End Rant...Let's start fresh, eh?

Okay, I think I have successfully exercised the bad freecycle voodoo out of my system enough that I can snap back and move on...to this. It is the beginning of Tater's Cardi by Marie Grace Smith and is a free pattern on The Garter Belt site.

I had put aside this Plymouth Stone Cotton in bright red for something for my niece and considered a few patterns finally settling on this one. I'm hoping she'll wear it for the upcoming holidays and for knock around days when my sister dresses her in her little jeans with the tartan-colored trim at the cuffs.

I am hoping to have this done by the end of the week and also settle on what yarn to use to make Fantine, a French Girl pattern that I purchased from Yarntopia (you know, Amylovie's and Sheryl's great LYS in TX). I want to make three in total. Me, mom (I'm thinking alpaca), and my sister.

I have to put the finishing touches on my nephew's scarf from last year. Yes, bad aunt had a few finishing issues last year so he'll get it this year. He'll get a matching hat and maybe a rolled neck sweater if I can find a semi bulky pattern that can go rather quickly. I may also knit my niece a hat and scarf set also.

Yes, I am nuts. But two of the little ones that I knit for are moving to Dallas from PA. Do they really need scarves? Maybe some Knitpicks Crayon (cotton) scarves would be better. I'll have to ask and then ship after they get settled in TX. The other, other little ones I knit for live in FL. I'm cursed with warm weather friends. Good thing I live in a cold, damp, 8-months-a year snow belt and can appreciate a warmer weather vacation every now and then ;)

I do complain about the weather, but look where I drove around all day on Wednesday...I'll be doing more lake hoping with a friend this wednesday, weather permitting. I will find my little slice of heaven yet. I'll post more progress on Tater tomorrow.

The Not-So-Warm-and-Fuzzy of Freecycle

I have been on freecycle for months hoping someone would post this very type of computer desk, an armoire style that closes into a cabinet. So yesterday, there it was and only 10 miles from me. I emailed my interest and the owner sent me the dimensions and seemed like all was set. I sent her one final email telling her when I'd be there. I get home and there is an email saying is has been taken. TAKEN! So, I basically have to call back 3 friends who set aside time to help me with this (the owner knew this) and I gave my other desk away this morning to make room. What is wrong with people??? So, here I sit with my computer sprawled on my kitchen table because I no longer have a desk.

/rant

Baby Bolero and booties - FO

I've been back home for a while, but busy with other things to post about knitting. This will be a short post and this weekend is designated to cleaning and reorganising. I'll have more soon.

I'll borrow an FO post format from Laura, so here goes:

Pattern: Baby Bolero from One Skein
Yarn Specs: Mission Falls 1834 Cotton in Maize #209, 100% Cotton, 85yds, 50g skein - I used about 1.5 skeins. Machine Wash & Tumble Dry on Low.
Gauge: I was just off, but the recipient baby is already 2 months old and and growing like a weed. So, I was not ultra concerned about the gauge being a hair off.
Needles: Addi Turbo circs US8 and US9 various lengths. Bamboo was too grabby and made my hands ache.
Size: Only one size given for the pattern and I followed it. Should fit 0-3mos.
Model: Top of my washer.
Things I learned: How to pick up stitches, how to seam properly from Theresa via her wonderful instructions on Knitty. (scroll to the bottom to see all the tutorials)
Comment: Okay, you can laugh. This was challenging and frustrating because I fumbled and had to wait for a friend or two to give me the nod that I was doing it correctly. Such a tiny thing was taking FOREVER. Sheesh! But it got done and I have another in the works but this time I want to do the sleeves in the round. Overall, it came out rather cute and not too terrible for a first sweater-type item. Nothing very wonky, but perhaps that's because the nubby quality of the yarn can hide a multitude of sins. The next will be a non-knubby type yarn.

