NEW CONTEST!! WIN A KNITTING PATTERN BOOK

Well did that get your attention?

I have a book that I purchased just for this occasion. The name of it is Wrap Style by Pam Allen & Ann Budd editors of Interweave Knits. I linked to another site so that you might view some of the designs in this book if you don't already know. Just click on view more images under the photo of the book at the site.

Anywho........to win this book you must sign up to follow my blog. I will wait until there are at least 10 new subscribers and at that point put all the names in the random generator and pick a winner. I hope to have this completed by the end of July so that the winner may start by making their own wrap to wear or gift before the colder season approaches.

Leave a comment at the end of this post also and I will run a random generator on comments and send out another nice gift for that winner. Gift to be determined ,but hey what the heck it's a contest right and it's free.

Have fun, no fighting, hair pulling or name calling. LOL

Getting back in the saddle

Ok it has been quite a while since my last post. Don't know why really.........other things going on perhaps?

My spinning wheel...........LOVE IT! Love spinning on it and have spun several skeins of yarn already! Today I purchased a book called SOCKS FROM THE TOE UP by Wendy Knits. My usual mode of sock knitting is from the cuff down, two circs and two socks at the same time. Since this whole spinning thing started I want to knit toe up as to not either run out of my hand spun or to be able to use it all up.

I know I know, photos of all that hand spun. Now these are all spun on the new wheel which happens to be that very wheel that I posted a photo of a while back. Louet Victoria. LOVE IT!

Any how the photos are here and I am happy to show them off. Now that I have finally posted the pictures.............sheesh! First photo is of the single samples that people from the Spinning Loft tested wheels with my bobbins. At the time they were not yet mine, so when they became mine I got their spun stuff! I then double plied them together just to get a feel for the wheel and so as to not waste any time by just treadling and not spinning anything. It make sense to me. Also there in the first photo on the left is some of that mystery wool that I practiced with while spinning with spindles. So I took another 'spin' and plied them together while tossing in some left over threads from embroidery machine and sewing. Cute huh? Might look good woven on a loom?

In the second photo I spun up the rest of the hand dyed by me with Easter egg colors the last of the mystery wool. The end result is a worsted weight yarn. Have no idea what to make from it.

The last photo is the fiber I received in a swap from the Ravelry group The High Fiber Diet podcast group swap. I received from my swap partner approx 5 oz .of Shirazz Merino Rambouillet and silk batt. It is a true sock weight and I ended up with a finished 4.5 oz and 475 yards double plied. This was a pleasure to spin! So soft and I think that it might become a somewhat lacy scarf..........it feels just soooo good on my neck!

I have also been on a small fiber spree! Yeah like I don't have enough yarn to knit with now I have to spin my own that I will possibly never knit up because then I can't fondle it any more. Actually I do have three of the handspuns that I have plans to knit up.
I have also found that I have to better document or record my progress and also fiber cost etc. you know just in case someone sees one of these they can't live without and wants to purchase it just because I spun it myself and it is just too beautiful to pass by! I better hurry up and knit up what I want before anyone sees these beauties!

Other news? Grand kids are growing like weeds! OHMYGOSH! The twins are now crawling like the wind and pulling themselves up and standing! Abygail is off to summer 1/2 day camp next week (thanks to gramma here). She will be going 1/2 days for one week. To break her in, give her a goal to reach for for next summer when she could go for a full day , full week of summer camp! I am confident that she will love it. Next we have the 3 year old Madison who if finally potty trained and can now come and stay at grammas to play and maybe over night too. She is a doll and her baby sister Reese just started crawling too! She is on the move to keep up with her twin cousins who are going to be ONE this month! Reese is only 8 months tomorrow and zipping around all over! All the babies are getting teeth too! So you never know who or when any of them will be teething and crabby or have running noses and just not happy.
I should probably stop now..........if I get too long winded about virtually nothing boredom will surely set in.

So I am quitting today and hope to get back in at least the weekly swing of updates on my blog. Oh I got an iphone (new one) and its the BOMB. I might be posting from it soon too. ;)

Forgot what I was doing..........

Sheesh I can get sooooo distracted on the net! One minute I am looking at this and the next that and Oh yeah I was going to update the blog here with a new photo of the Christening gown and it's progress...............

Here ya go

Next step now that first blocking is complete is to sew on button at back neck closure and then add ribbon at bodice then decide if or how many beads to hand sew into the centers of the flowers or snow flakes as the lace pattern calls them.

hmmmmmm what else is newsworthy? Oh I enabled an internet buddy to learn spindle spinning. She lives in NC and has just about as many hobbies/crafts/ loves as I do so hey whats one more? I sent her some rovings, some I dyed, some baby alpaca and also some undyed. Gotta start somewhere right? Oh and let's not forget the spindle! A very nice Louet spindle.

