~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny at small things

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This has been a week to get tons done — I finished the Poems’ Weekend Getaway Cardigan. I was working on this free pattern as a shop-model for Dog House Yarns (someone has to knit those things …). With the left over yarn, I whipped up a tam (which is being blocked on a pizza pan held up by a dry-goods cannister … necessity is definitely the mother of invention!). This yarn, Poems Silk from Universal Yarn, is a luscious blend of wool and silk that knits up lovely. I really like the colorways … this one is “all the way”.

The smaller item to the left of the jacket is a cashmere, beaded necklace. When I do the Getting Cozy with Cashmere retreat in November, we’ll be working on an original beaded necklace and so I’m starting to play with different ideas, beads, and colors. What do you think of this one? You can see a closeup of the actual knitting and beads. Would you make it, wear it, give it as a gift? What colors would you like to see in a cashmere necklace or bracelet?

On the reading front: too many things to read, too little time. I’m prepping for my four classes up at Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival … so lots of my reading has been about knitting and fiber and tips and designing and basic knitting ideas and … well I think you get the message. I occasionally read just for fun, just finishing up the free e-book (on my Kindle) called The Rosary — what a great read about the real meaning of love! As far as read-alouds for the kids — not so good this time around. I think the kids are in such different places with their reading, that we have yet to find a good read-aloud for the family. I tried The Silmarillian, but it was hard getting going and the kids (and me, too) quickly lost interest. Today, we’re going to try Mistress Masham’s Repose by T.H. White which sounds like great fun (I’ve got his more famous, The Sword in the Stone, on standby just in case Mistress Masham doesn’t deliver!) Wish us luck — I love the read-alouds with the kids and am so sad we just can’t seem to rev ’em up this year. Any suggestions?

BTW, if you’ve got some time this weekend … and are anywhere near Berryville, VA … come on out for the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival. The weather is forecast to be goreous, the festival is wonderful family fun, and it’s only $5 for those 12 and older (so bring all the wee ones and see the fibers, take a class or just enjoy the surroundings!).