Pattern: Dreambaby Booties - free online pattern from Fabulous Yarns.
Yarn Specs: Same as above.
Gauge: 3-4 stitches per in in garter.
Needles: Clover bamboo circs US 7 - grabby was good here.
Size: 0-9 months
Model: Same washer.
Things I learned: Having faith that this was actually going to successfully form a bootie. But it did!
Comments: I modified the pattern slightly, by accident really. So, on the 2nd one I tried to follow the original oops and, well, you guessed it, opps again only slightly differently. My solution? Knit a 3rd and match a pair that was the same (stop snickering, Beannie). It was frustrating but I had to laugh at myself *snort*. I will get around to knitting a 4th in the hopes of making a match to the now orphan. One day, I promise.

Be back after...

...the Thanksgiving holiday!

Enjoy your and remember to knit :)

Figures it would end this way...

No knitting to show for today but I will post it once it is blocked and lovely. Promise. For now I'll leave you with the Amazing Death Predictor that I saw on Kathy's blog. It will go like this:

At age 75 a group of children will text message you continuously for three years, eventually distracting you while driving and causing a fatal wreck; your fatal wreck.

...I'm cancelling my cell phone so they can't get through! :P

When I was more specific with my info, I got this:

At age 77 you will start sleeping more and more. After six months of this you will be sleeping 19 hours a day. By month seven, you do not wake up anymore. You cease breathing during month nine.

I was amused so I continued to hit PREDICT! and got:

At age 46 a large monkey will beat you to death, using the antiquated art of fisticuffs.

Don't get any ideas, Ms. Rodent. I know how your mind works.

At age 91 you will die from wounds delivered by a blender after trying to make your sixteenth magarita of the day. (And it's on 3:00pm, shame on you!)

At age 45 a tiger will maul you. Don't ask why, but you will be in a Burmese jungle.

So I'm thinking Burma is off the vacation list.

At age 57 you will die while partaking in a particularly intense meditation session.

Well, they say everything in moderate, right?

Almost there...

So, I have attempted many types of knits only to get stuck and not be able to work through it without the help of an actual person. LYSs are too far and my schedule just didn't allow for it. Now I had the help pf two friends and things are coming together. I wanted to take a little something for a friend's new baby. I started something and stopped. Then came across the sweetest little pattern in the One Skein book. Baby Bolero. Here it is, needing some finishing work that should get done tomorrow evening. I'll post details when it is all done.

What became of your first FO?

That was the question seen on the Knitty board. I still have mine. A 2x2 rib scarf made with Debbie Bliss alpaca silk in teal with an eyelash yarn...because I wanted 1 fuzzy scarf. Friends call it my snufalopagous scarf and I love the feel and warmth of it. Keeps the cold winter wind and chill off my neck and chest. The colors are gorgeous and not as drab as the pics portray. I am at the mercy of my finicky camera.

So, maybe the Universe is not quite so bad afterall...

A friend called me this Thursday evening and as we chatted about different topics, it became clear to me that the funk I had been feeling all day was a little worse than I thought. I've been dealing with a few things, mostly health and $$. I'll admit that there are days where staying positive is a chore, but I do try to keep things light and happy. Not always successful. Not on Thursday night, certainly. I choked on my words a few times and my friend was helpful in trying to be supportive.
I told her of an important appointment that I was only able to get in early December. I explained to the appointment lady that I would make myself available if she had any cancellations. They are rare. In any case, my friend and I closed the conversation with her suggestion. Go to bed and meditate on quieting my mind and let the powers that be know that I would love to get a call moving my appointment up.

I did just that and woke up leaving most of yesterday's funk on the pillow. It was about 11 when I got morning's chores and calls completed and I hoped in the shower. Through the shower water and the closed bathroom door I heard the familiar sound of my cell phone vibrating. Yes, I'm one of those...a vibrator, so sue me. It comes from being in classes 6 days a week for 4 years and not wanting the phone to ring in the middle of lecture and getting the look.
Anyway, it was the appointment lady asking if I could fill a cancellation for next week! (insert little bug-eyed smiley here). Yes! Definitely! And thanked her no end. I jumped in the shower feeling so jubilant. Finally, the universe cutting me a break. I'll take it.