Hoping that today is the day that I get to pick up my wheel................just waiting for my bankcard or checks to arrive. Darnit! I think that either I am sleeping really WRONG or that all this spindle spinning is creating a new knot in my neck and it hurts!

Progress on the LYS sample scarf is moving along. I am almost finished. Lets say I have one more repeat with a different color and then bind off! Nothing like making a scarf long wise eh? I mean 431 stitches long? I must have been out of my mind doing it this way as if you make a mistake you are not just frogging back 20 or 30 stitches to fix it but could be the whole 431 or for that matter double if it was a couple of rows back and you can't figure out how to drop the stitch and re-knit it! Not that I have done that or anything.............really.

My black baby alpaca and multi colored yarn I made has been washed and is hanging to dry and set the twist............then I will have to knit something from it. Thinking fingerless mitts just a simple knit 3 purl 3 type pattern. Don't want to take away from the yarn itself with a pattern.

I have so many things going through my brain that I just can't seem to figure out were to start making them happen! I should probably start my list again and prioritize? Looks like I will have almost 2 weeks off work intermittently anyhow as after this shipment of parts to go out at the end of the week we don't have anything else until the end of the month. Here is hoping that I get to stay home and work on house projects. I think that if I start with that I will be more motivated to accomplish my other goals. Nothing like a clean, fresh house with some organization and yes I am going to have that darn garage sale and unload everydarnthing that I haven't touched in well lets just say the last 10 years! It's just so hard to determine what is a 'keepsake' item and what is just hording!

I guess that's about it for now and I might should go and run a few parts.............all the better to get it over with and done so that I get a couple weeks to work on the ME projects.

Photo update

Helloooooooo world!

I am just popping in to show off some of my spindle spinning finished projects.

This one is from the beginning spindle class from The Spinning Loft in Howell. We were given some Merino, Coopworth, Tussah Silk and BFL to test spin. I just spun them all together, plied them and ended up with about 140 yards of a nice soft fingering weight yarn that would be perfect to add to maybe a scarf.

These photos are of this multi colored Corridale roving I picked up. Just grabbed hunks of colors and spun them. Spin a hunk of color here and grab another hunk of color there. Kept going till it was all gone and I had about 200 yarns of the single.

So then I wanted to get something a bit softer and went back to The Spinning Loft and got some black baby alpaca...........can you say ooooooooooooo ahhhhhhhhhhhh?!

Spun that into a single seen here

Then I rigged up a fake lazy kate, put my toilet paper bobbins on pegs and then just twisted one wrap around a third peg for a tiny bit of even tension and started plying the two together seen here

Now here is the shot of the finished skein. 202 yards of a nice fingering weight yarn. I do believe this would make nice fingerless mitts...........for me?

This is sooooooooo much fun! I just wish that I knew what I was going to do with them all!

And now for the current spinning project. I purchased this online (can't remember vendor info) but it's approx. 3.1 oz of superwash merino and bamboo mix. I really like spinning it. It's a bit more slick that just silk or merino or even baby alpaca but easy enough to spin.

Pretty huh?

Okay back to work, my machine is fixed and ready to rock and roll..............checking itunes for more podcasts..........making sure battery in ipod is charged...........check, check ready!

Well Darnit!!

Yep darn it again! NOT going to Frankenmuth any time soon :(

Victory got in the way again. Enough said to those who know. This crap just keeps getting in the way of enjoying stuff in life.

Here is a photo of the BEAUTIFUL picture frame the #1 granddaughter Abygail made for me for a mother's day gift to grandma! I so love it. Have it sitting on my desk at work to enjoy.

I have tried my hand at dying fiber to spin. Take a look at these! I am thinking or seeing a theme..........

Tequila sunrise and Blue martini! How cool is that?

I ordered or reserved a spinning wheel last week from Beth at the Spinning Loft. Now just waiting to go pick it up. Would you like to see a photo of it? It's a louet Victoria, I think that I will just call it Vic. See here

This weeks progress on my projects go a bit like this..........Chevron scarf-haven't picked up since last post other than to move it, Sample scarf about 2/3 finished at this point, can't wait to finish and might not turn it over to shop owner as it's just soooooooooo squishy soft! And the colors are perfect. The christening gown- purchased the beads and ribbon and even got it all blocked and it's all ready to stitch on the beads. I think this week even.

Spinning? Finished up the multi colored fiber and purchased some super soft baby alpaca from Beth at the Spinning Loft. All is spun and ready to ply..........maybe start that tonight. I love spinning. Did I say that yet?

Oh and knitwych when you read this yes you will want to give it a try............if you do I will send you some fiber and a starter spindle to give a whorl. Whorl get it?

