A place to spill over and tumble about eh?

5-6-08 Well all of the work got done, PTL what a challenge I had set for myself. Since seeing is believing, here are the 3 pair of socks and the lace shawl from last week.  These were handed off on Saturday... well all of them were.  We had a GRAND time meeting my people!  WHAT A BLAST we had.  Just before they came over I got the dinner all ready so that all I had to do was hit start 1 hour before we wanted to eat... this way there was very little socializing time lost.  I had to bind off the shawl while they were here and then I had to block it and that was the only time I could be with them but Kevin enjoyed their company and I went about it as fast as I could.  The shawl was much larger then the pattern which was just supposed to be a little shoulderette.  I did 13 pattern repeats (instead of 10) on this green one and still had plenty of yarn left over.  These skeins are a generous 450 yards.

4-27-08 WOW I just realized that I c/o this shawl on 4-23 which was last Wednesday, I just b/oed it today which is 4-27 which is only a matter of 5 days.  It would have been finished last night but I fell asleep.  I was all done in.  The three pairs of socks were also knit last week.  The Arnica has been out and on my shoulder. :-)  Thanks to Nancy reminding me that it works great on my bursitis and my hurt neck.  I hope to have a repeat performance this week with socks and another shawl.  These will be going to TNNA to show what can be done with sock yarn.  YUP one skein of sock yarn and I have a bit left over.  That last little bit that you wonder if it will make it around yet again and figure you don't want to chance it.  It's always more the I think it is.  As it is I went beyond the pattern in size.  It's supposed to just be a shoulder shawl but it's a good size.  I think I added an extra row to the border too... not sure at this point.

This past week I have been rolling a design for a baby ensemble.  Last night I got it all down on paper and I'm going to go for it.  This design features knit, crochet AND embroidery... possibly beading but that will all depend.  I'm excited to get to it but I have that green shawl and the three pair of socks. I really want to get them done before I start but you all know me with time and all.

Here's the purse I made.  I won this roving from a Yarn or a Tale a fiber shop that I frequent.  I spun it all up except for the violet locks.  Lovely eh?  I want to do a bit of colonial knot embroidery with floss in a bit of a lupine look in honor of the wild flowers here about.  This bag is larger then a clutch at 7 x 12 so it has a short handle made of the same roving.  I just love it.   The hand beading was essential. The last bag sold for $150 and I think I'd be willing to part with this one for a bit less if anyone is interested... just let me know.

   There's a photo around on the net which shows a canyon full of poppies and lupine, buttercups and a small white flower... it's our local hills.  We live in this lovely stuff. This is our front yard!  I wanted to take the children here so that we can see them growing up while our poppies multiply.  I did plant a red one but I guess the seeds were bad as only one came up.  I love my family.  My children are the best in the entire world!  Katie wouldn't agree.... but that's just one more reason why I love her so!!

 The poor children were used to 70 degree, clean and clear mountain air... they WILTED in the Los Angeles sunshine and temperatures.... approaching 98 - 100 degrees.  Needless to say, not even Disneyland could keep them there.  Especially without Mum and her wheel chair to have them not waiting in lines for hours in that miserable heat.  I was so happy when my family came home today.  :-)  I love my family so very much.

  Is this not lovely!  These are SOOOOOOO our colors.  These are part of the payment for the work I'm currently doing.  Katie's getting the one on the left and I the one on the right.  We love them a great deal.  You can tell that they are my colors as you can see a bit of my skirt under the one on the left!  LOL yup, teal and covered with flowers!  That's me.

Here's Katie with a big smile to show you here first all over lace shawl.  She's really pleased... I couldn't be happier for her.  This will hold her good through her entire life.  When she hurts,,, she can knit... for solace... memories of our good times... knitting and the Lord will pull her through all sorts of rough seas ahead.  So many things that life will throw at her... and she will find solace in the Lord and her knitting.  I'm so happy for her.

4-23-08  Another test knit for fee, good to get some income.  This is a shoulder shawl from a tone on tone yarn.  I should be able to whip this up in no time as this only took about 1 hour and there has been no frogs in my home during that time YEAH!

 I only just started this shawl but I had to share as it's quick and fun.

While Boopie doesn't like the process he really loves the cuddle afterwards.  Daily bathing is really important if he wants to sleep with us and sleep with us he must.  After a towel dry, he gets put into his Peace Fleece sweater I made for him.  I did it up in 3 ply PF which is 100% wool for warmth as he shivers so much you would think he was going to shake himself right off of the planet.

After the PF sweater he is then bundled into my woolen lapghan.  I love this afghan.  I made it from my hand spun and other yarns that I saved up for a bit from my Festivals.  Boopie's pretty happy with it too.  Of course all of this drying time is spent on my lap.  He's more and more like a baby daily... what with yesterday coming up with a diaper (diideedoo) to keep him from "marking" my home.  We do what we have to so that we can live in peace.

4-21-08

A belt, headband, a necklace a neck trim for a tee???

4-20-08  Well, I made 3 pair of socks last week!  Is that right?  No, can't be.  Lets count, the mens socks (test), the green and the cashmere... yup WOW WILD! I made three pair of socks last week!  HAHA Along with this.

This is my Tofutsie Tee Shirt!  The one I'm doing on the SWTC list (see below).  I love this fabric!  It's sooooooooo wonderful!  You can sort of see the shaping on the sleeve... yes, that's the sleeve,,, we are working left to right... those thin straps are the back and front seam under the arm... so it's the body working left to right.  I'm beading it,,, random beads up at the neck and center low on the sleeve.  I added my beaded picot trim that I dreamed up for my Ice Queen, I really like it on my Tee.  I changed the cast on numbers so that the tee fits me to a T.  HAHA   I have been working on a few design elements for my top. I'm going to have a cut flap at the side seam at the bottom... I will be having the back longer. Adding darts to the front for shaping and I have the same treatment at the sleeve edge going in at the waist bottom. Then for the neck,,,, I have soooooo many different ideas. One is for a peter pan collar... another is for a crocheted beaded one.... another is the same treatment that the sleeve got... another is to take o rings and cover them in single crochets... then hook them all together to for this weird shape,,, triangle sort of with dripping beads! I really love that one. I saw some French Market place run way things... they were all trampy but the endings,,, edgings were all wierd, wild and wonderful! Right UP MY ALLEY! So I'm going to get ending creative. My top is so totally me already.

I c/o 70 for the body, front and then back and I'm about 1" in! This has been great fun. I figure with the darts that the front will raise and as it's 4" below my waist at 70 I'm good to go.  Do join me.

4-15-09  I have had a really full week and it's past time for an update.  This is the Bamboo Gold Heatwave test knit that I have had for far too long.  I LOVE this top.  It's unbelievably soft and nummy.

 Totally blue belly!  Can you believe the color in this lizard?  They are great and I love them for bug patrol, the children like to catch them and measure their growth each year.

Cisco is the newest addition to the family.  He's my dog.  All my life I have wanted a lap dog and he's more then I bargained for.  We traded our AKC Pembroke Welch Corgi for my ex-show dog and I love him so very much already.  I have only had him for a 2 days, in that time he's had 2 baths, multiple combings, bones for de-placking (is that a word?) and de-matting's... he was a show dog a long time ago... as well as has had to learn to eat kibble,,, poor baby!  One of the baths was a shower... but if he MUST sleep in my bed then he will learn to like the daily showers.  He's wonderful.... we all love him a ton.  Today I knit him up a thick wool after bath, poor dear shivers for an hour.  He will get used to it though I'm sure.  I use my shampoo and this wonderful, thick hair conditioner on him as his hair doesn't shed but matt's up quickly.  This herbal conditioner makes my hair totally tangle free,,, his too.  :-)  I have an after bath detangler for dogs as well.  He's well cared for now.  He doesn't mind all the ministering too terrible much and it's been a good thing for me... with all my illnesses all I can manage is to sit and knit... so to lavish love on him isn't too hard.  I will steek his towel/sweater and get that ready for tomorrow's shower.

Here's a Coco shot for you.  He was showing off for the local equine and DH got this of him in full gallop.

 A current Fur Ball... just seconds before he was a ball in the sink.... a favorite spot for him.

Our lovely DD, the Three Musketeers!

This!!!!!!!!!! UGH! This is my Mystic Lights shawl, complete through Clue 2.5... I finished Clue 3 today.  It goes through the green and into the light blue again now.  Clue 4 comes out tomorrow, and I'm READY!  I'm sooooooo ready for it this time.  :-)  I had NO idea I would be able to keep up and am SHOCKED!!! that I can.  I really thought I wouldn't be able to do it after ripping and ripping through Clue 1 but here I am.  TADA!!!  I'm so happy to have this done.  I'm so encouraged and think I might just make it through the only -- two more to go.!!!!  YEAH  PTL as I really didn't think I could do this and only set out to try.  I LOVE the way it's going.  So I have signed up for the Slow Bee this summer.  Why not!