I headed up to campus to check my mail box and bumped into an ex-professor of mine. I filled him in on the appointment thing and chuckled. I went back to his office and he showed me a DVD he wanted me to watch and promptly leant it to me. It is something I had wanted to see for a while and it was so appropriate to things going on with me lately.

I finally got home and focused on the mailbox contents. How did I miss this? There was a good-sized envelope with an address and name I didn't recognize. I sat a comfy chair and tucked my legs under me. Yes, bad posture. *slaps her own hand* I opened the packed still not understanding who, what, why. Examining the wrapped contents, a dreaded feeling washed over me. OMG! Did I join an SP round and FORGET?! OMG! Did I flake on someone?! I was panicked at the thought of potentially making another person feel icky and flaked upon. Then there was the note with the best handwriting I've seen in a while. It said TESORO. I opened it and nearly cried.

A RAK! A RAK from the lovely Carrieknits all the way from California! So many lovely things. I was practicall yteary-eyed as I opened each one. Yes, I'm enjoying hormonal moments lately too. Wonderful. Isn't life grand? Not Wanna see inside? Me took, let's...

Carrie wrote me a sweet note on a pretty card and sent me more of the same blank plus others she picked up at an art museum in Oregon. Next were two movies - Girl With A Pearl Earring and The Business of Strangers. Awesome! Movie night! Them there was a pretty green sport weight alpaca yarn. A.L.P.A.C.A...*sigh* Then Carrie sent me some Chasing Rainbows mohair boucle in grays, blues and plum with a note tucked inside for a suggestion of a 3x2 rib scarf. My first boucle! I'll have to see if there is enough for a skinny scarf. And lastly is a ball of Lorna's Laces yarn she had leftover from making One Skein's cable footies (I have that book). My first Lorna's Laces! Enough to make a sweet baby hat in prescious muted colors of blue, plum and rose. The Boo wrapping paper contained yummy chocolate treats that help ease my funk away. No picture of the chocolate...I ate it while unwrapping the other goodies. I'm not dumb! :D
Thank you, Carrie, for your tremendous and timely generosity!
Maybe the Universe isn't so bad afterall? *smile*

Shoe Pr0n...Dansko on parade....and cheap!

I've known her for 18 years. We celebrated my 21st birthday together and she was one of my first official roommates in college. Her daughter's middle name is a version of mine, in my honor. We wanted to live closer to each other FOREVER but I was in NY and she in CO. Then she came to PA and it was only 6 hours away. We were thrilled. That was 2.5 years ago and now she is moving to Dallas where hubby found his dream job and I'm so happy for them. She knows that I will visit yearly at least. But why, oh why did she not mention that the ONLY DANSKO OUTLET was only 15 minutes from her PA home? They sell half off their retail price. I just found this out 2 weeks ago. I could have been hoarding shoes for 2.5 years! Oh, and I am a champion shoe hoarder. Blue ribbon and everything. I get it from my mom. Not purses though. I don't hoard purses. They just don't get me all giddy.

When I moved to the beautiful Finger Lakes region in Upstate NY over 4 years ago, my friends helped me load the moving truck. I can still hear my friend Anthony in my memory to this day. He carried out a dresser drawer. While walking he looked down in the drawer at the contents and exclaimed, "How the @#$% many black shoes do you have?!!!!" "Wha?!" I replied. "They are all different for different outfits...etc." This from a guy that had exactly one pair of brown shoes, one black and a pair sneakers. That's it. No way could he have understood the difference between flats and heels, smooth leather and suede, casual and dressy. Forget wrapping his brain around boots. The bottom of his bachelor closet was pathetic. Thank goodness he is married now and his lovely wife has remedied his lack of shoe choices. Don't get me wrong. I don't have tons of frivolous shoes, but I do hoard when shoes that I like and are good for me are on sale. SO I decided to invest some grad gift $$ on shoes that I could wear for years.
On to the SHOE PRON...woot!