Exercise. Started running again for this year. It's a very late start for sure. But I am happy to say that I ran almost a mile. The trial that we run has markers at every quarter mile, so I can see them and stop running just short of them to catch my breath then when I reach them I run again until the next one. Then we turn around and finish with a walk of approx. 3 miles. All is good, feel it today.

Sunny Monday!

Maybe spring is here? Again? Sun is shining, happy hormones are coursing through the veins and all is well with my world. Except for the fact that I am sitting here at the shop and we are NOT working. If we don't work today it just means that we will have 3 slammin' days ahead and then....................it's a HOLIDAY! Yippee!! Not exactly like it matters much but maybe next week we will be making a trip to Frankenmuth to Zeilinger Wool Co. just for fun. DH wants to see how its all processed, wool that is. It will give me a chance to purchase a pound of wool to play with.

I have finished spinning and plying the practice wool that we got at the beginning spindle spinning class 2 weekends ago from The Spinning Loft. I just mixed them all up, coopworth, merino, tussah silk and BFL. I did end up purchasing 2 spindles while taking the class, and I also received one in the mail for a mothers day gift! How awesome is that?

The top one is a Tabacheck plying spindle, Left is Greensleeves Queens Septre, and the one on the Right is a Kundert. I don't have a total favorite since they are of 3 different sizes and weights they serve a multitude of fibers at this point. I love them all!
Shhhhhhhh don't tell but I have a Bosworth on order too!

This past weekend we got to watch Baby Reese who is growing like a weed! We took her up to see her cousins Abygail, Blake and Gabriella as it was Abygail's dance recital that was sold out. So we went up after for pizza and a visit. The twins are also weeds! Blake is a crawling machine and so happy all the time. Gabriella is the more serious one and she sits back and takes it all in. She is doing the army crawl right now and it will be no time before she is chasing after brother Blake!

Projects in the works currently are the Chevron scarf is still going, I started a project for the Whitmore Lake Yarn Co. (LYS) for a sample to sell a new pattern and some awesome yarn! About 1/3 done with it at this point. Still have that darn Christening gown to finish and hoping that by the middle of June Reese won't be grown out of it!!!! Need to get ribbon and beads and one button to finish it off. Better get off my ass and do it huh?

And spinning..............just still practicing. Then I will have to make something out of all the practice skeins. That will depend on if the wools feels neck soft I will make a scarf for me, or if its no too soft I can make a hat and line it with polar fleece for no itchies! We will see.

He went and turned on the machines..............boo hoo as its now 2pm and we won't get outta here till 5 now. Gotta go change clothes, listen to some more knitting and spinning podcasts and run my machine too. More later!

Is anxiety contagious?

Why yes I believe it can be. For me at least! It seems that anytime DH gets his boxers in a knot the negative energy shoot out of him and is directed at me! My sensitivity level has increased with age and it's not all about that week before the period emotions either. I have always been an uber sensitive emotional person/kid and then there was a time say 25-40 that it wasn't noticed. Now, I can't hardly escape it. Stress and traumatic episode 2005 I think turned the darn switch back on.

On a really good and positive note (really positive) I finished the Blue sweater and here is the finished photo!

As it turned out I didn't get to go knit but I did stop in the shop real quick like and guess who was there? The customer who I knit the sweater for! I had to break her heart and tell her that she didn't get to keep it just yet as I had to take it home to wash and block. However she could sit there and fondle it for a few minutes till the shop closed. She was very happy and so uber excited................too bad the weather is now finally cooperating with 'Spring' and too warm to actually wear the sweater unless perhaps she wants to head to Alaska for a short trip! LOL!!Isn't it Beautiful?!!!

Next up is I am going to beginning spindle class tomorrow! I am also planning on the purchase of a new and beautiful spindle and fiber to go with it! The one I favor out of the 3 that I have is a beginners spindle (not that there is anything wrong with that at all) but who doesn't want the great spinner that has the looks and beauty of fine woods too?

More news this weekend after spindle class! See ya then.

Spinninggggggggggggggggggg!

Yippee! I just signed up for a beginners spindle spinning class at the Spinning Loft in Howell! Beth is just awesome and I can't wait to learn from her. Its also a good excuse to buy a new spindle and fiber to spin!!

Right now sitting in Panera Bread in Jackson waiting for parts to be plated. Bored. Usually we are here for approx. 3 hours. Now I always bring knitting and never really pick it up......spend most of the time on the net surfing.

News on the blue sweater.......... IT'S DONE! Whaaaaaaahoooooooooo! Well almost. I just have to wash and block it. I might see how it comes out of the washer and decide on block or dryer dry some then finish block. I would like to take it to knitting tonight to get it dropped off. I should probably take a photo too. It was a longggggg sweater. LOL. After finishing this entry I looked at the clock and lets just say there is no time to wash and block BEFORE knitting tonight. Drats!