DH was made Regional something or other,,, coordinator?  For Clan Donald of late.  When we attended the local Bakersfield games this year,,, we were hounded for photos!  I was so surprised as this hasn't happened to us in the past.  DD really attracted attention too, a gal took 100's of her.  This came from Bakersfield Life I believe?  A local magazine.  There were so very many who stopped us that I couldn't keep them straight.

This couple attracted MY attention!  Aren't they adorable?

 I said I suppose you get this all the time but you two are so stinking cute,,, could I have your photo please?  HAHA they looked at one another and said that... well, we have never been called,,, stinking before but you are welcome to it. :-)  HAHA  TOO CUTE!  Her bodice,,, black velvet with tiny green flowers embroidered all over it... LOVELY!  She was an angel and he was a ARGH VIKING! HAHA  LOVED IT

  This is a child sweater that I got done last week,,, well ok, no photo, it's a test knit.  When it's published I can share that.  Got the yarn in on Friday and shipped it out the following Friday!  YUP I'm fast!  At the same time I worked on these socks... I am sooooooo fast!  I can't show you them though, shhhhhhhh they are a secret test knit too.

 Sparkey was sooooooo sad that I had a new baby to love on... his eye's tell the story better then can I.  Poor dear hasn't been replaced,,, it will take a few more days for it to sink in... he went from being the boss and top Alpha dog... to second in command... size DOES NOT matter.  Cisco is 1/2 his weight.

 My new spring skirt... I now LIVE in this skirt.  It's made from 50/50 cotton/poly and so doesn't wrinkle up terribly.  It's so much fun too,,, I love it.  I live in tiered skirts,,, as does DD, we both love them.

  DH got a load of D & G in for the drive way and his boss came over with his tractor.  This man is so very sweet and wonderful with children.  He actually taught the children how to drive the tractor and now they can say they had a hand in the driveway fix to all their friends.

Well, what a week eh?  It's been packed but I have one more thing to share.  I met a gal at the Scottish Festival, she and I hit it off real well.  She came over today, we knit, talked and had a half (crackers, cheese and apples as opposed to pot pies) tea.  It was great, we all loved out time and she's slatted for two weeks or so from now.  We are all going to join the Bobbin Lace Guild up here... or at least visit them and see if we would like to join.  She told me she's always wanted to try it and every time I see them in the local newspaper I think, I sure would like to sit in with them.  Well, she's always wanted too,,, I have always wanted too.... we like each other enough that she's coming back!  HAHA so why not, eh?  What fun we will have.  She and I are so alike it's frightening.  We had a blast and the time just FLEW by!  Before you know it FIVE HOURS were GONE!  I still can't believe it.  I can't wait to see her again.  LOL she said she was old enough to be my mother,,, funny how she's so much more out there and fit and all then I.  She would have had to have had me when she was 17,,, possible... but I don't think of her as anything other then my own age.  She's a blast... her name is Bev so when you hear me talk of her in the future you will know of whom I speak.

4-9-08 TOFU!!! LOVE IT

             863                864                  856                      722               853            

This is my choice for my top.  I have a ton of 6/0 glass beads and I'm doing a picot beaded c/o too!  What fun this has been choosing colors and just loving my Tofu.

4-3-08  ANOTHER GREAT DAY!

I have been going great guns over here… no time to turn around.

Been approached by a small yarn company, they want me to spin some yarn for them possibly for them to wholesale.  They have mailed me a bit of fiber to spin and send back to show them what I do.

Other then that here's what all I have going... perhaps if I write it down it will feel more real.

3 pair of socks for money by end of May.  It's nice to work for yarn but better to work for funds as we all need them.

1 sweater for money next week,,, child sized, in the round so I should be able to finish it in a week this one is for cash too.

Another 2 pair of socks for yarn trade,,, much rather have the cash but their PRODUCTS!!!! drooolllllllling!  DD is doing one of these.  Her first test knit.

Atop all of that SWTC contacted me and they want me to lead a KAL!

 Here's the top,,, modeled by the lovely owner of SWTC, Jonelle... I LOVE this woman.  She's wonderful... in person and through the e-mails,,, I just love her.  She's got alot of energy and is just a delight to speak to.

I’m one busy chicka.   The Knit A Long for this top is at Yahoo Groups… If you are registered there you can just send a blank e-mail to  SWTCInc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .  Reply to the message that Yahoo will send to you for confirmation of your subscription.

We should all go over there and make the top! The more the merrier!  What fun it will be, do all sign up.  I think I'm going to bead the top front of mine.  If it can be beaded I will bead it.   

OHHH then I have a possible no contract yet… adult sized sweater for don’t know how much,,, they are making the yarn yet. If I get it,,,, it will be given to me 5-20 and be due 6-20 for cash though.

On top of it all I have been doing the Mystic Lights KAL and learning soooo much about lace knitting.  At the same time LOVING lace knitting.  WOW this pattern is just smashing.  I'm so glad that I slipped in at the last minute and did this one.

I have been suffering from Finishitupitis of late as well.  Is that suffering?  LOL I don't think so!  I finished turning a halter top into a tank top.  Finished a lace scarf that I made from some yarn from a secret pal swap.  She sent me the pattern which is free on the net.  It's the Orca lace scarf.

Finished a pair of socks as well as the first of two socks for my DD.  

I made two bags for soap out of a pattern from my head.  Those work GREAT!  I did them in hemp and crocheted them.  They are closed with a satin ribbon.  These work so well.  I just roll the soap inside of the bag and tons of lather pops through... then the hemp works as a great exfoliator... not to rough,,, just right.  I even was able to use it on my face.  These could work well in wool too,,, a super wash!

Kiddies the Lords been raining His blessings on me and I thank Him heartily for them.

;-)

3-31-08 WHAT A GREAT DAY!  Not a good day, a GREAT day!  I used to hate and despise Mondays but this was a grand day.  I was so content even though I was ripping out my Mystic Lights shawl for what the 6th time?  Sitting in my rocking chair surrounded by my loving children... listening to old radio shows on my I Pod over the speakers.  We had already cleaned the house really well, I had been on the treadmill for 2.5 hours and had showered.  We were waiting friends and we were all in such high spirits.  I had listened to Jane Austen's letters that I had downloaded from Librivox.org earlier.  They are a fun listen.

 I looked at my DD and was oh so content.  I couldn't contain myself for even one more minute and I just erupted with joy!  Spilling over and onto every one.  I crawled up the length of my DD and told her how much I loved her.  I guess her dog was threatened by me as he decided to nip me on the nose!  Silly boy!  He was smacked by his girl and his mum.  Then he was so penitent!  I guess I waked him and he didn't know what side was up.  So he licked us both and then laid over us and he slept.  DD held me and I slept!  It was so peaceful and lovely I just can't express it in mear words alone.  Occasionally I would crawl up from the depths of sleep to find I was still in her arms sleeping safely and all was right in the world.

Our friends came over and we all had such a wonderful time.  We haven't been with them for 10 months but it was as if we didn't miss even one day.  We both have children the same ages and so this is a wonderful, fullfilling time for us all.  Their mother and I sat in the living room and chatted for many hours... getting in so much deeper then either of us had ever dreamed we would.  Neither of us had come together thinking for even one second that we would unburden our hearts as we did!  It's lovely to have such a friend as she.  I so enjoy her company.  So many of her issues are mine, the world is really so very small.  She's a lovely girl who attends our church and we are kindred spirits, to go for such a long time without speaking only to fall right into our relationship without missing a beat.  That's friendship for you.

When my beloved came home he was bearing many parcels from the mail.  What a fun day it's been!  To end like that was such fun.  The best part of that is that only one of the parcels did I dole out funds for!  All of them were freebies, gifts and winnings.

Since a picture is worth 1,000 words I will save a few of mine.  Above is a photo of the winnings from a fiber contest.  I send a photo in to a place where I like to shop for my roving and every month there is a drawing.  The photo is of an item which I make from her rovings that I have spun.  Last month I won on my green purse that I ended up selling.  I had requested the colors green, purple and blue of course!  So I have that on the left.  The right are some lovely, soft and nummy dyed locks.  They are so soft.  I'm sure that all of this will go into a new felted purse for me to replace the one that sold.  DH is taking the brown socks as they are just his size.

This is the item I paid for.  This is less then $60 in sock yarn!  I found this site last week due to Ravelry, thank you Ravelry!  Normally 60 would get me no more then enough for 3 pair of socks! Here there is enough for EIGHT!  Now that my children are turning out socks as fast as I am I had to have more yarn.

 This past weeks test socks are finished.  These are the ones that I finished the first one in 24 HOURS!  I still can hardly believe it but I made the first one in such a short time.  WILD!

