Happy Spring!!

Hello, darlings! It's been so long! I've missed you all so very much!! There are two ways to deal with reuniting with loved ones after a long absence. One can either go over each and every detail of each and every experience that one had during the absence, or one can pick up where one left off. I prefer the latter. So let's just top-line a couple of things that are important for you all to know, and then we'll go back to the crochet chat.

I dressed the Rockettes for their Christmas Spectacular in Rosemont, Illinois, for three weeks in December. It was an amazing experience! I've been back at the Lyric since mid-January, and that feels really good. The opera season is almost over, and then I'll teach summer arts camps in Evanston. My work life rocks!!

My mom had an aortic valve replacement two weeks ago. It was planned, it was well-executed, and she's recovering brilliantly. She also has a cow valve in her heart. Awesome!

The gallery owner and I are no longer. That's all I want to say about that.

Now I'm seeing a wonderful man to whom I refer as Habibi, which is Arabic for "my beloved". I learned that in belly dance class. Habibi is an actor who teaches speech and theatre at a high school on the south side of Chicago. He's got a beautiful spirit and he celebrates who I am, which is awesome. He's also really handsome!! Yay, me!!

Okay, that's the most important stuff that's happened in my life in the past few months. Now let's talk about yarn!

My friend Diana Berek posted a picture on my Facebook page of a crocheted knight helmet with a visor that raises and lowers. I had to make one! I realized I could decipher how to make this piece from the picture. I showed the picture to everyone, because it's such a cool piece! My friend Thom Gearig-Howe ordered one, and when my friend Matt Roben saw Thom's, he wanted one too. An aside: Matt Roben has a gigantic head! I had to put 25 extra stitches into each row of the hat to accommodate Matt's big brain. I'm just saying....

Here are some pictures of the adorable and large-brained Mr. Roben in his knight helmet.

The visor is attached with buttons -- I found these incredible brass ones with coats of arms on them at JoAnn Fabrics -- so that it's easy to move it up and down. And how tough does Matt look in this helmet?? I need to make one for Habibi, and then I need to make one for my Etsy page.

The Stitch 'n' Bitch at the Glenwood is going to start back up next Monday, April 1. 7:00-??.  Come join me! It's fun to drink and stitch!!

That's all the news for now, darlings! Don't forget -- peace, love and yarn!!