Front row: Brown oiled box clog, Black oiled box clog. Each were $60.
Back row: Olivey-tan shoe $45, Dress pump in black leather and a deep rich gorgeous red/wine. Each $68.

If you are not nearby, you can also buy throught www.danskooutlet.com. They have a few more styles at the store, than listed online. But, as these are factory seconds, the best to do is make a special trip, try them on and hoard away. Go ahead. I give you permission. ;)

My So Called Scarf...the instructions

This is NOT my pattern. It can be found here: http://www.sheepinthecity.prettyposies.com/archives/000079.html

But I have made a few and folks who are confused with the stitches often ask me to help so here goes...
In this example, I am only casting on 10 stitches (via longtail cast-on) just to show you how this goes.
So go ahead and cast-on. I’ll wait... Oh yeah, click the pictures to make them bigger.

Row 1
Knit the 1st stitch. (Call this stitch 1)
Slip the next stitch from the left-hand needle to the right as if you were purling and leave it there. (Call this stitch 2)

Knit the next stitch. (Call this stitch 3)

Take your left-hand needle (LHN) and from the front put it through stitch 2.

Now take your working yarn from the back and loop it over the right-hand needle (RHN) counter clockwise.

Okay, now take your LHN that is resting under stitch 2 and lift stitch 2 up and over stitch 3 and the yarn you just looped over the RHN.

Now drop it.

Should have 3 stitches on the RHN now, yes? I know its a lot of words but once you do it you’ll understand what I describing.

Let's repeat this sequence with the next stitches...
slip stitch 4 purl wise, knit stitch 5, stick you LHN under stitch 4 from the front, loop your yarn around your RHN, lift stitch 4 up and over stitch 5 and the looped yarn and drop. Now you’ve done this stitch process twice. Keep going until you are at the last stitch on the left-hand needle and knit it. You'll notice that the stitches bunch together in 2s. That's what it is supposed to look like:

You have completed row 1, so flip your work and let’s tackle row 2.

ROW 2
Bring your yarn to the front because we are purling. Purl two stitches together by slipping your RHN under stitches 1 and 2 on the LHN.

BEFORE you drop the stitches, I want you to poke your RHN between stitches 1 and 2 so that you can purl stitch 1 again.

Now drop the stitches. Still with me? If yes, you now know how to knit the entire purl row. It is exactly the same all the way across. So when you are done with row 2, flip your work and tackle row 3, which is the exact same as row 1. Then you get this...the lovely cross-hatch, herringbone-like pattern!

That’s all there is to it. Easy, once you are not confused by the stitches. I wish I could make a little video for you, but I’m not that equipped. Let me know how you do :)

I'm back!

More on this later...have to answer a few burning questions first...see next post above.

On a delay...

So. Here I sit. Sitting and waiting for it to be 2pm. Why you ask? Small but annoying car issue delay and because I am not fond of NYC traffic or the way it spills over and on to LI roads fo hours before and after rush hour. 495/LIE to be exact. I don't miss traffic. Life is so much better without it.

Gah! *taps fingers and looks around for the 10th time to make sure apt is clean and orderly before departure*

On a happy note, I decided to pack some knitting to do at night after a long day. My Petal Bib and Baby Bolero from the One Skein book.
And I think I will try my hand at *gulp* Clapotis again. I have some lovely Malabrigo Boutone in the Cuatro colorway of mostly browns, golds, purples, wines and greens. Lovely.