This yarn is part of the payment for the purse that I sold.  She ended up giving me $120 and the yarn to make it up to $150.  I love this yarn.  It's old but still in excellent condition.  It's space dyed silk.  I shall be whipping them into my 5 day tops.  I find that I love the silk for tops very well and live in the two that I currently have.  I keep seeing roses... don't you?

One thing that I didn't take a photo of is the other free thing that came in today's mail.  BMFA made a mistake on my order.  They told me that they would be sending me a replacement skein of STR due to the mistake.  So I sold the mistake and got in the free one today.  It's PERFECT!  I love it and it will work perfectly in exactly the right way.  It's the black, gray and white that I needed to make my chicken socks for my barred rock named Lacy.  So far I have her, the rooster and the aracania.  I have to purchase them slowly as they are $19 for each skein.  Also I want to knit a few of them up to see how I like them.  I'm planning on designing the socks as to the personality of the different chickens and making a matching stuffed amigarumi (sp) tiny chicken to go along with them.  I can then wear my chickens and play with them too!

Ok, so how does the Lord end the perfect day?  With a JOB!  I tell you when it rains it pours and I so love today!  I asked just this am if there was work from the test knit job that pays me money and sure enough I came to see my messages tonight and there's a job for a sweater!  Something I can probably crank out in a week.  I couldn't be more pleased I tell ya!  It's been a wonderful day and I'm praising the Lord for it.  He has been very good to us.  Very good indeed.  I don't deserve this magnificent treatment and I certainly don't expect things to come up so wonderful.  HAHA you are all probably saying what's she making such a big deal about!  No, I'm perfectly content and happy with my lot in life.  Life is good and I will dwell here.

3-28-08

We went to Newton's Spring Fling today and WOW! He's my 4$ man.  I bought some GREAT, high quality, cheap yarn! Cashmere, rayons, sock yarns, chenille, all lovely and CHEAP! We got out of there with 3 tall kitchen garbage bags full of yarn for only 150! I'm so pleased to have all of this cashmere and cone after cone of rayon and chenille! You should see this one chenille cone is about 10 pounds HUGE! RAYON and fine elastic thread for the top of my socks LOVELY GOODIES!   (photo's to come.)

I had so much fun! We walked through this one door and up popped a gal who said, "I'm your enabler!" HAHA we hugged! She then said to everyone we met, "She's the Sock Queen".  That's Goddess! If it weren't for Nancy from Custom Handweavers I wouldn't have been able to get such good deals as she told me to come on down. She's a lovely person and I would love to sit and talk with her for a good long time.  I asked her for work and she immediately put me in touch with a man who wants me to spin for him. How's that for action!

Then there was a little, tiny Chinese woman who stole my 11 y/0 DD away and took her round to everyone... saying she's my little grand baby!  HAHA It could have happened! I know, my 23 y/o has brown skin so I REALLY know.  Anyway, she made me promise to do the fashion show at the next one with all of the children sporting their wares. We all knit and we all wear our knits which is why she was showing my child around to all of the teachers. I had on my silk top and my Kauni, beaded shawl. It's the dark colors, navy, purple and black. I love that shawl and get so many compliments on it every time I wear it.

This week,,, just for fun and as a challenge I made a sock... what's new about that? Start to finish in 24 HOURS!!!!  A full sized ladies sock with a pattern!  I will post a photo as soon as I finish the second, I'm at the toe and I will block it and get it up here.

DD now has a test knitting job too!  She's so very pleased to be able to do what she loves and earn some yarn for it.

3-19-08 Here are the socks I made this week.  They are the Sock Bug pattern for River Rapid Socks made in my very first Socks that Rock (STR)... boy do they ever!  These are in the lightweight and they worked up so very fast... I can't believe how fast they went.  I did the legs in a size 2 and the foot in a size 1.  They feel GREAT on me.  I will be getting on more STR asap but first I have the two test knit socks to do and I want to finish up my homespun.  YUP I did a sock in homespun!  It was so fine that I had to use the size 0's on it and I had to c/o 70 something stitches.  So I double plied it and it was still finer/thiner then the STR!  So I figure I have a winner.  I have nylon to add into my handspun in a deep teal or I can add it by using a Wooly Nylon spool.  I have many colors.  The world just split open for me when I came to find that I really could make socks from my homespun.  So many people said not to bother even trying.  I listened to them.  Why? I do not know - as normally I would have tried much sooner.  I'm sooooooooooo happy to report that this is the only way to fly.

This is the STR

Here's my handspun... it needs to be blocked.  Those cables are my seaweed and you can't see the fishys.  You can't see it in the photo but the seaweed starts skinny gets wide at the ankle and then gets skinny again at the toe.  Don't you love the yarn!  It's a stretched merino and it's the softest stuff on the planet! I soooooo love this yarn.  I plied it last night.  The sock above is on the single ply.  I can't wait to try on the double ply!

Laurie, it was nice talking with you.  Here's a coat I designed from recycled silk.  I used the really soft yarn on the sleeves.  I'm thinking that would look great done up in my 5 day top.  Those tops can be done with any neckline, placket, ties, buttons, I just haven't had the time to make one up yet.

3-17-08 Happy St. Patty's day to you all.

I have published a poem called Stash.

STASH

It started innocently.

And somehow’s taken complete control.

Never just say no, rather more,,, more…

Always seeking, duplicating, combining, aquiring, more and more but then……

When the dust settled, the parcels ceased, shopping carts empty.

Like a dreamer I shook off the sleep.

The funds gone, the house mortgaged.

The purchasing was complete……

SABLE achieved!!!!

It's a contest for what?  more yarn of course!  LOL

At Katies 11th birthday she was very pleased to receive a hand spun hand crocheted and felted tam made by her loving brother... who was pretty overwhelmed by her happiness.

These are the gloves I made for her with matching covering.

This is the lace weight yarn I dyed 3 times to get to this shade.  I love it.  I will be making Fiddlesticks Peacock shawl from it.

Couldn't waste all of that dying time so here are some trims which I dyed.  Silk hankie and silk long tie.  That floral trim used to be brown and tan,,, I had NO use for it for these many years of toting it around and I bet I find I use for it here shortly.

This was the very last of the dye.  I love the browns that came through on this yarn.  It's very tonal and has loads of character.  It will be great fun working with this yarn.  There's about 1000 yards of worsted weight, butter soft yarn here, plenty for a sweater.

 These were supposed to be for a sock monkey but I loved them so much that I might have to add some of these trims to them and actually wear them instead.  DH (love that man!) bought me a sack of exercise socks so that I can use up my old ones for sock monkeys.  So there are more monkeys to come.  There are two monkeys so far, this black one and a pink one that Katie obsconded.  These were supposed to be for me but Shane stole the black one so I really have to work up a few more.  We have it down to a quick assembly line and they are just churned out very quickly.

3-11-08 This has been part of our lives of late... sock monkey's!  They are faster then crochet and come out better looking in my opinion.

This one might get some clothing today... not sure what the day will hold.  Currently she's working on my Moonlight Sonata shawl.

3-10-08 Well this has been a good thing.  The Lord always makes me see the good in everything, for that I'm very grateful.   They were my babies... well I'm going to immortalize my most beloved of them all!  I have been designing chickens and socks!  I'm making a pair of socks and a tiny chicken for each of them.  

STR has that Raven line which is PERFECT for my beloved rooster!  Totally and completely perfect.  Since he had these long lovely feathers I will be designing a feather pattern.  Lacy was my barred rock so I need a black and white yarn and then I want to make a very lacy pattern for hers.  Phillis Diller, AKA Top Hat was various browns and needs bobbles or something. :-)  The Aracania's will either be done in the yarn of same name or in a varigated brown and teal/blue green as that's the colors of their feathers and eggs.  Then there's the little red hens... the Rhode Island reds... glossy reds/browns will be needed for them.

And so goes the design process.  I'm going to have alot of fun with these babies.  What fun!  No, the tiny chickens will not give me eggs but they will comfort me and help me to adjust to life without the darling real ones.  The Lord always knows best and I'm sure He knew what He was doing when He did this too.

3-7-08 It's been a bit of a sad day for me today.  I have had to say good by my lovely little chickens.  I can't take care of them and everyone else is tired of it so CoopDeVille just left and the people will be here to take the birds shortly.  I raised some of these girls from the egg.  Lovely rooster always so protective of his "girls".  Cluck cluck clucking to show them where the best food is.  Very protective of his "girls" on the ready to protect, defend and comfort them all of the time.

Perhaps it was unwise to name them but I thought they would be with me until they died of natural causes.  This is Top Hat on the right is the proud Rooster.

In the center is Lacy the barred rock.  She's been with us through thick and thin... through three moves.  I really thought she'd be with us for many more.  CoopDeVille was a building like the one you see in the background photo below.

