Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Then I Played the Concertina While She Interpretive-Danced to the Skye Boat Song.

Last night I dreamt that I met a woman at a conference, and befriended her. We went out for coffee a couple of times over the weekend we were there. She liked my kids. We had some really good conversations and during one of these I discovered she was a knitter. The day she left, she brought a box of yarn over for my daughter - the box was huge, like the size of a coffee table. She said she had this kit and wasn't going to knit it herself, so Charlotte could have it. I was astonished to see "Isle of Gress" on the box, and peered rather closely at my new friend.

It was Alice Starmore.

ALICE FREAKING STARMORE, and she LIKED me! She really liked me! I woke up feeling the press of happy tears, and I wouldn't have been a bit surprised to find my hair had all turned white.

True story.

9 comments:

Dave Hingsburger said...

Just so as you know, I think the book you wanted by Starmore ... ALICE STARMORE'S BOOK OF FAIR ISLE KNITTING is on ebay with a starting bid of just over 80 dollars. I think that's very cheap in that I've seen it on line for over 500 bucks. You might want to check it out. It might be a dream come true.

Ames said...

What's not to like?

knititch said...

yes what is not to like. today i collected a box of yarn from that exact place. my sister's yarn. and it contained 5 enormous samples of yarn for future projects. i love her. over on ravelry they call her a witch and all kinds of unfriendly things. it is amazing to me that women are like that. after all she is protecting her rights and hence making knitting outstanding instad of just letting it stay something for women to do instead of being idle.

Kristine said...

You're awesome.

Just sayin'.

Shan said...

Oh Dave, Dave....thank you so much...however the key word there is "starting bid". Six days from now I imagine it'll say something like "firstborn, with right of first refusal on all subsequent children".

And still I might consider it.

Shan said...

And knititch, you are so right. She is the only one, incomparable, and the supply is priced accordingly.

Anonymous said...

A knitting dream, with a knitting icon. Sweet!!

Susie Hewer said...

Just to make you a little jealous, I nabbed a copy of that book on eBay last year for £35, which then was about $70 (US ones that is, don't know the xrate for Canadian $). It's a great book and I am working my way through it enjoying every moment.

Shan said...

Aw, Susie, that's cruel.

Actually it's great for you but I heaved a heavy sigh.