Handpaintedyarns also has a yarn with my sister's name and I recently found an old novel in a used bookstore for $1 with her name as the title. Maybe I'll send her an "It's all about you!" package in the mail with a Clapotis and the book. Not that I think this will bury the hatchet in anyway but... *sigh*

Moving on...maybe I can do the same for my mother. I already know Vittadini discontinued a yarn with my name, mispelled slightly but that is a commom occurance with my name. Only 1 "L" kids! Sheesh..is it really that difficult? *sigh* Annnnnyway, I am (my yarn) described as "a scrumptious merino/cashmere that gives good stitch def and really makes the cables POP." Hehehe. I thinkI'm on to the perfect holiday presents for us three...books with our name as the title and a Clapotis made with same name. Thoughts? Go ahead, you know you want to ;P

More later...time to drive.

Serenity Garden

On a delay...

So. Here I sit. Sitting and waiting for it to be 2pm. Why you ask? Small but annoying car issue delay and because I am not fond of NYC traffic or the way it spills over and on to LI roads fo hours before and after rush hour. 495/LIE to be exact. I don't miss traffic. Life is so much better without it.

Gah! *taps fingers and looks around for the 10th time to make sure apt is clean and orderly before departure*

On a happy note, I decided to pack some knitting to do at night after a long day. My Petal Bib and Baby Bolero from the One Skein book.
And I think I will try my hand at *gulp* Clapotis again. I have some lovely Malabrigo Boutone in the Cuatro colorway of mostly browns, golds, purples, wines and greens. Lovely.

Handpaintedyarns also has a yarn with my sister's name and I recently found an old novel in a used bookstore for $1 with her name as the title. Maybe I'll send her an "It's all about you!" package in the mail with a Clapotis and the book. Not that I think this will bury the hatchet in anyway but... *sigh*

Moving on...maybe I can do the same for my mother. I already know Vittadini discontinued a yarn with my name, mispelled slightly but that is a commom occurance with my name. Only 1 "L" kids! Sheesh..is it really that difficult? *sigh* Annnnnyway, I am (my yarn) described as "a scrumptious merino/cashmere that gives good stitch def and really makes the cables POP." Hehehe. I thinkI'm on to the perfect holiday presents for us three...books with our name as the title and a Clapotis made with same name. Thoughts? Go ahead, you know you want to ;P

More later...time to drive.

On a delay...

So. Here I sit. Sitting and waiting for it to be 2pm. Why you ask? Small but annoying car issue delay and because I am not fond of NYC traffic or the way it spills over and on to LI roads fo hours before and after rush hour. 495/LIE to be exact. I don't miss traffic. Life is so much better without it.

Gah! *taps fingers and looks around for the 10th time to make sure apt is clean and orderly before departure*

On a happy note, I decided to pack some knitting to do at night after a long day. My Petal Bib and Baby Bolero from the One Skein book.
And I think I will try my hand at *gulp* Clapotis again. I have some lovely Malabrigo Boutone in the Cuatro colorway of mostly browns, golds, purples, wines and greens. Lovely.

Handpaintedyarns also has a yarn with my sister's name and I recently found an old novel in a used bookstore for $1 with her name as the title. Maybe I'll send her an "It's all about you!" package in the mail with a Clapotis and the book. Not that I think this will bury the hatchet in anyway but... *sigh*

Moving on...maybe I can do the same for my mother. I already know Vittadini discontinued a yarn with my name, mispelled slightly but that is a commom occurance with my name. Only 1 "L" kids! Sheesh..is it really that difficult? *sigh* Annnnnyway, I am (my yarn) described as "a scrumptious merino/cashmere that gives good stitch def and really makes the cables POP." Hehehe.

I thinkI'm on to the perfect holiday presents for us three...books with our name as the title and a Clapotis made with same name. Thoughts? Go ahead, you know you want to ;P

More later...time to drive.

test post

just trying out a few things...

So far so good...

with the cedar litter, that is. I think I may possibly have found a solution. I just put a more plush rug remnant down after the outdoor mat thingy. This seems to catch almost all of the cedar so vacuuming has decreased. I'll be out of town for conferences, so we'll see how the kitties do with the tracking. Cross your fingers. I'll report on it when I get back at the end of the month.