The buff colored chicken below I actually brought back to life.  She had biten the hot wire in our old home and was laying there dead.  I shook her like crazy and prayed and screamed at her to come back and back she came... good little girl.  The brown colors birds here are Aracana's which lay the blue/green colored eggs.  Lacy lays a large pinkish egg and the other all lay brown eggs.  The colors they are supposed to be.

I just have to tell you this story.  One day back when we first got the chickens and still lived in Bear Valley... back when I was healthy and cleaned the co op every day.  I remember going into their coop and just sitting down on a tote.  

Before too long I was very serene and happy,,, watching them pick around and strut back and forth.  I had raised this batch that we had purchased from a local feed store, they were my first and my special project.

I was a city girl born and bred, transplanted so I really knew nothing about livestock.  The girls were all settling in for the night, doing what all chickens do.  I had started to hum without realizing it, looking back I distinctly remember loud sighing of contentment and humming.  It was so peaceful that I just never wanted to leave.  There was a smell of pine shavings in the air, it was late evening and the chickens were settling in.

 Well, one climbed up onto my lap, another and before you know it I was COVERED in chickens!  One even landed on my head!  I think it might have been Lacy, Oh how I love the girls.  I will miss them so.

When I got the news that the chickens were going today I had been cruising along working on this.

In it's past life it was a pair of DS jeans.  Now it's a knitting bag.

Complete with 6 pockets, one of which is perfect to hold sock needles.  I will make a few zippered, co-ordinating bags to go inside of it as well.  There would have been alot more trim on it but I lost heart with that phone call and so I'm just glad to have a functioning bag.

Here's a little tote bag with matching needle case.

I found these great dragons in my zipper bag (yes even though I didn't use them I have a BAG FULL of them! LOL) and I thought that the blue satin would look great and I was right.  This is a nice sock bag.  I zig zagged all of the edges down so that the satin wont become an unravelly mess in there.  It closes with a satin cording drawstring from both sides so it makes a very nice fast, secure closure.  I covered the back of the dragons netting with lining so that it can't snag either.  This bag will hold my socks on their new Knit Picks size 0 circular needles!  LOL  That black,,, has been sewn up for at least 20 years!  I will be adding the deep red crushed velvet behind it to the top and making another drawstring closure on that.   I HAVE GOT to make a bag from the red velvet next and I have this PERFECT red lining that I just uncovered right now.   I will probably line it with satin or some sort of slickery fabric,  ahhhhhhh here's the fabric!  HAHA I have to show you what a mess I have made!

 Took me all of five minutes to make this mess!  It will sit here until I'm through with my bag spree.  

  

These are miniature pillows for a doll house or collector.  I have made them from thread as you can see.  The pink one if from cotton thread which I hand dyed.  The flower petals are actually raised off of the surface of the pillow.  The others are from various mediums including rayon for the lime one.  The smallest is only 1"!!!!  I love making them, the teal is lined in satin and all are filled with wool batts (I believe it's wool).  The pink will be lined and made into a coin purse soon.

  

Pink cotton thread, same as #10 crochet cotton.  Purple and blue colorway.  

3-6-08 Today I cast on "P-P-P-Putting on the Glitz!" Which is what I'm calling this sweater which I have been purchasing lots of fun yarns for.  I have Mango Moon silks, chenilles, rayon slub which drapes divinely.  There is Bianoti ladder yarns, cones of glitter yarns, I don't think I will use much of that,,, pretty sure I'm not using the gold.  I added one row of the blue and you can't see it too well which is what I like.

I probably have enough yarn for 10 sweaters.  Who know's how many items I will end up making.  The sweaters coming along really fast.  The purple glitter cone will go into the dark ribbon ladder yarn there by the top... well not that exact row, it's finished... I mean the next time I do that particular yarn I will add the purple cone to one row.

This is what the fabric looks like.  Fun eh?  I just love this look.  I got the idea from a gal who's at all of the fiber festivals.  She's wonderful.  Unfortunately her site doesn't have anything on it other then a way to get in touch with her.  She's TootsieP wearwere.  She's the cutest little ball of lighting and I just love going to the shows and talking with her.  She sells a lot of the yarns you need but she's got to make a living and I couldn't afford her pricing so I did my own kit up.  I bought alot of the yarns I needed from the 4$ man... see the Stitches West post below.  The fabric is soft, drapy and just lovely.   I'm thinking that I need a cardigan and a skirt for sure. :-)  Who know's where I will go beyond that.  Time and the Lord will out.

3-5-08 Today has been very productive.  Not only do I have the fingerless gloves in the cashmere but I now have a matching neck ascot/jabot thingy who's name is ,.,...?

It's made from the ruffle tape to match the gloves.  With two little rosettes dangling from it.  It's a key hole type of neck scarf and the ruffles are packed in there.  I added a little praying hands as it just was screaming for them.

This is my basic blouse pattern with a nipped in waist, added length in the back and neck, it's a PERFECT fit and I LOVE this top.  I will live in this one and many more to come made from this same type of raw silk tubing as well as cotton.  I plan on making many more of these.  This yarn came from a barter for services I did when I knit for a small yarn company.  I really love their fibers and yarns.  Their color's are so me.

3-4-08 I thought to post a few of the current projects.  Some that aren't shown here are 2 more socks, my aran coat, 2 blouses-one is a test knit, 2 scarves, my monkey and a few other odds and ends that are stuffed away and I'm not working on those.

One's I am actively working on are here:

The black is a set of cashmere and ruffles fingerless gloves.  I wear gloves any place that I might have to shake someone's hands as I don't want any virus.  We are rarely sick, between the kefir and the steps taken to avoid germs we do pretty good.  

The pink is my new lace shawl... Moonlight Sonata a KAL at my Icelandic Lace Yahoo Group.  I got a good start on it today.  The bobbin I'm spinning, I haven't decided exactly what to do with it... I'm mulling over a sock... plying with Wooly Nylon and testing a sock out of that.  Perhaps an Entralac would be a good start eh?

Socks that Rock skein under the fiber will become my toe up sock or at least that's what I slated it for... we will see.  

The deep blue/violet and green at the top right is my Jaywalkers.  Yes, I'm making the Jaywalker... you have to remember I only started to knit about 9 months ago now.  :-)

This is my own unvention

I just love these, we all do and I might loose them to DD.  They are made from Lion Brand 100% cashmere and oh my are they ever comfortable.  I randomly added cables and purl ridges as I felt like it.  The ruffles are the Lion Brand insta ruffles.  I just love that stuff!  DH bought it for me in the black and the tweedy black and white.  I'm making these, a scarf and toying with a purse... time and the Lord will out.  Not sure about the purse as I'm thinking it might pull and snag and not look well for very long.  I really like these fingerless gloves though and will be wearing them to church most likely next Sunday.

3-3-08 While my recovery has been lengthy and slow I can still say with utter confidence that it was so totally worth it.  I have very fond memories of Stitches.   My purchases are all still where I left them in their see through tote boxes ready for projects.  While they sit I have been busy finishing up my test knitting and a small project that I was able to work on from the roving I bought there.   

From 1-30 through 3-1 this was on my needles.  It has become my constant companion and I am loath to ship it off... but ship it must.  Today it is drying, so for today it is mine.

Beside it drying, is this lovely undergarment I knit this week from some roving that I purchased at Stitches.  It was my first experience with merino/tencel and I couldn't wait to cast on.  This was a very fast project and I will enjoy wearing it.  The roving is from Creatively Dyed.  She's new to dying but makes lovely, color fast yarn and fiber.  These photo's came out a bit green around the gills, not sure what that's all about.

Currently on the wheel is a lovely deep lushious fiber.  It's stretched merino and this is my first exposure to it as well.  

Well I shouldn't say currently as currently DD is spinning up some teal fiber I dyed up last year.  She's just learning to spin and has really taken to it as she took to knitting.  I'm very happy for her.  So this bobbin isn't on the wheel.  The fiber was a barter for services I did for my test knitting.  This came from a small yarn company who's colors are out of this world.  The names of everything are from the 60's and this is Commune in the Happy Hippie fiber.  LOVE IT!  It spins like a dream.  I only have a Kiwi and I'm not supposed to be able to spin lace.  This is as close to it as I can get.  In the single it's 29 WPI... which means plied it will be more like 15 which isn't as fine as I would like but perhaps the Lord will help me to purchase another wheel in time which will allow me to spin fine lace fiber.

2-25-08 WOW Stitches West is over.  I'm so happy and sad at the same time.  It was incredible and if you get the chance to go to an XRX event I highly encourage it.  My only complaint is cameras aren't allowed so I couldn't show you all that I experienced.  I understand that the vendors didn't want you photographing their wares to duplicate buuuuuuuuuuttt I didn't get photo's of my friends.

