And that, in a nutshell, is why I am listening to the “Essential Bruce Springsteen”.

Little known fact about Mama… I LOVE Bruce Springsteen. I know… there are others who love him more and better than I ever could.

But, alas, I love him.

I am from New Jersey. Like, really from New Jersey. I can use the “F-bomb” as an adjective, verb, and even a noun. I know what exit I live off of and what exit all of my family (that still reside there) live off of. I love bagels. I love pizza. I do believe it is not a joke that it is called the “Garden State” (state tree… Dogwood). I know every entrance in to the city and call it “Manhattan” (not New York. New York has 5 boroughs… not one.)
Bruce is our hometown hero. We know the in Asbury Park that he sings about. We find home and familiarity in the simple lines of a harmonica and a solo piano crooning through the speakers.

We all knew we were “Jersey Girls”. We love the boardwalk (Seaside, Point Pleasant, and Wildwood). We know that we are fast and sometimes blunt.

But, the thing is, there is no guessing where we stand. United on E Street. At the end of Thunder Road…..

I love Bruce because it reminds me of some very important guys in my life.

My dad. A Chevy Chevette. Trying to throw dimes (YES DIMES!) in the toll baskets on the Parkway out of the passenger side window, over the roof, hook-shot fashion. On the way to the beach… Island Beach State park… eating whole cherries and singing.

It reminds me to be happy, feel young, and live it up. My dad was always so happy hearing Bruce.

Bruce also reminds me of G-Tiddy, my big brother. The one I adored and annoyed my entire childhood. I remember the year we got our Bruce cassette box sets. I remember wanting to find connection to him through music. (I also remember, painfully, that I was too young to see the Born in the USA Tour in ‘85… he could because he was older. I was heartbroken.) I know most of my music because of him and my dad.

I think of them both… and where I come from. And what home and family is. There are times that it feels hard. I feel stressed. I am over committed (or should be committed!). I am ambitious…. but.. tonight… as I dye far to many skeins of yarn to count… I am from New Jersey, dammit.

Play my damn anthem. Because tonight my friends… this baby is Born to Run!

Stitches Recap:
We entered the Stitches Market promptly at 10am. The market was flooded with anticipation. Everyone had their list in hand (well… I had 1 thing to buy…)

Right about now is when the lady on the loudspeaker started announcing no pictures. I still think that is dumb…. and it should be left up to the vendor/designer.

And here is me not giving a shit about the lady on the loud speaker’s announcement. Laura is proudly buying C*EYE*BER Fiber Roving from Cloverhill. I needed to document the moment where my “girls” were first displayed at a major show/festival market.

The experience was almost solely a shopping trip. Which, was a little sad. I saw folks and hung out with the girls… but the fiber festivals feel more about community and connection than a retail experience. Don’t get me wrong. I walked straight up to a wall of STR and bought my pick with NO LINE and NO WAIT… but.. I made friends and connections on the FOLD line at Rhinebeck. We were all giddy with possibility.

I think the festivals bring the excitement and anticipation of the unknown. I rarely can buy the exact fibers/yarns from my list at a festival. I always find new and exciting fiber that is a local gem to fondle and pet. I want the surprise. I want the awesome find that you tell the girls about.

The camera thing really made me think that the folks there have no idea about the power of blogging and the way that a few photos can make a product’s popularity skyrocket.(ummm STR?) I mean, my little yarn project would have never gotten off the ground without all of you(and I really am grateful to you all!).

It would be extremely hard to capture a photo of a garment and copy the design. Whatever. It was another indicator that the market was designed for a different demographic of knitter.

All in all… I dropped some cash and bought some nice things. And renewed my IK subscription (thankyouverymuch!)
Here are the spoils:

2 skeins of Socks that Rock. Now… I took a little heat when I justified my STR purchases at Rhinebeck as “market research”. That was really just a cover for the fact that I have a very hard time buying a lot of sock yarn because of the cones and hanks all around my tiny house that trip and fall off shelves and are constantly in some place where they annoy my family. I wanted them because they are lovely. Enough said.

Ummm.. have I mentioned that I am a “HO for Handmaiden?”

The skein on the left is seasilk and the one on the right is pure silk. I love them.

One more skein of Brooks Farm ACERO to make a scarf to match my odessa. That is the only yarn I had on my list.

Check out the yardage. 17.00 for silk/superwash wool/ viscose. Nice.

After I left the market, the family and I headed up to NJ to spend some time with my family. This is Baby Bro #1… isn’t he so handsome?

Here he is teaching the cowboy how to play guitar. I think that this will be one of my favorite pictures for a long, long time.

Wanna see something new??

C*EYE*BER Fiber Silk.. mmmmmm.. yummy! What do you all think? It is 100% Tussah silk.

The Twisted Sisters Club has filled up so quickly. I can open up 3 more spots… email me if you are interested. Payment for the club secures your spot!

Thanks friends…. I am off to finish a dye session!