The litter experiment...can you do better?

So. Yes, I am going to vent, complain, kvetch (sp?), and generally roll my eyes while I type about litter. Litter. I had to say it again. * sigh *

The problem: tracking - all the time, everywhere. I hate scooping too, but that's another issue. TRACKING is the monkey on my back.

Solutions I have tried:
1. Covered top on the litter pan
2. Remnant rug under the covered litter pan so they step on that when entering/exiting
3. Special cat litter mat (think outdoor mat with those plastic finger-like projections) on the remnant rug, etc.
4. Clay litter with larger granules (all brands)
5. Clay litter with smaller granules (all brands)
6. Scoopable (every imaginable brand, old version, new and improved, etc.)
7. Crystal absorbent pearl-like stuff
8. Feline Pine – weird odor and yup, tracks
9. Cedar – light weight and cheap, but the worst tracing of all
10. YOUR SUGGESTION HERE

I spend WAY too much time vacuuming and this issue makes me nutty.

Help?! Yes there are bigger problems in the world. But, but, but...*sigh*

...and no I’m not giving them away and they must be indoor cats...too many strays out there, busy neighborhood, have always been indoor cats, nasty evil neighborhood cat is not allowed to terrorize my kitties.

Back to the Fair and step on it!

Another friend wanted to go to the fair and twisted (not) my arm. Weeee! This was a chance for me to pick up missed business cards, see things I missed during yesterday’s sensory overload and chat with more folks.

I followed along while today’s friend and fiber enthusiast wandered through the vending barns. We stopped at Just My Yarn to see the Turnstyles spindles a friend purchased yesterday. Dianne was just as great and patient with today’s friend and soon she was coming home with two Turnstyles spindles. I have my mind set on getting one as soon as I can afford to...I'm now a huge fan :)

In an attempt to get yesterday’s friend a few things she missed, I got into a conversation with the super friendly and helpful owner of Golden Oak Alpaca Farm. I believe her name was Barb Green. See yesterdays’ post to about needle felting we did at their booth. Fun! In chatting we came to find out we both know the same person. She promptly invited us to their open house in October and to participate in their “name the alpaca” contest. I’m SO there!

Also met the absolutely fabulous owner, Elizabeth McLelland of Yorkshire Meadows, a shop in Mansfield, PA. We chatted and she taught me a simple way to do I-cord. I thought it was this terrible thing that everyone hated and took forever.

And there was Dianna of Hand Crafted Heirlooms, also in PA, who had a gorgeous silk wool stole in mahogany tones that I wish, wish, wish I could have taken home with me. It wanted to, but the wallet was not willing. Some day...

One defining moment came when I took my friend into the smaller building to show her the silk worms. She wasn’t into it but when we turned around, something caught my eye. There were three spinners working on wheels and one woman had the exact same roving braid on her lap that I bought yesterday. Great! Now is my chance to see what this will look like spun up in the hands of someone more expert than I. The ladies were all helping at the fair and were part of the Genesee Valley Guild. They talked about their spinning and their experiences, preferences of wheels and even gave me a good place to search out a less expensive option. See, they knew that I was destined to spin. One of the ladies named pat let us pet her handspun, hand knit, cashmere capelet. I said cashmere...need i say more. It melted in my hand. She told me that we were destined to meet and I agree. I love the universe...*sigh*
It was a great weekend and I’m so glad that I had the chance to spend time with my friends and share the fair.

Fiber frolic! Finger Lakes Fiber Festival 2006

I have wanted to go for AGES. Studies now complete and it was time to have a bit of well-deserved fun so off a friend and I went to the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival in Hemlock, NY. It was an easy drive and only took a little over an hour. We both vowed that we would not enable each other (yeah right). But soon we were breaking into our stowed away money that the other did not realize we brought. It was officially on! This is photo intensive so hang in there!