I have to tell you all... I'm still exhausted from Stitches West but WOW I got to met Joe and Jonelle and Kat from SWTC!!!!!!  I LOVE them all, they are all wonderful, sweet and I so wish we were neighbors as I just love Jonelle and feel like we could be great friends. I'm sad that we couldn't spend the night and go to dinner or breakfast or stay up as long as we could knitting and chatting or something.

We had to go straight away back home though. DH is a real trouper... we spent a full 9 hours on the road in one day... walked the Convention Center for seven hours and it still wasn't enough for me. It was wonderful! Anyone who's gets a chance to get to a XRX,,, make the trip.

On the drive there... lovely eh?

We also met Vicki Howell who's adorable and so very sweet! AND SOOOOOO skinny, and loaded with freckles. Lucy Neatby who... poor dear was loosing her voice from all of the teaching but was just so kind and lovely. And also skinny! It's so true that the camera adds 10 pounds. She talked me into two more DVD's even though I told myself I wouldn't purchase any... they were only 20 BUCKS!!!! How could I pass them up! AND she gave me something I can slip into my CD case,,, a booklet listing of ALL her CD's with an index! How cool is that.  She taught me to knit so I wanted to support her more.

Everyone insisted that DD enter socks into the XRX sock design contest, I'm afraid this proud momma had her showing off her knee socks to everyone.  Joe even gave Katie some insider tips! Jonelle doll,,, Kate says she might want to do a Tofu! I have two huge totes (tole you I was a junkie!!!) full for her to choose from. She will definitely enter into the 18 and under category.

OHHHHHHH I have to tell you all,,, Jonelle had TINKERBELLE on her jeans!!!! I LOVE Tink! I want to be like her when I grow up, I want her figure (even though she thinks her hips are too wide) and I want to fly. :-) I have all things Tink and if there had been time a 10" Tink would have been added to the back of my felted bag. :-)

We caused a flood of talking as we walked by, people would point and jabber.  We all wore our handspun sweaters, heavily beaded shawls (see Chale below) and coverings.  One lady came up to me and asked me if I would make her one!  It's the heavily beaded, lace perry covering that she was ogling.  I encouraged her to make her own.  I just followed the outline of the lace pattern as I placed the beads.

It was great, before the show opened Jonelle came out with a ladder, climbed the ladder and had huge cards for everyone to read.  Had the entire floor screaming for Tofutsies and samples!  When she climbed down I grabbed her, told her who I was and we fell into each others arms.  It was weird cause after she left everyone stared at us!  We have been writing to each other for a few months here now as I have been working for them.  It was great to met her face to face and yes, she's just as wonderful as you think she is.

So, the first place I ran too after the doors were open was the Ravelry booth for our passports  Then of course I had to hit Blue Moon Fiber Arts for Sock that Rock.   

Are these not to DYE FOR!  From left to right is the mill ends on the far right,,, last three are light weights.  I LOVE these sock yarns.  I'm thinking that the mill ends might just be a nice shawl though.  YUM

I didn't have any so I really wanted to get some.  I needed to see them in person in order to see which one I needed.  I ended up realizing that I needed their light weight.  So I got 2 skeins of it then went up to pay and found MILL ENDS!!!! for half price!  Needless to say I lightened their load considerably!  I bought enough to make a shawl from!!!! in this gorgeous deep teal.  Might be my peacock shawl. NUMMY, also got a emerald to lime green that's just to die for.  The ladies were wonderful and we came back by at the end of the day to see them again and to see that their stock was just decimated!  There was nothing left!

You can see Vicki autographed my bag!  The Karaoke was from Carolina Homespun and it was 35% off!  So I got it all.  The Wildfoote was only $5.50!!!!!!   The teal and yellow and light blue on the bottom right are silk nummies from Red Fish.  Right next to them is the Claudia Handpainted sock yarn.  Up top middle is the merino/tencel roving.  Just by Vicki's bag is a small sample of Malabrigo!  YUM.  You can't see it so well but on the far left is a cord twister that I got for like $5.00!!!  What great buys there were!

Second booth I had to get to fast was having 50% off of everything.  I got some Karaoke there.  She's closing out her yarns as she's going more into the hand dying.  I purchases 3 merino/tencel hanks (photo above top center) for spinning as well as a sock yarn from her.  Lovely stuff.  Creatively Dyed I believe is the name.  She's just wonderful... I ran up and hugged her.  Told her, you don't know me but I just love you!  She's a trouper and rolled with it.  I met her through Ravelry and she said that the Rav's were just wonderful to her and that she'd gotten such a lot of support from everyone that she was quiet overwhelmed.

After that the children ran round and got the FOUR passport books stamped, punched and stickered up.  Probably wont win anything but we all enjoyed doing it.  We entered many drawings too.

 This is what I call the 4 dollar man.  His stuff is all $4.00 per skein!!!!!!!  Needless to say we hit him hard every time we find him.  I have been collecting the colors on the right for a sweater and have plenty now for probably a sweater and a skirt!  The center colors are for DD's sweater and on the left... CASHMERE!!!!!!  60% cashmere 40% merino... it's lovely.  It was one thing that I really wanted to buy while here but I had no idea it would be only $8.00 a skein!  That thing bottom center was given out if you listened to a speech about the product.  It's a hamster ball thing that fits into a vinyl pouch so that your yarn doesn't get dirty.  The item is a pen with a metal tape measure!

Aren't the colors wonderful?  See my words are just not enough, you need photo's.  This ribbon yarn will be made into skirts or vest we aren't sure but we will be matching.

I affectionately called this the mosh pit!  There was a huge area on the back of this one booth that had a huge pit the length of the booth.  In it were all of these bagged yarns.  We all wanted to jump into it!!!!  Another booth had one set up too!!! They were all SEVENTY PERCENT OFF of the price that was marked!  The two in the front will be great in Katie's sweater.  The one top left is for my glitzy sweater and the purple is a tube,,, I had hoped it was a ribbon but it will find it's place in the world.

At one point we had to leave the market floor and when I went to get my hand stamped the man took my hand, looked me in the eye and said something like where have you been?  Where do you live?  I totally freaked out as it's been many years since a man has hit on me.  I needed to find DH immediately after I quietly extricated myself from his grasp!  There was another weird man thing too.  DH was again away from me.  Just DD and myself were standing by the water fountain waiting for the two boys.  Well, a man passed by and turned his head and continued to stare at me!  He smiled real big and said hi!  HAHA I just said hi back and shook my head.  I don't get it, evidently they did.... but I was missing something, MY HUSBAND and his protection!  LOL so after those two I didn't leave his side.  They were back to back.  Katie my 10 y/o wasn't kept from it either!  We were showing everyone her knee highs that she made as she made 4 socks from M-F of last week.  So this one man grabbed her leg and said it feels even better then it looks!  Poor dear turned 9 shades of red and I grabbed her and we fled the booth.  Again, DH wasn't with us!  Learned we really need our Daddy with us in a big way.

The drive home was so scary for me.  It was very late, poring down rain for most of the way.  I didn't want DH to have any further distractions and I NEEDED to knit as I was fretting.  I didn't want the children to know so I didn't verbalize anything.  I picked up my Kureyon stockinette sock that I had been doing at lunch.  I knit a full 3 color changes by the time we got home and I only lost ONE stitch which I easily picked back up.  I was shocked to see how much I got done but like I said,,, I was fretting!  LOL  These socks are a lot of fun and I can't wait to wash them as I hear they soften and bloom... which I'm anxious to see.

Shane and Katie came home and some how picked up the spinning!  Perhaps via osmosis from being around so many wonderfully talented people there?  I had them at the wheel before but they needed to see someone else doing it I guess as they picked it up again when we got home and they are both rapidly spinning through all of the dark brown alpaca we have!  I'm happy for them that they caught the spinning bug too.

So after all of that excitement I come home and my Secret Sisters package has been received!  YEAH!

Here are the before and after photo's.  I requested the book by Aunt Pearl as I have wanted to read it since I first heard of her.  The Noro's in SOOOOOO MY COLORS!!!!  That ribbon,,, it's holding the stitch markers I will need to make my scarf!  She sent me two patterns just in case I didn't like one.  I will be making the Orca scarf from this yarn.  I also received an order I had placed for the light up knitting needles which I will use to make my shawl.  It's all still sitting by my chair, it was waiting for me to finish up the Quant that I started on the way up to the show.

Here it is finished.  I made it from Silk Garden.  Not a very flattering photo!  I don't like taking pictures but you can see the Quant well enough.  I love it.  Front and center it has blues and purples... then the other side it goes back to the green and blues.  I made the I-cord on my Knit Embellish cording machine.  A bit of a cheat.

