: Ashley | May 23, 2009 at 04:05 PM
Love the shawl!
Favorite summer vacation was when I was around 10 years old. My parents, sister and I went to the Outer Banks for two weeks--our normal summer vacation. Money was a little tight that year, so we were going to rent a small townhome, and when we arrived to check in, the owner's son had been there the previous weekend, and had a huge, raunchy party. The townhome was TRASHED. Trashed beyond any sort of spot cleaning "it'll be ready in a couple of hours" rescue. The rental company was so sorry, to make up for it they put us in a HUGE beachfront house. It was awesome, and we were charged the same rate as we would have paid for the trashed place. You can beat beachfront!
Posted by: Laura | May 23, 2009 at 04:11 PM
We've missed you! That's a lovely new shawl; granted, all of your designs are lovely ;-) As for my favorite vacation, it would have to be when my husband took me to Indonesia to show me where he grew up. We went to several of the islands, I got amazingly sunburned, got to see his parents, his brother (and we were the first people to meet his future bride, although they weren't even dating at the time), got to lay on the beach in Bali, went gold shopping in Jayapura, and got to explore Borobudur temple on the island of Java. I'd love to go back someday...
Posted by: Mandy | May 23, 2009 at 04:18 PM
Beautiful shawl, love that color!
My favorite was our annual trip to Cape May, New Jersey, taken every year until I went to college.
Posted by: Hannah | May 23, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Gorgeous shawl! And I LOVE the color!
As for summer vacations, I STILL remember my family going to New Hampshire, where we visited Santa's Village and got to see "The Man in the Mountain." Unfortunately, The Man is no longer on the mountain. Bummer!
Thanks for the chance to win! Blessings!
Posted by: Leslie in FL | May 23, 2009 at 04:32 PM
Very lovely! I've not attempted anything lacey yet, but this might tempt me to start!
Posted by: Maria | May 23, 2009 at 04:32 PM
So far my favorite has been a looong camping trip around the Olympic Peninsula and down the WA/OR coasts - breathtaking! I know that as my little one grows it will be replaced with vactions with her though!
Posted by: Julie | May 23, 2009 at 04:36 PM
My favorite summer vacation was going back to England to see my mom's family a few months after she passed away. We spent some time in London doing all the touristy things and then took a train north to a small village near Sheffield where my aunt and uncle live. We spent time exploring the countryside and visited Chatsworth House (Pemberley in the newest Pride and Prejudice adaptation). It was fun to see where my mom grew up and seeing old photos of her.
Posted by: Beth Ibrahim | May 23, 2009 at 04:37 PM
What a beautiful and almost ethereal looking shawl! Hiking and camping in Glacier National Park with a big group of friends was my favorite summer vacation ever. Wildflowers, big horn sheep, fresh air, beautiful blue water... heaven on earth.
Posted by: Jodi | May 23, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Every summer my friends and I get dressed up in garb and go to the Renaissance Festival in KC. It is SOOOO much fun!
Posted by: Gina | May 23, 2009 at 04:51 PM
I just LOVE the color of that yarn!!
My favorite summer vacations were those spent
when I was very young on my grandparents'
farm.
Posted by: Shirlucky | May 23, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Love it! My favorite vacation is to Lake Superior and just sitting around by the lake for a week!
Posted by: Rebekah | May 23, 2009 at 04:54 PM
What a lovely design!
My favorite summer vacation is a toss up between going to Italy on a choir tour in 2005 (totally amazing!) and last year's week at the beach in San Diego with my family (my son's first experience with the ocean and soooooo much fun!).
Posted by: Kirsten Wolpert | May 23, 2009 at 05:04 PM
The shawl is lovely! My favorite summer vacation was a trip to the Greek Islands my husband and I took three years ago. Heavenly!
Posted by: Deb | May 23, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Gorgeous pattern! I'd love to knit that one. I think my favorite vacation recently found me spending lots of time down on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. So much fun!
Posted by: Diamond | May 23, 2009 at 05:14 PM
My most memorable summer vacation was a hike in Havasu Canyon. The shawl is beautiful!
Posted by: Barb | May 23, 2009 at 05:28 PM
I think I'm even more excited about this new pattern and Jeanne than I am about the contest. My summer knitting is all planned out, but I'm going to have to sneak both of these in.
Let's see, my favorite summer vacation... My realistic one is spending a long 4th of July weekend in Cape Cod. I go with friends and we spend the day sitting by the pool, going to the beach, browsing the cute stores downtown, knitting, reading, and cooking (only time all year I cook). It is so relaxing, even if I always come back looking like a tomato.
My dream summer vacation would be to spend several months touring Europe. I would try to find friends to stay with, so that I could experience the "real" Europe, not just the tourist attractions.
Posted by: Megan | May 23, 2009 at 05:28 PM
This shawl looks like it could float on air, it's lovely.
My favorite summer vacation is the 2 week backpacking trip we take every summer, in the Pasayten Wilderness. The best!
Posted by: molly | May 23, 2009 at 05:31 PM
Yet another fantastic pattern! Love how lightweight and airy this one looks.
My favorite summer vacation was a trip my family took when I was in highschool. My Dad is of Polish decent & had spent some time in Poland when he was in college, but the rest of us had never been. After a little prodding we talked him into taking us. We went to Krakow, Warsaw and Zakopane, which is a ski town during the winter. They were all so different & I loved them each in different ways. Krakow was beautiful in such an old way. I truly felt like I was in Eastern Europe there. Warsaw was much more cosmopolitan than I expected. I felt more like I was in Western Europe than in Poland. And in Zakopane it seemed almsot like we were in a Swiss Ski Town (except with Pizza Hut?). It was such an amazing experience to have the link back to our heritage.
Posted by: Christi | May 23, 2009 at 05:32 PM
The new pattern is gorgeous! My favorite vacation is any that have involved the beach!
Posted by: Carole | May 23, 2009 at 05:35 PM
Although they are all usually great, a memorable one would be the year my husband drove us through Chianti for two weeks. We only got lost one time (and our son's unerring sense of direction got us out of trouble) and the only big boo boo was when he drove into the center of San Gimignano (the part that is open to pedestrian traffic only!). This year is Sanibel, the last summer vaca before our son goes to college..big changes ahead.
Posted by: cathy | May 23, 2009 at 05:40 PM
My favorite vacation is a staycation. I live on the south shore of New York and the summers are prfevt right here. Of course I would love it if I could stay home and knit and sew and write and cook and bike and eat and walk---well not go to work. That would be a nice thing.
Posted by: martha Bilski | May 23, 2009 at 05:44 PM
Favorite summer vacation is summer at the beach with my husband and 3 sons. They are getting older (21, 20 and 13) so I know I don't have many of them left. Each one is a gift and a blessing.
Peace~
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn | May 23, 2009 at 05:44 PM