First, we hit this lovely vendor who I can't recall the name of (have to let you know in another post. I would recommend them...so friendly! My friend bought a gorgeous fleece determined to learn to spin today. She's a knitting goddess so I'm confident she did not waste $$. Having never spun anything, I thought I would just head home with three little bags of very sheepy fleece in lovely variegated shades. I wonder if carding this with the cat's brush will work. Yes? We will see. I managed to not pick up any wool wash the entire day. Brilliant...I can still feel the lanolin on my fingertips.

We passed or more correctly this passed us on the way into one of the big tents to see the llama and the great folks who took the time to chat with us about llama wool, guard hair, etc. It's true, guard hair content is very much dependent on the animal. Some had almost none were others had more than I cared for. I tried to collect business cards and names along the way, but I think a few were misplaced. Sorry!



We made our way to the Oak Meadow Alpaca Farm and I bought this from owner Nancy... lovely puff of alpaca roving. SO soft! I had to go back and get a baggie of it to try. Spinning is starting to call to me, scream actually.




An then there was the lovely green scarf at Winterhaven Fiber Farm called a Nuno scarf. I'm not mush of a wrap person, but this I just could not ignore. (scarf on left) The owner, Jenny, was a just a fantastic gal. Chatted with us about spinning, felted flower making, etc. I had my heart set on making a few of the scarves so I cam away with the instructions plus some pretty rovings and some flashy stuff to add in to jazz it up a bit. All I have to get is the silk backing material which I have at home. I have to remember to email her to order the green fiber to make the green scarf. Must write a note....


Next we moved on to the fabulous gals at Just Our Yarn, Diane and Cathie. They have amazing cashmere yarn spun so finely and in such defined colors. It made me wish I were a better knitter. Some day... they also sold the most beautiful drop spindles made by Bill Hardy of Turnstyles. These were by far my favorites of the show hands down. Diane was very patient and talked my friend and I threw all our questions and was a very patient and encouraging demonstrator/teacher. Here is my friend giving it a whorl...she bought one and couldn't peel the smile from her face. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Then across the way we went as the fine ladies at Gold Oak Farm waved us over to try out needle felting. I can't tell you how fun and cathartic it was to stab that little needle into the roving. And soon we had something, well, my friend did at least. Mine is on the right (laugh) Can I help it if the kids at the table used all the cool colors and imagination?


With out new found love of spinning and needle felting off we went in search of fiber and found Steam Valley Fiber Farm and it's amazing owner, Phylleri.. She had the most amazing display of fiber and sweet little goats (I think goats, at least) I asked her if she minded me taking a pic of her stuff and she gave a big smile and the okay so feast your eyes. Keep in mind that there is a second side to that yarn rack. The colors were amazing. The booth was beautiful.


Needing water badly, we headed to the food vendors and saw sheep shearing.


After water and a snack, we sidetracked and entered a smaller building. Inside we found a fantastic display of any and everything you ever wanted to know about silk and silk worms. Here you can see the owner keeping the water hot as the fine filaments from 10 silk cocoons were gently wound around a wheel. Look closely to see the fine filaments. She also had live worms munching on mulberry leaves. The worms were so soft to pet too. Then I tried my hand at bobbin weaving with the ladies of the Genesee Valley Guild. Fun! i love being exposed to new things.


Next and final was the main and largest barn. Here I got in a little more trouble because I found Joan Berner and Cloverleaf Farms. Her color sense and colorways were reasonably priced and WOW! They were my favorite of the show....I loved the combinations. I have been dreading the coming of winter because it lasts SO long here and the sky is persistently overcast. Doom and gloom. It is the price you pay for living here in the gorgeous lake region. But I seem to find my mood changing enough to welcome autumn and it palette of colors. With that in mind I bought these two colorways. The first is a merino superwash and the braid is a merino silk blend. I had to lighten the first pic to show the colors of the darker superwash. The second pic represents the truer colors of the silk merino blend.