Speaking of cheating... there was a gal there who was showing off her sock knitting machine!  She gave the children a turn at the crank.  Oh we had such fun there.  I so didn't want to leave and only hope that next year we can stay over and that I can take a class... while DH takes the children to Frisco and over the bridge.  :-)

VERY tired and still not enough words to describe and do justice to what I went through but you get the gist of it all? What a great time. Still dreaming in full color of all the yarns,,,, color explosion!   Ahhhh there's always next year.  ;-)

2-22-08 The bag collection of yarn lovies is collecting by the door to the car!  WHOPPPPPPEEEEEE!!  I'm so excited, we are all excited to be going to Stitches tomorrow.  Bags full of yarn, patterns and needles.  LOL DD is wandering around clapping and saying tomorrow, tomorrow.  HAHA We don't get out much.  LOL  I just told the tile man that we have only the one car and he said that doesn't bother you? I told him I love that my hubby, he's our protector and he takes me shopping and I am well cared for.  Also have that medical condition which keeps me pretty much house bound.  But it's all good.  More time with the children, training them up in the way that they should go.  Today they learned how to spin.  The roving kept breaking on them but a little here and a little there, they will pick it up eventually.

So, here's Katie's socks all finished.  This is the work of one week, not even a week, FIVE DAYS!  She's just incredible.

 The top two are the ones she made in the last five days.  The rest are my laundry from this week.  :-)

2-21-08  The Chale is finished!  Totally Wendyized but DONE.  Bestest word in the world aside from LOVE! :-) Happy Camper!  

Doesn't look too much like the pattern but then most of my work does not.  I don't like patterns, unless I write them.  The original shawl doesn't have beading and is a triangle without the scallops.    You can't see the beads from far away but when you get up close you can see why this thing weighs in at half a pound!  It's 66 tip to tip x 30 neck down the back.  It's probably the smallest size I will ever do but some times you want small and lovely.  LOVE I DO!  I love this little baby.  AHHHHHHH  I didn't want the jumping action in the rolled up towel and so it's a bit wet.  I don't mind as it's got two days to dry and I will post a fan to it.  I didn't want to break the glass beads.

WOW DH needs to use the red eye reduction!  LOL These are the yarns I will be taking to the Festival... well not the rainbow as I found out that the repeat is too short for Quant.  I will be using a Noro Silk Garden in violet, teal and emerald,,, all my favorite colors... and it will match the socks, center and left in my hands.  Those knee socks of DD's... she only started on them yesterday and she's got that much done on the second.  Actually more since this is the next day when I'm writing.  She's so fast.  Good too.  After crawling all over my shawl and helping me to pin it, guess who wants to make a shawl next!  DS has his socks.  I'm so very proud of him.  He doesn't make much but when he gets to work he really makes quality stuff.  His stitches are fine and even.  He's since this photo... gotten the heal flap worked.  Then too will need more yarn to take on our 9 hour tour! :-)  I sure hope DH can stay awake for the return trip home.

My hair is always loose as DH takes these photo's at night and I get on the treadmill daily so it's still drying,,, just in case any one questioned.

2-20-08 DD is still cranking them out. She's working on a pair of knee hi's and has one already finished! She's wild.

The ones on the left are for a friend.  The purple are mine of course.  I didn't realize how much I love purple but I sure do now.  I have a lot of purple socks!

 All of this sock knitting has inspired my DS to get to work and while he's much slower,,, his stitches are lovely, nice and small. Poor DD is on size 0!!! and still her gauge is looser then she'd like. I just tell her to keep practicing and enjoy the process. Which she totally does. You should hear the big sighs that come from her place on the couch! Too cute.

Stitches West count down... just 2 more days and we are THERE. I'm so there already... drooling over the market floor layout, staking out the booths that I want to hit and the order they are coming up in. HAHA I'm a mess.

I have been suffering from Finishitupitis and have very few items OTN so I have to collect more. I am doing the cast off row on my shawl. I have invented a new cast off for it, no surprise there as this baby has slowly turned into something totally different from what it was in the pattern. It's a great heavily beaded cast off using a crochet hook. I really should write it down. Then I finished the four socks that I had OTN so I'm really feeling odd... like I don't have anything to work on which is so not true.

Today I'm collecting patterns, needles and yarns for my 8.5 hours in the car,,, possibly more (I asked DH if we could spend the night) this weekend. So far I have Lorna's Lace in sport weight, rainbow color way for:

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/PATTquant.html  (copy and paste)

I have the new Noro Kureyon sock yarn which BTW,,, this stuff should wash up nice and soft, I have a lot of yarns which are itchy and not real sweet to work with that wash up fantastic. The colors are purple, teal, royal, rust, just lovely #S40.

http://www.magknits.com/Sept05/patterns/jaywalker.htm (copy and paste)

I would also like to take my Adirondak Soxie or Silkie... they are both just to DYE for! LOL of course purple and emeralds and golden just lovely both. Silkie is called Kenya very appropriately. It's merino superwash, silk and nylon. I don't know what pattern to make up with them and they are so knock out that I'm thinking they might just have to be stockinette. I do need some mindless knitting for inside of the Festival. HUM........

I have my Ice Queen in rainbow but the car is not a good place to open up a beading container in. It's dangerous enough to have needles in hand. :-)

Those are all such small items. I'm going to take my Aran coat along which will keep my knees warm. I do have a test knitting blouse that can come along as well. Yup, I think that's enough to keep anyone happily knitting along. Even if I come up at loose ends with a few of them... not having the correct needle or such and so... I will be able to move along to the next project. Or if I get tired of working on one... which happens too frequently.

So, we are all very happily knitting here today. If you have any suggestions on the Soxie or Silkie,,, for a pattern, LMK.

2-18-08  My DD has gone wild!  I have to give a bit of background.  She's been knitting for about 6 months now.  She tried a sock about 3 months into knitting and didn't like the DPN's.  I finished the second sock.  Well, yesterday she picked up the DPN's at 3pm and put them down at 10PM with A COMPLETED SOCK!!!!!  Granted she's got small feet and has a loose stitch and only needed 45 c/o but still!!!!!  

So then this morning she comes to me asking which one I liked best:

Spring Brook

  Sparkling in the sunlight

  Rolling over the rocks

  Beautiful and clear.

Spring Flowers

  A beautiful picture

  All orange, blue and purple

  All so vibrant, over the hills.

We live in the place with all of the wild flowers,,, you have seen the photo's of our local mountains in Yahoo Groups and at other places on the net.  The orange is the California Poppy and the purple is the Lupine I can't remember what the blue is.  I couldn't choose.  If you can, please write me at wmdress@sbcglobal.net and tell me which you think is best.

This is the test knitting that I sent off last week.  It's swatches of every color of the 18 yarn colors in this one line of 50/50 silk and merino.  It's a lovely bulky weight yarn and I enjoyed doing them.  I have placed my order to use up my "pay" (it's barter) and should be receiving 1 skein of a yarn that makes a boa in two different colors.  9 skeins of a bright vibrant teal in silk that I will make my 5 day top from.  Then the rest is coming in a teal, violet and lime roving of stretched merino.  I can't wait for my goodies to come!  Rest assured that I will be giving you photo's of my nummies when they get here.

So this past weekend we went to the Scotish Festival and DH became the Convener for So. Cal. Oceanside NW district of Clan Donald.  DS wants to start a Clan Donald Knits pod cast.  He keeps talking about what we would do on it!  LOL I don't think anyone would listen!  :-)

This Festival was held at the Queen Mary which my Grandfather lent a hand in building.

Katie waits all year to get in on the dance.  This is the Highland Country dance troupe.  They dance for fun, not competition.  I must say I prefer the men's formal dress over the informal seen here.  The formal attire includes a black tux type coat with silver buttons atop all of the rest, kilt, sporan etc.

This is an old photo with a fat me but it's the only one that I have that shows us all dressed... Kim is peeking out behind the wall tapestry you can see her to the left of Shane's head.  Kim is my eldest sons girl friend of half a million years!  JUST MARRY HER!

2-8-08

This is the bag that Katie made in the last 24 hours she's unbelievable!  I spun the yarn from a some roving that came in from Leah at a Yarn or a Tale.  Katie wanted to work cables and wanted a bag she could take to Stitches West.  She lined it in flannel backed satin and put two pockets inside.  Then she whipped on two of those round handles to complete it.

This is the polypay fiber I got in this week, again from Leah's.  I have made it into a worsted weight yarn and am making a bag for Stitches also.  Mine will be felted though.  I need to either dye some dark purple or find some in my massive stash.  I'm doing this from my pea brains, no pattern.  I wanted to felt for the first time so this is why I'm doing this project.  Funny, Katie wanted to make a bag cause she wanted to work on cables, I did cause I wanted to felt!  :-)  Great minds and all that rott.  So Sharon,,, this is what we do and where we do it when listening to She Knits pod casts.  This is our knitting circle.  I have long thought that people who can't get out to their knitting circle... should raise their children to be their knitting circles.  So I'm still working on my DS.  He has made a couple of hats for Christmas gifts and every now and again will pick up a project I have laying around but he's just not hooked like Kate and I are.