I have my next project lined up and its knitting for the Whitmore Lake Yarn Co. working up a scarf pattern for the owner in hopes of moving some inventory yarn. I have to cast on my swatch and count stitches per inch then decide how many to cast on as I want to do the pattern lengthwise. I have six different colors and a few rows of each color.

On my needles, still socks as I haven't touched them. The chevron scarf, may inches done and many to go. Christening gown is waiting for the Christening date still. Supposed to be next Sunday.....better check on that. It needs a button, ribbon and maybe beads. I better get that blocked out tonight too!

When it comes to spinning, I haven't done anymore as I have been finishing the Blue Sweater. I can't wait to pick up the spindle. I do believe that I will wait until Saturday and start with new everything! Spindle, Fiber and hopefully new knowledge too!

Ok, not much else to say.......hmmmmmmm emotionally doing ok. I really believe that there is more or something different I need/have to do with my life and it isn't in auto manufacturing with DH. Hopefully in a few months I will be able to make changes in my life/career and be a happier person. I still want to work in the medical field if I can't pursue my love of all things fiber! Maybe one year of full time school/classes for medical assistant/billing/coding and the rest of the time teaching or working with or for an established fiber company/yarn shop.......something. Thinking.

I am going to pick up my needles and as soon as I do that the phone will ring and we will be off to get our parts and head back to our neck of the woods. Since we have a rental van I think that I will also load up misc. company stuff that is still in my garage and take it to the shop along with just stuff to throw in the dumpster. Need to clean it out to get set up for a garage sale here in the next few weeks.

Still in LOVE with the coffee press! OHMYGOSH that is some gooooooooodddddd coffee!Knitting...........ahhhhhhhhh

Where have I been?

OHMYGOSH already! Today I decided that I could spend a 20 on a coffee press. I have been wanting to try coffee brewed in one for over a year now. Tried to convince a kid to purchase one as a gift for DH's b-day. She was broke. :(

So while going to the the store for a couple of odds and ends.........there just happened to be one at the Starbucks in Krogers! And ten bucks cheaper than Barnes and Noble and Wholefoods! OHMYGOODNESS finally coffee that tastes as good as it smells! YUMMO!

I also splurged and got a few hairs trimmed. LOL. Oh how I love short hair, well except that you really need to get it cut once a month. But today 'my lady' at the place I have gotten my hair cut for the past oh 6 years or so gave me her number and will cut my hair at her house for 1/2 of what I pay at the shop. YIPPEE!

Oh and I have been spinning...........on a spindle for now..................wait till you see my fourth attempt. You can actually see how I improve my spinning with each bit of fiber! LOOK

This is the first attempt, mystery wool. Spun and then Andean plied.

Above is second round with mystery wool, single spun pretty tiny and even too! I have no clue what I will ever do with it even after plying but hey its cool huh?

Now this one is Corriedale and its got some skinny spots and some spots , I think that it would even out as a heavy fingering. But it's still pretty good, I will use it for sure. It was 2 oz. to start and ended up with 1.8 oz. and 152 yards.

This one is the best so far! Much more even and I love the colors! It's also a mystery wool but is hand painted before spinning. It is one oz. spun about fingering weight and 107 yards.

I would say that I have the spinning bug for sure and this is only spindle! But first I have to finish the customers blue sweater. Called her this week to let her know that we are looking at being finished next week. She is very happy and can't wait to see it.

Ok updated for now and off to shower them itchy hairs from the haircut off! They are driving me nuts!

Sunday, time to blog

Hi all! I finally got a good photo of Barbie in her new cardigan! Just made from a tiny ball of sock yarn I picked up in a grab bag in a discount bin at a LYS. I thought of putting snaps inside and buttons on the outside but these beads looked much better. A perfect match! I think that all she needs now is a peach colored pair of knit leggins! I have the yarn and the pattern I will make it from is out of Nicky Epstein's book Knits for Barbie doll

And here is a photo of DD's Hibiscus Tat she got while in Florida. It is very pretty.

Wow, I guess I don't have much to say.......or do I?

The local Detroit News ran an article and in it was the story of one of my step brothers and the title of the article is: Desperate veterans turn to suicide-VA blamed for failing to help Iraq, Afghan veteran

This photo is pretty old 20 years actually. I think the DD was about 4 years old. Shown here with her best bud Randy who is the veteran in the story above.

My knitting news: still working on the blue sweater project to finish for a customer. I would say that I am 1/3 the way finished with the back panel. Once that is done I will only have to seam up all the parts and put on the neckband! Yippee! I hope that she will be not only happy with the work but happy with the price to do it for her too!

I am still plucking away at the chevron scarf.........I guess that I should start measuring it and posting how many inches today! Lemme go measure......................... ok its 29" long today!

The Christening gown is finished, needs blocking, button and ribbon trim.

WEll that's about it for me. I know boring! Nothing much to say yet still took up a lot of space, LOL!