Further in the main barn we found Golding. Their display of gold-ringed spindles, zodiac spindles, amazing looms and a spinning wheel and chair were so finely done. A true craftsman and a nice guy to chat with as well. I have my eye on a spindle from these folks for the future. Any picture that I could manage would not do his work justice. Thankfully he is easy to find on the web and I encourage you to go browse.

I also came across other lovely folks like Lisa Ann who owns The Spinners Hill Shop. Lisa was so nice and tried to locate some silk/wool blend roving. Fortunately for her she was practically cleaned out. Rats! She was so accommodating and told me to email her about colorways she be happy to make for me. *smile*

There were also the kind folks at Ancient Textiles. Their booth was chock full of ikat clothing and textiles. They allowed me to take a pic if a gorgeous sweater but the owner was quick to point out that it was the work of a well known designer whose name I promptly forgot. So, I feel bad about posting the pic until I can identify the talented designer.

Maggie's Farm was there too and we had a chance to chat with the friendly owner about spinning and other fiber loving things. The hook rug and wheels both displayed at a nearby booth were a great final thing to see as we exited the show. Yes, I want to learn about this too...and weaving as i found myself VERY drawn to woven scarves and such all day. That goes on my wish list. Now, if I could just find that rich Vet I can marry and help me take care if the herd I want! Yes, I like to dream...

Ahh, fiber fest virgin no more. The day was good. Life is better :)

Goings on

I woke up early this morning (3AM) to a huge commotion. Seems that the hated neighborhood cat hopped up on the bay window bump out just below my AC and began hissing and growling. There was a scuffle and a crash which sounded like it was directly next to me in bed. My two cats were terrified/curious huddled next to me and peering out from under the sheets while wimpering. Next thing I hear is desperate scratching, clawing and a few thuds at the livingroom window just a few feet from the bedroom. I tend to leave the windows cracked open a bit at the top to let air in for the warmer weather. Naturally, this hated neighborhood cat was trying to get in! I ran to the window to shut it and he jumped right up at me. I thought he'd break right through the screen. I love all animals, but this cat is just mean. I had to warn my new neighbors not to leave their caged cockatiel outside on the porch unattended because of this tyrant. I won't be sad to see him go...vicious little fur ball *grumbles*


Well wfter that little adventure, I managed to wake up all stiff and achy with my glands swollen and painful. I sneezed a few times yesterday so I knew something was happening. So, what's a gal to do? Chicken soup! Brewing as we speak. Hope it works ;)

Today was another home day. I managed to snag a friend's laptop for a week and so here I sit surfing the web and finally getting things done. So much to do now that the degrees are finished. God and the paperwork for licensing, credentialing, blah, blah, blah. Seems endless and what a s-l-o-w process. And the search for where to live still carries on. I have another month or so of travelling and attending this meeting and that conference and the other seminars. I love it but I'd really like to be closer to being settled. Have to remember to be nice to myself and breath. Doesn't help when a certificate program I want to take will be $500. * eyes roll*

On a brighter note, I made these stitch markers for Karen (cooknknit) for a swap. The camera was less bratty this morning so the pic is blurry but decent. New camera? I wish. Not yet. Not for a while. So if you have gotten aby from me and can take a better pic, by all means go ahead and send it to me. I'd love it :)

More surfing... 

Back at it

Sooooooooo, I have been away for a while (and couldn't recall my password!) Not much knitting occurred in the last 10 months and I've been wanting to get back to it badly. But, there just was no time to be had.

I've been slowly getting back to favorite crafty things including making beaded stitch markers. I've made some for friends and made others for trade. So far, I've only received glowing compliments. Here are examples of previous sets. I'm toying with selling them so I'd love to hear what you think especially if you have received any...love for you to share what you think :)

My appologies for the spaces and picture formatting. I just couldn't fight with Blogger any longer. *sigh*

Previous sets: Yes, sadly this is the same camera :( It is SO fickle! Can't afford a new one :(