Here's my lace in Feb.  Wrapped in Tradition from Wrapped in Lace.  I love my chart holder from Knit Picks this thing is GREAT!  I highly recommend them.

2-6-08 What a weird day.  I guess my days will be different eh?  I just sort of crawled from bed to my rocking chair and tea cart... stayed there until I got on the treadmill and now I'm in here.  Some great, lovely nice pod casters enabled me BIG time and I got sucked into the vortex of unending yarn madness. Other then that it's been all quiet here.  The first half of the day I spent in lace making... I now have 9 of the 20 points done on the poncho... I really need to get you a photo of that thing cause seeing's believing.  I CAN READ A CHART! wow what a totally grand thing.  Unfortunately seeing the photo is not feeling the product!  This baby alpaca from Knit Picks is just awesome.  Light and lovely.  the second half of the day I spent on the test knit scarves... I knit till I ran out of yarn and have to wait till the package gets here to finish those up and get them back into the mail to them.  DONE what a great word!  I love that word.  

Evening

Just wanted to pop in and LYK that the children are feeding beads onto my newest Ice Queen!!!! I GET TO CAST ON whooohooooooooo!

I'm just a tad bit pleased that I finally get to c/o this one as the first one I ran out of yarn and I can't wear it out of the house. A lovely knit but waaaa... so I have this grand rainbow mohair I got and the beads are all colors of the rainbow too... course I OD'ed on the beads again!  I'm putting on way more then the pattern calls for but I like it.  It's got a lot of other me versions to it as well.  

I LOVE beaded knits. I love the way that they feel. Their weightiness is so lovely to me.

So we are all gathered round the treadmill as we are listening to Allistar Begg and the treads got the speakers in the bedroom where we were already gathering for tea. AHHHH what a lovely afternoon and evening it's been.

A not fun thing I had to do was to tell the gal who I was doing the scarf for that there's no way I can make it.  I was a wreak over it, never really got the pattern well enough to not make too many mistakes.  It was really dragging me down and the stress was killing me.  Not good for someone who's got FMS.  So I feel better that is off of my plate.  I sure hope she give me other work though.  I feel like I don't deserve it and will be over joyed if she does.

2-4-08

This is Katie's sweater.  She's using my Kauni EQ and a design that I made for her.  She's only 10, I can just imagine what she will be doing at 20!  I'm so happy for her.  The solid red on the right is her steeking place so you can see a full repeat there... well,,, not the full repeat up but part of it over anyway.   DD loves to work on this,,, she will go ahhhhhhhh after a bit and smile.  Very contented, my baby!  

Sorry I couldn't give you more of the design as it might go up for publication and so I can't show it all to you.  There's a lot more.  I just wanted to show you what she's doing.  I can't believe how wonderful of a knitter she is.  There are so many things she will just pick up and I think... 4th generation knitter,,, that's got to be it!  Must be in the genes.  LOL

2-3-08

OOOOOOOOOOO kiddies………. I LOVE LACE!!!!!!!

Well, I’m making two projects. This one has to be in the mail on 2-11 and I only have about 8” done #334 Susan Undulating Waves Scarf.  The large lace is Wrapped in Tradition and this is the one that I LOVE to knit on. I just fall into it with such sighs of contentment you wouldn't believe. LOL

After working a pattern for a time… I get into a rhythm. I have NEVER been able to read a chart really well. I have done it but have always fallen back onto the written directions. This is why I love test knitting. It makes me REACH. It makes me do things I wouldn't bother with. Then I have to make it perfect so I LEARN which I love. I want to learn something every day until I’m buried 6 foot down. If not a learning day it’s not a good day.

So, I’m working on the lace poncho with the baby alpaca that Knit Picks sells. This stuff is sooooooooo nummy! It’s making a fabric which is light, lofty, airy, beautiful a delicate masterpiece! From my needles. It’s like magic. It’s the finest, softest thing I've ever felt. This yarn has this silky feel to it, perhaps that’s the alpaca? I don't, I just know that it’s much smother then wool.

It goes from this soft nummy, peppermint yarn into this thing that I just well,,, I’m not going to want to part with it. The only thing to save it is that it’s not a shawl… rather it’s a poncho. HAHA I don't wear them and that’s the only thing to save it. I LOVE THIS THING!

The overwhelming, incredible feeling when you get to the end of yet another row and it comes out perfect,,, yet again… is indescribable! Course that first night, second night,,, I wasn't happy but through perseverance… I’m learning so much! Not only can I read the chart but I can READ MY KNITTING! WOW what a blast of like power or something! I’m not sure what I’m going through but you folks who have been there done that probably could explain this better then I. I’m totally thrown. I feel like I have to make lace now. I don't just “want” to I HAVE TO!

I want to SCREAM every time I get to the end of the row and it’s perfect… but at midnight I think my family would lynch me…. at least tar and feather me.

OH GET THIS! I did wake up screaming late last night! LOL I can't remember why but DH was shaking me and YES I can too scream in my sleep! It was a bad nightmare is all I can remember.

Anyway, instead of screaming about lace I just smile my peaceful snuggly self continuing to make perfect rows. Course… right when you think you have it… you DON'T! And you really need that life line and you are really happy that people taught you to place them every now and again.

OH and another thing. I ordered that lace chart the neat folding one from Knit Picks. http://www.knitpicks.com/Chart%20Keeper_AD80314.html  I just love this! It has long flat magnets to mark your spot and it folds closed so that your place is really safe and it can't move about. I can't wait till it get’s here. It shipped 1-29 so hopefully it will be here this week. If you go to order it tell them Wendy sent you. It will be fun to see how many people get it from here.

Sigh, it’s a good thing I have learned to love lace as I have a CASE full of cones of lace weight and fingering weight yarn… no make that TWO CASES! YUP I went a little NUTS! Ok, crazy, deranged you get the picture. In the short 6 months or so that I have been purchasing yarns… yes pause I have reached SABLE! Does that mean I’m no longer purchasing yarn? Not on your life. I just placed my Knit Picks order for this week which included 6 skeins of sock yarn and those leather soles so that I can make my family my version of the UG’s. :-) DH has a hole in the back of his. So,,, yesterday too… LOL I am working on an order with a gal for a few more CASES of yarn. I’m a mess. BUT since I quit working this and the Stitches West money is the very last of it. When that’s gone, t-t-t-t-that’s all folks.

The only bad thing about the two lace projects I have going… they are both test knits and both have to be mailed out! It’s a bummer as I just LOVE the baby alpaca yarn in the poncho. Well, no I wouldn't wear a poncho. Well, I will just have to make something for me when I’m finished. I had NO idea I would REALLY be able to make stuff like this. I will have to take a photo for you all.

2-1-08

What Your Favorite Color Blue Says About You:

Emotional --- Affected --- Sensitive Peaceful --- Tranquil --- Connected Spiritual --- Experimental --- Deep

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

Today I will be researching bead placement for the Undulating Waves so that I can make some headway there.  I thought I had 12 days but with the 12th being a Holiday I have to mail this no later then the 7th which means I have SEVEN days to finish this scarf.  OUCH!  924 beads.

1-31-08

Today was the day of the "tea".  Would anyone like a spot?

Tink is already there are  the Musk Ox and Lambie.

Told you we were going to re-arrange the room!  BIG TIME LOL

This is wonderful!  We will come round here daily.  We have great reads which we are working on one of which is a very old copy of Copperfield.

You can see Katie's 2-color on the left in the purple bag.  That sock... it's a perfect fit.  I have been working on the mate when I have time.  The ones together in the center in the round box... those are for a friend.  My first attempt at magic loop.  See the red netting?  That was recycled from cherry tomatoes... they hold a skein of yarn snuggly and wonderfully with no loose ends, no mess from beginning to the end.

See the miter shawl?  I just started the 4th square up the center.  Kelley, you need this shawl!  It's soooo you and not at all me.  See the lace,,, it's there on the footstool on the right.  Then of course the ever increasing aran coat.  YUM... my fav.  No matter how much trouble it will give me it will always be my baby.  Still looking for the perfect wooden buttons for it.

Finally we settled down for tea, toast and a chat.  Today was a pot of Goddess and Jasmine that I purchased from china town a coon's age ago.  We love it.  Course with all of these projects I still had to start another one!  At least I finished it too.  :-)  finishing is good.

I joke that I can make a bigger mess then anyone I know... FASTER!  LOL here's my mess... yup... not the children's, MINE!  I had to pull my Karaoke out of the skein as I wanted to start the colors at the same place.  I made a hot water bottle cover during tea today.  I got to use my Christmas present from Sam (thanks honey)... ergonomic crochet hooks!  I just really need my hot water bottle and it smells so yucko and the feels even worse.  Now it feel like soy silk and wool... NUMMY.  Free pattern to follow.

Wendys Crocheted Hot Water Bottle Cover

2 skeins (50 grams) Karaoke or your favorite WW yarn

K crochet hook

Holding 2 strands, chain 14.  Make sure this is as long as your water bottle is wide.  You are making this from the bottom up in one piece.  DC in the ch next to the hook and in each along the chain... putting 5 DC's in the end chain.  Keep going around and down the other side with DC's.  When you come to the end put 5 DC's in that last space, join.  You now have an oval shape, make sure it covers the bottom of the water bottle,,, I always "try" as I go.  That way there are no surprises, I highly encourage you to adopt this method.  Chain 3 as a DC... 1 DC in each space around, join.  Keep repeating this until you are almost out of yarn and are at the top of the water bottle.  Then make the eyelet for the top by * 2 DC in the next 2 DC's ch 1 skip one space and repeat around.  Join.  Weave in the end.  I used hot spit join (below) instead of weaving in any ends as I had alot making sure that both skeins were giving me the same color of yarn at the same time.  If your bag is too big you can always felt it (if you used wool) if it's too small you can always stretch it.  I used a lovely satin ribbon for a tie.  ENJOY!

1-30-08

What's up with that!?!!!

Today I started the Wrapped in Tradition lace poncho from the book Wrapped in Lace.  It starts with the wide bottom border making a long strip into a circle.  Well, I did the crochet provisional c/o and tried and tried.  Must have ripped about 10 times.  Finally fell into a deep sleep. Slept for like 2 hours and then when I woke it was still wrong.  Ripped it all out and started again.

GET THIS! It came out right up to the 7th row when I had to rip it all out again. I was beginning to think that it was the pattern... until I got it right up to 7... now I know it's me. The first few times it was because I was doing the return (yes there's knitting on BOTH sides of this one!!!!) row from right to left like row 1! DUH can you say DUH! Left to right is correct. I really needed that sleep! I only got like 4 hours last night as I was up working my aran which I come to say is a mess and that Celtic cable has to be ripped yet again!

So, I don't know what's wrong with me but it needs to stop. I probably just need a good full nights sleep. Or a few full days and nights. I'm going to stop trying to work late into the night.

The thing that gets me is how is it that some times you just can't do hard work and some times it just floods off of the needles?  I knew I needed to set it down and later in the evening I was able to work on it with my family in the room.  I got half way through the repeat!  Further then I had ever been.  I tinked back the last two rows and then took it to bed with me.  I worked until about 12:30 and then called it a night.  I got so much done though.  Isn't it wild that some times it just comes out perfect and then at others you just have to put it down and walk away.  Come back to it fresh and it's like DUH!  I find it fascinating the way that works.

Remember way back to very infantile days when you would right a number on the page of a book and tell your friend to go follow the numbers?  You kept writing numbers and when they got to the page there was another number?  They followed it until at the end there was a secret message.  :-)  I always did this in pencil as I have loved books for as long as I could remember.

Well follow me and have a bit of fun with me.

 I LOVE the yarn on that http://brookenelson.com/leafscarfpattern.html Brooks leaf scarf! It's soooooooooooo gorgeous. That is sooo me. I love the purple, blue and green colorways in all shades and types. Mixed together they are even better. I'm in a co op for yarn. That is one color way I'm having specially dyed up for me. It's not something she carries... but her colors are very basic as she's very cheap. I believe it's a 400 yards WW skein, hand dyed for like 6.00!!! Unheard of pricing for handyed. http://www.100purewool.com/servlet/StoreFront this is where you can see the yarns.

GIRLs I have been missing the boat!!!! http://www.mountaincolors.com/Pages/colors1.html

WOW this is the yarn that she used. I LOVE it and have NEVER heard of it. Totally missing the boat on this one. OHHH Wintery Sky Mystic, Lake, Meadow, Larkspur, Alpine... oh YUMMMY!!!!!

WHOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

http://www.discountyarnsale.com/pd_mountain.cfm

HOLY TOLEDO!

http://cgi.ebay.com/HUGE-Lot-Mountain-Colors-Handpainted-Wool-Yarn-19-lbs_W0QQitemZ280196117178QQihZ018QQcategoryZ36599QQcmdZViewItem

WOW 19 POUNDS OF IT! Look at those great colors.

Stash enhancement in the ULTIMATE... in the OVERBOARD,,, in the HIGHEST! You know what this means to someone who doesn't work for a living for money don't you? It means that I will have to ask them if I can work for them... which means I'm in TROUBLE with a total capital T!

You can find my list to the left of all my current test knitting projects.  I will have to do a list of all of the other OTN's that are personal knitting.  It's ever so much longer.  I don't have some of these yarns yet so most of these are even started.  They assure me that they are in the mail though.  I should have the 2nd items yarns today.   I will update the list to the left as things change.

(said this before I made the column on the left!!!!!!)

 HUM I wonder if I should put it to the left over there in that empty place.  What an idea.  I'm getting better at this techo geek stuff. :-)  HAHA IT WORKED!  what fun.

After looking at the list you can see why it's going to be almost impossible to add Mountain Colors on top of all of that.  BUT I did!!!  :-) What a challenge!  To knit Undulating Waves beaded scarf in just a few short days.... and some really long nights!

1-29-08

Today I jumped out of bed and screamed this is the first day of the rest of my life!  The children thought I'd lost it.  Mom's gone OVER the edge!  HAHA  Even the dogs and cats got into the action.  It was so much fun.

 I am a bit at loose ends though.  I will be receiving yarn from all over this week for my test knitting but currently have only one here... which doesn't have a due date.  So I found myself sort of going from one thing to another and not really settling into "one" anything.  Strange.

Last night DH leaned over me, I was in alot of pain and frowning I'm sure.  He smiled, looked me in the eyes and kissed me.  I looked at him, still frowning but less.  He tried again.  I gave him a fake smile.  Again he tried.  I finally melted and smiled back, sincerely. SO, third times really is the charm for me.  

1-28-08

I'm exhausted!

The gift boxes took alot out of me.  Here they all are... some need address labels and postage yet but for the most of them,,, they are ready to ship.  Happy me.  I'm tuckered plum out and I think I will go to bed for some rejuicing.  We started at 9am and now it's 2pm.  What a drainer but my cupboards are bare!  I have empty shoe boxes just waiting for me to have the get up and go to reorganize everything into quilt fabric and lovely wool and other yarns. YUM

Late Evening

rinsed these to mute color c/o Moonlight Sonata

Here's the pink I dyed for my next lace weight shawl.  I love the top two.  I was wanting more of the cream and not quite so much of the pink so I might even take some of it out with an uncolorer thingy.  What is that thing called?  Anyway, I bought it once, works great at taking out the color, Rit dye puts it out.  I'm thinking of just putting it on in strips... to get more of a cream/pink.  I'm not very good at dying yet as you can tell or I would have nailed this one.  How simple can you get?  I mean it was only one color right... still couldn't get it right.  Practice. Perhaps next time I will get closer to the mark.

Evening

Ok, I'm officially over the top in love with yarn.  This is from a group buy of Pure Wool.  I love this yarn it's like butter... soft and wonderful.  This is my favorite colorway of all time... Poisen.  I already have a top out of it and this is going to become a sweater.  I thought I had the pattern all nailed down until I started to talk about it and realized I didn't like what I had concocted.  Stay tuned.

What an incredible week!   

Did away with my old site.  Then I start getting jobs without lifting a finger!

List of current test knitting

 Got the yarn in 1-30 and finally was able to c/o this one is due back on 3-15.  It's a lovely lace poncho that I'm just learning a ton over.  I'm making sure it's perfect as I want everything I do to be as perfect as this human can possibly make it.  I know only God is perfect but these items are not for lil ole me who doesn't have such high standards.  I'm hoping that the perfectionism for test knitting will rub off into my own personal knitting.

Next, this is 54 swatches, from 18 yarns, textured with a black chenille outline.  Still no yarn as of 1-31.  Lovely hand painted yarns for pay though looking forward to that.

Then a lovely scarf with almost 1000 beads in a really expensive yarn due back to them 2-12 as of 1-31 I still don't have the yarn for that!!  This is really lovely yarns though and I will love picking out my "pay" for this job.  I'm a bit concerned about the turn around though.  I asked them to overnight it and it's on the slow boat to China I think.

1-8 I c/o a bamboo shirt for another company and that's more laid back.  I do that for mindless knitting, it's a great take along project too.  I can also do it on the treadmill so I get alot of that done each day.

My aran is calling to me... can you hear it... it's very muffled and quiet... you have to be still in order to hear it... shhhh....

Wendy... come out and plllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!.

Be right there sweetheart.  

Stay tuned, who know's what next week will hold.  PTL